~A/N~
I've started a new story, while I work out the outline for The Way. It's another Jasper/Bella, but it will take a little while for them to meet. In the mean time, I do not own Twilight, or any characters portrayed in it. Stephanie Meyer does, but I'm glad she doesn't mind us playing.
Rosalie Hale
We were out hunting without the family, trying to find some good carnivores. Deer was rank, and I really missed hunting criminals. At least I could save women and children from being raped or abused. For the past ten years Carlisle, Alice, and Edward have been smothering us, and it's been harder and harder and hiding from them. I know the three of them have been hiding some secrets from the rest of us. I'm not certain what it's all about, but my intuition has been going crazy on me lately, warning me they had bad intentions. I feel sorry for Esme, having to be married to that controlling man that calls us "family" as a front to others of our kind. I'm just glad she doesn't have to be mated to him for all eternity. I've never trusted him. I've only stayed as long as I could because of Esme, who is too scared to leave. During our travels, Emmett and I have met many different vampires, and while staying with them, we learned about vampire history, mating, and how gifts work. It was shocking to find out how uninformed we were, considering it was supposed to be our coven leader's responsibility to guide us.
During the 1970's, our curiosity of the royal coven led us to eventually visit The Volturi. We discovered that they were not the power hungry, evil beings we were raised to believe, but very honest and open. I had always heard from Carlisle that Aro was a collector of vampire gifts, and those collected were bound to stay with them or they would die. Aro explained to me that serving his coven was similar to being enlisted in the military. The vampires that served them in the past usually signed up ten years to a century. Many stayed after their contract was over. Nobody is forced to join the guard. They are paid and treated generously. Caius was said to be easily angered, cunning, and ruthless, and Marcus was a morose vampire that lost his mate a few centuries before. Not that they weren't intimidating, because I certainly wouldn't want to cross them, but it was hard to believe anything Carlisle ever said about them, while the three kings were playing poker, smoking cigars, and drinking fine cognac with my Emmett, laughing like old friends and having philosophical conversations. Even Aro and Caius's mates, Sulpicia and Athenadora were charming, and not the raving harpies I had heard so much about. I was showered with the finest silks and treated like a close girlfriend for once in my life. I still have small shopping excursions in London and New York with Heidi, Chelsea, and Jane when they weren't on duty.
It was Volterra where I met Eleazar, along with the rest of the Denali's. I was shocked to find out that I had a gift. While it isn't powerful, it is useful, like a sixth sense. He explained that my power of intuition basically gives me a feel of my surroundings and who is distrustful, like a small warning system. Since becoming a vampire, I've always been more intuitive, and I had chalked it up to how I lost my human life, not having a gift. When I first met Tanya, Kate, and Irina, I became jealous and possessive of Emmett, due to their beauty and the fact they were Succubi. That was until Carmen, Eleazar's mate, explained to me the three women only seduce human men. Tanya told me they wouldn't want to be with a male vampire, a mated one at that, and they crave the warmth of a human. Many times it was how they fed. I could see she was honest. Eventually I warmed up to them. Irina was a little hesitant in the palace, but it was later explained to me she had her own differences with The Volturi, though nothing specific, not that it was any of my buisness.
Emmett slowed his pace when he noticed my silence. When we came to the next clearing, he held me in his big strong arms for a moment. Using his fingers, he tilted my head so we could look into each other's eyes. He quirked an eyebrow at me and gave me a small worried smile.
"Wanna talk about it, my Rosie?"
I closed my eyes and in a split second, decided to confide in him. I kept my thoughts on sex, so the all-seeing gnome and her penny headed peon wouldn't discover our conversation. They probably thought Emmett and I were empty headed deviants, considering how often the two of us used this tactic.
"I think we need to get away for a month or so. I'm going crazy in that house. I feel smothered, and I personally cannot stand another moment of Alice's screeching voice or another one of her scathing remarks about you. I might end up ripping off her head."
He held me to him again and chuckled huskily in my hair. "I love when you get all angry and frustrated. Do you have any idea what that does to me?"
I shivered when I felt his hardness rub against me. He purred lowly when I grabbed his ass and pulled him harder to me. Teasingly I danced away before we got too heated. We needed to talk before we continued.
"No pouting, this is serious."
Emmett rubbed himself through his pants, sulking, and I rolled my eyes at him, chuckling at his grimace. I took his hand in mine and he gave me my favorite smile in return.
"Really though babe, not that I'm complaining, because I completely agree with you, but why so sudden, I mean, Christmas is just around the corner? I don't know how I feel about leaving Esme here for so long with those three."
I sighed into his chest and sat down, pulling him down next to me and thought for a second. "We could always get her to visit Carmen and Eleazar. They always feed from animals while she's there so Carlisle lets her see them, and the sisters will probably stay out of the way like usual so her thoughts aren't 'unbecoming of a lady'. Fucking Prudeward. Anywho, I don't think Carlisle will mind too much at the moment, with him being at the hospital and office most of the time. That man is up to something…"
"Yeah", he agreed, "It might take a little convincing, but I bet we could get her to stay with them for a couple weeks or so. A month is pushing it though."
I nodded my head in silence, trying to decide where Emmett and I should go.
"Would you like to go to our vacation home in Tennessee?"
His eyes lit up with excitement. "Yeah, it's been a few years, and Christmas is coming too. I'd like to see how the family is doing."
I was glad I could excite him. He kissed me with enthusiasm, making me giggle. A wanton moan escaped my mouth when he laid me down on the grass, restraining my arms above my head, as he nipped at his mating mark.
"Oh, my monkey man…"
Two days later…
Packing up my travel bags, preparing to leave in a few short hours, I was honestly relieved everything worked out on our part. Alice was downstairs, prancing around, getting Esme's wardrobe together, Carlisle was on his way home from the hospital, and Edward was on his precious piano, playing his usual angst ridden music. While I had no problem with Classical music, there's only so much Clair De Lune I could tolerate.
"Esme, you can't go to that deplorable white trash store with those sluts!" ,Alice screeched out of nowhere. I rolled my eyes, tired of her dramatics. "You will not ruin the Cullen image with those cheap, nasty, polyester clothes. What would people think?"
"Alice," Esme tried reasoning, "I have no earthly idea what you are talking about."
"I just had a vision of you and those Harlots going to that store-that-must-not-be-named in two days, looking at CLOTHES!" God her voice is so grating. "They were on CLEARANCE!"
By this time I had started to have enough of her antics and went downstairs to defend my mother figure. I got in the little trolls face, and delighted in the fear that shone in her eyes.
"Who do you think you are, you little twit? If you don't shut the hell up, I will snap your fugly little head off before you can blink."
Assward spoke up, well huffed in his brooding voice, for his sister after I all but snarled in her face. "Rosalie, must you be so crass? She was just making a simple observation."
"Oh go to hell, you soulless prick. I've had about enough of you too."
Astonished and annoyed that I would call him something so shameful, he opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off with my thoughts before he could get a word out.
If you don't keep your mouth shut, I'll tell your daddy about what you did last year to that innocent girl we went to school with. Didn't think I knew about how you stalked and obsessed about that human for months before draining her, did you? How could daddy dearest look at you if he knew?
He at least had the decency to pretend to be ashamed, though I doubt he truly felt anything about it. I was about to lay into the little prude again when the door opened.
"Honey, I'm home", Carlisle shouted. He began placing his hat and scarf on the standing coat rack, next to the door when he came in. I nearly scoffed at how perfect he pretended to be. "Now my family, tell me what all this bickering was about."
Alice decided to step in that moment, pulling out her puppy dog eye routine. "Daddy, I was just sharing a vision I had with Mom when Rosalie came sauntering down like she owned the place, and started yelling at me for no reason at all. When Edward tried to speak up for me, she screamed at him for interrupting her tirade." The little bitch started to fake cry.
"Rosalie Hale Cullen, how dare you speak to your siblings like that? You've lived with me long enough to know that kind of behavior is unacceptable. I want you to apologize to your brother and sister, now, young lady." Is this prick for real?
Esme took that chance and spoke against him. "Honestly Carlisle, to tell you the truth, Alice needlessly chastised me about a vision that didn't even come into fruition and most likely won't because I hadn't gotten a chance to tell Carmen and her daughters I was on my way to their home today. If Alice had waited for me to make the phone call, this conversation would never be. There was no reason for her to rant and rave like a lunatic, honey."
"I'M NOT A LUNATIC", Alice screamed.
Carlisle took a calming breath and decided to be diplomatic. I could tell Alice's voice annoyed him at the moment. "Very well, Esme, where I don't like you talking back to me, thank you at least for explaining in a respectful manner. Children, if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all. Now, I have some important paperwork to do, so I'll be in my office. Esme, I expect the table to be set, and ready for supper in an hour."
For some reason, Carlisle liked human food on the dining room table, fixed with silver ware and fine bone china for six at exactly 6:30 in the evening. I could smell the rank scent of roasted chicken, pumpkin pie, and some vegetables cooking in the kitchen. I particularly could not stand this charade. It's a waste of money, for one, and two, it's not like we actually sat down or ate anything. I heard him greet Emmett in the hallway on his way to his study. Edward went back to playing his depressing music, Alice glared at me, then returned to sorting clothes, and Esme returned to the kitchen. Hopefully, the three of us could be gone by seven.
Emmett came and stood by my side. He cocked his head to the side and looked at my annoyed features.
"Hey babe, what did I miss"?
Finally, after what seemed like forever, it was 7:30. Emmett was loading up his jeep with luggage, and I locked up my garage. I had to cover my1970 Chevelle 454 SS. It was my current baby and pet project. I have no idea how bad the weather would be while we were gone, but New York winters get harsh. I would be pissed if I came back after a month, only to find something messed up.
Esme was standing by the Jeep, rubbing her hands together nervously, and looking at the ground. She looked up at me and gave a meek smile as I approached. As I put my arm around her, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Like me, she never asked for this existence, but I couldn't help but think she got the shorter end of the stick. I might have been gang raped, left for dead, and lost my ability to have children, however, Esme was abused emotionally and physically by a human pig, felt life growing in her, gave birth only for the child to die soon, then tried to end her life. As a vampire, she was stuck with a controlling husband, while he didn't hit her he still demeaned her and treated her like a pet. I hope she truly knows what she means to me. It was like a mother-sister relationship between the two of us and if I could do anything at all for her, it would be to help her escape from the Cullens, and live happily ever after.
Alice and Edward left to go on a hunting trip so we had already said our goodbyes. Carlisle came outside to see us off. "Goodbye my darling wife, I trust you will call me as soon as you arrive at Denali?"
"Of course", she placated, "In fact, as soon as Carmen picks me up I'll call you."
He patted her hand and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. "I will miss you come bed time. You know how much I love watching you sleep."
Okaaay…Creepy much, Cullen?
"I shall miss you too husband."
She hopped into the back seat, and took a deep unneeded breath of relief. I would too if I had to put up with him. Ew.
"Goodbye my children, I will see you soon."
We waved good bye and finally we were off.
It was mostly silent in the car for the first twenty minutes.
"Alright Esme, I think we're in the clear now. Drop that Stepford Wife act you have going on," my mate said.
"Oh Emmett, you're funny," she sighed. "I want to thank you two for getting me out of there. It's nice to be able to relax without someone breathing down my neck and watching my every move."
"Oh, I definitely know what you mean. Come on, what was all that about Carlisle watching you sleep", I questioned.
If she could be blushing, I'm sure she would be. "You two know how Carlisle holds onto humanity. I think it's one more thing to make him feel like he is human."
I scoffed,"Esme, there is nothing wrong with pretending to sleep, Emmett and I do it all the time for like an hour to relax and unwind every night. How many hours a night does he insist on watching you sleep?"
"…"
She was so quiet I almost didn't hear her.
"Uhm, Esme, I didn't quite catch that" Emmett stated the obvious.
She huffed, "This is so embarrassing. Okay, I go to bed around midnight to read. By three, Carlisle comes to our room to hold me and requests that I fall asleep. When I close my eyes I breathe heavily, while he strokes my hair and face for the rest of the night."
Yeah, that's a little creepy.
"Seriously", Emmett guffawed. I smack him in the head for his insensitivity. "Ouch, babe! But seriously, that sounds like such an Edward thing."
"Where the hell do you think that child learns it from," I stated, "Carlisle is Edward's role model. It's no surprise after over a hundred years he still a repressed virgin. Tanya wouldn't even touch him with a ten foot pole. Do you remember when Maggie from the Irish clan visited a few decades ago? She tried to strike up a conversation with him and Edward started hyperventilating and ran away. Later I asked what happened and all she said was she was thinking about him joining her and her mate Siobhan in bed, while their male companion Liam watched."
The three of us had a good laugh. Edward was such a prude.
Our drive to Syracuse Hancock International took a little over an hour. We had to stop on the way in one of the parks for a hunt. It would not bode well for three thirsty vampires to fly in a cramped space full of humans. Though the deer were rank, it would keep me sated for the time being, until after we arrived in Knoxville, Tennessee. I was looking forward to hunting some human monsters. We separated from Esme at her terminal. She had a few minutes left until her plane started boarding first class. We were sad to see her off, but it was a much needed vacation for her. We parted ways with promises of phone calls. Thirty minutes later, it was our turn to board. I was relieved that there weren't many people on our flight. I don't know if I would have been able to tolerate the incessant travel chatter. We were in air, my head on my Emmett's shoulder, pretending to be asleep. I felt his eyes on me after a while. I opened my eyes and scowled at him, while he snickered at my expression.
Before we left Ithaca, Emmett made reservations at The Oliver hotel in downtown Knoxville for a couple of nights. It was nice to have a little bit of simplicity away from the rest of the Cullens. The hotel we were staying at is one we've used in the past, and is one of my favorites. When we got to our room, I left Emmett to watch some t.v. while I connected to the internet on my laptop, hoping I could find some criminals for us to hunt later. After an hour scouring the local news, I didn't find anyone worth hunting, so I suggested to my husband we go hunting the old fashioned way.
We put on our hunting clothes, which were usually dark jeans and flannel button downs, with work boots, and hit the town. It was almost 12:30 after midnight when I heard some muffled crying. We were in a decent area of town, but that didn't mean predators wouldn't prey on the innocent. The crying began to turn hysterical and I heard more than one man laughing and taunting, I let out a fierce snarl when I heard one of the monsters speak.
"Oh come on baby, we just want to play…"
"Please, no, don't touch me…"
I could feel the red haze dropping over my eyes, as I began to growl. Emmett grabbed me before I could expose myself too early. He was sad about the girl's situation, but we still had to be careful. We found a darkened alley that touched everything with shadows, and was perfect for stealth. I could still hear the perverts sick taunting from the next alley over. We hopped up to the roof of a building, just as we heard the victims crying turn into shrieks. It was our turn to turn the predator into prey. I soundlessly dropped from the roof, making the air stir in the garbage laden alley. Emmett and I were working through our usual routine. What can I say? I have a thing for the theatrics.
"E-excuse me, Is everything alright here?" I asked, making my voice timid.
"Well, well, Tony, what do we have here", one of the man leered at me, licking his lips. I didn't hold back a shudder, because this guy was revolting.
"Curtis, I do believe we got another playmate. Say pretty lady, wanna find a corner we can…chat in?"
The victim was trembling, looking at me in sorrow. She was just a young little thing, 14 at the oldest. It made me sick. Poor girl already lost hope. I pulled my taser gun out and watched in pleasure as the prongs attached to Tony's crotch and he fell to the ground. His friend Curtis's eyes got big and he visibly gulped. I smelled my husband approaching my side.
"Hey, that wasn't very nice, babe." He kissed me on my cheek and laughed at Curtis who was trying to retreat. He noticed the disheveled teen, who was currently shocked at the strange turn of events. "Hey squirt, you should probably get out of here fast. And put this on so you don't look vulnerable again." My sweet man gave the girl his button down. I swooned at his heroics.
"T-thank y-you", she slowly stood, put the shirt on, and buttoned it with shaking hands. She wiped her face with the sleeves and ran to the opened street when she was cleaned up enough. She looked back at us, seeing we could take care of ourselves, and fled the scene.
"What d-do you want", the pervert studdered. Pansy.
By this time, Emmett had grabbed the man I tased, who pissed his pants and passed out. It made my nose wrinkle in disgust. Humans are so nasty sometimes.
"I'll tell you what I want. I want that girl to not have nightmares about this experience tonight, I want there to be less pigs out there like you living, and I want my mate standing by my side while we rid you and your friend's worthless existence."
"Here, here, Rosie", I rolled my eyes at Emmett.
"Who the hell are you," he whispered in fright as I sauntered to stand in front of him.
With my best smile, I snarled out, "Your worst nightmare"…
