Disclaimer:
I own no part of the 'Twilight Universe'. Only the idea to this story. This is strictly for fun.
Recap:
As soon as I was in there, I called Felix and had him get some fresh food for Bella, while I lit a fire and cleared a space on the desk, setting up a second chair as well. When I was done, I sat down and picked up my writing, where I had left off, while with another part of my mind I listened to the sounds coming from the bathroom, screening them for anything that might indicate a danger to Bella. In this fashion I sat, waiting for her to join me.
Author's note: 'Sorry' and 'Thank You'
A huge thank you to all readers. You are awesome. Please forgive the long wait. I was on vacation and had no internet access, although it had been advertised.
Thanks for all those awesome reviews, and adding my story to your lists.
I love my beta, Madietta. She works magic. I'll update this chapter once she is through with it. I am sorry you have so much on your plate right now.
Thanks to SharonD03! You always know just what to say!
Chapter 24 (Bella pov):
Deeply in thought, I made my way over to the bathroom. Avoiding the mirror like a plague, I splashed cold water in my hot face and let the jet of water run over my hands and up to my elbows. My thoughts were torn; on one hand, I really didn't want to go see a doctor and face the needles, that I knew would be inevitable, when they wanted me checked. In addition to this, I knew they would find something to be wrong with me. I felt it, something was not right, the way I was sleepy so quickly, so easily out of breath. By no means had I ever been well trained, but right now just a long walk, like the 'tour' Heidi had given us, had me exhausted and my muscles trembling, as if I had run a marathon.
What will they do, when they find out? Will they make me stay in hospital? Can they even enter one? It surly reeks of blood in there.
On the other hand, I really wanted the nightmares to end, to have a peaceful night.
Is it foolish to wish for a good night's sleep? When was the last time I slept really peacefully?
With that thought I looked up and let my gaze meet that of the thing staring back at me out of the mirror. How disgusting: Dark, grisly, unruly hair, unhealthy, pale skin, accentuated by blackish circles under bloodshot eyes; a zombie out of a child's nightmare.
Why do I even care? Why does it matter, what happens, what they think, what they do? I have come here to die, haven't I? What about that now? Why would I try to get rid of my nightmares? Death would quit them, too. Would it not?
Reflexively my eyes dropped back down again, staying trained on my hands, while I washed them methodically; I couldn't stand the sight of me.
I had never considered myself to be beautiful, merely average, but now I found myself to be downright ugly. How anyone could look at me was a mystery to me.
Yet, Aro and Marcus didn't look at me with disgust and distaste, but with concern, and in Marcus' case something else, that I couldn't put my finger on.
Aro, he might be able to help me. He said he would try. Did I want help? Why would he want to help me? Am I worthy of help? And is he not already helping me? Does making me stay alive equal help? I don't know.
They are treating me nice.
My mind went over everything that had happened since I had come here: my arrival, my introduction to the Volturi, my breakdown, the conversation with Aro and Caius, their wives, Marcus, Heidi, Felix. It was a quick scan of the past days' events and the situation was clear:
They had been nothing but nice...
well, apart from Caius, I mentally qualified, and shuddered, when I recalled the way he looked so feral, ready to tear me apart and I noticed belated, that I might very well be dead, had it not been for Marcus' and Aro's interference. Looking back on this, I realized, that I wasn't as keen on dying, as I had been, when I had first come here. Analysing my feelings I concluded, that all their offers to help and their behaviour in total towards me had sparked a tiny hope inside me. This epiphany terrified me. I was waiting for them to show their true colours.
It was strange; apart from Caius, they didn't match the description HE had given me, not in the least. It was rather the opposite even. They are nice and caring, that was the impression I had gained.
Those musings left me confused, and no matter how hard I strained myself, I could only walk in virtual circles in my head, never reaching a solution to this internal battle.
Absent mindedly, I dried my face, arms and hands. Then I brushed my hair, trying to straighten it. I gave up, when it still resembled a hay stack after several moments. After drowning the pills, I walked out of the bathroom, closing the door. Like on autopilot, I went over to my backpack, lying on the bench at the end of the bed and took out the actual diary and a pen.
Quietly, I opened the door to Marcus' study, stepped inside and closed the door behind me. My feet , without my conscious thought, led me to the comfy looking corner seat, that filled the small bay behind the huge desk Marcus was sitting at. Sunlight shone through the large windows, relaxing me, as my brain continued to meander its way through all these messy thoughts.
"Bella?" The loud voice broke me out of my reverie, and abstractedly a soft "Huh" escaped me in answer. When my mind and eyes focused on Marcus' serious gaze, I was immediately self conscious.
For how long have I been spaced out this time? Has he tried to talk to me before? With these thoughts I felt warmth flooding my cheeks in embarrassment.
Hastily I tried to mutter an apology, but only a raspy, hoarse sound escaped my lips, making me blush even more and clearing my throat noisily. I cringed.
Marcus' lips turned up, although shut tightly, he was obviously fighting his amusement.
"Ah, I see you are back. I have been trying to gain your attention for a little while now. May I inquire which topic had your thoughts so utterly and completely ensnared? You were somewhere else completely." His voice held curiosity and no small amount of amusement, yet it was gentle and kind, not harsh as one might have expected of someone being ignored for who knows how long.
As my eyes swept the room randomly, I saw the food set on the small table beside the yet again burning fireplace. Obviously he had followed the direction of my stare, as he spoke again:
"Yes, that was one reason, why I broke you out of your reverie, for which I hope you will forgive me. It arrived, while you were thoroughly distracted. It must have cooled by now." He gestured towards the food, and looked rather contrite, when he apologised.
"Yeah, sure, no problem, really." I was quick to assure him, and went on,"I am sorry I spaced and didn't realise you were talking to me."
"No, I understand. I, too, tend to get caught up in my own thoughts and forget my surroundings completely. You see, I take absolutely no offence. Would you care to have your lunch now? I could have it reheated, if you would like?" He was caring and attentive, again, as I had seen him before. Slowly I stood up, some joints cracking, when jumping back into place. A little moan escaped me because of the uncomfortable feeling.
How long have I been sitting?
Marcus was up and in front of me instantly, making me jump a little in surprise. "Are you hurt? What is wrong?" His eyes scanned me, frantic.
"Why?" I could not make sense of his words, until I connected the dots.
He heard the cracking of my joints and thought I was somehow hurt
"Oh, the cracking?" He nodded in silent confirmation. "Well, I think I just sat still for too long. That was some of my joints jumping back in place. It doesn't hurt. It is just uncomfortable for a moment. Nothing hurts."
"It's normal." I added as an afterthought. I could not quite quench my giggle, when I saw the incredulity on his features.
"Normal?" He reiterated questioningly. Now I just nodded in the affirmative and he hesitatingly took a step back. I walked over to see, what had been brought for lunch to see whether I could eat it cold. It was grilled cheese and ham sandwiches with a salad to go along with it, as well as some orange juice in a big mug and a large bottle of water.
"No need to heat it again. I'll just eat it cold. It's perfectly fine. Should I take it to the other room? I'm sure you don't like the smell." I was rambling, but I couldn't stop it. He was always so kind, and I felt like I was invading his personal space enough, without adding a terrible smell.
"Be assured, I don't mind. Actually, I was wondering whether you would allow me to keep you company?" He seemed hesitant, as if he was insecure.
"Sure? I wouldn't mind." Now, I was thoroughly confused.
"Thank you. Shall we?" He stepped behind the chair that was placed before the table and held it out for me, a silent offer.
I could feel the warmth on my cheeks, when the blush set in, while I thanked him and set down to have lunch.
He took the chair next to mine, and gestured for me to eat, smiling a little in encouragement.
I wasn't really hungry, but began to eat anyway. Marcus beside me was quiet.
"Marcus?" I whispered, now he seemed to be deep in thought, but with them you never knew, their brains surely worked differently.
"Yes, Bella?" He looked at me now, tearing his gaze a way from the flames to meet mine, only to sweep down, taking in my plate, before coming up again.
"Do you know what time it is?" He nodded.
"About four pm. You were completely lost in your own mind." It was a statement, and there was no underlying annoyance or anything of that kind. He truly accepted my spacing.
"You have barely eaten anything. You are not finished yet, are you?" When I nodded my head ever so lightly a scowl slowly formed, darkening his expression.
"I may not know much about humans, but I am pretty sure you are not eating nearly enough. It worries me, to be honest. Bella, would you tell me when you began to eat so few? Please don't think me impertinent, but the contrast is alarming..." He stopped. The scowl deepened and the inner conflict was clearly displayed on his face. He was searching for the best way to broach a delicate subject. After a few more moments, that raised my nervousness immensely, he sighed, closed his eyes and began to talk again; voice quiet.
"You are aware of the fact that we gained the knowledge of your name and such from your passport? He did not open his eyes, so he could not see me nodding my head, but he continued anyway, not really needing an outspoken answer. "On your passport and also your drivers license, there are pictures, that had been recently taken. On those... the difference is striking. I was wondering how much time had passed between then and now. How long have you been starving yourself, and why? Did you do it consciously? Did you decide it?" His eyes were open now, staring into mine, anxiously searching for an answer.
I couldn't bare the intensity of his gaze, so I caved and looked down at the food, still sitting on the plate, untouched. I had only eaten one and a half pieces. There had been four in the beginning. I thought back to when I had still been living with my mom in Phoenix, and I knew, that I would not have finished everything back then, but certainly more then now. I sighed and at the same time I felt tears pricking my eyes, begging to be released.
Obviously Marcus realised it as well, as he instantly began to backtrack.
"Bella, I apologise, of course you don't have to answer. It still is a mutual agreement. I didn't mean to hurt you, to make you sad. I..."
In that moment something inside of me snapped, I didn't want him to feel as contrite as he was now, he shouldn't have to walk on eggshells around me; no one should. He had only asked a simple question. Nothing horrible. Why would I tear up about something so trivial. I knew the answer to his question. Why couldn't I talk about it?
"No." I interrupted him. I shook my head determinedly and wiped away some stray tears with the back of my right hand.
"No, Marcus, no. Don't apologise. It's irrational. I shouldn't tear up about something like that. It is okay." I took a deep breath and send him a small, sad smile, to emphasise, that I truly was okay. I gave myself an internal pep talk, before I answered him in a voice as calm as I could muster.
However that was all I could do. I couldn't hold his gaze, so I turned and fixed it on the flames instead.
"I didn't decide it. It just happened. First I felt sick and nauseous, so I didn't eat at all in the first days. When my dad made me eat, or rather when I ate something to ease his mind, to appease him, it tended to be too much, more then I could hold, and it would..." This was too awkward. I closed my eyes. Then continued, after I had taken a deep breath."Ugh, okay. I would have to throw it up. Not on purpose, more like my stomach rejected it. It came back up automatically. It... and then I began to eat less, so that I wouldn't have to bring it up again and well, now, now... you know what its like now." I was ashamed of myself, that I had let it come that far, that I had not done anything to counter it, fought harder...
"Bella? Look at me? Please? It is quite all right." When I gave no indication, that I would follow his request, he brought his left hand up, to gently take my chin between his thumb and index finger, lifting my head to look at him. I didn't resist this guided movement and finally looked at him. Marcus smiled sadly at me, and with his other hand he wiped away a stray tear, that I hadn't noticed had escaped.
"I am sorry for what you have been put through, but glad, that you didn't harm yourself on purpose. Would you try to eat a little more? For yourself? You might feel better in the long run. I know you won't go back to your previous feeding habits from one day to the next, but in time? Just a titbit more? Perhaps if you ate small portions all over the day?" His voice had taken on a new tone; hopeful and a bit pleading. His eyes held something else entirely; a fire that had not been there before. Dumbfounded, I could only nod.
He released his breath and leaned back in his chair, his sweet, scent robbing me off all conscious thought for seconds, before I could shake it and lean back, too.
Again my mind was reeling and suddenly, I really had the urge to write my thoughts down into my diary, hoping to come to a conclusion, at least on some of those tormenting thoughts.
"Okay. I think I'll go back to my spot and actually write some things down. I haven't been very productive up until now." With those words I stood, but halted again, not sure what to do with the remaining food. Undecided, I looked between the small table and the spot on the bench, where my diary and pen lay, unused. I was resolved to eat some more, but wanted to sit on the comfy spot, too, yet I didn't want to risk ruining the lush cushions with crumbs and such.
Marcus had stood up with me, and was obviously aware of my predicament. He offered to relocate the table next to the window seat, with a disarming smile. I accepted, of course, and followed.
Silently each of us returned to the respective seats, and this time I began to work, to fill the empty lines with my scribbling. A few seconds later, I heard Marcus pick up his work, too. The noise was odd, so I looked up to see him seated on his desk, with an actual quill in his hand and a pot of ink placed to his right. He wrote on parchment. Parchment like the loose papers I had seen on the shelf before. Only a few seconds later he looked up at me, raising an eyebrow in silent question. He had caught me staring, and I blushed again, but I just could not believe my eyes.
"Yes Bella?" He encouraged.
"Ah, It's nothing, really," I stammered. In answer he cocked his head to one side, obviously not believing me. To make a point I looked back down again, and went to work. He didn't press the matter, for which I was grateful, and went back to his business, as well. Time passed and I found the scratching sound of his quill oddly comforting. Every now and then I would stop, to take a sip of juice or water, and when I did so I would sneak a peak at him, but I was always careful not to stare too long.
I had written quite a bit and was now carefully approaching the present events, my observations and thoughts about it all. However I left out the most crucial parts, as I did not trust myself to broach these with out taking a fall into my personal hell. I was unsure, whether I would ever be able to talk freely about those things. And again, my thoughts went back to Aro and his offer to help me. It was so tempting, but what would that mean? He had told me I was no threat to their secret, as long as I was with them. As long as I stayed here.
Would I want to stay here? Would I want to live? What could I do here? Would I be a secretary, like Gianna? Would they want to change me? Would I want to be changed? No, no I didn't want that, eternal life. An eternal life would equal eternal torment.
That was too frustrating to muse about, as I knew I wouldn't find an answer. With a sigh I shook my head and was just about to return to write down more of my observations, when I became aware off the silence. Marcus was not writing any more. I looked up, only to meet his curious gaze, but unlike me, he didn't look down, when I caught him staring at me. He simply stated "You were spacing again. It is interesting to see, really. When you do that, you sit as still as stone, as still as one of our kind. The only movement is your body's trembles with the rhythm of your heartbeat. Your eyes glaze over. You loose all awareness, are completely gone from this world. It is strange you would do this as a human, and even more so, while in such close proximity to one of our kind. You truly are something else. How can you not feel afraid? It is instinctual for most living creatures. Especially with humans, as they are our, well, natural food source; children react even more then adults. They tend to see behind the façade of our lures; they recognize us for the predators, that we are. In all my years, have I never seen or heard of a human like you. Your breathing and heart rate are calm, relaxed even. I don't understand it." With the last words he shook his head in wonderment. I noted the quill was nicely placed in it's stand, next to the pot of ink.
I shrugged my shoulders, not knowing how to answer this, and quite honestly a little uncomfortable with his scrutiny.
"I don't know. I have never really felt frightened by the vampires I met, well with a few exceptions, of course. But when I think of it, in these situations it might have been humans instead of vampires, too. I was more afraid of whatever they wanted to do with me, then of their nature. A human can be just as cruel as a vampire, only its resources are more limited. It isn't a conscious decision on my part either. I guess, deciding to go against my natural instincts wouldn't really work, as that is the nature of an instinct; you can't go against it." I stopped short, debating with myself whether to tell him about THEIR musings about my lack of self preservation. In the end I gave in to his attentive look, that edged me on to tell him more. He looked so interested, as if my ramblings were vital. It was strange to make assumptions about myself, like one would about a lab rat, but his curiosity was infectious, so I went on: "THEY thought I had no self preservation at all, that I was so to speak a lemon, a mistake made by nature itself." He smiled a little, shaking his head minimally, before he spoke,"No. I can not agree with that; it is too easy an explanation. I like to think, that there is a reason behind everything. We just need to figure it out." He sat back, still looking at me, daring me to counter.
This was amusing, so I continued with that playful banter: "Well, I don't know. Maybe I am a mistake. I mean you need to look at all the facts. There is that glitch in my brain that prevents Aro from reading it, and now several people pointed out that I am abnormal in my behaviour. Perhaps it is as easy as that. I am a mistake." When I spoke it, it rang true and my body stiffened, my mood shifted rapidly. I could feel the colour leaving my face, and a big lump settled in the pit of my stomach. Now I was distraught with this acknowledgement.
I am a mistake. These words rang loud in my head. It came so close to what he had said back then in the woods. 'a distraction' and 'not enough'
My partner in conversation had obviously caught the change in my demeanour, as he sprang from his seat, over the table and stood in front of me a mere moment after I had spoken these words. His eyes held mine all the time and he crouched low before me. I had seen him move and I was startled, but I couldn't move; I was frozen in place, like a statue.
"Listen to me, Isabella. No matter what you are thinking right this moment. It. Is. Wrong. Do you hear me? You. Are. Not. A. Mistake. Is that clear?" He spoke slowly, loud and clearly, emphasising every single word with meaning and conviction. There was no doubt he meant what he said, yet my mind was not at all inclined to let go of its new epiphany, either. I was torn and I am sure it reflected on my features or in my eyes, because Marcus placed his cold, large hands on my shoulders and spoke again:"Believe me. I know a mistake, a lemon, when I see one, and you are neither. You are different, special, but you are no mistake. Do you understand that?"
Slowly I came out of my self inflicted stupor and while looking at him, who was so assured about this, I came to think that he might be right. I wanted him to be right. I needed him to be right. I nodded, first only weakly, then again with a little more vigour.
"Good." He nodded with emphasis. "Never doubt me on this." I nodded again, still very confused. He stood back up and casually leaned against the desk again, watching me for a few seconds more. I had no time to let sink in, what had just happened, when he asked:
"What were you thinking about? I mean, you shook yourself from your thoughts and were about to write something down. What was that? What did you deem noteworthy?" Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew he was changing the subject so fast purposely, but being sort of out of it, I simply answered: "Observations I made here, little details that stroke me as odd. Differences."
"What kind of differences?" His voice was light and playful on the surface, but there also was a certain strain of tension lying underneath.
In response I blushed a little, thinking, that in essence I had viewed him just as much as a guinea pig as he had done me, when I had been counting off all the differences I had seen between him and his family, and the guards, or any other vampire I had ever seen.
"I'd rather not tell you. You might take offence, and I don't mean to insult you." Now he was looking at me with burning curiosity.
"Now, I am even more intent to find out. It can not be that bad. I told you about my observations concerning you, so if you have those, concerning me, it would only be fair of you to tell me. I promise not to take offence, as you already warned me. So please, continue." He was calmer now, expecting a genuine answer.
"Okay. You are a bit different from the others. I mean not only you, but your brothers and sisters, too." I clarified. "But even among them, you stand out."
"How so? Care to elaborate?" He was all nonchalant, but the tension in his pose belied his tension, his anticipation.
"Oh well, here goes nothing." I rather said that to my self, then to him. I was becoming increasingly antsy and his never ceasing stare didn't make things any easier for me.
"Your skin. Your eyes. The way you move. Even the timbre of your voice. You are different from any other vampire I ever met. Granted, luckily I haven't met that many, but I thought I had the traits down, but you, you don't match the bill..." Now it was my turn to look at him in earnest curiosity. I wanted an answer. And if I had to, I would use his own argument against him. I had told him my opinion about his observations and I would try to make him do the same. Unintentionally, I crossed my arms over my chest, which made him smile.
"You are right and very perceptive," he simply said. I waited for more, but nothing came.
"And?" I pressed.
He just looked at me, a mask of indifference making it impossible to read him, and remained silent.
"You were saying?" I insisted, lifting an eyebrow, my voice already mirrored my frustration to some extent.
He still stood, unmoving, no indication that my words had even registered with him.
"Marcus?" I prompted yet again, this time anger clear in my voice.
I felt played. He wouldn't answer.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity to me, Marcus spoke. His words seemed carefully chosen. "Bella, I don't think I will be able to answer all the questions, that you most probably have or will come up with. I want to be open, but my hands are bound, not like yours, by a promise, but bound nonetheless. Perhaps in time I will be able to tell you, but not now. However, as I said before, our agreement still stands, and you can ask me anything." Marcus looked at me, silently waiting for me to make a choice.
He was always so calm, never pushed for information, didn't hover, yet every time, when I secretly had wished for company, he had been there, in the background. To be honest, I was craving his company; I didn't want to be alone. Being near him, even in silence, made me feel less lonely.
I was selfish, and I really wanted all the answers to my questions. I wanted to play a game with open cards. But here I was, bound by a promise, and obviously, they couldn't talk freely either. We were in similar positions. We both desired something the other was not willing to give. It would have to stay like this; would have to be enough, for now. I would not give up one of the last things intact about me, my honour.
Marcus, and Aro, too, had been honest with me up until now, at least I supposed so. They even went so far as to admit I wasn't perfectly safe.
Yes, there were some things they didn't tell me, but they hadn't tried to disguise that, they had told me so. Their explanation was somewhat sparse. But it was personal and we had agreed to value and honour each others privacy. It was as honest as things could get.
Of course their secrecy had me on edge, but they probably felt the same about my secrets. In the end, the situation was fair and even, balanced. I felt good, knowing they respected me enough to leave me my will, my space. They didn't pressure me, wanted to know my every thought. Unlike other people...
My emotions turned resentful while I made that comparison. Defiantly, I decided to forget everything HE had told me about them, he had lied before. I would make the best out of the little time I would spend here, would get to know them and then form my own opinion.
During all my mental rambling, I declared Marcus the most trustworthy. I had the urge to tell him about me. I mean, as much as I could anyway, without falling into that darkness, that lurched behind simple, seemingly innocent, harmless words, just waiting for me to slip up and loose my guard. With this mental image, I shook my head. I couldn't tell him.
When I focused on him, he was looking at me strangely, a cross between amusement and mock irritation.
"There you went again. Can you still agree to these terms? I dare say, that one of your questions will raise one of my own. It would make me more comfortable to know for sure that you would not mind, if a question remained without answer."
I nodded slowly. "Sure. The terms stay the same until one of us revokes them." After these words were spoken a short silence arose, and for the first time, it was a little uncomfortable. Neither of us seemed to know what to do. We were both waiting for the other to begin.
"I could take a chair, if you would prefer, if you want me to keep a little more distance?"
His facial muscles didn't even twitch, when he spoke the last part, so it was clear there was something he didn't want me to see. He was hiding something.
I shook my head 'no' and told him I would not mind. In a smooth movement, only a vampire could pull, he sat down on the bench, too, and turned slightly, to face me. He left enough space between us so that I would not feel crowded, but not too much either, so that he didn't seem to distance himself from me, either.
"Is there anything else you might like? Something to make you feel more comfortable?"
He is so sweet.
"No, thank you. Really, Marcus. I am perfectly fine. I have food right next to me, as well as something to drink and the temperature is not too hot nor too cold. Just perfect." Somehow I felt talkative, felt at peace with him around.
"Who is cooking for me all the time? Gianna? I really could make myself food, you know."
That was the first thing that shot out of my mouth in an attempt to break the pressing silence, that had once again descended upon us. However, he seemed to be grateful for me to begin the conversation, first.
"Actually, Caius hired a cook to prepare your meals. He has planned your main meals for a few days to come and instructed the cook accordingly. He even read books about proper nourishment for humans." While he said this he looked to the wall, that stood in the direction of Caius' and Sulpicia's room.
"Huh?" was my eloquent answer. Marcus didn't seem to notice and nodded broodingly, still staring at the wall.
"Would you tell him 'thank you'? I wouldn't have taken him to be the caring kind... I mean especially towards me, or any human in general. He hates me, doesn't he?" Within this stuttered sentence, the colour of my tone went from questioningly friendly to insecure, to timid, to fearful.
Marcus turned to me, his eyebrows furrowed.
"No, I don't think that. He simply doesn't like humans. We don't interact with humans often; only with Gianna and when we... What I meant was, you are the first one we are getting to know."
Marcus looked at me, looking contrite, but it was clear, what he had wanted to say. 'When we eat' or 'feed', or 'kill them'; take your pick.
"Yes, I didn't think you'd have many human acquaintances. I understand. I cannot be easy for you to be around me. Sorry. But, Marcus, this will sound like I am crazy, but do I smell good to you, too? I mean, back home quite a number told me I smelled 'delicious', 'exquisite', 'mouthwatering'; a mixture between flowers and strawberries. So I was just wondering, whether I was a local delicacy, or rather an international one." I sounded small and embarrassed even to my own ears.
Marcus looked stunned for a moment and then he broke out into a full belly laughter, like I had never seen him do. I was sure, if he could, he would have tears running down his face from all the laughing.
My face turned as hot as could be.
When his booming laughter quieted to a smirk and fake coughing, he answered. "Oh Bella, believe me, You are an international, rare delicacy. You are a temptress, Bella. Never under estimate your lure. But why would you ask something like that?" He looked at me, still smiling brilliantly, but his curiosity was shining clearly in his ruby orbs.
"Oh. It's just, when I came here, I didn't know how to gain your attention, and I had bet everything on this assumption. I thought that, if one of you smelled my blood, you would want to drain me, and I would get, what I had come here for. But there was always the fear that the, well, taste buds of European vampires worked differently then those of American vampires, you know."
I would have been so glad, had a hole popped up underneath me and swallowed me whole. Marcus was looking at me so strangely, it was unnerving and I felt like a huge idiot. He spoke again, but there was no trace of his previous humour.
"Ah Bella, if you only knew how close to exactly this end you had been. While in town, staying in this hotel, your unique scent caught the attention of Demetri and Heidi. The only thing stopping them from draining you was the law that forbids any vampire from hunting in Volterra. And Heidi in a way broke it, when she invited you on her tour."
As he told me this, I was proud in a sick and twisted way. Had it not been for Marcus, my plan would have succeeded.
"Hm." his reply had given me a lot to think about, but I wanted to ask more questions, so I stored the new information away, to think about later. Just as I wanted to ask my next question, the sun in the west broke through the thin layer of clouds and fell on us, causing Marcus to gleam like the reflection of the moon on a still lake. There were countless tiny facets, that did not really reflect the light, instead it shone from within him; so different from HIM.
I quenched this thought in its bud, and let the heat of the sun relax me. My eyes closed and I turned so that I could face it, bathe my face and body in it. Marcus had tensed, when the sunlight hit him. I paid that no mind.
The sun's heat warmed me all the way to my bones. It made me soft, turned my whole body into jelly. It felt so incredibly good. I could not remember, when I had last felt the sun's hot rays on my skin like this; probably back in Phoenix.
I slouched back some more and folded my left leg up to rest under the thigh of my right leg. My eyes were still closed and I was the most relaxed I had been in months.
"Did you see me just now?" Marcus' voice was cautious and repressed, and that was what made me open my eyes. I looked at him questioningly. He was standing in the shade, close to his desk.
"Yes?" I was surprised by his behaviour.
"It didn't... I don't know how to phrase it, scare you, disgust you, or make you uncomfortable? I expected a different reaction. I can't comprehend that. Why didn't you react?" He was eyeing me with a curious expression, that I couldn't name. Shock and disbelieve were certainly parts of this mix.
A little giggle escaped me, when I realized, that I was his rat lab and he was my guinea pig. It was just the way we saw each other, how unconscious ever it may be.
"What has you so amused now?" In these words his growing curiosity rang clear, though it didn't show in his posture.
"I just realized you eye me like some people would eye their rat lab, but even while you do that, I am looking at you in the same way, too." My smile grew, when I saw recognition and understanding dawn on his face, until amusement won over and a small smile graced his features.
"I guess you are right. I am sorry. I should not view you in such a way, but it can not be helped. I have never seen anything quite like you. You astonish and surprise me time over time. You are an enigma." At the end he sounded awed.
"If you are sorry, so am I. I mean, you are kind of my science project, too. Though I think its quite funny.
"But now back to your earlier question: How and why should I react? I have seen your kind in the sun, before. However, I have to admit, your sparkle is different than the others I have seen, another observation. Another trait of your kind." I risked a glance down to my wrist, to have a better comparison. The thin scar James' teeth and venom had left. It sparkled more obvious, more like a crystal. The effect varied with every movement. In its own way it was mesmerizing.
"Apart from that, I sparkle, too. A little. I have never scrutinized it like that. I always ignored it as best as I could. It is colder, too."
I only realized Marcus had move from his shady spot closer to me, when his hand came into my line of vision. He was reaching for my hand, his own glowing mysteriously. When he was just an inch away, he met my eyes, and asked for permission to see my hand.
End note:
Sorry to leave it here. The next chapter will follow much sooner.