Marcus slammed open the heavy oak doors. He didn't leave his shoes at the door as he'd come to do when inside. The red around his gaze hadn't dissipated in the last twenty-four hours. He wanted his mate. Now.
He scanned the library main floor. The open tables and sitting areas were empty. Only one remained. He flashed over.
"You won't see her any sooner by making demands of me." An elderly woman, with long silver hair stated not meeting his glare.
She was stood in a simple black sweater and trouser combo. She held a large tomb a silver glow around her hands and the book.
"I have not spoken my reason of being here." He snapped indignant.
She raised a brow, grey eyes settled on him. "You do not come to demand your wife? That the Aster Family is holding her. You will murder and maim all who stand in your way, etc. I am a Protector of the European Magical World. I am gifted with sight of all immediate threats to me, Marcus Volturi. Now do you wish to settle and sit or am I to bind you and leave you until you do?"
"I wasn't going to outright murder them." Marcus' shoulders fell. "I need answers, and corpses cannot talk."
"Vampires always controlled by their emotions especially when it is regards to their mate." She held a hand up to him. "I am aware the bond of mates is very sacred to your kind. I also know if you were to go right into their home without the proper preparation you may be on a suicide mission. I am not to take any side that is not that of a warlock or witch when it comes to the conflicts of species however, I am allowed to warn you when it could violate many laws. You need to prepare yourself with knowledge of the magic of the Aster family. Who they are, and what they are capable of doing. You may use the records here. I cannot help you beyond that Marcus Volturi. If you are to ask me, you are asking me to violate my very oath to this role."
"This is the best I will get I take it?"
"This is the only option that does not lead to your death." She turned at that to make her way out of the library.
"Thank you, Sophia. Would Bethany be able to assist me in all ways, with unrestricted access she has?"
"You walk very dangerous lines." Sophia paused, turning to him. A small smile upon her face. "Beth please assist Mr. Volturi. Good day Marcus."
A puff of silver smoke brought a small sprite of a woman. Long copper curls tied back. Grey eyes set in a heart shaped face. She was a pale woman with many freckles splashed across her face and neck.
"Please bring me everything in this building on the Aster family. If it mentions them, I wish to read it."
"As you request." She snapped her fingers. Many books and papers came whizzing by piling up on a nearby table.
Adley shot up out of the chair. It wobbled a few inches pushed back in the action.
She exited the room not giving much preparation time. She unfolded the paper shaking as she went. The thing extended out more and more, revealing a five-story building, in a blue print of shorts for a house. Little blue dots were moving along the floors.
She evaluated the map. Two stories were upstairs three below ground. The top was rather simple. It was the three-level labyrinth she was left fretting over. So many turns to exit. Where was she?
A red dot appeared.
A route out?
A line began to swivel through the halls leading up and up until a door was found. She nodded.
Left, left, right, last door. Stairs keep running until I reach the ground floor. Then right and a left. Run quickly.
She nodded once.
She took a deep breath.
Heart slammed in her chest. Sweat began to pool on the back of her neck and in her hands. One chance.
Fifteen minutes.
Run.
She dashed forward headed left. The hallway narrowed as she went. Edges blurring by closed wooden doors shut right. The florescent lights hid nothing.
Her foot falls echoed off the stone walls.
She kept following the map. She kept it open watching the blue dots moving in and out of the building.
She exhaled turning with the line.
She was at a door. She inhaled quickly and exhaled as fast. She could do this.
She needed to get out of here.
There was no hiding in this place.
She pushed open the door. Stairs.
Up and out.
One. two. Three. Four….
Eight… nine… ten…eleven…twelve…
Two blue dots appeared. she froze in the stairwell. On the map, her clammy hands held tight to the paper. They approached the door. she took two steps back.
No hiding.
She didn't have anything to fight with.
The door knob turned.
One… two… three…
She heard a few faint voices. Another dot.
Her heart slammed into her chest, thundering in her ears.
The dots retreated…
She booked it…
She was panting by the time she reached the level labelled with a simple G. She took a few breaths, the burning in her sides began to make itself known. When was the last time she ran?
Not important. Home. We need to get home.
She pushed open the heavy metal door. She peered out through the slight crack.
The long hall with a few shut doors. The deep brown wooden floors shown in the warm lights that were staggered throughout on the coffee-colored walls. The hum she'd gotten used to below was gone. She only had the ringing in her own head.
She stretched out her neck and arms.
Go.
She sprinted down the hall to the right. Glancing to the map. She needed to round this corner. Then she'd hit the front door. Simple.
Okay. She folded the map up. She pocketed it.
She rounded the corner, carefully. There the hall opened into a grand foyer. There were windows before the double doors. It was daytime.
She ran for her life.
She pushed away the aches of running constantly away. She could sleep when she was free.
She was locked in on the doors. She didn't take her sight off the door. Each step of her foot brought her closer… closer… she reached her hand out…
She touched the cool metal door knob. A smile spread across her face.
"What do we have here?" Someone declared.
Ice poured down her spine.
Adley hissed, as a spark of blue entrapped her.
"Don't fight it dear, the more you do, the bigger the mess." A cold feminine voice warned.
No… no… no…
She was so close…
No…
Twist it…
Come on…
She was fighting thousands of needle pricks in her hand.
She didn't let go of the door knob.
Her arm began to weigh down.
Electric shocks worked their way up and down her legs.
Turn, just a bit more…
She forced herself to keep turning the knob.
Freedom… the window was in her peripheral…
"Come on…" She cried.
"You torture yourself,"
"Please just let me go…" Adley sobbed.
She turned her upper body to look over her shoulder.
There standing halfway on a grand staircase, Mary Aster. Tears gathered in her eyes.
She didn't let go.
A grey plume formed at Mary's left.
"Madam, the rest of the family has requested you."
"Not now Ru."
"Madam, you must go now." He insisted.
"We have a prisoner to detain, now do as I command and secure her." Mary snapped.
"I cannot fulfill this request Mary Brom Aster." Ru placed a hand on her head.
Mary collapsed. Ru caught the unconscious woman.
"Go."
Adley turned back twisting the knob and pulled the door open.
The sun beat down on the old cobble street. Row townhouses faced her. People passed by undisturbed from their own litter worlds.
She hurried down the stone steps of the house.
Adley shook while she began to jog down the street, she pushed herself to put as much distance between herself and them.
She turned down a bigger street, the crowds began to get bigger. Groups of people. She saw down street, they were surrounding the older buildings as they got bigger.
"Fermati!"
Adley flinched at the loud shout.
She barely noticed a child laughing to her left. The little boy barely five was stood in a pair of overalls and a sweater, dark curls cropped at his ears.
She turned slightly seeing an older gentleman hustling to him.
"Papa!" The boy squealed.
"You are very naughty," The man admonished the boy in Italian. "Running from me, that is not how hide and seek works."
The boy laughed.
"Come along, Nona should be done lunch soon." The man took the boy's hand, when they turned, he paused seeing Adley. "Ma'am, are you alright? You seem lost."
"Si, I have lost my way. I did not mean to get turned around. Will you point me to a police station? That or to the bus station?"
"Follow this road, it will bring you to the center of the city. Then turn left, three doors down there's a police station."
"Thank you,"
Adley hurried her steps away from the two. Her heart clenching in her chest. She needed to get home… her babies…
UNK POV:
"What has happened here?"
Ignatius Aster demanded entering his bedroom. In his bed, Mary Aster was tucked in asleep. A grey flitting form took shape of the small pale being.
"She was not feeling so well, Master. She fainted." Ru explained.
"Do not lie to me imp. What happened to my wife? That heathen, the Volturi keep as a pet did this. Didn't she?"
"No sir."
"Then who?"
"I sir,"
Ignatius turned to the imp. He towered over the being cane raised, a dark blue coating it.
"You betray our family."
"Mary Brom Aster is not blood. She is part of the family I serve." Ru shrugged.
"She is married into the family. You serve her as if she were I."
"The contract I agreed to was to serve Master Regus Aster and his blood. She is not blood."
"You betray us regardless for what? That Heathen?"
"No. Only for Ru." Ru flitted out of the room.
Ignatius snarled cursing the beast.
Adley thanked the officer, she stepped into the office with the landline.
The phone rang twice.
"This had better be urgent to dare interrupt me." Marcus snarled.
"Marcus…" she whimpered.
"Adley. Where are you?" The growling gone.
"I –I don't actually know. A police station…" She looked around the office.
The desk had a shut off computer, a calendar with a few words. She spotted a badge of the officer she'd just been talking to.
"Florence. I'm in the office of officer… Renaldo."
She moved the badge seeing a few cards.
"Can you find the address? I am in Florence."
She rattled off the address.
"Stay put."
Marcus POV:
Marcus turned to Bethany. "Scrap this, I require one favor. The sun is still out. Adley has surfaced. Can you retrieve her for me? Bring her to the car. We will go home directly."
Bethany shut her tome. "Sure."
His dead heart clenched inside his chest. It did not take his bond sight to know he was needing his mate. She was found. He needed her now.
He stretched his hands hurrying as quick as the mortal witch travelling with him could move. They were in the fully tinted car quick enough. They drove down the streets across Florence.
Adley stood in the lobby of the police station wrapped in a large shawl from Officer Renaldo. He'd fetched it from some supply room. She watched people pass by.
Her foot tapped while she searched the many cars passing for one she'd recognize. Her heart hadn't calmed down since exiting that cursed house. She was on alert listening to every approaching step. The muffled conversation of the officers around her.
A black car pulled haphazardly in front of the station.
A red head came booking it up the stairs.
Officer Renaldo approached.
"Afternoon miss, may I help you?"
"I am here for Adley Choi."
The officer glanced over her head to Adley. The redhead turned. Grey eyes settled on her.
Adley stiffened.
"Marcus is in the car."
Adley nodded once.
The redhead offered a hand.
Adley pushed passed her out of the police station. She hurried down the steps and opened the back seat door.
She dove inside shutting the door, locking it behind her.
Marcus barely had time to catch her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him. She buried her face in his neck. Hot tears poured down her face. The cries ripped from her mouth.
"It's alright, Ms. Choi you'll be alright soon enough."
She ripped herself away from Marcus.
No. No. No.
Ignatius Aster sat where Marcus had been.
No… this wasn't right…
Blackness engulfed her.
Marcus POV:
He watched her sleeping form. The white blankets pulled up to her neck, hiding the restraints upon her hands. The machines beeping of her heart beat.
"Brother," Aro greeted entering the infirmary room.
He glanced to his slumbering sister-in-law.
"She collapsed in the car. Cassandra and Bethany are running tests."
"She is stable?"
"Physically." Marcus sighed.
"She has been missing for a week Marcus, she may just be exhausted." Aro offered.
"She began attacking me before she collapsed. It's why she is restrained."
"We will figure this out, do not fret. Adley is a strong woman, she will pull through."
"She should not need to be, every other month it seems she is under attack."
"We will get to the bottom of this, Brother. Caius is already heading a group. We will eliminate this threat once and for all. I came to offer my service to you for now. I can look to see what Adley went through. See if it offers some help."
"Please." Marcus encouraged.
Aro approached Adley's side, taking her right hand. the blanket fell aside showing the bandaged knuckles.
Aro's crimson gaze unfocused momentarily.
Marcus watched as his brother sorted Adley's memories.
Aro dropped her hand.
"They have entrapped her mind." Aro growled.
"What?"
"They torture her with illusions. This is not the first time either the Asters have mentally attacked her." Aro informed him. "These bastards, we will kill them."
"When?"
"We require an army first."