Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. I only lay claim to a few odd details you'll notice in this next installment. So, happy reading!
Part Two: Bitter
"Alec, relax; it's only been 2 weeks," Felix sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. Alec shot him a dirty look as he paced the floor of his room. "Maybe she's not your type,"
"Uncalled for, Felix," Alec snapped. Indeed, it had only been two weeks since Renesme had arrived and not a peep was heard from her since asking him to leave. Heidi had managed to take her into the town for clothes shopping and Renata had found an old, but still usable, record player for Renesme's odd preference for vinyl. Alec assumed that the girl sat in her room and sulked along to the music that never seemed to end.
"Alec, seriously, relax," Felix commanded, his playful demeanor withering a bit. "You haven't done much to bridge the gap, so I wouldn't be blaming her if I were you,"
"Really? And, pray tell, what would you do in my place, Felix?" Alec glared at his friend, arms folded across his chest. Felix stood and crossed the floor-space between them, humor playing in his eyes.
"I would find my way to her room and actually have a conversation with the lass," Felix smirked, turning his companion around. "You'll thank me later, Al." Suddenly, Alec found himself in the stone corridor, the door to his own room being locked behind him.
When he entered her room, Renesme was nowhere in sight, but the music was playing. Alec began to think that this particular tune was her favorite.
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah…
As he glanced around, Alec found the windows opened, a worm breeze ruffling the sheer curtains. Approaching and sweeping one back, he found Renesme in an odd spot. The girl was sitting in an ancient live oak tree, a jumps distance from the room. The skirt of her long white dress shifted with the movement of her leg. A floppy straw sunhat and the cascading leaves shaded her torso from the bright sun. The most striking feature of Renesme was her now chin-length hair.
"Did you cut your hair?" Alec asked quietly, sitting down on the window sill. A shiver passed through her shoulders and she glanced over.
"Yea, I did… yesterday, in fact… Kind of sick of long hair, y'know?" Renesme replied, her voice softer and gravelly; like someone who'd been crying or recently had a sore throat. She flashed him the carefree smile he'd seen her wear when she danced in the clearing that day. He felt himself smile back, a foreign feeling. "What am I saying… you definitely wouldn't know!" she laughed. Honestly, this wasn't what Alec was expecting.
The out pouring of emotions ranging from burning anger to hopelessness? Yes.
Blind hatred so severe she would refuse to even be in the same vicinity? Absolutely.
But, small talk, laughing, and cheerfulness? Not at all.
"Does it grown back like… like normal?" he asked, unable to stop himself. She nodded and tossed her hat to him, which was caught expertly. Renesme shook out her hair so he could see. The curls were looser, hut not totally gone. The cut was choppy and obviously home done. To Alec, she looked cute, a word he wouldn't have pinned to the Renesme of two weeks ago.
"Are you happy now?" Alec asked hesitantly. On the tree branch, Renesme adjusted to face him. He knew he was probably glowing a bit in the sun (by the way she studied him with her doe brown eyes), but there weren't people; Not at this part of Volterra.
"No, not really… well, not yet at least," Renesme replied awkwardly. "Aro was serious about me not leaving, and I guess I'm as okay with that as I can be…"
"What about the mating bit?" He was more than cautious now. It was a tender subject for many within the confines of the castle and Alec wasn't going to give the little Cullen much exception. She was silent for a while, staring down at her swinging feet. The wind ruffled her hair and bird chirping entered his ears.
"It's…new. Alec, I'll be honest, the last time someone said I was their soul mate… it didn't end well,"
"If you don't mind me asking – "
"He called me, affectionately, the 'circus-born brat he was trapped with'," Renesme shrugged, a loathing sarcasm evident in the words. "Haven't seen him since,"
"So, you're saying you don't trust me?" Alec asked, moving so his legs hung out of the window. She eyes him curiously.
"I don't know how to trust anything here…" Renesme sighed, glancing down the stone outer wall that acted as a barrier between the gardens and the city. Alec exhaled, extending a hand to her.
"You can start by trusting me, right now," He answered calmly, "Come to the end of the branch, close your eyes and fall back. I'll catch you." Renesme chuckled harshly.
"You sound just like him…" she muttered under her breath. Despite her words, she stood and tiptoed to the end. Slowly, Renesme let gravity take her weight away from her. Alec did catch her, pulling her on to the window still with him.
"I'm not him, Renesme," Alec said softly, grasping her fingers. "I hope that much is clear," She opened her eyes, but remained staring ahead. He was surprised; she didn't her fingers away.
"You can't say that, Alec," she whispered, "I don't know if you're going to be another repeat of… you could turn around tomorrow and… it's clear you don't want to be, but… I can't give you my all yet," Yet again, anger bubbled up in Alec's chest. It was painful now, the ache pulsing like a bruise under his skin.
What was holding her back?
Why couldn't she move on?
He loved her. Was it not clear enough for her?
"Let him go, Renesme," he said through clenched teeth. "You could be so happy with me, but he's holding you back," Renesme glared at him, as though trying to hold back her wide-eyed shock.
"He is not holding me back, Volturi." She growled, even though it was clear she was mad, it came off sexy.
"Yes, he is, Cullen," he shot back, addressing her in the same (he thought) disrespectful way. "I've never met a woman so resistant to love in my life."
"You're one to talk," she scoffed. "I've never been forced to be one with someone as hard-hearted as you," At this, Alec laughed. It was a harsh, sardonic laugh that resonated from the darkest part of him; the part that still pined for age-past vengeance and housed blind hatred. He couldn't control it and soon it became hysterical, nearly psychotic sounding. Renesme watched him in fear as Alec relinquished the last ounces of composure he'd tried to keep for her sake.
His true colours were ugly and smudged and he hadn't wanted her to see them. Now, Alec couldn't care less.
"Forced? You're a true comedian, Cullen," Alec said, gasping for breath. "You've never been forced into anything in your life! Your family worships the ground you walk upon and so did that mutt of yours. Living here with me, you need to know what 'choice' means, darling, but I'm honestly not expecting you too. Seeing as you've probably never thought for yourself in 20 years… y'know, I'm really starting to wonder how I ended up with a bitch like you."
With a sick degree of pride, Alec watched her eyes water and lower lip begin to tremble. He knew, she knew he was right, but she wouldn't admit it. To Renesme, nothing was her fault; nothing had ever been before, so why now? Princess Renesme seemed to just be like that; quick to point out everything you've ever done wrong, but deny all her wrongs.
"I don't know how I ended up with you either," Renesme whispered. "Because I can guarantee you that I will never learn or even try to love a bastard like you." Her tears were hot and angry, matching the furious blush that crept from her cheeks.
"This is why I say you don't really understand what a choice is, darling," Alec smirked, a dark edge in his words.
"Why?" Renesme demanded, the crack in her voice undermining the bravery of her intention.
"You've yet to realize that you don't have one, my love," Flashing the girl a burning glare, Alec swept out of the room, snatching that God-forsaken record as he went.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
But love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah…
Author's Note:
Hello there! The 2nd bit is finally up; so sorry it took so long! Yes, those are the lyrics to Hallelujah and I'm using the Jeff Buckley version, just because I prefer it. This is not a song fic, but the song actually does have a point in the story (probably the last installment).
So I hope you all are enjoying. I'll see how much time I have this week to update (trying to be better about it) because school work is the main problem I haven't been updating, but this week I am literally living at my school… ugh, but spring break is soon, so it can't be all that bad. Can it?
Carie Lea
