Alec

I remember the day Carlisle came to the Volturi, automatically feeling uneasy by his sense of wonder and golden eyes. He was easily dismissed in my mind due to the constant missions my dear sister and I were assigned.

We first became acquainted in the grand study, I was able to assess him from afar. He knew full well I was staring, analyzing. He stood tall and confident, even though he professed to all he was a non violent man. How could a vampire who lives that way be confident? He must have felt weak due to his insufficient diet but did not show it.

When I would stop by for my own quiet time of reading and reflection, he was always found on the velvet couch by the constant roaring fireplace reading The King James Bible. Eventually I gained my own confidence to approach him, finding my own seat on the leather armchair that was placed to the left of his couch and met by a wooden round table. I made no noise as I sat with my own book, Romeo and Juliet; a special and rare copy at the time. Carlisle would smile, whisper versus to me or more so to himself, and turn the page. I was not really reading of course, too distracted by Carlisles murmurings and flittering.

This became routine for us for roughly a decade and a half, then something finally changed. Instead of whispering these versus, him not knowing I hung on to every one, he spoke directly to me. He looked up from his Bible and turned, his golden eyes meeting mine. He only said this, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans Chapter 8, verse 6. Brother, which mind do you think you are of?"

He did not leave me a chance to respond but left with a smile and nod. That day, he told Aro he was to leave to the Americas for a new life. I have pondered his words throughout my time at the Volturi and that conversation has never left me. I have not been able to ponder that question the same way I can now, with freedom of my own emotions and loyalties. What mind was I of now? I still fed on humans, could I kill an animal and do it consistently to survive the way the Cullens did? I still was not convinced it was the healthiest choice for our species though I admit now it seemed a softer way to live.

These new thoughts shocked me when I realized I was indeed willing to give up my carnal ways for a life in the Spirit, whatever that looks like. Now in the moment of me packing my bags to leave the Volturi (forever?), his words rang through more clearly than ever. I have been weighed down by such remorse in only a matter of four weeks, I had nowhere to go. Jane of course would not ever entertain following me if I chose what I dared not think aloud. For the time being, I made a list of my things I could not live without. Should I take my robe with the Volturi crest? I could only assume we were not saying goodbye, I trust Jane to have good reasons for such an exit. In a matter of minutes, I reduced all my possessions down into a few number of items.

Jane saw I was done packing as I stood in the doorway, ready to rush out and mapping all the known exits in my head. It would be quicker if we went down the lower halls to the dungeon corridor where there was a small opening we called a "door". It leads in a small tunnel outside of the Volterra city boundaries. It would take me roughly two days to swim all the way to America but Jane was quick to tell me our plan once we passed the proximity of the castle, two immortal beings as quiet as the still winds.

Of course I knew Aro would figure out we were gone, from Janes previous behavior I would not be surprised if Aro was already expecting it. Aro must know his coven is now too weak to stop us. As I followed Jane blindly through the National Parks of Europe, not having to worry about the scent of humans at this time of night, she told me of our plan. We were to meet Marcus in Poland and start again. The "start again" part was lacking a structural foundation and I knew I would have to tell my twin of my own path I have decided to take, whether I admitted it to myself or not.

In a matter of hours, we made it to Parco Nazionale Delle Dolomiti Bellunesi, a providence of Belluno, Italy. My conscious got the best of me, I had to stop running. So I did. Part of me was surprised Jane could not yet sense my uneasiness and uncertainty, I guess our bond was much stronger many years previously. She looked back immediately with an anger in her eyes, confused as to why I would pause in the middle of an escape to this measure.

"I cannot follow you sister" I whispered, not looking into her red piercing eyes.

She was quick to scoff, "What part of life or death do you not understand brother? You have no one else to protect you if you go on your own as a nomad."

I looked up at her, slowly meeting her eyes. With this subtle look, she knew.

"Goodbye, brother. We will meet again soon. I love you."

She was gone. Too quickly for my liking but I guess thats what I get for letting the distance between us grow.