Siren Of The Twilight
Chapter 24
Bella's POV
Aro and I walked back to the house, his arm around my waist, silent. Neither of us spoke, not mentioning our little impasse. When we made it back, Edward was nowhere to be seen, but Esme shot me a grateful smile as we entered the kitchen.
Emmet on the other hand came bouncing up to me.
"Hey, Bella. Felix and I have decided to have a little friendly baseball match now our patrol's over. Wanna come?" he asked, jovially, but I sensed his eyes flick to Aro for a second.
"They could use an umpire," Esme put in with a teasing smirk.
"She thinks we cheat," Emmet replied, while I couldn't help but laugh.
"We know you cheat, Cullen," Alec suddenly put in, as he appeared beside them.
"Who's going? I don't want Bella too unprotected," Aro asked, his arm still tight around my waist.
"Demetri, me, Felix, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Carlisle. Jane and Edward are out on patrol," Alec told him quickly, and I couldn't help but smirk.
Jane and Edward, out on a patrol. I bet that was a pleasant experience!
"Do you want to go, mio amore?" Aro turned to me, as I looked at them then back at my lover.
"Sure, why not?" I shrugged. It would get me out of the house, and hopefully soothe any tensions that had occurred between the two covens.
"Alright!" Emmet slapped a high-five with Alec, before both of them flitted from the room, while I flicked a glance at Aro.
"Baseball? Since when do vampires play baseball?" I asked, with a grin. Aro sighed ruefully.
"The Cullens enjoy it, and my guard find it a good way to relax after patrol. I see no reason why they shouldn't indulge," he replied.
"Will you be joining us?" I asked, smirking at the thought of Aro playing baseball.
Aro smirked back, but shook his head. "No, mio amore. I must join the others on patrol. The sooner we find this creature, the sooner we can get on with our eternity."
"Among other things," I murmured, sliding my arms around his neck and pulling myself closer. His eyes darkened, as he lowered his head to mine.
I was just sinking into the kiss, slow and drugging, when Alec's voice broke us apart.
"Come on, Bella!"
We both paused, and I exhaled heavily.
"Soon, dearest. Soon," he breathed, and let me go, while I tried to tamp down the shivers that came from his touch. Kissing him on the cheek, I left him.
Aro's POV
I watched Bella leave, and soon after that I heard the roar of the Jeep as they drove off to the clearing the Cullens used for their baseball matches.
There was a niggling sensation at the periphery of my brain, but I fought to ignore it.
She would be safe, she had Emmet and Felix, and the rest of my Guard to protect her. My Bella would be safe.
An amused sigh had me looking sideways at Carlisle's wife, now watching me intently from the kitchen.
"It's difficult, isn't it? Letting her go?" she asked, and I nodded. I rather liked Esme, despite her lack of gift, for her softness and comforting ways. Carlisle was fortunate to have found her.
So her question, steeped in gentle tones, did not rile me as it would if it came any other.
"It is…pure agony. Does it get any easier?" I asked her, as I waited for Jane to signal me to join them.
Esme laughed and then shook her head, her auburn hair flying. "No it never does."
I flew through the forest, the wind rushing through my hair, flanked by Jane and by Edward. The latter did not speak, and for that I was grateful. I would honour Bella's demand that I leave him alone, for her, but I didn't have to like it.
I took a deep breath, inhaling the putrid scent of the werewolf, tracking its scent. Usually Demetri would be doing this, but he deserved a rest, and I was no mean tracker.
Before the Volturi, I had had to survive by myself and I had not forgotten all the lessons my sire taught me.
Pity he was dead now, but he must be laughing in his ash-ridden grave.
Wresting my mind away from the past, I concentrated on the trail.
It had been close. It's scent led us all over the woods surrounding the Cullen house, and the forest leading towards the La Push reservation.
It crisscrossed so many times, that often we were doubling back on ourselves. Several times we followed it towards Bella's house, up to her very window and then back again.
It was beyond frustrating, as I sensed we were so close to having it in our hands, but so far. For all the clues, we still saw no other sign of its presence.
"Master!" Jane's shout had me halting effortlessly, somewhere deep in the forests of Washington.
Just to the north, I could hear the crashes of the metal bats, where Bella and my family were playing baseball.
Overhead the weather had begun to turn, thunder crashing, but the rain had not quite reached us yet.
But that was not why Jane had stopped us.
Edward joined my side, as Jane held up something in her dainty hand.
I looked, and then froze.
Werewolf hair.
Fresh, new, and still warm from its disgusting body.
"He was here, not two minutes ago," Edward breathed, and I felt fear creep in.
I inhaled again, and a new wave of its scent brushed my senses.
I refused to let fear set in, as I began to sprint towards the baseball clearing, where my Bella was blissfully unaware of the danger.
And Alice couldn't see the danger.
I sped up, aware of Edward and Jane on either side of me, running as we strained to reach the clearing in time.
A chilling scream tore the air, as I felt that fear rise up to choke me.
"Bella!"
With that cry, I broke through the last trees separating me from my love, and burst into the clearing, ready to fight.
Ready to die for the one I loved.
Not very long I know, but I'm still really busy with exams, and will be until the end of June.
More when I can. :)