A/N: All rights go to Stephanie Meyers. I do not own anything except for any characters not originally in the Twilight Saga.

Chapter Eighteen: Leandra

I walk down the hallway while reading something that Marcus is supposed to look at and go over. Sulpicia steps out from a room and she looks at me. I stop to bow to her when our eyes meet. She raises a brow and the motions for me to follow her. I walk behind her slowly and quietly without knowing what she wants to talk to me. Sulpicia stands at the end of the hall in a dark area and she turns to me.

"Give him back to me, Leandra," Sulpicia says quickly.

"I am not sure what you are talking about, mistress," I say.

"Give me back Marcus. Before you came here, he and I were lovers and I was willing to leave Aro and this place behind to be with Marcus. But, ever since you came here, Marcus has changed his mind and he has forgotten all about me. Now, give him back to me or I will make your life worse than it already is."

"Mistress, I did not take Marcus from anyone. He made his own choice to not be with you and he made the choice to ask me to his mate. I am sorry that you feel this way, but I did nothing wrong."

"You little-" Sulpicia begins but is interrupted by something or someone.

"Lea?" I hear Marcus say. I turn and then walk over to him when I see his worried eyes. "Sulpicia, Aro is asking to speak to you. I am not sure as to why, but he has requested you meet him in his room."

"Thank you," Sulpicia says with a fake smile and then leaves. I look up at Marcus and then walk down the hallway to Marcus' study with him behind me.

"Lea, what did Sulpicia want?" Marcus asks quietly. I try my best to ignore him, but he grabs my arm and then stops me by his room. He gently pulls me into his room and locks the door behind us. "Leandra, please talk to me."

"She accused me of stealing you from her and I know that is what I did. I did not do anything but be here and then we fell in love with each other," I say. Marcus takes the papers from my hand, puts them on a table, and pulls me close to him. He lifts my chin and kisses my lips softly. "I love you, Marcus. I love you so much that I cannot believe to have someone like you in my life."

"I love you too, Leandra," Marcus says softly. "Let me show you how much I love you. Will you let us take the next step?"

"I can't right now, Marcus," I say and move away from him. Marcus looks at me with hurt in his eyes and it hurts me so much that I have no choice but to leave the room. My eyes hurt a little when I feel like I should be crying, but luckily I am unable to. I walk to the garden and I look at the trees as they sway softly in the wind. I fiddle with Marcus' ring on the chain around my neck and I take a deep breathe for no reason. My frozen heart aches and I close my eyes as I step into the garden. The gentle breeze picks up in the garden and blows past me softly. I smile and close my eyes to enjoy the cool air. Someone walks behind me and I turn my head to see it is Marcus with a sad look in his eyes.

"Why will you not let me have you in my bed, Leandra?" Marcus asks softly. I turn to face him and reach up to cup his face in my hands.

"Darling, I am old fashioned and I will only give myself to my husband. We can do other things like now, but anything further and I am afraid that I will not be able to control myself for long," I say sweetly. Marcus moves my hand to kiss the palms of them with his eyes closed. He takes a deep breathe to capture my scent like it is his drug. "I love you and will always love you. You just have to give me some time to get ready to give you all of me."

"I will do anything for you, my darling lionness," Marcus purrs and pulls me closer to him. I smile widely and lay my head on his chest. Marcus holds me close and it feels right because that is the place I am meant to be forever and I feel safe here in his arms.

Marcus is stuck in a meeting with Caius and Aro for a few days and it not turning out too pretty. Apparently there are reports of humans being killed in mass numbers in the states and it is not looking good for the Cullens. There is a small rumour that it is a newborn going on a feeding frenzy with no creator to show them how to control their new hunger and strength. I sit in the library, waiting for the first orders, and I am reading another book from the classical authors shelf. The sound of footsteps makes me look up and see Demetri standing by the bookshelf with a wicked grin on his face. I raise a brow and then go back to reading my book.

"Hello, little lamb, what is it that you are reading so intently?" Demetri asks, as he walks over to sit next to me. No one but Aro knows of my relationship with Marcus. I move away from Demetri and push him with my gift even further away.

"Go away and leave me to be alone," I say without looking at him. Demetri persists more and moves back to my side, this time his hand is on my leg. The touch of his hand on my leg drives me a little batty and I turn to look at him with a soft growl.

"Come on, you know you have feelings for me and you want me to take your cute virginity away for you," Demetri purrs. I close my eyes and try to keep from letting the flashbacks happen and from letting my temper take over. Demetri lets his hand drift up my leg and leans in closer to me. I snap my close closed, hold it in front of his face and grap his hand to squeeze it firmly.

"If you ever lay a hand on me or even make a mention that no man has touched me there, I will make you regret every second of it. Now, I suggest you sit here while I walk away to my room," I say as calmly as I can. Demetri chuckles and then shifts to move away from me. As quickly as I can, I get up to be far away from this playboy.

"I love when a beautiful girl like yourself denies me like this," Demetri says, as I am walking out into the hallway. I holds my arms around me closely as I run to my room and lock myself in there. The memories of my human life come back to me suddenly and I dry sob while falling onto the floor in a small ball.