All I Need
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 01
~All I Need~
~Song by Radiohead~
I'm the next step
Waiting in the wings
I'm an animal
Trapped in your hot car
I am all the days
That you choose to ignore
You are all I need...
Youre all I need.
I'm in the middle of your picture
Lying in the reeds
I am a moth
Who just wants to share your light
I'm just an insect
Trying to get out of the night
I only stick with you
Because there are no others
You are all I need...
You're all I need.
I'm in the middle of your picture
Lying in the reeds
It's all wrong, it's all right,
It's all wrong, it's all right,
It's all wrong, it's all right...
~o0o~
It was with an air of cool detachment that the proud Volturi King surveyed the group of vampires currently speaking to his brother, Aro. Then again, perhaps 'speaking' was the wrong term. Begging would be the more apt description as Carlisle's first childe had come here seeking death and, being denied that, had taken it upon himself to force their hand.
He'd endeavored to expose himself to the humans in dramatic fashion just outside the castle walls during the St. Marcus Day celebrations. He'd been stopped of course, and now here they were, his whole coven, hoping to have the foolish boy's existence spared in addition to that of the human girl; the apparent catalyst of this whole situation.
He was familiar with only one of the group; Carlisle Cullen, as he had lived here amongst them many years ago when he was still very young in this life. He'd only added to his 'family' after leaving here and they hadn't seen him face to face since then.
"Aro," Carlisle entreated, his hands held out to his sides. "Please old friend, spare my son and his mate. He was very distraught to have taken such foolish actions, but I assure you, I will see to it that he never acts in such a rash and reckless manner again."
Turning his head, Marcus watched his brother as he considered Carlisle's words, his fingers steepled together as he tapped his chin, his red gaze sharp and calculating.
"Carlisle, you and I both know even one instance of such foolishness is one too many. If he hadn't been stopped, he would have exposed our race to the humans in a spectacular fashion. Such a blatant disregard for our laws cannot go unpunished, I'm afraid."
Marcus' eyes darted to his blond brother who growled, his top lip pulled back in a snarl as he stared at the subdued group, disgust clear in his regal features. "Why all this discussion Aro?" Caius hissed. "The law dictates death for such a thing. Deliver it and be done with this!"
Carlisle's group shifted warily at Caius' caustic words but Marcus' attention was drawn to the pitiful human girl as she whimpered and hid her face in the folds of the cloak that draped the foolish boy's naked torso.
Narrowing his eyes, he concentrated with his gift and the various threads that bound the girl became visible while a smirk quirked his lips. The foolish boy had sought death over a girl whom he didn't even love, much less have a mate bond with. He found that to be very amusing and he chuckled lowly.
Aro arched a brow and turned to him. "Something amuses you Marcus?"
The boy, a mind reader if he recalled correctly, scowled at him as he reached over to touch his brother's hand, conveying this new information instantly via Aro's gift. "Interesting…" Aro muttered as he looked back toward Carlisle's group. "My dear Carlisle, Marcus has just informed me of the absence of a mate bond between your childe and the human girl. There is a damaged love bond, but it's purely one sided on the girl's part. It's quite damaged too, from the looks of it; withered and sickly. The only tie he has toward her is that of predator to prey; vampire to his singer to be more specific."
"Liar!" the mind reader erupted with a growl. "She's mine and I won't give her up again!"
Carlisle grabbed his son's arm as the little psychic pulled the human girl away to safety. "Edward!" Carlisle snapped. "We've talked about this. You cannot continue a relationship with her! You will eventually kill her!"
The girl gasped, her eyes wide as she took in what Carlisle had just said. "Wha—what do you mean?" she spluttered.
Aro's brows inched up as he took everything in. "Yes Carlisle, what do you mean?" he drawled before waving a hand absently as he stood. "No matter, as I believe it's time I got to the bottom of this my self." He pinned the mind reader with a determined gaze. "Felix, bring the boy closer. It's time that I read him."
Felix strode to the struggling boy and took him from Carlisle's hold. "Come quietly you idiot or I will present you to my King in pieces," he warned causing the rebellious boy to still and walk quietly to Aro at the steps of the dais.
"Thank you Felix," Aro muttered as he reached out and grasped the boy's hand. After a moment, he chuckled darkly and broke the connection before looking over to Carlisle. "The lengths you will go to preserve the fleeting life of a mortal astounds me old friend."
Carlisle looked resigned. "You know my beliefs Aro. I've never kept them secret."
"Yes, but to break laws Carlisle? To risk the existence of your entire coven?" He tsk'ed. "Very rash and foolish and all for the whims of a boy…"
Carlisle looked imploringly. "He's my first childe! We had thought he'd found his mate!"
Aro nodded. "Yes, until you discovered he was feeding from her, sneaking tiny sips, small enough that his eyes wouldn't change, each night he supposedly watched over her."
Carlisle sighed and nodded. "Yes," he admitted, his tone one of regret and defeat.
The shivering girl, still encircled by the arms of the psychic, gasped and stared at the mind reader, her eyes full of sorrow and betrayal.
Aro slowly paced, his hands clasped together at the small of his back as he continued to go over what he'd gleaned from the boy's mind. "You let him continue to see her…" He looked to Carlisle who nodded and he went on. "…until everything culminated at her eighteenth birthday when she cut herself and his bloodlust flared so strongly it overwhelmed your empath who was already fighting his own thirst."
Again, Carlisle nodded while the mind reader stared at the floor, silent and ashamed as the girl quietly cried in the psychic's arms. "I knew you weren't lying that day in the woods…" she lamented. "You really didn't love me…you never loved me."
Aro's eyes sparkled as he smirked at the girl. "I'm afraid so my dear. You intrigued him to be sure, with your silent mind and irresistible blood, but that is all it was. This display of dramatics is just that, brought on, I'm sure, due to the immaturity of his age at his change and lax discipline ever since. Put simply, this was one hell of a temper tantrum at the thought of his favorite snack being gone forever combined with his ever present self hatred."
The girl looked up and wiped her eyes with her sleeve before voicing a question. "Why would he be bothered enough to end himself when he'd already left me for good? What would be the point?"
Aro's smirk widened and he quirked an inky brow at her. "You're assuming he'd left you behind for good." His smirk morphed into a sinister grin. "On the contrary my dear, he had every intention to come back for you, just as soon as he could find a way around his sire's order and his psychic sister." He looked over to the mind reader who was still studying the floor. "I believe he was planning to use the wolves in some way, although he'd yet to devise a plan that would work. Pesky little problem with them cooperating or some such…" he waved his hand dismissively and cackled as Carlisle and just about every member of the coven glared at Edward who began to mumble his excuses.
"I'm sorry Carlisle. But her blood…" he shot his sire a desperate look. "The memory of its taste was driving me mad! I know you insisted I leave her be, but…I just had to get back to her! I had to taste it again! It was all I could think about." He shook his head as his shoulders slumped. "And then, when I thought it to be gone for good, forever out of my reach…wasted…gone…" He shook his head. "I'm sorry…" he murmured.
"Oh for the sake of all fucks, Aro! Make a decision and be done with this greek tragedy! My patience is at an all time low!" Caius hissed.
Aro snorted inelegantly at that.
"I must agree with Caius, Aro," Marcus drawled, his head propped in his hand as he watched the drama unfold. He sat up and straightened his already impeccable cuffs as he continued in a bored tone. "The girl knows too much to be allowed to leave here. I will take her. Additionally, I will take Major Whitlock into my personal guard. Do what you will with the rest of them."
"Please Marcus, Aro!" Carlisle looked between the two Kings desperately. "You can't just split my family this way! Jasper has a mate! To separate them would be beyond cruel!"
"I have no problem with Major Whitlock keeping his mate while in my service. Due to the serious nature of the infraction, I believe the term of service should be no less than one hundred years."
Carlisle's mate gasped loudly. "One hundred years!" she cried while looking to her mate with wide eyes. Carlisle simply nodded, knowing it was unwise in the extreme to argue as he pulled Esme close to hush any further protests.
Marcus' narrowed gaze darkened as he regarded her. "The penalty for compromising the secrecy of our existence is destruction Madame; an infraction of which you are all guilty. I believe I am being quite merciful. Of course, your fate and the fate of the rest of your coven I leave to my brothers."
Caius sneered and relaxed back in his throne. "You know my feelings on the matter but I defer to you since he's your old friend Aro."
Aro sighed as Carlisle's wary attention focused back on him. He walked back to his throne and sat as he stared at the five beings whose future hinged on his decision. "I believe it only fair and just that I offer the same reprieve to the rest of you that my brother extended to the Major and his mate; one hundred years servitude here with us. I trust you have a contact in the human world that will be able to adequately cover your withdrawal from society?"
Carlisle hung his head for a moment before nodding. "We do," he affirmed sadly.
"Excellent. See that you contact this person at your earliest convenience." When Carlisle didn't look up, Aro called to him. "Carlisle." He finally looked up and met Aro's gaze.
"Yes?"
"I trust I need not worry with any of you trying to leave or cause mischief?"
Carlisle looked at each member of his family; Esme, Emmett, Rose, and finally Edward, whom he narrowed his eyes at while sending a silent warning. "You have my word Aro. We will comply."
Aro's gaze cut to the mind reader whose whole body was tense with suppressed anger. His brow cocked and he looked back at Carlisle. "I hope, for your sake old friend, that it's so. I don't think I need tell you the consequences of rebellion?"
"No Aro, we understand," Carlisle answered with a sidelong glance at his son. Still, in light of the tense anger that radiated from the young mind reader, Aro chose to address him directly.
"Young Edward?"
He watched as the vampire's fists clenched before he finally answered, his tone laced with resentment. "I understand and will comply," he spat.
The next second, he was grabbed at the back of his neck and forced to his knees. "Kneel and speak with respect when you address the Kings boy," Felix hissed quietly, ending with a tiny shove.
Edward recovered quickly and bowed his head. "I apologize my King. I…meant no disrespect."
Aro's eyes sparkled with amusement as he regarded the mind reader for a moment. "Your apology is accepted. See that it's unnecessary in the future. Toward that end, you will be under the care and training of Felix and Demetri for the foreseeable future. See that you obey them."
Edward merely nodded until he felt a sharp slap to the back of his head. "Use your words, boy!" Demetri admonished and Edward barely stifled a growl as he responded.
"Yes, Master Aro."
Aro smiled and looked at the rest of their 'guests'. "Splendid! Well, I believe our business is concluded then. Felix, Demetri, show our new additions to their quarters. They'll be residing in the mid-rank guard's wing with the exceptions of the Major and his mate. They will reside in the Elite wing with the rest of Marcus' guard."
Both Felix and Demetri bowed and led the group from the throne room leaving the three Kings with one terrified human girl standing in the center of the room, still quite wet and shivering from her earlier jaunt through the fountain.
She startled when Caius shot to his feet. "I trust this ridiculousness is over?" he snapped while staring balefully at Aro who smiled indulgently.
"Yes, of course little brother and thank you for your long suffering patience." He grinned as Caius whirled and left, still grumbling out his displeasure as he stalked from the room.
Marcus sighed and rose from his throne. "I don't know why you insist on baiting him so, Aro."
Aro stood and clasped his hands under his chin as he grinned. "Because he's so entertaining! I just can't resist," he enthused as he spun toward the door with a wave. "Have fun with your new plaything!" he called back over his shoulder as he disappeared through a doorway behind the thrones.
Marcus stared darkly at where his brother had vanished before turning toward the girl. "Come along. It's time to see to you before you drop dead of cold and fright." He turned and began walking and Bella had to jog to catch up before he made it through the door.
As they walked through the maze of torch-lit hallways, Bella took time to study the vampire whom she was pretty certain had just saved her from death.
He was tall, at least 6' and the fine cut of the inky black suit he wore showed off his body to perfection. From what she could see as she hurried behind him, there was nothing boyish about him, despite his apparent youth at the time he was turned; she would guess his human age to be no more than 20.
The sudden sound of his voice startled her from her thoughts and she nearly stumbled as he regarded her as he walked.
"I'm sorry," she muttered. "What did you say?"
"I said that you've been very quiet. In my experience, most humans are very vocal in a situation such as this; demanding, begging, questioning…and yet, you have said nothing."
She stared down at her feet. "I'm not most humans…" she mumbled. Not feeling compelled to say more, she fell silent.
He chuckled darkly while staring straight ahead. "Quite so, as most humans would have pissed themselves by now."
Her brow creased and she glanced at his profile. He was darkly handsome with wavy black hair that swept back from his face, the length of it just brushing the bottom of his fine silk collar. She wondered just how old he was. Edward had explained who the Volturi were, barely touching upon their history and Carlisle's association with them; needless to say, he hadn't told her much.
At the thought of Edward, fresh pain lanced through her and tears misted her eyes when she thought on what had been revealed earlier in the throne room. She'd been right; Edward really hadn't loved her and despite the many months he'd been gone, it still hurt to think of it.
Marcus must have sensed the change in her somehow because he looked back at her. "We are almost to my quarters. There, you will bathe and change. I will order food for you and you will eat."
She looked up at him. "What else?"
His brows drew together and he looked back at her. "What do you mean?"
Carefully watching her feet as they turned into another hallway, she chose her words carefully, trying to avoid upsetting this unknown, stoic vampire. "I mean, what's to happen to me?"
"Ah," he said with a low laugh. "So now the questions begin…" Regarding her with something akin to amusement, he continued. "You are mine," he informed her flatly. "You will be educated in our ways, our history, our laws and your place in our society. If you please me, I will change you."
She frowned as she gave voice to a question she wasn't entirely sure she wanted the answer to. Still, she asked it. "And if I don't…please you?"
He stopped and opened an intricately carved set of doors and gestured inside. Stepping in after her, he closed the door before answering, his eyes glittering darkly as a half smile curved his lips. "If you do not please me," he drawled while caressing the apple of her cheek. "…then you die."
~All I Need~
~Song by Radiohead~
I'm the next step
Waiting in the wings
I'm an animal
Trapped in your hot car
I am all the days
That you choose to ignore
You are all I need...
Youre all I need.
I'm in the middle of your picture
Lying in the reeds
I am a moth
Who just wants to share your light
I'm just an insect
Trying to get out of the night
I only stick with you
Because there are no others
You are all I need...
You're all I need.
I'm in the middle of your picture
Lying in the reeds
It's all wrong, it's all right,
It's all wrong, it's all right,
It's all wrong, it's all right...
~o0o~
It was with an air of cool detachment that the proud Volturi King surveyed the group of vampires currently speaking to his brother, Aro. Then again, perhaps 'speaking' was the wrong term. Begging would be the more apt description as Carlisle's first childe had come here seeking death and, being denied that, had taken it upon himself to force their hand.
He'd endeavored to expose himself to the humans in dramatic fashion just outside the castle walls during the St. Marcus Day celebrations. He'd been stopped of course, and now here they were, his whole coven, hoping to have the foolish boy's existence spared in addition to that of the human girl; the apparent catalyst of this whole situation.
He was familiar with only one of the group; Carlisle Cullen, as he had lived here amongst them many years ago when he was still very young in this life. He'd only added to his 'family' after leaving here and they hadn't seen him face to face since then.
"Aro," Carlisle entreated, his hands held out to his sides. "Please old friend, spare my son and his mate. He was very distraught to have taken such foolish actions, but I assure you, I will see to it that he never acts in such a rash and reckless manner again."
Turning his head, Marcus watched his brother as he considered Carlisle's words, his fingers steepled together as he tapped his chin, his red gaze sharp and calculating.
"Carlisle, you and I both know even one instance of such foolishness is one too many. If he hadn't been stopped, he would have exposed our race to the humans in a spectacular fashion. Such a blatant disregard for our laws cannot go unpunished, I'm afraid."
Marcus' eyes darted to his blond brother who growled, his top lip pulled back in a snarl as he stared at the subdued group, disgust clear in his regal features. "Why all this discussion Aro?" Caius hissed. "The law dictates death for such a thing. Deliver it and be done with this!"
Carlisle's group shifted warily at Caius' caustic words but Marcus' attention was drawn to the pitiful human girl as she whimpered and hid her face in the folds of the cloak that draped the foolish boy's naked torso.
Narrowing his eyes, he concentrated with his gift and the various threads that bound the girl became visible while a smirk quirked his lips. The foolish boy had sought death over a girl whom he didn't even love, much less have a mate bond with. He found that to be very amusing and he chuckled lowly.
Aro arched a brow and turned to him. "Something amuses you Marcus?"
The boy, a mind reader if he recalled correctly, scowled at him as he reached over to touch his brother's hand, conveying this new information instantly via Aro's gift. "Interesting…" Aro muttered as he looked back toward Carlisle's group. "My dear Carlisle, Marcus has just informed me of the absence of a mate bond between your childe and the human girl. There is a damaged love bond, but it's purely one sided on the girl's part. It's quite damaged too, from the looks of it; withered and sickly. The only tie he has toward her is that of predator to prey; vampire to his singer to be more specific."
"Liar!" the mind reader erupted with a growl. "She's mine and I won't give her up again!"
Carlisle grabbed his son's arm as the little psychic pulled the human girl away to safety. "Edward!" Carlisle snapped. "We've talked about this. You cannot continue a relationship with her! You will eventually kill her!"
The girl gasped, her eyes wide as she took in what Carlisle had just said. "Wha—what do you mean?" she spluttered.
Aro's brows inched up as he took everything in. "Yes Carlisle, what do you mean?" he drawled before waving a hand absently as he stood. "No matter, as I believe it's time I got to the bottom of this my self." He pinned the mind reader with a determined gaze. "Felix, bring the boy closer. It's time that I read him."
Felix strode to the struggling boy and took him from Carlisle's hold. "Come quietly you idiot or I will present you to my King in pieces," he warned causing the rebellious boy to still and walk quietly to Aro at the steps of the dais.
"Thank you Felix," Aro muttered as he reached out and grasped the boy's hand. After a moment, he chuckled darkly and broke the connection before looking over to Carlisle. "The lengths you will go to preserve the fleeting life of a mortal astounds me old friend."
Carlisle looked resigned. "You know my beliefs Aro. I've never kept them secret."
"Yes, but to break laws Carlisle? To risk the existence of your entire coven?" He tsk'ed. "Very rash and foolish and all for the whims of a boy…"
Carlisle looked imploringly. "He's my first childe! We had thought he'd found his mate!"
Aro nodded. "Yes, until you discovered he was feeding from her, sneaking tiny sips, small enough that his eyes wouldn't change, each night he supposedly watched over her."
Carlisle sighed and nodded. "Yes," he admitted, his tone one of regret and defeat.
The shivering girl, still encircled by the arms of the psychic, gasped and stared at the mind reader, her eyes full of sorrow and betrayal.
Aro slowly paced, his hands clasped together at the small of his back as he continued to go over what he'd gleaned from the boy's mind. "You let him continue to see her…" He looked to Carlisle who nodded and he went on. "…until everything culminated at her eighteenth birthday when she cut herself and his bloodlust flared so strongly it overwhelmed your empath who was already fighting his own thirst."
Again, Carlisle nodded while the mind reader stared at the floor, silent and ashamed as the girl quietly cried in the psychic's arms. "I knew you weren't lying that day in the woods…" she lamented. "You really didn't love me…you never loved me."
Aro's eyes sparkled as he smirked at the girl. "I'm afraid so my dear. You intrigued him to be sure, with your silent mind and irresistible blood, but that is all it was. This display of dramatics is just that, brought on, I'm sure, due to the immaturity of his age at his change and lax discipline ever since. Put simply, this was one hell of a temper tantrum at the thought of his favorite snack being gone forever combined with his ever present self hatred."
The girl looked up and wiped her eyes with her sleeve before voicing a question. "Why would he be bothered enough to end himself when he'd already left me for good? What would be the point?"
Aro's smirk widened and he quirked an inky brow at her. "You're assuming he'd left you behind for good." His smirk morphed into a sinister grin. "On the contrary my dear, he had every intention to come back for you, just as soon as he could find a way around his sire's order and his psychic sister." He looked over to the mind reader who was still studying the floor. "I believe he was planning to use the wolves in some way, although he'd yet to devise a plan that would work. Pesky little problem with them cooperating or some such…" he waved his hand dismissively and cackled as Carlisle and just about every member of the coven glared at Edward who began to mumble his excuses.
"I'm sorry Carlisle. But her blood…" he shot his sire a desperate look. "The memory of its taste was driving me mad! I know you insisted I leave her be, but…I just had to get back to her! I had to taste it again! It was all I could think about." He shook his head as his shoulders slumped. "And then, when I thought it to be gone for good, forever out of my reach…wasted…gone…" He shook his head. "I'm sorry…" he murmured.
"Oh for the sake of all fucks, Aro! Make a decision and be done with this greek tragedy! My patience is at an all time low!" Caius hissed.
Aro snorted inelegantly at that.
"I must agree with Caius, Aro," Marcus drawled, his head propped in his hand as he watched the drama unfold. He sat up and straightened his already impeccable cuffs as he continued in a bored tone. "The girl knows too much to be allowed to leave here. I will take her. Additionally, I will take Major Whitlock into my personal guard. Do what you will with the rest of them."
"Please Marcus, Aro!" Carlisle looked between the two Kings desperately. "You can't just split my family this way! Jasper has a mate! To separate them would be beyond cruel!"
"I have no problem with Major Whitlock keeping his mate while in my service. Due to the serious nature of the infraction, I believe the term of service should be no less than one hundred years."
Carlisle's mate gasped loudly. "One hundred years!" she cried while looking to her mate with wide eyes. Carlisle simply nodded, knowing it was unwise in the extreme to argue as he pulled Esme close to hush any further protests.
Marcus' narrowed gaze darkened as he regarded her. "The penalty for compromising the secrecy of our existence is destruction Madame; an infraction of which you are all guilty. I believe I am being quite merciful. Of course, your fate and the fate of the rest of your coven I leave to my brothers."
Caius sneered and relaxed back in his throne. "You know my feelings on the matter but I defer to you since he's your old friend Aro."
Aro sighed as Carlisle's wary attention focused back on him. He walked back to his throne and sat as he stared at the five beings whose future hinged on his decision. "I believe it only fair and just that I offer the same reprieve to the rest of you that my brother extended to the Major and his mate; one hundred years servitude here with us. I trust you have a contact in the human world that will be able to adequately cover your withdrawal from society?"
Carlisle hung his head for a moment before nodding. "We do," he affirmed sadly.
"Excellent. See that you contact this person at your earliest convenience." When Carlisle didn't look up, Aro called to him. "Carlisle." He finally looked up and met Aro's gaze.
"Yes?"
"I trust I need not worry with any of you trying to leave or cause mischief?"
Carlisle looked at each member of his family; Esme, Emmett, Rose, and finally Edward, whom he narrowed his eyes at while sending a silent warning. "You have my word Aro. We will comply."
Aro's gaze cut to the mind reader whose whole body was tense with suppressed anger. His brow cocked and he looked back at Carlisle. "I hope, for your sake old friend, that it's so. I don't think I need tell you the consequences of rebellion?"
"No Aro, we understand," Carlisle answered with a sidelong glance at his son. Still, in light of the tense anger that radiated from the young mind reader, Aro chose to address him directly.
"Young Edward?"
He watched as the vampire's fists clenched before he finally answered, his tone laced with resentment. "I understand and will comply," he spat.
The next second, he was grabbed at the back of his neck and forced to his knees. "Kneel and speak with respect when you address the Kings boy," Felix hissed quietly, ending with a tiny shove.
Edward recovered quickly and bowed his head. "I apologize my King. I…meant no disrespect."
Aro's eyes sparkled with amusement as he regarded the mind reader for a moment. "Your apology is accepted. See that it's unnecessary in the future. Toward that end, you will be under the care and training of Felix and Demetri for the foreseeable future. See that you obey them."
Edward merely nodded until he felt a sharp slap to the back of his head. "Use your words, boy!" Demetri admonished and Edward barely stifled a growl as he responded.
"Yes, Master Aro."
Aro smiled and looked at the rest of their 'guests'. "Splendid! Well, I believe our business is concluded then. Felix, Demetri, show our new additions to their quarters. They'll be residing in the mid-rank guard's wing with the exceptions of the Major and his mate. They will reside in the Elite wing with the rest of Marcus' guard."
Both Felix and Demetri bowed and led the group from the throne room leaving the three Kings with one terrified human girl standing in the center of the room, still quite wet and shivering from her earlier jaunt through the fountain.
She startled when Caius shot to his feet. "I trust this ridiculousness is over?" he snapped while staring balefully at Aro who smiled indulgently.
"Yes, of course little brother and thank you for your long suffering patience." He grinned as Caius whirled and left, still grumbling out his displeasure as he stalked from the room.
Marcus sighed and rose from his throne. "I don't know why you insist on baiting him so, Aro."
Aro stood and clasped his hands under his chin as he grinned. "Because he's so entertaining! I just can't resist," he enthused as he spun toward the door with a wave. "Have fun with your new plaything!" he called back over his shoulder as he disappeared through a doorway behind the thrones.
Marcus stared darkly at where his brother had vanished before turning toward the girl. "Come along. It's time to see to you before you drop dead of cold and fright." He turned and began walking and Bella had to jog to catch up before he made it through the door.
As they walked through the maze of torch-lit hallways, Bella took time to study the vampire whom she was pretty certain had just saved her from death.
He was tall, at least 6' and the fine cut of the inky black suit he wore showed off his body to perfection. From what she could see as she hurried behind him, there was nothing boyish about him, despite his apparent youth at the time he was turned; she would guess his human age to be no more than 20.
The sudden sound of his voice startled her from her thoughts and she nearly stumbled as he regarded her as he walked.
"I'm sorry," she muttered. "What did you say?"
"I said that you've been very quiet. In my experience, most humans are very vocal in a situation such as this; demanding, begging, questioning…and yet, you have said nothing."
She stared down at her feet. "I'm not most humans…" she mumbled. Not feeling compelled to say more, she fell silent.
He chuckled darkly while staring straight ahead. "Quite so, as most humans would have pissed themselves by now."
Her brow creased and she glanced at his profile. He was darkly handsome with wavy black hair that swept back from his face, the length of it just brushing the bottom of his fine silk collar. She wondered just how old he was. Edward had explained who the Volturi were, barely touching upon their history and Carlisle's association with them; needless to say, he hadn't told her much.
At the thought of Edward, fresh pain lanced through her and tears misted her eyes when she thought on what had been revealed earlier in the throne room. She'd been right; Edward really hadn't loved her and despite the many months he'd been gone, it still hurt to think of it.
Marcus must have sensed the change in her somehow because he looked back at her. "We are almost to my quarters. There, you will bathe and change. I will order food for you and you will eat."
She looked up at him. "What else?"
His brows drew together and he looked back at her. "What do you mean?"
Carefully watching her feet as they turned into another hallway, she chose her words carefully, trying to avoid upsetting this unknown, stoic vampire. "I mean, what's to happen to me?"
"Ah," he said with a low laugh. "So now the questions begin…" Regarding her with something akin to amusement, he continued. "You are mine," he informed her flatly. "You will be educated in our ways, our history, our laws and your place in our society. If you please me, I will change you."
She frowned as she gave voice to a question she wasn't entirely sure she wanted the answer to. Still, she asked it. "And if I don't…please you?"
He stopped and opened an intricately carved set of doors and gestured inside. Stepping in after her, he closed the door before answering, his eyes glittering darkly as a half smile curved his lips. "If you do not please me," he drawled while caressing the apple of her cheek. "…then you die."
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