The after math of the revelations came uncomfortably, and were brushed off with forceful rebuffs and a refusal of information and an eventual screaming match.
"I'm taking you home - this is ridiculous, Christian is not someone you can have anything to do with."
"Bella I can't see anything he's going to do and Edward can't hear a word - it'd too dangerous."
"Alice, Edward - I have been around a long time before you and I am perfectly fine without you, I told you not to come - and time and time again I've had to remind you why I came here. Leave if you want but I'm playing this through to the end."
"This isn't a game -"
"Yes it is! It's all a game! Everything is and always has been with him and it's how I deal with him."
"You don't need to be here!"
"Let him run around New York with even less keeping him in check? If I forfeit the game he's got free reign to get me back."
"You will die!" Edward grabbed her shoulders, shaking her wildly,
"That's the point!" She screamed back louder.
They silently agreed to continue together - though not one of the team was happy about it.
In silence they unhappily dressed into the 'uniform' that had been revealed as minidresses - draped in chains and buckles that gave them the look of typical vampires - and a set of skin tight leather pants and a shirt - sans its top four buttons.
Each garment bag came complete with a new set of underwear - full on lingerie covered in lace and ribbons and putting everything on display. Alice and Edward refused, and Bella did not care to determine if she was wearing them or not - and Edward was to polite to allow Alice to push it.
"So where are we headed next?" Alice asked timidly, disliking the tense atmosphere.
"Well it's almost eleven," Bella retorted slowly, disliking the five hours her resurrection had taken and the subsequent loss of time, "And we're all dressed up… It looks like we're going clubbing." She rolled the idea across her tongue, clubbing… with the Cullens…
She had been clubbing with vampires before - obviously, they made great companions and better dates and fantastic hook ups, but the Cullens were the most horrifically straight cut vampires she had ever met and the thought of taking them to the messy orgies of music, drink drugs and sex might somewhat sour their conservative nature.
"Do you know where?"
"I've got an idea - a basement in New Jersey - very suburban but with half a mile space hidden underground - it used to be a kind of haven for vampires that needed help, companionship, or just a place to avoid the sun - then Christian and I… changed the vibe a little."
"I'm sure it's a very nice - wholesome place, with pastel colours and classical music in the background." Edward sniped, running his hands across a thick metal chain wrapped around his neck.
"It could be - I mean - last time I saw it was everything the fifties didn't yet have - metal music and strobe lights, but maybe there's a chance it toned down into your perfect little suburban fantasy." Bella smirked, dreading what it would be like nowadays - when the taboos they had broken then were practically common courtesy.
That was the last the group said to each other as they checked out of the hotel - gaining horrified glances form the higher class of clients and receptionists who were scandalised that this team of teens had even been allowed entrance to the hotel.
They were stared at less and more on the subway over to New Jersey - Alice and Bella gaining wolf whistles and lewd comments that Edward glared away and once had to be restrained from ripping the head off a teenager with bad skin.
Women were found at every corner leering at Edwards exposed skin, caressing his arms, whispering dirty things in his ear that made him grimace, Bella smirked at his pain before eventually taking a bold step and wrapping her arms around his neck - staking a claim as the obvious preferred choice that made the women back away quickly - some breaking into drunken sobs.
They reached their stop and after far too long and shoved through the crowds, Edward clinging to Edwards hand - though neither addressed it as though they had done the same thing for many years.
Alice smirked though and began a comment that was halted with two sets of glares and they ran in silence - aside from the stomping of thier heavy boots that clanked with chains and studs and occasionally sent sparks when they brushed together.
They reached a house painted a light peach and Bella gulped before striding up the tailored porch.
"Can I help you?" A young man with slick dark hair leered through the peephole, his voice hoarse and tired,
"I want in." Bella ordered.
"Are you on the guest list?"
"My name is Katherine and I don't need to be on the guest list. Open the door before I break it." Bella narrowed her eyes, and the door shuddered for a millisecond.
"The Katherine?"
"The one and only, Baby."
The door swung open and revealed an ordinary suburban household, complete with picture frames and fish tank - sans fish, and lace doilies thrown across the counters.
"I apologise for the -" The doorman whispered, his head bowed pathetically.
"Go away." Bella glared and he ran back to his place at the door, still quivering lightly.
Bella led them down a hallway before halting and suddenly reaching a hand out to the wall where an old picture frame hung - the image faded and old in sepia colours, the frame dusty.
But the Cullens watched her gently stroke her fingers across the image of herself - eyes low and sultry, lips twisted mockingly - surrounded by two others - one Christian; his expression open and light, arms planted at the waist of another woman whose head was cut off by the frame but was starting down at Bella.
Staring lovingly down at Bella.
Her expression twisted as she let her fingers graze the faceless woman and ran down towards a set of steps, where another doorman swept the door open quickly.
They were met with dub-step and metal mixed together in a mesh of rhythm and beats and screaming, tightly knit bodies and scents of blood and alcohol and smoke. Couples on the dance floor were grinding and pulsing and kissing - devouring - each other. Couches and beds were in rings at the walls surrounding the hundred or so creatures - some vampires, some shifters, some even human - and many that the Cullens couldn't place.
Bella cringed, trying not to look at the Cullens reactions as she edged around the walls towards the bar the size of a truck, clambering over couches where couples were interlocked.
She ordered herself a strong drink. Tonight was going to be arduous, and she needed Vodka to survive it.