"When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching - they are your family."

Chapter 2 - Volunteer

Walking down the corridors of the castle felt like a dream to Marcus, one that he almost wanted to wake up from. Each painting, strip of wallpaper or decorative ornament felt so familiar to him, yet so unknown. He'd helped build these halls, and even designed some himself with his sisters, so why did things feel so foreign? The soft hum of his sister's voice helped numb these wild, thoughts though; gently bringing him back to the present with each breath.

"As I was saying brother.." She continued, not aware of his brief slip into the darkness. "Aro was contacted two days ago by an unknown source in Japan."

"Japan?" He questioned, confused as, although the Volturi had bidding across the globe, Asia was a continent Marcus hadn't visited in centuries, let alone recently. He knew Aro had enforced the Volturi's presence there by appointing a governor alongside a team of guards for protection. But, they still lacked true power there, as its great isolation from Italy made it more susceptible to become wild and unstable.

"Yes, I know" Athena continued, voice becoming graver "We've been aware of the deteriorating situation there for several years now." To which Marcus nodded. "but, we didn't have anything solid until recently, sure we were aware of the increasing crime rate by vampires and the shady businesses they set up. But, those were grey areas and Aro didn't think it was worth risking our alliance with the various Japanese covens to intervene".

Marcus frowned now, remembering vaguely this conflict his family had experienced several years back in his brother's office late one night. "I remember."

"However, now things are different with this informant.." She sighed, twisting a strand of red hair within her pale fingertips "but that is if they're telling the truth…

"In regards to this informant then, who are they?"

"That's the thing" Athena sighed again, glancing down at the marble floor "We don't even know who they are, what coven they're from or anything! They refuse to divulge anything until we bring them under Volturi protection."

"I bet Caius was pleased with that."

"Oh you can bet!" she laughed lightly, "but we've been waiting centuries for an opportunity to bring Japan fully under Volturi control, and our lack of clarity surrounding this informant means we don't know even know if they can be trusted..."

"But.." she continued, "if there's slightly a shred of truth in what they're claiming then there's trouble that needs to be dealt with."

"What does Caius think?" he asked as he followed her down a narrow corridor leading to the meeting room. "He thinks it's all bullshit." she giggled, to which Marcus couldn't help a slight twitch of his lips either, which Athena didn't catch.

"You, sweet sister?"

"I'm not sure, to be entirely honest.." She sighed, "but from what Cia was telling me last night it sounds troubling…"

Troubling? That didn't sound good… His coven had ruled for the better part of two millennia's so not much phased his family at this point in terms of threats, so this worried Marcus slightly. But, just as Athena was about to continue, they both came to a stop outside the meeting room. Marcus could sense the rest of his family inside, including Sulpicia - that to outsiders would've seemed unusual, without knowing his sister's highly active involvement within the coven, that was equally on-par to her mate, like Athena's.

"Aro can fill you in on the rest brother." she smiled, resting her palm upon his shoulder "there is so much to go through after all."

"Thank you Athena." he thanked before coming to rest his hand upon hers, in an usual act of affection that it even spooked a confused but warmed look to her. "Should we go in, my sister?" He suggested with a slight jest that she hadn't heard from him in centuries "I'm sure Caius is restless without you?" To which she just giggled playfully, dragging him by their enclosed hands into the meeting room. He knew then it was time - it had begun.

Stepping in, Marcus' eyes quickly met his brother's Aro's then Caius', they each nodded warmly within his direction, and before he knew it Sulpicia had flashed across the room and enveloped him within her small arms. Freezing for a second, Marcus was confused but allowed the warmth to enclose him in a halo of love. Athena joined them, nuzzling her neck where each their arms joined and a happy smile played on her face. But at seeing Marcus' devoid expression she coughed slightly, giving her sister a look to withdraw. Caius laughed boldly, loosely throwing his arm around his wife's tiny waist and pulling her close: "It's good to see you again, brother."

"You too, Caius."

"I missed you" Sulpicia spoke in a dead language that no one else would understand, and Marcus appreciated the small sentiment from her. "He's coming, tonight sister!" Athena noted, to which the other looked completely overcome with surprise. "he promised me!"

"Truly?" Caius asked.

"Brother." Aro interrupted them, "I know you have affections buried deep, deep within that dead heart of yours, but if the guards see you behaving in this manner…"

"I know, I know." He sighed loosely, his mask of stone falling across his face again, "Shall we sit?" He called out to Marcus who simply nodded in return and joined them at the huge mahogany table stretching out across the room.

"So, what's going on with this business in Japan then?" Caius asked, leaning into the back of his chair as his wife perched on the arm, legs splayed out across her husband's lap.

"That's only the tip of the iceberg, unfortunately, brother." Aro sighed, clasping Sulpicia's hand within his own, as he leaned forward to address the guards coming into to the room and taking their places round the huge table.

"We are gathered here today to discuss a new threat.." He began, shushed whispers and murmured voices beginning to fill the room.

"Now fear not my young ones.." He continued, standing up to flash to the front of the room where a large projector screen lay on the wall. "we are lucky to catch this in time, but it still needs to dealt with."

Everyone waited with bated breath for him to continue. "our informant.." He began, clicking the sleek, black remote clasped within his hand leading a bright image of a hooded figure to appear on the screen "contacted me two days ago from where they currently remain inside, what they describe as one of the most notorious brothels in Japan."

"Brothel?" Caius called out, voice jestful "surely no laws broken there brother?" He laughed, that some of the younger guards echoed too until Aro shushed them "This is not merely a brothel Caius." he corrected "but a highly elusive, underground operation for sex trafficking, newborn trading and exposure to humans, on a new level our kind has never seen before." he clicked the remote again revealing horrifying images of what seemed to be newborns locked in shiny cages, eyes dark as the night and mouths dripping venom. "this operation, of course, must be put to rest. Immediately."

A ruckus of noise irrupted at once that both brothers struggled to contain. Marcus saw Athena shuddering in disgust into her mate's shoulder, whilst Sulpicia had moved to stand by Aro's side, wearing a determined but pissed-off look. "Silence" she spoke quickly, ceasing all noise immediately. "this operation is not a game. Our approach is incredibly important as this Japanese stronghold is too wide-scale to launch an attack, especially not knowing the specific layout or any other unknown factors that may play a part."

"You need a mole, someone on the inside to gather more information before we can attack." Athena commented, sitting up from Caius' shoulder to lean against his chest, her red hair tickling his cheek.

"Exactly, sister."

"Who then?" That was the question. More whispers and murmured suggestions followed; some practical, some idiotic. Most assumed it would be one of the elite guards, perhaps Demetri or Felix; with their gifts giving them an edge in the case of trouble, alongside how they were lesser known in Asia than the west, so they would be able to go undercover.

However, Aro at that moment appeared somewhat nervous, his face unlike the usually happy facade he portrayed to everyone else. He turned to his wife who nodded, and Marcus noticed Athena retreat slightly into Caius, who held her tightly within his arms in the chair.

"This decision was not a light one I must stress…" he began, pacing as he turned to face the entire room "but we need someone who won't be easily identified as part of the Volturi and has the talents to blend in without giving themselves away."

Everyone waited with bated breath for the answer, but no-one was prepared for what came next.

"Marcus will go."

It was like a bomb had been dropped. No-one said a word. Nothing. Everyone's red eyes immediately drew towards him, and Marcus found himself speechless. He knew the guard viewed him as a shell of a vampire, a shell of the man he'd once been - alas, he'd heard the rumours himself. His breath almost failed to come out his lungs, his brain couldn't compute the words to say. He saw Athena sit up to comfort him but he took a step back, almost hitting the wall behind him.

Then it hit him again. They were all in on this. His own family.

He expected this from Aro, or even Caius, but his sisters…

He then became overcome by rage, it bubbled up inside him in a way he hadn't felt in centuries, threatening to explode at any instance. His balled fists came down on the heavy mahogany table with a crack, splintering the delicate wood there. But no-one still said a word. He even saw a few guards backing away, clearly terrified at seeing the usually blank master come alive for the first time in centuries.

"Marcus…" Aro began, saying the rest in a language no-one else in the room besides their family would understand "my office now."

AN: Another chapter and wow the suspense is already building! Sorry if it seems im dragging everything out i just really wanted to establish the volturi's relationships with eachother before marcus is sent off ! but i promise within the next chapter the story will develop more! Thank you so much to leward1992 for reviewing it really means so much and i admit i had a little fan girl moment when i saw you had written some of my fave marcus stories on here! but please review if you enjoyed this chapter and ill see u tomorrow hopefully when i post the next -stay safe!

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