I'm so sorry this is way overdue. Promise not to take so long next chapter!
Chapter 12: Your Own LoVE
On the plane ride back, I could sense Kai didn't feel right. She had this sour look on her face, which screamed for everyone to leave her alone, but still the whole way back, I sat beside her.
I could count on one hand the number of times she glanced at me.
And as we were getting off the plane, I took the time to ask her, "What's up, Kai?"
"I don't want to talk about it here." Kai said. She didn't say it in the nicest way, but it didn't mean she didn't want to talk.
And in the car ride back, she at least tried to smile.
But in the Volturi's fortress, the anger was renewed. I understood.
It was this place. This cold, dark place that casted a shadow over everything. And maybe she's put off by my happiness.
We were walked back to Kai's room, the very same from the beginning. As I looked inside, I saw the mess. The white curtains were shredded, and ripped clothing littered the floor.
Felix and Demitri left, and I picked up all the clothes and put them in a pile, kicking them in a corner.
We changed into clothes more suitable to the weather.
When we were done, Kai and me both looked at each other, and stuttered, speaking at the same time.
"You go first, Kai." I said, sitting down on the bed.
"Okay… I'm just so pissed lately. We need to get out of here quick. All the time, I feel like I'm going to explode, and all you tell me is wait." She said.
I could see her hands and jaw clenching and unclenching and it made me slightly nervous. Besides when vampires were around, she never got too angry.
"I know you want to know, but if I tell you everything this plan is fucked over!" I said.
"I know!" She said, punching the bedpost. I tried not to notice the wood splinter.
"Kai, just settle down a bit. We need to stay calm if we want to remain sane in this place." I said lowly.
"Settle down? Calm? She yelled. She stood and approached me. Her height now towering a good three inches over mine.
"Kai, you're shaking. Just sit down." I said firmly.
"I'm not your puppy. You're not the Volturi, so stop telling me what to do."
"Sit the fuck down!" I yelled in her face.
Her head tilted down, her face gained a predatory look. I was unsure at first, but I realized her skin was ripping, revealing fur. I stepped back as she shifted.
Her claws grabbed out, and I realized she was trying to attack me. Me?
I turned to run, out of the room. I ran until I was sure she wouldn't follow, perhaps it was too much bother to. I turned my head to look back, and I was right, she didn't follow. I turned back, and ran face first into a pile of fabric.
I clutched onto the soft black material, sobs wracking my body, but I couldn't make a sound.
"Sweet child, what's wrong?" I knew it was Marcus. His airy voice held some concern.
"G-go away." I said, trying not to cry. But I knew my voice was cracking in all sorts of places.
"You're the one latched onto me."
I pulled back immediately, wiping my eyes, and strode past him.
He did not follow me.
I ended up back in the TV room, looking up channels.
Nothing about us in the news either. Maybe we were dead to them.
Nothing to look forward to.
I blew out a puff of air, bored out of my mind, trying not to dwell on the fight. Because they usually only lasted a couple of hours to a day. What could I do instead? I'd rather not watch MTV.
As soon as I took time to slow down and really think, I managed to remember what I had been looking forward to before we left. Peter!
I rushed to the nearest exit; trying to recall what street the restaurant was on. Running down the halls, I thought to myself; I've run far too much in this building. Coming out of my musings, something brought me to a halt. There, at the end of the way, Chelsea was facing the other way, speaking to Aro. He gazed over her shoulder to me, his eyes instantly brightening, which made me wonder. He always kept me wondering.
"What a lovely surprise." His wonderful voice seemed to bounce off the walls. Which made me suspicious. He's too happy all the time.
"Good to see you, Aro," I said, noting how crappy my voice was in comparison. I bowed my head in respect, but mostly to keep my head low.
"What brings you this way?" he asked cheerfully, but I knew he was wary.
"Oh, just grabbing my coat." I said, taking a step further.
"Not sneaking off anywhere, are we, deary?" He asked.
"Funny. Actually, I just left my iPod in my pocket, so…"
"My mistake then, Autumn. Please, continue." He gestured for me to keep going. I warily passed them both. I knew which was I wasn't going.
I did end up going to the main entrance to grab my coat, which in fact did carry my IPod, but I walked to the opposite side of their residence, to where I snuck out last time.
The coast was clear, so I climbed down, recalling everything, as if it were fresh in my mind.
For some reason, though, I was really bothered by the overcast skies. I tried to shrug it off, but dread kept replacing the holes in my head.
A little ways further down the street, I smiled in spite of myself at the familiar gray brick restaurant.
I imagined a mailman coming up to their front entrance with a slim orange letter, to which the contents held were life-saving.
But when I approached the front of it, it was closed. I internally groaned, but hoped they would be home.
I knocked on the front door, imagined hearing the groaning of footsteps on floorboards. But there was no sound. I tested the handle and found it was open. I felt sort of bad about going in without permission of any sorts, even doubting that the package had arrived.
I went up the stairs to their actual house, still not hearing anyone in here.
There was nothing naming any package. I was sifting through their living room and dining room, when I noticed a carefully placed piece of paper on the corner of the kitchen. The note said:
To whom it may concern,
We have gone out, will be back when its safer.
*It's in behind the cereal. Good luck.
Sincerely,
Peter
It was for their own good anyways, and get away from me and the company I keep. At least it was here, and I knew it was here.
I heard the front door creak open downstairs, and froze. I quickly crumpled the letter in my pocket, knowing this time to expect someone not so nice.
"Why are you here?" I asked skeptically. I barely had enough time to turn around. "Marcus." I added his name choppily to the back of my question.
"It is my city." He gazed around the room as if he had something better to do.
I gulped. It was already risky enough, him seeing me here.
"The question is, why are you here?" His question lilted slyly off of his boring voice.
I didn't want to say anything. Even if I didn't explain myself, this looked bad. I did try to convey a look that hopefully told him not to tell.
"It matters not, since this bet you have with my brothers have nothing to do with me…" He said, trailing off. I sighed in relief, "However, they shall interested as to why and what are you doing here."
"Like you said, it doesn't matter." I sounded like I was begging.
"As in, it matters not to me. Aro and Caius are another story entirely."
"Just—don't." I said defeated. His face seemed less enthusiastic—for him—probably to hide his emotions.
He nodded. I think that means he won't.
"So now what?" I asked.
He didn't say anything, almost as if he wasn't too sure either.
"I'm not leaving." I said.
"And I should make sure you don't cheat." He said. He was taunting me. He won't fucking leave me alone.
"It's not cheating."
"Then you should have very little problems telling me what it is you are doing."
"I'm—aaarg, just go away."
"I don't think I will D—Autumn." There it was. That hesitation. I've heard it before. Because before he'd called me it, not stuttered. And now I could press on, because he technically was about to call me something else. Loop-holes are my favourite.
"Marcus, who's Dee?" I asked innocently.
Marcus stepped a little closer to me, as if not believing the words were coming from my mouth. "D-distant relative."
"Liar." I whispered. "What is she to you?"
I saw him gulp air. And the Volturi don't usually breath. I've never felt this much power over any of his other brothers before. Caius and Aro did of course give me opportunities, but this felt different. I had an unusual hold over Marcus.
"Was she… yours?"
"You know nothing of Didyme." It came out in a rush.
"You could tell me."
"She's gone. Past dead." His voice was raised.
His eyes were averted. He was looking at anything but me.
"Marcus, it's all right. You don't have to tell me."
"No, it's just… in every single year counted after she passed, no one's tried to mention her. It's as if her memory has been insulted—tabooed." I heard a light crack in his even bored voice.
"Do—do you remember how she died."
He raised his crimson eyes, "House fire."
I connected some things with his story. Murder was all I could think of; Aro and his foul play. But why?
"She was my mate. We were going to be together… Forever."
That's a long time. I wonder how Didyme could love him if he was so boring.
"Did you know, vampires can't cry?" He spoke straight and blunt, his statement so detached from everything previously said.
I shook my head.
"Everything she did had 'care' written all over it. She was the very last word in love."
"Did she have a power?" I asked curious.
"Yes…" He said half-hazard. "She, she radiated love."
Is that why he's so boring now: because she died?
I wondered. If she were so loving and caring, why would Aro kill her?
"She was Aro's sister, you know." He added, as if it would help Didyme's case. And he was right. Did Aro hate her so much? I've heard of sibling rivalry…
"It'll be alright, old chap." I said, abnormally silly for the sober conversation. I had to add some relief; his story was beating me down. I patted his back, and led him to the door. I would have to come back later for the letter. Maybe early tomorrow morning.
He was a slow wreck, walking back, so I had to drag him by the hand.
Slow I started to realize he wasn't so slow, and caught up with my stride. I don't think Marcus ran too much.
The sky was dim and nearing evening. Still overcast. As we approached the keep, I saw someone standing out front of the main entrance. Chelsea.
-Sage94
