Disclaimer: I do not own anything. All rights got to Stephanie Meyer.
Isabella
I laughed as he scrunched up his nose. "What on earth was that?" he asked, grimace stuck on his face.
"It's called a Pop Tart. Sugar filled horrible human snacks that I adore." I hummed as I wafted it in front of his face before taking a huge bite. He blanched.
"That's some sort of death trap. Why would you subject yourself to such torture as eating things of the sort?" The genuine disgust on his only made me laugh harder. Combined with the food in my mouth, it went spraying everywhere. His startled laughter spurred mine on. He jumped up, and I stumbled after him, drool and chewed up Pop Tart dribbling from my mouth as tears stung my eyes.
"Wait. Alec kiss me!" I hollered. He laughed, running behind the table. I followed, before he ran into the living room. When I got there, it was empty, and I was faced with three identical looking doors.
I smirked, freezing as I tried to listen for any sound or movement. My shield sensed a presence behind the door immediately to my right, so I spun, flinging it open as I screamed "Aha!"
My blood froze. Before me, hand poised to knock, stood the sneering Caius, hard red eyes glaring down at me. I slammed a hand over my mouth, stepping back. Alec stood behind me, hair tousled and scarlet eyes wide in surprise. He placed a protective hand on my shoulder, manoeuvring us so that he stood in front of me.
"Insolent human," growled Caius, tearing his hate-filled gaze from me and turning it instead on Alec.
"Master Caius. What can we do for you?" Caius narrowed his eyes, brushing past us. We turned (me chewing furiously), watching as the Volturi King inspected the living room. He sneered and snarled at everything, including the deep blue pattern of the wallpaper.
"I need to speak to the human." He glanced at us before going back to fingering the necklace that sat on the bookcase. I shared a worried glance with Alec. Clearing my throat, I stepped out from behind him.
"How can I help?" I asked. He turned, raising a brow as he looked me over. I blushed. Okay, sure my baggy joggers and spaghetti strap vest didn't really compare to his crisp and most probably tailored suit but what the hell. It's not like I had anything important to do to today. It was my self-proclaimed off day. Nonetheless, the blush staining my cheeks and trailing down my chest did nothing to deter my great dislike for the king.
"As you know, Aro has, for some unimaginable reason, decided to keep all of you and your insufferable friends. However, after your newborn year is up, you will be distributed around the world. During the time that you are here in the castle, your combatant skill lessons will be overseen by me." He stopped abruptly, turning to me. Alec stiffened, but lowered his eyes when the king asked, "Any problems?"
"No, Master Caius." Caius smirked, turning his bright milky red eyes on me.
"Well?" he demanded. I bit my lip, before lowering my eyes like Alec had done.
"No." I muttered, unable to bring myself to call him something as degrading as 'master'. His blinding smile looked sinister on his face.
"Good. Training starts tomorrow. Be dressed, fed and watered by 9am sharp. Alec, I'm sure you'll have no problem showing her to the training room." He nodded to Alec, who nodded back, before brushing past us again.
"Wait!" I called just before he left. Alec clutched my arm, hissing lightly in my ear. "What about the others?"
"I don't care about them," he sneered flippantly before disappearing. I sighed, turning to look at Alec.
"Pop Tart?"
Third POV
Lucas sighed, glancing at his phone for the third time in ten minutes. Why hadn't she called him back? What had Agatha said to her? Did he do anything wrong? The wind in the park stirred his black hair, and he tried to tame it. The sky was darkening and the stars started to twinkle in the night sky. A flash of red whipped across his vision, causing him to jump up. He looked around him, turning every time the red streak appeared.
"Help!" called a voice, high pitched and keening, though distinctly male. He didn't hesitate, pocketing his phone and launching into the surrounding forest.
"Hello! I'm here to help!" he shouted once in the blanket of the trees. He was met with silence, not even a bird chirping in response. The air was suddenly cold, chills rippling over skin. He spun, looking for the person in need but found nothing but darkness. The day had succumbed to night, and Lucas finally decided that he was going to return home. "Stupid pranks," he mumbled to himself as he turned to leave, jumping at the sight before him.
The man was stood there, eyes wide and mouth gaped open. He chocked, spluttered, and Lucas' eyes were wide as he stumbled forward, trying to help the man. A metre short, the man fell, gaping hole in his back visible and pouring blood. Lucas gagged, eyes focused on the man who stood in other's place. His copper hair caught the moonlight in just a way to make it look like fire, bright scarlet eyes matching. His skin was pale, and in his hand he clutched a heart, rivulets of blood coating his hand. The man's eyes flicked up from the removed appendage, to Lucas. He smirked, dropping the heart on the body.
Terrified, Lucas turned to run but stopped, sandwiched in by another demon. This one was a woman, with hair a thousand times more fiery than the male's, eyes a deeper red. Terror struck his body like lightning, fear making sweat bead on his brow. His breaths came short as his eyes flicked for a way out. Backing up, he ensure that both demons were in his sight, before making a break for it, feet thundering over the uneven terrain. His heart beat frantically in his chest, before he tripped.
"Shit!" he hissed, drawing his legs in. his fingers fumbled in the dark as he unlocked his phone, immediately turning down the brightness. His finger hovered over the screen, as he debated with himself. Call her or call them? Logic screamed that calling the police would ensure he lived, but something urged him to press on her name. The dial tone filled his ears, and just as he lost hope, it picked up.
"Hello?" her voice filled his ears, and he nearly sobbed in relief.
"Oh thank God, Bella. Please, you must help me." The words tumbled out of his mouth in a rush.
"What? Lucas?"
"Bella, please. I'm in the park beside the library and I heard someone call for help so I went to see and then there was this man…God, Bella, he was dead and the boy had his heart in his hand. And blood…so much blood. I…there was a woman and…demons, Bella. They're demons and they're after me. Please, you have to help-" his voice grew loud with hysteria. His hands shook as shock set in, sweat running into his brow. There was no way he could mask his position now. A pale hand reached out and grabbed him. The phone fell from his grasp. He choked, struggling against the woman demon's impossibly strong grip.
"Lucas? Lucas!" called Bella on the other end. The woman smiled, reaching down and picking up the phone. D
"Dearest Bella, do you really think that I wouldn't find you?" she growled, sneer contorting her face.
"Who are you? What do you want with Lucas?" Her voice was strong, which pissed the redhead off.
"Don't insult me by pretending that you've forgotten who I am. It's because of you my mate is dead. And now, it's because of you that your little friend here is going to die as well."
"Victoria," seethed Bella, her anger and disbelief palpable through the phone.
"Yes. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have people to kill and bodies to drain. Ba-bye." She smiled, a Cheshire, as she cut the call.
Victoria turned her red eyed to Lucas, who had frozen in horror. Smirking, she closed her fist over the phone and Lucas watched in shock as the crumbled remains slipped through her fingers. "Here, Edward. Your first turn. He had a summer fling with Isabella, you know," she added the last bit to solidify his resolve, watching his bright eyes darken.
A ferocious snarl ripped through the former 'vegetarian' vampire as he dug his fingers into the human's arms, eliciting a cry of pain. He smiled devilishly before sinking his teeth into the jugular.
Meanwhile, in Forks, Charlie paced the length of his office, growling softly to himself. "Chief?" called a timid voice. He spun, dark eyes flat.
"Yes, Lucy?" the receptionist gulped nervously, fidgeting with her dress as she leaned against the doorframe.
"There's, uh, there's a call for you on line two. Says it's a…Isabella." Charlie's eyes widened, spinning and grasping the phone in a speed unusual for a man his age.
"Bella?" he breathed.
"Dad, it's me." Tears sprung to the chief's eyes as he leaned against the desk, head in his hand.
"Bells, where are you? Where have you been? Why haven't you returned, and why haven't you called?" the relief fell away as anger took its place.
"I…Dad I don't have time to answer those questions, okay? I need you to do something for me-"
"No, Bells. You can't disappear for a week without any contact and demand something from me. And what about the others? Are you with them too? Is this all an elaborate joke for you guys?" he was fuming, face reddening with each word.
"No! Dad listen!" shouted Bella, her own anger surging to meet his. "Do you really think so lowly of me that I'd skip off as soon as I was out of the country?" she scoffed, the hurt ringing through her words. Charlie fell silent, sighing to himself. "Now as I said, I need your help. There's a boy…Lucas…he needs help, Dad. And fast. Please. He was last in the park behind the library in Volterra when he disappeared."
"Why are you telling me this? Why haven't you contacted the authorities?" Charlie frowned, perplexed.
"Because…" Bella struggled for words. "Because there are certain things that this particular case involves. Things that normal people wouldn't understand." Oh God…Charlie gulped nervously, squeezing his eyes shut. Please, he said to himself, please don't let it be.
"Certain things?" he echoed. His daughter let out a frustrated huff, and he could envision her running her fingers through her hair in frustration.
"Yes, Dad. Please…I know you know things aren't…as they seem. You must know. Help this boy, because there will be more, and soon-" she stopped suddenly. Charlie stood, worried.
"Bella?" Silence. There was a muffled noise on the other end. "Bella!"
"Ignore this call," said a voice, deep and melodic, almost hypnotising. Then the line went dead.