AN:

I know it's short, but I hope you enjoy anyway

Chapter 14: Can you protect me - Nasri

"It's time" Felix said solemnly from the door. Demitri stood beside him with an equally serious expression. Heidi hadn't even been here today like usually – instead she had simply left a fresh pair of clothes for me to wear today. I hadn't done much other than get dressed and be too nervous to eat the breakfast Alec had fetched me, but I had forced myself to eat some for his sake. I didn't want him to fetch my food unnecessarily and the new cook had obviously outdone himself as he had not only made scrambled eggs with bacon and freshly pressed orange juice, but also a pile of blueberry pancakes with the whipped cream and maple syrup. I had barely tasted it as I ate, but I still managed to stuff down almost half of it.

Alec and Beth had kept me company up 'till now, for once not fighting even once. Beth had been disturbingly quiet and nice. Alec had stayed close to me the entire time, he kept finding excuses to touch me – that be holding my hand, brushing my hair away from my face or resting his hand on my knee – but I didn't mind. It seemed to help with my anxiousness, if only a little.

"Coming" I jumped to my feet, pulling Alec with me as he had been holding my hand. His grip tightened ever so slightly and I offered him a reassuring smile. This entire thing seemed to cause him a greater deal of worry than it did to me – which was almost funny as it was me who was going to get turned, but I was touched by his concern nonetheless.

I skidded to where Felix and Demitri stood, still pulling Alec after me. All day he had seemed as though we were going to a funeral when in reality it was more like a… a birthday – if you thought about it. Beth followed suit in a silence that was so unlike her usual self. I snaked my free hand into hers, trying to comfort her. She rolled her eyes with a shadow of a smirk, but as I went to let go of her hand, she tightened her grip and I let it be.

"Can I walk by myself or are we going to be late then?" I knew I sounded like a little child, but I didn't care. I wanted to walk there on my own two feet. I couldn't quite explain why that was so important to me, but it just seemed so vital that I walked on my own and not got carried like usually.

"You're the main event. Of course, we won't be late" Felix offered me a small smile, but it seemed so awfully sad. I felt Alec stiffen behind me and looked up into his sad eyes. I needed to make him lighten up and not just for him. I needed the normal Alec back if I shouldn't break down and regret this. I needed him to lean on though I knew how selfish that was of me. I didn't understand why everyone seemed so sad. This was what needed to be done and I thought everyone had looked forward to this.

"Alec, do you think an eternity will be enough?" I asked as it was the first thing that came to mind. He looked at me with confusion.

"Enough for what?" he asked taken aback by my sudden question and I smiled before standing on my toes. I planted the tiniest of kisses in the corner of his mouth and blushed as I pulled back. I was all too aware of our little audience, but didn't care if they saw. Alec was all that mattered to me. And right now he was smiling brightly at me, giving me the strength and reassurance I needed.

"It would never be enough" he whispered back.

"I'm gonna be sick" Beth said as she let go of my hand only to dramatically clutch her stomach. Well, I guess Alec wasn't the only one back to normal then.

"You can't. It's physically impossible, darling" Demitri smirked and casually put an arm around her shoulders.

"Well, at least not everything is physically impossible for me, darling" she winked back and Felix boomed at Demitri's initially shock-stricken expression. Those two might have spent a lot of time together, but Demitri was far from used to Beth's humor and nature. Who could blame him? I hadn't gotten used to it yet and I had been best friends with her for years!

Our spirit was lifted as we reached the room in which I was going to become an immortal. Aro, Marcus, Heidi, Jane, Tom, Chelsea and Afton were assembled in front of the doors, patiently – more or less – waiting for us. Jane seemed annoyed, but Tom only needed to kiss her hand or cheek in order to make her relax again. An elegant, vintage diamond ring adorned her delicate finger and reflected the light in rainbow-like colors when it fell on the stone.

Caius was nowhere to be seen, but I hadn't really expected him to come. Truly, I hadn't even expected anyone other than Alec to come, but maybe they did small assemblies to everyone who was to be turned, though I doubted it, as Alec had told me the Volturi usually turned people right away if they were of age.

I was starting to get rather nervous again and my heart started pounding. Alec squeezed my hand reassuringly, though I knew he shared my nervousness. Demitri had told me, Alec had never turned anyone himself before and I wasn't quite sure how that should make me feel.

"Are you ready, dear?" Aro asked without expecting an answer, but I still offered him a shaky smile. Felix opened the door and I went inside with Alec in tow. I looked around nervously. This was where I was going to die. It was so weird. The room seemed like any other room in the castle: dark colours and exquisite furniture and decorations. I turned to look at the others who had followed into the room where I was going to be born anew. The thought seemed almost more frightening than the thought of my own death.

"Can we be alone?" Alec asked not taking his eyes off me and I silently thanked him. He had let go of my hand when we had come inside and now stood a few paces from me. The small distance between us felt like an overwhelming divide and I almost couldn't bare it. I wanted to hold his hand again, but I didn't dare move, afraid I might run instead.

"Of course" Aro said and left the room with his silent entourage, though my friends lingered. Heidi and Felix gave me reassuring smiles, while Demitri sent me thumbs up that made me giggle slightly. Beth stomped over and all but pulled me into an embrace, which told me more than anything how worried she truly was. Beth wasn't one for open show of affection. Sure, she could goof around, but she disliked talking seriously about feelings and that took show of affection completely off the table. I barely even had time to recover and return the hug before she pulled back with a solemn look in her eyes.

"See you on the other side, Noel" she said before walking gracefully out of the room, leaving me stunned. She never called me by my name; it was always some nickname.

Soon though, Alec and I were all alone. He didn't move the slightest and I didn't dare to either. I wasn't sure, how we were going to do this and I felt awkward, but my nervousness completely overshadowed that, as it had grown into outright fright. I felt as though I had to say something, at least just in order for something to happen before my nerves snapped and I gave in to my primal instincts that told me to flee.

"I know it's selfish of me to say this, when so many others wasn't given the chance to choose for themselves, but… even though an eternity seems like an overwhelming long time, I'm not ready to die yet either. There's so much I still want to do and see. Death is simply an adventure I'm not quite ready to go on" I said in a sad whisper, almost afraid of uttering the words. There was no turning back now and I had to make sure he knew I chose this because I wanted to and not because everyone else wanted me to.

"I know you're afraid of facing an eternity, but I swear, I'll be there every second of it. Moreover, if you actually were to change your mind and choose death over immortality, I don't think I would be able to let you. I've become far too attached to let go of you now" he said solemnly, still not moving from his spot a few feet away, though I could see he wanted to. What kept him from coming closer? Was he as scared as I was?

"Alec, I'm scared" I whispered almost not daring admit it and he instantly closed the space between us by enveloping me in a heartwarming hug. I clung to him and hid my face in the crook of his neck. This felt much better than the cold distance.

"Don't be. It will be over before you know it" he whispered back as if raising our voices would ruin something. I knew he was right, and the pain of being turned scared me, but that wasn't what had kept me awake all night. I was scared beyond belief that I would lose myself.

"You know, it's funny: I've never felt anything but your warmth, even though vampires are supposed to be cold as…" I started in a quiet voice, but before I had time to finish, he stole my words by gently locking his lips with mine. I was momentarily stunned, but then I found myself responding to it. The kiss was slow as if it was the last kiss we were going to get and he wanted to drag it out as long as possible, not that I could ever mind. I had never kissed anyone like this before, but it seemed as though my lips knew exactly how to respond to his. I had to grip the front of his shirt – just needing to hold on to something. The kiss spoke of deep longing and desire that instantly ignited something that always smoldered within me when he was near. This. This was what I had been searching for all this time. It seemed so stupid that I hadn't realized it before. I truly was ignorant.

He pulled back with a slightly worried expression, as if he was afraid of how I might react. I resisted the urge to lick my lips as my heart pounded for an entirely different reason than before.

"Son of a beehive" I couldn't help but breathe out. I instantly blushed as I realized what I just said. He cocked an eyebrow with an amused smile.

"Well, you know… I mean… I just realized that… I have been having these weird feelings and I feel stupid for not…it just… please stop me now" I blushed even deeper as I started to ramble. Gosh, I wasn't any good at this. Why was it so hard to finish one stupid sentence?! My entire body felt light and hummed with static energy.

Alec chuckled and gave me a quick peck on the lips. I looked him in the eyes, just wanting to get lost in those red orbs of his. We would have time to talk later. For now, that kiss had spoken volumes and that was all I needed for the time being. Words could wait.

"I think… I'm ready now, Alec" I said a bit shakily and his face grew serious. He didn't need to say anything. Everything that needed to be said had already been spoken. Everything else could wait. He slowly leaned in and my breath hitched as I realized he didn't go for my neck. He kissed me hard on the lips, almost desperately and I whimpered as I returned it with equal fever. I felt my knees go weak, but his arms were preventing me from falling. He left my lips and slowly trailed kisses down my jawline towards my neck. I hadn't thought it possible, but my heartbeat quickened even further and I knew what was coming. I trembled slightly and he trailed soothing circles on my back until he reached my shoulders. Somewhere between the kisses, I had realized why Aro had asked Alec to do this instead of just turning me himself. Aro had known all along that not only would I rather want Alec to be the one to do it – though I hadn't known myself before now – but the most important reason was that I was Alec's. I belonged to him in a way I couldn't belong to anyone else, and he to me. It was what I had been trying to figure out all these months and had realized after our first kiss.

He gently placed his left hand on the back of my neck and the other by my waist. He delicately kissed my neck before opening his mouth. I could feel his teeth grace the pale, soft skin just above my rapid pulse as he hesitated for just a moment.

And then he bit me.