As They Kiss, Consume (Alec Volturi)

Gifts

Alec. He's who my eyes first landed on as I walked into a less formal throne room, it seemed to function as more of a meeting room.
His piercing red eyes tracked me as I followed his sister to the middle of the room to stand in front of the three leaders.

"Stay," she ordered me before walking off to join her brother.

My eyes flickered from his to the direction of the leaders before flickering back to him. Only this time he was standing beside me holding something out.

Suspiciously I looked down at his hands before I frowned at him. As if I'd ever accept anything from him.

"Ice, for your head," he said quietly, as he grabbed ahold of the back of my head to keep me still and held the ice pack against the side of my forehead where the bruise from Felix grew by the minute. I was unable to flinch away from the cold thanks to his concrete-like hold on my head. "Hold it," he instructed and I nervously raised my hand to take the ice pack from him. Satisfied that I had a grip on it, Alec nodded to himself and turned to rejoin his sister.

"Dearest Wilhelmina," Aro clapped as he stood up from his chair. "I am so glad you could join us," he smiled as he made his way toward me.

As he got closer to me I lowered the hand holding the ice pack, letting it fall to my side. As soon as he was in front of me, he greedily grabbed at my free hand.

"You are a spirited young one aren't you," he smiled. What in the world was he on about? "Mind reading," he seemed to answer a question I hadn't verbalised. "With just one touch I am able to read every thought you've ever had," he smiled brightly at me.

My eyes widened as I sucked in a shocked breath before I immediately ripped my hand out of his hold. Aro merely chuckled as he made his way back to his seat.

"How is that possible?" I whispered to myself, staring at my hand for betraying my thoughts to this stranger.

"Many vampires are talented Wilhelmina," Marcus answered in his dreary tone.

"Talented?" I asked shakily, looking up at the leaders.

"So don't even think about escaping human. You wouldn't stand a chance," Caius sneered.

"Now now Caius, let's not startle the young one," Aro chastised. "But he is correct. There is no point in trying to escape. Our tracker is Demetri," he gestured. "Once he has a feel for your mind he is able to find you anywhere you may go. It's really quite remarkable.

"What about them?" I asked boldly, jerking my head in the direction of Alec and Jane.

"Ah, the twins," Aro smiled fondly. "The most remarkable talent. Perhaps you'd like a demonstration of what they can do?"

A hiss echoed around the room as Alec protested. "No," he growled defiantly.

"Oh of course not on the human, my boy," Aro seemed to reassure him. "Humans have such weak constitutions. Best not to damage her. Felix," Aro beckoned the hulking man forward.

Felix moaned before making his way out into the middle of the room with me.

"Jane, if you would," Aro nodded.

Jane did not need to be told twice. In fact, she smiled. With a small angelic smile, Felix crumpled straight to the ground writhing about in absolute agony.

I leapt back in shock, my eyes flickering from Felix to Jane.

"Pain," Aro answered my unspoken question as Felix convulsed in waves of pain. "That is Jane's gift. She is able to inflict the worst pain imaginable upon her victims." My eyes widened in fear. "Perhaps that is enough my dear," Aro nodded at Jane and Felix immediately stopped twitching as Jane withdrew her gift.