A/N: As usual, things must get a lot worse before they can get better so this chapter is a little intense. Don't be too mad at Duli. He's had a lot to deal with for the past 3 months so he's currently a little crazy. Sarah also goes a little crazy in this chapter but she deserves a breakdown after what happens. Don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all Twilight Saga and characters.

Duilio

I took her to my wing of the castle. I had the largest apartments in the castle because it was Aro's old wing. Most of his things were relocated or destroyed by Marcus. It was a difficult time for him after Aro was gone. He was angry but mostly he felt hurt and betrayed. He still hasn't gotten over it. Which made me wonder why he would do something so callous by bringing Sarah here. He must have known how much it would hurt me if something happened to this girl and yet he risked her life by bringer her.

We entered one of the sitting rooms in my wing of the castle. I had Grace lay out some blood for me earlier in the night since I knew she would be feasting with the others. I went over to the bar and poured myself a glass of blood.

"I'd offer you some food but we don't really keep any in stock." I told her without looking at her.

"I'll just have a glass of what you're having." Sarah told me. She walked over to one of the couches and sat, crossing her exposed legs sexily. She was watching me, challenging me.

I had to admit she was good, but I had been playing this game for a lot longer than her. I poured a second glass and walked over to her. She took the glass and drank. I saw her throat move up and down with each swallow. Her position made her neck seem longer, sexier. This was new for me. I've always thought she was beautiful but this was the first time my mind and body recognized that she was sexy as hell. It could be the imprint making our connection stronger, but then again, she was exquisite. I had to concentrate on the task at hand. I was afraid of even being near her so I leaned against the bar and watched her.

"A Quileute wolf drinking human blood. Now that's a sight I thought I'd never see." I commented. I wondered how she was able to pull it off without vomiting. Had my father made her drink human blood before?

"I'm more than just a wolf." She told me and took another sip. I nodded in agreement.

"Yes. You're a Volturi now." I said sarcastically.

"I am." She said calmly. I swallowed the last of my blood and poured myself another glass. This was the moment. I had to make her leave now while the rest were too distracted to go after her.

"I thought I made it perfectly clear that I wanted you gone. I told you what would happen if you came after me."

"Marcus claimed me. I can't be touched." She said. I could see she was nervous. I smiled. She had performed well but now it was time for my performance, only this time I had to make it count.

"He claimed you for me, you stupid insolent girl. If I kill you myself… Well, I doubt dear old dad would be heartbroken if I gave him my new sister's head on a platter." I said in the harshest voice I could muster. Pain shot through her and through me as I saw how much my anger and threats hurt her.

"I am your soul mate. In time you will see that we are meant for each other." She replied with her voice full of sadness from my reaction. I swallowed the bile that was threatening to rise from the pain of my own heartbreak and I laughed instead. I laughed as if her declaration of love was the most ridiculous proposal I have ever heard instead of the most enticing and thrilling one. But if there was one thing I have leaned over the years is how to resist temptation in order to protect the ones I love.

"Yes, of course. The imprint says that you were made for me. I was made for someone too. Did you know that, little sis? Did you know that I was made for your mother?" I asked her with the same harsh tone as before. She swallowed hard and her hand trembled slightly. I walked over to her and I set my glass down on the coffee table as I sat on it in front of her. I looked at her with my best attempt at disgust.

"Marcus created me because of her and I have loved your mother from the moment I set my eyes on her. She is perfection and some wretched dog tainted her beauty with you. And now I am expected to claim a lesser version of the woman I love?" I asked her sarcastically when instead I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her until all the darkness I saw in her soul dissipated. Her eyes glistened. Except for her trembling hands, she remained perfectly still. I removed the glass of blood from her hands and finished what was left before I set it aside. She was still frozen in pain but she was still in control. I had to push further. I had to go far enough that she had no choice but to run from me and this wrenched place forever. I had to brace myself for the words that would follow because I knew this was going to hurt her as much as it would hurt me.

"Maybe if you looked like her." I said as if I were contemplating the ridiculous notion of her being different, as if I didn't already love her just as she was. "Maybe then I might have considered it but instead you look like that mutt that took her from me. Tell me Sarah. How am I supposed to fall in love with you? You who inherited all the rough features of your disgusting father instead of the delicate feminine beauty of the woman I fell in love with. You repel me." I knew I would touch a nerve when I spoke of her body but when I saw the self-loathing and hatred appear so loudly in her soul it made me regret my words. It was like it swallowed every bit of the light in her soul. I was suddenly terrified that I had taken it too far but then I saw that it had worked. She was shaking and her entire body had become warmer in preparation for phasing. It was only a matter of time before she lost control and, when she did, she would run from this place forever. I had to finish it so I grabbed her trembling arm and brought her closer to me in an almost threatening pose. She couldn't look at me, which I was grateful for.

"Go ahead, let your large masculine body phase into a giant mutt. Show me how different you are from my beautiful delicate Renesmee. Give me yet another reason to kill you right here." I said in a low growl, trying not to choke on my own words. Her lower lip trembled and her tears flowed freely down her cheeks. Finally she looked straight into my eyes. I could see that the lines of love and hate were starting to blur within her.

"Do it." She challenged me with a shaky but hateful voice. I had to admit to myself that I admired her strength. Her pain was excruciating. I could both see it and feel it. It was almost over between us.

"This is a brand new carpet. I would hate to stain it with your filthy mongrel blood." I told her. She ripped her arm from my hand and walked out the door with tears streaming down her face.

She left the door open and I heard my father stop her down the hall.

"Sarah?" I was surprised by the concern in his voice and I heard her sob break.

"I warned before that you cannot do this here. Control yourself." He told her urgently.

"I can't…" She told him softly and stopped when another sob escaped her lips.

"Hush... That door leads to the library. There is a balcony there that opens to the back forest. Go. Phase if you must but do not return until you have regained control." He told her, again, his voice concerned which was surprising. To anyone else his voice would have sounded frustrated but I knew the difference. Marcus was too controlled to show frustration over a crying girl, he was worried. As baffling as it was, it was the only explanation.

Sarah released another sob and I heard the library doors open. My father was at my door with a confused look. I was right before. I could see the concern in his soul but it was directed towards me. I couldn't control myself any longer and I ran to the small sink at the bar and released all the content of my stomach. It filled in red bile. When I composed myself, I looked at him. My father just stood there. I could see the confusion and worry even though his face was only tense. I was furious. I had never felt a fury and hatred this intense before. Not even towards Aro.

"Why?" Was the only word he managed to ask before I attacked him. I wanted to kill him. I had every intention of killing him but my father is a much better warrior than me. It was no surprise that he was able to counter my attack but I still managed to rip a chunk out of his shoulder. He hissed loudly and pinned me to the wall.

"Because she will die here, you selfish, traitorous asshole!" I said answering his stupid question. I fought back but he just pinned me again more forcefully so I continued with my rampage. "How could you bring her here?! How could you claim her as your daughter? Are you out of your fucking mind?! She's not strong enough to live this type of life and I'm not controlled enough to ever be with a wolf!" I said miserably because I wanted it to be otherwise. The image of Aria's lifeless mangled body came to my mind. I didn't dare to think of Sarah in her place again.

"This is about the human girl. Isn't it? Sarah is not human. She is strong and…" I cut him off.

"She is a wolf, Marcus! Wolves heal but there are hardly as strong as us and my venom is lethal to her! Even if she manages to survive a week here, I am not strong enough to ever be with her. I won't be able to resist her for long and I'm not controlled enough not to kill her if we're together." My voice broke from my sorrow and he finally let go of me. I didn't attack because I was no match for him like this. My fury was being replaced by an overwhelming sorrow, hurt, and disappointment. I sat up but I stayed on the floor. He knelt on one leg before me but I couldn't even look at him.

"How can you put me through this?! You are supposed to be my father, damn it! Are you that full of hatred that you would sentence me to live with the misery of killing my own mate just so that you can get your revenge on the Cullens? Are you really so heartless that you could put me through this pain?" I asked him and looked into his eyes. Marcus's aura showed guilt for the first time since he arrived. I knew he hated them, but I couldn't believe he would do this to me. I was his only son! Instead of answering, he finally got up. I got up too. We both stared at each other for a moment before he answered.

"I know you are angry and afraid for her, but I trained her. I made her strong and powerful enough to be with you. She is not weak, my son. She is worthy of being your queen. She's …" He stopped talking when we heard a loud howl in the night. I felt sharp pain on my chest and I dropped to the floor. My father was instantly at my side.

"Sarah…" I said urgently and stood.

"Go. I'll gather the guard to join you." He said and I raced off. I followed her scent down the hall and out the library balcony through the forest. Something was terribly wrong. I had to find her!

Sarah

Whenever I was emotional, I completely lost control over my powers and this was no exception. I ran into the library and jumped off the balcony. I couldn't hold my human form any longer and I phased midair, landing on all fours on the forest ground. This is when I realized that in my emotional turmoil, I had accidentally reconnected to the packs. I was beyond paying attention to what I was doing and for the first time in months I heard the voices in my head as my wolf vomited the blood I had consumed earlier. I was too weak from the pain to cut the connection or even shut them out of my head. I was dizzy, shaking from the pain but I managed to put one paw in front of the other and I ran from him. I ran and I knew that I was never going back because... well because I was dying. Some part of my brain knew that I was not going to survive this.

The voices were all talking at once, screaming at me in panic but I could barely form a coherent thought much less understand what they were saying. Frankly, I didn't care enough to try to listen to them. Nothing mattered to me anymore. All I kept hearing in my head was his words over and over again. 'You repel me.' That one phrase rang the loudest and made me feel like I was going to pass out mid run. I didn't know where I was going, but when I started to smell humans close by I stopped, afraid that I would run into a town. I dropped to the ground and whimpered.

"Sarah! Sarah!" I was finally able to distinguish my father's frantic calls. I didn't answer him. I was too busy replaying my last conversation with Duilio's in my head.

"I'm going to kill that bastard!" He roared. I was still conscious enough to growl at his threat.

"Sarah keep running. You have to get out of there!" I heard Lina beg me. I couldn't move even if I wanted too. I wasn't going anywhere. I had accepted my fate. I was dying and there was nothing I could do about it.

"Get up!" My dad roared. His alpha tenor was strong but my wolf did not respond with anger as she usually did. Instead, I felt his command weigh me down and I started panting. Their sudden fear and anger drained me even more. I laid down sideways, barely able to move my head.

"Stop that! All of you!" Liam yelled at the others. I could see through his eyes that they were in Russia. Liam was in his bird form flying my way with uncle Kal who had been silently going through his own hell as my misery reminded him of his own pain. He blocked himself from me at that moment and I was grateful. I didn't think I could handle the combination of his worry for me, the memory of his imprint's death, and my imprint's rejection all at once. It would only kill me faster. 'Would they make it in time before I died? Would they care if I died after they knew what I had done?' I wondered.

The wind blew a scent my way halting my morose thoughts. It was vampires. My wolf was weak but instinct pumped a fresh batch of adrenalin and I was able to stand. I knew that the guests must be leaving the castle so I hoped that was all it was. My hopes were shattered when two leeches appeared and positioned themselves in an attack pose. They both looked familiar to me so I knew they were guests. I was worried because I was presented before all the guests so these two knew they should be standing down by now.

"See. I told you that stench belonged to their new pet!" One of the leeches said before he charged me but his companion stepped in front of him to stop him from getting to me.

"My apologies Mistress." He told me while holding back his friend who was still trying to get to me. I felt my dad's panic over everyone else's. Dad and the others tried to get me to run as the leeches struggled.

"Now's your chance!" Aunt Leah said at the same time Collin, Sammy and Lina yelled for me to run. I could feel their worry and panic tugging at me but I still didn't move. Even if I could outrun them in my weakened state, I wasn't going to run from two moronic leeches as if I was afraid. I wasn't afraid to die. At least this way I wouldn't die like a coward.

"No baby girl, please... RUN!" Dad begged me. He was trying not to weaken me more by giving me another command.

"Arturo, don't do this! We are their guests and you want to kill the newest member of their family? This is madness! You will get us both killed!" The one who stopped Arturo was trying to convince him not to kill me.

"The wolves killed Beatrice! I may not be able to kill the pack that did it but this wolf will suffice." He threw his friend off and came after me again. I dodged him easily but I noticed that my weakened state was affecting my reaction speed. I felt everyone's panic at once. It was a distraction that I couldn't afford.

"Arturo stop this!" The friend yelled at Arturo but he made no effort to stop him. Arturo came at me again and I jumped over him, ripping his arm in the process. That's when the friend attacked. I was able to grab his leg but just as I was trying to rip it off Arturo came at me again. I let go of the friend and went after Arturo. His friend grabbed my hind leg and broke it. He didn't crush it but it was still painful. He was just trying to slow me down and it worked. The panic and pain from the packs hit me like a ton of rocks and for a second, I got distracted. That second was all Arturo needed to sink his teeth into my back. 'Finally!' some part of me thought.

"No!" The simultaneous physical and emotional pain of all the wolves caused me to howl into the air. I phased back to my human form on all fours, screaming in pain.

"See Zeno. They are no better than weak mortals when they don't have their precious pack." He came at me again for the kill but but at the same moment I phased into my vampire form and the tiny, minuscule part of me that wasn't sure if I wanted to die willed Arturo to stop mid attack.

"Stop!" I said anyway as I stood up. The pain from the venom had muted down but I was still a bit off balance. I noticed Zeno also froze in place even though the command was actually for Arturo.

"What is this?!" Arturo screamed.

"The power of a Quileute Volturi princess, the reason why I am here in Volterra. Or did you really think that Marcus de Volturi would claim me to his family because he wanted a pet?" I asked him angrily. I was kinda glad that I didn't let the leeches kill me immediately. At least I would get to destroy them before the venom finished me off.

"I don't understand!" Zeno exclaimed as he desperately tried to move.

"I have the power to bend you to my will." I told him and then I ripped Arturo's head off.

"Please!" Zeno begged.

"You really should have thought of that before you decided to help your friend commit treason." I told him. I grabbed his hair and ripped his head off too. I threw their heads away from me into the shrubbery because my body was starting to weaken as if all my energy was slipping away from my body.

I felt fatigued and weak. My vampire form was a strong, like a hybrid's body; nevertheless, it seemed it was still susceptible to the effects of venom and I dropped to the floor on my back feeling like I had just run a marathon around the globe and back. I released my vampire form and the pain of being bitten resumed to its previous level. My wolf and my vampire were both independent from one another, only joined by my human side. That's why the pain muted in my vampire form and then resumed in the human one. My stupid wolf was connected to my human side and it was trying to cope with having venom in its system. I had no other choice but to take the pain because it was to exhausting to maintain my vampire form and I wasn't sure how I would metabolize the venom as a vampire. I would just let the venom run its course hoping it finally killed me.

My bird form was completely different from my other forms because it was the only form that I wasn't born with. There was a slight chance my bird would do better with the controlling pain. It did before, but that stupid bird was part of the reason I was in this mess so I decided not to try it. Besides, the pain from the venom was a nice distraction from the emotional pain I was feeling. I was thinking that my emotional pain made death seem like paradise, when, the pain started to get slightly better, but only slightly. That's when it dawned on me that my vampire side was probably healing me. This meant that my body would reject the venom, just like mom and the other hybrids, but it would probably take ten times as long and be 100 times more painful because I was also part wolf. Great! That's just like my dumb luck. I couldn't even get dying right!

"Agh!" I yelled out in frustration, a little louder than intended because of the pain.

"Sarah!" I heard Duilio's voice yell out for me. He sounded worried which I found odd. I heard running approaching. I was trying not to talk so that I wouldn't scream. There were others with him but he got to me first. He saw the decapitated bodies and growled. Then he did the strangest thing. He took me into his arms and he held me against his chest. The quick movement made my pain worst and I moaned out in pain, but it was the sweetest kind of pain. Even after everything he said to me, I stupidly liked being in his arms, reveling in his scent. I hated myself for it. I wanted to hate him. I wanted to hate him enough to rip him apart but I couldn't. Much to my mortification, the others arrived, my back was towards them leaving me exposed from the backside.

"Duilio! She's been bitten!" Grace said horrified and she wrapped me in something soft.

"Alec!" Duilio yelled and they laid me back on the ground on my stomach. Though the pain wasn't as bad as before it was still excruciating and the movement made me scream.

"I'll get as much of it out as I can. Call her family. We need Eve here now!" Alec told someone. He sounded concern. Ever since he gave up humans he's been nicer.

"No!" I yelled out, again, a little louder than I expected. Alec stopped whatever he was about to do. I couldn't really tell what was happening because I was facing the ground and my angle only allowed me to see Duilio's eyes. He looked pained which somehow made me feel guilty for wantinf to die before. As if my reaction to his horrific rejection has been over dramatic. Damn him for making me feel that way!

"Eve will heal you. You'll be fine. You'll be fine." He said again more to himself than to anyone else. He was shaking at my side. His voice was more controlled than before but it was doubtful. It was as if he was trying to convince himself I would be ok. As if he cared. I was so confused.

"It'll heal." I told him in a strained voice, trying not to scream again. Even though I was struggling with my for him feelings, I wanted to get the worried horrified look out of his eyes. He looked at me with eyes full of regret before he looked at someone and nodded. That was the last thing I saw before it all turned black.

I didn't know what was happening. Did Alec use his stupid gift on me?! He must have because the pain was gone along with all my other senses. I hated this. I kept waiting for them to wake me out of this stupid state but they didn't. It seemed like an eternity and I hated every second of it. I wondered if I could phase into my vampire form so that I could will Alec to take back his stupid vapor. I tried to phase but it didn't work. It was infuriating!

I tried to think of something else to distract myself but, as usual, the only thing in my mind was Duilio. 'Why did he sound so damn distraught about my injury when he wanted to kill me himself just a few moments ago? Was he worried about me? Did he change his mind?' As amazing as that sounded, I couldn't delude myself with that hope so I thought of another reason. 'Was he afraid my mom would hate him if I died?' That sounded more reasonable even if it was completely ridiculous. I gave a mental sign and decided to just wait this stupid thing out until I could ask him myself, though some part of me debated whether I should talk to him ever again. 'How could he be so fucking cruel? How could I have imprinted on that beast?! But more importantly, how could I still want him after all this?' I wondered as I thought back to how good it felt when he was holding me. Ugh! If he weren't my imprint I could've at least kicked his ass for being such a bastard! But the fact of the matter was that he was my imprint and I was torn between strangling him and kissing him. There was seriously something wrong with me!

Duilio

I saw Alec press his lips on her wound and I my instincts kicked in. My entire body tensed knowing that he could easily loose control and kill her but I knew he was the only one of us that had a shot of getting the venom out because Alec had given up human blood for Mackenzie years ago. He sucked out the infected blood and spit it out. He did this several times before he gave me a worried look.

"I'm sorry. I can't get any more out without killing her. Its already spread too far." He said. My hand involuntarily made a fist.

"Don't loose hope. I got most of it out so there's only a trace amount left. Sarah is different from other wolves because Nessie is a hybrid. Maybe the venom will affect her differently as well." Alec said hopeful.

"I'm not taking that chance." I turned to Grace. "Have you contacted the Cullens?" I asked her.

"Yes master. They are on their way. They wish to speak to you." She extended the phone to me. I glared at it angrily.

"I have more pressing matters at hand."

"Yes master, my apologies." She said and removed the offending thing from presence. I held on to my Sarah and carried her close to my chest.

"Let's take her to the castle quickly. The rest of you collect these vermin. I want them to suffer a slow death."

"Yes Master." Santos told me.

I ran with Sarah and Alec to the castle and I went up to my champers. I laid her carefully on my bed and covered her with the blankets. She looked peaceful but her soul was in turmoil. She was confused, frustrated, and angry. Very angry. She probably knew Alec had used his gift on her and was furious. I almost smiled at my little warrior. I stroked the side of her face and then I leaned in to kiss her forehead. The moment my lips touched her skin, I felt guilty about the intrusion. I had absolutely no right to kiss her. This was all my fault. She was laying here, possibly dying before my very eyes, because of me.

"I'm so sorry." I told her even though she couldn't hear me. I wanted to say, 'I love you' but I wanted to look into her beautiful brown eyes the first time I said those words. Would I ever get that chance? I felt the tears sting my eyes and I heard Alec clear his throat to remind me he was in the room with me. I walked out to the living area of my chambers before I lost it in front of him but was confronted with Marcus and the rest of my guard once I entered the room.

"Leave." Marcus told them as soon as he saw my face. They all left immediately and Marcus walked over to me as I sat on the couch. I still wanted to kill him but I was too distraught to even try. Nothing mattered anymore. Only her. I let my head sink into my shaking hands and wept in grief. I actually wept in front of Marcus like a helpless baby and I didn't even care.

"Calm yourself." Marcus told me.

"The girl has been bitten! How the hell do you expect me to calm myself when she lies in there dying?!" I snapped.

"She will not die, son. I tried to tell you before that she is not like the other wolves. She is more than a mere wolf. She can take many forms. An eagle and a hybrid." He told me. I glared at him, tears still streaming down my face uninvited.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him too emotional to even process what he was saying.

"She can phase into one of us." He said again as if that explained anything.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" I asked frustrated by his cryptic responses. The anger helped me regain some control and the tears finally stopped.

"When I found her she was not a wolf but a bird, lost, with no recollection of who she was. She wanted to be one of us so that she could be with you. I trained her but during that training she saw that her human form was too weak to stand a chance against our kind and, before my eyes, she changed herself into a vampire form. Not as strong as vampire but certainly as stronger than a hybrid. She was magnificent, a true shape shifter. She was surprised by this ability. I thought it was due to her memories but after her memories returned, it was obvious she didn't know she could take this form before." He said but I knew there was more to the story when I saw the guilt as he explained what happened. However, the only thing I could really focus on was the fact that she might survive this.

"She can phase into a vampire?" I was shocked.

"Her form is more similar to that of a hybrid but yes. So you see, she is strong enough and she will recover from this bite just like any other hybrid." He said slightly relieved as if he had been expecting a different question. That's when I zeroed in on all the parts of his story.

"How did you get her to remember?" I asked suspiciously. A mixture of fear, guilt and indignation flared in him like wildfire and I knew I hit the bullseye.

"When she changed into a vampire, I noticed she was thirsty. I took her to the dungeons and made her drink from one of the humans. I saw something change the instant she drained the human. I am sure that this is what caused her to remember." I saw red.

"She's a Quileute!" I exploded and pinned him against the wall. "How could you be so thoughtless?!" I screamed into his face. I never attacked my father this many times in one night but Marcus was a skilled fighter and I was too emotional to be any match for him. He quickly recovered from my attack and had me pinned to the floor.

"She is a vampire too, son. All her life she had this ability but never dared to tap into it because of her pack. That is why she must stay here. She was not meant to lead a small pack of dogs. She was meant to rule at your side." He said in his irritation monotone voice. Did he really expected me to let her stay here?

"Rule at my side?! This place can go up in flames for all I care! The only thing I care about right now is that she survives this. That's the only thing that will keep me from turning you and this place into ash." He ignored my threat as he always did.

"She will recover. I've made her strong enough to survive this and much more." He let me go and I took the opportunity to shove him off me. He landed gracefully on the other side of the room.

"You made her strong?! You hurt her! I saw her soul. I know what you did to her." I accused.

"You are not angry that I hurt her, you are angry that you did." He retorted calmly. For some reason his usual neutral bored demeanor was grating my nerves.

"You wish! I am furious with you Marcus! But you're right about one thing. I hurt her too. I thought I was protecting her. I've hurt her so much and it was all for nothing." I walked back over to the damn couch and sat again, depressed. I was suddenly exhausted as if all the adrenaline had left my body.

"No. Not for nothing. I can see a change in you that was absent upon the girl's arrival. Your bond to her has strengthened. You are no longer be able to part with her any more than she can you." The smug bastard said to me. I would have attacked him again if he wasn't so right. Seeing her bitten, dying in my arms changed everything. I wasn't sure if I had the strength to let her go as I did before. This scarred me because, unlike Sarah, I had no hope of returning to Washington and that realization made me hate Marcus more. I glared at him, so full of hate that I thought I would explode.

"You may hate me all you want. I see how much you love her and I know I have done the right thing by bringing her here. As your mate, she has the ability to make you happy and to give you the family you've always wanted. You can both be happy here."

"So that's really why you brought her here. So that I have the family you can't provide me and so that I no longer have any reason to leave you. But of course it is... You don't do anything unless it benefits you." His aura changed when I said this. He was insulted even if his face didn't show it.

"Enough with your insolent suspicions. I brought her here because the girl is your mate and because she is not a bad match for you. That is all I care about."

"And you really think that her family or I, for that matter, will allow her to stay here after everything you've done?"

"All I did was help her realize her true potential. I gave her the ability to finally accept and control who she's always been, which might I add, is something her family could not accomplish. The Olympians do not have the resources to harvest and groom such a powerful being. Just as they couldn't with you. Look at all you have accomplished at my side. It will be the same for her. The fact that she is meant for much greater things than what the Olympians can offer her is just one more reason that makes her a good partner for you. She was meant to be here." He said. I stared at him for a moment processing what he just said. He just complimented her and I could see in his aura that he meant it. I was both appalled and outraged.

"Oh my God! You like her! You actually want her in this family!" I said, unable to keep the distress from my voice. I could see his interest for the girl. He was trying to hide it but it was there. He almost cared for her which terrified me. My father didn't care about anything without a motive and his interest in her would complicate things greatly.

"What I desire is your happiness. As for me liking the girl, well... She has shown me enough loyalty and value to merit my tolerance. That is all." He said. The only value he saw in her was that she could keep me here forever. But why would Sarah give him her loyalty? He must know that now that since her memories are back, she could leave. Especially since he claimed her as his daughter.

"Loyalty, huh. So you haven't killed her because she promised her loyalty to you. What about when her family comes for her and convinces her to go?"

"She will not go with them." He said confidently. His confidence flared more suspicions in my mind. She couldn't have possibly given her loyalty to him willingly.

"Really? She's that loyal to you. How exactly did you accomplish that? Did you threaten to kill her? Or did you just threaten to kill her family like you did me?" I asked him, realizing exactly why Sarah would promise her loyalty to him. I could see a mixture frustration and worry flare within him, meaning that I was right. But it still didn't make any sense. He must know that I would do anything to keep her with her family, even swear to stay here with him. He had no reason to keep her unless he was afraid that eventually she would lure me away. I had to find some way of assuring him that this wouldn't happen but I wondered if it would be enough. Even if I found some way to let her go, even if I managed to convince him that I would never leave him for her, Marcus was not going to let her go if he had some other interest in her that I have yet to consider. His lack of response made me wonder if Sarah was as stuck here as I was. There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." He said, relieved for the interruption. Grace came in and bowed.

"The Cullens have convened at the Russian border. They've decided to travel together and are on their way. Carlisle requests your guarantee that his family will not be harmed. Including the wolves. Master Caius is displeased." Grace informed us.

"I will speak to him myself." He told her and left me to my thoughts. Grace gave me a sympathetic smile before she left with him.

I went back into my chambers and stared at the girl before me. I sat next to her on the bed and took her hand. Her aura had been turbulent and it instantly calmed when I touched her. I couldn't believe I could already affect her so much. The imprint must be very strong between us. I had imagined holding her hand like this so many times, but never in my wildest dreams did I think she would be hurt when I held her. The whole thing only made me feel worse about what I did to her. A part of me knew that it was the only way to get her to leave me but I couldn't help but hate myself for it. It was never supposed to turn out like this. Maybe if I had stayed, maybe things would have been different then. I could have been with her. If I was a Cullen I could have found a way to become controlled like my dad, Edward. Instead I was an out of control monster who destroyed the most precious being in his life.

"I'm so sorry Sarah. You have no idea how truly sorry I am." My voice held so much emotion that it made Alec fidget but I continued. "I swear to you that I will find a way to get you home. This will all be just a bad dream and when you wake up you can go back to your life and be happy. Just make it through this." I promised her even though I had no idea how. I would need the Olympian's help. I am sure they would do anything to get Sarah away from me. They would never forgive what I had done. Would they try to kill me? Even though they had every right to kill me, Marcus would destroy them all if they tried and that would make all our efforts to save Sarah moot. Marcus was a dangerous opponent. Of course, I always had the option of killing Marcus. That would solve all my problems except that he has beaten me every time I tried to fight him. I stroked Sarah's hand with my thumb and wondered if I could really do it.

Now that I was calmer, I realized that it wouldn't be that easy to kill Marcus. Firstly, I would probably need an entire army to accomplish it. Secondly... would I really be able to kill my father, knowing he loved me? As angry as I was about what he did, I could see how in his own incredibly misguided selfish way, he thought he was doing the right thing for me. His love was always suffocating and destructive but I could see with my very eyes that was his reason for being. That's why I've tolerated him all these years, but, if the choice ever came down to him and Sarah safety, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would kill my father. I decided to put my thoughts of treason away knowing that I would only consider killing my own father as a last resort. Not just because it would be incredibly difficult but also because, some small part of me, some stupidly needy childish part of me, loved Marcus too.