Here is Chapter 7! Thank you to all who love and support this story. If you love my writings please consider donating at ko ( hyphen ) fi dot com (slash) salemc. Ever little bit helps.

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The landscape passed by the windows of the car as it continued on through the countryside. Marcus, at the wheel, kept his ruby red eyes focused on the road ahead of them. The two had left Volterra early that morning, for he was determined to spend as much time as he could with his mate. Much like his brother, Marcus was dressed all in black with a collar up to his jaw. Black leather gloves adorned his hands and he wore thick black glasses to cover his eyes so he was protected from the sunlight. The drive had been rather quiet for the most part. Cordy had fallen asleep beside Marcus not long after they had set out. She had tried so hard to stay awake but he knew it was inevitable that she would succumb to sleep. She was only human after all.

Seeing his human mate curled up in the seat beside him was most precious indeed. How Marcus wished he could sleep beside her. To curl up with her while laying between the warm sheets of a comfortable bed. To enjoy a good restful sleep once more...with her. Cordelia, his beloved savoir. No, their savior.

Before she arrived, his existence was a constant state of loneliness and depression. Life had very little meaning to him anymore. He had often found himself staring at the beautiful painting of her. The one that his brother Caius had created the very moment the old witch had foretold of her existence. He had waited, patiently, almost to the point of madness. There were times, many times over the centuries, Marcus thought he would go insane from the endless void that was his loneliness.

It was a deep seeded pain that held his heart in its terrible clutches. However painful it was, the existence, the loneliness, Marcus suffered in silence. He barely spoke about the pain he felt. Unlike his brother, Caius. He channeled his pain the only way he knew how. His rage, and cruelty towards his victims and those around him. It was this pain that had twisted and created the monster that Caius had become.

Marcus knew that their dear Cordy wouldn't understand it yet. But, she was their only saving grace. All of the books, films, tv shows, and plays...all romanticized, dramatized and incredibly false. So many false things...no vampire was happy with eternity. Well...at first they were. The idea of never growing old...never getting sick. However, as time passes, they begin to lose themselves to the savageness of their nature rather than trying to cope with the emptiness.

Aro, had become the perfect example of this tragedy that was their existence.

The man was a psychiatrist wet dream. Aro had given into the madness a long time ago. He embraced it as if it was his lover. Happily welcoming it into his mind and body . Perhaps that was the key to his surviving the centuries? Caius had his paintings, Marcus had his own artistic outlets and his books...Aro...Aro had his madness. It was because of this, Aro had become the cruelest of them all. All the while Caius was outwardly very aggressive and the pure embodiment of violence. Marcus, was the calm and rational one to try and keep them all balanced. But Aro, oh Aro, despite his "cheerful" disposition he was cunning, calculated, and insane with power. It was this mask, that made him all the more dangerous. Caius never hid his cruelty while Aro happily hid it to gain favor and pull people of all walks of life to him.

Marcus glanced at Cordy, who was still sound asleep, and prayed that she could remedy Aro's madness and Caius's violence. Glancing back to the road he saw that familiar winding path that he would take as he had many times before. "Cordelia my darling. Wake up." He spoke softly as his hand reached out to touch her shoulder. His touch was enough to pull his Queen from her slumber. She stretched and moaned softly in her sleep. "Marcus?" her voice spoke to him softly as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "How long was I out?"

"A few hours." he chuckled softly as he cracked a genuine smile. He watched her eyes widen as she saw the Villa that sat at the top of the hill. It was beautiful and surrounded by thick lush gardens.

"Oh Marcus its so beautiful..."

"It is one of our hideaway Villa's as we call them. Volterra is a fortress indeed, but sometimes, we desire to be out in the open." Marcus mused for a moment as they pulled up in front of it. "I hope that you will like being here." he smiled at her before he got out only to help her from the car. "This is where we will be for the next two days." He kept her gloved hand in hers as they walked up the pathway to the front door. Inside the Villa was a beautiful yet rather quaint decor. Of course she expected there to be rare antiquities and luxury. However, there was also little things. Bookshelves covered with leather bound books.

A small intimate dining area. But the one thing that drew Cordy in the most was the beautiful back doors that opened up into an endless pool that overlooked the countryside. She stood there with the doors open feeling the breeze. It was warm and kissed her skin like a lover welcoming her home. Her eyes closed as she inhaled the beautifully fragrant air. Then, she felt cool hands on her shoulders as a body pressed against her back. Lips pressing to the top of her head caused her to lean into him.

Marcus savored the feeling of her body against his. It was as if he was alive again. He felt his own body becoming warm. His chest felt tight as if his long dead heart was trying to beat again. Slowly he felt her turn in his arms and look up at him. "Why do you look so sad Marcus?" Marcus could have laughed at her question. If his dear sweet Cordelia only knew the life she was to endure.

"I am sure that my brother Caius told you about the struggle with eternity?" He asked gently as his hands continued to rest against her arms.

"He told me that eternity is full of emptiness. It is not glamorous like it is portrayed in books and films."

"He is right my darling. If a Vampire holds no outlet, no form of comfort, than he will succumb to madness. I cannot tell you how many vampires came to us begging for death. A reprieve from the void they had fallen in. They were mad...rabid...some even were just a walking shell. No life in them. I ended a few of their lives myself. However," he rubbed her arms as he gave a gentle sigh. "I did not see it as murder...I saw it as a mercy killing. Letting them move on. Perhaps even moving onto heaven if they believed in such a thing."

"Do you not believe in a heaven?" Cordy turned her gaze to Marcus. His question had made her curious.

"My love, when you have lived in hell for so long. Heaven seems to be nothing more than a myth. A legend that you hear when you are a child. A story that creates stars in your eyes at the thought of something so wonderful.. Others have seen the supposed heaven but yet you yourself could never find it. You lose faith...hope...if you were a religious person you even start to wonder if your god or gods were ever real." He let his hands wander along her arms before he turned from her. "I was Greek in my life. I believed in the gods most ardently. Much like everyone else. As a child I remember going to the great temples with my father to pray. I saw wars, my people being conquered, and the violence I witnessed. I was turned and once I was turned I developed an ability. Something Aro thought was useful."

"What is your ability Marcus?" she asked gently as she walked to face him again. Her hand taking a hold of his.

"I can look at someone. And read the emotional ties they have to someone." His hand cupped her face "When I see you, our bond...is gold."

"Gold?" She asked "What does gold mean Marcus?" Her voice was full of curiosity. She wanted to understand and learn. This man was to be one of her three mates for life. She wanted to understand him. To understand his abilities...to learn.

"Gold, my darling, is the color of soulmates...the purest and most truest form of love." He glanced down into her eyes. The way that they glittered in the rays of the light of the day, he hoped to always remember how they looked, and prayed that even after she was turned that light remained. His fingers caressed along her jawline as he pulled away slightly. The gentleness of his caress made her shiver. His lips parted as he watched the shiver. He could sense the change in her body. It filled his senses causing his pupils to dilate. Slowly, Cordy leaned in and pressed her lips to his gently.

Marcus felt his body become frozen the moment her lips connected with his. If he had a heart it would skip at that moment. He had kissed her before but this one was so gentle it seemed to melt him. He was bending to her will and gladly so. His cool hands reached up and cupped her face before sliding into her short hair. The kiss deepened as he moved his lips along with hers. All the while her hands ran along his back coming to a stop at his waist. Marcus felt the primal need for her coming out as he heard a soft moan. But he couldn't give into those feelings. Not yet, no...he was afraid he would hurt her. Nor would it be fair to take her without speaking to his brothers first. They would all take her when the time was right.

Marcus pulled back and pressed a gentle loving kiss to her forehead. "Come my darling. Let me show you around some more." He offered to her gently as he took hold of her hand, which she had gladly took. Her smile formed the lines on her face as she followed him. Marcus, her sweet gentle Marcus. It was becoming apparent in her mind that she was beginning to fall deeply in love with her three mates