Outcast

Chapter 11: My first kiss went a little like this

**One Year Later**

I looked at myself in the mirror. Not bad, I thought. Though I was a little annoyed at always having to wear black. Still, I looked quite good. I pulled up my hair in a neat bun and the V pendant. I put on a pair of stylish black boots and peeked at the mirror for the last time. My eyes were onyx this time and I noticed how thirsty I was. I would hunt after I finished with whatever Aro wanted me to do.

But then I remembered that I had to meet Alec after that. We had another German lesson planned. I had already mastered Latin, French, Italian and Spanish since Alec promised that he would teach me. I improved my calligraphy too. Alec was a very good teacher, though the sometimes he would just stare at me. Over the months we formed a bond. There was something between us though I quite couldn't figure out what it was. I knew that he was attracted to me, though he wouldn't show it after what happened in the woods a year ago. I giggled at the thought.

I entered the throne room and found a very amused Jane using her gift on a vampire who was whimpering on the floor. He had shoulder length hair and a straight nose like those you see on an ancient Roman vase. He looked at me with an icy glare. In the shadows I could see Alec and I felt a wave of relief brushing over me.

"Ah, how nice of you to join us! As you can see we have a misbehaving guest. I thought that maybe you can try out your gift on him, see if we can allow him to leave." Aro told me.

"I'm not sure if I'm up to it. I still haven't quite mastered it." I said in a small voice.

"Yes, but Alec told me that you have improved. I'd no problem if you fail. That's the only way you can learn." he told me simply.

"Oh, alright then." I answered. Dimitri grabbed the vampire's hands and held them behind his back and made him kneel in front of me. I touched his forehead with my index finger and closed my eyes. I strained myself to penetrate his mind barriers. After about ten seconds in he same position I felt fog around me. Suddenly the fog shifted into an image. I saw the vampire exit through the clock tower's doors. Then hue fog shifted into another image. I saw a boy about my age being bitten. I penetrated his future once more and I saw the boy in the middle of a crowd in the sunshine, his skin shining while people stared at him and took pictures. That was all I needed to see. I relaxed and the fog went away. I opened my eyes and found myself back in reality. I was proud of myself. I managed not to faint this time.

"So, what did you see?" Aro asked me with an excited note in his voice. He truly found my gift fascinating. He probably appreciated it even more than I did!

"I saw him leave unharmed. Then I saw him turn an eighteen year-old boy." I looked at him and I could feel the pity rolling in my eyes but I couldn't risk our kind getting exposed. It was my duty. "The boy exposed us." I said in a blank voice.

The vampire growled at me. He escaped Dimitri's grasp and lunged at me. I put up my hands in front of my face but of course it was useless. I froze. The next thing I saw was Alec's back in front of me. He jumped between me and the outraged vampire and gripped his neck. He paralysed him and I saw him lunging for his throat. "Stop!" I said as I regained my voice. Alec stopped his bare teeth from ripping out the vampire's throat. "Future visions can change. They're not written in stone. Perhaps if he is allowed to live he won't do what I saw." I said.

"Yes, but he has already gravely offended our kind. He has already tried to expose us. The Volturi give no second chances." Caius said to me. I cringed away from him even though I was already at a respectful distance. "Finish him up." Caius ordered. Alec snapped his neck with one graceful bite which sent his lifeless head rolling on the ground.

"So much commotion. Dimitri, take care of him." Aro said. Dimitri did as he was told he picked up the vampire's head from the hair. His eyes were blank and his skin looked like cracked marble. I shuddered.