Rated M for language,adult situations,and the possibility of sexual situations in later Chapters.Not intended for anyone under 18.
Chapter 8:Ex-wife and Learning the Rules
This morning I woke, to the sun streaming through the windows, alone. Caius had probably gone to feed before he, Jasper, and I started with the laws I needed to learn. I pulled myself out of bed and dressed in a navy blue silk dress that stopped above my knees with a matching pair of heels. I brushed out my hair, went to the kitchen for that first cup of coffee, and wondered how many laws there were. After being introduced to this world, I knew exposure of their kind was a definite no-no and it was punishable by death.
I was rinsing out my coffee cup and taking care of my breakfast dishes when Jasper came in. He told me that my fiancé was looking for us so I could begin learning the rules and he was sent to accompany me to Caius' office. As we left the kitchen, I heard yelling coming from the throne room and went to investigate.
As I approached Gianna I asked with a raised brow what was going on and she said: Master Caius ex-wife showed up and is trying to cause problems. Lady Isabella, I was also asked to inform you that you and the Major were to go to Marcus' office and wait until the matter has been handled.
I said no problem but wanted Master Caius to join us when he has concluded his business with his former wife. Gianna nodded in response and told me she would notify him of my request. Jasper and I then made our way to Marcus' office when we were approached by a pretty blonde woman. She automatically started in by saying: Major, it is lovely to see you again. Who is your pretty pet?
Upon hearing this, I got a little hot under the collar and before Jasper could say anything I quipped: Miss, I have no idea who you are or what your business is here, but you should know that I am no one's PET. You should address me with a little respect as I am going to be your Queen! Besides, fiancé would not like hearing you talk to me like this.
Jasper put his hand on my shoulder and said to her: Athenodora, I heard you were no longer welcome here and you should know this is Lady Isabella; she is betrothed to Master Caius. They are to be married soon and I don't think you should be addressing her like she is below you.
She then decided to express herself rather rudely by saying: Caius always was one who hated humans as he felt they were only for sustenance. I cannot believe he is actually going to marry such a pitiful thing. And where you are concerned LITTLE GIRL, you are below me. We shall see if he binds himself to you or not! He is still after all my husband!
Caius then rounded the corner and watched the scene before him, as I told her: I have no idea what you did to him, nor do I want to know, but you should talk to me with a little bit of respect as this is my home and I should be treated with some reverence and decency. So my suggestion to you is, if you're finished with your business, that you leave now and never return without an invitation, or you will find my wrath is nothing compared to what you can do to me in this moment.
Jasper then took my arm and proceeded to lead me away from her, when Caius made his presence known. He moved over to her as stealthily as a black panther and sneered: How dare you, approach my bride to be in this fashion! Your presence here is not wanted and you have come under false pretences. If you think I still care about you, you are sadly mistaken. You will adhere to the Lady Isabella's words or you will find yourself in the dungeons until she is ready to pass judgment upon you for whatever reason she sees fit to bestow upon you! Felix, please show this hideous, unsightly creature out. Remember, Athenodora, never return to Volterra or you will be sorry!
To see him coming apart at the seams in anger is not something I wish upon anyone. He is volatile and dangerous when he gets like that. Athendora is lucky she didn't lose her head and become a pile of ash right where she was standing.
I approached him slowly and placed my hand on his arm and told him to calm down as she was gone. He looked at me with his darkened crimson eyes and smiled, saying he had never seen a fragile human assert themselves so well and praised me for not backing down. He then placed his arm around my shoulders, kissed my temple, and led Jasper and I to his office. He called his brothers to us and told them what happened. They looked at me with a raised brow and commended Caius and I for a job well done on getting rid of the harpy bitch.
We got down to brass tact's with them telling me the laws and explaining, depending on the degree of violation, the punishment would vary, if they are repeatedly broken or violated the penalty is death with no exception.
Their rules (laws) are as follows:
1. Immortal children are not to be created; they are incapable of self control. Penalty- death
2. No one of our kind is to deal with Children if the Moon except for the sole purpose of exterminating them. Penalty- death
3. Bearing false witness for all intents and purposes is forbidden. Penalty-life servitude or death; depending on severity of breach.
4. Hunting is forbidden within Volterra. Our food is to be brought in from the outside and it sometimes comes from far away. Penalty- life servitude or death.
5. Hunting is to be conducted inconspicuously, the victims are to be unlikely missed, the remains are to be properly disposed of, and territories are to be frequently changed. Penalty-determined by the Brothers
6. Newborn vampires are to be properly trained before being released from their sire to be out on their own. Methods of training have been devised and disclosed to coven leaders as more than one vampire may be required for said training. Penalty-determined by the Brothers
7. Newborn armies are not to be created for any purpose. Penalty- Death
8. No single vampire or coven is to imprison another vampire for any reason. Penalty- Life servitude in the Volturi Guard
9. True mates are not to be kept apart for any reason. Penalty- determined by reasons they were kept apart
10. Any human finding out about vampires must be changed within 1 year or killed. They are not to be kept as pets. Penalty- determined by extenuating circumstance
11. Covens are to move frequently to prevent exposure. They cannot stay in one place for more than 7-10 years. Penalty- life servitude of entire Coven violating or death to Coven Leader
12. The Volturi are the ruling body of the vampire world and are not to be challenged or rebelled against. Due to the size and strength of the guard, it is virtually impossible. To do so will bring death upon the coven leader who tries.
13. These laws are to be taught to coven members and newborns by their sire/creator/coven leader. Penalty-life servitude.
14. Our kind must NEVER be exposed. The vampire responsible for exposure will be put to death, we being *the Volturi do not give second chances. Penalty-death.
I was informed these laws or rules are put in place to protect our kind and must not be violated. The most important rule is the last one. I remember this from 4 years ago when I entered this world by accident. Before then, I thought vampires and werewolves were not real and they had been created by Hollywood for their monetary value. While they were telling me these rules I wrote them down so I wouldn't forget them. That would be a violation in itself.
They asked if I had any questions and I asked only one. I asked: Since I figured out the Cullen's were vampires and was dating Edward at the time, was I their pet and didn't that break rule 10 or 14? Did it challenge them in any way?
The answer they gave was surprising, to say the least. With Caius approval, Jasper stated: Bella, we never considered you a pet. To us you were and still are a family member. The rules were in no way broken or challenged. So, the answer to your questions is no. You figured out what we were by your own investigation and from constantly being around us.
That certainly was a weight lifted from my shoulders. Now I had to ask about Athenodora, why she came here thinking she would be accepted, and did she actually think she would be welcomed back with open arms. They pondered for a moment before answering me, then Caius spoke up saying: For the life of me I cannot figure why she would come here and think she would be accepted. She made a mockery of our marriage and hurt many of the guard with the lies she told and her many affairs. I told her we were divorcing due to her many trysts with countless lovers and I found she was very untrustworthy. The lies, I could have lived with but the cheating, I could not. She had said she changed many times, only I found she lied over and over again. When our divorce was finalized, 20 years ago, she was exiled and told never to return. I vowed never to love or trust another woman again because of Athenodora's cruelty. I felt that all women were going to be like her, and then you waltz in here with your trusting gaze and sultry smile, showing no fear and took a stand of elegance against me. From that moment, I knew I was doomed. The mating pull I could shrug off, but falling in love with you was easy. I could not deny you and no matter how hard I tried I could not stay away from you. Amore mia (my love), if Athenodora ever returns here, her punishment will be up to you and carried out forthwith; in other words she will be dealt with immediately.
I really had no idea I was going to be responsible for her survival or demise. I promised myself, if she were ever to return, she would pay for the pain she caused my family. I could handle being humiliated and belittled but to hurt my family makes me want to call an exterminator for the problem of the shrewish hag. Her name alone gives me homicidal thoughts on how to murder her.
I asked if I could be excused for a bit and went out to the gardens to clear my head. The pool my father (Marcus) had built looked so inviting, that I went into the pool house to change. I put on a simple black bikini, grabbed a towel, and went out to dive in. Caius came out and watched me enjoying the cool water, in a barely there swimsuit. When I looked up at him, I noticed he not only sparkled, but glowed in the late afternoon sun. I found my voice, after a few minutes, and asked him if he planned on joining me. He told me that was not a very good idea due to my attire. I tell he was aroused, by looking in his obsidian eyes, and thought I had better not press the issue, especially if I wanted to see my wedding day.
When I decided to get out of the pool, Caius held open the towel for me. I gracefully climbed out and went into his waiting arms. He held me for a moment, told me my room was ready, and he wanted to show it to me. I asked if he was going to share it with me or if we had to go back to separate arrangements until after our special day. I smiled as he said he would stay with my invitation as long as I wanted him to be there with me.
I went back into the pool house and changed into my dress then walked with him to my room. On the way there, he explained that he and his brothers took everything they learned about and from me in creating this sanctuary for me. Caius also made sure that if I wanted to change anything all I had to do is say something and it would be done. I held my breath as he opened the door and before he turned on the lights he told me to close my eyes. His reason was it was a surprise and he wanted to see my reaction. When I was told to open them I was awestruck by the site. I noticed my room was now similar to his, but different. These men had designed me a room fit for a queen. Where Caius room was painted in creams and beige, mine was painted in a light cobalt blue with white trim. The furniture was carved dark mahogany like his. A four poster bed took the place of the canopy style bed that formerly graced the room. The only thing that did not change was my wall of glass. The curtains that hung were now a darker blue and matched the silk spread on the bed. When I spoke, my voice was no more than a whisper, and I told him it was beautiful. He said: My brothers and I changed it to match the Queen that resides within you. You have shown us a sovereign quality in your quest for superiority and justice by not backing down as the odds stacked against you. I have never seen a display of genuine royalty in any other human. This gift you have rivals those of the gods of Mount Olympus.
I had tears in my eyes as he finished and told him NOT to upset any gods. Then I decided to approach the subject of the wedding. I needed to know if he still objected to Carlisle and the rest being participants. To my chagrin he didn't object but he was uncomfortable with it. I couldn't help but say to him: If you're a little uncomfortable with that then wait until you are wearing your tux. My dad, Charlie, said it was being dressed like a penguin in a beauty pageant, and he hated getting dressed up. Maybe that's why I'm partial to jeans over dresses. I also wanted to know if I was to call a minister or priest.
He laughed at quote I made of Charlie and told me if I could have the preparations ready within the next few days he'd call someone that was trusted and ordained. I think he was a little surprised to hear me say the preparations were finished and I had help changing one of the larger areas in the castle into a replica of Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, for the ceremony; with a celebratory ball to follow in the ballroom. I promised to eat properly and have plenty of red wines for us all. Caius was surprised to hear everything was ready with the exception of the minister, he promised to get a hold of one.
After our discussion of wedding preparations and today's events, I had a feeling something was no quite right. So, I decided to go for another swim in the moonlight. I put on the suit I wore earlier in the day, dropped my towel in a chair, and dove in. I decided a few laps might tire me out so I could sleep but couldn't shake that nagging feeling. Just as I was getting ready to go in for the night, Jasper, Alice, Rose, and Emmett came out and asked if I wanted some company. When I said sure they all jumped in. We splashed each other and looked like a bunch of kids having fun. I didn't notice when Caius came outside, but he jumped in without reservation, and proceeded to act like a kid too. The splashing continued, when the rest of my family came out to investigate. I swear they must have never seen a pool party in full swing before. They stared at the sight before them, a king and a bunch of kids playing in a pool. Carlisle and Esme chuckled as Marcus and Aro watched in amazement. Felix stripped down to his suit and joined in saying I knew how to throw a party. Everyone just watched the sight before them. When Marcus finally spoke, he asked Caius if he were having fun and the rest of us stopped in our tracks.
Caius replied to him saying: Brother you have no idea how much fun this is. For the first time in centuries I have decided to let go of my inhibitions and have a laugh or two. So, with feeling as I do right at this moment, come on in, the water is divine.
He then skimmed water right at his brothers and soaked them. Marcus and Aro stood in shock as everyone burst out laughing. I thought to myself, this has to be the first time they have seen Caius like this. He actually looked relaxed and more his age, instead of malicious, stoic, and majestically noble. Seeing him act care free made me love him more, knowing he had a more dominant nature, it was amazing to see him this way.
I didn't notice when everyone left Caius and I alone. We just lazed in the water, enjoying the warmth, and peacefulness of our surroundings. I started to get tired and decided to get out, when he scooped me up in his arms, and kissed me. I threaded my fingers into his wet hair and the kiss deepened to a more passionate nature. When he pulled back his eyes were no longer crimson, they were almost black. He said, we couldn't take this any farther than this at the moment but I could feel his arousal. We got out of the pool, dried off, and went inside to shower. He then put me to bed and climbed in beside me pulling me gently into his arms. I drifted to sleep feeling complete, safe, and loved above everything else.
I was rinsing out my coffee cup and taking care of my breakfast dishes when Jasper came in. He told me that my fiancé was looking for us so I could begin learning the rules and he was sent to accompany me to Caius' office. As we left the kitchen, I heard yelling coming from the throne room and went to investigate.
As I approached Gianna I asked with a raised brow what was going on and she said: Master Caius ex-wife showed up and is trying to cause problems. Lady Isabella, I was also asked to inform you that you and the Major were to go to Marcus' office and wait until the matter has been handled.
I said no problem but wanted Master Caius to join us when he has concluded his business with his former wife. Gianna nodded in response and told me she would notify him of my request. Jasper and I then made our way to Marcus' office when we were approached by a pretty blonde woman. She automatically started in by saying: Major, it is lovely to see you again. Who is your pretty pet?
Upon hearing this, I got a little hot under the collar and before Jasper could say anything I quipped: Miss, I have no idea who you are or what your business is here, but you should know that I am no one's PET. You should address me with a little respect as I am going to be your Queen! Besides, fiancé would not like hearing you talk to me like this.
Jasper put his hand on my shoulder and said to her: Athenodora, I heard you were no longer welcome here and you should know this is Lady Isabella; she is betrothed to Master Caius. They are to be married soon and I don't think you should be addressing her like she is below you.
She then decided to express herself rather rudely by saying: Caius always was one who hated humans as he felt they were only for sustenance. I cannot believe he is actually going to marry such a pitiful thing. And where you are concerned LITTLE GIRL, you are below me. We shall see if he binds himself to you or not! He is still after all my husband!
Caius then rounded the corner and watched the scene before him, as I told her: I have no idea what you did to him, nor do I want to know, but you should talk to me with a little bit of respect as this is my home and I should be treated with some reverence and decency. So my suggestion to you is, if you're finished with your business, that you leave now and never return without an invitation, or you will find my wrath is nothing compared to what you can do to me in this moment.
Jasper then took my arm and proceeded to lead me away from her, when Caius made his presence known. He moved over to her as stealthily as a black panther and sneered: How dare you, approach my bride to be in this fashion! Your presence here is not wanted and you have come under false pretences. If you think I still care about you, you are sadly mistaken. You will adhere to the Lady Isabella's words or you will find yourself in the dungeons until she is ready to pass judgment upon you for whatever reason she sees fit to bestow upon you! Felix, please show this hideous, unsightly creature out. Remember, Athenodora, never return to Volterra or you will be sorry!
To see him coming apart at the seams in anger is not something I wish upon anyone. He is volatile and dangerous when he gets like that. Athendora is lucky she didn't lose her head and become a pile of ash right where she was standing.
I approached him slowly and placed my hand on his arm and told him to calm down as she was gone. He looked at me with his darkened crimson eyes and smiled, saying he had never seen a fragile human assert themselves so well and praised me for not backing down. He then placed his arm around my shoulders, kissed my temple, and led Jasper and I to his office. He called his brothers to us and told them what happened. They looked at me with a raised brow and commended Caius and I for a job well done on getting rid of the harpy bitch.
We got down to brass tact's with them telling me the laws and explaining, depending on the degree of violation, the punishment would vary, if they are repeatedly broken or violated the penalty is death with no exception.
Their rules (laws) are as follows:
1. Immortal children are not to be created; they are incapable of self control. Penalty- death
2. No one of our kind is to deal with Children if the Moon except for the sole purpose of exterminating them. Penalty- death
3. Bearing false witness for all intents and purposes is forbidden. Penalty-life servitude or death; depending on severity of breach.
4. Hunting is forbidden within Volterra. Our food is to be brought in from the outside and it sometimes comes from far away. Penalty- life servitude or death.
5. Hunting is to be conducted inconspicuously, the victims are to be unlikely missed, the remains are to be properly disposed of, and territories are to be frequently changed. Penalty-determined by the Brothers
6. Newborn vampires are to be properly trained before being released from their sire to be out on their own. Methods of training have been devised and disclosed to coven leaders as more than one vampire may be required for said training. Penalty-determined by the Brothers
7. Newborn armies are not to be created for any purpose. Penalty- Death
8. No single vampire or coven is to imprison another vampire for any reason. Penalty- Life servitude in the Volturi Guard
9. True mates are not to be kept apart for any reason. Penalty- determined by reasons they were kept apart
10. Any human finding out about vampires must be changed within 1 year or killed. They are not to be kept as pets. Penalty- determined by extenuating circumstance
11. Covens are to move frequently to prevent exposure. They cannot stay in one place for more than 7-10 years. Penalty- life servitude of entire Coven violating or death to Coven Leader
12. The Volturi are the ruling body of the vampire world and are not to be challenged or rebelled against. Due to the size and strength of the guard, it is virtually impossible. To do so will bring death upon the coven leader who tries.
13. These laws are to be taught to coven members and newborns by their sire/creator/coven leader. Penalty-life servitude.
14. Our kind must NEVER be exposed. The vampire responsible for exposure will be put to death, we being *the Volturi do not give second chances. Penalty-death.
I was informed these laws or rules are put in place to protect our kind and must not be violated. The most important rule is the last one. I remember this from 4 years ago when I entered this world by accident. Before then, I thought vampires and werewolves were not real and they had been created by Hollywood for their monetary value. While they were telling me these rules I wrote them down so I wouldn't forget them. That would be a violation in itself.
They asked if I had any questions and I asked only one. I asked: Since I figured out the Cullen's were vampires and was dating Edward at the time, was I their pet and didn't that break rule 10 or 14? Did it challenge them in any way?
The answer they gave was surprising, to say the least. With Caius approval, Jasper stated: Bella, we never considered you a pet. To us you were and still are a family member. The rules were in no way broken or challenged. So, the answer to your questions is no. You figured out what we were by your own investigation and from constantly being around us.
That certainly was a weight lifted from my shoulders. Now I had to ask about Athenodora, why she came here thinking she would be accepted, and did she actually think she would be welcomed back with open arms. They pondered for a moment before answering me, then Caius spoke up saying: For the life of me I cannot figure why she would come here and think she would be accepted. She made a mockery of our marriage and hurt many of the guard with the lies she told and her many affairs. I told her we were divorcing due to her many trysts with countless lovers and I found she was very untrustworthy. The lies, I could have lived with but the cheating, I could not. She had said she changed many times, only I found she lied over and over again. When our divorce was finalized, 20 years ago, she was exiled and told never to return. I vowed never to love or trust another woman again because of Athenodora's cruelty. I felt that all women were going to be like her, and then you waltz in here with your trusting gaze and sultry smile, showing no fear and took a stand of elegance against me. From that moment, I knew I was doomed. The mating pull I could shrug off, but falling in love with you was easy. I could not deny you and no matter how hard I tried I could not stay away from you. Amore mia (my love), if Athenodora ever returns here, her punishment will be up to you and carried out forthwith; in other words she will be dealt with immediately.
I really had no idea I was going to be responsible for her survival or demise. I promised myself, if she were ever to return, she would pay for the pain she caused my family. I could handle being humiliated and belittled but to hurt my family makes me want to call an exterminator for the problem of the shrewish hag. Her name alone gives me homicidal thoughts on how to murder her.
I asked if I could be excused for a bit and went out to the gardens to clear my head. The pool my father (Marcus) had built looked so inviting, that I went into the pool house to change. I put on a simple black bikini, grabbed a towel, and went out to dive in. Caius came out and watched me enjoying the cool water, in a barely there swimsuit. When I looked up at him, I noticed he not only sparkled, but glowed in the late afternoon sun. I found my voice, after a few minutes, and asked him if he planned on joining me. He told me that was not a very good idea due to my attire. I tell he was aroused, by looking in his obsidian eyes, and thought I had better not press the issue, especially if I wanted to see my wedding day.
When I decided to get out of the pool, Caius held open the towel for me. I gracefully climbed out and went into his waiting arms. He held me for a moment, told me my room was ready, and he wanted to show it to me. I asked if he was going to share it with me or if we had to go back to separate arrangements until after our special day. I smiled as he said he would stay with my invitation as long as I wanted him to be there with me.
I went back into the pool house and changed into my dress then walked with him to my room. On the way there, he explained that he and his brothers took everything they learned about and from me in creating this sanctuary for me. Caius also made sure that if I wanted to change anything all I had to do is say something and it would be done. I held my breath as he opened the door and before he turned on the lights he told me to close my eyes. His reason was it was a surprise and he wanted to see my reaction. When I was told to open them I was awestruck by the site. I noticed my room was now similar to his, but different. These men had designed me a room fit for a queen. Where Caius room was painted in creams and beige, mine was painted in a light cobalt blue with white trim. The furniture was carved dark mahogany like his. A four poster bed took the place of the canopy style bed that formerly graced the room. The only thing that did not change was my wall of glass. The curtains that hung were now a darker blue and matched the silk spread on the bed. When I spoke, my voice was no more than a whisper, and I told him it was beautiful. He said: My brothers and I changed it to match the Queen that resides within you. You have shown us a sovereign quality in your quest for superiority and justice by not backing down as the odds stacked against you. I have never seen a display of genuine royalty in any other human. This gift you have rivals those of the gods of Mount Olympus.
I had tears in my eyes as he finished and told him NOT to upset any gods. Then I decided to approach the subject of the wedding. I needed to know if he still objected to Carlisle and the rest being participants. To my chagrin he didn't object but he was uncomfortable with it. I couldn't help but say to him: If you're a little uncomfortable with that then wait until you are wearing your tux. My dad, Charlie, said it was being dressed like a penguin in a beauty pageant, and he hated getting dressed up. Maybe that's why I'm partial to jeans over dresses. I also wanted to know if I was to call a minister or priest.
He laughed at quote I made of Charlie and told me if I could have the preparations ready within the next few days he'd call someone that was trusted and ordained. I think he was a little surprised to hear me say the preparations were finished and I had help changing one of the larger areas in the castle into a replica of Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, for the ceremony; with a celebratory ball to follow in the ballroom. I promised to eat properly and have plenty of red wines for us all. Caius was surprised to hear everything was ready with the exception of the minister, he promised to get a hold of one.
After our discussion of wedding preparations and today's events, I had a feeling something was no quite right. So, I decided to go for another swim in the moonlight. I put on the suit I wore earlier in the day, dropped my towel in a chair, and dove in. I decided a few laps might tire me out so I could sleep but couldn't shake that nagging feeling. Just as I was getting ready to go in for the night, Jasper, Alice, Rose, and Emmett came out and asked if I wanted some company. When I said sure they all jumped in. We splashed each other and looked like a bunch of kids having fun. I didn't notice when Caius came outside, but he jumped in without reservation, and proceeded to act like a kid too. The splashing continued, when the rest of my family came out to investigate. I swear they must have never seen a pool party in full swing before. They stared at the sight before them, a king and a bunch of kids playing in a pool. Carlisle and Esme chuckled as Marcus and Aro watched in amazement. Felix stripped down to his suit and joined in saying I knew how to throw a party. Everyone just watched the sight before them. When Marcus finally spoke, he asked Caius if he were having fun and the rest of us stopped in our tracks.
Caius replied to him saying: Brother you have no idea how much fun this is. For the first time in centuries I have decided to let go of my inhibitions and have a laugh or two. So, with feeling as I do right at this moment, come on in, the water is divine.
He then skimmed water right at his brothers and soaked them. Marcus and Aro stood in shock as everyone burst out laughing. I thought to myself, this has to be the first time they have seen Caius like this. He actually looked relaxed and more his age, instead of malicious, stoic, and majestically noble. Seeing him act care free made me love him more, knowing he had a more dominant nature, it was amazing to see him this way.
I didn't notice when everyone left Caius and I alone. We just lazed in the water, enjoying the warmth, and peacefulness of our surroundings. I started to get tired and decided to get out, when he scooped me up in his arms, and kissed me. I threaded my fingers into his wet hair and the kiss deepened to a more passionate nature. When he pulled back his eyes were no longer crimson, they were almost black. He said, we couldn't take this any farther than this at the moment but I could feel his arousal. We got out of the pool, dried off, and went inside to shower. He then put me to bed and climbed in beside me pulling me gently into his arms. I drifted to sleep feeling complete, safe, and loved above everything else.