A/N:I'm sorry it keeps taking so long to update. I know I promised 2 days to those of you who read Flightless Bird but my cat of ten years died the day I meant to sit and write it, so unfortunately I was busier crying than writing. Other then that I have school (which has been kicking my butt! Online History courses are death! There's so much reading!) and I was cast in my school's producion of 'A Wrinkle In Time' (I play Mrs. Who) which will be fun but rehearsals take up a lot of time especially on top of school. I'm going to try to find a better schedule for myself so I can update weekly, but it might end up being every other week we will have to see. BUT even if it's been months since I've updated I promise you I will update! I love this story and enjoy writing so I will keep writing it. I just struggle with finding the time to write it. Thank you for your patience with me. I am forever grateful for each and every one of you who read this story. You give it life! Now, without further ado, the chapter you've all been waiting for...

A Golden Truth

Marcus:

Everything was quiet when I got back. Heidi looked concerned, Jane thrilled. But what worried me the most was that Esme was nowhere to be found. "Where's Esme?" I asked Heidi instantly.

I could feel the growl rumbling louder in my throat as Jane shrugged and smirked answering for Heidi, "In her room. She's been in there a while though….maybe even a day." I couldn't help but scowl as I quickly shot up the large spiral staircase to get to her room as fast as possible, hoping she was alright.

"Esme?" I asked softly when I was finally outside her door. "Esme are you alright?"

There was no answer on the other side of the door for a long time so I quietly turned the door knob and opened the door. The room was dark, so dark that a human would not have been able to see two inches in front of their nose, but all the darkness did for me was simply cast an eerie tone to the room as the white curtains swung in the breeze from the wind in her window.

She was sitting on the floor surrounded by shimmering powder, the smell of sweet, crimson blood wafting its way to my nose by the wind as it softly rustled her dress and hair. She looked tortured, staring out at the cracked cobble floors. Quietly I walked over and knelt beside her. "Esme….what happened….What did Jane do?"

"Jane didn't do anything," she said, taking me aback. I hadn't expected her to speak at all but now that she had I wished she hadn't. Her voice sounded hollow, emotionless, dead. "I did….."

I gently rested a hand on her back, rubbing it softly. "What do you mean…you did?"

She just sat, silently for a few moments before parting her red velvet lips, "I killed them…I killed a baby, Marcus. I sucked the life from an innocent babe who hadn't even had the chance to live its life….I inflicted the same pain onto another woman that I feel myself…..and the only comfort I have over the situations is he peace that I killed her too…."

"Esme….it's not your fault. Once we're on the hunt it's hard to control ourselves especially because you're a newborn."

"I should just starve myself…..I don't want to hurt people…I hate it…the monster," she spat her words softly as she looked down at her hands.

"Esme, you're no monster. You're an angel trapped in the body of a vampire and for that I'm sorry…." I knew I would regret my next words, but I couldn't help but lie to her anyways, "If there were another way I would tell you. But there isn't. This is just who we are…I'm sorry."

She was quiet as she finally curled herself into my side and wrapped her arms around her small body. I gently wrapped my arms around her and rested my head against hers and looking around the room. Only then did it occur to me, "Where's your mirror?"

"….You're sitting in it," she said softly.

My eyes shifted to the shimmering dust around us. Her mirror. I knew I couldn't fix that. I could replace it, but it was damaged beyond repair. I could only hope that keeping Carlisle and his companion Edward a secret wouldn't do the same to my dearest Esme. I just couldn't bear to tell her that she was better off without me. What if Aro was right? What if she left me? By keeping Carlisle and Edward a secret I would be able to ensure that she would stay by my side. She would get used to the diet. She was still young. Within a few months she wouldn't even remember that it bothered her. It would just take time, which is one thing vampires certainly had.

-{*}-

A few days had passed since Esme killed the infant. She had begun moving around again to places such as the courtyard, passing her time with the few trees and the flowers that are kept there. She didn't speak much, but I found I could get her to smile from time to time. She is truly enchanting as she stands out in the courtyard, even more so then when she's inside and I did not think that was possible. When she was among nature she seemed to come to life.

I watched silently as she tended to a small tree in the center, beside a bench. Her skin was glittering, sending rainbows into the air as her hair bounced each time she moved. I knew she saw herself as a monster, but I couldn't see it. A creature with such a gentle, caring hand even when it came to the smallest, most insignificant of flowers certainly could not be labeled as a monster. I couldn't help but smile as a small purple butterfly landed in her hair making her freeze in the midst of watering, her eyes wide with excitement, almost like those of a child. She stayed still until the butterfly lifted back up into the air and fluttered into the branches of the smallest tree, resting among the vibrant green leaves. "Did you see that!?" Esme whispered in a hushed but excited tone.

I nodded smiling. "It landed in your hair."

She smiled wider and nodded before looking back at the butterfly. She could very easily have caught it, like a child would have, but she never did when she saw phenomenon such as these. I've observed that she seems to prefer to observe from afar, admiring bugs and birds in their natural state. I watched her for a few minutes before Aro's scent flooded to my nose and I turned to face him. "Yes, Aro?" Esme quickly looked up and over, smoothing out her elegant blue dress and brushing back a curl.

"A few old friends have arrived, Marcus, come say hello. Esme darling, I feel you would love ever so much to meet them," Aro said with a sickly sweet voice that caused Esme to fold her hands in front of herself and take a step back.

"May I ask who they are?" She inquired softly as Aro started to lead us out of the court yard towards the throne room.

He didn't answer until we were inside and I instantly froze. There in front of me was none other than Carlisle Cullen and his companion, Edward Mason. There in front of me were the very people I was desperate for Esme to never meet. Was Aro behind this? Had he contacted them and asked them to come? To take her away from me?

"We came to report that a mass of newborns have begun ravaging near New York. We came to ask your assistance as Carlisle is not a fan of putting lives to rest," Edward Mason explained.

I nodded softly and looked over at Esme who was watching them intently. She didn't seem to be listening, or paying attention at all. I wondered what was on her mind until she spoke aloud.

"I do pray you don't mind me prying, but why are your eyes such a peculiar color? They're quite lovely," she stated as she stood very still in nervousness.

Carlisle Cullen smiled, "Your question is not a pry. Edward and I simply prefer to feast on animals rather than human blood, which turns our eyes a golden color instead of red."

Esme face suddenly tensed as my whole body did before her chin snapped towards me. She said nothing, but I could feel her bond to me wavering heavily. She knew I had lied to her.