Bound To You: Marcus Volturi

Chapter 41: So Marcus, Where Are We Going?

Marcus reassures me the best he can, telling me Demetri was obviously there but I was too caught up speaking to the other guests. "Of course he was there," He soothes. "He wouldn't miss it for the world." He reaches for me and sits me in his lap, patting my back in a smooth rhythm.
"Relax, sweetheart." He murmurs. I glance at his book on the side table.

"What are you reading?" I peer at it. "Jane Eyre, again?" I narrow my eyes and he holds up his hands in surrender. "It's a long book." He protests feebly. "Yeah yeah," I curl up and hook my arms around his neck. "There now, we'll be there soon." He promises.

After two hours of listening to Marcus read Jane Eyre, we thankfully arrive in....actually...I still don't know where we are. Either way, Marcus and I are still arguing over how Jane Eyre just isn't my type of thing. "It's an absolute classic." He argues as he pushes our luggage through the terminals. "Yeah whatever! I love books, ok, but classics aren't really my thing." I protest.

"I want a divorce." He teases. "That's fine. There's some hot girls over there. I'll marry one of them." I joke and he pulls me away lightly, heading for the exit. "So where are we?" I'm still looking for signs that tell us where we are. "It's a surprise." He smiles.

"I don't like surprises. There was this birthday I had once in a dodgy Home where the carers told me I was having a surprise for my birthday. When I got there, there was a big parcel wrapped in special wrapping paper and I opened it to reveal an empty box. All the children laughed at me. And I tried to laugh too. I cried all night and I never cried again." I admit.

He looks across at me, symphathy and sadness plastered across his face. "How could they do that to such an innocent child?" He whispers. "They were bastards. I hated it there." I mutter. "Come on, cheer up. We have a honeymoon to celebrate." He wraps and arms around me and shoves our luggage in the boot of a car. "Hire car?" I ask. "Yes." He opens the passenger door for me. I slide in and do up my seatbelt.

"So, where are we?" I ask. "All of a sudden, I'm not sure it's a good idea." He mumbles gruffly. "It seemed like a good idea at the time, due to the weather but now....I'm not so sure." He sighs. I lean back in my seat. "What have you done, Marcus?" I ask, fearing for the worst. "We're in England." He replies. "Just outside of Liverpool, where you grew up." He sighs.

"Well that's great!" I announce. He lifts his head, checking for sarcasm. "I loved it there! Of course, I love Italy too, but still. Liverpool's great!" I smile without hesitation and Marcus sighs, relieved. "Thank my lucky stars." He says to himself.

About an hour later, we pass a sign that says: Welcome to Liverpool, and I lean back in my seat sighing contently. "Welcome home, Lee." He smiles. I nod, peering out of the window at the tall buildings and people on the streets. "So, you were born in Liverpool?" He asks. "Yeah, I'm Scouse." I admit. "With a proper Scouse accent as well." He adds smiling. "You like my accent do you?" I ask, laying it on thick.

"Yes, I do." He smiles. "It's lovely."
"Where were you born?" I ask. "Are you English as well?" I peer at him, his lips pressed together firmly, his eyes close for a brief second. "I don't remember." He whispers. I look at him, curiously. "I'm old, sweetheart." He points out. "Memories fade. Especially when you're almost a thousand." He admits.

"I think I was born in Greece. I knew Athenadora from my years as a human, so when I joined the Volturi, I introduced her to Caius. He fell in love with her there and then." He smiles fondly at the memory. "Ah, here we are." He pulls up outside a huge fancy building. The sign reads "Stratford Hotel." in big cream letters. He pulls out the cases from the boot and heads to the revolving door. "Come on then." He smiles.

Marcus heads straight through to the reception area, but me being the idiot I am, take several turns rushing around the revolving door until Marcus sighs at my behaviour and pulls me through. "Asshole. You ruin everything." I tut.
"Hush now," He murmurs, as the owner comes through.

They confer for a few minutes before Marcus hands our luggage to the owner and takes my hand. We follow him to our room, and he hands us the keys. "Have a good stay, and congratulations on the wedding." He smiles before heading downstairs.

Marcus unlocks the door and we step inside. My jaw drops. Wow. "I can see why it's called the Gothic room." He jokes, setting our luggage on the floor. Starting with the carpet, which is deep purple, the same shade as the walls. There's a wardrobe made of dyed black wood, along with a black wooden bedside table and a TV stand. There's a huge four poster bed with deep purple bed covers and pillows. The bed curtains are black lace. There are two armchairs, carved ornately like thrones, facing the flat screen TV.

I run in to check the bathroom. The room is equally as awesome. The walls are wallpapered. Grey with swirled black patterns painted almost like flower stems.
The bath is egg shaped, deep, standing on four legs, carved with gnarled faces. "This is amazing." I rush back to Marcus and throw my arms around his neck.

"Yes it is," He agrees. "You did this? For us?" I ask. "Anything for you." He kisses me briefly. "Now, I know it's late. Maybe you'd like to get some sleep?" He suggests. "Marcus, it's half past nine. I'm not a schoolkid. I can stay up if I want to." I smirk. "Alright then. I know you weren't too sure, but maybe you are now?" He asks, opening one of his bags and pulling out the condoms. My eyes widen. I'd totally forgotten about them. He senses my panic and looks worried.
"It's ok," He says quickly.

"We don't have to. Tomorrow, or next week, next year even. I'll wait for you." He says gently.
He goes to put them away. "So I'm just going to put them in here, and if you're ready at any time this week, then-"
I silence him by placing my finger over his lips. He looks at me with worried eyes.

"It's ok Marcus, I'm ready now."