Living underground wasn't so bad, at least not until you witnessed the blue sky of the world above, then that would be all you thought about, and suddenly the stone and marble ceiling would no longer be enough. That's how Alec felt since he talked to that girl a few days ago. What she said, about him going to the coffee shop, was an invitation, wasn't it? Alec wasn't sure, he'd never been invited to anything before, not even when he was human.
Alec knew that if he set foot in the city again, he would go after her just to feel that strange feeling in his gut again, so he had decided not to leave the castle anymore.
- Why do you look so upset?
Jane asked as she joined Alec in the common room the Volturi Guard shared. The room was in the outermost area of the underground, close to Gianna's desk, that way they could have access to cable TV and internet, something that Alec didn't see much use for, but that distracted Renata and Heidi for hours. The older members preferred the greenhouse or the large library that lay at the heart of the castle, filled with parchments and rare books in every known language. It was Master Marcus's favorite place to rest his thoughts.
- I'm completely fine - Alec replied. Usually, when he wanted to reflect, Alec would be as still as a statue, and would hardly be noticed by a normal human being. But now he was flipping through the TV channels quickly, that's what Jane found strange.
Everyone was working, except the two of them and the masters. Aro remained secluded in his private room, Caius had gone down to visit Athenodora and his visits lasted for days, as for Marcus, he was in the library being closely watched by Afton and Corin.
- You don't watch TV - Jane insisted. She was more dressed up than usual, wearing a long black velvet dress with gold threads, and her hair done up in a tight bun.
Without Aro around and with Caius busy, it was Jane who made the decisions, and she loved the feeling of power.
Alec would have to lie to her, but he was saved by the hurried steps of Santiago.
- We have a problem - said the vampire, he was shorter than Demetri, but according to Renata, the dreadlocks on his head made him look more modern than everyone in the guard.
- What kind of problem? - Jane jumped up, ready to show her worth in any situation the Volturi demanded. Just like Alec, her eyes still held small traces of red.
Alec almost became interested in the subject when he saw Renata at the entrance to the common room, gesturing for him to join her.
Santiago started to say something about nomads, but Alec preferred to go to Renata, whose shaking hands indicated that she had something to tell him.
- Shouldn't you be working?
- That can wait! - Renata said, then took Alec away from the common room.
They went to the middle of the hallway, they could see Gianna working from there, but she wouldn't be able to hear them. Renata's black eyes glowed like a spider's.
- I think Demetri is in love - Renata used a tone so low that Alec had to lean in to hear her.
- How can you be sure? - he asked.
- He's always in the same place when I go to see him.
- That's how a lookout point works, Renata - Alec sighed, he didn't have much patience for that.
- He doesn't want me to know! - names would no longer be mentioned, so Renata spoke normally again. The mention of a secret made Alec finally pay attention, as this was the most valuable thing they had in the clan - He doesn't want me to go near the window, he protects the window, so he must be protecting someone, so I went to the other side and tried to see what's nearby...
- You don't take your guard job seriously, do you?
- There is a small cafe at the end of a street, in front of a fountain where I'm sure Master Marcus used to visit years ago when he was still allowed to walk around the city.
Alec pretended not to be interested despite the accuracy of the description, and Renata noticed.
-There's a girl working at the cafe - Renata smiled, her hands moved more agitatedly than ever - I'm sure that's the girl he loves!
Alec's head was invaded by a whirlwind of thoughts, but he was quick to act. He returned to where Jane and Santiago who were still talking about a group of nomads who were adventuring around Volterra.
- Why don't we let Demetri handle this? - Alec said. That was the only issue Jane had to deal with so far, a small one, it wouldn't be frowned upon by others to follow her brother's advice.
- Demetri and Felix are the best at hand-to-hand combat, aren't they? I'm sure they can solve anything related to careless nomads.
- My brother is right - Jane didn't take long to decide because Alec was right. Felix was scary enough of a threat and Demetri was quick to attack and wouldn't let anyone get away if they showed disrespect - send them both right now, they should return tomorrow night.
- Yes - Santiago nodded, and for a moment Alec had the feeling that one day he would call Jane 'master', but she had not yet reached such a high position.
- So, what do you want to do? - Renata was already next to him again, but this time sitting on one of the sofas, far out of Jane's field of vision - It's been so long since we played a prank, the last one was with...
- No pranks this time - Alec was firm, to Renata's surprise, who stopped smiling.
- What are you two talking about? - Jane asked, turning off the TV – This device always makes me angry.
- Renata was just saying that she really wants to go with Demetri and Felix this time.
Jane looked confused, but not as confused as Renata. She blinked dozens of times a minute without understanding what Alec was doing.
- Does she want to go?
The proposal was so out of the ordinary that even Jane found it odd.
- I am not...
- You were already on your way, isn't what you told me? - Alec interrupted her.
Renata looked to Jane for support, something that rarely brought any results.
- If my brother told you to go, go.
Jane's gaze changed, going from casual to focused, too focused, and Renata got up at the same time, leaving the twins alone in the common room.
- Did she do something to anger you? - Jane asked - For we both know that Renata enjoys her comfortable position as a shield.
- No, but she was about to.
- It's better this way - she sighed - you shouldn't be so close to her, or to the others, we are different, Alec.
- I know that - the angelic-looking vampire replied. They both looked like this, Alec and Jane, but their ideas were too far from heaven - and I don't care, I like having friends.
- But I'm your friend - it wasn't the first time Jane said that, and it wasn't the first time Alec ignored her either. - Where are you going?
Alec almost didn't hear his sister's question, as he had his eyes on a different prize.
- To a blind spot.
Elia had woken up early and moved all the furniture out of her room, creating an empty space in the middle. She had never paid much attention to the stone floors before, but after Andrea told her about the sealed tunnel she couldn't stop searching and imagining.
Her effort began as soon as her brother left for work with Luigi. Her shift at the cafe would start a little later today, it was the perfect time to look for traces of something hidden without being interrupted.
The only problem was that Elia didn't know exactly what to look for.
The stones of the house were so closely attached together that she simply couldn't understand how a passage could be there. Moving the stones away from each other was out of the question, and she had already injured three of her fingers with tools she found around the house, trying to create a hole between the mortar.
She thought about how much easier this would all be if the boy on the wall had actually appeared, as asking her brother's acquaintances about the tunnels in the city only got her annoying looks in return. It was like no one wanted to talk about it.
After two hours without even having eaten anything, her room was dusty and messy, Elia decided to keep trying another time. She placed her head on the stone floor and stayed there for a few seconds, but heard nothing in response.
- I'm not giving up - she said to the stone, as if someone could hear her on the other side - I just need a break.
Before leaving the house, Elia stopped in front of the column that supported the upstairs. It was surrounded by a gray wall made of material that looked newer than the others in the house. Elia wasn't good at math, so she tried measuring the length with her hands. If there really was a tunnel in that house, then there was a staircase inside that wall.
The rain continued to fall on Volterra, but Elia had an umbrella today, so she didn't complain. Still, he made it halfway without putting it over her head. The rain wasn't so bad after spent the morning trying to break a rock. Her fingers were no longer bleeding, only a small portion of the skin had been torn off, so she wrapped them in a bandage at home and they had disposable gloves at the cafe, she put one on as soon as her shift began.
Elia liked the beginning of each shift, when she turned on the machines, separated some beans, arranged the tables, and the smell of coffee slowly took over the place. Her brother said that having a routine could help Elia feel better, more present, and although the feeling was still small, she appreciated it.
It didn't take long until her boss came to deliver the pastries that would be sold that day. They didn't have much variety of food, nor was there a need since the place would soon be renovated, but Elia loved their homemade bomboloni recipe. The pastries arrived warm, so Elia carefully placed them on the counter where customers could choose, although, with the rain, Elia doubted anyone would show up. They were far from the tourist route, and with the bad weather most didn't come to that part of the city.
After her boss did a little rounds of the place to make sure everything, including the cash register, was correct, Elia was once again enveloped in a coffee bubble. She knew that the perfect time to eat something would be now, so she made an espresso to eat with the pastry, but barely managed to register this small moment of peace when someone arrived at the shop.
Elia got a little scared when she saw the boy leaning over the counter. As he was bent over, she couldn't tell at first whether he was as tall as her, yet she found herself chronically taking a step back until the machines made her stop. Maybe the scare came because his pale, doll-like face held a lively, glazed look at her since there was no other person in the shop. At least that was the rational explanation that Elia's mind came up with.
They had been staring at each other for too long, and when Elia seemed to have gained the courage to speak, the boy moved. He first looked at the pastries on the counter, then at the tables and the ceiling. He tapped the counter with each step, creating a rhythmic melody.
- Were you the one inside the wall? - Elia asked.
The boy smiled and walked closer. The sight of his teeth sent shivers through Elia's body.
- How do you know? - the boy said. He was already on the other side of the counter, and now Elia saw that they were the same height.
-It was a guess - she took a deep breath after hearing his voice, because now she was sure - you look like someone who hides in walls.
After the initial shock has passed, Elia straightened her posture, moving away from the coffee machines, unintentionally getting even closer to him.
- You look scared.
- It was the first time a customer was so silent... - Elia tried to explain herself, but the boy's intense look left her confused.
He kept blocking the way.
- Oh, you were going to feed...
- To eat - Elia said - do you want to sit with me?
He nodded, then stood aside while Elia took the coffee and plate and picked a table by the window. He sat up so quickly that Elia could barely follow his movements.
- Shouldn't you be at school?
- Me? At school? - the boy smiled - I've never been in one, but I think I'm old enough now.
He looked Elia up and down with his gaze as if he could smell her thoughts.
- You're not from here, you're not at school either.
- No.
- What is your name? - they spoke at the same time, it was strange, but surprisingly it made the atmosphere more pleasant between the two, and Elia finally managed to smile a little.
- My name is Elia, I've been here for a few months, my brother lives in the city.
The boy nodded to every word. His way of reacting was strange to Elia, he seemed super focused on everything.
- Alec - he said - and I've always lived here.
- Always?
Alec nodded.
- I also have a sister, we have family here.
To the girl, Alec spoke as if he was hoping for something in return, one piece of information for another.
- Aren't you going to eat?
For a moment the girl had forgotten about the food as she looked at Alec, and for some reason she thought the boy liked having that effect on her. When she took off her glove, revealing the bandage, Alec stared at her in shock.
- What happened? - he reached out to touch her hand, but seemed to give up, taking it back.
- I did a little experiment this morning - Elia replied, without understanding why a stranger's injuries could cause such a reaction - as you can see, I didn't succeed.
The boy stretched out his hand again, but this time he avoided Elia's hand, touching the sleeve of her coat, slowly turning her fist up.
- What kind of experience?
- Alice in Wonderland.
The boy frowned. Even so, he remained angelic.
- Wonderland?
- Yes, I would open a passage in my house and be taken to another world.
Elia finally drank some of the coffee, feeling warmer now as Alec withdrew his own hand and hid it on his coat. She thought the boy would laugh at her, anyone would, but maybe the boy on the wall would be different.
And he didn't laugh.
- Do you really want to go to another world?
- I think so - Elia broke the pastry into two pieces and handed one to Alec.
The boy looked at the piece of food as if it were a dead rat.
- You don't like sweets very much, do you? - Elia smiled as she put the pastry back on her plate. If her brother were there, he would say she had broken the smile record of the day.
- Not that kind of sweet.
The girl noticed how neat and expensive Alec's clothes looked, but there was something else, a golden pendant around his neck that he quickly covered up when he realized she was staring.
- Our little friend didn't come back, so I think you managed to seal the passage properly.
Alec smiled, proud of his work, he had indeed sealed the passage, not just for the cat, but to not encourage himself to go looking for the girl again. He had only broken his own vows today because he couldn't bear to miss such a good opportunity.
- So, you were looking for tunnels around your house after what I said?
Elia nodded, still with her mouth full.
- You disappeared, I thought you would come the next day, so I decided to look for it on my own.
Alec sighed. Blind spots were very rare among the Volturi, and this one would last less than a day.
- I'm sorry it took so long - Elia noticed that Alec seemed to think carefully before speaking - if you want, I can come more often, there are many things I would like to share with you.
- Really? - Elia was unable to hide her excitement, which caused the same reaction in Alec.
A human all to himself, he has never had an experience like this.
But Alec's smile soon faded, as he remembered how many laws he would break if he went through with it.
- What? - Elia noticed the change in his expression. Alec was surprised by this, as she perceived very easily - You seem to be regretting.
- I feel several things now, except regret - he replied, then let out a smile - I don't know how to explain it...
Alec tried to remember the story he heard about the North American vampire, the one who troubled the Volturi last year: Edward Cullen. According to the evidence obtained by Aro, he had not really revealed the secret of his race to the human he fell in love with, even so, the Volturi demanded her turned into a vampire.
If Alec continued to see the human, she would soon be doomed.
- The problem, Elia, is that I'm selfish, and I have no intention of changing that for a while.
Elia was caught off guard by that declaration, because to her, Alec seemed too young to have so much feeling in his voice. He seemed to think carefully as he spoke, in terms of what to say, he was different from the other boys Elia saw around the city, who seemed carefree, he was even different from the guys in Rome. She didn't know if she felt sorry for Alec yet, after all, if someone like him walked around the city's tunnels, he couldn't have many friends.
As Elia reflected on his words, deep down, Alec hoped that the human would reject him, that she would find him inappropriate, or strange, or whatever it was that would turn girls away from that time. If that happened, he might have the chance to think twice before making a decision, or give Demetri time to came back and find out what he did, leaving him embarrassed and with one less friend.
"That wouldn't last long," Alec thought. The turnover of Guard members was high, and as Jane said, they were different, they would remain.
- Okay - said Elia.
- What? - Alec thought he heard it wrong.
- It's okay for you to be selfish, I am too, in fact I would find it strange to be with a person who was good now, although you seem too young to consider yourself such a person.
- I'm not young - Alec shook his head. The girl's response made him smile even more - and I'm not like you.
- Of course not - Elia went back to eating, and her carefree and kind look at Alec revealed to him that she hadn't realized what he was. Despite her senses screaming otherwise, in Elia's mind, Alec was just a lonely kid.
Time passed too quickly for both of them, perhaps because they shared each other's company. Alec let Elia finish her meal, and still seemed hesitant about whether to hold her hand or not, as he looked at the bandages on his fingers with concern. Elia thought he was just a little embarrassed, but in reality he wanted to prolong this fantasy of being human in her eyes a little longer.
A group of customers arrived when the rain eased and Elia could no longer rest at the table. Alec followed her to the counter and watched her make coffee for a while, but Elia's attempts to get him to eat something were rebuffed, until Alec realized he had already spent too much time with humans for his current level of thirst.
- When we see each other again, we will go on our first expedition - Alec said to the human before leaving.
- Expedition? Where?
- Wonderland. And, please, don't hurt yourself again.
- Only if you promise me that you will really show up again. You know, people often exchange phone numbers to arrange that.
- I swear I don't have one, I'm not lying! - Alec turned to face the human again who had insisted on walking him to the door. He even put his hands together like a prayer to show that it was speaking the truth.
- All right - Elia smiled - you know where to find me, now take it.
She held out a small package, in which Alec could smell something unpleasantly sweet.
- Since you don't want to eat anything, take it to your sister.
Since Alec didn't move, Elia threw the package at him and ran back into the cafe. When she turned to see if he had caught it or not, the boy was no longer there.