The test of a vampire : A Beauty and the Beast re-telling
Marcus dei Volturi x female OC
Caterina makes a deal with the Volturi master Marcus as to her duties and the length of her servitude to the vampire.
Chapter Three
The Master
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Caterina sat on her bed, unsure what to do. Marcus had more or less given her her first order. Join him for supper. His words were cold and to the point. But wasn't she just his employee in servitude? She didn't really expect him to treat her any better than he might have treated her father. She huffed and folded her arms. This was insufferable. Slavery should not exist in modern day Italy. The more Caterina thought about things, the hotter she got. No, I will not join him for supper, she decided.
It was nearly seven o'clock, and Felix would be here soon to take her to Marcus' rooms. When she heard the knock on the door, Caterina answered it.
Felix looked the human up and down, and frowned. "You're not ready. Master Marcus will not be pleased."
"Well, he's probably going to feel a lot worse, because I'm not going."
Felix stared down at the impudent female. "Miss, I would not risk your well-being making Master Marcus angry."
She turned and walked to the bed, sitting down on it. "Felix, I am duty-bound to work here. It doesn't mean I have to have supper with him. He can send me a list of my duties, along with the wheres and whens, or confer with you so that you may tell me." She folded her arms again for emphasis.
Felix didn't know what to do apart from flinging her over his shoulder and dragging her to Master Marcus' chambers. "Very well, Miss. I'll go let Master Marcus know you won't be coming." He turned to leave but before leaving, he said, "I really wish you wouldn't do this." Then he left her room.
Caterina wondered if Marcus was that impatient or that cruel. It didn't seem Felix was afraid of him, but more that he was afraid for her. She grabbed her book off the side table and lay back on the bed to read. In moments, there was a pounding on her door. "Shit!" she grumbled low. She never cursed in front of her father, but she was in a mood.
"Open this door, Caterina!"
"No! I told Felix to tell you to relay my duties to me through him. Now go away! I won't be joining you for supper, Marcus."
Felix ventured into the situation on behalf of the human. "Master Marcus, perhaps a calmer approach would be better. Courtesy would do more to allay her fears than shouting."
"She refused me an order, Felix. Until she decides to have her meal with me, she can starve. And she will stay in her room until she learns courtesy toward her master."
Wincing at the words, Felix nodded, waiting until Marcus left the corrider to speed back to his own rooms. He then knocked on the door, saying, "Miss, it's Felix. Master Marcus has left. You heard his orders?"
The door opened, a tearful Caterina looking up at the tall guard. "Oh, Felix, what am I going to do?" She turned to let him in while she walked to the window, looking outside. "I'm willing to work as it's my obligation, but he is being so...so...oh, I can't even articulate what I'm trying to say."
Felix wanted to comfort the woman for some reason. He hoped Master Marcus had found the answer to his problem, and if he was unable to at least be civil to her, all might be lost. "Are you sure you won't let me take you to him?"
"No, thank you, Felix. I'll be all right. I'll just shower and go to bed. Good night." She waited for him to leave, then locked the door behind him.
Pacing the floor, Caterina thought about her future. She felt that if she capitulated now, Marcus might feel more emboldened to treat her badly. "Oh hell with it!" she said aloud. She went to the wardrobe and got out her nightgown, and proceeded to the bathroom. Turning on the water to as hot as she could tolerate, Caterina enjoyed her shower. The toiletries left for her were fragrant, smelling slightly floral but not sickeningly so. When she was finished, she got out of the bathtub and grabbed a towel off the rack. She dried her hair and body, pulling on the nightgown. She used the hair dryer because going to bed with wet hair annoyed her. When her hair was dry enough, she set down the dryer and leaned against the sink. Tears flowed when she wondered what her father was doing. Had he eaten supper? Was he missing her as much as she missed him?
Rinsing her tear-stained face, she decided she would lie down and read awhile before going to sleep. This first night away from home would be the hardest. And now her traitorous stomach was grumbling. Oh well, she could do without a meal tonight to make her point. Caterina lay down and read her book until she felt she could stay awake no longer.
In his own rooms, Marcus was at his desk, thinking about the woman who was to be his for as long as he demanded. She was disobedient and arrogant, possessing a fiery spirit that intrigued the ancient vampire. She didn't seem to fear him, but she didn't yet know his true nature. Marcus felt he had blundered tonight, but he had to show her who was in charge here, and that she owed him respect. He would wait to see how long it took for her to concede.
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The next morning, Caterina was just finishing dressing, when she heard a low knock. She went over to the door and asked, "Who is it?" A voice she'd not heard before answered.
"It's Demetri. Felix sent me."
Caterina opened the door to find a handsome young man with dirty blonde hair and dark blue eyes holding a tray. She let him in and watched as he set the tray on the desk.
"Felix said you might be hungry."
"Demetri, is it? What if Marcus finds out you and Felix arranged for breakfast?"
"We'll probably be punished. Tell you what. Go ahead and start eating, I'll take the tray back, and no one will be the wiser."
She grinned, seeing a full hot breakfast on a plate. She removed the plate and utensils, and a cup filled with coffee, and handed the tray back to Demetri. As he headed for the door, Caterina said, "Thank you, and tell Felix I thank him as well. Please don't get caught."
Demetri gave the woman a smile and quietly left. What Caterina didn't know was, it was Marcus, not Felix, who had ordered breakfast be sent to her. He also wanted Demetri to meet her personally. If she ever tried to run away, he would be able to track her now.
Truthfully, Marcus felt bad about their misunderstanding, and he wanted to be sure she did not go another day hungry. Somehow he hoped to make things up to her. He still wanted her to clean his rooms and office, but not out of fear, and not with anger towards him.
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Making one more attempt at gaining her cooperation, Felix came to Caterina's room. She let him in with a smile, grateful for her one, maybe two, friends here.
"Good morning, Miss. Are you well? Did you enjoy breakfast?" He stood solidly in front of her, his hands folded in front of him.
"Yes, thank you. It was wonderful. And who is this Demetri? If he a friend of yours? He seemed very nice." She placed her hands on her head, huffing loudly. "All I want to do is get my time started and do my job so I can go home!"
Relieved, Felix asked, "Does this mean you will give Master Marcus another chance? He will see you whenever you're ready."
Surprised, Caterina thought a moment. She pursed her lips and nodded. "Yes! Let's get this out of the way." She ran to the bathroom and brushed her teeth and hair, applied a sheer layer of lip stain, and sat on the bed to put on her shoes. She stood and inhaled, then exhaled. "Lead the way, Felix."
The pair headed for Marcus's room, and one more chance to start on the right foot.
Once they came to the carved wooden doors, Felix went in first, then waited for Caterina to enter. He stepped outside, and was about to close the doors but not before Caterina hissed at him, "Don't leave me here alone." It was too late. She turned around and looked around the room. Then she saw Marcus enter from the bedroom.
"Please sit down. We will talk and only talk. No meal involved." Marcus held out his hand at the sofa. Once he saw Caterina seated there, he took his place on a nearby chair.
Caterina peered over at Marcus. He seemed less annoyed with her, filling her with a sense of relief.
When Marcus saw she wasn't going to say anything, he took the lead. "I will explain your duties to you now, and show you the way to my office, which you will also be responsible for keeping clean.
"Yes, sir," she replied, causing Marcus a moment's pause. She had called him 'sir'. "Please call me Marcus."
"Yes, Marcus."
Her formal tone did not please him. Perhaps Felix was right. A calmer, more friendly approach might help her relax towards him. Standing, Marcus asked her to accompany him to the bedroom.
"What?" she asked, her expression one of shocked indignation.
Marcus suppressed a smile. "So that I may show you what I expect you to do."
Caterina tilted her head, her expression unchanged.
"To clean," Marcus clarified, amused in the thoughts obviously running through her mind.
"Oh, alright then," she said, just wanting this interview to be over.
Marcus headed into the bedroom, Caterina following behind him. "This bed rarely gets used." He noticed pink suffuce her cheeks, making her even more attractive. "What I meant is I don't require much sleep. However, I want the bedspread kept dust free and straightened." He walked slpwly around the room, detailing her chores to keep his room acceptable. "And please, do not touch anything that is not included on the list of things to clean."
"No, Marcus! I would never snoop in your things. I am trustworthy."
He looked down at her, forcing himself not to grace her with a smile. "I know you are. Or you would not be here. Follow me now," he said, leaving the bedroom and going to the doors. He opened them allowing her to leave the ante-room first. Then he went into the corridor, closing them. They walked down the corridor together, when Marcus said, "Watch our path and memorize it, so you will know how to get to my office. Do not vary the path or you will get lost. This castle is large, with several floors. I would not want you to end up in areas you don't belong."
Once they arrived at his office, Marcus opened the door for her, and showed Caterina what he wanted her to do to satisfy his need for cleanliness.
She glanced around the large room, noticing his choices in art. She envied him the paintings and statuary he had displayed here.
"Come with me to the housekeepers' storage room. There you will find cleaning solutions, rags, aprons, and buckets."
"Marcus, when is the best time for me to begin my day's chores?"
"I will give you time to get ready and have your breakfast which is served every day at eight o'clock. You will eat with the rest of the staff in the kitchen. Is that all right with you?"
"Of course! I'd love to meet other staff here, even I'm not staying for long."
Marcus heard her words. If his heart was beating, he would have felt it tighten within his chest. She was still eager to leave.
"Begin at nine o'clock. If I'm working at my desk or am absent, feel free to do your duties. Only if I am lying on the bed, reading or resting, take care of the office first, then return to my rooms. Once your duties have been completed, you're done for the day."
He hoped with time, she would change her mind and decide to stay with him. He was already drawn to her, and not just because she could be his savior. But in the end, it had to be her choice, for both of them.
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Over the next week, Caterina began to learn a routine. She met the other staff who worked in the castle for breakfast, then proceeded to do her day's work. She was slightly annoyed that Marcus' behavior towards her was still impersonal, but she tried not to let it get to her. After all, she would be gone soon. She worked hard to impress her employer so that she would be released soon, her obligation fulfilled. She had dared ask him once if she could call her father and he had brusquely refused. Caterina accepted his reply, wanting to avoid feeling depressed.
She enjoyed cleaning Marcus' office, able to take the time to examine the artwork there. She had not yet asked him if they were geniune or copies. Feeling he was wealthy, it was more and more unlikely they were fakes.
When her chores were done, she would talk with Felix or Demetri, asking about the people who lived here. Where they related? Was it some kind of club or cult? Both men were ready with answers to her questions, maybe too ready, as if they had rehearsed their replies. While she found Felix caring about her needs, behaving more like a friend, Demetri tended to flirt with her. She didn't mind as he was rather handsome, but that was not why she was here. Still, he was much better than Guiseppe. Demetri did not smoke or drink alcohol, and smelled so good. Pushing those thoughts from her head, she admitted she was finding herself more comfortable here.
One day, having finished her work earlier than normal, Caterina wandered from the supply room down the corridor Felix had earlier led her, taking her back to her room. She took a side corridor, curious about seeing areas he had not shown her. There were double doors on either side, all closed and all locked. She finally came to one door, finding it unlocked. She pushed it open and saw a room with very little furniture. It was dark and obviously wasn't being lived in. The only light was the ambient sunlight streaming through two windows. Sitting in the center of the room was a round table measuring about five feet across. Sitting on the table was a marble bust of a beautiful young woman. Next to it was a crystal vase holding one perfect pink rose.
It was almost as if someone had created a tribute, probably to the woman the carved bust represented. Caterina bent to look at the bust. The work was exquisite. Her fingers glided over the cool marble as she traced the cheeks, the eyes, and the lips. She moved to the vase, and sniffed the sweet fragrance of the rose. Who was this woman, and who had arranged the display?
The door suddenly opened, a shadow falling over Caterina. Squinting, she stood straight and saw it was Marcus.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice low and rumbling.
Caterina began to tremble. "I'm sorry. I was just looking around and I found this room."
"You do not belong in here. Get out now!" Marcus, in his anger at the unwanted intrusion, moved toward Caterina. "OUT!
She backed away slowly, before turning and running out the door. She ran down the corridor, but became hopelessly lost and ended up at a door that led outside. She saw a driveway, and a wrought iron gate. This must be where the cars leave from and re-enter the castle grounds. She ran up to the gate and pulled one side open, running out to the street that led to the main road into the village.
She couldn't go home. That would be the first place they would look for her. Perhaps if she could get to a business that might let her use their phone, she could call her father to come pick her up. They had relatives in Genoa who would be able to hide them, if they could get there.
Caterina looked back at the palazzo. For a few days, it had finally become pleasant. Until Marcus' angry display. She decided she just couldn't stay there anymore, feeling it wasn't safe for her. She had to get home, so she ran.
A/N : Oh no, Caterina has broken a major rule. You never run away from the Volturi.