Chapter Ten
"My sister doesn't care about me. And about you? No. I doubt she even gives a flying–"
"Let's not say things we'll regret," Aro rudely interrupted. Marlene was pissed that he hadn't let her use an obscenity, and was getting tired of people telling her that a proper young lady shouldn't be using that kind of language. She was also getting tired of life in general, but that's what happens when you've been alive for over a thousand years.
"You know, Aro, I've been alive for quite a long time, and I've never met anyone as annoying as you."
"And I've never met anyone as uncooperative as you! Now, do you want to hear about my proposal or not?"
"Not."
"Fine then, go on living like this. Never care about anyone. Never let anyone care about you. I know where your sister is if you want to find her. Though I must say that you don't look anything like Jane. You both are vampires; that's where the similarities end." Jane. My sister's name is Jane. She looked down at the accumulating rain water. It rains too much in London.
"Her name is Jane?" Aro freezes. He obviously didn't mean to give that away. "Well, I suppose I'll find her on my own…if she's the Jane I'm thinking of. And, based on the expression on your face, I'm assuming she is. Good day!" Marlene turned and began walking at a brisk pace based on human standards. For her it was painfully slow. She couldn't help but call over her shoulder, "I'd better catch the first train to Italy! I hear Voltura is very beautiful this time of year."
"Well, you should let me join you. I could be an excellent tour guide." He was only a few inches behind her. Marlene skidded to a stop. He whispered, "I will spare your sister's life if you are willing to cooperate with me."
"And what makes you think that my Jane is worth anything to me? After all, she bit me and left me to die. She left me alone in this world. She left me an abomination. A mutation of nature. Do you really think I'd still love her? Do you really think she loves me? No. The answer is no. I seriously doubt whatever you want from me is worth me not killing that monster myself." Marlene was, of course, bluffing. But she had to get rid of Aro. She knew the truth: her heart had stopped beating. She'd seen the fiery pits of hell herself. Jane had thought her to be dead, so she left. No one ever went unconscious before they had fully changed. Her heart had been the first human thing about her to go. She'd been a rare case, that was all there was to it.
Marlene also knew that Jane had only bitten her out of love. Jane hadn't wanted to go on without her little sister. That's why love is selfish: it is a selfish creature.
"I will allow you safe passage to Voltura to see Jane for two weeks if you will discuss this with me there." Wow, thought Marlene. He must be desperate.
"All right, but I insist that we go by train. I've heard that the views are quite stunning."
"But the journey will take multiple days! Wouldn't it be faster if we just ran?"
"Yes, but there's no need to hurry. After all, what are a few days compared to eternity?"
The grass blurred by, and from her perch on top of the train, Marlene could see for miles until her eyes reached some trees just beyond the horizon. It was beautiful up there, and the most beautiful part about it was that Aro was several cars down from her, just far enough to where she could ignore him. Until he spoke.
"I really think we should run the rest of the way to Voltura." Marlene groaned internally at his suggestion, for she'd already rejected this idea several times.
"Why must you always be in such a hurry? Is your proposition for me so important that I should put off all other things? One of which includes this beautiful scenery that you have failed to notice." Marlene could see his growing frustration, probably partly caused by her old english. Aro was just as old as her, but he had updated his phrasing significantly.
"Just listen to me! The clock is ticking, and neither of us is getting any younger. Now, I suggest we get going." Marlene was not understanding why he didn't get it, and was beginning to feel extremely pissed off.
"That's the thing! There is no clock for monsters like us! Why are you in such a hurry? We don't need to get there a couple days faster, we need to live in the moment while we have the opportunity to do so! You may think that we have an eternity to experience these moments, and you're right. But it's never the same. You may never feel like this ever again, and you are missing out."
"We may have plenty of life left, but my plans are on a clock. Please, Marlene, this is important. You're necessary to this mission. I'm begging you, and that's not something I enjoy doing, so please don't make me do it any longer." Oh. She hadn't realized how important this was to him. Marlene didn't particularly enjoy being a pushover, but…well, maybe this actually was important. Maybe she was a key part of an important plan. She'd never been important before….
"All right. Let's go."
Marlene and Aro jumped off the train, heading in the direction of the setting sun, their shadows elongated behind their figures.