Chapter Forty-Four
Marcus and I stand staring at one another for a moment. The words he uttered just moments ago are echoing in my head while my brain is trying its hardest to process through each word closely. Jasper moves closer to me to get me out of my sudden daze. He takes Christine from me while murmuring something to me. Something inside me clicks and I let out a loud roar.
"You are a liar!" I roar.
"My brother does not lie and it is the truth," Aro says with his wicked smile on his face. I take deep ragged breathes while closing my eyes and leaning my head against Christian's extended hand.
"Take the children outside, Jasper," I whisper. My eyes open to see the worried look in my husband's eyes. I smile and caress his face before kissing his lips softly. "I will be okay, you will know when I need you."
"Alright, just roar when you need me," Jasper says softly with a small smile. He carries the twins out with Manny trailing behind and holding onto his jacket while watching me as he walked away. Once the doors were closed, I turn to Marcus and Aro with a stern look on my face.
"Tell me everything," I say calmly. Aro motions for Marcus to step forward to tell his tale. Marcus steps forward and he takes a breathe before beginning.
"Your mother came here to study art as you had said at our last meeting. Her name was Charlotte Uley, but to me she was my wonderful mate until the day she died. Your mother and I were lovers and we loved each other very much. But, our kind were not meant to mix in any kind of romantic relationship. Charlotte was happy here as she was able to continue her study here with us and she was able to be with me. It wasn't until the day she told me that she was pregnant and that she had to leave soon before she was found out. I was devastated, but knew that if the pregnancy was found out, the child would not be able to live for long in this house. I helped your mother leave here and paid for her grand house and all the medical bills. At first, it was just your brother to be born. But, not long after your mother informed me of another child and that child was you, Marinna. I visited as often as I could and your mother sent pictures through her letters to me when I was unable to visit. I love your mother, Marinna, and I would give anything to be able to change the fate she had brought upon her those years ago," Marcus says with sad eyes. I shift my weight onto my other foot and take a deep breathe.
"How could you not step up when my mother died?" I ask.
"Because I feared what Aro would do when he learned of your existence. Your mother stopped sending photos when you were nine months old, Marinna. You look so much different from the photos I have and when we last saw each other, I was unable to recognise you or your brother. The two of you look so much like your mother," Marcus says.
"No, but you still could have stepped up and you could have been the father we needed. We were bounced from orphanage to orphanage waiting for you to come and get us. Now you want in our lives after we both gave up and are grown? You will never get that chance to make it up," I say. Aro shifts to look at Marcus' upset face.
"Ah, but he can because I have something that I want to offer you and your family. Since you are my niece and you and your little family show such great power. I am offering you a chance to join us and be the first of your kind to become one of our guards," Aro says. I growl at his tone and shift my right leg back a bit.
"No, I will not serve as a guard to anyone of your kind. I am not a part of anything and I am not your family. You lost that chance when Marcus denied his parentage to me and my brother. You will leave me and my family alone from now on," I say sharply.
"Or what? You will make us regret it?" Aro chuckles. Jane and her brother step forward a bit. "My dear, you have no idea what it means to deny such an honour to join a coven like us. You are family and you are a part of this family, no matter how much you deny it. That being said, you will join us or you will die where you stand and never make it out of here to see your loved ones again."
"I will not die and I will walk out of here standing tall," I growl. Jane's brother shifts and I jump at him to phase quickly with a loud roar. Within seconds, I have the boy pinned beneath me with my paw on my chest and my eyes pinned on Jane. She does not move as I stare and growl lowly. Her eyes glaze over a bit and she turns to face Marcus and Aro awkwardly, as if she was a doll. The doors to the room open and I turn to see Matthew standing at the doorway with Jasper, the children, and Alice behind him.
"Marinna, stop right now or you will hurt her," Matthew says.
"What do you mean? Jane can make her feel pain beyond her imagination," Aro says quickly. Jane is immobile and her eyes are still glazed over.
'Back off, they will suffer from threatening me like they did,' I growl at Matthew.
"No, you have control of this temper and you swore never to control someone like that. Remember the last time you shifted someone's bond?" Matthew says. I roar and push my paw harder onto Jane's brother's chest. "Get off of Alec right now! Marinna, you cannot let this boy die!"
'Yes, I can and I will!' I snap back and lean my head down to bite the boy's head. But, someone tackles me and I turn to see Matthew wrestling me to the ground.
"Well, a sibling fight is not something I thought could happen between two hybrids," Aro laughs. Matthew pushes me away and he blocks my path to the Volturi. "What do you mean she can shift a bond of someone?"
"Marinna and I are not just shifters, but also able to see the bonds of people and we are only able to control a person's love or loyalty from the enemy to us. It is small, but has been something that has come in handy over the years. I believe you have someone who is also able to do the same in your coven?" Matthew says. He turns to Aro and steps backwards to stand at my side and run his fingers through my fur. I sit at his side and growl a little. Aro's gaze shifts from me to Matthew and back in confusion.
"How do you know about Chelsea?" Aro asks quickly. Matthew smiles and he looks down at me.
"I have been keeping an eye on you and your coven for some time now. Also, I have been researching everything about your guards and the history of your little family. Chelsea is able to do the same thing, but it is not powerful enough to control those with stronger bonds, nor can she see them. Marinna and I not only see them, but we are able to control the bonds she cannot. Jane is an example for you see she has a stronger bond and that bond is of a love between master and devoted servant, or a family bond if you will. She is being held by Marinna because my lovely sister was able to shift that from you, Aro, to her," Matthew explains. I huff and lean my head against Matthew's leg. Aro looks at the frozen Jane and then back to us. "Oh, Marinna is quite good at her control and she is able to make them do as she pleases. It comes with her being a lone wolf and what not. So, what have I missed to cause my sweet sister to go controlling your guards?"
A/N: Let me know what you guys think of the little power Marinna and Matthew have. It was a little confusing for me to explain and not sure if it is okay to keep.