Hi everyone, a day or so later than promised so sorry for that but here it is. As I was writing this it ended up longer than anticipated so I am splitting it into 2 chapters, the second of which will be up on Wednesday ( maybe sooner if you ask nicely ;) ) and actually contains the teaser form the last chapter, it got bumped a little by this one. I'd like to give a thank you to the readers and reviewers who have recently joined the story and especially those who took the time to review each chapter individually. I'm afraid I was spending all my spare time writing this and haven't had time to reply individually this time x

Also those waiting for the BiH finale it got a little out of hand and is going to be pretty long but is being worked on and I think you'll find it worth it.

I hope this chapter answers some of your concerns / comments regarding the character's relationships and behaviours but as always drop me a review to let me know how you feel. Lil'D

P.S thank you for all the birthday wishes!

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Rose could smell blood. Lots of blood and her fangs dropped in response as a growl tore from her chest. She threw her magazine down and darted from her room and saw that Bella's door was open but she wasn't there.

"Bella!" She cried as she sped down the stairs, finding only Tanya there she ran to Kate's den. Again the door was open and again there was no sign of the newborn. "Bella!" Rose was frantic now, the stench of blood burning in her nostrils. "Where's Bella?" Rose questioned her elders at full vampire speed, she had no time to waste.

"I thought she was with you," Tanya replied rapidly and Kate nodded.

"We talked and she went to find you," the smaller blonde replied just as swiftly. Rose's frantic movements had both Tanya and Kate on alert.

"Can't you smell it?" Rose cast her eyes around and seeing no sign of Bella or the blood she could smell she dashed outside.

"Smell what?" Tanya called after the young blonde.

"The blood!" Rose called as she ran toward the forest, picking up Bella's scent as she did so. As she ran the need became more urgent, the scent of the blood more overpowering as it called to her.

"Rose!" Tanya called after the young blonde who showed no sign of stopping as she raced away.

"Tan, what the fuck is going on?" Kate queried as they chased after Rose, both ancients panicked. There was no sign of their newborn and her soon to be bond-mate was raving about non-existent blood.

"I have no idea but we need to find Bella."

"Agreed." The sisters put on a burst of speed that brought them within sight of the young blonde.

"Rose! Stop!" Tanya commanded but Rose ignored the ancient, instead forcing another bout of acceleration from herself before bursting through the edge of the forest and into a clearing along the river bank.

"Bella!" Rose gave a pained cry and staggered forward only to be caught by Tanya. "Bella!" Again Rose called out but there was no response from Bella who was standing in the clearing covered in blood.

So much blood.

"Take Rose back to the house, I'll deal with this," Tanya replied, her sister wincing at the disapproval in her voice as she observed the newborn then turned to scowl at her sister.

"Bella!" Rose called out as Kate physically restrained her from continuing towards the newborn. "No!" She struggled against Kate's iron grip, kicking and screaming to be released. Bella needed her.

Xxxxx

Bella didn't go to see Rose straight away when she left Kate's den, she had too much to think about. Her head was pounding, everything, just everything that had happened since she had been turned fighting for supremacy, fighting for her to try and make sense of it, make sense of her place in the world. To make sense of who she was and who she wanted to be.

She started to jog and before she knew it she was lost in the motion, one foot in front of the other, faster and faster until everything, including those unwelcome thoughts were nothing but a blur.

Bella stumbled across a clearing and the scent was intoxicating, she felt her fangs drop and knew her eyes had darkened, she repressed a growl, not wanting to startle her prey. She sank to a crouch behind the brushwood that surrounded the open area around the riverbank and picked out her chosen prey, a strong young male that would put up a decent fight. Bella wanted to feel him struggle, to feel his life leave as his dying heart pumped the blood into her mouth.

With that thought still in her head she leapt forward and tackled him to the ground. There was no time to cry a warning she was on him so fast, teeth in his jugular as she fed, the hot blood overtaking all sense a she tore into flesh, her teeth rending the meat until it was completely shredded. She didn't stop there, it was too good to stop so she continued, ripping apart the corpse, flesh tearing, bones breaking before she was off again, targeting another kill and another and another and another before they had chance to escape. She only stopped when there was nothing else left to kill.

xx

Tanya jerked towards Bella when she saw her but stopped herself from interfering, it was too late for that. The clearing was littered with chunks of flesh, some caught in the brush some staining the ground red. It was a scene of utter carnage, the likes of which Tanya had not seen since the days of battlefield warfare.

Bella staggered, then fell to her knees. She was fully sated, her body humming with a high that was only brought on by intense feeding and one she had never experienced before. Tanya saw her fall and began to walk cautiously toward the newborn, her footsteps heavy so's not to startle her in any way.

"Bella?" Bella heard a voice but she couldn't focus enough to respond, the blood was making her body hum and it was drowning out all other thought and feeling.

"Bella?" Tanya dropped to her knees in front of her young one. She was covered from head to toe in blood and small chunks of flesh which had stuck to her clothing and tangled in her hair. "Oh Bella," she murmured as the newborn stared blankly back at her.

Tanya had her suspicions as to what had triggered the killing spree but would have to go to Kate for clarification. However, right now she needed to get Bella home and cleaned up, the wolves would take care of the remains scattered around the clearing.

"Come youngling," Tanya stood and clasped Bella's shoulder with her hand, waiting for a response. Bella jerked at the touch then looked up and as their eyes made contact recognition occurred, black eyes turning red as the newborn came back to herself and regained cognizant thought.

Bella felt the cloud lift and realised she was looking up at Tanya. She could smell blood everywhere and a glance down at herself showed her the source.

"It's OK, come," Tanya's voice was calm and reassuring, Bella heard no judgement or ire there so took the hand that was offered and rose to her feet. "Let's get you home, huh?" She could only nod and follow the ancient.

"Bella!" Rose's voice cut through the newborn's haze and Bella looked up to see both Rose and Kate. Rose was still trying to get free and when her eyes met Bella's she renewed her struggle, kicking and clawing Kate in her efforts to be released, to get to Bella. She needed to see that she was Ok but with all the blood she couldn't tell.

When Bella saw Rose she stopped dead, her emotions a confusing maelstrom that she couldn't control. When she saw Kate's arms around the young vampire she felt a stirring deep inside and it rose up until it was practically choking her.

"Bella?" Tanya turned her worried gaze on the newborn who was staring at the her sister and Rose with a worrying intensity, head cocked and fingers clawed. At the sound of her name Bella bared her fangs but didn't drop her gaze, the feeling rising up until it came out a feral hiss as she snarled at the pair.

"Go," Tanya commanded. Rose hesitated but Bella's behaviour and the look she was receiving from Tanya convinced her to leave without any more fight. She went limp in Kate's arms and nodded her consent, as she was released she took one last look at the hostile newborn and even though her heart was breaking she turned and left.

"Come," Kate urged the young blonde and Rose reluctantly followed her although every fibre of her being was telling her to stay with Bella.

"What happened? When did you first smell the blood?" Kate questioned as they jogged back to the house. She knew Rose must have reacted to the imaginary scent as a result of her bond with Bella.

"I was reading then all I could smell was blood, lots of blood," Rose murmured as she recalled how real the scent had been. "I just sensed something was wrong, that Bella needed me," she continued as she remembered Bella's reaction to her, frowning as she did so.

"She'll calm down, she wasn't thinking clearly back there, the beast was in control and it wants you." Kate stated bluntly and Rose's frown deepened at the comment.

"No, it wants sex, not me," the young blonde brushed off the elders words.

"No, it wants sex with you." ate reiterated her point with a roll of her eyes. "But, Bella needs to be in full control or she may hurt you," she advised with a soft smile. "It's not like a mating bond, it's more complex. You have the power to deny it but once it's activated there's no going back."

"I don't understand," Rose turned confused eyes on her mentor as she waited for an explanation.

"Well," Kate paused as she tried to order her thoughts enough to fully inform the blonde without scaring her or risk her withdrawing. "Sit." Rose did as instructed, taking a seat on a fallen log as she waited for Kate to continue.

"The bonding process is complex." She began as she settled down next to the young blonde. "It took years for the bond to form between my sisters and I. Firstly, we were all turned at different times, Tanya first, myself and then Irina." Another pause. "I'm sorry, I can't do this now." Rose frowned in confusion. " Bella needs to hear this too. It might help her deal with what she's feeling." The ancient stood and brushed off the seat of her jeans that had a light film of dirt on them from the trunk.

"Let's go home and check on Bella, huh?"

"Ok, but we need to know, Kate." Rose saw the sense in her mentor's words but was unwilling to put either herself or Bella at further risk through lack of information. "We need to know what's going on but you have to tell us everything because it's already so hard for me to see her so upset." A gentle hand was laid on her back as Kate offered her silent comfort.

"We'll tell you everything we can. I can't promise it will help, right now anyway but at least there will be no more surprises." Kate promised and they picked up the pace, arriving back at the house before Bella and Tanya. Rose headed off to her room and decided to try and relax by cleaning up and taking a shower

xxxxx

Tanya led the way and allowed Bella her space as the newborn kept her distance but dutifully followed her mentor home. Before they got very far Tanya stopped and turned to face the young vampire.

"What happened? What did Kate say to you?" She locked her eyes on Bella but only received a black eyed stare in return. Tanya sighed, Bella's beast was still very much present and she was unlikely to be very communicative until it receded.

"She told me I might hurt Rose. I needed to clear my head, so I ran." Tanya snapped to attention as the newborn spoke, her tone rough but words clear.

"I-, I didn't mean to do -. To do that," Bella murmured. "But I don't feel bad, it felt right." another sigh from the ancient as she studied the brunette's face.

"We're vampires Bella, we kill. It's what we are designed to do. You are right not to feel guilt. Guilt is a human emotion, encouraged by organised religion to control the masses." Tanya paused, the newborn's eyes fixed on her as she spoke. "You're just lucky it was a herd. I've seen a single newborn massacre an entire village." Her tone was sombre as she recalled the bodies, men, women children, babies. "I know you were upset and I know why. It's -," she took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry for not being there for you. You're so unbelievably advanced I forget that this is all still very alien to you. I guess that living with a vampire coven for so long has been an advantage in some ways but not in others. We expect too much of you and this bond between you and Rose -. Well, it's complicated things. A lot." The ancient admitted.

"I love her," Bella announced abruptly.

"I know, it's meant to be," Tanya replied with finality and Bella accepted her words. "Your bond will become very strong." The words reassured the newborn that eventually this roller-coaster of emotions would stop, that she would find her balance.

Bella felt calmer now, less confused. She knew what she had just done had endangered Tanya's coven but the ancient was being extremely understanding. Talking to her, not brushing her feelings aside, dismissing her as she had been dismissed by the Cullen's ever since she had met them.

"How -. I have these feelings," Bella admitted and Tanya smiled as she saw the red return to her eyes. The fangs were still showing but that wasn't an issue.

"Kate offered -. she said- but."

"You're jealous of what she had with Rose,"

"I am." The answer was abrupt but resigned. Bella had come to terms with her feelings toward her friend, the attraction was undeniable and she recognised that her beast wanted Rose. She couldn't fight it but she knew Rose would never feel that way about her so was content with their friendship, although it was making things hard for her, as today had proven.

"Rose needed something and she wouldn't take it from you. She used Kate in a way she never would want to use you. It's because she cares for you that she did what she did. Never think any less of her for that." Tanya saw that Bella was paying rapt attention.

"She would never use you the way Alice used you Bella." The newborn growled but she wasn't sure if she was agreeing with the older vampire or defending the pixie, it was all still so muddled up inside. "Rose loves you too in her own way. Give it time and everything will work out. I promise." Tanya pledged and Bella knew she was being honest with her.

The two vampires regarded one another in silence until Bella let her mind wander towards her blonde friend. When Rose came to mind, Bella issued a possessive growl. Tanya raised her brows at what she knew was an involuntarily reaction to whatever was bothering Bella, by the scent the newborn was giving off she quickly figured it out, she was aroused.

"Kate can help you young one. She might not be the most tactful vampire but she loves you and you already have a bond. She said what she said because she wanted you to have all the facts, you need to be fully aware of what you're capable of." She paused. "What it doesn't mean is that you're going to snap right away but after toady -. You need to be careful Bella." She finished with a sad sigh. She had hoped Bella would have more time but her behaviour has escalated without them being aware there was a problem until today when she had killed uncontrollably.

"I know, but I got so angry and scared. Then -." Bella picked lump of flesh off her jacket and held it up so she could study it closely. She could see the individual cells as though she were using a microscope and for a moment she got lost in the intricacies of life. The life she had taken. The thought repulsed her and she threw it away from herself then caught the ancient watching her curiously.

Tanya was once again fascinated by the youngling as she stared in rapt attention at the piece of meat she was holding for a good five minutes before the disgust set in. Whether it was disgust with herself or the piece of already decomposing flesh Tanya didn't know but this was one of the emotions that caused the most conflict between humanity and vampirism.

One must be compromised for the other to survive.

"Let me take you home?" Bella took a moment before nodding her consent and held out her hand, still blood encrusted with flesh ingrained under her diamond hard nails.

"Can I stay?" Bella asked shyly. "Here. With you?" Tanya blinked, surprised by the question.

"Yes, of course you may Bella. The invitation has already been made. I would very much like to continue to supervise your training, I'd like to begin to test your control around humans very soon. I think you may surprise us all." She offered the newborn a genuine smile which was returned shyly.

"Now, go bathe in the river before we go back, I don't think Rose would take kindly to lumps of flesh clogging the drains, she enjoys her showers too much!" Tanya teased the other young vampire in her absence. Bella gave a small chuckle, it was true, Rose bathed at least once a day, usually more often which was excessive for vampire's did not sweat and dirt did not become ingrained in their pore-less skin.

Bella did as she was instructed, wading into the fast flowing river, deeper and deeper until it was waist height and the blood swirled around her as it was washed away. She bent her knees and knelt down on the riverbed so her head was just under the surface of the water. Bella opened her eyes and watched as the dappled light filtered down and the current tugged at her hair, sending it streaming away from her as it was cleansed. She stayed like that for a while, the cold had no affect on her but she enjoyed the movement and flow against her body as the current buffeted her, trying to move the immovable object in it's path. Bella shook her head to encourage the gore to wash free and the last remnants of flesh were stripped from her hair.

"Bella!" Tanya called out when the newborn had been under for ten minutes, she knew one tended to lose track of time when newborn and although her time was infinite Tanya really wanted to get home to check on Rose and talk to her sister about recent events.

Bella heard the call and boosted herself to the surface, arcing out of the water and landing in a crouch on the riverbank.

"Nicely done!" Tanya laughed and clapped at the graceful display. "Let's get back and get you dry." She smiled affectionately at the young vampire who then began shaking herself dry, like a dog, the movement sending drops of water flying everywhere. "Ugh! Bella!" The blonde whined as she was sprayed by the cast-off.

"See, dry!" the newborn grinned, slightly maniacally Tanya thought, then proceeded to jog back in the direction of their home. The ancient could only shrug and follow, enjoying the playful nature of her youngling.

Xxxx

Next on Crimson Bonds

"Feeling a little unloved?" her sister questioned Kate's behaviour.

"Maybe," Kate's reply was muffled as she nuzzled her sister's neck. "I'm a little wound up from helping Bella and I was basically Rose's fuck toy. Don't get me wrong it was well worth it but you know I like to be in control," she whined, causing Tanya to chuckle.

"Well let's see what we can do about that huh?" Tanya returned the kiss and tilted her head back and allowed Kate to tease her scars with her tongue.