Elia didn't let Demetri carry her on the way back. The sun was gone, so she was free to run and explore as much as she wanted if she wasn't seen by humans. Demetri's way of taking care of her was very different from the other one, Elia soon realized, he let her run free through the mountains, sometimes even faster than him.
- Do you know where we are now? - Demetri would ask sometimes, when Elia would stop to look at a lake or tree that she found interesting enough. Since her senses were sharper now, she always ended up finding something new to see.
- No idea - Elia would answer, she was more interested in the foxes and rabbits that sometimes appeared, but all the animals ended up running away from her.
- Pay attention - he then took her hand and began to tell her where the north was, and made her follow with her gaze to the direction that would take her back to Italy - you need to learn.
They had a small incident, of course, almost impossible not to have one when you were out with a newborn. Elia ended up following a couple's trail in the mountains, but Demetri made her get back on track. The sooner she learned to control herself and drink less, the better off she would be in the future.
- One day I'll show you how to swim back home.
- Really? - Elia seemed fascinated. Part of her hair was full of brown leaves thanks to the last run and now she was trying to pull them out one by one. - I don't remember if I know how to swim.
She liked that Demetri, the Demetri she was getting to know outside, and not the one who guarded her door. The Demetri she was learning to like had a less serious appearance, even with the dark clothes. He smiled at Elia, who tried to pretend she didn't feel anything, but she felt it, especially when he touched her, and these questions began to grow within Elia on the way back home.
- Aren't you going to come in? - Elia asked when she realized that Demetri had remained outside.
Playtime was over. They had returned to Italy and now Demetri had left her at the same gate at Gianna's mansion.
- I need to go back to the castle - the vampire said. Despite his calm appearance, Elia noticed that Demetri was always alert, and sometimes his eyes and face turned before she even realized something was approaching. - I have tasks to complete and everyone depends on me. I'm already late.
- But that's not fair... - Elia approached him again and Demetri looked up, he already knew Alec was in the house, but Elia didn't - You mean I can stay here doing nothing while you have tasks.
- One day you will have tasks too - Demetri smiled, he lightly touched her nose, making her stop approaching. Elia tried not to react as if that hadn't given her good chills - in a year, when you are no longer a newborn.
Elia nodded, but she felt strangely bad about letting him leave, and it was almost as if Demetri didn't want to go, since he was slowly moving away.
Despite what she felt inside, her outward expression remained uncomfortable, so Demetri continued:
- Transylvania isn't that far away, I'll be back in a month, maybe two, depending on what happens on the mission.
"A month, two," Elia thought, "the mind reader really will take them away." She crossed her arms, feeling uneasy, even without knowing what a mission meant.
- I will await your return - Elia said, raising her hand to wave at him.
Demetri didn't wave back, but Elia could tell he was still hesitant to leave, so he decided to go in first.
She sensed Alec as soon as she entered the house and for a moment everything she felt about Demetri leaving disappeared, but only because she felt it all so intensely. He didn't come to meet her halfway as she imagined it would happen, on the contrary, when Elia arrived at the bedroom, she saw that he remained seated, pretending to read instead of asking her what adventures she had the first time outside the mansion. Elia knew that he noticed her, but she snuck in anyway.
- Boo!
Of course, the attempt to scare him didn't work, it was just another way Elia found to try to ease the tension, but Alec didn't smiled once.
-Where's Demetri? - was the first thing Alec asked, and Elia swallowed her disappointment. She didn't imagine that he would be angry with her for leaving.
- He said he needed to go back to the castle, that he was late - Elia replied. Alec didn't look at her, his face still buried in a book that the girl didn't understand the title of because it was in another language, but that wasn't the only thing that looked different.
The room seemed cleaner, the broken furniture had been replaced with more rustic and sturdy looking ones. A new double bed had also been placed, but Elia's nest of blankets hadn't been touched, and that was where Alec was sitting. She wanted to ask him if it had been the human's idea, but the boy didn't seem in the mood for small talk.
Elia tugged on one of Alec's jacket sleeves, yet he didn't react.
- You're… Angry - she finally said.
Alec couldn't pretend anymore.
- Of course I'm angry! - the boy answered, trying vainly to control his feelings - You left the mansion, and with him on top of that, disappeared for hours and only came back at twilight, leaving me to imagine everything that could go wrong, not to mention that you're my...
Alec stopped when he saw Elia self-hug, she was kneeling beside him and then took a piece of paper out of her pocket, unfolding it and placing it on the pages of the book the boy was holding.
- What's this?
- A sketch - Elia replied, glad that he was finally paying attention - there was a cabin with drawing pencils and I used them to make some. Demetri's came out better, but only because he was a live model.
The vampire took the crumpled piece of paper carefully.
- A live model - Alec repeated the words with disgust, looking at his drawing with interest.
- I had to draw you from memory, and my memory is unreliable.
- I know - Alec replied, finally putting the book aside, still holding the drawing with both hands as if it were some kind of treasure. That gave the girl a good feeling, of finally having done something right. - your feet are dirty, and your hair…
- I didn't take shoes, I was too thirsty to care, but I'm going to take a shower.
Elia didn't move, she kept watching Alec. In fact, she wanted to try something, but she couldn't verbalize what she wanted, because she didn't know exactly what it was. The excursion with Demetri was interesting, yes, that was a word she could use.
"Something happens when I'm with him," Elia thought, and she felt it deep in her chest, which, when she woke up, was mixed with fear and dread, but after that day when they finally talked she understood better.
- He just gave me blood, that's all - Elia said, picking up the book Alec had put down. She figured he needed to hear that. - I didn't know you were British.
- I am, how did you guess?
- You're different from me and Gianna, all of you are - Elia said, surprised that she could talk and think about such different things almost at the same time.
Elia ran her fingers over the cover of the book, then tossed it into the nest of blankets to explore later and began to empty her pockets, still thinking about the attraction when she and Demetri had been close enough to each other. It had been too strong to have been the first time.
- Demetri told me some things about the past. - Elia finally managed to say. She was afraid of hurting Alec, and afraid that she was deducing things wrong.
Alec tucked Elia's drawing into his pocket and braced himself for what was to come. He wondered what Demetri might have told her, but he wasn't ready to confirm anything. In fact, Alec was quite comfortable with an Elia without memory.
- He said he loved me, and he repeated those words in the present tense too, but apparently I didn't felt the same way... - Elia spoke slowly, as if she was reciting a story, and that was the part of the story that didn't make sense to her. Why didn't she reciprocate Demetri's feelings? - But he also said that I adored you…
In Elia's head, the answer could only be Alec, she rejected Demetri because she liked Alec… She couldn't remember anyone else. And the vampire realized this.
- That's right - Alec smiled, turning to face her and wrapping his hands around Elia's, feeling like the luckiest person in the world once again - we adored each other, you adoredme.
Alec spoke affectionately and with conviction, and it seemed to fit the girl's broken memories, who nodded after a moment of silence, to the vampire's relief. No one but him knew about the human who would take Elia away, not even her.
- Of course I adored you! - the girl finally smiled, and if it weren't for her bright red eyes with that lighting and the freckles on her face Alec could almost think she was alive again.
- I'm sorry I got angry - Alec said, pretending not to see that there was still a bit of doubt on her face - it's just that we're about to go on a mission, the masters and I, so I want to spend all the time I have left with you.
- A mission means leave the mansion and walk in the forest… – Elia's eyes widened with excitement - Can I go?
- Out of the question - Alec was firm, so firm that it made Elia's smile disappear, so he tried to be softer while caressing her hair: - It means a little more than that, and it's too dangerous, there are others out there who could use you to get to me, to hurt me.
Alec shook his head, he could almost visualize Vladimir ripping Elia's head off when he found out he had fallen in love, and just thinking about it made him feel an inexplicable animosity.
- You will stay at the mansion, Gianna will be your maid and my sister Jane will come and bring you blood - Elia was about to retort, but Alec held her face again, he wanted to make sure she understood - you and Jane are the only ones I care about, you two. So please, while I'm away, obeyJane, and Jane only.
- Obey Jane - Elia repeated, her face stern, but not angry, more so because her plans to walk outside again were ruined.
- Only Jane and I can bring you your favorite type of blood - Alec continued - not Demetri.
Elia nodded and the vampire smiled. He remembered how she was the one who used to do that and how he flinched at her warm touch. Things had really changed, Alec was no longer afraid of what could happen, he wanted it to happen, he was eager for it.
Alec thought this was the perfect time and the kiss was a natural gesture due to the closeness between them, he only regretted not having done it sooner, when Elia was still alive, taking away any possibility she had of returning to that human's arms. He would give anything to feel her heart beat faster thanks to him, and to make her blush and smile like innocent humans did when they found love.
"Why did she have to change her mind?" Alec thought, "Why would she leave Volterra? Leave me?".
His thoughts carried in his gestures and Alec's pressure made Elia push him away, just enough to move his face and lips after her black hair was already serving as a pillow and dusk had turned to night.
His body still weighed on hers and for a moment Alec was afraid that she would equate that intimate moment with the day she was bitten. Alec could handle anything but that, he didn't even know how Demetri had endured not being recognized by her. He would jump into the acid pit in the great hall in an instant.
- It's okay - it was Elia who said, perhaps because she could see the concern in his eyes.
Alec kissed her again, on the lips first, then on the silver scar on her neck. He would never tell her, but he was ecstatic that she had been turned.
- I brought you something - Alec said, feeling breathless for the first time in ages - something you couldn't wear before, but now you can.
He got off of her, letting Elia sit down again, and took the ruby bracelet from his pocket placing it on Elia's right wrist skillfully. The bracelet was larger and brighter than the silver ring on her finger, making Alec feel strangely pleased. One day he would get rid of it and every connection Elia had with the human world would be forgotten for good.
- A symbol of my affection - Alec said, remembering what he hadn't been able to say that day, but now there was no reason to hold back - of my love.
Elia raised her arm to look at the stones against the moonlight, which looked cracked against the iron bars he had installed on the window. Alec wondered if she would refuse the gift this time too.
- I will treasure it – the girl said, the same words she had used the first time, but now, she didn't need to hide it.
XXXXX
"The Romanians were the most powerful clan before the Volturi, in a different time where humans were more likely to believe in the supernatural." Demetri remembered Aro's teachings as soon as he arrived at the clan, he talked a lot about the Romanian clan in the beginning, he did this with everyone who arrived.
"They never hid who they were or what they could do. They demanded slave labor and human sacrifices. Some joined forces to try to defeat them, but of course it was no use, until the gifts turned the tables in our favor". Aro's words still echoed in Demetri's mind, and they were strange when compared to what he saw before his eyes. Dirty hiding places, rotting bodies, newborns piled up, scared, afraid, one or another had a "gift", but it was not strong enough. Aro did a quick triage while Caius took care of executing the others. So far, none had made it past the cut.
Demetri thought it was crazy that Aro insisted on following through with the plan despite Saint Marcus' Day approaching, but now he saw that the master was right, with so many newborns, the Romanians would probably try to take Volterra right on the day of the festival.
They knew the Romanians' hiding places, of course, because Aro never really let them go, so Demetri knew the routes by heart. The newborns were the problem, as they appeared out of nowhere, but the mission ended up revealing that the Romanians did not act alone.
They knew the Romanians' hiding places, of course, because Aro never really let them go, so Demetri knew the routes by heart. The newborns were a problem, because they appeared out of nowhere, but the mission ended up revealing that the Romanians did not act alone.
- What a disappointment, Makenna - Aro said as he walked between the small fires of piles of bodies with Renata following him closely, her hand always raised on his back.
Nomads, traveling vampires, usually not more than three at a time. Demetri didn't like them, because he didn't see a purpose in a life like that, but Aro allowed them to live for a reason. Now Demetri thought that everything would change.
- I can't believe it... - Demetri sometimes heard Renata mutter amidst the noise, executions and destruction. She only joined the group at the last minute, as Aro didn't want to go out with a bodyguard this time, but his wife Sulpicia made him change his mind. Now Renata seemed dismayed to see her cousin condemned - How shameful...
- Are you not even going to speak for me? - Makenna addressed Renata, not Aro, she didn't even look at the graceful vampire surrounding her, perhaps because Aro had killed her mate, Charles, first.
- You brought dishonor to our uncle - Renata sobbed, her hand finally shaking - don't you know that he could be next after your betrayal?
She looked similar to Renata, Demetri only noticed before the end, but her hair was curly. It was Caius who killed her and Renata started to shake, covering her face, only calming down after receiving a hug from Aro.
- How many more do you think are involved? - Aro and Caius talked calmly amidst the chaos. Renata was still in Aro's arms while her cousin's body was removed by Santiago and Afton.
- Of all those who testified against us, I would consider them all guilty - Aro said, patting Renata's back, his eyes glazed over in the flames - but those who were on our side, those are the ones I worry about.
Demetri finally stepped away to check the fires, half of them had already served their purpose and now the remains of the newborns had turned to dust, but they couldn't leave them there aimlessly or the fire would spread and take over the forests, bringing unwanted attention.
He looked down at his clothes and the simple leather-strapped watch that accompanied him on long missions like this. It was during moments of rest like this that he could check his appearance. Aside from a few rips in one leg, his clothes were mostly intact. Felix looked worse, he observed, because he was bigger, the newborns seemed to attack him first.
- We need to talk - Alec suddenly appeared beside him, and Demetri didn't even see him coming. He had many alerts at that moment, especially for Stefan and Vladimir who had not yet been found.
- We don't have much time - Demetri replied, watching how careless Afton was when burning the bodies. He couldn't say anything so he just shook his head in disapproval.
- Good, but we need to resolve this soon before we go back - Alec insisted, so Demetri looked at him. Compared to everyone who came on the mission, Alec was the one who remained the most tidy among all the Guard members.
- Are you going to tell me that you and Elia are together? Because I already know.
Alec looked so shocked that it made Demetri laugh for a second.
- How do you know? Who told you? - He grabbed Demetri's arm - Did you talk to her?
- I guessed and no I didn't talk to her, because when I call Jane she refuses to pass the phone to her and Gianna only answers that she doesn't want to die by doing that.
Demetri decided to walk around a bit, patrolling wasn't bad on missions like this, especially when everyone seemed busy. They had been hunting the newborns for a month and hadn't received any bad news from Volterra, Aro's guess was correct, only the nomads were a surprise.
- And how can you be so calm? - Alec was thinking out loud as he followed the tracker - You don't think I'm a threat, is that it?
- Of course I think you're a threat, I hate you for that - Demetri finally said - I just think that ending Stefan and Vladmir is something that will make the territory safe for Elia, or do you want her to come along the next time? You know she won't isolate herself like Sulpicia and Athenodora and unless she has a very good gift like Renata's she won't have a comfortable life with the Volturi!
- She will have a comfortable life thanks to me! - Alec replied confidently, then pointed to one of the companions at the bonfires - Afton has a comfortable life because of Chelsea.
Demetri laughed again, but chose not to respond, which made Alec furious, but they weren't in an appropriate place for that conversation.
- You don't think she'll want to stay - Alec concluded, looking younger and more naive than ever, but the tracker was already focused on something else.
- Unless you answer where you've been getting the blood she likes so much, no - Demetri replied.
They stopped walking, there was a strange figure in the distance and Demetri soon gave the signal for Aro and Caius to take cover. From the color of the stranger's hair, it must have been Vladimir, but his presence only lasted a second.
Alec and Demetri ran to the place where the vampire disappeared, and the tracker quickly removed the camouflage covering over the iron entrance they were both stepping on.
- This is new - Demetri said, he was about to follow the vampire, but Alec stopped him, still visibly bothered by the conversation they had had.
- These nests must be connected to the main lair - Alec said - just like ours.
- We better wait for the others - Demetri concluded - it will be dangerous if we follow it alone, we don't know what might be down there.
- Or how many.
Demetri closed the tunnel again, he needed to update Aro and Caius and receive new orders.
- I'm still not sure what you're hiding - Demetri said to Alec before leaving, taking off his gloves full of dirt and dust from the dead - but you'll end up hurting her for getting involved in a story that isn't yours.
Alec pretended not to be bothered, but as soon as the tracker walked away, he opened the tunnel again and jumped inside.
XXXXX
There was no light in the underground, not at first, but as Alec walked, some of the lamps turned on with the movement of his body and stayed lit for a few seconds, enough for him to locate where he was.
During the journey there, Demetri led, so they avoided the populated areas and the daylight. The trip to Hungary had been peaceful, it was on the border with Romania that the nests began to appear, at Makó. They just followed their trail until there, it wasn't difficult with their lack of self-preservation.
The deeper they went into the forests and burned the Romanians' nests and hiding places, the more Alec thought about how much fun Elia would have here, with the fog and the twisted trees. She would find the whole thing an interesting setting, a dark wonderland.
The walls of the tunnel were made of metal, like a path of containers lined up until they gave way to stone. Alec realized that this was not a place that had been built for habitation, but only for passage.
- Witch.
Alec felt a shiver down his spine when he heard Vladimir's voice echoing through the walls. He ran in the direction of the sound, but didn't find much, just a large open space, similar to the hall the Volturi used for meetings in Italy. The paint on the wall was peeling, but Alec could still identify the red and gold.
- You came alone - Vladimir finally appeared, opposite Alec, a ghost that would appear almost translucent in the fog up there - no Jane?
- Don't say her name.
Vladimir raised his hands in a sign of peace, but Alec didn't like his mocking smile. He had been his first opponent in battle, Alec still remembered his hair of a strange gray shade, but his clothes changed with time. Now he wore a leather jacket that contrasted with his extremely pale skin, the same as when he dared to appear in alliance with the Cullens.
- Why did you come? - Alec asked, genuinely curious. There were no allies of Vladimir there, his newborns were now dust and the faithful nomads were killed as well, he could have fled - Why here?
- She died here - the ancient vampire said - I mean, up there, right where you are burning the bodies.
Alec nodded. He remembered something Aro had told him once, about Vladimir having a mate a long time ago and that was the only subject in which Alec would show him some respect.
- I'm glad that now you can go through the same suffering of losing someone, witch twin, may these words follow you.
XXXXX
It took another week for the Volturi to reach the center of the Romanians' lair, but there was no sign of Stefan. Demetri thought that Vladimir had probably sacrificed himself for him and that he must now be hiding with some ally, probably another nomad. Either way, Aro would contact every clan in Europe, so that no one would offer him shelter.
Even though the Romanians traveled with next to nothing, there were still important relics in their possession, probably accumulated during their travels, when they posed to Aro and the others as travelers who had suffered so many misfortunes.
Since the attack that wiped out the clan, the Volturi had not explored the tombs again. Sending Demetri to check Stefan and Vladimir's possession seemed to be enough, since they had taken everything of value the first time. Caius was furious to see that they were hoarding relics.
- Rats under our feet! - the master would sometimes shout at his soldiers who were always on standby. Most of the people who followed Caius were rotating members of the Guard, some of whom Alec and Demetri didn't even know the names of, because they didn't think they would last. But getting Caius's approval was an important step to staying there.
- I don't care about any of that - Aro said with disdain as he looked at the chalices, the chests and the embroidered silk they had found in one of the rooms - take what you want.
The nameless ones ran to the prizes, of course, while a sad Renata continued to follow Aro around. Alec hadn't had time to talk to her yet, since, since he killed Vladimir, the only thing he had managed to do was leave the tunnel and go to a place with enough signal to make a phone call.
"May these words follow you", Alec tried not to show how much Vladimir's words bothered him, and he hadn't even repeated them to anyone, not even Aro.
- That's interesting - Aro took the box from Alec's hands carefully so as not to touch his skin. He studied the velvet, then finally opened it - a wedding ring.
There was light in that part of the lair, so everything was in plain sight. That box didn't seem that valuable at first glance, and Alec had no idea why he had chosen it, but the ring inside it, the white gold and the blue diamond, that was glorious.
Alec craned his neck to see what Demetri was choosing, and saw that the tracker was picking up a decorated wooden box.
- What are you going to tell her? - Aro asked, drawing Alec's attention away.
- Tell her what?
- When she finds out about the human - Aro handed the velvet box back to him.
- She won't find out - Alec replied - I tried my best to keep this secret.
- Not enough - Aro sighed, he seemed different outside the castle, a little more cunning - you should have already thrown him into the acid pit, then only your memories would be the proof, and I wouldn't say anything.
Alec glanced sideways at Demetri, who was still smiling as he studied the wooden box. He was sure he was listening.
- Love is complicated - Aro said - don't let it dominate you.
Alec made a move to take his cell phone out of his pocket again. He hadn't been able to reach Elia last time, even though Jane had moved her to the castle without his permission. There was still much to be done and enemies to defeat, but Alec just wanted to go home.
(This was a long chapter, and I was surprised to post it today, since I had a rough week. I just wanted to say that the likes and comments encourage me to keep going, so show your authors some love, it helps a lot.
Well, I hope this chapter made it clear how different Alec and Demetri are, especially in the way they react, since Alec is younger and consequently more immature in his way of thinking.
It was fun to bring Vladimir, in fact this hunt for the Romanians happened in all my versions of this story and in some Elia even went along, but in this version it wouldn't fit the theme.
In the next chapter, we'll see Elia and Jane together in the castle while part of the clan remains away.)