52 Weeks
by Wizardtho
Chapter 14:
“What, with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman.”
Jasper waits only a split second before he nearly snarls, “Damn it, Bella! Concentrate!”
I growl deeply at Jasper in response, my brown eyes boring into his crimson ones, “We’ve been at this all bloody day, Jasper, and I haven’t once NOT concentrated! And that was a quote from ‘Taming of the Shrew’ by fucking Shakespeare!”
Demetri asks softly, breaking up our sudden glaring contest, “Major, may I speak to you for a minute?”
Jasper nods in reply before they step to the other side of the room together, then he huffs while running his hand through his hair. I only hear the buzz of their too-low-for-human-ears conversation after that.
When they return, Jasper kisses me on top of the head, “Sorry, Sugar. We’re all frustrated right now. I want ya to do me a favor. Close your eyes for me.”
I do as he says, so he continues. “Take a deep breath and let it out. Clear your mind of everythin’ ‘cept my voice.”
It takes several breaths and concentrating on my heartbeat for that to happen, then I hear Jasper again, “There’s a woman named Zafrina who has the gift of illusion. She can make ya see anythin’ she wants ya to see, and the world she creates is so vivid, ya would swear it were real. Think of the possibilities of her gift.”
Scenes flash behind my eyelids. “Now think of her makin’ Caius watch helplessly as you’re supposedly tortured and killed by the Romanians.”
Though I want to open my eyes, want to gasp in outrage at his words, the images appear in my mind’s eye anyway. The pain I feel at the imagined scene causes me to cry out, but the effect is my mind’s film flawlessly extending to cover the bright golden light of my mate in my head.
Demetri gasps, causing my eyes to snap open. “You did it, Milady! He’s gone!”
I nod in response but rub my chest slightly over my heart. Before I can even say anything to Jasper about his tactic, Caius slams open the suite door, rushing to me in a blur of motion. “Are you alright, Darling? What happened? I felt you needed me.”
I lean in to bury my head in his neck, inhaling his scent without a word, so Jasper offers an explanation. “She found her mental shield pretty quickly. We’ve been spendin’ most of the day tryin’ to have her extend it to cover ya. The tension was gettin’ pretty high when Demetri pulled me aside. He suggested that I try pushin’ emotions at her while gettin’ her to think about ya bein’ in danger. Well, I changed it up a bit. I told her about Zafrina’s power… asked her to think about her usin’ it on ya to make ya believe Isabella was bein’ hurt, while not bein’ able to stop it. I didn’t push any emotions at her, but I also didn’t realize with the matin’ bond bein’ so new, that it would cause her pain.”
Caius lifts my chin, then places tender kisses all over my face in response. I let out a breath, then say softly before opening my eyes, “It worked, Caius. You’re safe now.”
When my eyes meet his, the worry in his dark orbs changes to wonder. He looks to Demetri, who nods while adding, “You are now as invisible to me as Lady Isabella has always been, Sire. I can’t even see traces of your wavelength… almost as if you don’t have one.”
Caius grins widely, then pulls me into a passionate but short kiss before saying proudly, “You are amazing, My Love. Simply brilliant. Can you remove it?”
I shake my head, completely abhorring even the thought of doing so. I know the horror is clear on my face as I answer, “Absolutely not! Don’t ask me to, Caius.”
He soothes me immediately, “Shh… alright. Alright. You do not have to un-shield me. Does it feel like it is taking energy to keep me covered?”
I close my eyes, then take stock. “No. It’s effortless… not taking anything from me.”
When my eyes open, Jasper is nodding silently to Caius in agreement, but asks, “How about tryin’ to cover Jane or me, then uncoverin’ the person?”
I nod in agreement as Caius moves to sit with me on the couch. When I close my eyes, I can feel Caius’ hand slip into mine; I calm at his touch. I easily find Jasper’s brotherly light, thinking, ‘He’s in danger. He needs my protection,’ as I nudge the edge of my shield outward in Jasper’s direction.
Within seconds, Demetri whispers, “Perfect, Milady. Now try to remove it.”
I nod, then say to myself, ‘He is no longer in danger’ as I think of the film coming back to settle in its original position in my mind.
When I open my eyes this time, Demetri has a grin so big it’s lighting up his whole face. He nods, “Perfect, Lady Isabella. Major’s wavelength completely blinked out, then came back in a pop.”
Jasper chuckles happily, then adds, “And it doesn’t feel as if it took any of your energy for ya to add me.”
I shake my head, “It doesn’t. I was still fully protected -so was Caius- when I added you. It’s hard to describe, but it’s almost like blowing soap bubbles. You blow into the circle of the bubble wand, the film expands, then a bubble releases from it while there’s still tons of film in the circle. All I had to do to cover you was think about you needing my protection.”
Caius kisses my shoulder, then sighs in relief, “I am glad your shield does not sacrifice any of your safety to cover others. By the way it sounds, Jasper was in his own separate shield. Is that accurate?”
I nod in reply, “Yes. I don’t know why, but you are, too. Bringing the shield back from Jasper was the exact reverse of the process. The bubble lifted off his light, then seemed to meld back into the main film around me.”
He nods, then holds me a bit tighter as he says to the others, “I think my little mate has made extraordinary progress for today, Gentlemen. I am calling a halt to training for the rest of the evening so that she can rest and replenish. You may resume training in the morning.”
After a second of looking at me, Caius continues, “Jasper, if you would, please inform Aro about today’s events. If he asks why I sent you instead of coming myself, inform him I am putting my mate in a hot bath to decompress, and wish not to be disturbed by what will surely be a lengthy debate of Isabella’s power.”
Jasper agrees as he and Demetri both rise from their seats. Jasper comes to kiss the top of my head, telling me to rest well because I did an amazing job today. Demetri bows his head when Jasper joins him, bidding us both a good evening.
Time moves quickly, and before I realize it, the Quileute entourage has arrived in Volterra. I only notice it now when I see Jane returning her phone to her robe. Before I can ask, she says simply, “Your presence is being requested in the throne room, Milady. The shifters are here.”
I stand and smooth down my black cropped skinny slacks, turning to look in the 8-foot-tall gilded mirror that hangs on the wall of my sitting room. The exquisite pearl and diamond set Jerran came up with for me is in place, my crest cuff on my wrist. The wrap flutter top Caius was eyeing in my closet looks very nice with the matching pleated backless kitten heels. I love the deep jade color against the black of my crop pants. Turning, I nod to Jane, then follow her through the corridors.
When we reach the throne room, I hear Sam and Jake arguing about whether I’m really here and safe. Sam wants to wait to see if I show up, but Jake is sure that something terrible has happened to me. I nod to Jane who opens the door before following me into the room.
All eyes turn to me as I offer in greeting, “Really, Jake… was my ‘you’re my sun,’ comment not enough to let you know I was safe? I’m a bit disappointed that you think so little of your hosts, me being one of said hosts.”
I make my way to the thrones, then stand next to Caius’s with my arm resting on the top. Jake grumbles something as he looks me over, then says as a sort of apology, “Not that you don’t look good… and surprisingly still have a beating heart… but is all the bling really necessary, Bells?”
I chuckle, causing the tension in the room to ease, then shrug, “It’s part of the whole ‘royalty’ gig and being a Lady of the castle. This is actually only everyday jewelry. What I need to wear for galas and events is much more intricate.”
I pause for a moment, letting my eyes make contact with each of theirs, then say, “I’m glad you chose to come all this way. Are your accommodations to your liking?”
Billy nods in reply, “Our accommodations are generous. Thank you. I’m confused, Bella, about your purpose here in the castle. Why haven’t you come home? Why put Charlie through all of this worry?”
I take a breath, then come right out with it. “Because I am Lord Caius’s mate, Billy. I’m sure by now, you know why the Cullens were here to be sentenced. Being Caius’s mate, I wouldn’t survive without him. We are bound just as tightly as Sam is to Emily. Do you really want me to subject my dad to this world, only to force a choice on him to turn or die? There is no way I can go home to him without him finding out. I’m bound to a king, Billy. With that comes bodyguards and enemy threats. Do you want him caught in the crossfire by trying in vain to protect me from this world… a world which he is nowhere near equipped to deal with?”
Both Billy and Old Quil’s faces fall at that, while Sam stands stoically silent. Jake, on the other hand, lets out a cry of outrage, “NO! You are not some vampire queen, Bells! You can’t be his mate! You don’t even have a mate mark!”
I sigh, patting Caius’s rumbling chest before I step down from the raised dais, to let him know I’ll handle this. When I cut the space between Jake and me in half, I say calmly, “Yes, Jake. I know you don’t want to believe it, but I am Caius’s mate. Look.”
I move the neckline of my top on the left side, just enough to bare my mate mark. After a full minute, I replace my top, saying, “Inhale. Does my scent smell the same to you as it always did? I love you as my brother, Jake, but you can’t fight this. Would you try to rip Sam from Emily? Kim from Jared? I see daily what it does to someone when they have been ripped away from their mate, and I would not wish that outcome on even my worst enemy.”
Jake looks like he’s about to cry, but instead lets out a breath while rubbing his hands through his shortly cropped hair, “Alright… alright. But we’ll have to concoct something believable for your dad, Bella. He can’t go on hoping. It’s tearing him up.”
I nod, then offer, “I can give you a small amount of my blood, for DNA confirmation. It wouldn’t be far fetched in that area for an animal attack to happen. Find a believable place that Dad hasn’t had a search party in yet. Take my extra set of clothes from your place, then use them and the blood to stage a bear attack. He’ll be able to let me go once he has the DNA proof that it was me.”
The rest of the meeting is still tense, but they know my mind will not change. They begin to understand and respect my choice, even if they don’t like the idea of me becoming a vampire.
It takes several hours before the meeting is concluded, but I hand Sam the donation bag filled with my blood, which the doctor on staff was called in to draw. He nods sadly, but offers, “We will watch over him, Bella. You need only call me or Jake to know how he’s doing. The truce with the Volturi stands, which means you won’t be able to check up on him in person.”
I nod in agreement, already knowing it would break the truce to go back. “I know, Sam. I won’t break the truce. It’s too important -for both sides- that peace remains between us. Plus, Charlie deserves closure. Risking him seeing me after my supposed death would only cause more questions. I don’t want this to be harder on him than it has to be.”
I take the time to say goodbye to everyone else, and it isn’t long before they exit the castle. I whisper a final goodbye to my human family and friends as Caius wraps his arms around me in comfort.
Two Months Later
“Uggh… I just can’t stand her. Have you seen the way she goes all ‘I am sex kitten’ whenever she’s near him, Char? It’s disgusting! Show some fucking dignity, and keep your filthy paws off of mated men!”
I’m currently walking through the gardens with Char and Jane, ranting about Corin’s behavior since returning from her mission. My hands twitch as I continue, “I just want to gouge her fluttering eyes from their sockets, then shove that saccharine sweet ‘Of course, Master… anything you say, Master’ right up her…”
Char chuckles, cutting off my rant before changing the subject, “Have your headaches gotten any better with taking the last few days off?”
I shake my head, “That’s another thing… they get worse when she’s on my guard detail. The funny part about it is that I don’t even have to know she’s there for it to happen. It’s like my mind just knows she’s near. Almost like…”
I look to Jane quickly, whispering too low for anyone but her or Char to hear, “Remember when we tested whether you could hurt Demetri? How the harder and longer you tried, the more my head started to ache? It’s exactly like that with Corin. Does she have a power?”
Both of their eyes widen at my implication, though Jane quickly composes herself before saying, “She does… a mental gift. She can literally erase thoughts from a person’s head, Milady. She can pick and choose, then obliterate the ones she wants to get rid of.”
I nod in thought, then say, “So… we know she hates my presence here, and that she wants Caius for herself. She doesn’t know about my shield, though. What if she’s been trying to use her gift to pluck Caius from my mind? That would explain my headaches. It would explain a lot, actually.”
Jane nods, while Char says seriously, “You need to tell the brothers your suspicions, Isa.”
I sigh, “I know. I will… just give me a bit of time. I need to figure out how to go about it; if I walk in there right now, I’ll come off as an insecure and jealous bitch. That’s the last thing I am, since I know in my heart that Caius only wants me, so I need time to calm and collect my thoughts.”
They both reluctantly agree, so we head back toward the castle. I’m not surprised when my head starts hurting soon after our return.
Demetri is waiting as we enter the royal hall, so I know Corin is posted with Caius. The thought makes my head hurt even more. When we reach the suite, I tell Demetri, “I’m just going to try to rest until Caius is done with his duties for today, Dem… see if I can get rid of this headache.”
He frowns, “Another one?”
I nod and pat his shoulder, then rub my temples, “Yeah. I’ll be fine. Send for dinner at my usual time, alright?”
He agrees with a bit of worry in his eyes, then silently closes the door behind me.
As I slip into the steaming tub, I think back to all that I’ve accomplished in the last two months. I’ve found that no matter how many people I shield mentally, or how far away they physically are while under that shield, it doesn’t affect me or make the shield dissipate. Jane tested this out on Aro’s request by taking a day trip to the southern tip of Italy. I can even train physically with Char, protecting several people while learning moves, without it breaking my concentration.
On the other hand, though I’ve found my physical shield in my mind, I’ve only been able to make it work sporadically when Jasper sends me emotions. Caius won’t let anyone try to mock attack me, for fear of me being hurt if it fails to appear in time. While I’m thankful for that, I also think the threat of actually being injured will make it work, like with my mental shield. Kind of like scaring it into action.
I sigh while clearing my mind of all thoughts, then try to let the fragrance of the oil in the water calm me. Unfortunately, my headache becomes steadily worse.
Unknown POV
It’s only a matter of time before Isabella is in my grasp. That brainless little twit, Corin, could not have been easier to manipulate. All it took was a few assurances that once I have Isabella away from the castle, Caius would be all hers. She was ready to do anything I told her to after that. Unfortunately, she has not been able to gain me the access to Isabella that is needed, to remove her from the castle in secret.
Just as I begin to curse Corin’s lack of action, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I press the button, not speaking as I put my ear to the speaker. Corin’s voice is a whisper as she hurriedly says, “Now. I’m moving into position. She’s alone in my Caius’ suite. Hurry, because you won’t have much time. Use the secret passages.”
I can not help but sneer as I press the end button, “You are mine, Isabella. Soon the Volturi will pay for what they have done.”
“What, with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman.”
Jasper waits only a split second before he nearly snarls, “Damn it, Bella! Concentrate!”
I growl deeply at Jasper in response, my brown eyes boring into his crimson ones, “We’ve been at this all bloody day, Jasper, and I haven’t once NOT concentrated! And that was a quote from ‘Taming of the Shrew’ by fucking Shakespeare!”
Demetri asks softly, breaking up our sudden glaring contest, “Major, may I speak to you for a minute?”
Jasper nods in reply before they step to the other side of the room together, then he huffs while running his hand through his hair. I only hear the buzz of their too-low-for-human-ears conversation after that.
When they return, Jasper kisses me on top of the head, “Sorry, Sugar. We’re all frustrated right now. I want ya to do me a favor. Close your eyes for me.”
I do as he says, so he continues. “Take a deep breath and let it out. Clear your mind of everythin’ ‘cept my voice.”
It takes several breaths and concentrating on my heartbeat for that to happen, then I hear Jasper again, “There’s a woman named Zafrina who has the gift of illusion. She can make ya see anythin’ she wants ya to see, and the world she creates is so vivid, ya would swear it were real. Think of the possibilities of her gift.”
Scenes flash behind my eyelids. “Now think of her makin’ Caius watch helplessly as you’re supposedly tortured and killed by the Romanians.”
Though I want to open my eyes, want to gasp in outrage at his words, the images appear in my mind’s eye anyway. The pain I feel at the imagined scene causes me to cry out, but the effect is my mind’s film flawlessly extending to cover the bright golden light of my mate in my head.
Demetri gasps, causing my eyes to snap open. “You did it, Milady! He’s gone!”
I nod in response but rub my chest slightly over my heart. Before I can even say anything to Jasper about his tactic, Caius slams open the suite door, rushing to me in a blur of motion. “Are you alright, Darling? What happened? I felt you needed me.”
I lean in to bury my head in his neck, inhaling his scent without a word, so Jasper offers an explanation. “She found her mental shield pretty quickly. We’ve been spendin’ most of the day tryin’ to have her extend it to cover ya. The tension was gettin’ pretty high when Demetri pulled me aside. He suggested that I try pushin’ emotions at her while gettin’ her to think about ya bein’ in danger. Well, I changed it up a bit. I told her about Zafrina’s power… asked her to think about her usin’ it on ya to make ya believe Isabella was bein’ hurt, while not bein’ able to stop it. I didn’t push any emotions at her, but I also didn’t realize with the matin’ bond bein’ so new, that it would cause her pain.”
Caius lifts my chin, then places tender kisses all over my face in response. I let out a breath, then say softly before opening my eyes, “It worked, Caius. You’re safe now.”
When my eyes meet his, the worry in his dark orbs changes to wonder. He looks to Demetri, who nods while adding, “You are now as invisible to me as Lady Isabella has always been, Sire. I can’t even see traces of your wavelength… almost as if you don’t have one.”
Caius grins widely, then pulls me into a passionate but short kiss before saying proudly, “You are amazing, My Love. Simply brilliant. Can you remove it?”
I shake my head, completely abhorring even the thought of doing so. I know the horror is clear on my face as I answer, “Absolutely not! Don’t ask me to, Caius.”
He soothes me immediately, “Shh… alright. Alright. You do not have to un-shield me. Does it feel like it is taking energy to keep me covered?”
I close my eyes, then take stock. “No. It’s effortless… not taking anything from me.”
When my eyes open, Jasper is nodding silently to Caius in agreement, but asks, “How about tryin’ to cover Jane or me, then uncoverin’ the person?”
I nod in agreement as Caius moves to sit with me on the couch. When I close my eyes, I can feel Caius’ hand slip into mine; I calm at his touch. I easily find Jasper’s brotherly light, thinking, ‘He’s in danger. He needs my protection,’ as I nudge the edge of my shield outward in Jasper’s direction.
Within seconds, Demetri whispers, “Perfect, Milady. Now try to remove it.”
I nod, then say to myself, ‘He is no longer in danger’ as I think of the film coming back to settle in its original position in my mind.
When I open my eyes this time, Demetri has a grin so big it’s lighting up his whole face. He nods, “Perfect, Lady Isabella. Major’s wavelength completely blinked out, then came back in a pop.”
Jasper chuckles happily, then adds, “And it doesn’t feel as if it took any of your energy for ya to add me.”
I shake my head, “It doesn’t. I was still fully protected -so was Caius- when I added you. It’s hard to describe, but it’s almost like blowing soap bubbles. You blow into the circle of the bubble wand, the film expands, then a bubble releases from it while there’s still tons of film in the circle. All I had to do to cover you was think about you needing my protection.”
Caius kisses my shoulder, then sighs in relief, “I am glad your shield does not sacrifice any of your safety to cover others. By the way it sounds, Jasper was in his own separate shield. Is that accurate?”
I nod in reply, “Yes. I don’t know why, but you are, too. Bringing the shield back from Jasper was the exact reverse of the process. The bubble lifted off his light, then seemed to meld back into the main film around me.”
He nods, then holds me a bit tighter as he says to the others, “I think my little mate has made extraordinary progress for today, Gentlemen. I am calling a halt to training for the rest of the evening so that she can rest and replenish. You may resume training in the morning.”
After a second of looking at me, Caius continues, “Jasper, if you would, please inform Aro about today’s events. If he asks why I sent you instead of coming myself, inform him I am putting my mate in a hot bath to decompress, and wish not to be disturbed by what will surely be a lengthy debate of Isabella’s power.”
Jasper agrees as he and Demetri both rise from their seats. Jasper comes to kiss the top of my head, telling me to rest well because I did an amazing job today. Demetri bows his head when Jasper joins him, bidding us both a good evening.
Time moves quickly, and before I realize it, the Quileute entourage has arrived in Volterra. I only notice it now when I see Jane returning her phone to her robe. Before I can ask, she says simply, “Your presence is being requested in the throne room, Milady. The shifters are here.”
I stand and smooth down my black cropped skinny slacks, turning to look in the 8-foot-tall gilded mirror that hangs on the wall of my sitting room. The exquisite pearl and diamond set Jerran came up with for me is in place, my crest cuff on my wrist. The wrap flutter top Caius was eyeing in my closet looks very nice with the matching pleated backless kitten heels. I love the deep jade color against the black of my crop pants. Turning, I nod to Jane, then follow her through the corridors.
When we reach the throne room, I hear Sam and Jake arguing about whether I’m really here and safe. Sam wants to wait to see if I show up, but Jake is sure that something terrible has happened to me. I nod to Jane who opens the door before following me into the room.
All eyes turn to me as I offer in greeting, “Really, Jake… was my ‘you’re my sun,’ comment not enough to let you know I was safe? I’m a bit disappointed that you think so little of your hosts, me being one of said hosts.”
I make my way to the thrones, then stand next to Caius’s with my arm resting on the top. Jake grumbles something as he looks me over, then says as a sort of apology, “Not that you don’t look good… and surprisingly still have a beating heart… but is all the bling really necessary, Bells?”
I chuckle, causing the tension in the room to ease, then shrug, “It’s part of the whole ‘royalty’ gig and being a Lady of the castle. This is actually only everyday jewelry. What I need to wear for galas and events is much more intricate.”
I pause for a moment, letting my eyes make contact with each of theirs, then say, “I’m glad you chose to come all this way. Are your accommodations to your liking?”
Billy nods in reply, “Our accommodations are generous. Thank you. I’m confused, Bella, about your purpose here in the castle. Why haven’t you come home? Why put Charlie through all of this worry?”
I take a breath, then come right out with it. “Because I am Lord Caius’s mate, Billy. I’m sure by now, you know why the Cullens were here to be sentenced. Being Caius’s mate, I wouldn’t survive without him. We are bound just as tightly as Sam is to Emily. Do you really want me to subject my dad to this world, only to force a choice on him to turn or die? There is no way I can go home to him without him finding out. I’m bound to a king, Billy. With that comes bodyguards and enemy threats. Do you want him caught in the crossfire by trying in vain to protect me from this world… a world which he is nowhere near equipped to deal with?”
Both Billy and Old Quil’s faces fall at that, while Sam stands stoically silent. Jake, on the other hand, lets out a cry of outrage, “NO! You are not some vampire queen, Bells! You can’t be his mate! You don’t even have a mate mark!”
I sigh, patting Caius’s rumbling chest before I step down from the raised dais, to let him know I’ll handle this. When I cut the space between Jake and me in half, I say calmly, “Yes, Jake. I know you don’t want to believe it, but I am Caius’s mate. Look.”
I move the neckline of my top on the left side, just enough to bare my mate mark. After a full minute, I replace my top, saying, “Inhale. Does my scent smell the same to you as it always did? I love you as my brother, Jake, but you can’t fight this. Would you try to rip Sam from Emily? Kim from Jared? I see daily what it does to someone when they have been ripped away from their mate, and I would not wish that outcome on even my worst enemy.”
Jake looks like he’s about to cry, but instead lets out a breath while rubbing his hands through his shortly cropped hair, “Alright… alright. But we’ll have to concoct something believable for your dad, Bella. He can’t go on hoping. It’s tearing him up.”
I nod, then offer, “I can give you a small amount of my blood, for DNA confirmation. It wouldn’t be far fetched in that area for an animal attack to happen. Find a believable place that Dad hasn’t had a search party in yet. Take my extra set of clothes from your place, then use them and the blood to stage a bear attack. He’ll be able to let me go once he has the DNA proof that it was me.”
The rest of the meeting is still tense, but they know my mind will not change. They begin to understand and respect my choice, even if they don’t like the idea of me becoming a vampire.
It takes several hours before the meeting is concluded, but I hand Sam the donation bag filled with my blood, which the doctor on staff was called in to draw. He nods sadly, but offers, “We will watch over him, Bella. You need only call me or Jake to know how he’s doing. The truce with the Volturi stands, which means you won’t be able to check up on him in person.”
I nod in agreement, already knowing it would break the truce to go back. “I know, Sam. I won’t break the truce. It’s too important -for both sides- that peace remains between us. Plus, Charlie deserves closure. Risking him seeing me after my supposed death would only cause more questions. I don’t want this to be harder on him than it has to be.”
I take the time to say goodbye to everyone else, and it isn’t long before they exit the castle. I whisper a final goodbye to my human family and friends as Caius wraps his arms around me in comfort.
Two Months Later
“Uggh… I just can’t stand her. Have you seen the way she goes all ‘I am sex kitten’ whenever she’s near him, Char? It’s disgusting! Show some fucking dignity, and keep your filthy paws off of mated men!”
I’m currently walking through the gardens with Char and Jane, ranting about Corin’s behavior since returning from her mission. My hands twitch as I continue, “I just want to gouge her fluttering eyes from their sockets, then shove that saccharine sweet ‘Of course, Master… anything you say, Master’ right up her…”
Char chuckles, cutting off my rant before changing the subject, “Have your headaches gotten any better with taking the last few days off?”
I shake my head, “That’s another thing… they get worse when she’s on my guard detail. The funny part about it is that I don’t even have to know she’s there for it to happen. It’s like my mind just knows she’s near. Almost like…”
I look to Jane quickly, whispering too low for anyone but her or Char to hear, “Remember when we tested whether you could hurt Demetri? How the harder and longer you tried, the more my head started to ache? It’s exactly like that with Corin. Does she have a power?”
Both of their eyes widen at my implication, though Jane quickly composes herself before saying, “She does… a mental gift. She can literally erase thoughts from a person’s head, Milady. She can pick and choose, then obliterate the ones she wants to get rid of.”
I nod in thought, then say, “So… we know she hates my presence here, and that she wants Caius for herself. She doesn’t know about my shield, though. What if she’s been trying to use her gift to pluck Caius from my mind? That would explain my headaches. It would explain a lot, actually.”
Jane nods, while Char says seriously, “You need to tell the brothers your suspicions, Isa.”
I sigh, “I know. I will… just give me a bit of time. I need to figure out how to go about it; if I walk in there right now, I’ll come off as an insecure and jealous bitch. That’s the last thing I am, since I know in my heart that Caius only wants me, so I need time to calm and collect my thoughts.”
They both reluctantly agree, so we head back toward the castle. I’m not surprised when my head starts hurting soon after our return.
Demetri is waiting as we enter the royal hall, so I know Corin is posted with Caius. The thought makes my head hurt even more. When we reach the suite, I tell Demetri, “I’m just going to try to rest until Caius is done with his duties for today, Dem… see if I can get rid of this headache.”
He frowns, “Another one?”
I nod and pat his shoulder, then rub my temples, “Yeah. I’ll be fine. Send for dinner at my usual time, alright?”
He agrees with a bit of worry in his eyes, then silently closes the door behind me.
As I slip into the steaming tub, I think back to all that I’ve accomplished in the last two months. I’ve found that no matter how many people I shield mentally, or how far away they physically are while under that shield, it doesn’t affect me or make the shield dissipate. Jane tested this out on Aro’s request by taking a day trip to the southern tip of Italy. I can even train physically with Char, protecting several people while learning moves, without it breaking my concentration.
On the other hand, though I’ve found my physical shield in my mind, I’ve only been able to make it work sporadically when Jasper sends me emotions. Caius won’t let anyone try to mock attack me, for fear of me being hurt if it fails to appear in time. While I’m thankful for that, I also think the threat of actually being injured will make it work, like with my mental shield. Kind of like scaring it into action.
I sigh while clearing my mind of all thoughts, then try to let the fragrance of the oil in the water calm me. Unfortunately, my headache becomes steadily worse.
Unknown POV
It’s only a matter of time before Isabella is in my grasp. That brainless little twit, Corin, could not have been easier to manipulate. All it took was a few assurances that once I have Isabella away from the castle, Caius would be all hers. She was ready to do anything I told her to after that. Unfortunately, she has not been able to gain me the access to Isabella that is needed, to remove her from the castle in secret.
Just as I begin to curse Corin’s lack of action, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I press the button, not speaking as I put my ear to the speaker. Corin’s voice is a whisper as she hurriedly says, “Now. I’m moving into position. She’s alone in my Caius’ suite. Hurry, because you won’t have much time. Use the secret passages.”
I can not help but sneer as I press the end button, “You are mine, Isabella. Soon the Volturi will pay for what they have done.”