"I fear you, but spoken fears

Can come true."

September 23rd,

The strangest thing happened this evening. I got quite a surprise, but it had nothing to do with Aro, Heidi, or the rest. Rather, I talked with his brother. Not the scowling one. Marcus. The tall vampire. The one with the dark, brooding eyes…

Renata let me wander about this afternoon, which surprised me, considering our latest escapade. I wonder if Aro punished her. I could tell nothing by her face. She was not talkative, and after showing me a few paintings, she left. I wandered about by myself, trying to show some interest. I was hungry. And tired. Like I said earlier—I dined early morning and night. A month ago, my stomach would have complained at this eating pattern, but I was used to it by now. Harder to ignore was the approaching cold of autumn. Did it snow in Italy, I wondered?

I looked up. A gargoyle stared me in the face, similar to the ones I'd seen outside.

"Well?" I demanded. "What are you laughing at? At least you can breathe up there." Feeling suffocated, I walked into another hallway, this one shedding some light from the ceiling. The stuffiness wasn't much better, but it sufficed. I sat down on a stone bench, propped up by sorrowful angels. I felt cold.

"Looks like a tomb," I mumbled aloud.

"You are not far off," said a quiet voice behind me.

I spun around, expecting to see Aro, but someone else stepped from the shadows. I tried to remember his name, but failed. He glided past me, peering curiously at a painting behind me. "The Renaissance," he murmured, then looked at me. "I despised that era."

I tried to hold his gaze. "Why? It was a period of great achievement."

"Grief can change that." He changed the subject suddenly, without explanation. "Aster, do you want to become one of us?"

I moved away, startled. "What?"

"Do you?"

My eyes narrowed. "Did Aro send you, too?"

"It matters not. You do not know my purpose for asking you, Aster."

It was odd, hearing my name, yet strangely comforting. He didn't draw it out, with flowery accents, as Aro did. Rather, he said it firmly, as if he was a friend.

"I'm sorry," I said slowly. "I don't remember your name."

He winked imperceptibly. "Marcus."

I couldn't help smiling back. If he wasn't so gloomy, he could be a real charmer. "Well, Marcus. I'll answer your question. No, I don't plan on joining you."

His forehead creased. "Ah, I am sorry to hear that."

"Why? I'm only a human. Easily dealt with. Who cares?"

"If only it were that simple." He offered his arm, surprising me. I took it anyway, though, and he led me away from the artwork. "I heard you very nearly got away from us," he said, after a long pause.

I didn't answer.

"Although my brothers would disagree, I wish with all my heart you had taken that chance."

I looked up at him, and we stopped. "What is this?" I asked. "What aren't you telling me?"

Marcus sighed. He seemed frustrated. "How can I put it to you? Your life is in danger, Aster, but only as long as you refuse him. Aro can be patient, but not that patient. How much longer do you think he'll wait?"

I was getting frustrated, too. "I'm not joining you, ok?" I said. "I don't want to be a vampire."

"And yet you're willing to die?" he whispered.

I met his eyes squarely. "Yes."

"You are brave, Aster," he said softly. "But even bravery has its limits. I cannot protect you."

"I didn't ask you to, Marcus."

He sighed, and I looked closer at him. His physical appearance was baffling; his personality eluded me completely. There was little doubt, though, that he had suffered. Any fool could see that. The shadows carved deeply into his sunken cheeks, and his eyes were like two caverns, each with a red glimmer of light. His hair was rich, but it hung limply about his shoulders. His robes could have covered a skeleton, but his smile would touch an angel.

"You are different," he said suddenly. "You're willing to fight back. You aren't submissive like the rest."

I shook my head. "Maybe that's the wrong choice."

"No, Aster." His hand grasped mine roughly. "You have to fight. You can't forget yourself." His eyes were urgent. "You tell me you won't join. I accept that. But the others cannot… they will not."

I tried to smile. "If you scare me, then how can I be brave?"

"Bravery is knowing the truth, Aster. It's looking truth in the face, no matter how awful, and standing your ground."

"So what happens now?" I whispered. "What will Aro do?"

Marcus opened his mouth, ready to speak, but his eyes flickered, looking past me. "Heidi is here for you."

I turned, but couldn't see her. After a second, though, she appeared, her painted face forced into a smile. "Hello, darling. I have your supper ready."

I turned quickly, looking for Marcus, but he was gone.

September 28th,

Even now, I can't forget this conversation. It was comforting, yes, but… did I learn anything? Am I any safer? It's almost like there's something behind me, waiting in the dark, ready to spring, but I can't see it. I don't even know what it is, and that's what terrifies me the most.

He was trying to tell me. I'm sure of it. He wanted to tell me, but then Heidi showed up. I think she's still mad about the "escape" incident. Either that, or I'll hear from her soon. She isn't one to keep her feelings to herself for long.

Oh, no. Someone just knocked at the door. I'll be back. Hopefully it's Renata…?

Later…

It was Aro. When I saw the cloak sweeping around the door, my heart nearly stopped. Of course, then it had to start again, because he spoke to me.

"Good evening, Aster," he said, just like the first time. He looked at my diary. "Your dedication to that book is inspiring."

"I have nothing else to do."

"I'm sorry about that," he apologized.

I snapped my diary shut, tucking my pen in the loose binding. "What news from the Underworld?" I asked, heavily sarcastic.

Aro chuckled. "You are precious, little one." But his smile was strained. There was something under the surface, a rising anger. "I need your help, Aster," he said finally.

"Me?"

"Yes. How long have you been with us?"

"A month, I guess."

"A month." He repeated it slowly. "It's not much, for a vampire, I'll admit. You, on the other hand, should consider it a triumph."

Were we getting somewhere? "Why?"

He smiled at me. "In the past four decades, no other human guest has survived as long as you. Do you know why, Aster?"

"No."

"Because I want you," he whispered. "I want you to join us. I want your gifts for my coven; to see your potential."

"You've said that already," I interrupted, irritated. "I've never noticed anything great about myself."

He laughed. "You haven't a vampire's sight."

I scoffed, turning away. "When did you figure that out?" I muttered. I reached for my bureau, curling my fingers about the knob, when a sudden force yanked me backwards.

"Don't do that," Aro hissed in my ear. "Don't turn away when I'm talking to you."

His hand pinned my arm behind my back, while the other bent my left wrist. I gasped as a throbbing pain shot down my arm.

"Better," he said gently. "You can follow orders, after all."

"Let go of me!"

"Oh, stop begging. It doesn't become you."

"Tell me what you want," I gasped. "Just tell me, then let me go."

His breath blew in my face. "You know it already, Aster."

"No! I said no."

His head dipped lower, searching for my throat. "That won't do, love. You know that."

"Is there something else?" I pleaded. "Surely you have other options?"

His lips burned my flesh. "You tempt me, my dear. Perhaps I'll consider it." His hands gripped me harder, and I clenched my teeth in pain. I hated him. I hated him for making me so helpless. I could stand on my own, for God's sake. I'd done it before. But I couldn't move…

"You know what I love best?" he whispered. "I love hearing my victim's thoughts, soaking up their memories, whilst they themselves are immobile." He licked my throat, and I had a vision of a leech crawling across human flesh. "Calling me names won't help you," he smirked.

He let me go at last, and I clutched my sprained wrist.

"So stubborn," he murmured regretfully. "But I've reached the end of my patience, Aster. I and my brothers. We are not as strong as you think us."

"Go to hell," I groaned. My arm was numb.

Aro knelt before me, baring his teeth. "Too late for that," he laughed quietly.