note: I want to apologize for the long wait on this update. There had been several events in my personal life that's occurred over the months. I deeply appreciate those that remained loyal and kept waiting for my next update. Thank you!

Chapter nine:

Bite Me

The night seemed to linger on, making it seem longer than it normally would for Alec, but of course this has to do with the upcoming transition of Bethany. Alec wasn't the one going through the vampiric transition, he had already been through that, but he was nervous on turning someone. What if something went wrong and they couldn't help her? Alec worried that he may not bite her correctly or even be able to stop upon tasting a hint of her blood. These thoughts clouded Alec's mind the entire night, making it hard to concentrate on what he was reading.

The entire night, Bethany had slept well with no interruptions aside from the thoughts that ran through her mind until she fell asleep. The feeling of guilt, fear and nervousness played with her as she felt on and off nausea. Bethany felt bad for her parents, having to keep them in the dark and lie to them for their safety. Once the morning came, Bethany opened her eyes to the same guest room of the palace she fell asleep in - It was the day of the transition.

Bethany gently sat up on the bed as she looked around the room and tried to let the thought of her last moments of being a human sink in until Alec would come knocking on the door. Bethany looked through her phone, finding a text message from her mom but before she thought of responding, there was that knock, causing her to close her phone.

"Come in." Bethany responded. The door sung open immediately after she responded, finding Alec step inside the bedroom and shutting the door behind him before facing her. Alec noticed her semi messy hair from sleep and long t-shirt and shorts. Very human like. Alec knew that once she transitions there would definitely be a change in her clothing to measure up to the Volturi standards of professionalism.

"I spoke with Aro last night, regarding our engagement..." Alec pointed out. Bethany pressed her lips together, attempting to hide her smile back a little. "What did Aro say?" Bethany asked curiously. Bethany had hoped that it went well, but she wouldn't doubt that having a wedding would be a bad thing since she would be considered Alec's mate once she transitioned.

"Aro wants to wait for the wedding until after you're transitioned. But, that could mean a five month wait." Alec explained. Five months? It could be longer but Bethany was curious to know why it would be that long. "It takes five months to transition?" Bethany asked, arching a brow. Alec formed a light, amused smile to the question, knowing how traumatizing it would be if transition took that long.

"No, transition normally lasts no longer than five days. It depends on how much venom is in the bloodstream and how close the venom enters to the heart." Alec explained. Alec noticed the phone in Bethany's hand, knowing that he was ordered to take away the phone but he figured it might be easier to do that once she's in transition. "Then why did you say five months?" Bethany asked, remaining slightly skeptical.

"Because once you wake up from transition, you need to be taught control. A newborn's physical strength, senses and speed surpass that of some older vampires because they still have their own blood lingering in their veins. Their thirst is impulsive and that alone is what needs to be controlled in order to keep our kind a secret. Five months is an estimate to control the urges, for a quick learner that is." Alec explained.

"So, you think I will be a quick learner as a newborn?" Bethany asked. This new information stunned Bethany for a moment, learning that she would practically be unconscious up to a month then be uncontrollable for months and need vampire training. "I have high hopes for you." Alec smirked. Bethany liked hearing that Alec had hopes for her and didn't want to disappoint him.

"I will try my best to live up to your expectations." Bethany teased. Alec let out a low chuckle for a second before turning back to his more serious expression. "I will leave you to get dressed and then we will inform Aro, Caius and Marcus that you are ready for the transition." Alec explained, knowing he also needed to calm his nerves too. Once Bethany nodded, Alec exited the bedroom and closed the door, walking down the hallway deep in thought before noticing Demetri and Felix walk over and stop midway, facing Alec.

"Is she ready?" Felix asked firmly. Alec stopped in his steps before turning his red eyes onto his fellow coven members. "Aro is patiently waiting for the transition." Demetri pressed further. Alec nodded firmly in confirmation before parting his lips to speak. "Yes, she is dressing herself and we will meet them there shortly." Alec explained, keeping his ears listening to Bethany while he kept his focus on the two.

Bethany took in a breath before she looked around the room and noticed there was a burgundy red, knee length dress with sleeves that ran to the elbows laid on one of the chairs in the room, below it laid two black heeled shoes. She don't notice before but perhaps Alec or another member of the guard had brought it in overnight while she slept - that alone gave her chills at the thought of a vampire, other than Alec, being near her as she was unconscious.

Bethany figured the dress was meant for the day of her transition and decided to walk over and put it on as well as the black heels before fixing her hair. Once she was finished she paused at the door that she was bound to open, knowing that the next time she sees this room she will no longer be human. Turning the door knob, Bethany opened the door and stepped out of the room to spot Alec not far in the same hallway.

The moment the door opened, Alec turned his attention towards the direction of Bethany's room and spotted her standing there. Within a flash, Alec was standing in front of her. Alec met her with a soft, light smile on his lips in attempt to hide his nerves and keep his calm demeanor. Alec gently took Bethany's warm hand into his cold, pale hand and pressed a light kiss to the top of it while be made sure nobody had been watching in on them. Bethany couldn't hide her faint blush appearing on her cheeks from the polite kiss to her hand.

"I suppose you are ready?" Alec pressed lightly. Bethany hesitated for a moment, taking in one last minute of normalcy before nodding. Alec escorted Bethany out of the hallway and to the meeting room,with Felix and Demetri trailing behind them, to meet with Aro, Caius and Marcus. Aro turned around with a red stare at the couple who briefly stopped in the middle of the room before instantly greeting them a few inches apart.

"I see that Chelsea had placed the perfect attire for such an occasion in a timely manner." Aro pointed out, noticing the dress that fit the 5'4" figure that Bethany had since Chelsea was a 5'3" woman. "Yes, thank you." Bethany thanked courageously. Aro flicked his red eyes to Alec for a mere moment at the kind words from the human before looking back to Bethany, impressed slightly at the politeness. "You're welcome, dear." Aro replied hesitantly.

"I assume you know the correct room to perform the transition, Alec...?" Aro pushed. There was a level below the meeting room where it was slightly more secretive and also where the three coven leaders liked to do their reading and keep the records of every vampire that was reported. There, only members of the Volturi had access to that room.

"Yes. I will escort her there." Alec replied, taking Bethany's warm hand into his cold one. "We will be there shortly to witness this transition." Aro stated. Alec carefully turned around to walk Bethany out of the meeting room and onto the elevator to go to one level lower down to the secretive room. Once the elevator stopped, they stepped out of it and into the room where there was a table with a pillow. Felix and Demetri had already placed the long, metal table with a pillow where Bethany will lie in transition for a few days earlier that morning.

"So, this is where I will be turned into a vampire?" Bethany asked, looking around at the gloomy looking room where there was a stone floor and stone walls, temporary vacant chairs and piles of dusty, thick books on the other table that was made of old oak. "Yes. It's not exactly a pleasant process, but not for too long." Alec explained.

"I see..." Bethany replied, remembering the details that Alec told her about it taking up to five days to fully transition. "..so it will be painful for five days?" Bethany asked curiously. Before Alec could answer, Jane entered the room ahead of Aro, Caius and Marcus. "Only the first few hours, unfortunately. You're unconscious until you're fully a newborn vampire." Jane pointed out.

"Now, now Jane..." Aro warned calmly as he paused in his steps near them, while Caius and Marcus took their chairs in the room. Jane formed a mocking smile on her expression before stopping beside Caius and Marcus who were sitting and impatiently waiting, Felix entered the room to only stand by the door way, guarding in case anything would become problematic.

"Miss... Bethany, why don't you lie down on the table?" Aro instructed. Bethany hesitated for a moment but figured the best idea was to do what Aro said, according to Alec anyway. Bethany turned to look at the table with the pillow on it and walked over, sliding herself on it and laid on her back as she watched what would happen next as her heartbeat began to race. Aro seemed to be coaching Alec on what to do since it would be his first time biting a human to turn into a vampire and not for feeding purposes. It was awkward having all the red eyes on you like you're something to eat.

"The pain won't be long lasting." Alec stated in a soft tone as he edged closer to Bethany, who laid on the table. Bethany had hoped that what Alec said was right - pain wasn't something that she was looking forward to. After giving a simple nod, Bethany watched as Alec began to lean in, immediately closing her blue eyes to prepare herself for the incoming bite. Alec didn't want to mess up. The thought of messing up on turning her and being the ultimate cause of her death would devastate him. Picking up her arm, Alec thought of perhaps going the easy route but the sound of Aro's voice broke Alec's attention and caused him to look over at Aro.

"My dear, sweet, Alec...it is certainly more affective to bite her at the neck. Let me demonstrate..." Aro explained before instantaneously being at the opposite side of the table from Alec. When Aro leaned in with his fangs semi-exposed near her neck, Bethany squeezed her eyes shut before Alec dropped her arm and stopped Aro seconds later. "No. I can do this myself. I do appreciate your advice, master." Alec pointed out. This caused Aro to lean back into his straight posture, feeling lightly insulted by Alec's newly found confidence.

Alec turned his red gaze back onto Bethany and proceeded to lean in slowly towards her neck line. "I will see you soon, my love." Alec whispered into Bethany's ear. Seconds later, Bethany felt Alec's cold lips press against her warm skin as if he had pressed a gentle kiss on her neck. Alec pulled back an inch after placing the kiss in order to have room to extend his fangs. Alec focused on the targeted area of her neck before digging his fangs into her neck. Bethany felt the sharp pain in her neck which caused her heartbeat to grow rapid, scared for her life though it was a natural, human reaction.

Bethany felt herself beginning to fade in and out of consciousness with a rush of a burning sensation through her veins. 'What was this burning feeling coming from?' Bethany thought to herself on the inside, but little did she know, it was in fact, the venom from Alec's bite being injected into her veins. Alec not only felt the venom leave his fangs in the bite but felt the warm blood from Bethany gush in his mouth. The blood itself from Bethany felt like a drug to Alec.

"You may stop now, Alec." Caius demanded as he watched on from his chair. Normally, Alec obeyed the orders from the three leaders without hesitation but this bite became an unnecessary, lethal addiction. It had been about twenty seconds now, which began to cause a slight concern to the leaders. "Alec...keep on going, only if you wish to kill her." Aro pointed out. Kill her? That certainly wasn't what Alec wanted. Using the strength that he had, Alec removed his fangs and looked over at Bethany who was wiggling around on the table in pain. Alec looked at Aro and his sister, Jane, before Aro gave Felix a nod. Felix took Alec by the arm and pulled him out of the room before pinning him to the nearby wall in the hallway.

"Let me go." Alec hissed, before realizing Felix wasn't easing up anytime soon. "I need to be by her side." Alec pointed out. Felix rolled his eyes before deciding to ignore his pleas until Aro ordered him to let Alec go. Alec and Felix could hear the painful groans from Bethany, but as moments passed the groans from the venom seemed to quiet down. Aro and the other leaders made sure that Bethany remained on the table securely and that the transition began.

"You may let Alec enter now, Felix." Aro ordered. The moment the words hit their ears, Felix eased up and Alec gave him a rough shove away from him before marching into the room once again. Alec's attention was immediately on Bethany, who laid there still and calm but unconscious. Alec had worried for a moment that she had died due to his inability to control himself but only a few seconds later did he pick up the shallow heartbeat, the heartbeat of transitioning vampire. The five days couldn't come fast enough.