"Why wouldn't Aro be happy for you and… Didyme." I asked tentatively, breaking the heavy silence that had followed after Marcus's tale. I was still sat on my bed, hands crossed tightly, but somewhere along the line I had subconsciously leaned towards the ancient vampire, and I pulled back discretely.

"I suppose I have never truly known." Marcus admitted, his eyes hollow and his face drawn. "Aro can be very possessive, I have seen, so perhaps he did not like the idea of his darling sister belonging to another."

"Maybe he was worried she would spend more time with you instead of him?" I offered quietly, thinking of all the times I had read through the problems sections in Magazines. Jealously always seemed to be an issue, and the emotional workings of a vampire couldn't be too different to the one of a human, could it?

"Perhaps." Marcus whispered, before lapsing back into a mournful silence, his eyes fluttering closed. I stared at his frozen state in discomfort, unsure as to whether I should say something, give him his privacy, or do nothing at all. I opted for the second option, and was slowly pulling myself from the mattress – trying to make sure it didn't creak – when his icy hand flashed onto my arm.

"Do not leave, please." He begged, his faded eyes wide open once more. "It was not my intention to make you uncomfortable."

"No, I just wanted to give you some privacy… or something." I explained, running a hand through my tangled brown hair. I winced as my fingers snarled against a knot.

"Sometimes, I need to give myself a moment to compose myself." He continued on, as if he had not heard me. "I cannot allow myself to succumb to my emotions. I am a Volturi brother. It would be improper."

"Doesn't mean you can't be sad." I pointed out frankly, and he shrugged his heavy shoulders.

"I cannot show how I feel in public. 'It would show weakness.'" The light sneer masking his second sentence gave me the impression that he was quoting somebody. Aro maybe? Aro probably.

"Everybody Hurts." I said quietly, and a sad smile pulled at the corners of his lips.

"Tell that to some."

"I will if you want." I joked gently, trying to lighten the sombre atmosphere hanging thicker than humidity in the Amazon. "I'll go and tell Aro to cut you some slack and grow a heart."

"How do you know it is Aro I was implying?"

"Just a feeling."

"I will have to refuse your offer, Miss DiLaurentis. You are hardly his favourite as it is."

"Yeah I've noticed." I drawled, narrowing my eyes at nothing in particular leaning back further across my now-crimson covered bed sheets. "Besides, if I get him to kill me before my time I wont get to hear the rest of what you've got to say."

Marcus let out a long-drawn sigh, his shoulders sagging, the joking mood instantly sucked from his form. He pressed a pale hand to his face.

"You have heard the full of it." He whispered, glancing at the ornate wallpaper. "There is not much more to say."

"What?" I demanded indignantly. "There's tonnes more to tell! You can't just start a story and then not finish it! That's like, I don't know, watching the beginning of a really great movie and having the power go out just before the end!"

"Miss DiLaurentis-" He interrupted, frowning, but I didn't let him finish.

"Or like reading a Sherlock Holmes and finding the last chapter ripped out!" Out of the corner of my eye I thought I noticed his expression darkening. Huh?

"Avery."

"Or like sampling a great ice cream and then having-"

"Avery!"

I jumped, and could hardly contain a yelp at Marcus's roar. I spun to face him but froze in my tracks, stunned into silence by his expression. It was one of fury and indignation, his bloody eyes blazing and muscles taut. What the hell?

"I do not appreciate you comparing my life like some sort of film or book for you to enjoy!" He spat into my face, and I flinched back, icy tremors running down my spine. He gripped my upper arm suddenly, and I cried out as his fingers dug into my skin, prodding like uncomfortable rods into flesh. "What happened to my Didyme was not entertaining or exciting in any way, do you hear me?"

"I-I-" My tongue felt numb in my mouth, paralyzed by some force – the effect of being near to an angry vampire? Or maybe it was just fear. Marcus's anger seemingly sizzled through the air, scorching all. It had come from literally nowhere!

"It was tragic! Horrific! Unjust! And it tore me apart – nay! Tears me apart, to this day! I try to vent my feelings by talking to you, Miss DiLaurentis, and it helps. And I even grow to like you – think that you care. But your desperation for me to continue? Well! That makes me think that you lap up my tales like you would a fairytale or bedtime story!"

"No!" I managed to burst out, my eyes burning – half from the growing pain in my upper arm, and half from what Marcus was saying. "I s-swear to God, Marcus, I don't find it a-amusing at all! Or entertaining I promise you, please!"

He didn't look convinced.

"Marcus, what the hell?" I tried, attempting to pull away. "Why would you even think that I m-meant that? Let go! Let go, you're HURTING ME!"

He didn't let go completely, but his grip slackened slightly. I felt the beginnings of blood loss in my lower arm.

"Marcus, I don't get where the hell this is coming from! We were just talking and now you're mad but I-I – Damn it, you're getting pissed over nothing!"

"Oh?"

"Marcus." I tried again, more gently. "Why would I treat something like this as, I don't know, a movie or a novel. I do actually understand the difference between fiction and real life. I just wanted to know what happened after you and Didyme got together – like marriage, I don't know… her death… I guess." I trailed off slowly, frowning. "Not because I'm interested by it or entertained, but because I kind of feel like I know her now, y'know?"

"I do not see how. I have said very little about her personally." He growled sceptically.

"I know! I just, I don't know. I just want to understand, okay? Not because I'm fascinated, I swear to you. That would be sick, I know that!"

Marcus pursed his lips, the anger in his eyes almost diminishing. He pulled his hand away and I gasped and blood rushed back through the veins in my arm, before boggling and the already purple prints on my skin.

"What the hell?" I whispered quietly, biting my bottom lip. "Where did that come from Marcus, I don't understand. Why did you have to attack me?"

"I did not 'attack' you, Miss DiLaurentis." He muttered, his eyelids flickering, but I noticed his gaze was on the marks he had left also.

"But, I… never mind." I murmured, not wanting to provoke his temper once more. I had never put him down as the kind of guy to fly of the handle the way he did. Maybe it was a vampire thing. For a tense moment, neither of us said a word. I willed for Marcus to leave so I could have a moment to recover, but he seemed dandy where he was.

"I am sorry." He said quietly – surprisingly - laying his hand gently over my bruises. I flinched and refused to meet his eyes. "You have to realise, Avery," he began again, a tremor in his tone. "You have to realise that Didyme is a very sensitive subject to me. My emotions are at their most vulnerable when I think of her. Please understand."

"I do." I sighed, suddenly feeling very weary. "And I'm sorry too. I should be more careful, I think."

"You're only human, Miss DiLaurentis. Sometimes I find myself forgetting this."

"Huh." I snorted, and rolled my eyes. Forget I was human? How did he manage that?

"Truly," Marcus began again, his tone calm and gentle. "You seem far too mature, for a human."

"Uh, yeah!" I giggled, relaxing slightly. "You're saying this to the person who was dancing around their room to their IPod!"

"True," Marcus smiled, and I breathed out a small sigh of relief at the sight. "Although, perhaps you should give yourself more credit, Avery. You seem to put yourself down often."

"I'm always put down at home, so I guess that's where I get it from." I half-joked, but Marcus turned to look at me very seriously.

"I will have to hear your story, one day."

"It's really not that interesting," I blushed, biting my lip. I felt… flattered.

"It doesn't have to be."

His red gaze caught my own, and held it the iris's swimming with emotion. Another tingle ran up my spine, but this time it felt…pleasant? I didn't know. I blushed further and awkwardly, and looked down at my hands.

"Does it hurt?" Marcus asked suddenly, brushing his fingers over my newly acquired bruises. His touch was feather light and careful, like feathers.

"Not really." I lied, but I couldn't help but wince when he applied a bit more pressure.

"Yes it does." Marcus retaliated quietly, he expression turning to one of shame. "I am sorry, Avery. I did not want to hurt you, but I am… strong."

"It's OK, seriously." I pressed, not wanting him to feel bad or anything. "I'm the one who should be sorry."

"We can both be." He smiled, before pulling me quickly into a hug. I rested my cheek on his shoulder, and wrapped my own arms around his back, suddenly glad for the simplicity of the friendly embrace. I inhaled deeply, and caught his scent. Didyme had been right. Marcus did smell like winter. However that worked. It was… nice. Natural.

"Thanks." I muttered gratefully, when finally he pulled away. I felt a tiny twinge of disappointment, but squashed it instantly.

"What for?" He tilted his head on one side, dark hair swinging.

"I've kind of felt like I needed to be hugged for a while now." I explained sheepishly, and he gave a small laugh.

"Anytime, Miss DiLaurentis."

He pulled himself slowly from where he had ended up sitting on my bed, and straightened his cloak, before motioning towards the door.

"I am needed by Aro, about his time, I am afraid." He said apologetically, and I nodded my head to show I understood.

"Duty calls." I grinned.

"Yes…" he hesitated, halfway out of the ornate, mahogany door. "Miss DiLaurentis. I will tell you the rest of my story, in time, I promise you."

"Thanks." I smiled, surprised. I wouldn't have thought he had wanted to. Not anymore.

"Just have a little patience, if you will. It is hard for me."

"I understand."

"I know…I know you do, my dear."

His tone was caressing and fond, devoid of the usual underlining misery that I recognised daily. He touched my forehead lightly with his fingers, before saying something in a language I couldn't possibly understand if I tried. I opened my mouth to ask for a translation, but he pressed a finger to his voluptuous lips, giving me a single wink.

And then he was gone, like a whisper in the wind, leaving only a slight scent of winter and an unexplainable smile playing across my lips.

I know, I know, I've been ages! But I've been smack bang in the middle of really important exams.

I know this section story seems to be moving at an excruciatingly slow pace but I'm nearly there, I promise you! Then it can really get exciting!

Remember to review! They will help me get over my recent operation faster! pretty please! It hurts :(

RVL!