Adley swung her feet over the bed's edge. A cool hand on her back as she struggled to stand.
"That's it little one," Marcus murmured.
"gah, I hate this," she hissed as her feet hit the floor. "I can't even use my own arms to get out of bed. What if I need to go to the restroom. I absolutely draw the line at having you see me relieve myself."
"I helped you bring our children into this world," he reminded her, lips on the shell of her left ear. "Nothing will ever push me from you."
Her cheeks burned. "You're devotion is admirable."
"I will always be here for you," a purr began to rumble through his chest.
She leant back settling against him. "We have twins and now my arms are useless. This is utterly unfair. Next time I'm not pissing off a bunch of warlocks."
"There will be no next time, you will not be left alone nor communicating with those wretched beings."
"Harsh Marcus," Cassandra quipped entering the hospital room. "I'm pulling your leg. I get it, Adley isn't to be within reach of warlocks and witches. She's a bit mouthy."
"I can show you mouthy." Adley muttered under her breath.
"Not with others present, nor you in such a state." Marcus warned, low enough only for her to hear.
Adley ducked her head looking away from Cassandra. She really needed to not play with fire when her mate was so close and she really missed him.
"I'm glad to see you're up and moving at least out of bed. How's the pain level?" Cassandra questioned approaching her, her hands began to glow.
"Manageable there's a stinging and deep burning of an existing cut. Nothing I can't handle."
"You don't need to be handling your pain. I'll let Dr. Ramirez know to administer a higher level of pain killers, if it becomes too much I'll work on a herbal numbing agent. Give you some relief to the pain from this magic." She sighed. "I'm so sorry you've endured this. You didn't deserve this. I'll be burning the black magic book and all copies through out the world. I've already sent out a warrant amongst our covens."
"How does this magic even exist?" Adley voiced. "It seems extreme."
Cassandra gave her a pained tight lipped grimace. "In all worlds, we have people who take things to the extreme. Pushing boundaries as far as we can regardless of the harm it will do. Magic is an inherited gift. You can't guarantee good people to be born and raised. Each world has them."
"It's better than intentional..." Adley trailed off.
Her shoulder's sagged as she stifled a yawn. She was too exhausted to think on the bright side about this. Her gut was in knots tightening the longer she lingered on it. She wanted to throw up from the memories.
Adley worked in the early morning light peering through the kitchen window. She carefully tried with her might to open the old margarine container. Her tongue peaked out as her chafed fingers pushed up on the lid.
"Ah… fuck…" she hissed when on of the cuts on her fingers hit the side.
"Little one," Marcus' deep voice rumbled from the kitchen entrance.
She didn't need to turn to know he'd flashed to her side from the office he'd been working in.
"I'm fine." She waved him off. "Just a little tricky is all. I love Eomma, really I do, but she puts the lids on when the food is still hot and it creates suction from heat loss and—"
"Allow me," Marcus took the container from her hands and slipped the lid off with a flick of his index finger and thumb.
She frowned. "Vampire strength… I had it."
She reached out for the container.
He didn't hand it back. He simply took over what she had been doing. He poured the chicken soup into the pot on the stove to heat the soup up for her. His hand went around her waist pulling her into his chest as he moved about. Her protests silences by the soft purr began to emanate from him.
"I can do this," she huffed looking up at him.
His jaw was tense, she didn't need her gift to see his aura was strained. It'd been four days since she'd woken up for good. After a week in and out of consciousness. She'd been released only yesterday to an apartment higher on the main levels of the compounds. One with sun light.
Some of her injuries wouldn't heal with magic or death. To her disdain she needed to sit back and allow her body to heal itself. Three cuts on her left arm had been surgically graphed from the odd rune shapes to simple lines to heal. On her right arm five marks remained. Her hands had small nicks all over two fingers which made it difficult to do much. Hence why she couldn't open the damn soup container.
Her only relief from her own frustration and anger was the fact she had the twins and Marcus to keep her company. It distracted her from the surveillance of the guard and her brothers in law. She could see the damn concern that followed her in their auras. She was so close to snapping.
"Don't force yourself to do something you cannot." He argued the last few words growled. "You will allow yourself to heal."
She relented too weak to protest. She settled into his chest. "I'll need to eventually do it to be able to heal better."
"No." He dismissed. "You are to do nothing at this time. I will not lose you."
Another issue at hand. She kept quiet. Marcus was attached to her side since she'd been cleared from bed rest. His protective nature was beginning to wear her thin. She'd caught small comments from Aro as she'd been close to ripping her hair out when Marcus went to follow her into the restroom.
"Marcus, I will put the lighter to your balls! Heaven help me!" Adley screeched. "Get out! I need to do this on my own."
"You will not be out of my sight," Marcus snapped towering over her.
Adley's cheeks burned as she fisted her hands. "GET OUT!"
"No."
"Brother," Aro stepped into the hall hands clasped together.
"Away from my mate." Marcus snarled, teeth bared as a growing growl built in his chest.
"I mean no harm."
"Get away!"
"Marcus, kindly Fuck off!" Adley ran her hands over her face.
"She is needing a human moment Marcus, you can wait for her here, but let her do this herself. She's a big girl." Marcus glared at her before he turned flashing away.
"I've been toilet trained for twenty three years." She grumbled.
"A word of advise sister." Aro sighed. "He only worries for your safety. You've been hurt recently, his bond is strained and easily pushed into over drive. Appease the beast by submitting. It will calm him down enough to allow for communication."
"I'll try that next time, pardon me I really need to go." She fled pushing into the washroom.
She took a few breaths allowing herself to remain in his hold. His hand pressed to her lower abdomen. She huffed squirming at the discomfort. She patted his hand to release her a little. He let up lightly, keeping her close.
"Alright, I give. I'm in enough pain to let you." Adley sighed.
"Do you need more pain medication?"
She shook her head. "Any more and I'll be unconscious, I need to eat."
"Will you be alright to nap?" Marcus hesitated.
Adley stared forward at the soup that began to simmer.
Sleep. The demon that haunted her the moment she closed her eyes. The past week and a bit she was in and out of constant nightmares. The torture flashing before her eyes.
"Y—yeah."
"I will ask Cassandra for some sleep draught."
"That stuff is disgusting." Her nose scrunched up. It tasted like pickled eggs.
"It allows you to sleep,"
She rolled her eyes. "I'm so over this. Being so useless. I should be helping you with our kids and protecting them. Yet you've been forced to take this on alone."
"You fail to realize one thing Little One," he murmured kissing her temple. "You don't need to do this alone. We are partners in this life. Equals on all footings. You've been injured. It is okay to rely on me for help."
She sighed tilting her neck while he pressed little kisses down her neck. "It leaves me so vulnerable."
"Whoever said you aren't allowed to be so?" He challenged. "My brave little mate you've endured so much, trust in me. I am here for you."
A knock on the kitchen entrance. Marcus straightened up loosening his grip on her. Adley turned with him.
Eomma stood arms full of Thea. She held the baby close. Thea's eyes following to her parents.
"Also them," Marcus whispered to her. "They will never be far."
Adley smiled she made her way over to Eomma. Her focus on her daughter.
"Thea, are you up already from your nap with Nona?" She cooed stroking the baby's chubby cheek.
A little grin was her response.
"She is her mother's daughter." Eomma chuckled.
Marcus POV: A week earlier
Marcus stared at the sight before him. His hands clasped in his own. The mating bond was flaring before him, pulling him to her. Each second slipping by taunting him to pull her to him.
Adley tucked into the hospital bed. The linen sheets up to her chest. She was breathing evenly, oxygen canoodle in her nose. Heart monitor watching each beat. Her eyes closed. Even though she looked to be asleep he knew her dreams were plagued from what that monster had done. Her lips twitched now and then as her brows creased.
If it weren't for her small whimpers and calls, he'd be down in the cells with the bastard returning each bruise and cut he had inflicted upon his mate.
She'd only gotten through surgery a few hours prior. He studied the wrapped arms that sat above the blankets. They needed to be accessed by Dr. Ramirez and Cassandra regularly.
The ghastly images came to the forefront too easily. Her unhealed injuries that had remained despite death. Her body had tried to heal but was unable to. Open wounds festered and bled out of the scabs. Quarter inch cuts carved into her taupe skin. On the insides of her forearms, odd runes he'd never seen before lined her. He could tell she fought the assault from the odd cuts to her fingers. They'd been bandaged so not to allow infection.
Cassandra had advised they were runes from a rare black magic book. The book thankfully retrieved and locked within a secured bare room of a few dangerous books they had in their collection.
Adley. He reminded himself. His teeth grew damp with the venom pooling in his mouth. He wanted to torture the man who'd hurt her. Force the burning venom into him and pull it out. Only to do it over. Preventing him from changing.
He couldn't. His little mate needed him to remain at her side. Their twins were with her aunt and Cassandra currently. His priorities were here.
"Master Marcus?"
A calm voice called.
He turned finding the small Dr. Kim. She stood hands clasped. Her brown gaze shrouded by her greying brows. She bowed to him. He paused taking in the elder woman. What ever was she doing here? He mentally questioned.
"Dr. Kim, you know that is not required of you." He reminded finding his voice.
The woman shook her head. She came forward wrapping her arms as best she could around him.
"I am so sorry,"
He paused assessing her as she began to cry. He didn't move as she held tight.
"I did not mean to,"
"This isn't—"
She interrupted him. "My fault yes, it is! I am so sorry."
He opened his mouth to argue.
The door to the room slammed open. She pulled back a moment before he stood from his chair to address the threat.
His snarls died in his throat.
There in the door way stood Eomma. Brows creased, cheeks red. Her dark burning gaze was focused in on him. In a simple tracksuit she stormed up to him. She barely reached his chest but he still stepped back once.
"You!" She had a slipper in hand smacking his arm hard with her might.
He blinked at the brush to his suit. "Me?"
"You let my baby get hurt!" She screamed her voice cracking in her rant. "How dare you! She has been through enough in her short life! Do you understand that!"
Marcus knelt down looking up at her, eyes filling with tears that would never fall. "When I say the man responsible for this will pay. He will be. My word is my bond. To you and your daughter."
"Let me have a chance at him. He will learn not to mess with Susanne Choi." She snarled.
He stood up keeping quiet. Marcus watched the bond flare in her chest a bright red along the line it zipped straight to Adley. The unconscious woman twitched.
"I am afraid it is a classified matter—"
She cut him off mid sentence. He pursed his lips refraining from snapping at his mother in law."No more lies. I know exactly what has happened."
Marcus nodded once. He snuck a glance at the shrinking Dr. Kim take a step back. She inched closer and closer to the door. He could see the strain in the bond between them. This is what she had meant. Out of all things to make the unshakable Dr. Janet Kim shudder. Her younger sister.
He could not blame the doctor. The more he remained in the presence of the fire that was Susanne Choi, he wanted to back out of the room too. He clasped his hands together. He could not though without sacrificing the good doctor.
"If this is the case, then please have a seat. It would be a waste of energy for you to be exposed to the wretched creature. I am sure my fiancée would have my head if I did. I fear her a little more." He spoke.
"He is lucky I did not find him." Eomma huffed walking over to the bed side, cupping Adley's cheek. "She is pained."
Tears fell freely down her face as she settled into the chair he had just been occupying beside Adley.
The door still opened revealed In-su Choi, his future father in law. Glasses settled on his face. His thick brow creased and lips pressed. He looked every year as old as Marcus was in that moment.
Marcus could not help to slip into his bond sight.
"Appa," he greeted.
The elder made no comments. Their bond while weak did not seem to strain. The man met his gaze nodded once before going to his wife and daughter's side.
Marcus was careful to move to the other side of his mate. He fought back the growing urge to snarl at them to get them away from his hurt mate. His instincts were going against his knowledge. Her parents would never hurt her. He would not say anything to hurt them.
Minutes ticked by turning to an hour. Until both parents looked to him as he let Adley's hand go. He wanted to give them some privacy. In the meantime go and speak with Dr. Kim.
"You may stay as long as you want, I have something to attend."
"The doctor, did they say if she would wake?" Eomma asked not taking her gaze from Adley.
Marcus did not say anything until Appa looked to him. "Not any time soon. She is on a strong pain medication and draught to help with the nightmares."
"You must have questions for us. If Adley will not awake for sometime then let this be dealt with." Appa stood squaring his shoulders.
"I am not leaving." Eomma waved them off. "I wish to be with our daughter."
The law was very clear. He did not have it in him to force Susanne Choi from Adley's side. Trial was to be had for each breech of the secrecy law, he knew this. A fair trial had both offending parties present. This was not a black and white situation.
Appa headed to the door casting one last glance to his wife and youngest child. He did not linger though and exited. Marcus followed him outside into the hall way. The bright over head lights reflecting off his balding head.
"Where to?" Appa asked.
"Follow me," He motioned down the hall. They boarded the elevator in silence descending further into the earth. Three floors down. To the right eight doors on the right.
Marcus took each step slower than he needed to. All too soon he arrived with In-su. He opened the door.
inside a small oval table with seven chairs around it. The table was covered in books open to many pages. Aro was sat with his laptop going between a few books for reference. Caius nose deep in a few books as well. Both looked up hearing the door open. Crimson gazes fell upon them.
"Brother?" Aro questioned.
"Adley's parents have been informed of what we are." Marcus advised. "Please have a seat."
In-su sat down at one of the chairs across from the two vampire kings. He kept a blank face and straight back. Marcus had to commend the man for bravery.
Aro closed his computer and Caius shut his book. Both took on a look of indifference. Marcus sat to the right of his father-in-law.
"How did this come to be?" Caius demanded, not raising his voice.
"May I?" Aro held his hand out to Dr. Choi.
"I do not understand your request."
"Aro can see every thought you've had in a single touch." Marcus explained.
"I see," Dr. Choi nodded once. "You must understand the admission from the source was made under duress."
"We will make sure to take all facts into consideration before we come to a decision on this matter." Marcus assured.
"Alright," He settled his hand into Aro's.
It was mere seconds Aro's crimson gaze glazed over as he stared at the man across from him. Marcus long used to Aro's gift crossed his leg over his other while waiting for him.
"Janet Kim," Aro patted the back of Dr. Choi's hand before retracting his.
"The doctor broke the law?" Caius questioned.
"It seems so," Aro sighed hands clasping under his chin as he sat back.
"I remind you it was made under duress," Dr. Choi implored.
"Dr. Susanne Choi, cornered her older sister after an episode. She had been with their other new grandchild when she felt pain in her chest."
"She did not go to a hospital? Is that not a sign of a heart issue in humans?" Caius raised his brow.
"This pain was different," Dr. Choi shook his head. "My wife has felt this before when there was an issue with one of our children. Anna was at home preparing for a feast, we were with Cole. She knew it could only have been Adley. After we called her multiple times, she went to Janet. We've never questioned her work, knowing it was classified. My wife does not do well when our children are in danger."
"Adley get's her temper from her mother," Aro commented a smile playing on his lips. "She did corner the good doctor with a cast iron pan."
"She told us after a few words," Dr. Choi added. "She told us of Adley's condition and why this happened."
"She exposed our existence to you," He nodded at Caius prodding. "She broke the law."
"Dr. Janet Kim, was well aware of the consequences of breaking this law." Marcus agreed.
"The law is clear." Aro whispered. "We also have a member of our coven recovering in the hospital wing. One who relies heavily upon her Aunt, and parents."
"The law is law, Aro." Caius reminded. "They must be turned or they die."
Aro stared at the man before him, who had not moved or began to plea for his life. Seconds trailed by in silence. Marcus watched both of his brothers remain.
"Do you wish to deal with the wrath of Adley?" Aro pressed. "While our laws are strict and no second chances are given. We must consider the implications on ourselves. This is a coven matter."
"You are aware of your daughter's oddities?" Caius asked.
Dr. Choi smiled. "I've been aware of Adley's gifts since she was but a toddler. She had her daycare class mimicking her emotions from the time she was eighteen months old. If she was happy everyone was happy, if not, no one else was. Like my wonderful wife she is a gifted Empath. A Park family gift. It has been given to each generation for thousands of years. Usually in the women, but it does effect the boys sometimes as well."
"They have secrets of their own to keep." Marcus spoke up. "They've known of Adley's survival as well. It speaks to the fact they would not tell others. They have as much need for secrecy as we do."
"I also wish to remind you, Adley would be around for centuries to come to remind us how we hurt her." Aro relented. "I for one do not see the issue of her parents knowing of our existence. They kept her safe for decades and I do not see a reason for them to spill this secret."
"I vote to allow things to be as is," Marcus agreed. "Even if my reasons are selfish."
"The law in this case, seems it can be bent. I ask the Choi's sign a contract if it is found they did tell others outside of the main family they will be dealt with swiftly." Caius finalized.
"I will agree to this," Dr. Choi nodded once.
"Well then, that is settled." Aro stood. "No need to anger our sister."
"Let me bring you back to Adley," Marcus stood.
"Brother do try and not get your in laws hitting you with things again. They could get hurt." Aro called after him as the door closed.