Bound To You: Marcus Volturi

Chapter 19: What Are You, My Father?

"Come on, rise and shine!" My curtains are opened by someone with a cheery voice. There's no mistaking who it could be. "I have your breakfast!" He sits on my bed. I open my eyes and Demetri has my breakfast tray on a table. "Good morning," He smiles brightly. "Hey Demetri," I start eating my toast, before spitting it out immediately. "Shit! What is that?" I peer at the yellow spread on my toast. "Marmite," He smiles.

"Ugh, shit it's disgusting." I down my orange juice to get rid of the taste. I shudder. "I did bring you fruit just in case." He pulls out a small bowl of berries with chopped up apple. I eat it gladly. "After you've done that, I want you to wear the clothes I've put in your bathroom. Then you need to see Caius. He needs your help with something." He says.

"What are you, my father?" I finish the fruit. "Where is your father?" He takes the bowl from me. "I'm an orphan, how would I know?" I walk to the bathroom. He's picked up black jeans with my blue Hollister hoodie. I'll add my converses later. I shower and dress quickly, and when I re-enter my bedroom, the breakfast tray has been removed, but Demetri is still on my bed.

"Um, why are you still here?" I pull on my shoes, then stand to do my hair. "I have to take you to Caius." He smiles. "I'll get there myself," I murmur, applying gel. "Have you ever been in Caius's room before? No? I didn't think so." He smiles again. "You know, you have a really bad habit of not letting me answer your questions. And where's Marcus?" I mutter.

"How would I know?" He smirks, arms out. "Ok, let's go."

At Caius's room, we're greeted by a strange sight. Caius is surrounded by cardboard boxes and the floor is covered with a white plastic sheet. There are tins of paint everywhere and Caius is wearing no waistcoat but his shirt is tucked into his trousers. He's also wearing no shoes. The look on Demetri's face tells me Caius doesn't do this type of thing often. He makes his way cautiously into Caius's room. "Good morning, Master." He bows, which surprises me. "Demetri. I see you've brought Lee," He smiles at me.

"Hey," I wave my hand slightly. "So what do you need us for?" I walk over to see he's bought magnolia coloured paint. "I need help painting. It hasn't been done in a long time. It needs freshening up, I think." He explains. "Where's your furniture gone, Master?" Demetri peers around the room, at the enlarged space. "Aro was kind enough to let me keep it in his room for a few days." He explains.

"Well, I'll find Liam and ask if he'll help out as well. Good day, Master." Demetri proceeds to leave. "Thank you," He smiles.
Demetri shuts the door behind him. "So, if you could pick up the paint roller, Lee, maybe you could get started on those walls." Caius suggests.

There are overalls there if I need them, but I can't be bothered to change clothes. Caius tuts but doesn't comment. I get started on the closest wall to me, and find I have a knack for painting. The wall so far looks good. Halfway in, Caius starts up conversation. "Athenadora was telling me more about you earlier, about your history." He murmurs. "Cool," I keep painting.

"She really likes you." He says, mystically. "She's a lesbian?" I joke and he smiles. "No. I mean she likes your personality. We've talked about it for a while." He's trying to say more, I know there's more he wants to tell me, I just don't know what.
"Keep painting the walls then," He walks away, ending the conversation. "What if I don't want to?" I try acting my usual defiant self.

"You must do as I say," He murmurs, smiling in a charming but not taking any nonsense kind of way. "God, how many other guys are going to act like my father? First Demetri and now you!" I huff, turning back to the walls. "Does that annoy you?" He asks. "Yuh huh, I mean, you're not my father."

"I might be," He murmurs. "Soon, if you say yes." He sighs.
"What do you mean?" I demand, but he rises from his spot on the floor and turns away just as Liam walks in wearing blue overalls. There's no way I'll be able to talk to Caius now he's here.
"Hey guys," Liam's arm swings carefully over my shoulders. He nods at Caius. Caius gets ready to leave the room. "Good day, Liam, Lee." Then he's gone. Bummer. What am I supposed to do now?

What was Caius talking about? He might be crazy. He's been dead for a long time. Dead as in undead. Vampire kind of dead. You get what I'm saying. Being a vampire might do things to your head.
"What are you thinking about?" Liam starts painting the wall opposite me. "I think Caius is a little insane." I murmur. "Yeah, well it takes one to know one, girlfriend," He smirks.

"Thanks for the support asshole,"
"You're welcome, cutie," He snarks.

We stay silent for the rest of the hour, until every wall is painted. Caius comes in, smiling at his room. "It looks wonderful. Thank you, both of you." He smiles. "Here, a little something for your troubles." He pulls out a wallet. "Oh no, please, we don't want money." I protest, but Liam is looking like he wants every penny.

"I insist," Caius presses €100 each in our hands. "Wow, uh, thank you, I might try to brave the town later, if I'm careful." I quickly stuff the notes in my pocket. "Yeah, me too," Liam shakes Caius's hand.
"Thanks," He smiles. "No bother," Caius holds up both hands. "Have a great time." He smiles and we leave.

Liam eventually decides to stay home, but I venture out into the city as soon as it's dark, to avoid people. I buy new hair gel, a few tubs of half price Ben N Jerry's, and some new outfits. At ten o' clock, when I decide to head home, I still have €65 left, so maybe I'll see if it can be transferred onto my bank card from Marcus. I still don't know why I freaked out so much about it when I got it. I'm such an asshole.

Halfway down the open street, the lamps begin to flicker, the bulbs are dying out. Great, just what I need, no working streetlights on a street I've never been to. Around five minutes later, a gust of wind comes past and the carrier bag I'm holding is swiped out of my hand and falls to the floor. Shit. Lucky I had nothing too breakable in there. I rush over to retrive it, yet another gust of wind throws me onto the floor. I lay there, winded, not able to move.

A man is standing over me, a vampire. "Mmm, a human," He kneels beside me and inhales deeply. Oh, fucking deja vu. "You're one of them." He sniffs again. "One of what?" I croak, wary. "The Volturi. I can smell them all over you." He snarls, his face showing evident disgust.

"Please. Just let me go." I whimper.
"Never. You're coming with me. Try anything funny and you're dead."
Then we're off before I can even scream Marcus's name.