Sam's POV
"Sam, how can you be in here?" I heard Heidi ask me.
"The blood doesn't bother me anymore." I answered her absentmindedly. I was focused on the one vampire who was looking at me with her lips curling into a sneer. I was not intimidated by her. I let my poker face on and looked at her straight in the eyes.
"To what do I own the pleasure?" she asked with sarcasm dripping down her voice.
"I want to talk to you. Alone." I said. I was ready for whatever she wanted to do to me but she had to hear what I had to say at all costs.
"Very well. Let's go outside." she told me. She dropped the dead body and stepped on it as if it was some piece of junk. I couldn't help the look of total disgust that crossed my face. We walked silently to the garden until she stopped in front of the rose bushes and faced me.
"So, what did you want?" she asked me.
"Look, I know you don't like me but I really don't know why. And I don't even want to know 'cause it isn't my business. But now that it's affecting Alec, it is my business. If you don't like me fine by me, that's your problem but you can at least respect your brother enough not to make his life miserable." I said. I felt as if a great load was lifted off my shoulders.
"I'll be honest with you, I never expected that you had enough courage to come and face me. Especially when I can twist you like a twig on the floor if I want to." she said with a hint of surprise and lethal sweetness.
"You can burn me all you want. But I can't let you keep doing this to Alec. You're hurting him. Just get your fun off me and burn me all you want but stop being a jerk to Alec. He doesn't deserve it. You have no idea how much he cares and worries about you. He can't get over the fact that he couldn't be there for you when you were human. And now he's tearing himself apart because you're making him choose between you and me. I jut can't-" I was interrupted by her dainty hand and she grabbed my throat and squeezed.
"Did Alec tell you about our pasts?" she whispered menacingly at me. Her nails were digging in my throat.
"I had a vision about you getting raped. You were human and I asked him what happened." I grunted. I didn't like the way she was holding me. I waited until she looked deep in thought and pushed her away from me.
"How did you dare to infiltrate my past, you filthy little girl!" she shouted at me.
"It was involuntary. Do you think I would want to see what you went through? I'm not sadistic!" I shouted at her. "When you attacked me with your mind I fell in a daze. It turned into a vision since all I could think was why you were doing that to me. Seriously, Jane. Please answer me."
"I... My brother has changed since he met you. Believe me, what he's showing you, is the good side of him. You wouldn't like to be in the feeding rooms when he's thirsty. You haven't seen how many people we have slaughtered. We are sadistic and we don't really hide it. If you had seen what those humans had done to us, you would justify our actions too. But now all the fun we used to get together stopped because of you. He won't do anything as we used to do as he's afraid to upset you." she said to me. I felt my eyes boggle out. She was upset because her brother wasn't killing and slaughtering as he used to. Wow!
"But Jane, imagine you are one of those humans you kill for fun. Why would you want anyone else to feel your pain? If I were you I'd try to save anyone who would have to go through that pain." I asked her.
"I don't know. But it makes me feel better. As if I was avenging what happened to me. And anyway, what do you know about it? You were probably one of those who laughed at the lonely and misunderstood kids."
"Sure, that was me, haunting little eleven year olds who were poorer than me. Then my dad passed away and my mum turned into a men and alcohol depending, careless, slut, who brought in a man with a drunk teenage son who almost raped her daughter. I would clean up vomit every day and when I was done my mum would beat me up because some man would use her, wipe some money off her and leave her. Then she would feel sorry for beating me up and cry for hours until she vomits again." I told her. "Now you dare tell me that I'm some kind of freaky fairy princess or something." I spat the last sentence at her. She looked at me as if I had just turned into a frog in front of her eyes.
"I didn't ask for your life story." she sneered.
"Well, suck it up. I don't care. Just cut Alec some slack. He doesn't deserve your attitude." I repeated.
"You're different from how you look at first glance. I'll give you a piece of valuable advice. You should look deeper into Alec's character. He may not be what he appears to be. Though I admit he has changed since he met you," she said. Well that was mysterious.
"You realise that I didn't understand what you just said?" I told her. She just looked straight in my eyes, as if she thought I was hiding something.
"Good" she said without any emotion. She walked away and left me there in the garden. I felt unusually tired. I already missed Alec and I just wanted to talk it out. I picked up a rose and smelt the beautiful aroma it held. It had such a velvety and innocent smell, but it held certain seductiveness about it. It made me think back to earlier this night. Alec drew a rose in most of his pictures of me. I remembered the night when Alec took me on our first date. The room had been covered in red rose petals.
"Sam! There you are. What happened there?" I heard Heidi ask as she and Chelsea came next to me.
"We just had a friendly talk." I said as emotionless as Jane.
"Did that witch burn you?" Chelsea asked me as we sat on the nearest stone bench.
"No, not really. We just had a very creative discussion." I said sophistically.
"Well, alright. Are you really over the human blood? You didn't even seem to notice." Chelsea said.
"Yeah, I just figured that if I don't think too much about it everything would be alright. Plus if I believe in myself and think about humanity it gets even easier." I said simply. I was proud to say that what I was saying was true.
"Tell me, then why are you so sad? You know you can't lie to us. Emotion-reading-vampires over here." Heidi told me.
"I don't know what's going on between me and Alec." I said with a thick layer of exasperation.
"And why is that?" Chelsea asked me.
"Well, last night I went in his room to wait for him while he was showering. I found one of his sketchpads and it was full of pictures of me. And one of them was quite... disturbing." I concluded lamely.
"What was it?" they both asked me at the same time, which was kinda freaky and funny too.
"Well, it was a painting of me er... naked." at this they both smiled as if to suggest something I pretty much didn't want them to. "Whoa! Wait. I wasn't completely naked. There was a shawl wrapped around my breasts and hips. I was wiping my hands on the white shawl and it was turning red." I said
"So?" Chelsea asked me looking as if it was no big deal. I felt my eyes get as wide as two saucers.
"So! How can you take it so lightly? Look at the double meaning of the picture. To me it looked like as if he was always dreaming about getting me naked in bed!" I said honestly. They both laughed at me as if I was missing some big detail.
"Sam, honey, you have to keep in mind that Alec was born three hundred years ago. You know that during the Renaissance, people changed. Nudity wasn't a taboo anymore but became something to show how beautiful the human body was. It was fairly common. Perhaps for your culture it's something dirty, but now you have to open your mind and take centuries of different views." Heidi told me. I felt my mouth turn in a big round O. I had made such a big deal out of nothing but simple plain drawing. God! I felt so guilty.
"Okay, I realised what a big mistake I made but I need to ask you something else. Alec left last night and told me that he was going to take me somewhere, just the two of us. I think it is a great idea, but what do you guys think?" I asked them they look thoughtful for about half a second then they looked at each other and their eyebrows became one with their hairlines.
"What?" I asked.
"I think somebody's planning a little romantic escape. When a vampire does that it means that he wants to get with his mate and well... have some fun. It's quite difficult to well... Get involved with your vamp inside. We get kind of restless when we're excited. Plus it's not private when everybody can hear what you're doing. As if the smell isn't bad enough." Chelsea said. She should know as she was the only one among us with a solid relationship. But the last sentence she said confused me.
"Wait. What smell?" I asked clueless.
"When you mate with your vampire - as in make love - some of his smell rubs off on you. It lasts for quite some time, almost two months. When another vampire gets interested in you, just one whiff will tell him that you're out of bounds. Even if he doesn't know your mate. That's how we can distinguish virgins." Heidi answered me. I guess that this was something every vamp knew, if they their maker taught them. Even if Alec had turned into my replaced maker, these were not things he would feel comfortable to tell me.
"Wait, how can you distinguish virgins from others and does it work for men too?
"The scent of a virgin is always more pronounced, to attract the partner. Try sniffing me. I'm not a virgin as I lost my virginity when I was human because I was a married woman. Chelsea obviously isn't. It only works on woman. And the reason for that might be that males tend to get quite overly protective over their female mates. That's why it works on woman mostly. It's there as a warning of territory, you know it's like cats which use urine. If some vampire tries to get closer than acceptable while the female smells of her mate, it can lead to huge fights even permanent death. It's not really common but a pissed mate is not fun. That's probably why you don't find many vampire whores." Heidi explained.
"Okay, so you think that Alec wants us to..." I trailed.
"Well, nothing's for sure. But that doesn't look to bad, now does it? You can always say no." Chelsea said. I nodded. Yeah, she was right. I had every right to say no. He would never force me into it. God! If two years ago somebody would have told me that one of my biggest worries would be sexual tension I would have laughed at him and called him a liar.
"Thanks guys, it would have been awkward not knowing. You're the best. Now I really need to hunt. There's a limit to my control too." I said. I had as much time as I wanted. I looked at the clock tower, which showed quarter to eight. So I had exactly twenty eight hours, fifteen minutes till Alec showed up in his bedroom, grabbed me in his arms and kissed me again.
"Okay, have fun!" they said and I waved at them. I went outside and disappeared into the greenery until I found some elk. I sucked their blood dry and when I was full to the brim, I went to my room, changed and headed of to the closest mall I could find. I bought some denim shorts and tees with a chic Minnie Mouse or Snoopy on the front and a book about some teenager who makes my problems look like peanuts. Yeah, all in all I was living a great life.
Alec's POV
It was five o' clock and I was looking at my work with a proud look on my face. The little cottage came out to be quite a beauty. I managed to turn a mass of rubble into a handy, two roomed cottage that looked as if it had just come out of a fairy tale. The rooms were basically a very big bedroom with a king sized bed and a living room. It had been quite uncomfortable carrying the bed and putting it together without breaking anything had been a nightmare. But I managed. I chose turquoise and brown covers for the bed. The second room was a round table with two chairs. In the middle I put a vase full of red roses and in the middle of the bunch I managed to find a single velvety black rose that looked burgundy in the light. I left a few candles on the table and a few black towels. I put curly metals at the window to make it look more ancient. All in all, the cottage looked fine. Sam would be pleased as punch. I closed the wooden door behind me and looked around the pond. Lucky this gorgeous spot was well away hidden from the human eye. It was a perfect spot for Sam and me.
I just had one last task at my hands. I had to buy swimming suits for me and Sam. As much as I would have loved to swim unveiled it would have been out of the question, especially after the last dispute with Sam. She would not have allowed that. Anyway I did not mind buying things for my Sam. It would keep my mind occupied. I thought about it and decided to go to Milan. Sam had told me all about her trip with Heidi and Chelsea to Milan. She had been so eager to tell me that her face was lit up and her smile could have made angels sing. So it was settled. I inspected the area one last time and decided that was enough inspecting. I put on a pair of blue contact lenses and left.
The trip took less that half an hour. I went in the best part of the city and widow shopped for a while. The majority of the clothes I was seeing looked a little antique, almost vintage. All the causal dresses I could see either looked really old, as if that had been in storage waiting for the fashion to point them out or that unattractive nasty floral material that looked like ancient drapes. I was about to give up hope when in a little shop, I saw a two piece swim wear that reminded me a lot of Sam. I went closer and saw hop utterly perfect it would fit her. It had a plain black short bottom that looked like underwear, but I guess this what was the world was used to nowadays. The top was a halter black bra with a few sequins and white crystals scattered around all over the material. I thought hard and then remembered that what I was looking at was actually called a bikini.
"Excuse me, may I help you?" I looked up and saw the salesgirl looking at me smiling a not-so-innocent smile and playing with the forth button of her top which accidentally undid itself by magic.
"I would like to know if you have this in size 6." I said and pointed at the clothing.
"But of course." she answered. We got in the shop and she disappeared behind a curtain. I listened in to the salesgirls as I heard an eruption of giggles that hit the others when the salesgirl disappeared behind the black curtain.
"Man, he's hot!"
"Completely and utterly yummy!"
"Ditto, girl!" they said. If I had been human I would not have been able to hear them. But what can I say, it's not my fault I attract woman so much. But anyway I just cared about two women and two only. My sis, obviously, and Sam, who has become as irreplaceable as Jane.
"Forget it guys. I think he's hooked. Who would buy over one hundred Euros bikini if they're not involved with somebody? Pity, I would have liked a bite of that..." the salesgirl said. I quite couldn't restrain the chuckles. The irony was too much. I composed myself beforehand as I heard her approach.
"Yes, here is the size six." she said and gave me the box. I opened it and felt it that this of the one Same would have liked.
"Very well, then I'd like to buy it." I said. She nodded and gave me another enthusiastic smile and directed me to the counter.
"One hundred fifty-nine Euros and ninety-nine cents, please."I got out my wallet and paid the girl. She looked almost incredulous, as I handed her the money.
"Would you like me to gift wrap the box?"
"Yes, please." I was not an expert on women but I knew that big boxes with ribbons made their curiosity level sore.
"So, she must be quite something if you're willing to spend this much money on her." she started wrapping a big silver bow around the box and curling the ends with a dull knife.
"Yes, she's quite special." I felt the corners of my lips quirk up. This woman in front of me had no idea just how special Sam was.
"I wish my boyfriend would buy these things for me. Huh, life truly isn't fair. Good looks and money, man she's lucky!" she wrapped an aquamarine ribbon around the box, which made the two ribbons together look like a splash of silvery refreshing water over the creamy box. I thanked her and got out of the shop. I already had a swimsuit which I had bought earlier this year. I loved going swimming in the spring, when nature was at its peek of beauty. I looked at the first clock I found outside and found out it was barely seven. I promised to go back for Sam at noon, which left me with seventeen hours until I could go back. What to do, what to do? I roamed the streets looking at the shops as they closed down and the city quieted.
A sparkle caught my eyes. I looked closer at the shop. It was quite an elegant establishment called Swarovski. I approached the shop and looked at the windows. A heart-shaped pendant caught my eyes. It was beautiful, the way it shone and the way the lights reflected it. But the true reason why I had really noticed it because it looked like a crude version of my mother's heart shaped diamond necklace. Suddenly my mind trailed off and suddenly I was in my room with Sam and I was putting the simple chain around her neck. I imagined her touch the diamond and look on her face that made me feel as if I was back at the time of the Victorian era. Her simple smile made me feel as if I was at the court of a princess, known for her unfathomable beauty and deep knowledge and I was just a simple peasant, chosen by accident.
Then I knew it that this was a sign. I had a necklace almost like that which used to belong to my mother. It was one of mother's favourite jewel. It was one of the few family heirlooms Jane and I managed to save. I never imagined I would share something of such importance with anybody except for my sister. But it felt right deep in my bones. I decided then that I would give her the necklace. Now she was an essential part in my life. I could not imagine living without her. It would have been disastrous if she didn't have the humanity she has. We would have met but I would have had to destroy her.
My life had changed completely since I met her. But I would say it changed for the better. My thirst became more controllable as I never felt bloodlust when I was with her. Perhaps after these few days we would make it official that we have mated, even if we don't make love. As much as I wanted to lose myself in her physically, I do not mind just holding her in my arms. She was right, we weren't just bodies and I realised I was mistaken when my only fixation was her as a body. She was so much more and that, more that I've learnt to appreciate just last night. I was ever so eager for our few days together, all alone. We would not be animal blood and human blood or innocent and bloodshed or 18th century and 21st century. It would be just us, two people brought together by faith. The only binding, love.
I shocked myself at the thought of love. Seriously, was I in love with this woman? How could I be after centuries of denying that emotion? It was an emotion I thought unreachable for vampires. Yet, here I was, thinking about the girl who drove me crazy. I loved being with her, I felt her absence when she left even for short periods, I could not stop thinking about her and I was ready to entrust her with something as important as my mother's family heirloom. If that that isn't love then I guess it's the closest that anyone will get. And then some annoying voice whispered in my head, maybe she doesn't feel the same about you! I tried wondering about that but I just skimmed over the thought as it hurt too much to think about it. And believe me; in life I've had quite a big portion of agony.
I knew that I would have to tell her how I feel eventually. And perhaps this weekend would be perfect for that occasion. I realised none of us said those three words to each other. At least not out loud. But I knew that I would soon. The problem would be how to tell her. Nowadays people mistake love with infatuations. They say the words as if they had no meaning. But love is a powerful emotion. One that binds not for a short time but for as long as we live. Sometimes, I would stare at Chelsea and Afton and I used to wonder how it was possible for them to be in love. Then of course there were the Cullens. It was unfathomable to think that it was not love they shared. As the nomad Garret had pointed out they were not a coven but a family. Could Sam and I reach that kind of emotion together? The answer was no as long as I would keep my bindings to the Volturi. My masters, especially Aro would go mad if he found out that the simple thought of leaving the Volturi for good had touched my mind. And even if I was willing to turn my back on the men who saved my life, how could I ever leave behind my sister?
I decided that that was quite enough time among the humans. Since I had quite some time to kill I decided to retreat back to the cottage, slipped in my swimsuit and spent a few hours underwater. I discovered it's a great way to think. The water would make me feel as if I was in a bubble that was slowly absorbing my troubles. I let my mind idle until I was completely calm. As I rose from the water I felt completely refreshed. It was only four hours till noon. I had to feed for sure before I leave with Sam. And until I give her the necklace I thought four hours would give me ample time to take care of everything. So I dressed up and made my way to the clock tower.
Sam's POV
I finished packing the gigantic gym back, as Alec had not mentioned how long we would stay. But I think I had at least enough clothes to last me for about two months.
I checked the clock for the millionth time but the little pointy arrows seemed to be stuck. It was only eight and I was already bored out of my head. I had nothing better to do so I slipped Alec's photo camera in my bag, our picture and my bag and decided to go to Alec's room. I was only wearing a short denim skirt and halter neck top, so I made sure no body saw me on my way. I settled the bag at a corner and laid down on the bed. I took our photo in my hands and just stared. We looked so happy there, as if the world was just smiling at us. I planned to take as much photos as I could while on vacation. Though it sucked that I would not age a day and I have a perfectly good photographic memory, so the pictures will be almost meaningless, I wanted very much to have something that reminded me of being totally happy and at peace.
I grabbed the camera and made a funny face and took a picture. I came out looking horribly cute. Like a little kitten. I smiled and decided to leave the picture on Alec's desk. He would find it when we come back.
God, I really missed him. I wanted to go to him. I got up and started to phase around the room. I was hitting a ten on my impatient-o-metre.
I needed some sort of distraction, and the first thing I saw was an old copy of Romeo and Juliet. I guess this is where Alec got his sweet-talk. I tried to read, putting all my attention on the weirdly familiar language. It was so strange and complicated. Huh, Alec said he preferred old English to the modern version. But I guess Shakespearean language wasn't that bad. I had studied the abridged version of the book back when I was foueteen. I always wanted to read the whole book but sometimes it felt like pig Latin. Well I guess I had quite some time, and if I didn't understand something Alec would explain everything to me.
And so, I read about he two star-crossed lovers, whom faith had crossed their paths, made them fall in love, get secretly married and die in each other's arms in less than a week. I recognised some of the quotes Alec had told me. There where especially some quotes which really fit our case. One which struck me was when Juliet called Romeo an angelic devil after he killed her cousin. It was the perfect phrase to describe Alec. But Juliet had forgiven Romeo, even though he killed her own kin. She had practically given her life to him. I imagined myself being in her place. Probably, if I was still born with my streak of rebellion, I would have sent my parents to hell, blown off Paris and ran away with Romeo after our wedding night.
I was so immersed in book I hade t noticed how time flew by, that is until I heard the door being open and Alec come with a box in his hands and a heartbreaking smile on his face. I left the book lying on the bed and put my arms around his neck and kissed him. It felt good being with him again.
"Hey!" I said my voice a little bit lower than a whisper. "I missed you.
"Me too. Now I need to give you something. But you can't open it till we arrive." he said and handed me the box. I took it and shook it a little to guess what it was but no real sound came out.
"Oh, come on just a peak! Pleeeeeese!" I said eagerly. The smile on his face broadened and he answered me with a big fat "No."
"Oh, come on Alec. You won't say no to me, will you?" I said in by best sexy voice while I stroked his hair.
"You're willing to use your feminine charm to satisfy your curiosity? That's low." he said with fake shame written all over his face.
"I don't know. You tell me." I purred at him and kissed him softly.
"No. Seriously, you'll have to wait." he told me firmly, I gave him one last puppy dog eyes but he stayed strong. "Anyway, I have something else I want to give you. Something way more important than whatever is in that box." he said and went to one of his chest of drawers. He got out a black velvet box and hesitantly got up. He sat beside me on the bed and took a deep breath, and then he opened the box. In it there was the most beautiful pendant I had ever seen. It was a transparent stone heart, carved from what looked like to be some really expensive crystal. Hell, it could have been diamonds for all I understood I precious stones. It reflected the light and made everywhere seem like a rainbow. Around it there was a lining of white gold that made the colours look even more unbelievable.
"Ohmigod, Alec it's beautiful!" he smiled at me and after what seemed like ages, took out the pendant. He lifted the cloth at the bottom of the box, which revealed to have a velvety strip of thin burgundy almost black cloth underneath it. He passed the strip through the pendant's hoop and gently lifted up my hair. Then he put the necklace around my neck and tied it in a dainty bow. I let my hair cascade down my shoulders and I felt his hand trail a line from my neck down my back until he settled it on my hips and pulled me closer to him. I couldn't help the tearless sobs that escaped my lips.
"It was my mother's. My father had given it to her after they were engaged. It has been a family heirloom for a long time now. Unfortunately our dynasty stopped with us. But that never meant that it can't be done for the last time." he murmured gently.
"Oh Alec, are you sure?" I whispered.
"Yes. I've never been surer in my entire life." he said firmly. My sobs grew louder until eventually Alec started to panic a little.
"I gave it to you to make you happy, not sad." he said and patted my shoulders.
"I am h-h-happy. I'm j-j-just too happy." I told him lamely. His hug suddenly became more demanding. His lips took over mine and he leaned back on me until suddenly we were on each other on his bed. Our kiss lasted a few seconds until Alec reluctantly stopped. I opened my eyes and found Alec laughing silently at me as my lips were still pouting.
"What? I really missed you!"
"Yes, me too. But I can't afford to get you all distracted until we arrive there." he said. I moaned in defeat. Now I knew what it felt like when I told Alec he couldn't touch me for the whole night yesterday. I grabbed my bag and Alec put the box in a bag.
"Okay, so the plan is: you get some disgusting animal blood in you and then we go wherever I planed for us to go. How does that sound?"
"Em... Highly ambiguous and slightly hurtful." I said frankly.
"Come on, give me your bag and let's go." he said and pulled at my bag, but I didn't let go.
"I can carry my bag without your help, thank you very much. In fact, my dear sexist, mysterious boyfriend, I can do it while wearing high heels." I said feeling like a patronising little snob.
"Sam, why do you have to turn everything into an issue? Why is it so wrong that I offered to carry your bags? Isn't that the gentlemen thing to do? I admire your independence and tenacious character, but you can't get offended for a single rule of etiquette." he moaned as it was clear I shouldn't have crossed that line. I was being too hard on him and this was already the second time.
"I'm sorry Alec. And not just about this but even about the paintings. I guess the three centuries separating us are showing. But it's me who has to adapt. You're doing a marvellous job with me. I know I may be difficult, really difficult. But you still do it. Why?" I looked at him intently, waiting for his answer.
"Because I like to." he leaned closer to me and kissed me on the forehead.
"Then thanks for doing it."
"Any time, ma belle."
"Alec, would you and your girlfriend please leave? I'm going to throw up if I have to listen to more gooey goo talk!" We heard Jane say impatiently from the floor below us. He sighed and sat exasperatedly on the bed and buried his face in his hands. I rolled my eyes impatiently and gave him a little kiss on his forehead. He looked up at me so I grabbed the opportunity along with his hand, the R&J book and with the gym bag already in my hands I pulled him out of the clock tower like a mini tornado.