Three As | Caius Volturi

Chapter Ten

 Caius sat in his chamber. There was no window or fireplace for him to sit and stare at, so he had to settle for staring at the wall.

 He didn't know to do. He knew what he should do: go tell Aro the truth, have Amalia executed, and apologize to Marcus. He would be sure to apologize to Marcus, but it was the other two things that he wasn't sure about.

 In any other case, there was a good chance this matter would already be settled. But this was his private life; he didn't like the idea of Aro handling it like it was just another one of their usual political issues. Caius wanted to handle it himself, but he didn't know how he could even do that without Aro knowing about it.

 He was startled by the sound of a soft knocking on the door.

 "Yes, who is it?" he called.

 "It is Amalia," he heard. "May I come in, please?"

 He sighed. "Yes, you may as well."

 The door opened quietly, and Amalia slipped into the room.

 "What was the meeting about?" she asked.

 "It was about your sister," Caius replied. "Aro got to her safe house in Brittany and discovered the information she had in her possession."

 She moaned softly. "I feared it was that." She sat down on the bed and put her head in her hands.

 "There was nothing linking you to her, far as I know. However, I will review it myself and see if there is anything. If so, I do not want Aro to know about it."

 Amalia looked up at him. "Why would you protect me? I am the sister of the woman who seduced your wife."

 "But you knew nothing of what she was doing. You said you hadn't even seen her in years when she came to you with Athenodora in tow. If that is true, then you are not guilty."

 "But even after I did know, I didn't say anything. I just ran away, really."

 "Oh, Lord, Amalia, are you looking for a reason to be executed?" Caius snapped. "I am trying to help you, and you aren't making it easy for me."

 "I just don't understand. I am concealing information, and it's information on a case as sensitive as this. That must be against your Volturi laws somehow."

 "And I'm sure it is. But...you shouldn't have to die, Amalia."

 Amalia shook her head. "I still don't understand. I read everything Amara had. You're supposed to be worse than this. You're more violent, merciless."

 "I think I've changed since then. I...regret murdering Athenodora. And ever since I met you, I have begun to regret taking your sister's life, because you didn't deserve to lose your sister."

 Caius thought he heard Amalia sniffle, and she said, "I wish my life was normal again. My life was normal once, you know. I was born in Germany a long time ago, before it was even called Germany. I was a midwife, and I had a husband and children. And then I lost it all when Octavius came. I got past hating him, but I always resented the fact the he had taken away a life I loved. He already had another, a woman named Amara, whom I began to think of as my sister."

 "I remember Octavian. Aro saw him as a threat, and wanted him dead. I had him killed."

 "Exactly. He was mad, but incredibly smart. Of course your friend would have seen him as a threat. I got over it after a short time, but Amara never did. She became obsessed. I begged her to just move on with her life, but she never listened to me. Eventually, I stopped trying; I let her be. I loved her enough to understand I had to let her make whatever mistakes, even if they killed her."

 "Amalia," Caius got up from his chair, and sat down next to her on the bed, "There was something I have meant to ask you."

 "Really? Well, you're protecting me now, so I suppose you have a right to ask me whatever you like."

 "Why did you come here? Why take the risk?"

 "I just...wanted to know. I wanted to know what the Volturi were like, what Athenodora's life was like, and what her husband was like. I got the impression that you were a terrible man, Caius, your loss seems to have changed you. I am sorry that it was something like that that had to prompt that change."

 "Don't be. I'm sure it was my own fault somehow, though I would never fully admit to that."

 "Of course you wouldn't. You haven't completely changed, have you?"

 "I certainly hope not. I don't want to lose all of my old self."

 Amalia sighed. "Well, perhaps I should go, then. This took longer than I thought it would."

 "Wait, Amalia." Caius grabbed her hand. "You don't...don't go. Not yet."

 Amalia turned to look at him, and then she moved closer and kissed him, wrapping her arms around him.