AN: Like I said in the summary, this is for Jasperinmyroom's competition, based in her True North Saga -Best series ever.- It takes place when Maria shows up at Alice's party.
I smelled it the moment we returned upstairs. It was, undoubtedly a vampire, but, though the scent was similar, it didn't belong to anyone in my family, or anyone who lived close. Despite that, the scent was eerily familiar, I just couldn't figure out where I'd come across it before.
Whoever it was, they weren't friends with anyone else in the family either. Carlisle's expression was twisted into shock, nearly mirroring Edward's as he cast me a look of disbelief. I quickly gazed around the room, searching for the person who would cause so much stress and hostility, emotions that were assailing me like a tidal wave, in my normally calm family.
Still, no amount of preparation could have kept the hatred and horror from my face.
Maria stood there, her dark eyes surveying the room slowly. Time hadn't changed her, aside from a few more cresent marks about her body, but that was to be expected, all things considered. She was nearly Alice's height, but while Alice resembled a pixie, Maria resembled a gnome, at least in my eyes. There was a smile stretching across her lips, sadistic, but would probably be gorgeous to a normal human. To us, or me at least, it was horrifying and unwanted.
Instantly, I pushed Alice so that she was behind me, an obviously better postion for protecting her. Seconds after I did, I felt Bella's hand on my shoulder, gripping it to hold me back.
"It's okay," she whispered, rubbing there lightly in an attempt to calm me. "She's only here to talk."
As if using Bella's words as an introduction, Maria stepped forward and spoke, her words sending chills down my spine.
"And to meet your human again," Maria took an easy step forward, gliding easily across the room."Our last encounter was fascinating."
As Maria moved, her eyes closed and her nostrils flared. With a slight ache within my stomach, I realized that Maria was being drawn toward Alice, her scent obviously stirring the hunter instincts within my ex-comrade's mind. Beside me, Alice shuddered, making me wonder if she realized the same thing.
From a few feet away, Edward shifted and hissed out the words, "Watch yourself." Maria only growled and stopped in front of me, her eyes opening slightly.
"She is pretty," she began, her eyes now gazing into mine. I found only loathing stirring within them, but whether it was meant for me or Alice, I couldn't be sure.
"But you realize you'll repulse her when she's made a vampire?"
Maria's words brought growls to nearly everyones throats while my brother's and father shifted themselves into protective stances around their mates. As they did, my eyes fell to my arms and the hidden scars etched across them, then danced back to Alice, too quick for her to notice.
"When is that, by the way?" Maria asked, drawing my attention back to her. "Because you might want to explain the situation beforehand. Just so she doesn't get the shock of her life."
Beside me, Alice shifted a little.
"What is she talking about?" She hissed and, after receiving on a shake of the head on my part, continued with, "This is about me, you know. Could you at least tell me what the hell she's going on about?"
I stayed still, not bothering with a response this time. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a bad move, for Alice began to move a little. Dreading that she would move from behind me and put herself in a vulnerable position, I grabbed her and pressed her tightly to my back. Though I worried that I could be suffocating her, I was far too concerned with keeping her safe from Maria.
"Let go!"
As Alice protested, Maria began to laugh, a high pitched sound that reminded me of somewhat of a banshee.
"Well, chica, let's just say…our eyesight is much better than yours. And what you think is perfect? It isn't. Oh, not at all. I hope you enjoy the experience."
My gaze fell to my arms, as a slight wave of self-consciousness robbed me of a response. Instead, Carlisle stepped up and took my place.
"I think you should leave now." He told her, his face twisted into a Carlisle-type of anger. Maria however shook her head, her dark curls whipping around her face.
"No, not yet. I too have a present for…well, I can't call her a sister in law, exactly – but…a comrade's future significant other, shall we say. An ex comrade."
With that, Maria reached into her pocket and pulled an object out. Instantly my stomach dropped and anger, horror and revulsion ran through my long-since dry veins. All around me, my family had similar reactions, their emotions syncing with mine. We all knew exactly what the object was and that it would only be seconds until Alice did as well.
Clutched within her claw-like hand, there was a severed hand, human presumably, since the end of it was coated in dried blood.
Behind me, Alice, who had finally snaked her head around to look, went limp, passing out.