52 Weeks
by Wizardtho
Aro and Sulpicia
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Caius and Bella
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Marcus
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Chapter 12:
Caius and I find Aro in the study going over some files, Sulpicia’s head on his lap as she reads a book. I smile at the sight as we walk in. Aro sets the file aside, closing the folder before looking up to us. In greeting, he offers, “You had a long talk with Marcus this morning, Sister. If I wasn’t already privy to the topics of your conversation, I might have found myself jealous to be left out of your visitation schedule.”
I chuckle before kissing both of his cheeks as Sulpicia sits up with a giggle. “Not you, Brother. You would never be jealous. Either way, as you do know the topics we conversed about, you know why we are here.”
I take his hands and squeeze them gently to make my point. He shakes his head, a small frown on his lips, “I have tried numerous times. I can not read you, Isabella. I believe Marcus was correct in thinking you possess a shield. Whether it is both mental and physical in nature, I do not yet have the answer to.”
He looks to Caius, who nods, so he continues as we take a seat, “Calling Jasper was a brilliant strategy, Sister. Having both the feared Major Whitlock and his Captain training you, we will find the answers you seek. I do have one question to ask. Why did you not go over the rest of what was bothering you about Didyme’s kidnapping?”
I shook my head in response. “I didn’t know how he would take my thoughts… didn’t want to upset him. How did you…?”
He chuckles, then offers, “You stated you had been thinking quite a bit. Knowing your mind as I do second-hand through Caius, I was able to put the pieces together. Now, tell me these thoughts. Maybe we will be able to make sense of them together.”
I nod, then delve right in. “It goes back to gifts expanding and becoming stronger. I believe, after her rescue, that Didyme tried to expand her power. At least, I know I would have, feeling a need to be more prepared. I was thinking -and I could be completely off base here- that she was able to do just that… that her power grew to include at least snippets of her own future.”
Aro’s gaze is calculating as he looks at me. “Expand on your thoughts. I will explain my reason in a second.”
I nod, then say what I feared would upset Marcus. “I… I think she knew the Romanians would gain power again… that she would be taken again. Maybe not in the beginning, but closer to the time of her second abduction. I think she knew that it had to happen for a certain outcome to be reached. I don’t mean to say she led her guards to their deaths that day, because I don’t believe she knew exactly when she would be taken. I do believe, from everything Marcus told me about her today, that she was prepared to do anything -even go through the hell of her first abduction again- if the final outcome was the fall of the Romanians for good. Something she foresaw made her believe that she would be rescued again… that when she was, the Romanians would be annihilated to accomplish the task.”
Something I said makes Caius hug me tight to his side. I don’t understand it until I hear Sulpicia whisper sadly to Aro just loud enough for me to hear, “She’s the key, my love. Didi must have seen Isa with her sight… seen something concerning Isa. Remember she acted a bit odd around the end of April last year?”
Aro quickly looks at me, asking, “The end of April... that falls right after you were bitten by James, but before the dance Edward escorted you to, which was in May. Am I correct?”
I nod, then voice aloud, “Could that have been the catalyst? James biting me? Come to think of it, Alice saw me perfectly clear before that… but after, if there was something I truly wanted to keep private, I could. It didn’t work with everything, only the really private things. Same with Jasper. He could always make me feel what he wanted, but after Phoenix, I could block him when I really wanted to… when my emotions just needed to sort themselves out without interference.”
I look to Caius, then Aro. Both nod in agreement as Caius says, “I believe so, Darling. Aro, can Demetri sense Isabella’s wavelength? I know you have had contact with him since her arrival.”
Aro shakes his head, offering, “He has not been able to gain her wavelength once since her arrival in Volterra. She is as much a void to him as she is to me. You have been becoming harder for him to sense, also.”
I grin at that, happy that my gift is gaining strength, “See, Caius? I can do this. I’m already starting to protect you, even without knowing I’m doing it.”
Caius kisses my temple, but says, “Slowly, Sweetling. Let us not get ahead of ourselves. There is much to still piece together.”
Aro gives a calm agreement to my mate’s statement, but Sulpicia states, “Assuming that when James bit Isa, it was the catalyst for Didi foreseeing a future event concerning Isa, we can also assume it has something to do with her captors. If Isa is a shield, as we believe, I have to make the leap that she is meant to help rescue Didi in some way. I am sorry, Caius. I know you do not want to hear this but think about it. Her shield has already completely blocked Aro and Edward, from moment one without her realizing it. I do not believe any mental gift would be able to touch her. Demetri’s gift is mostly mental, and again, she blocked him from the beginning without even trying. Yes, there are some physical aspects to his gift, but your wavelength suddenly becoming harder for him to make out is a mental aspect. It is also proof that Isa’s shield is expanding. I believe her mental shield, and possibly her physical shield, will be needed for some reason when we find Didi.”
Caius pinches the bridge of his nose with a sigh before agreeing. “We can only wait, for now. We will not test the theory further, for the time being, as Isabella already stated to me that Jasper is the only one she trusts to guide and teach her.”
Aro nods respectfully, then offers, “On a slightly different topic, I have news from the guard contingent heading the search. They have encountered and dispatched a larger-than-normal pack of werewolves… thirteen, to be exact.”
Caius gasps, then looks outraged, “How? They would have decimated whole cities in a pack that large! We would have heard of this before now!”
Aro shakes his head, then offers in explanation, “It seems they are capable of learning, Brother. The ones the contingent came across were exceptionally smart. They knew to keep themselves hidden… to be selective with their kills… almost as if they were evolving into a more deadly predator.”
I hug Caius to me, then rub the back of his neck in comfort as I say, “Not necessarily evolving; think of it on a smaller scale… more as adapting. Aro, truly take a second to think. As human means of daily life and warfare have changed, vampires have had to adapt to stay hidden… to stay alive. What do you think the biggest threat to werewolves has been for the last couple of millennia? Vampires. You’ve been hunting them, so they’ve had to learn to adapt… to stop making mistakes that would garner your attention. If a kid gets slapped on the hand with a ruler too many times, he’s going to eventually learn how to hide -or stop altogether- the behavior causing him to get slapped in the first place.”
Every eye in the room is gazing at me intently until Sulpicia finally says comfortingly to Aro, “We’ve needed Isa for far longer than we realize, my love. I do not know whether it is her shield that allows her to come to these conclusions so openly and quickly, but we should have foreseen this outcome centuries ago. We should have at least seen it as a possibility.”
Aro nods, then cups her cheek, “You are correct, Dearheart. Isabella, if you are amenable, I would like you to participate in strategy meetings from now on. I will speak to Marcus… explain the conclusions we have come to here, and warn the guard contingent to be extra cautious in their movements from now on.”
I nod, then hear a knock on the door. Demetri steps in, closing the door behind him, before bowing his head, “Masters, Mistresses. Forgive my interruption, but a message was just given to me by Gianna from the two guards you have on the Cullens.”
When Aro waves a hand, Demetri continues, “They have left Washington. Though they did have a long talk with Chief Swan, they were careful not to reveal anything to him. Apparently, the shifter tribe did not let him know that Lady Isabella was in the company of Alice when she left town. They did, however, meet with the Cullens, where they dissolved the treaty that was signed. Lady Isabella’s disappearance is being labeled as a direct violation.”
Aro nods, “I thought as much. As we have our own truce with the tribe, I believe it is time we set up a meeting. Tell the tribe chief we will send a jet to fly however many they wish to represent them. The number is not an issue. We only need to know how many, so that their accommodations can be paid for in one of the inns in town, as I do not believe they will rest comfortably in our midst. Make certain they understand that this concerns Isabella’s disappearance, and they will be able to see for themselves that she is safe once they arrive.”
Aro looks to me, I guess asking silently if I have anything to add, so I think quickly. “Dem? Have Billy tell Jake ‘you’re my sun’. Those exact words, okay? He’ll know that it’s not a trap... that I’m safe… if he hears that.”
Caius smiles tenderly, knowing the meaning behind the statement, while Aro nods. “Excellent. Demetri, make sure it is taken care of. Let me know the minute a decision is made.”
Demetri bows his head, then pulls his phone out as he leaves the room. I sigh as I snuggle into Caius’ side, but smile slightly as he gives me a comforting kiss. “Thank you. It’s been a busy day so far, and I haven’t even eaten lunch yet. Is it too early to call it a day and say fuck off to everyone else?”
Sulpicia laughs, but Aro and Caius give each other a significant look. After a second, they both nod, saying in unison, “Fuck off to everyone else.”
Aro takes it one step further by calling his guard, Renatta, into the room. “Clear any business appointments needing Marcus, Caius, myself, or our mates for the rest of the day. Reschedule them in the open slots over the next week. If someone is brainless enough to ask why, you are not to find an available appointment time to fit them in for the next six months. I do believe Jerran and Franco still have items needing to be delivered directly to Lady Isabella, which she will take time to accept upon their arrival. Other than that or any viable news about Mistress Didyme, we are not to be disturbed.”
Renatta bows with a small smile, saying in her soft tone, “Of course, Master. I will see to it immediately.”
I can’t help but chuckle as soon as the door closes, “Well, then. I need to make these suggestions more often, it seems.”
Aro’s eyes soften as he looks at me, “You have been through much in the last week, Sister. With how quickly you’ve found your place with us, it is difficult to remember that you are not yet a vampire. You still need time to relax and process, as do we all. We have the advantage of not needing sleep, giving us more time in each day to accomplish working through mass amounts of new information, where you do not.”
I nod, but assure them, “Soon that won’t be the case. I’ve already told Caius I want him to change me, but that I want my gift to be as strong as possible beforehand. The bigger the manifestation as a human, the stronger it is after the change. You know that. I have given Caius permission to change me in an emergency, though, if it’s a life or death situation. Not that I will ever be without a guard, but we know well that bad things can happen no matter how prepared we are.”
Aro nods appreciatively, then asks, “Now that we have taken the afternoon off, what do you suggest we do with this free time?”
I hum in thought, “Hmm… something fun. What to do?”
A conversation I had with Jane one afternoon suddenly comes to me, so I grin widely, “I know exactly what we’re going to do. Wear something comfortable… like jeans and a t-shirt comfortable… and meet us at the entrance to the north wing in 15 minutes. Cia, will you call Marcus and ask him to join us?”
She grins widely while agreeing, so I pull on Caius’s hand to hurry him along. He chuckles at my excitement as he follows me from the room. I quickly text Jane on the way to our suite, not wanting Caius to hear me. ‘Make sure the game room is posted off limits & stocked on wine/blood, plz. I’m surprising royals with a day of mindless of fun ;)’
I wait a full two minutes after I hit send before turning to ask her casually, “Jane, did my jeans get put into the closet or my dresser? I haven’t really had the opportunity to wear any since arriving.”
She hurriedly gives me a sly wink while answering calmly, “They were placed on the lower rack of your closet, Milady, along the far wall.”
Caius seems happy to play along, even though he has no clue what I intend on having us do for the rest of the day. I just want to relax and get to know everyone better. What better way than by having fun?
Just as I’m pulling on my white slash jeans, I get a text message. I press the button to read:
B- Peter says we’ll be there before ya turn in, to go through a debriefin’ with ya… and they’ll love it. -J
I grin widely, closing the message window as I see Caius coming out of the closet. He chuckles, “You are up to something, my sexy little mate. I can see that mischievous glint in your beautiful eyes. Who were you just talking to?”
I laugh and kiss his chest, his hands molding to my ass as I offer, “Jasper just texted to say they’ll be here before we turn in for the night. Peter had one of his all-knowing moments, I guess.”
He pecks my lips before asking, “You are happy he is returning?”
I nod, not really sure how to explain it. “Yes, I am. It’s hard to explain, seeing as I really didn’t get a good chance to know him while I was with the coven… but I just feel, deep down, that he’s family. I’ve felt that since the beginning with him... like he’s my long lost brother. Does that make sense?”
He hums, caresses my cheek, then replies, “It does, Sweetling. Though Aro and Marcus are not of my blood, they have been my brothers since the moment my vampiric eyes opened.”
I kiss his palm, asking after a second, “Are you ready for fun?”
He nods his head with a laugh, “What exactly are you up to, Darling? I know you have something planned.”
I shake my head, planting my hands on my hips, “You’ll just have to wait and find out with the rest. I’m not giving you anything to go by.”
We walk hand-in-hand to the entrance of the north wing, with Demitri following, only to find Jane there with a frown on her face. At seeing me, she wrings her hands together, saying in explanation, “I must apologize, Lady Isabella. Master Aro saw me coming from this wing a few minutes ago. He... he read me.”
I growl in frustration that my surprise has been ruined, then sigh loud enough that Aro can clearly hear me from a few doors down, “It’s fine, Jane. I should have expected him to try something so underhanded. It’s not your fault, as you can’t help what he sees when he reads you. I also do not expect you to refuse him, as you answer to every royal in this castle, not just me.”
Aro gripes as he appears from the game room. “I was not being underhanded, Isabella… I like to think of it as curious.”
I laugh in disbelief, then swat his arm as I pass him to enter the game room, “You know what they say about curiosity, don’t you, Brother? It killed the cat.”
Renatta is trying to hide her grin behind her hand. Jane and Demitri are trying to stifle their chuckles as they post themselves outside the doorway, while Caius, Marcus, and Sulpicia are all outright laughing. Meanwhile, Aro is actually rolling his eyes at me.
I take a chance to see everyone is indeed in jeans. Sulpicia’s are blue skinny, Aro’s are black, Marcus’s are a deep blue that look almost like they have a ‘dirty wash’ tint, and Caius’s are a faded light blue that are heavily distressed. Sulpicia is wearing a mock wrap top that has a slightly oriental vibe to the pattern, Aro’s shirt is a deep grey, Marcus’s is a blue that looks both bleached and splattered with blue paint, while Caius’s is an olive color accented by other colors and a graphic design. I am wearing my white slash skinny jeans with a black, white, and grey dragon graphic tee.
I hum after taking a few seconds to inspect us all, “I’m impressed. You took my jeans and tees comment to heart. I’m glad. Comfort and fun is the agenda for the rest of the day. If Aro hadn’t spoiled my damn surprise, I would have been able to tell you that our fun activity was me getting to know all of you better while kicking each other's asses in the game room.”
Marcus grins at me, clearly liking that idea. Aro, on the other hand, looks honestly contrite as he offers, “I apologize, Isabella. I am not used to having to wait. Surprises are rare, with my gift. I will endeavor to try if it makes you feel better.”
I give him a serious nod, “Please… and knowingly using my guards to find out about future surprises is now considered off-limits. Deal?”
He frowns slightly, but nods in acceptance, “Deal. May we proceed to the fun now?”
Caius and I find Aro in the study going over some files, Sulpicia’s head on his lap as she reads a book. I smile at the sight as we walk in. Aro sets the file aside, closing the folder before looking up to us. In greeting, he offers, “You had a long talk with Marcus this morning, Sister. If I wasn’t already privy to the topics of your conversation, I might have found myself jealous to be left out of your visitation schedule.”
I chuckle before kissing both of his cheeks as Sulpicia sits up with a giggle. “Not you, Brother. You would never be jealous. Either way, as you do know the topics we conversed about, you know why we are here.”
I take his hands and squeeze them gently to make my point. He shakes his head, a small frown on his lips, “I have tried numerous times. I can not read you, Isabella. I believe Marcus was correct in thinking you possess a shield. Whether it is both mental and physical in nature, I do not yet have the answer to.”
He looks to Caius, who nods, so he continues as we take a seat, “Calling Jasper was a brilliant strategy, Sister. Having both the feared Major Whitlock and his Captain training you, we will find the answers you seek. I do have one question to ask. Why did you not go over the rest of what was bothering you about Didyme’s kidnapping?”
I shook my head in response. “I didn’t know how he would take my thoughts… didn’t want to upset him. How did you…?”
He chuckles, then offers, “You stated you had been thinking quite a bit. Knowing your mind as I do second-hand through Caius, I was able to put the pieces together. Now, tell me these thoughts. Maybe we will be able to make sense of them together.”
I nod, then delve right in. “It goes back to gifts expanding and becoming stronger. I believe, after her rescue, that Didyme tried to expand her power. At least, I know I would have, feeling a need to be more prepared. I was thinking -and I could be completely off base here- that she was able to do just that… that her power grew to include at least snippets of her own future.”
Aro’s gaze is calculating as he looks at me. “Expand on your thoughts. I will explain my reason in a second.”
I nod, then say what I feared would upset Marcus. “I… I think she knew the Romanians would gain power again… that she would be taken again. Maybe not in the beginning, but closer to the time of her second abduction. I think she knew that it had to happen for a certain outcome to be reached. I don’t mean to say she led her guards to their deaths that day, because I don’t believe she knew exactly when she would be taken. I do believe, from everything Marcus told me about her today, that she was prepared to do anything -even go through the hell of her first abduction again- if the final outcome was the fall of the Romanians for good. Something she foresaw made her believe that she would be rescued again… that when she was, the Romanians would be annihilated to accomplish the task.”
Something I said makes Caius hug me tight to his side. I don’t understand it until I hear Sulpicia whisper sadly to Aro just loud enough for me to hear, “She’s the key, my love. Didi must have seen Isa with her sight… seen something concerning Isa. Remember she acted a bit odd around the end of April last year?”
Aro quickly looks at me, asking, “The end of April... that falls right after you were bitten by James, but before the dance Edward escorted you to, which was in May. Am I correct?”
I nod, then voice aloud, “Could that have been the catalyst? James biting me? Come to think of it, Alice saw me perfectly clear before that… but after, if there was something I truly wanted to keep private, I could. It didn’t work with everything, only the really private things. Same with Jasper. He could always make me feel what he wanted, but after Phoenix, I could block him when I really wanted to… when my emotions just needed to sort themselves out without interference.”
I look to Caius, then Aro. Both nod in agreement as Caius says, “I believe so, Darling. Aro, can Demetri sense Isabella’s wavelength? I know you have had contact with him since her arrival.”
Aro shakes his head, offering, “He has not been able to gain her wavelength once since her arrival in Volterra. She is as much a void to him as she is to me. You have been becoming harder for him to sense, also.”
I grin at that, happy that my gift is gaining strength, “See, Caius? I can do this. I’m already starting to protect you, even without knowing I’m doing it.”
Caius kisses my temple, but says, “Slowly, Sweetling. Let us not get ahead of ourselves. There is much to still piece together.”
Aro gives a calm agreement to my mate’s statement, but Sulpicia states, “Assuming that when James bit Isa, it was the catalyst for Didi foreseeing a future event concerning Isa, we can also assume it has something to do with her captors. If Isa is a shield, as we believe, I have to make the leap that she is meant to help rescue Didi in some way. I am sorry, Caius. I know you do not want to hear this but think about it. Her shield has already completely blocked Aro and Edward, from moment one without her realizing it. I do not believe any mental gift would be able to touch her. Demetri’s gift is mostly mental, and again, she blocked him from the beginning without even trying. Yes, there are some physical aspects to his gift, but your wavelength suddenly becoming harder for him to make out is a mental aspect. It is also proof that Isa’s shield is expanding. I believe her mental shield, and possibly her physical shield, will be needed for some reason when we find Didi.”
Caius pinches the bridge of his nose with a sigh before agreeing. “We can only wait, for now. We will not test the theory further, for the time being, as Isabella already stated to me that Jasper is the only one she trusts to guide and teach her.”
Aro nods respectfully, then offers, “On a slightly different topic, I have news from the guard contingent heading the search. They have encountered and dispatched a larger-than-normal pack of werewolves… thirteen, to be exact.”
Caius gasps, then looks outraged, “How? They would have decimated whole cities in a pack that large! We would have heard of this before now!”
Aro shakes his head, then offers in explanation, “It seems they are capable of learning, Brother. The ones the contingent came across were exceptionally smart. They knew to keep themselves hidden… to be selective with their kills… almost as if they were evolving into a more deadly predator.”
I hug Caius to me, then rub the back of his neck in comfort as I say, “Not necessarily evolving; think of it on a smaller scale… more as adapting. Aro, truly take a second to think. As human means of daily life and warfare have changed, vampires have had to adapt to stay hidden… to stay alive. What do you think the biggest threat to werewolves has been for the last couple of millennia? Vampires. You’ve been hunting them, so they’ve had to learn to adapt… to stop making mistakes that would garner your attention. If a kid gets slapped on the hand with a ruler too many times, he’s going to eventually learn how to hide -or stop altogether- the behavior causing him to get slapped in the first place.”
Every eye in the room is gazing at me intently until Sulpicia finally says comfortingly to Aro, “We’ve needed Isa for far longer than we realize, my love. I do not know whether it is her shield that allows her to come to these conclusions so openly and quickly, but we should have foreseen this outcome centuries ago. We should have at least seen it as a possibility.”
Aro nods, then cups her cheek, “You are correct, Dearheart. Isabella, if you are amenable, I would like you to participate in strategy meetings from now on. I will speak to Marcus… explain the conclusions we have come to here, and warn the guard contingent to be extra cautious in their movements from now on.”
I nod, then hear a knock on the door. Demetri steps in, closing the door behind him, before bowing his head, “Masters, Mistresses. Forgive my interruption, but a message was just given to me by Gianna from the two guards you have on the Cullens.”
When Aro waves a hand, Demetri continues, “They have left Washington. Though they did have a long talk with Chief Swan, they were careful not to reveal anything to him. Apparently, the shifter tribe did not let him know that Lady Isabella was in the company of Alice when she left town. They did, however, meet with the Cullens, where they dissolved the treaty that was signed. Lady Isabella’s disappearance is being labeled as a direct violation.”
Aro nods, “I thought as much. As we have our own truce with the tribe, I believe it is time we set up a meeting. Tell the tribe chief we will send a jet to fly however many they wish to represent them. The number is not an issue. We only need to know how many, so that their accommodations can be paid for in one of the inns in town, as I do not believe they will rest comfortably in our midst. Make certain they understand that this concerns Isabella’s disappearance, and they will be able to see for themselves that she is safe once they arrive.”
Aro looks to me, I guess asking silently if I have anything to add, so I think quickly. “Dem? Have Billy tell Jake ‘you’re my sun’. Those exact words, okay? He’ll know that it’s not a trap... that I’m safe… if he hears that.”
Caius smiles tenderly, knowing the meaning behind the statement, while Aro nods. “Excellent. Demetri, make sure it is taken care of. Let me know the minute a decision is made.”
Demetri bows his head, then pulls his phone out as he leaves the room. I sigh as I snuggle into Caius’ side, but smile slightly as he gives me a comforting kiss. “Thank you. It’s been a busy day so far, and I haven’t even eaten lunch yet. Is it too early to call it a day and say fuck off to everyone else?”
Sulpicia laughs, but Aro and Caius give each other a significant look. After a second, they both nod, saying in unison, “Fuck off to everyone else.”
Aro takes it one step further by calling his guard, Renatta, into the room. “Clear any business appointments needing Marcus, Caius, myself, or our mates for the rest of the day. Reschedule them in the open slots over the next week. If someone is brainless enough to ask why, you are not to find an available appointment time to fit them in for the next six months. I do believe Jerran and Franco still have items needing to be delivered directly to Lady Isabella, which she will take time to accept upon their arrival. Other than that or any viable news about Mistress Didyme, we are not to be disturbed.”
Renatta bows with a small smile, saying in her soft tone, “Of course, Master. I will see to it immediately.”
I can’t help but chuckle as soon as the door closes, “Well, then. I need to make these suggestions more often, it seems.”
Aro’s eyes soften as he looks at me, “You have been through much in the last week, Sister. With how quickly you’ve found your place with us, it is difficult to remember that you are not yet a vampire. You still need time to relax and process, as do we all. We have the advantage of not needing sleep, giving us more time in each day to accomplish working through mass amounts of new information, where you do not.”
I nod, but assure them, “Soon that won’t be the case. I’ve already told Caius I want him to change me, but that I want my gift to be as strong as possible beforehand. The bigger the manifestation as a human, the stronger it is after the change. You know that. I have given Caius permission to change me in an emergency, though, if it’s a life or death situation. Not that I will ever be without a guard, but we know well that bad things can happen no matter how prepared we are.”
Aro nods appreciatively, then asks, “Now that we have taken the afternoon off, what do you suggest we do with this free time?”
I hum in thought, “Hmm… something fun. What to do?”
A conversation I had with Jane one afternoon suddenly comes to me, so I grin widely, “I know exactly what we’re going to do. Wear something comfortable… like jeans and a t-shirt comfortable… and meet us at the entrance to the north wing in 15 minutes. Cia, will you call Marcus and ask him to join us?”
She grins widely while agreeing, so I pull on Caius’s hand to hurry him along. He chuckles at my excitement as he follows me from the room. I quickly text Jane on the way to our suite, not wanting Caius to hear me. ‘Make sure the game room is posted off limits & stocked on wine/blood, plz. I’m surprising royals with a day of mindless of fun ;)’
I wait a full two minutes after I hit send before turning to ask her casually, “Jane, did my jeans get put into the closet or my dresser? I haven’t really had the opportunity to wear any since arriving.”
She hurriedly gives me a sly wink while answering calmly, “They were placed on the lower rack of your closet, Milady, along the far wall.”
Caius seems happy to play along, even though he has no clue what I intend on having us do for the rest of the day. I just want to relax and get to know everyone better. What better way than by having fun?
Just as I’m pulling on my white slash jeans, I get a text message. I press the button to read:
B- Peter says we’ll be there before ya turn in, to go through a debriefin’ with ya… and they’ll love it. -J
I grin widely, closing the message window as I see Caius coming out of the closet. He chuckles, “You are up to something, my sexy little mate. I can see that mischievous glint in your beautiful eyes. Who were you just talking to?”
I laugh and kiss his chest, his hands molding to my ass as I offer, “Jasper just texted to say they’ll be here before we turn in for the night. Peter had one of his all-knowing moments, I guess.”
He pecks my lips before asking, “You are happy he is returning?”
I nod, not really sure how to explain it. “Yes, I am. It’s hard to explain, seeing as I really didn’t get a good chance to know him while I was with the coven… but I just feel, deep down, that he’s family. I’ve felt that since the beginning with him... like he’s my long lost brother. Does that make sense?”
He hums, caresses my cheek, then replies, “It does, Sweetling. Though Aro and Marcus are not of my blood, they have been my brothers since the moment my vampiric eyes opened.”
I kiss his palm, asking after a second, “Are you ready for fun?”
He nods his head with a laugh, “What exactly are you up to, Darling? I know you have something planned.”
I shake my head, planting my hands on my hips, “You’ll just have to wait and find out with the rest. I’m not giving you anything to go by.”
We walk hand-in-hand to the entrance of the north wing, with Demitri following, only to find Jane there with a frown on her face. At seeing me, she wrings her hands together, saying in explanation, “I must apologize, Lady Isabella. Master Aro saw me coming from this wing a few minutes ago. He... he read me.”
I growl in frustration that my surprise has been ruined, then sigh loud enough that Aro can clearly hear me from a few doors down, “It’s fine, Jane. I should have expected him to try something so underhanded. It’s not your fault, as you can’t help what he sees when he reads you. I also do not expect you to refuse him, as you answer to every royal in this castle, not just me.”
Aro gripes as he appears from the game room. “I was not being underhanded, Isabella… I like to think of it as curious.”
I laugh in disbelief, then swat his arm as I pass him to enter the game room, “You know what they say about curiosity, don’t you, Brother? It killed the cat.”
Renatta is trying to hide her grin behind her hand. Jane and Demitri are trying to stifle their chuckles as they post themselves outside the doorway, while Caius, Marcus, and Sulpicia are all outright laughing. Meanwhile, Aro is actually rolling his eyes at me.
I take a chance to see everyone is indeed in jeans. Sulpicia’s are blue skinny, Aro’s are black, Marcus’s are a deep blue that look almost like they have a ‘dirty wash’ tint, and Caius’s are a faded light blue that are heavily distressed. Sulpicia is wearing a mock wrap top that has a slightly oriental vibe to the pattern, Aro’s shirt is a deep grey, Marcus’s is a blue that looks both bleached and splattered with blue paint, while Caius’s is an olive color accented by other colors and a graphic design. I am wearing my white slash skinny jeans with a black, white, and grey dragon graphic tee.
I hum after taking a few seconds to inspect us all, “I’m impressed. You took my jeans and tees comment to heart. I’m glad. Comfort and fun is the agenda for the rest of the day. If Aro hadn’t spoiled my damn surprise, I would have been able to tell you that our fun activity was me getting to know all of you better while kicking each other's asses in the game room.”
Marcus grins at me, clearly liking that idea. Aro, on the other hand, looks honestly contrite as he offers, “I apologize, Isabella. I am not used to having to wait. Surprises are rare, with my gift. I will endeavor to try if it makes you feel better.”
I give him a serious nod, “Please… and knowingly using my guards to find out about future surprises is now considered off-limits. Deal?”
He frowns slightly, but nods in acceptance, “Deal. May we proceed to the fun now?”