I opened my mouth to scream, but Marcus pressed his cold fingers over my mouth. However, it wasn't harsh, so all I could think was that it could have been worse. If it were Felix who had caught me, then my jaw would be broken already.
"Marcus…" said Edward harshly, glaring at him with all his might. "Let her go, she's done nothing wrong."
He grunted in response, but to my surprise, he actually did let me go…and threw me on the floor beside Edward, who clutched my hand tightly to stop me from crying. I was counting down the seconds in my head until Aro arrived, poised and ready to kill me. He wouldn't even bother trying to change me again. It's a one chance only system in Volterra. And I was back for Edward….so god only knows what would happen to him.
"Why are you here Bella? Why?" Marcus asked me coldly, never once breaking eye contact. I gulped in fear, but I was relieved at least, by the softness in his eyes. It was odd, how someone so scary could appear to be so much…better than the original appearance.
"You know why I'm here. I came back for Edward…" I whispered back, glancing at Edward quickly, before turning back to Marcus. I shivered, partly from the fear, and partly from the cold radiating from the two vampires, and the damp, dingy conditions of the cell. Obviously, this part of Volterra was reserved for the more…special people. Well…special wasn't exactly the right word…but still.
Marcus looked confused at my answer, and I had no idea why. I guess he had never really found anyone he loved that much. But Edward obviously thought otherwise, and he was quick to cut in.
"Marcus. Don't blame her for what has happened to you in the past. She's innocent, Bella wouldn't hurt a fly…"
He must be brave, attempting to stick up for me when faced with one of the most dangerous vampires in the world. He looked pleadingly up at Marcus for a response, but he was still glaring at Edward in shock.
"My past has nothing to do with this. Miss Swan has broken the law, and she is still a human, after all you lot have promised. How am I supposed to trust you?"
"That's not my fault! That's the dogs fault…and yours as well! Who knows what would have happened if everything had been normal…" he murmured, not meeting my gaze, but staring straight ahead with fire behind his black eyes. They'd been starving him…
"What would have happened?" Marcus pressed, and I stared at Edward, wondering what the heck was going through his head. He couldn't be thinking straight, is that what had happened the last few days? Gradually left alone to go insane in a small, dark cell? That's what would have happened to me… Any time without Edward seemed like torture, though even now I'd found him, the state he was in wasn't making me any happier.
His hair was matted, tangled, and covered with dirt, making his gorgeous bronze locks seem almost black in colour. His shirt hung in rags against his chest, and I could make out purple bruises beneath it. And even though he smiled at me, there was pain behind his eyes. I kept on staring at him, waiting for his answer.
"Marcus, I wouldn't lie to you. I'll happily change her if you'll let us go. I'll change her right here, right now if that's necessary."
And then he leant towards me, murmuring 'I'm sorry' under his breath, and opened his mouth wide, heading for my neck. I couldn't help but be scared, this wasn't Edward…this wasn't what he wanted…
"No."
I looked up, as did Edward, to see Marcus glaring at us, and pulling Edward away from me.
"If you change her now, then Aro will find you. He will kill you both for sure"
I couldn't believe it…Marcus was trying to save our lives. Maybe he really was the good one in all of this afterall. But I still didn't believe it, it was too hard to suddenly trust someone who had been so evil in the past.
"Why do you care Marcus? Why don't you just kill us right now??" I blurted out, a strong glare on my face.
"Bella…" Edward muttered, obviously unimpressed by my ongoing stubbornness. He should know enough about me by now to realise that I would do that.
"Bella, I couldn't kill you. You've done nothing wrong. I'm simply trying to help you. If it was anyone else who found you, then you'd either be dead, or turning into one of us now." Marcus, snapped back at me, and I was momentarily stunned.
Why was he trying to help us? I didn't know…I didn't care. A smile stretched out across my face, and I felt more hope than ever. In my darkest hour, I was going to get out.
"Marcus…Thank you…I-I…"
"Don't bother. Because even when I let you go, there's still something I want you to do for me."
"What? What? Anything!" I perked up, it couldn't be too bad after all. Edward suddenly breathed heavily next to me, after picking out exactly what Marcus was about to say.
"I want you to kill the dog."