Language: English

Rating: Rated: M

Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Drama

CHAPTER 4: I STAND ALONE

Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold-
Darkness Reigns

~ Struggling for minutes

A million hours or so

I ran seven miles but still I have thousands to go

Same story again

I stand alone~

Van Canto- I stand alone

I stand alone

I SWAM for hours. The waves pushed at me hard but I pushed back harder, taking advantage of my new strength. My bag was soaked but I'd have to deal with that later. For food, I had to settle on eating the creatures of the sea. The great white shark was my favourite, since they occasionally ate humans and the taste of human blood was left in their blood; it was a win-win. Kind of. I got bored but didn't know where I was. I couldn't see land anywhere for miles and my hope of finding the Cullen's seemed to diminish after some time. Something told me that I was far from Alaska but I continued on to where my instincts took me.

About a week into my swimming trip, so to speak, I came across land. I sniffed, checking to see if there were humans. Sure enough, their delectable scents wafted up my nostrils and my hunger flared up. But I resisted and instead had my last meal courtesy of the sea. It was a whale and was very filling. Swimming to shore, I lugged my bag out behind me. My clothes hugged my body, a second- much softer- skin. A few people were on shore and the sun was just peeking out from behind the clouds, painting the sky pink and orange.

Quickly, I hurried to the nearest hotel. The bell boy was sitting behind a huge desk, playing a game on the computer. Sauntering up to him, I called out, "Excuse me, but do you have a second?" He looked up, surprised.

"Uh, y…yes. How can I help you miss?" he stuttered, sitting up straight, voice heavily accented though I couldn't pinpoint where it was from.

"Would you mind telling me where I am? I seem to have gotten lost," I replied, batting my lashes and laying on my American accent thick. He fidgeted.

"Uh, yes. You're in Lisbon, just by the coast." I stood there gaping at him.

"Wait, Lisbon? As in Portugal, Lisbon?" He nodded. "Are you sure?" He nodded slowly again. I was shocked. In one week, I had swam over three thousand kilometres, through the Northern Sea and to Europe? I couldn't believe it. I wasn't even remotely tired!

"You seem shocked. How, if you don't me asking, did you get here?" the boy asked. I looked over at him.

"Don't worry about that," I replied, smiling slightly. He shrugged.

"You have real pretty eyes, miss," he said randomly. I looked at him; perplexed. He wasn't freaked out by the red colour?

"What, your favourite colour red or something?" I asked. He looked baffled.

"No. It's blue. In fact, the exact same shade as your eyes miss."

"You wouldn't happen to have a mirror on you, would you?" He nodded and pulled out a compact mirror from the desk. I thanked him and gasped at what I saw.

It was me, but a hell of a lot prettier. I had seen myself since my transformation, but ingesting blood seemed to work wonders. But that wasn't the biggest shock. That award was generously handed to the fact that my eyes had now turned a turquoise blue. The colour was like the sea, green and gold specks flickered in there. I stared at them, turning in at different angles to see if they changed slightly. But they didn't, and stayed the same.

The boy seemed amused by my display and openly watched me. I glanced over at him, watching as his hands traced over the collarbone of someone he was drawing. It looked good, and he had a fine eye for detail. He glanced back up at me and blushed when I caught his eye. "It's alright. I must look quite weird. But listen, I need you to do me a huge favour." His eyes lit up and I smiled at the willingness I saw in them. "I need you to get me a room. It's only for a couple of days until my things dry and I get, uh, my ideas together and stuff. Please?" I asked, voice just on the borderline of compulsion. I didn't want to turn him into a lovesick puppy if I overdid it. He looked contemplative for a second, and I could see the wheel turning in his head. Finally, he nodded, tapping away vigorously on his computer.

"We have a spare room on the third floor. It's needs to have a few renovations done with it but no one should trouble you for the next year or so. If, you plan on staying that long of course," he smiled at me. I sighed, relieved.

"Thanks. You're a lifesaver," I smiled back.

"Well, do I get a reward?" he asked hopefully. I snorted.

"In your dreams, dude. The name's Isabella by the way," I said, offering my hand.

"Pedro. Whoa, your hands are freezing. You need a place to warm up." He shivered, getting up and gesturing for me to follow. Picking up my soaking bag, I complied, following him up a flight of steps and down a narrow corridor. I took in my surroundings, creating a mental map for use later.

After many turns, we came to a short corridor with only two doors. The carpet wasn't as plush as the others and normal fluorescent lights were on the ceilings as opposed to the chandeliers that were on the others. He took out a key from his front pocket and unlocked the door, letting it swing open.

I stepped in, taking in the view. It was nice. Comfortable. It had a huge bed in the corner and a bedside table and chest of drawers next to it. A wardrobe was on the opposite side with a door next to it, leading to a bathroom, I presumed. There was a cream couch and plush burgundy armchair. A mahogany bookshelf was mounted to the wall beside the front door and a black coffee table sat in the midst of it all. I immediately headed for the bathroom, where I proceeded to put my bag in the bath. I didn't want to get the furniture wet, now did I?

Walking back into the main room, I found Pedro dusting off the armchair, blowing at it and polishing it.

"It's alright. I kind of like it with dust. Makes it seem much less…formal, if you get what I mean." He jumped; spinning around, green eyes wide with shock. I cringed. He must have not heard me approach. This whole vampire thing took a while to get used to. I pushed off the doorframe and plopped myself down on the couch, patting the space beside me. He looked hesitant, and I just laughed.

"Oh come on. I don't bite." I flashed him a secretive smile and he shrugged, plopping down beside me. We spoke for a while as I tried to ease him, and he spoke I captured his eyes. The longer he stared, the wider his pupils got. I smiled. "Relax," I breathed, and instantly his shoulders sagged.

Softly, with as much care as possible, I started running my hands through his silky smooth black hair, feeling it slide beneath my fingers. I could count each individual hair and see where it was still growing, even as it pushed out of his scalp. It was weird but also fascinating at the same time. He snuggled up to me, despite my cold temperature. His warmth leaked into me and I fought the burn threatening to claw at my throat. I had only just made an acquaintance; I didn't want to lose him just yet.

The smell of the salty sea clung to him, a hint of musk underlying it. I felt a purr of content run through me as we lost ourselves in the sensation of newfound content-ness.

A knock sounded at the door, braking us out of our reverie. Pedro moved to get up but stopped him. "It's alright, I'll get it. You stay here." His hair was mussed up and clothes ruffled from our awkward position. Getting up, I ran a hand through my hair, shaking it out. Opening the door, a guy stood there, about my age. "Can I help you?" I asked. He looked surprised but masked it well.

"I, uh, I'm looking for Pedro," he said. I opened the door wider as I called over my shoulder,

"Pedro, honey, a young man's here to see you!" I heard the couch's spring release as he got up, padding softly over here. He seemed surprised as he saw who it was.

"Carlos! What are you doing here?" he asked in Portuguese. I didn't know how I understood it but I did.

"Looking for you, dumbass! You just walked out on your shift! And is that your girlfriend?" Carlos replied, still in Portuguese, while pointing at me.

"No," Pedro said at the same time I said "Yes." He looked at me, perplexed and I smiled at his friend, drawing Pedro closer to me. He took the hint and wrapped his tan arms around me. Carlos looked impressed and shocked at the same time. "Pedro here helped me out when I got lost." I explained, not exactly lying.

There was a hum in my brain, a buzz that got louder the longer I stared. It whispered to me, a voice familiar but foreign at the same time. It's melodic purr rumbled in my head, and a different voice filtered in.

Since when has Pedro had enough game to pull a hottie like her?

The thoughts came unbidden, and it took me a while to realise that I had just heard his thoughts. What the fuck? Was this some sort of manifestation of my compulsion? Was it because I was supposedly mated to Edward? Was it the universe's way of telling me to drop my vendetta against him?

A low growl built in my chest before I suppressed it. Now wasn't the time to vamp out on them. Carlos laughed and thumped Pedro on the back. "Nice catch, man. I'll cover for you. Seems like I interrupted something." With that, he turned and walked away, laughing as he went. I closed the door and turned to Pedro.

"Why...why did you say that? I mean, no offense, but I don't even know you." He trailed off uncertainly, rubbing the back of his neck. I shrugged, turning to sit on the couch.

"I just figured I'd give you a hand. It's obvious that he would've given you a hard time. May as well have a little fun while we're here." I smirked up at him and beckoned him closer. He came eagerly, pupils dilating until I could barely make out the green of his eyes. I pulled him down, inhaling deeply at his throat.

His pulse hammered under my fingers, fast and hard, a beat that beckoned me closer. A new scent, musky and deep, curled from him and I felt the beast that rested inside of me rattle in her cage, demanding to be let free and bask in the bliss of his blood.

Exquisite. He will taste divine…

I shook my head, flicking my eyes up to meet his. His hand snaked up to the nape of my neck and grasped it firmly before he pulled me in for a kiss. He tasted so good, like chocolate and wine. His warmth seeped into me, warming me up and only increasing the fervor with which I explored him, tasted him, tried to take as much as I could without actually hurting him.

It was difficult as hell.

He shivered, the sensation shuddering through me. I flipped us, straddling his hips as his hands came up to caress me, lithe fingers exploring with almost desperate abandon.

This...this was what it meant to be wanted, to be desired, to be needed. I felt his need as strongly as I felt my own, got lost in the haze of lust and desire. Edward had never touched me like this, had never kissed me so passionately. Not once had he allowed himself to moan so wantonly when with me, to show me how much he wanted me.

His hands were everywhere and I tangled mine in his hair. His breath hitched as I trailed kisses up and down his jaw line. My hunger flared up again as his pulse hammered against my lips and venom pooled in my mouth. It would be so easy to just bite, to nip and take a small sip of the thing that I craved the most. I could make him think that it was nice. I could make him enjoy it…

I swallowed hard, backing off. Pedro seemed like a cool enough guy, and I was going to need him. Besides, I could see us becoming friend. Eating him would kind of put a hindrance on that.

He was breathing hard, eyes half-lidded. I smiled. I did that. "One step at a time, hm?" I smiled, draping myself beside him and laying my head in his lap. He groaned, and I felt the hardness that lay just beyond the fabric but pushed aside my lust-filled thoughts. Though the thought of fucking him had crossed my mind, I decided that I wouldn't risk it. I could barely make out with him without gorging on his blood. Having sex probably wouldn't be any better. He sighed, stroking and playing in my hair.

"Pedro?"

"Yes Isabella?" he answered. I hummed, searching for the right words.

"Do you believe in the supernatural? That things other than human walk amongst you now?" I asked. He paused, thinking for a moment.

"Well, yes. I mean, it seems silly but the stories have to stem from somewhere, right. It's not like humans would just come up with these stories on their own. We're smart and all, but not that smart." I sat up and looked at him.

"What if…"

"What if what?" I looked down at my hands, a rare moment of uncertainty stealing my tongue. Even in all my vampiric glory, I didn't want him to reject me. I didn't know what I would do if another person deemed me unworthy.

"What if I told that I'm not human? That I'm one of those supernatural creatures?" I peered up at him. He frowned.

"Well, then what are you?" he asked cautiously, inching away from me slowly in hopes that I didn't notice. I wouldn't have, had I been human. But I'm not; I'm a vampire now.

"I'm a vampire," I whispered, so low so that he had to strain to hear me. He stared at me and I could practically see the bolts tuning in his head as he made connections. I watched as his face paled and he sprung up from the couch. I rose too, instinctively. He turned to run for the door and I blocked him. I sighed and he jumped back, startled.

"H…how did you do that?" he stuttered.

"Have you forgotten already?" I asked, smirking. He gulped and retreated. Had he not been so vital a pawn in my plan I would have killed him there, just for the hell of it. What the hell Isabella, a part of me thought. When the hell did you get so psychotic? I thought for a moment. Around the time when Edward left. Besides, it's in my nature to kill. I will have to again sometime.

The scent of fear and adrenaline reached me, and I was powerless against the growl that erupted from me. Don't you remember the way Damien's blood tasted as you drained him? The way it flowed through you and gave you strength while making even more beautiful?

I was lost in my thoughts, but my eyes stayed strained on Pedro.

Of course I remember, the sane part of me scoffed. But he is your key to finding the Cullen's. He will make your life easier. Stop acting like a brainless idiot, compel him to keep the secret and act like an innocent human he thought you were before!

Slowly, my feral side was repressed and I managed to grapple back the thin illusion of control. If she so chooses, I had no that I would fly into blind bloodlust just as Jasper had, and drain the poor boy dry. It felt like I was two different people just then; two people in one body. It scared me but I repressed the idea and let my more human side take control as I advanced on him.

"Y…you're not going to eat me are you?" he asked, stumbling over his feet in his haste to get away. I chuckled.

"No, Pedro. If I wanted to eat you, I would have done so long ago. I actually, well, I like you and I don't want to do this but I have to." I ran in front of him, too quick for him to register and stared into his eyes. "You will tell no one of what I am. You will just tell them I have a skin condition which is why I won't be seen out in the sun." I watched as his pupils dilated and he nodded in understanding.

I smiled at him and he smiled back. It was too bad. I really was starting to like him but there was no way I was going to trust a human I had only just met with my secret. My feral side was struggling to be let free, rattling around in the mental cage I had temporarily confined her to.

"So, what do you want to do now, vamp-girl?" he joked after a while of staring at my breasts, which were still slightly damp. I laughed and kissed him. He responded vigorously and I smiled against his lips as I felt something deep within him bend to my will, allowing me to access all of him and his mind.

My tiger- as I had taken to calling the more feral part of me- pulsed with the possibilities of power that had just been opened up to me.

Meanwhile, Carlisle was just getting off the phone with Aro. "Why would Aro want to see us?" asked Esme as she paced. They had reached London the previous evening and were already packing again to visit Volterra. Carlisle shook his head, frowning.

"I don't know. Alice, didn't you see this?" he asked, frustrated. She shook her head and went back to trying to figure out Isabella's next move. All she got was blackness so dark it made her feel blind for the first time in all her eighty-five years as a vampire. Jasper, having sensed everyone's frustration and exhaustion sent calming waves through the room.

Everyone visibly relaxed but it did little to affect the turmoil currently running through their minds. They hadn't heard from Edward in three days and Esme had started to worry about the nature of his mental stability. Nobody knew where Isabella was and it had been driving them all crazy.

Jasper excused himself from the room and walked into his study. He glared at the map of the world in which he had pinned up on a wall. He needed to try and figure out a strategy in which to evade Isabella's attacks. If there was anything worse than a vengeful newborn vampire it was a vengeful newborn vampire who used to be considered family- and so knew them better than most- with an even more vengeful vampire sire.

Whereas the others viewed Aro's invitation to Volterra as the wrong time and an inconvenience, he saw it as the perfect opportunity. They would have moved around a lot, trying to leave false leads for her to pick up and hopefully buying enough time between each move. He didn't particularly like being on the run, but the thought of fighting her made the empath's undead and unbeating heart clenched. To be honest, it wouldn't be much of a fight. A fight constituted of two parties participating in a violent struggle with the exchange of blows and, in this case, venomous bites. Bella didn't stand a chance against him and he wouldn't hesitate to kill her if she posed a threat to his mate. He wouldn't interfere if she tried to hurt Edward but his mate was one vampire no one would ever touch.

A possessive growl rippled in his chest at the thought of her hurting Alice. Just then, Emmett came in. "Ever heard of knocking?" Jasper grumbled. Emmett ignored him and flopped down in the chair behind the desk.

"You know, I have half a mind to go and apologise to Bella. I mean, everyone is in a bad mood and Rosie is holding off sex because she is never 'in the mood'…" Emmett grumbled. Jasper rolled his eyes. Rosalie had been walking past when her husband had said that and she, too, burst into the room.

"Really Emmett? All you can think of right now is sex? I can't believe that! That's another month!" she shouted before storming off. Emmett groaned and chased after her.

"Rose! Wait, I was joking. Baby!" Jasper just sighed and went back to glaring at the map. He stared at it, a thought slowly forming in his mind. He ran to Carlisle to express his thoughts.

"Carlisle, I think we may have endangered the Denali's." he said. Carlisle looked up.

"What? How? We left so that we didn't do exactly that." The doctor was baffled at his 'son's' logic.

"Yes I know but it may be too late. Edward told Bella of the Denali's when they were together. He also told her of where they were. With Victoria's help, she could track them down in search for us." Carlisle winced at his former daughter's name. Understanding dawned and he leapt to his feet, leaving Esme's hand suspended mid-air as she was stopped from stroking his hair. Carlisle's, mind went into overdrive, thinking of ways to protect his extended family.

"We could just call them and ask them to stay with the Volturi with us. No one can get past the guard, regardless of how vengeful they are," suggested Esme. Her heart cracked at the image of a bloodthirsty and vengeful Isabella that came to mind whenever she thought of her former daughter. The thought made her choke up with tears, tears that would never fall.

Internally, she cursed her vampirism. But you wouldn't be with Carlisle if you were still human, her logical side argued. You wouldn't even be alive. She just wanted her lovely, loving human daughter back. It was their fault she is as she is and Esme was determined to make it right again. Alice, who had been sitting stock still all throughout this got up and stared pacing, going in the opposite direction to Carlisle.

She, too, was trying to work through strategies of getting Isabella off their backs. When did everything go so wrong? Where did a very peaceful existence turn to a constant battle for theirs or someone else's life? It hurt her to admit it but they should have just left Isabella out of their life when she began to get involved with them. They should have moved when they had the chance. They should have- and she felt her heart tear slightly at the thought- disposed of her when she found out their secret.

She stopped and sat down, sobs bubbling out of her mouth. She clasped a hand to her mouth to try and hold them in but it was no use. Jasper was quick to comfort her, holding her and whispering soft words, telling her that everything would be alright. It didn't take long for Esme to follow suite and she started dry sobbing, clutching her chest.

She felt exactly how she did when her son died. She just wanted to end it all as she felt the grief and depression cloud her thoughts. Carlisle rocked her, holding her as she cried. Venom tears shone in his eyes but he held back sobs of his own. In Emmett's room, Rosalie was crying tearlessly, her head buried in her husband's shoulder. The occasional sob escaped him as he stared at the deep brown carpet blanketing the ground. The colour reminded him of the doe brown eyes and long, naturally curly and wavy mahogany hair that fell to the middle of Bella's back.

Rosalie cried harder as she thought of all the times she was rude and shunned the beautiful human, all because she was jealous of her human status. Grief, sorrow and depression reigned in the Cullen household.

Outside a window lurked a figure, their frame hidden in the shadows and their shoulders shaking in silent laughter as they admired their handiwork. It was only Jasper who managed to not be affected by their weird power, yet he thought nothing of it after having centuries of dealing with other's feeling. He had no clue that his family's feelings were being tampered with by an outside source.

Aro sighed as he got off the plane. It felt so good to be back on Italian soil. His mind churned, thinking of the different ways the Cullen's could be useful in his collection of the newest member of the Volturi. Aro had every intention to gain her as another guard. He shivered from the thought of all the power he could have, how much they would be feared. Most of all, he imagined the way Stefan and Vladimir would look as Isabella used her power on them, the way their shrill shrieks of pain and horror would still ring in the air long after they were dead and damned souls dragged to the pits of hell.

It was fair to say that Aro was a bit on the psychotic side, what after having to see and carry out millions upon thousands of executions during all four thousand years on earth. His scarlet eyes glistened with malice and hungered for revenge. He climbed into the limousine, not taking notice of the rest of his guard and brothers getting in behind him and shooting him weird looks. Caius couldn't take it anymore and broke the silence. "Brother, what are we to do with Isabella? She is an out of control newborn on the loose, not to mention vengeful. How are we supposed to catch her with a gift like hers?" For the first time in his very long existence, Caius Volturi was scared.

"We will catch her, Caius. That, I will ensure."

"And how do you plan on doing that? We can't very well capture her. She'll turn us into a raisin!" the blonde leader exclaimed, scarlet eyes gleaming. Felix, who was driving, swerved slightly, the image of his Master crumpling in on himself like Victoria had making him shake in fear and fury.

"Worry not, brother. If the facts are as I think they are, she will, very willingly, come to us." Caius just stared at him; stunned at his words but shook his head and dropped the subject.

Upon arrival at the castle, they all climbed out and went their separate ways. They had phoned the Cullen's already and so they should be arriving within the next day or so. The guard immediately dispersed, Felix grabbing Heidi and dragging her into their shared bedroom and slamming the door shut. Though the rooms were all soundproof, the strong smell of sex that wafted from the door was a clear indication as to what they were doing.

Aro ran to his quarters, finding his wife lounging on his bed. He sat down at the desk and she came over to him, sitting on his lap and stroking his midnight hair. "How was it, my love? Did you acquire the newborn?" she asked.

"I'm afraid not, mi amore. She has eluded us. But not for long. If she is after who I think she is, then she'll come running into our arms before long. As soon as the Cullen's are here, everything will be set. I'm going to send Demetri after her and offer her a proposition she isn't able to resist. Don't worry, mio caro, I will have another vampire on our guard. And her power will help us to finally overthrow those scum Romanians," Aro assured, trailing kisses up and down his wife's neck as she purred in content.

"And what, pray tell, is her special power? If the Volturi cannot kill those vermin then no one can. We are, after all, the strongest and most feared vampire coven in all the world," Sulpicia asked, gasping lightly as her husband nipped at the mating mark he had inflicted upon her mere minutes after finding her.

"You'll see, my little minx. You'll experience the full force of her power soon," Aro growled, the threat clear in his voice. Sulpicia, however, took no note of it, too lost in the sensations coursing throughout her body. Soon, her cries of ecstasy were resonating through the room, Aro's growls matching them.

On the other side of the castle, Jane sat hunched over in her room. She was replaying the feral look in Isabella's eyes, which was usual for a newborn. However, what wasn't normal was the haunted look and pain so plainly reflected in them. Though she showed no sign of fear or pain on the outside, Jane could pick up on the subtle signs of hurt that seemed to have been with her for some time. It was in the way her shoulders were either slightly hunched over or pushed too far back in a false show of confidence, how she would tuck her head in and look at the ground or stuck her nose in the air as if she were a snob looking down at a peasant. It was in the way she was constantly on guard.

While that seemed perfectly reasonable, considering she was a newborn in the presence of a powerful coven of unknown vampires, the way she seemed to calculate her answers and the dead tone hinted at more than just physical protection. She had been hurt, and hurt badly. For some unknown reason, Jane found a strange awe and attraction start to grow from her to the enigma that was Isabella Swan.

She admired the way she dared run, knowing that there was only a slim chance that she escaped. But she had grasped that tiny chance and stretched it, evading them. She admired the way she managed to look her Master in the eye, knowing that the last time she had done so herself had been centuries ago. Ever since she was punished for speaking out of term, she found herself unable to relax in her Master's presence. The tiny blonde was constantly watching herself, never allowing herself to get too close to the powerful leader. A strange bitterness had begun to form in Jane's heart at the thought and presence of her sire, and it confused her.

She found herself fantasizing about running away with Isabella, over hills and into the sunset, or jumping into the sea and going wherever the current lead them. It was with sudden clarity that Jane realised that she was attracted to Isabella, and she had to try her very best to be with her. Because if she didn't, then she knew that she would be stuck in the Volturi's clutches forever, and forever suddenly seemed too long to spend with her sire and coven.

Felix and Heidi lay in their bed,basking in their afterglow. Felix had dragged his mate away immediately in hopes of getting distracted from what he had seen in Forks. But the scene had been branded into his brain and it didn't matter which position he used; it seemed to remind him in some way of what had happened. He had hoped that Heidi hadn't noticed but she did. "So what's got you so distracted?" she asked finally. He opened his eyes.

"W…what do you mean?" he stuttered, feigning innocence. She rolled her eyes.

"Don't play dumb with me. You are obviously not here. What happened that has you so… out of it?" He hesitated but couldn't hold it in anymore. Heidi watched as a look of pure horror washed over her mate's face, his handsome features grimacing and terror washing throughout his being. She, in turn, felt how he did and it scared her knowing that he felt it ten times worse. "W…what ha…happened?" she stuttered. Felix shook his head.

"She was horrible. I mean, she was gorgeous, unnaturally so even for a vampire. Her eyes, though red, were haunted and…. dead. It was as if only her body was there but there was nobody inside. And her power, dear gods, her power was horrific. If I could still pee I would have pissed myself. She was concentrating on the red head and suddenly she started screaming," he recounted.

"She has Jane's power?" whispered Heidi, trembling slightly.

"No. It's worse."

"Worse?" she asked. He nodded.

"Yes. It starts off just like Jane's. Then, it progresses into something more. Her face starts to wrinkle, as if time had caught up with her. She continued to scream and screech while her body wrinkled and crumpled in on itself. By the end of it, she looked like withered old lady, quite like a raisin." He finished with a shudder, mirrored by his mate. They laid in silence for a while before Heidi spoke.

"So Aro wanted to add her to the guard?" Felix nodded. "Well, why isn't she here then? Or is she?" Felix remained silent and she thought he was confirming her suspicions. "She's here, Felix? In the castle?" her voice was getting higher, her breathing faster as she slowly started to panic.

"No! No, she got away," he was quick to reassure his panicking mate, though he grumbled the last part, feeling the blow it made to his naturally large ego. Heidi sighed out in relief, pressing a hand to her chest as she imagined the way her heart would race had she been human. She simply hugged her husband and buried her head in his shoulder, feeling his short dark curls tickle her skin and relished in his comforting scent.

A/N: Hello everybody. It's been a while, huh? Anyway, here's the next chapter for you. Just to clarify, as I said in the last chapter, an Immortal Child is considered (in this story) a child changed under the age of thirteen, not eighteen. I've hinted at a few things that are to come in the coming chapters and I want to know if you lot have picked up on them. How was it? Good? Bad? Tell me in the reviews below! Oh, and who's POV do you want me to add? Add it in the review! ;)

-Channie.B

EDITED: 28/12/18