MPOV

I had died everyday for the past three thousand years, forbidden to truly end my existence by my base instincts and the denial for clemency that I had begged my brothers to bestow upon me for the first millennium of my unending torture. I had eventually given up, standing, frozen in time, playing my role when needed and altogether happy to leave my brothers to deal with the woes of our world. I had seldom taken part in battles or decisions, but somehow or other, I could not completely retreat into myself and invariably took part in the greatest moments for our kind.

But at that moment, I knew. Right now was the reason I had been held captive in an undying body, that my soul had been shrunk, piece by piece, until only an echo of it remained, waiting to be set alight once more. If only I had known...

I locked eyes with her, her soft, brown eyes telling me more than words could. I could see the purity of her heart, her soul, I could read the care she could give, and the love that was overwhelming her beautiful soul. I felt like moaning in pain under the assault of my feeling, that had been foreign to my soul for the past three thousand years.

I could see her blood pumping life through her soft body and a low, deep growl barely made it past my lips and still, I knew that its meaning had not been lost on any of the vampires present. She was off limits; she was mine.

The young woman, Isabella, I remembered her name perfectly, took an awkward step forward. Before she had put her foot down, I was standing in front of her, looking down into her beautiful chestnut coloured eyes. They had strikes of gold to them and a hint of forest green around her dilated irises. They were… eternity.

Suddenly, or maybe finally, her legs gave out and I caught her before her knees even bent an inch. My hand cupped her face. Bringing her gaze back on me.

"Isabella," I whispered, her name a prayer on my immortal lips. "Do not fear, precious one." I reassured her as her gaze came back on me. "No harm will come to you while you are here."

"Leave us." I heard my brother Caius' voice command behind me. Barely had he given his order that the throne room emptied and within seconds, the guards had disappeared down in the furthest recesses they could find, deep in the castle or the tunnels. When Caius ordered, one obeyed.

I was still lost in Isabella.

Time stood still.

She was… beauty. She was life. She was my life. From the dungeons, I heard the agonising roar of despair from the young vampire that had claimed to love my Isabella. Foolish boy. I will not let anything take her away. What's standing in front of me, every breath she took had led our paths to this instant. The boy had merely been a tool of Fate, a way to bring us together.

I looked at the glorious light that surrounded her. A pure, ever so light green glow that enveloped her in an aura promising new beginnings and love in abundance. If I still had a beating heart, it would have been beating furiously in unison with hers. I caressed her cheek, letting my hand worship the gift that had appeared in front of me today. She remained silent, seemingly overtaken by the same whirlwind of emotions that had engulfed me. Her still human brain was slower in understanding, and accepting, the meaning of this precious and unique instant.

"Brother, may I?" Aro's voice broke the silence that surrounded us. He held his hand towards me, ordering without words that I showed him what I saw, what I felt, what I thought as Isabella entered my life.

I thought to deny him, to grab Isabella and run, but that would be in vain. I knew where I truly belonged and against the base instinct that wanted me to keep both hands on Isabella, I offered one to my brother who took it reverently.

I could not hold back a smile at his anticipation. Aro lived to be entertained. A fraction of a minute later, he let out a slow breath, his face telling me he was relishing in the feelings and images he had experienced through my mind.

"This is… this line between you… is this...?" He asked and I nodded in confirmation.

"Astonishing. Purely and truly astounding," he declared, a predatory smile spreading on his face. Yes, he was definitely plotting already. I sighed internally, already forming plans to keep his most extravagant ideas at bay.

"Would one of you care to enlighten me as to what happened?" Caius demanded, annoyance clear in his tone.

"Our brother has found his mate, Caius." Aro clasped his hands together in an excited gesture. "A human mate in the form of the most lovely Isabella Swan." He laughed out loud at this declaration and once again, I heard to tortured cries of the Cullen boy echoing from below us.

BPOV

Aro's words seemed to call me back to reality and I finally realised I was standing in front of my vampire, his unbending form giving me strength to stand despite the awe that I had felt when I saw him for the first time.

And suddenly, it all made perfect sense. Every moment, every step, every hour had led to this. One step closer towards my… mate.

It all fell into place. I raised my hand towards his face, shaking in anticipation, longing to touch him, feel him. I needed to know he was real, that he was there.

My hand touched his soft, marble, almost translucent skin and there were no words to express the feelings that shot through me.

"Hi," I whispered, somehow finding my voice and then regretting my choice of words. Hi? Could I not come up with something more… meaningful? I berated myself. But this seemed to be exactly the right thing to say as my vampire's face broke into the most handsome smile I had ever seen in my very short life.

"Hi," he whispered back, his eyes full of promises as we held each other in the most perfect and natural embrace.

AN: Here we are! This was the original plot twist that would not let me be until I wrote & shared it! I had fun writing in the last few days and I am leaving this story as 'in progress' for now because while being sick and confined at home, of course, the rest of a plotline popped up in my head... so this is probably a temporary good bye!
Let me know what you would like to see between Marcus and Bella if I was to publish more?
What are your thoughts about Edward being the tool of Fate? Poor tortured soul.

Thank you so much for the read, follow, favs and reviews, you've cheered me up despite being unwell, ahah.

Also, to have a look at how I picture Marcus as he is supposed to have been changed when he was 19, have a look at the cover picture for this story.

Ada x