Chapter eleven: My flower.
I sidestepped around the dancing floor, desperately looking for my Juliet in red. No matter where I searched, I couldn't find her. I did manage to find Rosalie and her ape of a husband, Carlisle and his wife, so on and so forth. The only odd thing was Isabella sitting at a table on her own. Well, not so much on her own. She did have some other immortals around her, conducting in small talk; but no one from her coven. Which could only mean one thing, right?
Renesmee must be dancing with her father. I turned to look at the dance floor once again. Why had Aro invited the whole vampire population, plus some?! This place was packed. To the point I could hardly make out anyone dancing in the large open space that was now the dance floor. Natalia was still on her feet, with the same nomad who had whisked her away at the beginning. Perhaps she did stand a chance at being an immortal after all, just not a Volturi member. She may have found someone interested enough to turn her to be their mate. Maybe she would get to live, in a sense, after all.
I could just make out Jane and Demetri once or twice, twirling around as if they owned the dance floor. In all honesty, they did look as though they should own it. Elegance and grace were apex's which they both held naturally, so dancing... It only amplified it.
The tune they were currently dancing too was, from what I could make out, Johann Strauss II's 'Voices of Spring Waltz.' It had always been one Aro requested. Probably due to the upbeat, quick modes which caused the dance to move swiftly and freely along the floor. Making them move as one in a clockwise fashion. And then there was that soft part, which slowed it right down; causing each and every dancer to give their female companions a twirl - and as if on cue, each and every dancer did - only to swiftly take off again with the rise of tempo.
Anyone who enjoyed watching dancing would find this well coordinated group of dancers amazing. Even I, standing back and watching, found it something interesting to watch. And that was saying something; as I rarely took interest in anything.
A flare of red caught my eyes, as did ringlets and a shining Volturi necklace twirling around within the center of the group. Renesmee.
As I predicted, she was dancing with Edward. Smiling and laughing, and surprisingly, he was too. My, my. Even the forever brooding Cullen telepath was enjoying himself. I wondered if that smile would last if I came in and interrupted? We'd find out. Even without my approval, my feet had began to move forward as the tempo rose. It was very, very close to the end; causing all dancers to practically twirl around in circles quicker than ever. No doubt and human's dancing here would find it hard to keep up, or if they were experience severe dizziness afterwards. I managed to scoot closer, dodging those twisting around and find the daughter and son as the song came to an end. Everyone came to halt, applauded the musician's and got ready for the next dance. Albeit, a few moved to sit down and recover from the last dance, or merely to make way for the others now moving to take their places.
Edward placed his hand back onto Renesmee's waist, and took her hand. They were going to dance again? Well, as much as I approved that her father should be entitled to a dance, I hadn't had one yet; and so help me god, I was going to get one.
"Mind if I cut in?" I grinned, catching Renesmee's attention instantly. She beamed a smile at me, releasing her father instantaneously. As I had expected, the look on his face fell a little. Not as much as I would have hoped, however.
He bowed his head towards me, in a mere act of trying to seem civil. Returning the gesture, I merely watched as he kissed the top of her head; and moved off into the crowd. Whether it was to go get Isabella to come dance, or to merely go sit and watch; I didn't care. What I cared about was I now had Renesmee gazing up at me with her beautiful eyes amplified behind that mask of hers.
"We match." She giggled, resting her hand out to touch my chest. Her fingers toying with the red and black embroidered waistcoat. And it wasn't until then that I noticed just how much we matched. The embroidering on my waistcoat was the exact same as to the front of her dress.
"Mm, most men and women back in the day, when attending these celebrations' would match. It's a way of showing that they are committed, and with someone."
"Back in the day," Renesmee laughed, resting her hand onto my shoulder as I stepped in closer to take her waist. "It's hard to believe you are as old as you say."
"I told you, call my grandfather." I taunted, lifting my head higher. I was well aware of the eyes now on us. People were moving out the way, allowing us to have a little room. The music hadn't started, which took me by surprise. Confusion set in about me, and caused me to look up towards Aro.
He was slowly rising off his seat, his arm moving out to take a woman in vibrant gold, with long cascading brown hair. Sulpicia. Besides her, a blonde haired woman moved to take stance beside Caius. Athenodora. They were here. Which could only mean one thing.
"Now that they have found one another," Aro announced; stealing all attention that were watching up getting ready. "Lets allow Renesmee and my son in guiding us into the waltz of the evening." He nodded his head towards the orchestra, and they began to play. Only, it wasn't the usual song that followed with this dance. It was something entirely different, and not the usual. This was the song Demetri had been talking about. The look upon Renesmee's face, and the little gasp that came out of her mouth provided it. This was her song.
I turned an eye to her, and arched an eyebrow.
"Cliff Eidelman... I heard it once when I was a child in a movie. I've loved it ever since."
"What movie?" I asked, letting her waist go and stepping back.
"Beautician and the beast." She smiled sheepishly. I gave a small chuckle, and raised my hands to start the dance.
The intro I had taught her, she had gotten better. Whether that was because she had been practicing at home, or the small lesson she had gotten from Athenodora and Sulpicia; I wasn't sure. Never the less, she moved with grace around me creating the circle. Her arms moved into the perfect arch the moment I took them and began to move around. He lifted onto her tiptoes the moment I had to lift her and do a half turn. And then came the part where I took her hand and waist, and began to waltz around. She never stopped grinning at me the whole time, and truth be told... I was smiling also. Not the sinister smile I wore when taunting pray or someone who had broken the rules, but her smile.
To my left, Aro and Sulpicia had now joined. And beside them, Caius and Marcus. Edward and Bella. Carlisle and Esme. Soon, most immortals and mortals had joined in with the dance; only leaving the center clear for Renesmee and I. In sync, each male picked up their partners, held them in the air and half turned. Setting them back down onto the floor the speed increased, as did the elegant steps. Lifting up my arm, as did all the others, I twirled Renesmee as we waltz along the dancefloor. Bringing her back in closer, and resting my hand back onto her waist. Doing a final turn, I caught Renesmee be her back and dipped her down.
She let out a laugh as the music came to a final halt. Lifting her back up as the applause came out, she moved onto her toes and kissed my lips in a gentle peck. The first kiss in front of everyone. I don't know why, because I never usually minded when Renesmee kissed me, but it did. She happily placed a sensual, gentle kiss in front of my family, in front of all the vampire population that feared and respected me. For the oddest reason, I believed that with them seeing that; they may think less of me. They may think I wasn't as dangerous, nor was vicious as they believed me to be. Of course, I didn't want Renesmee to think that. Heavens no. I would never expect her to fear me, I would never want her too. But everyone else? I wanted them to be scared. I wanted them to respect me as they did. Just because I was in love, did not mean I wouldn't kill any of these beings if it came to it.
Pulling myself away from her, her arms still slinked around my neck, I raised my head to watch the orchestra bow for what was like the hundredth time. Taking Renesmee's hand, after prying them from around my neck; I began to lead her back towards the table I had seen her mother sitting at. I merely presumed that had been the one she had chosen to sit at, and I stood correct the moment it came into view. Already sitting were her friends. Or should I say... Our friends?
"There he is!" Nathan boomed, instantly jumping out of his seat and scrambling over. Mark and Chris were quick to follow behind him. By this point, I was already pulled into one of the most irritating, awkward hugs I had ever received in my life. True, it wasn't many; but it was by far the most awkward. As soon as Nathan let me go, Chris and Mark moved in to pat my back, and pull me into one of their own type of 'man hugs' I believed they called it. Clasping my hand into a hold, and then pulling me to their chest while hitting me on the back? If I even considered doing the same to them, I'd have probably put my fist through their backs.
Renesmee by then was sitting down with Ivy, Suzannah and Shannon. The other girls were there too, but I didn't care enough to give them a glance. At least, not yet anyhow. I main concern was trying to pry these overly muscled human's from me.
"Nice eyes, man! Real spooky." Nathan chuckled. "Noticed a few people here have 'em. Is it custom or something?"
I could only shrug my shoulders. "I put on what I was told. They were part of the costume."
"Keep an ear out to see if there are any for us, yeah?" He noted, resting his elbow onto Chris's shoulder. Why, I had no idea. But he didn't seem to mind, and Nathan clearly looked as if this were a usual thing to do. I decided to ignore it, and listen in as they continued to speak at me. Literally, at me. Questions, statements, things that had occurred in my absence, everything was being spilled out all at once; and I couldn't truly focus on their words due to the fact Renesmee was sitting beside her three best friends, giggling and looking up at us with that smile on her face. God, she was beautiful; wasn't she?
"So, is that dude there your dad?" Chris jerked his chin towards the dance floor. I looked over my shoulder to find Aro and Sulpicia dancing happily. Both of them wearing a smile upon their face. It was nice seeing them like this. It rarely ever happened. In fact, it was so rare... I don't think I could ever recall a time seeing them both hand in hand smiling at one another. It was odd, very very odd, but nice.
I turned my head back to the group of humans and nodded. "It is."
"And the chick he's dancing with. That your mom?"
I felt a little pang within my chest, where my cold, dead dark heart was. As amazing as Sulpicia could be, and try as she may; she could never replace the mother I once had. The kind, warm embrace that used to welcome me home after being tormented. Sulpicia was a good woman, everything a mother should be. But she was nothing compared to the woman I had once called mother. I gave a small, almost unnoticeable nod of my head. "It is."
"Damn, she's... Well, you know." Mark laughed, shuffling his feet.
"I'm sure once they've finished their dance, she would be more than happy to give you a dance, Mark. She isn't one to turn down an offer in dancing." And I would know. One full week of dancing proved that for me.
The boys gave a chuckle at Mark's little stammer of words. What he was trying to say, I wasn't entirely sure. Whether it was 'no, I couldn't', or 'I wouldn't know how to ask' I didn't know. It seemed to amuse the others, so I just chuckled along like a freaking sheep.
The three boys moved back to the table, still talking of course, and I followed.
"Nice to see you again, Alec." Ivy grinned up at me. I returned the polite smile, and leant across the table to take her hand. Once she had placed it into mine, I pressed a gentle kiss onto her knuckles; much like the first time I had met her.
"Still a charmer, I see." She blushed, waving the hand I had kissed on her face once I had let it go.
"I aim to please." I replied with a subtle wink, taking the hand of Shannon and repeating my actions. Suzannah giggled a little the moment I took hers, and I could only imagine it was a reenactment of the first time I had kissed her hand also. My hand, and lips touched the hands of Brittany, Amber and Mercedes also; but nothing much was really said other than 'Nice to see you again' or 'Good to see you.' They were too busy talking to their dates. Especially Amber and Mercedes. The two mongrels flanking them didn't bother to even justify my presence, thankfully.
Sitting myself down beside Nathan, whom was in a deep discussion with the other boys about some football scholarship that was being thrown their way, I decided to give my attention to the four girls.
"No Jacob?" I asked, arching my eyebrow behind the mask.
"He's dancing with Leah. Somewhere in there." Renesmee pointed to the floor. I didn't bother looking, merely nodded my head.
"Where is Jane?" Renesmee then asked, turning the attention to me.
"Yeah, where is this twin sister we have yet to meet, Alec!" Ivy countered, gaining nods of approval from Suzannah and Shannon.
"She's dancing with Demetri."
"Demetri?" Renesmee frowned, her hand moving to place over her mouth. "As in Demetri, Demetri?"
I nodded my head.
"Wait, who's Demetri?"
Well, how exactly to word this properly. He wasn't my brother. God no. I would rather eat human food with a glass of animal blood than dare call him that. But I couldn't exactly tell them the truth that he was part of my coven. That would just raise more questions.
"Distant relative to one of my uncle's." I decided to go with, turning my head to look at Marcus, sitting within his throne and talking to some nomad. Wait... That was no nomad. He was talking to Eleazar Denali. The Denali's were here? Well, that was surprising. I hadn't expected them to bother turning up, seeing as we had killed Irina a long time ago.
"So, your relative too then?" Suzannah asked once we had all turned back from looking at Marcus.
"He wishes." I replied, giving a flare of my white teeth. Ivy gave me a confused look, as did Shannon. Suzannah looked as though she was trying to figure it out within her head, so I decided I'd play on my own mind and go with something that would ease their questioning.
"Marcus' married my father's sister, my aunt Dydime. She died a long time ago, but he has still remained family. So much so that my father calls him brother. Demetri has something to do with him; but we treat him as one of us never the less."
"Oh, that makes sense." Ivy brushed off, giving a smile.
Did it? Well, that had turned out better than I had expected. Nothing more was said on the subject, and soon the conversation drifted into school and reminiscing about how I had 'owned' the history teacher in one of his classes. Never the less, the conversation was pleasant; and soon everyone had joined in. Talking about the ski trip we had endured - to which I saw Renesmee blush and look to me with a sly smile. I knew what she was remembering - and then on the play that I had watched from the shadows. The whole conversation revolved about remembering the 'good ole' days.'
And then Ivy spoke up.
"Remember when Alec fucked off?"
The conversation went quiet. But she was smiling.
"... I wouldn't really call it that. I made plans to see my sister."
"But you didn't tell Reny about it. Made her think that you weren't coming back. Honestly, she sat in that cottage for days on end doing nothing but missing you like crazy!"
"Did she now..." I smiled, turning my attention to Renesmee. Her cheeks were bright red, almost as red as her dress. "You didn't tell me it was days on end doing nothing..."
"In my defence, I didn't think you were coming back after becoming one of my closest friends." Renesmee mused, picking up a glass of pink liquid. Punch, more or less.
"Friends? Ren, you loved him and you said it!" Ivy laughed.
"I did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Reny..." Ivy gave her a daring look.
"Fine, fine. Maybe I did in some weird way..." Renesmee buckled, her face now brighter than her dress.
"Well, that was an interesting little conversation now, wasn't it?"
All heads turned to the voice coming from behind me. I didn't need to turn, for I knew that voice very well. I had grown up with that voice. I had heard that voice every day for my entire existence; and when that voice had refused to speak to me when I returned from Forks, it was the voice I longed to hear most.
"May I introduce my sister, Jane." I said, feeling the hand rest onto my shoulder as she came to stand closer to me.
"Are these the friends you made in Forks, Alec?" She asked, now forcing me to look up at her. I gave her a reassuring smile, one which secretly thanked her for playing along with this. Whatever had gotten her in a good mood, I was thankful. Perhaps it was because Aro had ordered her to do so? To play up on this happy family charade he had going on while everyone was here. Truth be told, the human's were falling for it drastically even without her help.
"Indeed, sister. This is Shannon, Ivy and Suzannah."
Each of the three girls smiled and said a gentle 'hello.'
Jane's head then turned to the boys, all gazing up at her with wide eyes behind their masks.
"Nathan, Mark, Chris and Josh." They greeted her also, and I moved on quickly. God knows the rejection any of them would feel if they even dare tried to ask Jane to dance. "In the corner there is Brittany, Amber and Mercedes. Of course, you know the others and you remember Renesmee."
Jane nodded her head to each of them, then looked directly towards Renesmee. Her eyes sinking right onto her, and from what I could see; Renesmee was sinking down in her seat, but giving her a smile while she did so.
"Of course I remember." She said, giving a squeeze of my shoulder. "Happy birthday."
"Thank you." Renesmee squeaked in reply, quickly taking the glass and sipping the liquid again. Jane looked around for a seat to take, and Nathan was very quick to give him hers. She nodded towards him in thanks, and took a seat beside me. Pulling it closer to my side.
"So that time you and I were in Seattle Alec, you hadn't bothered in telling Renesmee where you were or when you intended on returning?"
Jane was playing. She knew all of this. She knew the moment she found me in Seattle that I was still unsure if I was even going to return at all. I quirked an eyebrow up at her, and got a feeble, challenging smile in return.
"In all due respect Jane, I was far too excited in seeing you to remember where it was I was going myself."
"I do hope you apologized to the poor girl for the misery you must have inflicted." Jane countered with an even larger smile, her hand still upon my shoulder.
"You know, I don't think he did." Renesmee sat up, pointing the index finger which held her glass towards me.
"Well, the apology is long overdue." Jane stated, her head turning back to face me. "Father brought you up better than that didn't he, Alec?"
Oh, she was enjoying this way too much. I could practically see the sadistic flare of amusement dancing within her eyes. Bitch. I rolled my own, and turned them to face Renesmee.
"I apologize for running off, Renesmee. I should have said where I was going. Forgive me."
Renesmee tilted her head, taking a small sip of the punch yet again and rested it down onto the table. "We'll see."
The table moved into laughter at her response. Whether it was at me, or with me; I wasn't entirely sure. Jane was now part of this conversation now, and they were freely accepting her into it.
"So where were you when Alec was staying with Renesmee's family?" Suzannah asked once the laughter had died to a silence.
"Oh, well I was in Scandinavia with other family friends. No offence to your family, Renesmee, I just felt I would be more comfortable there with them."
"None taken." Renesmee played along, giving a smile towards my sister.
"Italy, Scandinavia... Is there anywhere your family hasn't traveled?" Ivy gushed with envy, her eyes wild with the wonder of travelling. Jane and I shared a long glance at one another, our lips pursing for the answer. Of course, we both knew what we would say anyhow. Turning our head in sync, we shook our heads.
"Our father likes to travel, and so we follow along." Jane shrugged. "Enough about us. I'd love to hear more about Alec's time with you."
"And that is my cue to leave." I said quickly, standing up from my seat. Looking to Renesmee smiling up at me, I gestured to her drink. "Would you like another."
She nodded, and smacked her lips together in an attempt of blowing me a kiss.
Shaking my head with a silly smile upon my face, I moved away from the table and around the lively dance floor.
Coming to the stand which held a never ending supply of food, punch, wines and other delectable's the human's may find entrancing, I found Demetri and Felix making idle chitchat with one another. They stopped as soon as they noticed my presence.
"Alec." Demetri greeted, causing Felix to look over his shoulder and eventually turn to face me also. I payed them no attention. Picking up a glass, and filling it with the punch Renesmee had been drinking. "Felix was just saying how well you two danced earlier." Demetri continued.
"If I cared what Felix was saying, I'd have asked Demetri." I mused.
"There is no harm in small talk, Alec." Felix scoffed, moving a hand to rest onto my shoulder.
Why the hell was everyone doing this? Touching my shoulder? Everyone within the Volturi, especially Felix, Demetri and Jane knew just how much I disliked being touched. From Jane, it didn't bother me as much, if at all. But from these morons? They knew full well how much I despised it, so why the hell were they doing it? I shrugged off his hand, and turned my head to give him a warning glare.
He put his hands up in some sarcastic way of surrender, and stepped back to beside Demetri.
I picked up the glass, and moved to return to the table. Only, Demetri stepped in my way.
"What I was saying to Felix, was I found something rather interesting."
"Demetri," I sighed, bored of this little encounter already. "Do I look like I wish to exchange words with you?"
"No," He spoke, and I moved to step around him; only he sidestepped into my way yet again, "But you might be after you hear what I have to say next."
"Will it move you out the way after you say it?"
"It might."
If the mask wasn't in the way, I would be pinching the bridge of my nose already. These two really did know how to wind me up, didn't they? Giving yet another deep, irritated and agitated sigh, I turned my eyes up to the male. "What is it you have to say?"
"During your sisters and my dance," that was it. I didn't want to hear of it. I quickly moved off to the side and began to walk back. It didn't stop Demetri however. He and the big goof followed. "I caught onto a scent. The one that lead us to Verona."
I froze on the spot. He found the trail? The person who had been committing all these crimes, toying with us, with me was here? Was the perpetrator an idiot or something?! Of course, Aro had sent out that all immortals should be present at this event, but I didn't think this, or these criminals were idiotic enough to even consider showing up! Especially when they knew fully that we were after them. That we intended to end their lives just for the problems, and also the torment they had brought onto us especially!
I turned on my heel to face them both, my eyes glaring right into Demetri's.
"Continue."
"I knew that would catch your interest," Demetri flashed a smile, and jerked his head for me to follow him back to their spot. The pillar next to the drinks and food. The short walk back, all three of us created a small triangle between our bodies and continued the conversation.
"It was only brief, but during the spinning; I caught it. Not long enough to pinpoint who it was, but now we know they are here. They are in this very room with us."
"How is that possible? They are dead. We killed the last one at the campsite."
"We killed one. Who says there are not more?" Felix finally spoke up.
"If that's true, then how did they get past Aro when entering? He had them all sign in with the touch of his hand, basically." I said.
"Well, I came up with a theory. This immortal clearly has a gift at hiding itself. I presume that not only can it hide it trail from us, but perhaps hide it's mind from Aro, also."
"Surely he would have picked up on not being able to see anything?"
"He didn't touch all of their hands, Alec. If they were in a coven, he touched the leaders, or head of the family or whatever they called themselves. The rest of them were either hiding behind one another, or keeping quiet. What if this person hid themselves with another coven, being practically invisible to us all."
It was beginning to make sense, in a way. Granted, I was beyond confused as to how there could be any. We had killed that boy. He had said he done it for revenge towards Aro. To us all, it had been all put into the past. We didn't care for it any longer, it was old news. Dealt with. But now, having it brought to our attention; it looked as though it was far from over.
"Does Aro know?"
Demetri shook his head. "He will once I get a moment alone with him."
"Is that best? He will demand everyone to come to a halt for him to find the criminal right now, right here... In front of the humans, and most probably kill them for being confused as to what he was doing, and then for seeing him kill the immortal. As much as I wish for this nuisance to be dead Demetri, I do not wish for it to ruin Renesmee's birthday."
Demetri's lips pursed, and his eyes flicked up to the dance floor.
"They might slip up again, and if I can concentrate enough; I may be able to pinpoint them. We just have to get out there."
I turned to look at the dance floor, my jaw clenched. How had Renesmee's birthday managed to turn into a mission? Never the less, I couldn't ignore my orders. I had to deal with this, disregarding the event. I was on duty, after all. This intruder was a danger, and I couldn't let it get any closer to Renesmee. Hell, they were in the same room as her; and it made me uneasy! I needed them dead. The sooner, the better.
"Alright. We find this person, and we lead them outside. Once we are clear, we handle this just as we were supposed too." I said, turning my head back to the males.
Demetri and Felix nodded quickly. "I'll dance with Heidi. Felix, find Renata again. We shall meet in the center within two minutes." Demetri stated, giving another nod.
We were no longer celebrating. We were working.
The three of us separated, and I walked back towards the table. Moving close to Renesmee, I leant down to whisper into her ear. As much as I loved dancing with this girl, I couldn't have her there. Not in the middle of the danger. She was safe here, with Jane and her mutts especially. Once we found this intruder, I'd have to leave her in the middle of the floor. Something I wasn't willing to do. I'd save her the embarrassment.
"Stay with Jane and your friends. I'll be back soon." I whispered.
"Why? What's wrong?"
I shook my head gently. I couldn't worry her. Not now. Not when she was grinning, and enjoying herself. "Nothing. I just have to dance with someone."
She gave a laugh, and pressed a gentle kiss onto my cheek. "Hurry back then."
"Always."
With that, I moved away from the table; ignoring them as they protested for me to sit down. Jane didn't seem to care, however. She most likely heard my whispering, and new by the tone and the mere vague response I was up to something. I wasn't sure if she knew exactly what I was up too, but she probably knew it was something.
As I walked closer to the dance floor, I cast my eyes across for anyone who was standing on their own, who may be willing. Oh, who was I kidding? No one would refuse me anyhow. And I wasn't being arrogant. No one refused a Volturi member. No one.
A gentle voice cascaded into my ear, and I knew exactly who I was going to use to get onto the dancefloor.
"You seem as lost as you were when I first spoke to you, mister." The polite, flirtatious French words echoed into my ear.
Turning my head, I let my eyes meet that of the masked woman I had spoken to earlier.
"Not anymore, ma'am. I was simply looking for you."
"Moi? Well, aren't I flattered. Tell me, why are you looking for me now that you have found me? Or more so, now that I have found you."
"That dance I owe you." I flashed a smile, holding out my hand. "May I?"
"Oh, but of course." She giggled, taking my hand instantaneously. Her grip was firm, but gentle. For some reason, it felt as though she was gripping onto my hand as if it were a dear possession. Behind her mask, I could make out her eyes dancing with inner delight. Why, I could only presume to be that she was about to dance with a dangerous Volturi member. Not many had that privilege. Especially with me. She could take all the joy she wanted from this dance. It meant nothing to me. She was merely a ploy to help me get closer to a criminal.
Leading her towards the dance floor, I could just about make out Demetri and Felix at the other side of the dance floor. Aro and Sulpicia had moved from the center, back to the thrones. It was then that I noticed the music had stopped, and were setting up to start again. Straight away, I picked up on why Demetri and Felix hadn't made a beeline for the center. They were gradually going to make their way there with the countless spins to try and keep Aro from noticing us in the middle. Surely it would look odd if we were all huddled in the middle, when usually I did everything I could to keep out of their way. Or more so, for them to keep out of mine.
I wouldn't admit it aloud, but those morons were pretty good at thinking things through... Some of the time. Instead of the usual upbeat opening to the song, it wasn't. It was a blend. A soft, yet quick tune of the blended music which caused my eyes to narrow. I knew this song, and more importantly, I knew this dance. One did not simply forget Shostakovich` Second Waltz. I would not be sticking with one partner. I'd be switching between countless.
"Oh, I love this waltz." The maiden grinned at me, giving my hand another tight squeeze. Well, if she was fine with letting me move on to different women, then so be it.
"Shall we?" I bowed my head gently, only to receive a little giggle in reply.
"We shall, monsieur."
People were now abandoning the dance, for this one could be slightly difficult. Even for those who had been dancing for years. Even I was tested every now and then when it came to this waltz, but when I had a mission on the line; I'd perfect it.
Scooting onto the dance floor somewhat more; joining the sea of a circle; I held my hands flat out in front of me. She rested her hands flat against mine. The small introduction was just that. Giving us a chance to bow - which I did - and the woman to return with a small dip.
As the introduction began to come to an end, the crowd began to move. Gentle steps. For me, it was stepping forward, for her; it was stepping backwards. After several, the tides changed and we began to switch. Then the violins kicked in, to which I twirled her around; and brought her in front of me. My hand resting onto her waist, and the other holding my hand. Eight steps forward, two steps back. Twirling her around once more to face me, her hand found my shoulder.
"You dance splendidly." She flashed a gleaming smile at me, her ruby red like eyes sparkling behind that mask of hers.
"So I've been told." I responded, giving a quick spin of our bodies as we moved around in the circle of people.
"I cannot wait to see the looks on my family's face. I am sure they are all but amazed to see I was actually able to convince you in a dance." She stated as I twisted her body around in a twirl again.
"You make it sound as though a mere dance with me is an honor, ma'am." I mused, flicking my eyes up to find where Demetri and Felix were. Once I found them, I finally noticed how close we were getting to the center of the dance. Meaning we would be switching very soon.
"Oh, but it is. Even having someone such as yourself utter a single word to us? It is more than an honor."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "You're taking us Volturi royalty a little too seriously, ma'am. And I don't say that often, if ever."
"We should worship all Volturi members, should we not? Especially the twins that bring rein and control over our world. Without you, we wouldn't be as successful as we are today."
"When you put it like that... How am I to argue?" I chuckled, taking both her hands in mine and raising them up.
"Tell me, do you ever wonder what it would be like to not be in the Volturi?"
Truthfully, I had. Countless times. Would I even know Renesmee as well as I did? I owed Aro for choosing me to stay with her, to investigate if they were safe to have living. If it wasn't for that, I would have probably never have taken the time to even meet her. I wouldn't have the love I did today. I'd still be that emotionless, dark hearted, sadistic and malicious prick I once was. I'd still be Alec of the Volturi. Not... Alec. My own person. But, I had just met this woman. So, of course I wasn't going to tell her what was really going on in my head.
"The Volturi is a great privilege to be a part of. The thought hasn't crossed my mind."
"Would it if it came down to love?" She pressed on, letting my hands go to rest on my shoulders as I lifted her up. This was getting rather personal, rather quickly, wasn't it? I mean, who did she think she was? Asking if I had any thoughts about leaving the Volturi for love? Of course I had thought about it. Hell, I had thought about it seriously. But no matter how much I loved Renesmee, no matter how badly I wanted to be with her; here is where I belonged. This was my home. This was my family. I could not leave them, especially Jane. She was all I knew. And for a long, long time; she was all I had needed in life.
"Are you stunned out of words?" She laughed as I put her back down, her hand moving to rest my neck. Mine rested on hers, our heads facing one another but our bodies going different ways to create a small circle within the large circle of dancers each doing the same thing.
"Rather a deep conversation to be having with someone you have just met. Pardon me, ma'am... But I don't even know your name."
Her eyes seemed to light up more. Her lips parting into a charming, inviting smile. I had the oddest feeling in my stomach at the sight of it. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was, though.
"I am a deep person. As we're you once upon a time, Aleczander." She said.
"I'm very sure you a- wait..." My eyes narrowed almost instantly. We were now in the center, her hands in mine as we pushed each other away, and brought ourselves closer to one another. "How did you... Who are you?"
Her smile only seemed to grow as she raised my arm to twirl under. As she turned her eyes back to mine, she pursed her lips gently. "I'm ready to run away with you now, Aleczander."
With that, she bowed her head and twirled off to the next partner. The girl which had grabbed my arm had been Natalia, so it didn't bother me much that I was not fully in with the dance. My eyes just kept on the dancing girl in white. Twirling, laughing and sending me looks as she paraded about. The music was building up. Faster, and faster as partners switched over and over. Eventually I had lost my sense of stability and merely swayed there in the middle, watching her. Watching the many faces flash by.
I'm ready to run away. And then it struck me.
"And why do you like me?"
"Because you're... You."
I rolled my eyes, a scoff given in reply and pushing another slice into my mouth.
"I'm serious. You're not like the others, Alec. Todd, Marek, Darius... They are all brutes. But you... You have a heart. And a brain."
"If I had half a brain I wouldn't still be here."
"And if I had the other half, I wouldn't either."
I sighed, flicking my thumb over the razor part of the blade. A thought hitting my mind, slowly creeping like the cold breeze which caused her to scoot closer to me. The ember of the fire beginning to flicker with the breath. I'd say there were a good few more hours left in this fire, but if this wind continued; they'd be shredded to half the time
"Then what say you and I run away."
She let out a laugh, her hand pressing to my forearm and giving a small push. "You do amuse me, Alec. Really."
"I'm not kidding. When the time is right, and I have enough copper or even gold saved up... I'll buy a boat and we'll set on for these figures. You and I..."
"And Jane?"
"If she'll come. If not, I shan't be held back for that. Jane is living her dream. She has a friend that has accepted her for who she is. It's my turn. Our turn."
She grinned, her hands falling to her knees and gripping the fabric. "You mean it?"
"I do." I paused, moving my eyes from her back to the fire. Watching as each and every flick of the flame danced with the wind; revealing my father standing with a group; looking at a table with a scroll discussing business. "It's a promise. We'll get out of here... Even if I die trying, Lily."
Lily. Lily.
Lilianna. She was here. She was the one doing this. All for me. For us, and the promise I had made a long, long time ago. My Lily. My flower.
A/N:
So I hope this makes up for the time I had left you all in suspense? Granted, I presume this will leave you in even more of a great deal of suspense, but at least you didn't have to wait long for it, huh?
I've noticed a few reviews on the little triangle going on between Jane, Seth and Demetri. Truthfully, that's what I was going for. I like to keep you guys wondering who it will be. I just hope you all aren't too disappointed when it finally comes out.
So, what are your thoughts on this chapter? Alec now knows.
Do we smell drama coming?
I hope so.
Leave a review. I love reading them all.
Any questions, please do PM me. I reply to them all.
Don't hate me too much for the cliffhanger, huh?
I love you guys.
-C.H.