Chapter Four

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Summary: In the aftermath of the Newborn War, the Cullen family celebrates their triumph over Victoria.  Little do they know that their victory will be short lived.  A visitor comes calling; a visitor who has been keeping tabs on the Cullen’s and Edward’s human pet.  When Caius doesn’t like what he sees will Bella risk everything to save the vampire family she loves?

 

 

Chapter Four

~Caius~

“I’m human, not stupid!  Now what in the Hell is going on?  No more games!”

Seeing her like this—even in her human state—was divine.  Her eyes were alight with fury and her cheeks flushed with indignation.  She was spirited and vivacious and it threatened to steal my unneeded breath. 

It was very obvious now, how she had intrigued not only Aro but Marcus as well.  She had many qualities suited to her that would be the makings of a stunning immortal.  It sent a thrill zinging through my very pores every time I thought of the outcome.  I was anxiously waiting. 

Admittedly, I was furious and vexed when Aro had suggested that I accompany our Guard in their retrieval of the human.  What care had I for their new pet project?  It was only when Aro told me of all that he had learned from the thoughts of that vile son of Carlisle did I find myself aboard our private Jet and bound for the Americas. 

As much as I hated the human race, I was never much inclined to play with my food.  What Edward was doing was beyond disgusting and I had every intentions of reaping revenge for her.

The more I had thought about it, the angrier I had become.  The girl had risked life and limb to see Edward Cullen safe and back to the posh lifestyle with mommy and daddy.  She had faced a room full of vampires, my brothers and I included and begged us to kill her in his stead.  She did this all in the hopes that he would be spared, and this is how he repays such loyalty?  The idea he had in mind for payment of such a debt made my long-since-dead insides crawl.  I wanted the Cullen dead and if I had my way about this, he would be.

My thoughts quickly shifted from the Fae-like creature as she gave her explanations to Isabella; letting my mind drifting back to when I had first seen Isabella out in field, shaken and terrified as Jane threatened to end the life of the young newborn.

Flashback

Hearing the Cullen’s in the distance was somewhat enjoyable, if not entertaining.  To me they had always been a perplexing coven—

No, they were not a coven…they called themselves a family; how utterly disgusting. 

But, they were interesting to Aro and completely infuriating to me.  Something about the way they fed made me shudder to the core.  It wasn’t right, it was very unnatural and it was my personal belief that it is the main cause for Edward’s depraved ways. 

It didn’t help my anger that they had all gotten away with their previous misdeeds completely unscathed—telling a human of our existence and allowing them to live was an offense punishable only by death.  It would have been another matter altogether had we the promise that she would be turned.  Aro, knew though, that Edward had no plans to change the girl and it boiled his blood to see such talent go to waste.

However, due to Aro’s kinship with Carlisle, his family was spared their lives if they complied with our wishes in changing the human girl.  They obviously had not lived up to their obligations. 

It would have mattered not, whether they changed her or no.  Aro coveted the girl for his own and in some way, he would have her.  Even Marcus, the old skeleton that he is, regarded the girl very highly and for the life of me I couldn’t see why; until today.

What bothered me was my own ploy in all of this.  The urgency in which I had forced myself on this trip puzzled me.  I literally found myself agreeing to come on this ‘mission’ without a moment’s hesitation and before I realized what I was doing.

“The Volturi doesn’t give second chances.  Keep that in mind, Caius would be interested to know that she’s still human.”  Jane informed them with utter glee in her voice.  The naughty girl knew what was coming, as she further proved when she looked over her shoulder in my direction, “Wouldn’t you, Master?” 

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her antics, for such a fierce one she really did have a sense of humor. 

“Well, well, well, Edward.  I see you haven’t eaten the little human yet.  Whatever are you waiting for?” 

Admittedly, goading him was a foolish and immature action but I found myself neither caring nor feeling guilty for doing so. 

He crouched low in front of her as he reacted to my voice in his mind and the natural instincts to protect his intended kill. 

“If I wanted to kill her, Boy, I would take her.  Do you really think you could stop me?”

“You will not!”  Edward exploded, nearly scaring his human to death.  The rest of his family looked at him like he might have lost his mind, before Carlisle approached him.

“Edward,” Carlisle asked softly, clearly confused as to what raised his son’s hackles.  “What is it?”

“Caius.”  He snarled, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the infant as he spat and hissed at me like a little kitten.

Having enough of my little hiding game, I stepped out from under the cover of the thick spruce and moss, and showed myself to the others.  The little human’s heart was racing with anticipation and fear…mmm, delicious. 

The tables turned on me, however, when she came into view.  I sucked in an unneeded breath as I took in her lovely features.  She was absolutely stunning.  I had seen her before in Voterra but as I was in something of a rage at the time, my vampire memory seems to have glossed over her beauty.

Her large doe eyes widened at the sight of me as I came to a stop in front of Carlisle, and she let out a small laugh.  Many of the Olympic Coven turned to her briefly, surely questioning the depths of her sanity.  I had to admit, I was quite curious myself.  Most humans would be pissing themselves in fright, and yet this one laughs?

Her eyes widened further as I lowered the hood of my cloaked and I braced myself for the stingingly sweet smell of her fear.  It would have been expected as many—vampire or human—have reacted the same way when meeting me at close range the first time.  My lovely surprised me once again when she looked upon my scarred face with no disgust or terror… but she did gift me with the excruciatingly decadent scent of her arousal.  It was sweet and tangy, and it became everything I could do not to growl as I stared into her darkened eyes. 

She shocked not only myself, but the Guard and her family as well when she started to inch toward me, unbeknownst to herself.  She was not afraid of me. 

Carlisle’s ginger-haired son growled before his arm shot out to retrieve his pet from approaching me further.  I wanted to tsk at him and call him a fool for wanting to only eat her.  She would be an immortal Goddess, and he was no match for her.

This only spurned him on.  I knew of his hatred of the Volturi; especially me and he saw me now as competition.  Little fool, there is no competition. 

“Edward please,” hissed the beautiful blonde, her face set in a murderous scowl, “you’re going to get us all killed.”  She then kindly muttered, “Asshole.”   She reminded me much of my sister. 

“She right, Edward.” I taunted, taking a step in his humans direction just to irritate him.  “Learn your place or you will be joining the others in the fire today.”

“You should listen to your sister,” Jane informed him, knowing I was moments away from being done with charade and killing the lot of them.  For the many virtues I was bestowed in this life of immortality, a patient man I was not.

Even as I listened to Jane, my eyes were trained on the delicate creature in Edward’s grasp.  She was as fragile as sugar-spun glass and here he was gripping her so tightly her skin was changing color from the lack of oxygen her body required.

“Edward,” Carlisle called softly.  “…son, you need to let go of Bella.”  I knew very well what Carlisle was doing.  His placating tone and submissive posture spoke volumes.  He was making himself small, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible as to not invoke Edward’s hunting instincts. 

As I looked again at the young vampire, it was entirely obvious as to why.  Edward was absolutely protecting his kill.  His eyes were blacker than my robes and a small amount of venom was currently running down his chin; indicating to his immense thirst.  It would seem his little human pet was on the menu, or always had been. 

“Edward, please let me go, you’re hurting me,” the human pleaded as she struggled to free herself from her lovers iron grip, but I could see the defeat in her eyes; she knew as well as I did that she wouldn’t be going anywhere unless Edward released her.

In that moment something shifted inside me.  It was powerful, profound and irrevocable.  I grew protective, possessive and angry.  Even the thought of his hands upon the bare flesh of her arm had me nearly boiling over with fury.  I didn’t have a clear understanding of this sudden reaction to a human in pain, but as I have always been a man of instinct, I acted. 

A low-growl burst from my chest unbidden as I stared down the mind reader, “Release her,” I commanded as calmly as I could, “Or I will lop off your head.”  I finished silently, looking into his eyes as she struggled to keep his fake personality in check in front of the rest of his family. 

I could see it in his eyes—the real Edward Cullen—and if the Carlisle and the rest of his animal drinking brood were to look beyond their silly beliefs they would see it too.  He wanted nothing more in this moment than to fuck her and drain her, wretchedly enough—I don’t think he’d be opposed to doing it in front of them either. 

The mind reader’s head snapped up as he read my thoughts, a cocky smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.  “Yes Edward, I know what it is that you want.”  I told him silently, and he smiled at me. 

“That will not be happing.  Isabella will be returning to Volterra…with me.” 

He snarled loudly, crushing Isabella closer to his side.  “I will never allow her to be corrupted by your kind of filth.”  He spat, clearly for the sake of his own image.  I knew for a fact that he would have cared less, except the thought of my venom tainting her blood left a rather sour taste in his mouth. 

Jane inched forward as Edward continued to rant, and I could tell she was itching to burn him to the ground.  “She would never go with you willingly and…,” he trailed off, lowering his voice so that only those of our species could possibly hear him, “…if she did I would kill her.”

Gasps of astonishment echoed through the clearing, making the human jump.  “Edward,” Carlisle exclaimed.  “You can’t mean that.”

In a very human and uncharacteristic gesture, I rolled my eyes at the simplistic coven leader.  Of course Edward had meant everything he said.  In fact, it would seem that Edward was merely waiting for the appropriate—or most opportune—moment to strike.  That, in itself, made me slightly apprehensive; if Edward turned desperate, he may simply snap the humans neck in a fit of rage.  

Edward smirked in my direction once more as he whispered, “I would kill her before you could move.” 

Even as I knew his words were meant for my ears only, I was glad he was keeping up his little façade in front of the human.  For some unnamable reason, it bothered me to think of the impact his cruel words would have on Isabella.  She didn’t need to know how lowly he thought her, at least not while he still was within striking distance.

Edward, heaving herd every thought in my head, sneered at my thoughts before turning his head in his father’s direction and speaking loud enough for even his human to hear.

“Of course I meant it, Bella belongs to me and no other… I would not see her sullied by a venom as grotesque as his.”  Venom was streaking down his chin and it was plain to any eye that he was fast losing his patience with us. 

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his pubescent little rant.  “Is that what you think, Boy?”  I asked him smugly.  “Do you really think you could do it before I removed your arrogant head form your shoulders?  I don’t think you can.  Let us see, shall we?”

He growled loudly at me, jerking Isabella to his side and gripping her arm so tightly I heard the bone give. 

She jerked in his arms, sobbing quietly as she began trying to pull away from him in earnest.  “Edward, please!”

She was begging again in her panic, and again, for some reason that did not sit well with me. 

“Carlisle,” I warned, taking a step closer to the—clearly—psychotic vampire.  “If he doesn’t release her, I shall have his head removed, permanently.”

Carlisle looked ill, but complied with my warning at turned to his blond son, “Jasper, please.” He asked politely. 

It was my turn to be ill as the Major of the Southern Army stepped forward, riddled with the bites of his enemies, and went for the pin instead of the kill.  There was nothing left of the man I had remembered and so many had feared.  He was more docile that a damned house pet now and the wastefulness of it disgusted me. 

Isabella gasped and winced as Edward was removed from her person, and nearly collapsed from the rush of blood she experienced.  It was verified moments later by Carlisle that the limb was indeed broken and it only further proved that she was no more to Edward Cullen than a chicken could be to a fox.

No mated vampire could ever hurt their intended, human or not.  It had been proven many times over.  First when Marcus found his mate in Aro’s sister Didyme and again when Aro was first mated to Sulpicia. 

Suplicia was no more than a girl fresh from her first courses when Aro met her.  He being so much older than she, decided that for appearances sake he would wait until she was older to change her.   Never in that time had any harm come to her—not even during their most intimate times—by his hands or by the hand of any enemy.  This Isabella already bore the mark of another vampire against the creamy, soft flesh of her wrist.  It was a burden to my soul to see it there. 

Hearing her sharp intake of air, I turned my head to find her dark eyes burning a hot path up the length of my body. Her eyes were nearly black with lust as her gaze met mine and not a moment later the scent of her arousal slammed into me so hard I had to take a step backwards. 

It was thick and tangy and so pure in her wanton desires that I growled.  Pleasure coursed through my veins as tasted her sweet nectar in the air and I could not hold back my groan.  Isabella’s face lit up with her scarlet blush, making her all the more appealing to me and did nothing to help the tension of my engorged manhood as strained against my slacks. 

In that moment, everything seemed to fall into place.  My mind—for a single nanosecond—completely cleared of all other thoughts that didn’t revolve around this strange girl and my connection to her.  I finally knew what she was to me and I knew without doubt, that this little human would be returning to Italy with me, and it had nothing to do with my brother’s edict.  I wasn’t certain if I was correct in my assumptions, but I knew I would not be leaving the Americas without her.

“No!”  Edward shouted, thrashing against his brother’s boot that held him in place, “She’s not going anywhere!”

A smug smiled turned up the corners of my mouth as I inwardly chuckled at his petulant crying.  But then I noticed that he was not only shouting at my thoughts, he was looking at his previous pet who had once again started in my direction. 

She seemed as drawn to me as I was to her; this pleased me greatly. 

“Shut your mouth, foolish boy.”  I growled, growing tired of his ordering everyone about.  “I am tiring of the game you are trying to play.  I came here for a reason.  As a favor to my brothers I was asked to check on Ms. Swan after certain things had been brought to their attention.  Did you really think I would retreat just because you are disinclined to give up your pet?”

At once, Carlisle began to argue on his son’s behalf; he stupidly believed the boy still held love for the girl that he would end simply to keep her from being intimate with another man.  It was only after Carlisle’s clairvoyant daughter confirmed my side of the story and added that she had been the one to call the Volturi in the first place, did he hang his head in shame. 

Isabella looked as astonished as the rest of the Cullen’s, and I felt slightly guilty for having to cause her pain. 

“You will die for her tears, Edward.  You know as well as I that she should never shed tears for you.  If I find out that you knew what she was to me, I will kill you slowly.  I know you have seen the inside of my dungeons, Edward.  Did you like what you saw?  Would you like to see the inside of a cell for the rest of your eternity?” 

He seemed to turn ashen under my stare and began screaming again, “Don’t listen to them Bella!  I love you!” 

I chuckled at him again, “You stupid, pompous fool—

“Shut the fuck up, Edward.”  Jasper cut me off, kicking him swiftly with his free boot and ending my mental rant. 

In the end, I couldn’t even fathom why I had agreed to let the newborn go free.  I only knew that it would be a burden to my heart to deny my little human anything.  That was also disconcerting.  I had been in the presence of mated couples for most of my immortal life, and yet I cannot remember such a time that my brothers had every lost their mind so completely as I had.  Yes, they too were overrun by the affections of their mates, but I was at a loss as to what to do with myself now. 

It was common knowledge that some vampire that have reached my age and beyond have gone insane and I was beginning to think I may now have that same affliction.  Had I truly lost my mind?  For me to act in such ways that I conducted myself in that open field were not only out of character and strange, but utterly terrifying. 

More now than ever I was cursing my brothers for sending me on this trip.  At first, I had only thought they had need of my hammer—my kind of justice—as it were, but now, I couldn’t help but wonder if they had something entirely else in mind when they sent me.  As intrigued as they were by the little Isabella, I wouldn’t put it past them; Aro was always one for meddlesome matchmaking.

 

“So, I’m just supposed to drop everything and run off to Volterra?”  Bella snarled, snapping me back to awareness.

She looked less human and more like a vampire with every word she uttered.  Her skin was pink in her anger and was aggressive in her stance.  I couldn’t help but to think she was beautiful in her rage and once again I had to question my own sanity.

“It would please me greatly,” I found myself speaking before I could filter my words.  “We have much to discuss, Mon précieuse Isabella.” (My precious, Isabella.)

Her cheeks flushed crimson at my declaration, and once again I found myself having to discreetly adjust my painful erection.

Carlisle’s dark haired daughter laughed, looking pointedly at the slight disfigurement of my slacks and I realized I was not as discreet as I would have hoped. 

Bella, following her sister’s line of sight, gulped loudly and ducked her head. 

“O-of c-course,” she stuttered nervously and left the room at a near run, the strong smell of her arousal scenting the air as she fled.

 

Isabella was not seen again until that following evening, or at least she was not seen by me.  She and the psychic had spent the better part of the day at the hotel’s spa.  I had no inclinations as to what a human female would do at such a place but when she returned—despite the hideous purple plaster on her arm—she was simply glowing. 

For the better part of my day—as I could not participate in any daylight pleasantries—I was forced to wait, filled with anticipation and uncharacteristically twitching in my seat.  He did not comment, but I was sure that this amused Demetri to no end as he could not stop smirking at me; bloody Russian.

It was nearing midnight before I heard the tale-tale signs of her rustling under her covers.  The Cullen coven were in need of a hunt before the lengthy flight to Italy and had left several hours before, leaving me alone with that beautiful Belle. 

As requested, Jane and Demetri had both been guarding the door in the outer foyer, leaving me to my thoughts as I took the opportunity to sort through the strange sensations that only seemed to accompany her presence.

She entered through her bedroom door and it was easy to discern by the state of her undress that she thought herself to be alone.  She was absolutely exquisite in her dressing gown of thin silver silk.  It clung to her pink flesh like a second skin, accentuating the way the swells of her breasts heaved with every breath and how the night air puckered her pert nipples.  I could even make out the light strip of dark curls that lined her sex and she was…aroused. 

Light beads perspiration licked down to the back of her neck, damping the stray curls of umber, gold and cherry as they escaped her upswept hair, making her fragrance all the more tempting.  She was utterly clueless as to her appeal.

A deep growl rumbled from my chest and I did not try to stop it.  I wanted her.  There was no denying how much I wanted her.  She was wanton and I was not so disinclined to refuse her. 

Her head whipped to the side as her heart took flight; her eyes were wide as they darted to and fro, desperately seeking on the origin of the noise.  She was frightened and I wondered if it was in fear of her Edward that caused this panic.

She needn’t worry; I would take care of him and Carlisle could blaze in Hell before I let any of them hurt her.

It only took her a moment to spot me, though I will admit to helping a bit by forcing myself into a patch of moonlight nearby. 

“I’m sorry,” she gasped, wrapping her arms around herself to hide her blushing body from my sight.  “I thought I was the only one here.”

“It’s alright, sweet Isabella.”  I told her, my chest rumbling again as my voice turned husky.  I knew what I was doing, but seduction was something I could not help around this beauty. 

Slowly, I encroached on her, stalking her like the little doe-eyed deer she so reminded me of.  I was the wolf, circling and growling as I inhaled the air around her, wanting to taste her essence on my tongue once more.  Her scent was heavy, heady with the mix of her arousal and no perfume from my boyhood could compare. 

She stood still, like any trembling deer would, caught in the high-beams…waiting for me to strike.  The tension in the air was thick as she quivered and I growled at the thought.  I could see it; she her pink and slicked with my venom as she quivered around me…

Her breath hitched and as my eyes snapped open I realized just how close to her I was. 

“Isabella,” I breathed as I circled her once more, catching an escaped lock of mahogany from her shoulder and bringing to my nose.  A purr escaped me as I took in her heavenly scent and had I not been so content and in the moment, my actions would have terrified me.  It was well known that we do not purr for anyone but for the comfort of our other—

Removing myself from the thought, I inhaled again, calming myself even as desire spiked in my veins and coursed through the length of me.  The smell of her scent—her heady perfume—filled me with possessiveness and pride.  I wanted to bathe in it—drown in it—so that every male on this earth would know that she belonged to me.

I would most likely kill another man with that smell upon their skin.

“Je veux vous goûter,” (I want to taste you,) I growled, skimming my nose along the alabaster and pink flesh of her neck. 

She gasped and took a step into me, bracing her hands on my shoulder. 

“Mon dieu,” (My God,) I cursed quietly as the warmth of her hands seemed to burn through the light fibers of my waistcoat, scolding and scorching my dead skin. 

Venom pooled in my mouth as thoughts of her panting and writhing under me as I fed off the crimson nectar flowing through her body were brought to the forefront of my mind.  I could see it clearly; her body would be glistening with my venom as she panted and chanted my name, bringing my pleasure to new heights and when I would finally release, it would be my seed that scented her body as I…

I pulled away abruptly; frightened as to what I would do to her if I remained in such confined spaces a moment longer. 

Not a moment later, the thundering sound of vampire footfalls were heard in the hall, along with the grating voice of Carlisle Cullen. 

Bella seemed dazed as I pulled away and retook my seat.  She remained standing, her hands still holding onto thin air as she looked around the dark room in search of me.  I felt guilty for seeming to be ashamed of her.  I wasn’t, not even a little, but I did not wish to give the others an impression of what transgressed here tonight before I had a better knowledge of what it was myself.  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know, because I did, but processing it was another matter entirely. 

Seconds later the room was flooded with light and Carlisle’s little psychic entered the room wearing a deep frown of displeasure.  Carlisle and the others followed close behind, the blonde one scenting the air and smirking as she followed.

“We need to leave.”  Alice—as she has insisted I call her more than once—stated as she pressed through the room, only stopping once she took in Isabella’s disheveled appearance.

Isabella’s face was as red as I had ever seen, clearly embarrassed by being caught unawares in her night dressings, among…other things.  The color that fanned across her porcelain cheeks filled me with a sense of pride, making me feel smug that I had been the cause of their rosy hue. 

Bella scanned the room again and when her eyes met mine she blushed again, ducking her head shyly and muttering under her breath.  “Stupid, sexy vampires.”

Alice’s eyes widened and turned to me, her eyebrow cocked in her hairline and a cheeky smile gracing her face.  That smile led me to believe that she already knew exactly what had happened here and the nod of her head only confirmed it.

The seer turned again, remorse filling her gaze as she placed a cool hand on Isabella’s arm.  “Bella, I’m so sorry; I didn’t see.”

And just like ice water being poured on an open fire, her desire was doused and again Isabella was frightened. 

“What did you see, psychic?”  I ask in all haste, wanting to be rid of the Cullens—especially this one—sooner rather than later. 

She cut her eyes to Isabella and then back to me, and though she spoke, I already had a feeling for what the problem was.

“Edward.”