With One Look

Chapter 8

Isabella's P.O.V.

It had been a few days since I'd spoken to Carlisle. I was so surprised to see him, standing here in the castle. To see that he had survived as I did all those years ago.

I know he said he wanted to speak with me, but I also knew that Aro had been keeping him rather busy. It seems the two of them were getting along pretty well and never tired of speaking to one another. I couldn't imagine what the two of them could possibly find to talk about for so long, but it left me no time at all to have our own conversation.

I wonder sometimes if it hadn't been Caius who set it up just so Carlisle and I never got our chance to speak. I know Caius didn't like the idea of me conversing with Carlisle, even though he said it was alright. I didn't need any kind of gift to feel how jealous he was of Carlisle, even when I told him he had nothing to worry about. He knows I'm his and no one else's.

It's true that I worried about Carlisle at the time when he saved me from the vampire so many years ago, and I also still think of him from time to time, wondering what had happened to him. I wondered whether he was dead or turned as I was.

Maybe it's just plain old curiosity, but Carlisle has never been far from my thoughts throughout the years. Maybe it was the same reason I followed him when we were human, keeping to the shadows, and even after I heard what his father had said to him before I followed him as he took to the woods . There was just something that drew me to him; I can't explain it really, it's so confusing to me. I think I just need to talk to him, get to know him a little better and to find out what happened after I fell, we fell. Maybe that's the link to my unanswered questions, that we fell at the same time. I need to see if that connected us in some way.

I still have this deep curiosity to find out how he survived all those years. I think once I hear what he has to say I'll stop thinking so much about him, my curiosity will be satisfied, and I can continue on with my life - my life with Caius with nothing and no one standing in our way - and we can live out our lives for eternity.

I shook off these thoughts and found myself becoming bored. I'd been cooped up in this room for far too long. I decided to go to the library, find a good book and take it to the garden and relax in the fresh air and read. I always felt better out there so that is what I did.

Once I reached the garden and walked slowly around this spectacular place, I felt a peace overcome me. I stopped at the fountain and ran my fingers softly through the water, sighing softly and letting the quiet engulf me. That's when I heard the soft voice from the corner of the garden.

"It's beautiful here, isn't it?" he said as I turned to find who spoke those words. It was Carlisle, sitting all alone. He must have had the same idea I had off finding a quiet place to relax and read. I smiled as I walked over to him.

"Carlisle, I was beginning to think I'd never get the chance to speak to you," I told him. He chuckled and nodded his head.

"Yes, Aro is quite the spokesman," he said with a smile. "Won't you come and join me? Unless you have another engagement," he said.

"No, I have no other engagements. As a matter of fact, I'm glad you're here. I've been wanting to speak to you," I replied.

"Is it something specific or do you want to just chat?" He asked with another one of those enchanting smiles.

"It's curiosity mostly. I worried about you when we first met after the attack on both of us, and since then I've thought about you from time to time. I wondered if that vampire killed you or if you survived the attack, and if you did what has happened to you during that time."

"I see. I too wondered what happened to you after that time, if you lived or if the vampire had killed you. I never dreamed I'd find you here with the Volturi. Heck, I never even knew the Volturi existed until I ran into another vampire that told me of the three brothers who rule the vampire world."

"I too was surprised, but my meeting was more dire I'm afraid, Carlisle. Caius found me when I came face to face with a werewolf. Caius killed him as the guard he had with him took out the rest of their pack, and he brought me here when he found out that I had no knowledge of the vampire world," I told him.

"Werewolves?" He said with a shudder. "I've never had that pleasure, thank goodness. I'm glad Caius was there for you. That must have been very frightening for you," he said.

"Yes, it was, but Caius saved me, just as you saved me from the vampire," I said.

"I don't think saving you is the right word, Isabella. You were turned at that time as was I, but save you...no, I did not," he said sadly.

"Carlisle, that vampire could have drained me dry and would have, had you not drawn his attention. I may have been turned, but I didn't die, well, not completely anyway," I said with a chuckle. He didn't say anything else, only shook his head and looked down at the book he held in his hand. "Will you tell me what happened after the vampire pushed me away?" I asked. He looked up at me with a frown, and then began.

"When I saw the vampire bite you I knew I had to get his attention away from you. I was still alive after he tossed me into a tree. It did something to my back and I couldn't get to my feet so I crawled closer to the two of you and yelled at him, which got his attention and he threw you as he did me. He grabbed me and began to drain me dry when something drew his attention from me as well. I heard a sound, but I couldn't make out what it was. I'm sure with his vampire hearing he could, and dropped me and took off. I don't know how long I lay there burning, but when I woke it was still dark. I thought it was the same night considering I knew nothing about the transition period at the time," he explained. I nodded in understanding.

"Yes, that's what I felt when I woke. When I couldn't find you I thought that the vampire had killed you so I headed home. Knowing nothing about what I had become. Once I got home I found my mother and I was blinded with the b-b-bloodlust," I stuttered. I lowered my head as venom filled my eyes, and the guilt filled me once again. "I killed her," I whispered. I felt his hand take mine and give it a squeeze.

"It wasn't your fault. You didn't know what you were or what you were capable of. I think if she was here right now she would tell you the same," he said softly.

"Thank you. So tell me, what happened to you after you woke?" I asked still a little shaky, but still wanting to know.

"Well as I said, I thought it was the same day, and if I learned anything from my father it was about demons. From an early age my father drummed into my head about vampires, werewolves and other things that go bump in the night, and their feeding habits, so I knew a little about them, but nothing about their transition period. The first thing I did was look for you, but I couldn't find you. I wondered if he took you with him and prayed I was wrong, and then I thought maybe you had already woken from the burn and took off yourself. I prayed that you would be alright. It was then that I felt this horrible burning in the back of my throat. I knew from what my father had told me what it was, and I refused to kill a human to calm the burn. I suffered for days. I even tried to kill myself by jumping from a high cliff. I even tried drowning myself," he chuckled. There was no need for words to explain why we both chuckled. We both knew now that we didn't need air to breathe, but we wouldn't have thought of that back then.

"When all thoughts were exhausted on how to kill myself I was resigned to just starve myself. I found this cave and lay there for I don't know how long. It was then that I smelled this amazing aroma and it drew my weakened self from the cave. I dove for the creature I smelled and drained it of its blood; only then did I see it was a deer and it was also then that I realized I didn't have to kill humans to survive., So that's what I do now, I live on the blood of animals for my survival," he explained as I wrinkled my nose in disgust, and he chuckled when he saw my facial expression.

"You should try it, it's not as bad as it sounds, and it beats having to kill humans," he advised. He explained that he and Aro had talked extensively on the subject, but he had yet to talk Aro into trying his diet. I had to agree with Aro, it sounded disgusting.

"I, uh, don't think I'd be able to try that, Carlisle. I don't think my stomach could handle animal blood," I told him, still feeling a little sick at the notion.

"You're a vampire, Isabella. Your stomach's durable enough to at least try it," he told me.

After thinking about it for a few minutes I agreed I would try it, but with no promises of converting from human blood to animals. We continued talking for some time until the sky started to darken and I realized we had talked almost the entire day. He was so easy to talk with and I enjoyed our conversation. We decided it was time to retire and did so. Carlisle walked me back to Caius's and my room where we parted ways.

When I opened the door and entered our room I had a smile on my face from enjoying my day. Caius was there waiting for me and my smile dropped as I saw his face. He was obviously angry but was trying to hide it.

"Did you enjoy you day with our guest?" he asked a little forcefully.

"Yes, I did, Caius," I replied in the same manner.

"Then I take it you won't be spending any more time with the infamous Carlisle Cullen?" he asked.

"That depends on the length of his stay. I cannot run from him if we meet again now can I?" I asked demurely. He growled and stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him. I sighed, not knowing what else I could do to make Caius understand that Carlisle was just a friend. I know his mating bond with me was having trouble accepting that it was only that, being friends with Carlisle.

I resigned myself to thinking that Caius would have to work this out on his own. I changed into some clothing I could wear to hunt in and took off out of the castle, heading for the next town over. Once there I thought of what Carlisle had said and decided to try his diet. I went into the woods and was surprised to see Carlisle there. He must have had the same idea as I. He smiled when he saw me there in the woods and asked.

"Have you decided to try my diet?"

"Yes, I see no harm in at least trying it," I told him. He smiled and led me to where a herd of elk were drinking from a pond. He told me to let my instincts take over and that's what I did. I dove on one of the elk, sinking my teeth into his neck and drained him. When I dropped its carcass I scowled in disgust and turned to Carlisle who was just finishing draining his second elk. When he finished he laughed heartily at my facial appearance.

"Carlisle, that taste is disgusting, how can you live on their blood?" I asked.

"It does take a while to get used to, but to me it's better than killing humans. I have never tasted human blood so it was easier for me to adjust," he said with a chuckle.

"Well you can have your animal blood, Carlisle, I think I'll stay with my human criminal blood," I told him. He chuckled again.

"Well at least you don't drink from the sightseers that the brothers drink from," he said sadly. I nodded.

"Yes, I don't approve either, but it is not for me to judge. We are vampires after all, and humans are still our natural diet," I explained.

"I'm sorry, I meant no disrespect. I realize that the brothers are only following their true nature, I only offer a different way of life. It is up to you and the others to choose how you see fit," he said respectfully.

"No, Carlisle, I understand, but I must get back, Caius is probably looking for me. I hope to continue our conversation again soon," I told him.

"Yes, that would be very agreeable. Good night, Isabella," he said. I ran to the next town needing something more substantial to take the taste of that disgusting animal from my taste buds. I scoped out the area and after reading the minds of a few humans, found a murderer to quench my thirst and then headed back to the castle. I noticed that Caius still wasn't back so I washed up a bit and changed into something more comfortable. I grabbed a book and relaxed on the bed and read while waiting for Caius to join me.

xXx

Caius P.O.V.

I had finished with my daily duties and was walking back to my room when I passed the door leading to the garden and heard a familiar voice. I stopped and looked out the door to see Isabella and Carlisle speaking. They began to laugh and it sent a shock through my body. My jealousy raged as I instinctively ran to my destination, which was our room. I paced frantically waiting for my mate's return.

I waited for what seemed like hours, but in reality was only a few minutes, when I heard them say good night at the door. When Isabella walked into our room she was smiling, which pissed me off even further. When she saw my face I tried to cover my anger, but I knew I had failed when Isabella's smile faded from her face.

"Did you enjoy you day with our guest?" I asked a little forcefully.

"Yes, I did, Caius," she said back in the same manner.

"Then I take it you won't be spending anymore time with the infamous Carlisle Cullen?" I asked hopefully.

"That depends on the length of his stay. I cannot run from him if we meet again now can I?" she asked demurely. I growled, hating that she spent time with this man, this vampire. Instead of arguing with Isabella I stormed from the room and slammed the door behind me.

I needed to take my frustrations out on something so I fled to the training room and singled out one of the lower guardsmen, who shook when I told him to defend himself. I have to say he tried. He fought diligently, but in the end I tore him apart. I left Demetri to piece him back together and left for my office. On my way there Aro stopped me and pretty much ordered me into his office.

"What is it Aro, I have work to do!" I yelled.

"What has gotten into you, Caius? Beating one of the lower guardsmen, what has happened to put you in such a state?" he asked.

"Isabella and I had a argument, the reason why is none of your concern," I told him.

"Ah, I see. This is about Carlisle I take it?" I looked at Aro with surprise, how does he know these things when they just happened? I guess he knew what I was thinking when he answered my question, which probably showed on my face. "Caius, you should know that nothing gets past me in my own house, and you should also know that Carlisle is not a threat to you and your mate," he said. I just looked at him and growled.

"Why do you allow him to stay so long? He and his diet are disgusting. I want him gone, Aro, and the sooner the better," I argued.

"Carlisle is not threat to you or us. He has no gifts and he has a compassionate soul. I see no reason to send him away. You are just jealous of him and with no reason. If you wish to lose that sweet mate of yours keep up your state of mannerism and you will lose her. She will end her relationship with you and this coven will see her backside, and I for one do not wish to see her leave us. She is a great asset to us," he said.

I sighed, knowing he was right. I knew all he saw in Isabella was her gifts, but I saw something completely different, and I loved her with all I have. I just needed time to control my anger and then I would return to her and let her know how much I still loved her.

I left Aro's office and went into my own. I sat in my chair and leaned back with my hands behind my head, my fingers intertwined, staring at the ceiling. I thought of Isabella and Carlisle, and I knew they were only friends, but I felt there was something else going on - something none of us could see at the moment. I guess I felt that if he stayed around for any length of time he could possibly take her away from me, but Marcus hadn't said anything about there being any more than friendship between the two of them so why do I feel like there's more going on? I didn't know, but I did know that Aro was right. If I kept up this jealousy I held for this vampire, I would lose her and that is something I did not want.

After sitting there for most of the night thinking, I rose from my chair and ran to our room. Once inside I scooped my mate into my arms and kissed her passionately. "I'm sorry my love, I love you," I told her, bringing a smile to her face and another kiss that was led by her this time.

A/N: What did you think of Caius's jealousy? Does he really think that Carlisle could take her away from him or is he just jealousy to have Carlisle near her, period?" Let me know what you think...thanks for reading, huggs.