Chapter 3
While walking to see my Bella, Marcus stopped me and asked, "When do you plan on telling her about you?"
I thought for a moment and said to him, "I had planned on telling her part of it today. Why?"
He eyed me thoughtfully before replying, "Good. I think it best if you place that call to the Major. He will be of assistance to you in the explanation."
"I know, but the Cullens hurt her profoundly when they left after her break-up with the idiotic boy, who is within these castle walls," I told him, before adding, "How do I tell her about my friendship with Jasper without her feeling like I betrayed her."
"Just tell her Caius. She will understand, but place the call before you tell her that part about you. The full moon is in three days, and since you always leave the morning before it to be alone..."
I smiled bitterly. "Sparing my family the sight, Marcus."
Before Marcus could say anything more we heard my angel yelling in the library.
"Edward, what do you want?" She demanded.
"Bella, when we are allowed to leave, I want you to come home to Forks with me," he replied. "We can work this out."
"You said I would never see you again. It would be like you never existed. You took things from me and have no idea who I am anymore. When you left I fell apart and ended up catatonic. I snapped out of it by hanging out with Jacob Black. He helped me get over you. The stupid thing is I go cliff diving and Alice misinterpreted her vision by thinking I died or tried offing myself. You know what; I'm done trying to explaining myself to you. Get out of my life and disappear."
"Please Bella, you don't mean that. We can talk about this on the way home."
Isabella looked up at me and said scathingly, "No Edward, I'm staying here. I found where I belong and it's not with you. Get it into your head, I don't want you anymore. Take Alice with you and leave, and don't come back without an invitation. If I never see you again it will be too soon."
She ran to where I was and I pulled her into my arms and held her, smirking at the Cullen boy. Her fingers tangled themselves in my hair as she pulled me into a searing kiss. When she pulled back we retreated from the room , with Bella in my arms, to go to my office and talk.
Edward POV
I couldn't have moved even if I wanted to. I was too shocked by what I had witnessed moments before. I was too...hurt. If my physical heart still mattered to me, I would have fallen from the breaking of it.
There was a shifting behind me, to the right, in the shadows of the tall bookcases. A rustle I was meant to hear. I glanced behind me. On normal circumstances, I would have rolled my eyes in irritation.
Aro sighed and leaned his head back against the books. "Oh, what a ssssweet display of affection. Wouldn't you agree, young Edward?"
My teeth clenched; I tried not to growl.
"Passionate," he continued, "as I'm sure you could tell. You are a mind reader, after all. Does it not fill you to the brim with happiness to relish in the bliss of others?"
Mind reader. I wish I wasn't. I tasted metal from the shear rage in my mind at hearing Caius's possessive thoughts over Bella. That smirk.
"Especially concerning your Bella. She seems very content. That doesn't please you?"
"My Bella?" I hissed, whirling to face him. "She is no longer mine, as I'm sure you could tell. Does it please me?" I quirked an eyebrow. "Does it seem like it?"
He raised his eyebrows, surprise flickering across his delicate features. "But I thought you cared only for her happiness. That is what I saw in your mind. Has it changed?"
I recoiled. But I thought about what he said.
My voice was a fearful whisper. "She is happy?"
He beamed. "Oh, is she?" As if it was news to him; it confused me.
"Well...it did seem that way," I admitted. My chest tightened oddly; pain. I swallowed before going on. "I suppose...if she is happy...that's all that matters to me."
"Is that true?" Aro sauntered closer to me.
Aro was blocking his thoughts from me. I grew somewhat suspicious.
"Yes," I answered, "that is true. It doesn't matter who she is with. I only care for her happiness. And perhaps Caius can provide better for her. She is his true mate then." I shook my head. "I just don't understand the attraction I had to her then."
Aro raised his chin. "Ah. I recall it. It was the strongest thing I felt, even through only your thoughts." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "I'm not entirely sure that Bella is Caius's mate. In fact, now that you mention it, I do think I detected a bit of fear in Bella's eyes as Caius entered the room. As if she fears him. She ran to him so quickly...as if to be sure to please him."
"You think Caius is...what? Forcing her?"
Aro was silent for a long time, and then shrugged. "Caius has not been himself. He has been ill-tempered and out of control. At with the full moon drawing near...it brings out the worst in him, you see. He is very uncertain, at war with himself. Anything can happen with him. He avoids me, so I have reason to believe he hides something. He does not want me speaking with Bella. Perhaps because she might decide to confide in me that he is forcing her, in which case, Caius does not want me to intervene?"
"Aro...do you honestly think...?"
"I think I think," he responded. "But I don't know."
"Couldn't you find out?" I was angry again. The mere thought that Caius could be hurting Bella made me hunger for his blood. And the fact that Aro knew something wrong and wouldn't do anything... Of course he wouldn't care, but I wanted him to!
"What does it matter, young Edward? From what I witnessed just now, it would seem that Bella would rather suffer in silence than take your offered help." He tsked. "And after all you've done for her..."
"Yes!" I hissed. He was right. "After all I've done. I only left to protect her! I risked my life to save hers. I put the lives of my entire family at risk for her! I would still die for her. And this is how she shows appreciation?"
Aro laughed. "Running into the arms of another man, you mean?"
"You wouldn't understand," I snarled. "All you do is mock!"
"I understand," he said gently. "I understand very well. Caius may be my brother, but everyone must obey the law. The Volturi makes no exceptions. The stealing of another's mate is a heavy law to break..."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Oh, I never give suggestions. But it's so easy to interpret another's words to benefit yourself."
"I knew there was bad blood between Caius and you," I said, "but surely you wouldn't plan harm against him. Would you?"
He didn't reply.
"How would that even be possible?"
"Nothing is impossible. But it would be entirely up to yourself. Of course, I'm always here if you seek counsel." He smirked. "Oh, but, of course, there are other ways to schedule an appointment with me. Rather than exposing your sun-lighted skin to a courtyard full of mortals."
And with that, he left.
Caius POV
Even though I am not one for displaying affection in a public setting, I enjoyed watching my Bella give Edward the letdown of the century. I found it quite amusing and when she jumped into my arms I felt the completeness I had longed for. I now see that my know-it-all brother is wrong; she is not my La tua Cantante. Marcus is right, she is my mate, my soul mate, and one true love.
I looked into her deep, soulful eyes and said gently, "Isabella, I think it's time I tell you a few things about myself. Some are good and some are not. I want you to know who and what you are dealing with when it comes to me."
"Caius, whatever it is, you can tell me. Nothing can tear what we have—whatever this is between us—apart. You can't be all that bad, can you?" she asks with wide eyes.
"You can decide for yourself after I explain." I started with a sigh, a bit reluctant. "I was born in Greece, roughly three thousand years ago. From what I remember I had a happy childhood and grew into a warrior, fighting for peace and protecting our village from war. Aro and Marcus were my friends and we stuck together. We had secured the village and went to our homes for the night. That night, Aro disappeared. Marcus and I looked everywhere for him but he just vanished. We went about our duties the next several weeks before he found us on guard one night."
I looked over at her to see if she was alright, and continued. "He talked us into following him into the surrounding woods and changed us. The burning was like nothing I had ever felt. It was excruciating, I felt on fire from the inside out. About three quarters through the second day of my burning, every sound around me was clearer, I could hear most everything; including the snarls and growling of another beast in the area around me. I silenced my screams of pain. Marcus and Aro came round to help, but it had already managed to bite me while I was changing."
She had fear in her eyes as she looked upon me and asked, "What was it that attacked you? Did Aro and Marcus kill it?"
I took her into my embrace to calm her fear and replied, "Yes, they killed it. The animal was a Child of the Moon—loup-garou. A werewolf. After I awoke, I became a vile monster and hunted them to near extinction. I could only hunt them on the full moon, as that's when I am not myself. My demon takes over. I spend the night in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania; my own form of solitary confinement. I go to spare my family the sight of me. I haven't even allowed Aro to see it in my mind. Only one person has ever seen me like that and has never said a word about it. I will tell you who this person is after I speak with them."
"The full moon is on the day after tomorrow, isn't it?" She bit her lip and looked away thoughtfully. " Can I...can I go with you?"
My breath caught. I was immediately so touched by the fact that after my confessing to her the animal I turn into during the full moon that she would want to see me anyway. I sighed and nuzzled my face into the silky hair spilling over her shoulders, holding her tighter.
"No, cara mia, you are not ready for me yet. You need to remain here and spend time with Marcus and—as much as I don't like it—with Aro. I will return a day or two after the full moon. I promise. When I return I will not be alone. You know the person that will be returning with me and that is all you need to know for now."
"How will I…I can't…" she began before holding onto me for dear life.
I understood what she was trying to say. All I could do is hold her until she calmed down. I stroked her hair and rubbed her back; while whispering audibly for her to hear, "Bella, my love, I will not be gone long. I will be back in four days, at the most five. You have no idea how much I will miss you."
She then turned to whisper into my neck between kisses, "Then don't go…Stay here with me. I will help you."
"I cannot do that. I mean it, Bella, that you are not ready to see me in that state. I will promise you this, if—and I mean if—you are ready by the next full moon, I will take you with me. Of course, even then, my friend will be there for your protection. Now I need you to go with Marcus; I have some work to do and a few calls to make. I will see you before you sleep."
Bella pulled back to look at me with her beautiful eyes and I wished in that moment I could drown in them. She smiled and said, "I'll hold you to that. I want to see you later."
She turned and saw Marcus waiting for her as she climbed off my lap and kissed me. Kissing her was like tasting the sweetest ambrosia, forbidden to those who are not a god.
I watched her leave the room, brushing my thoughts aside, as I reached for the phone and called the Major.
"What can I do for you, my Lord?" he asked with a chuckle.
I quirked an eyebrow. "My Lord? You can speak freely then?"
"Yes, I can, everyone is hunting with the exception of Alice and Edward. I believe they are still in Volterra, aren't they?" he asked, sounding smug.
"They are. That is not the reason for my call though," I replied, contemplating on what to say about Isabella.
"Just because there is an ocean and many miles between us, Caius, I know you are trying to find the words to tell me what is going on with you."
I rolled my eyes. Cursed empath knows me too well.
"Are you worried about the full moon coming? Or is it something else? I am planning to be there to help, as always."
"I am not worried about the phase of the moon at all. I have something to tell you and you are not going to like it a bit. I found my mate. She is beautiful, smart, understanding, sultry... I could go on, but above all, you know her and she is a human."
"What?" he gasped, stunned. "Your mate is human? I know her? What do you—?"
All I could do is say in a hissing growl, "Calm down, Major. I'm not myself right now, and you know it. Your shouting is making me slightly agitated, and I needed to talk to you about this now. You going off in a tirade is not helping in any way."
There was a long silence from him. "Wait a damned minute, you don't mean.…"
"A human," I repeated. " The very same who came with your wife to save Carlisle's golden boy. Aro is trying to keep us apart, as if I need him too to fluster my emotions. I can't stay away from her. Isabella is the one who began the changes in me that I do not like nor do I understand. I am grateful for them regardless."
I thought for a moment and said to him, "I had planned on telling her part of it today. Why?"
He eyed me thoughtfully before replying, "Good. I think it best if you place that call to the Major. He will be of assistance to you in the explanation."
"I know, but the Cullens hurt her profoundly when they left after her break-up with the idiotic boy, who is within these castle walls," I told him, before adding, "How do I tell her about my friendship with Jasper without her feeling like I betrayed her."
"Just tell her Caius. She will understand, but place the call before you tell her that part about you. The full moon is in three days, and since you always leave the morning before it to be alone..."
I smiled bitterly. "Sparing my family the sight, Marcus."
Before Marcus could say anything more we heard my angel yelling in the library.
"Edward, what do you want?" She demanded.
"Bella, when we are allowed to leave, I want you to come home to Forks with me," he replied. "We can work this out."
"You said I would never see you again. It would be like you never existed. You took things from me and have no idea who I am anymore. When you left I fell apart and ended up catatonic. I snapped out of it by hanging out with Jacob Black. He helped me get over you. The stupid thing is I go cliff diving and Alice misinterpreted her vision by thinking I died or tried offing myself. You know what; I'm done trying to explaining myself to you. Get out of my life and disappear."
"Please Bella, you don't mean that. We can talk about this on the way home."
Isabella looked up at me and said scathingly, "No Edward, I'm staying here. I found where I belong and it's not with you. Get it into your head, I don't want you anymore. Take Alice with you and leave, and don't come back without an invitation. If I never see you again it will be too soon."
She ran to where I was and I pulled her into my arms and held her, smirking at the Cullen boy. Her fingers tangled themselves in my hair as she pulled me into a searing kiss. When she pulled back we retreated from the room , with Bella in my arms, to go to my office and talk.
Edward POV
I couldn't have moved even if I wanted to. I was too shocked by what I had witnessed moments before. I was too...hurt. If my physical heart still mattered to me, I would have fallen from the breaking of it.
There was a shifting behind me, to the right, in the shadows of the tall bookcases. A rustle I was meant to hear. I glanced behind me. On normal circumstances, I would have rolled my eyes in irritation.
Aro sighed and leaned his head back against the books. "Oh, what a ssssweet display of affection. Wouldn't you agree, young Edward?"
My teeth clenched; I tried not to growl.
"Passionate," he continued, "as I'm sure you could tell. You are a mind reader, after all. Does it not fill you to the brim with happiness to relish in the bliss of others?"
Mind reader. I wish I wasn't. I tasted metal from the shear rage in my mind at hearing Caius's possessive thoughts over Bella. That smirk.
"Especially concerning your Bella. She seems very content. That doesn't please you?"
"My Bella?" I hissed, whirling to face him. "She is no longer mine, as I'm sure you could tell. Does it please me?" I quirked an eyebrow. "Does it seem like it?"
He raised his eyebrows, surprise flickering across his delicate features. "But I thought you cared only for her happiness. That is what I saw in your mind. Has it changed?"
I recoiled. But I thought about what he said.
My voice was a fearful whisper. "She is happy?"
He beamed. "Oh, is she?" As if it was news to him; it confused me.
"Well...it did seem that way," I admitted. My chest tightened oddly; pain. I swallowed before going on. "I suppose...if she is happy...that's all that matters to me."
"Is that true?" Aro sauntered closer to me.
Aro was blocking his thoughts from me. I grew somewhat suspicious.
"Yes," I answered, "that is true. It doesn't matter who she is with. I only care for her happiness. And perhaps Caius can provide better for her. She is his true mate then." I shook my head. "I just don't understand the attraction I had to her then."
Aro raised his chin. "Ah. I recall it. It was the strongest thing I felt, even through only your thoughts." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "I'm not entirely sure that Bella is Caius's mate. In fact, now that you mention it, I do think I detected a bit of fear in Bella's eyes as Caius entered the room. As if she fears him. She ran to him so quickly...as if to be sure to please him."
"You think Caius is...what? Forcing her?"
Aro was silent for a long time, and then shrugged. "Caius has not been himself. He has been ill-tempered and out of control. At with the full moon drawing near...it brings out the worst in him, you see. He is very uncertain, at war with himself. Anything can happen with him. He avoids me, so I have reason to believe he hides something. He does not want me speaking with Bella. Perhaps because she might decide to confide in me that he is forcing her, in which case, Caius does not want me to intervene?"
"Aro...do you honestly think...?"
"I think I think," he responded. "But I don't know."
"Couldn't you find out?" I was angry again. The mere thought that Caius could be hurting Bella made me hunger for his blood. And the fact that Aro knew something wrong and wouldn't do anything... Of course he wouldn't care, but I wanted him to!
"What does it matter, young Edward? From what I witnessed just now, it would seem that Bella would rather suffer in silence than take your offered help." He tsked. "And after all you've done for her..."
"Yes!" I hissed. He was right. "After all I've done. I only left to protect her! I risked my life to save hers. I put the lives of my entire family at risk for her! I would still die for her. And this is how she shows appreciation?"
Aro laughed. "Running into the arms of another man, you mean?"
"You wouldn't understand," I snarled. "All you do is mock!"
"I understand," he said gently. "I understand very well. Caius may be my brother, but everyone must obey the law. The Volturi makes no exceptions. The stealing of another's mate is a heavy law to break..."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Oh, I never give suggestions. But it's so easy to interpret another's words to benefit yourself."
"I knew there was bad blood between Caius and you," I said, "but surely you wouldn't plan harm against him. Would you?"
He didn't reply.
"How would that even be possible?"
"Nothing is impossible. But it would be entirely up to yourself. Of course, I'm always here if you seek counsel." He smirked. "Oh, but, of course, there are other ways to schedule an appointment with me. Rather than exposing your sun-lighted skin to a courtyard full of mortals."
And with that, he left.
Caius POV
Even though I am not one for displaying affection in a public setting, I enjoyed watching my Bella give Edward the letdown of the century. I found it quite amusing and when she jumped into my arms I felt the completeness I had longed for. I now see that my know-it-all brother is wrong; she is not my La tua Cantante. Marcus is right, she is my mate, my soul mate, and one true love.
I looked into her deep, soulful eyes and said gently, "Isabella, I think it's time I tell you a few things about myself. Some are good and some are not. I want you to know who and what you are dealing with when it comes to me."
"Caius, whatever it is, you can tell me. Nothing can tear what we have—whatever this is between us—apart. You can't be all that bad, can you?" she asks with wide eyes.
"You can decide for yourself after I explain." I started with a sigh, a bit reluctant. "I was born in Greece, roughly three thousand years ago. From what I remember I had a happy childhood and grew into a warrior, fighting for peace and protecting our village from war. Aro and Marcus were my friends and we stuck together. We had secured the village and went to our homes for the night. That night, Aro disappeared. Marcus and I looked everywhere for him but he just vanished. We went about our duties the next several weeks before he found us on guard one night."
I looked over at her to see if she was alright, and continued. "He talked us into following him into the surrounding woods and changed us. The burning was like nothing I had ever felt. It was excruciating, I felt on fire from the inside out. About three quarters through the second day of my burning, every sound around me was clearer, I could hear most everything; including the snarls and growling of another beast in the area around me. I silenced my screams of pain. Marcus and Aro came round to help, but it had already managed to bite me while I was changing."
She had fear in her eyes as she looked upon me and asked, "What was it that attacked you? Did Aro and Marcus kill it?"
I took her into my embrace to calm her fear and replied, "Yes, they killed it. The animal was a Child of the Moon—loup-garou. A werewolf. After I awoke, I became a vile monster and hunted them to near extinction. I could only hunt them on the full moon, as that's when I am not myself. My demon takes over. I spend the night in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania; my own form of solitary confinement. I go to spare my family the sight of me. I haven't even allowed Aro to see it in my mind. Only one person has ever seen me like that and has never said a word about it. I will tell you who this person is after I speak with them."
"The full moon is on the day after tomorrow, isn't it?" She bit her lip and looked away thoughtfully. " Can I...can I go with you?"
My breath caught. I was immediately so touched by the fact that after my confessing to her the animal I turn into during the full moon that she would want to see me anyway. I sighed and nuzzled my face into the silky hair spilling over her shoulders, holding her tighter.
"No, cara mia, you are not ready for me yet. You need to remain here and spend time with Marcus and—as much as I don't like it—with Aro. I will return a day or two after the full moon. I promise. When I return I will not be alone. You know the person that will be returning with me and that is all you need to know for now."
"How will I…I can't…" she began before holding onto me for dear life.
I understood what she was trying to say. All I could do is hold her until she calmed down. I stroked her hair and rubbed her back; while whispering audibly for her to hear, "Bella, my love, I will not be gone long. I will be back in four days, at the most five. You have no idea how much I will miss you."
She then turned to whisper into my neck between kisses, "Then don't go…Stay here with me. I will help you."
"I cannot do that. I mean it, Bella, that you are not ready to see me in that state. I will promise you this, if—and I mean if—you are ready by the next full moon, I will take you with me. Of course, even then, my friend will be there for your protection. Now I need you to go with Marcus; I have some work to do and a few calls to make. I will see you before you sleep."
Bella pulled back to look at me with her beautiful eyes and I wished in that moment I could drown in them. She smiled and said, "I'll hold you to that. I want to see you later."
She turned and saw Marcus waiting for her as she climbed off my lap and kissed me. Kissing her was like tasting the sweetest ambrosia, forbidden to those who are not a god.
I watched her leave the room, brushing my thoughts aside, as I reached for the phone and called the Major.
"What can I do for you, my Lord?" he asked with a chuckle.
I quirked an eyebrow. "My Lord? You can speak freely then?"
"Yes, I can, everyone is hunting with the exception of Alice and Edward. I believe they are still in Volterra, aren't they?" he asked, sounding smug.
"They are. That is not the reason for my call though," I replied, contemplating on what to say about Isabella.
"Just because there is an ocean and many miles between us, Caius, I know you are trying to find the words to tell me what is going on with you."
I rolled my eyes. Cursed empath knows me too well.
"Are you worried about the full moon coming? Or is it something else? I am planning to be there to help, as always."
"I am not worried about the phase of the moon at all. I have something to tell you and you are not going to like it a bit. I found my mate. She is beautiful, smart, understanding, sultry... I could go on, but above all, you know her and she is a human."
"What?" he gasped, stunned. "Your mate is human? I know her? What do you—?"
All I could do is say in a hissing growl, "Calm down, Major. I'm not myself right now, and you know it. Your shouting is making me slightly agitated, and I needed to talk to you about this now. You going off in a tirade is not helping in any way."
There was a long silence from him. "Wait a damned minute, you don't mean.…"
"A human," I repeated. " The very same who came with your wife to save Carlisle's golden boy. Aro is trying to keep us apart, as if I need him too to fluster my emotions. I can't stay away from her. Isabella is the one who began the changes in me that I do not like nor do I understand. I am grateful for them regardless."