52 Weeks
by Wizardtho
Chapter 22:
Caius leads me out to the sitting room with his hand on the small of my back. My eyes are immediately drawn to the gilded mirror Edward forced me through. My breathing hitches, then I notice Demetri with his head bowed off to the side of it. I kiss Caius’ chest, pat his hand, then walk toward Demetri.
The Elite Guard doesn’t speak or even breathe as I approach. Somehow, I just know what to say as he drops to both knees in front of me, so I place my hand on top of his head and offer tenderly, “Demetri, look at me.”
I know I’m right when I see venom welled up in his eyes, so I smile softly, “My abduction was my fault, not yours. I didn’t even put everything together myself until that day, but I was the one who didn’t speak up to anyone. I could have asked you to come into the suite after the girls and I got back and told you then, but I didn’t.”
He shakes his head, then whispers as his eyes drop, “I left you, Milady.”
I chuckle softly, then offer, “Please, Dem. You left me with someone who no questions had been raised about, and was known to be one of my guards. You left me with someone who was supposed to be trusted with my protection… had been trusted with it already numerous times. You didn’t give Edward access to the castle, and you didn’t stand by knowingly as I was abducted. That was all Corin. Now please, no more of this nonsense. My throat is so raw it feels like a wildfire.”
He nods and kisses the back of my hand, then stands to his feet. In the same second, Caius is bringing me what looks to be a bag of donated blood. “It is already warm, Sweetling. I’ll hold the bag for you, in case your new strength decides to show itself.”
After guiding me onto his lap in the chair, he gently holds the bag closer to me and offers, “Slowly, Isabella. Gently bite into the corner of the bag, then suck like you would a straw.”
Feeding is an experience, for sure. After the first taste of the blood hits my tongue, I’m suddenly gasping as blood flies everywhere. Caius chuckles loudly at my shocked expression, licks the blood from my chin, then offers, “Slowly, Sweetling. You busted the bag trying to grab ahold of it. That’s why I offered. It happens, and there is plenty more blood on hand. Demetri, if you wouldn’t mind…”
Right away, I hear Demetri starting the microwave, then see him handing Caius a towel. I take the chance to stand and look at myself in the mirror, then frown as I see that there’s blood absolutely everywhere. On my robe. On both my arms and legs. Covering my face. Even dripping from my hair.
I look back at Caius, only to laugh. He’s wiping his hands on the provided towel. He's just as messy as I am, though, except for the clear void where my body was up against his when I popped the bag in my haste.
The sound of my laugh surprises me slightly, though I’ve heard it millions of times. It’s new… both the same and different. More complex. That doesn’t matter now, though, because Caius is smiling my favorite smile. The one that’s so big it makes the corners of his eyes crease. The one that lets me know he’s truly content… truly happy.
My second try at feeding is much more successful. Soon I’ve finished 3 full bags of blood, all unique in their flavor, and all delicious in their own way. I’m licking my lips as Caius suggests we get cleaned up a bit, but once I nod my agreement, he tells Demetri we will see everyone in an hour.
After closing our bedroom doors, Caius guides me by my hips into our bathroom. I turn in his grasp to look into his eyes, then can’t help but bite my lip at the vast mess I made of both of us. Caius gently brushes his thumb across my lip, promising, “It’s normal, Sweetling… and you did quite well after I explained what happened.”
I nod before chuckling, “I know. I just can’t believe one small bag could make such a large mess. We’re covered!”
My king gently tugs at the sash around my waist, causing my robe to open. In return, I grasp a single button of his shirt between my fingers, then pluck it free. At his small smirk, I offer with a not-quite-innocent shrug, “I think I need to continue. Practice makes perfect and all…”
I’m able to pluck three more buttons successfully before I get fed up and just rip his shirt open. Caius laughs as he pulls me to him, “I love seeing the light in your eyes right now, Isabella. So determined, so headstrong.”
Without a pause, Caius pulls me into a passionate kiss. His touch, the same yet also so new, lights my entire body with love and desire.
Somehow, at some point, we end up in the shower, but I can’t care less about getting cleaned up when it feels as if all my nerve endings are individually responding to my mate. Everything is so intense and new, almost as if being human made me numb to all but the most basic.
Gasps and moans soon fill the air; I practically cry with joy when Caius and I are finally joined. I’m connected with my mate in the most intimate of ways, and I am home. Finally, truly, home. I guess that’s why I’m not at all surprised to find my teeth sinking into the left side of Caius’ neck as we both climax together sometime later.
Caius holds me close, his fingers massaging the back of my scalp as I gently lick my mating mark to heal it. I can hear his slightly heavy breathing and the falling water all around us, but the most prominent sound in the room is me… purring.
It takes another few minutes of me tending to Caius before my purr tapers off, then I decide it’s time to wash all the blood out of his hair. He sits on the bench, allowing me to do as I wish.
Concentrating on every move, I pick up his shampoo, then tip it upside down. Biting my bottom lip, I make a conscious effort to close my hand around the bottle only a centimeter.
Nothing. I let out a breath of, “Not enough. Little… more… there!”
Though I’m aiming for a dollop about the size of a half dollar, I ended up with one almost twice the size. Still, I didn’t bust the bottle, so that’s a win in my book. The grin on Caius’ handsome face tells me he thinks so, too.
He hums in content as I start working the shampoo through his hair, causing me to smile as I ask, “So… has a ruling been made?”
Caius shakes his head slightly, stating surely, “Aro and Marcus found Esme guilty. No sentence has been passed. We would not do so without you, Sweetling.”
His hands caress my hips, but he continues, “Do you remember Marcus’ visit?”
I nod, but say as I think back, “A bit. I remember him saying in the most polite way possible that Esme was psycho. That something with her son’s death before she was turned got warped and twisted in her mind. I think I remember hearing something about Alice, too… she was really torn up thinking I was dead. Truthfully, Caius, I don’t know if I can handle her in my life right now. Maybe when her sentence is up, but not anytime soon. And Carlisle… that one I didn’t see coming. Carlisle was completely devoted to Esme. I’m honestly glad he chose to step back if they were only companions. Maybe with time and space, he’ll be able to find his true mate.”
Caius nods, then I step back so he can rinse his fully-lathered head. Once done, he returns the favor, leaving sweet little kisses on my face as his fingers work through my hair. I hum, then he asks, “Do you know what you want done with Esme and Corin, Sweetling?”
I let out a heavy breath as my eyes meet his, “I’m normally not one to wish death on someone; you know that. They both knowingly helped Edward try to come between known mates. Corin was up to her neck in this mess, Caius. Even before Edward got to her… from the day she returned to the castle from her mission… she’s been using her gift on us, trying to split us up. And Esme… I can guarantee she pretty much told Edward to bring me home to them. She may have prettied her words to disguise them as suggestions, but it boils down to the same thing. It didn’t matter that Edward was the one to leave me, or that I was now mated to a king. Nothing mattered to her except putting me back into the role she thought made Edward happiest.”
Caius leans my head back to rinse my hair, then repeats his attention with the conditioner. “You believe both deserve the same severity of sentence as Edward.”
Letting out another breath to really let that thought settle, I find that everything in me agrees. “Yes. I do. They broke the most sacred vampire law. Breaking it is a death sentence. End of story.”
Caius and I finish our shower together, and though I’m ready to see our family, I’m suddenly nervous. Caius notices as he tucks the end of my towel under my arm, so he asks, “What is it, Isabella?”
I look at my closet, then shake my head. “I need some trial clothing. Like cheap tees and things. That way I can practice without the risk of tearing up two thousand dollar tops or one-of-a-kind diamond beaded gowns that cost more than my Dad made in a year.”
Caius chuckles, then guides me into the closet, offering, “For now, tell me what you would like, and I will help. I will also let Heidi know that practice clothing of an inexpensive nature are required. How does that sound?”
I can only nod and let out a breath as I point to the off-shoulder peach top and black floral pencil skirt. Caius also picks a strapless bra and cheeky panties for me, then hooks a pair of matching peach peep toe slingbacks with his pinky.
Forgoing the brush, I flip my head over and shake my hair out, then run my fingers through it all about 20 times. Flipping it back, I’m happy to see my chunky curls look amazing in the mirror. I nod to my mate, who is already dressed. He smiles as he helps me into the outfit we chose.
Last to be added, once I’m fully dressed, are my Volturi cuff bracelet and a pearl and diamond jewelry set. Caius kisses my lips lightly, then reaches for the bedroom doors. I smile at him, ready to see our family again.
Caius leads me out to the sitting room with his hand on the small of my back. My eyes are immediately drawn to the gilded mirror Edward forced me through. My breathing hitches, then I notice Demetri with his head bowed off to the side of it. I kiss Caius’ chest, pat his hand, then walk toward Demetri.
The Elite Guard doesn’t speak or even breathe as I approach. Somehow, I just know what to say as he drops to both knees in front of me, so I place my hand on top of his head and offer tenderly, “Demetri, look at me.”
I know I’m right when I see venom welled up in his eyes, so I smile softly, “My abduction was my fault, not yours. I didn’t even put everything together myself until that day, but I was the one who didn’t speak up to anyone. I could have asked you to come into the suite after the girls and I got back and told you then, but I didn’t.”
He shakes his head, then whispers as his eyes drop, “I left you, Milady.”
I chuckle softly, then offer, “Please, Dem. You left me with someone who no questions had been raised about, and was known to be one of my guards. You left me with someone who was supposed to be trusted with my protection… had been trusted with it already numerous times. You didn’t give Edward access to the castle, and you didn’t stand by knowingly as I was abducted. That was all Corin. Now please, no more of this nonsense. My throat is so raw it feels like a wildfire.”
He nods and kisses the back of my hand, then stands to his feet. In the same second, Caius is bringing me what looks to be a bag of donated blood. “It is already warm, Sweetling. I’ll hold the bag for you, in case your new strength decides to show itself.”
After guiding me onto his lap in the chair, he gently holds the bag closer to me and offers, “Slowly, Isabella. Gently bite into the corner of the bag, then suck like you would a straw.”
Feeding is an experience, for sure. After the first taste of the blood hits my tongue, I’m suddenly gasping as blood flies everywhere. Caius chuckles loudly at my shocked expression, licks the blood from my chin, then offers, “Slowly, Sweetling. You busted the bag trying to grab ahold of it. That’s why I offered. It happens, and there is plenty more blood on hand. Demetri, if you wouldn’t mind…”
Right away, I hear Demetri starting the microwave, then see him handing Caius a towel. I take the chance to stand and look at myself in the mirror, then frown as I see that there’s blood absolutely everywhere. On my robe. On both my arms and legs. Covering my face. Even dripping from my hair.
I look back at Caius, only to laugh. He’s wiping his hands on the provided towel. He's just as messy as I am, though, except for the clear void where my body was up against his when I popped the bag in my haste.
The sound of my laugh surprises me slightly, though I’ve heard it millions of times. It’s new… both the same and different. More complex. That doesn’t matter now, though, because Caius is smiling my favorite smile. The one that’s so big it makes the corners of his eyes crease. The one that lets me know he’s truly content… truly happy.
My second try at feeding is much more successful. Soon I’ve finished 3 full bags of blood, all unique in their flavor, and all delicious in their own way. I’m licking my lips as Caius suggests we get cleaned up a bit, but once I nod my agreement, he tells Demetri we will see everyone in an hour.
After closing our bedroom doors, Caius guides me by my hips into our bathroom. I turn in his grasp to look into his eyes, then can’t help but bite my lip at the vast mess I made of both of us. Caius gently brushes his thumb across my lip, promising, “It’s normal, Sweetling… and you did quite well after I explained what happened.”
I nod before chuckling, “I know. I just can’t believe one small bag could make such a large mess. We’re covered!”
My king gently tugs at the sash around my waist, causing my robe to open. In return, I grasp a single button of his shirt between my fingers, then pluck it free. At his small smirk, I offer with a not-quite-innocent shrug, “I think I need to continue. Practice makes perfect and all…”
I’m able to pluck three more buttons successfully before I get fed up and just rip his shirt open. Caius laughs as he pulls me to him, “I love seeing the light in your eyes right now, Isabella. So determined, so headstrong.”
Without a pause, Caius pulls me into a passionate kiss. His touch, the same yet also so new, lights my entire body with love and desire.
Somehow, at some point, we end up in the shower, but I can’t care less about getting cleaned up when it feels as if all my nerve endings are individually responding to my mate. Everything is so intense and new, almost as if being human made me numb to all but the most basic.
Gasps and moans soon fill the air; I practically cry with joy when Caius and I are finally joined. I’m connected with my mate in the most intimate of ways, and I am home. Finally, truly, home. I guess that’s why I’m not at all surprised to find my teeth sinking into the left side of Caius’ neck as we both climax together sometime later.
Caius holds me close, his fingers massaging the back of my scalp as I gently lick my mating mark to heal it. I can hear his slightly heavy breathing and the falling water all around us, but the most prominent sound in the room is me… purring.
It takes another few minutes of me tending to Caius before my purr tapers off, then I decide it’s time to wash all the blood out of his hair. He sits on the bench, allowing me to do as I wish.
Concentrating on every move, I pick up his shampoo, then tip it upside down. Biting my bottom lip, I make a conscious effort to close my hand around the bottle only a centimeter.
Nothing. I let out a breath of, “Not enough. Little… more… there!”
Though I’m aiming for a dollop about the size of a half dollar, I ended up with one almost twice the size. Still, I didn’t bust the bottle, so that’s a win in my book. The grin on Caius’ handsome face tells me he thinks so, too.
He hums in content as I start working the shampoo through his hair, causing me to smile as I ask, “So… has a ruling been made?”
Caius shakes his head slightly, stating surely, “Aro and Marcus found Esme guilty. No sentence has been passed. We would not do so without you, Sweetling.”
His hands caress my hips, but he continues, “Do you remember Marcus’ visit?”
I nod, but say as I think back, “A bit. I remember him saying in the most polite way possible that Esme was psycho. That something with her son’s death before she was turned got warped and twisted in her mind. I think I remember hearing something about Alice, too… she was really torn up thinking I was dead. Truthfully, Caius, I don’t know if I can handle her in my life right now. Maybe when her sentence is up, but not anytime soon. And Carlisle… that one I didn’t see coming. Carlisle was completely devoted to Esme. I’m honestly glad he chose to step back if they were only companions. Maybe with time and space, he’ll be able to find his true mate.”
Caius nods, then I step back so he can rinse his fully-lathered head. Once done, he returns the favor, leaving sweet little kisses on my face as his fingers work through my hair. I hum, then he asks, “Do you know what you want done with Esme and Corin, Sweetling?”
I let out a heavy breath as my eyes meet his, “I’m normally not one to wish death on someone; you know that. They both knowingly helped Edward try to come between known mates. Corin was up to her neck in this mess, Caius. Even before Edward got to her… from the day she returned to the castle from her mission… she’s been using her gift on us, trying to split us up. And Esme… I can guarantee she pretty much told Edward to bring me home to them. She may have prettied her words to disguise them as suggestions, but it boils down to the same thing. It didn’t matter that Edward was the one to leave me, or that I was now mated to a king. Nothing mattered to her except putting me back into the role she thought made Edward happiest.”
Caius leans my head back to rinse my hair, then repeats his attention with the conditioner. “You believe both deserve the same severity of sentence as Edward.”
Letting out another breath to really let that thought settle, I find that everything in me agrees. “Yes. I do. They broke the most sacred vampire law. Breaking it is a death sentence. End of story.”
Caius and I finish our shower together, and though I’m ready to see our family, I’m suddenly nervous. Caius notices as he tucks the end of my towel under my arm, so he asks, “What is it, Isabella?”
I look at my closet, then shake my head. “I need some trial clothing. Like cheap tees and things. That way I can practice without the risk of tearing up two thousand dollar tops or one-of-a-kind diamond beaded gowns that cost more than my Dad made in a year.”
Caius chuckles, then guides me into the closet, offering, “For now, tell me what you would like, and I will help. I will also let Heidi know that practice clothing of an inexpensive nature are required. How does that sound?”
I can only nod and let out a breath as I point to the off-shoulder peach top and black floral pencil skirt. Caius also picks a strapless bra and cheeky panties for me, then hooks a pair of matching peach peep toe slingbacks with his pinky.
Forgoing the brush, I flip my head over and shake my hair out, then run my fingers through it all about 20 times. Flipping it back, I’m happy to see my chunky curls look amazing in the mirror. I nod to my mate, who is already dressed. He smiles as he helps me into the outfit we chose.
Last to be added, once I’m fully dressed, are my Volturi cuff bracelet and a pearl and diamond jewelry set. Caius kisses my lips lightly, then reaches for the bedroom doors. I smile at him, ready to see our family again.