A/N: The reviews have been great, guys! They make me smile! I'm so glad everyone seems to be enjoying my little story. So, hold on because things are about to get bumpy…
As always, I don't own Twilight, Stephenie Meyer does.
EPOV
"Hey, does anybody else find it odd that we've been here for about six hours and haven't seen a single Dreg?" Emmett asked, shoving more dried beef jerky into his mouth as he peered out the front windows. "I mean, it's weird you know? Just saying…" he mumbled, shrugging his meaty shoulders and returning to his jerky.
Carlisle and looked at one another, stunned at Emmett's casual observance that both for us had failed to notice. The gorilla had a point. We hadn't seen a single Dreg since our chaotic arrival. Not that I'm ungrateful, but to reiterate Emmett…it was really fucking weird. Usually by now, we would have at least seen a small group move through.
"It may mean nothing," Carlisle muttered, trying to sound reassuring, but the hint of uncertainty was undeniable. We were still going over plans, preparing to infiltrate the compound. The very last thing we needed was more uncertainty…we already had that in spades.
Turning my attention back to the diagram, I sighed heavily. This compound was massive. One wrong turn and who knows where we could end up. Add into that Bella's cryptic warning of other 'experiments', and we could have a recipe for disaster if we weren't fully prepared.
The office door down the hall swung open, banding loudly against the wall. I heard my sister's giggled "Oops," before she strolled into the main room, arm in arm with her husband, satisfied grins plastered on both their faces.
I quickly stood and wrapped my pixie sister in a tight hug, lifting her tiny feet off the floor. "Thank God you're okay," I mumbled, kissing the side of her head. Setting her back down, we both looked at each other, tears overflowing.
"I'm sorry," we both said in unison. "For what?" we both said again simultaneously, the entire room bursting into laughter.
Stepping back from her, I help my hands up in a sign of surrender. "Okay, okay…I give. You go first. Pix," I sighed, "what could you possibly have to be sorry for?"
Tears streaked down her face, her eyes begging for forgiveness. "Jasper wanted to tell you that I was hurt. He wanted to stop the ambulance and have Carlisle tend to me," she sniffled, "but I couldn't risk everybody like that. I'm sorry I didn't let him tell you. I'm sorry I let that fucker get to me in the first place. I'm sorry-"
Wrapping her up in my arms once more, I pleaded, "Stop, Pix…stop." Placing my hands on either side of her face, I looked directly into her gray eyes, "I'm mad as hell that you didn't tell me you were hurt, but it was not your fault that the fucker got to you in the first place…it was mine."
"Both of you stop this," Esme interjected. "It was no one's fault. We all did what we had to in order to get out of there alive. Blame benefits no one," she voiced sternly.
"Yes ma'am," we both replied apologetically, causing another round of giggles to echo throughout the room.
With a beaming smile, Carlisle approached Alice, a look of awe upon his face. "How do you feel, Alice?" he asked, no longer able to contain his burning curiosity.
"Strange," she sighed. "I'm almost afraid to move, afraid I'll break something or make too much noise-"
"Ha!" Emmett scoffed. "You didn't seem too concerned about that an hour ago, cowgirl."
"Emmett!" Esme scolded. "Manners!"
Abashed, Emmett mumbled, "Sorry, Esme."
Blushing furiously, Alice mumbled, "I'm so sorry about that. I don't really know what came over me." The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as she cast a knowing glance to her husband. "It was purely…instinctual. I don't know how else to explain it."
"You don't have to explain anything to me, Pix. I know exactly what you were experiencing," I chuckled, my eyes meeting Bella's as the memory of having her pressed into the wall filled my mind.
"I would like to investigate this further, once we make it down to the lab," Carlisle asserted, "…if we make it."
"Awe shucks, Carlisle," Emmett laughed, rolling his eyes. "I'd of thought you of all people would know the birds and bees talk, hands down. I'll simplify it for you scientific folk…it's Part A into Slot B-"
A resounding smack echoed through the room as Esme's hand made contact with the back of Emmett's head…loudly.
"Sorry, Esme," Emmett mumbled once more.
Carlisle chuckled in amusement. Turning back to Alice, he asked, "So other than that particular compulsion, what else do you feel?"
"Like I could tear this whole building apart with my bare hands," she replied, holding her hands in front of her, inspecting them for any outward changes that would suggest such immense strength. "I almost ripped the door down before coming out here. It's…intense." Looking sheepishly at her husband once more, she whispered "I'm pretty sure Jasper's going to be sporting some bruises."
Clearing his throat, Jasper discreetly adjusted his junk. "Worth it," he announced to the room smugly.
"Is this how you felt…after?" Alice asked, turning her attention back to me.
I nodded slowly, remembering the intense emotions that had run through me as I vaulted off that table. "I remember thinking that I would get to James even if I had to tear the whole school apart to do it. The strength, it's hard to get a handle on. "
"Oh, God! I'm so sorry for yelling at you for breaking the door to my hiding place back at camp!" she suddenly exclaimed. "I had no idea…"
"No worries, Pix, just glad to have you back in one piece," I sighed kissing her temple. Turning back to the table, I motioned for Jasper to join me.
"You've been busy," Jasper mumbled, looking down at Bella's complex diagram. "Fuck, that's quite a trek. What's the distance between these security stations?" he asked, pointing to the small round sections highlighted in red.
"Half a mile," Bella answered, "with individual cameras every four hundred feet."
"Can I just ask something?" Jacob huffed from his perch at the far window. "Why, exactly, are we risking this? Why don't we just find another place to go that's topside? Why are we even considering breaking into somewhere that we already know is overrun with military and may be no safer for us than up here? No offense, Bella."
"None taken, Jacob," my angel replied. "I understand you are scared, but here's the thing. My family is still down there. There is also food, water, and supplies down there. Most convincingly, there are NO Dreg down there."
"There is also the matter of Bella's blood," Carlisle added, rubbing his forehead. Glancing at my sister with remorse, he continued, "I'll be honest, I didn't think the blood transfusion from Bella would work on Alice. I thought for sure we would lose her." His eyes misted as he pondered his past conclusions. "But her blood did work. It…healed…Alice. Made her into something not quite…human."
My angel stiffened at that last comment, looking anywhere but at me.
Angel, what is it?
Shaking her head back and forth, she sat heavily in a chair, guilt and confusion clouding her beautiful face.
"He's right," Bella whispered. As she slowly looked around the room, tears began to fall down her cheeks. "What has happened to Alice and Edward should be studied. I was born with these abilities, but the introduction of my blood into their systems has made them less human…and more like me. It needs to be analyzed, and for that we need a proper lab."
Something in her statement sent off warning bells in my head…less human…more like me. Her green eyes snapped to mine, having heard those thoughts.
Please…please…I can't explain…not yet…
She looked away from me, as if she were ashamed, her eyes filling with tears once more. I rose from my position at the coffee table, ignoring Jasper's protests, and made my way over to my girl. Kneeling in front of her, I whispered, "Sweetheart, as I've told you before, there is nothing…and I mean nothing…that could make me leave you." I planted a soft kiss on her pouty lips. "Do you understand what I am saying?" I implored, trying desperately to convey my meaning. Personally, I didn't give a fuck what she was…as long as she was mine.
Bella lurched into my arms, knocking me to the floor, covering my face in wet kisses.
"Here we go again…" Emmett mumbled from the window.
I quickly flipped Bella onto her back and pinned her arms above her head, grinding into her, a growl erupting from deep in my throat.
"Edward!" Esme admonished, snapping me out of my sudden dominant display.
I sat up, shaking my head to clear it. "I'm sorry," I mumbled, pulling Bella up with me. "I don't know what…that…was."
"Wild fucking Kingdom in here…" Emmett whispered lowly.
Grasping Bella's hand in mine, I led her back over to the table, where we redoubled our efforts to formulate a solid plan. Every route was analyzed, every possibility considered. The bad news was the Hydroponics section that Bella was referring to was quite a ways into the compound. It would take us a few hours to get to it. The good news was it was off more to the side of the compound, which would save us from having to venture into the more high traffic areas.
We decided that Emmett and I would take the alternate route to the lab, doubling back and leaving false trails with the first laser scope. Bella would lead everyone else on a more direct route, with Jasper using the second laser scope to confuse the cameras. Once we made it to the lab, we would reassess, and see exactly where we stood.
"Before we head down to that compound, I think we need to get a bit of sleep," Carlisle recommended. "We're all kind of running on empty. We need to be fresh to face whatever we may find down there."
We all nodded in agreement, pairing off to find suitable sleeping arrangements. This office didn't offer much, but we were able to find some blankets and pillows in the supply closet. There was an old leather couch in one of the back rooms that smelled strongly of cigars, but it was the most comfortable piece of furniture here. Upon further inspection, we found that it actually folded out to a sleeper sofa.
"Jacob is going to take watch since he slept earlier today while we were dealing with Alice," Carlisle stated. Grasping Esme's hand, he slowly pulled her down the hallway in the direction of the office with the sofa bed. Looking back at me with a mischievous grin, he said, "Us old folks are taking the bed." Leading a giggling Esme inside, he closed and locked the door behind him.
"Those two are definitely doing the deed," Emmett chuckled. "Old folks, my ass." Turning, he walked back to the front room tossing out a "Sweet dreams!" over his shoulder.
With blankets thrown over my arm, I laced my fingers with Bella's, silently pulling her into the same room we were in earlier that day. Taking a cue from Carlisle, I closed and locked the door behind me. Bella took the blankets from me and began neatly laying them out into a makeshift bed. Once she had them positioned just the way she wanted them, she turned back to face me, reaching up to pull her hair from her ponytail.
I licked my lips in anticipation as her long chocolate locks cascaded down to the middle of her back. Enraptured, I palmed my cock through my jeans as Bella swiftly removed her t-shirt, leaving her in the sweetest little white bra. I panted as she slowly slipped her yoga pants down her long, lean legs. Left in only her bra and panties, she stepped onto the pile of blankets, holding her hand out to me, beckoning me to join her.
My t-shirt and jeans quickly joined hers on the floor, leaving me in only my boxer briefs. I gathered her in my arms and slowly lowered her to the blankets, placing soft innocent kisses on her nose and at both corners of her mouth. Losing all restraint, she pulled my lips to hers, kissing me furiously. Our tongues tangled, her strawberry essence driving me insane with want.
Shifting my hips, I brought my thigh up between her legs, pressing against her heat as moisture soaked into her panties. My devious little angel smoothed her hands around my neck, across my shoulder blades and down my back, until she was gripping both of my ass cheeks firmly in her little hands. She deftly began lowering my boxers, pushing them the rest of the way down with her dainty little feet, leaving me completely bare and aching.
Moving to kiss down her beautiful neck, I wrapped my arms around her back, nimble fingers quickly unclasping the only barrier between me and Bella's perfect breasts. As I pulled the flimsy material from her body, I was met with beautifully round globes, peaked with perfect rosy little nipples. Lowering my head, I wrapped my lips around one bud, teasing it into a hard peak with my tongue, while my hand traveled to her other breast, squeezing and kneading gently.
Bella gasped in pleasure, her eyes rolling back as she gripped my hair, pulling roughly. My mouth traveled to her other breast, teasing lightly. I licked my way down her toned stomach, circling her cute little belly button with my nose, before grasping the top of her panties with my teeth and slowly pulling them down her legs.
As soon as her panties had joined our ever growing pile of clothing, I spread her legs wide and delved back in, eager to taste the nectar seeping from her center. My tongue teased her little clit while my index finger probed her opening, stretching her a bit at a time. I needed to be slow and controlled. The last thing I wanted was to hurt her.
Bella suddenly pulled me back up her body, wrapping her legs around me, my cock settling right at her entrance. With one thrust I could be home, but I would never take her choice away from her. Oh, I wanted her, wanted to be buried in her…more than I wanted to breathe, but she would have to lead this dance.
Looking into her eyes, I asked, "Is this what you really want, sweetheart? We don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with."
"Yes, Edward, please…" she begged. "I want you. As your mate, I need you…"
"Shh, sweet girl, you never have to beg. You can have every part of me. I'm yours," I replied, slowly pressing my cock forward into her wet heat. I rocked gently, easing my way in, desperately trying to stave off my rapidly approaching orgasm. It was pure bliss and complete torture. After what seemed like an eternity, I reached her barrier.
"This is going to hurt a bit, sweetheart," I whispered into her neck.
"I know," she replied, tightening her legs, urging me forward.
With one sharp thrust, I was buried to the hilt, the sensation almost too much to bear. Burying my face in her hair, I suckled softly at the juncture of her neck and shoulder, waiting for her to adjust to my intrusion.
Oh, God. Please move…
Pulling back, I kissed her soundly as I pushed slowly back in, obeying her silent request. Her breathing picked up as I began to move in earnest, thrusting in and out with a little more force. Her whimpers turned to moans as I moved faster, wrapping my arms behind her back and gripping her shoulders, pressing her tightly to me. As my orgasm approached, I was fighting that same urge from earlier, the urge to dominate her. I had no idea where this compulsion was coming from.
"It's the mate bond, sweetheart. When we mate, our animalistic instincts take over, governing our actions," she breathed. "It's alright-"
A fierce growl ripped from my throat as I pinned her hands above her head, plowing into her over and over, a red haze clouding my vision. "Mine, mine, mine…" I chanted in time with each forceful thrust, the urge to claim simply too great.
Her walls began to flutter around me as she gasped for breath, using the leverage from my hands to fuck me back.
"Oh, God…Bella…I need you to come," I begged. Looking down at her flushed face and glazed eyes, I commanded, "Come now!" Thrusting once more, her pussy gripped my cock tightly as her orgasm exploded around me, coating my cock. My own orgasm crashed through me violently as I emptied into her, the aftershocks continuing for several minutes.
Slowing my movements, I held her trembling body to mine. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I wanted to be gentle. I never wanted to hurt you. Please forgive me," I cried into her shoulder.
Sweeping her fingers through my sweat dampened hair, she replied, "We're mates, Edward, and…that…is what mates do. I told you it was alright. There is nothing to forgive."
"I love you, Bella," I declared, looking deep into her beautiful green eyes.
Her blinding smile was answer enough to my poor heart. "I love you, too."
Grabbing the edge of the blanket, I wrapped us up together, cocooned in warmth. A few moments later, her breathing evened out as she drifted off to sleep.
Content down to my very soul, I followed soon after.
Several hours later, I was jolted out of the most beautiful dream by a fist pounding incessantly on the door.
"Don't make me come in there you two. I already got an eyeful of Carlisle's pasty ass. Fucking National Geographic, I swear…" he mumbled, finally backing away from the door.
Turning to my beautiful mate, I pulled the blankets slowly down her back until the dimples above her perfect little ass were visible. Slowly kissing down her exposed spine, I reached under the blanket, snaking my hand around until I finally found her pert little nipple, pinching it lightly. Bella began to shift and squirm under the blankets, before turning to face me fully.
"Hi," she whispered shyly, her eyelids still heavy with sleep.
"Hi, sweet girl," I whispered back, swooping in for a gentle kiss. "We have to get ready to go, the big oaf said so."
"Okay," she giggled, hopping up from the blanket to retrieve her clothes.
The sight of her completely nude…and bouncy…had me hard as a rock. Closing my eyes and breathing deeply through my nose, I willed my erection into compliance. We had far too much to accomplish today. I would have to readdress that issue much later.
Pulling myself free from the tangle of blankets, I grabbed my clothes and began to get dressed. God, what I wouldn't give for a shower right now, but there just wasn't time.
Heading out to the main room, hand in hand, Bella and I joined the others as they finished packing up. With one last check to our weapons and the diagrams Bella drew, we filed into the back office and moved the desk covering the hatch.
Once open, the cool air hit me in the face, carrying with it a hint of odor, something I couldn't quite place. I poked my head down first to make sure the coast was clear. Swinging down to the ladder, I slowly descended as a series of automatic LED lights came on, illuminating the entire tunnel.
"Motion activated," my angel stated, descending the ladder right behind me.
Up ahead about one hundred yards, I could see the single door that would allow us access to the compound. Bella and I moved forward, allowing everyone else to climb down into the tunnel. Emmett, pulling up the rear, closed the hatch behind him.
The floor of the tunnel was indeed grated, just as Bella had described. I could see her bloody footprints leading toward the ladder. Walking single file, as that was as much room as the tunnel allowed, we cautiously approached the door. Bella moved forward and pressed her hand to a flat panel on the wall, stepping back as the hydraulic door slowly swung open. We all quickly moved inside, gasping as the narrow doorway opened up into a much larger corridor, the hydraulic door swinging shut behind us with a slow hiss. As I watched, the door seemed to disappear into what appeared to be a large panel of conduit and switches.
I took a moment to center myself, letting my senses extend out away from me, trying to detect anyone moving in our direction, but I found no one.
Emmett and I took point as we moved up the corridor. The first junction would be coming up in three hundred and sixty feet, where we would split off into our designated teams and head in separate directions. That's also where we would encounter our first surveillance camera and find out if our laser trick was going to work.
As we approached the junction where Emmett and I were to split off, Bella came to an abrupt halt. Pulling on my sleeve to gain my attention, she pointed to the surveillance camera that sat motionless on the wall, a red light glaring from above the center eye.
Something's wrong…security if offline.
Pulling her to me, I leaned my forehead to hers.
Bella, we're going to stick to the original plan, just in case. Emmett and I are going to sweep around while you take everyone else directly to that lab.
Nodding at our silent exchange, she motioned for her group to follow her, while Emmett and I forked to the right, taking the alternate route.
Weaving in and out of various corridors, we came across no other personnel and all of the security cameras were inactive. Bella was right, something was definitely amiss. Emmett and I were just about to begin making our way to Bella's lab, when a streak of blond hair and a flash of metal caught my eye.
A young woman, appearing from nowhere, charged Emmett, grabbing him around the neck and lifting him from the floor as if he weighed nothing. Fuck, her resemblance to Bella was uncanny. This had to be her sister, Rosalie.
"Who the fuck are you?" she snarled, holding Emmett in the air with one hand and the knife positioned at his family jewels with the other.
Swinging the rifle around to my back, I quickly held out my hands in a gesture of surrender. "Please calm down," I pleaded, looking to Emmett, silently instructing him not to move a single muscle. "We aren't here to hurt anyone. Bella brought us here-"
"You fucking liar!" she screeched, tossing Emmett against the opposite wall. Faster than I could blink, she had me pinned to the floor, knife at my throat, as tears flooded her clear blue eyes.
"I swear I'm telling the truth!" I gritted through my teeth, trying in vain to get the knife away from her. "Bella-"
"Don't you fucking say her name!" she screamed, plunging the knife into my side. "Bella's dead…"