Language: English

Rating: Rated: M

Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Drama


CHAPTER 9: ONCE BITTEN; TWICE SHY


Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. All rights go to Stephanie Meyer

Revenge is a dish best served cold:

The Hunt

~So I'm gonna love you

Like I'm gonna lose you

I'm gonna hold you

Like I'm saying goodbye~

Like I'm Gonna Lose You- Megan Trainor

Once Bitten; Twice Shy

ELEAZER STIFLED a sigh as he stared out of the tiny aeroplane window. Carmen rubbed his thigh soothingly and he instantly relaxed. Tanya, in the row in front, was flirting with the passenger beside her while Kate played video games on her phone. Irina had her eyes closed, nodding subtly to her music. Each vampire felt the minute shift in latitude, fastening their sea tbelt several moments before the sign flashed, telling them to do so.

As the wheels bumped onto the runway, a voice came over the intercom: "Welcome to Rome Airport of Leonardo da Vinci. The local time is 10:30. The outside temperature is 34°C. For your comfort and safety, please remain with your seatbelt fastened until the aircraft has come to a complete stop and the seatbelt sign has been switched off…"

Each vampire tuned out, tired of having heard the same thing for over five decades. Soon, they were blurring through customs and security (literally) and running the thirty miles separating Rome from Volterra.


Isabella laughed as she watched Maggie's face morph into shock as a man bought her a third drink with the sole intent on getting her drunk. "So, where're you from?" the guy asked.

"Um…Ireland," Maggie replied. He smiled.

"Well, you're quite a ways from home aren't you darling? What're you doing down here in Lons- le- Saunier?"

"I'm here on holiday with-"

"Me. Hey babes." Isabella, having decided to take pity on Maggie, walked up behind her and planted a kiss firmly on her lips.


Maggie's POV

I was practically dying out here. Ella had resorted to laughing at me over my admirer's shoulder. But as she sauntered over and devoured my mouth, I practically melted. What was she doing to me? After spending only a few days together, she was turning me into… I don't even know. Two weeks ago, I'd never even entertain the thought of playing with my food or fucking in a motel where practically everyone could hear me. But now, anything goes.

As she pulled her mouth away, as the flicker of a smirk crossed her face, I sighed. I was trapped, and I knew no force on earth could pull me away from her. The guy's arousal filled my nose and I gagged. Turning to him, I widened my eyes, feeling the dazzle take place. "Run along. You'll meet another girl, fuck her and then go home to your wife." He nodded mindlessly before doing as he was told.

Smirking victoriously, I turned back to Ella, smashing our lips back together to resume where we left off. But as she remained unresponsive, I pulled away. "What's wrong?" I asked. Her blue eyes bore into mine, a million questions in their beautiful depths.

"How did you do that?" she asked. I frowned.

"What?"

"That? You basically just compelled him to leave." She cocked her head to the side. "How did you do that?"

"Oh that? No, that's called dazzling. Every vampire can do that to humans. I thought you knew?" She continued to look at me, though I could tell that she wasn't really here. She'd told me that her maker taught her about her new life, and I'd assumed this was part of it too.

"No, my maker failed to mention it to me. Good thing I have you." And as she kissed me, everything but her mouth on mine fell away.

Later that night, we were curled up in the car as we drove from France into Italy; I asked a question that had been plaguing my mind for a while. "Ella?" I asked, my head resting on her shoulder as one hand drove and the other drew invisible patterns on my stomach and sent jolts of pleasure tingling up my spine.

"Hm?"

"Why do you want to kill Edward?" She tensed, a frown marring her features as she thought for a second.

"You see, Maggie, I don't know how to answer that. I can't…and believe me when I say that it pains me to have to say this as much as it will for you to have to hear it…I can't really trust anybody." As she said this, it felt like she reached inside of me and ripped my heart from my chest.

"W…what do you mean? You have me. You could've had Garrett. Hell, you could've even had Siobhan and Liam so, don't give me that bullshit! I deserve a straight answer! Garrett would've definitely helped you had you not decided to kill him!" By now, I was sitting up and panting from my outburst. Ella still had her eyes on the road, but was grimacing as if she was in physical discomfort.

"Oh Maggie, your starting to sound like him now."

"Who? Edward? What is he to you anyway?" I saw her eyes flash red, which I came to know meant she was losing control.

"I…God, Maggie, I literally can't tell you. Just please trust me on this." I felt my face get hot, though no blood ran through my veins.

"Stop the car."

"What? Maggie, no, we're nearly completely into Italy. We can't stop now-"

"Stop the car now, Isabella!" The use of her full name must've shocked her into compliance as she pulled over onto the side of the highway. I clambered out, slamming the door shut behind me.

I heard her exit the car and follow me. "Maggie, please understand-"

"No! No, Isabella. I haven't questioned you at all for our entire trip but it's time I do. I can't just follow you blindly. I saw what you did, back there, to Zafrina. She was a friend. So please, excuse me if I don't understand what could possibly be so important or secretive that you need to kill my friend." My chest was heaving as I watched her, venom tears filling my eyes as hers softened.

She opened and shut her mouth several times before spitting out: "Mags, please, I'm begging you, understand that I need you to trust me on this. It's better for all of out sakes if I don't rehash the whole thing. Just know that once they're dead, you'll get the full story, no edited bits. I swear it. Just trust me-"

"No!" I screamed, hands clutching my hair in frustration. "You don't get my trust if I don't get yours. Will you abandon the whole 'kill the Cullen's' if I swear never to ask again?" Her silence said it all. I shook my head and started walking away.

"Wait. Maggie, wait. Where are you going?"

"Home. Back to Siobhan and Liam. Where I'm trusted with things."

"Oh come on, that's not fair. Get back in the car and we can work things out. Please, Maggie, come with me." Her pleading made my heart crack into a thousand pieces. I turned and ran back to her, jumping in her arms as I kissed her passionately. In the kiss, I tried to convey everything. How much I loved her, how much I needed her. She was the one thing that made me feel truly alive after all those centuries and decades alone, not really wanted even by my own coven. I tried to tell her one last time how important she was to me and how much I wished that she would just trust me. Pulling away, I stared into her tear-filled eyes, placing my forehead against hers.

"Please, Ella, please, be the one person that chose me." She closed her eyes and I watched in amazement as a single crystal tear rolled down her cheek. I kissed it away softly, before detangling from her and walking away.

I walked away from her, from us, from my heart.

Isabella's POV

My heart broke all over again as I watched her walk away from me. Somehow, somewhere along the line, that little vixen- my little vixen- had wormed her way into my heart and thawed it. And now she walked away from me with it in her hands, squeezing it with each step she took. I closed my eyes. Why couldn't I just tell her? I could've just let her know why this was so important to me and carried on.

But both my tiger and I knew that if she knew the truth, she'd run away screaming. She'd know just how damaged I really was. And she wouldn't want me. It was that ever-present fear of rejection. That ever-present niggling at the back of my mind telling me that if they thought that I wasn't good enough, I'll never be. I mean,they took in a Southern Newborn Wars survivor and a mental patient. What did that say about me?

I let loose a roar, pummelling the earth beneath my hands in an effort to shake the feelings, the thoughts and the doubts. But no matter how hard I punched, how loud I screamed, it didn't end. The pain that seared straight through my heart only got worse. I stood shakily, trying to breathe through the anger.

Complete what you need to. Kill them and be done.

I ran back to the car and took off, not bothering to strap in. Watch out, Edward, I'm coming to get you and I'm closer than you think.

Third POV

The Denali's raced through the foliage the few trees offered, dodging stray rays of sunlight. They were within two miles of the Volterra castle when they smelt it: Edward's scent. Hurrying, Tanya followed it before coming to the city square where there was a large group of humans all adorned in red cloaks. "Shit!" she exclaimed, eyes wide and frantic as she searched for her ass-headed 'cousin'. The others did so too, zipping around to get better angles to no avail. On the run to Volterra, Alice had texted and informed them of Edward's stupid decision. The others searched too, fearful that they were too late, yet they had yet to spot the bronze-haired vampire.

That was, until, Kate exclaimed: "There! Under the clock tower!" As one, the coven rushed over to him, screaming at him in their thoughts. This had the opposite effect, however, for he looked over at them, golden eyes widening in shock before stepping into direct sunlight. A jolt of searing pain speared through him and he went crashing to the ground.

A little girl of five tugged on her mothers robes as she reported in quick Italian what had just transpired mere meters from where they stood. But as her mother turned to look, all she saw was a blanketing darkness that threatened to swallow her up whole. More than a little spooked, she scooped her child up in her arms and moved further into the sun.

Inside the darkness, Edward layed squirming in pain, Demetri and Felix holding each arm up. Alec drifted up to them, smiling bemusedly at the large group of vampires. "Sister, dearest, Master sends you out for one and you come back with six. Impressive." Jane sends him a withering glare, softened by the small smile playing on her lips.

"Demetri, Felix, take him inside. You all must follow me," Jane said, her tinkering voice quiet but carrying. Turning on her tiny kitten heel, she walked off, seeming more to glide. After exchanging nervous glances with each other, the Denali's set off, Tanya leading them and Alec following.

Alice had just come out of her vision, sagging with relief and sorrow at the outcome. The decisions Edward had decided to take all ended with his death or an end that was unseen to her, leading her to believe that it was death all around. Jasper, not needing to have spoken with her to know what she was thinking, hugged her to his side.

The throne room doors opened and Demetri and Felix walked in, dragging an exhausted Edward with them. They dumped him at the dais of the three thrones. The Cullen's were so engrossed in the sight of their coven member in shambles that they didn't notice the other coven entering. "Eleazer! What a surprise! And what are you doing here?" Aro had a smile on his face, but the growl and demand was heard clearly by all.

"Aro, forgive me. I knew of Edward's fickle state and had no doubt that he would try something drastic. It was my sole intent to keep him from achieving death prematurely." Aro laughed.

"Was it really?" Eleazer only inclined his head. Aro motioned for him to step forward just as his phone rang. The number was an unknown one, and so he answered with caution.

"Hello?"

"Aro, my dear. How are you? And dear Jane?" The musical voice filled the room, drawing gasps from all.

"Isabella," Aro purred. "How can I help you?"

"Oh, there's nothing I need from you. How's dear Edward?" she sneered the word, her clear disgust palpable for all to practically taste. Edward simply winced, not bothering to hide his pain.

"He's…coping. If you count a suicide attempt."

"Bella, please, think this through!" cried Esme. A sigh came through the phone.

"Oh Esme, always trying to save her children. Trouble is, yours died a couple decades ago." Esme's astonished sob escaped her, resonation throughout the room.

"That was uncalled for, Isabella," growled Jasper.

"Nice to see that they've kept you around, Jasper. Tell that pixie of yours I said hi. Oh, I really must dash. Passing through Turin, by the way. Toodles!" Then the line went dead.

"Shit," Kate and Emmett said in unison.


A/N: Hi guys. I literally love you guys. Seeing as how I was single for valentines, you're all my valentines. Anyway, sorry for the long wait and the short chapter. Just wanted you guys to know that this story is getting closer to a finish point but DO NOT PANIC; there will be a sequel. How was it? Drop me a review to tell me!

Love ya,

- Channie.B

EDITED: 28/12/18