Marcus POV

For the last few weeks I watched Aro work with Bella. Aro was trying to get Bella to stretch out her power to keep him from hearing Jane's thoughts. So far Bella only managed to stretch it out 1 cm.

Aro was being calm and understanding with Bella, knowing it would take her some time since she never tried to stretch it out and the fact that she was so young. Jane on the other hand was far from being supportive of Bella. The only reason she didn't say anything was because she didn't want to speak against Aro.

Bella spent all her time with Aro, trying to improve. Ever since she jumped into Aro's arms she has avoided me. And why not? I told Bella I would never hurt her. That I would never lie to her. And I did. I should have told her about what was happening. I should have told her that I put her in so much more danger then she was in with the hypothermia.

It's all Aro's fault. He purposely had Caius tell her about the immortal children to upset her. He wanted to draw Bella away from me. No. no I did this. I should have been the one to tell Bella. I should have said something to her.

I tried to think of ways to get Bella to Aleera as I watched her practice with Aro and Jane. She still could only manage to push it out 1 cm.

"Come on Bella. One more time." Aro encouraged her.

Bella shut her eyes tight, clutching her hands together, straining to push it out more.

"Anything?" she asked, hopefully.

"No. I can still hear Jane's thoughts." He said, before releasing her hand. "And that's not nice Jane. I'm sure she'll push it out more soon."

"If you say so." Jane replied, not sounding all that convinced.

"Again?" Bella asked, anxious to improve.

"Not today. Maybe tomorrow." Aro said, taking his seat. Bella ran up to his feet, as Aro reached out and placed her on his lap.

I felt a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. The only reason Bella was with Aro was because she was too afraid of Caius and she didn't want anything to do with me so Aro was the only one left. She needed to be with him because she was an immortal child, to young to take care of herself and as soon as an immortal child leaves its care giver the child must find a new one as quickly as possible and the closes one happened to be Aro.

"Bella, would you like to go see some of the sites in Italy?" I asked her, hoping for some kind of communication with her. It obviously wasn't going to happen because she didn't answer me. She didn't even look at me.

"Would you like to go see the sites?" Aro asked her.

"That may be fun." Bella said.

"I'll take her." Felix spoke up.

It gave me some relief to know that Felix had grown fond of Bella. I was glad that the relationship between Felix and Bella was different from the relationship between Aro and Bella, who only wanted her around for her ability.

"Okay then. Enjoy yourselves." Aro said, sliding Bella off his lap. I waited till Bella and Felix was out of sight before turning to Aro.

"Aro. Answer me this." I demanded. "Why do you keep Bella if you don't care for her?"

"What?! What are you talking about Marcus?! I do care for her!" Aro said, reveling his false shock.

"No you don't care for her. Just her ability." I hissed.

It was one thing that he didn't care for Bella; but I'll be damned twice if I'd let him sit there and say that he cares for her when he obviously doesn't.

"Marcus. Her ability is the reason she is still here. You should be happy Marcus. She's alive." Aro said.

"Bella is not a tool! I don't want her being used like that!" I growled rising from my seat.

"I see." Aro said, rising from his seat. "Fine. We'll go on then." Aro turned and walked out of the room, with Jane on his heels.

A smile spread across Caius's face. I knew that smile. It was the smile he got every time he got what he wanted.

"What did Aro mean 'We'll go on then'?" I asked, fearing the worse.

Caius's smile grew wider. "The immortal child is going to die."