Alistair was incredibly reluctant to leave Bella for her 'last night of freedom.' He was so close to having her turned and immortal that he found himself becoming increasingly anxious about her well-being. The prospect of her being more durable and unbreakable was also very appealing to him. He couldn't wait for the time they could spend days on end simply lost in each other, when he wouldn't have to be careful and when they wouldn't need to stop. Her current need to eat, sleep and use the bathroom was certainly cramping his style.
He had taken to stalking her every move over the last few weeks. His anxiety levels were through the roof. It was probably because she had been so stressed as well. He knew that his Iseabail found his constant presence annoying although she tried hard to hide it. They were both essentially private people who liked their own company so he could understand her request for a little privacy to say her goodbyes. She had a lot of memories there and she wasn't just saying goodbye to her college life but her human one. It was a difficult time for her. He knew the private night out was what she needed so he had to try and make the best of it but he couldn't help being worried.
Alistair was just so eager to get her away from there and into Volterra. She would be safe there. They would all watch over her and make sure she was safe. He knew she was still determined to feed from animals so changing her there would probably not work, but if he could get some help to look after her during the change and after there was no better place to get it in his opinion. He had no doubt at all that they would be more than happy to help. Felix would certainly help and Alex would be useful. Alistair was sure that he would not even need to ask.
After hunting he wandered around. He didn't want to go back early having had promised Bella time. His thoughts wandered to his memories of Volterra, his early life as a vampire. It was a pleasant distraction that made him smile. The first time he had met the Volturi was indeed an interesting experience. Felix had presented him to the rulers, Aro, Caius and Marcus. Aro had been like an excited child with a new toy. Felix had explained his gift so Alistair was a little reluctant to have Aro touch him. Aro was thrilled to have such an accomplished warrior amongst his ranks. Alistair had been a fierce soldier while alive. Felix had trained him in the arts of vampire warfare so that by the time he reached Volterra he was a lethal vampire killer. Caius had been keen to test his skill and they soon became firm friends. Alistair enjoyed sparring and soon gained the reputation within the castle of being one of the best fighters if not the best in the Volturi. This was both a good and bad thing. There was always some little shit wanting to try his luck. But more often than not he was admired and didn't have to prove his reputation was well deserved. Alistair himself didn't want glory or fame. He wanted to be anonymous.
The time he spent with the Volturi was invaluable. He very soon became a valued and respected member of the guard. In battle Alistair showed no mercy, he felt no compassion. When he went on missions with the others he did as he was told, stood behind and watched. He was usually overlooked as just another foot soldier. But what the enemies failed to realise was that he was the 'action man,' he was the main antagonist, the one they should be wary of. While Jane and Alex would put the fear of god into their opponents it was Alistair that did the killing, very few survived an encounter with him. He enjoyed his work. He liked to feel that he was doing something worthwhile. It took his attention and thoughts away from what was going on back home, especially at first. He had managed to keep abreast of the news from Scotland and on more than one occasion he had had to be restrained, then held by Alex to stop him from charging head first to England to kill King Edward.
Alistair spent the next couple of centuries fighting, learning and fucking. He was given un-restricted access to the archives and made the most of it. He found he loved to learn. Along with many others he kept abreast of innovations and leaps forward in science, literature, medicine and art. He discovered a love of music and books, he spent many an enjoyable hour playing or reading. He hadn't shown Bella that he could play yet. He was waiting till they got to Volterra to impress her. Besides he knew how Edward had always loved to show off. Alistair didn't want to come across like him.
The women in Volterra had been very accommodating, they were beautiful of course, intelligent and accomplished. He found he preferred independent women who didn't cling or hang on his every word but that stood up to him. Fortunately the majority of Volturi women were strong, independent characters who were happy to spend time with him, which meant he had an immensely enjoyable time whilst there. Eventually though he got itchy feet and felt it was time to move on. They tried to talk him into staying and assured him he could go back at any time. He knew that he would remain loyal to the Volturi and be there should they need him.
Whilst there he had discovered his gift. It allowed him to know where he needed to be. He just needed to think about a specific person and he was drawn to where they were, but it had its limitations. It had to be someone he had met. As he had travelled the world he had on occasion felt a pull to a certain place and would make his way there as quickly as possible, only to arrive and have Felix or one of the other guards say.
"You're late. We have been waiting days. We need you to deal with them." And then be pointed in a specific direction. He found it amusing that he knew where he had to be. It was also reassuring to him to know that he was able to be there to help his friends. As time passed and he grew more attuned to his gift he would arrive at the same time, and once he beat Felix there. Alistair had very much enjoyed being able to tell Felix he had been waiting.
Alistair began to rely on his gift, he let it guide him around the world, taking him from place to place seamlessly. He learned that as he was travelling, seeing the wonders of the world. However as time went on he began to wonder why he kept being pulled away from other vampires. He could often tell they were near when he started to get the feeling he needed to move. On odd occasions he would ignore the pull and meet the vampire nearby. More often than not it would end in a fight and a death so he started to use his gift to steer him away from other vampires. It wasn't that he was jaded or sick of battle, he just enjoyed his own company and didn't want to be drawn into the problems of others.
He always knew when Felix needed him, and once he came along he knew when Garrett needed him as well. He had found Garrett bleeding out on a battle field in America. Alistair had been travelling around the 'New World' when the war of independence had broken out. Feeling a kinship to the Americans he decided to stick around and feast on a few English, having never really gotten over his distaste for them. Something drew him to the dying man, he was defiant and brave, reminded Alistair of himself and his own death. He decided it would be fun to have a companion for a while although he had never attempted to turn anyone he decided to give it a go. When Garrett woke three days later Alistair had three English soldiers tied to a tree. The way Garrett fell on them made him smile.
They became close, like brothers. And just like Felix had done with him, he had taken Garrett to Volterra. Garrett had immediately formed a close bond with Felix as well. It had been amazing fun. The three of them had spent all their time chasing fights, girls and life in general. They had an irreverent attitude that, whilst it infuriated Aro in particular, it also made him smile a lot. They had never let go of the human "Joie de vivre." They lived life, loved it and fought for it. That was what made Aro and Caius love them so much. They were the ultimate warriors. When they three were together they were unbeatable and had no need for back up gifts. They fought as they lived. Fiercely. Occasionally Marcus would join their escapades. Being the sire of Felix he felt an innate kinship to the trio. While no one in the outside world knew exactly who they were, the deeds that had built around them was the stuff of legend.
Garrett loved Volterra as much as Alistair did but like his sire he felt he couldn't stay there. Not that he wasn't welcome, he just that he felt the need to wander and the need to go home. He was a nomad. Aro and Caius accepted that easily, only asking that he be available when needed. For Marcus it was harder to let them go again. He had only ever turned one vampire, and as a result the bond between them was more that of family, of brothers than that of most vampires.
The years that Alistair had spent away from the Volturi after leaving Garrett were hard for him. He was lonely and that made him jaded and bitter. He knew his loneliness was his own choice but it didn't improve his mood. He didn't want to admit he was wrong and go back. Alistair didn't want a friend or companion, deep down he wanted a mate. He would never admit it, even to himself but he wanted forever with someone.
A few years after leaving Volterra he had had a run in with a very powerful coven whilst passing through their claimed territory. They tried to force him into joining them, they threatened and cajoled, even offered him a mate, but had found to their cost that it was not a sound idea. They had no way to force him. He killed all but two of the coven and proved in his own mind that he cared for nothing and no-one. They had nothing to hold over him.
Eventually, as time passed. The vampires he did meet, that didn't try to kill him, they thought him strange, antisocial, a coward. He just wanted to be left alone. Other vampires couldn't understand his reluctance to join a coven, or to take a side. He never explained his loyalty to the Volturi.
He had met Carlisle not long after he and Garrett left Volterra the last time. Carlisle was very anti-Volturi, but would never say why. He had strange ideas about resisting your instincts and practicing self-control. Carlisle felt that a vampires instinct, particularly the ones towards mates were a vampire's greatest weakness. He kept himself in check in all things. While they could admire his determination to help humans by practicing medicine and even applaud his idea of feeding from animals they both thought him something of an oddity. Both Alistair and Garrett felt that Carlisle was not something they needed to worry about, but they decided to keep an eye on him. Forging a friendship which was an illusion yet Carlisle was never any the wiser allowed them to watch his activities from a discreet distance. When Carlisle expanded his coven they would visit. They didn't think very highly of his 'family'. Edward came across as an arrogant prick. His mind reading ability led him to think himself superior and always right. Esme was a shadow, who appeared to have no will of her own. Alistair felt she had been forced into her current situation. Rosalie came across as nasty and spoilt. She felt that she should be denied nothing by virtue of her beauty and Emmett cared only for what made her happy. As for Alice and Jasper, Alistair had never met them. Garrett knew Jasper had a vicious reputation and Alice was a seer but was easy to get around. Both annoyed Garrett immensely so Alistair decided to keep away.
As time passed he retreated further into himself. To the majority of vampires Alistair came across as a coward. He had no desire to get caught up in the petty amateur dramatics of a few rudderless covens. So he became a non-entity, a ghost. He disappeared and never really re-surfaced. For Alistair it was very difficult. He switched himself off from all contact. He became a wraith. He lost himself. It was only the brief contact he had with Felix and Garrett that kept him from giving up completely. Felix was trying to convince him to return to Volterra for good.
So when he met Bella he was different. He had become jaded and cynical. Having always been private and wary of trusting any but his closest friends, he could not understand the sudden compulsion to "spill his guts" to then human female that was currently taking his attention. The realisation that she was his had been hard for him to accept. While he was happy he was no longer alone, at first he didn't feel comfortable having someone else to look after. But they had worked through it and now Alistair was certain his Iseabail would be the best thing to happen to him.
It was with these thoughts in his head he made his way back to her. About an hour away he started to feel anxious. He put it down to her nerves about being turned but soon dismissed that idea as the feeling became more intense. When it morphed into terror he sped up to a fantastic speed not caring if he was seen or not. Bella was in trouble.
Reaching the outside of the flat he listened carefully. She was not there, no one was. Where was she? Did someone have her? Was she hurt, afraid? He was frantically searching with his gift. Where was he being pulled? Then he got it a definite pull. He followed it quickly. Checking his phone he saw he had a missed call from Bella but no message. The call had stopped before the voicemail could kick in? Why? Following his invisible guide he felt he was getting closer. Arriving at a small airport he was just in time to see a jet take off. He could feel himself drawn toward it. His Iseabail was on that plane and there was nothing he could do about it at the moment.
His eyes darkened with fury. If she was on a plane then she was safe enough for the time being. Whoever had her wanted her alive. He knew she was alive he could feel it, but he was terrified of what they were going to do to her. He knew he would do anything to keep her safe.
Turning back the way he had come he headed back to the flat. On the way he called Felix.
"A jet just flew out of Teeside airport. It had Bella on it. Find out where it has gone please and if possible who chartered it. I need a flight to wherever she has gone and I may need a little help getting her back."
"I am on it. I will come and meet you there. I'll call when I have more information. Don't worry we'll get her back." Felix was confident. Bella would not be gone more than a few days. Whoever had taken her would die.
Walking toward the front door of the flat he felt an ache deep inside. She wasn't here waiting for him. Her scent hung in the air outside, it was mixed with the heavy smell of bleach and the other cleaning products she had been obsessively using over the past days. Her scent was hidden but he would know it anywhere.
His phone rang, it was Felix again.
"She has been taken to America. The flight plan is for Helena, Montana. I will be with you in a couple of hours then we will set off for there. Marcus is coming too. Don't worry I promise you, we will get her back."
Alistair knew they would.
"Don't worry Iseabail you will be in my arms soon." He whispered as he opened the door and looked around the flat. He was assaulted by the scent of her blood which hung thickly in the air. There were stains on the wall and floor. It was relatively fresh. A trail lead into the bathroom, the smell of vomit hung in the air as well. He growled viciously at the sight of her smashed phone in the bath and the ring he had given her in the floor. Looking at the wall in the front room he could see where she had been injured. Fury overtook him as his eyes turned completely black. They had taken on the look of a shark, pitch flat black and deadly. There was no white visible at all. He looked like a devil, a demon and snarled a blood curdling snarl as he tested the air. Whoever had hurt his mate was dead, he just needed to know who he had to kill. Taking a deep breath he caught the scent he was looking for. A chillingly evil smile crossed his face.
Cullen.