When the Volturi sent word out, things happened quickly in the vampire world. When they arrived in Seattle just past dusk it wasn't long before they were at the rendezvous point that they had set up. The amount of witnesses that had shown up was impressive, but Marcus could already tell that many of them were not there out of loyalty towards the leaders of their world. Some of them were there out of curiosity; he, his brothers, and their guard had become a fable to some of the younger vampires. Most of them were out of fear though.
Both Aro and Caius didn't care why they were there; Marcus didn't care about anything.
His interest was almost piqued by the information that reached them suggesting that Carlisle and his family had begun to put together an army of sorts.
So perhaps Bella and Edward had done something wrong after all.
Pity.
As they moved towards the town of Forks he knew that there was probably little he could do for the vampire and his bride. The strong bond he saw could not be preserved. Perhaps bonds as strong as Edward and Bella's and his and Didyme's were not meant to last. If he had a heart, if he had any feeling left, he might have felt it grow heavier at such a thought.
Didyme.
He almost sighed.
As they moved through the thick forest that seemed so abundant in this place and got closer to the strangely named town of forks, the buzz of fear and excitement seemed to fill the air around them. It was coming from his brothers, from the guard, the witnesses. It was coming from everyone from him.
He didn't care.
Strangely enough, for the first time he wished he did. Maybe if he felt more passionate about this he could do something to help the young couple, but he saw it all as inevitable. Didyme had taught him that certain things could not be stopped. He had just been unaccepting and unwilling to see that.
It had made him unprepared for her death.
He remembered when they had left Voltaire to deal with a coven that was said to be hiding an immortal child somewhere in the new world.
Didyme had seemed reluctant, but resigned to let him go. He had teased her about it.
"Miss me that much, will you? I'm sure you actually look forward to my being away since I can't keep my hands off of you." He'd groped her rear to prove his point.
Usually she would have giggled and wiggled her hips a bit in response, instead she had only wrapped her arms around him and held him close, whispering in his ear, "I never look forward to your being away and I could spend eternity in your arms."
He had smiled at her words, not really noticing her serious tone, and he'd held her close and whispered, "Well, then it's is fortunate that we are what we are, isn't it?"
She said nothing in response and had merely kissed him. It was a kiss filled with such intensity and passion that he got lost in it for a moment and was returning the passion in kind. He would have carried her off then and there if it hadn't been for Aro clearing his throat and chuckling nearby, watching them with interest.
"I hate to interrupt, but we must be going, Marcus."
Didyme had squeezed him a bit tighter, the reluctance to let him go surfacing once again, before she let him go with a sad whisper, "Go."
Marcus had kissed her once again before moving towards Aro who was no speaking to Didyme, "Don't worry, sister, I will bring him back soon."
Didyme had only nodded and watched them go.
Marcus had winked at her once over his shoulder and then they were gone.
It was the last time he saw her.
Didyme.
Walking through the forest he took in the strange scents of this new place, hoping that the deep breaths he took filled with new aromas would some how wash away the memories that were threatening to resurface.
He had not thought about the last time he'd seen his wife in ages. His fear was that those memories would lead to what happened afterwards, and now was not the time or place to think of that.
As they hurried through the forest, the air around them taking on that dim glow that always seemed to come right before sunrise, he felt a hand brush against his own and he turned to look at Aro, his own features expressionless. He knew his brother was merely checking on him and his thoughts.
Aro's touch did not linger for long though and he arched a brow as he spoke, "You should concentrate on the job ahead, brother."
Marcus had merely shrugged and replied, "I have never failed our coven, Aro, why would I start now?"
Aro had only smiled, "You know that there is no help to it, Marcus; they have broken the rules. But, perhaps we could find some leniency in our hearts for these two and some members of their family."
Marcus knew that heart had little to nothing to do with any leniency they might show. Aro wanted Edward and Alice because of their powers and, if the talents that Bella had displayed as a human were enhanced now that she was turned, well, then that was just another addition to their half-living collection of immortals that made up the guard.
Perhaps Bella and Edward would live after all, he thought. But, it was so difficult to feel hope when you didn't feel much of anything anymore. His hope had died long ago along with his wife.
Didyme.
