Chapter Forty-Three
Christine sings as she colours in her colouring book while we are waiting for the boys to get ready to go out for the day. I am brushing out my hair in the hallway. Manny comes around the corner with his hands in his jacket pocket and Christian hanging onto his leg. Jasper walks behind them to scoop Christian up into his arms to get him off his brother. I walk over to Manny and try to tame his curls a little bit. The five of us walk to the elevator to meet the guards downstairs in the foyer of the hotel. My body is stiff as we make our descent while Manny holds my hand and I carry Christine in my arms. Jasper rubs my back gently to keep me calm when the doors open. Christian snuggles into Jasper's arms and he moves his hair out of face. Felix smiles at me when our eyes meet and I look to see two other people I had not met.
"Demetri and Heidi, it has been awhile since I saw you two," Jasper says. Demetri smiles and his eyes look me over with hunger. I pull Manny close to me when his eyes drift to my poor boy. "They are not to be touched or you will regret it."
"Such an empty threat from someone like you, Jasper Cullen," Heidi giggles. She motions for us to follow her out the hotel and through the back alley to the castle. Jasper moves to stand on the other side of Manny to hold his other hand. Christine buries her face against my neck and she twirls my hair around her small index finger. We arrive at a dark building and walk in to an open elevator. Demetri has his eyes on me as we stand in the elevator and Jasper stiffens a bit. I put my hand on Jasper's arm and smile at my ever loving and very protective husband.
"Relax, sweetie," I say softly. The elevator stops and we all step off into a foyer, where a human young lady with brown hair. I look down at Manny to see he is scared and he is holding onto Jasper's hand tightly. There are a set of large doors that lead into a large room that looks like a throne room. All of us walk into the room and Jasper stops us in the middle of the room. Manny stands closely between Jasper and I while breathing quickly and heavily. A door opens to our right and Aro walks out with Marcus behind him. I raise my head higher when Aro turns to us with a big smile on his face.
"Well, it is a pleasure to see this lovely family together and with three new additions," Aro says with a strange excitement.
"Emanuel is not my son by blood," Jasper corrects Aro quickly. Aro looks down at my Manny and I growl softly.
"Have no fear, Marinna, I have no wanting to harm you or your family. I just simply want to see the abilities your family possess," Aro says.
"Why do you care about that stuff?" I ask huskily. Aro walks closer to me and I flinch as he gets closer.
"Because your mother showed great power when she was here," Aro whispers. My knees become liquid and the world begin to spin the moment Aro metions my mother. "Ah, I see that has your attention. You see, I remember your mother very well. She was here many years ago and she suddenly disappeared one day. A few payments were made on a house that is owned by someone in this very house and someone that still lives. But, there is one person that knows exactly as to how and why she disappeared those years ago."
"Aro, you cannot mean that you have found my wife's father," Jasper says. Aro turns to Marcus and I see the sad smile on his face. My heart skips a beat before beating widely in hopes that Marcus could actually be my father or possibly know who is.