Chapter 1
I was running. Running for my life, I say life, but I'm dead. I was running to avoid true death, or so these idiots chasing me thought, this is all just a part of my plan. I hate to say it though, but Elijah was right I perhaps misjudged them somewhat, I didn't expect them to corner me quite so quickly. I focused on moving my strength to my legs in order to push against the ground, so I could move faster than I had before. My surroundings blurring around me, just a sea of greenery was all that could be seen from my peripheral vision. All that could be heard was my footsteps, silent to human ears but audible to any supernatural creatures. Behind me I could faintly hear my attackers' footsteps as they too picked up their speed to catch me.
How did I get into this situation you wonder?
I was helping out an old friend track down three monsters, they had been terrorising the vampire community by committing heinous acts, none of these acts threatened to expose immortality though hence the lack of intervention by the Volturi. These monsters would target female nomad vampires, pin them down and have their way with them. A vampire is strong but not strong enough to single-handedly defend themselves against an ambush, unless they had a defensive gift. It was horrific what these monsters were doing. Disgusting. Someone had to stop them. That's what I have become, a vigilante, and equaliser I suppose, I couldn't stand to hear of others suffering vampire and human, (unless I was the one inflicting the pain), and I would always do my best to help in all circumstances. They say rape is the worst crime you could do to someone who is alive, they're violated and then have to live with that experience for the rest of their lives. Imagine as a vampire when you can't forget anything and immortality is imminent, the mental scars that will cause. I wanted to tear them all apart, limb from limb, and watch them burn, so they could experience just an ounce of the suffering they had caused on others.
But that's not the only reason little old me was actively tracking them, they had information on the location of someone. Though who that person was and why Elijah needed to know was beyond me. Elijah didn't fancy disclosing that information to me. In fact it was odd for him to ask this of me at all, I hadn't seen him in years, and he would never ask for any favours. He's the kind who firmly believes in the 'if you want something done, do it yourself' kind of thing. So imagine my surprise when I receive his call. 'B, I need a favour?'
'Hello to you to, I'm doing great thanks for asking, in fact I was just in the middle of…'
'Okay, okay… I get your point B. Hello…. But you see I require your help.'
'Oh well this is new, what would you like from me?'
'I suspect you are already tracking them, or at least planning to take care of them, but these three particular types of vermin have some information and I need it.'
'Ooo very cryptic, sounds like a spy mission, you're just missing the crucial line your mission should you wish to accept it' I laughed into the phone.
'Isabella, this is serious, I don't care how you get it out of them I need to know where he is, do you understand me?'
'Elijah, if you're referring to the serial rapists then yes, I am currently working on this project, but you are speaking to me as if we have some sort of deal. What do I get out of all this hassle of keeping them alive long enough to extract information from them? And where who is?'
'Bella I wouldn't ask this of you if I could do it myself, please as a favour?'
'hmm a favour … to be owed something from the great Elijah, now that does sound quite appealing. Don't think I didn't notice you deflected my question' I mused.
'They will know who you are talking about. Be careful and don't underestimate them' He said with a tone of finality. It was only a second later I realised he had hung up. So dramatic. I altered my plan slightly in my head to help out my dramatic friend. Putting my phone in my bra, I did a quick scan through the crowd to see if they had arrived yet. Hmm nothing of yet. I'd have to sit at this bar, pretending to drink and ignore the bartender's flirty advances a short while longer.
Looking around I admired the dresses and the extravagance around me, the annual city gala, had what appeared to be everyone in attendance. Every human had their designer outfits on with shoes to match, dying to impress their peers, I'm sure Alice would be shocked yet proud if she could see me now. Fuck, that thought slipped out before I could register it. The old familiar ache in my heart decided to make itself known. Though pain aside, she would be impressed. I was dressed in an elegant black two piece, my trousers skin tight yet slightly flared towards the bottom to showcase of my wonderful heels, on top a simple, yet tight top that showcased my ab definition and my tiny waist. I don't usually dress up like this, but to attract these specific creatures who were using this event as their hunting ground tonight, it was somewhat necessary. To distract myself from the pain in my heart, I sniffed the air, trying to detect their scents. I knew they would be here, they had been in the city of Rochester for two days now and needed to feed. A dark evening, with drunk stragglers at the end of the night, easy to pick them off one by one, the opportunity was too good to miss. Might have got a bit carried away there, the overflow of venom in my mouth was a good indicator, hmm note to self I need to hunt later on, find myself a mountain lion or something. Suddenly the sweet aroma hit me, and I knew they were close.
I waited until I could sense all three of them. Before slowly exiting the venue. I knew they wouldn't pass on this opportunity, I was rather good looking even for a vampire, or so I've been told… it's a shame he.. NO BELLA! Stick to the present! Think about the present plan. Whilst I had this debate within my own mind, I could feel them picking up the pace to catch me up. I knew if I kept walking up the street and took a left between two buildings it would lead me into the forest, and then I could destroy them. Still walking at a human pace, using myself as bait, I turned left into the alleyway between two buildings. It was then I realised I had stupidly not noticed that only two out of the three were behind me, shit. They were herding me. The one I had lost appeared in front of me,
'Well look at you, it's not very often I cross paths with such a beauty'
I rolled my eyes. Damn it, how could I have let myself be so preoccupied, now I wouldn't be able to have quite as much fun. I'd have end this whole thing a lot quicker. Unless I managed to run into the forest before the other two arrived, and avoiding the other one grabbing me, I could maybe just make that. I could hear from their footsteps that they were just three steps away from turning the corner and joining us in the alleyway, but they were limited to human speed, due to our surroundings. It was feasible escape plan, I couldn't take my time with them if I was cornered, I just had to leave NOW.
Here goes nothing, I bolted towards the one in front of me, Laurent I believe his name is, he was not expecting me to head straight for him, he opened his arms ready to catch me, but at the last minute I leaped over him, and took off running into the forest.
Being chased is rather exhilarating I have to tell you. I looked back, I couldn't see anything, yet I could faintly hear them. Good I'm a few miles ahead. That gives me 2/3 minutes tops, I could see a clearing coming up, I would stop there and take them out as they ran through the trees.
The wind decided at this point to change direction, I could suddenly smell the scents of one, two, three… no seven vampires. Seven?! I haven't seen a coven that big since … No don't be silly Bella, it's probably some old scents, or just my luck I'm about to kill on someone's territory. I didn't have time to stop and divert elsewhere, this was my shot to kill this terrible trio.
Breaking into the clearing, I was running at such a speed that I couldn't stop instantly, I came to a halt in the middle of this open space. Who I saw well, those are some faces I never expected to see again.
I was speechless.
Time seemed to stop in that moment.
