BELLA

Marcus wanted to kill Aro's wife because Aro had killed his. Okay, he also wants to take down Aro himself, but I don't know how well that will go over. Jen seems to be leaning towards letting Marcus take a couple of the Cullen family members and take care of Sulpicia. I'm not sure is he will stop with just her though. It's entirely possible that he will go on a rampage. Chelsea's influence served as a sort of dam for Marcus' mourning. The poor guy never got a chance to move past the death of his one true love.

"Bella, what do you think?" Jen interrupts my thoughts.

"About what?" I ask stupidly.

"I told you she had checked out," Dakota giggles.

"I did not doubt you," Jen assures her in mock seriousness.

"Of course you didn't, I have the Sight," Dakota actually stick her nose in the air.

"I didn't doubt you because it was totally obvious," Jen rolls her eyes.

"Okay, we all agree that I zoned out. Now, what do I think about what?" I sigh at their antics.

"Dakota was telling us about her plans," Jen informs me.

"Plans for what?" I inquire.

"Wow you were out there for awhile," Jen comments.

"Nathaniel and I want to see where our connection goes, but his work takes him all over the place," Dakota explains to me.

"Oh, so he is heading out?" I am so confused.

"He's not leaving right now. He wants to stay and teach Carlisle, but there are others that need his set of skills. I think I might go with him and Bethany," Dakota just drops the bomb.

"I think that she should pursue the possibility. I mean, she and Nathaniel have a natural chemistry and if it blossoms into love, it will totally be worth it. I know that I never regret my decision to pursue my feelings with Nathaniel," Jen gets a little gleam in her eyes.

"I agree with Jen. We will miss you, but I am sure we will see each other very often," I add.

"You are both right. I'm glad you support me instead of look out for your own interests like the last witch I traveled with," Dakota says.

"Not to get off topic, but has anyone seen Marcus? Or Edward?" I ask them.

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Jasper or Emmett for awhile either," Jen comments.

EDWARD

Marcus tried to sneak out, but my brothers and I saw him. We decided to follow him. Bella would want us to keep an eye on Marcus. The witches seem to believe that he is not loyal to the Volturi anymore, but I am not so convinced. Okay, Carlisle believes the story because he spent time with the Volturi and heard the tragic story of Didyme before. I just think that there is something odd about how Marcus just showed up out of nowhere to tell us about his story. Jasper seems to agree with me in his own quiet way. Emmett, on the other hand, always believes the best of a person until given proof otherwise. Even with proof, he needs there to be a lot. I mean, look at his chosen mate. Rosalie is family, but she can be quite the bitch. Anyway, Marcus is thinking about enacting his revenge on Aro, not that I blame him there. If Aro had killed my Bella, I would do the same thing. We are catching up to Marcus as he is slowing down for some reason.

"Hello, boys. Having a nice run?" Marcus greets us.

"It certainly is enlightening so far," I answer.

"If you are here to stop me, then I suggest you get to it because I fully intend on getting my revenge. Didyme deserves to be avenged," Marcus is fierce when he says this.

"We aren't here to stop you, dude," Emmett booms.

"We are here to help you," Jasper adds.

"Are you really?" Marcus seems confused by our intent.

"We might not be fully convinced that you are not loyal to the Volturi anymore, but we do understand how you are feeling. I know that we all would want to get back of the one who kills one of our mates," I explain.

"I see, then you should know that I want to have Aro see her suffer," Marcus gets a hateful look in his eye when he talks about Aro.

We all go forward. Marcus is focusing on his plan in his thoughts. I'm not gonna lie, he is more than a little vindictive at this point. The part that troubles me is that his planning ends with the death of Sulpicia. He is not even looking past that a little, maybe Aro's reaction. Nothing, his mind is solely consumed with how he is going to make her suffer for her mate's crime. Normally this kind of thought pattern reveals itself in those who have a martyr complex, but Marcus does not really consider himself a sacrifice for the betterment of anything. He just wants to make Aro pay for killing Didyme. Marcus might be tending towards suicidal in his plan. It's very hard to kill yourself if you are a vampire.

Jasper looks at me to get my attention. His thoughts show me that rage is not the only thing that Marcus is feeling. Marcus is also feeling a sort of finality that is fitting. Maybe he does know a way to take his own life. Jasper thinks that we should let him because after this task, Marcus thinks he has nothing else to live for.

We make it to the hiding place that Aro chose for his bride. She is alone it would seem. There had been vampires here, guarding her, but they are gone by now. Jasper's take on the emotional situation tells me that Sulpicia is sad, but has accepted her fate. Her thoughts tell me the same story. Marcus leaps through her window and the three of us follow. Sulpicia just looks at us, completely quiet.

"I see you are alone," Marcus comments.

"I sent away my guard," she simply states.

"Why would you do such a thing?" he presses her.

"I sent them away so that you could enact your revenge. You see, Aro told me what he did, but I could not leave him. You are familiar with that I am sure, Marcus. I have witnessed the damage the Volturi have wrought and been disgusted with myself for doing nothing to stop it. Once the influence of Chelsea was gone, Aro was certain that I would leave him. Little did he know that I have a much more… fitting idea in mind for him. He killed his own sister to keep you in the fold, if you will. His fate should include a taste of the pain he has brought to others. Don't worry Marcus. I know he deserves whatever is coming his way. I also know that since I said nothing to try and stop the havoc. I deserve my own fate. Do with me what you will, I will not fight you. First I should tell you something though. Athenodora feels the same way that I do. She, on the other hand, has decided to take a more active role in her fate," Sulpicia explains.

"So you are ready for the fate I bring, even though it is death," Marcus accepts her statement as truth. She just nods at him.

Marcus lunges forward and takes off an arm. Sulpicia staggers, but stands straight for the next attack. Marcus refuses to fell even remotely bad for his victim and takes the other arm. There is a fire already going in the fireplace. She really was ready for this. Both arms are snapping in the flames. Marcus wants to ask her if she can feel the flames starting to lick her flesh. Her face betrays that she can. Sulpicia is in so much pain, but she remains stoic because she genuinely believes that she deserves this. Marcus leaps at Sulpicia and pins her to the ground where he starts tearing pieces off and throwing them in the fire. A scream of agony escapes Sulpicia's carefully upheld mask. Soon, the work is over and Marcus just stands there, watching as his handy work goes up in smoke. Then he does something unexpected, but not surprising. He jumps into the flames and lets them consume him. Emmett tries to go for him, but Jasper and I hold him back. Marcus' time on this earth was over and he wanted to decide his own fate. Once there was nothing left of our temporary ally, my brothers and I headed back to the safe house. Athenodora is our current concern. What did Sulpicia mean?

BELLA

Marcus snuck out. I am not surprised. The vampire had a lot on his to-do list. At least Edward, Emmett, and Jasper are following him to make sure that he doesn't run into too much trouble on his quest. They don't think that we saw this coming. I mean, seriously. We have a witch and a vampire that can see the future. Oh, well, Alice saw that Marcus was going to take his own life. There is nothing that can be done. If he wants it badly enough, and he does, then he will find a way no matter what.

A knock interrupts my thoughts. How many visitors are we going to get? I though this place was a secret location. Sighing, I get up to answer the door. Out of nowhere, Dakota and Eliot are at my side. Opening the door I find out why. Athenodora is on the other side.

"I want you to kill me," she tells us. She sure doesn't waste time.

"Uh, why?" I stammer.

"Please just do it, I don't have much time before Caius notices that I am missing," she rushes. Then she seems to give up on that approach and lunges at us like she ios attacking us.

Instinct just took over. All three of us sent different curses her way. Mine made her suffer from little flames that go out shortly after they start. Dakota's makes her grow ugly in a painful, bones cracking to re-arrange themselves kind of way. Eliot's is the most potent and cuts her to pieces. Looking at the pieces, Eliot sets them ablazewith green flames. That was not the weirdest thing I have experienced, but it definitely ranks up there. A crash inside the house distracts us from our pondering the vampires erratic behavior.