Ruin My Life ↡ Caius Volturi

Chapter Eleven

You should know, if you never open up you're never going to heal.
—Ned Vizzini, It's Kind of a Funny Story

CHAPTER ELEVEN©

Caius | Mania

I could feel the tension and concern radiating from the room as I stood there, my heart pounding with a mixture of determination and trepidation.

Seth's question hung in the air, his eyes searching mine for answers. "What are we going to do?"

The weight of those words was discernible, a call to action that demanded a response. I couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh, the situation feeling all too familiar.

"Duh, I'm going to bring Leah back," I replied, my voice laced with a conviction that belied the uncertainty swirling within me.

Leah, my sister, had always been a source of both strength and heartache. Her fierce independence and unwavering loyalty were admirable, but her tendency to retreat into her own world when the pain became too much was a constant source of worry.

And now, it seemed, she had done it again - retreating to that mysterious "other side" that had claimed her before.

I could see the concern etched on Edward's face as he asked, "Is it safe to do that in your condition?" My condition - the fact that I was pregnant.

Carrying new life within me, a precious gift that I had never imagined I would be blessed with. But even in my condition, the pull to save my sister was undeniable.

"Not really, but I've done it before," I replied, my voice steady despite the doubts swirling in my mind.

The memory of my previous journey to the other side was a hazy one, a blur of sensations and emotions that had left me physically and mentally drained. But I knew, without a doubt, that I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant bringing Leah back.

Caius' voice cut through the room, firm and unyielding. "Absolutely not." His words were a stark contrast to the turmoil within me, a refusal to even entertain the idea.

I could feel the frustration building, the need to protect my sister warring with the rational part of my mind that acknowledged the risks.

"I'm going to bring her to the other side and bring my little sister back before she kills herself, and there's nothing any of you can do to stop me," I declared, the determination in my voice brooking no argument.

Leah's well-being was paramount, and I would do whatever it took to ensure her safety, even if it meant defying the very people who were trying to protect me.

Emmett's concerned voice broke the tense silence. "Oh God, she's glowing again."

I could feel the power coursing through me, a primal energy that seemed to emanate from every pore.

It was a sign of the connection I shared with the other side, a bridge that I could cross to bring Leah back.

Rosalie's exasperated sigh echoed through the room. "Stop pissing off the pregnant wolf." Her words, though laced with sarcasm, held a kernel of truth.

I needed to keep my emotions in check, to channel this power in a way that would ensure the safety of both Leah and myself.

Caius' voice, always the voice of reason, cut through the din. "Calm down, Mania." The use of my name, a reminder of my true identity, was a gentle nudge to regain control.

"Then stop pissing me off," I retorted, my breath coming in short gasps as I struggled to rein in the swirling emotions.

This was no time for petty squabbles; we needed to focus on the task at hand.

Caius' expression softened, and he raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Okay, I'm sorry, please calm down. We need a plan. What if you and Leah get stuck on the other side?"

He was right, of course. As much as I wanted to charge headlong into the unknown, I couldn't ignore the very real risks involved.

Leah and I could become trapped, lost in the limbo between worlds, with no way to return.

The thought sent a chill down my spine, and I knew I needed to tread carefully.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't deny the wisdom in Caius' words. "Okay, someone needs to go get old man Quil. He's the only one who can do something if we both get stuck."

Seth nodded, his expression a mix of concern and determination. "So, you're going in and dragging Leah back here. Should I tell Mom?"

The mention of our mother sent a pang of guilt through me. Leah and I had always been close, but our relationship with our mother had been strained at times.

"Yes, so she can yell at Leah," I replied, a wry smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

It was a testament to the complicated dynamics of our family, but I knew our mother's concern would be genuine, even if it was expressed through her usual brand of tough love.

Bella's voice, soft but insistent, broke the silence. "What could possibly be on the other side that would make Leah want to stay there?"

The question hung in the air, a weight that seemed to press down on my chest. Leah had always been drawn to the mysteries of the other side, a place that defied explanation and seemed to hold a certain allure for her.

"The other side is way more peaceful, and most likely she ran into Dad," I answered, the words coming out in a hushed whisper.

Our father's passing had been a devastating blow to our family, and Leah had never truly recovered.

She had always been a daddy's girl, as Seth had so aptly put it, and the loss had left a gaping hole in her heart that she had never been able to fill.

I couldn't blame her for wanting to escape the pain, even if it meant retreating to a place that was beyond our understanding.

As Seth left to fetch Quil, the room fell into a tense silence. The weight of the decision before me was palpable, the risks and consequences looming large.

But I knew, deep in my soul, that I couldn't abandon Leah. She was my sister, my best friend, and the one person who had always been there for me, even when the world seemed to be crashing down around us.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the journey ahead. The connection to the other side was strong, a pull that I could feel tugging at the very core of my being.

I knew the risks, the dangers that lurked in the shadows, but I also knew that I had to try. Leah's life, her very soul, hung in the balance, and I would be damned if I let her slip away without a fight.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I turned to the others, my eyes burning with a fierce determination.

"Okay, let's do this. We need to be prepared for anything, and we need to be ready to bring Leah back, no matter what it takes." The words echoed through the room, a rallying cry that seemed to galvanize those around me.

As I felt the power surging within me, I couldn't help but wonder what awaited us on the other side. What secrets did it hold, what wonders and terrors?

But in the end, none of that mattered. All that mattered was bringing Leah home, safe and sound, and restoring the balance to our family.

With a deep breath, I steeled myself for the journey ahead, ready to face whatever challenges lay in wait, no matter the cost.