Hello everyone! This is officially the last chapter of the year and one of my favorites so far. This is a fanfic, so I have some theories about Marcus that I included in this chapter, something more active than the series makes it seem. For those who don't know, the official series guide has some information, such as, for example, that not everyone in the Volturi clan knows about Chelsea's gifts, and this will be explored further later. I loved Sulpicia and Athenodora, I loved writing about them.

I planned to finish this fanfic in December, but obviously the story grew too long. In the next chapter everything will be more focused on Volterra, but there are still characters that I want to appear, like Renata's family, the Egyptian clan (who created Demetri)... I have great plans for this story so please be patient.

Thank you to everyone who read, who waited, who came here even without commenting.

I appreciate you all.

Happy New Year!

[Twilight characters belongs to Stephenie Meyer]

[English isn't my first language, so please be kind]

24

The Marcus's Paradox

When Elia returned to the castle, she expected Marcus to meet her at the elevator, but there was no sign of him.

She knew how to move through the corridors now, at least those that led to the common areas shared by the Guard, up to the corridor of the twins' room, other than that, the Volturi's underground castle was still a maze. Jane had also taught her how to get in and out of the castle at night, and she could use a human gate upstairs during the early morning hours. That's how she ended up at Gianna's house last time. Elia was watching Marcus before she slipped away, promising she'd be back soon, which didn't happen.

"Follow the trail," Elia thought, ready to try to track him down, but it wasn't necessary. Marcus was inside the library, he hadn't left in the two nights she was gone, and soon a soft melody was heard at the back of the library, behind the bookshelves and comfortable armchairs. Without needing to use her vampire skills, Elia simply followed the sound. As she passed the well-crafted walls of ancient wood and mahogany, Elia found Marcus sitting on one of the iron stairs that led to the top of one of the bookshelves, right on the border between the most modern section of the library and the old one, where it was taken over by stone and marble, clashing in lighter colors.

Marcus stared at the record player where the melody was coming from, resting on a small wooden table, and there were other vinyl records scattered on the floor. Elia noticed that below the iron staircase the music section of the Volturi library began.

- You're late - Marcus said, still without taking his eyes off the spinning record.

- I know - Elia said, there was no room to sit next to him, so she sat one step below.

The girl stared at the blue ceiling full of hand-painted cherubs and wondered which great artist created them.

- I'm sorry - Elia thought about what she could say to cover up what she had done, she pressed Claudio's journal against her chest, but then looked back at Marcus - what happened to you?

Marcus hurriedly tried to brush the dust off his clothes, until he gave up and just took off his jacket, leaving the wrongly buttoned linen shirt on display.

- I'm sure I left you clean.

- I was bored - Marcus replied, his head down, his delicate face full of melancholy - and I was alone.

The sound of violins filled the room until the record ended, then Elia helped Marcus tidy up the music section, at least the shelf he messed up.

- Did she like music? - Elia asked.

Marcus continued tidying up the records until he realized who she was talking about.

- Do you mean, my wife?

Elia nodded. She had left the journal on the iron stairs, but Marcus noticed how she always ended up looking at it every five seconds. He didn't ask anything about what it meant, but he was getting curious.

As the silence dragged on, Elia feared that Marcus would have a bad reaction, since even Jane had advised her not to talk about Didyme.

- Of course she liked it - Marcus replied, and a slight smile formed on his lips - but not like that, she didn't have time to see the wonders of human musical evolution.

- So would she like something more modern or would she be a classical music lover like you and Jane?

- I think she would like modern music - Marcus continued to organize the shelf and Elia helped him put the records in alphabetical order - something more upbeat, cheerful, does that exist?

- Like pop music, maybe she would have a bubblegum pop playlist.

The comment was said without thinking, but Marcus laughed, he really laughed, which left Elia so surprised that she almost dropped the last few records she was holding.

- Yes, she would like that - he wiped imaginary tears from his milky eyes - but it's better not to tell anyone else, otherwise Aro will end up hearing and he doesn't like us talking about his sister.

- Really? But I thought...

- That I couldn't stand to hear her name? - Marcus put his hair behind his ear, he often bent over to talk to others, so his posture had acquired this shape - But Didyme is the most beautiful name in the world, there's no other like it.

Elia just nodded, she wasn't instructed on what was going on and it seemed strange to her.

- If you're looking for a safe place to keep this - Marcus indicated with his chin the journal on the stairs - you should do like me.

He took the last disc from Elia's hands, and then pointed to the bricks on the walls.

- There's always a loose end.

Marcus left the shelf and went back to the ladder to get his jacket, knocking it a few times to get the dust off. Elia went to the point where the library wall became more rustic, with the bricks showing. Marcus spent a lot of time there and was present when the library was built and in each expansion. Elia hadn't even explored the surface of that place yet.

- Now let's go - when Elia turned around, Marcus handed the journal back to her - we better do this before they come back.

- Do what?

- Meet Sulpicia and Athenodora, of course - Marcus sighed - they've been asking me for it for a while now.

XXXXX

As they walked, Elia heard her cat calling, as if it were begging her not to follow Marcus, but she chose the vampire, since the animal couldn't go there. They walked down the corridors until they became steeper and darker, and then there was no more light.

- Isn't there another elevator? - Elia asked Marcus quietly after reaching five levels below Jane's room.

- Not in this area - Marcus replied - the elevator on the first level was placed for Gianna and special guests, but it would be very complicated to install it here, we are too far from the surface. We passed Chelsea's chamber on the way here, she visits them sometimes too.

Elia nodded. When she first heard Athenodora's melody, she felt drawn there, but now, with the silence, the darkness of the corridor made her apprehensive.

- Humans don't live here - Marcus added, he stopped in front of another staircase that led to a chamber even lower - I'll go first, okay?

- Yes - Elia stretched her head towards the chamber, soon Marcus had disappeared.

Elia pondered for a moment. Was there really a safe passage here? Despite feeling Marcus' presence on the other side of the portal, she took a deep breath to be sure. The sensation was thick, heavy with a scent of aging and decay. A metallic, almost rusty smell, as if time itself had corroded the stone walls and floor. If Elia were human, she would be out of breath by now.

-You don't need to be afraid - Marcus' voice startled the vampire.

-I'm not afraid! - Elia crossed her arms, clutching the journal even tighter against her. She hadn't shown it to Demetri, it didn't feel right.

"I'm not acting right with any of them," Elia thought suddenly.

-You don't need to be ashamed of being afraid either - Marcus' arm suddenly appeared, pulling her into the chamber – and the monster isn't home.

Elia tried to shake off the feeling that she needed fresh air.

- Marcus? – she asked, because they had been descending for some time, and she imagined that Marcus was going slowly because of her.

- We're almost there.

He wasn't lying, because Elia soon saw a light up ahead, and when she got closer she realized that it was an old torch chained to a wall.

They stopped in front of an old, heavy-looking door, similar to the one in the library, but the chamber didn't end there, there were other torches, which seemed to lead to a path even further away.

- This is a common room, they use it when Aro and Caius are on a mission, that way they can keep each other company.

Marcus finally let go of Elia's arm, then pointed to the torches ahead.

- There's another staircase there that leads to my room, but I don't spend much time there anymore. Athenodora and Sulpicia come in, get what I need and bring it here. Further down is Athenodora and Caius' room, and lastly Aro and Sulpicia's.

Elia nodded, Marcus didn't need to tell her all that, and unlike the appearance he maintained on the upper floors, he seemed calmer there.

- Almost to the center of the earth.

Marcus chuckled, but the sound, even though it was low, seemed to stir something on the other side of the door, but the people on the other side held back, as if they were waiting for him to take the initiative.

When Marcus opened the door, Elia found herself enveloped by a soft light coming from crystal chandeliers that shone with a peculiar intensity. In the center of the room, a large, imposing marble fireplace exuded an almost surreal heat, which seemed more like an illusion than a true source of warmth. The walls were lined with dark wooden bookshelves, which carried old books, bound in aged leather, some almost undone by the weight of centuries. They were arranged without any order, creating a sense of controlled chaos, as if they had been read many times and were now patiently awaiting the next curiosity or desire of those who owned them. In a corner of the room, a large black grand piano, with delicate gold details, dominated the space. Beside it rested other instruments, including a fine-stringed harp and an impeccable-looking cello. The canvases that adorned the walls were, in turn, a window to an imaginary world, mostly of mysterious figures and dark landscapes. The color palette was dominated by deep tones of wine, gold and gray, with brushstrokes that created a sense of movement and life, as if the figures on the canvases were about to step out of their frame.

Elia's senses were so focused on understanding everything around her that she barely noticed the two women who approached, curious and beautiful. The woman with slightly wavy dark hair wore a dress the color of dark emerald, whose collar covered her neck but left her shoulders exposed. Heavy gold rings adorned her fingers, contrasting with her translucent skin. She was young, as young as Elia, but had an air of naivety about her. The woman with golden hair had a more determined and sharp air, wearing a navy blue dress that flowed elegantly. She was older than Sulpicia, both in human and vampire years, and this was visible on her face. Sulpicia had a youthful appearance, while Athenodora had the appearance of a woman in her thirties, of beauty at its peak. Her expression was more restrained, and could easily be mistaken for severe. It was easy to imagine her with Caius, as someone who could confront him and win.

- Be careful with the sheet music on the floor - it was Athenodora who spoke first, and Elia felt like she should bow to her - we don't get many visitors so I don't worry about keeping everything tidy.

Looking at the floor, Elia realized that she had almost stepped on pieces of paper that had scribbled musical notes on them.

- So this is the new girl? - Sulpicia shrank a little behind Athenodora's shoulder, looking cautiously at Elia.

Their eyes were blood red, shining like precious stones, but perhaps it was the effect of the chandeliers.

- No need to hide, Sulpicia - Marcus took the lead, being careful not to step on Athenodora's possessions - Elia is harmless.

- Is she? - Athenodora replied, but Marcus didn't listen to her. Sulpicia went straight to him, holding his hand affectionately and with a welcoming smile. Soon they were involved in a conversation about a book, and from the amount of papers scattered around besides the sheet music Elia realized that she must be a writer.

There were no chairs in the room other than those intended for musical instruments, so for a moment Elia wasn't sure how she should act. Finally, she noticed another figure in the room, a petite-looking girl with short, curly, fiery red hair who was holding a heavy book wearing a sand colored tunic.

- Oh, Corin is here too - it was Marcus who said, but it didn't seem like a pleasant surprise for him.

Elia flinched a little when she realized who the vampire was. Corin, she had heard Jane talk about her before, but not in a good way, although Elia still didn't know exactly what that meant.

- Who did you kill? - Athenodora's voice broke Elia's thoughts, bringing her back to the present.

- Me? - Elia sighed, she could simply say "no one", but that would be a lie.

- You cling to that journal like a treasure - Athenodora pointed out - I did it once, we all did it.

- And how did things get better? - Elia asked as Athenodora walked around her with light, quick steps, examining her clothes, touching her hair.

- You smell like Demetri - she blinked, surprised - I thought she was Alec's mate.

- It's complicated - Marcus answered from across the room as Sulpicia showed him pages and more pages.

Athenodora was shorter than Marcus, yet there was an imposingness about her, like an empress. Elia wondered why an empress was in a cage.

- Whatever happened, Corin can take care of it - the empress said, she reached out to call the red-haired vampire - after that, we can play the piano for a bit while you tell me about the changes in the world outside.

Athenodora finally stepped away from Elia, heading for the piano. Then Corin came, and with a respectful greeting extended her hand in a gesture of good faith, offering comfort, more than that, relief. Elia did not think twice before taking it.

XXXXX

Everything was a little hazy in the vampire's mind when she left the chamber, she didn't even remember when she left, nor how she had done it. She only knew that she had a choice: go back or follow the corridors to the upper floor.

- Elia, are you there? - Elia heard Jane's voice full of surprise, and ran towards her, moving as far away from the wives' chamber as possible.

Jane and Elia collided, and the impact knocked them to the floor, along with Claudio's journal that was still in the newborn's hand. Elia jumped to her feet, a little disoriented, while Jane just sat on the floor.

- What am I wearing?

Elia raised her arms. She remembered wearing a black dress when she had visited the wives' chamber, but now she was wearing a heavy, long red velvet gown with floor-length sleeves and an off-the-shoulder neckline.

There was also a necklace around her neck, amethysts.

- It's one of Sulpicia's dresses - Jane said - she likes to make others feel comfortable, so it's not uncommon for her to hand out clothes to visitors.

- I saw her! - Elia said, feeling the fabric on her body - She looks so...

- Naive? Silly? Plain?

Elia knelt down next to Jane, they hadn't talked properly since what happened with Claudio, since then Elia ignored her while taking care of Marcus.

- You don't like her - Elia said.

- No - Jane sighed, then picked up the journal that was lying on the floor.

- But would you come down there to get me?

- Yes - she handed the journal back to Elia.

- And why would you do that if I was only gone for a few hours?

Jane smiled, slightly tilting her head to the side.

- You were down there for a week, and that was exactly why I didn't want you to go, but Marcus took you, so what could I do?

- A week? A whole week?

The shorter vampire stood up, and Elia finally noticed what she was wearing. A structured black blouse with butterflies embroidered in gold and orange threads, with gold metal buttons, some in the shape of flowers.

- I remember I also gave you a pair of pants - Elia said.

- I prefer to wear this skirt, but thank you - Jane replied - I thought if I showed you the outfit you would come back, if I knew I would end up meeting you halfway, I...

Elia didn't let Jane finish speaking, giving her a hug.

- You look very beautiful - said the newborn.

Jane said nothing, just nodded, without returning the gesture. She stood still like a stone statue until Elia released her.

- Let's go to my room - Jane said - there are too many ears here.

XXXXX

In the blink of an eye, Elia was back in Jane's room, which had also been her room since she had arrived at the castle. The walls were marsala, with ornamental daggers on the walls, gifts from Caius according to Jane, which gleamed with a cold glow. Elia's favorite spot was next to a small wooden table where her radio shared the space with a Tiffany Lamp, with its stained glass windows in shades of blue and red, offering a soft and welcoming light, creating a contrast with the austere tone of the rest of the space.

Elia sat on the rug, near the lamp and the bookshelf with books ranging from ancient history to magic, although Jane didn't encourage her to read any. She took a deep breath, with a mixture of relief and regret. She was missing something, and it didn't take long for her to realize that she was missing Corin.

- Newborns always want more and more and more - Jane took off her shoes - that's why I didn't want you to go there, at least not now, but Master Marcus doesn't think about the consequences.

- What is she? Corin.

- A walking drug, at least that's what Felix calls her - Jane sat next to Elia, helping her take off the necklace.

- But it was only a week, I think you'll be fine if you don't go back there for a while.

- A whole week - Elia took another deep breath, then ran her fingers through Claudio's journal - Does Alec know?

- He was furious when I told him, because he already suspects that something happened and... They will be back tomorrow, the mission is over.

Elia was quiet, it was as if the whole world had turned around, but she hadn't realized it.

- What are you going to do with him? - Jane asked.

- What do you mean?

- I need to know if you want to kill my brother to define a position, if I'll be your enemy or not.

Elia laughed, she was sure there was something in her hair, small pearls, maybe?

- I'm serious - Jane said - my brother is guilty of many things, but he couldn't guess that Claudio was his singer.

Elia's laughter stopped, she looked at the door that led to Jane's closet, now full of extra hangers because of her clothes.

- Don't worry about it - Elia said - we're still friends.

Jane's posture finally relaxed, she had let her hair down, but she looked a little uncomfortable with that hairstyle.

- A bun would look good with the butterflies - Elia said.

- Really?

She stood up before Elia had time to agree, looking for a hair clip in one of the closet drawers. When she came back, her hair was already tied back in an elegant bun.

- You need to hide this before he comes back - Jane pointed to the journal - if you ask, maybe he'll let you keep it, but not now.

- I already have the perfect place for it - Elia replied, looking for a good song on the radio.

XXXXX

In the early hours of the morning, Elia tried to get the dust off her clothes as she took the elevator upstairs. Gianna wasn't there, she must have gone home to rest before the entourage returned. They hadn't had a chance to talk yet and Elia really wanted to know her opinion on her cooking.

Technically she wasn't allowed to step on that floor, the "human floor" as the others called it, but she shouldn't have a problem going there when there was no one there. Elia found the system strange, humans on the surface, vampires in the shadows. She wondered if some of those people were like Gianna, if they knew what was going on?

Someone had said that Marcus was in the Clock Tower, a temporary guard, the kind that had no name, who was only there as long as Aro was pleased. He had laughed when Elia had asked where that was and had simply pointed up.

Elia was already in her normal clothes again, pants and a long-sleeved v-neck blouse along with black boots. The sleeves of her shirt were practically destroyed by the amount of dust and stone debris, but Elia wanted to talk to Marcus before changing clothes.

The human and common environment was nothing impressive to Elia, very different from the lower floors, but she knew she wasn't alone. As she reached the stairs leading up to the tower, it was Chelsea who Elia encountered. Instead of puffy sleeves, this time she had chosen a green chiffon dress with a black rose print and delicate straps. Her light brown hair was neatly combed, falling in waves down her back.

- You again - Chelsea said, then looked over her shoulder at the stairs. "He's up there, I just came to make sure he wasn't going to jump.

- He wouldn't die if he jumped.

- But he would still do it. - Chelsea nodded. She walked over to Elia, who was relieved to be a little taller. Elia didn't think much of Chelsea, or Heidi, who ignored her after just one date. She just knew she had to be careful. - You're a hard one to tie down.

Chelsea's eyes were almost black, and she looked at Elia with an interest the girl couldn't quite decipher, until she left, and Elia heard the elevator descending underground again.

Once again, Elia tried to clean herself up as she climbed the stairs, until she finally reached the top of the tower, where Marcus was sitting at the window, looking out over the city below. Like Elia, he left the wives' chamber in new clothes, his hair combed and tied in a low ponytail, and smelling of roses.

- There you are - Marcus gestured for Elia to come closer. He wasn't smiling anymore, he just seemed distant, as if he was in waiting mode - oh, I see you followed my advice.

- About the walls, yes - Elia replied - but what if someone sees? What if the mind reader...

- He won't read your mind, unless you give him a reason.

- But what about you? He doesn't know that you...

- He knows, but he doesn't care - Marcus looked back at the city - I hide what I want so he doesn't destroy it, and he'll only do it if it's in sight.

A cold breeze invaded the tower, and Elia sat down next to Marcus. She felt and heard several things around the structure, from the humans who lived nearby. The thirst was there, but now Elia didn't feel as much urgency in chasing them.

- Why didn't he like her? I mean, they were siblings, weren't they?

- Yes, but Didyme was incredibly more noble than he is.

Elia just listened; she didn't know how much to say on the subject.

- I come from a lineage of senators, Caius too, as well as Athenodora. Aro said he could tell that, our worth, just by looking at us. But him and Didyme? They didn't come from an important line, and Aro resented that.

Marcus pointed to one of the city streets, where a young couple was running alone while laughing.

- I should have been more careful about Corin, I didn't realize she affected you that much, I will give orders for her to avoid you, just as she does to me.

- Is it so bad to want to run away from the pain? - Elia replied - Why don't you accept it?

- It helps, for a while, but it also makes you forget - Marcus replied, and Elia soon understood. She had lost a week, a week without thinking about anything other than distractions - I prefer the painful memory.

Elia leaned out the window a little, watching her cat, who always found new passages, walk across the roof. Her head was full of thoughts about the clan, about the gifts of each member, but especially about the man beside her.

Marcus no longer seemed as fragile as he looked.

- Look - the elder vampire suddenly said, pointing to something on the horizon that Elia failed to recognize - Aro is back.