Disclaimer: All Characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. The plot is all mine.
For the first time in over a thousand years, Marcus committed the worst act he could possibly achieve in his entire existence. An act so dreadful that it could change the very foundation of his grey and dismal reality. Something so monumentally life altering that it would never sustain anything the same way again.
For the first time in over a thousand years, Marcus made a decision.
And when you are a figurehead Leader that holds as much authority as an ant on a mountain for so so so long, then the line between causality and morality generally disappear faster than a dying oasis in the heart of a barren desert.
Such devastating decisions can make a man think of things he never thought before. And in Marcus' case; had thought of for the first time ever.
It is amazing how the brain can commit to a routine series of acts for so long that it no longer needs the mental motors to function because the motions are suddenly so hardwired into the muscle memory that the brain itself entirely shuts down while the body continues to function.
And it is entirely amazing how someone can come to this realization about their own body's activity the moment the mind kick starts into motion, like a coma patient that awakens after decades of sleep. Only to realize that while they were unaware, their body continued to breath, beat, and survive while their thoughts, mind, and consciousness were disabled.
And just like a coma patient, Marcus could now take into account the exact moment he finally "Woken up" …
It was a turbid, dark afternoon. Chances were the sun was out and slowly setting, but one could not tell as a storm was on the horizon and a thick coat of ashen clouds covered the sky.
Generally humans would take precautions during such unpredictable weathers. But for immortal, physically durable creatures, it was the perfect weather to venture about.
Naturally, when Marcus went on his 'walks', there was no general direction of specific destination. Just a meander out in the woods, to be surrounded by nature, away from civilization, away from humans, and all the other elements he would have haphazardly encountered in his enclosed fortress city of Volterra.
But according to Aro's wishes, Marcus had more freedom and fewer restrictions in this Peninsula. He didn't know any of the specifics, as it was the guard's duty to remember it for him. And take any necessary measures when deemed fit.
Like any other day, when they would leave the Cullen house, the guards would huddle close to the inattentive Leader until they traveled far enough from human habitats. And then – very subtly – they would allow the vampire King a wide expanse to … well … do whatever.
Unbeknownst to Carlisle, Aro gave another set of instructions for Demetri to follow.
And that was to give the Pensive Leader the impression that he was designated more liberties than he was let on by being left alone, when in actuality, he was observed from a distance by the guards for any signs or shifts in his behavior away from Carlisle's scrutiny.
In the week they had stayed in the Olympic region, there had been next to nothing but day after day of observing the distrait King simply stand in a clearing, unmoving for hours until they had to return at daybreak. The only ever bizarre occurrence was when a harmless little doe approached the vacant Volturi Leader, and he didn't even show any signs of acknowledging the curious animal until it decided to skip on its way.
It may have provided a moment of interest, since no animals would ever voluntarily approach natural born predators such as vampires. But unfortunately it wasn't the kind of episode the dark-haired Leader, back in Volterra, had advised them to report on, nor would it even peak his amusement.
Even the most Zen of minds couldn't hold that much patience. And the simpleminded guards certainly weren't the wisest of spiritual fortitude. Especially when a few grew rather unruly due to mild state of growing thirst.
Alec pointedly stared at the twitching men. And sneered at the lack of self-control they clearly didn't possess at the caliber of a High Elite Guard such as himself and Demetri.
If it came to a dire situation, Alec and Demetri could easily hold off their thirst for nearly a month or two if the situation presented itself. It was a badge of pride to hold such control. And Aro took much credit for he wasn't just their Supreme Leader, but he was also a mentor and teacher to them. A role model they all looked up to. However, such 'teachings' weren't privy to the unworthy low ranks.
And so Alec exchanged a knowing glance with his temporary travel partner. Demetri was apparently on the same mental frequency as the younger vampire. And a solution was as clear as it was obvious, the lower guards needed to feed. Simple as that. And they needed to abide by their respect of not hunting within the Cullen's territory.
They still had an abundant amount of time before they had to return to the Manor. More than enough span to venture to the neighboring city that was a couple of hours in distance from their current location.
With Demetri volunteering to stay behind, Alec approached the group of burly hooded men and informed them of their change in plan. Like children, they practically rippled with ill-concealed excitement. All the more reason Alec had to derisively be their unofficial chaperone. Bloodlust tends to make the mind do the most foolish of forays.
It took only a second for Demetri to take his eyes off the static Leader to peer at Alec and the other men as they disappeared through the forest with quick speed before he returned his ruby eyes back at his Silent King.
Except what his eyes met with were an empty clearing, and a patch of evergreen grass with two indents of shoes showing where his Leader once stood half a moment ago …
Marcus didn't know how, when, or what propelled him to move without the instigation of another to push him into motion. But all he knew is that one minute he was standing in the midst of nature, and then the next minute a strong breeze carried across the woods, and with it was the most unique scent he has ever inhaled.
And then, in the blink of an eye, he was standing in an alleyway at the back of a row of warehouse-like buildings, in what looked to be an abandoned corner. Yellowish streetlights barely illuminated the cracked asphalt; and the leaves danced across the ever-increasing strong winds as it shook the trees nearly bare. But it didn't prove to be a challenge for the Vampire's sharp eyesight. If anyone were to come across this corner, they would hardly catch sight of the predator, wrapped from head to toe in black garments blending in the shroud of darkness.
Then, something most unexpected happened …
Marcus saw Her – long, mahogany hair, flawless ivory skin, rosy cheeks, and vivid umber eyes.
Her face pinched in distress. The wind was flying about Her figure and whipped Her hair around Her heart-shaped face. The gusts of air were so rapid that it carried Her scent over to the immortal in wave after wave.
The Vampire's eyes fluttered shut for a moment and he inhaled shakily at the fragrant aroma of adrenaline, fruity perfume, and warm wet, young blood.
He opened his slowly darkening eyes and instead of refocusing on the teenage Girl, he saw the figures stalking right behind Her.
The immortal King saw Her approaching demise. A group of unruly intoxicated men, slurring their words and howling vulgarities at the Girl as She attempted to flee from them.
All it took was an imperceptible second for something to click inside the stupor Leader – If he kept to the shadows, motionless, an outside observer, the Girl would be at the mercy of Her own fate. And She would perish forever just as Her misfortune was sealed in stone.
Unless …. Her fate was to be rewritten by a force harder even than the most adamantine of elements – A force that wasn't just simply resilience in physical prowess, but also in mental stability.
Unaware of his feet moving, Marcus stepped out of the shadows.
A decision was made …
In Her awareness, all She knew in that one moment was that She was being followed and harassed. And then the regurgitated obscenities were silenced as though they evaporated into virtual smoke.
Rapidly blinking Her eyes, the Girl whirled around herself in a circle to ascertain that She was indeed alone. Only to realize that the group of foul men was replaced instead by a lone figure a few yards from where she stood.
Tucking Her hair behind Her ears and attempting to hold the long silky locks from whipping about and all over Her face. She stared, with wide eyes, at the man that equally stared back at Her.
The Volturi Leader was always the quietest. One would hardly notice him in a room from the immobility of blending into the surroundings so fluidly. But tonight, he was figuratively in the spotlight.
Marcus stood across from the Girl. He was rooted in place, looking at Her with slightly lidded maroon eyes.
And She stood there, equally, frozen in shock and met his gaze with Her own petrified chocolate brown irises – glassy and dilated with hysteria and unshed tears from the almost assault She could have easily been a victim of.
A forceful exhale escaped her, chest rising and falling. Heart pounding like a drum. Every breath shakily filled her lungs with the harsh validation that she was still alive. Still there. Evanescently Unharmed.
It all happened so fast that the Girl's mortal eyes wouldn't have caught it even if the entire scene were reenacted like a massive theater production for Her consideration only.
Logic pieced together the bits of information in front of Her that She could collect. Something told Her that the person to blame for nearly avoiding getting attacked was the arcane silent stranger.
Her chest swelled with warmth and a sense of overflowing gratitude mixed with fear, bewilderment, and small fissures of curiosity. Which weighed her tongue down from speaking.
Just as She took a step forward to get a better look at Her, shrouded in the dark, savior. A generic ring tune erupted across the baying winds. The Girl visibly jumped and dropped Her hand inside her cross-purse to rummage around for a small, slim silvery, device.
She held it to her ear as She averted her eyes for a second to the ground. As though it may give Her some sense of privacy. "Angela …" She answered with a long sigh. Evident relief flooding her system.
"Bella! Where are you?! We were so worried when you didn't show up at the restaurant – Jessica was about to call your dad if you didn't answer your cell!" The voice in the device screamed in frenzied worry and panic.
Biting Her lip, the Girl shifted from on foot to the other. "I k-know … I'm sorry – I took a wrong turn and g g-got lost and …" Stammering Her words while the phone was still held to Her ear, She raised Her head only to look around and realize She was now well and truly alone.
Chocolate brown eyes scanned the area and attempted to squint in the faint streetlights, looking around for a tall, inexplicable figure. However, Her brief search was interrupted when the voice on the other end of the line kept called Her name repeatedly.
Sighing in slight discourage She answered her worried friend. "I'm still here, Ange – Just …" She ran Her hand through Her hair as Her eyes scanned the surroundings once more. " … I couldn't find the restaurant's location online. C-can you send me your location through your phone? … I'll find it faster and meet you guys there."
"Okay … but if your not here in 20 minutes, I'll come and find you!"
The Girl smirked, Her heart rate gently calming. The terror of what could've happened slowly fizzling from Her apprehension as She retreated from the same direction from once She came – Within seconds she was gone.
Unbeknownst to Her, the figure may have vanished from sight. But he wasn't gone.
Hidden in an even darkened part of the street, he stood. Watching Her. Observing Her. Regarding Her mannerism. Becoming utterly fascinated with which her heart accelerated and then to slowly descend into harmonized palpitates.
In his infinite experience, Marcus only ever witnessed a heart ascending into distress, only to then beat no more. But this … this was …. Something else.
And he half wondered – how would Her heart fare had She seen what lay on parts of the street where the weak lights couldn't reach?
Throats slit open in three to four fingers carved slashes.
Limbs twisted and contorted from brutal collisions to hard asphalt.
Several pieces of legs and arms ripped from the sockets.
Vertebras snapped in half like twigs.
Had the Girl had perfect night perception then She would have quivered and retched at the massacre hidden in the veiled darkness surrounding the statuesque mysterious foreigner before Her.
By no means was this the first time that Marcus had took a life. But it was the first time he killed in a manner that wasn't for imperative sustenance.
And yet, it had to be done. There were various circumstances Marcus would have turned a blind eye on a person's demise. Rape, however, was not one of them. He wouldn't have wished it even on his worst enemies. His kind may have been monsters, but the majority of them would concur that they were most certainly not heartless – That, and a little voice whispered in the back of his mind that the Girl's 'time' wasn't now.
The storm was getting worse. Rain was slowly descending, and increasing with each minute.
In less than an hour, Demetri finally came across his Master – and the display of carcasses he left at his feet.
Relief practically flooded through the taupe haired vampire at first. Though, his tracing abilities were not to be underestimated, the sheer idea of losing sight of the only objective they had to their assignment still sent tension into the Tracker's bones.
Within seconds the young vampire's thoughts reverted back to it's analytical state. He clinically surveyed the scene around them and determined the fastest and most efficient mitigation for such a … mess.
After all, who was to say that such brutality wasn't at the hand of a serial murderer? – Judging by the state of dress on the severed limbs and torsos, as well as the foul odor of drink that could still be detected along with the sulfuric aroma of blood. They didn't look like individuals that would be mournfully missed. And if they were slinking in shady parts of town then they were practically looking for trouble – which they found, in the worst kind.
Be that as it may, what sparked an unanswered question with the young Tracker was; what sort of trigger caused such a reaction from the generally docile Vampire King?
This was by far the most incredible response they could precipitate in such a short span of time since they arrived.
And the only witness to such a happening was the one person that lacked the ability to verbalize his answer.
An hour before dawn, with the rain turning into showers of hail, the dark hooded figures returned to the manor they dubbed their temporary lodgings.
Moments after Demetri found his Master; he immediately contacted Alec about his discovery. Only to have the young boy rush back, with the rest of the guards, to Port Angeles.
The Elite Guards were somewhat thankful for the rain, as it washed away any evidence of their scent in the area. All they had to do was ensure that the shredded corpses did not contain any anomalies that would trace back to their supernatural discovery.
In addition to examining their Leader's hands and garments with the utmost respect to his person, they found no traces of blood on neither his clothing nor his skin from the victims. His attacks were so swift and precise that he actually avoided the gush of bloody discharge from the wounds he inflected.
So, with a unanimous agreement to feign ignorance of what had transpired that night. They gracefully walked through the Cullen home as though it was any other time they had returned from their nightly venture.
None of the Golden Eyed clan members suspected anything as the Red Eyed visitors moved with a casual air about them. However, they did get a quirked brow or two from the drenched state of their attire.
Alec jovially shrugged his arms in response to their curiously bright eyes. "Blame it on the weather." He replied with a smirk before he and Demetri escorted his Master up the stairs to his suite. While the rest of the entourage scattered about the manor.
The next day, while the Cullens children attended school, Carlisle was at the hospital, and Esme remained in her room-turned-interior-office (mostly because someone had to be home to 'supervise' their guests) the collective guards passed their time in the forest surrounding the house. Some stood watch, while others used the little makeshift clearing space behind the Cullen Manor to spar practice against each other.
Demetri lounged in the down stairs sitting room with a book between his hands that Jasper graciously lent him. A conspiracy title about the Kennedy assassination – though it was a load of drivel, it still was an interesting read to see what the unstable author could fictitiously pass off as facts.
Alec, for a while, tried to sit at the grand black piano and play from the music-sheet, only to realize with a sneer that musical instruments weren't his forte.
Five minutes later found him crossed legged on the plush sofa, and working another sort of instrument. A TV remote control. He discovered that flipping through channels was much more satisfying than flipping pages of a music-sheet. And pretty soon he got too into an action movie with aliens, cars turning into robots, and many many slow-motion explosion sequences.
It took both young men a slow fragment of second to fully realize that their Master was suddenly descending the stairs. A first time occurrence during the day since they arrived to America.
Both Elite Guards stood up immediately and approached the Silent Leader. Trying to pick up on his body language to decipher his intent, both vampire men realized simultaneously that he was headed towards the front door.
Marcus paused briefly to gaze upon his followers before he took another step towards the door. But when the immortal acolytes attempted to tread behind him as soon as they realized he wanted to go outside, he turned back in their direction and held up a firm hand in dismissal.
Taken completely by surprise, the Elite men blanched at their King's behavior. That there was even a behavior to begin with simply astounded them. He was actually engaging them in a sort of nonverbal communication.
Like Koi fish in a pond, their mouths hung open as they watched their Leader gracefully leave the Manor through the front door without even a motion of hesitation.
Alec was the first of the two to compose himself and speak in a low tone – as the Cullen Matriarch was still within the house – and didn't wish to alert anyone of what just occurred before they even had a discussion between them. "Should we notify Aro of this sudden change?" Alec leaned towards Demetri.
Demetri narrowed his eyes. "Not yet."
"What about Carlisle?" Alec whispered.
The Tracker turned to the boy and raised a questioning brow. "I don't see how this is any of his business in the first place. All of this is not but niceties of formality – We will deal with the Patriarch when the time comes." Demetri replied as he looked toward the direction where their stupor King disappeared towards.
"Shouldn't we … follow Him?" Alec huffed as he too turned to gaze at the wide-open front door.
The sky was overcast and there was a bit of a breeze in the weather.
"We will – Just as soon as he gains some distance. Remember, we aren't meant to smother him." A slow smile stretched on the Tracker's pale lips. "We are finally getting the progress Aro was hoping for. Let us not fuck up this momentous opportunity."
Two pair of ruby eyes shared an elated look between them as things were finally starting to get exceptionally interesting.
Author's Note: *Le gasp!* … Marcus is now sentient! LOL … That can't be good, can it?
Let me know what you guys think so far?
xoxo