I want you to abuse me,
Use me,
Shut up and do me,
Coz everybody wants, somethin' from me...
Throughout the next week, Alec is unspeakably...nice.
Well, nice for him. He still orders me around like a little dog and always has a bitingly sarcastic comment stored, just in case. But that's just in his nature, so I don't complain. At least he's careful when he hauls me around the place.
He's been so attentive, too, never failing to give me what I need. He doesn't try to force food on me any more, but he always places it in front of me and hovers until I've at least eaten a little. He always makes sure I carry a thermos of water with me and if I ever happen to 'accidentally' leave it in the room, he throws me over his back and races back for it in double-quick time. I'm never without entertainment, either. He always has something to keep my mind occupied. The rare times he isn't attatched to me, I have constant company. Usually in the form of Renata, seeing as she's the least likely to fool around with me. I'm still run-down on energy and even one hyper, playful monster isn't something that's easily dealt with. But other times Santiago or Corin or even Felix take over the babysitting duties.
Alec's attitude has fizzled down to a minimum. It's actually frightening. At times, he's so gentle I have to check that it's actually him and not someone else in disguise. The rare times I see temper flash in his eyes, it disappears scarily quickly.
To be quite honest, it freaks me the fuck out.
"Are you on your period or something?" I demand when Alec produces a set of keys from his pocket. Car keys, no less. "Are you Alec and Jane's nice triplet that nobody knew about? Because no way in fucking hell would Alec ever ever ever let me drive his car."
"Heavens forfend," Alec places a hand over his silent heart, cupping the keys to his chest. "Do you think my fragile nature could ever stand up to you – disaterous as you are - behind the wheel of my baby? No way. These are Demetri's keys."
And I can't stop the demonic grin that stretches across my face. Because I know that not in a million years would Demetri ever give Alec his keys...voluntarily.
"What did you do to him?" I ask, before gulping back one of the maaaaaaaaany vitamin pills that Carlisle demanded I take every single day. I had planned to tip them all out the window, but Alec took them from me and has stuck to a rigid schedual of forcing them upon me. No whines, lip trembles and fake tears get me out of taking them.
"Nothing," Alec chuckles. "He offered."
I stop and stare at him in disbelief. I knew it. The real Demetri and Alec have been kidnapped by aliens and these are freakazoid replacements like in some crappy Sci-Fi movie. Is Aro gonna start singing show tunes? Is Caius gonna dress up in a leotard and prance around with flowers braided through his hair? Is Marcus gonna make an expression?
Gosh, this is too much.
Alec's grin widens upon my horrified expression. I'm sure he thinks that it's due to Demetri's charity – and it is, partially – but mostly it's due to the traumatising image of Caius in a leotard.
Oh, my innocent young mind.
"He wants you out of his hair, out of the castle, preferably, at any cost. He says he can buy a new car if need be," Alec smirks, tossing me the keys. I catch them in cuppy hands.
It's true, whenever I'm worn out by everyone pouncing on me (metaphorically, of course. As if Alec would allow them to do something so unorthadox) and driving me up the wall, I'll go and huddle up to Demetri, because he's the only one who's perfectly happy to ignore me. Once or twice I tried sprawling across his lap to irk him. Once or twice he's tipped me off onto the floor. But once, Aro glided unexpectedly into the room to 'check on everyone', mostly because Felix and Santiago got into a brawling match the day before and he wanted to be sure that nothing of the sort was happening again. Let's just say, limbs were thrown out windows. The end. Aro spotted me splayed across his Tracker's lap and smiled.
"Aah," he cooed. "It's lovely to see you two getting along for once!" He blatantly ignored the poorly-concealed splutters and snickers, and Corin nearly toppling off the coffee table she had been perched on, her long legs crossed.
It's lucky that Aro hadn't come in a split second later, because he would have been witness to Demetri clipping me onto the floor. Demetri and I bore sickly grins.
And so I don't protest when Alec decides he's going to give me a driving lesson.
Chriiiiiist. I'd better get a crash helmet.
I'm the kind of person that knows my own limits. And I know for a complete down-to-earth fact, that I cannot drive. It took me a whole year to learn how to ride a bike, for fuck sakes.
Still, it's not as if Alec's gonna let me do a nosedive through the window. I hope. I think.
"Don't worry, I won't let you die," Alec promises, snickering to himself. Which is not the same as promising not to let me do a nosedive through the window, but I'll take whatever the fuck I can get.
"Show me what you know," Alec says once we've both been thoroughly strapped in. The way he was acting, I'm surprised he hasn't smothered us both in bubble wrap.
I make a show of easing the keys into the ignition, twisting them until the enjine reacts, and looking back at Alec. He blinks at me.
"That's...all?" He says after a few moments. He looks horrified.
I push heavily on the horn for a long second, making him flinch.
"I can do that, too," I say.
Alec rubs the back of his neck in a very human gesture. "Well, good," he says. "You keep doing that. That way, other cars will know to keep the fuck out of the way."
I can tell he's preparing his patience, giving himself an internal forewarning that this is going to be one long ass day.
"Right, lets reverse out," he says, physically cringing when I place both hands on the wheel.
This could be fun.
"Let's," I say gleefully. "Okay. Which is the accelorator?"
"Right pedal," Alec says, already looking nervous. His nervous expression turns to one of outright exsasperation when I stomp on it hard and send the enjine roaring, a wide smile on my face.
"Come on," Alec says, grimacing. He reels out the names of a few pully-stompy bits. But I'm too buzzed to take any of it in. I'm driving a frickin car! Demetri's frickin car! This is actually awesome. I'm sure Demetri's already regretting his decision; I'll bet he can hear my repeditive enjine revvs.
"Back out then," Alec's voice breaks through my happy stupor.
"Oh, uh..." I bite my lip. Whoops. Okay, what did he just say? Handbrake, that's it. Staring with my brow furrowed in concentration, I work what, I assume, is the handbrake.
I take the fact that Alec's expression is slightly less anguished as a sign that I'm doing good.
Right. Next thing.
I pause, my eyes roving over the dash.
Oh c'mon! Who was the one that protested when my guy friends pointed out that I only bought car manuals to stare at the pictures? I was! I must have learned something by reading all those long senantces filled with big words that made no sense at all...
"Gearshift," Alec reminds me quietly, trying very obviously not to cringe.
"I know!" I say crossly, taking the handle-y thing in my hand and wrenching it towards the 'R', which I guess means 'reverse.' Alec relaxes slightly.
"Okay," I breathe, revelling in my little successes. Feeling cocky, I decide it's time to drive.
Pushing down hard on the accelorator, the car shoots backwards. I manage to wrench the steering wheel around, narrowly avoiding Afton's Merc.
"Brake!" Alec roars.
Oh yeah.
My foot slams down on the middle pedal, and the car jolts violently.
Alec's mouth is open, staring a me in total disbelief. When I steal a glance at his face, my wicked grin drops.
"We're out," I announce.
"So I see!" He's obviously battling with his temper right now. I doubt now would be the right time to suggest anger management classes? Though I've never really seen the point in anger management classes to be honest. Sitting in a tight little circle with lots of other angry people would only make me more angry, more so than anything else.
Alec has a haha-oh-shit-I-cannot-believe-I'm-about-to-do-this look on his face as he presses a button inside the car. The garage door begins to open.
"Let's go then," he says. "Put in in first gear."
First gear? Nah, first gear's fuck boring. I shove the gearshift up to fourth, stomp on the accelerator, and grin as the car lurches forwards.
"I said fucking first!" Alec yelps as the car shoots out the door. The airial twangs dramatically against the still rising door.
"What? You like things fast!"
Alec lunges across and reaches down at the speed of fucking light, slamming the brake down with his hand and pushing my foot off the accelerator with the other. As soon as he snaps back up into his sitting position, obviously trying to reign in his blazing temper, I skewer him with my eyes.
"That was rude."
He gives me the first proper glare he's given in a week, and switches the gearshift down to first.
"Now," he says curtly. "Be a good girl and try not to cause any fatalities."
"Awh, but fatalities are the fun part of driving," I say, each word oozing more sarcasm than the last.
"Just drive," Alec sighs, rubbing his pinched brow.
"If you say so," I say in my chirpiest, most irritating voice. After the past week, I'm willing to push my luck. Alec looks like he's regretting his decision to be nice.
He regrets it even more when, only about fifteen minutes later, I'm leaning out the window to scream at a driver that decided it was appropriate to flip me off.
"Get the fuck off the road you retarded motherfucker!" I yell, at the tippy top of my lungs. It feels good to excersise them. "I'll drive at this side if I fucking want to! I am an AM-ER-I-CAN! Get the fuck used to it! Oh take that finger and shove it up yo-"
"Phoenix!" Alec snaps, grabbing me by the back of my tank top and yanking me forcefully back through the window. The overweight, balding driver huffs furiously, doing a fucking incredible impersonation of a cranky rhino, slumps heavily back into his car (poor car) and drives away on what he claims is the 'right' side of the road. It looks like the left one to me, but whatever.
Alec presses another magic button and the dark tinted window slides up all the way, leaving no room for last-minute insults.
He seizes the seatbelt and ties it so forcefully around me that I'm trying to tug it off by the time it's clicked into place, because it's tied so tight that I can't evenm breathe.
"Can't breathe, bitch!" I pant, yanking at it. Alec gives a sarcastic snort.
"If you can't breathe, you can't talk," he retorts. "Quit abusing drivers, do you hear me?"
He releases his tight hold on the belt once he notices that I'm turning certain colours that I should not turn.
"He abused me first," I complain, rubbing my chest where the belt cut across it painfully. Fucking Alec and his fucking superhuman strength.
"Because you almost ran him off the road!"
" 'Almost', not 'did'," I point out. "Difference."
"My apologies," Alec scoffs.
"Apology accepted."
He growls. "Pull over onto the other side of the road, you can't drive on this side."
"Why not?"
He shrugs. "It's just the way things are over here."
"That's fucked up," I complain, just for the sake of complaining. "I miss America. Is it true that if a man wears a skirt in Italy, he gets arrested?"
"Yes."
I grin broadly. "Have you ev-"
"Don't even ask," he interrupts sharply. "Just drive."
"Fine," I grumble, giving a small cringe of anticipation as I spin the car around, earning more honks from drivers.
After a careful (ample swearing, punching of the horn and vicious commenting) manouver, I manage to swing us around and carry on, still in first gear as Alec has his hand over the gearshift so I can't change it.
"Can I dress you up in a skirt?"
"Can I dress you up in a bunny costume and parade you around the streets?"
"...If you wear a skirt."
His snarl is my only answer, which I assume means "we'll talk about it later".
Trying to rid my mind of the disturbing, though extreeeeeeemely entertaining image of Alec in a miniskirt, I focus on the soft purr of the enjine as we exit Volterra and head for the freeway. The roads turn supple beneath the tyres and the road becomes void of traffic.
"Can I put it up a gear?" I plead, turning my whole head to stare beseechingly at my lovely, kind, understanding, full-of-fun...
"Look at the fucking road!"
...douchebag.
"Let me put it up a gear."
To my delight, Alec relents. I think he's getting restless going this slow. He can walk fucking faster than this.
He lets me wrench it up to second, and I feel a thrill low in my belly as the car lurches forward a bit faster. I'm actually getting the hang of driving, faster than I expected.
Fuck yeah! I am awesomesauce.
"More," I beg, grabbing the gearshift and yanking it roughly before he can say no. He eyes me strangely, but I ignore him, taken over by the thrill of the speed, of the earth passing beneath the tyres in the blink of an eye.
I ignore the feeling of Alec's eyes boring holes in me and swerve a little, laughing when the car drifts without permission. Alec says nothing. But out of the bare corner of my eye, I think I spot the tip of his tongue flick out against his full lower lip.
I wonder if he can smell the adrenaline flashing through my blood as the car leaps against the road. The blistering sun sends steam wafting up from the black tarmac, and I can smell the smooth friction of the tyres and the ground. The suns unrelenting rays are blocked off by the heavy tint of the windows, but the heat is nothing to be ignored. I darent take my eyes off the road to fuck around with the air conditioning, but I feel a thin sheen of sweat break out across my skin.
My heart bounces gleefully against my ribcage as I nudge the gearshift up to fourth without any protests. The car tears up the earth beneath it.
It's baking hot inside the car, almost unbearable. Even Alec can feel it. His fists are clenched in his lap, and when I glance at his face I see his head tilted back, his eyes closed, his lips pressed in a tight line.
Wondering what crawled up his ass and died, I dare to ease it into fifth. If it's possible, the heat intensifies. I feel my hands begin to stick against the faux leather of the steering wheel. I feel the sweat begin to bead on the back of my neck and on my chest.
"Damn," I gasp, only realising now just how stuffy the inside of the car is. Fucking Italian sun. The damn thing's making Alec a ready-cooked meal right here. "Can you open a window?"
Alec's eyes flash open, looking a bit perplexed. Are they darker?
"Huh?" He says. He'd obviously been going for a little not-quite-nap and his glower is making it obvious that I not-quite disturbed him.
"Window. Open. Now. I'm fucking boiling here," I press the heel of my hand against my forehead, gathering up tiny beads of persperation. Alec does as I ask, pressing not only his and my window down but also the sunroof.
The air flushes through the car, and I breathe out heavily in relief. "Thank fuck."
However, the sun floods in through the open sunroof, and it's intense light fills the car. Alec begins to, ahem, sparkle. Like a great big obnoxious Tinkerbell.
"God, you're so gay," I laugh, a little breathlessly. "I think you might wind up with a skirt afterall."
He doesn't reply. After a few minutes, the glimmer in the corner of my eye becomes too distracting.
"Can't you shut that the fuck off?" I turn my head to look at him, just in time to catch his eyes flashing back up to my face, looking abashed.
...Heh?
"Don't you think I would if I could?" He snaps, sounding angry. I try not to flinch from the sudden force in his tone.
"I don't know. Maybe you like it, Twinkles."
"I'd shut that mouth if you knew what was good for you, Pet."
And shut I do. I know when my luck is as pressed as it gets. Pushing Alec is like using a Q-Tip to clean your ears. You've gotta stop eventually unless you wanna end up with your brains spattered all over the floor.
Which I don't think anyone wants, really. Jeez, imagine the headlines; "Tragic death by Q-Tip." Sounds more like a comedy to me.
The road winds and twists soothingly, but after a few more minutes, I feel Alec's eyes on me again. I swallow deeply.
I'm paranoid. I know I'm paranoid. But after...well, is it that hard to believe that Alec is staring at my chest?
I wish tank tops could magically convert into turtlenecks during awkward situations. Why can't I own one of those? Or even better, a great big brick wall to keep Alec at a very nice distance. Or a flamethrower. Where are ejector seats when you fucking need them?
When I glance at Alec, his eyes are already forced to the road ahead. Mentally scolding myself for being a moron, I let my own eyes fall back to the glaringly bright route. My mind starts to drift as I get into driving, into the speed and the relaxation and the breeze gusting through the car, lifting my hair round my face and making me squirm a little as it tickles.
I don't realise that I'm subconsciously watching Alec until something (terrifyingly literally) grows in my vision.
Before I can whip my head fully around to confirm my horrorstruck suspicions, Alec straightens up from his slouch and yells. "Stop the car!"
My foot slams automatically on the brake, and despite my seatbelt my ribs crush into the steering wheel painfully, pushing all the air from my lungs. The car skids to a violent stop. I flop back heavily in my seat, gasping when the car jolts to a stop. Alec is already out, standing by his door. I see what he's staring so focused at.
About two hundred yards ahead of us, there are at least twelve sparkling figures standing in a straight line, red eyes deadly and sharp.
I unclip my belt and push the door open, stepping out to get a closer look.
"Phoenix," Alec says flatly. "Get back in the car."
"No."
"Phoenix!"
"What are they doing?" I ask. They're not moving, not doing anything. If I didn't know any better, I'd say they were statues.
"Waiting," Alec replies.
"For what?" I snap, anxiety rising. "Enough with the fucking cryptic!"
"You and I," he responds. His voice is the glistening edge of a knife before it plunges into a throbbing heart.
Suddenly Alec ogling my tits doesn't seem like such a big problem.
"They're not doing anything," I point out, a little unnerved by their perfect stillness. They haven't moved, not an inch.
"They don't have to. We're outnumbered," Alec moves around the car to stand in front of it, his gleaming teeth bared in a warning hiss. The line remains unresponsive, completely confident. My eyes flicker to stare between them as I see a speck of colour break through the hot, rippling air.
It's another car, the first we've seen on this road so far. It's coming at full speed towards the perfectly straight row of glittering monsters.
It takes but moments for the second car – a family vehicle, an unattractive navy colour – to eat the distance away. Surely the driver will stop, slow down at least, once they notice the creatures?
"Alec," I whisper, when the line finally responds. Partially, at least. Two near the middle turn around, and one takes a few steps forward, towards the approaching car.
"I know," Alec murmurs. He already knows what will happen. Unthinkingly, I clutch his arm.
The car doesn't stop, but it does slow. I can imagine what the driver is thinking: "What on earth is that diamond-person doing walking towards me?"
Alec grabs me and tries to nudge me behind his body, backing us up until the backs of my knees hit our car's bumper. Alec's body tenses against mine. As soon as the approaching car slows another notch, the turned creature disappears.
He doesn't disappear completely. I can still see the glimmer of his skin as he runs at impossible speed, only a sharp distance until the deafening sound of metal crushing reaches my ears.
His hands crush against the hood of the car, his fingers creating dented grooves to grip with. In one fell motion, he swings the car up into the air, and the machine whirls. I can hear the terrified screams from within, and my stomach does somersaults. The car never once stopped in it's speed.
I don't see the actual crash; Alec spins around to sheild me from any shrapnel, pressing my face into his chest. But I hear it, the spine-tingling sound of metal shredding away from itself, of gravel screeching and glass smashing. I hear the crackle of sparks and the whoomph of flames errupting.
The screams are the only sound that quenches.
When I push myself away from the protective cage of Alec's arms, all I can see is thick black plumes of smoke, and the orange flashes of flames leaping towards the sky. The remains of the car are dangerously close by, only about ten meters away from Alec and I.
White figures emerge from the destruction. Alec's growl, real and disturbingly animal-like, sends shudders down my spine. He speaks so quickly I barely hear him.
"Phoenix, get back in the car and drive home, right now. Get help."
The paniced urgency in his voice is so unfamilliar to my ears that I find myself obeying.
I wrench away from his body as he disappears into the gradually dissipitating smoke. Yanking the driver's door open, I throw myself inside the safe cavern of Demetri's car and tug furiously on the gearshift, putting it in reverse. The car lurches backwards, and in panic I manage to spin it around.
Soon I'm speeding towards Volterra, leaving the carnage, and Alec, behind.
My eyes are everywhere but the road as I fling the glove compartment open, my free hand searching for Alec's cellphone, which he tossed there carelessly before my driving lesson. I find it easily; it's the only thing in there. Flipping it open, I hit speed dial three.
Chelsea answers after two rings.
"Hello?" Her tinkling voice is so calm, it conflicts with the situation ridiculously.
"It's me," I croak, and I realise I'm shaking.
"Phoenix?" Instant panic fills her voice. I hear other voices in the background, anxious murmurings reacting to Chelsea's abrupt tone.
"We were ambushed," I choke, slowing down the car, only realising now how crazily fast I'm driving.
"Where?" Her voice is all business. "How many?"
"On the highway," I reply, trying to even out my voice. "Uh, about twelve, I think. I-I'm not sure."
"Where are you now?"
"Alec made me drive back."
There's a pause as she thinks this over. "Alec is by himself now," she realises. I get the impression that she's not talking to me as much as she's getting this across to herself.
"Phoenix," she says suddenly, above the buzzing uproar in the background. Her voice is like steel; hard and fierce. "Come home. We're going out."
The call disconnects.
I bite down hard on my lip, tipping the phone out of my hand and into the passanger seat. With two hands on the steering wheel, I suddenly become very conscious of the fact that I have little to no idea what I'm doing with this fucking car. Pressing lightly on the brake, I slow down and yank the handbrake up, twisting the keys until the enjine shuts up.
Huffing out an anxious breath, I lean my face in two hands, feeling my throat dry.
The Volturi are coming to help Alec, Chelsea said so. They'll find him.
But will they find him in time? My mind taunts.
What if Alec gets ripped up into little pieces and tossed into the car fire?
Didn't you want that? You said so. To Benjamin. Remember Benjamin? Your best friend that Alec murdered right in front of you? Is your memory that fucking bad?
This is fucked up. I'm being jeered at by my own subconscious.
Don't you want him to get what he deserves?
Do I?
He has his power, he'll be fine.
But what was it he told me? His power takes time to work. I've seen the Volturi rip chunks off eachother in under a second. Will Alec have time to defend himself before he becomes a charcoal briquette?
What the fuck do you care? He imprisoned you. He used you for his own carnal pleasures and acted like it was nothing. What do you think is gonna happen the next time you piss him off?
I touch my jaw carefully. It still aches when I move it, even after two long weeks.
I imagine Volterra without Alec. Would they bother to keep me alive without my owner. Jane would want me dead, undoubtedly. If it wasn't for me, Alec would never have walked into the trap. I'm sure it's the Romanians again. But what do I know. What vampires wouldn't want such a threat dead?
Would I be worth keeping around, with this maybe-maybe-not barely gift of mine? Wouldn't it be like looking in the face of their beloved boy's demise every time they saw me?
Was I worth it?
Is he?
What the fuck would I be able to do anyway, even if I did go back? Stand there uselessly waving my arms around yelling "Hey dickheads! Free snack bar right here!" ? Hardly.
Squeezing my eyes shut to block out my own thoughts, I twist the key, push the handbrake, and touch my foot to the pedal, driving.
Jeez. Every time Alec gets a hard on around her, he gets ambushed. You'd think he'd learn by now! Gosh.