Chapter Seven

"I love happy endings. They are so rare." - Aro - NM - Pg. 468

There came a certain change when becoming a vampire. It was more than the icy impenetrable

skin, the red (would-be-soon gold) eyes, the speed and thirst, and the grace. It was confidence. Bella had never had the highest self-esteem, but she had never been the prettiest, the smartest, and certainly not the most graceful. She was average as a human, but remarkable as a vampire.

Therefore, there was little fear in approaching the Volturi. Jasper chuckled when she was exiting the house a week after her transformation, commenting on how self-assured she was. How happy she suddenly was.

"What about the humans," she asked Alec quietly, out of the hearing range of Jasper and Alice. "How will I get to the Volturi without killing anyone?" Thanks to Alec, the idea had not plagued her all night, rather she was completing him, marking her as his and his as hers. It was a night that went into the dawn, and their time together was up.

"My company should prevent any causalities." He was completely serious, staring at the slim road ahead of them, winding up to Volterra, off of another road from Pomarance, where they stayed in a place called Cerreto. Esme had built a lovely villa.

A stone porch with ivy climbing the pillars, an old fashioned oil lamp over white kitchen chairs, and red glass doors. Pieces of beauty in a place that thrived on it. Bella, however, missed home with the worn and vis-a-vis furniture. Jasper and Alice kindly and sympathetically refused her requests of returning. It was for not only her and Alec's safety, but the safety of the Cullen clan and Bella could not argue with that.

Dressed in heavy wool cloaks, they walked briskly to Alec's old home, though careful to keep a human-like pace. He kept her tucked under her arm, and she held her breath. The memory was foggy and choppy, but she remembered through a film that Edward had said that it was uncomfortable. At the time she scoffed, because the mere idea of breathing for its own sake was absurd, but she knew what he meant now that she was a vampire. It was more comfortable to breathe, but she saw the little children on the arms of the unmindful parents, and the couples strolling past the fountain, and she couldn't risk it.

Inside the dark doors they were met with Felix. She was startled by his appearance. Although Alec looked even more angelic and beautiful to her when she opened her new eyes, she had to wonder how she could compare Felix to Emmett. Although Felix did have Emmett's size, he was much bigger and more lustful. He winked at her.

"Immortality suits you."

Alec squeezed her arm. "Where is my sister?"

"An issue arose in Cairo. I am to take you to Aro." He glanced at Bella. His smile didn't slip, but he showed disappointment. She wondered if they already deliberated and decided to kill them.

She turned her face slightly to Alec. They would have to kill her first.

The last time Bella had gone through the passageways it felt long and tedious. She hadn't been able to see lights at the end, much see any evidence that it did end. It was vastly different as a vampire - as all things were. The halls did not seem endless or chilly, and she could see the elevators ahead as soon as they dropped into the tunnel, this time without Alec's help.

The receptionist greeted them happily, picking up the phone and chattering away. Felix winked slyly, and she blushed.

When they approached the Volturi's meeting chamber, Felix bowed them in.

The anticipation and worry that plagued Bella fell. She was left with a strike of confusion and shock at the sight of Edward, poised in the position that used to belong to Alec, in a cloak that looked a lot like Alec's had.

Bella didn't realize she had faltered in her steps until Alec pressed his hand to her lower back. They waited in the center of a large mosaic of red and blue design.

Although the three high-backed chairs were in place, only the middle was occupied by its owner. This granted Bella measurable peace. If the other two vampires had been there it would be a formal review and possibly a formal killing, but only Aro gleamed down on them as he stood. He opened his arms wide, as if to embrace them, and said, "my dear Alec and Isabella."

"Hello, Aro." Alec bent his head, though not in a bow, but a sign of deep respect. "Thank you for meeting us."

Aro shook each of their hands. "Isabella, my love, you are ravishing." His red eyes lingered on hers, still crimson from her blood.

"Thank you." She relaxed when he released her, and she saw, Edward giving his crooked smile at it.

"Alec, Isabella, I m sure that you are acquainted with Edward Cullen of the Cullen clan."

"Sir, may I ask you what this is about?"

"Yes, you may. Since your sudden and unforeseen absence I had to find someone that was as talented as you to take your place, and if I may say so, I have outdone myself."

Edward did not speak, but gazed sadly at Bella, and the touch Alec kept to her back. She was relieved to see that his eyes remained gold. Either the blood had not tainted his eyes yet or he was remaining true to his diet. The former idea made her mentally sick.

Aro continued. "You know how I adore you, Isabella, but you and one of my most useful members left. And after strict orders... It was a shame of disobedience. It was lucky that Edward here, offered his eternity to serve the Volturi, on your behalf, my lady. Alec, you and your mate are free to go."

It was that simple and it was the most terrible thing in the world. Edward sacrificed himself for her and Alec's lives. Why? Why would he do such a thing? She couldn't let him. She had to stop him.

Alec had apparently read her decision in her face. He brought his hand down to hers, squeezing her fingers, silently telling her to wait. She did as he instructed. She waited.

"A lovely couple, don't you agree, Edward?"

Edward's jaw tightened, looking more like marble. His eyes flashed before the mask was firmly put into place.

Bella was strong, fast ,a vampire, like him, and it annoyed her that he still felt that he needed to hide. It occurred to her, then in that moment, that perhaps it wasn't her. That it was classic Edward.

"I do apologize, but I have duties to tend to. Edward, you may show them out." Aro smiled, and shook her and Alec's hands, leaning in to kiss each of their cheeks. Bella shivered from the disgust. If Aro noticed, he didn't mention it.

"Hello, Bella."

Her anger flared. Had he not thought about his family? Carlisle and Esme, and Emmett and Alice? His siblings? She went up to him, looked up into his face. She captured his gaze. He wouldn't escape her, escape what she was. She was finally where she wanted most to be, what he had taken from her. "Why did you do it?"

"Aro would have killed you."

"My time was up."

"I lied, Bella. Do you not understand that? For your safety I lied. I will forever be troubled by my choice, but it does seem that you are happy."

She could tell that there was more in that statement. There was more than her happiness. It clearly told her, that he wanted better for her. He wanted her human, with a human husband, and living a simple human life, not understanding that it was not what would've made her happy.

Edward was hopelessly delusional.

"Is there anything we can do?"

"Yes. Be happy."

"I can't let you do this, Edward. I will take your place. Alec and I will come back."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes and it was far from her favorite crooked grin. "It is not awful here. The receptionist, she is lovely."

"You like her."

"Never as much as I'll always love you." He looked at Alec, whose hand was tightening on hers. "Thank you. My new brother. For helping her escape."

They shook, Alec's hand nearly disappearing in Edward's large one. It was a silent agreement, that they would be grateful for the others sacrifice for the happiness of the girl they loved. They deemed it worth it, but Bella couldn't comprehend.

"So this is it?"

"I believe Carlisle and Esme are waiting to greet their daughter, and new son."

Alec was perplexed by the use of new label, his visage lighting. More than a servant used for a talent, but a son. Something he always desired.

Edward bent, and kissed Bella's forehead, much like he did the day he left her in the forest. Only, now it was her leaving him in the Volturi chambers to live out a different kind of damnation than he thought he would be sentenced to. One that did not seem to bother him in the hopes for a new human girl.

"I love you, Bella."

"I love you, too, Edward."

Alec and Bella left Volterra for the last time, to return to Jasper and Alice, to fly back to Forks, Washington where they would reunite with their family.

A/N: Now, in all seriousness, this is THE END! It is quite flattering to have so many hopeful reviews asking for another chapter, but this was a very short story; my attempt at writing Alec. I am so glad that so many of you enjoyed it. It was wonderful.

Thank you! I adore all of you.

On a side note: I happened to come across a picture that looked like Esme's villa in my mind. You can go to my blog and see it, posted on Jan 21, 2011.