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Chapter Sixteen
~ Bella’s Point of View ~
Burning.
It was intense as anything I could ever remember being told about the change and yet I couldn’t find it in myself to cry out. I deserved this punishment of fire and brimstone.
What had I done?
I knew exactly what I had done, and as much as I might of wished it, I couldn’t take it back now. The damage was already done and from the moment Caius’s venom hit my bloodstream, I just knew. I could feel it burning its way through my system. His love for me was so… strong. It was all consuming.
What had I done?
Would have ever forgive me this slight I committed against him? Would I have done things differently had I known what I meant to him? I honestly didn’t know. I wanted to think I would, that I would never hurt him in such a way. But I didn’t know.
I guess I’m not quiet as perceptive as everyone gave me credit for.
It was always there. All the information I needed. It was there, right below the service of lust and the desire to be wanted but I never took the time to really look at the facts. I was too caught up in my own shit. My Edward shit.
God, I hated that name.
It invoked a fury in me every time it crossed through my mind like a snapshot. It was like a firecracker in the dark. A quick pop and then he was gone. And then it would be there again.
I didn’t scream. I didn’t deserve to scream. Through the pain I would repent. Repent for the sins of the mortal flesh.
And repent, I did.
For one hundred and sixty-eight hours.
Seven hundred and five thousand six hundred heartbeats, I repented.
Then along with my heartbeat… it stopped.
My senses became like a live wire now that the pain was gone. I could smell, hear, taste and feel everything. Somehow I knew that Caius had finally come back to me, even in his anger and was sitting at my side. His body radiated concern and agitation.
It was also made aware to me that Marcus and Aro resided in this room and had been for days on end, their sent was fresh and stale all at the same time. So I guessed I wasn’t alone as I thought throughout the horrible burn.
Then I noticed them. I wished I could tell myself that they smelled terrible, like you would imagine all villains would smell like. Evil and black. But they didn’t, and they weren’t. Not really.
The Cullens were far from the top of the list of my most favorite beings, in fact as of right now they ranked just a little more than Edward. That unfortunately, was also a lie.
I didn’t hate them, not all of them… really, not any of them. But their presence here bothered me. It was cruel reminder of all that I had lost and more so, of what I had done myself. Them being here was like an angry red wound over my heart that despite my new indestructible body, wouldn’t heal.
It pissed me off.
Exactly thirty seconds had passed since my heart had thudded to a stop for the last time and my revelations concerning myself, my love and the Cullen family.
And then I opened my eyes.
“I thought I told you to leave!”
~
~ Caius’ Point of View ~
She is as magnificent a creature as I had ever seen.
Dark locks framing a equally beautiful and terrifying face. She was a demon in a sirens shell and I was giddy with the thought of all she would accomplish here just on her ability to terrify alone.
She was a scorned woman personified.
Deadly.
Entrancing.
Mine.
I’ll admit I was just as terrified as my brethren when my beloved did not rouse from her sleeping death after the allotted seventy-two hours, though, I shouldn’t have been surprised. My girl was a befuddlement all her own. Even as a human she vexed me. Now, I was entirely sure that she would do it all the more so.
But what would come to pass now that she had woken… Did she remember me at all? Would she spurn me for leaving her to torment whist I grappled with my own temper?
Was I a fool to have left her?
Bright red eyes scanned the room, lit with the burning betrayal I could nearly feel stinging through her veins. A snarl passed her exceptional lips, flesh curling over the pointed fangs that left no doubts as to who had sired her.
She was mine in every since of the word and a strange sort of pride swelled in my chest every time I looked upon the poisonous beauty of her face.
“I thought I told you to leave,” she hissed, the room flinching with anticipated shutters as we beheld her glorious wrath. If ever before I doubted her perfection… this day would end them.
The small dark child of Carlisle stepped forward, not as brave as she was just moments before. Fools, the lot of them. “Bella,” she stated in a quiet, placating voice as she took another hesitant step. “We are here for you.”
My beloved chuckled, a bell like sound for certain but it was neither uplifting nor sweet. She was a reaper in this moment and I almost felt the need to feel sorry for the children of Carlisle Cullen…
This was no longer a woman they knew.
She was my goddess of darkness now, and I revealed in the unleashing of her.
“Ah,” she hummed wistfully, her beautiful pale legs slipping for the cradle of our bed to make first contact with her new life. “But what if I don’t want you here, Alice?”
“Bella, please do not be unkind, Alice was frightfully worried about you during your slumber.” Carlisle, the fool, interjected on his daughters behalf.
In honesty, I did not think it possible to ever understand this man. Not on any level. Perhaps it was because the man had never known betrayal. Perhaps it was nothing more than a naiveté, that he could not understand such things. Perhaps the man could not see beyond the ties of unconditional love.
Or what he thought unconditional love to be.
The manner in which he speaks makes me ill to the core. He stands there like a beacon of white light and purity and yet he makes excuses for his families treatment of my beloved.
A fleeting thought of his head removed from his shoulders makes me grin. A grin not unnoticed by the stunning creature at my side. Her dark brow lift with question and I but smile at her and mouth ‘later’.
She beams at me, the smile genuine and so stunning and dripping with desire that I force myself to still and bask in its glory. The guilt I feel burning through me at my own treatment of her will be paid for later. She may cleave the granite flesh from my bones if she so desires, as long as she wears that smile.
Desire laces through me as images flash through my mind of my dark princess, a blade of werewolf teeth in hand, supple skin and a rueful smirk.
My goddess.
“Leave,” the sound passes my lips without preamble, a snarl accompanies the sound, though it is not from the person I expected.
Marcus, has a look of such rage on his usually bored face that I smile at him. He hisses again, this time at Carlisle who has taken a step in our Lady’s direction.
“Bow before royalty, fools of Cullen.”
Carlisle looks well and truly shocked by my brother’s outburst but bends by knee, the others following. My Isabella giggles at the gesture. It is far to sweet a sound to come for such a damned face and it sends another shiver of desire crashing through my body.
“Leave,” I tell them again, my eyes settling on the short dark haired one above all others. It is her and her husband that demand most of my ire, though none are in my good graces… except the big one. His wife as well.
“Caius,” My lovely calls, tugging gently at my hand. I peer down into deep red irises, longing for a stolen moment alone that I may reaffirm my devotion of her. “I want Emmett and Rosalie to stay, if they want to, that is.”
My eyes narrow and fly to their faces… I cared not if they wished to stay. I would chain them to our chamber walls for an eternity if it was her wish. They smile and nod, hesitant but with happiness. They wish to stay, but I could smell the worry on them. They were frightened of me.
“Of course,” I rumbled, my free hand ghosting across the pale fruit of her cheeks and I cannot resist the urge to curl my clawed hand down the silky column of her neck. “What ever you wish, beloved.”
From the corner of the room, Marcus snorts and Bella growls. “Shut up, brother, or shall I find something heavier to throw than a mere vase?”
From the rooms in the distance, Sulpicia and Dora are practically howling with laughter. I know that they cannot wait to great their new sister, and personally I would have much preferred their company than to which stands there gaping like dying amphibians.
“Bella,” The little dark haired one called again, this time looking frightened but oddly determined for a vampire about to be exiled from Volterra. “Please don’t send us away. Jasper-”
At his name a snarl passes from various corners of the room. She pauses, thinking herself through before speaking or perhaps she was checking for a vision before she continued. “He wishes to apologize for… for well, everything.”
“Apologize?” Marcus shouts in disbelief, his thundering voice quaking the very bowls of the castle.
It was perchance unwise to assume anything at this stage of the game being played here amongst us, but it was hard to see this argument ending in anything but bloodshed. Marcus was inexplicably drawn to my fiery queen, in ways I was still somewhat uncertain of. Even so, he was fiercely protective and he was becoming frighteningly agitated with our unwelcome quests.
Many of our great race knew very little about Marcus beyond the demise of his beloved Didyme and in her death, the demise of himself. One thing that had been sorely forgotten over the many millennia that my dear brother had sequestered himself behind these very walls, was his vile temper. Which I was fortuitously bequeathed to watch rise like the bird of fire from its very ashes.
Waiting patiently was never one of my virtues so when the slapping of heels against stone tore my attention from the bickering family of vampires before me, I growled.
“Oh hush, brother,” Came the tinkling laugh of my sister as she all but pushed her way through the stunned Cullens and moved to embrace my beloved.
“You are absolutely stunning,” she whispered in a light, baiting tone. “but then again, I told my brother upon meeting you that you would be.” she laughed, turning and holding her hand out for Sulpicia who seemed a tad more hesitant to approach a newly mated, freshly woken newborn.
“Come now, Picia… there’s no need to be shy. Isabella will not harm you, will you Isabella?”
Bella looked upon my sister as one would look on a madman but shook her head, confirming what we all already knew. My goddess wished to hurt only those who had hurt her and Sulpicia was not on the chopping block as of yet.
“Are you well, Isabella?” Aro’s wife finally spoke as she gathered her courage and joined with the others of her station.
“Thirty,” my darling croaked, her body trembling with need and for a moment I had to remind myself that she was hungry and in no way ready for my passions.
“Shall we take you to feed, Bella?” Carlisle asked, foolishly opening his mouth once again. And like other times before, Marcus and myself included snarled at him.
But it was my sister who laughed. “You silly people. You really think my brother would subjugate his own Lady wife to that disgusting excuse for nourishment you feed yourselves?”
Carlisle seemed shocked by the questing, as did his wife and daughters but the big one was fighting a chuckle and losing his grip fast.
The little one gasped, holding a hand to her breast as if her heart might arrest at the very suggestion of my queen fulfilling herself with a habitual diet of human blood. As I said, imprudent they all were in their behavior.
“You don’t mean that!” she nearly shrieked and I had to tramp down the urge to cover my ears while simultaneously removing her silly head. “Bella would never take a human life.”
The woman in question growled low, her fists tightening at her side as she fought control of her raging temper. Another swell of pride swirled within my veins at the sight. Any typical newborn would have already attacked just from the sheer volume of the wee ones voice, forget the threatening tone behind it.
As my sister narrowed her eyes, I could see the insults forming on her tongue. Though, before she could attempt to open her mouth, my dangerous little snake of a woman, struck.
“I would rather take human life than end up deranged squirrel-sucking monsters like you.”
Carlisle went to object to his families scolding but was stopped surprisingly by a flick of Aro’s hand. Apparently he too wished to hear my beloved speak her peace at last.
“You called me family…” she scoffed, her gleaming crimson orbs rolling to the ceiling in a strange human custom I still found hard to grasp before they clinched into dangerous slits as she aimed her glare at each and every one of them. “Where was my family while I suffered for months at Edward’s cruel words? Where was my family when Charlie thought I was nuts and damn near had me committed? Where were you when-”
Carlisle stepped forward again, this time with a look of heartbreak in his eyes. “Bella we have apologized for our misgivings and you know in your heart how broken up we all were when we were forced-”
“Forced my ass!” she bellowed and while my brothers and sisters all tittered together, I’ll admit I found it hard to bite back a chuck myself as my fierce little butterfly slapped a stone hand against the marble flesh of her ass to further prove her point.
“You may have listened to Edward when he pleaded for you to go but no one forced your hand and at least you had each other!” Her head dropped, a curtain of ebony waves shielding our eyes from her downcast face. “I had no one.”
My sister seemingly fed up with this charade of pleasantries took my beloved by the hand and cooed gently into her ear. “Come now sister, let us adjourn to my rooms where we dine in peace and get you dressed properly, you are a Queen now, are you not.” she added sinister smirk.
I knew what she was doing and looking upon the shocked faces of My Queens former family I’d say she did her job smashingly. The sick mixture of horror and concern passed over each of their faces. They were terrified.
Good.
Bella raised her head, looking fondly on my sister before she nodded. “Thank you, that sounds wonderful.”
Dora beamed, pleased with herself and the fast growing affections between she and her new sister before she turned to me. “Brother, will you be joining us?”
“I will join you in a moment.” I told her, caressing the top of girls hair before pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.
As they strode from the room, arms linked together and whispering under their breath about silly things such as reconstructing a new suit for us in mind, I turned and looked upon the still shell shocked Olympic Coven.
“Demetri, Felix,” I call, knowing that will not enter these rooms without permission. The trail in a moment later, looking slightly on edge for their own parts played in this game with the Cullen family. “Please escort Carlisle and his children to a wing of the castle in which they will not be a bother to her Majesty, I will deal with them later.”
Chapter Fifteen
~ Caius’ Point of View ~
Never before in my life - alive or undead - have I wanted to kill a woman so badly and kiss her all at the same time. The irony that she was already dieing was not lost to me, either.
If things hadn’t been as frantic as they were in those first few moments I think I may have become the first vampire to ever suffer from symptoms of shock. When the pungent aroma of her blood first permeated the air I knew, I just knew that this was not a stumble in the hall nor was it some blasted paper cut. The others seemed to sense this as well.
Dropping the Whitlock boy like a stump I raced down the corridor to our suit and as the scent of her blood became more saturated I concluded that she had done the worst. That she had taken herself from me. I struggled helplessly to detect the sound of her beating heart but with so many thundering footsteps behind me, it was difficult to make out.
There… My demon raged as the weakened sound of her beating pulse met my ears. It was both promising and frightening. Her heart sounded strained, sloshy and was puttering on the brink of dying out. The sounds of barking commands reined from behind me, most likely my brothers ordering all but Carlisle to leave. Rightly so, I would be in no mood for company after this.
I didn’t stop when I came to our door, just pushed through but it was empty… save for the river of crimson flowing out from under the toilette. As any other vampire who knew their mate was dying, I panicked. Ripping the door straight from the hinge and throwing it across the room to smash into Carlisle who was just as dumbstruck as I was by the sight that met our eye. My Belle, my beautiful mate was pale as a sheet of parchment with my father’s blade in hand, covered in her blood.
Flying into action, for I knew no doctor could save her at this point… not even with Carlisle standing not ten feet from the scene. She had lost too much blood and was hemorrhaging more by the second. My first bite went straight over the deep laceration on her neck followed by her ankles and wrists. Struggling with myself I placed my final bite straight over her heart, a promise of my undying love and affection. Though, I was sure when she awoke she would find neither in my actions. What she had done to herself was selfish and cruel and I couldn’t help it that I felt so. Did she not understand that in claiming her own life she was condemning mine as well? That in the instant that her heart pumped its last, that when the warmth left her body and the light from her eyes that I would die as well?
It would not have been a physical death for me. No, I’ve found over the millennia that there were few things that could actually harm a vampire, and even less that could harm me. I was different from them of that, I was sure. No. It would be what was left of damned soul that would have died with her and for that, I would not so easily forgive.
It was hard to say, really. If what in fact I felt for Bella was love. I was not so foolish as to believe in love at first sight or any such notions of nonsense. Love was something earned of respect and trust. And as of right now, she hadn’t. But she was my beloved. The other half of me that at one time I did not believe even existed. And I would physically die for her. Whether to defend her honor or to protect her life. I would die. I no more feared death than I did the useless, worthless Cullen child. Perhaps, that is why her actions wounded me so.
I was willing to throw down my life to save her and she could not even so much as live for me in return. It stung, like the slowly growing poison of the cobra’s bite, starting sharp then twisting and worming its toxicity through my entire being. I wanted to hate her for what she had done to me. To hate her and push her away. But as I look into the depths of her eyes, I found I would not, could not… hate her.
There was remorse there. It was as thick and heavy as her breathing as my venom spread through her repertory system. She was sorry for what she had done but I was in no mood to forgive her actions. I could not, not yet.
A growl slipped from my throat unbidden as I snatched her prone body from the cool stone of the floor. I was neither careful nor gentle when I placed her on the bed and barked out orders to have her properly cleaned and changed. Carlisle looked on in shock as I did so and it took every will within me not to snap in his direction. Blame. I wanted to blame that man and his ridiculous son for putting me to this task. Had it not been for him and his foolish ideals of family I would have never felt the need to go to the Americas. I would have never set foot in Washington. And I would have never met Bella Swan.
“Caius? Brother?” Aro called gently at my back. “You cannot place this blame on her. She-”
“If you so much as speak her name to me right now, I will remove your head and piss venom on your fire!” I bellowed, my raging voice echoing off the walls and Bella flinched from our bed.
My venom boiled beneath the surface of my skin and for the first time in ages, I felt warm. I felt as if I could pull the entire castle down around our ears and I decided at once that this was no time for me to even be near her. I could not stand the thought of sneering down at her whilst she died. Time to digest, time to calm was what I needed. I was too angry not to be rash and that… as I had learned from experience never led to anything that any considered good.
Aro stood there shocked by my words but his eyes did not remain focused on me. Red as the blood covering Bella’s body, his eyes shifted about the room, though it was not my four walls he concerned himself with. As he fidgeted I realized he was scared, terrified but not for himself. It dawned on me at once what might make a person as powerful as my brother quake and shiver the way he was, and my fast rising temper was not going to handle well what I suspected. If he aloud that vile bastard to stay here, I swear on the Black Gates of Hell…
Cutting the train of thought before it could fester I turned and stomped from the room. That situation, much like Bella would have to wait until I had myself under control once more.
~ Marcus’s Point of View ~
Aro stood unblinking as Caius stormed back out the door, leaving his dying and changing mate to her own devices. The sound of his boots thudding heavily through the halls followed by the swiftly, scurrying feet of those who were desperate to outrun his ire. I couldn’t blame them. From what I understood of it, Caius had always been a frightening man and it had carried over to his undead life. This was different, however from the normalcy of his grumpy mood-swings or quick temper. He was truly heartbroken his brow was thick of it when he turned his quickening rage on Aro. And that I couldn’t blame him for, either.
When I was certain Caius was out of ears range I turned to my remaining brother, who still hadn’t moved from his stony position and growled low. “You should have let him kill the boy.” I spat. Returning to the argument that was left by the wayside when the scent of Isabella’s blood permeated the room.
Carlisle dark eyes shifted to me then, full of concern, pity and remorse. He opened his mouth to speak but I had nothing for it. “Not a word, Carlisle. You and your juvenile ideals of family almost cost a Queen her life this day.” My tone lowered as I approached him, waving off Aro’s protesting with my hand. “I’m certain that it will not happen again. I’m certain that from now on you and your family will act with the respect and dignity of a vampiric coven the next time we speak. Now get out, I will not be responsible for your head should my brother return and find you still standing here.” He nodded and took a last look at Isabella before silently leaving the room.
“Was that necessary, Marcus?” He asked quietly. He was uncharacteristically timid with his question which led me to believe that he knew exactly how much the days events had pulled achingly at my heart. It was my wife all over again. Not entirely the same but enough that had I tears of salt and water, I would shed them.
I let a mocking snort be my answer and he didn’t bring it up again. He knew now was not the time to test my patience, for I did not have much left to give at this point. For the first time since the death of my beloved, I felt exhausted. Then a trickle of guilt ebbed its way into my soul, here I was feeling sorry for myself and complaining of being tired when it was clearer than a summer morning that Caius had to be feeling the same, or worse.
I stood in silence as Isabella was cleaned of the dried blood that matted her clothes and her hair, waiting for the screaming to begin. To my great surprise and worry, they never did. She remained silent and as the hours turned light to falling dark of night it was obvious that Aro was just as concerned as I. “Should we…?” he trailed off, cutting his burgundy eyes at me in question.
“No.”
“No?” He asked, wide eyed and fully turned in my direction. “But there could be something wrong-”
“Is the empath still here?” I asked, promptly cutting of the rant I’m sure he was about entertain. If it had been up to me that boy would be ash and dust but as it were, we needed him at the moment.
“What are you going on about?” Narrowing his eyes at me he continued. “Jasper Whitlock remains but I had him and his mate confined in a separate area of the castle, for obvious reasons.”
I nodded. “Bring him here.”
“Are you mad? Has too many years behind these walls made you completely lose your mind?”
No. They hadn’t. I neither wanted the boy near me or Isabella, but it was a necessary evil that I would have to endure and pray to a god who wouldn’t listen that my brother did not catch him here. Many lives would end, I was sure of it.
Shaking my head I answered him. “He might be able to feel her presence. I have a theory and he is the only one to test it on. Caius is not in his right mind and it would be suicide to bring him here with her so quiet.”
He eyed me skeptically, as he sat at Isabella’s side and looked to her for answers that she could not give. “How do you know that he knows not, already?”
“If he had we all would be in pieces or dead.” I sighed. “I believe he is with Athenodora.”
“Alright.” he said softly. “I’ll see too it.”
~ Crimson Decisions ~
His look said it all when he entered the next morning. It was just after sun-up and he looked more worn and haggard than I’d personally seen in decades. His white hair was still hanging wildly from the tattered leather cord that bound it, speckled with the blood of his queen. He stiffened when he entered but if he smell the Cullen boy here he made no note of it. He simply stood in the doorway, covered in dirt, grime and blood. Twigs and leaves spilling out of his torn clothing and littered his hair. It appears my dear brother had taken to the forest to rid himself of his anger but as I watched his face contort with pain I wished him to be angry once more.
“How does she fair?” If I had not been looking at him I would not have believed it to be him that spoke. His voice was cracked and low, I think the term the humans used was ‘horse’, akin to the sound of a misused and ill treated voice box.
I tried to smile comfortingly but am unsure if it came out the way I’d hoped. “She not dead, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“Very well,” he replied and strutted back out the door.
“Caius.” I called lowly, knowing full well that he could have heard me from the other side of the world at this point. But still, I waited until the scuff of his boots halted before I continued. “She did not do this to hurt you. She is young and could in no way understand the depth of her bond to you.”
“I know.” He whispered simply before the sound of his wounded heel struck against stone once more.
It continued on like that for days, Caius coming to the doorway ever few hours before leaving again. Sometimes he said nothing and only stared, others he would ask questions.
“I am perplexed.” He said quietly, his eyes darting over Isabella’s ever changing form. She had changed so much already that you would think her to wake any moment. Her hair had already darkened and lengthened and I mused quietly to myself that she would be sitting on it much of the time if left down. Her skin had hardened to that of gleaming, pearl white marble and she had grown several inches.
Befuddled by his comment I turned my attention to him. I sent a silent prayer of thinks to Dora for her interference with my brother’s appearance earlier that morning, she insisted that he would scare Bella to death should she see him in such a state as a newborn. I couldn’t help but to think her right. He was clean once again and back to the sharp crispness that usually made up his intimidating look. To any that only saw him on spare occurrences would think him back to normal, but I knew better, his eyes were changed. They held such a look of deep sadness and heartbreak that I found it hard to stare at him, even now.
“What do you mean?”
He sighed and for the first time since he stormed out that door three days ago he stepped over the threshold to join his beloved side. “My feeling for her are confused. I am torn.” He replied lightly, his long claws ghosting over the apple of her cheek before drawing back to fall into his lap. “I wish to hate her for what these emotions do to me. I wish to kill her for leaving me alone. Does that constitute me as selfish, brother?”
On the eve of her forth day I started to notice other strange things about her change. As it was, the change was usually over at this point. She should have already been awake and on her first hunt. When I pointed this out to Aro he smiled whimsically and brought to my attention things about her appearance that I had overlooked.
“Caius is the only other vampire I have ever come across that took so long to wake. He screamed for weeks, if you remember…” he trialed off as he moved to Bella’s bedside. “And look…” he brushed back some of her dark hair behind a delicately fragile looking, pointed shell.
“Great Ceaser’s Ass!” I exclaimed, moving to her side to get a better look for myself. I could have seen it plainly from where I stood but to be honest, I could scarcely believe what laid before me. Thinking quickly, I pulled aside Aro’s arm and using my thumb I gently lifted her pouty pink lip from her bottom. “My God!” I nearly shouted as I darted away.
Aro repeated my action and pried her lips apart for the second time and sure as I lived through the dark ages was there a pointed fang, not even an inch in length. Aro’s hand was still pulling the skin back from Bella’s mouth when Caius entered the room and as we were so distracted dissecting our beloved queen were nearly jumped from our skin when he coughed loudly.
“Quel est le nom Dieux que tu fais?” (1)
“Nothing!” We defended in unison. Aro pulling his hand away from Isabella’s face as I jerked upright. I wanted to groan at the childish action and one look at Aro’s face told me he felt the same.
We stood there like scolded children as Caius peered at us through narrowed eyes, his entire bulking frame taking up the mass of the doorway as I thought frantically for something to support the strange nature of my actions.
His red eyes burned brightly and for a moment I wondered if he was looking directly into my soul, searching out the lie I was telling. Honestly I couldn’t fathom why I didn’t just tell him what we were up too, other than it might be a welcome distraction when Isabella finally opened her eyes to her new life. Though Caius had calmed considerably I held no doubts that her first few days into this life would be easy. He was still hurt and extremely irritable, it had me cringing where I stood to think how he would be when he finally had a amenable outlet for his raging broken heart.
On the seventh day, Isabella’s heart stuttered for the first time since infected by my brother’s poisonous bite before taking off into a thunderous beat that reminded me of native drums. He was through the door before I could even call out his name, a telling if you will to the immense strength of the bond they shared. It was as beautiful a knot as I had ever seen, bright and brilliant as the morning sun. It reminded me of the Celtic love knots of old only, far more glorious.
I said nothing on the subject for fear of his lashing tongue so soon to Bella waking. He was already on edge as it was and I had no desire to be torn to pieces the day my sister woke to her undead life. No, I would remain silent and when he was ready to hear my poets spout I would tell him.
It took two hours before her heart sputtered its final dieing beat and not a moment late the fluttering of her eyes fluttered. Thirty seconds later they opened and precisely four seconds after that did the room turn to chaos. I couldn’t tell you what lunacy brought the clairvoyant one to the insane and deadly conclusion that she and other Cullens should be here for Bella’s awakening. It was so very stupid an idea. But as the deep warning growl ripped from my brothers lips and a hiss from my new sister I knew I had not the time to think about it. Caius had done remarkably well these last few days, coming to terms with his anger and resentment but now, the Black Gates had opened and the army of Hell itself would tremble.
Translations:
Quel est le nom Dieux que tu fais = What is Gods name are you doing?
Chapter Fourteen
~ Bella’s Point of View ~
Gone.
It was the only way to describe it. Gone.
He wasn’t coming back. There would be no afterlife with shining white robes and fluffy feathers for us to reunite. He was just… gone.
It was a numbing feeling at first. Actually, at first I disbelieved the whole notion entirely. There was just no way.
He had been my hero as a child and as much as I would have hated to admit it before now, the closest living being to me, I nearly mirrored him perfectly.
Thoughts and emotions raced through my head. Starting with the numbness and quickly progressing to hurt and rage. It was a selfish thought, but I just couldn’t connect the dots at this stage.
How could he leave me?
Didn’t he know I needed him?
My only guess was that anyone unfortunate enough to lose a parent before the age of fifty felt this way. I was supposed to have a husband and an armload of my own grandchildren before he passed. I knew the thought was impossible to begin with but it didn’t stop me from being irrational. I was only nineteen, things just weren’t supposed to happen this way.
Of course after the pain and rage left me, I felt guilty. It nearly consumed me.
Not even knowing the truth behind Charlie’s death I felt guilty. But I could only guess that something in my subconscious knew that if I hadn’t aligned myself with that prick, my father would still be alive.
I wanted to believe myself to be crazy, that Edward had nothing to do with my father’s untimely death… but even in my grief addled mind, I knew.
It was the only way to actually get at me. While it was true that I loved Renee with all my heart, Charlie was my daddy. He was my alpha male, my hero… my everything as a child. A man of few words but those fortunate enough to know the man behind the mask, he was very wise. My only regret now was that I didn’t get to know him as well as I should have.
I guess I was like him in that way. Distant and cold. I liked my space and all that really knew my father would say the same about the man. He didn’t share much, whether it be his heart or his thoughts, the man didn’t share. But I supposed the mystery of it all is what lured the outside world to him. He never had to utter a word. I had witnessed it on many occasions, people just flocked to him, much to his dismay.
~ 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 clairvoyant 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.
~ Bella’s Point of View ~
It was a slow process when I finally came too. If it were up to me, I would have never awakened. Caius was the only thing keeping me rooted here, on this plane. If not for him I think I would have offered myself up on a silver platter for Edward’s enjoyment… anything to stop it.
But as was my fate, or possibly the fate of the world… my conscious came alive. Sure, it was slow. The reconnection of my senses. From hearing to sight to verbal sound. I silently became myself again.
I gapped when that first lung full of air hit me. I gasped for several reasons, the most being from the nasty snarls and cursed words coming from multiple members of what I called my family. The second and more important was that I was no longer next to Caius. I was left alone on the sofa, my knuckles wipe from the grip I had on the velvet upholstery as I tried to steady myself into a sitting position.
My eyes darted from one set of coal eyes to the next until they found what they were looking for. He had his back to me, but it was easy to see that he had Jasper suspended in the air by his throat as Jasper snapped like a rabid dog at his had.
The entire room was in an uproar, from Carlisle pleas to let Jasper go, to an angry Marcus berated Aro over being an insane fool. Alice was shrieking uncontrollably while Rosalie and Esme struggled to hold her still, least she do something foolish like attack the vampire royalty foaming at the mouth. Emmett stood stock still, eying the room with a sickening scowl, not uttering a word and I quickly realized that it wasn’t the room he was looking at like that… no, it was Jasper.
It struck me then, even through my catatonic state he words rang through my mind, piercing my heart as though he just stabbed me with a rusty blade.
“I warned her. I warned them all! I told her to stay away from him, from my family! Charlie’s death was her own folly!”
Though most of what he said was the truth, I could help but be stung by his cruel words. Did he really feel that way? Was I truly at fault for Charlie’s murder?
I felt sick all over again.
“Leave.” I whispered into the den of roaring vampires, who at the sound of my voice went silent, all turning to me with wide eyes and different ranges of emotions flitting across their stone faces. “Please.” I begged.
I didn’t want them here anymore if this was how they felt, and to me that was obvious. In the strange static that filled my grieving heart I knew I was being hasty but at the moment, I didn’t give a shit.
They needed to go. They needed to be with Edward and leave me the hell alone like they should years ago, when the world of vampires was first brought to my attention.
So naïve.
Naïve and stupid…
Stupid enough to have ever believed that Isabella Marie Swan was worth it. Stupid to believe that Edward, even in his lust for my blood would never willing hurt someone I cared about. I was just stupid. Foolish. Naïve.
Unclasping the silver locket from around my neck, I sat it silently onto the round book table to my right. They could do with it what they willed as far as I was concerned.
No one said a word as I made my way through the throng scattered throughout the study and no one moved. They all stood motionless as statues and for the most part that’s what they all were to me now, statues. Beautiful faces with hearts of marble. I was just done.
The guards standing at the door spared me a glance but quickly lowered their head as I passed through the library doors heading down the hall that had led me here. The path that had led me to this painful fate.
Not even Caius followed, whether it was out of understanding that I needed time to myself or possibly because he was in the middle of tearing the head off one Jasper Whitlock, I didn’t know… I didn’t care.
Done.
Period.
End of discussion.
Entering the bedroom that had just so few hours ago seemed bright and happy now felt hollow and empty… much like my heart.
I was surprised when no tears came, as I sat amongst the rubble that was once my bed and though back through my life and at just how much I had missed out on with my father. It was a great injustice to the world; that he was no longer a part of it. If anyone had deserved to go… it was me. After all, I was the one who brought him into this life, put him on Edward’s radar and then left him to fend for himself.
“God!” I cried, a sob finally breaking from my lips, I was no better than Edward himself. He had abandoned me much in the same way.
I sat silently weeping for the longest time, or perhaps it just felt like an eternity.
I couldn’t tell you when or how I found myself standing in the bathroom behind a locked door, with a decorative blade in my hand. I didn’t even remember picking it up, or where I had even found it. Flashes of the silver and sapphire encrusted blade raced through my mind, held up like some precious jewel from an ivory stand on the mantel.
I did remember thinking it was beautiful though, as I picked it up, admiring the navy blue stones and white gold roping that decorated the guard and grip. But for the life of me I couldn’t remember what I was doing with it now.
The wrists will be too slow…
It came to me just like that, in a sickeningly sweet voice from somewhere in my mind.
The jugular is best…
And that was how I found myself, staring at the shell of girl I once knew, pointing the tip of a vampires to the thick pulsing vein in my throat.
A piercing scream carried down the hall from somewhere in the castle not a second before the blade opened up my neck like butter. It was nice, and other than the slight sting from the initial contact I felt no pain. The blade must have been very sharp.
Paying no attention to the syrupy warm crimson liquid that poured down the front of my white dress or the bitter taste of copper that filled my mouth, I sunk to the floor the adrenaline no longer able to keep me upright.
If all those things my mother had told me as a child were true, then I was going to Hell, where I could finally atone for the sins committed against my father and the burden I caused the Cullens.
As black started to tint my vision I heard heavy footsteps approaching but it was hard to focus, and I was growing very cold.
“Forgive me… Caius.”
Authors Note:
Sorry guys about the long wait. Computer crashed and I had to start writing from scratch… still not sure if this was exactly how I had it before. But I hope you all enjoy.
This chapter is decidedly on the morbid side and I’m sorry if it offends anyone. But the story will take on a slightly darker tone before it will get better.
Again, so sorry for the long wait and thank you to all my loyal supporters, you guy rock!
Big kisses from Caius for all my reviewers.
“Erreur de calcul!” = miscalculated
Majeur = Major
Stretching like a lazy house cat both de-clawed and neutered I let the warmth of my bed surround me, lulling me in and out of peaceful slumbers. Light chuckles carried through the air and I decided - with a smile on my face - that I wouldn’t even bother to open my eyes. Not yet.
After basking in the warmth of the sun’s rays for a few more moments, relaxing the aching muscles that before last night I hadn’t known even existed, all the while thinking that life couldn’t possibly get much better. I snickered lightly to myself thinking naughtily that life, could in fact get much better once I wasn’t in such a fragile position, or hurting so much for that matter.
The smell of Jasmine and Persimmons followed by the soothing sounds of running water roused me from my less than delicate thoughts of a certain pale haired vampire in all his naked glory and I smirked idly chastising myself for already having a gutter brain that rivaled my most uncouth brother.
Stretch again once for good measure, I rose letting the tattered remains of what were once pristine bed linens fall to my hips, the warm morning air kiss my nude flesh as my hands went up over my head, cracking and popping as a loud yawn escaped my lips. I winced once, both in pleasure and pain reminding me again of the tantalizing night in bed I had just experienced. Yes, I was sore but I was so relaxed after the nights sleep I could have cared less if I was bruised from head to toe. I was warm, safe and had just made love to the most amazing man, again just hours ago. In other words I was in a complete, all encompassing bliss.
Looking over the carnage of the room a small very un-Bella like giggle escaped me, making me think that perhaps I should have gotten laid long ago, it seemed to do wonders for my mood. The bed, which I had at length mused was older than the entire Cullen family put together was nearly completely destroyed. The beautifully upholstered headboard ~ that I had held onto at one point in the night like my life depended on it was now shredded into long strips, that I could only guess came from Caius’s fingers when he had climaxed. That was one for the books! One of the tall white lacquered posts had been broken off and was discarded into the pile of broken wood that had come from the shattering of the door. The bedding had been reduced to nothing more than scraps of fabric and floating feathers. I smiled ruefully, musing that with Caius as an inhabitant, the Volturi must have a storage room of replacement doors somewhere, if the last few days where anything to go by, as I surveyed the ones barely handing on their hinges at the entrance to our rooms.
I rose, kicking my feet from the decimated linens and over the side of the ridiculously tall bed, my ankle slapping against the bed step with a painful thunk. It took less than a second for all hell to break loose all starting with the overly jubilant entrance of Emmett as he practically barreled down what was an already defeated set of double doors.
Still slightly caught somewhere in between day dreaming and horror I heard the tromping of footsteps somewhere down the hall. Figuring my guards to intercept I hardly thought to bother with covering myself. That was until I heard the unmistakable voice of my brother.
“Holy shit! Bella!” Emmett yelled, barging through the rubble.
I stared, unmoving and unblinking, a delayed reaction. One that comes when you really can’t believe what you’re seeing. I for one thought I had to be hallucinating, because there was no way possible for my brother to be here right now, no way possible he would come nosing to my room the morning after my lover had returned home, especially after the spectacle Caius’s return had crated. Of course he would, my mind berated me, slapping against my skull. It’s Emmett.
When my body had finally caught up with my mind, I screamed, scrambling to cover my naked skin as a thunderous roar sounded from the walls of my onsite bathroom. I shook every tile and stone in the room and was by far the loudest I had heard yet. Instantly I knew there would be trouble and Emmett and I both stopped cold and turned.
I barely caught sight of him before he had me covered under a pile of discarded blankets from the foot of the bed and took his protective stance in front of me. But what I had seen was magnificent. Dressed in simple black slacks and a white button down, sleeves rolled to the elbow like he didn’t want to soil them with something.
Lowering the covers to glower at my brother seemed an inadequate punishment but as it was I was still too busy fuming with embarrassment, it was all I had. Caius remained vigilant in his crouch to protect me from prying eyes, snarling and snapping as Emmett continued to look on with a mixture of shock and amusement. If I hadn’t still be very naked and buried in bed lines I might have smacked myself… or at least thrown something at the dumbass still smirking like he wasn’t a raw stake floating in the water with a vicious shark.
A sharp smile finally tugged at his lips, causing his dimples to deepen and making him look all the more innocent as he ignored his impending doom and continued to approach, waggling his eyebrows the entire way. “And what naughty, deplorable things have you been doing, eh, little sis?”
My mouth dropped open of its accords as he stared back at us the very picture of goodness and virtue, like he didn’t just ask me in front of my partner if we had just had sex. “Em!” I growled the mornings frustrations and my blush finally getting the better of me, shooting him a seething glance that promised all the pain that a newborn could muster to come. I didn’t care if I had to wait until after three torturous days of pain to exact my revenge, I would have it.
Caius, I noticed had somewhat relaxed his stance but had yet to fully rise from it. Looking slightly past him to the two frightened guards who I was sure would be held responsible for Emmett’s abrupt appearance, I couldn’t help but smile at the momentary shock that was plastered to their faces; their eyes darting from Emmett to me like a tennis match before settling me with a questioning look that I could only translate as ‘Do you want me to remove this idiot?’
I dismissed them quietly as I could as not to startle the man who seemed unable to do so at the moment. My face was nearly on fire by time the two bumbling guards had made the decision to leave and at least delay their deaths until Caius was more himself, though when I thought about it, I wasn’t really sure which one was scarier. Sure, Caius was frightening in his feral state but when my vampire was cool headed he was most calculating and he seemed the type to draw out punishment and enjoy inflicting them.
Rosalie dashed through the doors a moment later, almost appearing out of breath as she clutched her hand at the front of her ruffled shirt. “Em, what are you doing here?” she panted, leveling him with a glare that mirrored mine.
He looked back at her sheepishly, still ignoring the man in front of him that could easily reduce him to a pile of ashes within mere seconds. Honestly, I think it’s what saved his life. It was a classic showing of ‘I’m not a threat, no need to hurt me.’ He was boarder-line pouting as he jutted out his lip and replied. “Awe babe, I just wanted to see what nasty things Belly-Bear was up to.”
If that wasn’t enough to shred the last scraps of my dignity what followed surely was. He re-accounted his findings, my nakedness - to which Caius growled - and the bit about my idiot guards. I swear I had dismissed them quietly but perhaps not quietly enough for moments later he started belting out his own rendition of ‘God Save the Queen’ except he changed it up to ‘Long Live Queen Bella’. It was so horrible in fact that I was surprised that the only furniture that survived the exploits of last night - an alarmingly antique mirror, that hung on my vanity - didn’t crack under the strain. And I was more than positive I heard a couple of dogs in the city below baying back at him, as I could only imagine how horrible it sounded to them, not to mention some of the other sensitive eared folk in the general area.
Caius and Rosalie both had their hands affixed to their heads, cupping their ears as they scowled menacingly at my brother idiot who was still bellowing his fealty and devotion to his future queen.
It all ended when Caius growled and finally finding his voice bit out. “Enough, Juste que ça s'arrête!” (Just make it stop!) He turned to me then, his crimson eyes shining with horror in the morning sun. “Petit, how do you do it? The man is a bloodhound from Hades!”
“Patience and understanding,” I snarked. Holding the sheets a little tighter to my chest, least I set my demon off again by showing to much skin to another male.
“So what are you doing here, Em?” I asked as Caius shook his head, a smirk baring his fangs to join me on the bed. Eliciting a squeal when he pulled me up, blankets and all into his lap where he began affectionately laving at the soft tissue of my neck and shoulders.
Emmett shrugged, which I expected. “I already told you. I just wanted to see what you were doing. I didn’t expect you to still be all naked.”
With a roll of her eyes, Rosalie bit out. “So you just come barging into her room without knocking?” she scoffed. “And what was with the singing? I’m surprised Aro hasn’t given the order to have you destroyed yet.
“Give him time,” Caius muttered under his breath.
I don’t know if it was the deep scowl on Rosalie’s face, the way Emmett was Bubba Gump-ing his way back into Rosalie’s good graces or the way my big, deadly vampire lover seemed to be sulking like a bruised ego, but I snapped. Laughing so hard that I nearly wet myself, I sat there doubled over in the bed, pointing at Emmett like he was my own personal showing of SNL Live.
It wasn’t until Alice and Jasper - who I wasn’t even aware had returned - came in looking more amused than concerned did I get myself under control enough to see the smile on Rosalie’s face or the singular cocked eyebrows of the rest of my family who had somehow entered without my notice. “Alright, alright, everyone out. Bella you still have to get ready, you have another meeting with the Brothers.” She commanded me in her all mighty pixie voice and it was all I could do not to laugh in her face.
It was oh-so tempting just to tell her to fuck off and take her dresses with her. I know it would give her the closet thing to a heart attack that vampire could experience and the look on her face would be priceless. But alas, as Jasper had returned it was time to discuss important things.
After excusing my blushing and very amused family out the door I turned to Caius and smiled. “Good morning.”
“Bonjour,” he returned, lifting me into his arms and burying his face into my messy bed-head. I struggled to wrap my legs around his waist as he carried me into my bathroom, laughing. “Do you wish to bathe, I know you must be sore?”
I nodded, blushing bright red as he set me on my feet and started to remove his clothes. “May I join you?” he asked sweetly and I think I may have melted into the floor.
Again I nodded, adding a flustered little, “Please.” into the mix. He smiled brightly, probably one of the most genuine smiles I had yet to see on the stoic pale haired god.
It happened to fast for me to comprehend. One minute he was standing before me, a single frosty digit stroking lightly from my clavicle, past the valley between my breasts and into newly charted territory. The next, I was leaned against his chest, the warm water of the tub surrounding us and his fingers burning a ecstasy trail around my clit.
It didn’t take long for me to cry out, pleading to him and to every god in the heavens for him to never stop. I tried to speak after but was silenced by a playful nip at my ear. “Shh, love. Relax.”
And relax I did. For the rest of the morning, in fact. After he had me crying out his name a second time we shared a bath. He washed me carefully, like I would brake if he were to apply more pressure than he was, though after last night we both knew the truth of it. Slow and easy caresses lulled me into a near euphoric sleep before he nudged me awake. “Come, petit. The water is cooling and there is much to discuss today.”
We wasted no time getting ready, after Caius insisted that he be the one to dry me, that is. As I watched him prepare for his day I found myself truly jealous of vampire speed, he was ready within moments. With a quick kiss to my waiting lips he departed, though he seemed loathing to do so and promised that after today’s discussion that we would be spending more time together.
With a shutter, I knew that somehow his promise was not a request, and I liked it.
~
An hour later I found myself walking through very familiar doors, familiar but not the same. I knew they had a room full of doors somewhere. I mused to myself.
It was a terrible sense of dread invade my senses as I entered and nine sets of eyes darted to me. With shaky legs I crossed the room to where Caius had held open his arms from a low chase and settled against his chest. No one said anything for the longest time but they didn’t have to, it was in the way that they started, it was in their eyes. Something had gone horribly wrong.
“What is it?” I asked, tears already burning down my cheeks.
Carlisle who looked like he might cry with me at any moment, knelt in front of me ignoring the low growl of warning from the newly mated male at my back. Holding my hands in his he took a breath. “Bella, you need to call Billy Black… something has happened in Forks.”
“W-what?” I asked, looking to him with pleading eyes as I prayed that everything was alright.
He sighed heavily before turning his eyes up at me. “Charlie, he’s been murdered.”
Ringing. Was something ringing? Everything was ringing.
My vision was swimming, distorting the sweet and caring faces of my family as the darkness gathered before me. I remember a argument breaking out between Caius and Jasper. Then as the world slipped away I thought to myself, Ignorance is bliss and so is the darkness.
