Three As | Caius Volturi

Chapter Four

 Marcus wasn't in his study. Caius was glad of that, as he dragged Amalia in there for their interrogation.

 "Are you going to tell me or not?" he demanded.

 "Tell you what?" Amalia sat down in a chair, acting perfectly calm. "I am afraid you will have to be more specific, sir."

 "How dare you act so clueless when you know what I mean!" By the end of the sentence Caius was practically screaming at the top of his lungs.

 "Well, you clearly don't want attention drawn to us," said Amalia, "So I believe it may be best if you lower your voice."

 More than anything else, Caius was confused and frustrated by this woman. How was she so calm? So many others had cowered in fear of him, and he had always loved the fear. He didn't understand: why wasn't she afraid? It was as if she knew exactly what to expect.

 "I will not ask you again," he said, his voice lowered. "Tell me what you know and my wife and that woman."

 "'That woman' was my sister," Amalia snapped. "She wasn't just anyone. But you wouldn't know that, would you? As soon as you found her, you killed her. Sulpicia told me you slaughtered them like animals, and she was right."

 "Sulpicia is a very fragile woman who knows nothing of the outside world, and I want you to leave her alone. Now, are you going to tell me about Amara or not?"

 "Ah. So, now you will say her name if you think it will get you what you want. What are you going to do to me if I don't tell you anything, hmm? I suppose you will haul me away and slaughter me as well. That is how you think, isn't it? You are the violent one. But then you would never get the answers you want, would you?"

 There was one thing she said to stood out to Caius.

 "Why do you say I am the violent one?" he asked.

 "Well, you are, aren't you? It began with three men who became like brothers to each other, yes? Aro, Marcus, and Caius. Of the three, you are the only one who does not a special gift or abilities. It must make you feel different, left out, perhaps. Is that you took to such violent tendencies? Perhaps you wanted to feel strong somehow."

 Caius stared, now more frightened than anything else. How did she know all that?

 "I can see from the look on your face that it must all be true," she said. "I suppose my inquiries  were useful, after all. I always did like to think of myself as a good investigator."

 "I..." For once, Caius seemed lost for words. "Where have you been getting your information from?"

 "From many places," Amalia replied. "You see, Caius, I know about you. I know about all of you. Ever since Amara's death and even before that, I have researched you, studied you, gathered as much information about you as I could. Why? Exactly that. So I could learn why."

 "Why what?" Caius managed to choke out. He reached out and wrapped his hand around her throat. "Why what!?"

 "I wanted to know about you," she said. "I wanted to know what kind of people my sister's killers are. I want to know why they would punish two women simply for being in love."

 "You think it was as simple as two people in love?" Caius shouted. "I loved Athenodora! She was my wife! She was supposed to love me!"

 "Then why did you kill her?" Amalia asked. "I know she begged you to let her live after you killed Amara. You could have taken her back home, back here, where you believed she belonged. You could have done that, but you killed her instead. Now, why would you do such a thing to your own wife, Caius?"

 "She betrayed me," said Caius. "She betrayed all of us! She hardly even knew Amara!"

 "How would you know? Athenodora told me herself that she hardly ever saw you. She said you were so wrapped up in Volturi business that you didn't make time for her. She loved you, and she felt like you had imprisoned her and abandoned her."

 That was all Caius could take. He lifted her and threw her against the wall. She crashed into some of Marcus' books and fell to the ground.

 "Caius."

 Marcus was standing in the doorway, giving his brother a firm glare.

 "I have no idea what you think you're doing," he said, "But I must ask you to stop."

 He went to Amalia and offered her his hand. "Are you well, madam?"

 "Yes, thank you." Amalia smiled and took his hand. "Are you Marcus?"

 "I am. Have we met?"

 "No. I am Amalia. I am a recent arrival. I am sorry about your books."

 Marcus shook his head. "No matter."

 "Very well." Amalia glanced at Caius as she left the room.

 "Caius, I thought I was clear on the rules." Marcus fixed his books carefully as he spoke. "Given you current, I am afraid I will have to ask you to leave."

 With that, Marcus sat down and said nothing else, didn't even look at his brother. But that was fine, as Caius didn't want to talk to anyone. He turned and stormed out of the room, leaving Marcus to whatever he thought was more important than Volturi business.