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He stood in front of her, towering over her figure, an expensive black coat hanging on his shoulder with his hands tucked in his pockets. His perfect blonde curls slicked back, crimson red irises searing into her bright golden ones. Finally able to form words that weren't just in her head, she spoke, "what are you doing here?" His eyes twinkle in amusement, tilting his head at her, "I said I wanted to see you. You refused to come to Italy, so I decided it was time I leave the castle."

"I didn't think you were being serious," she breathed out, his presence still shocking her. He actually left the castle for her?

"May I come in?" He requested. She took a few seconds, contemplating it before ultimately allowing him inside. She walked up the stairs, he followed her, shutting the door on his way up. She stopped, standing a few ways in front of him, his eyes glazing over her place, eyeing the piano with interest. "How'd you find this place?" She questioned. She had done quite the job making sure nobody was able to find her. Not even Demetri could. Nor her family. Only two people knew of it. Paul and Leah. And now then it was three.

"I'm your mate. I'll always find you. Nonetheless, I do applaud your efforts to conceal this place. Demetri could not find you for the life of it. It had me concerned. But our bond led me right to it." Caius smiled, his eyes finding the empty area where a white tarp laid on the ground covered in specks of different colored paints. A large canvas stood in the middle, covered in a thin white sheet. "You paint?" His eyes glistened with interest.

She nods, glancing over her shoulder at the large covered canvas. Leah had been asking to see it for days, but she refused to show her, because of what was hidden beneath the sheet. "I used to uh, I used to paint with my brother. He would find these sheets of paper, and I would make us some paint, as we were too poor to buy it. I guess, I never stopped. I-I don't know why I'm telling you this." She stammered over her words, walking over to the kitchen. Why did he have such an effect on her? She felt inclined to tell him everything, all her deepest darkest secrets. She hated it.

He brushed off her last comment, understanding what she meant because he too had the desire to confess all his secrets to her, all his thoughts, every impulse he had. "I paint as well. Started when I was five, and it never stopped. Father would return from work, if he had a bad day, my mum would lock me and my sister in the room and tell us to paint." Caius spoke, removing his coat and hanging it on the rack. Tashi leaned against the counter, crossing her arms over her chest, "he sounds like a real prick."

"He was. Was yours?" Caius asked, leaning against the counter across from her, keeping distance because he preferred she didn't throw him into a coffee table like their last meeting. Tashi nods, her eyes drifting over as memories bubbled up. "I don't remember much about my father. Mother took us away when we were babies. But from what I know, he was no saint." She outstretched her arm, pulling up her sleeve, revealing a burn mark, similar to the shape of question mark. It was from a poker, one that you'd use for a fireplace.

Caius took a step forward, reaching for her arm, he halted, "can I?" She nods, and his cold hand meets her colder arm, thumb brushing over the mark. Guess vampirism couldn't fix everything. "When I was three, I remember tipping over his bottle of alcohol. It shattered all along the flooring. He was furious. So he grabbed a hot poker, and he burned me with it. I searched for him after I turned. I wanted to put him through all the pain he put my mother through. After years of nothing, I found out he was publicly executed. Stealing from a King. He was burned alive. He got what he deserved."

"I see we were both cursed with dreadful father's." Caius mused, dropping his hand and she pulled her sleeve back down, nodding slightly in agreement.

"You said you had a sister?" Tashi spoke, squinting her eyes in curiosity. She noted the way his eyes drifted, "you don't have to talk about it," she assured. Why was she reassuring him? Why was she being nice? He killed her brother, and she was confessing things not even her Cullen family knew about. This mate bond was stronger than she thought. It felt impossible to fight. Every inch of her craved him. She wanted him to be close. She wanted to inhale his scent and feel his lips on hers. It was consuming her.

"It's all right. You should know every detail about me. That's how we build trust." Caius shrugs, glancing down at the finger that adorning his pinky finger. It was a small ring, looked ancient, and it was. "This ring belonged to my sister. I made it for her when she turned sixteen. She never took it off." He outstretched his hand and with a nod of approval, Tashi took his hand, examining the ring with interest. It was well preserved for how old it was.

"It was the night of a full moon. We lived in this small village, everyone knew each other. We knew wolves lived amongst us. On the nights of full moons, everyone locked their homes, staying inside to ensure safety. But my sister, she wanted to see them. She wanted to watch them change. I was...I just couldn't say no to her. We snuck out. I watched her get torn to shreds. When they went off, I laid there in a pool of my blood. Marcus saved my life. This ring...it was all that was left of her. It's the only thing I have to remember her by, next to my memories."

Tashi let go of his hand, sucking in an unnecessary breath, her gaze flickered down to her bracelet. "Is that why you returned my brother's bracelet?" She questioned.

"Nobody deserves to live off just their memories. You should always have a piece of the person you lost." Caius stated, glancing down at her bracelet and back to her, glad that she was wearing it. "How did you turn?" He asked. He hadn't known anything about her turn, and he wanted to. He wanted to know more. He wanted to know everything.

"Plague. It took our mother. A nurse saved our lives before it could take us next." Tashi answered, she preferred not to go into heavy detail to avoid thinking about her brother, and the woman who saved her. "Why don't you say her name?" Caius questioned, picking up on the small fact. He never once her heard say the name of the woman who saved her. "It was against her religion. She wasn't allowed to share her name with strangers. I do my best to honor her wishes, even in death." She pulled open the fridge and grabbed a jar of animal blood. She poured some into a glass and returned the jar into the fridge.

Caius grimaced, not at all a fan of blood that wasn't from humans, but he wasn't going to judge her lifestyle, heavily at least. He still wished to question it. "Why the animal blood? Your brother and the nurse had red eyes from what I recall." Tashi brushed her braids over her shoulders and walked over to the living room. He followed her, glancing around at the decor and furniture. She didn't have any pictures, nothing on the shelves or walls. Strange to see in a home, but it made sense. This wasn't exactly her home.

"It wasn't a control problem, more a fitting in issue. My skin color already drew unwanted attention, so imagine how they'd react if they seen my red eyes. Golden worked for fitting in, blending in to the best of my abilities. It's also more humane." Tashi sat on the couch, the blood swirling in the glass. Caius hums, taking a seat on the piano stool, fingertips brushing over the tiles. He squints his eyes, the wet dog scent filling his nostrils. Subconsciously clenching his jaw, he eyes the stool, small drops of water on the seat. He looked to Tashi, her hair was completely dry.

"I didn't take you for the werewolf lover," he spoke, standing to his feet as she tensed. "What are you talking about?" She asked coyly, attempting to be oblivious. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. That's why you're tense, and nervous. I can smell her all over you, all over this place. Is that why you keep this place hidden? So you can sneak around with her?" Caius stood up, eyeing her movements as she slowly stood to her feet, setting the glass onto the coffee table.

"What I do in my own time is none of your business," Tashi sneered, causing him to roll his eyes. "None of my business? See, that's where you're wrong. It doesn't matter how much you try to deny it. I am your mate, and one day you're gonna give in to me." He said knowingly. She scoffed lowly, shaking her head, "that day will never come." He smirked, "yes it will, and when it does, I'm gonna look past your affection for these mutts. But as that day is not today, I'm looking directly at it. Tell me where she is."

"No." She marched towards him angrily, shoving into the glass wall as he looked down at her with curious eyes. "You will not lay a finger on her, or any of them. I know what you did to the children of the moon. They're extinct, because of you, and I'm not holding that against you because if they killed my brother, I would do the same. But I refuse to let you anywhere near these wolves. If you even so much as glance at her, I will kill you myself, even if it takes my life doing so."

"You'd give up your life for a werewolf? Our sworn enemies?" Caius questioned, scoffing lowly under his breath.

"I don't have enemies. I don't live my life like that. You can, but I refuse. The only enemy I have is myself. And you may be asking why is that? I'll tell you why. Because my body is telling me to give in, to let you love me in the way I deserve to be loved, but I won't listen, and for that, I am my own enemy. But make no mistake, I will not allow you to kill her, or anyone she loves." Tashi backed up, dropping her hands that had been pressed against his chest, previously pushing him against her ceiling glass window.

"Do you love her?" Caius asked, and for a split second, he actually looked...sad.

Tashi went quiet at the question, turning around so he couldn't see her face. "I don't know what love feels like. I've never experienced it in that way." she admitted. Caius stood behind her, fingertips brushing over her arm, sending shivers down her spine. "If you love her...I'll let you go. I will have Chelsea break our bond, and transfer it to the girl. I'll forget all about you. And you won't even have to think about me again."

She turned around quickly, an expression of confusion and hurt filling her features. "Why would you do that?"

"You may not love me, not yet. But I know that I love you. I love you enough to let you go. I don't want you to ever be unhappy, or feel like I'm forcing you into this, because with a snap of my fingers, I can take this away and relieve you of whatever negative emotion you're feeling. I'll give you two days. Figure out if you love her." And within a second, he was gone. The window was opened, the cold air of Forks findings it's way into her condo. She walked over and shut the window, leaving it unlocked incase he returned. In case.

She walked around the place, thinking about every word he spoke. Her eyes landed on the canvas, and she peeled off the white sheet. It was him. That was hidden beneath the sheet. Her eyes softened, she reached out, caressing every ridge of the dried thick paint. Why couldn't she just say yes? Weeks ago in Italy if he presented that offer to her, she would've taken it without an ounce of hesitation. So why was she hesitating now?

She let out a frustrated cry, dropping to her knees, her fingers digging into her thighs, growing more overwhelmed with emotion. And why did his scent still reminisce in the air? It was calling to her. He was always calling to her. His voice drew her in. His scent drew her in. He drew her in. She glanced up, sharp eyes landing on the coat. It was his. He left it behind. Was it on purpose? Or did he forget it. None of this could have been easy for him. He was willing to let her go. He was willing to give her a life without him in it. And why didn't she want it?

Standing to her feet, she walked over, cold hands reaching to touch the expensive fabric. She lifted it from the rack and pulled it over her forearm before walking to the living room. She sat down on the couch, switching the television on and looking down at the coat. It had a Volturi pin on the inside of it. She brought it closer, inhaling it's scent and hugging her arms around it. Why did he have to smell so good? It was so compelling. It was like a drug. She wanted to breathe it in for all of eternity.

As she held it, she felt a small object poking through the pocket. With a hesitation, she reached into the pocket and pulled out the object. It was a ring. It was hers. She remembered it like it was yesterday.

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~ ᵗʰᵉ ⁿⁱᵍʰᵗ ʰᵉʳ ʷᵒʳˡᵈ ᶠᵉˡˡ ᵃᵖᵃʳᵗ ~

"They're coming. Pack your things." Tashi stood up from the table of the cottage and rushed into her bedroom. Takashi rushed in after her, gathering a bag and throwing clothes into it. "Tashi, you need to leave it!" Takashi warned, noticing his sister only grabbing objects, very specific objects that held important value to her. "I can't! We can replace clothing. We cannot replace these." She argued. "We have our memories! That is all we need, sister." He rushed over to her, she gulped, "memories aren't enough for me."

"They will be. Stay here. I have to help Kallie." She shook her head in objection, grabbing his arms, "no, no, you can't leave me! Don't leave me, Kashi! Please don't leave me!" She pleads, and if she was human, tears would be streaming down her cheeks. "I will be right back. I promise. I will be back. I love you, Tash." He reassured, pressing a kiss to her head and she hugged him tightly, as if it would be the last time she ever held him. Little did she know.

She watched as he ran out of the room to help his fiancé. Quickly, she gathered clothes, listening to him and leaving behind the objects that reminded her of their late mother. And then she heard the loud echoing footsteps of the Volturi and it's followers. "Tashi, run!" She froze, hearing her brother's voice. The front door to the cottage was kicked open, bringing her back to the present. She pushed open the window in the bedroom and climbed out. Her dress got caught in the wood and she groaned, dropping the bag of clothes and tugging her dress back.

She should've ran. But the large fire in the front of the cottage had her running over to a large tree and hiding behind it, giving her a view of the scenes. "Aro, please, just let us explain! We will turn her! I give you my word!" It was a quick second, Tashi's mouth fell open, eyes tearing up with venom as Ana's head was ripped from her body. "No!" Takashi cried at the sight. Aro smirked, "your word doesn't mean very much."

Takashi's jaw clenched as he glared at the leader, "you'll die for that."

"Maybe. But you won't be alive to see it." Aro says, tossing Ana's head into the pit of fire, the guardsman picking up her body and tossing it next. He approached Kalliope, the fiancé of Takashi. "Don't touch her!" He shouts, struggling against the hold the guards had on him. Aro's hand brushed back the long curls on Kallie's head, the woman trying to pull away, tears streaming down her cheeks as she awaited her fate. "Kallie, look at me! Just focus on me!" Takashi says, and she did, meeting his eyes. "I'm sorry."

Tashi gasped in shock as Aro drained her body of blood, her brother shouting as his mate was killed before his eyes. The King dropped her arms, her lifeless body falling to the dirt. "No! Kallie!" Takashi broke the hold from the guards and ran at Aro, but a figure flashed in front of him, wrapping a hand around his throat. Tashi could see it was the third King, his straight blonde hair peeking from his hood. "We've been told you have a sister. Tell us where she is, and you'll live," he bargained.

"She's going to kill you. All of you." Takashi spat.

Time froze, a silent scream escaping her cold lips as her brother's head fell into the dirt. His lifeless corpse falling along with it. Her knees collide with the earth, face overcome with loss. He was gone. The same boy who would make bread and sell it to the townsfolk so he could buy her a bracelet she stared at a bit too long. The same boy who'd hold her on their mother's birthday. The same boy who built a piano for her so she could make music because it reminded her of their mother. The same boy who fought a group of men who were hassling her. That same boy...was gone, and he wasn't coming back this time.

"Find the sister. Bring her to me, alive." Caius ordered.

"Burn the cottage. I want their whole existence to disappear. This is what happens when you break our laws. May you think of this before you consider showing yourself to a human." Aro announced, his head guards torching the home, erasing the existence of the Kachingwe's. Or so, he thought.

Tashi swallowed back her sobs and ran through the woods, unbeknownst to her, the ring she wore on her finger slid off and fell into a pile of broken leaves. She got it for her sixteenth birthday. Takashi saved up a year's worth of money from his job just so he could buy it for her. It was gold with her initial stamped at the top. Now, it was lost forever, along with everything that connected her to life as a human.

She stopped at a cliff, her eyes finding the night sky. "Brother, if you're listening, know, I will kill him. I will avenge you. Maybe not today, but someday. I will rip his head from his body and burn it in the same place he took you from me. Nothing will get in my way."

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a/n: well, this chapter was depressing to write 🥲

takashi's mate, kalliope, is portrayed by victoria monet ☺️ iykyk

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