Disclaimer: Twilight stuff owned by Stephanie Meyer. Lord of the Rings run by J.R.R. Tolkien. Don't sue.
Chapter 1: And so I had an afterlife…
Approximately 500 years after my 18th human birthday
There is nothing I love more than a good plan, and this right here is a good plan. Where am I, you may ask. I am positioned in the air ducks right above where the members of the Bargra…no…Bargratoni…no…Bagrateenee – Never mind! They're this Russian vampire coven that was giving the Volturi some trouble, so I'm currently in their heating and cooling system to execute a perfect sneak attack plan.
And yes, that's right. I did say I was doing this for the Volturi. Before you give a hissy fit about how they killed my parents and ruined my life, allow me to explain. In simple terms, I work for them because of a lack of other things to do and I sorta, kind of have to…but only from time to time.
Not to mention, they pay really well, and I have my own guidelines that they must follow if they want my help. Just know that I'm still not their number one fan, and it was a choice of either mopping around Volterra for the rest of eternity or playing their game a little bit so I could have the freedom I do today.
More later, right now I have to go and do what I do best.
After all is said and done, I looked around at my handy work. Every vamp in the room was dead with various parts of each scattered around like a spilt jigsaw puzzle. Pushing the button on my earpiece, I said into it, "Squad 2, this is V1. Everyone in HQ of enemy is dead. How is our perimeter holding up?"
"Just fine, V1," Yates, Squad 2's commander, replied, "Some vamps got out, but W1 was able to get to them before we could."
I smiled at what Jacob possibly did to those unlucky vampires.
"Ma'am," Yates said, as I started unclipping small cubes of C-4 from my belt and placing them in strategic areas, "We have some live humans over in one of the bunkers. What are your orders?"
"If they haven't been bitten, pump them full of anticholinergic to induce memory loss and have a transport take them to the nearest hospital."
"Affirmative. We have a few here that have bitten and they're starting to turn. Orders?"
I sighed and paused during my walk out of the room. I knew what this Russian coven was up to the moment Aro called me with the mission request. Building another vampire army. Renegade covens did it about every twenty or so years. Kidnap unsuspecting humans and turn them into fresh vamps to control and try to take over the vampire underworld. It was an old story and I was getting tired of hearing it. Not for myself. For those poor souls whose lives got stolen in one swift bite.
"Ma'am. What are your Orders?" Yates asked again.
Straightening up, now was not the time to complain (complain later, Bella, in your stupid private jet), I ordered back, "Smell them. If they haven't tasted human blood, have someone call the Denali clan and let them know we have some newcomers. Then prepare a transport. For those that have tasted, you know my orders, Yates."
"Yes, ma'am. Squad 2 out."
Yates knew my standing orders about new vampires and vampire threats that fed on human blood. Kill them. Kill them all. Aro and the rest of the Volturi weren't too pleased with this rule but tough. If they didn't want to get their lazy butts over to Russia, then they would have to oblige me a little.
Once outside, into the late evening of a Russian winter, the once quiet hideout came alive as about two dozen soldiers ran around getting humans and veggie vamps ready for transport while other were busy packing up.
"Ma'am!" one soldier, think his name was Reggie something, super-zoomed in front of me and saluted, "Area is secure. Squad 1 has set the various packages (he means bombs) in the designated points."
"Alright. Wait until all transport is 40 kilometers away from here then you have the order to blow this place to kingdom come, solider."
He smiled a bit at the mention of blowing something up. Eye roll. Vampire or human, men love to see something blown up.
"Yes, ma'am," he saluted again and super-zoomed off to wherever.
Heading over to my own transport, the newest model of an electronic black Hummer, I spotted a certain half-naked werewolf buttoning up his pair of grey pants.
"Hey," I said as I got closer, "Heard you single-handedly took out a few fleeing vamps?"
My best friend since, well the last five centuries, shrugged his big, tan shoulders. "No big," Jacob said as if I was complementing his job of vacuuming the carpet.
Gazing past me at my team of Volturi issued vegetarian vampires (another stipulation of mine: will only work on missions with veggie vamps that are in no risk of losing their cool around blood), he frowned and said, "You never explained the need for the cavalry. You and I could have taken on the Bagrationi clan by ourselves."
Bagrationi, that was their name!
Shrugging and casting a glance at the other vampires, more than one glaring over at Jacob and muttering about "damn mutt" (good to know your super vampire hearing works, buddy, now piss off!), I said, "I know. Look at the bright side. We get to bail out of clean-up duty."
Jacob huffed, "I kinda enjoy blowing the building up afterward."
That got me laughing. We stepped into my Hummer (Jacob in the driver's seat, since my driving is apparently a death wish…this coming from an immortal) and started on our way to the airport where my private jet would take us back to my property in Iceland.
During the drive, I'll digress a little on Jacob Black. My best friend. The nearest and dearest thing I have to a brother. My soul mate.
Rewind about five hundred years ago. As you know, I was changed by Marcus and went to live with the Volturi (a nightmare come true). Jacob, needless to say, was pissed (with a capital P which rhymes with E which stands for…never mind). He got all huffy and puffy and wanting to blow the whole of Volterra down to get revenge. Thankfully, I already put up my own resistance by continually running away (on one attempt I actually leaped from my window and through the tent of a gift shop, landed in a pile of stuffed Marcus heads made to commemorate St. Marcus day…scared the daylights out of the poor shopkeeper).
You want me to drink human blood don't except me to stick around for dinner.
Anyway, during one of my escapes, I finally made it to the city limits where Jacob was waiting and – drum roll please – team Cullen just arrived. Tensions really rose to boiling when the Volturi showed up. Jacob was in wolf form, trying to bite and claw at the them but being held back by Jasper, who looked like he'd rather let Jacob go. Caius (third and final Volturi vamp leader, young looking, pretty as an angel, and holds the heart of a merciless demon who eats babies as appetizers) really hates werewolves and wants to kill them all, was staring down Jacob and kept looking at Marcus or Aro for the go-ahead to attack. Marcus was shouting at whoever would listen that he was my "rightful sire" so I had to do what he said and "needed to stop blubbering about not wanting to feed on humans."
Yeah, out of the three of them, a real a-hole bit me. Although, I'd still prefer Marcus over Caius the Creepy.
I, on the other hand, was being helpful by crying (more like dry-heaving, we vampires don't get to have tears) as far from the Volturi as possible. Esme and Alice were holding me and stroking my hair. Rosalie was between helping Jasper hold Jacob back and helping Emmet hold Edward back.
Yeah, better late than never apparently. My dear Edward decided a week after my attack would be a good time to show up and save the day. During the whole non-fight of Esme cooing and Jacob growling, Edward just kept trying to get to Marcus while repeatedly sending sympathetic looks my way. Way to make a newly born vampire girl feel better about her situation, sweetie.
Carlisle, bless his non-beating heart, was yelling over everyone, trying to get the Volturi to compromise and find a solution that didn't mean fighting. Aro was arguing back about this law and that law and how it would be a disgrace for a direct member of the Volturi to become a vegetarian. Everyone else belonging to the Volturi, meaning the twins and other super powerful vamps with red eyes and a taste for human blood, were like Caius and waiting for the signal to commence the big fight scene.
You will never guess who brought order to chaos. That's right, the Culligan man…actually no, it was Sulpicia. As in Sulpicia, Aro's wife.
Out of nowhere, in stepped a hooded figure that took off the hood and revealed to be a beautiful, fair-haired figure with almost black eyes. I didn't have a freakin clue who this chick was so kept on dry-heaving in Esme's arms, but Aro and everyone else was visibly shocked at her arrival.
From there, to make a long story short, Sulpicia became the voice of reason. She told Caius to go back to the palace, this calmed Jacob down a smig, and said to Aro and Marcus that it would be unethical for them to force me to drink human blood when I clearly wanted the veggie way of life.
Soon enough we all reached a compromise. I could go live with the Cullen's but had to accept that Marcus was my sire and the Volturi was as much my coven as the Olympic coven (meaning the Cullen family). This meant I had to check in and return to Volterra when asked.
Less depressed than before (still pretty depressed though), I began to prepare to head back to the States when Sulpicia took me aside.
"Child," she said kindly, almost in the way Esme speaks to me but with more of a schoolteacher feel, "Take advantage of your endless time. Learn and grown. Once you become powerful and vital enough to them, they will grant the freedom you will seek."
I had no idea what she meant, so just gave a wavering thanks and left with the Cullen's.
Back to Jacob's part in this. Seeing as how I was an immortal now and he only got to be slowly aging, Jacob decided he would spent the next century only in wolf form. Thereby adding up the immortal points (system works that the longer a werewolf goes as a wolf, the longer he/she gets to live), so he wouldn't go and die of a bad heart or broken hipbone or something. I begged him not to, to return to his pack in Forks, but Jacob has never been one to abandon those he loves.
This was a sacrifice I still can't find a way to repay.
So a century went by, I spent most of it living in Alaska with Carlisle, Esme, Alice, and Jasper. Edward became the king of brooding land, which irritated me so much that he went off to parts unknown (sorry, but I could have used a little support…not the constant stares of nostalgia and guilt). Emmet and Rosalie followed per Carlisle's request to keep an eye on him. This whole abandonment (I kind of drove Edward away, I admit), witnessing my father's violent death, and being transformed into a vampire against my will didn't agree with me. Thus began my campaign to rule as queen of brooding land.
Eventually, though, I decided enough was enough. I refused to be the girl I once was who expected others to provide happiness for her. Remembering what Sulpicia said by taking advantage of my time, I started to learn. With the help of Carlisle and Esme, along with the revolution of online classes, I got a high school degree along with three doctorates (World Literature, Biology, and Foreign Languages).
It was with Alice and Jasper, especially Jasper, that I found relief from my internal torture. They taught me how to fight, scout, and track. At first, it was just an outlet, but then it became a way of mastering my body, my powers, my cravings, and my future. Jasper said he'd never had a more devoted student. Soon, while I did love gaining a better education and spending time with the Cullen's, working to become a better fighter found its way to the top of my list.
Before I knew it, the century went by and Jacob returned with no difference outside but all the difference inside. Like me, he harnessed his skills over time to be an able fighter and tracker. We both had changed/grown/morphed into harder people. To the disappointment of my family, especially Esme and Alice, I decided to leave Alaska and go searched for new teachers of combat. Jacob agreed to come along.
Our feelings toward one another? Right after my transformation, we might have harbored the thought of romance (slightly more on Jacob's part than mine), and even as time went on I thought of starting a life with Jacob. Someone I could depend on no matter what. It changed, though, when we saw each other again. I expected the same boy I knew back in Forks, cheerful and innocent, and he probably expected to find the same clumsy, compassionate Bella waiting.
To be frank, I was slightly surprised when he offered to travel with me.
Our time together was a sealed deal after we arrived in Asia. In China, I was beginning my studies within the underground Shaolin Monastery when word arrived that the Volturi were under attack and needed aid.
I didn't really jump at the chance to help them (me? feel sorry? not really). In fact, I would have stayed in Song Shan (city where monastery exists) had not Jacob made this statement.
"Don't care what happens to those blood suckers, but I feel bad for the people."
People. There were people, real human people who lived in Volterra. Recalling Aro saying that some people even purposefully moved to Volterra to avoid vamp attacks (the Volturi refuse to kill close to home), I felt angry at whoever was endangering perfectly innocent humans.
"I'm coming with you," was what Jacob said next, seeing the look in my eyes. Not finding time to argue on how the Volturi, mainly Caius, would probably kill him before he could even help, we hightailed it to the airport (don't worry, we promised the monks we'd return and resume the lessons…they agreed and wished us a good journey, also mentioned to bring back some biscotti, go figure).
You should have seen our first battle in Volterra together. It was like poetry. From then on we knew our destiny was to be together, not as lovers but as a pair of buddies fighting evil. Vamp evil, of course. Another rule I live by: kill only vamps, or the rare evil werewolf. Never a human.
Yeah, our partnership may be cheesy but come one! Together, Jacob and I took down like twenty vamps on the first try.
The Volturi were even so impressed they let Jacob live and named him the only werewolf who was welcome (note that's an iffy welcome, not a full welcome with open arms type of welcome) in Volterra.
And there you have it. The story of how Jacob and I ended up being the darker, younger looking, longer living version of the dynamic duo. Never call him the Boy Wonder though, he tends to get pissed and starts baring teeth.
An hour on the road, Jacob was humming along with the mp3 radio, which was now gracing the Hummer's interior with sounds from Guns N' Roses. My time to the airport was occupied with the next chapter of this new author named E.V. Jo Dillon. Her stories had sort of a Jane Austen feel with a kick of the suspenseful.
"Take me down to the Paradise City where the grass is green and the girls are pretty – come on Bells – OH WON'T YOU PLEASE TAKE ME HOOOMMMEEE!" my friend's not-so-talented singing blared above the vocals of Axl Rose.
I snorted but didn't look up from my page. Classic rock was never my thing and Jacob knew it. Didn't matter, he was convinced if he played enough of those roaring electric guitars and ten minute long drum solos, I'd turn into a lover of the genre.
Unlikely.
I swear, had I not possessed super vamp hearing, I probably never would have heard the Hummer telling me that I had a call. Jacob ceased banging along on the steering wheel and said "volume mute" to the vehicle's voice activated system.
"Identify caller," I told Hummer.
"Caller is the Volturi," Hummer answered back in a sexy woman voice that punctuated every syllable (Jacob's choice).
Rolling my eyes at how, after all these years, those blood suckers still needed a private powwow with me after every mission.
"We could always ignore it," Jacob said to me, eyebrows jumping up and down and a evil smile slid on that said the trouble-making boy I knew from childhood was still alive and well.
"Yeah," I sighed, "But then they'd probably send somebody to my house. Chances are it'd be Jane, we'd get into it, and I'd have to build another place."
"Call answer," I then said to Hummer.
"Hello?" Tessa, the Volturi's newest human receptionist (poor girl, she'll be gone before asking about the pension plan), asked with uncertainty, "Hello? Is this Ms. Isabella Swann?"
"Bella Swann," I corrected.
"So sorry, Ms. Swann. Won't happen again," Tessa quickly corrected herself, "Lord Aro (I held back a snort at the 'Lord' bit) asked me to call you and let you know the Volturi request your presence as soon as possible."
Jacob quietly swore under his breath.
"Why?" I asked and rubbed the area between my eyes. Not really in the mood to see my dear old sire and his coven of sadistic psychopaths today. They're fine from over the phone and the occasional Christmas card, but never in large doses.
"I don't know, Ms. Swann," and then Tessa's voice got dramatically quiet, "It's all very hush, hush. Whatever's going on has got Lady Sulpicia and Lady Athenodora (Caius's tolerable wife) in a fit. Somebody arrived last night. That's all I know. Oh, and that other coven your with – the Olympic one – just arrived."
That part about Sulpicia freaking out got my attention, but hearing that whatever got Aro to call in a super secret meeting included the Cullen clan turned on all the blaring horns and neon signs that whatever was going on was serious with a capital S.
"Tell Aro I'll be there by morning," I told Tessa.
"Certainly, Ms. Swann."
With the call ended, I turned to Jacob who appeared to be in a medium place between curious and angry. No secret why he hated Aro and the Volturi (the Cullen's he actually grew to like, well, most of them…okay, mainly Carlisle, Esme, and Alice – the other's tended to not be around when he visited), and the curiosity must have come from my same wondering.
Ever since my forced changed, Carlisle's disgust with their mercilessness led to cutting almost all ties with the Volturi. Other than my belonging somewhat to both covens, they really had no more contact. Because of this animosity, I made another stipulation: Unless the Cullen's create an actual threat (which they never will), the Volturi are to leave them alone.
All this tension, hence why Jacob and I were scratching our heads at the Cullen's arrival in Volterra.
"What's the plan?" Jacob asked after a bit more silence.
Plan? Oh, yeah a plan. I love plans. Plans I can work with. Plans I can do. Biting my lip in thought, I finally replied, "Like I told them, I'll go to Volterra and see what's up."
"And I should…"
"You should catch a plane to Rome and stick around in case I need you. Unless, you want to accompany me into vamp-central."
Grimacing (I'll take that as a no), my brother shook his head. "Naa, you go deal with the leeches. I'll sit in a café, eat gelato, and hit on Italian chicks," he smiled and did that eyebrow thing again, "Besides, I need some wolf time. I can feel my cells starting to age."
"As long as it's helpful," I mumbled and pulled out my PDA to call the pilot and inform him of our changing destination.
To Volterra, Italy. Home sweet freakin home.
AN: And that's another chapter, folks! Want chapter three? Well I'm holding it hostage until I finish the fourth chapter and get (at least) four more reviews. So please, pretty pretty please review.
