Sorry I haven't updated – schoolwork :/

~ Chapter Twenty Six ~

I then let her follow Alec's scent, though, even now I knew it better than anything else in the world. We simultaneously gasped when the castle came into view. It really was a sight to behold - definitely the grandest castle I had ever seen.

Though majestic and captivating on approach, it looked to be designed more for the sight-seeing than for living in.

"Wow!" Nkechi exclaimed.

"Typical Aro" I sighed. We slowed to a human pace and kept to the shadows, avoiding the sunlight. We edged our way to the gate and slipped in. We wandered through plush, luxury offices, authentic medieval rooms with extensive material inside them and many private rooms. I chatted quietly to Nkechi, while my mind contemplated everything that had happened in the past hours. I realised how much I despised Aro, more than I could even comprehend for making my angel act occasionally like the devil. My beautiful angelic Alec…

"You were brilliant," she told me. I shrugged modestly. "Is shame is all over because that mean I have to leave you" she sighed. We had grown very close over the past few weeks and I didn't really want her to leave either, though I was glad it was all over.

"It won't be the last time we see each other," I promised.

"No" she laughed. "I sure the Volturi return soon. Then we meet again and fight to kill" her voice turned fierce with these last words. She had voiced my fears. Yes, they would return – that was inevitable, but I wasn't sure I would be able to kill them, or even watch them get killed.

"We'll see each other before that. I've always wanted to hunt a cheetah" I joked.

"You should try elephant – more rich blood" she joked back. "I'm glad you found mate. World is better with mate. Is shame Gazini hasn't though" I had to agree with her – the world was better with a mate. It was complete. Like I had been in the dark before, thinking there was no more. Then Alec had come along and had been my beautiful light, illuminating everything to incredible, impossible heights. I was happy now, satisfied, though that didn't even begin to describe it. Alec was my everything. I understood true love because I have one. I saw the point of life now – love. To love and be loved in return.

All of this and I had known Alec for less than an hour, but already I couldn't live without him. Even now, separated for mere minutes, my dead heart was aching – it was as though we were connected.

I picked up the pace, ignoring my picturesque surroundings, eager to see my beloved again. Nkechi sensed my urgency and began to run, as did I. She skidded to a stop in front of a stone arch. Beyond the arch was a room and in that room was Alec. I rushed to him and we kissed passionately for several minutes.

"How long do you reckon they'll be?" I asked, as we broke apart, cradled in each other's arms.

"Not long, couple of hours at most. Our jet is faster than normal planes and I really don't want to be here when they arrive back. You should see how angry they were last time. Gianna took some of the burden last time, and I'm sure Lisa will this time. I can't believe Aro did that to Didyme and Marcus. How come Renata didn't help any?" he pondered.

"I guess it was because he was so determined. You should probably get back to packing," I suggested. He nodded and did so, though he never let go of my hand. He piled everything onto a large leather sofa. I didn't take notice of much of it, I was too busy gazing into his gorgeous face. I hadn't had time to fully take in his beautiful appearance. I guessed that he was probably around thirteen or fourteen, with short, dark brown hair. He had a rather slim and slight figure, and was probably 5'1. He had an innocent, angelic-looking face, with an air of masculinity about it, though it still had a hint of childishness about it. He has wide eyes, and a voice that sounded as if it had just broke, along with being musical, velvety and heavenly. His eyes were just a shade less red than mine, though it was still disconcerting. He paused in his packing and I realised he was done. He kissed my cheek, murmured "I'll be back in a minute" and dashed out of the room.

I gazed around what I presumed was his room and over his belongings. He certainly had a lot of fancy stuff. Suddenly he was back, his arms around my waist.

"What did you go for?" I queried.

"Money. I mean, I know you've got plenty, but…" I put my finger against his lips, silencing him and twisted round to face him.

"Money doesn't matter. What's mine is yours, and seeing as I'm a part of the Cullens, that means a lot of money" he laughed and kissed me.

"Besides, I wouldn't mind annoying Aro a bit more. I do have my own money, but Aro has so much more and some things I had my eye on. I never really liked him but I stuck with him because Jane looked up to him so and because I had nowhere to go. But now I do" he kissed me again. "You can teleport sofas and whatnot can't you?"

"Probably" I responded. "Ready to go? No last minute nostalgia?" he shook his head. "Nkechi?" I called. She was at my side in a flash.

"We leave awful place?" she asked.

"Why awful?" I wondered aloud.

"I explore and that room…is awful"

"Oh, that would be where we… er fed. I don't like it either" Alec agreed.

"Ready?" I asked again. They nodded and I placed my hand on the sofa, whilst holding Alec's hand and ensuring Nkechi had her hand on my shoulder. I squeezed my eyes shut and used Zafrina's gift to place the picture of the spare room along the corridor from mine into Nkechi's head. I opened my eyes and sure enough, we were there.

"Your room" I swept my hand around grandly. "Well, probably. Anyway, we should feed" I took both their hands and we ran through the house, to the forest of Forks. I stopped when I could sense the blood pumping through some deer's necks. "Lead the way" I instructed Alec, ignoring every cell in my body that was pulling me to feed. He paused, uncertain.

"Use senses" Nkechi advised. He sniffed and took off in the direction I knew the deer would be. We followed, hot on his heel. When he reached the deer, I told him to follow his instincts. He did as so, and leapt for the nearest deer's throat. I was pleased to see he took to it like a duck to water. I followed suit, as did Nkechi. Soon, we were done, and I was happy to see that Alec didn't mind feeding off animals. His eyes had even lightened up a tiny bit. "Not bad. Well, not as bad as I thought it would be. The burning…"

"Is always there sadly. Never fades. Downside" Nkechi explained. I wondered if the burning was also not as bad for me, like my other senses making it easier to, well, be a vampire.

We headed off to the clearing where the rest of the vampires would be.

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