I hadn't seen Marcus since our altercation, although Caius seemed convinced he would be back soon. Demetri popped into his room, every few hours to check on me. Benjamin was guarding me.

So, he could leave me with bodyguards, but he wasn't man enough to see me?
I huffed and I stood up from his bed. I had nothing to do but wait and wait and wait. And wait.

I hadn't even bathed but at least he fed me. Renata came with dinner and breakfast.

I thought of just using his bathroom but I felt that would be intrusive. But after I spent eight hours smelling my own pungent aroma I gave up waiting.

"Benji? Benjamin?"
He appeared in front of me and I squeaked.
"Would you guys quit it!"

These vampires were obsessed with appearing out of thin air.
He bowed...a new development.
"My apologies I forgot you are still new to this. How can I help?"

"Marcus hasn't come and I really need a shower."
"You do."
I hit him; his arm was hard like wood.
"Hey!"

A black pulsing pain shimmered across my fingertips.

"You admitted it first." he smirked.
I sighed.

"Marcus is just taking a breather..." he said screwing his eyes.
"He's angry. I said a lot of things yesterday...but I was scared!"

"He gets it;he does."
I hoped. I let Benjamin's reassuring words soak through me.

"Anyway can you get me clothes?"
I blushed
"And some lingerie....I just need to clean up."

He nodded. He left. Soon there was a knock...ok after ten minutes there was a knock. It was the twelve year old brunette girl, who had tortured one of the tourists...the one who was part of the set of twins.

I flinched as she came into my awareness.
"I am under the Master's order to find you suitable clothes to wear. Come."

"Which master?"
Would Marcus send this little girl? And she was rude...no hi?

She turned swiftly and disappeared down the hall. There was no sign of Demetri or Benjamin. I followed her, feeling self conscious. As I walked I felt eyes all over my body but as I turned to look each time, no one was there.

She blew out a breath as if she had been holding it in for years.

"The Masters ordered for the all guards to be in their chambers unless summoned."

She must have sensed my trepidation and paranoia. But I loosened my gait and smiled a bit after that.
"Good."

We walked away from the west wing, where Marcus' room was to an area before the reception. She halted before an orange metal door. I looked at it perplexed. All the other doors were wooden.

"Inside is a lavatory and some clothes have been laid out for you. When you are through the Master will come fetch you."

I was about to thank her but when I turned she was gone. A shiver thrilled through my veins. I opened the door and escaped the eery hallway.

The room was medium sized and bright with azure painted walls and a baby yellow ceiling. Light floated into the room from the open blinds.

The cool, winter air whooshed in, causing the aegean blue curtains to dance. I walked in cautiously and shut the window.

The bed was a four poster queen-sized bed with cotton, dust coloured sheets. I watched the room with awe.

Marcus' family was murderous, but they had style, alright.

I dawdled into the bathroom and my breath was taken. A cozy all white bathroom with white stone counters, white drawers, white shutters and white supporting beams. I could imagine heaven like this.

I waltzed to the bathtub. It had green and white tubes, boxes and jars.

Cucumber shampoo bars.
Lime hand and body lotion.

Cucumber hand and body lotion.
Cucumber and lime fragrance...
Lime bath salts....huh cucumbers.

I ate one. But I knew those were supposed to be for my eyes....but what they did for my eyesight I couldn't tell you.

Was this what Marcus had been away doing? I smiled. Lime green towels were hung on hooks on the walls

He was a darling ...
I took advantage of the facilities. I relieved myself because I would feel crass doing so after bathing.
I rubbed the pale lime salts on my tired, filthy brown skin. Then after a few minutes I washed it away with steaming water.

I sighed as the crust of dead skin fell away. Then I dropped a green bath bomb in the bath water and dumped a cup of lime and cucumber bubble bath.

The water frothed as I soaked away my worries. I put those cucumbers over my eyes. These men knew how to spend their cash.

But something nagged at my spirit....they had made children into monsters? And were they actually children or adults trapped in little bodies?
I shook my head.

I prayed after neglecting it for so long.
"God, I don't deserve to be saved but please protect me and show me what to do."
Tears fell down my face.
~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--

I looked at the underwear, sceptical it would fit. How would Marcus know ...?
I blushed.

My hands shook as I took the grey strapless bra and briefs with baby blue ribbons.

It was worth a try...they did look cute. I slipped them on and my eyes popped. Not only were they the perfect size but the material was breathable .
How did he know my size?

Next I pushed my feet into black pumps before sliding a skimpy maroon dress over my head.

Thus one fit me just right...Marcus had explaining to do. I untied the towel from the braids I washed. I no longer had ombre blue braids but corkscrew orange braids billowing down my backside.

Jamal said just because my man wasn't around didn't mean I could be sloppy. First impressions counted everywhere.

He graciously paid for my hair to get done at home. I missed him and I wonder if he was ok. I wanted him to know I was ok...

The door squeaked open. I stood up eagerly from the bed.

"Mark? Is that you?"
A scoff replied.
"Marcus?" I said uncertainly.

Aro's pig eyes glowed like red hot coals at the mention of his brother. His brows flattened and his mouth quirked to reveal teeth.

"Grrrrr...Marcus, again? And here I thought you would know how to distinguish my brother from me."

My heart leapt and I felt my spirit leave me. He smirked.
"Did your heart skip a beat for me?"
He paced forward in his blood loafers.

I skirted back and my eyes darted around.
"I guess not in the way I thought. Can we get past this fear? I'm really not interested in hurting you."

Now, I scoffed. Yeah, right.
"Believe me, you are that important. Did you like your bath? You smell refreshing."

He sniffed the air like a scent hound and I felt a bit exposed like a rabbit in a field.
"I see the clothes I got you fit excellently."
My mouth opened.

He did this?
"You? You did all this?"
He smiled beatifically.

"Why, yes. You seem surprised; I once have but the first time I may have exaggerated my kindness with the necklace. But the dress I got you seemed to appreciate."

"Which dress did you get me?" I said ,my eyes large.

"I sent a guard with a peach gift bag with a yellow dress, decorated with black, green and dark pink flowers."

I remembered the first gift Marcus gave me in th Piombe bag...my favourite dress with spaghetti straps. I shook.
"No..."

"My brother had you believe otherwise but has he given you another gift since?"
I looked away. He hadn't...the gift was Aro's?
"I care about you. This is why I do all these things."

"So you care about me so much you have me kidnapped, you injure me...have me treated as a prostitute. "

"I'm sorry about those um...situations. I may have miscalculated but I also paid for your ferret's vet bills...and I had Demetri house it in a pet care facility until you returned.

I even arranged for your bath today and clothes.
Please, I know I did wrong by you before but please just give me the opportunity to rectify my mistakes. "

He laced his fingers together. I studied his face it was open...sincere but I didn't trust it.

How could I?

"Why should I trust you?"
"You shouldn't."
I inhaled.

"But don't you believe in forgiveness...second chances? Isn't that what God would want?"

I balked
"What would a demon like you know about forgiveness? And God, huh?"

"I know that he created all things and that he wanted mankind to be the epitome of goodness but that's not the case."

Everything he said was true.

"Was it not written in Matthew 5, but I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek?"

I swallowed. He was quoting the bible as it was and I couldn't deny what he was saying was true; but I couldn't bring myself to forgive a monster.

"Your Jesus forgave enemies that persecuted him,and welcomed them as church elders, so why can't you at least let me explain my actions...and try to understand me?"

He looked at me softly and a tear fell from my eye. It was evil asking for salvation.

"You're asking the wrong person, I can't save you." I choked out.

"You are as good as it gets...are Christians not meant to be Jesus, the salvation of a sinful world?"

He was questioning me and I couldn't defend myself because I was no better than anyone else. I was a sinner.

He smiled, realising he had me cornered.

"What do you want from me?" I said heartbroken.
He held out his palm to me.

"Only an afternoon will suffice. Everything will make sense to you soon and hopefully we can come to a truce."

I sighed and gave my hand to the devil.
Lord, guide me...
^^^^^~~~~^^^^^~~~~^^^^^~~~~^^^^^~~~~^^
A large banner was hung in front of the Palazzo incontri Viti. It was a bold ink material with yellow, caps lettering.

"Wine, cheese and chocolate ? Aro, why are we here."
"Seems a little romantic," Demetri teased as Aro's rosy lips moved to speak.
Aro looked him condescendingly.

"Yes, as my dear one here has spoken it is an event that stirs the heart."
I read the poster.
"It says it starts tomorrow night; that and it is highly inappropriate for us to go out together. "

"The Volturi have long since sponsored this gallery since its creation. So, the owners have graciously agreed for it to be opened earlier for us.

Please, I want you to relax and have fun. You've never experienced a more tantalizing night, I assure you."

I gave him a look but I followed Demetri inside. We saw beautiful foyers lined with golds, browns and yellows. There were living rooms with flowing tapestries of succulent red and bewitching blue and imperial aged furnishings.

"Wow." I said as I sipped a flute of chardonnay.
Demetri walked beside with a platter of dark chocolate and assorted cheeses. He passed me a slab of triple cream cheese on a stick. I nibbled it before breaking a bar of white chocolate.

I tasted a circular, buttery and nutty taste sampling these three different flavors. I hummed in delight. Aro smiled.

"Do try pinot noirs next," he insisted, filling my empty glute with red wind instead.

My stomach was sickly warm and I was so buzzed I began drinking without a thought. Demetri grabbed the glass and I moped. He fed me a tumblr of crystal water.

"Stay hydrated, you are getting tipsy."
I told him I wasn't.

"I'll tell Marcus you were being naughty. Now, drink." he commanded.
I sipped the water and felt the heat in my gut ebb a bit and my head cleared a bit.

"More." he insisted.
Aro frowned.

I followed Demetri's instructions until I sobered enough to smack away the bottle Aro was holding. It fell but before it impacted the ground he easily snatched it up.

"What did you plan on doing that you needed me drunk?"

Aro sighed. He never wanted Demetri to come but I gave him hell.

I promised I would cause a good scene if neither Demetri nor Benjamin accompanied me.

"Again, you misunderstand. I simply wanted you to challenge your tastebuds but I forgot you American women can't hold your wine...my apologies."

That was a crude apology.
We both glared at Aro.

"Tell me why we've come here and why you are doing this."

"I told you I care for you. And I intend to tell you everything and not be as unforthcoming as Mark," he said so bitterly.

"Why are you so obsessed with me ?"

Aro looked at me before chortling.
"Straight forward. Ok, here is the thing...I'm a fool. I knew the day we met you were everything to me, but I was selfish. I didn't think you deserved me...I thought I was above you.

Then Marcus showed me otherwise. I tried to have you killed because that's what we do with all mortals; we have a responsibility to uphold secrecy...I didn't want you so I had to remove you."

I looked at him with hard eyes. Demetri's shoulders were bunched.

"Then what changed?"
Aro averted his gaze.

"Marcus honestly. He said I would regret what I did and I do especially since, he stole you from under my nose.

He has a power...a power that shows him how relationships will develop. And I discarded his advice."

My brows raised.
"Marcus can tell if a relationship can grow? does that mean he would know if someone....someone is falling in love?"

Aro smiled: "Yes, he can sense those ties best."
I gasped. Marcus knew the whole time I loved him and I couldn't hide my shame.

Aro saw my face change.
"Is something the matter?"
"None of your concern." I bit out.

He scowled. Demetri became more tense.
"What else have you been hiding from me, guys?"
Aro frowned and his eyes glowed.

"I am gifted as well as my brother. You are too but it's very underdeveloped."

"What gift is that super strength and speed?"
He laughed.
"No dear, I am not the strongest nor the fastest of my kin. But I can read any thought that had crossed a person's mind."

I laughed.
"No seriously?"
He couldn't read minds for real could he? Can anyone be like God and know man's heart?

"Yes, but unfortunately my skin has to be in contact with theirs."
My lips went white and I quivered. Aro looked pale.

"You said you read my mind?"
I remembered even just before we arrived here, he had stroked my shoulder. He had been ....

"How much have you seen?"
I was shaking.

Aro reached out but then curled his fingers in and held his body away from mine.
"Everything..."

I screamed.