Summery
"In
the aftermath of the newborn war the Cullens celebrate their triumph
against Victoria, little do they know that their victory will be short
lived. A visitor comes calling that could change Bella's life forever."
Rated: Mature - Romance/Fantasy - Chapters: 15 - Caius/ Bella
~ Teaser ~
~ Caius’ Point of View ~
For not the first time in my vampire life, I felt utterly helpless. Watching her fall apart, turning in on herself as the weighty grief fell upon her. Tears were already pouring from the depths of her soul and there was nothing I could do to comfort her, my mate.
Anger quickly replaced the quilt I felt for taking her from her father, for not protecting him better. I knew that this man, her only kin of worth was everything dear to her in the world and now that light was gone. Her dead eyes turned to mine, pleading to me to tell her in was all some ridiculous hoax, that it was a lie.
But it was not a falsehood, a fib or an invention of the imagination. Charles Swan was of the deceased and not even I, with all my abilities and strength could bring him back.
My black heart swelled and constricted with her inconsolable wails. Her cries seemed to touch the heavens and I could do not but look beseechingly to my brothers for help. They knew no more than I of how to deal with the situation, but Marcus, the sentimentalist of us three pulled my Isabella into his arms, just as her eyes rolled up and she succumbed to her own pain.
Red tainted the edges of my vision as my glowing scarlet eyes transfixed on my target. While it was true, Edward had been the one to execute the order for the head of Charles Swan, I still blamed the one who promised me no harm would come to the man.
~ Aro’s Point of View ~
Animalistic and fierce, my pale haired brother rose from underneath the long stemmed legs of his mortal princess. His booted feet pounding upon the polished marble of Marcus’s study with the thundering force of an earthquake and I realized with a shutter what he intended to do.
As much as I favored all the children of Carlisle, for one reason or another, I did not envy the blonde Major, the once feared vampire of the Southern Wars. Caius had never, since my knowledge held an even temper, but the pain radiating in his eyes frightened me. He was out for blood and I prayed to the heavens for Carlisle’s sake that he didn’t interfere.
“Incompetent,” he hissed, circling the blonde man who in his foolishness had the gall to glare back. “You have lost your edge, Majeur.”
Golden eyes cut to the crimson eyes of my brother as lips pulled back against sharp, straight teeth. “It was not my intention for her father to die. I thought the natives would protect him, I obviously miscalculated.”
“Erreur de calcul!” He thundered, grasping at the shaken vampires collar and hoisting off the floor. The Italian leather of his loafers squeaking against the floor as he swayed and struggled to find purchase on my brother’s infallible grip. There was nothing he could do.
“I warned her!” Jasper spat, cutting his cold black eyes to Isabella. “I warned her to stay away from him, from my family! Charlie’s death was her own folly!”
I’m positive my mouth was hanging open at this point and as I looked about the room I could tell I was not the only one suffering acute shock.
Marcus hissed, spitting venom in the blondes direction and clutching our future Queen tighter to his chest. The largest of Carlisle’s boys had his bulking arms crossed, one over the other with the deepest frown I’ve ever seen settled on his brow. Even the covens mother-hen looked thoroughly disappointed and by all rights.
“Her own folly?” Caius hissed, his eyes glowing a deeper red than that of the blood running through Isabella’s veins. “You, Major are a coward!” he bellowed shaking the ground with the force of his growing voice. His hands tightening around the blondes neck with ever syllable uttered and I was far beyond angry to think of stopping him.
It was only when the skin of Jasper Cullen started to crack and flake like abused marble did the small seer gasp and cling to the arm of her father, pleading with him to do something. Apparently the vision of Caius ending her lover was more than she could bare, even if it was plain to my eyes that she thought her husband to be in the wrong.
Carlisle being the good natured man that he is, stepped forward, his face fearful but determined. “Please, I beg of you. Do not kill my son. If not for my sake than for the sake of Bella, she would never see her brother die for a mistake of the tongue.”
“Mistake of the tongue?” Marcus spat, leveling my old friend with a glare that threatened to burn him to ash where he stood. “You dare ask this in the name of Isabella? How dare you!”
“I must say Carlisle, you have always been one of my fondest companions but this you ask…” I trailed off letting the obvious hang in the air. Sighing I continued. “Caius, please release him.”
My brother who I have always looked to like a son didn’t even turn in my direction as he continued to apply pressure. The cracking sounds of Jasper’s flesh were almost sickening and I knew should Caius continued it would signal the end of the comradry I had worked so hard to preserve.
“Caius, that is an order!” I snapped raising my voice.
Marcus who had been sitting there silently, clenched his fists and set Isabella slowly off to the side before he stood from the sofa and strode to me with purpose. I had an idea of what he would do and what I would let him do to vent his anger. Without word he glared into my eyes just before his hand raised came down hard against my cheek.
“Have you lost what is left of your mind brother?” He demanded, his black eyes burning through my soul like white hot knives, stripping me to the bone.
“Leave,” the sweet voice of our Isabella carried over the shrieking of the mate of Jasper, over the snarls of both my brothers and the pleadings of Carlisle.
As she fled from the room, I couldn’t help but wonder what she might have been thinking and a strong feeling of guilt crashed over me, possibly from the projecting empath who finally realized the weight of his words.
We all stood there dumbfound and at a loss. Not even Caius knew what to do, but as his eye trailed to the door his Queen just walked through he tossed the Cullen boy to the ground and spat at his feet.
“Leave.” he snarled, his dangerous eyes flashing from one Cullen to the next. “You are not welcome in Volterra.” His eyes landed heavily on Carlisle who swallowed thickly before hesitantly crossing the room and picking up the small silver bobble Isabella had left in her wake.
Had Caius not been so hostile at the moment he might have noticed the pain in his eyes. As it was even though Jasper had survived Caius the look in Emmett’s eyes made me question the Major’s safety at home.
A heavy silence hung in the air until the clairavoient daughter of Carlisle stood up, her eyes taking on a look of terror right before a scream tore from her lips and see darted down the hallway toward Isabella.
Caius not even hesitating a second followed but as the scent of flowers hit the air I had a sinking feeling that we were already too late.
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