Chapter 1 - The Beginning
It began like any other ordinary day, but unknowingly it was one to remember. Marcus sat alone, bored. The dreary, grey walls of his office could only hold his attention for so long, that he spent his time counting every jagged crack, every droopy spiderweb that ran up and down the walls like a shooting star. Things like this kept his mind sated, sane. But, he'd always be interrupted eventually, forced to withdraw from his self-created prison of isolation, when his brothers called for his presence outside.
But, Marcus still loved his brothers, the way they always requested mundane things, things that didn't take much, but just enough that he couldn't fade away into the cracks completely. Sometimes he'd refused, sometimes violently, or sometimes he wouldn't speak at all. Regardless, things would always end the same. Caius would become overly angry or Aro overly worried. Then his sisters would become involved, and Athena's woeful glances or Sulpicia's silent cries in the hallway would bring him out his slumber. He knew they didn't do it deliberately to hurt him - after all, both were far too innocent for such thoughts.
It had been a little over 2500 years since his mate, Didyme had been murdered. He still had no idea who her murderer was, their intentions, or how much his poor wife had suffered. All Marcus knew was that she was gone. He could remember the day his brothers found her ashes - scattered outside their castle retreat. It had been a message; one they'd never forget.
So, this is where he found himself now. Stuck. Stuck in his office, stuck in the same routine and stuck in the same old place he'd been in for the last thousand or so years. He knew that he worried his family so much, hurt them so much, but he couldn't find a way to pull himself out of the elusive prison he'd created. Its walls were thick, and it'd been so long since he'd felt alive, he almost didn't know if he knew how to anymore.
It was at that moment, there was a soft rap at the door. Not too harsh that it jolted the delicate wood, but just enough to let him know there was someone there. His senses meant he already knew of her presence, but he still appreciated the gesture regardless. "Come in sister."
"Ah, Marcus!" She cheered delightfully, stepping through the door and then closing it sharply behind her. Her long, crimson skirt swirled across the dusty, stone floor, almost gliding as she strode towards him. "I haven't seen you in so long I began to worry.." She traced off, adding an awkward, short laugh at the end, almost to make the sentiment seem humorous, despite it being anything but so.
"You shouldn't worry for me Athena." he chided her gently, before brushing a stray, red curl behind her ear, that'd fallen from her bun, like a leaf in autumn.
"I know.." She trailed off, slipping onto the arm of his chair, and perching there, before nuzzling into his side. Marcus could feel her warm presence brush against his cold one, almost like fire against ice - life against death.
"I still miss you so brother, you should come to see me more!"
He knew she was right, not for his sake but his family's. Athena or Sulpicia only came to visit him when their worry consumed them, after he hadn't been seen for several days. He felt the familiar stirring of guilt in his stomach as he wondered if Caius was worried too, or Aro…
"I'll come tonight." he promised.
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Oh, Marcus!' She cheered, "you have no idea how much this pleases me brother, truly!"
But despite the hope glimmering within her eyes he could still sense the underlying worry floating beneath them. He caught her anxious gaze upon the dusty robes he'd worn for the last five days. But, she still sat there; nestled against his shoulder, and a contempt glance on her face. She knew better than to hug him, or even kiss his cheek, despite her deep love for him. His state had broken their family, the same way their sister's death had broken him. There was no going back from that, not ever, and certainly not now.
"Will you be joining us for the meeting today?" She asked him after what felt like forever, but probably was around four seconds. Marcus initially wanted to decline, to keep hiding away here and pretend the outside world and everyone in it didn't exist. But, he also acknowledged his brothers needed him. After all, the three of them were a united front; without one the others were weak, and he knew better than to leave them alone together - things would be disastrous without him there to balance them out.
"Of course, sweet sister." He couldn't see the relief or smile that spread across Athena's face, she hadn't just come here to retrieve, him like some lost dog - she loved her brother dearly too, and with love came worry. "Should we go now?" She asked before turning to face him - red eyes meeting pitch black "I could always ask someone to retrieve a snack for you before the meeting begins?"
"Sister, that won't be necessary" he said softly back, "I'm not hungry anyway."
He ignored the frown of her eyebrows, that relit the concern in her eyes. Marcus knew she wanted to ask the last time he fed, and he knew if she did he'd lie and say it was three days when in reality, it had been three weeks. Honestly, he was surprised with all the guards they had, his family weren't keeping a closer eye on him. But when remembering back to when they did, and all the arguments and unnecessary stress it had caused, it reminded him - sometimes, some things were just better left unsaid.
"But, I'll attend the feast on Friday." he slipped in, in an effort to make her not worry further, realising the stress he'd already caused his family, that he didn't need to add to. Of course, he'd make an excuse last minute on the day and not come, but his sister wouldn't need to know that. Innocence was bliss, after all.
"Come brother!" she called, bouncing up from the chair, and pulling him with her "we need to get going or they will send out the entire guard looking for us!" she giggled, as she dragged him towards the door.
"Oh, you're joining us Athena?"
"Naturally" she spoke breathlessly "my mate grows restless without me." she giggled with an almost sigh.
Ah. The emotions of love that seemed so young yet so old. But Athena stopped when she saw her brother freeze, the feeling of guilt appearing upon realisation of what she'd done. "Come on, Marcus" she repeated regretfully at herself, using his full name in an attempt to bring him back to the present. "I hear this meeting is important, Aro was telling Cia about it last night…"
"Well" Marcus began, trying to relieve the foreboding feeling of darkness within him, "We should not keep them waiting then, shall we sister?"
She simply laughed back innocently, as she always did. But as both walked the morning sun began streaming in from the large windows enveloping the castle's walls. They were both filled with darkness; everyone was. But, this darkness would grow and grow until it couldn't be contained anymore. That was how this story began, and how it would eventually end - with everything crumbling apart only to be put back together.
AN: The universe in which this story takes place is very different to the original Twilight books/movies, my interpretation of the Volturi is different and they are much younger than they appeared in the movies. This story takes place shortly after Breaking Dawn and the Volturi's defeat there. Please leave a review if you enjoyed or any predictions you have for the later plot! And, please stay safe during this epidemic 3