Bella waited until she saw the male nurse's car drive away before she approached the two story townhouse in the affluent area of downtown Dublin, Ireland. She buzzed the door waiting for the home owner to respond. A crackly voice came from the speaker. "Yeah, what do you want?"
Bella chuckled and pushed the button to reply. "Doris it's Bella."
"Well why didn't you say so?" Before Bella could respond the door lock clicked and she let herself in.
Knowing the house layout already she made her way to the den where Doris was sitting in an old lazy boy chair. "Doris why don't you get rid of that chair? It's not like you can't afford a new one. Maybe get one that lifts up to help you out of it."
"I don't need a bloody new chair. This one works just fine." Doris tried to glare at her but she couldn't hold back her smile at seeing Bella. "Now come here and give me a hug. How's my favorite lassie doing?"
Bella leaned down to hug the older woman gently. "You really shouldn't call me your favorite. I don't think your children or your grandchildren would appreciate it."
Doris held on to Bella's hands as she was released from the hug. "They will appreciate it even less when they find out from the will that I'm not the fancy rich lady they think I am!"
"You have never been fancy Doris." Bella told her with a fond smile. She took a seat on the couch next to Doris who kept a hold of her hand.
Doris chuckled. "Ain't that the truth. So what brings you out this way? The last you said you were in Egypt."
"A friend asked me for a favor so I had to go to Italy." Bella told her. "I figured since I was in the area I stop in and see you. I also have a gift for you."
"You and your gifts. You shouldn't be wasting any more money on me than you already do." Doris grumbled.
Bella handed her a small box. "You know that I would spend all the money in the world on you if you wanted."
"Well I don't want you to." Doris opened the box to reveal a gold necklace that had a jewel encrusted Isis knot attached to it. "Bella once again this is to much."
Bella waved away her thanks. "No it's not. Don't worry I got it legally so you don't have to worry about anyone trying to claim it. I'll give you all the paperwork to prove it before I leave."
"What am I going to do with a necklace like this?" Doris asked.
"That necklace belonged to a priestess that worked in the temple of Isis."Bella told her. "As to what to do with it I thought you could wear it to your next bridge club meeting. It would be hilarious to see those ladies reaction to you walking in wearing that."
Doris narrowed her eyes at Bella. "Oh I see how it is now. You give me these things for your own amusement."
"Of course." Bella agreed. "I'm nothing if not selfish."
Doris smiled. Bella was anything but selfish. She had come to the rescue of an unwed teenage mother who refused to give up her baby when everyone turned their back on her. She had helped Doris ever since then which allowed her to be able to support herself and her first child until the time of her marriage to her husband of 50 yrs came along and they had two more children. She had kept in touch and paid for not only the nice house she now lived in but for all of her children's private school and university educations. The fact that she was a vampire had surprised Doris at first but the genuine kindness Bella always showed made they fact she lived off human blood a non issue.
The only problem with their relationship was that she had to keep Bella a secret. There was no way to explain Bella's red eyes or never changing youth. That was the only thing that saddened Doris about knowing Bella. The fact that she couldn't introduce her to her family and friends. Even though Bella never told her she knew Bella checked in on her over the years and was positive she had gotten her loved ones out of trouble a time or two. That was part of Bella's charm though, she never made you feel like a burden. Even when she went way out of the way for you she never held it over your head, she just shrugged it off like it was no big deal and moved on.
"Well the least I can do is wear it and give you a bit of happiness." Doris told her. "Just don't expect me to leave it to you in the will."
Bella shook her head. "I don't expect you to leave anything to me in the will. I think you should leave everything to a charity for retired strippers."
Doris let out a huge laugh that shook her whole body. Bella's humor always surprised her. She was such an intimidating, serious looking woman so when she said such improper things it made the impact that much greater. "I think I should look into that. I bet my children would have a stroke if they sat down at the lawyer's office and he announced that all my worldly possessions were being left to Our Lady of the Holy Golden Pole."
Bella laughed along with her allowing Doris to see the girl she was before she was forever frozen at this age. "Maybe I will set up a charity for that myself. It doesn't sound like that bad of an idea."
"I bet you already help out tons of woman that are in that situation already. You don't need to set up a charity." Bella's hum of dismissal confirmed Doris' suspicions. She always wondered if Bella had helped out other woman in bad situations but every time she asked Bella would change the subject. Her best friend really was a selfless person. Always putting others before herself.
"Tell me about that dish of a new male nurse that I saw coming out of your front door as I was walking over." Bella asked once again changing the subject.
"Dish." Doris said. "How do you even know that word?"
"Doris I'll have you know I am very down with popular culture. I even have the latest iPhone." Bella told her.
Doris looked Bella over trying to hold back an eye roll. Bella was dressed in black slacks and a blue button down shirt. Her hair was done in an elaborate French braid that a normal person would have to spend hours at the hair dresser to achieve that Doris was sure Bella pulled off in a few minutes. With her pearl earrings and matching pearl necklace she was styled like a lady in her 60's not the teenage girl she looked like. "Yeah those matching pearls totally scream Generation Z."
"What is Generation Z?" Bella asked confused which made Doris laugh hard enough it brought tears to her eyes. They spent the next few hours talking about everything and nothing, with Bella finally leaving when Doris could no longer keep her eyes open. Bella carried her to her room, got her ready for bed and tucked her in like she was a child. After Doris had fallen asleep Bella stood watching her for a few minutes knowing that time was running out for her friend. It was always the biggest risk when getting close to humans. Not even them revealing their existence was as heartbreaking as watching a human grow old and die but Bella had done this hundreds of times and she knew in her heart she would continue. With a kiss to Doris' forehead Bella made her way out of her house making sure to lock up before she left. She wanted to check on the small coven that kept a permanent home in this country so she needed to get changed.
After donning her mask and robe Bella began tracking the Irish coven. As she made her way to them she came across two men who were in the process of trying to take advantage of a college aged girl in an alley behind a bar. The girl was obviously intoxicated and the men were counting on her not fighting back. Bella made quick work of the two men draining them halfway, slicing their throats and leaving them in the alley with out their valuables. She managed to get the girl's address off of her phone. She then brought her home, put her on her couch and left her to hopefully only wake up with a hang over and no recollection of the two men.
It took her the better part of the day to finally find the vampires. They were an odd bunch the three of them. Siobhan, her mate Liam and the unmated Maggie. They had been together for few centuries and although they were blood drinkers they were discreet enough that they were allowed to stay in Ireland. Little did they know that it was Bella herself that had vouched for them allowing them to live free of fear of the Volturi. Even though Siobhan and Maggie both had gifts Bella felt that they would never be a good match for the guard so she had turned Aro down when he asked if she would have them come to Italy. It was a log cabin home in the middle of a heavily wooded area that she found them. From what Bella could see in the windows they had made the inside very modern with various things for entertainment. Deciding to let them know she was there she released herself from the shadows and knocked on the door.
The movement inside stopped immediately and Siobhan's voice could be heard in a whisper."Did you hear anyone come up?
"No, I didn't hear anyone. Are you expecting someone?" Liam voice was heard next.
"No, but if they were able to sneak up on us I have a feeling I know who it is." Siobhan said.
"Do you really think she would find us all the way out here?" Liam asked "We haven't caused any kind of trouble that deserved that kind of attention."
"Well if it is her then she is probably listening to us right now."Maggie's gentle laughter filled the air as Bella heard her footsteps come closer. She didn't look the least bit surprised seeing Bella on the other side of the door. "Hello. We didn't know to expect you or we would have been more welcoming."
Bella walked in following after Maggie into the living room were a very serious looking Siobhan and Liam were standing. "I wasn't planning on coming but I was in the area for some other business so I thought I would stop and see how everyone is doing."
"More like you wanted to check up on us." Liam grumbled.
Siobhan shot him a dark look. "Please excuse him Lady Shadow, he worries to much."
"It's alright. I would be suspicious also." Bella reassured her as she took a seat in the only arm chair in the living room. The three coven members took a seat on the couch. Bella wasn't offended by their show of solidarity as she to would want to be in the best position to defend herself and her coven if the need arose.
After a moment of awkward silence Maggie spoke. "What matter brings you to us?"
"Nothing to concerning, as I said I was in the area and stopped by to say hello." Bella told them. "We had some recent unpleasantness with a vampire name Martin who thought it a good idea to create some newborns and then bring a fire elemental to the throne room to assassinate the kings and most of the guard."
"Is everyone alright?" Maggie asked not understanding why Death's Shadow would come in person to tell them about that.
"Yes I was there everything is fine." Bella said. "The reason I wanted to speak to you is because I have been seeing a certain trend in the last few decades of covens creating newborns hoping they have gifts."
"We would never create newborns so irresponsibly." Liam declared insulted.
Bella held up her hand in a soothing manner. "No you've misunderstood me. I'm not worried about the three of you doing that."
"Then why tell us?" Siobhan asked.
"I was coming to warn you. I overheard a few vampires mention your coven and Siobhan's and Maggie's gifts. As of now no-one knows exactly what they are not even Aro but I worry that if they do find out that you will be approached." Bella told them.
"You came here because you were worried about us?" Maggie went wide eyed when Death's Shadow nodded. "You also have never told Aro of our gifts?"
"Of course not. It's none of his business what your gifts are. You live a peaceful life and don't bring any attention to yourselves. I worry that when someone finds out about your gifts especially your's Siobhan that you are going to find yourselves in trouble." Bella said as if her worry was rather obvious.
"Oh." Siobhan mumbled completely stunned at this turn of events. They always believed that Death's Shadow kept track of them to appease Aro just waiting for the right moment to force them into the Volturi but they were just proven wrong. Here she sat like it was perfectly normal for her to voice her worries for them.
"To prevent you from having to deal with any trouble on your own I am giving you this phone. It is programed already with a number that you can leave messages for me on. The phone won't work for anything other than calling and leaving messages." Bella handed a stunned Siobhan a cheap plastic flip phone. "Be careful with it because if you break it I won't know. Also I ask you kindly not to abuse the phone. I only want to know about real trouble."
Siobhan looked down at the phone in awe. Not only had Death's Shadow come to warn them of others that may come looking for them but she was offering them a direct line to having her help. She knew it was not a gift to take lightly. She placed her hand over her heart and promised. "I give you my word that your trust and faith in us will not be misplaced."
"I know it won't." Bella told them as she stood and disappeared out the door.
The three coven members stared after her for a long time before Liam broke the silence. "Did that really just happen?"
"You mean did Death's Shadow just show up at our home unannounced to warn us of potential future threats and not only gave us a direct line to contact her but a promise to face any future threats with us?" Maggie asked with a dazed expression on her face. Seeing the other two nod she told them. "Yes, yes it did."
"Huh." Was all Siobhan replied and that was the basic sentiment from the the other two as well.