"Oh, well imagine...
As I'm pacing the pews in a church corridor
And I can't help but to hear.
No, I can't help but to hear an exchanging of words.
'What a beautiful wedding
What a beautiful wedding',
says a bridesmaid to a waiter.
'And, yes, but what a shame
What a shame the poor groom's bride is a whore.'"
Adley bounced around her kitchen in the early mid-morning light. Dressed in a pair of shorts and an old AC/DC shirt. Her CD blaring through her newly placed surround sound system. She may have gotten a certain vampire to do the set up after they'd finished season 1 of Buffy the night before. He'd spent the time complaining on it not being enough gore. So, she convinced him to set up and install her surround sound she'd been meaning to get set up.
She danced around further enjoying the track making sure to keep an eye on her French toast.
"I chime in
'Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?'
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things.
With a sense of poise and rationality..."
She served it up on a plate she had a few portions made for probably later in the next few days. She'd most likely send Bella home with them for her and Charlie.
Her front door opened and swung closed. She heard the shuffling from the foyer, and soon enough in came Bella in a hoodie and her jeans. She rubbed at her eyes. Adley could tell the girl just got up and tossed on her closest clothing.
"Good morning Bella!"
"Morning," she yawned. "I can hear your music from the driveway."
She slid into a stool at her counter. Adley grinned but shrugged setting the food in front of the teen. Four slices set with syrup and powdered cinnamon sugar. Along with cut up fruit in a small bowl for her.
"I have great taste I know."
"Edward didn't think so." Bella snickered digging in.
Adley set her own up and got to eating as well. She took a bite before she responded. "I don't search for the opinions of teenage vampires. He's lucky I am decent enough to have it on such a lower setting. This system could fill the street. He can hear me, right? I'm going to need to memorize some really annoying songs."
A giant grin spread over her face as she began plotting. She could go back to memorizing spice girls on repeat… maybe aqua barbie girl… seems too tamed. She needed big…
"It's too early to threaten my boyfriend."
"It's almost ten am." She poked the sleepy teen.
"Yes, and you texted me awake at eight thirty. During that time, you've apparently been through the whole track from Pink, Eminem, Nelly..."
"I stand by my music choices. I haven't even gotten to South Korean selection yet. DIVA was my favorite, but they disbanded last year..." she chuckled mentally skimming through their many songs. It'd be the right line since she'd been translating their homework. She took another bite.
"I don't think he's even heard their work." Bella tried to hide her grin.
"Ah then allow me." She got up and went over to her sound system flipping over to the CD she'd burned with their tracks during the summer.
Adley began to dance around as the familiar tunes came blasting in fitting the typical 90's sound. Bella shook her head but danced along as she came to help clean up the morning mess.
She spun herself spatula in hand. Singing along in Korean and English. She heard Bella's chuckles and the splashing of water. She just kept going. Not caring if she seemed to be a bit foolish. She'd missed just letting go.
"Yo Yo diggity bop. Diggity hop. I'll be flowing like a diggity bop. From your lovey dovey they just can't see, a vacancy. But I'm still trying to get yo love!"
She spun once more only to focus in on Marcus. He stood only in his button down and jeans. He had his hair pulled back away from his face. A wave of relief rushed over her. Her cheeks turning red.
She tossed the spatula behind her hearing the thunk of water.
"Hey!" Bella cried.
Adley launched herself at Marcus. Her heart fluttered finally the ache in her chest stopped.
He caught her without any effort. His hands settled on her waist holding her up as she wrapped her arms around his neck burying face into the crook of his neck. She took a deep breath. He smelt of the woods, and a campfire. Something sweet was also upon his clothes but he still smelled mostly of him. She sighed remaining in the embrace.
"I missed you, too." He murmured holding her steady.
She pulled back pressing her lips to his quickly. Her heart was that of a humming bird in her chest. She'd missed him. Ibrahim had been more than right. She missed him every moment he was gone. The small pulling at her chest was gone and all felt normal. She didn't comment on it though keeping what she deemed as her being needy to herself.
A soft vibration ran through his chest. "You're a cat?"
"What?" He questioned his merlot gaze meeting her brown gaze.
"You're purring."
"We do tend to purr for our mates." He admitted, before he looked around her kitchen and living room. Music still playing in the background. "What have you been up to in my absence?"
"Nothing much. I was working, met Ibrahim. Showed him Buffy the vampire slayer..."
"A vampire slayer?" He questioned. "Impossible."
"Maybe in this world, you'd need a flame thrower or bombs..." she mused. Marcus set her on her feet. "Its pure fiction based upon the myths of vampires and other creatures. It'd be a bit too scary for them to face reality of what vampires are."
"What are these vampires like? Aro did perpetuate some very odd rumors. Especially to a certain Stoker."
"I really do see Aro starting the whole Dracula thing." She walked over to the stereo to switch the music off. She didn't keep far away from the kitchen though still standing beside Marcus. "Right Bella? He suites the whole fangs, turning into a bat, living in a castle and luring victims..."
Bella busted out laughing. Tears sprang from her eyes. "Yeah."
Adley returned her attention to him to finish her explanation. "These vampires burn in the sun, can be staked with wood in the chest. Their features contort right up. Yellow eyes in that form."
"You were watching Buffy?" Bella questioned.
"Yes. We should watch it later this week. I'm sure Ibrahim wouldn't mind joining us as well." Adley suggested. "I have all the seasons."
"I could spend a weekend marathoning Buffy." Bella agreed.
"Perhaps next weekend, or starting Monday?" Marcus reminded. "Abdul was able to take the time down at the facility and is expecting us sometime today."
"Right! The whole venom thing. I'm sorry Bella are you alright to do so?"
"Yeah, I don't mind. I've got stuff to do anyways. I'm meeting up with Alice later to do some things."
Her phone rang. "Speak of the devil. Hey Alice... thank you for breakfast Adley!"
She left with a wave.
Adley had barely turned to Marcus when he was upon her, scooping her up by her bottom. She wrapped her legs around his hips. She hooked her ankles together, while she slid her hands up to his neck. Marcus' hand slid up to cradle the back of her head, leading her forward to kiss her.
His lips captured hers in a heated kiss. Adley moaned as Marcus pulled her bottom closer, in doing so pressed her core against his… Oh… she let er eyes flutter shut. A heat began to build up in her center. She experimented by bucking her hips against his. Yep… it was. How big was he? She wondered. Desire washing over her.
She gasped pulling back mere centimeters. Damn her need to breath. He skimmed his nose over hers before pressing open mouth kiss along her cheek and down her jaw and neck. She leant to the side panting allowing him access. His aura turning blush. She studied it with hooded eyes. He missed her, wanted her. It would be hard to miss. His erection pressed into her with each movement they made. His desire wrapped around her as if she'd fallen into the ocean threatening to overtake her. It was working its way into her head. Her panties began to feel damp the longer they remained together. Slight thrusts from Marcus had her reeling.
"Marcus..." she groaned at the friction.
She bucked her hips, his teeth scraping her skin. He chuckled standing to his full height. She whined lip jutting out missing the movement. Her pupils blown wide. Marcus let a low growl rumble out. She watched as his eyes went from merlot to a near onxy.
She barely registered the movement. She was straddling his lap. He barely gave her time to comprehend it. She gasped once making contact with his erection thrusting up at her. He caught her lips once more. Urgency in each press forward. He swallowed every growing moan. The room became thick with need. His need was intense flowing like a tsunami over her. It wasn't unwanted, Adley wanted to drown in the heady lust. His hand slid down her back guiding her hips against him.
"Ah!"
He ran his tongue over her bottom lip seeking entrance. She didn't argue. Entangling their tongues. He was sweet and cool. She was breathing him in. Her head swimming on the high flowing between them. She ground herself down trying to keep pace with the urgency that burned in her. Marcus growled pulling her close pulling her flush against him.
She could feel his cool chest through her thin shirt and his button down. Her nipples hardened against the material. He thrusted up against her a few times meeting her core. Each hit, hit her aroused bud. They continued gaining in speed. Their rhythm increased, becoming erratic. A hit impacted her perfectly. She cooed losing her balance. He hit perfectly again. Over and over. She lost her thoughts as she grasped onto his shoulders, he was picking up speed. She put her own lips to his neck trying to cover her cries of mounting pleasure.
"Marcus..." she gasped.
"Come on darling... let yourself go." He rumbled.
A growl began in his chest vibrating. She pulled back to breath.
"Marcus..."
He leant back pulling her tightly down. He guided her hips as he thrusted up to meet her. Adley closed her eyes holding on. Pleasure peaking. She took rapid breaths with pounding heart. A few thrusts more. She pushed back feeling the coil springing tight in her. tighter and tighter with each hit. Marcus pressed open mouth kisses to her burning skin. Teeth scraping against her neck he bit down.
"Marcus!" She cried.
Pleasure crashed over her. Toes curling as she shook. She slumped against Marcus taking shallow breaths. He carefully slowed himself down holding her.
Marcus' chest vibrated once more as he began to purr running his hand over her back as came back down. She was weak against him.
"I —" she was without words.
"You are beautiful my little mate. So responsive."
Adley's face burned as she laid her head against his shoulder. She opened her eyes gently facing his neck. The skin remained the same. It was his aura that took her breath away. Love, adoration, pure happiness crashes over her like waves of the ocean hitting the beach on a calm day.
"I haven't... in a long time... Your emotions I can feel it... your release." She realized barely able to make sentences.
"I'm not immune to your influence either, you seem to absorb and amplify." He chuckled.
Adley pushed herself up on shaky arms. She met his darkened gaze. Pupils still swallowed his merlot gaze. The only way she was able to see the effects she had on him. That and his button up was crinkled and unbuttoned. When had she began to undress him? She wondered. She was in no better state of his hands directly on her overheated skin. He was so pale compared to her.
"I've never actually done that before... I have more control." She admitted.
He cupped her cheek pressing soft kisses to her lips. Her eyes heavy as she looked up at him through her lashes.
"I will admit, while I could have controlled myself a bit more. I was not too averse to give in." He shrugged, toothy grin in place.
Adley shook her head but her own grin was breaking out on her face. "Scoundrel."
"I can live with that." He considered.
"I'm the temptress but you give so easily to my siren calls." She stuck her tongue out standing from his lap. She stumbled but Marcus caught her steadying her hips.
"I think I need a shower…"
"Yes, we should probably get heading out on the road." He fixed his shirt.
"We can always do it tomorrow." Adley blinked slowly up to him.
"Hmm and what would we do today?"
"Go back to bed?"
He chuckled shaking his head. "Temptress begone with you, and your words of honey and body with the ambrosia of the gods."
Adley spent what should've been a three-hour drive glued to the passenger door with her hand gripping the 'oh shirt' handle. He like Alice had turned it into an hour and a half. What was it about vampires that tried to speed almost one hundred miles over the speed limit? She was glad she'd had some time between her meals.
When Marcus pulled into Olympia she was tempted to fall to her knees and kiss the asphalt. Marcus treated her to a restaurant before they departed for outside the city.
They were heading out to the county. Heavy woods and thicket that was just beginning to bloom with the early spring. She hardly believed it was almost April. They pulled down a long gravel road that got so narrow she'd need to paint the outside of the Jeep from the trees branches and twigs that hit the side of the vehicle.
They pulled into a parking lot. Adley was about to comment when the earth began to rumble.
"Uh—"
Marcus took her left hand and held it. He ran his thumb over the back of her hand trying to comfort her.
"Relax,"
The vehicle was lowering. Why was her car lowering? She peered out of the vehicle. Nothing outside of the vehicle was shaking. The ground was getting closer. She settled. They were on an elevator. Temporarily it got dark before opening to an underground tunnel. Marcus began the drive. The tunnel declined further into the earth.
"This is some secret government organization type stuff."
"That is essentially what this place is." He replied.
"What? Seriously this is government ran. You're telling me that our republican ran government willingly paid for this?" She turned to him. "What am I saying of course we did. We spend money on military and policing stuff. It's social programs, health care, and education we don't care about."
"If you're asking if the American government is aware of this facility? Yes. Are they aware of the true size of the place? No. This is one of the supernatural world's hidden gems. Privately funded mostly by the Volturi. Other societies in the supernatural world do contribute to this place. Like the Blackburn coven on the west coast here. The front office building in Olympia the government believes is just an FBI project. They are unaware however it has many tunnels that connect to our facility. It holds the largest library in North America. We have basis like this on each continent." He explained.
"Conveniently right near Forks."
"One of the cloudiest and rainiest places in the world."
"Makes sense. How deep does the Volturi's influence go?"
"Think illuminate." He joked. "In a serious note we have many set up to spy on the humans and government operations. It allows us to know what is going on in the world. Along with that we also use these places to have supernatural world conventions and meetings. It allows everyone access to the library and to gather without humans knowing. It is a delicate balance we wish to maintain."
"Understandable." She nodded. "Extends to research as well?"
"Indeed."
Marcus pulled her Jeep into a space finally on the first level. Ibrahim popped into existence the moment Marcus was around opening her door. Adley jumped but simply shook her head at the smirking guard.
"Afternoon Ibrahim."
"My lady good to see you once more, Master Marcus," he grinned falling into step behind them.
Marcus offered his arm to her to lead her through the facility. They walked at a human pace towards a metal sliding door. It opened once Marcus flashed an ID. The room they entered was still concrete before them a large set of elevator doors.
It wasn't a long ride down in silence. She kept close to Marcus though as her nerves were getting the best of her. She didn't exactly know what to expect. Was she appropriately dressed for such occasion? She'd opted for a maroon three-quarter sleep blouse and jeans.
The elevator let them off on B5. The reception area was a glass desk with computer. Behind it a Blonde woman who stood giving a bow to them. She quickly returned to work. The halls were bright with the fluorescents along with the white tiled floor allowing the echo off their steps. Walls of taupe and a few pieces of art work here and there.
They passed a few metal doors and continued turning left with the hall. Immediately it opened into a few open cubicles. Each had someone working away on something. Files piled up on desks and none paid them any mind. Only one approached them.
Exiting one of the doors of an actual office space, a tall thin vampire stood. He was dark in complexion and his hair kept short. He was in black dress pants and a white button down, a badge on a lanyard and bullet proof vest? He had a golden V on as well.
"Master Marcus, Lady Adley, a pleasure to have you here." He greeted.
"Abdul," Marcus replied shaking the guard's hand. "It's been quite some time since I have seen you."
"Three decades since I've been present in Volterra, I was more than happy to make time for you especially when I heard of you meeting your Mate. Lady Adley Choi." He offered a deep bow towards her.
"A pleasure to meet you as well." She nodded her head to him, holding onto Marcus. "Marcus tells me you are one of the inside workers?"
"I have been operating with the FBI for almost ten years now, Agent Abdul Nasreen, at your service. I will lead you to the laboratories. Our researcher and theorist Ms. J. Kim will help gather the needed samples."
They continued further down another hall the floor stepped downwards, and the ceilings rose allowing for a larger setting. They descended the few stairs after Abdul. Many in lab coats walked by chatting with clip boards and such. A few were working around tables with many machines upon them. None gave too much attention to the new comers to the room.
Abdul led them to a smaller medical room. A chair with the arm prop was in the corner of the room. A computer and such were around with many more machines vaguely familiar to her from her biology classes in university. She knew they were used to do the testing, how they operated she hadn't a clue.
The room was not empty. A lab tech stood preparing the needle and vials. An older woman was turned to the counter looking through a few things. Dressed in a lab coat and high turtle neck. Black and grey bob cut. Aura glowing in a soft grey. Adley studied the smaller woman. There was something familiar to the woman.
The woman turned. She froze eyes wide.
"Auntie?" Adley blinked.
"Addie! What on earth are you doing here?" The woman quickly placed the stuff down on the counter.
Adley opened her arms and embraced her. She held tight to her aunt for a few moments before holding her at arm's length. She studied the older face of Oma's sister. She hadn't seen her Aunt Janet in nearly a year.
"I'm..." she glanced over to Marcus.
Abdul stood with Ibrahim off to the side. Marcus gave a slight nod to her.
"I'm here for my blood to be tested. Do you know much about the Volturi?" She motioned to Marcus.
Aunt Janet nodded. "I've worked with them for thirty years. I was contracted by Agent Nasreen in the seventies for psychology studies originally. It expanded along with my education. We have a study currently going on which is why I am down here today. How did you end up finding out?"
Her cheeks turned red. "A long story Auntie, we should get lunch and I can explain. I have blood to be drawn."
Aunt Janet looked over to Marcus who was hovering behind her. She could feel her aunt investigating her aura prodding for the emotions. The woman was in her own right an Empath.
"She died again did she?"
Adley stiffened. "Aunt Janet how —how did you know?"
"Do you not find it strange you were never approached by media outlets back in 2001? A few caught wind of your story surviving under debris so close to ground zero." Aunt Janet explained. "When I was evaluating you dear, we found something odd in your cells. It was Agent Nasreen here who wiped all traces of your involvement. You were so mentally scarred Adley, it was for the best."
"It was a potential threat to our world. So, we snuffed out before it grew." Abdul responded.
"Was Aro ever made aware of any of this?" Marcus questioned mostly curious to this.
"It was to be in the next decade briefing. Eleazar had already been briefed in the late eighties of the potential."
Adley's brow furrowed as she looked to Aunt Janet and Marcus. "This Eleazar, he's Volturi?"
"He is a part our guard. He keeps an eye out for potential gifted humans. He is a part time member but does respond to calls of our guard." Marcus replied. "It is his own gift."
"I was being investigated?" She turned to Aunt Janet once more. "Auntie, what exactly were you doing with me? Oma trusted you to train and help me when I started showing as an Empath... she doesn't know does she?!"
Aunt Janet came forward to embrace her. She held her at arms-length giving assuring runs to her upper arms.
"Your Oma doesn't know beyond the necessary. You know that our family is generationally gifted with Empathy. Your grandmother was the last one to be as gifted as you. She was too ill in the last years of her life to train you. Your Oma was balancing two children with heightened abilities already when you were showing signs. It was too much for her, you were three when the first time you amplified your emotions to affect all your classmates. You were sad and, in a fit, had the whole daycare crying. She came marching into my house and demanded help. She knew I worked the closest with our mother. We began immediately in 1986. She knows I helped train you, nothing more."
Adley nodded vaguely remembering her Aunt Janet being in her life for some time. Usually, she'd join her in a studio with many activities and a few others of her cousins...
"I wasn't the only one being evaluated."
"No, you weren't a few others of your cousins were being examined. It was exposed to be generational when I encountered the Volturi. Agent Nasreen asked I study the family to see if any potential was there." She admitted. "Your Uncle would teach you Taekwondo and Hapkido as I studied."
Adley pursed her lips. She'd been a black belt in Taekwondo in her division by thirteen and moved into the Dan belts at the age required 15. She'd relaxed after her eighteenth birthday. Hapkido she'd gone into the brown belts.
"You trained me and Maki to meditate and to learn to control our emotions. So, we could show discipline in our gifts. Like when Uncle pulled me in that one competition."
Aunt Janet chuckled nodding. "Yes, you were so mad when we wouldn't let you compete at age seven. Such a fierce little warrior. You were so powerful and in tune with your gift, you made the perfect candidate for the Volturi. You were to be recommended once you finished your education, I suggested to them. In case it did not work out, you could still work within the Volturi. In 2001 though, we pulled the suggestion."
Adley understood that. She was a mess after her first death. Aunt Janet had spent so much time with her to work through all of it. "My survival came to light. I thought I hid that better."
The lab tech led her over to the chair as she continued to talk with her aunt.
"You were a spouting faucet my dear. Do you remember much in your first few days back in my office?" Aunt Janet asked.
Adley blushed. "Not really. I was having nightmares from Naomi's death. I was so tired. I didn't make sense even to myself."
"You were clearer than you think. You told me so much from that day."
"You never told Oma?"
"No. We found it was best not to alert them to the occurrence, we wanted to test the theory if you had actually died or simply blacked out. You are scarred sure, but it was not enough to convince us. We wanted to be sure. We set you up for a routine physical took samples and went to study them. Your cells we used took and found they didn't stop replacing themselves. The sample still lives in one of our dishes. I have some of it out to simply to see if it will expire. It has yet to do so. It was determined you were by theory immortal. We wanted to give it time to see if the case was immortality or an extended life. Our study continues on even now."
Adley looked up over to Marcus wide eyed. "Our theory of Victoria's venom. It could very well still be in my body?"
"I'm not sure if foreign cells will remain. Yours do tend to attack anything that it deems a threat." The technician spoke finishing up. "If you are willing, there may be a higher concentration in the bite mark itself. May we take a sample?"
She bit her bottom lip staring at the scalpel and dish. "Alright."
"All vampires may wish to leave for this." The tech warned. "It'll be a bigger wound."
Adley heard the door open and close. Ibrahim and Abdul were gone. Marcus remained with merlot eyes standing off to the side.
"Marcus? Will you be alright?" She asked.
"I will be okay, little one." He took her hand. "Your blood holds no temptation to me."
"Hmm... not at all?"
"Blood is blood, I am still a vampire. I have millennia of restraint training. It also does not carry the same smell of a normal mortal. It's cleaner. It smells like someone has placed a chemical in it. The floral scent is very limited." He informed her.
"Is there a hypothesis for this? Why am I immortal?" She gasped as a scrapping began on her neck.
"We have a few but it is very vague to why your cells do what they are doing." The tech quickly placed a band-aid over it. "I needed the scalpel to get through the vampire firmness. It's not at all like a normal transition bite. Is there any pain?"
"Right now, from the cut but besides that no. It usually doesn't hurt."
"Interesting... would you like us to do investigation into what causes this all? I'm more than willing to explore the many theories."
"If there is time. I'm curious as to why I'm still alive. Is anyone else in our family like this?" She turned to Aunt Janet in her question.
"I did go looking and testing our family members and found none like yours. Your family I have yet to have tested. It fell to the back of my mind to be honest. I had some more projects come up."
"No rush Auntie. We've got a lot going on. If you've got time." They let Adley exit the chair. "Do you have time to catch up for dinner?"
Aunt Janet watched her step up and into the arms of Marcus. She gave a knowing smile.
"Maybe another weekend when I have updates for you? I am sure Master Marcus would like to have these cells studied."
"Please, it is of the utmost important we see if the vampire venom is in that. If so, please call Demetri." Marcus ordered handing her aunt a card.
"Of course, Master, now go Adley we will see to this." She winked turning to take the samples to the machines.
Marcus led her out of the room. His arm coming to settle on the small of her back. She felt Ibrahim's presence behind her. They made their way out to her Jeep once more.
"I had no idea..." she murmured as they got into the vehicle.
"I did not know either until I saw the bond between the two of you. It seems we would have met eventually even without Ms. Swan's intervention." He contemplated.
She raised her brow. "Oh?"
"Abdul's decade reports would've been in 2010. Aro would most likely have moved you to Italy for testing and observation. The trauma may have hindered it a bit however it is a small matter in the bigger questions you bring forth."
She frowned. "He'd seriously have me studied?"
"Aro's ethics can be lacking at times. He'd have taken care to keep you comfortable." A small growl ripped through him.
She took his free hand as they exited. "I'm not being studied unwillingly."
"Aro would've not gotten too far with you." He assured her.
She chuckled shaking her head. His aura spiked with the need to protect her.
"Well, I'm not being prodded and killed. We are alright. Let's hope for the venom still existing in my cells. I'm quite curious to find out why I'm like this." She grinned.
"Indeed, Aro will be interested."
"Aren't you?"
"I am merely thankful you are proving to be immortal. Twice before I met you, you could've died. Now how does the opera sound?"
"Why Marcus are you asking me on a date?" She grinned.
"Yes."
"I agree then."
Marcus drove them into one of the malls. Parking underground. They made their way to get her a dress for the evening. She said she could go to her parents' home if need be, but he reminded her was she ready to tell her parents of them. While they were working through the bond could her human parents handle their youngest in such a committed relationship without including them? She'd get an earful surely from Oma. They would need to learn of him eventually. Especially if they were to move to Italy… she shook the thoughts out of her head. Another time.
"Welcome, how can we be of service?" A thin woman came up to her and Marcus.
Adley bit her cheek. The woman was making eyes at him. She leant further in. Sure she wasn't exposing herself nor was taken written on Marcus, but still. The woman could be a bit more professional.
"I am looking for an evening gown." Adley spoke up stepping slightly in front of him with a tight lipped smile.
Adley stared into her light blue eyes not daring to break eye contact with the woman. She remained in her position until she saw the woman swallow. She motioned to behind her.
"Of course, right this way!"
'That's right he's mine.' She mentally sneered.
Adley paused for a second. He's a person. No one owned him. She turned back to the clothes the woman had led her over to the evening gowns. The spring collections seemed to be hitting the floor. She tried her best not to bite her lip as she walked her away from the sales rack across the store. She took deep breaths. Marcus' hand touched the small of her back. She looked up to him.
"Relax love," he murmured low enough just for her.
"What is the occasion?" The woman asked.
"Opera," Adley replied moving towards a few red and black numbers.
"Dress size?"
"I take an 8."
They began picking a few pieces. Marcus seemed to pull a few dresses for her to try. He gave a half grin to her. She didn't have time to review the dresses he'd chosen when the woman brought her to the change rooms. She gestured to Marcus to sit in the chair right in front of it. The dress room was behind a set of open doors it wasn't gender specific.
She stripped down to just her underwear. Her bra she realized was not one with removable straps. She slid it off. She paused seeing herself in the mirror. Her neck she touched seeing on the opposite side of the bandaid was a large bruise. Eyes wide. He'd given her a hickey. There was no way her Aunt Janet missed this one. She pinched the bridge of her nose. She'd need to hit MAC or Sephora if there was time to find a foundation to cover the thing.
Adley pulled up the first one an A-line that fell to ground she slid it on sliding up the side zipper adjusting herself into the cups. She gasped.
The thin straps were practically praying to the lord holding breasts in place. She barely filled a B to C cup depending on the style. The style would be cute in a teddy, the colour was nice. This was not lingerie. She could not step out in this dress. Absolutely not. The sheer material was covering with mere flowers laced into it covering her nipples. If she sat in this the material was begging for a nip slip. She stepped to the side. A slit on her left side hit the side of her upper thigh.
She turned red as the dress. Her blush went right down between the deep V-neck. She opened the door zeroing in on Marcus. He was relaxed back in the chair leg crossed over his knee. Aura pouring off of him with satisfaction. He knew what he was doing!
The sales woman thankfully nowhere near. Adley dared stepping out into the open in the dress. Her hands covering her breasts from where she was crossing her hands over her chest.
"You know I cannot wear this dress anywhere right." She hissed.
He hooked his finger for her to move forward.
If he wanted a show she'd give it. He wanted to play a dangerous game she'd let him be uncomfortable with the sight she was. The dress was down borderline of sexy to sleazy in her opinion but each person was different. She didn't have the gonads to wear it in public. Blame an overtly religious mother.
He motioned for her to spin. So she did. She saw in the mirrors around how it was in the back. The lower back hit her middle. Her scars were covered thankfully. The tattoo in the middle of her back showed though. Marcus stood moving her long hair over her shoulder to get a better look.
"I'd not noticed this." He murmured.
His cool fingers traced the tattoo on her spine. She shuddered. Her body broke out in goose flesh. She cleared her throat covering her whimper. Images flashed in her mind momentarily of him pushing her up against the wall. She really needed to get a hold of her wandering thoughts.
"I got it two years ago. Naomi and I had planned to get matching dragon tattoos when we were teens. So in honour of her." She breathed.
"It is very well done." He pressed a kiss to her temple.
He moved her arms taking her left arm bringing it above her head, giving her a spin. "I will agree it is not appropriate for the opera, however you look absolutely stunning. Delectable."
"A!" She hurried back into the fitting room losing the nerve.
A few more dresses tried on and she settled for an evening dress that was trumpeted in the skirt. The low back showed her tattoo before closing to the long sleeves. It was a dark burgundy satin material. She'd gotten a pair of three inch heels to wear with it. She went to pull her credit card out however Marcus beat her to it.
She tried to protest but a single look cut her off. She carried the bag for the shoes and Marcus carried the dress. She knew it was probably for the best if she did it would drag on the ground. Ibrahim showed up taking the outfit to the car.
"Oh! I need to go to Victoria Secret." She paused realizing. "That and MAC if you don't mind? I need to do makeup with a dress like that, also cover a certain mark from someone."
"Anything. Let us go to MAC first, then I would not mind a show from Victoria Secret." He murmured. His aura darkening with lust.
"They won't let you into the change room." She warned him.
"Unfortunate, I can still help you chose." He smirked.
"No matter the species men are men." She held back her want to roll her eyes.
They had gone to dinner at one of the high end restaurants she'd seen but never been in downtown. She changed quickly in a bathroom making sure to do herself up well. Her hair she'd simply wrapped up in a braided crown allowing her bangs to frame her face.
She was dressed up in her dress sliding her heals on when she exited to Marcus, who held open a covering coat.
"When did you get this?"
"I had Ibrahim grab it, as the weather is to be chilly by the time we exit." He replied offering his arm once she was covered.
"You're considerate." She hummed as they exited to head up and out to make the walk down to the Opera.
The show concluded at the four hour mark. She wiped a tear from her eye as the final song was sung. She stood clapping with Marcus. She was glad Marcus had gotten tickets to a French show. They had been in a private box thankfully.
"That was beautiful. Thank you Marcus I really enjoyed this." She smiled looking up to him.
They stepped out into the hall while others passed them by. She reached up and placed a kiss to his cheek. Her red lipstick smudged slightly on his cheek. She was quick to wipe it off of him.
"As did I, you are the perfect company."
She almost missed what he said, too busy focused on him. Too many people were passing them as she watched, more than tempted to trail a line of red kiss marks down his cheek to his chest. Adley had indulged on some champagne. Maybe a bit too much. He seemed oblivious thankfully to the red tint that had taken a permanent residency on her face.
"I will need to add this one to one of my favourites list." She mentioned "You've probably seen quite the amount of shows. What is your favourite?"
"Rigoletto Verdi, was one I found myself travelling for on more than one occasion. His operas were well done."
"The Doctor Atomic I saw last year, when in San Francisco quite chilling. The darker the show the more I find myself enjoying it. The Phantom Of The Opera was one of the first Operas I'd ever seen so it of course holds my heart."
"You are entranced by the darker things in the world."
"While my work is in the sciences, the nature of humanity is one of great interest to myself. The capabilities of humans. The true crimes, what occurred in world war 2, we are capable of truly horrendous things. Yet so are we capable of such compassion. Such opposites."
"They call us monsters for feeding upon humans. Humanity has its demons."
"Dietary needs are not exactly monstrous acts. You drink blood, we eat animals. Which is truly the more innocent in the theory? I'd say animals. We are what we are by design. There are 6.6 Billion people on this planet and we are rapidly increasing. I don't see the harm in population control." Adley shrugged.
"The fact it is a life, that does not bother you?" He wasn't questioning her merely curious.
"If I know them sure. I'll go through the emotions that occur with it. I have to face the fact my family will die eventually. Everyone is destined to die. How I escaped is beyond me. It'll come to light eventually. I still need to make peace with the fact people will die. It is the circle of life. Temporary."
"Alas here we are given more time than most dream of." He pondered.
They turned down an alley to cut over to the Jeep that they had parked the street over. She held tight to him as the pavement was icy in certain spots. The alley was dark, what had compelled them to walk through the creepy dimly lit place she could see the other side sure but there was a cross roads of two alleys to pass through.
Crash!
Marcus stiffened beside her. She looked around them. Light thuds echoed off the brick walls of the surrounding buildings. There three figures approached. Bright red eyes flashes from what she could make out.
Hunger radiated off of them. Snarls broke out.
She was pushed behind Marcus.
It didn't help another figure stood before her. Her heart hammered.
Shit. Shit. shit. shit.
She pushed back into Marcus. She wasn't in the most practical outfit for a get away. It was quick. Ibrahim popped into existence. She gasped stumbling.
The four vampires blurred before her. Two on one wasn't much of a fair fight. Ibrahim had one down and broken apart. Marcus dealt with two.
Shit there were four. She scanned the alley.
Too late pain radiated from her shoulder. She was slammed into the brick wall across from her. A hand grabbed at her throat. She gasped. Panic exploded pounding across her whole body. No!
"Let go…" She sneered.
"A mere human giving demands. I may make this longer than I want to." The woman holding her laughed.
Adley met the bright eyes as she was shoved up the brick wall. She gasped feeling the stone rip at her skin. She couldn't get enough air. Fear. Tears trailed down her eyes.
The bright crimson eyes went wide the longer she held contact.
"AH!" The woman screamed dropping her.
Adley greedily gulped air into her burning lungs. She got herself to her feet pushing the pure fear into the vampire.
She didn't know how long the woman remained screaming and thrashing on the ground. It was over soon enough with a spine tingling rock on rock scraping cut off the screams. Arms wrapped around her.
She heard a few whispers of words going on between Marcus and Ibrahim she assumed. The world flashed around her.
Adley focused back in, realizing she was sat upon her front passenger seat. Marcus was right in front of her bending over. He hooked his finger under her chin getting her to meet his near black gaze. She was breathing in quick and rapid little puffs. He hushed her.
"You are alright." He murmured using his other hand to wipe tears from her eyes.
Adley shook her head, taking his hands. She pulled back. He moved his hands to her shoulders trying to steady her. Not wanting to leave her without his presence.
"Follow my lead, love. In… and out… in… and out…"
She took a deep breath when he did. Her heart began to calm with each round. She cleared her throat running a hand over her aching throat. Pain still radiated from her back where her skin had broken. Marcus pulled back and went into her glove box. He found her first aid kit with bandaids and wet wipes to get dirt out of the cuts.
"Ibrahim…" She choked. "Is he…"
"He is alright, simply taking care of the bodies and the remaining woman. He will be burning them and getting the last vampire to interrogation. I asked him to take care of it. I will need to go check in later—"
She grabbed his arm. Panic built in her chest. She was hyperventilating again. "No… I don't want to be alone please. Don't leave me."
Pain in her chest yanked worse than it had been while he was away. She clenched at her chest. Marcus took hold of her hands holding them in his.
"I am not going anywhere love, I will direct them to film the interrogation then for our records. Are you in pain?"
"I'm fine…" She mumbled while he pulled her against his shoulder so he could tend to her back.
"You are a terrible liar Adley," he commented finishing up wiping at the few open scratches directly down her back. All of them were superficial and would close.
Marcus rounded the Jeep sliding into the driver's seat. He pulled out his phone and faster than she could hear he relayed to Ibrahim instructions on what was to happen. He started the vehicle up turning on the heat to warm the car and her. He began the drive home.
Adley's cheeks burned as she settled back turning the radio up. "You don't need to remain if you are needed... Marcus I understand you have work to do."
It was mostly to herself she was finding. She was an adult she got that. She could allow Marcus the distance to do what he needed to. He had to work. She was spooked sure, and vampires attacking in the night would freak anyone out. She would be fine. He'd be back. She purses her lips looking out the window. He would be back. She knew this. Why couldn't her body register this?
Her chest ached at the mere thought. A throbbing dulled on the top right under the collar bone. She rubbed the bare skin.
What was going on with her? She was an independent adult who had been doing things quite well on her own. She wasn't clingy. She could trust this. It was to put an end to these cases of murdered and missing. Especially if it pertained to vampires.
"What is waring in your head?"
"A lot… What just happened… why there is a pain in my chest… Just, a lot."
"I've got time."
She turned towards him. "I feel ridiculous. It's stupid. Lately I've been having this pain in my chest... it's whenever you leave. Silly I know. I'm not used to this what so ever. Any past relationship the emotions weren't this involved and I'm just over reacting being clingy."
"You're not over reacting." He assured. "It's in your chest, right here?"
He pressed his hand to his sternum between the third and fourth button of his shirt. She nodded.
"That would be the mating bond." He stated. "How long have you been experiencing this Adley?"
"Only when you were gone... it was like a pulled muscle. It was worse tonight when you said you were going to deal with the vampire..." she pulled a few of her loose hair froward and began braiding a piece. "I'm not usually clingy."
"Your want to spend time together is not being clingy." He chuckled. "Perfectly normal. I was not expecting you to be so sensitive to the bond however, I seemed to underestimate your abilities."
"My abilities?" She raised her brow.
"You're an Empath. A powerful one at that. Most human and vampire mates, the vampire usually is influenced by the bond. Not so much the human. It is what allows for the human the ability to reject the bond. Something Mr. Cullen thought Ms. Swan would be able to do. However he did not take into consideration how deep their bond had been."
"We've barely known each other a week."
"It matters not to the bond. Mates are a deep connection every soul has the potential of activating. It is all to do with the soul. It would make sense why you are so in tune to the call of the bond. I see it now it is tense and pulling."
"I cannot see the bond though. I merely see your aura reacting to something you're feeling protective. A need, and mixed with a desire..." she trailed off.
"What of your own?"
"Never really seen my aura. The workings of this is still hard for me to grasp."
"You are understanding of what you are feeling though, correct?"
"Yes."
"The bond influences how we feel for each other. It would make sense why you react to it."
"What do we do about it? I can't just function with you by my side constantly. You've got so much to be tending to. A ruler of the vampire world."
Marcus sat back in his chair. "The bond needs to be completed."
Adley's cheeks burned. She studied his aura, sparks of nervousness heavily overtaken by lust and desire.
"Oh."