Chapter 4

Bella POV Volterra Italy

It was twilight and we were walking the nearly empty streets of Volterra like humans.

I loved the quality of the light at this time of day, it looks so warm and golden. Jane, as my guard, thought I was crazy for wanting to walk the cobbled streets of our city with no destination or objective in mind. I liked it. Sometimes the humans would stop and talk to me, or invite me in to share a meal with them. I would go sit in the coffee bar and listen to the old men as they played their chess and gossiped about their lives. Sometimes a lonely old man would sit by me and we would talk about life, love, and time. I lived for those days. They made me feel connected to my human mother in some way.

Pappi didn't understand. He tried, but the only human that he ever found fascinating was my Mother. The only other person who understood my obsession was Peter, my best friend. However, he was fascinated by their foibles, as a source of humor, not a lost connection.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear, my cell phone was ringing with Peter's ringtone, Garth Brook's Friends in Low Places. It really was the perfect ringtone for that fucker.

"Chello?"

"Really Punkydoodle, you answer the phone with a musical instrument? Am I supposed to reply Saxophone?"

"Punkydoodle? What kind of nickname or term of endearment is that?"

"So are we playing that game again, answer a question with a question? If so, then this is going to take fucking forever?"

"Shut up Petey, to what do I owe the pleasure?" (Jane snickered at our conversation.)

"It is time."

"Charlotte's in labor? I'll run to the hospital right now."

"Stop being a smartass, that's my job. I mean, it is time that the Vampire World learns of your presence. My gift is hitting me hardcore that it is time, and that the Kings need to make it a big public affair for the vampires. All I know is it will be very bad if they don't. Charlotte and I are already packing, we will be there in a couple of days. Don't worry Little Bit, it will all work out."

"Thanks Petey, but you're not going to be the one to have to argue this with my Pappi. He is so overprotective that I think he would put me in stasis if it actually existed, just to keep me safe. Telling him that he has to let the whole Vampire World know that he has a biological child that is a hybrid, is going to be like removing a male's dick, incredibly painful. Just hurry up and get your ass here. Oh and tell Char that I love her. Bye Petey."

I closed my phone with a click and turned to Jane. She was smirking at me and I wanted to wipe it off her face with violence but Pappi made me promise not to fight my guards in public.

Then Jane opened her big mouth "Looks like we're headed for fun times."

Pappi said I couldn't hit her, but he didn't say nothing about insulting her so I replied "You really are a Bitch Jane."

She smiled "Yeah I know."