Chapter One: A Stranger In The Night
Rain pelted down on the City of Volterra for the last several days, and while today was calmer, the skies remained overcast, with droplets of water sprinkling over the earth. People rushed through the crowded city, hoping to avoid getting soaked in this chilled weather. The little light that remained in the sky started to seep away as the day grew shorter and the evening neared.
This weather was perfect for the Volturi.
As darkness began overtaking the city, they were able to walk the streets, mingling with humanity as they surveyed the area: Striking fear into the hearts of any vampires passing through the site.
Because of The Volturi's rule of no hunting within the city, vampires in the area needed to register with The Volturi Immediately. This was to ensure that if there were casualties, those registered would be scanned and judged. Stowaways, when found, were always destroyed.
Aro, Marcus, and Caius strolled together, making light conversation with one another, improving their chances of blending in. Alec and Jane secretly flanked either side of the group, keeping their distance while making sure none could get through their defenses. If someone got too close, they'd suddenly obtain quite the headache or various other minor pains. Jane wasn't allowed to harm them as viciously as she abused a traitor, just enough to keep those unwanted at bay.
Demetri was further back, always making sure he was positioned halfway between the trio and the fortress. If there was an attack on the trio or their wives by chance, he could protect whichever area needed the reinforcement. His tracking powers made the would-be attackers' capture inevitable.
The last of the guards was Renata, who remained ahead of Aro as bait. Those who knew she was his personal shield would try and claim her life to cripple The Volturi's defenses, but the rouge vampires would only destroy themselves. Jane and Alec were commanded to support her as she came back and latched onto her master.
Caius usually went out for patrols, with Demetri and Afton flanking him, but recently Aro had a sense of uneasiness. He was convinced something was about to happen and determined to figure out what it was.
Vampiric crimes were dealt with ruthlessly, more violent than expected as if he were trying to send a message. There was no chance to prove innocence; if a vampire's suspected of a crime, they are killed. End of story. Everything else would be investigated at a later time.
Aro had hoped their outing would produce something; force a few vampires out of hiding, discover a human and vampire unity, anything he could punish. Yet, there was nothing out of the ordinary. He appeared to be anxious for no reason. The only thing The Volturi accomplished this evening was making themselves hungry: and each of them had been tempted to drain the blood from someone they'd passed, though none acted on their instincts.
Marcus was trying to distract himself by scanning the area, looking for strange connections; a bond between a human and vampire or two vampires not registered with this coven. But, Marcus was left as frustrated as Aro. The only difference being that he didn't care if they found something or not. He only wanted to return to his chamber, and if he saw something, they'd return quicker.
"Mom, it's getting dark; we're not safe here." A young woman's voice called out, cutting through Marcus's concentration and drawing his attention towards her. The panic running through her veins was almost enough to drive him crazy. Almost. He knew better than to fall out of line, especially with Aro a mere three steps in front of him.
Her mother only brushed her off, telling her that everything was alright and not to worry too much. The younger girl scoffed, crossing her arms as she turned away. She met Marcus's gaze, and for just a moment, Marcus noticed the slight flicker of a bond between himself and the girl. This was strange. He had never seen the girl before; a short brunette with bright hazel eyes mixed with tints of blue.
She offered him a friendly smile; her heartbeat fluttered then normalized as if she felt comfortable with him being near. Marcus wanted to return the gesture, but ignored her instead, looking the other way. Aro couldn't be allowed to realize she'd caught his interest; he didn't want the poor girl to lose her life because he stared at her one second too long. Once he passed, Jane turned her attention to the same direction, trying to figure out what he'd glanced at, but by the time she looked, the girl had turned back towards her mother, who was trying to convince her to buy something.
It wasn't much longer until finished their sweep of the city, returning to their lair. Aro and Caius remained together, casually chatting about the things they'd seen in the town. Marcus reported that he'd seen nothing of interest and left to lock himself in his chamber. Solitude would do him some good.
Tonight was different. Marcus wasn't tormented by his grief. His thoughts were directed towards the girl he'd seen in town. He sighed deeply, unable to shake her from his thoughts. All he could envision was her turning towards him, smiling, and extending her hand out, inviting him in for a conversation. The idea made him feel strangely content, which he felt for years.
Marcus remembered the day Aro left him in charge of protecting Didyme while he and Caius went hunting. She was sitting on a hillside full of wildflowers, gazing over the meadow with a single flower intertwined in her fingers. He stayed back from Didyme, not wanting to crowd her as the other vampires who were attracted to her like moths to a flame. Didyme turned towards him, a shy smile playing across her lips as she waved him over to join her.
Sadly, his blissful moment didn't last. Anytime he thought of his lost beloved, he was reminded of the moment he found Aro, distraught in front of a pile of ash. Aro was stricken with such intense grief Marcus initially thought the ashes belonged to Sulpicia. He was caught off guard whenever Aro revealed the truth. Tonight Marcus was reminded of the anger he felt when Didyme's name left Aro's lips. He was still angry despite how deep he pushed his rage down. Marcus ignored that feeling and all others for many years, and still, they were as strong as ever.
He couldn't allow Aro to see him like this.
Linnea was thankful whenever the rain started to pick up; her mother decided to return to the hotel. As soon as they returned, Linnea claimed to be tired and excused herself, heading to her room to nap. At first, she just wanted a bit of solitude, rather than wandering the city for hours, but shortly after laying on the bed, she fell asleep.
Her dreams didn't let her forget about the strange man with long, dark hair who was as pale as a ghost. His expression was blank, but his eyes held an unnerving glare as they scanned those around their campsite, keeping any from getting two close to a young woman sitting on the log of a fallen tree. The woman had long, wavy black hair, which she kept tied back with a dark blue ribbon. She giggled at Marcus's over-protectiveness, and while he was distracted by another vampire, she silently stood and vanished into the forest behind them.
When Marcus realized the girl was no longer behind him, panic began to set in, and he shoved the vampire to the ground, following the woman's scent into the forest.
It should've been impossible to see within the darkness of the woods, but every detail was precise; both branch and bush were defined. Different shades of light flickered from the fireflies hiding in the foliage; they spread out and cleared a path, showing which way Didyme went.
Marcus caught sight of her for a split second and hollered her name. She glanced back towards him but kept moving through the forest. He should've easily caught up to her, but he looked around confused once he reached the clearing. Marcus had been on her heel, and she was nowhere to be found. Didyme came up behind him, tapping him on the shoulder, switching to the opposite side as he turned. She laughed at the frustrated look on his face once his gaze landed on her. He began to chastise her, warn her on the danger of traveling alone. The young woman rolled her eyes and turned to walk away, prompting Marcus to follow, grabbing her arm to keep her in place. Didyme smiled, pulling him close to her, placing her opposite hand on his waist.
"I hope you know how to dance." She whispered just loud enough for him to hear before she pulled away, he tugged her arm, trying to grab her with his other arm to stabilize his grip, but she ducked under and moved into a spin, forcing him to let go before he harmed her. Didyme stepped forward, gently caressing his cheek, waiting for Marcus to let his guard down before shoving him backward, taking a step away, beckoning him to try and capture her before she turned to run. This led to a series of him attempting to grab the girl only so Didyme could twirl away from the embrace and use his momentum against him. Whenever he managed to get his hands on her, she escaped, using nimble dance steps combined with her natural fleet-footedness. A few minutes passed before Marcus began reciprocating her movements, turning his focus to the dance rather than trying to convince her to return to camp. The two danced in the forest clearing, fireflies shining around them, fluttering past them, as they clung to another's arms, playfully twirling before repeating the motion, giving each other a moment to take in the other. Didyme was enthralled with the dance and happy that a smile replaced the grim expression Marcus usually wore. With one last spin, he whirled her into a dip; as he pulled Didyme back to her feet, he was surprised whenever her lips met his own.
Twigs snapped nearby as another male cleared his throat, stealing their attention away from each other and onto him. The man was recognized as the Volturi leader, wearing a honeyed expression, appearing happy to see his sister and coven-mate bonding, but something was menacing beneath. Something Marcus and Didyme didn't seem to notice.
The scene changed, and Didyme walked through the ruins of an old fortress. She and the other wives were commanded to stay hidden and away from the battle against an invading coven. Sulpicia and Athenodora remained near the fortress center in what seemed to be a meeting room, while Didyme wanted to survey the area. She rounded a corner, and the next thing she felt was blistering fire, burning her skin before engulfing her, leaving nothing but ash.
Linnea jolted awake, letting out a short scream. She stared at her bedroom door, expecting her mother to burst in asking what was wrong, but after a couple of minutes, Linnea figured her mother didn't hear. She sighed, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, remembering the man from her dream. A man she'd been dreaming about for many years. And she saw him yesterday, in the middle of a crowd, walking next to the man who killed the woman in her dreams. Anger and sorrow overwhelmed her, and she didn't understand why she felt what she felt.
She didn't understand why she has the desire to get close to the man she saw, press her skin against his, smash their lips together, and make love. Linnea couldn't even figure out if what was happening was real! Marcus was supposed to be a guy her subconscious created. He couldn't be real… Sighing again, she stood up and headed towards the shower.
Marcus paced around his chamber for what seemed like an eternity, trying to figure out his next move. Would he report what he saw to Aro and doom the girl? Could he control himself enough to seek her out and speak with her? Was it possible for him to leave The Volturi and his life as a dictator? No, he couldn't; he made a promise to Aro.
Marcus decided; he would leave his chamber and return to the city and find that strange girl. He'd figure out whatever his next move would be whenever the time came. Marcus could slip out undetected if he took one of the sewer exits.
Making his way through the winding halls under Volterra, he passed by Corrin and Chelsea. His advance was stopped whenever Corrin called his name, grabbing Chelsea's hand, making her wait.
"Yes?" He replied blandly. Corrin raised a brow, a look of determination lined his face a moment ago, and now he appeared as apathetic as usual. "Is everything alright?" She was genuinely concerned.
Corrin was assigned to help with his grievance years ago, but he refused her services. Regardless, she'd grown attached to him, wanting nothing more than to alleviate his suffering, if only a little.
"I am well. Today, our patrol made me realize that I spend far too much time surrounded by the same, unchanging walls. I decided to get some fresh air. I hope I'm not causing you too much concern."
Corrin seemed bewildered at his response. "Wow, I think that's the most you've ever spoken to me. But, um, you realize I'll have to report your outing to Aro?"
Marcus gave an uncaring shrug in response. "He'd find out regardless." His voice was a bit more distant, and that was enough for the girls to continue on their way, leaving him to do as he wished.
Quickening his pace, Marcus found the exit he was searching for without further interruption and exited to an alleyway, reasonably close to where he saw the young woman. Despite the light rain throughout the day, he quickly picked up her fragrance. She didn't smell like rose or lavender; instead, she carried the aroma of an entire wildflower field on a sunny day. It surprised Marcus with how appealing she seemed to be, though her blood didn't sing for him.
As he followed the lingering perfume, he stayed within the darkest shadows, passing by humans unnoticed, counting how many would've died if he was still in his early vampiric years. The total was currently 9. He was quite the gluttonous newborn before finding Aro.
Traversing through the city awoke a lost sense; what it felt like to hunt. His food had been brought to him for far too long. Marcus missed the chase, the thrill of tracking down his prey and listening to them beg.
What exactly had this girl done to him?
Marcus made it to the top of the hotel, above the girls' room. He was trying to figure out what step to take from here; should he sneak inside? Should he enter from the main hall, walk to her room and ask to come in? Was she asleep or awake?
Metal scraped against metal, the familiar sound of a sliding door opening. Linnea's voice broke Marcus's thoughts. "Yeah, I'm sure, go ahead and go out. I'm gonna get some fresh air before heading back to bed." She alerted her mother before closing the door, walking over to the railing, and leaning against the chilled metal. The room didn't have the best view, more buildings with the slightest glimpse of the ocean in the distance.
Marcus leapt down, landing soundlessly behind her. He glanced behind him, making sure he hadn't been seen.
It was strange; whenever she was unaware of his presence, there wasn't even the slightest hint of a bond between the two. He finally figured out what his next move was; it would put her at risk, but he needed to talk with her, figure out why she was so familiar if she knew anything about him or his world.
His hand lightly tapped her shoulder, Linnea let out a small gasp, but she made no move to turn and look towards him. He could tell she was terrified of his presence, too scared to look at him, but aware enough to keep from screaming. And as he perceived, a spark flickered between them.
"I don't want to hurt you. I want to talk. Will you agree to that?" He kept his tone soft, trying not to startle her too harshly.
She took a deep, shaky breath, "I was hoping you weren't real." Unlike most humans, the first thing she said wasn't akin to "who are you?" Instead, it implied that she did have some knowledge about his kind.
"Where did you learn about me?" He asked, tightening his grip on her shoulder.
Linnea flinched, pulling away from him while rubbing the joint. Still, she refused to face him. "My dreams. I don't know why but my dreams have involved you for years. I don't remember a lot of them, but when I saw you today…" She cut herself off, wondering if she sounded crazy.
"Why are you here, anyway?" Linnea asked, daring to turn around and meet his gaze, but ultimately decided against it.
"That's none of your concern." He replied flatly.
The girl scoffed. "None of my concern? A man with no access to my room suddenly appears behind me on a third-floor balcony, and you think I shouldn't be concerned?"
Marcus swallowed harshly, noticing the dull burn in his throat. "You caught my interest, and obviously, I caught yours. Why are you so drawn to me?"
"Because you're a vampire, I guess." She shrugged. Marcus narrowed his eyes, "Vampires aren't-" Linnea interrupted him, "They aren't real. Because that's what your laws say to tell me, right? Everything about you and others like you have to remain secret."
"How do you know that?" He demanded as his mind raced, trying to figure out some way to keep her safe from Aro, mentally fighting against the attachment Chelsea had placed on him. Aro was supposed to come before anyone else, and not telling him about a human with information on vampires was considered betrayal.
"Marcus." She softly called his name, extending her arm out towards him, still looking away. Cautiously he reached out, taking her hand, his chilled fingers curling around her own, trying to figure out how much pressure would hurt her.
Finally, Linnea turned towards him; the light between the two flared brighter, stronger than before. The smile from earlier returned to her face as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The two stayed locked in another's gaze, staring into the other's eyes, trying to figure out what their next move would be. Linnea pulled Marcus towards her, wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest while his arms draped over her shoulders.
Linnea's embrace brought back a strange warmth Marcus thought he'd never feel again. If he didn't know better, he'd say that he was happy.
"Who are you?" Marcus asked, full of curiosity.
She pulled back, looking up to him, "A friend?"
To Be Continued...
A/N: This fic is inspired by the short story: Pretty Little Prey by PrettyFlour on DeviantArt!
If you'd like to get a better idea of the dance between Marcus and Didyme, I was inspired by Lindsey Stirling's Between Twilight