Corin POV

Bella was an interesting person to be around with. I wasn't sure what to think of her as I never spent time with her until today, but I honestly could see why everyone liked her. She was pleasant to be around- she wasn't one that would get into everyone's business or order the guards around like they are beneath her. She didn't do that.

Hell, she didn't do anything.

And perhaps, I didn't know what to expect with her, but I don't think a human should act like that. I knew she was broken because of that stupid idiot, whom I would be glad to see when he was gone, but I didn't realize how much until I was with her this afternoon. My undead heart felt like it was cracking, just from being with her.

I could get by the fact that she didn't like shopping, or the fact that she just wanted to be by herself. However, it just felt like she couldn't be herself around others, or perhaps- she was still thinking about the past and what was next in the couple of days. I couldn't fault her anxiety for that, but the feeling of the rush of discontentment in her, especially before we got to Caius's room, was almost too much to bear.

I was grateful for my gift that let me ease some of that tension, and I hoped she wouldn't notice that I'd nudged her a bit—just enough to clear away some of her anxiety and self-doubt. Not too much that she would have noticed, but sometimes there were things that you had to do and this was one of them.

That seemed to be my reasoning as I made sure that Bella felt comfortable in our presence as we went shopping together. I made sure that she felt content in the clothing that we chose, watching as the edge of her lips seemed to move in a smile when we found an article of clothing that she liked, or just the way that she seemed to be at peace by finally getting out of the castle, and away from the situation. We didn't allow her to dwell on her thoughts for a while and it seemed to help her. I didn't have to do too much using my gift, at least.

Yet, afterwards when the thrill of the shopping rush- one that I was glad that I was able to go out and be able to find new clothes- was when it started to really hit Bella. So I tried taking her mind off it, by asking her a simple question,

"Well what do you think Bella?" I asked as soon as we exited out of the store, as the door swung shut behind us. "I know shopping isn't for you, but we thought we'd give you the offer to head out… Besides, you are with the Volturi now."

"I know," She murmured, not meeting my eyes. Something must have caught her attention as she simply just stared at the fountain in the middle of the plaza, or she simply didn't want to hold eye contact. I could tell that her mind was on something, what I don't know- but I had to tell her,

"It's okay to not be adjusted quite yet… It's a bit of a big change, but we're here for you no matter what."

"Yeah… I know I enjoyed your company. I could see why Caius took a liking to you rather quickly. You have mellowed him out a lot since you arrived," Athenodora commented, joining the conversation.

I smiled- everything that Athenodora said was correct. Sometimes, she could be hard to deal with, but she always knew how people acted when it came to people's relationships. Sometimes, I thought it was because she had a secretive gift of her own, but she was just sometimes good at reading people and that was okay.

"So I heard," Bella replied, in the same matter of voice as before.

"It's a good thing. Mates are supposed to be compatible with each other. In the short time you've been here, you have changed Caius for the better. He is a lot less angry, more caring and isn't going to rip someone's arm off for pissing him off. He cares for you, deeply and honestly, I think he loves you, just like you love him… You two are just too stubborn to admit it," Didyme mentioned, taking Bella by the shoulders and grasping her ever so slightly.

"We just met- how could we have fallen in love with each other?" Bella asked.

That was a question I don't think anyone was actually expecting, but she was new at this, so I couldn't fault her for that. It was always so hard to explain to someone who's an outsider to all this in how it actually feels like when you meet your mate. There's no words to be able to describe the moment, or the moment when you actually fell in love. I've been with my mate for thousands of years and I couldn't remember my life before them- besides, it felt like there was something missing in life and it clicked as soon as I met them.

"I don't know, it just happens sometimes. Don't ask me to explain it- it's honestly hard too," Didyme told me. "But everyone, besides Athenodora, can explain to you what it feels like having a mate is like- if you're interested."

"Not really… I think I've heard the same comments several times," Bella said.

"And yet, it's the truth," Sulpicia mentioned, "You'll hear it until eventually you and Caius admit that you two love each other, or until you two end up in bed together. One of the two."

What. I was honestly not expecting Sulpica to go there, especially with Bella around. I mean, it's not like it was really a secret that we're just waiting for a I love you confession or hearing them actually have sex with one another as well all knew that one was coming, sooner or later. I just wasn't expecting Sulpicia to full-on admit like that.

Luckily, it seemed to kill the mood as no one was in much discussion after that. We headed back to the castle, with our bags in our hands.

"Bella, let me see your bags. I'll put them in your room," I told her as soon as we got to the front entrance. The only sound in the room besides the human's breathing and heartbeat was that her stomach started to rumble, meaning that she probably hadn't eaten anything for a while, maybe since yesterday. "You should probably eat something soon. I'm sure Athenodora doesn't mind taking you down to the kitchens, right?"

Athenodora looked at me for a few seconds before she finally caught on, "Sure. Besides, we don't want you to die from starvation, because you didn't eat something."

I watched as Athenodora took Bella down to the kitchens to give her something to eat, as I took her bags and headed off towards Caius's room- where she'd been staying for a while. I'm surprised that Bella had not minded in sharing a room, but her room, if she so desired in wanting her own room, was in progress.

I didn't know whether or not Caius was going to be in his room, but I took a guess as I knocked on the door and in a small voice, I said,

"Master Caius, it's Corin. I just want to drop off Bella's stuff that we got earlier here."

"Come in," came Caius's reply.

I opened the door and dropped Bella's stuff by her bed. It looked like Caius was in the middle of a painting for something; why he wasn't in his art studio was beyond me, but not my place to question it whatsoever.

"How was she?" Caius asked.

"She seemed quiet. It feels like she has a lot on her mind, and she's just trying to do everything she can to keep her mind off things. I don't know if it's hard to explain it, Master Caius. I'm sure you want to know that I did use my power on her to help," I told him.

Caius was quiet for about a minute or so before he replied, "I noticed… I just wish she would open up to me, and explain to me what is on her mind. I want to know what it is so I can make it better."

"Master Caius, if I may say something? That girl has been through a lot, and right now, I don't think her human mind has had enough time to process things, especially everything happening currently. Perhaps you should give her time?" I suggested.

It didn't seem like Caius had even heard I even said, as he simply asked another question.

"Did she say anything to you?" Caius asked.

"No… Like I said, give her some time. We are still strangers to her. She'll open up when she is ready," I told, rewording what I said before, hoping that Caius might actually get the hint this time and would simply leave the matter alone.

Although, most of that was just wishful he got like this- his mood would switch rather quickly. I'd be surprised if he kept his cool around me without breaking something.

"But it's not enough! I feel like I'm such a failure because I feel like she can't be happy. I know that idiot boy wrecked her, but I feel like there should be a lot more progress than this. Hell, she barely responds to her name half the time," Caius rambled, standing from the chair he was sitting on, all of a sudden before he grabbed a wooden table from nearby and threw it towards the wall.

The table shattered on impact, creating little pieces of wood- some of them with jagged edges. I knew it wasn't a good sign the moment he stood up, but sometimes, hope was better than nothing. I just hoped that he didn't turn his anger out on me and I would end up losing my head, or potentially, reattaching one of my body parts back to my body later.

I headed towards the door and held my hand on the doorknob, I looked back behind my shoulder and saw Caius seething, his fists clenched together tightly. As much as I knew I probably shouldn't say something, but perhaps it would help the situation,

"Perhaps you could try to show her that you are there for her, and will help her through her problems?"

Caius was rather quiet for a few seconds before he ordered me to leave. I didn't had to be told twice to quickly head out of there before he decided to change his mind, or throw something else- hopefully not at me. I didn't get very far away from Caius's quarters before I met up with Chelsea

"How did he get so angry?" Chelsea asked. "I'm surprised you didn't lose an arm, or a head, with the way he seemed to be."

"I got lucky, I suppose," I chuckled. "I just told him what he needed to hear. It's not my fault that he didn't like the answer and lashed out."

"You just got lucky," Chelsea commented. "Otherwise, I'd be helping you by attaching either your head or arm back to your body."

"I know I did."

Updated (November 4th, 2024): I love the fact that I am already like, I should go write this chapter instead of procrastinating, which was why this chapter was up the next day so hopefully it lasts. While writing this chapter, I had to look up whether or not Jasper's ability works on Bella (as I had to double check), and therefore, Corin does.