PURE PERFECTION 2 – TAINTED

CHAPTER 1

Welcome back!

Thanks to all of you who have favorited my first story, Pure Perfection, and are following me. Oh my goodness, I'm so floored! This new storyline, Tainted, begins with a bit of the back-story of Aro's plans and we also see how everyone is coping with their new lives.

This will be a faster paced story, although I will take my time posting. Maybe once a week. There will be a lot more mutants in this story, requiring a lot of research. I really want to make sure I get the right mix of mutants and other characters.

Note: Rating has been changed to M – There is a lot more mature content. I'll try my best to warn you if there are some triggers. This will be a much darker story.

Read & review, please and thank you!


Deafening silence.

Gianna thought that she would go mad. Since Aro had been removed from power everything around Volterra seemed to slow down. There was an energy that swelled around Aro at all times, his mind constantly cooking up schemes. It reverberated through the castle, flowing to his eager pets. Now that they were no more, it seemed as if time slowed to a crawl.

Marcus' leadership was at a markedly slower pace than Aro's. He did not take long to deliberate on things, he acted swiftly, but silently. There was very little ceremony and audience involved. Your case presented, Marcus, Demetri, and a rotating cast of third council member, would decide. Judgment dispensed silently and expeditiously. Gone were the days of dramatic flailing and pleadings. The Volturi now built strong cases and backed their claims up with quantifiable evidence. If you made it to Volterra, you were as good as dead.

That fact alone made it difficult for Gianna to understand why Aro was still eking out an existence in the cellars below her. She knew the mutant girl, Bella, had no desire for more death to be on her hands. But Aro, he had orchestrated genocide of her kind, all for his futile attempts at world domination.

Keeping Aro prisoner was a fairly easy task. He was given living quarters with round-the-clock guards. Corin was oftentimes sent to stand watch, keeping Aro's demeanor compliant. Over the years Marcus and the others had replenished their numbers, still seeking out talented humans.

What Aro's experimentation had uncovered was that humans, just on the cusp of mutation, were the best candidates to be changed. Their latent abilities cast off as intuition or something similar. The venom perfecting the imperfection, strengthening it. Conversely, venom proved to be unpredictable with a full-fledged mutant. In some cases there was no change, others the mutation was reversed, and others died – the venom acting like a toxin. This last scenario most commonly occurred in Epsilon and Gamma-level mutants. Those with more obvious physical mutations, such as animal-like traits.

Aro had kept detailed records. He hoped to capture Alpha and Omega-level mutants to test his theories. Their human appearance and strong, but controlled powers made them almost impossible to capture. This frustrated Aro to no end, which is why he partnered with the Brotherhood. It gave him a smorgasbord of mutant options and Magneto was more than willing to sacrifice some lesser mutants in order to achieve his own goal. He got his hands on a few Beta and Delta-level mutants. It was a crap-shoot. There were a great many lives wasted and others he dared not attempt to try with.

After Magneto's de-classification and capture, his followers' loyalties shifted. It remained to be seen if this change was because Magneto no longer held any power and Aro did, or if they were under the influence of Chelsea. Relying on Azazel's recognizance, Aro learned a great deal of mutant whereabouts and habits. The teleporting mutant could disappear and reappear thousands of miles away in the span of a heartbeat. Oh how Aro coveted his ability.

Aro found in Azazel a kindred spirit. He promised the demonic mutant a seat beside him, to rule over the new world he was creating. Azazel had a history of seeking out exceptional females, having mated with only the strongest – those who could survive the act and had the potential to bear his spawn. One touch to Azazel's hand told Aro all he needed to know. The knowledge had his head spinning.

The two stuck a gruesome accord. Azazel visiting the many clinics around the world, seeking out those who wish to have their mutant traits cured, identifying suitable subjects. Over the years he has popped in and whisked away with dozens of young mutant women and men, bringing them to Volterra before they even had a chance to scream.

Stumbling upon Jean Grey's lifeless body in the aftermath of the attack on Alcatraz, Azazel brought her to Volterra, a small puff of red mist the only indication of his impending arrival. "Ah, Azazel, what have we here?" Aro's tone anxious.

"Jean Grey, second to Charles Xavier. She is fatally injured, but would be perfect for our experimentations." Aro stepped up and touched Jean's hand. There was nothing.

"She's alive, yes? What is her ability? Why did I not see her before?"

"Her powers have... changed recently. I knew of her before, she is strong – the one of the strongest psychic mutants I have ever had contact with," Azazel answered, setting Jean's body down he disappeared with a quiet poof. The only evidence of his presence was a red mist that was quickly dissipating.

Aro was drawn to Jean. She was beautiful and silent. He pushed himself, his ability to probe her mind. He saw a great expanse of white whenever he laid a hand on Jean. There were no details, no images, just white. Another small poof alerted him that Azazel had returned, this time with a weakened Magneto in his arms.

"Ah, old friend. How nice of you to join us. I see that you have befallen my cure. How terribly dreadful," Aro said smugly. He and Magneto had similar yet competing goals, therefore, his one-time ally's malady was Aro's gain.

"Try not to look so pleased, Aro," Magneto grumbled. Azazel poofed in and out of the chamber, each time bringing a new mutant with him – all those left behind in the aftermath of the battle. Aro directed him to place them in holding cells perfectly suited to counter their abilities; making escape impossible.

"Eric, please. I take no real pleasure in your current condition. I had hoped that we were friends, but I see that you've been keeping things from me." Aro's eyes darted to Jean. Magneto bristled as the vampire leveled a menacing gaze. Trying to focus, Magneto attempted to lift the large metal grating that sat in the center of the chamber, hoping to crush the demented vampire king. His shoulders slumped in defeat as Aro threw his head back in a barking cackle of a laugh.

"You are powerless," Aro taunted suddenly breathing heavily against Eric's neck. "I should drain you, after all, you are nothing but an insignificant human now. I am the superior being here, and you but an ant." The vampire ran his hand along Eric's neck, his nails grazing the thrumming vein that sat just under the surface of the man's skin.

"I smell the cure in your blood, Eric. And something else... fear." Aro's red eyes brightened at Magneto's increased heart rate. "Must be quite an unsettling new sensation for you, but it does make you smell absolutely delectable."

Azazel appeared again, causing Magneto to regain some of his courage. "Brother! Why are you assisting these creatures?" Aro cut off Eric's words by gripping him firmly by the throat. The contact sending a barrage of images through Aro's mind.

"The female – she has a child?" Images of a wild, un-tameable man followed in quick succession. Bright, happy memories of the child, Schatzi. Her smiling face and bright eyes warming Magneto's heart. Her tinkling laughter echoing through the recesses of Aro's mind. He dug deeper, seeking out the child's ability but could find none. Surmising quickly that Jean was powerful and hid the child and herself in plain sight.

"Don't hurt her, please. Aro. I do not value anything, but the life of the child. Please, let her live in peace. Whatever else your aim is. Please leave my Schatzi out of it," Magneto croaked. His eyes glassy with tears. Azazel scoffed at the sight of his one-time master's weakness. In his mind children were a tool, created for a purpose. Love and affection had no place in his sinister plans.

"Although my heart may not beat, I am not heartless. We shall watch, from afar, until your Schatzi proves to be of use to me."

A red puff of smoke brought Aro back to the present, alerting him to Azazel's presence. Although he no long sat on the throne of Volterra, he was confident that the would rise again, and soon. His numbers were decimated, but he had his ace in the hole, as it seemed. Azazel.

With a touch, the mutant shared all that he had seen. Flitting in and out of the Cullens' periphery, staying just long enough to gather information but never allowing time for his presence to be known. Eventually following the newlyweds from their wedding down to their honeymoon location, staying just out of the couple's detection.

His goal – to witness Edward's control with his new bride.

"They have consummated their marriage. There was blood. The boy's control is unmatched," Azazel reported. "He is unhappy with himself. I believe he's realized that he has played into our hands, but we have the element of surprise on our side. They know nothing of our plans or allies."

Aro sat back triumphantly. "As soon as everything is prepared, take him."

~PP2~

Incubus...

Edward's eyes darted around the beach, looking for the source of the abominable thought. He cursed himself for being so foolish, so stupid. His mind replaying their last encounter with Aro, how the fallen vampire king's thoughts turned to Edward sitting at the center of a harem of sorts – the father of a new species.

He had to clear his mind, Bella would know instantly that something was wrong. The push and pull of her talents were beyond his ability to block.

Turning his gaze to his sleeping bride as the rising sun cast glinting rainbows across her smooth skin, Edward nearly broke down. Everything had been so perfect, he should have known better than to believe it could last.

Yanking on his hair, almost painfully, Edward decided to take a shower. The scent of Bella's blood, although dried now, still lingered and caused a dull burn in his throat.

Standing under the hot spray of the water, Edward tried to scrub away the shame of what he had become. It was so easy to forget that Bella was not human. Her hormones and emotions were the most human part of her. She looked delicate and breakable, but she was far from it. It had been three years and Edward still had a hard time seeing beyond her outward appearance.

The shower door slid open, and Bella stepped inside, hissing at the heat of the water. Edward quickly reached to adjust it but Bella stilled his hands. "Don't, I'm a little... sore," she winced. "The water feels really good," she said as she wrapped her arms around her husband, pressing her cheek to his chest.

"Bella, I can't tell you how sorry I am."

"Baby, there's nothing to be sorry for. I thought last night was perfect, better than perfect. We did amazing for our first try – don't you think?" She asked, looking up demurely. Edward bent down and placed a tender kiss on her nose.

"Yeah, it was pretty amazing. Best night of my existence."

"Same here...," Bella moaned as she ran her nails up and down Edward's back, kissing along his chest at she caressed his hardened form. "What do you say to making it the best morning of our existence?"

"It already is, Bella. I have you with me – as my wife. Things couldn't get much better than that," Edward said in an attempt to divert his eager bride. "Don't you think we ought to take it easy. You said you were sore, Love."

"I was sore, baby. Advanced healing, remember. I'm all better now," Bella said as she took one of Edward's nipples into her mouth, flicking her tongue over the hardened peak, causing him to let out a squeak in surprise. "You like that?"

"Ungh. More than I can tell," Edward groaned as Bella pushed him to sit on the shower bench and quickly straddled his lap, their bodies aligning perfectly for Bella's objective. "Love, I don't think this is such a good idea...," Edward said shakily, his resolve slipping by the second.

"Don't think, baby. Just feel. Feel me, Edward. I want you so bad," she told her husband as she kissed a burning trail up Edward's neck. "I'm not human, Edward. Get that through your thick skull," she growled, gripping his hair roughly yanking his face up to meet hers in a searing kiss. Her tongue running along his bottom lip, urging him to open.

Edward gripped the bench tightly, his control hanging on by a thread. His powerful fingers shattered the tiles under the pressure. He remained rigid.

Bella stood and turned her back to him. Her body trembling, fighting against the wave of emotion that was threatening to overtake her. Silently, she stepped out of the shower.

Edward found her in the kitchen several minutes later. Wearing a simple silk robe, sitting at the breakfast bar.

"Was it that horrible for you, Edward? Don't lie to me."

He was at her side in a flash, reaching out to caress her cheek and rub the worry off her face, but he couldn't. Bella had encased herself in her shield, keeping him away. She kept her eyes downcast, if she looked at his face, he would break her. She was determined to be stronger than that.

"I know I'm not a vampire, Edward, so it isn't the same for you. But for me – I can't imagine it getting any better than that. I don't understand why you had to lie to me though. I thought we promised to never, ever lie to each other!" Bella growled, her skin emitting tiny blue sparks under the stress of her emotions.

"Bella, please. Calm down. Let me explain."

"Explain what, Edward? I wanted forever with you – with or without marriage. All you had to do was be honest with me and not give me a mercy hump, out of your husbandly duty. Shit, I'm so stupid to think this could actually work. God, what what I thinking..."

Sitting down roughly across from his wife, Edward stared at her distraught face.

"Why don't you want me, Edward?" Bella looked up, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. "Last night was, was everything I could have hoped for and more. I listened to girls talk about their first time horror stories. I didn't want that. I was so scared, Edward. But you made it perfect. You loved me just the right way. Now you're turning me away. I just don't understand it."

"Oh for fuck's sake! Just read my mind already, Bella." A surprised smile broke Bella's sullen demeanor at Edward's use of foul language. "Yes, I said fuck. Which is high on my To Do list, but there are some things we need to discuss first," Edward said with a smirk.

Bella's eyes brightened. She sat up attentively, picking through her husband's mind, weeding through all his worries. "Birth control, that's what you're worried about?" Edward nodded. "You don't want to make a baby with me?"

"First off, I don't even know if it is possible. But I'd rather it be planned, than a happy accident. Who know what that'll do to you. I think it would be best if we took... precautions."

"You know that medicine doesn't work on me, so the pill or shots are out of the question," Bella said, quirking an eyebrow at him. His mind focused on the dip of her neck, how he'd like to lick that spot. Bella shifted in her seat, her body heating up at her husband's thoughts.

"Carlisle and I talked about it, but he seemed confident that your body's instinct to protect itself would prevail, so we never brought it up before."

"Can we keep thinking that way, and get back to our honeymoon, Edward?" Bella asked, sauntering up to her husband, dropping her shield and her robe as she approached him.


A/N:

For you supernatural story lovers out there, I found this story a few days ago: Psionics by cupcakeriot. It is about all Twilight characters, but they are something just beyond human. It is canon but OOC. The best part, to me, is that Bella has split personalities who each have their own special ability and that Emmett has powers. Le sigh... I love me some Emmett!

This story is really great and a quick read. This kid can weave an interesting story, lemme tell ya. There's a sequel in the works, in addition to a few other stories she has in her roster.

The FFn story ID is: 7984060

Until next time...