It was funny, almost poetic, as she stood in front of the fireplace that roared and crackled, screaming up at her, that she too, that evening, would be burning, screaming, the venom returning to her veins, where it belonged. It would be like embracing an old friend, and she could not wait, despite how morbid it was to wish to be in extreme torment and pain for three days.

The dark grey dress with the lace overlay hung in the door to the closet, its presence ominous as it faced her. It was a beautiful dress, one she believed, with a sneaking suspicion, that Jane personally had picked. When she had questioned Alec about where the dress had appeared from, and whom had picked it, his answer had merely been a secretive smile, and she knew there and then whom had done it. It was indeed a beautiful dress, and one she would change into to be received by the kings after her transformation.

Nerves tugged in the base of her abdomen as the flames hissed up at her. The transformation, despite being something she wished for, was making her nervous.What if it didn't work?There was always that chance. There hadn't been much research on cursed blades, or their after effects, or how the individual would be affected for the rest of their life after being inflicted with one. It was a foreign subject, and it worried her immensely.

Not to mention the consummation of their mating bond;that hung in her mind at the forefront. Violence had perpetrated any and all encounters of a sexual nature she had undergone.But this is Alec, the nagging thought at the forefront of her mind reminded her, and twisting her fingers anxiously, she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth and gnawed it as she shifted from one foot to another. Out of every single soul on the earth, he would be the one who would never hurt her in such a way.

Would her gift return the same way? Would the darkness return to her? It had been non-existent since becoming human once more, there hadn't even been flickers of it within her body. It was gone. Looking down through her lashes at her knotted fingers, she twisted them anxiously again. It was worrying, to say the least.

A sharp knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts, and she turned, wiping all traces of her anxiety from her face as she moved towards the wooden door. Pulling it open, she was greeted with the gleaming smile of the hulking frame of Felix, Demetri waiting behind him, an equally charming smile upon his face. Ruffling her hair earned Felix a scowl. "Come on, you've been summoned."

Her brow quirked. "Summoned? Is everything alright?"

The leaner of the two hummed. "Everything is fine. Master Aro wishes to discuss your upcoming transformation, I believe. He's waiting for you in his office with Lady Ceres." He gestured for her to move, and a sigh slipped past her lips as she moved into the hallway, heading towards the wing of the castle where the masters resided. It was a route all too familiar to her.

Footsteps echoed behind her as she walked at a leisurely pace, and she sighed. "You know, I have walked this route many times, I don't need to be mollycoddled as I go to Master Aro's office."

Both men appeared at the side of her then, both sporting grins, and they looked at one another. "Who knows, Titch, you might've forgotten how to get there," the giant of a man to the left mused aloud, and her nose wrinkled at the new nickname which Felix had given her, and that seemed to be sticking. A chuckle from the right echoed him. "Might break a foot on the way, humans are so fragile."

Exhaling through her mouth loudly, she sighed. "What is it they say about newborn vampires? They're faster, stronger, morevolatile? You're both very quick to tease me when in three days time, I'll be stronger than both of you." A teasing smile of her own, without mirth, spread across her lips, and she looked at them both bemusedly. "Never know, I might break an arm or two from you both."

The door to the masters wing of the castle was in the distance now, within sight, and the nerves in her abdomen started again. Alec has said he was going to be turning her himself, during their time together, what else could be discussed? Perhaps her training schedule. Her inward musings were halted when Felix gave a snicker to her side, and she didn't miss the glance he gave Demetri as he spoke, and replied, saying, "the only thing you'll be breaking is a bed your newborn year."

Her eyes narrowed and she grumbled. "I'm sure Alec wouldloveto know you're making jokes about what goes on in our bedroom, or perhaps Jane would be simply thrilled to learn you're making jokes at her brothers expense?" Reaching the door to the study, she knocked once, and when the door opened, she immediately stepped inside, dropping into a short curtsey, hearing the two men snickering outside as the door closed behind her. "You summoned me, Master?" She gave a polite smile to the lady whom stood to his left, her hand on her husbands shoulder. "My lady."

Clapping his hands, in the delighted manner he always did, Aro rose, and appeared before her in the same instant, greedily clasping her hands, delving into her mind. A silent pause, and then he chucked before tutting under his breath. "I see you are nervous about becoming one of us again," he murmured, patting her hand before moving back towards the desk. Lady Ceres was watching closely, her hands neatly clasped in front of her, and she hummed, looking to her husband, whom turned around to face her, the giddy smile still on his face,as always. He clasped his hands together again before he spoke. "Perfectly normal to feel worried about such, Olivia, they are not unfounded fears. This is new territory for us all," he sighed, as if the next words saddened his very soul. "We do not know if your gift will return, unfortunately. I wish I could dispel your fears of such, my child, but I cannot, only time will tell."

Something inside her twisted as he spoke those words, and she swallowed thickly. "I can't feel the pull of the darkness anymore," she murmured. His eyes watched her, and he hummed. "Perhaps it will return once you are a vampire once more, as you should be, we won't know until you complete your transformation, which brings me to why I summoned you here."

Here it was, the big discussion, and steeling herself for the unexpected, but nothing could have prepared her for the words that left his lips as he spoke. "As a token of our appreciation, for your sacrifice which allowed us to purge the Russian Coven, and put an end to the scheming of the Romanian Coven in return, we have decided to allow you to choose a leisure of your choice, within reason, for your last few hours as a human."

Both vampires looked amused at her reaction to the gift, for Lady Ceres gave a soft titter, and she moved forward. "My sisters and I, suggested it. We believe your sacrifice, and the hardship you endured as a result, should not go unrewarded, and if a few hours, doing something simple, is a way we can repay such, then so be it. Make a wish, and if it is within reason, we will grant it."

A heavy silence slipped into the room as she mulled over their words. A chance to do something, something thatshewanted to do? Volturi leadership wasn't renowned for giving out rare opportunities such as the one she had been given, and albeit it simple, she gave a soft smile before she spoke, the decision easy. "It may sound simple, but I would like to feel the warmth from the sun on my skin," she gave a rueful smile. "Without my skin glowing like diamonds, that is."

The sudden peal of laughter that slipped from both immortals made her twist her hands nervously, but the nods that came from both immortals eased her worry, just as a sharp knock at the door announced the arrival of someone else, and nodding to the guard who stood at the door, who opened it immediately, it revealed Alec, her stomach twisting again at the look he gave her before focussing on the two immortals before her. "Master, my lady, you summoned me?"

Delighted by the presence of his prized jewel, Aro clapped his hands together eagerly. "Alec, my dear boy! You've arrived just in time!" She turned to look at Alec as he came to a standstill beside her, his attention solely on the husband and wife before him. She too turned her attention back to them, the attention no longer, thankfully, on her. "Olivia wishes to go out into the garden while the sun is still out. Make sure you are covered as not to expose us, dear boy."

A cool hand upon her back steered her from the room after a short curtsey and a "thank you." The walk to the gardens was silent, but the hand upon her back was not. It remained there, showing his support, however silent it may be, and as they neared to the light, her head turned, almost involuntarily, to look up at him. It was as though their dynamic had changed, that their whole world had changed. As the hours before her transformation had trickled closer, and closer, and closer, he too had became closer, and closer, and closer. When there were no guard duties, no details, no missions, he was by her side, unwavering. The anxieties she kept quiet, he knew, without even the words leaving her lips to tell him. It was warming, and tender, and despite her human nature, it was comforting to know, that despite it, he was not viewing her as some vile specimen beneath his expensive shoes, as he did to other humans like her.

Although, there wereno otherhumans like her.

Warmth from the pale winter sun shone upon her face as she stepped out into the light, leaving Alec behind in the gateway, caressing her skin in golden beams, eyes sliding shut as she took in its calming balm. It was dulled in comparison to what it felt like as an immortal, but it was lovely to be able to bask in the warmth, without a thousand glittering diamonds beaming off her skin in the light. It was soothing.

Although winter, the garden was neither bare nor depressing to look at. Green shrubbery lined the thick, stone walls that encased the courtyard, providing privacy from the human world outside. It was one of the only outdoor spaces of the castle, connected to the façade of the reception at the forefront of the castle, a great oak tree standing tall, proud, in the middle of the courtyard, the small glistening metal plaque, recently replaced, fixed at the base. She didn't need to get close to know it was inscribed with the name of the fallen Volturi wife, Didyme, with her date of birth, and death, in memorial of her. It was a tender gesture, done by a grieving family thousands of years ago, and it was still solemn to gaze upon, a reminder of the pain and struggles the formation of the Volturi had endured, of all the souls lost who did not have their own memorial to commiserate their loss of life on the battlefield, dying for a cause they would never personally witness.

Pressing his hand around her waist, pulling her closer, it pulled her out of her thoughts as Alec stepped out of the doorway to the castle and joined her. He observed her for a moment before he spoke. "So, for your final human moments, you wished to have the sun upon your face?" He quirked a brow, silently, as if asking for a further explanation. A soft smile pulled at her lips in return, and she hummed, looking up at him. "I did, yes, I wanted to live in the moment, to hear only those sounds around me, and not the chaos of the world outside the castle walls, as I will in a few days. I wanted peace and serenity."

His lips quirked as she spoke, and he gave a slyer smile as he looked at her. "I'm quite looking forward totonight,not this moment, if I do say so myself."

She didn't need a mirror to know her cheeks were flaming red at his suggestive tone, and his smile softened, a cold hand coming up to caress the flushed skin, and he gave almost a forlorn sigh, caressing her face as he did so, a rare public display of tenderness. "I believe, the only thing I will miss about your humanity, is how your cheeks flush when you're flustered." A glint gleamed in ruby irises. "It's amusing to witness the reaction I have on you at times, you control it much better as an immortal."

A grin pulled at her own mouth then. "Not even my pretty eyes?"

A subtle smirk painted his face as he steered them both deeper into the gardens, gently guiding her further in. "No, I prefer them red, not your human eye colour, and you make the most dreadful racket when you sleep, it sounds as though someone is sawing through wood."

Eyes narrowing, she grumbled, moving away from him, albeit not far, the arm around her waist keeping her firmly grounded to his side. "I do notsnore."

The smirk widened. "Snore? Is that what the humans call it? It sounds dreadful."

The bickering continued for an age, that was, until their peace was shattered, in the form, of the German vampire who dazzled as she walked into the garden, her usual fishing attire clothing her as always, save for the addition of the light grey cloak that adorned her frame. She set her eyes upon them immediately, and ever mindful of appearances before lower guard, the distance between them became respectful once more.

Heidi stopped before them, and even with her poor eyesight, she could make out Corin and Renata stood in the entrance to the castle, each cloaked in light grey cloaks, a slightly darker one adorning Renata. "I've come to retrieve you, to get you ready for immortality, albeit this time in a proper manner."

The sun was starting to dip in the sky, casting shadows over the gardens, and her stomach twisted into knots as she glanced at the boy beside her, and he nodded, gently placing a hand on her back to steer her towards the leader of the trio. "Did you procure dinner also?" He questioned, receiving a dazzling smile in return. "Yes, there has been some kept back in the chamber for yourself. I suggest you hurry," she glanced back at the duo in the castle doorway with a gleaming, albeit slightly wicked, smile. "Us girls have work to do, important things to discuss, preparations to make, the usual."

Well, that didn't sound ominous whatsoever.

Following Heidi back to the doorway, she paused, glancing back at Alec, and he nodded, motioning for her to continue. "I'll see you in a few hours," came the promise, the hidden meaning evident, and she flushed once more, a subtle smirk twisting his lips, before, in the blink of an eye, he too vanished, leaving her at the mercy of the three women, who each gave their own delighted grin as she was ushered into the hallways once more.

It was daunting, awaiting Alec's arrival, as she paced in the room they shared, the flowy white dress billowing around her knees as she moved. It was almost humorous, being placed in white, as if a fair maiden being offered up as a sacrificial lamb. Poetic, but ironic. Every part of her tingled. Heidi had made sure everywhere upon her skin had been scrubbed, that there had been absolutely no traces of hair, other than atop her head, remained upon her skin. It had burned, the removal, and the lilac scented scrub had removed the chemical smell left behind by her work, but it had still irritated her skin.

They had spent no time wasted in quizzing her, asking her all questions imaginable, some of them far more outlandish than others, that was for sure.

"Have you done anything previously beforehand, with Alec that is?" All three women had looked at her in disbelief as she shook her head, gnawing her bottom lip as she always did. "No, nothing before." She shrugged. "There wasn't really a chance previously, and then I was comatose for 15 years, so nothing has happened."

Renata, the tiniest vampire of the trio, gave her a small, albeit timid smile. "Are you nervous?"

Was she nervous? Absolutely. Her head bobbed as she nodded, and she sighed. "I'm more worried I won't be good at anything," she grimaced as her face twisted at the humiliating thought. "My experiences with anything of that nature have never been positive," another shrug pulled her shoulders. "I am just worried, and nervous."

A cold hand clasped her own, and her eyes met violet ones, the blue contacts over red having not faded away yet. "You have nothing to fear," the words, spoken softly with a trace of an accent long since forgotten, acted as a balm to her worried soul. "No harm will befall you, I promise."

I promise.

Those words rang like a bell in her mind as she stared into the flames. Promises could so very easily be broken. Moving around the room again, the grey dress glinted from where it hung up in the doorway of the closet, reminding her what would be coming in the new few hours. The flames from the fire bathed her skin in a warming glow as she moved around the room, casting shadows as she walked. It was excruciating, waiting his arrival.

Time passed slow, and sometime later in the evening, shortly after the clock turned seven in the evening. the door clicked open, and the breath caught in her throat, turning as hands appeared on her bare arms, smoothing down the soft skin with a gentle tenderness. "You lookbeautiful," the soft words were murmured in her ear, and a breathless laugh passed her lips, leaning into the immortal who stood firmly behind her. "I feel like a maiden offered up for sacrifice in this dress." A shudder wracked her limbs as the hands on her arms moved to her waist, holding her firm. "I think this is the first time I have worn something white in decades."

She could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke. "I know, it was my suggestion to Heidi to place you in something white." One hand moved over to press against her abdomen, pulling her back to his chest. "I confess, I find myself in awe of Heidi's skills."

A comfortable silence fell over the room, the only noise from the flames crackling, and she hummed, a soft exhale leaving her. "Will you stay, during the transformation?"

A pregnant pause, and then an answer. "I have patrol still, as ordered, but otherwise, yes. Penelope will keep you company, as will Jane, during the times when I cannot."

Turning in his arms, and faced with ruby gleams of wicked promises to come, a hand found her face. "I feel at ease, now." She murmured, a thumb caressing her cheek, being replaced by cool lips, moving down her cheekbone slowly, searching. Clutching his arms, her mind whirled, spinning in circles as lips quested down her jawline, kissing the corner of her mouth before they stole her lips, hungrily seeking something which burned inside her abdomen. and she sighed, pulling away, resting her forehead against his. "I have a request."

He didn't hesitate. "Anything."

Pressing their lips together once more, her eyes found his once more, "begentle, please."

Chuckling, he smoothed his hands back down her arms, and his lips found hers once more. "You didn't even have to ask,mio amore. Is this what has been worrying you?" Eyes slipped shut, "a little."

Lips found hers once more, and cool fingers found the button at the nape of her neck, slowly undoing it, gently moving down and unbuttoning the dozen or so that lined the spine of the dress. A sigh left her lips as they moved against his, his hands moving to guide her backwards, keeping a firm grasp to ensure she didn't fall. The edge of the bed bumped into the back of her knees, and her heart stuttered in return. Cold lips moved down her jawline once more, dipping to move down the column of her throat. Her pulse thrummed against his lips, a silent kiss being pressed there, a promise of what would come later,much later.

The heavy cloak on his shoulders tumbled to the floor, and gently pushing the white dress off of her shoulders, claiming her lips once more, the flowy white satin billowed to the floor, joining the dark grey cloak. The softness of the bed met her bare back, and eyes opened, finding red ones appraising her semi nude form, and a heady groan slipped from the boy above her, his eyes on the crimson red undergarments, a gift from the German vampire herself. The satin top had a lace overly, contrasting against her creamy white skin, the red satin with the black lace providing a sultry combination, which, judging by the gleam in Alec's eyes, had not gone unappreciated.

It was ironic. As the clothes tumbled to the floor, as did her worries. Lips touched where she burned, and a keening noise slipped from her lips, as fingers fisted in the chocolatey locks, a fire as old as the age of time coursing through her limbs. The soft cries tumbled from her lips as fire weaved around her body, stone lips hungrily pressing against her own, swallowing her cries as her limbs trembled. They trembled, and trembled, and shook, as though an earthquake was causing destruction within her body, while his hand played the area in which she burned as though he were playing an instrument he'd spent his whole existence learning. Lips quested hungrily against her own, and soft sighs slipped from both of them.

"Ti senti così bene, amore mio."

A violent shudder tore across her limbs as her back bowed, the pleasure exploding like a volcano, erupting across her body. A moan tumbled from her lips, which he greedily stole with his own, muffling her cries. Shuddering as he brought her down from her high, the covers gently slipping around them both as he eased her inside, the thudding juddering of her heart echoing loudly, even to her ears.

Fingers gently stroked her face, tracing her jawline, as though memorising her face. "Are you comfortable,amore?"The concern for her wellbeing made her lips curve in a small, albeit breathless smile, turning her face into his hand as it cupped her cheek. Eyes, darkened from the bright gleaming red, to now a soft crimson, stared into her own, and she nodded, "yes. Is it always going to be like this with you?"

Her answer came in the form of a gleaming smile, full of wicked promises of what was to come. "Always, and forever." A hand ghosted on her bare waist, gently moving down to her thigh, and he gently pulled a leg up to his waist as he positioned himself between them, his thumb stroking her skin there as he moved, taking her lips once more as he slowly joined them together, and a soft exhale left her lips as he seated himself within her, the burn creeping through her limbs once more as he moved slowly, a groan slipping through his lips as he did.

Sweat dripped down the valley between her breasts as they moved as one, her back arching, red eyes boring into her own in silent pleasure.Was this heaven? Fire weaved through her limbs in a pleasurable burn, and she sighed, weaving her fingers into the dark locks, the words slipping from her with ease.

"I love you."

A pause, and the darkening red eyes focussed on her once more, lips finding her own as he started moving once more, this time tenderly, slowly, and a hand caressed her face once more.

"Te amo, amore."

Exhaustion crept into her limbs, the many hours later, sleep creeping up on her, but there would be no sleep. Curled in the bed, eyes drooping, Alec joined her once more, having donned his uniform after helping her back into her nightgown, and his arms slipped around her. "Are you ready?"

A smile pulled at her lips. This was it, the moment they had all been waiting for. She would finally be complete, back to her immortal nature, and could spend eternity, by his side, as hismate, finally. It was a finale, an accumulation of all the stress, the heartache, the pain, that they had endured over the last few decades. Now, it would finally be over, and they could move on with spending eternity together, as they had always wished to do so.

"I'm ready," there was no hesitation.

A soft kiss to the base of her throat, and then came the fire. A scream instantly left her lips as it tore through her body like wildfire, and the screams tumbled easily, a sound of discontent echoing above her at the voicing of her pain and torture. It scorched her limbs, leaving ashes in its wake, and she screamed, and screamed, and screamed, wailing as it burned. It was worse than Jane's gift, far worse. It was worse than the pain of the cursed blade, far worse than the two of them together, and yet, she could only smile between cries.

"Now, and forever," she choked out, and the crimson eyes, filled with pain at her pain, softened somewhat.

"Now and forever, my love, now and forever."