Demetri smiled reassuringly at me. We stood at the door to Marcus' room.

"I must attend to the other Masters," he said before leaving me.

Should I enter?
I decided to knock.

"Marcus? You left all of a sudden. Is everything alright? You guys were fighting about me weren't you?"

I waited, to hear from him.
"I'm coming in."

I pushed open the door and saw him looking at the picture of his dead girlfriend with a fire in his eyes. I tried to go outside but I stubbed my foot.

"Shit." I screamed.

His head deflected towards my direction. A deep frown furrowing his forehead in thought.

"Are you hurt? There was quite a raucous but a moment."

I tried to mask my pain with a half-hearted smile.
"I'm right as rain."

He looked at me. Don't rub your foot...DON'T. RUB. YOUR FOOT.

I closed my eyes to prevent tears from escaping.
He hugged me and I jumped. When had he come to the door?

"Pardon, my brother. I hoped he would welcome you, as he does all guests, with open arms."
He sighed.

"I am truly sorry."

I put a hand over his back, muddled. I was all at once happy and nervous.

"Don't apologise for the actions of your brothers. I wasn't offended at all."

His cheek touched mine, warming me on the inside. I could feel my heart beat irrhythmically. Could he feel it? He pulled me back.

"I am sure I have wasted much of your time. Now I will set up your travel."
"Do you think that my agent will respond?"

"She did last night but we have not heard from her since. I must ask Heidi what her progress is on the matter."

He stood and went out. Then I thought of how I was in his room, with the picture of his ex, who was dead. I looked at her lovely face and felt inadequate.

I held my face and looked at my brown hands. My heart sore. I was constantly being told I should not ever expect to have Marcus love me, despite his kindness...that I would be disappointed.

Looking at his brothers' reactions and his workers' opinions he may not be too far from their narrow-minded view of me. I sat on his bed, forlorn.

I sat there for a while and I began twitching. When was he coming back? I could always go back to the library and read while waiting.

But I could get lost again. The main motivation for me to not go was the image of Aro, a pallid twist of revulsion towards my dark countenance.

The door was still open so I could see occasionally cloaked and shoes shuffling by quickly then one stopped by the door. I looked up and saw a fifteen-year-old with a jet-black robe covering her toes. I raised a brow.

Was she a body guard? She looked too young. She had her red bangs flopping down her face and her hair swept into a loose ponytail.

"And who might you be?" she said.
I wanted to ask her the same thing.

"Master Marcus' room is strictly prohibited. Let me take you to the reception instead."
Who was this girl?

"Marcus, left me here while he went to look for Heidi. He said I should wait here."

The latter was a lie but it seemed to shut the girl up and she hastily trodded along. Weird girl...

I closed the door. Didn't need more prying eyes. I took out my phone from my pocket and phoned Jamal.

"Hello?" he said.

"Jamal."

He asked me what was wrong. There was no hi and definitely no witty banter today.

"I don't think I'll get home today."

He asked me why.

A tear fell.

"I...I." I could not hold back the flood.

"My agent has..."

The door suddenly smacked against the wall and I screamed. Phone flying to the floor and it separated into three parts... the front, the back and the battery.

"MY PHONE!"

I gazed up and saw a curvaceous woman with milky brown skin and ginger, voluminous curls.
I was taken aback.

"Uhm, who are you?"
She smiled at me and I felt a little more at ease.

"I'm sorry. I was holding something."
Indeed, she was, in her arms were blankets and a copy of Beowulf and Heidi l had, had in the library.

"What are those?"

She handed me the items and I took them.

"I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Marcus and Heidi are having difficulties contacting your agent. You may need these depending on the duration of your stay.

Marcus only wanted me to tell you to rest and he will come back once they have made all necessary arrangements."

I sighed.

"That's it then? So, I'm really stuck here?"
She smiled sympathetically. I felt hopeless. Then she touched me.

"It's only for a short bit. You should rest."

I felt content then. You know, she was right. I eased into his headboard and a blanket was draped over me.

"I am sorry we couldn't chat but it was lovely meeting you..."
I felt sluggish. She leaned closer and sniffed me. Her eyes closed and she smiled contentedly.

"Very lovely."
She was leaning forward.

Then she was swiftly pulled back and I jerked up in a panic. What?

The red head girl had come back and was having a heated staring match with the woman.

"Chelsea, what is the meaning of this? I was busy taking care of our guest."

She glared down at carrot-haired Chelsea. Chelsea narrowed her eyes to pin pricks.

"Corin, back off; she's comfortable enough. You wouldn't want Marcus to get angry now right?"

She smiled like a babe at Chelsea.

"Yes, Marcus. He sent me to take care of her."

Chelsea glowered.

"I know; now that you are done you have more work."
"What could be more important than our guest?"

Chelsea whispered in her ear and the woman turned white as a pole.
"oh!" Corin gasped.

"Oh, yes. Now come with me before you overstay your welcome."

Chelsea grabbed onto Corin's hand and pulled her along... Leaving the door wide open. I stayed on the bed, dumbstruck. What had I just seen?

Demetri shook me and I blinked.
"Hey, you seem dazed..."

Had he always been standing there?
"Where are Corin and Chelsea?"

He blinked.
"The redheaded girl and woman."

"There weren't any women in here; I came in here with these blankets and books on Marcus' request. I think you imagined them whilst dozing off."

I looked in his arms and saw Beowulf, Heidi and the two blankets, Corin had, in his arms. It was no longer resting against my thighs.

What... I wasn't asleep. I had been phoning Jamal.
I looked for the phone that had fallen on the floor and it wasn't there.

"Are you looking for something?
"My phone."

He pointed to the pillowcase and instead of being in three parts, my Nokia; it was in one piece and off.