"It's Something About the Inevitability." (12)

From the moment a vampire is made, his interests, dislikes, and personality are permanently petrified.

Odessa fell into an easy rhythm with the Volturi and found herself not minding the place at all. She became close to Felix and Santiago and began to treasure the time they spent training together. After a few days, they were able to comfortably converse to their heart's content. They found themselves joking around and getting along after training, spending at least an hour after the training completed to talk and hang out. They were easy-going and honest people, and Odessa appreciated that. They didn't prance around topics or give half-assessed answers. It was refreshing.

She spent her nights with Alec, basking in his presence. Some nights they talked about what they enjoyed or what they hated the most, and some nights they laid in silence, just taking each other in. Alec was just as his essence described him as: powerful, strong, and reliable. He was a mystery and lived with formalities like a gentleman. She was glad she had explored that part of her gift so long ago. She first observed the color difference between essences two years after she had been born. She had known that essences had a color because that was what she grabbed onto when she used her gift. However, the color had always been the same: black with wisps of red and white.

Once she had a grasp on her gift and used it on other people, she realized every essence wasn't black, white, and red. She tried asking Joham about it, but he dismissed her and told her not to worry about something so nonsensical. It wasn't until she was out of Joham's grasp that she was able to explore it. She read up on color theory and meaning and came to the conclusion that the color of a person's essence was connected to their personality and their life. It was a tricky thing trying to decipher colors, though, because there are so many associations. For example, yellow symbolizes happiness, positivity, and warmth. But it also symbolizes cowardice, deception, and caution, hence the term 'yellow-bellied'. She had to spend a little bit of time with a person to figure out which meaning the essence actually represented.

When she wasn't training with Felix and Santiago or spending time with Alec, she was trying to get to know Jane. Alec claimed Jane liked her, but Odessa wasn't convinced. The girl barely spoke to her and gave her blank looks all the time. Odessa tried to converse with her, but the blonde was unresponsive. It was awkward and uncomfortable for the half-breed, so she avoided being alone with Jane.

Other than that, she spent her time trying to convince Aro, Marcus, and Caius to let her gather her things from her cottage and visit Nahuel. She wanted to know more about her brother and his aunt. She also wasn't opposed to visiting Renesmee. Continuously, they told her she couldn't leave because she was still in her probation period, but they praised her for adapting to the Volturi. It didn't make sense to her.

So, there she was standing in front of the three rulers with a determined look upon her face for the second time that week. She opened her mouth to make her case when Marcus held up a hand to stop her. She snapped her mouth shut and crossed her arms over her chest. Aro sighed and addressed her.

"We have discussed your concerns and we have agreed to let you leave Volterra for a week. That should be sufficient enough time to gather your belongings and visit whomever you desire," Aro said.

"What changed your mind?" she asked dubiously.

"You've been pestering us since you came here about getting your things, yet you choose to question us when we give you permission," Caius simmered.

"That is exactly why I asked," Odessa said. "I have asked at least ten times over the past month, and you dismissed me each time."

"Marcus strongly believes that you have integrated yourself within the Volturi with ease," Aro informed her. "While that normally would cause concern, Felix, Santiago, and Jane have vouched for you. We believe your probation period is moot at this point. When you return from your travels, we will begin your initiation into the guard."

That wasn't what she expected when she entered the throne room. She was flabbergasted and could only nod to show that she heard what he said.

"Thank you," she stuttered out embarrassingly.

"Of course, my dear," Aro said. "Please make your preparations for your trip. Alec, you will accompany her."

"Yes, master," Alec said quietly. He held out an arm for Odessa to take and started walking toward their rooms. Odessa walked beside him and contemplated what just transpired.

"I find it weird I was accepted so quickly," she voiced her thoughts. She glanced at Alec, awaiting his response.

"You are more valuable to the Masters than you realize," he said with a smirk. "Aro covets gifts, and your gift is remarkable. Truly powerful. You are a member of a species Aro did not know existed, too. To be frank, Aro wanted to make a deal with the Cullens before we left. He wanted to have the child stay with the Volturi for a period of time to analyze her. However, once he read my thoughts and found out you and I were mates, he figured you could be a replacement, of sorts."

"So, he is only allowing me to stay with the Volturi to discover new things about hybrids?" she asked with a frown.

Alec shook his head and replied, "As I said, you are quite powerful and would be a great addition to the guard. Whether you were a hybrid or a vampire, Aro would have wanted you to join the guard."

They reached Odessa's room and entered. It wasn't until she opened the drawers of the dresser that she realized she didn't need to pack anything. All of her stuff was located in her humble abode. She'd stop there first to gather her things, then she'd visit Renesmee, visit Nahuel, and then stop back at the cottage to grab her packed things before heading back to Volterra. She turned away from the dresser and walked over to her bedside table to take out the wad of cash she had stored away. She approached Alec and asked, "Is there anything you need to pack before we leave?"

He shook his head and continued to watch her move about the room.

"Okay. We'll leave tomorrow, then. I want to take a bath and get some rest before we go," she said. He nodded his head and pulled her into a kiss.

"Find me when you are ready to leave."

Odessa was happy to leave Volterra after being stuck in the city and the castle for so long. A smile graced her face the entire run out of the city limits. Alec followed close behind with a small smile on his face, watching her reactions and cherishing the moments he shared with her. They made it to her cottage in record time, and Odessa slowed down as she neared it. She hummed and opened the door. She appreciated its reminiscence of home, its familiar nature, and its rustic smell.

"So this is where you've lived for the past hundred years or so?" Alec asked curiously. "It is not what I expected."

"And what did you expect?" Odessa asked with a dubious expression upon her face.

"Something the size of this but decorated with a rather different style. Perhaps something less bucolic and more modern."

"Modern?"

"The way in which you speak is reflective of an old dialect, yet you seem to appreciate more modern clothes, foods, those sorts of things. I pegged you as someone who dislikes old practices because of their past," Alec answered.

"Well, I do appreciate a good pair of jeans," she joked lightheartedly. "I do not know how I will be able to take all of this stuff to Volterra."

"We can have it shipped," Alec offered. "We can pack everything here and have it shipped to the castle while we make our rounds."

"That is true," she mused. Odessa packed up her items with Alec's help. They stopped in the middle of packing often so that Odessa could explain something to Alec about an item that caught his interest. When they got to her clothes, she tried her best to keep him away from her undergarments, but he opened a drawer full of lingerie before she could stop him. He stilled before regaining his composure and smirking. He held up a pair of dark violet panties and twirled it around his finger. Odessa glared at his childish antics and tried snatching them from him. He evaded her before grabbing her by the waist and pulling her into him.

"Is this what awaits me in Volterra?" he asked lewdly. Odessa was shocked by his forwardness and struggled within his grasp. Alec let her go, and she put as much distance between them as she could. She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, signaling that she was not happy with his actions.

"With that behavior, I hardly doubt you will ever see the likes of those," she said. He chuckled and threw the underwear back into her drawer.

"Are there any other drawers off-limits to my eyes?"

"No," she said. "You can start with that drawer," she pointed at the bottom one, "and work your way up. I will pack the top one. The rest are full of shirts and pants. Nothing special."

They finished within an hour and rested on the sofa in the living room. Alec laid down with his head in Odessa's lap. She ran her fingers through his hair, occasionally running her fingers across his features. He closed his eyes and basked in the sensation. Odessa never pegged Alec for someone so intimate. On most occasions, it was he who initiated their hugs, their kisses, their touches. Whenever they were in the same room, he had to be close to her. And when they were alone, he had to be touching her. She didn't mind it; in fact, she invited it with open arms.

"I really like you, Alec," she confessed.

"Like," he said as if he was testing out the word, "not love?"

"I have never been in love, so I am unsure if that is what I feel towards you. What I am sure of is that I could spend eternity with you and be happy. Is that what love is?" she asked him sincerely.

"I do not know either," he confessed, "but I have seen it around me enough to know that I love you."

"How can you be so sure?" she asked, stopping her movements within his hair.

"You are the only subject running through my mind all day. I cannot keep you from influencing my thoughts and my actions. Everything I've done since I met you has been with your best interest in mind. I sadden easily whenever a stray thought of you leaving me crosses my mind, and I anger when I think of someone harming you," he stated confidently. "I cannot think of any other emotion strong enough to make me this way."

Odessa took in his words slowly and imagined those things, too. She thought about Alec leaving her and quickly shook the emotional image away. She thought about someone hurting him - killing him - and wanted to growl out loud. She found herself reflecting on the past weeks she's been with him and noticed a pattern in her actions: Every pocket of free time was spent with Alec. Even when she had to eat, she'd find him first and lead him to the kitchen to keep her company while she recharged herself. She found herself grabbing him and pulling him onto the bed for her naps.

"Perhaps I do love you," she mused quietly.

"Perhaps," he echoed sarcastically.

They stayed the night and arranged for her things to be shipped to Volterra the following morning. Once they finished that, they headed for the United States to visit Renesmee and the Cullens. They were still living in the same house as before, making it easier to locate them. Forks was still the same bland and cold place as before; nothing had changed. Even the wolves in the neighboring town were still prevalent and wanted nothing more than to chomp off her head.

When they were within a certain distance of the house, the Cullens came out to cautiously greet them. Odessa observed them critically and searched for any changes in their demeanor or appearance since she last saw them. They were as protective of each other as ever, which Odessa wasn't sure annoyed her or not. They had no reason to be cautious around them.

"Odessa!" Renesmee yelled as she tried to unclasp her hand from Bella's and Jacob's. Renesmee's growth had slowed significantly, as it should. If Odessa was calculating it correctly, Renesmee was nearing her first birthday. She'll grow naturally like all the rest of the human children until she gets to her seventh birthday. Around that time, she should stop growing, giving her the appearance of an eighteen-year-old.

Odessa tisked at their overprotectiveness and stood with her arms crossed. Beside her, Alec was a tense ball of nerves ready to eliminate anyone who tried hurting her.

"Welcome, Odessa. Alec," Carlisle said pleasantly. "What can we do for you?"

"We are here to visit Renesmee," Odessa declared. "I promised her I would visit soon, and I wanted to make sure none of you made another idiotic move that threatens her life."

"Do you think we're that careless?" Bella asked incredulously. "She's my daughter. I would never put her in harm's way."

"Well, as they say: 'History repeats itself'," Odessa smirked. Then, she sighed and waved her hand flippantly in the air. "I did not come here to insult you, nor did I come here to battle you to the death. As I stated, I simply want to catch up with my little friend."

"Of course," Edward said civilly.

"I don't sense any hostility coming from either of them. Perhaps we should let them visit so they can be on their way," Jasper commented.

"Sure," Carlisle said with a tight-lipped smile. "Who are we to turn away a friend?"

Odessa and Alec followed the family into their pristine home. Renesmee detached herself from Bella and Jacob and threw herself at Odessa. Odessa caught the girl and put her down promptly. She put on a disappointed face and pretended to scold the girl before breaking out into a small smile and ruffling the girl's chocolate brown waves. Renesmee chatted mindlessly with Odessa while pulling the older hybrid towards a playroom, or sorts. Odessa looked back at Alec and he waved her ahead.

"Take your time," he said quietly. "I will wait here until you are ready to leave."

"I do not want you to feel uncomfortable," Odessa said, unsure on what to do. She didn't want to leave him by himself in a tense situation, but she also wanted to spend some time with Renesmee without the girl feeling uncomfortable in Alec's presence.

"I will be fine. I have been in the presence of hundreds of enemies and have not cared," he reassured her.

"I will only be no longer than a few hours," she reassured him before she left the room with Renesmee. Renesmee pulled her through the house until they got to an open room. There was a desk sat facing the door of the room, and three full bookshelves stood against the wall beside each other. After a quick look through the books' titles, she satisfactorily nodded her head in agreement with the kinds of books Renesmee was reading. There were a few books within the collection that were appropriate for children at her physical age, but most were books suitable for high school students and even a few college-level books. As with all hybrids, it was essential that their learning was nurtured so that their minds developed well. From experience, Odessa knew there had to be a discourse within Renesmee's mind. Mentally, she was an adult with a childish perception of life. By nurturing her learning, the Cullens were setting Renesmee up for an easier transition into puberty and adulthood. Among the studious furniture were a few dolls, coloring pages, and coloring supplies.

"This is where I study and do homework," Renesmee said proudly.

"You are in school?" Odessa asked curiously.

"Daddy and mommy homeschool me. They said they wanted to wait to see how my growth would progress before putting me in public school."

"You do not mind being away from other children? Do you not want to play with other kids?"

"I do, but mommy and daddy say the most important thing is to keep our secret safe," Renesmee said sadly. She perked up and said, "But once we move, they said I can have as many play dates as I want."

Odessa frowned. Renesmee deserved to make friends and hang out with people her age. She suffered from not interacting with those her age, and eventually, she tried making up for those lost times by being the immature and vindictive person she was today. Odessa dropped the subject, thinking it was best not to meddle in their business while her mate was downstairs surrounded by them.

Renesmee pulled out a young adult book and began explaining the plot to her. The book was called Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Odessa had never read the book before, but it seemed like an interesting book for developing children. Renesmee had obviously taken a liking to the book and apparently it was going to become a series. She also showed Odessa a book on astronomy that she read at night with her parents. Odessa listened intently and politely as the young girl with star-lit eyes ranted about her favorite things. Once she had settled down and they were coloring together, Odessa took the opportunity to ask the young hybrid a question that was sure to get the Cullens riled. Unintentionally, of course.

"Would you like to visit the Volturi every once in a while?" Odessa asked. Simultaneous growls sounded throughout the house at her question. She shrugged and waited patiently for Renesmee's answer.

"Why are you asking?" Renesmee asked cautiously and with a bit of hurt in her eyes.

"There is so much to see and experience in the world," Odessa said quickly. "While I know you and your family are uncomfortable with the Volturi for what happened, but it would be a good idea to form relations with the people who rule this world."

"I don't think mommy and daddy would let me."

"The decision is not theirs. Contrary to popular belief within the vampire community, the Volturi are not bad people. They care immensely about the people within our community and only want to see it thrive. That is why there are rules and why those who break the rules must be punished. They are only seen as the bad guys because they have to perform the hardest job," Odessa soothed her.

Odessa heard footsteps approach them hurriedly and closed her eyes in annoyance when Edward and Bella appeared at the entrance of the room. She knocked her head back and rubbed her neck, sighing out.

"I think that's enough time alone," Bella said tersely.

"But we weren't done coloring our pictures. See?" Renesmee held up her half -colored picture with pouting eyes and pointed at the blank side of the paper.

"I'm sure you can finish the next time Odessa visits," Edward said with a fake smile.

Odessa grumbled before she plastered a smile on her face and asked Renesmee to go downstairs ahead of them. The girl did as she was asked, leaving Odessa, Bella, and Edward in the room. Odessa stood up from her place on the floor and stretched lethargically before confronting the parents.

"You have no right to place your beliefs on her," Bella started angrily. She made sure to keep her voice low so that there was a slimmer chance Renesmee heard their conversation.

"I am not placing my beliefs on her. All I am doing is giving her a new perspective," Odessa said smoothly.

"It's nothing but propaganda," Edward argued. "You're trying to get her in Volterra so the Volturi can examine her."

"Why would they need to examine her when I am there?" Odessa asked with a raised eyebrow. "All I want is for Renesmee to experience things that should be able to experience. She needs to get away from this house. No offense, but if you keep her sheltered, she will rebel against you."

"We are keeping her safe!" Bella shouted. Edward consoled her before he turned his attention to Odessa and said, "She is a year old. She is not old enough to be venturing out in the world."

"A visit to the government building of our world is hardly venturing out into the world. Hundreds of kids here in the U.S. visit the White House every year. This is no different."

"You're overlooking the problem," Edward said. "You are making it seem like the Volturi won't do anything to her while she is there. You're giving her false hope that she will be accepted rather than viewed as something different. They're going to treat her like a shiny new toy. She won't be comfortable there."

"Renesmee is a person, not an object," Odessa said heatedly. "The Volturi have been nothing but kind to me. They treat me like I am a part of them, like I belong there."

"That's only because they don't want to lose someone so powerful. They only want you because of your gift and because they couldn't have Renesmee to observe," Bella argued.

"I admit that Aro, Caius, and Marcus give me special treatment because of my situation, but the other members do no such thing. They are my friends and they treat me as equals. Even the less important members are included in activities around the castle. You know nothing about the Volturi's true colors and it is clear you do not wish to find out."

"You're right," Bella said with a hard edge. "We don't."

The air around the three was tense and Odessa couldn't help but crouch ever so slightly in a defensive position. Bella reciprocated her actions and growled lowly in warning. Before anything could escalate, Alec entered the room and wrapped his arms around Odessa. He murmured in her ears before pushing her gently behind him and placing him in between the two parties.

"I believe Odessa and I should take our leave," Alec said professionally. "Please excuse us."

Alec led Odessa out of the Cullen house without a goodbye to the rest of the clan. When they were far enough away, Alec let her go and stalked away from her. He kept his back towards her and calmly breathed in and out of his nose. Odessa watched him in confusion and reached forward to lay a hand on his shoulder. He shrugged her off and walked further away from her. She reeled her hand towards herself and held it as if it had just been burned.

"What is wrong, Alec?" she asked in a small voice.

"You ask me what is wrong," he said sardonically with a small laugh. He turned towards her and she flinched from the absolute and pure anger radiating off of him and his face. "Do you truly not see the problem?"

She remained quiet and hardened her resolve. She glared at him and crossed her arms in front of her. She scoffed and upturned her nose at him. This action made him angrier. He stomped up to her and grabbed her by the shoulders. He shook her hard to get her attention and dug his fingers into her skin.

"What do you think you are doing?" she screamed. She tried prying his hands off of her, but his grip was too strong.

"You cannot keep instigating arguments just because someone doesn't agree with you," he said in a loud and clear voice. "If you continue to act like a child you will bring unnecessary fighting to the Volturi and yourself!"

"Unhand me this instant!" she yelled. She took control of him and managed to pull him away from her. She breathed heavily and glared at him with disdain. "I am not doing anything wrong."

"I will not be able to protect you if you keep getting into petty arguments over meaningless things!"

"I do not need you to protect me!" Odessa shouted.

"The Masters wanted to start you on missions, but I will let them know once we are back that you are not mentally ready for such a thing," Alec said stiffly.

"Why wait?! Leave now and let me visit Nahuel alone! It is not like I will miss you while we are apart!"

"If I could, I would. However, the Masters ordered me to escort you during your time away from the castle. I cannot disobey orders," he said monotonously. Odessa scowled at him and turned her back on him. She wouldn't let him see the hurt in her eyes or the tears that threatened to leak from her eyes. She began running in the direction of their next destination. Alec ran behind her. Thankfully, he was giving her some space. Odessa hoped they got to Nahuel's house quickly. She couldn't stand the silence that permeated around her and Alec.

I am slowly but surely getting back into the groove of writing. If I post a chapter it will be on the weekends as that is the time when I have the most free time. I really wanted to get this chapter out because I had a few new comments on this story from the different platforms and knew it had been too long since I last posted.

I hope you are all doing well!