Swan Lodge

Chapter Two—Alarm


AN: Used the witfit for 6/25/11 Prompt: Scenic


As Edward heard something, Bella pulled her head back as awareness crept in her thoughts. Loud, echoing screeches came from some distance away, a frequency only heard by her, vampires and wolves.

"What is it?" Edward asked, sensing the same sharp tension that seemed to fill the air suddenly. It felt like energy of some kind, the epicenter he realized, was Bella.

"I'm not sure," she whispered, turning in his arms. She didn't move far, keeping her back pressed against his chest. As if reluctant to let her go, his hands remained on her, one curled around her hip, the other rested on her belly. "That's the southeast perimeter alarm."

"An animal," Edward offered, but he knew that it had to be more. He could feel the tension and power turn up several notches in Bella. The power, whatever it was, moved through her like a vibration, until it saturated her.

"No, something else," she said firmly, pulling away from him. She brought her fingers to her lips and whistled a series of notes. In seconds, the tree line that surrounded the north end of the lodge burst with excitement. Werewolves lined up beneath the balcony on which Bella and Edward stood.

They snarled and heads twisted from left to right, growling menacingly behind vicious teeth. From the shadows, a figure moved lithely through trees, bushes, and the wolves.

Edward and Bella heard the approaching members of his family behind them.

"Alice said everything went black for all of our futures," Jasper stated to explain their presence. He looked over the scene below. Alice concurred with a simple nod, showing Edward and Bella the abrupt darkness she'd seen moments before.

"That's because of the shifters that are in my employment," Bella replied, however, her gaze remained on the approaching figure. A woman, from what Edward could see. A naked one at that, he realized.

The woman stood shorter than his six-four frame, but not by much. She was slim, but athletically built, with smooth dark skin with reddish undertones. Edward thought some of the features of her face and skin tone was familiar as they were beautiful. Black, shining hair offered the female some sense of modesty as it hung over her breasts.

"She's a Quileute," Carlisle said. "Remember the pack leader Sam. He said the only female shifter had defected and broke her bond from the pack. She'd been missing for years." Edward nodded and watched as the wolves parted to allow their leader to speak for them.

"What is it, Isabella?" the shifter asked firmly. "You know I was patrolling the northern border."

"I'm well aware of that, Leah," Bella replied.

"Do you mind?" Leah said with a gesture toward the sound of the alarm. Bella nodded, closing her eyes for a moment, the sound stopping immediately. Did that mean she controlled such things with thoughts? Edward wondered. "What came through?"

"It wasn't an animal," Bella said thoughtfully. "The alarm wouldn't have sounded for something as simple as that. As I'm sure you remember, Leah." The pack leader shrugged and waited for Bella to explain. "That particular alarm is sensitive to magic or the undead."

"A guest?" Leah suggested, her dark eyes moving to the Cullen family.

Bella shook her head. "No, I've already accounted for everyone."

Leah quirked an eyebrow in doubt, it seemed. "What would you like for us to do?"

"Track whatever it was," Bella stated and sighed. "Hopefully whoever it is, they are either gone or unconscious."

"I'll leave behind Shelia and Leila, and the twins," Leah said as she cracked her neck a few times. She bent forward and instantly transformed into a wolf with a gleaming black and grey coat of fur. Bella said something else in the language unknown to all except for those in Leah's former tribe. As most of the large pack of sixteen members moved to the trees, four others remained to circle the building.

Bella smiled and turned to her guests. "I no longer feel a presence," she said simply, though Edward could see a crease in her brow. "Perhaps they won't return."

"Does this occur often?" Jasper asked, stepping closer.

"With so many curious about me, it can happen often. I must admit it hasn't happened since I moved here."

"But you are aware how vulnerable you made yourself here," Jasper insisted. "This scenic and picturesque backdrop would hardly present a stable front should you be attacked."

"I assure you, Mr. Whitlock," Bella hissed, taking a step toward him. "I know exactly my position should my lodge come under attack. It was why I chose this mountain. I have the cliff that lines up with the tribe of lethal mountain lion shifters, whom I have an agreement with for our safety and theirs. Anything, friend or foe that should wander within their borders without proper signals given by me, would be killed immediately. I have enough magic and power protecting my establishment that it would likely drain anything that tried to enter without permission."

"Likely," Jasper growled. "That's not enough, considering you said that he or she is no longer here."

Bella knew that his only thought was the protection of his family, namely his wife. However, he questioned her, and that was enough to bring her emotions closer to the surface. That was never a good thing.

"What would you have me do?" she spat, her hands clenching into fists. "Ask a guest to test it for me? A human wouldn't survive it. And unlike you, I will not sacrifice one of my soldiers to test my theories."

Jasper stepped closer to her, almost nose to nose, but instinct to protect her had Edward step between them.

"I will not hesitate to kill you," Edward growled, readying his body should he need to protect Bella from the brunt of Jasper's anger. It was unexpected to feel so fiercely protected after having met Bella only hours earlier. Perhaps it was seeing bits and pieces of their future from Alice's visions that helped.

Jasper's dark gaze remained on the petite host, his nostrils flaring. Edward growled when Jasper's thoughts focused on her enticing scent.

After several moments where everyone awaited the outcome with trepidation, Jasper dropped his eyes and scanned the trees. "I'll test it."

"No!" Alice cried out, grabbing her husband's arm to pull him to her.

"It will not kill him," Bella said, closing her eyes for several seconds and cursing. "It might be the best idea. The phone lines just went down. But I have a satellite phone."

That instantly put them on alert. Something or someone was there.

"Why can't we hear all the other humans here?" Esme asked as she stepped forward.

"I put a charm on them when I realized you'd hear everyone talk a few minutes ago. I thought you'd like to hear yourselves think." Bella listened for a moment, closing her eyes again. "There, now we can hear them if something else comes up." Everyone nodded, confirming they heard her human staff.

Bella turned her attention to Jasper again. "All right, if you're willing to test it, then we best go now before some of the other guests notice that something isn't right."

Jasper nodded, taking Alice's hand and they both climbed onto wooden railing. Together they jumped, landing on the balls of their feet perfectly, twenty-feet below. Emmett whooped with glee, backed up and took a running start, sailing over of the railing. Rosalie simply jumped over, but showed as much poise and grace as the others when she landed.

Esme and Carlisle laughed at their adopted children and decided to put them in their place. With clasped hands, they jumped and somersaulted in midair twice before they landed without much disturbance to the snow that lay beneath their feet. Bella threw her head back and laughed something she hadn't done in a long time.

A small growl alerted Bella of Edward's remaining presence and the fact that her neck was perfectly exposed. His hands found purchase on her hips, pulling her close his body. His nose and cold lips pressed against her thudding pulse as it thrummed with life.

"You can drink from me without turning or hurting me," Bella said softly, reaching behind her and fingering the hair on the nape of neck.

Another growl rumbled through Edward, much deeper than before. A warning, Bella recognized it immediately. "You really shouldn't have said that," he groaned.

Then she was gone.

One moment Edward had her warm curves pressed against his unyielding cold body, and then the next second, nothing but air existed in his arms. Laughter interrupted his confused thoughts, one he recognized to be Bella's laugh. It had come from below. Peering over the railing, he shook his head as his family and Bella looked up at him expectantly.

"We'll have the discussion about our um…courtship after we give your brother some peace," Bella said sweetly, smiling shyly. It was the first time Edward seen her look that way.

"I'll have it once I know that we're safe here," Jasper said and asked where they needed to go. Suddenly every Cullen stood on alert as their minds conjured an image of a rock formation that jutted out from the snow and the fastest route there.

"I should've warned you," Bella said quickly just as Edward landed beside her. "I apologize for the intrusion. I'm used to showing my staff what I need."

Everyone nodded and looked at Edward for confirmation on their thoughts. "I do not know if she could read our thoughts. Her mind is not open to me. I do not know if she can manipulate us."

Carlisle cleared his throat when Bella remained silent, neither confirming or denying their suspicions. It was best they didn't know the extent of her powers yet. "Maybe we should check on your safety measures first."

Bella nodded and turned to lead them toward a part in her perimeter that may have the weakest point.

"How do you keep the Volturi from not killing you?" Rosalie blurted out suddenly.

Bella stopped and turned toward her guests. "Who are the Volturi? And why would they want to kill me?"

Edward's only thought was, fuck.