~ do everything in my power to get #Marcus to Cecina. (I leaned back down and brushed my lips gently to athenodora • parody’ once more. This ~

~ time, needing to comfort her, show her in that moment, how deeply my love for her runs, hoping I can reduce some of her misgivings about ~

~ feeling so alone in this world.)

(I take in the beauty of athenodora • parody’ form as she wanders over to the mirror. She is the most elegant creature I have ever laid my ~

~ eyes upon. Sometimes, I wonder if she knows just how incredibly captivating she is. As I am watching her, I can hear the faint sound of ~

~ boots coming down the hall. From the weight of them, I can tell it is #Michael, the one guard I have always known I could entrust mine ~

~ and athenodora • parody’ life with. As he knocks, I cross the room to the door and pull it open. There stands #Michael, a large man of 6’4”, ~

~ shoulders as broad as a truck. He has a scar along the left side of his face. They say it was the result of a beating his step-father ~

~ gave to him as a child. They also say once he was turned, he took his step-father captive and tortured him for months before finally ~

~ tiring of it and killing him off.) What news do you have for me, #Michael? (#Michael stepped backward, out into the hall, motioning for ~

~ me to follow.) Whatever you have to say to me, #Michael, you can say it in front of athenodora • parody. She is, after all, your queen now. ~

~ (#Michal bowed in a nod. “As you wish, my Lord.” He stepped into the room. “We have had a small influx of deserters from Volterra. They ~

~ have brought news, my Lord. #Aro has put a bounty out on your head. He’s asking for you dead or alive… ” His eyes drifting to ~

~ athenodora • parody, then back to me before continuing, “He is also asking for my Queen. He wants her alive.” He stops, his gaze moving to ~

~ the floor, as if he expects to be chastised for bringing the news to us.) Is there anything else? (He raises his gaze back to mine. “No, ~

~ my Lord.” I nod.) Thank you, #Michael. Keep me informed of any new developments and I want five new guards assigned to my wife, ~

~ immediately. You know who I trust. (#Michael leaves and I close the door behind him. Slowly turning to athenodora • parody) I’m sorry, my ~

~ love. I know how much you hate to be surrounded but, I will not gamble with your safety.

// It is with a heavy heart that I am here to say, I am stepping back from this role for a while. You all have been wonderful to me and I ~

~ // will miss each one of you tremendously! I just feel I have lost my creativity for the role and need a breather from it for now.