A/N I apologize for the late update, I am finally free from school so I can make regular updates once more. But as a result of my folly I have decided to simply finish this story, since there are only six chapters left.

Part X

Mrs. Ricardo's voice was rambling on about the Medici family, which was interesting, but I was still seething about what I heard yesterday with Marcus. May was cheating on Jacob with that little bloodsucker! My fingers flexed around the pencil until it snapped under the pressure.

I honestly couldn't believe naive Renesmee Cullen had the guts to actually date someone else knowing she was promised. Jacob had been worried about this when she agreed to join Vanessa and I in Italy. I reassured him that if the love they had was real it would make it through anything.

Now what could I tell him? Sorry, but the love of your life doesn't love you like that. Don't worry though, she's found love on her own with a vampire.

I wondered if Vanessa knew. Would she have hidden this from me? Could she have been the one to encourage this sort of behavior? After all, she wasn't exactly the poster child for fidelity.

"For tomorrow," Mrs Ricardo started brushing the calk off of her hands, "I want you to finish up the last three chapters of your book and prepare a statement about your impressions."

With a wave of her ringed hand we were dismissed and I sped to my car hoping that soon my questions would be answered. The drive was a short one and by the time I pulled my car into the hidden driveway my adrenaline rush was maximized.

Stomping into Vanessa's room I found her working on her needlepoint, a task she only took up when she was worried or nervous and needed to clear her head. Leaning in the doorway I waited for her to acknowledge, but she was too caught up in her thread. Walking over I flicked her ear and she jumped slightly, huffing as she looked at me.

"What was that for Leah?" she asked, irritated, before returning to her needlepoint. "I don't recall making any jokes about you recently."

"We need to talk about Red," I flopped onto the floor beside her, cross-legged. Vanessa finally put down her needlepoint, concern on her pale features.

"What's wrong with May? Is she in trouble?"

I cracked my knuckles with a low chuckle. "Oh she is going to be when I get my hands on her."

"Leah?" she questioned, squinting slightly in worry. "What's going on?"

"Did you know about her and Demetri?" I asked straight to the point. Vanessa looked at me for a moment and started to laugh lightly.

"May and Demetri?" she exclaimed. "But he's so big?"

For once she didn't mean that in a perverted way. Demetri was a tall son-of-a-bitch that made May look tiny and fragile when they stood side-by-side. His dark hair also made him even more intimidating.

"Yes, well apparently May finds that attractive," I snarled. "Yesterday when I returned from my date with Marcus I heard her cozying up to Demetri. I hope you had nothing to do with encouraging her to do that."

Vanessa's purple eyes narrowed for a brief second before she smiled weakly. "Yes, I supposed that I wouldn't be the best role model for a young girl." She raised her eyes to look at mine. "However, I would never encourage her to be unfaithful to Jacob, but I wouldn't tell her to stay with Jacob if he doesn't make her happy."

"Why wouldn't he make her happy?" I asked sharply. "Jacob is a great guy!"

"Yes, but would you want to marry the man who once had the hots for your mother?"

I felt myself gag at the thought. True, I'd always found the whole imprinting thing ridiculous. How did you know you loved someone if the only thing that kept you together was magic? Then again I was biased against the whole bullshit now.

"Besides," Vanessa continued, "she should be able to explore her options to see if she really wants to be with Jacob. I mean what if she's really a lesbian or something?"

"Vanessa," I groaned in aggravation pressing my fingers to my brow. "Please be serious because despite all that I'm still going to chew the red-head out when I see her."

"Why what did I do?" a tiny voice asked. May's ginger self peaked in the doorway, looking at me nervously. She must have seen the serious look on my face because she came fully inside and closed the door. "What going on?" she asked again folding her arms over her chest.

"I saw you last night," I growled, getting angry again, despite my conversation with Vanessa just moments before.

"Leah…" Vanessa whispered trying to calm me, but I was standing up and inching closer towards May, who was holding her ground.

"Why are you cheating on Jake with that creepy-ass bloodsucker?" I demanded, my eyes burrowing into her own.

"You were spying on me?" she cried indignantly becoming every bit the teenager that she was. Hands on her hips, brow raised and eyes wide. "We were having a private conversation!"

"In the middle of the hallway?" I mocked, causing her chin to quiver in embarrassment. "Do you think its funny? Playing with people's emotions like that? You know Jake loves you."

"I'm not playing with anyone," she cried out walking up and down the room. "I didn't expect anything to happen. Demetri and I just started talking one day and we just started getting along. He was so sweet and smart and he likes the same things I like. Jacob is amazing, but we don't have anything in common."

"So that gives you the right to cheat on him?" I spat.

"I'm not cheating on him!" Her face was red and her brown eyes began to well with tears, but she held them at bay.

"Oh really? So what does 'I can't keep seeing you like this, its wrong' mean?"

May's face grew even hotter with shame at having her private conversation exposed to Vanessa and known by me. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath to subdue any more tears that were promising to come. Chin raised and brown orbs looking at me with a resolve that I'd never seen in this girl. Or perhaps, I just never took the time to notice.

"I would never, ever do anything to harm Jacob intentionally. When I found myself becoming attracted to Demetri I called him and told him how I was feeling. He told me that I could search out my true feelings and that no matter what he would always love me." Her voice cracked slightly, but she held her palm to her mouth until she was calm once more. "I love Demetri. I feel it right here." She slammed a fist into her chest. "But I can't hurt Jacob, I won't. Even if I have to live without Demetri, I've seen what heartache does to people."

Her pained eyes glanced over at Vanessa, who couldn't meet her gaze and looked out the window, then to me and I flinched slightly.

"I never want to do that to him, even if it means I must suffer!" She opened the door and ran out slamming it behind her.

I stood there. Silent. Feeling foolish for assuming the worst in one of the few people I considered my friend. Without looking back at Vanessa I left the room to speak to the only person I wanted to talk to. Marcus.

0o0

"I feel like a great fool," I cried through a muffled voice as I had Marcus' black pillow over my face in a failed attempt to smother myself. "I was ready to chew her head off."

"Well, Leah Clearwater your tendency to jump to conclusions does led you to make foolish decisions," Marcus said, making me frown even though he could not see it. "However, from my observations, nothing you have done has ever been to harm, but to help. You see a problem and you want to fix it. It is a very masculine trait that is very attractive in a woman, especially in this day-in-age."

Lifting up the pillow I looked at Marcus who was sitting on the edge of the bed, reading my schoolbook. Crawling over to sit beside him I smiled brazenly and rested my head on his shoulder. "So what your saying is, you find me attractive?"

I saw it! I saw it! Marcus rolled his eyes. Damn, where is a camera when you need it. "Somehow I knew that was the only thing you'd get out of that conversation."

"That's not the only thing," I said with a chuckle, noticing that he didn't try to move my head. "But, I really liked at part."

"Well I suggest you go reconcile with your friend before we attempt to continue with your schoolwork. You'll be plagued by unnecessary guilt."

Smiling I lifted my head and kissed his cool cheek, holding in a laugh at the way his eyes widened slightly. "Thank you Marcus. I'll be back in a second."

Leaping to my feet I ran out the room and through the palace chasing after May's scent. I found her in her own room, which was mostly clothes, since she lived with Vanessa most of the time. She was reading a book and looked up at me with a blank expression.

"Look," I said gazing down and fingering my cuticles. "I know that I was a bitch to you earlier and I am sorry about that. I-"

But before I could finish May's arms were around me, pulling me down and into a massive hug. Hot tears splattered against my neck and I wound my arms around her tiny frame. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. I just was afraid."

The small teen cried in my arms and I caressed her back, channeling as much maternal energy as possible. "It's okay. It's my fault," I whispered. "You should have had to be afraid of me."

More sobs came and we laid there on the floor, me holding her allowing her to cry into my shoulder. As she cried, I felt as if her tears held two meanings. One that she was sad to have lied and two, that she was happy to be free of the lie.

After an hour, when she cried herself into insomnia, I placed her back into her bed and returned to Marcus' room. Damp shirt and all. He looked up at me, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "How do you feel?"

I sat on the floor, next to his leg and picked up my notebook. "Ready to write about a war." I smiled up at him briefly before we both submitted ourselves to my assignment.

0o0

The next three months went by so quickly. A blur of moments that all seemed so near, no matter how the days dwindled away.

Every night Marcus and I would sit together and work on our project for a few hours before talking. We discussed everything from apples to zebras. We talked about love and its hardships and slowly I saw him change. His face got softer and his voice showed more emotions.

Especially sarcasm. I take credit for that of course.

Overall he just seemed happier. Almost like a new person and there was a small sense of pride within me knowing that I helped bring it out of him.

Marcus's company had its own effects on my demeanor as well. I was much calmer and even though I still had a temper, I didn't lash out as quickly. Not to mention I got an A+ on my project.

Being with Marcus I just felt like I could be myself, in away I couldn't be with any other man. I didn't have to worry about him running off because of some magic "soul mate" crap and although I couldn't define our relationship, I knew I enjoyed it.

During our chats, I'd come across some interesting information. Marcus was a Scorpio, fond of the colors brown and orange and he remembered how to cook.

However, Marcus and I were not the only ones to change a relationship. Since the day Vanessa was elected to her position there have been rumors of a divorce between Aro and Sulpicia. Marcus said he knew nothing about it and Vanessa would always just shake her head and say, 'Never a wife, just the mistress.'

"I wish Aro would divorce Sulpicia," I told Marcus one day. "They are not in love."

Marcus raised an eyebrow at me. "They have been together for centuries and Vanessa and Aro have been lovers for sixty-three. Would you really compare the two?"

I thought about it for a moment before shaking my head. "No."

"Besides, Aro is getting annoyed with the rumors. He thinks Vanessa is starting them so she can become more powerful."

"What?" I yelled. "That is outrageous! Vanessa lives for Aro. She loves him with all her heart and soul. For some warped reason. She would never try and take his power. Hell, she rejects all his little gifts and titles."

"Yes, but wife is the highest she could ever reach. It is higher than all other titles."

"She doesn't reach for it. Not ever and you can tell Aro I said that too."

"Yes, Leah. However, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"If Vanessa was to leave would you go as well?" he asked while looking into my eyes.

I felt my face flush as he looked at me. Why did he have to look so serious? So intense?

"It depends on what is keeping me here," I whispered back.

"Leah, I…"

A knock on the door interrupted him. It was Demetri and he looked panicked about something. The vampire and I had developed a cordial relationship since he was dating my friend, however he always treated me like I was important. Which I liked, don't get me wrong, but it felt weird.

"Leah, sorry to bother you, but I think a fight is going to break out between Jane and Vanessa in the throne room."

Before he could utter another word I was sprinting towards the throne room where Aro was holding Vanessa back as Alec was subduing Jane.

"Let me go brother," Jane snarled. "I'll rip that blonde's hair out strand by strand and set her tongue on fire!"

Vanessa was squirming in Aro's arms like a snake. "I wish you would try it you pint sized little snot! I'll burn you alive like the witch you are!"

Jane growled and he elbow slammed into Alec's chest forcing him to loosen his grip for a moment. That was all Jane needed to escape. Aro let Vanessa go and she went plummeting into Jane, her fist slamming into the brunette's face, leaving small cracking in her wake.

Screaming, Jane called out, "Pain!" Vanessa doubled over in agony, screaming at the top of her lung. That was enough, enough for me to change.

My wolf form was sudden and I was atop Jane snapping my jaw in her face. Challenging her to use that on me. Before the brunette could act, though, Caius's arms wrapped around my middle, tighting around me crushing the air out of me. It was then that I remembered Vanessa's warning that I not change in front of Caius. He was afraid of werewolves and I was closer to one than he liked. Whimpering in pain I tried to snap at him, but he was old and stronger than me.

"Aro make him let her go!" Vanessa screamed through her own agony, reaching out for me. May did the same, but Demetri gripped her in his huge arms. He did not wish to bring the wrath of his masters upon her.

My strength waned, but I still struggled in his arms, until he squeezed me so tight, I felt my rib crack and I let out a howl of pain.

Then I was free; my body falling to the ground with a heavy thud. Something was smashing into the pavement and I turned my head weakly to see what it was.

It was Marcus. He had Caius by the throat and was slamming him repeatedly into the pavement. Shards of his flesh cracking until I feared the back of his head would come clean off. Rage shone in his red eyes in a way I'd never seen in anyone. I hoped never to see it again.

Aro yanked Marcus by the collar and flung him off of Caius and stood in the middle of the mess. Alec had turned off Vanessa's senses to prevent Jane's power from working. Aro slicked his fingers through his hair.

"Everyone leave this instant besides Caius and Marcus," he demanded. "It is time for a meeting."

That's the last thing I heard before everything went black.