Problems always occur when your thoughts, hopes, dreams, and reason for living are all part of memories rather than the presence. One of the results of this is apathy. That was something that was present in abundance in Marcus’ case. The bored expression that came along with the uncaring attitude was constantly present and people had come to expect it of him.

Another consequence that Marcus did not experience as often—in fact it hadn’t happened for centuries—was that the present got lost in the past and the two began to intermingle in ways that were incomprehensible and had dire results.

For over a millennium his brothers had made sure that certain things were not brought up or done in his presence. One of the main things that they had done was keep women that had Didyme’s coloring out of his presence.

In all honesty, it really wasn’t that difficult to do. That flaming red hair had been unique in the vampire world, it was almost as rare in the mortal world, and they made sure that whatever member of the guard had the responsibility of gathering their prey did not bring such women into their chambers.

Heidi had not been remiss in her duties, but this woman with flaming red hair had snuck in with the rest of the group, buying Heidi’s lies about a tour of an exclusive private collection in a private residence of Volterra. Not that any of that mattered now.

Marcus had been concentrating on his memories for so long that when the girl suddenly turned, it was not her features that he saw, instead he saw Didyme’s perfect vampire features and crimson eyes superimposed on this strangers.

“Didyme!”

He did not even realize that he had spoken the name out loud and it was such a reverent whisper that no one had heard him.

His brothers had not notice the expression on his face or the woman yet, so they did not realize the furious, ancient beast that had just been released in their midst.

He saw that his brothers and their wives had chosen their prey and watched as one of the guards reached to yank the woman with the flaming hair towards him, teeth bared and he saw red.