Something Darker (Book Three)

XIV. Pleasantires

It had been eight hours, and Renesmee and I found ourselves still stuck on the Volturi's private jet, heading toward an undisclosed destination.

Renesmee had asked me a few times to go try to sweet talk some answers from Alec, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Sure, it would've been too easy, but it felt inappropriate to me.

Throughout the flight, I kept finding myself casting long looks at him; and, thankfully, I'd managed to avoid getting caught so far.

I didn't know why I struggled to keep my eyes off of him. I tried not to look, I really did, but I couldn't help it.

Through all of the drama and the years apart, he still loved me. He loved me just as much as he did when we first met.

He didn't have to say it. I saw it in his face when he looked at me; his eyes softened and his expression relaxed whenever our eyes met.

Of course I knew he was bullshitting me in the coffee shop when he was going on about Felix and Demetri being a threat to my safety, but I found that I couldn't hold it against him.'

Our relationship was incredibly tumultuous, especially during the time I was staying in Volterra. I was angry and bitter, and I lashed out at him a lot. I flaunted my next relationship in his face, and then dropped everything and ditched both of them in Italy overnight.

And, as if he hadn't been through enough, shortly after I got back to the United States I forgot all about him. Not intentionally, of course, but that didn't change the facts.

I couldn't blame him for trying to keep me distracted from Demetri, now that we had a fresh start.

'I may have to dish out a few apologies down the road,' I mused, running a hand through my hair.

'Could you please go over there and ask them where we're going?' Renesmee asked me mentally. 'Or, how much longer we have on this flight.'

I gave her a weary look. It was the third time she'd asked in the past thirty minutes.

"Fine," I mouthed. At the very least, I could figure out how soon I would be able to take a shower and change my clothes.

As I stood up from my seat, I felt very nervous. It was the first time I would be approaching them since I regained my memory, and I didn't know how it would go.

But, it was either ask them a simple question or sit through Renesmee's pestering for the remainder of the seemingly endless flight.

I took a deep breath and smoothed out my dress. I felt foolishly self conscious about still wearing the same dress from the New Year's party; though, in my defense, the previous forty-eight hours had been a blur.

Regardless, the twins looked crisp, neat, and clean, whereas I looked unkempt and wild.

But, what should I care, right?

"Hey, guys," I said as I approached the twins with mild caution.

Both of the twins looked at me owlishly; Alec sat closest to where I stood in the aisle, and Jane sat closest to the window. I couldn't discern if they were surprised to see me or not.

"Hello, Violet," Alec said with a soft smile.

Jane, oddly enough, gave me a sweet smile, as well.

"How are you?" I hedged, trying to bide my time.

"We're fine," the twins said simultaneously.

I blinked at them. "Right..."

"How are you?" Alec asked.

"I'm fine," I said, trying to repress the creeping awkwardness. "So, how's the weather out there?" I asked, trying to take the indirect route.

"I don't know," Jane said, glancing at her window, which had the shade pulled down.

'Ooooookay...'

"Do you guys know where we're going?" I asked as my heart picked up speed. I cringed internally at my idiotic phrasing. Of course, they knew.

"Yes," Jane said.

"Cool," I said slowly. "So...could you tell me?"

"You don't need to concern yourself with the details of our mission."

"Okay," I said dejectedly, hamming it up as I tactfully draped my hand on Alec's shoulder.

"We don't want to worry you," Alec said, noticeably brightening up.

"Think of it as a little vacation," Jane said.

"I think I'd rather go home," I said, more to myself than anything. I missed my room in Italy. My life had been good the past five years, but I got spoiled during my time in Volterra. I hadn't lived as decadently since.

"I have no idea why you would want to return to that dump," Jane said, assuming I was talking about the house in Dallas.

"Home sweet home," I said, glossing over the truth.

"You'll like it in Italy," Alec said, catching my attention as I began to turn to return to my seat. "We kept your room in perfect order for you."

"I wanted to rework the color scheme and switch out some of the furniture, but Alec wouldn't allow me," Jane said.

"It's Violet's room, not yours," Alec laughed.

"Considering how often I had to look after her, it might as well have been my room."

"I'm sure it's really nice," I said, keeping up the appearance that I didn't recall. "I'm looking forward to seeing it."

I decided to throw them a bone because I knew they heard Renesmee trying to convince me to move to Forks instead of Volterra, and I felt a little bad for them.

Considering some of the dark looks Renesmee was getting from Jane, I could tell that they weren't pleased by the development.

"Are you really?" Jane asked facetiously. "What if you change your mind?"

Yeah. Just as I suspected.

I made a mental note to try harder to soothe them throughout the trip. I was concerned that if I didn't, they would go out of their way to torment Renesmee. Or, torment her more than usual, rather.

"I'm not going to change my mind," I said, brushing my fingertips against Alec's shoulder for good measure.

I could see his vivid crimson eyes light up, even though he kept his expression smooth.

Jane, however, was unmoved. "We'll believe it when we see it."