Chapter 19-Marcus

Edward's hands and words were around me, comforting me, protecting me. When I awoke he was gone. My heart breaks all over again. I am a monster. I didn't help those people. I am just as ghastly as the Volturi. Would Edward still love me when he finds out, what a coward I am? I tried not to sleep. Their faces flashed behind my eyelids. The courtyard is where I spent my days. No vampires bother me from sun rise to sunset. I only had about fifteen more minutes until the vampires could wander as I did. 

Sitting by the fountain in the middle of the plaza I could try to imagine what Esme and Alice were doing around their own fountain. I liked to put my hands in the water and let it fall through my fingers. I took a huge inhale and smelled him. Marcus. I hadn't seen him since that horrific night. I simply stared at him. What does he want from me? His look was full of pity. I didn't want his pity. After staring for a moment or two longer he took a seat next to me on the wall of the fountain. 

"I can't let Aro touch me anymore." I only refocused my eyes on the water. "I haven't felt anything in a century. I have to keep him thinking I don't feel anything." He said with no emotion.

"What do you feel?" I asked, not believing him. 

"Something I haven't felt since Evelyn died." I turned to look at his face. "I wasn't apart of this when she was alive. That’s why I feel something now, with you here. You and Edward have what Evelyn and I did. Evelyn did what you did for Edward. She saved my life by sacrificing hers. Once she died Aro used Chelsea to bond me to him, since I didn't have a bond to anyone any longer."

"What happened to you two?" I asked. Could I believe this shell of a man used to be as lively as Edward? Had he really care about someone, like I cared for Edward?

"We met shortly after she became a vampire. I was considered to be a great warrior. I could attack someone that meant the most to everyone in group, this would cause disarray and so a battle was easily won. I was very essential. When I saw her I was ruined. I couldn't care about anyone else but her. She wasn't even on the side I was fighting for." He smiled an actual smile. It looked unnatural on his face but I liked it.  "My future was her. Evelyn showed me that life didn't have to be turmoil constantly. But the Volturi wanted to control everyone who had powers. She didn't have any but we knew I could be an instrument, just like you Bella." I wish I could have switched powers with him, and then I wouldn't be here. "Evelyn and I stayed under the Volturi's line of sight. But they had someone with them that could see powers, his name was Eleazar."