Alec

4. VANILLA TWILIGHT

Volterra was a beautiful city. I had managed to make it overseas alive, and Alec had managed to behave himself the whole way although he was constantly touching me in some way. His hand in mine, shoulder or arm brushing up against me, all simple but exhilarating touches at which I blushed every time. We entered what I assumed was the throne room of the castle that loomed over the city, almost as if protecting it from outside forces of unknown power. Three chairs stood in the center on a raised platform, towards the back, with all three of them occupied with Lord Aro and his brothers. Caius glared at me, and Alec shifted ever so slightly as if to block it. Aro took notice and waved Alec to the side, at which he reluctantly obeyed, standing at the corner of the platform, close to Caius.

"My dear young Annabelle, I trust your flight was well?" Aro boomed, his voice echoing through the room.

"Yes my lord." I replied, feeling oddly alone.

"My brothers and I have discussed the issue of your birthing."

"Birthing?"

"You becoming one of us, a vampire."

"Oh, my apologies my lord."

"I have no use of apologies," he stated, and at this I bowed my head in embarrassment. "As I was saying, my brothers and I have discussed the issue of your birthing, as well as Alec. You are fifteen, no?"

"Yes my lord."

"A little young for graduating high school is it not?"

"I was in my last year, sir. I skipped a few grades so that I may graduate early and take college courses."

"An over achiever I see. Well, there is a very capable college here so you may begin your courses when you are ready. We have decided that you are to be changed on the eve of your sixteenth, that way we are not at a high risk with you being human. That would be dangerous for you and our members."

"Uh-m" I opened my mouth to say something but I lost my train of thought. My birthday was next week. "Yes sir."

"I'm supposing that Alec would like to see to your transformation?"

"Yes." Alec said.

"Well then, I leave that to you. Her living quarters have been prepared and finished. You may show her to her room. I expect you for dinner and the meeting tonight at seven."

"Yes, my lord." Alec bowed and I followed suit.

Alec then turned and held his arm out for me to take. I felt my heart swell I put my arm in his, and gently he led me away from the room and down a long warm lighted hallway. After many twists and turns, more than I could count, we arrived at a set of old double doors made of oak. He pulled the doors open to a small foyer to reveal a set of two other smaller double doors on opposite side of each other. One had big and chunky carvings made out of iron on the arch above the door, giving it a welcome but forbidden grace about it, and the other door had thin graceful ion that swirled into the designs of stars and the moon.

"This room is yours," Alec pointed the door with the stars and the moon made of iron. "And this is mine. I had our rooms separated because I thought you would like to have some space. There is a bedroom in between our two rooms for… later circumstances… if you want to."

I felt myself blush and Alec flashed me see a brilliant smile, and putting a hand to my lower back, he opened the door to my room. It was pretty, but bare. Alec noticed it and he lost his smile. He nuzzled into the base of my neck, his cold skin sending chills down my back, and sighed deeply. Sitting on a chair next to the door he began to explain.

"I wasn't sure how you waned to decorate your room. This is your home now and I want you to feel comfortable," He pulled at my hand and into his lap. "So, Heidi and I will take you shopping for furniture and clothes later tomorrow evening, after the sun goes down."

"Okay." I said thoughtfully looking around the room.

Alec's hand found its way up to my chin and pulled my face towards his, leaning up and kissing me gently on the lips. I froze for a moment and then using my hands I laced my fingers through his hair and pulled him in deeper, to his shock. There had been no question of whether or not that I loved him, it was automatic, much like Jacob's imprinting thing. I was as much in love with him as he was with me, and I couldn't help but feel a little rushed into it, but completely okay with it at the same time. He lifted me up and carried me through a door into a room and laid me on a bed as he got over top of me, all while kissing me. My hands slid over and around his neck, as he held onto my hips.

"I can't," He mumbled into my lips. "not yet. You'd break."

"That's okay," I said breathlessly. "It can wait." He kissed me again. "I just want you here with me."

His hands slid up my shirt to my stomach rubbing across all the way to my back, lifting my torso from the bed as he did so. My head fell back to reveal my neck, and silently he kissed there, lingering on a vein. I moaned slightly and he laid me back down and stared deeply into my eyes. He looked slightly pained but in control. I stroked the side of his perfect marble face, and he closed his eyes in pleasure.

"Annabelle?" He whispered my name softly.

"Yes Alec?"

"I know that this is all so hurried and new to you, but I have one request to ask of you…"

"Okay, what is it?"

"Well, since we both know we're going to be together, and since all the other Volturi members have wives, I was wondering if you wanted to get married."

"Is this a proposal?" I gawked.

"No, just a simple question." He laughed softly. "The real thing will be much better than this."

"Well then, you'll just have to wait until you propose for an answer young man!" He let me push him over so I was on top, straddling his hips.

"Young man?" He rolled me back over so he was on top. "I am way older than you by at least a three hundred years young lady."

"Okay old man."

He laughed and kissed me until I was breathless.