Caius

Full Name: Caius

Status: Vampire

Date of Birth: Sometime before 1300 B.C. (OIL)

Originally from: Greece

Hair color: Snow white that “brushed against his shoulders” (NM21)

Eye color: Vampire burgundy but “clouded, milky” (NM21)

Height: 5’9″

Physical description: Perfect facial features with skin that is “translucently white, like onionskin [and] looked just as delicate” and appears to be floating when he moves (NM21)

Occupation:

Family members: Volturi Coven with Aro, Sulpicia, Athenodora, and Marcus – Athenodora is his mate (BD Vampire Index)

Personal history: The Volturi are Aro, Caius, Marcus, and two females [Sulpicia and Athenodora] who never go out.  (PC1)  Caius was in his late forties when he became a vampire.  Early on he developed a deep hatred for the Romanian coven.  He met Athenodora, who was already a vampire, and the pair started traveling together as a mated pair.  He met Aro and Marcus and was drawn to Aro’s plan of creating a dominating force in the Vampire world.  Even though he isn’t as patient as Aro, he supported Aro’s cause and eventually was able to help bring down the Romanian coven.  Caius has taken on several crusades over the centuries.  He tracked down The Children of the Moon to near extinction as well as the immortal children.  He always leads any punishing expeditions, leaving Aro for more important projects.  (OIL)

The guard is not technically the Volturi though the name loosely applies.  (PC10)  The Volturi choose members of their guard for their special talents.  They rarely leave their city unless duty calls.  “Over the millennia, they have assumed the position of enforcing [the] rules” — keep the existence of vampires secret.  Volterra has been their city “since the time of the Etruscans.”  Since the Volturi do not allow hunting, they bring their food in.  (NM19)  Edward describes them as a “very old, very powerful family of [vampires]…the closest thing…to a royal family.”  (NM1)  Aro, Caius, and Marcus are also known as the “nighttime patrons of the arts.”  Solimena “often painted them as gods.”  (TW16)  Aro, Caius, and Marcus think of themselves as brothers.  (NM21)

Carlisle meets Aro, Caius, and Marcus while studying in Italy.  He admires “their civility, their refinement.”  However, they try to cure Carlisle of his “vegetarian” ways, and he tries to persuade them to give up their “natural food source” with no luck.  Carlisle leaves after a few decades.  (TW16)

Alice and Bella race to Volterra to save Edward when he wants to die because he thinks Bella is dead.  The Volturi are very protective of their city and would stop Edward if he were to “upset the peace.”  Alice warns Bella that they may not survive.  (NM18)  She sees that the Volturi decide not to destroy Edward and will ask him to join them because of this talent.  Aro thinks it is “wasteful” to destroy Edward.  (NM19)

After Edward, Bella, and Alice enter the turret room, Aro asks Felix to bring Caius and Marcus who arrive in long black robes.  Caius has a sour look on his face.  When Aro asks Bella to join the Volturi, Caius questions him.  Aro explains that Bella will have a lot of potential when she becomes a vampire.  Caius says that the law claims Edward, Alice, and Bella since Bella knows that vampires exist.  Edward quickly replies that the Volturi also have some humans that know their secret.  Caius agrees and tells Edward that the humans will sustain them when they are no longer useful.  Since he senses that Edward will not destroy Bella or change her, Caius says that Bella is “a vulnerability” and that “her life is forfeit.”  Aro intervenes and tells Edward that they would be allowed to leave if they intend to change Bella into a vampire.  Based on Alice’s vision, Aro is convinced.  When Caius complains, Aro tells him that there is hope that Edward, Bella, or Alice will join them in the future.  Caius promises that they will visit in the future to ensure that Bella becomes immortal.  (NM21)

Caius believed that the immortal children were not capable of keeping the existence of vampires secret so they were destroyed.  The Denali sisters did not know their mother [Sasha] created an immortal child until they saw him burning in their mother’s arms.  Caius wanted them to burn by association.  However, Aro knew the sisters were innocent so the Volturi pardoned them. (BD2)

Alice sees Caius sending a hunting party that includes Jane and Alec to see if Bella is human.  She sends a wedding announcement to delay them.  (BD27)

Alice has a vision that all the Volturi are coming –- Aro, Caius, Marcus, the guard, and the wives.  She says that the decision was made but they are waiting for Irina.  Aro will see the proof in Irina’s thoughts that Renesmee is an immortal child.  Edward says that they will “come to destroy, not to be reasoned with.” (BD28)

The Volturi arrive at the cleaning “with pageantry.”  They are in a “rigid, formal formation” that seemed to flow in “perfect synchronicity” — “it was the pace of the invincible.”  The entire guard, the wives, and their witnesses are also present.  Edward confirms that Alistair’s theories were right about Aro and Caius’ goal to “destroy and acquire” and tells the others that they have “many layers of strategy” in place.  After the Volturi stop, Aro and Caius touch hands as they evaluate the scene.  Marcus is touching Aro’s other hand but does not seem to be part of the conversation.  Caius joins Aro in accusing Carlisle of creating his own rules.  He sees Renesmee and knows that the Cullens broke the law.  Carlisle tries to explain, but Caius accuses him of assembling “a battalion to protect her.”  Carlisle tries to convince Caius that there is human blood in Renesmee’s cheeks.  Then Caius calls for Irina and slaps her.  He questions her about Renesmee, and Irina says that she has grown.  Aro intervenes and takes Irina’s hand.  Caius scowls when Edward offers his hand to Aro.  After their wordless exchange, Aro asks to meet Renesmee.  When Caius asks what is going on, Aro tells him “the justice we intended to deliver no longer applies.”  Caius hisses in surprise.  Aro greets Renesmee and tells Caius that she is “half mortal, half immortal.”  (BD36)

Caius starts to argue with Aro immediately.  Aro responds calmly that it is true and mentions Carlisle’s witnesses.  This prompts Caius to look at the Volturi witnesses who are confused about the situation.  Then Caius asks about the wolves and their alliance with the Cullens.  Edward responds that they are shape-shifters and not the “Children of the Moon.”  As if embarrassed, Aro tells Caius that he would have warned him about this if he shared his thoughts with him.  Caius continues to press that the wolves know about vampires, but Aro quickly tells them that they are also a part of the supernatural world and have their secret to keep.  He encourages Caius to move on.  It appears that maintaining their pristine reputation is more important to Aro than Caius.  Caius then questions Irina.  She says that she has no complaint with the Cullens or the wolves and that they should go since there is no immortal child.  Caius then signals the Volturi guard to destroy Irina for her false accusation.  He wants Irina’s defiance to start the battle.  However, Carlisle and Garrett are able to stop Tanya and Kate in time.  The Volturi guard prepares to fight while their witnesses become suspicious.  When Aro decides to question some of Carlisle’s witnesses, Caius’ “tiny cruel smile” returns.  Aro rallies the support of the guard and then goes to counsel with Caius and Marcus.  They join hands “to form a black-shrouded triangle.”  (BD37)

Chelsea tries to break the ties between the Cullens and their witnesses, and Jane tries to attack, but Bella’s shield is protecting them.  Edward tells Tanya that it is normal procedure for the Volturi to incapacitate those on trial so they can’t escape.  Aro, Caius, and Marcus break formation in time to see Alec’s “strange clear haze” hit Bella’s shield.  Caius votes to destroy Renesmee since she is an unknown risk and all those that protect her.  Edward calls to Alice to bring her witnesses.  After Huilen tells her story, Aro asks Nahuel questions and is surprised to hear that his sisters are also half-vampires.  Nahuel tells the story about his father Joham creating a “new super-race.”  When Caius and Aro consider talking with Joham, Nahuel asks them to leave his sisters alone since they are innocent.  Caius is furious but resigned.  Aro turns to the Volturi guard and tells them that they will not fight today.  The guard resumes their formation and departs along with the wives and their witnesses.  (BD38)

Edward says that Caius almost lost a fight with a werewolf and has been terrified ever since.  He had the “Children of the Moon” hunted to near extinction.  (BD39)

Portrayed in the films by: Jaime Campbell Bower

Prepared by: Anny