Fifteen

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?