Time passed slowly, each agonising free moment of his spent at her bedside where she laid motionless, almost as though she were paralysed, trapped in her own mind -Master had stated she was still conscious, albeit mentally, but unable to move, unable to do anything as she suffered, the poison from the blade rippling through her limbs.
His time alternated from his duties -patrol, guarding the Masters, missions to hunt down the remainder of the scourge who had escaped- to sitting at her bedside. Chelsea stood by closely at times, monitoring the dark blonde haired vampire herself, the motionless statute of the woman he loved laying between them on the wrought iron hospital bed.
The woman he loved. It was a strange notion, an unfamiliar one. Once upon a time, it would have tasted foul in his mouth, his love for his sister and the masters the only love he needed. His old self around five centuries back would have scoffed at the notion he would be sitting here, empty and broken, his mind and unmoving heart hardened with the loss he would never come to accept. Was this how Master Marcus felt? No. Didyme was gone, the founding leader he had never met was ashes, scattered to the winds of time in a notion that now she would be forever free. Olivia was unmoving, still, her mind all that remained of her body, void of all capability.
Movement told him he wasn't alone, the sound of soft footsteps having escaped his notice, too caught up in his own mind and depressing thoughts. His sister, only standing because of the comatose girl, came to a stop beside him. He had no doubt, no matter how angry and infuriated he was that she had risked her life so foolishly, that none of the four of them would be here had she not done such a stupid thing.
Jane knew it too, her usual attitude towards the dark blonde haired girl gone, albeit not completely, but very nearly gone. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Master said her mind lives," she offered some comfort, having been present in the meeting that had just taken place regarding Olivia's apparent coma. He had heard scraps from his enhanced hearing. She was alive, albeit mentally, but her body was a mere husk, the poison from the cursed blade wreaking havoc, waging a war with the venom inside of it. He had heard them clear as day. "Only one will win, and time will tell which one."
He said nothing, just reached up with his free hand to clutch the one that held his shoulder. Jane took a seat beside him, folding her legs daintily. She looked at the comatose immortal. "Do you believe she can hear us?" She asked lightly and he gave a weathered sigh, gripping her hand tighter; she returned it, melding their hands together. "Master says she burns, like a human going through the change, but that she lacks the awareness of a human." His resolve cracked a moment, his devastation coming through as clear as the sun through dispersing clouds. "She knows nothing but fire and torment."
The sister he so adored said nothing, her hand tightening slightly, showing her silent show of support towards him. She lifted her chin slightly. "It was foolish of her to do this, to put you through such agony." His sister uttered, and despite her harsh words which made anger spread through him, he couldn't help but admit their validity. He looked straight at the foolish girl in question. "Yes, it was, but she's paying a heavy price for her actions, sister." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "Let us not begrudge her further with out anger."
His words brought a sensibility to her anger and she nodded after a moment. "Yes, let us not; she's taking a punishment worse than death. I do find myself conflicted, however." He looked at her straight now. "Oh? Do share."
The lovely vampire at his side gave a sigh, sounding like a child grown bored with a game. "I loathe her for many things, as you know, but, she did save our lives. I find myself torn between this hatred for her stealing your attention away and making you so hurt and angry, and not at all like yourself, but I find myself in her debt for what she did. We heard them -they did say we had but two hours to live before she arrived in the cage next to us. She bought us time, in turn sparring our lives."
The musings of his sister made him nod, a slight tip of his head that she caught. He glanced at her. "Perhaps a now neutrality? You neither hate her nor like her, you just acknowledge her?" He asked and the small vampire at his side gave a sigh. "Perhaps, but I don't even think I could be neutral. Maybe when she awakens, but now? I will continue to be infuriated with her for making my brother completely unlike himself." She turned to him. "You barely feed anymore, brother. You just do your duties, as you should of course, and you merely return to this state and to her like you have nothing else to do."
Her words rang true; that was his life now. He had no desire to do anything else, and he patted her hand lightly, comforting her the best he could given the circumstances. "I understand, sister, but until she awakens, until I have her back. this is what it will be."
She didn't look pleased, but she seemed to understand, for she stood to her feet, smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles in her knee length dark grey, almost black uniform, and she patted his hand back before letting it go. "As you wish, Alec, but do not let it consume you." Her eyes drifted to the girl whom she had despised so much. "As much as I know about her, and you know it to, this wouldn't be what she wanted you to do."
Time passed even slower. A month came, then two. Before he knew it, five had passed, welcoming in a new year, something he would have celebrated in earnest with her -now such plans laid in tatters at his feet as he sat, once more, in the chair at her bedside, listening to the celebrations taking place in the city above, explosions from fireworks and the infamous countdown as the new year of 1974 was welcomed in with gusto.
Somehow, he just couldn't relate to the excitement above him from the citizens of Volterra.
After the first year, the realisation that she might never wake up began to settle in. It had been a mission to Latvia. The last beast from the coven that had robbed him so was located, the little blonde who had pledged herself to aid in ridding the world of them swiftly dispatching his head from the rest of his foul body. She gave a soft sigh, throwing the twitching limbs into the fire the two taller guards -Demetri and Felix- had started. They were always around her, keeping watch over her. Aro might trust her, but that didn't mean Caius did. He was waiting for her to slip up, becoming bewildered, and annoyed, when she didn't. He wanted her to pay for the role, regardless of ignorance, she played.
He stood beside her as they watched the last one fade from limbs that twitched with life, to nothing more than a pile of ashes. She fiddled with her fingers nervously before they stilled and she asked him the question she too desired an answer too. "When do you think my sister will awaken?" She had whispered, reserved garnet coloured eyes peering down to him. He wished he had the answer. It would make his suffering pass more with ease if he could count down, look forward to, the end of this depression.
The words, a recited mantra he had mastered, slipped from his full lips. "I don't know," he murmured and Penelope nodded, resuming her gaze at the flames with the rest of them. Felix, seemingly having overheard to exchange as he came up, stood on her other side. "Olivia has been through much before and persevered." He had dwarfed both of them as he stood close. "I'm sure she'll overcome this too."
His words gave him hope, no matter how small, and he gave a heavy sigh that rattled his unmoving chest before he turned around, turning his back on the flames and making the journey back to Volterra.
Once they returned to the ancient city, everyone was summoned to the main chamber, something not even he could decline on. He arrived with his sister, Penelope stood before the three masters. A thrill went through him, a foreign feeling. This would either be an execution, or an induction of a new guard. Rare were such gatherings, he almost forgot the thrill he saw, seeing someone receive membership to the most powerful coven in the world, or seeing someone be executed for crimes.
And regardless of the year that had passed, Penelope's crimes were still great, crushing on her shoulders and weighing her conscience down.
He watched, Master Aro descending the dais to come and stand before her. He took her hand into his own, silent for four minutes and six seconds, the two no doubt having a silent conversation, he listening to what she had to say -this always annoyed the snowy haired master behind him, and this evening was no exception. "Brother, would you care to share, or continue having a one sided conversation that none of us can bear witness to?"
The one who had given he and his sister life laughed. "Ah brother, you know the ruling already; we've discussed this. Miss Felton has been a valuable asset, her knowledge endless." He gave him a look that Alec missed, but he could tell from Caius's face it wasn't a good one. "No need to be angry because we decided to grant her mercy."
Penelope seemed to be reeling with the knowledge, and he saw Felix give a grin across the room. The giant, and his leaner, still tall close friend, had grown to like the blonde haired, tormented woman. She had humor, in the appropriate circumstances, so it was easy to see why they wanted her to stay.
Aro turned back to her with a dazzling smile of his own, handing her a box from beneath his jacket which had been concealed. Alec already knew what laid inside -the black box containing the pendant, the symbol of the Volturi, had been gifted to members over centuries, the box maybe changing design and shape, but always a black leather box.
The blonde woman gripped it like a lifeline, and he knew had she been human, she would have been weeping with elation at being reprieved of her crimes. His sister caught his eye beside him, her mouth in a firm line, but he didn't miss the slight tilt upwards before it was pulled back down. He knew it wasn't for the blonde being spared -it was because he and his sister were known for training potential recruits. He glanced back at Penelope; he truly did hope she knew what she was getting herself into, for his sisters hand sure was cruel and not as merciful as their sire who had spared her life from a wrath of torn limbs and flames.