Ultimatum

My demeanor changed instantly, and I relaxed from my crouch and smiled at my now only half-unwanted visitor.

"Heidi," I nodded at the beautiful vampire and felt my mouth start to grin by itself. Honestly, my kind had the worst timing ... Just when I start getting closer with Daniel, my stupid not-so-humane and all-human diet, best friend from my time in the Volturi had to come ruin it. I'd have to avoid, but still manage to protect him from danger during the duration of her stay. Then again, Heidi was my friend. Maybe she'd assist in my quest in keeping my human alive, presuming of course that she could keep her teeth to herself.

I pulled at the possibility of Heidi meeting Daniel and, typically, felt nothing. Though there was a positive feel to the outcome, maybe it could work. But would she allow me to keep him human until I was ready to inject him with my venom.

A shudder tingled softly down my spine. I wasn't sure if what I saw was a Glimpse of him writhing in pain on his sofa, or if it was just a crazy mental image.

"Hello there, Bails," Heidi grinned happily as she danced her way to me wrapping me in a tight grip. "Long time no see. Five decades, is it?"

"Six," I reminded with a grin, returning the hug. "What are you doing here Heidi?"

"Aren't I allowed to visit my friend with the odd yellow eyes?" she mocked hurt and shock.

I rolled my eyes and lead her to the couch with my hand on her lower back.

"How are things with the Volturi?" I asked, making conversation. The electrical current told me to be careful, but peaceful. I reached inside my head and pulled at the most likely possibility of what's going on.

She wanted to try and get me to help her with an issue with a Volturi, but even if I rejected, she would still spend time with me, genuinely happy to be in my company again.

Well that's reassuring.

"You're using your ability on me. Don't you trust me, Bails?" Heidi joked. She'd recognized my blank posture when I searched through probability.

"I was with the Volturi for four hundred years, remember? As far as I can remember – we didn't make social visits."

We never did. Any visit by the Volturi generally meant that somebody was going to be ripped apart and the pieces would then be burnt. I'd been part of the search-and-destroy parties plenty of times.

"We don't, and this isn't a social visit, per se. Though, I would like to spend some time with my best friend before I leave."

"Alright, hit me. What's going on, Heidi? I know that you need my help with something. Aro wouldn't have sent you here without a reason."

"Must we rush this visit, Bails? Yes, the Volturi need you and your skill, but not for another three months. Besides, Aro didn't send me here."

"Ah, so Caius sent you then?"

"That's completely beside the point," she said and I was sure if she was human she would have blushed.

"How is the Volturi going without you being there to horde in their meals?"

"Demetri is handling that job during my absence."

"And how long will your absence be from Volterra?"

"You already know that, Bails."

"Humor me for conversation purposes," I said, though really I did know how long she would be here in the country; just a week and a half, not very long at all.

"How have you been holding up, Bails? You said in Volterra that you had to leave, and that you had to move to Australia. Australia! One of the sunniest places on the planet. Seriously, Bailey, what were you thinking?"

"You know me, Heidi. I don't think." We both grinned, knowing that this was true. "I got the instinct to move here, so I did. I didn't feel right in Volterra anymore."

"Why'd you change your diet? Surely animals don't taste as good as humans."

"No way, they're pretty much disgusting. But I do it for a stronger reason than taste."

"Oh? Do tell! I love good gossip!"

I rolled my eyes. This was typical Heidi behavior, but it was highly entertaining.

"La tua cantante," I muttered and looked at the ground. I made the cowardly lion look like the terminator. And I was a vampire for Christ's sake!

"You did what?" she demanded and I sighed. "Who is it? What coven is he in?"

"He is still human," I sighed.

Heidi snarled, and bared her teeth, her nose was wrinkled ferociously. I knew why, my species are forbidden to excessive attachments to humans without the will to turn them.

"Bailey, you know what will happen if it all ends … awkwardly."

"It won't, I do plan on turning him, just not quite yet. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to watch him put through three days of agony."

"Does he know what you are?"

"No. Technically we only met today. But I've been … watching him for the past three years, except when I'm hunting and summer during the day time."

"Stalker," she teased and I slapped her. "So, do I get to see him?"

"Heidi … I've been trying to protect him from our kind, and any other danger. He smells better than anything! I don't know if you could hold yourself back."

"Why don't you just look for the best possibility?"

"I can't see the outcomes with him, just how to get there."

"But that hasn't happened since Felix! Aro said that he had a theory that your ability doesn't work with people that are destined to be vampires!"

"I know, I know. You don't need to remind me, you know?"

"What does the human smell like?"

"Lemon and rose," I cooed absently, remembering holding him in my arms and my tongue pressed against his jugular vein.

"Odd combination," she said through a breath. "I promise I won't kill him. He's yours, so not a drop of the human's blood will touch my tongue."

"Fine," I sighed selfishly.

Heidi started jumping up and down cheerfully, clapping her hands which sounded slightly like soft thunder. I frowned at her and she immediately stopped, seeing her mistake.

"How are things going with Demetri?" I asked, last I remembered, there was some serious flirting going on between the two vampires.

"They're okay, I guess. Can we leave to see your human now?"

"I'm going to need to hunt. I barely got through last time."

"How long since you were with him last?"

"I was just there before I came here."

"Well let's go hunt," she said and her eyes started to darken.

I shuddered and suddenly felt sorry for the man I knew that Heidi would feed on. I bolted from the door and ran for the local park. A whole pack of dingoes slept around on the ground lazily and pleasantly. I let out a snarl and leapt from the wooden fence onto the biggest canine I could find and immediately snapped the creature's neck. I then sunk my teeth into the animal's fur, skin, sinew and then the jugular and moaned softly as the wrongly flavored thick, red syrup soaked my mouth and flooded my throat.

I picked up the carcass and ran with it before depositing it into the crocodile inhabited water. Two birds with one stone, I get fed and so do a few reptiles.

Once I got back to my small house Heidi was already there waiting for me, her eyes a normal shade of red.

"Did the human taste good?"

"He was better than cattle, definitely."

"Dingo, actually," I grinned and poked my tongue at her. I grabbed Heidi's hand and pulled her from the house against, running as fast as I could until we arrived in the vicinity of Daniel's flat. I glared deeply at Heidi and told her to hold her breathe until I told her she could breathe again. She frowned, but did as I asked her to. She wanted this to work. She wanted me to be happy.

I was just worried what Aro would say and think once he touched her hand and saw for himself everything that happened this day. The desperation of me trying to keep Daniel safe and preventing his death until the time to turn him was right, which sadly wasn't now.

We climbed up the side of the building, stealthily passing the one window that had a light one.

Besides vampires, who the hell would be up and awake at four twenty in the morning?

Once we reached his apartment I slowly pushed the window open and climbed in and unnecessarily helped Heidi in. She laughed her soft soprano laugh, rolled her eyes and, with my help, slipped elegantly through the window.

I lead her to Daniel's bedroom and then got lost in a trance as my eyes swept over his body. He'd shuffled around in his sleep, messing up the bed. His hair laid in a complete mess and there were creases in his face from the pillow.

"Bailey, can I breathe now?" Heidi asked softly and inaudible to a human. She broke me from the trance with her soft voice. I sighed and nodded at her. I heard a sharp intake of breathe and then a low snarl. I turned around and saw her with a bloodthirsty look in her eyes.

I snarled back at her, a lot louder and stepped in between her and Daniel. Suddenly Heidi pounced at me and knocked me to the ground.

"Heidi," I groaned and turned us over and pinned her to the ground. She thrashed around under my hands and tried to get out, but I wouldn't let her out. I heard a gasp and I held myself very still, keeping Heidi still too.

Daniel was awake.

I leapt up, grabbed Heidi by the wrist and ran out of the apartment, closing the window behind me.

"Heidi, calm down! You promised, remember!"

Heidi breathed in deeply and held very still with her eyes closed tight.

"I … I … I apologize incredulously. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

I'd never seen Heidi act like this, it was odd. It was frightening.

"I forgive you," I said and looked up at the window and saw Daniel standing there looking out absently. He would be getting up for work anyway around this time. Maybe he'd pass off what happened as a dream?

"Let's just hope that he does pass it off as a dream, or I'll have no choice but to turn him," I growled angrily. Heidi looked up at me, with her arms around her knees, her red eyes looking sorrowfully through her mahogany hair.

"I'm sorry. I really am."

"It's cool. I've got my ability, remember? Technically, unless we tell him what we are … he doesn't know. He would have only seen us for a split second. He may think he just dreamt it."

"Bails, you know Aro won't think like that. But he'll know you have full intention of turning Daniel. … You do have the intention, right?"

I sighed, I didn't know.

"I don't know, I mean. Sure, I want him as my mate … I think. But I don't think he would want to be my mate."

"Why not?" she demanded genuinely confused.

"I don't even know if he's like me. And what human would want to be with a vampire?"

"Ah, Bails. That's one of the reasons why I'm here…"

"What do you mean?"

"You remember Carlisle?"

"The other yellow-eye? Heidi, I'd left before he spent time with the Volturi."

"Yes, quite right," she sighed and started again. "Well, one of the members in his coven, Edward, fell in love with a human girl named Bella. Bella was fully aware of what Edward, Carlisle and the rest of Carlisle's coven were and swore herself to secrecy. Though Aro was still pissed about it. But he gave Edward an ultimatum – either Bella had to be turned or she'd have to be executed.

"Of course, the Fortune-teller, Alice, showed Aro that she saw that Bella would become a vampire, so Aro decided to leave the situation for the time being, but that we would access the situation later. Then back in the American spring, there was another Newborn war."

I gasped, the wars were forbidden, yet our kind still did it. I let out a low snarl.

"Easy Bails. Anyway, the Newborns were set against the Carlisle's coven. Luckily, the Cullen's seemed to deal with the Newborns easily. Jane, Demetri and Felix were sent out, and they came back three weeks later with the news that Bella was still human. The oddest thing is, Jane's, Demetri's, Aro's and Edward's abilities don't work on Bella, and we're guessing that Alec's or your ability would not work on Bella."

"Why not?" I asked curiously with my left eyebrow raised high.

"We're not completely sure, but we are positive that it would have something to do with what her ability will be once she is a vampire. If she is turned into a vampire. However, a month or so ago we received word from a very close friend of Carlisle, that Bella is now a vampire, however her and Edward are associating with werewolves and have created an Immortal Child."

"They did what?"

"Exactly, they've created an Immortal Child, so Aro sent me here, as your friend to get you to assist in the execution of the Olympic coven. However, Aro and Marcus did decide that you will not be forced to take part in this campaign."

"Well that's a relief," I said my voice full of sarcasm. "What did Caius say?"

"Caius is sort of … demanding that you take part. He said that you would be a necessary pawn in the game of chess. He seems to have the idea that the Olympic coven will not go down without a fight. They seem quite like you. They seem to be able to find loopholes. Most of the coven is highly skilled, and all would be welcome to join the Volturi, I'm sure."

"Aro's recruiting?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. Aro was normally quite nit-picky about whom he let join his ranks, but from what I'd recently heard he was accepting every vampire that walked off the street.

"I know, I know. Who knew, eh? I think he has a feeling that something is going to go wrong with the Volturi."

There was hinting in her voice, she wanted me to search out all likely possibilities that would be happening with the Volturi. No one but the Romanians had the want to attack the Volturi, so they were the only possibility. But they knew that they were no match against the Volturi, especially with Jane and Alec in their forces. That, and if rumors serve correct – Stefan and Vladimir are all that remain of the Romanian coven.

Heidi crossed her arms and glared meaningfully and destructively at the coffee table. The possibility of her ripping it apart ran through with an electrical feeling.

"Don't even think about it," I growled lightly. She grinned and looked away, though the possibility remained, I felt more that she would choose to start off a conversation.

I chose to start the conversation for her. If I was going to hell, I may as well do it thoroughly.

"I won't take part in it."

Heidi's face dropped slightly but her composure stayed the same. A slight smile crept at her perfect, white lips.

"However," I continued. "I will let you know that the only possible outcome that would be bad for the Volturi at this time that I see is the Romanians. But they're not a problem. I do feel that there will be a confrontation though, a mass conflict. But I don't think that it'll end badly. For either side."

"So the Cullen's are going to weasel their way out, are they?"

"I'm not sure. Do tell Aro that I said to be careful. If it comes to a fight, the Volturi will be hurt, badly."

Heidi snarled and growled at the news, and I held my stance and blank expression. The Volturi were not my business anymore.

"What are you going to do with the human?" she asked calmly and friendly.

I smiled at her question and then took half a second of serious thought to think about my answer. I could not lie to Heidi, but I wasn't quite sure what the truth was.

"I think that I'll try and find him later today, coincidently of course. He won't suspect that I'm following him. I'll have to hunt again during the day incase he invites me into his home like he did twelve hours ago. Of course this time I'll accept."

"And if he asks about what happened tonight? Will you lie to the one you care so much for, or will you tell him the truth and condemn him to death or a life of night?"

"I will do what I feel is the right thing to do, Heidi."

"That's not your decision to make, Bailey," Heidi said. "Your human will be fine as long as he is oblivious to the truth. That is all I can promise. If the human becomes aware he will either be turned or executed and by the facts that you have given me it looks as though he will be turned."

I rolled my eyes and just nodded at her then looking at the clock. Five thirty. Daniel would be getting ready to leave for work, and I would have to follow him without Heidi.

"Heidi, I've got to go. I've got looking after to do."

"I'm coming with, but I will control myself this time, I know I will."

I sighed and looked at the possibility. I had to say, it looked good.

"Fine," I growled and ran to the train station with her only three paces behind. We both leapt simultaneously together and landed on the steel top of the train, keeping ourselves up by holding how determined hands onto the railing on top.

"Humans," Heidi snorted. "They travel in silver tubes like these daily? I mean really, I could walk faster than this thing. Maybe even crawl!"

"I've got to keep away from people seeing us, Heidi. And this way we're right on top of him when he comes onto the train without him knowing."

"You've planned this all out, haven't you?"

"Well, I have been protecting him for the past four years."

"Very inconspicuous, Bailey," she said with a voice with sarcasm that could have made Caius proud.

"Speaking of conspicuousness; you won't be able to attend when I spend some personal time with Daniel at his home."

"Why not?" she demanded in a whining, childish tone that did not suit her.

"How would it look to him if after he dreams of me fighting a beautiful woman, two hours later he sees me and that same said female on a train?"

"Ah, good point."

As the train slowed down to Daniel's stop we threw ourselves lightly against the metal, lying flat and hidden. I draped an arm over Heidi's diaphragm and held her to the top of the train as Daniel's scent flared down my nostrils. Heidi did not resist, she did not breathe. She did remain calm, firm and resolute, but I did not relax the pressure my forearm had against her. Again the train took off and I looked over at Heidi. Her hair waving gracefully in the fierce, strong wind and light rain.

Even in the wet Daniel's scent stood out strong, especially the citric part of the unique delicious smell.

Heidi inhaled slowly, but made no motion to attack, her eyes merely just darkened.

"Can you manage it?" I asked, loosening my grip. She gave a small and soft nod before we both hastily jumped to our feet and ran to the front of the train, leaping off of the moving tube and running along the station.

"I'll be watching," she said menacingly but jokingly. I grinned at her and she ran into the shadows of the oncoming sunrise, though the overcast hid the UV rays which glittered our skins.

I ran around the station and sat myself down on a wooden bench reading an uninteresting newspaper as I waited for Daniel's small body to come through the crowd. I didn't have to wait long before his scent hit me and momentarily later his face caught my eye. Unfortunately my face caught his eye too. He grimaced which caused my heart to catch in my throat. Obviously he was instantly reminded about his so-called dream last night.

He had a confident look in his eye as he smiled friendly, but unsurely at me. He didn't stop to say hello, he didn't stop at all. He just kept going, and with or without him knowing I would be following. I felt angry, enraged, furious, but I had no idea why. I just didn't like that he'd seen Heidi and I last night. It felt wrong.

Daniel walked into the warehouse and I climbed up a large tree that faced the building. I shuddered with slight pleasure as he pulled off his jacket and black shirt, standing in the staff change room in just a pair of track-suit pants. The moment was ruined and I felt the weight on the branch change.

"Oh wow, he's quite an attractive little flower, isn't it?" Heidi asked and she sat down on the branch. This was her first good look at him.

"Mm-hmm," I murmured and kept my eyes on Daniel as he pulled his bright orange shirt over his naturally tanned chest. He wrapped his arms around himself and ran his hands up and down his arms to keep himself warm. He stuffed his clothes into his bag and left the room.

"Come on," I said and leapt from the tree onto the roof of the building. One twelfth of a second later there was a second light thud as Heidi placed her feet a few meters behind mine. I stopped to an abrupt holt and Heidi almost continued her run.

"Wha—"

"Quiet," I hissed and leapt to another tree.

"Let's see," Daniel's voice was barely a whisper. "I'm on the fork-lift today."

I hissed softly and watched him walk to the machine. Heidi laughed as he tripped and cursed, I just growled softly without moving my eyes.

"Heidi, if you're going to help me you need to be quiet. I've got to concentrate, see if there are any dangers coming."

"Whatever," her tone reminded me of Marcus.

Daniel climbed up into the cabin of the yellow vehicle and started it up. There was a snarl that brought the vehicle to life. I felt the tension on the branch go away as Heidi jumped off, running onto the roof of the building to guard him tactfully.

He groaned as the fork lift would not do what he wanted and I couldn't help but laugh and roll my eyes. Put him in a normal car, and he's a professional. Put him in a fork lift and he's a nightmare.

Venom flooded my mouth and electricity rushed through my skin and his eyes seemed to look up from the cabin and look directly into my bright golden eyes. His body seemed to tense up as if he could see me, but it was impossible from this distance. I looked up at the sky and saw a ray of sunlight burst through onto my arm.

My glittering arm.

Daniel would have seen the glittering from my skin and wondered what it was.

I waited patiently for him to look away before I climbed to a higher branch. From this view I could see Heidi, who was looking down one of the sky lights, and I could see Daniel clearly.

Heidi and I followed Daniel from the warehouse back to the train station where she jumped out of sight onto the roof of the station and climbing onto the train.

There, in the exact same seat as he was in yesterday, sat my human. He was charmingly boyish and mature in his stature with a calm, strong and preoccupied face. Slowly and with great resolute and calmness I walked towards him. His eyes lit up in alarm, recognition and euphoria as he spotted me walking through the crowded train. He unnecessarily made room for me to sit next to him in the same spot as yesterday. I did not want to disappoint him and allowed myself to sit in the reserved spot.

"Hey, um, Bailey right?" he nervously asked. Of course he'd be nervous after what he saw last night. It was times like this when I absolutely hated being a vampire; when people would be afraid or nervous around me.

"Ah, you remembered," I grinned, accidentally showing all my teeth. His body tensed up in intimidation, but other than that he didn't seem too bothered. "Did you have a good day at work, Daniel?"

"I did, I did. Were you looking for someone again?"

"I was," I nodded and heard the ghostly laugh from above me.

"Did you find them?"

"Yeah, I found him."

"I'm glad," he said and sighed with disappointment. I was not meant to hear the sigh, clearly. But the disappointment bothered me. Did he not already suspect that it was him that I was looking for? That I had been looking for him since 1249 when I was created?

"Is something wrong?"

"What? Oh, no. Nothing is wrong," he smiled at me reassuringly and I knew not to pry any further … for now.

"Um, I was wondering," I started and waited for his reaction to see if he was interested in my following proposition. Really … I did not want to wait until I was invited into his home. But I wanted to be in there with him conscious.

"And what were you wondering Bailey?" he joked. Good, progress from the fear. He was jesting confidently. He was not quite as nervous as he had been three minutes ago.

"Well, yesterday when I ran into you, you had offered for me to spend some time with you. I was wondering if the offer was still there? I don't want to impose on you or anything if you already had plans."

There was a sudden gleam in Daniel's eye and his blood started pumping through his veins and arteries a dozen times faster than normal. His delicious heartbeat skyrocketing.

"Uh, nope. No plans. None at all," he rambled and I chuckled. I heard Heidi pretend to gag and then laugh whilst drumming her fingernails on the metal.

"You're more than welcome over, for as long as you like," he continued.

"Don't say that," I soothingly warned. "I may not leave."

That probably wasn't the right thing to say. His heartbeat started racing faster, and I was afraid that in a moment Daniel would have a heart attack.

"Um, I, um, have no idea what we'd do. I, uh, guess we could watch a few movies or something," he stumbled with his words and I chuckled quite loudly. Blood rushed to Daniel's cheeks and ears with embarrassment.

"A movie or two sounds just fine," I tried to soothe him with my voice before the blood in his cheeks made me jump on him, or made Heidi rip through the ceiling and lunge at him. Luckily it worked. He took a deep breathe through his nose and exhaled through his mouth his heartbeat slowing down and calming as he repeated the motion six times.