Chapter Twelve: Caius
She had been in the shop with the whirring pieces of metal and plastic with glowing screens for over an hour now. I deliberated on going in and dragging her out, then decided against it. It would attract far too much attention.
Was she doing this deliberately to vex me? If so, although I was loathe to admit it, it was working. I glanced upwards at the steadily darkening sky. If she was going to be there for that long, I might as well leave to hunt. She would be relatively safe in the café, as no vampire would be foolish enough to hunt in Volterra.
I had not hunted for days- ever since the girl had arrived in Volterra. Aro would he furious that I was leaving now, but there was little he would be able to do about it.
I turned away from the bright window, and walked steadily outside the gates of Volterra. The sun had begun it's slow descent from the sky, so it was dark enough for me to remove my hood.
My eyes flickered around for onlookers, and when I had confirmed there were none, I began to run.
The wind whipped past me, a feather's touch on my stone features. I barely paused at the neighbouring city's walls, leaping smoothly and gracefully over the thirty feet high walls. Mortals and their so-called defences.
I cursed inwardly as I saw a man standing in the shadows of a nearby apartment building, his mouth gaping as he saw me. My first snack. I told myself, pouncing.
After my week of abstinence, the immediate flow of blood was soothing, and as soon as the man was drained dry, I slung him into a nearby dumpster which stunk of decomposing mortal food.
As I turned away from the body, a glint of a wedding ring caught the light on the man's finger. A sudden rush of an unidentifiable emotion nudged at me.
Was it….. Guilt?
I quickly brushed it aside. I had been killing for millennia. It should not bother me now. This was all the girl's fault. I snarled, whirling around. I was far from satisfied, my throat still burning dully, but my rage burned hotter. Ever since the human had arrived, she had humiliated me repeatedly, managed to make the guard preform repulsive and degrading acts, somehow twisted Aro, my mentally disturbed brother to defending her, achieved the impossible by befriending Jane, and goodness knows how much else. I had put up with it. But now- She had managed to get inside my head. Twisting my thoughts and actions. I was going to settle this once and for all.
If the girl would not leave, and if I could not harm her, then I would make her leave. Call the Cullens and make them come retrieve her- or somehow arrange an 'accident' which would never be able to retraced to me.
Right now though- I would tell her exactly what I thought of her, and frighten her into leaving.
Making sure no other humans were within distance of sight, not that I would have minded draining a few others dry- but it would be a distraction, I leapt easily over the wall, and flew back to Volterra.
Reaching the café- and intending to drag her out kicking and screaming for all I cared- I realized she was no-longer there. Dammit!
The meddlesome girl had probably gotten herself lost, and now I would have to spend time finding her. I stopped myself quickly. It was better if she was lost. Perhaps it would teach her a lesson.
Against my will, I followed her scent- why had the Cullen boy said it smelled of flowers? It obviously did not. No-one, except perhaps a florist, smelled of flowers - I mentally cursed myself. These sorts of pointless sarcastic thoughts were the very ones that the human had likely implanted into my skull.
Her scent- still quite potent, barely two minutes old, led down a few streets into a dark alleyway. How foolish was the girl? Then another scent pervaded my senses. Vampire.
There were two of them I could tell that much, one, old- very old, almost as old as my brothers and I. The other was a newborn, their scent still mixing with the blood of their previous life. And mixed with them was the girl.
I groaned inwardly. This was exactly why I needed to be rid of the girl. She stumbled into trouble everywhere she went. However I would not worry unduly. The vampires knew that it was against the law to hunt in Volterra. Unfortunately the girl would be safe.
Slightly curious however, as to why the vampires did not merely come to the palace if they wanted an audience, I perched atop a nearby roof, to listen to the going-ons. The mortal- foolish human, was trying to talk to them. "If you're looking for the Volturi they're by the castle." Her voice was shaky.
Idiot! She just made known that she knew of vampires!
The older vampire- the one who's scent stunk of age chuckled lightly and replied. "Oh no… I am not looking for the Volturi- their end will come soon enough."
My hands gripped the brick edge of the roof, the mortar slowly crumbling beneath the pressure. Our end would come soon enough? This vampire was clearly a traitor. I should dispose of him immediately.
"Okay?" Isabella tried to retreat, but her irritating clumsiness which always revealed itself at the worst of times, came into play, and she tripped over and was caught by the newborn.
Perfect. Seeing as the newborn was distracted, I should take care of the older vampire. I tensed, ready to spring. I had the element of surprize, and my gift, although I preferred to use it as a last measure.
However the girl got in the way yet again. "What do you want?" she asked.
It was always the same question. Especially seeing as the girl knew that they were vampires.
"Well you were foolish enough to let on that you knew the Volturi." The old vampire commented. "At first we were merely going to drain you as a message to the Volturi, that even their sacred city is not safe…. But now- tell me girl, how do you know of the Volturi, and vampires- and why have they left you alive for so long?"
I clenched my fists. The vampire was going to hunt in our city? Even though I would not miss or regret the loss of that one infuriating human, I was more concerned for Volterra's reputation. These two vampires were going to die.
I was yet again readying myself to attack, when the girl spoke again. I wanted to grab handfuls of my hair and tear them out by the roots. This was beyond belief!
"That's none of your business."
Did the girl have no sense of self-preservation? Futile as her pitiful bravery was, she should get out of the way.
They bantered for a few seconds, seconds of which I was contemplating leaving the girl there to die, then coming back and destroying the two vampires once the girl was out of the way. Three birds with one stone.
The sarcasm was getting to me.
"You are stalling," The older vampire finally realised. "Who do you think will be coming for you?"
Smart.
"No one. And I want to know why you want to know before I tell you what I know." The girl's lying was getting better. However she probably believed that I was not going to save her. She did not even know I was here. I was still thinking.
The vampire laughed, "Such fire." Then his hand came around, slamming the girl with enough force so that she was thrown onto one of the nearby alley walls. The one directly beneath me to be specific.
Should I go to her aid? There were far more reasons to not save her than to keep her alive.
She was now searching for a weapon. As if she could think that she was a match for our kind. As she was dragged upwards by the throat by the elder vampire, I saw her fingers close around a long steel bar. Completely pointless.
Should I go? Should I attack?
The vampire was leaning in now, slowly, to torment the girl. The newborn, who was exercising excellent control, was standing a few steps behind.
If I left the girl to her death, and destroyed the vampires after, I could merely say I was too late. Aro, even if he discovered the truth would not be able to do anything, and the Cullens- they would never know. Even the boy- the mind reader. Should I?
Before I could decide- the vampire's teeth were almost at the girl's throat, she reacted, like someone had injected her with lightning. She swung the pole around with surprizing strength, slamming it into the vampire's stomach. He staggered- most likely from the unexpectedness of the motion, there would be no way that the blow would have affected him physically, then reached out and pinned the girl back to the wall.
The motion had been entirely useless and done nothing but anger the vampire, this girl was exceedingly confusing, and it was obvious there was something wrong in her brain.
"I was going to make it quick for your after you told me what you knew. A thank you- if you will, but now you've Really. Pissed. Me. Off." The drama of the situation made me want to laugh.
The vampire- theatrical to the point of overly dramatic as Aro, was taking his time. I still hadn't decided.
The human then began saying her farewells. The ridicule of the situation made me want to roll my eyes, which I did. Who did she imagine was going to hear her?
"I love you Edward, I love you Alice, I love you Charlie, I love you Renee, I love you Jane, I love you Jasper, I love you Emmett, I love you Angela, I love you Felix, I love you Demetri, I love you Mike, I love you Jacob, I love you Carlisle, I love you Esme,"
I was slightly amused to hear that she loved the Cullens and Felix, Jane and Demetri yet repulsed that she said the name of her mate first.
"I love you Rosalie, I love you Alec….. Caius…."
I was just about to turn and leave until they were done with her- I had finally decided. She could die for all I cared. I would merely come and clean up in a few seconds. The human was of now consequence. I might actually drag the elder vampire to the palace with me for Aro to see his plans for the Volturi's demise when I heard he girl mutter my name.
My eyes widened by a fraction. Why the hell was she saying my name?
If she so much as muttered the words 'love' and my name in the same sentence, I would resurrect her from the dead just so I could send her back to Hades myself. Pitiful humans. Always so free with the word love.
I stopped. I would enjoy her demise.
"Caius..."
I smiled vindictively.
"Caius…. You piss me off."
What?
I was slammed back into reality.
I attacked.
~~~(O.o)~~~
I dropped from the roof, landing a few meters away from the vampire who was poised over Isabella, tearing off one of his arms with a screech of tearing metal. He released the girl who dropped to the ground.
Snarling with fury, the now one-armed vampire stood, leaning forwards slightly, ready to leap. His hood fell back, revealing his face.
I knew him. The skin, even paler than my own, was a ghostly colour and the features were sophisticated and unmistakable. The scent… Now up close it was clear. "Stefan." I regarded him coolly. My gaze shifting between him and the newborn.
The Romanian straightened, brushing dust from his clothes. "Ah Caius." He replied smoothly. "Protecting mortals now are you?"
I ignored his comments. Stefan was not a physical threat, but his words were poison. Vladimir was the skilled fighter. I could end these two with ease. However I needed Stefan alive.
"Do stand still while I dispose of your companion dear cousin." I told him. A pity he was related to Sculpia. I disliked the image of us being related to the Romanian scum. However the titles were useful for mocking. Damn the human and the petty thoughts she had planted in my head!
It was obvious that Stefan felt the same way.
He scowled at me, the girl trembling behind me all but forgotten. "I will look forward to watching you burn dear Volturi filth. You have sat on a throne which you stole for far too long."
I jerked my head irritably. "So it is you who have been attacking several covens loyal to the Volturi and been destroying small towns to the south?"
Stefan nodded, grinning cockily. I wanted to tear the smile from his frozen face. "Ah yes. And I am sure you will recognize some of our newest recruits." He gestured in the direction of the palace. "We have found many new allies in different continents and I believe you have met Deamin. The werewolves are always eager to slaughter-"
They were allies with the werewolves? Stefan and Vladimir had to be stopped.
"-regardless of the situation, and I believe you will meet one with whom you harbour a certain grudge- I believe the werewolf that killed your dear wife Athenadora, oh she was fun to burn don't you thin-"
Fury, anger, loss and desire for vengeance collided in a single explosive moment. Losing reason, I sprung at Stefan. He dared mention my wife? He was not worthy to speak her name- I would end him if it was the single thing I wished to accomplish in life.
Something slammed into me, knocking me into the wall, which crumbled under impact. The newborn had interfered. I would destroy him first.
I attacked like a whirlwind, my anger fuelling me on. The newborn merely had strength, no skill. I tore him in half before he could even touch me. An insignificant part of me complained that it was harder to move encumbered by my cloak and suit underneath. I snarled and shoved the thought aside.
I stared down at the remains of the newborn. "Burn." I hissed, and my hand burst into flame.
Instantly a searing pain built in my hand, edging its way down my arm. I set the newborn on fire, before quickly extinguishing the flame in my hand.
I scowled angrily at my now blackened and scorched palm. Every time. I reprimanded myself.
I stalked outside immediately realizing that Stefan was long gone. I cursed in Latin. He would have had a head-start the spineless cur, and I was burdened by this human. I would not be able to catch up with him.
With an oath, I swung around to face the girl. "And what did you think you were doing?" I yelled at her. Perhaps it was unnecessary to yell, but my frustration that Stefan had escaped was overflowing. The stench of burning vampire only added to my anger. "If you had not involved yourself, then I could have captured Stefan!" I exploded.
The girl didn't cower away. Her façade of bravery was grating on me. Her so-called 'guts' and spirit were useless. She couldn't protect herself, she was a burden, and was a complete waste of time, energy and effort.
My eyes were seeing red again, ironic considering that my eyes were red. The thought only angered me more. I was about to continue when I heard a heartbeat in the room where I had recently destroyed the newborn. The owner of the room probably. His scent floated over to me.
Without thinking, I leapt at him and sunk my teeth into his neck. The flow of blood was instanous and instantly satisfying.
When his heart had stopped, I flung his body on top of the steadily burning purple fire, turning back to face the girl.
She was angry. "Why did you kill that man? You're a monster! He didn't do anything!"
She was not afraid that I had just killed a man in front of her- she was indignant.
My fury returned so quickly it was as if it had never left. "Look here girl-" I snarled. It was easier to refer to her nameless. Humans were not important enough to harbor names. "-we are monsters. You knew it the day you decided to plunge yourself into our world you ignorant child- We kill. This is what we do. You have lived for what would be only a blink of an eye in our world, and you think you can judge our actions?" I was towering over her. "You know nothing. I knew it from the second you walked into our halls, clinging to that boy's arm. You are a burden, someone who leeches off others, completely unable to fend for your own. And you think you have spirit? Courage? Perhaps even gall enough to stand up to a vampire? Why then, the instant you are about to die, you lose all your courage, all your will, and become a trembling cowering slave sprouting meaningless goodbyes? I will tell you now that all you pitiful attempts, your worthless words, are useless and the only way your being would be appreciated is burning on a pyre- and even that would be too good for you. No. You burdened us all the moment you entered our world. Pathetic!" I spat. "If you cannot accept that killing is part of our lives, then you should have run the moment you discovered our secret. Now, the best thing that could ever happen to you would be the day when I arrive at your door and snap your pitiful neck."
Still shaking with barely controlled fury, I turned and stalked away. The rage still burnt through me, but slowly dimming. I set out for the palace, not running, but barely walking. I did not care much anymore if the girl was following. She could burn with the newborn for all I cared.
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