IT WAS NIGHTFALL BY THE TIME I'D GOTTEN MY SHIT TOGETHER. Not that I'd done a good job at it, but I was composed with the letter in my hand, prepared to accept my part in ruining my boss' marriage.

I did my best to not grip too hard on the envelope or my cardigan as I made my way through the clocktower. Despite my constant thoughts on what would happen once I did this and how he would react, I couldn't bring myself to move very fast down the corridors. 'Knowing Caius would want this' is just not enough to hasten my pace.

There were eyes on me when I walked, much like the eyes that Chrissy had complained about to me the nights before tonight. Eyes of predators, as she described them, but it didn't feel like that to me. Some were curious, some knew something I didn't. I wasn't aware of what business the Volturi were into, I could chalk it up to that right now.

The curious ones, that desperation for knowledge as they stared, lingered on my sleeves and my cheeks when I finally knocked on Caius' office door. I didn't fully know if he would open it for me at this hour, but I wanted him to. No matter how much he angered Chrissy or upset me, I still wanted him to let me inside his office.

Caius was awake, his head popping out of the door before giving me an oddly comforting look.

"Why are you up at this hour?" Caius asked. Before I could answer, he pressured me to come inside, checking around to see if anyone was outside. I complied, walking into his large office.

"What is it that you have in your hand?" The letter was slightly crumpled, no doubt, inside of its white envelope. "Do you not know who it is from?"

I looked down at the ground, at the rug and the marble flooring, almost ashamed. He was being uncharacteristically kind. I didn't want to look him in the eyes, to do anything other than show the letter and bolt. Blowing the whistle on an affair is not what I expected I'd be doing in Volterra. Despite it being the right thing to do... this would surely damage familial relationships.

Still, I suppose it wasn't me having the affair. Second-hand shame would do me no good.

I handed over the letter, still not looking at him.

"I opened up the letter to see whose it was this afternoon, as I sometimes do if the person who addressed the letter has bad enough handwriting. When I did,  it took me until the end of the first paragraph to figure out who it was addressed to," I tried to begin my explanation without the full details.

"Why would I be interested in my family's exchanges with others?" He questioned with the least malice I'd ever heard from his lips. "I don't care much for gossip, River."

My head cocked up to see the opened letter between his fingertips.

"This isn't gossip," I defended as I prompted him to open up the letter, "I wish it was. Frankly, I wish I could have never seen this at all. Besides being erotica in a loose sense, it was addressed to your wife."

Caius went silent for a moment, reading all that the letter had to offer. I waited for what felt like an hour until a small chuckle came from my boss.

"I'm so sorry-"

He cut me off, "-This is not a bad thing for you or truly for myself."

I stared at him for a moment. "Are you staying with her?"

Caius chuckled again. "Oh, no, of course not. I value fidelity in my lovers, always have. Athenodora and I were arranged to marry, I don't love her anymore. Haven't for many years, in fact, but I did not expect that she would be the one to be unfaithful. She always prided herself on 'getting me' to the extent to which this seems quite funny, that's all."

His confession was quite underwhelming, actually, despite the new knowledge it contained. An arranged marriage, who would have thought? Certainly not myself, not while watching my boss carefully turn the piece of paper around in his hand over and over again. His repetitive movements mixed with a few flurries of soft laughter, that was not what I expected from tonight, but it was still... less than.

Eventually Caius placed down the letter and put his hand on my shoulders.

"Listen closely to me, River Acastia," Caius demanded, "People will figure it out by morning. If you hear any screaming, crying, threats, or breaking walls, do not be afraid. Do not be scared, but I need you to understand me right now: Do not leave your room once you are there. My wife is a terrible woman in many ways, and she will know it was you. You are the only way for me to know about her mail."

My blood ran cold as I felt a chill down my spine. Those curious glances that had stuck with me felt more like tar now, holding on for dear life.

Caius' face was stern as he turned my chin up to look him in the eyes. Those deep, hungry eyes.

"You stay in that room of yours, River, and you'll be safe. Security will be there, outside, they will keep you safe. No matter what you hear, do not move from that room."

He sighed and let me rest my chin, turning away and opening the door.

"Have a good night, piccola regina. I will tell you when it is safe to leave your rooms."

---

ATHENODORA ATTEMPTED TO KISS HER LAWFULLY WEDDED HUSBAND AS HE ENTERED THEIR BEDCHAMBERS. She was just as quickly thrown off of him and scoffed at, leaving the woman incredibly bitter.

"What the Hell was that for!" Athenodora screeched as she composed herself on the bed, her hair having gotten messed up from the violent act. "What has been up with you, lately, Caius? It's as if nothing I can do is right for you!"

Caius laughed. A full body laugh that only proved to excite the anger of Athenodora further.

"You are meant to be my husband, Caius! Treat me with some respect! Fuck me however you'd like, but at least kiss me with an inch of passion and care."

The male vampire scoffed at her, no longer laughing and with a look of disdain and disgust plastered on his ancient face. He hated her, he decided in that moment, there was not a shred of care left for him to show his hopefully after this night, former wife.

Was it so much for a man to ask his wife to be faithful? If she had found her mate, she would have told her, he'd think. She wouldn't be wanting to sleep with him had she found a man to be with her forever. No, she was out fucking another man, an unmated man, while being married to him.

Caius had waited to make even a slight move on his mate, just for her sake. For the sake of his Coven, for the sake of all vampires. Yet here Athenodora was, shaming him for his lack of passion and care.

"The same passion and care you show me?" Caius baited her, knowing that she didn't know that he knew all about her infidelity.

"Of course, the same passion and care that I show you! I have tried to get something from you for over a month, some intimacy you know I crave, and yet you have turned me down and made me a fool!" Athenodora brought herself up from the bed and threw herself at him.

She was on her knees now, a trick she'd used to soothe his bruised ego too many times. "Tell me what is the matter. I am the woman for you. Despite our history, I am still the woman for you, no matter what is to happen. I am always your wife. We made it that way. I'll do whatever I have to do to write this wrong I've done."

Anger, then apologies... it would be the silent treatment in days if he did give in, she'd surely batter him if he didn't give her what she wanted. Caius was prepared for that, though, and Athenodora wouldn't put too strong a hand on him.

Caius let out a sigh and stared down at the woman he had once loved. "We are getting divorced."

The room was plagued with horrible silence. Caius expected screams, at least a hit or two against his legs, perhaps a tantrum. Athenodora did none of that, she glared at him, her face contorting into one of a devil. She hated him now, just like he hated her. Caius knew this was over, now it was time for her to accept it.

"If you leave me, the war will begin again," Athenodora threatened. "You will lose this time. You will lose everything that you got by marrying me."

Caius smirked and patted her head. "I won't. Do you know why I won't, Athenodora? Do you know why?"

She shook her head and grumbled out, "No."

"Because you're fucking a Romanian cock while on holiday, Thena. You're bouncing on a cock that you know will fuck you not only physically, but methaphorically. That makes you screwed entirely, you little whore," Caius spat out as Athenodora began shaking her head.

"I'm not!" She denied as she clung onto his legs, "I'm not! You have to believe me! I wouldn't! I wouldn't do that to our marriage. Even when you're looking at her- even when I've wanted to take her away from you- I was never unfaithful. I'm loyal to you, Caius. I'm your wife!"

The king wondered how many other things Athenodora had lied about. If she could lie so well, even under this pressure, she was clearly capable of manipulating everyone around her. He may not have loved her, been in love with her for years now, but he hadn't suspected cheating on the table until his mate had come upon that note, that letter written for only her eyes to see.

How many more people knew about her infidelity? Likely Sulpicia, the two of them were too close for comfort. Perhaps Sulpicia had helped arrange the meetings, the women were often going on vacations with one another.

"I don't believe you," Caius admitted as he brought out the letter from his pocket. "The evidence I need is in here. Aro will read my memories, this will all be documented, even without the letter. You were the one to disobey the arrangement. The rest of the world will follow the Volturi. Nobody will take pity on a whore."

"WHAT ABOUT YOUR WHORE?" She screamed, beginning what Caius knew would be a terribly loud fight. "I'VE LET YOU BE WITH THAT WHORE FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS WITHOUT SLITTING HER THROAT IN HER SLEEP, AND YOU'RE CALLING ME A WHORE? ROMANIA WILL NEVER ALLOW YOU TO RULE AGAIN! YOU WILL BE DEPOSED!"

Caius didn't bother raising his voice with her. She wasn't worth his time. "I vehemently deny your accusations. I've never once had sexual intercourse of any kind with the woman you are talking about."

"YOU'VE BEEN FUCKING HER AND YOU AND I KNOW IT! WHY ELSE WOULD YOU LEAVE ME OVER THIS? HUH? WHY ELSE WOULD YOU LEAVE ME IF NOT FOR ANOTHER WOMAN? NOBODY JUST LEAVES A MARRIAGE FOR SOMETHING AS TRIVIAL AS THIS!"

The king took a step towards the door, getting ready to leave. Athenodora grabbed onto Caius' arm and shoved him backwards, towards the middle of their room.

"I'M NOT DONE TALKING TO YOU!"

Caius laughed, getting up again and trying to make his way forward once more. "You aren't really talking, though. You're screaming like a banshee. I don't speak banshee, unfortunately."

"YOU FUCKING-" She grabbed him again, twisting his arm. Caius hissed as he reached out towards the straps on her dress, tearing them in the process.

When he made his chance at escaping, he knew that this was going to be a long night.