superficial | twilight

18 - Caius

(Be sure to check out my new story Tough! If I get some response there that'd be awesome!)

Kingsley gently closes the car door as Carlisle waits by his side for her, the car parked in an alley around the back of the walled fortress. Jane waits by an open manhole, her brother nowhere in sight. "We're going to follow Jane from here. I'm going to jump down first, then she's going to drop you down to me, okay?" Carlisle says.

King freezes midstep. "She... is going to drop me..? Nah." She shakes her head. "I told dad I was safe."

"I won't harm you, you pathetic being." Jane says coldly.

King rolls her eyes. "Fine. If you must." She mutters, walking beside Carlisle. He squeezes her shoulder gently before he disappears down the hole.

King takes a deep breath, taking one last look at the beautiful city, slightly covered in early morning fog. Jane holds her hands out. "Stand with your feet either side of the hole and hold my hands. When Carlisle says, bring your feet together so I'm holding you above the hole and I'll let you go."

Kinglsey nods small and moves as Jane said, reluctantly taking her cold hands. It takes very little effort for Jane to hold her up when Carlisle calls out an 'I'm ready' from below. Jane smirks, and without warning, lets go. A scream leaves Kings lips as she falls, the journey feeling never-ending, but really only takes a few seconds; she lands in Carlisle's waiting arms and wraps hers around his neck, holding him tightly for a moment as he laughs small. "I got you, kid."

"Can I put you down?" He whispers to her after a moment.

She manages a small nod, exhaling slowly as he sets her on her feet. She looks around the dark room they're in, a sewer of some sort, itching closer to Carlisle; he takes her hand and squeezes it, following Jane. "How long has it been since you were here last?" She whispers.

Carlisle smiles small. "About 300 years. I left in 1720."

"Damn, that's a long time ago. But I bet it doesn't feel like that." She whispers.

He chuckles small and nods. "Feels just like yesterday. Doesn't it, Jane?"

King smirks at the 'hmmph.' that Jane gives, Carlisle smirking slightly too. They go quiet as they walk, seemingly down a never ending system of corridors and halls. Eventually they come to what must be the oldest parts of the complex, King realises, the stone walls jagged but somehow perfectly aligned and smooth. Hers seem to be the only footsteps that echo around the damp hallway. She can't help but grip Carlisle's stone hand tighter, her heart beginning to race.

This is it, King, calm your horses. Show no fear. Stand your ground. Carlisle will not let anything happen. She tells herself.

They come to the end off the hall, two large wooden doors blocking their path. Jane looks over at them and smirks, gently pushing them open and disappearing from sight. Kingsley looks at Carlisle and he nods once, his face blank, nonchalant, like nothing is bothering him.

She nods back once and they step forward, together. She grips his hand more as they walk into the very large, open, marble room. It's very slick and shiny, echoy and cold. She pulls her hoodie sleeves down a little more and her eyes finally fall on the three people in the room with them.

Caius stands and for some reason King knows its him. They don't speak yet, their eyes meeting as the brothers still seated around the table stare at Carlisle. It's tense between those four, but for King it feels like she knows Caius, like he's been apart of her life all along.

"Why..." she begins to say in a whisper. She clears her throat and speaks clearer. "Why do I feel like I know you?" She says, still in a quiet voice.