Her golden brown skin seemed to shine underneath the thick red comforter. Alec's hand pushed her long Raven black hair away from her face, as another gently caressed the back of her hand. He found her unbelievably beautiful, and he handled her with the upmost care. A delicate smile arched his lips, as he heard her heartbeat drum in his ears.

"How could I have ever lived without you?" His murmur went unheard by anything living, simply becoming lost to the wind and himself.

It was rather late one night, when Eleazer visited her as per usual. And despite himself he couldn't help but wonder what a girl like her was doing in Italy by herself, and it was late that night when she finally confessed to why she was so desperate to return home.

"I got accepted to a college I didn't think I would be able to attend." She admitted. "I got a full scholarship into a really rigorous medical program, this trip-"

"It was your graduation gift." Eleazer said breathlessly, and all of a sudden it came crashing down on him. The girl before him had attained her dream, only to have it snatched away from her. She merely nodded, a small smile creasing her face.

"My Dad thought it would be a nice experience, he thought it might be one of my last chances to see the world, I left with a group of friends." A pregnant pause filled the room as she fought to hold tears back, her eyes glassy. "We weren't even supposed to stop here, we were just passing through, and I went out to stretch my legs. I never thought- I should have- I wish I had known better." If vampires could cry, Eleazer surely would have. But instead, he placed on apologetic hand on her head, as they mourned for what she had lost.

He was sure his fellow coven members were aware of his relationship with his beloved. Her scent surely covered him when he left for morning duty, and it didn't help that she was so outwardly friendly towards him in front of the others. And yet he didn't care. Her lips met his in a fervent passion. He had once again resorted to feeding more then necessary so he wouldn't lose control. But now, he felt he was losing control in an entirely new sense. A hand creeped up to cradle her face, while an arm snaked around her waist, a flat palm gently pressing on the small of her back and bring in her even closer.

"Alec..." The soft whisper left her lips, illicited a soft growl from him. His lips were cold, and his body even colder. Every time his lips met hers, it was as if her sadness had disappeared, even if only for a moment. When his cold hand laced through hers, it seemed to offer a moment of relief from the bleak world about her. And when his cold body pressed against hers, she was numbed of her loss.

"You're so beautiful." His own murmur came out from pressed lips, in an attempt to regain what little control he had, he pulled out of his daze just long enough to gently push her onto the piano bench. His arms leaving her body and resting on the closed piano as his lips continued their fervent attack. Her scent drove him wild in more ways then one, and he found the violent need protect her, make sure he wouldn't crush her as he become lost in his passion. "My sweet little lamb." He murmured once more, but his murmur had fallen to deaf ears. As she was overcome with his affection, and that was enough, if only for the moment.

Eleazer stood before Aro, his humble nature allowed him only so much restraint. He heard Aro's words fly through one ear, and out the other. They were a mere buzz in the sea of thoughts he seemed to have at the moment. As deep within him there was a moral conflict. He only wished for her happiness, he wished for her to have everything she desired. But as the days ticked away he became aware that this would never happen as long as she stayed here. Yet he had a moral obligation to tell the truth, and if he were to be caught, he would not leave this castle alive. So when Aro turned to him, and spoke the words he had spent so much time steeling himself against.

"So what do you think of the girl?" It came out casual enough, but Eleazer knew the deep implication behind those words. He looked up into deep blood red eyes, and for the first time in his entire life: He lied to Aro.

"She possess no extraordinary ability."

None of it had ever been his intention.

If he had known it would lead here.

They were going to take her away from him, they were going to kill her. Aro had found no need for her, and it was decided that she would be disposed of accourdingly. Eleazer's eyes went wide at the realization of what they would do. He had hoped they would set her free, but the volturi had never been particularly kind. This was, as Aro put it, the only way to protect their secret.

The cruelest thing was, that the verdict had been decided before the victim herself. She was to be immiedietly executed.

Alec saw red, he had to protect her, he had to save her, he had to save her life.

And there was only one way he knew how.

He was so caught up in his emotions, he hardly realized what he was doing, before he knew it he was beside her. His teeth dug into her flesh, and his venom slowly pushed its way into her bloodstream. She screamed and he felt Someone push him away, his teeth running along the smooth skin of her neck. Small beads of blood rippling to the surface.

Eleazer kneeled before her, her brown eyes were practically black as they attempted to focus on the man in front of her.

"It doesn't hurt." She mumbled, earning only a soft smile from Eleazer. She was numb, and warm. Everything around her seemed to grow much softer. If she ventured to look she would see Alec's face, frozen in shock at what he had done, and the commotion that seemed to ensure about him. Jane tugged on his arm, while Demetrie checked his face, and Aro shouted.

But Eleazer paid no mind to the ensuing chaos, instead he stripped off his coat and set it atop of her. One arm pressed under her shoulders, while the other under her knees as he hoisted her up with ease.

"No the pain comes much later."