THE SECRET OF THE AMAZON

Marcus and Corin continued to follow Zafrina through the jungle. They moved at a slower pace

to be in sync with the black jaguar that she was riding.

Marcus was fascinated by it. "Zafrina, why does this animal not fear you? Why does it not run?"

She was silent for a moment before answering. "I suppose I should tell you that Nahuel and

Hulien have joined our coven. It turns out that Nahuel has a way of communicating with jaguars. It has

been a recent discovery for him. He has tamed them and somehow gained their trust. This one we call

Nakira. She is bigger than most of her kind. Nahuel has convinced her to be a companion to me."

"Really? How very interesting. We haven't seen a vampire able to command animals since

Octavian was killed in the Romanian War." Marcus replayed the memory in his mind of Octavian

commanding the animals to attack them. "Well if I were you, I would try not to let this information find its way to Aro. You know how he feels about the talented ones."

Zafrina nodded, "Yes, I know very well." She had not forgotten when Aro had offered her a

position in the Volturi guard during their brief interaction in Forks. He had seen what she was capable of and lusted after her power. The illusions she was able to weave were much stronger than that of Heidi's and more colorful than Alec's 'black outs'.

Finally, they came to a great waterfall. It truly was a majestic sight to behold. It was only

moments before Senna and Kachiri appeared and stood by Zafrina's side. The three of them whispered

quickly and quietly to each other. It was obvious that they were talking about Marcus and Corin. Finally , they turned back around to face the two men.

"Marcus, you say that you will not return to the Volturi. What about Corin? Will he go back?"

Zafrina acted as the spokesperson for her coven.

Corin began to shake his head. "I have no desire-"

"No," Marcus interrupted him. "You will go back when you've finished helping me."

Corin looked at him with surprise. "Marcus, I betrayed Aro by biting Renata. What makes you

think that Aro would allow me to come back?"

"I know Aro, I've known him longer than you have and I know him better. You are precious to

him. We've never seen another with your kind of talent. He may be weary at first but I know that he

would want you to serve in his guard. He would have Chelsea work harder on you to keep you loyal."

Marcus was certain of this.

Corin shook his head in disappointment. He didn't want to go back but he knew that he did not

want to be an enemy to Aro either.

"So you will go back?" Zafrina asked.

Corin shrugged his shoulders, "It seems so."

"Then Aro will have the opportunity to read your thoughts," she said it as a statement, not a

question.

"What is the problem, Zafrina?" Marcus asked.

"I told you that I fear that the Volturi will come to us as a threat if we divulge a secret to you and

it somehow gets back to Aro. I'm sorry Marcus, but I cannot allow your friend to go any further. You

may accompany us but Corin will have to wait here," she spoke with authority.

"No, I'm not letting him go alone!" Corin argued.

"It's alright, Corin. I'll be fine. Stay here and I will return when I've got the stone," Marcus

assured him.

Corin gave in to his master's request. He stayed put while Marcus followed Zafrina, Senna, and

Kachiri into the waterfall. It was used as a shield to hide their dwelling place. They walked through a

cavern behind the veil of water and went further into the darkness before light began to return on the other side of the trail. Finally they came to another cavern that now opened up to a whole new world.

Marcus saw a beautiful ancient temple with irrigated water ways surrounding it. It was almost

like a pyramid. It truly was a well kept secret of the Amazon.

Marcus followed the three Amazon women down to a path that led straight to the ancient temple.

Finally, Nahuel came out of the building and met them half way. His face was full of concern when he

saw Marcus.

"What is he doing here?" Nahuel asked.

"He comes in peace. He seeks out a special stone. You know the one I speak of," Zafrina's

expression was very serious.

Fear became evident on Nahuel's face. "No, you can't..."

"It's okay Nahuel, Marcus is no longer with the Volturi. We must help him; he insists that an

innocent life hangs in the balance." Zafrina may have been a hunter of humans but she was still quite

compassionate. "I believe that we can trust him."

Nahuel was hesitant.

"Where are they?" Zafrina asked.

Nahuel looked at Marcus, eyeing him suspiciously. "Hulien is on the cliff by the jaguar statue."

Marcus had noticed that Zafrina had said 'they' but Nahuel only spoke of one person. He didn't

know what their secret was but he was not interested. He only wanted the stone. Zafrina patted her

jaguar, Nakira, and let it stay at the temple to rest while they all went up to find Hulien. Finally they

reached a high cliff. Marcus heard laughter. He saw Hulien standing by a jaguar statue looking down at

something on the ground. When she turned around and saw who had come she moved instinctively and

protectively in front of the object she had be watching.

"It's alright Hulien, he is no threat to us," Zafrina said the words and Marcus wondered if she

really believed them. Hulien was hesitant but she trusted Zafrina's judgment. She stepped to the side and Marcus saw a small boy sitting on the ground. He had heard his fluttering heart beat but assumed it

belonged to one of the birds of the forest. He was a beautiful child, just as remarkable as Renesmee had

been. Marcus knew in an instant that this was another hybrid.

Zafrina introduced Marcus to the child. "Marcus, this is Ishmael. Soon after we returned from

Forks Joham, Nahuel's father, sought us out. He had created another male hybrid which is quite rare.

Only the male hybrid continues to carry venom and has the ability to change others into vampires. He

almost hadn't known about the child's birth because he rarely sticks around that long. When he heard

rumors of an evil male child that drank the blood of animals and humans Joham returned to rescue him.

Ishmael's mother died in childbirth so Joham came looking for Hulien. He knew that she had done a fine job in raising Nahuel and now wanted her to do it again. So we agreed to take him in. He is as much a part of our family now as Nessie is to the Cullen's."

Marcus finally spoke. "Well if what you say is true, and this is in fact not an immortal child, then the Volturi have no reason to attack you."

Zafrina smiled, "All the same, we'd like to stay out of the limelight for as long as possible." She

focused her attention back on the small boy. "Ishmael, where is your toy?"

The little boy looked up at her and smiled. He lifted up a beautiful clear blue stone from his side.

It was round and smooth and almost resembled water. He smiled as he showed it to everyone. Then what he did next startled Marcus. The child somehow drew visible energy out from it. It was almost like an aqua colored light, swirling in lines around the object.

"That is his gift," Zafrina told Marcus. "He sees the potential in things and people. He is a little

bit like Eleazar in that sense. When he met me he could see my gift and draw it out of me. It was almost like a small hologram that he pulled from my mind, a little show of whatever illusion I thought of. He doesn't mimic the gifts of others or have any control over them, but he can identify it and pull it out for others to see. He found that stone which we knew was extraordinary and beautiful but we had no idea how special it was until he started doing this. Then we understood that there was something more to it."

Marcus nodded. "Yes, it is one of three in this world. I need it to begin a journey to save a life."

"The life of the innocent," Zafrina added for him.

Marcus nodded again. "Yes. I hate to be hasty but the sooner I get the stone then the sooner I can

save her."

Zafrina smiled at the word 'her'. It was always about love in these situations. "Ishmael, may

Marcus have the stone? He needs it very badly. Can you please share it with him?"

The little one smiled and handed it up to the woman he considered an aunt. Zafrina took it and

thanked him. She then handed it back to Marcus. As soon as it had left Ishmael's touch it had returned

back to normal and all the energy and light faded. Marcus slipped it into his pocket along with Didyme's cross and ring.

"Thank you, I am forever in your debt." Marcus told them. He turned around and hurried down

the path that led back to the temple. The day was nearly over. He admired the temple again as he walked past it. He wished he could go inside and explore. By the time he got back to the cavern that led to the waterfall exit he turned one last time to look back on Akahim. It was night now but the temple was still beautiful. Maybe one day he could come back with Didyme. Just maybe.

Marcus made his way through the caverns and back out to the other side of the waterfall where

Corin awaited him.

"Did you get it?" Corin asked.

"Yes," Marcus pulled the stone from his pocket so that Corin could see.

"Amazing, all this trouble for this little stone." It was roughly the size of their palms.

Marcus chuckled. "Trouble? Dear Corin, that was much easier than I expected. What is it that

the kids say these days? You ain't seen nothin' yet."

Corin laughed out loud at Marcus' poor attempt at slang. The two of them chuckled as they made

their way through the rainforest, heading back for the airport. It was true; the Amazons had been more

than cooperative. Marcus was not so naïve as to expect the same kindness from the Egyptians.