AN: Sorry for the delay unfortunately, you will also have to wait for the next chapter as well. Fall break is coming and the family and I are going on vacation. Please, be patient with me. Now on with the chapter, Enjoy!
Chapter 28: Dinner and a Show.
O.K. how do I play this? I don't want to lead him on, yet if I get close to him I might get some insider information. It's was as if I could hear an angel and devil arguing on each side in my head.
Marcus noted my hesitation and added,
"Am I that repulsive, mi belle. Beside it couldn't hurt to get to know each other, we will be seeing a lot of each other and maybe you'll find there is more to me than meets the eye." he said with a jubilant smile and wink.
"Of coarse Master. I'm sorry for my delayed response. I have so many things going on in my head after recent events I tend to over analyze everything." I say in a rush while ducking my head down in sign of submission.
I feel his fingers brush my jaw line then rest under my chin as he tilts my head up to look him in the eyes,
"None of that Master nonsense is needed when it is just you and I, mi belle. My brothers have this need to make sure everyone shows them the proper respect. I don't believe a title automatically earns respect, but a person's actions and their behavior is what earns it. Therefore, titles aren't needed in my presence."
I suppress the shutter that wants to escape me at his touch and focus on what he has said so far. I noticed that he called me, mi belle two times now. I wonder what it means. And as far as his declaration that he is different from his brothers, I challenge whether it can be true or not. Is he just trying to win my trust so I let my guard down. I need to tread lightly here. Marcus could be the key to winning the final battle if what he says is true. I step back, which causes his hand to fall. He looks saddened by this action so I decided to explain,
"I am sorry but, it is to soon for me to have any kind of physical contact. With what happened down in the dungeon and all." I let the sentence trail off.
Understanding registered in his expression and he nodded his acceptance of my explanation. Thank goodness.
"May I ask how you wish to be addressed since the other titles seem to bother you so?"
"Call me Marcus, mi belle." he replies.
"What does that mean, mi belle? At first I thought you were calling me Bella but, I was mistaken." I explain.
"Mi belle means, my beauty. Bella, means beautiful. Both fitting names for such an pretty girl. Does it bother you that I call you this?" he asks.
"I'm flattered, you think so highly of me." I reply trying to avoid answering.
He looks at me for a moment before saying,
"I am willing to take this as slow as you wish, Bella. I know we could be amazing together. Now about dinner, are you ready to go?" he asked.
I couldn't think of any reason to delay the inevitable so I told him I was ready to go. He offered me his arm to take. I guess this was his way of compromising the whole no touch request. This way I was the one holding onto him not the other way around. I had a feeling I shouldn't push my luck any further so I placed my hand in the crook of his arm. He turned and addressed my guard which were so quiet and hidden I almost forgot they were here.
"You may accompany us to my wing. Once there you will wait outside my suite. No one is to enter my room unless I give permission. Are we clear?" he asks in an authoritative tone as not to be challenged.
"Crystal, your highness. We will follow you, then stand guard, no one enters without your consent. Any further orders, sir?" Zafrina retorts.
"No you seem to have all covered. I will have an evening meal sent up to you as well." he states while turning his attention back to me, as if dismissing them.
"Let us be on our way then." he says to me while pulling me along.
From what I could tell I was on the same level as the kings. They each had a private wing whereas my room was centered on the main corridor. Each wing was clearly marked Caius on the left, Aro on the right, and Marcus in the middle. All heavily guarded with Capitol Peacekeepers, technological keypads, and heavy metal doors. You could tell no one came or left without clearance.
Marcus waved off two Peacekeepers that stood at the entrance of his wing. He punched in some numbers on the keypad then said in a strong voice King Marcus Volturi with four guests. The heavy door hissed open. The five of us entered and the door slid closed.
The entrance area is impressive, as is everything else here at the Capitol. Vaulted ceilings with crystal chandlers, beautiful rugs that looked more like artwork that should be hung on the walls than laid on the ground, tables adorned with colorful bouquets of flowers, the neutral colored walls were covered with elegant light sconces and framed mirrors, making the room look bigger if at all possible.
Marcus turned to my guards, "The library is down that corridor, the media room is across from it, a meeting area is over there, and my person suite is through that door. Feel free to patrol the wing, but I expect at least one of you outside my suit at all times. Any questions?"
"No, sir we have it covered." Zafrina replied standing next to the entrance of Marcus's suite, each of the other guard members went in different directions.
"Good, I'll have dinner sent up shortly for you ladies."
"Thanks you, King Marcus. Your kindness is appreciated." Zafrina offers.
"I must make sure the guards that protect my girl are well taken care of, so they can focus on keeping her safe." he retorts in a light tone.
He placed his hand on the door as if to push it open, but I notice a light scan his hand before the door opened for him. If I thought the entry into his wing was impressive the suite was mind blowing. It truly was a room fit for a king.
Marcus directed me to a parlor. It was far too lavish to call a plain old sitting room. Cashmere covered cushions, gold and jewel encrusted fixtures, silk tapestries, it was ludicrous how opulent everything was. While citizens starve, the kings live a life of luxury. While we worked long hard days, they sat around reaping the rewards. I had seen it before, but it is a good reminder of how wrong things are run. I spoke without thinking,
"Doesn't it bother you that your people are wasting away, while you sit in such splendor? I had to go to extreme measure to assure my family didn't starve, while you eat at the touch of a button.
"You say we could be great together but, we come from two very different worlds. How can I sit here in good conscious and enjoy myself, when I know of the suffering others are enduring. I Can't!
"You say respect is earned, but the people fear you they don't respect you, there is a huge difference. They either bow to your will or are beheaded.
"If you truly wish to acquire my affection then start by taking a good look around you. Stop enslaving and start saving the people of your nation. Start earning the respect you seem so concerned with."
I cursed my temper to the pits of hell. I was sure Marcus was going to order me back down to the dungeons at any minute. How could I be so stupid to speak so freely to a man that can have me killed with a press of a button. Whatever came next I knew I would endure as punishment for behaving so rashly.
Marcus stood still as a statue. I waited on baited breath for his reaction. When he came back to his senses he shocked me with his response. He laughed. Not just a snicker, he laughed a hearty full belly laugh.
"You truly are a gift. You speak your mind, no matter the consequences. You also speak the truth.
"My beloved Didyme would have loved you. I think that is part of my draw to you. You two would have been considered kindred spirits. She too, thought more about others then herself. It is what led to her demise, but that is a tale for another time.
"Come sit with me. I know you are expecting me to punish you for your outburst, but I am not going to do any such thing. I must warn you however, if you ever speak that way to my brothers or to me while in the presence of my brothers there will be hell to pay."
We sat on opposite ends of a long couch facing each other. I look at Marcus carefully. Can he be trusted? Is he telling the truth? I wasn't sure and I wasn't about to tell him anything useful.
"You see I am not the monster you see me to be. I wish for things to be different in Panem but, my brother are powerful men and will end me if they think I am betraying them in any way. I have been a prisoner for many years. I follow their lead and play my part hating every minute of it.
"I have waited for my savior and then I saw you during the reaping and I knew my wait was over. You selflessly volunteered to protect your beloved sister. You fell in love with a fellow tribute and did everything in your power to try and save him as well. You were taken to D13 and treated like a criminal, then return here, to endure punishment with a grace and dignity not many posses." he looked at me with such sincerity I almost believed him.
"I think you are putting to much faith in me. How am I supposed to change anything. As you are well aware I am very much a prisoner here as well." I probe.
"You, my dear, draw people to you. You could persuade a good man to sin or a bad man to repent. I am here to ask you to build an army, convince the people now it the time for the uprising. Bring my brothers rule to an end. I will accept whatever my fate will bring but, I will fight with my last breath to make sure you walk away from this unscathed. I lost my wife to my brothers and I'll be damned if I lose another person I love to their cruelty."
It was my turn to sit frozen. He wanted me to start a rebellion, he wanted his brothers punished, and he wanted to keep me. It all seemed so surreal.
So many people turning to me to lead the revolution. Why was that? Did I possess some unknown power to compel people to fight? What was so special about plain old me? Maybe I was destined for this, maybe fate had chosen me because I was a survivor and defender of the underdog. Now wasn't the time to ponder all this. I needed to figure out how to go from here.
"Marcus you have me at a loss. Here you sit in a castle built by you and your brothers, asking me to tear it all down. You say you are willing to accept your fate but, I know plenty of people who would love to see you suffer long and hard for the crimes the Capitol has committed. Are you truly willing to endure that?"
"I have suffered in silence for to long, mi belle. Physical pain is nothing to the emotional pain I feel just thinking about my dearly departed wife. I sit here doing what no king has ever done before, I beg you to bring justice back to this land." he said in a heartbreaking voice.
"I will consider your request but, I still do not trust you. Begin by earning that and we will work from there." I offer.
The smile that spread across his face made him look younger then he has in years I'm sure. Although come to think about it the kings never seem to age. The doctors must have their work cut out for them to accomplish such a feet.
AN: Not the type of show you were expecting was it? Is Marcus showing his true colors or is he putting on a show to see if she will betray the kings? How much can she trust a man hiding her husband or someone who is capable of destroying a whole district in order to bury old secrets? But he admitted to wrong doing and lost his beloved wife by the hands of his brothers. The plot thickens. Please, Review!
