A/N: momoXvolturi and I would like to thank every single one of you guys who are following, favorite, and review the story. "Kiss from a Rose" belongs to Seal. This chapter centers on Aaliyah and Marcus. Please enjoy=]

"There used to be a graying tower alone on the sea

You became the light on the dark side of me

Love remained a drug that's the high and not the pill

But did you know that when it snows

My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen

I compare you to a kiss from a rose on a gray

The more I get of you the stranger it feels

Now that your rose is in bloom

A lights the gloom on the gray"

~ Seal

Roses

In vampire society many assumed they knew everything there was about the Volturi. The family was made up of three members and the guards were a separate entity. The humans that work for them wanted to either become a vampire or simply the next meal. Most didn't know what category they were in until one of the Volturi Kings made a simple signal. The signal represented two things; one, continue with your task or two feeding time.

That was simply the base. The order of the Volturi coven was complex and organized in a way that if you really took the time you still wouldn't come close to the answer.

They were an unanswerable question, an enigma.

Each member in the family have a role to play; Marcus gift allowed him to see the truth of a person soul, Aro gift allowed him to read every single thought of a person, Caius even though he wasn't gifted with any ability was brilliant at strategies.

The guard system is where everything is multifaceted…there were four sections of the guards each broke down by power and authority.

The first classes of guards, were the top and well-known guards that handle special missions and guarded specific members of the family.

The second and third classes of guards were the ones that protected the city and the castle only.

The elite guards were whole classes of their own…these are the guards that were only sent out when compromises were not an option. The elite guards only listen to only one of the family members and that was Aro.

Just like the guard system the humans that served the coven also had their own order within the coven.

The first classes of humans were the ones that showed special or resourceful abilities that could be used by the coven. They are above the order simply for the three leaders to keep a better watch on them in case they showed signs of having a gift; in that case they would be turned. Once turned they would be categorized again within the classes of vampire guards.

The second classes of humans are the humans that have served the coven from generations to generations. This class was the backbone of the coven, for they kept everything in order from the castle to everything else.

The third class of humans were simple the next meal or means for entertainment, sadly these were the humans who foolishly thought that they were going to be turned despite not having a gift that could be useful. They were likely to last long when Heidi brought in the next meal or boredom.

Then there was the elite class of humans; unlike the others these are the human families that served and gained the respect/trust of the coven. There are only two families to gain such respects and power among the classes of the other human servants.

The first family was the keepers of the city of Volterra while the second family held control over the castle and the business of the coven.

Aaliyah Nicole Amir, was part of the elite class of humans, the Amir family had served the Volturi ever since the days when the Moors controlled the south of Italy. The Amir family has held the control over the dealings in the castle as well as the business of the coven.

Their loyalty was unparalleled when it came to the coven that was held with a respect and trust of the leaders to the extent that could be compared to the guards.

There were certain functions in the order of the coven that have kept the Volturi one of the most formidable forces.

"These will never do," Aaliyah said as she removed the vase filled with Lilacs giving it to one of the younger servants absently mindedly.

Today, she was training a few of the younger girls to take the place of the older servants who were unable to perform their duties any longer. They were in Marcus's chambers in his personal study as she instructed them the specifics of what to and what not to touch in his study.

"Always make sure roses are always placed here," she said as she took the vase filled with deep crimson roses and placed them on top of the table.

Sweeping a critical eye over the room for any blunders that needed corrected…with everything in order she nodded her head giving them their next orders and dismissed them.

Turning back to the roses she rearranged them to her liking. "She wouldn't approve the Lilac…red roses were her favorite." Aaliyah thought as her eyes gazed upon the portrait of Marcus departed wife Didyme. To Aaliyah she was the most beautiful of all the woman the Kings have had.

She made it her duty to personally arrange the flowers that were set before the portrait out of respect.

When she had finished arranging the flowers she left Marcus's study and went to her personal desk that was located in Marcus chambers.

Sitting down at her desk, she placed her phone on the desk making sure it was in arms reach for her to grab. She couldn't always be everywhere in the castle and she needed to be alerted of any problems that aroused.

Turning her MacBook Pro 2013 on, as she waited for it to power on she looked over Marcus's personal finances making sure everything was in place. When the sound that signaled that she was logged in she turned some music on and started on her work.

When it came to the Volturi kings Aaliyah never showed any type of favoritism between the three. She saw the three very different with strong personalities that she appreciated. But when it came to times that she simply wanted to work in absolute peace…without being harassed, Marcus was the one that she ran to.

For one, Marcus was barely in his chambers when she worked and the second reason when he was in his chambers it was very easy to be relaxed in his company.

Aro and Caius weren't bad…but they weren't good either when she felt like playing their twisted mind games and tolerating their playful slash borderline sexual harassment then she would seek them out. This was very rare urges when she wanted to seek them out.

She bobbed her head along to the beat of "I Couldn't Love You More" by Sade as she went through her work humming the tune.

She turned her head for only a minute then she stopped typing as her eyes landed on the rose that seat nicely on the papers on her desk.

Looking up she saw Marcus standing by her desk with a small smile on his face she returned it.

"Marcus wh-"she was interrupted by him.

"It was the first one to bloom in the garden," he said

"Thank you Marcus," he nodded his head and walked away.

Aaliyah looked down at the rose bending her head a little to take in the sweet fragrance. She laid the rose back on her desk as she went back to work.

Fifteen minutes passed and Aaliyah had finished all her work on the computer the only thing left was to have Marcus look over some papers and sign them.

Walking towards his study she opened the doors and stepped inside; now there was a rule everyone knew when it came to Marcus while he was in his study…knock first and wait for his permission.

If he didn't give it then whatever you need to see him about simply had to wait. Even Aro and Caius knew this and if you were brave enough to do so…well you were simply asking for a death wish. The only person who could get away with such was Aaliyah only.

Marcus was at his desk looking at one of the many text books that were neatly placed on his desk.

"Aaliyah dearest are you finished with your work?" he spoke while never altering his gaze flick a page aside.

"Yes I just need you to read over these papers and sign them," she walked over next to him as she placed the papers down on his desk.

Closing the book in his hands he went through the papers that Aaliyah placed down on her desk.

"The fragrance you have on is nice love what is it?" Marcus couldn't stop the question the fragrance that she had on was soft yet it brought out her natural scent that teased his senses.

Aaliyah couldn't help but smile there was never a time that Marcus didn't compliment her.

"It's called Closer by Halle Berry," she said.

"You should where it more it's not over powering then that mess some of the other woman wear around here," he said as he signs his name on each document.

Despite popular belief, Marcus did speak more than one sentence and when he felt like talking and had valuable things to say.

But Aaliyah was aware that Marcus spoke more to her than anybody else and she took that as an honorable compliment. For whatever he said she took more to heart then anyone else's.

"I'll make sure to wear it only on the days I'm with you,"

"Thank you dear," he said as he placed the papers back into the vanilla folder and handed it to her.

"Please sit love…I would like your company for a little while," he said, she only nodded her head as she took a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

She moved around till she got in a comfortable position letting out a soft sigh she closed her eyes. This was simply heaven, especially after a day spent on training, going through papers, disciplining a few people, and walking around half the day…she needed this right now.

"How was your day Marcus?" she asked, his had to be more eventful then hers.

"Another execution for an imbecile whom made himself known, a meeting with the guards with reports on newly turned vampires and covens," he said in an uninterested tone.

"Also Aro and Caius asked about you…they missed your presence in the throne room," Aaliyah laughed amused by this fact.

"I bet they did…did you miss me as well?" she said playfully as she stretched in the chair.

"I knew that I would be seeing you afterwards, my brothers knew that today was my day with you, they did everything in their power to prolong the meeting," he chuckled softly as she joined him in his laughter.

"I've been noticing something about you of late Aaliyah," he said quietly, Aaliyah eyes opened as crimson iris stared at her.

"And what have you notice about me Marcus?"

"You wear pants when you have to work on my days and never on Caius or Aro's why?" a mischievous smile was now on his lips.

"Unlike you your brothers haven't come to terms that modern day woman can wear pants instead of skirts and short sundresses that they seem to love."

Marcus chortled at the valid point that she made, unlike his brothers he loved it when she wore pants. It showed off her lower body better especially her derriere and it please him at the fact that she wore such even now.

She looked simply beautiful; the tight black turtle neck shirt with black slacks that was held up with a black belt that had a small gold buckle in the center of it as she wore black stylist flats.

Her hair was put into a pony tail her accessories were gold hoop earrings and a gold watch.

It was simple and it was the main reason why he loved her so.

Suddenly Aaliyah smirked impishly. "It seems that your observation skills are putting me to shame."

"Ah yes I suppose they might. But how was your day love," he asked his eyes shining with interest. Aaliyah always talked of how her day was nothing of interest but to Marcus everything that went on in her day gained his interest. He frowned as he watched as Aaliyah massaged her temple.

"Fine I guess. But Gianna has been showing me the true meaning of slacking." Aaliyah murmured her brows furrowed. Gianna had to be the most incompetent, slacking, and dim-witted employee that has ever worked as a secretary for the Volturi.

All was quiet until finally Marcus spoke up. His tone was low and serious. This tone shocked Aaliyah immensely since he rarely used such a tone. "She is giving you a hard time."

Aaliyah noticing that Marcus's mood has taken a turn decided to answer his question with caution. "She does work incorrectly and I often times have to double check her work. The work is even wrong or late. But it's nothing I can't handle Marcus"

He hummed lowly acknowledging her words. "The only reason she remains here is because Caius is using her for his more…carnal desires."

Aaliyah couldn't help but chuckle at this rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Who isn't Caius using for his carnal desires?"

Though Aaliyah tried to lighten the mood she knew that Marcus was still in a solemn mood. Suddenly he stood shocking Aaliyah by the unexpected movement. "Don't worry love I'll take care of it."

"Marcus," she sighed wistfully. "It's nothing I can't handle"

"Yes I am beyond sure that you can, but you do enough here without having to worry about ineffectual workers," he said sharply immediately hushing Aaliyah with his tone of finality.

"Yes sir," she swiftly responded. Marcus's eyes instantly softened. He didn't mean to snap but it upset him greatly when others gave her trouble. Aaliyah handled everything within the Volturi castle from finances to things as small as kitchen issues. The whole weight of the Volturi operations was on her shoulders. Yet Marcus admired and respected Aaliyah. Not only did she do this without error but with a carefree smile on her face. She was indeed a breath of fresh air to Marcus.

Walking over to her he couldn't help but get a small touch of her smooth silky caramel skin. His hand slowly caressed her cheek gently, causing her breath to hitch slightly. He rubbed below her eyes noticing the slightly dark circles under them. "Take a break love you're working too hard" I whispered placing a chaste kiss on her forehead. The electric pleasure that shot through my body at the simple touch of her flesh to mines. This was all the confirmation I needed for what I already knew.

To Marcus Aaliyah was indeed a rare rose that brought light to his melancholy days.