Chapter 12: Memories

Marcus stood and walked out of his study with Arkania. They separated and went different ways. Marcus made his way down to his room and as he opened the door he froze in the doorway…

Marcus stood in his doorway not believing what he saw before him. He saw Bella sitting next to the window in a sheer nightgown and lingerie. He was going to murder his sister. He shut the door and then moved quietly behind Bella as he gently placed a hand on her neck. Bella looked up at him and smiled.

"Bella, what are you doing in here?"

"I wanted to see you."

"Dressed like this?"

"Well…I…"

Marcus helped her stand and brushed her hair from her face. He watched her begin to fidget which told him she was nervous. He took her hand and pulled her to him. He sat down on the edge of the bed and then looked at her. Bella felt a slight tug and she sat down in his lap.

"Arkania had a hand in this didn't she?"

"She helped a little bit."

"Bella, I'm not forcing you to do anything…"

"Marcus, I'm scared. You asked me to be your mate for eternity. From what I hear around the castle that's not always a good thing."

Marcus sighed as he realized what she was referring to. He still could see the day that Arkania had killed Aro and Caius' mates for being unfaithful. He had been the one who had to calm his brothers and keep them at bay from their sister afterwards.

Arkania stood from her throne as she looked down at her two sisters-in-law. Only a handful of vampires had ever dared to come forth with news of adultery. Arkania was not one for this act and she glared at the two queens. They just didn't get it that Arkania ruled over them.

"You dare to come in my presence and tell me that you wish to unbind yourselves from my brothers?"

"We do. You are not in control so you have no say in this Arkania."

"On the contrary my dears, I have more control than you two ever did."

Aro glared at his wife as he saw her blanch with this newfound information. He never bothered to tell her that Arkania was the ruler over the women vampires in Volturi. He didn't see a point in it, till now that is. He saw Marcus holding Caius back from killing his own wife, Athenodora, with the deadliest glare he'd ever seen his brother give someone. His own wife Sulpicia stood there in front of him and his siblings and lied to them. Aro was about to stand when he realized that Marcus also had a hold on him.

"Please spare me the lies Arkania. You have never once had the power to be over us."

"Really Athenodora, I do believe that the necklace you are wearing belongs to me. So how did it come in your possession?"

"None of your business little girl."

All three brothers froze as both women went flying into columns. Arkania bent to pick up the necklace from the ground and watched the two women stand. They looked at her and started to run for the doors only to have them all shut and lock.

"You can't keep us here Arkania! We have powers too!"

"Shut up Sulpicia! You're only power is to betray the ones that loved you more than anything."

"I never betrayed Aro!"

"Oh please! I'm not dumb or blind! Nor am I deaf! I've heard the many nights when I walk past your fucking room. You are a cheating lying whore!"

"Arkania…"

Aro pleaded with his sister because he knew where this was going. She was going to kill his wife. Caius struggled more against Marcus and broke free only to be grabbed again by Marcus. Aro was so shocked that he couldn't move to fight his sister.

"You both knew the punishment should anyone ever found out. Guess what my dear sisters…I found out."

Athenodora and Sulpicia both stood there as they stared at her and then attacked her. Arkania expected them to attack her so she chuckled darkly. She raised her hand and both females lit on fire. Their screams could be heard throughout the castle and Arkania just stood there watching them die.

"NO!"

"Caius, stop. She had to do it."

"No she didn't Marcus! What if she had done that to Didyme?"

"Didyme didn't betray me by sleeping with another male Caius. You wife did that to you."

Marcus and Caius continued to argue as Aro just stood there on the dais steps looking at the ashes of his wife. He looked over at his sister and spoke gently.

"Arkania, please…no more killing."

"You knew what I was when you adopted me Aro."

"But my own wife? Why?"

"You wanted to keep a lying whore around? She would have continued it Aro. She'd been betraying you like this for over three hundred years."

"But Arkania, would you have done this to your mate?"

"If I am betrayed by the act of adultery, my mate will see no mercy."

Aro had to stop himself from attacking his own sister. He turned from her and then said in the harshest voice he could the one thing he knew that would hurt her more than anything.

"Then you are never to have a mate ever Arkania."

Arkania looked at Aro and growled low in her throat before she left the throne room and slammed open the doors causing them to come off their hinges. Aro closed his eyes and then felt a breeze past him as Caius hurried out the doors. Aro looked up at Marcus and he saw the regret in his brother's eyes.

"You have just hurt her Aro. She may never trust you again."

"So be it."

Marcus nodded his head and left Aro to his peace. Aro sat down in his throne and all the pain and sorrow that he had just witnessed and caused came crashing down on him like a sledge hammer.

"Marcus, are you all right?"

Marcus came out of the memory when he felt a soft hand on his cheek. He looked over at Bella and saw the concern on her face.

"You are aware of how Edward died right?"

"Yes. Arkania lit him on fire."

"Well that's not the first adultery case she's dealt with. She killed Caius and Aro's wives for adultery. That's part of why she was gone for so long and mated without their consent."

"Because Aro basically told her she could never have a mate?"

"Exactly."

Bella brushed his hand back from his face and looked at him. She had heard the stories about he two queens who were killed for adultery. She was just curious about one thing.

"Then how did your wife die?"

"Didyme was on a mission with me. Not long after we adopted Arkania might I add. She was with us. Didyme had wondered off in search of blood and was found by a few hunters. She ran back to me and Arkania and fought to save Arkania."

"May I ask why?"

"Didyme was the only one who knew Arkania's true powers. I wasn't even aware of them until that night. As I was pushed aside and about to be killed, I heard Didyme say something to Arkania and then a white glow appeared. When everything cleared, I saw Arkania holding Didyme close to her and if she could have cried she would have been doing so. Didyme had told Arkania to kill her and the hunters. After that night, Arkania never showed any emotion to anyone besides me."

Bella nodded and understood why Marcus was so quiet unless he was around Arkania. She felt his hand on her back and looked at him.

"If I may ask a question now, why are you in here dressed like this? Not that I don't approve, I'm just confused."

"I was shocked when you asked me earlier to be your mate. I didn't know what to say. I needed time to think about it."

"That's why I gave you time Bella. I'm not making you say yes now. That's entirely up to you."

"I know Marcus. I was just wondering if you would hold me for a while. Please? Arkania said she felt a disturbance earlier."

"I'll keep you safe."

Marcus lifted her up and set her on the bed and climbed up behind her. He held her as she lay beside him. He knew she felt safe with him so it made him feel happy that she wasn't running from him.

"Bella?"

"Hmm?"

"Who actually helped you pick this sexy thing out?"

"Don't be too shocked, but Arkania and Demetri. He was the one running to get them and Arkania gave her opinion."

"Demetri was with you two?"

"He apparently has adopted me as a sister."

"That's interesting, yet disturbing at the same time."

"He stayed away from the dressing room unless Arkania allowed him to hand me more outfits."

Marcus chuckled and shook his head as he pictured that scene in his mind. He felt Bella move a little and he braced his self as his felt his body come alive at the innocent movement. He didn't know how he was going to survive this without having her.

'Oh the joys of teasing.'

Arkania crouched on the roof of the castle when she felt Jin behind her. He handed her a piece of paper and looked at out among the city.

"It's too quiet my lady."

"Very Jin. Who's this from?"

"Aro."

Arkania opened the slip of paper and saw what was written there. She cursed and crumbled the paper up. She stood and then out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of movement. She hurried inside and shut the door to the roof. Lord help anyone who tried to hurt her family.

"Jin go find Demetri.""Of course my lady."

Jin ran off, leaving Arkania alone which is what she wanted. She crept through the castle as the words on the paper kept visual knowledge in her head.

"We have an intruder in the castle. The powers are off the wall. Find them and destroy them sister."

Arkania was going to do her hardest to destroy these powers or she would die trying. She felt Demetri and Jin coming closer so she waited for them to show. They walked around the corner and together the trio went in search of the disturbance.

'Like hell anything is going to happen to cause a disturbance in my home.'

(Lime Scene)

Marcus watched Bella as she lay there in his bed. She fit perfectly in the bed as he had gone to take a shower. She was laying on her back playing with a ribbon she had pulled out of her hair. She kept wrapping it around her fingers and then letting it untwist so she could start over. Marcus leaned against the wall and watched her beautiful body lay there and move ever so slightly once in a while. He pushed away from the wall and moved to his closet to grab another white shirt.

"Marcus?"

"Hmm?"

"Why do you always wear fancy clothing. You could just wear simple clothes."

"Usually I'm in the throne room so I dress up fancier than when I'm in here or my study. But my cloak usually keeps that hidden."

"Oh."

Marcus moved back to the bed and sat down on the edge of it as he watched Bella sit up to look at him. He brushed her hair from her face and looked at her with so much love he wasn't sure about what happen next. Bella jumped a little when she felt Marcus kiss her. She moved closer to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. She felt him wrap his arms around her waist and deepen the kiss.

"Marcus?"

Marcus growled low as he heard his name through the door and he kissed Bella once more before he went and opened the door slightly. Bella lay back in the bed and watched him. Marcus shut the door and rubbed his forehead as he closed his eyes. Bella stood from the bed and walked up to him. She placed her hands on his chest and ran them up to his shoulders. This got Marcus' attention and he leaned down and kissed her again. He picked her up and carried her back to the bed.

"Bella?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to do."

"I know."

Bella kissed Marcus again and he laid down over her and kissed her deeply as he continued to hold her.

(End of Lime)

Bella broke the kiss and snuggled deeper into his chest as his held her. Marcus placed a kiss on her temple and held her as she played with a bit of his hair at his neck.

"I love you Marcus."

"I love you too Bella."

A/N: Please Review. Love ya guys! Thanks to all who have reviewed.