Hello, again! I just had to put this out before Christmas.

Please read and review! They make me happy ;)

LookAliveSunshine03

Chapter 14:

Bittersweet

It was a strange plane journey home. Aro congratulated the Guard with their favourite spiced blood and he showered his new mate with praise and sweet kisses. She remained as humble as ever, but a fool would fail to notice that she was enjoying his attention. Very much so.

In contrast Beth did not receive such treatment, despite her part in Harrison's death; this was something she was sorely grateful for. It was not a time for celebrating, so she chose to remove herself from it in passive protest. She did not touch a drop of the celebratory blood, either, even if there was a bottle more suited to her diet.

Beth forcibly drowned out the other passengers' voices with her most morose, indie playlist. Her thoughts were all a tangle, and so her notebook and pen were poised, ready.

She had already made note of her experience with Alastair.

Alastair – who is he?

A pretty good tracker (apparently)

A nomad

A nomad who doesn't like hierarchy

A nomad who doesn't like hierarchy or people

Knows the Cullens – how well?

Very attractive

Uh, oh. Don't go down that alleyway. Biting her lip, she crossed that last part out, and turned to a fresh page.

BREAKING NEWS: the werewolf is dead, she wrote. The less I say about that, the better. I am glad I can't dream anymore… which probably means Anna feels the same. She is getting all the glory, poor girl: Aro has had a hard-on since she returned from our little mission.

Smirking, Beth paused and glanced at her sister. With Felix and Demetri driving the plane, that left her with Renata and the Witch Twins. They sat in the kind of furniture you would expect to find in a high-class hotel, sipping from their glasses and talking about what they would be doing later.

Anna was lapping up Aro's adoration like a cat with a vat of cream.

Once again, I have no idea what to do. I look at her, and it only confirms my (pathetically petty) fears. She's happy in a way I have never seen her, shy and smiling like a blushing bride! Yikes. Marcus was right. She is the Queen, so where does that leave me? What am I? A servant… I hate that. Beth scoffed quietly. She doesn't need me.

In her bitter state of mind, the thought of going to find the Cullens seemed like an even more tempting idea. But Beth could not bring herself to write that down.

Her pen was moving across the page again. She just wants me around. A twinge of guilt went through her. And why shouldn't she want me to stay? It's early days yet; I'm still the only proper friend she has here.

She scowled, looking back at her scrawled brain-fodder. What am I doing? Sulking? I should be relieved. There's no werewolf terrorising home. A ghost of a smile softened her scowl. I did it. I helped. Harrison is at peace. And I helped protect them. Mum, Alex, Louise, and the dog I'll never get to meet…they're safe. Perhaps it's time to cheer up a bit.

She switched off her iPod, and pocketed her book before uncurling herself from her chair. When Anna saw her come over, she gave a very uncharacteristic squeal of joy. "You decided to join us!"

"Yeah." Beth shrugged. "I was getting bored." She grinned at the blank looks Alec and Jane were giving her. "Thirsty, too."

Aro raised an eyebrow. "Then by all means, help yourself."

"Grazie. I shall." Beth zipped over to the gleaming bar which sat snug on the left side of the aisle behind them. Beyond that, Renata had told her that was the human quarters, used only when Heidi was on one of her tours for new victims.

She sniffed out the two bottles of animal blood from the bar. A stag and a doe's; how boring…but it would have to do. She poured herself some from the stag, into a glass more suited to whisky before she took the seat beside her sister.

"Let us make a toast," Aro said, raised his glass. "To the last Child of the Moon! May he rest in peace."

Harrison. His name was Harrison, Beth hesitated before lifting hers with everyone else.

"Evviva!" They cried. Their glasses kissed musically.

The journey went along a lot easier after that. Caius called, demanding to know what had happened and where they were.

Nag, nag, nag, Beth thought. There was no way she would say that to his face, of course. She liked her head firmly attached to her neck.

There was word from Athenodora, too, much to everyone's surprise. Apparently she was eager to see Anna again.

Beth had to smile. Why is that, I wonder? She hoped Anna would let her come along to visit Dora as well. She had always enjoyed weddings, and was keen to learn about whatever marriage customs the Volturi might have.

Glancing at Anna, however, Beth saw the feeling was, perhaps, not entirely mutual. As the conversation turned to other, far less interesting things, she watched her sister visibly withdraw into herself.

She leaned in. "It's early days, of course. You barely know each other."

Anna's eyes flickered. "I know that." She smiled like she had been thinking that all along – but Beth knew better.

Aro watched this small exchange out of the corner of his eye, and felt concern stir within him. It was obvious Anna wanted him, but…

Tuono's scars run far deeper than she is allowing me to see.

Beth caught his eye, and gave the tiniest of nods. For the first time, she knew they were on the same wave-length. She's okay…but you've got a long way to go before she's ready to even think about marrying you.

One car-ride and two more glasses of blood later, and they were back in the Volturi's underground garage. Beth found herself wistfully eyeing the Volturi's collection of cars once again. Perhaps it was a trick of the (poor) light, but she was sure that black Lamborghini in the corner had winked at her.

It took some impatient ushering from Demetri to get her to follow everyone else out.

Felix noticed this. "Have you seen something you like?" he asked, when she caught up with him.

"Huh!" It was a cry of surprise, but Beth turned it into a disgruntled laugh. Be cool. The last conversation they'd had (if you could call it that) hadn't exactly gone well, so she was eager to rectify that. She had to crane her neck to look at him. "You could say that. Which ones are yours?"

"The cars?" Felix smiled, like a proud father talking about his offspring. Beth was surprised. For one so large and menacing-looking, she was beginning to realise he was anything but that. "I did not take you for an enthusiast."

Beth shrugged. "There are so many of them; I was curious." And I've never driven anything faster than a Punto.

"I drive the Vanquish…the Carrera…" He counted them off, all twenty three of them. Beth blinked. Most of their titles went over her head, but she was quite impressed in spite of this.

She had to ask. "But what about the Lamborghini?"

Felix saw the excited gleam in her eye. "Oh, you mean the Aventador and the Countach?"

"Um, yeah." She didn't know the difference between them, but she didn't care. Two, they have two!

"Demetri prefers to drive them more than I. The Aventador is particularly…frisky." Felix winked, oblivious to her disappointment. "Why do you ask?"

Beth feigned indifference. "No reason, really; I like Lamborghinis." The thought of asking Demetri to have a test-run of one of his babies made her feel small and stupid. There goes that plan out of the window. She sighed whimsically.

"You drive?" Felix seemed amused by that idea.

Why so surprised? "Oh yeah, passed my test and everything." She smirked. "So I'm more than fully qualified."

This appeared to confuse him. "You were…taught by a human."

"Yes. I drink animal blood, remember?" she explained, pointing to her eyes. Duh. "Human blood doesn't really appeal to me."

"Ah, yes," he frowned, almost like he had forgotten.

How weird. She had to admit, since coming back from her house, the rest of the Guard were looking at her a little differently. Who knew helping to kill a werewolf would impress them? That irritated her, but also made her feel a little sad.

Demetri made a show of groaning and walking further away. "Can we move along, please? Caius does not like to be kept waiting."

Passing through the many corridors, the atmosphere couldn't be any more dissimilar to their previous walk. The endless stretch of rooms was soon filled with the sound of their soft conversations. It was as if a great weight had been lifted from everyone's shoulders – not an unbearable weight, but one they were glad to see fall away.

"Dolce mio," Aro murmured to Anna. "You mustn't mind Athenodora. She can get a little overexcited, and" – he chuckled – "it has been many years since she has had an opportunity to plan a wedding."

Anna smiled thinly. "I am aware of that. And I do not mind that she wants to plan our wedding, but –" she sighed and took his hand. Somehow speaking to him this way made her feel safer. I would hate it if you thought I did not return your feelings by making you wait. She grimaced. Again.

"Now why would you think that, my dear?" Aro was dismayed. "I know of your feelings for me." He suddenly grinned, like an excited boy. "Quite well, in fact. It pains me to see you so anxious."

She swallowed. I am not afraid of marrying you.

"You misunderstand me. It is your past that makes you anxious." Dropping her hand, he reached to move the hair off her shoulder. "He caused you such suffering; you fear intimate touch."

The shiver that ran down her spine was that of desire and alarm. "Aro…" Her thoughts swirled in dizzying, panicked circles, fending off his gentle probing towards memories she took great pains in hiding from him.

"I am not he. I would not dream of hurting you, my Queen." Still, Aro pulled his hand away. The last thought he heard was that of miserable regret. I know, my love. I'm so sorry.

"What is he trying to do?" Beth muttered aloud. She had been watching them the whole time. She knew Anna had issues with people touching her neck. You don't need to be telepathic to know that.

"Hermanita?" Renata saw her staring, and was immediately on guard.

Beth shook her head. "It's nothing, Renata," she replied gently. "Lady Anna is just…wrestling with her boundaries."

The look of puzzlement said it all. She twisted her lip. "Don't worry." He should know better!

They came to the lift that would take them to the Volturi's Hall. Renata reached forward to call it down, but Aro made her stop.

"My Lady and I shall take the stairs. Go on without us, my dear."

Renata stared. "You do not want me to come with you?" Her beautiful face seemed to droop with her hurt. She loved her Master, and hated to be parted from him. Beth could only assume Chelsea had something to do with it. Poor thing.

Anna was also quick to protest. "You do not have to do that, Aro. I am a grown woman!"

"A grown woman with claustrophobia," Beth found herself saying, not unkindly. "That's nothing to be ashamed of." She grinned. "You'll probably beat us to the Hall, anyway."

Aro beamed at her in approval. "Precisely, my dear. We shall see you there."

"Okay." Beth winked at her sister. "On your marks, get set -"

"Are we really going to do this?" Jane asked, but Renata had already pressed the button with a throaty giggle.

"Yes. It seems we are." Anna smiled. She took Aro's hand. "Why Jane? Are you afraid you might lose?"

Alec smirked. "She knows she will."

Then the lift arrived with a soft 'ting', and they were away. The stairs were narrow and made of stone, eroded away by time and flurrying footsteps. By the time the doors to the lifts had hissed shut, the couple had already reached the first floor.

It came as no surprise that they won the race. It didn't matter. Though Beth had reacted completely in defence of her sister, her kindness (and child-like sense of humour) had earned her Aro's respect.

The celebrations continued when they opened the doors to the Hall. They found Caius and the rest of the Guard there, clapping and cheering like they were heralding great heroes back from an arduous expedition.

Beth was sad, but unsurprised, to see Marcus hadn't pulled himself out of his pit long enough to see them home. The brief spark of joy she had felt, stupidly racing Anna and Aro up the stairs, guttered out. Caius demanded to hear all of the gory details (which Anna carefully recounted), and then there was a lot of congratulatory slaps on the back – figurative and literal – with further drinks passed around. Beth reckoned there was enough blood there to save over a dozen lives.

This is too much. I want out. She couldn't catch Anna's eye, because she was talking to Caius. Fuck it. I need to unpack...

She slipped out of the Hall, invisible. The corridor beyond was dim, cold, but most significantly, empty. That was what she craved, after spending far too many hours with too many people who made her uncomfortable.

No one saw her go – or so she thought.

His voice was cool and mocking."Bored already?"

Oh, leave me alone! He was the heartless punch to the already aching, weary muscle that was her patience for the Volturi's company.

"Nope. But I could ask you the same." Shaking off her glamour, her hair was a flash of bright red in the dark. "You are obviously so bored, you sought me out. Wow." Her smile was razor-sharp. "I'm almost flattered, Demetri."

"It doesn't suit you."

Beth laughed. "Okay. What do you want, then? A laudatory high-five?"

Demetri clenched his jaw. "A warning. You broke a vow, Elizabeth. Don't think you got away with it."

A quiver of disquiet shot through her system. Does he know? How could he know? She had been invisible. He struggled to track her when she was invisible, though she wasn't sure how much.

She was sorely tempted to play it vague, but what was the point, really? She was as tired as a vampire could be, and her bravado was long diminished. "If you're talking about the – about the little detour I took, before we came back –"

"Correcto. If you recall, you promised you would not see your family."

"I had to –"

His icy, condescending tone struck her hard. "Your little detour meant breaking a vow to Lady Anna. Do such vows mean nothing to you?"

Beth retorted. "No! I had to know my family were safe, Demetri. Anna understands that."

"That's Lady Anna to you," he growled. "Don't forget, she is no longer your sister. She is your Queen now, and you must treat her as such. Any vows you make to her are binding; any vows that are broken…and punishments have to be enforced."

"And I bet you'll have a front row seat for that." How she wanted to rip that smug smile off his face! But inside she felt the first pang of fear. It doesn't matter. No one was hurt. They didn't see me! A small, desperate voice protested.

Maybe Anna would let her off easy. She would understand…wouldn't she? Suddenly Beth wasn't so sure.

"You took the vows, Beth!" Her voice cracked like a whip in her mind.

Honour. Duty. Dependence. That was what they wanted.

Above all else? Obedience.

I depend on no one. There was no point in saying that now. That would only give Demetri more ammunition to fire at her. Beside, she was lying to herself.

So, Beth did the unthinkable. She walked away without another word.

Oh dear. It looks like Beth will be getting into trouble after all!

Translations:

Dolce mio- my sweet

Hermanita -little sister

I don't know the Italian language very well, (Google Translate is wonderful), so I may have made a few grammatical mistakes in the past. My apologies if I have!

Also: for those with a limited knowledge of car names (like me!), I've given you a list of the cars Felix was talking about in this chapter. You can research them, if need be. I could have sent you the links, but I thought they looked kinda messy on the page.

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Countach

Aston Martin Vanquish

Porsche Carrera

Finally, I wish you all a very merry Christmas, and a happy 2015! :D