Penname: Rochelle Allison
Derivative Fiction

Rating/Warning(s): M (themes)

Notes: continues the characters and scenario established by "Finger Food"

sorry this is late; i've been working over time to get chapter 22 of Volition finished (it will be posted within the hour). This is yesterday's prompt; if I have time I'll do today's prompt as well. Much love!! i love reading your reviews about each of these storylines! xoxoxo

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Prompts:"When in Rome..."


I'd managed to get Bella out of the Volturi's castle without trouble. The few guards that did see me assumed I was simply making off with my meal, sparing me little more than an indifferent glance. It was difficult to keep Bella quiet; she was in the throes of her transformation as I sped across the darkened countryside cradling her in my arms. Her heart beat, thundering within her fragile ribcage, sped up, its frenzied cadence echoing in my head.

My main concern at this point was Carlisle. He was the practical one, the wise patriarch of the family putting up with the whims and indulgences of his three sons. Emmett, Jasper and I were the impulsive ones, and I especially tended to act first and think later. Jasper had joined us years before, and Carlisle had changed his wife Esme, Emmett and I way before that. None of us had ever brought anyone into our way of life.

I cringed thinking how they would react.

Bella squirmed in my grasp, making it difficult for me to hold onto her. If I held on any tighter I ran the risk of bruising her, or breaking her arms, and though she would heal upon becoming a vampire, it was unnecessary. I shifted her impatiently; I could appreciate she was in pain, but even at the speed at which I was traveling we had a ways to go.

Carlisle always elected to stay in Rome. We associated with the Volturi when we absolutely had to, but it wasn't something we looked forward to. We owned a luxury apartment in the center of the city, and that is where we stayed whenever we were invited by the Volturi to attend an event. Over the years there had many galas and parties, as well as meetings; as one of the larger covens living successfully as a family, we were often included in the decisions that affected the vampire world.

Still, we stayed as far from them as possible while in Italy. Our place in Rome was immaculate thanks to Esme's eye for aesthetics. As I approached the city limits, I slowed, trying to seek out the minds of those closest to me. It was important I blend in, something that wouldn't be easy with Bella writhing and carrying on and groaning. People would probably think I was killing her – which wasn't too off the mark – but still. Evading the Italian authorities was the last thing I felt like doing at this point.

For once having a residence in a trendy part of town was unappealing. I turned Bella around so that she was sagging against me, one of my arms tucked tightly around her middle. She whimpered, digging her nails into my arm; I could feel her short, red nails through the fabric of my dress shirt. It would have hurt like a bitch had I been human…

I faltered, spotting an obviously drunken twosome staggering up the street. The male had his arm around the female, in much the same way I was supporting Bella. The woman stumbled, pushing away from her partner to vomit into a planter before wiping her mouth and allowing him to help her as they continued. I wrinkled my nose in disgust at the spectacle, but brightened, seeing a solution to my issue.

The male nodded when he saw me, rolling his eyes at his girlfriend and then at Bella. I smirked in acknowledgment; we were just two guys, late at night, with wasted dates.

"Buonasera," I murmured as we passed each other.

"Buonasera," he echoed.

"Ah, Bella," I sighed as she twitched violently beneath my arm. "When in Rome…"