You've ruined my life by not being mine...
I miss you more than I thought that I would

CHAPTER ONE©

Mania | Caius

I let out a heavy sigh as I stared at the couple before me. Alice and Jasper, the two Cullen vampires I despised the most, were standing there pleading with me to help them.

My siblings, Leah and Seth, had somehow gotten wrapped up in their family's mess, and now they were asking me to risk my own life and the life of my unborn child to assist them. I shook my head firmly, refusing to give in to their demands.

"Alice, leave!" I shouted for the fourth time, my voice laced with frustration. "No, Mania, you have to help me, help us," Alice insisted, her golden eyes wide and desperate. I clenched my jaw, unwilling to budge. "No, I'm not risking my life or my unborn baby's life for your family," I stated resolutely.

"But your brother, Seth, and your sister, Leah, they're on our side," Alice tried to reason with me. I felt my anger boiling over as I realized the extent of her manipulation. "You dragged my siblings into your family's mess!" I yelled, my hands balling into fists at my sides.

"They want to help, especially since Renesmee is Jacob's imprint," Alice said, invoking the name of the child at the center of this whole debacle. I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. "Well, that's them. I don't care, so leave," I said, my tone brooking no argument.

Suddenly, Jasper, who had been silent up until this point, spoke up. "Please, help us," he said, his voice soft and pleading. I couldn't help but be taken aback by his rare intervention. Alice seized the opportunity, her expression shifting to one of pure desperation. "Please, Mania," she begged, her usually confident demeanor crumbling.

I steeled my resolve, unwilling to be swayed by their pleas. "No," I said firmly, my gaze unwavering. Alice let out a frustrated sigh, and I knew she was running out of options. "I'll be in debt to you forever, Mania," she tried one last time, her voice dripping with desperation.

"No," I repeated, my answer resolute. I could see the frustration building in Alice's features, and before I could react, she turned to Jasper. "Jasper, put her to sleep," she commanded. In a flash, Jasper was by my side, and everything went black as he used his ability to render me unconscious.

When I finally came to, I found myself in the middle of a vast, open field, the Cullen coven and their allies gathered on one side, and the Volturi, the powerful vampire coven from Italy, on the other. I could feel the tension in the air, the anticipation of a confrontation that could turn deadly at any moment.

Carlisle, the patriarch of the Cullen family, stepped forward, his voice calm and diplomatic as he addressed Aro, the leader of the Volturi. "Aro, my old friend, can we not talk about this civilly?" he called out, his words laced with a hint of desperation.

Aro's response was laced with a touch of condescension. "A little late for that, seen as you have an army to go against me," he said, his gaze sweeping over the gathered forces.

Carlisle offered a compromise, "Witnesses to show there is no wrongdoing, just like your witnesses." Aro seemed to consider this for a moment, his crimson eyes narrowing as he contemplated the situation.

"Edward, with the way the child clings to you and your mate, I assume you are involved," Aro called out, his tone almost playful. "Why don't you come and tell me what happened?" he suggested, his invitation tinged with a subtle threat.

I struggled against Jasper's hold, my anger flaring as I realized the extent of the Cullens' involvement in this mess. "Let me go, Jasper. I swore I'll rip your head off for this," I yelled, my voice laced with fury.

Jasper tightened his grip, refusing to relent. "No, it can't be," Caius, one of the Volturi's leaders, suddenly exclaimed, his gaze fixed on me. I looked towards them and walked forward, determined to confront the situation head-on.

"It's me, you asshole," I said, my words dripping with disdain as I stared directly at Caius. Aro, ever the poised and charming leader, greeted me with a warm smile. "Mania, it's a pleasure to finally meet the one who has captured our Caius' heart," he said, reaching out to touch me.

"Don't touch me," I snapped, stepping away from his outstretched hand. Aro's gaze shifted, and his eyes settled on my swollen belly. "You're pregnant," he stated, his tone almost clinical.

"And Caius is the father," Alice chimed in, her words eliciting a collective gasp from the assembled crowd. I felt my anger flare again, and I shook my head vehemently. "No, he's not," I said, my voice firm and unwavering.

Caius, however, was not as composed. "You let someone else touch you! You're mine! Your body is mine!" he shouted, his usually stoic demeanor crumbling in the face of his possessive rage.

"Shut up, Caius!" I yelled, refusing to be cowed by his outburst. Alice, ever the strategist, stepped forward once more. "Like I was saying, the unborn child that Mania carries is for Caius, and when the child is born, it will be just like Renesmee, half human and half vampire," she said, her words calculated to sway the Volturi.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her audacity. "Honestly, Aro, you should just kill them, but not the shapeshifters," I suggested, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Carlisle's expression shifted to one of shock and disappointment. "Mania!" he exclaimed, his usually calm demeanor shaken.

"What? The pixie devil had her husband knock me out and dragged me here against my will, and you think I'm going to side with you leeches?" I retorted, my frustration evident.

Edward, the mind-reading vampire, stepped forward, his expression pleading. "Mania, please," he said, his voice tinged with desperation.

"I hate you all!" I exclaimed, my emotions boiling over. "Stupid pack! Stupid vampires!" I added, my gaze sweeping over the gathered crowd.

Bella, the Cullen's resident human-turned-vampire, approached me cautiously. "Mania, please, you're about to be a mother. You must understand how it feels to want to protect your child," she said, her voice soft and understanding.

I scoffed, unwilling to be swayed by her words. "Umm, hello. Did you not hear? I was knocked out and dragged here against my will. What about my child, huh? Is your daughter more important than mine? You Cullens are just as bad as the Volturi. You think because you don't drink human blood, that makes you better people than them, but you're wrong. You're all the same. I honestly don't know why the pack is even helping you, but I will not. I don't care," I spat, my words laced with venom.

Carlisle, ever the voice of reason, stepped forward. "Calm down, Mania, it's not good for the baby," he said, his tone gentle and concerned.

I turned my glare on him, my anger undiminished. "Oh, now you care about my baby. You're the worst one of them all, Carlisle," I said, my words dripping with contempt.

Aro, ever the pragmatist, interjected, "Mania, is your unborn child for Caius or not?" I rolled my eyes, exasperated by the entire situation. "Yes, he's unfortunately the father. I hoped it was someone else's, but fate seems to be so cruel to me," I answered, resigned to the truth.

Aro nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Hmm...well then, you must return to Italy with us, Mania," he said, his tone brooking no argument.

I shook my head firmly. "No, I will not. I don't want to be around any of you," I said, my resolve unwavering.

Caius, ever the possessive mate, spoke up. "Mania, if what the Cullens say is true, then you need to be with me," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation.

I scoffed, unwilling to give in to his demands. "No, I don't. My pregnancy has been smooth. I had no experience like Bella's. So, I'm perfectly fine, and I don't want you around me or my child," I said, my words laced with finality.

Caius opened his mouth to speak, but Aro interrupted him. "Let us vote, then," the Volturi leader said, his tone laced with apparent reluctance.

Caius wasted no time, his eagerness evident. "The child is an unknown quantity. There is no reason to allow such a risk to exist. It must be destroyed, along with all who protect it," he said, his cruel smile betraying his true intentions.

Bella fought back a shriek of defiance, her protective instincts kicking in. Marcus, another member of the Volturi, lifted his uncaring eyes, his voice even fainter than his brothers' feathery sighs. "I see no immediate danger. The child is safe enough for now. We can always reevaluate later. Let us leave in peace," he said, his words carrying little weight in the face of Caius's eagerness.

Aro, ever the diplomat, mused, "I must make the deciding vote, it seems." Suddenly, Edward stiffened, a triumphant gleam in his eyes. "Yes!" he hissed, his expression revealing that Aro had made his decision.

Aro stared into Bella's eyes for a long, tense moment, and Bella knew that the Volturi leader had found what he was looking for. In that moment, something in Aro's face changed, a faint shift in the set of his mouth and eyes, and Bella knew that he had made his decision.

"Brother," Aro said softly to Caius. "There appears to be no danger. This is an unusual development, but I see no threat. These half-vampire children are much like us, it appears," he said, his words carrying the weight of his authority.

Caius's anticipatory grin faltered, and he demanded, "Is that your vote?"

"It is," Aro replied, his tone resolute. He then turned to me, his expression almost playful. "But Mania, I would like you to vote," he said.

I raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled by his request. "Why?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

Aro smiled, his expression almost paternal. "I want your input, silly girl," he answered.

I considered his request for a moment, weighing the implications. "Mhm, okay, well, I vote that the child lives, only because I want to get out of here without a fight," I said, my words laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Aro nodded, his expression solemn. And then he turned back to his guard with a warm smile. "Dear ones," he called. "We do not fight today." The guard nodded in unison and straightened out of their ready positions, and Bella finally dropped her protective shield.

The Volturi witnesses were still wary, and one by one, they departed, scattering towards the woods. As their numbers dwindled, the remaining vampires sped up, soon disappearing into the trees.

"I'm so glad this could be resolved without violence," Aro said sweetly. "My friend, Carlisle, how pleased I am to call you friend again! I hope there are no hard feelings. I know you understand the strict burden that our duty places on our shoulders," he continued, his words dripping with false sincerity.

Carlisle's response was stiff and guarded. "Leave in peace, Aro. Please remember that we still have our anonymity to protect here, and keep your guard from hunting in this region," he said, his tone firm.

"Of course, Carlisle," Aro assured him. "I am sorry to earn your disapproval, my dear friend. Perhaps, in time, you will forgive me," he said, his expression almost pleading.

Carlisle's reply was equally measured. "Perhaps, in time, if you prove a friend to us again," he said, his words carrying a subtle warning.

Aro bowed his head and drifted backward for a moment before he turned around, and the last four Volturi members headed for the trees. I watched them go, a sense of relief and trepidation mingling within me.

"Good riddance," I scoffed, feeling the tension in the air begin to dissipate.

Bella, still wary, whispered to Edward, "Is it really over?"

Edward's smile was wide and genuine. "Yes," he chuckled, and Alice joined him in laughter.

"Seriously, people. They're not coming back. Everybody can relax now," she said, her usual confidence restored.

There was a beat of silence, and then it hit. Cheers erupted, and deafening howls filled the clearing. Carlisle approached me, his expression grateful. "Thank you, Mania," he said.

I shook my head, unwilling to accept his gratitude. "I didn't do it for you or your family," I said, my words clipped.

Carlisle nodded, undeterred. "I know, but still, thank you for not letting your hatred for us cloud your judgement," he said, his tone sincere.

I narrowed my eyes, my distrust of the Cullens still evident. "Yeah, whatever, and keep your pixie bitch and her husband away from me, because the next time they pull a stunt like that, you're going to wish the Volturi had killed you all," I growled out, my warning clear.

Carlisle raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I understand, Mania. Would you like to come to the house so I can check on the baby for you?" he asked, his concern for my well-being evident.

Before I could respond, Edward interjected. "Leah and Seth want you to come to the house," he said, his voice calm and measured.

I let out a resigned sigh, knowing that I couldn't avoid my siblings any longer. "Fine," I said, turning and following the Cullens back to their home, my mind still reeling from the events that had just unfolded.