Ebb and Flow (Twilight x Reader)

Chapter 32

We were in a brightly lit, unremarkable hallway. The walls were off-white, the floor carpeted in industrial gray. Common rectangular fluorescent lights were spaced evenly along the ceiling. It was warmer here, for which I was grateful. This hall seemed very benign after the gloom of the ghoulish stone sewers.

Edward glowered darkly down the long hallway, toward the slight, black shrouded figure at the end, standing by an elevator. He pulled Bella along, and Alice and I walked on her other side. The heavy door creaked shut behind us, and then there was the thud of a bolt sliding home.

Jane waited by the elevator, one hand holding the doors open for us. Her expression was apathetic. Once inside the elevator, the three vampires that belonged to the Volturi relaxed further. They threw back their cloaks, letting the hoods fall back on their shoulders.

Felix and Demetri were both of a slightly olive complexion—it looked odd combined with their chalky pallor. Felix's black hair was cropped short, but Demetri's waved to his shoulders. Their irises were deep crimson around the edges, darkening until they were black around the pupil. Under the shrouds, their clothes were modern, pale, and nondescript.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Felix leering at me. Swallowing hard, I kept my gaze ahead and my face impassive.

Surely they were wondering what I was doing here, or maybe they just didn't care. Either way, they probably just wanted a bite to eat.

Alice sensed my fear, and squeezed my shoulder for comfort.

Where were we going? To meet more Volturi, probably. To their 'lair' or whatever. But why? Maybe they were going to try to convince Edward to join them, like they'd tried to before. Or maybe they were simply luring Bella and I for an afternoon feasting. . .

Stop it, I told myself. I tried to think logically. They wouldn't do anything to Bella, because it would upset Edward, and the Volturi wouldn't want their newest recruit to think poorly of them. It wouldn't do well during negotiations. Me on the other hand. . . I was less sure I would walk out of here alive. There was hope that I wouldn't be harmed since me getting hurt would upset Bella, which would then upset Edward, which was what the Volturi wanted to avoid, but. . . I couldn't be sure.

The elevator ride was short; we stepped out into what looked like a posh office reception area. The walls were paneled in wood, the floors carpeted in thick, deep green. There were no windows, but large, brightly lit paintings of the Tuscan countryside hung everywhere as replacements. Pale leather couches were arranged in cozy groupings, and the glossy tables held crystal vases full of vibrantly colored bouquets. The flowers' smell reminded me of a funeral home.

In the middle of the room was a high, polished mahogany counter. I gawked in astonishment at the woman behind it. She was tall, with dark skin and green eyes. She would have been very pretty in any other company—but not here. Because she was every bit as human as I was. I couldn't comprehend what this human woman was doing here, totally at ease, surrounded by vampires.

She smiled politely in welcome.

"Good afternoon, Jane," she said. There was no surprise in her face as she glanced at Jane's company.

Jane nodded. "Gianna."

She continued toward a set of double doors in the back of the room, and we followed. As Felix passed the desk, he winked at Gianna, and she giggled.

On the other side of the wooden doors was a different kind of reception. The pale boy in the pearl gray suit could have been Jane's twin. His hair was darker, and his lips were not as full, but he was just as lovely.

He came forward to meet us. He smiled, reaching for her. "Jane."

"Alec," she responded, embracing the boy.