DISCLAIMER: Sadly I do not own Twilight or it's characters, but I do own Sirène, William and his little Henchies. :)

Alec

7. FOR A PESSIMIST I'M PRETTY OPTIMISTIC

I cringed at the ball gown that Heidi had in her hands. I had picked it out of course, but it was a delicate looking thing. And with my luck it would be ripped to shreds by he time that the night was through. I was in the middle of going through all the possible scenarios in my head of how the dress could be ruined, (It could get caught under my foot, on a nail, on the edge of a door; I could trip and spill something on it…) when Heidi took me by surprise and had me in the damn thing before I could blink.

The scarlet folds drifted to a stand still around my frame, giving me an elegance that I never thought that I could achieve. I sighed as Heidi set to work on my unruly hair, twisting and pulling this way and that, turning it into a beautiful vintage look that previously I only thought that Alice could pull off. I looked like a Hollywood starlet from the 40's and 50's. I groaned.

"What?" Heidi said. "You don't like it?"

"Oh yes, I do. It's just… I look like a Barbie doll. . ." I muttered.

"Sorry, you'll just have to deal with it."

"I never said that I didn't like it!"

"Well it wouldn't matter whether or not you liked it or not. Aro is putting you out for show tonight; the Volturi's newest and probably the most deadly member to date, equal to the witch twins."

"Who are the witch twins?"

"The witch twins are Alec and Jane, you silly child."

"Oh…" I sighed.

I had some small hint as to why they were called the witch twins; Alec and I had long talks about our pasts late at night when I couldn't sleep. He asked me questions about my life up until now, and I his. But his was very brief and had elusive answers though he was so much older than me. When I pestered him playfully about it he would pull me into his arms and tickle my sides and say that he was more interested in my life because he couldn't imagine living off of "Those things that you call hamburgers." Always the one to distract and I let him get away with it. There was a knock at the door and Jane entered, dressed in a pitch black satin gown that fitted over her every curve in a tantalizing way. Heidi's doing I'm sure.

"It's time. We have guests in the reception room already." Jane announced in a rather bored tone, eyeing my state of dress.

"Alright," I stood up from the dresser. "I'm ready."

Solemnly I followed Jane out of my room, Heidi trailing behind us. I was relieved that Heidi was with us because I don't think that Jane liked me very much. No, Jane didn't like me; she tolerated me because her brother loved me. We entered the grand ballroom, and my eyes widened at he beauty of it. Scarlet and gold coloring was laced throughout the hall by various means: satin, tulle and roses as well as other flowers. Vases filled to the brim with blood red rose petals struck a memory chord of the dream that I had just a week earlier.

"My love," a cold hand reached up and stroked my face. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes Alec." I took his hand in mine and I could feel Jane gagging in the background. "Just the memory of a bad dream."

"It's alright. It's time for the guests to start arriving. Let's get over by the thrones so you can greet other vampires."

"Wouldn't it be easier if I was already a vampire? I could remember better."

"No, we have a few humans attending tonight."

"Why would you have humans in a hall full of vampires? That's stupid."

"Come on then." Alec pulled me over to the thrones and lifted me up onto the little stage. "You look absolutely beautiful by the way." He kissed me softly.

"Well!" Aro clapped his hands together with a smile plastered on his face that would do better on a Barbie, followed by Caius and Marcus. "I see you two are doing perfectly wonderful!"

"My Lords." We all bowed.

"You look stunning my dear Sirène."

"Thank you my lord."

"Let the fun begin!" Aro announced with the flourish of his hand.

The doors opened and slowly, one by one, vampires of all sorts began to file in. Most were in pairs, with their mates, others with whole clans. I did not see the Cullen's among them, and I was not surprised. I met many vampires, which many I forgot their names within minutes. Alec stood by me relaxed and happy, an arm at my side, touching me in some fashion at all times, just to stay in contact with me. The night went by like a whirl wind for me. Beautiful creatures with pale white skin and red eyes twirling and dancing the night away, and this was to be my world in a few days.

"Let us dance?" Alec asked holding out his hand in a half bow.

"Let us dance." I smiled giving him my hand.

Alec pulled me closer to him by my hand and put another around my waist. We began to whirl and get lost in the crowd, the music moving us around in a smooth rhythm. It was like a classic scene from one of those Shakespeare films, like Shakespeare in Love. I loved it, even thought the spinning was beginning to make me dizzy. Everything was okay and relaxed until around midnight, as it grew closer to my birthing.

I wasn't aware until Alec tensed next to me and I could feel the hatred rolling off of him; I looked up at him confused, and followed his line of sight to see a beautiful young vampire, a little older than Alec by at least two years. His eyes were a startling red and his hair jet black, flowing in waves down to his shoulders covered by a fedora* hat, and a lean frame that reminded me oddly of Edward. He was dressed from head to toe in white, almost like a gangster, with the fur of a white fox over his right shoulder, a pink tie around his neck, and white gloves on his hands.

The boy was followed by several others; the whole group seemed to think that they were second in command to the Volturi with the way the walked and talked. The boy's eye caught mine and I raised an eyebrow at him, sending a warning look. Alec obviously didn't like him so I wasn't going to even bother giving him the time of day. Alec took my arm and began to lead me away when a loud voice sounded out from behind us.

"Why who is this beautiful damsel that smells absolutely mouth watering?"

"William." Alec said through clenched teeth as we turned around.

"Why Alec, how have you been since your human years?"

"A lot better without you around to deal with, even when you were human with me."

"Now, now Alec, behave yourself. I'm not here for you anyway, but this beautiful young thing here."

Alec stepped in front of me so quickly that I forgot to blink. "Back off William. She's mine."

"But she hasn't even had a chance to date around yet!" William laughed, which reminded me oddly of James. I shivered. "Ah, look. The poor human is cold."

"Don't you dare." Alec shoved William's jacket that he had tried to place over my shoulders.

"I was only trying-"

"No, you weren't. She's my mate."

"Not yet she isn't." William smirked.

"Why you-"

"NO!" I grabbed Alec from behind around his chest. "Alec don't. You know that I belong to you and you only. Don't make a scene and make Aro angry."

"Ah!" William exclaimed happily. "The lady speaks!"

I could feel Alec quivering beneath me. "Please," I whispered. "For me?"

Alec stopped quivering and calmed down almost immediately. Then just as quickly he turned and left to find Aro with me in tow. I stayed closer to Alec than before, for I could feel the eyes of William's gang on me, and even William himself. As soon as Alec reached Aro he touched him. Aro froze for a moment, and then slowly nodded. A big huge smile grew across Alec's face and briefly I thought of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. Alec then found Felix and Demetri, and together we left the ball. It was time for my birthing.

The two buffoons stayed at both ends of the hall that housed Alec and mine's rooms. Alec opened the door to the two rooms, choosing our room that we shared in the middle, closing and locking both doors on either side tight. 'What the hell is he doing that for?' I wondered, but dismissed it immediately as Alec laid me on the bed and began to kiss me soft and slow, his hands massaging my neck. I moaned against his lips and he pulled away.

"Are you ready?"

I nodded slowly, and he gently turned my head to reveal my neck. I saw his eyes darken and the internal struggle that he suffered begin again. He leaned in, paused for a split second, and then bit deeply into my neck. The venom took effect immediately, beginning like the warmth of a hot summer's day and then changed drastically into the feeling of being burned at the stake. I gasped for air, the pain escalating rapidly with such intensity that already I was ready to scream. But I held back, tears streaming down my face, because I knew that I was stronger than this. I thought of Bella, and finally I got as used to the pain as I could and tried to focus on Alec next to me, holding my hand. Finally I came to my senses and like my sister Bella, I began to count.

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