Marcus and Adley had headed up to the Cabin for a weekend in Seattle and Olympia, the Friday night she finished work. She'd gotten the call from her Aunt that Monday that they had a lead on the results from the tests that had been done. She was fixed her white peasant blouse strings at the neck tying it. She checked the medium wash jeans all fitting well. She grabbed her pendant from Marcus on. She ran a finger over the V. She exited the bathroom. Marcus was sat on the couch facing away from her. His hair tied back.
She sighed taking in his relaxed shoulders. He was distracted by something.
His phone rang. He flipped it open, a few rushed words passed through.
It was only seven in the morning. Who would be calling at this time? She leant on the bedroom door. His aura while golden grew in the flaring irritation. Whoever was on the line wasn't impressing him.
"Yes? Is it required I be there?" She watched him stand. "I'll be there in ten."
He shut his phone turning to her. He zeroed in on Adley, a sad smile on his face.
"Who's calling?" She asked.
"That was Demetri, they have caught a newborn with intel. Alec has arrived in Olympia and has been debriefed on his roll in this. He is currently holding the newborn. Demetri has asked I attend the office."
He came around to her. He wrapped her in an embrace, leaning his head on her forehead. She laid her head on his chest.
"I may be sometime. I do wish not to interrupt our time together little one, but duty calls."
"I'm not mad. Wish it could have been before I was awake so I could have slept in but timing is what it is. I'll be alright." She assured him. "I'd like to see my aunt with you to attend. The news isn't supposed to be scary, I just want you by my side. If that's alright with you?"
He pulled back enough to look into her eyes. He cusped her cheek in his hand running his thumb over the apple of her cheek. She leant into his hand.
"Of course Little One, call your aunt. She is expecting us almost first thing. I'm sure she does not mind changing it up."
"Aunt Janet is usually understanding. I'll see you later."
Adley pulled her phone out and dialled for her aunt as she kissed Marcus goodbye watching him go. The phone rang once.
"Hello?"
"Hi Auntie,"
"Adley, good to hear from you dear. Are you still on your way?"
"Is it alright if Marcus and I come in this afternoon? He's got an emergency that has come up."
"Of course dear, I have time at 3:00pm if that is alright with you?"
"Excellent Auntie, we will see you then."
"See you,"
She closed her phone turning to Jane who seemed to be her assigned guard. The girl stood awkwardly in the entrance of the cabin. She smiled motioning the girl to come forward. There was no reason for her to fear her. Adley tried to send calming vibes towards the teen.
Jane's light brown hair was parted to the side left down so it fell just the tips grazing her shoulders two clips held her hair from her face. A button up blouse and trousers were on her. Adley bit her bottom lip crossing her arms.
She stuck out like a sore thumb. The girl couldn't go out looking like this. Light colours like these pale blue and kaki trousers. She looked like she was going to work in sales.
"Good heavens." She murmured.
"Is something wrong Lady Adley?" Jane asked. Big red eyes wide.
"No. Not at all. However Jane, I mean no offence to this at all. Are you comfortable?" She asked first.
She didn't know the teen that well, really only being watched by Ibrahim or one of the others. She knew Ibrahim was reassigned last night to deal with one of the bunds of newborns.
"I am doing my duty Lady Adley, it is not of concern if I am comfortable." She replied with no emotion.
Adley held her hand up turning to go to the bedroom, she headed to the closet. The girl was small and short in stature barely four foot ten. She went and grabbed an extra t-shirt that was short sleeved that usually was slightly longer on her. It was a v-cut neckline, with an empire waist. She pulled out a pair of leggings she'd usually pair with a dress. They were a size small The shirt would work as a dress for Jane. The outfit would blend in for Jane until they were able to get to the mall. She could slide into an outfit that suited her if she wanted to.
Adley returned to the girl. Jane tilted her head nose scrunching as she looked at the fabric in her hands.
"We're going to be in public for some time. I don't mean to be insulting or disrespectful to you. It's just the outfit you are in, isn't age appropriate. You look so uncomfortable in it"
"I didn't dress for fashion but I was told women now a days wore pants." She deadpanned. "I'm nine hundred years old nearly. Anything I wear will not reflect my age."
"True, however you are physically fourteen. It's only for now, I wanted to go to the mall anyways. We can get you some outfits perhaps you truly like that can pass for today's fashion? If you don't mind?" Adley suggested.
Jane stared for a few minutes looking between the shirt and leggings. She sighed. "If it will make you more comfortable Lady Adley."
She took them, disappearing from the room. Adley heard the washroom door close. A few seconds later and Jane came out changed.
Adley had been correct in her assumption. Jane was petit. She was still a child in shape and puberty had barely set in before becoming a vampire. The shirt was cut to show bosom but Jane was covered by a white undershirt. Adley saw the strings on the back of the waist and went behind Jane. She tied it in a bow. The lavender suit her pale porcelain skin. The leggings hit just above her ankles. Her ballet flats were what she had on before and worked with the outfit.
"A bit preppy in looks but it's a bit more suiting. I'm sure we can find something more you in the mall." She smiled.
Jane raised a delicate brow. "Preppy? What?"
"It's a certain fashion style. Upbeat of sorts. I have a small inkling you may enjoy a more relaxed fashion. Emo or punk undertones. I think we should check out Hot Topic when we're in the mall." She replied while grabbing her purse from the side table in the living room.
"The terms are familiar but not really. I've heard Heidi use those words, but I didn't give it much thought." Jane hesitated.
"Then let's explore some stores. We've got sometime to figure it out. First I want to grab some Starbucks for breakfast." Adley didn't give the guard much of a choice.
They got into her Jeep, Jane in the back due to the peaking sun from between clouds. The girl didn't need to be exposed to the sun. The drive took barely half an hour to reach the destination in Seattle. One of the malls she loved to visit. They parked underground and headed up into the mall. It wasn't busy for the Saturday being eight thirty in the morning. Adley walked side by side with Jane.
It didn't take her long to get some coffee and a muffin for the morning. She would get something more substantial at lunch time. She had a mission in front of her. She sat down with Jane to eat quickly before they got up to go into the shops that were just opening for the day.
"You're okay to be in here right?" She asked so only Jane could hear.
"Yes. I'm perfectly in control amongst them." Jane nodded.
"When was the last time you went shopping?"
"Uh... it's been sometime." Jane looked down to her hands. "I really can't remember. I've been so busy on missions or other things."
"Well that won't do. Today we're going to have fun." Adley declared. She slid out a black card.
Marcus had given it to her earlier in the week. He'd said he would look into banking systems once he was back in Italy to set her up with a bank card. She bit her cheek remembering that conversation.
Adley was sitting on Marcus' lap as they were at her laptop. She was scrolling through the few bills she was needing to pay for the month. A lot came out automatically from her bank account. However things like her credit card, and loans she needed to pay with actual payments to the lenders.
"Technology has come a long way. I remember when tax collectors used to come to you." Marcus commented watching her.
"Which century was that? I really am pulling a blank on that one. In your time didn't people also just pay the church?" She questioned.
"That was after my time Little One," He grumbled while pressing a kiss to her neck.
Adley chuckled pulling her neck away from him. "I guess you would also remember when they used account numbers for purchases? When you had to carry physical money too? Do you remember the first credit card systems? Did you ever use barter systems?"
"You are a little cheeky today aren't you little one?"
"Cheeky? I am only asking questions. I'm curious." She feigned innocence.
"You are a clever woman, Little One. I am sure you worked out the answer is yes I do."
"Have you paid bills online?" She questioned.
"Our accounting department does that for us. I do not mean to disappoint you my curious dear. We do not concern ourselves with the regular finances. Caius is the one who over sees the department anyways." He replied. "It reminds me however…"
"What?" She glanced to him.
"I need to make a call to them, and get you set up with some accounts. You did just hand in your resignation. You will not be working in the same way as you had been. Along with a few papers that will need to be filed for you."
"Setting up with some accounts? What do you mean?"
"I mean with income of course. You are technically a member of the main family now. You are entitled to access to the funds we carry."
"Oh." She looked to her computer.
Her own income wasn't anything to scoff at and while she was paid only so often… she budgeted as taught by other teachers she had shadowed under. The budget paid quarterly would require break down to get her through the months she was not actively working.
The Volturi had been around for thousands of years. They had no human needs. They ran a city technically and species. They had money. Ancient money earned over time. Adley didn't grow up like that.
Money was comfortable sure. Her parents were both well paid and had money saved away. Adley was middle class in definition. She never went with out. She was never handed everything though either. She had to earn the big things through service or working at a family restaurant. Nothing was just given.
Here Marcus was, giving her access to accounts she had not earned. She bit her bottom lip staring. She wasn't working for this money. She felt guilty. Her stomach flipped. This wasn't normal for her. They weren't even married. It had been barely a few months. They had not known each other that long. The amount of trust he had in her. This was a serious move.
"Talk to me Little One,"
"I'm not comfortable with this."
"Which part?"
"You're trusting me so quickly. You're just handing over access to accounts your family has worked hard to build up. I've earned every dollar I have ever had access to. Marcus, this is just a bit much."
"You are not used to such wealth."
"Not even in my wildest dreams. I never knew poverty. I still needed to have a work ethic. I'm not a gold digger. I hope you know I'm not in this for your wealth."
She turned to meet his merlot gaze.
He gave a smile to her. He pressed a kiss to her lips. "While I do not know this discomfort you are feeling. I respect it. It's a lot to handle. If you would like. I can have it so you are only seeing a portion in what you are used to seeing? We can change that when you are feeling comfortable."
Adley's chest filled with his glowing aura. She smiled nodding kissing him. "Thank you."
"It is no trouble Little One." He moved his hand to his pocket. She watched him pull out a black card. "In the meantime, I had Demetri speak with accounting and get you this."
Adley took it with shaky hands. It was a Mastercard. A black card. Her eyes went wide as she read her name in silver. Adley Choi.
"Marcus, I just said…"
"You are uncomfortable with the wealth. This is simply a credit card to make purchases. It is for you to be able to buy things when I am not around." He shrugged.
"I'm not using this."
"That is your card to use at your discretion."
"You really don't care about how it seems? That I am only with you for your money?" She huffed.
"I frankly care not for what others think. You and I know the truth. What is there more to care for? The idea of being spoilt, is it that negative?"
Adley rolled her eyes but sighed. "You're too good to me."
"You tend to care so much for others Little One, is it so bad I take care of you?"
"I guess not…"
She'd given into him a lot easier than she meant to. He did not say he needed to spend the money on her alone. She would use it for her and Jane today.
"I've really only ever shopped in Europe." Jane eyed the many stores apprehensively.
Her eyes zeroing in on American Eagle, Old Navy, and Abercrombie and Fitch. The three stores stood out in the music flowing from them and morning crowd. She turned to see a few other stores like Nike and Adidas. Hot Topic was at the end of the mall around the corner.
"It can be overwhelming. Let's start small. Do you own any jeans?"
"One or two pairs…" Jane replied.
Adley nodded. It was a start. "Okay, that's good. Lets start in American Eagle. The jeans there are pretty decent."
They headed down the hall passing quickly. Jane's gaze was wide, the brown contacts covering the real crimson colour she usually sported. She kept to Adley's side as they passed the few other humans. Giggling teens passed but said nothing to Jane.
She lead her over to the Jean wall. Straight leg, boot cut, flare. She was happy to see the trends of UFO pants and JNCO going out the door. Over sized was being replaced by slimmer legs. She didn't miss the whole soggy pant bottoms that she needed to strip out of the moment she got home. Oma had her once strip out of them in the middle of the living room because of the wet bottoms after one rainy day.
"Do you want straight legs or boot cut?"
Adley offered pulling out a few pairs. The ombré popular in washes, along with the darker few shades from a medium blue. She was skimming into the top of the piles.
"A lot are going to the skinny leg. Bunches at the ankles a little bit but they aren't terrible. You should've seen atrocities that was the nineties." Adley commented.
Jane picked up a pair close to her. She examined them. The sizing was American. Adley quickly held them to Jane's hips and shook her head. They were way too big.
"You'll need a zero or double zero from the looks of it. Maybe a one if there is no stretch at all in the material. Other sizes may be in the twenties to thirties."
"Weird."
"We like to keep it interesting." She chuckled while piling a few pairs for the girl to try on. "Go try these on. I'm probably going to get some as well."
"Am I not to short for these?" She eyed a few holding them against her legs.
"We can check out the petit section, hopefully we don't need to drop down into the juniors." She pursed her lips.
"Okay."
They went over to the change rooms. The sales rep pointed them into their own fitting rooms. Adley grabbed a few hoodies and shirts for both of them. She got herself mediums, and Jane small or extra small. The girl was tiny and needed to be accommodated for.
She stripped her own jeans, changing into one of the straight legs she'd picked up. She came out in her size eight turning and holding the waist. The pair would need a belt. Adley sighed hating the differences in sizes that clothing brands worked with. Some odds some evens. All depended on the making of the jeans themselves. The sizes meant nothing for consistency.
Jane exited from the stall next to her in a t shirt and Jeans. The jeans did bag a bit in the ankles but it wasn't horrendous. The ombré looked good on her.
"Which size is this?"
"Double zero."
"Okay, they look good. How do they feel?"
"A bit constricting in my movement but they aren't over all the worst."
"Okay, how about the zeros? Would that fit better? Did you want to try a boot cut over slim pants?"
Jane nodded changing and popping back out. The new lighter wash jeans were boot cut. The material bagged on her lower legs but over all did fit nicely.
"These are zeros. I like these." Jane nodded.
"What about the tops?"
"I don't get the labels needing to show but I can deal with it. The hoodies are nicer."
"I'm not a fan of the shirts besides the hoodies, and some jeans here as well. It's okay to have favourites." Adley added.
They finished trying stuff on. Jane came out with a few sweaters and jeans. She also had a burgundy long sleeved tunic shirt. The scoop neck and label.
"Nice choice."
"It's soft."
"It is." Adley chuckled guiding her to the check out.
The two of them had hit the other stores getting a good full wardrobe for Jane. They had taken some bags to the Jeep due to the odd looks some people were giving the two of them. She had stopped for lunch on their way back to the stores. They went to the Apple store on the second floor. Jane stared wide eyed at the store. Adley wanted to get some iTunes cards for her own iPod nano.
"Do you have an iPod?"
Jane shook her head. "I have a walkman."
"Let's splurge." Adley pulled her into the store.
She bought a pink iPod Nano. A few iTunes cards and head phones. The teen was playing with the thin rectangle device. She was just vibrating with joy. Adley had told her to get one for her brother as well to give a gift to the kid. They headed down towards the book store. Adley wanted to look for some new reads.
"What is that store?"
She glanced over towards the right where the teen was staring.
"Build-a-Bear." Adley answered.
"Building bears?"
"Yes. Did you want to get one?"
There were a few children with parents heading inside. Jane's face contorted for a moment but she shook her head slipping into a polite indifference. Adley pressed at the young teen's aura. There conflict was.
"I'm okay,"
"Come on. Let's go make a bear." Adley urged.
"I'm nearly nine hundred years old. I'm certainly too old to do such a thing." Jane scoffed.
"That's the biggest lie I've ever heard. No one is too old to have fun. You're fourteen Jane. Be a kid." She nudged the girl in the direction of the store. "I'm twenty four, and am more than willing on buying one."
"I don't ever do this sort of thing." Jane murmured.
Adley paused seeing the discomfort and doubt flowing through the teen. Anxiety setting in.
Adley took the girl's hand. "You're an important guard to us. Very powerful, and well trained. You are also a teen girl. I don't care which century from. You are still a young teen. Sometimes we can all use the reminder to be kinder to ourselves and indulge. Eternity is boring without fun."
"Okay." Jane said a small smile taking hold of her.
She got in line with the teen smiling and gently guiding the excitement into the teen. She watched Jane. The line didn't take too long to get through. They started at the bins with the skins, and what would be the bears.
Many animals really, the classic bear, in a few shades, tigers, dogs, bunnies, and cats. A few others she didn't pay much attention to. Adley picked up a bear with medium brown fur.
Jane circled a bit before stopping next to a honey coloured bunny and brown teddy bear. She stared between the two. Adley smiled approaching her slowly.
"You can get both."
"Serious?" Jane asked, eyes widening.
"Why not. If not for you why not get Alec one."
"He can make his own." Jane huffed.
She chuckled nodding moving along to the stuffing station. The girl in the blue apron greeted them with a friendly smile. She showed Jane how to step on the pump for the bears. They waited for the hearts slipping them in. Adley chuckled while Jane held them close.
While Jane would not go through the process of washing the bears with the bath tub and brushes. She did go to the dressing station. She slid a dress onto her bunny and a vest onto the bear. Adley settled on a red shirt for hers and bow tie. They registered the names and headed to pay for the bears.
"Thank you, for this." Jane said while holding her bears and other bag. "I seriously enjoyed this."
"You're welcome Jane. You are fun to shop with. I never had a little sibling so this was great fun. Come on we can upload some songs at the cabin. My laptop is there. I had been working on some photos editing them."
"I saw some of them. You're talented."
"Thank you," She looped her arm through Jane's arm. "Lets go get some books. I want to stop by the comic store next door as well."
"Comic book store?" Jane perked up hearing that.
"Are you a comic lover?"
"Very much so." Jane hurried up.
It was just after one thirty when they pulled into the cabin gravel driveway. Jane was out and running into the cabin with Adley's purchases. She returned opening the driver door for Adley. She
"I'm going to run this to the other cabin. Will you be alright?"
"Of course." Adley waved the girl off, and got out of the Jeep.
"Okay!"
Adley stretched, getting her purse from the backseat. It was almost time for her to head into Olympia to meet Aunt Janet. Marcus had to be finishing up, right? She sighed really wanting to be with him when she visited her aunt. She locked the vehicle heading for the door. It had to be a lot of information being provided. She could visit her aunt if worse came to worse. She was a big girl.
"It isn't wise to leave a snack out in the open."
Adley stiffened. Her hand lingered on the doorknob to the cabin, hairs stood on the back of her neck. She spun on her heel.
There, a few meters from her. A wild man stood. He was dressed in tattered clothes with dark red stains on them. She gulped. That wasn't a designer choice. It was blood. Too familiar with how clothes looked stained with the dark liquid.
She blinked. Another popped up beside him.
"Smells quite unique. I call dibs!" The second snarled.
"Not it I make it my meal first."
A cool hand grabbed Adley's neck. She gasped hands flying to her throat. Fear pulsing.
"Not fair Tiff. It's mine. I saw her first."
"Such delectable smell. Fresh." Her hair was roughly pushed out of the way.
She cringed hearing the woman take a deep whiff of her skin. Adley's fear pushed outwards. Heart hammering. The cool hands fell from her neck.
"Ah!" The woman snarled.
Adley didn't dare turn. She kept her fear radiating from her. Hands balled in fists.
"The fuck?" The first man questioned. "Finish the meal Tiff don't tease us."
"Certainly!" The woman snarled.
Adley ducked the hand aiming for her. She tossed herself to the side, rolling out of the way. She pushed up on her knees scampering back. Her jeep near by, but too far to put between them and herself
The woman's black hair was in many knots atop her head. Her eyes were black with rage. Aura spiking and flaring around her. She was in a dress ripped at the knees. Hands open like claws. She snarled like the wild beast she was.
Adley focused on the gaze locked on her. She reigned in the wild waves flaring and snapping around her. She focused the fear she was radiating, and directed it to the vampire. The woman fell to her knees immediately.
"You're not to be here."
Jane appeared her words colder than ice.
Adley sighed, it was a small relief. Temporary. The woman lunged at Jane. Growls fell from her teeth. Jane blurred by. The woman fell screaming to the ground.
Adley covered her ears as grinding rock on rock crackled, echoing off the trees around them. Jane was in front of the spasming woman. Jane was a blur, she was up then over the woman. The motion decapitating the woman. Jane tossed the head down. The two men both roared, running at Jane.
Jane looked between the two. One screaming on the ground she tried to keep the other at bay while zigzagging out of reach. The blurs were hard to keep an eye on. Jane wasn't able to focus on both at once. She did but they moved out of her line of vision. The one got a hand on Jane. But was tossed behind her. The dance began again.
Adley's heart hammered. The woman's body was a few feet from her. The body was twitching and moving. The head was wiggling, the jagged pieces of marble facing her were dripping with a clear fluid. She shuddered.
A loud snarl brought her attention back to the fight in front of her. The two men couldn't be taken at once. She could evade with her height and stature. They were not strategic in their movements. They lunged in the most predictable fashion. They were relying on strength alone. Jane wasn't able to get them both at once in her line of sight. It was one or the other was on the ground snarling while the other attacked. It was the same loop of motions. Near misses getting closer and closer. She'd be killed.
Adley zeroed in on one man. who wasn't controlled by Jane. He grabbed the girl in a head lock. No!
"Aaa!" Jane screamed.
Blurs of her hands pulling on the large forearm holding her. Chunks of white went falling around her. The vampire growled and spun her. Jane bit down once she got enough room between the arm and her.
Adley pushed out waves of fear she was experiencing. Memories of the hole that was in Marcus' existence. She recalled the memories of Bella. The soul wound.
The two vampires stumbled dropping Jane. Jane gasped stumbling out of the head lock. She screamed through pushing the one pinning her down. They had a good grip on her. Her empathy wasn't enough for this.
Adley bit her lip looking between the situation.
Think. Think.
She scanned the ground. The gravel was smooth rocks, and some jagged. She zeroed in on one of the sharper looking ones. Perfect.
She pushed her sleeve up her right arm. She hissed pushing the dull stone into her arm. The skin split with some effort. Blood bubbled up to the surface gathering, before pouring over. It trickled down her arm.
Pain seared into her arm. She ignored it. She cut two more different levels of cuts. The blood streamed down from the wounds. She gasped dropping the rock back to the ground.
She shakily looked up.
Deep snarls ground out of the two vampires. Dark onyx eyes focused on her. Jane was forgotten on the ground.
They blurred over to her. One didn't make it two steps.
He was screaming.
She didn't see much of what happened but heard the man scream before the same grinding of rock on rock cut it off.
A hand slammed into her throat. She was pressed across into a tree.
Bark scraped through her shirt the fabric did nothing to soften the brunt force. She choked, the air knocked from her lungs. She couldn't get air. Little squeaks left her lips.
A gurgle coughed from her throat.
She met the dark holes that were in the face of the man holding her. Her lungs burned. He yanked her right arm forward. She struggled kicking out trying to get a grasp on ground. She needed to get away. Panic slammed into her from all over. Her vision blurred on the edges. Air. She needed air.
Teeth sunk into her arm. Fire ripped through her veins. She couldn't scream.
She let her eyes close.
It was a few seconds the world moved in and out of darkness. Pain in her arm and chest.
"Lady Adley." Jane called.
Adley's body slumped to the ground. She took deep breaths, Jane's calls were distant. Adley coughed. Her eyes flying open.
Jane was bent on her knees before her. Hands on her face.
"Lady Adley. Are you okay?"
Adley took hold of Jane's cold hand on her face. She slowly nodded. Behind the teen purple smoke was billowing from the driveway. There she saw yellow and purplish blue flames licking up at the bodies. Her heart slammed in her chest. The pain in her arm still there.
"I'm okay." Adley rasped rubbing her neck.
Jane grabbed her right arm to examine it. She lifted Adley up. She rushed her inside, settling her on the couch. Adley bugged, seeing Jane setting her twitching arm down on the table.
She was pulled back to Jane tugging her arm to see the wounds in the skin. The jagged cuts were crude, along with crescent bite marks.
"You're bleeding. I need to stop it."
"Okay." Adley breathed.
Jane was quick, licking the bite marks and cuts closed. She pulled back with red on her lips. Her eyes did not change from the dark burgundy they had been through out this all. She opened her mouth to thank the girl.
Right as the door bust open to the cabin. A snarl ripped through the room.
Hair on Adley's body stood and she sat up straighter. Anger flared in the new comer and herself. Adley tensed.
Marcus. He was standing teeth bared.
"Jane back away from her."
"I'm sorry Master." Jane blurted, standing from the couch getting away from her.
What? Adley mentally thought while scrunching her face up. Why was Jane cowering away from her? She'd just been saved by the girl.
Marcus flashed to their side. He was puffed up and towering over the teen girl.
"I specifically told you to keep her safe. It was your order. She is hurt." He roared.
"I'm sorry Master—"
Adley shook her head. Her anger building. After what just happened? No she had done nothing wrong.
"No. Do not apologize for this Jane." Adley snapped. Her head was beginning to pound.
"She certainly will." Marcus growled protesting.
"No." Adley didn't back down from him.
Her arm was still stained with drying blood, not having the chance to clean it off. Her hands balled into fists as she stood from the couch stepping between him and Jane. The adrenaline still in her system apparently.
"She did the best she could. This attack was sudden. I inflicted these cuts. Not her. She's missing an arm for fuck sakes. Well it was missing, she's still healing most likely from losing the arm. These vampires were much larger than her. Do not dare to blame this on her." Adley's voice got louder with each word.
"Regardless, she was to protect you. She is well trained on these matters. She has seen battle. You could have been harmed further." Marcus roared.
He was taking unneeded breaths. Nostrils flaring. His aura red. Deep anger. Her vision blurred with the same red.
Adley paused seeing his dark onyx gaze. She blushed. Shit. This wasn't his anger. She mentally checked her walls knowing they were useless against Marcus. He was being influenced by her.
The rage. It was her rage. She pursed herself lip before speaking. She took a few deep breaths to get under control. She would blow the roof of the cabin if they continued like this.
"Marcus take a breath. Fuck. You're not thinking clearly. This is my doing. Jane go tend to your arm." She dismissed the teen. "We will discuss further later."
She heard the door close.
Marcus had her in his arms lifted up and across the cabin in the master bedroom. The door shut right as he had her down upon the bed. His eyes were still black and she could see his aura.
"She should be punished." He bristled.
"You're not thinking straight."
"You could have been gravely injured."
"I can't die Marcus. Remember? Immortal? If I had. I would've been back. Jane is vulnerable. She may be gifted and trained, these newborns were large and had an upper hand."
Marcus sighed pulling back a bit. Adley caught his tie to keep him from getting far.
"You over spoke me, Little one. One thing. When it comes to your safety you will not over step me." He caught her chin. "I could have lost you."
Adley rolled her eyes, however did try to push some calming waves at him. "Fine. If my safety is in jeopardy. Jane, is a valued member of the guard and Volturi coven. I'm sure Alec is thankful his twin is safe. If I'm lost I can be found. I'm not going anywhere. If they locked me in a tower I'd still exist. You vampires can be destroyed and burned. Who truly had the upper hand?"
"I'm sorry Little One, I was not rational." He sighed letting his eyes close while he took some deep breaths. "You were right to dismiss Jane."
"She needed her arm reattached, and call it my overprotective instincts. She may be centuries older, but she's still a child."
"We do tend to forget that about the twins." He opened his eyes the merlot returning as his pupils shrunk. "I'm concerned however. If this was three newborns. What is to say how safe Jane will be? She has always relied on her gift or the presence of others."
"She shouldn't be pulled away from Alec I think. She is powerful, but newborns don't come with strategies from what I witnessed. Those training lessons are you apposed from me watching them? Or perhaps participating to some degree?"
"You may watch but you will not be put into this training. It is not gentle." He replied.
She pressed a kiss to his lips before pulling back. "I should at least be shown how to handle or avoid vampires. Don't you agree?"
He lifted her right arm and quickly helped strip her down. She shuddered feeling the cool air.
"Indeed," he looked her over. "You're not broken, merely bruised."
"Better than when I was bitten and drank dry by Victoria."
"Yes."
"Join me in the shower? I don't wish to greet my aunt smelling of sweat and crusted blood."
"What made you cut your own arms?" He asked guiding her into the bathroom.
He traced the lines that had been sealed by Jane. The new crescent on her arm from the vampire. She watched the irritation flare in his aura.
"Jane was out numbered. So I did what I could." She shrugged.
She helped him disrobe from his suit. She unbuttoned his shirt and untucked it. Not caring as she kicked it into the corner of the bathroom.
She ran her hand down his chest to his waist. His belt blocked her path.
"I'm alright. I promise Marcus. Sure there is a stinging in the arm but it's dealt with."
"Yes, however you are not left unmarked."
"You're irritated it's not your bite mark?" She raised her brow.
"I do not like to see you hurt."
"True... there is more to that though." She smiled pulling back and got into the shower. "You're thinking of replacing it with your mark aren't you?"
"We do not have the time."
"To fuck?"
He shook his head turning the water on. He grabbed the soap and loofa, beginning to run it over her skin. Adley pulled her hair out of his way of her back. She sighed feeling his cold hands upon her roughed up back.
His lips pressed into the side of her neck.
"I do not plan to simply fuck you, little one. I will thoroughly make sure you are alright. Make love to you, to comfort you from this ordeal. I will then worship your body to remind myself you are here. Listen to you cry my name while I toss you into the throes of pleasure. You will barely come down from your high until I take you again and again. Pleading with me to allow you rest. Only then will we stop." His breath tickled her ear. "It will take more than the mere hour we have to get to your Aunt."
Adley blushed. She cleared her throat shaking the images from her head. "I'm holding you to your word."
"When we finish with your aunt. I will take you for dinner. Then yes, you will be mine for the night."
"Okay."
They arrived to their destination with minutes to spare. The building they entered was underground like before. Marcus took to guiding her down the maze like halls to where they needed to be.
They exited the elevator into the familiar hallway. Aunt Janet greeted her at the entrance of the floor they had been on previously.
"Adley, it is good to see you. I hope you're day has been good so far for you both." She greeted her with an embrace.
"Auntie, it's always a pleasure to see you!" Adley pulled back holding onto her Aunt.
"Yes, you as well Master Marcus. I hope you are treating our Addie well."
"Afternoon Janet," He nodded. "I promise to care for her with every fibre of my being. To my best ability."
"So devoted," Aunt Janet winked to Adley. "I am glad to see it. Addie deserves happiness. Now I'm sure you're curious as to what the news is on your DNA."
"Very."
"There are a few things to update you on. Some good, some alright, another unfortunate." Aunt Janet said as they entered a side office.
Marcus took the first seat and Adley pulled hers close to him. Aunt Janet set to the chair and logged in. Once she was in, she turned the screen to them. A few documents were opened for them.
"What's the bad news?" Adley asked.
"Not bad, just unfortunate. Your DNA, I ran it through our data base. It did not send anything back to us. So, there is no direct answer to what exactly is going on in your body. We have little knowledge as to why your cells are replacing themselves so quickly and to such an extent with no breakdown."
Adley frowned. She didn't know why she'd thought it would be easy to get an answer. "Okay."
"The alright news, is that we have some hits within an off shore data base. In Asia. In our south East Asian library we have had some sparks of partial matches. The issue is that our system is in the process of being fully uploaded to digital files. So we have some time to wait for the librarians to find the documents that have been sparked and scan them over. If worse comes to worse they will fax them."
Adley's brows raised. "If they don't find the documents."
"Then you will need to travel to Asia and read through the old texts and tomes. How is your old Korean and old Chinese?"
Adley stared. These documents. Were they that old?
"Passing old Mandarin?" Adley stared.
"These texts predate the AD time period. Zhou dynasty texts, and bronze scratchings. 825 BC and sooner."
"I am not well versed in the ancient languages of Asia. I have read some, but I am not fluent enough to transept them." Marcus admitted.
Adley pursed her lips, and sat back. "I'm not well versed in Mandarin, I chose Cantonese to take as an extra language. Even then I didn't learn a lot. I ended up switching to French."
"There are translators in the library usually. They could help pinpoint the texts on what has flagged. Most are being translated into English. Mandarin has already been translated for most of the documents." Aunt Janet assured them both.
"It is good to hear there is progress in the libraries." Marcus murmured.
"Hm... I guess with eternity it wouldn't hurt to learn the language. After Italian that is." Adley added. She had another adventure to begin it would seem.
"Yes of course, you'll be moving there soon?"
"How—"
Eyes wide, Adley stared at her all knowing aunt. She was relaxed in the chair looking between the two.
"The Volturi reside in Italy, I can put two and two together dear." She chuckled.
"What is the good news?" Marcus asked.
"The cells in Adley's neck had not been totally eradicated they are mostly transformed, but there were some foreign cells identified to be venom." She responded. "What is fascinating is how your cells did not give into the venom. It simply took properties from the venom and began to change back to your normal cells. I haven't seen it before."
"Curious." Marcus breathed.
"Seriously? My DNA attacks vampire DNA?"
"In a sense this would be the case it looks like. The venom remained in the scar due to death, but it has replaced itself with a stronger properties of a vampire skin. It is almost as if your DNA sees the advantages of the venom and adapted."
"Freaky. The good news is we can track that crazy vampire. Deal with this mainly, and then get rid of the newborns." She looked over to Marcus. "Then we may need to take some time in Asia and find out exactly what is going on with me."
"Yes, indeed. You are a curiosity Little One. Janet, are you able to call Demetri and have him look into the scent. The sooner we get him tracking her, the better."
"Of course Master Marcus." She nodded. "I will see you later Addie, love."
"Thank you so much, Auntie. We will see you later." Adley got up and hugged the woman goodbye.
Marcus shook her hand before they departed.