Thanks so much for the feedback from the last chapter – Bella pointed out to me I'd typed Alex a couple of times, instead of Alec, which I've now fixed. Please let me know any typos you notice! I don't have a beta reader, so I appreciate it.
I really love this chapter; please let me know what you think! Thank you to everyone who put me on story alert today - AnnabelleLee13194, Nessa Faelivrin, twilightdish, ImmatureEvil. Thanks also to HeartsofNarnia who added me to her favourite stories list! And as always, thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, which is HermioneandMarcus, dancingwiththecullens18, HeartsofNarnia and lillianangel.
In this chapter, the title of the story finally makes sense! I was thinking about maybe having a song for each chapter, like one that relates, and I thought was appropriate…what do you think? I'd pop it up here, in the authors note. Overall, for the whole story, I'd say that the theme song is probably 'Fight For This Love' by Cheryl Cole. Anyone who hasn't heard it – YouTube it! It's a good song and gives hints of what's to come….
Chapter seven:
The party of five stepped into the bedroom and Alec laid the tired, ill-looking human on the bed, then joined Jane, Heidi and Charlotte at the foot of the bed.
"Aro said we should clean her up," Jane ventured, sounding much more like her normal self now that she'd dropped the apathetic-sadistic-witch act she kept up around visitors to Volterra. She got a real kick out of seeing people being absolutely terrified of her.
Charlotte approached the bed and examined her. She spoke in English, the general language used by the Volturi – mainly because Aro used it most. He was fond the language itself, and most of his current favourite books and poems were in English.
"Her dress will need careful washing, although I honestly do think it's ruined. She also needs to bathe and of course new clothes," she said.
"I'll run a warm bath then," Jane offered, disappearing off into the bathroom which adjoined the bedroom. Although se was not the evil, sadistic witch most of the immortals who the Volturi ruled over perceived her to be, she was far from soft and cuddly. She cared for Alec and Aro and to an extent Caius, but the rest of the Volturi she was simply civil to. Although she could be companionable, she always had a sharp edge to her. Alec always thought that she couldn't allow people to be her friends because of the time Liam, a child in the village they had grown up in, had befriended her, and him. They appreciated it, because most of the village had thought them evil, even at seven years old. But the problem had come when Liam's faithful dog had died. He had run to them and spat in Jane's face and punched Alec, and called them demons from the blackest pits of hell. Since then, Jane had not had an easy time trusting, or making friends – she was not the sort to be happy loving tending to Leonie.
"I'll fetch her some clothes from her trunk then. I'll only be a moment. Charlotte, start to undress her," said Heidi, ghosting to the door.
Upon hearing this instruction, Alec headed to the door, to leave the room and wait outside, but as he reached the door he turned and told Charlotte to call if she needed anything – that he would be waiting just outside.
Alec was waiting out there for half an hour, perhaps a little longer. He'd seen Heidi return, clutching an arm load of clothing, and could hear the movements of the three females as they fussed over her. Jane did not seem to be doing much except handing Heidi and Charlotte the things they asked for. Just as he had re-entered and was about to take a good look at Leonie, when Demetri entered.
"Message from Aro. Chelsea talked to Crepsley and the potion they've been drugging her with, she won't wake up properly for a couple of days, but she'll be floating in and out of consciousness for that time. Orders still stand though, Charlottes to stay here all of the time, so a human is with her, and one of us is to stay too," Demetri said, in a petulant tone. He and Heidi had had an argument the previous day, and Heidi had still not forgiven him for what he had said. It was of no interest to Jane – they argued a lot – it was a corner stone of their relationship.
"Thank you, tracker," Heidi said haughtily and Demetri glared. Alec thought they were going to start arguing again and coughed once to remind them that it was not the time, nor the place. Demetri turned his glare on Alec and Jane hissed.
"Peace, Demetri," Alec said and Demetri reassembled his features into civility. Had it been Felix, Alec probably would not have stopped Jane from burning his mind, just a little, but Demetri was polite, and Alec's friend. He was only behaving this way because of Heidi; Alec understood and smiled at him as he left.
"Why would Chelsea know what the potion would do?" Charlotte asked, sounding confused.
"In her mortal life, Chelsea was the daughter of an apothecary," Jane responded, her childish voice slipping into the monotone that always symbolised her boredom. Charlotte nodded and dipped her head in respect to Jane. Charlotte was a good receptionist; she had lasted longer than most did – mainly because of her respectful, efficient nature. Jane left the room now, and walked in the direction of the throne room. Heidi was staring wistfully at the door – she was regretting her argument and offhand tone with Demetri, it did not take Aro's gift to work that out.
"Go speak with him Heidi, I will watch over her with Charlotte for a few hours," Alec offered, feeling confident about his control – he had fed only two days ago. Heidi smiled, and it was blinding. Aro often remarked that she was one of the most beautiful vampires he had seen in his many years of life – that never pleased Sulpicia. She left the room, with a stride that oozed confidence.
Alec sat down near to the bed – Charlotte was sitting on the ottoman at the end. He finally looked closer at Leonie's unconscious form. Now that the blood was washed from her hair and the grime from her skin, she looked much prettier. Alec looked closer – with her brunette locks now drying into lustrous waves, she was not just pretty, but beautiful.
For the rest of the four hours Alec was on duty with Charlotte, he could barely tear his eyes away from the still form on the bed. He did not get very close – around five feet separated them, but he committed every detail of her face to his memory and carefully learnt her scent, by inhaling slowly, keeping control of his thirst – keeping himself in control. She smelt like lavender and sea water, mixed together in a blissful fragrance.
For the next three days, neither Joseph, nor Crepsley, nor any of the Volturi Coven or Guard gave Leonie any potion, and she drifted close to conscious several times. Every member of the guard came to have a look at her in those three days and Sulpicia was heard to remark that "She will make a beautiful immortal,"
On the fourth day, Charlotte sent Jane to the throne room to tell Aro she believed Leonie was awaking. The Coven and Guard was feeding, as Jane had done earlier, but Alec finished his meal quickly, and ran with his sister back to the room he had spent so much time in the last three days. And so, when Leonie woke up from her groggy, enforced sleep, the first thing her tired eyes focused on was Alec's ruby red eyes.
