Heartbeat [Alec Volturi]

Endearment

The darker the red, the more recently fed.

The unnatural red of his eyes never frightened me. It was, oddly, the one detail of his species that I was so keenly focused on from the beginning. Alec could hide anything for his outward appearance and reputation. From the expression on his face to the power of his stance. It was a beautiful facade. Sometimes, I was lucky enough to see through it. Usually when he wasn't expecting a rush of emotions to hit him like a ravenous wave.

Those eyes now, were shining brightly with a deep burgundy red.

And I saw nothing.

My chest tightened, and air barely entered my lungs. I needed to get out of there. Everything in me was telling me to run.

So, I ran.

I stumbled as I shoved myself up from the ground, grabbing the railing to keep from falling while simultaneously using it to launch me faster down the aisle. It didn't hinder me or my desire to get out of there as I sprinted to the staircase.

Alec stopped me on the last step with my hands on both banisters. I should not have expected any different. I took a hail mary and tried to slide past him on the left. He was already blocking my path by the time I made the decision, his hand caught my elbow as if he expected me to trip. Sparks resonated from his touch, but I refused to look at him.

"Darling, look at me." My chest constricted as Alec pleaded with me, but I squeezed my eyes tight.

"Don't call me that."

My brain was beginning to go numb, the stitching of some kind of static prodding at every thought that tried to sneak into my consciousness. This unknown feeling was taking over like the shadow of a cloud, blocking everything that tried to give me an inch of sunlight.

"Saffiya –"

"Alec," I murmured softly as the man at the front desk began to take notice. "Let me go."

"Please don't make me do that." His voice was strained, and I had to stop myself from comforting him.

I tried to step past him again, but his hold kept me in place. My body slightly jerked from the movement, which caused the owner of the shop to stand, at which point Prosper moved to deal with him.

My eyes were relinquished to his. The red had lost its dominance to his pupils, dilated and shining with an emotion I couldn't quite decipher. He never did it on purpose, and I doubt he knew he had such an intense puppy dog look that it made me feel as if the entire world was on the line. I needed to think, and I couldn't process anything when he looked at me like that.

"If you don't let me go, I'll scream."

His brows furrowed with something more than determination, maybe a little doubt. We weren't on an empty train platform this time, and the stakes were higher here in the heart of the Volturi's city.

"Please don't run from me." There was a flash in his eyes and a weakness in his words. I faltered. "Please."

All I did was run from him.

I repeated, "Let me go." He did.

I stayed frozen on the last step of the staircase. I didn't want him to let me go. I could feel the anxiety radiating off of Alec in waves. We stood inches away, the single stair difference putting us at near equal height. My focus traveled from where his hand had held me, the sparks only just fading, to the side of his body and up his shoulder. Semi-formal (as if he'd wear anything less) tan trousers were paired with a hunter green formal top, and he certainly did not fit into the Italian city's considerably lighter style.