Disclaimer: I don't own it. Honestly.
A/N: I have been looking forward to introducing these two characters to you ever since Bella mentioned knowing them to Carlisle in one of my earlier chapters. ;o) I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoyed writing about them. They were, honest to God, my favorite characters in BD.
Indulge your curiosity, loves, with CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR!!
"Hey!
Have you heard of my religion?
It's called the Church of Hot Addiction."
--"Church of Hot Addiction" by Cobra Starship
Chapter Thirty-Four
BPOV
After I had safely returned everyone to the ground—much to Rosalie's relief—we sent Marcus off on a hunt so that he could replenish the strength that I had taken from him. Emmett had decided to improve my lack of newborn strength by challenging me to a wrestling match.
"Come on Bella!" Emmett called from the other side of the back yard. Even with my vampire vision it was hard to see him in the darkness at this distance.
"No Emmett. How about we take a rain check and this when it is light outside? It is too dark right now, even for a vampire." I sighed as I quickly twisted my hair up into a sloppy ponytail that probably looked like utter shit but I was past caring.
"You know the saying "it is always darkest before the dawn" right?" Emmett asked before he ran across the yard, stopping just in front of me.
"Isn't that from Batman?" I laughed a little, trying to remember if that was where I had heard it from or not.
"Probably, but that doesn't change what I am trying to say here." Emmett said seriously.
"And what would that be?" I questioned patiently. We had been going back and forth for a while now and I didn't see an end in sight.
"Well, it is really dark right now because dawn is coming in a few minutes—half and hour, tops. So, if you had listened to everything I had to say before interrupting me about your pathetic eye sight then you would have understood that I was going to wait until after daylight to challenge you!" Emmett smirked at me.
"What if I still don't want to wrestle you or whatever it is?" I challenged with a smirk of my own.
Emmett's face fell for a second before his face lit up with a wicked expression. "Why wouldn't you want to wrestle me? I can teach you how to protect yourself in a physical battle."
"I have a power, Emmett, that doesn't ever require me to fight a battle. Were you not here earlier for that?" I laughed a little, even though I knew he was right and I did need to learn how to defend myself incase of an attack.
"What if your powers fail you? It has been known to happen. The fact hat you wouldn't be able to hold your own in the fight would be your Achilles' heel. And I don't want my little sis to get hurt. I wouldn't be able to stand it. No of us would." Emmett's emotions shone through his eyes and everything he did. He may have been ripped and deadly but he was the sweetest man ever.
"Aww! I love you too, big brother!" If I were human I would have been bawling like a baby just because I love hearing sappy things like that.
Emmett opened his arms and I wasted no time throwing myself into him, giving Emmett the biggest hug I could muster.
"My arms won't fit around you. That is sort of sad." I laughed at the sheer size of Emmett. I don't think I had ever realized exactly how huge Emmett was until now.
"What can I say?" Emmett laughed at himself, the deep rumbling of his laugh shaking my entire frame.
"All right," I pulled away from his hug with a smile. "I accept your challenge. So when the sun comes up, I will see you then."
"Sounds good to me." Emmett patted me roughly on the back before walking off towards the house. I let him get about fifty feet away before I let my power loose and sent him flying into the closest tree.
"Sorry, I had to do that!" I giggled as I ran off in the other direction before I dropped him from the tree, making sure that there was a safe distance between us.
"Bella!" I heard Emmett yell as I disappeared into the trees, laughing the whole way.
I managed to make it about a quarter of a mile, still laughing at myself, when out of nowhere two arms wrapped around me, sending both me and the person tumbling to the ground.
"Gotcha." Edward whispered in my ear.
"What was that for?" I laughed as I tried to sit up but Edward kept his arms tight around me, not allowing me to move anywhere.
"Well, first of all, we can't have you running too far away from the Manor with out one of us. There are a lot of people who could be wandering around out here. Second, Alice had a vision of some people coming. She isn't sure who they are so we are all going to wait for them at the house just in case they aren't on our side." Edward let me know as he pulled me tighter against his chest.
"All right, I will keep that in mind. Now can I get up?" I asked as I squirmed around a little, hoping that would loosen his grasp enough for me to make my escape.
"Nope." Edward kissed the side of my head lightly. "Before you ask why, I will tell you. The sun is coming out in a little less than three minutes, according to Alice. And in seven minutes it will be high enough to shine through these trees here."
"Why do we want the sun shining through the trees?" I asked, a little confused.
"Just wait for it, love."
I nodded my head and leaned back into Edward's arms. I was perfectly content to lay here with Edward and wait for whatever the sun was going to bring.
Seven minutes later, just as Edward had promised, the sun had risen high enough for its first few rays to break through the trees, illuminating the little group of trees surrounding us. I didn't even really notice what was going on until Edward lifted my hand into the air, both of us sparkling brilliantly in the morning sun.
I sucked in a breath in surprise, wondering how I could have forgotten that I, too, would sparkle now. Perks of being a vampire.
"You look beautiful, love." Edward brought my sparkling hand to his mouth, planting kisses on each individual finger, pausing on my ring finger before kissing the spot where a wedding ring would sit on a woman's hand. It was a sweet gesture.
When I didn't respond to him or make any notion that I planned on responding, Edward pulled us up into a sitting position. He sat across from me, his legs crossed Indian style, mimicking my position.
"What was that for? I was comfortable." I protested with a pout on my face.
"We need to talk. I keep trying to get you to open up to me, asking you to tell me what is bothering you, but you won't tell me the whole thing. You will tell me what is bugging you at the moment, but not what is really deep down." Edward stared directly at me.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." I answered honestly. I didn't think that I had been acting strange or what not, I felt fine. "Are you sure that it is me that is worrying or troubled and not you?"
"I am worried," Edward sighed. "But there is something off with you. It may not be noticeable to you or anyone else, but I know you and there is something up. When you figure it out, promise that you will let me know."
"Of course." I agreed whole-heartedly. "I wouldn't dream of going to anyone else. I want you to know that there's a lot that I don't know—there's a lot I am still learning about being a vampire, but I will always come to you for that, too."
"Thank you." Edward kissed the tip of my nose lovingly. "And I hope you know I am only saying this because I love you and I really want us to be able to move forward in our new relationship. We have so many things that we can explore and do together now that you are changed that we couldn't do when you were a human." Edward's eyes lit up at the ideas that must have been running through his head.
"And what sort of things do you propose we do?" I asked, my mind going to the gutter.
"Well, we could go on runs together. Play baseball, like last time, but instead you would be on my team." Edward winked at me, his mind obviously not going in the direction that mine had ventured towards. That was okay, though, I still liked his ideas.
"You know, Edward, we can knock one of those off the list right now." I smiled, running a hand through Edward's thick hair.
"And which one would that be, love? Keep in mind that we need to be returning to the Manor soon." Edward reminded me.
"Yeah, I know. But I was thinking that we could take a run back to the Manor together." I stood up swiftly, latching onto Edward's hands and pulling him up with me. "Let's go!"
And with that we were off, taking a lap around the house before we actually made it inside.
"Bella," Alice called from the couch in the keeping room.
"Yes ma'am." I called back, not letting go of Edward's hands as I made my way towards Alice's voice. "Did you need something?" I asked when I got to the room. All of the Cullens were hanging around waiting for our visitors.
"I assume Edward told you we have visitors?" Alice confirmed, patting the seat on the couch next to her, signaling for Edward and I to join her.
"Yeah, he said you couldn't tell who they were, right?" I smiled down at Edward's larger hand, grasping me, his thumb running in small circles over the back of it.
"Yup. They should be here in just under nine minutes." Alice nodded excitedly. "I don't think they are a threat to us at all. I just have a feeling about it. They look old. Not just in physical years but in vampire terms as well."
I paused and looked at Alice with a huge smile on my face.
"Was it two men? Alone?" I asked excitedly earning curious glances from all of the Cullens.
"Yeah…"
"From which direction?" I was almost bouncing at the point, excited at the prospect of seeing my friends.
"The North, why?" Edward answered for Alice.
I didn't bother hanging around to answer him before I leapt off of the couch, tearing my hand out of Edward's and dashing out of the Manor as fast as I could go, the Cullens trailing behind me, yelling for me to stop and explain.
Explanations could wait till later I reasoned with myself as I tore into the woods, my ears picking up on two quickly approaching vampires right in front of me.
"Vladimir! Stefan!" I yelled as I launched myself at the two older, unsuspecting men, pulling them both to me in a big hug.
"Bella!" They hugged me back tightly before releasing me, stepping back.
"You are a vamp? Finally!" Vladimir smiled at me.
"I know." Stefan agreed. "We were considering coming to break you out of that dump if they kept you human any longer. You are way too much fun to waste."
"Now, twirl child. I want to see how this new life is working out for you." Vladimir twirled his finger at me, signaling what I should do.
I let out a loud laugh before stepping back a few more steps and twirling slowly for my Romanian friends.
"Fantastic!" Stefan cheered. "You are beautiful sweetie, come give me another hug." I shook my head at their ridiculousness before embracing them both again.
"Bella," Carlisle spoke up as he stepped forwards. "Who are these people? You know them."
I nodded at Carlisle before I waved my hand at our visitors. "Carlisle, this is Vladimir and Stefan, the Romanians with a bone to pick with the Volturi." I let them shake hands, exchanging greeting before I introduced them to the rest of the Cullens.
"Guys, this is Emmett, Rosalie, Esme, Jasper, Edward and Alice." I gestured to each person as I called them out.
"Oh!" Vladimir smiled widely. "Edward… it is nice to finally meet you. I heard all about how you ripped out poor Bella's heart and wiped your ass with it."
"Vlad!" Stefan chastised with a stern expression. "That isn't any way to talk to the young man."
"And how would you suggest I talk to him, brother?" Vladimir questioned, annoyed that he had been interrupted.
"Well, I would suggest intimidation. Maybe throw a few threats and choice words out at him. I think that should do the trick. What you were doing just wasn't… forceful enough." Stefan reasoned with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Eh, it isn't worth the effort. I am sure, if he deserved it, Bella would have ripped his pretty boy face off by now." Vlad waved his papery hand in dismissal before he turned away from Stefan and addressed us.
"It is a pleasure to meet you…" He froze in mid sentence and sniffed the air. Once, twice, three times… "I smell rot, filth and self loathing."
"Volturi!" Stefan smiled before he dropped into an offensive crouch, ready to attack. The whole scene was laughable, really. I knew the Romanians were prone to overreaction but this was insane.
"Boys." Marcus greeted as he strolled out of the trees, un-cuffing his sleeves. "What brings you to Ireland? You are aware that we are quite a few miles away from Romania, fellas?"
"We know, Marcus. We were just paying our good friend Bella a visit. We stopped by your castle and threw rocks at her window but when she didn't come out, we investigated." Vlad shrugged as though it was nothing.
"How about we go inside and sit down?" Esme suggested lightly, trying to diffuse any possible confrontation.
I nodded before latching onto Vlad and Stefan's upper arms and dragging them toward the Manor before they could decide to tag team Marcus.
"This is a gorgeous place, but then again, I would expect nothing less from the infamous Carlisle Cullen. You have made quite a name for yourself in our little vampire world, boy. An animal drinker… the theory is laughable but bold at commendable at the same time." Stefan spoke as I steered them towards the front door.
"You have heard of me?" Carlisle asked incredulously.
"Please," Vlad scoffed. "If there is a vampire out there who hasn't heard of you, they are a damned hermit. Everyone has heard of you!"
Carlisle just nodded, absorbing this information as we all made our way into the Manor. When everyone was seated I leaned back into Edward, watching at the circus show unfolded before me.
Marcus glares at Vlad who glances at Stefan who then glares at Marcus.
Vlad glares at Marcus who, in turn glares at Stefan who looks curiously at us, wondering why Marcus is with us.
The show went on for five minutes before I decided to intervene and take the attention away from the growing tension between Dexy and his Midnight Runners over there.
"So…" I began, looking around to everyone. "How did you two find me here?" it was a legit question, I was curious after all.
"Oh, that is an easy one!" Stefan smiled easily. "Like we said earlier, we stood out under your window and threw little pebbles that we had picked out of those overrated cobblestone streets at your window. When you didn't answer, I climbed up to peek in while Vlad stayed on the ground. You know how much he hates those heights. Poor bitch is scared he will fall and die, no matter how impossible that task is."
"Hey! You remember that episode we had with the hiker on Everest. That was a day of firsts, my friends." Vlad shook his head and shivered, no doubt remembering it.
"Oh, God." Edward moaned quietly behind me. "That has to be the grossest thing I have ever seen."
"The perils of being in my mind, child." Vlad shrugged easily. "Shall I show you a slide show? I have seen some pretty colorful things in my lifetime that would scar your poor mind to the point of no return."
"I think I will pass, thank you." Edward gulped, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into him.
"You were saying you climbed the wall… of Volterra…" Marcus probed, a doubtful look on his face.
"I tell you, Volturi, this is a legitimate retelling." Stefan shook a papery finger at Marcus before he turned back to us. "Yes, well, I climbed the wall and found the room empty. So I figured that they had moved you to nicer quarters instead of those servant rooms they were housing you in, dear heart."
"So I went inside." Vladimir smiled at Marcus tauntingly. "And before you interrupt me, you royal pain in the ass, it was completely possible. Volterra was a mess. Aro was so busy pacing his study chanting about household cleaners and cars. He was oblivious to everything around him. I walked right in and took his laptop without his so much as batting an eyelash in my direction. He just kept pacing." I let out a loud laugh at the thought of Aro having a breakdown right now.
"That is how I found out you had left Volterra. I was going through the records of everyone who had either been let go or had left Volterra. I was surprised at two of the names on the list other than yours and the Royal Bumfuck over there." Vlad continued with a shocked expression.
"Yeah… well… that is a whole different matter." I mumbled, Marcus—ahem, excuse me, I meant Royal Bumfuck—nodded along with me.
"I will hold out for that one." Stefan nodded.
"So the Volturi's documents told you that we were in Ireland?" Jasper asked, confused. I could feel the emotions leaking out of him and spreading out across the room.
"No, Heidi and Felix told us that one when they found the two of us sitting outside of the turret room with Aro's personal laptop in front of us, laughing at the strange things he keeps record of on there. It was… a learning experience." Vlad shuddered for the second time in this conversation.
"Heidi and Felix, of course! I told them we were here that way they could run interference incase Aro or Caius decide they have a bone to pick with any of you. They may have let Demitri know, too. I know he isn't at Volterra right now, though. I think he decided to go reunite with some old friends." Marcus smiled.
"Good for him!" I smiled, proud of Demitri for branching out. I knew he always hated being cooped up in that castle. Demitri was a wilderness boy. He wanted to feel the dirt between his toes and smell the cool outdoorsy scent of the air after it rained.
"That is the end of the little story!" Stefan clapped his hands once. "Thank you for listening everyone!"
I digested the information that Volterra was in an upheaval as I listened to Stefan and Vladimir recount the odd sights they encountered while they searched Volterra unnoticed. It was great to see my friends again.
A/N: QH from Jack's Mannequin.
A reminder from a previous chapter: Chapter 23
"Honestly," [Bella] said. "If given the choice, I would side with the Romanians. They are a pair of firecrackers! They are so much fun to be around." She smiled.
"I have never had the pleasure of meeting them." Carlisle said…He was intensely curious in these Romanians that Bella seemed so fond of.
MY Carlisle has never met the Romanians—until now—and since this is Fan Fiction I can do that. So don't go bitch me out about it not being correct in the world of Twilight. If you do, I will kindly direct you to this exact statement. Serves you right for NOT reading my Author's Notes. They aren't just pointless babblings; they have merit and purpose… most of the time…
This chapter marks a turning point in the story. Soon things are going to start to go crazy again for our friends. Unfortunately, our Cullens just can't catch a break can they? Oh well, more for us! And for all those people wondering, this story doesn't have a whole lot left in it. Ten chapters at most.
Last thing on this long note: If you noticed, I reached 2,000 reviews. Yay. And the ONE-SHOT IS POSTED!!! Go read and review please!!!