Demetri
The Cullens had done it again. The existence of vampires had once again been revealed to the humans by the mind-reading child of Carlisle's. Why Aro allowed their flagrant disregard of the law was beyond me. Now I'm stuck in rainy forks trying to find said human to return her to Volterra because Aro thinks she might be gifted. The head of the guard reduced to an errand boy.
To say I'm a little put out by this task is putting it mildly, but if I complete it quickly I can get back and take the guard back from Felix. He has temporary command while I'm away.
Isabella. In a town this small there can't be that many with that name.
I decided to start my search by simply asking for her. Small town people like to talk and our allure can go a long way to loosening tongues. I walk into Newton Outfitters.
"Pardon me, Ma'am," I say when the female behind the desk in the room catches my eye. Her heartbeat skips. "I was wondering if you could help me find my friend. I'm looking for Isabella. I just got into town and realized I don't have her address."
"Ah, you mean Bella. The girl hates her full name, although I don't know why."
"Of course. I only gave her full name to help you identify her."
"Bella Swan, Chief of Police's daughter. Let me just write her address down for you dear. Perhaps you can cheer her up. She's been ever so down since the Cullen boy dumped her in the woods and abandoned her."
"I would appreciate any help you could offer."
"Here it is. Her address and phone number. She'll be here tomorrow at eight am to work as well. I suppose you want to see her before then though."
Address in hand I head for her home. There is a truck in the driveway way and I wonder if it's hers. I get close and inhale. Perhaps I can get her scent in case I have to track her.
It hits me like a wrecking ball, the scent of a mate. My mate. For a second I am more beast than man, my only thought is to find and claim. Then I steady. I take a few deep breaths and I am me again. I can think. I can plan.
I listen to the house. There is one heartbeat in an upper room. I could enter that room directly but I thought it more polite to knock on the front door.
There was the sound of light footsteps on the stairs that preceded the door flying open.
I inhaled. She was beautiful. Reddish-brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Her baggy sweats couldn't hide that she was thin and curvy in all the right places. He pulled himself back to the present moment.
"Bella?" I asked politely.
"You have about three minutes to run before the wolves show up. Are you here for Victoria?"
I took a step forward and she took a step back. "Who is Victoria little one."
"Who are you?" she asked me challengingly.
"I am Demetri Voltouri at your service."
"You're here to kill me." She said as if she expected this day to come for some time.
"No, I'm here to take you to Volterra where you'll be changed into one of us."
"Why?" She asked, seemingly puzzled.
"We've been told you are gifted." And because you're mine, I thought but didn't say yet. I wanted to see how she would react to the news.
She stared at me for a long moment. It was as if she was trying to find any lie in my words.
"Fine." she eventually declared. "Do I have time to pack my things?"
If this were a normal snatch and grab I would not have let her but this was my mate and she might feel more at home in Volterra if she had some of her personal belongings with her.
"Very well, but not too much. Perhaps some clothes and mementos? Everything you need will be provided when we arrive home."
Bella simply turned around and went back upstairs. I followed close on her heels.
Bella got out a duffel bag and took some books off her shelves. She added a dream catcher from her bed and a scrapbook. Then she added clothing. "What is the weather like in Italy?" she asked me.
"It is warm little one."
She nodded and added short sleeve shirts and jeans to her bag. Adding a few pairs of shorts she zipped the bag closed and nodded as if to herself.
"I need to leave a note for my Dad. He's not home much but he does care."
"Don't tell him anything about me or vampires."
She rolled her eyes at me. It made me want to laugh at her or take her over my knee. I wasn't sure which.
"Obviously," was all she said.
When she finished her note I read it. It was fine and set up her disappearance nicely. I raised my eyebrows when she added her house keys and placed her cellphone down beside the note.
I shouldered her bag for her and we headed out to my car she got in but looked out at the home she was leaving.
After putting her bag in the trunk I got in the driver's seat and we were headed back to Seattle. It felt like such a miracle to find my mate after all this time. I had given up on her existence.
I looked over and saw a tear creep down her cheek. I took her hand in mine. "Don't worry little one. We aren't so bad. You'll make new friends in Italy."
"Edward always told me how ruthless human drinkers were and James and Victoria were like that. He said you don't go to Volterra unless you want to...to die. Why are you being so nice to me?"
"Why wouldn't I be. You've done nothing wrong except befriend the Cullens."
"That was a big enough mistake I guess. How did you find out about me? I haven't told anyone I swear."
"I believe you little one. Carlisle was called to Volterra recently and Aro discovered you had knowledge of our world when he touched him. It was quite amusing to watch him trying to avoid shaking Aro's hand."
She laughed a little at that. "I hope they were punished."
"Not this time little one. Aro let them go with a warning but he never punishes the Cullens for their infractions. That is why they continue to misbehave."
"That's ridiculous. I lose my life, leave my father and everything I know behind because I was a friend to them and they aren't punished for revealing the existence of vampires to me."
"I am sorry little one. The world isn't fair and Aro is Carlisle's friend. I've often wondered if they weren't more than friends at some point and time."
Bella almost swallowed her tongue. "Aro and Carlisle. That would be perfect for the good doctor."
We both laughed at that and I realized that getting along with my young mate might be easy as breathing. She didn't seem to realize that I was hers. Perhaps humans didn't feel the pull of life mates. I would have to ask Marcus. I'd had no need of his knowledge about mating before this.
When we arrived at the plane she got out of the car but fidgeted nervously. I got her bag out of the trunk and put a hand on her back to guide her to the plane. The pilot was there waiting for us so I stowed her bag and showed her to a seat.
"Are you hungry?" I asked
Bella only nodded. I got up and went into the kitchen I had it stocked for us when I arrived. I got out a plate of fruit and cheese for her and water and hoped that would be satisfactory.
"I'm afraid I didn't know what you'd like but will this do for now?"
She thanked me quietly and began to eat. I watched her quietly she ate as if it had been a long time since her last meal. The plane began to taxi to the runway.
Soon we were airborne and the plane was leveling off. Bella had finished her fruit plate and I took the dish back into the kitchen, washing it quickly and putting it away.