Saphira and Aro remained hand in hand as they walked back to the castle, she continued picking off the food from the tray as she wanted to satisfy her hunger due to not eating all. She knew she might get something more later as the cheese, crackers and fruit weren't going to fill her up completely. But for now, she was curious about what the kings had discussed with each other as she hoped what they worked out was good. She will definitely add in her own ideas when she hears about them. Caius and Marcus were waiting on the stairs as they walked to the bottom of the stairs.
"Are you feeling better?" Marcus asked kindly.
"Yes I am thank you," Saphira responds softly with a smile. "I'm still a bit shaken though, I don't think I will forgive them that easily."
"Understandable," Marcus nods. He glanced to Aro and frowned. "Why do you seem upset?"
"Athenodora was in the garden," He replies, Marcus and Caius tense in response. "Saphira told me that she only talked to her."
"About what?" Caius asked, looking at Saphira. "You should have come to get us."
"And risk that bitch catching me and injuring or killing me?" Saphira raised an eyebrow. "It was safer for me to stand my ground and listen." She glanced to Marcus. "I am not sure if I should say."
He was confused as Marcus realized what Athenodora must have said referred to him. "Should I be concerned?"
Saphira was about to respond when Aro spoke first. "She told Saphira about my sister."
"Didyme?" Marcus frowned, his voice cracked at the name of his loved one. "Why?"
"Probably to make me doubt you, be afraid of you and try to flee," Saphira explained. "Aro explained to me what he had done though…so I am okay."
Marcus was deeply troubled by this and he avoided Saphira's eyes. "You were not supposed to know…"
"We would have had to tell her eventually Marcus," Caius said kindly, putting a hand on the vampire's shoulder. "Don't despair, we are here and Saphira is too."
"If you still love Didyme Marcus, it is okay," Saphira walked towards Marcus and grabbed his hand. He was taken a back by Saphira's response. "I am your mate, but I fully understand why your heart still aches for Didyme."
"If she was here, do you know how complicated she would have made things for us?" Marcus asked, wincing a little at his question.
She frowned and shook her head. "I think she would have been better behaved then Athenodora and Sulpicia. In saying that, I do think that would have been the case, but as long as you were still loyal to me it would be okay."
"It's hard to say when it's not the case," Aro said with a deep sigh. "We should get inside, Saphira's getting cold and we need to talk to her about our discussion."
"I agree," Caius nods as he opened the door.
The warmth that came from the open door was enough invitation for Saphira to walk in quickly. Aro and Caius chuckle, though Marcus remained troubled. He obviously didn't want Saphira to find out about Didyme, but Saphira would have found out about her eventually so it was better for her to know early rather then later. Especially since it would have hurt more if she found out later.
"At least you were able to eat something," Caius said as he grabbed Saphira from behind playfully, making her giggle in response. "I was worried that you were sick."
"I think you would know, I am pretty sure when I get a cold you will feel some of it too," She responds, moving her hands back onto his hips to try and push away playfully.
"You would be correct…I think," The blonde said, frowning thoughtfully. He looked at Aro. "Will we?"
"I don't think we would feel sick, but we will feel that she is weaker," He responds. "But I cannot answer because we have not actually experienced that."
"I am sure when I get my period you will know," She teased.
"Yes…yes we will," Caius said slowly. "You will also know that we will give you space. And Jane has made sure to have plenty of chocolate and ice cream for you during that time."
Saphira laughed, amused that Jane had purchased comfort food that women enjoy during their period. Saphira was generally picky during that time as she often didn't feel like anything, so she would prefer to hungry.
"I think you'll be surprised to know that half the time I don't even want to eat during that time, everything just becomes an effort so I just can't be bothered," She said with a smirk.
"Really?" Aro looked at her in surprise. "I thought women were just emotional and wanting chocolate all the time."
"We're all different Aro, you have been around vampires way too long," Saphira laughed, feeling tears in her eyes. "Oh my gosh! My stomach hurts from laughing now."
The kings laugh and Caius moved his fingers to her hips and playfully pressed and tickled, causing Saphira to squirm and try to get out of his grasp. Marcus was the first to stop laughing and Saphira got worried that Marcus would be distant from her.
"Alright, let's calm down and go sit in our bedroom," Marcus said, walking passed Caius and Aro towards the door.
Saphira frowned as she watched him. She looked at Aro. "Should I be concerned about him?"
"He'll be okay, give him a couple days," He responds. "Don't worry, this is not your fault. He gets this way whenever Didyme is mentioned."
"I was hoping…to enjoy his company tonight," She said in disappointment, wriggling out of Caius's grasp as he finally let her go.
"I think it's a bit ridiculous too Saphira," The blonde vampire said as they walked towards their bedroom. "He has you now and I had hoped that when Aro's sister was mentioned, he would stop sulking. I kind of find it upsetting that he might still love her as much, or if not more, then you."
"I don't think that's the case," Saphira said in a small voice. "But let's focus on Vladimir and Stefan please…we can talk about Marcus some other time."
The kings agree and find the bedroom doors open. Marcus was at the dining table in the bedroom, he was staring at the lit fireplace and Saphira saw the sadness in his eyes. She sighed deeply and walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder, he looked up at her and smiled gently at her.
"I'm sorry Saphira, I don't mean to be like this," He said sweetly, kissing her fingers gently. "Non posso fare a meno di farmi male al cuore."
"And I understand Marcus, my parents have been dead for several years and the pain still doesn't get any better," Saphira said as she sat next to him. She took his hands into hers. "I know my parents aren't the same as a lover…but the pain is still the same. We never get over it, but we have the right to move on. I am doing that by living here, but my heart will never forget. And I don't want you to forget Didyme, but I also don't want to forget that I am here for you. Ti amo e sarò sempre qui per te."
Marcus smiled and leaned in to kiss Saphira. She responded in kind, kissing him passionately and feeling the warmth of his love. "Grazie amore mio," He purrs.
"I hope you'll join with me later, and claim me," Saphira said sweetly.
"I am not going to miss it, I promise you." Marcus breathed deeply and leaned back on the seat, turning to face the other two vampires. "I think we should tell you what we discussed."
"Yes, I am very curious about what you have said," Saphira said, pulling the tray Aro put on the table over to her to eat while she listened.
"We have decided that we are not going to retaliate to the letter like we normally do when we receive serious threats," Aro explained calmly. "We recognize this situation is different as you are not a vampire, so leaving you unprotected is not an option. I have contacted Carlisle and told him of the letter and photos, so he and his family are going to investigate to see if there is any evidence of Vladimir or Stefan in Forks and surrounds so that we can get some of the evidence. I have also contacted some of our contacts in Europe to find out more about what Athenodora, Sulpicia and the other two vampires are conspiring together, we know that you are their target, but their plan needs to be foiled before they can act on it."
"However, if the they start to come here, like what Athenodora did to put doubt in your mind or threaten you, we will retaliate, but we will gather witnesses against them," Caius adds. "Now that we know Athenodora broke the banishment from Italy, we have the right to punish her for it if we get our hands on her."
"This does mean, if you decide to go for a drive around Italy for a break from the castle, we might have to send someone with you so you can come straight home as soon as you are done," Aro continues, this made Saphira frown. "Before you get upset, that picture of the car that Riley destroyed with you in it, has me worried that they might do the same thing with one of our cars. And we don't want that to happen again. You are already traumatized by it and being behind the wheel would be frightening enough without that image in your head again."
Saphira thought the plan was a good one, and she now understands why she might have one of the guard with her if she decided to go shopping in Rome or travel around Italy for a small holiday. She didn't really think that the picture of the totalled car was a big threat, but now that she looked back on it that did make her worry about getting in a car. Maybe she'll just take one of the limousines instead so that way she wasn't driving, or at least have someone else drive one of her cars.
"I think the plan you have is solid," Saphira said with a smile. "I don't think I could add anything to it. But I will say, if things heat up, maybe I should be sent to the Cullens until this issue is settled."
"That is actually a good idea," Marcus said with a smile. "We didn't think of that honestly, but keeping you safe is what we need to do. However, we will hold off the executions of those four vampires until you return to witness it."
"That is fair," Saphira smiled. "Hopefully it won't come to that…but we can't be certain. I had not realized I had caused such a stir in the world of vampires."
"Trust me, we are just as surprised as you," Aro said, giving a reassuring smile. "But it is nothing we have not faced before, we just need to think of your safety."
Saphira put a grape into her mouth and chewed as she thought on what else that could happen. She knew if she wanted to stay in a hotel, that would be risky as well as they didn't know if Vladimir and Stefan are in the country. She swallowed the fruit and looked at each of the kings. "Now that we have this plan in place, let's just relax for the rest of the day," She said softly. "Hopefully, you do not have any other issues to attend to."
"No we don't," Caius said, but frowned as Marcus stood up. "What are you doing Marcus?"
"I'm heading downstairs," He said, turning to kiss Saphira's forehead. "I will be back later."
Saphira was confused as Marcus left the room. "Downstairs?" She looked at the kings with a curious frown.
Aro was annoyed and looked at Saphira. "He's going down to my sister's grave, now that we mentioned her he wants to go down and just remember their times together."
Saphira wasn't sure how she felt about that, Marcus said he would back to claim her tonight, but she didn't think he would go down to Didyme's grave to think about her before coming back to the bed. Saphira couldn't help but find that a bit disrespectful to her as she wanted to be the focus first before Didyme. She was not jealous at all, but she was alive and wanted his attention. She had no problem with him visiting her grave, but it should not be the first thing he should do.
"Does he do that when Didyme is mentioned?" Saphira asked softly.
"Yes, are you upset about that?" Aro asked, his face softening.
"Kind of…I wanted to be the focus for him tonight. I don't want him to not visit her grave, but I wanted to be the focus especially since he wants to claim me tonight. It's a bit disrespectful if I am honest." Saphira sighed deeply as she continued to eat her food.
"I'll talk to him about it," Aro said calmly. "Luckily you are not jealous about it, but I understand you feel disrespected about him going to my sister's grave before coming back to you."
"If you did that Aro, it would actually be okay since she is your sister. But as Marcus and Didyme were lovers…it's a bit weird yes." Saphira shrugged. "Anyway, I should have that hot chocolate that I mentioned before."
"I will go and get that for you," Aro said as he stood up from the chair. "Don't be too upset with Marcus, he's very sensitive about my sister and I think he is unsure how to behave with you here, even if you are being respectful of his feelings."
"Thank you Aro, I am not terribly upset, I will look forward for later," Saphira said softly. "I think I should get into a bathing suit and go into the enclave after my hot chocolate, I really need a nice relax."
"Indeed," Caius said softly. "Since I got nothing else to do, would you like me to help you change?"
Saphira gave him a mischievous smirk. "Hmm, I guess so, I could use a man's opinion I guess."
Caius chuckle and gets up from his seat to tickle Saphira's hips again. "And I now know you're ticklish here."
"Don't Caius!" Saphira giggled, squirming on her seat. "I'm like to finish eating without the risk of falling off my seat."
"Oh don't worry, I'll catch you on my lap," He responds, kissing Saphira's cheek gently.
"Is that a promise?" She rose an eyebrow.
"Of course. But I might accidentally slip into you," Caius teased.
"I think I would be okay with that," Saphira said as she playfully elbowed him. "But seriously, I'm starving, so please don't."
He chuckled as he straightened up. "Okay, I shall go and pick out some swimsuits for then." He disappears into the wardrobe, leaving Saphira chuckling and shaking her head at Caius's playfulness. It was a great way to end the day on a high note. She hoped that Marcus's feelings won't be hurt when Aro talks to him about how she felt about him going to Didyme's grave before spending his time with Saphira. Especially since she still wanted him to visit her grave, it just was the wrong time to do so.
Translation:
Non posso fare a meno di farmi male al cuore: I can't help when my heart aches.
Ti amo e sarò sempre qui per te: I love you and I will always be here for you
Grazie amore mio: Thank you my love