Okay, I have a lot of explaining to do.

Life has been so busy that I have had no time to write anything. It's depressing, really. I hadn't written in nearly 3 months! But I do have another confession: I really never wanted to write anymore. I just wasn't motivated.

Today on the way back from London I had a spark and I wrote 5 chapters in advance. i forgot how much I loved this.

This chapter goes out to Bella (again) for pushing me even when I really didn't want to finish.

Chapter 21: The Truth

"Do you love me?"

The question surprised me, "What?"

"I know it's a strange question for me to ask," he chuckled, "I feel silly for asking. But I just want to know. I love you. You know that."

"Yes."

"So do you?"

"Yes"

"You're lying."

"No I'm not."

"Then why are you being so short?"

I turned in his arms, "Why are you asking so many questions?"

He sighed, "Sometimes I just don't know anymore, Anna. I mean, you have been a bit distant lately."

He was right on that part. I'd been in a daze lately. I really didn't know why. I felt like there was something I didn't know. Not from anyone, really, but from myself. I was keeping a secret from myself.

Maybe I was crazy.

"Marcus," I looked in his eyes. Those beautiful velvet eyes that caught me every time. He was so beautiful.

"I love you. I apologize for being so short, but I don't know what else to say. I mean, how could you ask that after…" I gestured to the bed. "Baby, I love you. I love you so much. Don't ever think that I wouldn't. Don't ever."

A smile spread across his face, "Baby?"

"Yeah, baby."

"I haven't heard that before."

"I know "

"I like it."

I kissed him, "Then it will stay."

"You know what I've noticed?"

"What now? You've said that a billion times already."

"There's no need to be a smartass, Anna."

"Just get to the point, Gianna."

She set her book down, "I think Marcus is forgetting her."

I looked up from my book. "Vampires don't forget."

"So you're comparing us to elephants?"

I groaned and put my book down, "Stop!"

She laughed, "But you know what I mean, right? She's not on his mind as much." She looked down, "He's so alive now. There's something in him now, a personality that was never there. Didyme was his first love, but it seems she's been replaced."

I smiled, "You really think so?"

"Of course."

I smiled, "Thanks, Gianna. That means a lot, really."

She smiled back, "I only tell the truth, kid."

"Marcus? Marcus?" I looked down the hallway, "Marcus?"

I walked up to the new secretary. She looked at me in horror and sunk a little in her chair. I tried not to laugh. It was typical. She was fine with the guard, but the actual clan she was terrified of.

"M-may I h-help you?" She asked, "M-ma'am?"

What was her name? Sally? Margaret? Hell, I don't think I ever learned it. "Have you seen my husband?"

She paused. It was apparent that she had no clue who I was. She broke out in a sweat.

"Marcus."

"Oh! Marcus, yes. I'm sorry, ma'am. So, so sorry."

I laughed, "It's alright. Calm down, okay? I won't bite."

She nodded her head quickly, "Yes, yes, okay. Last time I saw him he was heading." She looked around, "That way."

"How long ago?"

"Just about five minutes, ma'am."

"You sure?"

"Yes ma'am."

I waved, "Thank you."

"You're welcome, ma'am."

"And kid?"

She looked up, "Yes ma'am?"

"No need to call me ma'am."

She nodded quickly, "Will do."

"Marcus?" I looked down the hall the girl pointed to. No one. I checked some of the rooms. Nope. Stopping at the Hall of Mortality, I heard a voice in the room. I went to check.

The Hall of Mortality is a giant room filled with graves of every vampire that has ever been in the Volturi. They are organized by rank, gender, then by name. Each grave is a flat panel in the ground with their names, ranks, and the years of their life and death. A gold picture frame stands above the panel with the picture of the deceased, and two fake black roses stand by it, to represent immortality and the beauty of death.

The walkways were lined with red candles that burn everyday. I watched them burn as I walked along the path to the intruding sound. I silently prayed it wasn't him.

I turned the corner and froze.

Dear God.

Marcus.

His cloak was over his head, and in his kneeling position it completely covered him. His hands were in a prayer position. I looked at the picture and gasped.

Didyme.

I hid behind a corner to listen.

"Hey Dee," He said, his eyes looking at the picture, "How are you? I hope heaven is treating you well."

Or Hell, I thought.

"How's your baby? Is he there too? I wish I could've given you a child of our own. He would've been beautiful." He paused and swallowed, "E-everything's okay here, love. Your brother's done a lot for us. He's a good man, you know that." He laughed, "H-he said the funniest thing today…" His eyes spaced, "H-he…"

He collapsed.

His body heaved with hard sobs, his hands balled in fists, his head to the floor. He was a broken man.

Broken.

I never fixed him.

"I-I miss you Didyme." He looked up at the picture once again, "I want you home, baby girl. Life is empty without you. And I promise, the girl? She's nothing compared to you. She never could be. You are the most amazing, beautiful woman I will ever know. I love you, Didyme."

It was too much. I ran out of the hall and collapsed by the door. Sobs overwhelmed my body.

No, don't love her. Please.

My mind was racing.

Why should I care?

But I do, dear God I do.

I love you, Marcus.

I closed my eyes.

"You thought he would forget her?" I looked up.

Aro.

"Silly girl. He would never forget her. Our emotions are so powerful that when we're attached to someone, the bond will never break."

I looked away.

"That's why I don't make any attachments to anyone. The only person I'll ever care about is my wife, and she's safe, I can assure that."

"And how can you be sure of that? Didyme was killed here, right in the castle."

"True, but that is only because I killed her myself."

I looked up at him in horror.

"My sister was a great woman, but she distracted Marcus from his goal, our goal. We had a plan, and it was for power." He down at me hard, "She made him think of silly ideas of leaving the castle and living in the country." He sighed, "Foolish girl. I had to kill her."

I was shaking my head frantically, "No."

"We're all power hungry."

"No."

"He doesn't really love you."

I bit my lip and looked down, "No."

He straightened up, "You're easily disposable, Annabelle. You don't matter."

I couldn't look at him anymore. I was empty.

Empty.