Sorry for the delay guys... Life sometimes gets in the way. Its kinda short too, but I should have more time this week to crank it out. Thanks for being patient! Oh and Jen... if you send me your email or do your responses while signed in, I would be happy to read any of your writing or give you ideas or pointers. Thanks, enjoy!
Chapter 42: The Savior
Aro's blood pounded through my chest. My heart cried in agony for his suffering and beat furiously with the consumption of his life. He burned inside of me, his memories and pain would forever haunt the catacombs of my inner being. I wanted to tear the pain away. I felt soft hands pressing against my flesh and sweet breath on my neck, "Don't cry angel," the soft voice cooed, "it is what he wanted."
"I know, Daddy," I whispered, shaking with gut-wrenching sadness, "it doesn't make it any easier. I liked the idea of killing him a lot more when I thought he was pure evil." I leaned into my dad's warm embrace, burring my face in his chest. The sweet scent of comfort surrounded me. I just wanted to go home, to be with Jake, to be safe.
"Isn't that a tender sight?" A cold, yet luscious voice sounded from the dark entrance to the chamber. The sound of a steady clapping beat echoed against the stone walls. Marcus' applause struck in time with my heart. Before I could react, Marius threw himself at Marcus, snarling viscously and reaching for the exposed line of his throat. Much to my surprise, Marcus deflected the attack sending the brilliant body of Marius into the wall with a loud thud. The stone work of the wall crumbled at impact spewing rubble to the ground. David and Carlisle rushed to his aid. My father's arms pulled me in closer and his thoughts raged with a protective force like no other.
"I'm afraid that pure evil and pure innocence do not truly exist, young one." Marcus' hard stare zeroed in on me as if his very gaze could rip me away from my family and all that I had known and loved. "All evil beings have moments of innocence, just as those who are inherently pure will deviate from their path of goodness," Marcus voice fluttered like a tiny hummingbird around the room. He looked down with obvious pity at Marius as if he had merely been a fly that needed swatting. His eyebrows arched into a regal line as he stared casually at Marius before turning his attention to the pile of ashes that was Aro's remains. His broad chest and strong shoulders did not flinch at the sight-- he barely reacted. I stared intently at his form, unable to look away.
A strange tingle sparked deep inside of me and for a moment, Marcus' terrible beauty seemed intoxicating. I felt dizzy as his words and seductive voice crashed against my ears. "I see that Aro is no more. Alas, it was such a delight torturing him," Marcus laughed a little and shrugged, "All good things must come to an end I suppose. Well done, young one. I see that you have great strength." I felt my defenses melting away as his eyes gleamed at me in the inky blackness, twisting the soft light of the moon into a soul-piercing beam. A gasp broke from my lips as I fell into those eyes. I sank slowly, as if submerged in his dark blood. Jet black blended into crimson and scarlet. His mind was open and vast like a starless sky. It extended to the heavens and encased all of existence in its troublesome appeal.
"Time is ticking, my friends," Marcus mused as he tapped his toe lightly causing his thick, auburn curls to shake playfully around his face. His lips curled into an amused grin. He flashed a devious smile that matched the one in Aro's memory. His gaze lifted above us and out into the open night. The moon had wandered astray and was losing ground quickly. I could feel the strain in my blood. My body was growing tight, as if my muscles were aching from fatigue. I knew that he was right. We had precious little time to make our escape before the sun sealed our fate.
I battled with myself, straining to maintain my focus. An alien sensation of surrender was creeping from somewhere inside of me. Marcus' tall and handsome figure stood before me. He seemed to glow in the darkness. I couldn't turn away from the glare. His soul called to me, his handsome charm felt familiar and tingled with mystery and dangerous allure. His eyes peered recklessly into mine sending a shiver up my spine that rippled through my blood. I took a brave step away from my father's arms. The vampire before me had such rich and milky skin. It was so supple and beautifully white against the reddish black of his ringlets. Something in his expression stole my sanity. He was utterly captivating. For a moment, all thoughts of my family, Jake and my children evaporated into this starless sky of Marcus' mind. I saw only him, like a dark angel upon wings of the night, coming to claim me as his queen. His devilishly erotic imagery seeped into my mind like poison slowly paralyzing me with its venom.
"Yes," he purred as if he held me in an intimate embrace. "Imagine the power we could hold, you and I. Forget them, they do not understand. You and I are alike, Reneseme. They cannot understand, they do not have our power." I felt my legs growing weak and the resistance in my body giving way.
"Be still, Nessie. He lies. Stay with us. Do not answer his call," Marius' voice dripped like rain into my mind. It pattered on the windows of my consciousness, forcing me to listen to its pitter-patter. I didn't move. I held my gaze with Marcus feeling rather stunned.
"I don't think so, Marius. She will belong to me." Marcus said cruelly. His evil laugh bellowed into my head taking me back into Aro's memories. "Did you really think that I couldn't hear your little silent conversations?" he released a light hearted chuckle, "It is true that you are more powerful than most," he sneered. "But I am the one who has given the day walkers their powers. I am the reason that we are able to be free under the golden rays of the sun and blend in so successfully with our food." His eyes flitted to Carlisle. "I am the best of both species. And to destroy me is to destroy yourselves."
Carlisle's eyes narrowed and his poise lifted at Marcus' cold reference to the human species. My grandfather's mind teemed with a brewing anger. I felt his patience growing thin. The tension was amplified by my father's mounting rage. There was very little time for negotiation and Marcus would surely destroy the next to cross his path.
Marcus' eyes returned to me. His handsome face shined with the light of the moon. I locked my eyes with his, refusing to release him from my hold, "He is right," I said boldly. I felt the objections being hurled at me from my family and newly acquired kin.
"Nessie!" I heard my father's sharp voice give warning, but I pressed further.
"Listen, he is right, we can't destroy him because it will be the end of all of us. We don't have a choice," confidence pulsed in my voice refusing to betray me by revealing my fear. I filled my thoughts with lovely images of only Marcus, banishing all others from my mind.
"You see, the young one has more sense than the rest of you," he snarled. "Come to me, my beautiful darling. Come join me, you will see. It is the only way." His long hand extended toward me.
As if by some ancient magic, I stepped slowly in his direction. My body was being pulled with a gravity-like force into this awaiting arms. I gave in and his beauty swept over me in a seductive wave. He reached out to receive me and as his fingers grazed the exposed flesh of my arm for the first time, a jolt of electricity sparked between us. My eyes jumped in surprise, but he only smiled. I nearly swooned from the pleasure that instantly overcame me in the act of his angelic mouth curling in approval. He caught me in his arms, they felt so different from ones that I had previously been wrapped in. His brawn surpassed David's, but he still felt comforting and soft like Jacob. There was neither heat nor chill. It was as if we were encased in a bubble of numbing comfort. Nothing else mattered. His soft baby curls crushed gingerly against my cheek contrasting the solidity of his form. The sensations awakened a rush of excitement within me. Lust cascaded through my veins. I pressed vulgarly up against him, closing my eyes and savoring his delicious scent.
"That's it my love, come to me." I could hear his wicked smile shining in his voice. "You see?" he said with a chuckle, "Didyme may have had the power to make us happy, but it was I who had the power to make her love me. Your precious princess will fall under my spell just as Aro's sister once did."
"Nessie, no!" I heard my father's cries from a very distant place. But it was too late. I was lost in Marcus' arms and not wanting to be found. Waves of serenity and peace lapped at my skin, putting my mind at ease. Somewhere in the distance, I could see David, the beautiful David working to restrain my father. And like the whispering wind in a meadow, Marcus' laugh floated through the air. I felt like I was sinking into the vivid green grass with only the weight of golden sunlight falling upon my naked flesh.
Marcus' lips pressed lightly on my forehead. I moaned and arched up to receive his luscious kiss. "Take me away," I whispered. I blinked my eyes several times, unable to find myself in the mysterious beyond of his dark eyes.
"As you wish, my love," I felt the cool rush of air and we ascended out of the chamber and into the breaking dawn. His arms felt inviting and safe. I pressed myself close to his chest and curled my fingers into the ringlets that bounced just above his shoulders. He lifted me gently over the edge of a stone archway and into a handsomely decorated chamber. It was filled with rich greens paired with earthy chocolates and glimmering golds. Our bodies crushed together on top of the plush lavishness of the giant bed. His mouth pressed against my yielding lips and I felt his jaw clench together as his blood dripped seductively into my waiting mouth. We moaned in unison. He lifted his weight from me and peered lovingly into my eyes. "You are so beautiful," he said.
I shook my head, "No, not like you," I whispered.
He smiled down at me. "It is nearly daybreak, my beauty."
"Yes, I can feel it coming," I moved my arms a little uncomfortably as they twinged with the pain of the coming sun. His hand stroked my hair, pulling it from my face. The weight of his body felt so good pressed against mine.
His eyes plunged into mine. His lips pulled at the corners tenderly, "Well, we wouldn't want you to miss that, now would we?" His arms gripped my wrists hard and fast and he pinned me roughly to the bed. "You thought you could fool me?!" he roared causing the paintings in the room to quiver with fear.
I stared intently up at him, returning his wicked smile and laughing at his abundant rage, "Why whatever do you mean?" I said coyly.
"You know damn good and well what I mean and now you will pay for your whorish tendencies!" The room shook around us, but all I could do was laugh. I had won. The fount had been exposed and the others were miles away by now. They would be able to find a way of restraining Marcus to save my family. Maharet would make sure that the Volturi would never cause pain or suffering again.
"I know that you loved her, truly loved her. Didyme chose Aro, but you were the one she died for. It was your fault too," I said calmly.
Marcus threw his head back and bared his teeth. I could feel the pain ripping through him. "It was his fault!" he screamed. "He killed her and that is why he had to suffer! That is why you will die! You will die for her, you will die so that others will know my pain!"
"Causing Aro pain never ended your suffering," I whispered. Marcus' face twisted in agony and his thoughts churned like a thunderstorm. He continued to roar like an angry beast. I closed my eyes on Marcus' rage. It meant nothing to me now. I did not struggle as he chained me to the bed. I heard the sounds of the roof being torn away by his furious hands. He could not bother me now, I was safe. My mind drifted easily to thoughts of my children and the rest of my family. I smiled lightly as my body began to grow rigid as the earth turned her exposed body toward the light of the sun. I fell into the deathly slumber with the comfort that I only had to succumb to the beautiful face of the shining star of day.