Chapter Six

"If there were any chance we could win..." - Alice - NM - Pg. 426

"Bella. Bella, wake."

Hazily, she cracked open an eye, seeing Alec above her. She rubbed away the rest of her sleep and sat up. "Is it morning?"

"No, it's two-twenty-seven. Bella, we're leaving."

"What?" Was she still dreaming?

"You don't want to be one of the guard, do you?"

"If it means I can be with you..."

"That's what I feared. Bella, I want you happy, and being here will not make you so." He laid a cloak identical to his over her lap. "Please, dress in that. Hurry, we don't have much time."

She started pulling the garment over her head. "Where are we going?"

"South of the gate. Alice is waiting with a car for us."

"When did you decide this?"

"Yesterday. Witnessing the relationship you have with Carlisle. Aro saved Jane and I; I will be forever grateful, but we have lived in repayment for too many centuries. He is not my father and this is not a family."

"We can be your family."

"That's generous, but you are my sole family now." He held out his arms. "May I carry you? It will be quicker, and we will need the speed. "

She nodded and he scooped her up, carrying her out of the room.

The hallways were pitch black; she wasn't able to see anything, not even her hand in front of her face. It unnerved her greatly, and she twisted in Alec's arms, burying her face into his chest so she wouldn't have to see a vampire face flying toward her, even though she knew that her brain wouldn't register the attack before she was dead. It would be like one of those horror movies where the enemy would jump out when the audience or victims least expect it.

She tried to even her breath, but it didn't stop her heart from thundering loudly. Could vampires smell fear or was Jasper only so lucky?

However, no one came. It had to be the most uneventful escape of all time. They walked right out the door, into the streets where homeless men with straggly beards and clothing huddled in the overshadows of the buildings. They lurked through the small alleyways, under arches, and lines of clothing hung out to dry.

She gasped as she peered up at the castle-like building they left, one window lit yellow, a foreboding face staring back. Jane's face. The shadows elongated her features, making her look more like a monster, fitting the darkness inside of her dead heart perfectly.

Alec didn't stop or ask, but he knew. "My sister is not happy with me."

"Why doesn't she stop us?"

"She knows we will return. We have to, or they will always be hunting us."

"Then what's the point?"

"You will be a vampire, that law will not longer claim you or the Cullens. As for escaping, Edward and his brother Jasper will be great alliances. Both are apt fighters, nearly impossible to triumph. Even if the Volturi outnumber us, my ability should allow us time to reach safety, but I doubt we'll ever have need to escape again. I shall speak to Aro. My knowledge of him and his past endeavors will allow us a peaceful life. I will make certain of it, Isabella."

It was risky, but it could work, they could have the life they wanted. The two of them together. Whatever it was that Alec had on Aro, it had to be enough for their endless future, and that was enough for her.

South of the gate, he bent to his knees. "Climb on my back, will you? Hang on tight, I'm going to scale this wall."

She did as he asked, gripping the front of his robes. She squeezed her eyes and knees shut, but hardly felt when he landed on the other side. He was more graceful than Alice, and she hadn't ever thought that was possible.

Alec lowered again, carefully drawing her down.

A short ways ahead was a low-set silver car, Alice behind the wheel. Jasper, who had been propped against her door was opening the back one for them.

They ducked inside and in less than two seconds flat, Jasper was in the passengers seat and they were speeding down a curvy road. Alice was grinning happily looking over her shoulder at them as Bella hastily buckled herself in. If they were in a crash they would be the ones to live, not her.

"Alice, watch the road!"

She huffed. "Bella, I drove through these roads more than once, I don't need to see them."

Bella twinged uncomfortably as Alec rubbed her arm soothingly.

She smiled at him. "I'd like to thank you, Alec, for saving our sister. I don't think we could have done it. We needed someone on the inside."

"There is no thanks needed."

"If you prefer," she shrugged turning back around, much to Bella's relief.

"Where are we headed?"

"Esme restored a villa nearby, we'll be staying there. I'm sorry, Bella, but you will have to be changed here. The Volturi will look for you in Forks, and don't fret, Esme and Rosalie are looking after your father."

Jasper chuckled. "She doesn't mind, Alice."

She blushed. Her spirits had risen greatly, knowing that very soon she would be like them. She could begin her life with Alec, and none of them would have to defend her anymore. She could help.

"You look tired," Alice assessed in the review mirror.

Suddenly, she felt heavy, lethargic, and she glared at the back of Jasper's blond head. "Not fair, Jasper," she moaned.

"Not so much, Jazz," she chastised gently.

Alec gathered her in his lap, brushing her hair back. "Sleep, mi amor. We'll be home quickly."

"Sure, sure. We'll be there any minute with Alice's driving," she responded, her words garbled together. "The Cullens and their driving..."

The hours felt like minutes. The car came to a stop, the quiet engine shutting off.

The villa sat on top of a grassy hill, vines climbing up on its gray sides. Bella wished she could have been awake enough to fully appreciate it, but Jasper did not let up. She remembered hearing Alec's request to keep her out of consciousness in hopes that she would suffer less pain of the bite. It seemed a little silly, from what she heard the bite would be the easiest to endure. The hardest for him, but if he lost control, she would never know. What a comfort that was.

"Jasper, amico, may I borrow your jacket? She's shivering."

That must have been that strange chattering sound, it was her teeth. She tried to open her eyes, tell him that it wasn't necessary, but they weren't working right. She felt heavy, as though her skin was filled with lead.

There was rustling, and then Alec was wrapping wool around her. It was cold, but soon whatever was left of her body heat was warming it up.

She was carried inside to a room, to a bed. Jasper must have been further away because she was more coherent. She could see Alec's angelic face. The last she would ever see with her human eyes, and it was perfect.

He pressed his lips to her throat, kissing once. "La nostra vita comincia con questo ultimo respiro." Alec then sunk his teeth into Bella.

"Welcome to our existence, my Isabella."

A/N: Thank you to each of my readers. You all are a blessing, and I hope you enjoyed this story.

The translation for Alec's words before changing Bella was: "Our lives begin with this last breath."