Marcus wiped his mouth with his jacket sleeve. And he licked his lips. Garrett sensing Marcus' good mood walked up behind him. His vampire comrades took that chance to quietly disperse from Volterra, having no more dealings with the Volturi.

"I have to say, that little banquet was of high quality. The one I had was sweet. Must have been diabetic; I'm partial for those."

Marcus waited for him. They walked through the marble halls until they receded into dull carpets.

"I am glad you enjoyed that. I am a fan of salty people. You should try to sample polycythaemic humans; their blood is rich in protein and you will not need to feed for two months if necessary."

Garrett pondered; his leather jacket squelched as he walked.

"Aren't they rare?"

"Extremely but human athletes and humans that inhabit high altitudes have acquired such a marvellous taste. But humans these days have such unhealthy eating habits it makes them less attractive."

Garrett placed his hands above his head.

"Tell me about it. Just these junkies, alcoholics and obese people. Don't they know how that affects their blood?"

Garrett shuddered in disgust.

"Anyway, this is probably the last time I can indulge. I'm going to miss human blood."

Marcus acknowledged Garrett's words.
"Is it worth giving up?" said Marcus.
He could not imagine anything better than that.

Garrett lowered his arms from his upper torso, and he pocketed them in his white jeans.
"It sucks but what's not worth giving up for love?"

Marcus agreed with him. When Didyme was alive he would have given her the moon, if it made her happy.

"Uh, Marcus... Master Marcus, could you direct me to my room? Your guards ditched me out here as soon as we were done eating. That, and I can't sense my coven anymore."

He scratched his head, in embarrassment. Marcus shrugged.

"It is on my way. And the cause may be Alec and Ebony. They are most likely dulling our guests' senses for precaution."

Garrett scoffed.

"Master," he said sarcastically. Marcus didn't mind no one really thought of him as their Master anyhow.

"You don't need that you are vampires! Plus, there's thirty-two of you, and only eighteen of us visiting. Not much of a threat and only Kate has a gift. Your whole coven is gifted!"

Marcus could agree to that but if they had been as this cautious Didyme would still be alive. But simultaneously, he could attest, although not to the extent it exerted itself in modern times, there was security personnel at the time of Didyme's murder. So, did it make a difference at all?

He took the guest to his room.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********>>>>>>>>>>
As Garrett entered his room the comforting citrus scent that accompanied his vegetarian vampires swarmed him like a full breast did a suckling infant. A warm embrace and a temperate kiss was pressed firmly on his forehead.

"I was about to storm out of this accursed room and take you from that vile eating-chamber if you didn't appear just now," Kate said.

Garrett laughed at his girlfriend's dramatics.

"How are you feeling now Garrett?" said Carlisle.

"I'm satiated. And tell Kate I was safe. Marcus actually was a good host, no probing or unnecessary hovering. He just let what needed to be done be done."

Rosalie looked at the ladies in the room sceptically. Marcus was not one for interactions; he often refrained from social interaction; they all expected him to be in his throne looking forlorn and forgotten, like a used party tumbler, during the party.

"Isn't that, unusual?" said Rosalie to Eleazar.

"It is. I'm as surprised as any of you. But it seems change is in the air, and it's not half bad."

Emmett scrunched up his face.

"Are you all telling me that the old dude just needed a lay and now he's good as new?"

Esme' s eyes ballooned and Carlisle sighed. Rosalie scolded.

"What?" he asked his family.

"It looks like it," said Garrett. "It's about time. How long was he going to mourn his first wife?"

Kate put her hand over her mate's hand and zapped him. His face crumpled.

"Don't encourage him!" she yelled.

"Yes, and that's hardly appropriate," said Carmen. "We are still in the Volturi lair, don't forget we are being watched especially after Renesmee's trial."

Eleazar nodded, staring down Emmett then his coven brother. Kate removed her hand from Garrett.

"Oh, sorry I forgot." Emmett admitted sheepishly.

Garrett waved off their concerns.

"They would have beheaded us by now for my crime, if they wanted and Marcus was genuinely concerned for my comfort. It's weird but I believe him."

Kate tried to put her hand back on her mate's and he flinched. She scowled but she gently placed it on his shin instead.

"I believe you too, but exercising caution isn't stupid."

He looked at her with his rouge eyes. He nodded.

"What did you speak of?" Carlisle asked, both curious and wary.

"Nothing just dietary preferences. He mentioned he liked people with polycythaemia. I didn't know what that was but I didn't want to look dumb."

Everyone frowned also confused as to what that was. Carlisle grinned. Rosalie spoke up:

"Polycythaemia is when you have too many red blood cells in your blood. So, they have thicker blood."

Emmett and Garrett groaned.

"Like milkshake or curdled milk from when we were humans?"

"A little like that," Eleazar said.

"I preferred thinner blood; haemophiliacs were my thing back in the day," said Carmen.

Esme and Carlisle stiffened and felt their throats itch.

"Emmett you had a blood-singer...." Said Eleazar.

"Two," said Rosalie.

"What did they taste like?" Garrett said curious, he smacked his lips.

Emmett noticed his adoptive parents had quieted.

"Uh, maybe later guys, some of us here are veteran non-human drinkers."

He openly looked at his wife and adoptive parents.

"Pardon us, Carlisle." Carmen said.

Carlisle smiled patiently but Esme had to squeeze on his arm to prevent remembering her wild, uncontrollable new-born days from tearing through her body.

"It's okay, we all have our own limits and expectations of our immortal life. I never expected everyone to share my opinion on it."

Emmett whispered to Eleazar, Carmen and Garrett, later then.

Kate rolled her eyes but smiled fondly.

"You know Emmett and Garrett always riling people up," Kate said placing her head on Garrett's jacket.

"But Garrett did you have to eat like an animal! There's blood on your new clothes."

Garrett shrugged. Kate told him to bathe and change. Carlisle took them to the furnace to be lit.

"Allow me. Eleazar has other clothes?"
Kate rolled her eyes. Eleazar laughed.

"I packed an extra pair of pants for just this occasion."

As the pants burnt Esme, Carmen and Emmett sighed in relief. The tempting scent of blood was gone for now.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A frantic energy consumed Aro. He had been pacing for what seemed years on his Persian rug, now black from the worn soles of his shoes.

How had Marcus become fashionable?

Is that why he had gone to Florence, to shop?

Who was the girl he mentioned; his blood boiled and he felt an acerbic taste in his mouth.

"Did you take my Makayla with you for that excursion?"

A quiet voice whispered its reply: "Yes."

He violently turned back. His long haired, emotionless brother, well... no longer emotionless, stood bearing him a smirk.

"I did."

Aro was repulsed and he curled up his thin nose and gnashed his teeth.

"You dare defile my sister's memory by taking up my mate."

Marcus swung his arms as he dawdled to the bed in the centre of Aro's room. He sat on the cream comforter and crossed his legs.

"Is this about Didyme's memory or your jealousy?"

His clear, pink eyes assessed Aro's darkening orbs. Aro swallowed.

"How do you mean?"

Aro forced out hollow laughter.

"How could I be jealous of you and your human?"

Aro covered himself with his arms and he shifted away from Marcus subtly.

Yes, that would throw suspicion off.

Marcus put down his head and chortled.

"My human, now? I guess it is true since you do not want her, but you insist harm comes to her."

Aro flinched back. It had not worked.

"No."

Marcus continued: "She is mortal but that does not mean she is inferior. She has a kind heart; if only you paid attention to such things."

"My Sulpicia has twice the heart of that human even if it is unbeating. Marcus stop with these games."

Marcus was frustrated.

"I see I have been wasting my time."

Aro smiled. Yes, by showing disinterest he had given up on Makayla. He only wanted to prove superiority in something, anything after being a shadow all his immortal life.

He stood up from Aro's bed and walked to him. They were nose to nose, with him looking down on Aro.

"I have been drawing near to that girl so that you can finally fix your mistakes and be with her, but I see I was the fool.

You do not deserve her nor Sulpicia. I am going to court her seriously now. That is what she wants and from that maybe you will learn to appreciate what you have."

Aro frowned. No....

"How can you take her from me? Even if I do not want her you are supposed to be my brother! Be on my side!" Aro demanded. He flashed to Marcus' side and shook his shoulder.

Marcus swung a thin, pale hand and Aro's back hit the side of his dresser and it imploded into a million wooden shards. Aro exhaled quickly.

"You are no brother of mine. We share no blood ties; your blood died with my Didyme."

His ballet slipper coloured eyes glared at Aro before he slammed the door and left Aro in bitter sorrow on his bedroom floor.