Bella
Jasper started easing up on my emotions after I had fed. I decided that when I could hunt every two weeks like everyone else I would go out and hunt criminals only. Maybe my Demetri would join me.
I felt horrible that girl was dead and it was Aro's doing. At least the rest had chosen the change though. I had done some good. And now, they would have the elite guard and Jasper to help them.
Demetri showed Jasper to a room down the hall from ours by two doors. After he got the key to his room though he came back to ours. We sat around in the living room area and I tried to keep myself from getting too upset while Jasper eased up on his gift.
Demetri held me tightly on his lap with his arms around me like he did my first day awake. We didn't get very far before Jasper stopped easing up on his gift. I was still very angry at Aro, feeling guilty about the girls' fate, feeling sad about that poor girl's death, and trying not to be mad at Felix. It wasn't his fault. I knew he didn't want to do it. Still, I was a little mad at him too.
When I calmed again Jasper would ease up on his gift a little more until I got upset and then he'd stop for a while until I could handle that emotion then I would repeat the process over again. By morning I was exhausted and I think Jasper and Demetri were too. We all went down to feed. Jasper fed far away from us so I didn't get protective over my meal.
When we got to the practice room Demetri turned Gianna and Riley's training over to Jasper with Alec and Felix assisting him. Jane agreed to help with Gianna's showers and dressing. I decided I would help the other girls when they became vampires. I thought it likely all of the women would have to help with so many girls being changed at once. It was likely there would be challenging times ahead.
After sparring was over I had Demetri take me to Alexis's room. She was the youngest girl.
I knocked on the door and the young girl opened it. "I'm Bella. Can I come in?"
"Su...sure."
I joined the young girl on her couch. She sat on the opposite side of me looking at me with a confused expression on her face. "I wanted to come to check on you," I said. "Are you being fed well?"
"You were in the room when they asked if I wanted to live or die."
"Yes, I was. I'm on the elite guard."
"What is that?"
"It's the highest level of the guard. My mate is over all levels of the guard and I got him to bring me here so I could see you."
"How old are you?"
"I'm twenty-two."
"How long have you been twenty-two?"
"I'm still very young. I've only been immortal for seven months. My mate has been immortal for two thousand years."
"That's really old."
I laughed, "Yes, it is."
"Do you know what's going to happen to me?"
"You're going to be changed into a vampire. Then you're going to learn how to control all the new emotions and senses you get when you become a vampire."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll be faster, have better senses, be stronger, and able to run very, very fast. Some vampires have extra abilities too."
"Like Edward?"
"Edward could read minds. Aro can read minds and other people here can do other things."
"Like what?"
"Well, I'm a shield, I can protect people. Demetri can find anyone he's ever met. Alec can take away your senses, Marcus can see bonds between people, Jane can cause pain, and Felix is stronger than anyone else. Are they feeding you well?"
"Yes, they bring me three meals a day and they're really good."
"What questions do you have for me?" I asked.
"What happened to my family?"
"Most likely they've been convinced that you're dead. That's what they normally do when people come here. I'll try to find out exactly what happened. Do you remember who took you?"
"I don't remember his name but I remember what he looked like"
"The person who is going to be taking care of you after you're changed is called Jasper. He's a good man. You can trust him. Do you remember Jasper Hale? He was with the Cullens when I met them."
"Yes, I know him."
"He's the one that will be taking care of you. Did you like him?"
"I didn't know him that well."
"You'll be getting to know him soon."
"What happens to me after I change?"
"Then you'll be what they call a newborn. You'll have trouble controlling your emotions, controlling your strength, controlling your need for blood. I'll be there to help you. So will Jane and Jasper, Felix and Alec. It takes about a year to get control of everything. After that, you'll be a mature vampire and you'll be able to work for the Volturi."
"You're still a newborn?"
"Technically yes but I have more control than most," I said.
"So you have control of everything now?"
"It's still hard to control my emotions sometimes," I said remembering the night before.
"Maybe I'll have more control too?"
"Maybe, but likely not. I'm told it's really rare. I'll ask Demetri sometime how often it happens."
"How do you become a vampire,"
"A vampire bites you and puts venom in your blood. The venom changes you. It takes about three days and I won't lie to you, it hurts really bad. When I was changed Demetri bit my neck, my wrists, my inner thighs, and my ankles. It took two and a half days for me to change."
"So I'm going to be seventeen forever?"
"Yes, you're going to be seventeen forever. You won't be the youngest looking vampire here. Jane looks younger than you. So does Alec. Are you scared?"
"A little bit. I wanted to be changed before to be with Edward. Maybe I'll still want to."
"You know that Edward is dead don't you?"
"Yes. Esme told me."
"She shouldn't have done that. Don't tell anyone if you don't want her to get in trouble. She's supposed to be staying out of the human world. If she doesn't she dies too."
"Do you have any other questions for me?"
"Who will change me?"
"That answer I don't know. I'll ask Demetri. Would you like me to come back to see you?"
"Yes please."
"Okay Alexis, I'll be back on days I don't have court."
When I left her room I went to find Demetri in his office. I found him sitting at his desk. I curled up on his lap and kissed his neck. He took my lips with his and held me tight. I like Alexis but she's scared, Demetri. She wanted to know what happened to her family. Do you know?"
"I finally got the files, her car was wrecked and they think she's dead."
"That's what I told her probably happened. That they were convinced she was dead. I think she was afraid they were dead. Can you show me Deidra's room now? I want to get to know the girls. I want to make them feel safer."
"It's not your fault Bella. It's really not your fault that they're here."
"Still, I want to do what I can."
Demetri kissed my forehead and agreed.
He took me to the same place as Alexis's room and showed me the room next door. Since I know you're going to ask Abagail is here Megan is here and Jeanine is here.
Demetri kissed me and left. I went to visit each of the girls in turn.
They all had the same questions and I answered them for each of them. Only Jeanine didn't have a family to miss her.
It was late when I finally got back to our rooms. I was disappointed when I didn't find Demetri there. I went to check the recreation room and found Demetri talking with Jasper, Alec, and Riley.
I listened to them chat and finally curled up on Demetri's lap. I said hi to everyone and let them talk. They were discussing newborns and I let them discuss. Only kissing Demetri on the neck to be rewarded with a growl. He finished up his conversation quickly only to scoop me up and flip me over his shoulder to Jasper and Alec's laughter.
We were through our door and I was tossed on the bed.
Demetri
I nearly tore Bella's clothes off in my haste. I needed to reassert our bond. The day before had been so stressful and she had been in so much pain. I never want her to experience pain, only pleasure.
I had her writhing eagerly under me in a moment, but I didn't give in. I brought her release after release then plunged myself into her heat.
I pounded into her desperately and before we reached that final peek I bit my mark on her neck.
Seeing Bella smiling up at me made me so happy that I started all over again and we spent the hours in each other's embrace.
After a shower, we got ready and went to the training room. I spent some time sparring with Jasper and we traded tips and techniques. He was a good instructor and I was even more confident about his ability to train the newborns. I decided I'd get Bella to spend some time with him in training.
She was determined to work until she beat Felix and she was getting closer day by day. I thought Jasper's unfamiliar techniques would really help her with that. In today's challenge, he only got her down once. She didn't get him down at all but she sure tried. I was proud of my young mate. She had her control back and she was holding onto it tightly.
I was concerned after the events in court that she wouldn't want to work as hard but it seems my concern was unfounded. She was even more focused even more intent. I wondered if she wasn't spending some of her rage here in the training room. If she was, I was glad for it.
When practice was done she went to see the girls again. I was missing my mate. She had grown up a lot and felt responsible for the girls and was determined to do right by them. I wondered if she was going to be jealous when she realized I'd be their sire. I hoped not.
