Alice sees her.
She sees the burning house tucked away in a wooded area. She sees Rosalie running in at the sound of a baby's cries.
The second Rosalie smells her she tenses up, eyes going black and venom pooling from her lips. It slides down her chin and she hastily wipes it away, swallowing thickly as she dares to move closer.
The baby.
A tiny, blonde haired, brown eyed, chubby-cheeked baby.
The baby.
Dressed in a pink onesie and wrapped in a red blanket. She couldn't be older than one.
More venom slipped past Rosalie's lips and dribbled down her chin.
The baby.
Rosalie's singer.
Alice sees the infant stop crying the moment it sees Rosalie. Reaching out its pudgy hands to her and cooing happily.
She sees Rosalie freeze, remembering herself and holding her breath. Her eyes are still black but they're wet with unshed tears.
She's instantly in love with the child. She's instantly ashamed of her instincts screaming at her to tear it apart.
It will only end in heartbreak if Alice doesn't hurry.
"Rose!" Jasper and Emmett are close on her heels as she approaches the burning house.
Rosalie is standing outside of the house with the baby curled into her arms. Her sister is rigid, not daring to move as she holds the baby closer to her chest. It had fallen asleep in her embrace.
Her back is facing them. She doesn't dare take a breath.
But they hear her whisper. "It's okay. I'm here."
"Rosalie! Fight it!" Jasper warns, and the seer's panic drives her to act.
Alice had never held a baby before. At least, she couldn't recall ever holding a baby.
So when she raced forward, plucking the baby from Rosalie's hands, she hadn't expected to feel so terrified.
The blonde vampire screeched at her, looking feral as she lunged forward. "She's mine!" Jasper blocked her path, holding her back until Emmett took over. "Give her back! She's mine! I can handle it!" She sobs. "Don't take my baby from me!"
Her eyes are still black. Venom is sliding past her lips and down her chin. She's hysterical. She's desperate for the baby, or for the blood beneath her pale skin, Alice wasn't sure.
Both.
Alice's heart breaks for her. "I can't take that chance, Rose." She had never seen her sister lose composure like this before. "Go hunting, and then I'll give her back, okay?" She wasn't sure if she was lying or not.
But Rosalie needed to leave.
She fought harder against Emmett, who tried to calm her but to no avail. "No! You bitch! She's mine, do you hear me! She's my baby! Not yours! She's MINE!" She wailed, making the seer wince. "You can't take her from me! You can't!"
She knew that wasn't Rosalie. It was a mix of her bloodlust and longing.
And while her sister's hysteria distressed her, it was not the cause for Alice's terror. Emmett was there to take Rosalie hunting, and Jasper was there to watch over Alice, just as he always did.
No. Her sister wasn't terrifying. It was the life in her hands that had her petrified.
The baby had been sleeping, unaware of its near-death experience in Rosalie's arms. But now she opened her eyes, bright brown eyes that looked at Alice in interest.
"Um, hi." She said, grimacing as the baby continued to look at her silently.
She had never been very good with humans. They thought she was weird. Eccentric. And she doubted her luck would change when it came to a human baby.
Her mate, still tense from Rosalie's aggressive reaction, smiled at her. "She likes you."
Alice frowned up at him, awkwardly cradling the baby to her chest. "Why?"
"I'm not sure. I can't speak baby."
She laughed at his dumb joke, knowing he had only said it for her benefit. "I need Edward...but, I'm not sure how useful his gift would be right now."
Jasper leaned over and kissed her temple. "I'm going to check out the house, then call the fire department." His nose wrinkled and he grimaced. "I...I think it's too late for her parents."
Alice could already smell the burning flesh that permeated the air. She was perturbed by Jasper's comment, but she knew he was probably right. She watched as he slipped into the burning house, anxious about what he'd find.
What will happen to her?
She looked back down at the baby, who was now reaching for her face with pudgy, curious fingers. Hesitantly Alice leaned forward, unable to stop the smile from spreading on her lips.
Clumsy fingers pinched at her nose and prodded near her eyes. Her skin was too warm, almost hot to the touch.
Tiny fingers tapped against her lips, trying to go into her mouth but Alice wouldn't allow them to. She pressed her lips tightly together, body shaking with silent laughter when the baby made a disgruntled noise and glared at her mouth.
She finally gave up, and then her pudgy hands buried themselves into thick, black curls.
She didn't pull. The child was in awe of her hair. Of the black ringlets that nearly went to her shoulders. She cooed happily as she patted her hair, giving gentle tugs to watch the curls bounce back into place.
This made Alice laugh. "You little white babies and my hair. How would you like it if I played with yours?" The baby made a noise, sounding pleased as she smiled widely at Alice and hummed at her.
Her lips were moving, and, of course, she wasn't speaking, but it looked as though she were trying to continue the conversation. She made various noises, tilting her head as she did so before she stopped.
She looked at Alice's lips expectantly, fingers still buried in her hair as she waited for a response.
"For the sake of honesty...I don't know what you're saying. But I appreciate that you want to talk to me, cutie." This evoked a happy noise from the baby, who smiled widely at her before cooing again.
It was then that Alice understood why Rosalie longed for a child of her own. This baby didn't know who she was, yet she gave her a large toothless smile anyway. She made Alice feel as though she were the greatest thing in the world.
Human babies. Alice laughed quietly as the baby continued to inspect her curls. Human babies don't see 'weird'. Or maybe they do and they just don't care because they don't know any better.
A hard tug made her blink. It didn't hurt but it startled her.
"Hey!" She pulled her head away from her curious fingers. The baby jumped in surprise, not expecting her to speak so loudly.
Her eyes started to water and Alice began to panic. "Shhh, it's okay." She murmured, leaning her head back down so her curls were once again within the child's reach. "You have to be gentle. Gentle."
Brown eyes looked at her cautiously for a moment and Alice sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout." She reached out slowly, making sure the baby could see her hand so she wouldn't be startled. "Gentle, like this." She carefully pet the top of her head, stroking the blonde strands of hair.
She was given an infectious smile. Tiny hands mimicked her own, stroking the curls as gently as she could. Her fingers would still snag a few curls on accident, but she took far more care with Alice's hair.
The baby fascinated her. She was so soft and smooth and her hair felt like silk. She smelled like smoke and cinnamon. Her heartbeat, fast and light, was soothing to her ears. She stared at Alice's hair intensely, as though focusing on not pulling any curls, and Alice couldn't help but stare at her in adoration.
She heard Jasper approaching. "We have to keep her. I love her." She blurted out.
"Alice." He was always the voice of reason. But she didn't want to hear it.
Instead, she ignored him and pressed her forehead against the baby's. "You don't care that I'm weird, do you?" The baby smiled at her, cupping her cheeks in her hands and letting out a soft laugh before bumping their noses together. "Good. Because I love you, and I'm going to buy you the cutest little outfits."
The terror that came with interacting with the child melted away.
"Alice." She didn't look at him, already knowing what he was going to say. "What if she has relatives that are willing to care for her?" He glanced back at the house. "It seems she only lived with her mother. I don't know if she has a father."
"Thennnn we keep her." She smiled at the baby, who was now looking at Jasper with newfound curiosity. It was then that Alice noticed a purse in his hands.
"Her name was Renee Swan. She was in her bed when I found her. She died in her sleep from smoke inhalation." He thumbed through the purse, pulling out a wallet and holding it up for her to see. "And the baby," he slid a picture out of the wallet, a photo of the baby wrapped up in a white blanket. "Is Isabella Swan."
Alice held the child closer to her. "Oh...Isabella, I'm so sorry." The baby, of course, was oblivious to the entire situation. She was still staring at Jasper, who reached out and touched Alice's arm.
"We shouldn't stay here." He pulled out his phone. "Let's head home. I'll call the fire department on the way." He took a picture of Renee's ID before stashing the purse back into the burning house.
The structure was collapsing and the flames were spreading. The loud crack of wood drew Isabella's attention, and when she looked into the flames she became completely still. It was as though she was transfixed, though Alice assumed that was a normal reaction.
Fire held its own appeal. It looked alive. And it only made sense that the bright colors and wild movements had attracted the child's attention.
The run back to the house was a tense one. Alice held Isabella's head to her shoulder, keeping it steady on the run, and Isabella didn't make a sound as she nuzzled into her neck.
She couldn't stop agonizing over Isabella's fate. She couldn't stop agonizing over the loss of her mother at such a young age. It was heartbreaking. It was unfair.
When they arrived home Esme, Carlisle, and Edward were standing in the living room. They watched them come in with wide eyes, no doubt smelling the baby's smokey scent from at least a mile away.
Before anyone could speak Alice ushered the baby over to Carlisle. "You have to examine Isabella. Rosalie saved her from a burning house, and her lungs sound fine but I'm not a doctor. There could be something wrong with her that I don't know about and-"
Her father silenced her with a gentle look. "Of course." He took Isabella from her, who kicked and screamed when she left Alice's arms. "It's alright," Carlisle soothed, removing the red blanket from her body. "I'll give you right back. I just need you to be...patient, with me."
The doctor laughed quietly at his own joke and Alice couldn't suppress her own smile. "That was terrible." Isabella stopped crying, face still red and eyes still wet as she shivered at the cold hands that inspected her.
"It wasn't my best, I'm inclined to agree." He looked at the baby curiously. "Her skin...do you know how long she was in that house? Her temperature is much warmer than it should be."
Alice shook her head. "I only know that Rosalie saved her. I don't know how long she was in the house."
Her father nodded slowly before examining the infant once again. "Well, other than her abnormally warm skin she seems perfectly fine and healthy. She must not have been in that house long. Her airways are clear and unafflicted from the smoke, just as you said." He gave Alice a smile before looking down at the child once more.
Esme peeked over her mate's shoulder, eyes going wide when the baby looked at her. "Oh my goodness." She breathed, smiling widely as she stuck out her index finger. "You're so beautiful, yes you are." She cooed, smile broadening when Isabella reached out and latched onto her finger. "And so strong! You have a good grip."
Isabella smiled at her and that's when Edward stepped forward. "You can't be serious." He didn't sound angry, just perplexed. "You know we can't keep her." He looked at Alice. "Was it really such a good idea to bring her here?"
Jasper spoke before she could. "Did you want us to leave her there?"
He shook his head. "Of course not...but her staying with us isn't an option."
Alice bristled at this. "Then what is an option? An orphanage?"
"A relative." He replied evenly. "You should have left this to the police. We can't kidnap a baby."
The approaching footfalls of Rosalie and Emmett made Alice stiffen ever so slightly. She remembered how hysterical her sister had become when around Isabella.
She knew Edward had read her mind the moment Rosalie and Emmett entered the house. The mind reader moved so he was slightly in front of the baby, who was now being cradled lovingly by Esme.
Rosalie's eyes were a bright gold once again, but they darkened when she noticed Edward's protective stance.
"I'm not some goddamn animal, Edward."
He shook his head. "I never said that you were." He concentrated on her for a moment before relaxing ever so slightly. "Isabella is Rosalie's singer." Carlisle and Esme looked at their eldest daughter in shock. "But at the moment she poses no threat to her." Edward conceded, giving Rosalie a nod. "She's always had the best self-control...we have no reason to worry."
Rosalie gave him an appreciative look but instead said, "I can vouch for myself, you pest." She brushed past him, holding her arms out to Esme so that she could hold the baby. "Isabella, so that's your name?" Her voice was soft but her posture was stiff.
It was a challenge for her, but if anyone could do it, Rosalie could.
Esme hesitated before handing Isabella over. The baby giggled at the sight of Rosalie, eagerly reaching out her pudgy hands in order to touch her face.
Alice can't recall the last time she had seen her sister smile so gently at anyone or anything. "My Belle." She murmured, allowing Isabella's fingers to roam her face. "She's mine." She spoke with such finality that Edward bristled.
"I know how much this means to you, Rose, but this isn't some fairytale."
Emmett bared his teeth at that. "Esme and Carlisle have all of us, why can't we have a kid?" His anger was short-lived as he moved to Rosalie's side. "Rosie will obviously be a great mom. And I'll be a great dad. I'll teach her how to play baseball and hunt bears."
"No." Edward shook his head. "Out of the question. Even if we did keep her, we're not turning her."
To everyone's surprise, Rosalie glared at the mind reader. "That isn't your choice to make."
"Then whose choice is it? Yours?" He growled. "It's not enough that you would take her from any potential relatives who would raise her. But you'd also rob her of her mortality?"
She sneered at him, eyes turning black. "I'll rob you of your pitiful existence if you keep attempting to lecture me on your subjective morality." She looked back down at Isabella, face softening instantly as she looked into brown eyes. "It would be her choice. I would love for her to grow old and have a family of her own...but if she chooses to stay and become like us...then that's her decision."
They all knew the truth. Rosalie couldn't bear to part with her. Despite hating vampirism, she wanted eternity with the child was planning to raise.
Jasper cleared his throat, garnering everyone's attention. "We shouldn't jump ahead on this. Not yet." He held up his phone. "I have a picture of her mother's ID. I'll find out what I can about her, see if she has any siblings or if there's a boyfriend in the picture." He kissed Alice's cheek before leaving the house, leaving the rest of them standing in the living room with a baby they didn't know what to do with.
Carlisle sighed, running his hand through his hair and shaking his head. "The responsible thing to do would be to give her to the police."
"But what if she doesn't have any relatives that they can give her to?" Esme questioned. "Or what if those relatives don't want her?"
"What if they do? Who are we to deprive them of that?"
Alice glanced at the baby, who was now curled up in Rosalie's arms and fast asleep. Though her movements were stiff and somewhat awkward, she pressed kisses to Isabella's forehead nonetheless before handing her to Emmett.
The two weren't listening to them anymore. They were in a world of their own, and it was one that Alice couldn't help but smile at.
Emmett was so massive, so intimidating to those who didn't know him, that seeing him with a baby looked strange. Not bad, but it was an odd sight. An adorable sight.
His face lit up as he held Isabella to his chest, rocking her gently while Rosalie watched the two in adoration. In her sleep the baby had reached out, gripping Emmett's shirt and fisting it tightly in her hand.
"This is selfish." Edward sighed, garnering Rosalie's attention.
"You want to talk about selfish?" She growled, moving away from Emmett and Isabella to confront the mind reader. "Let's go there, Edward. Let's fucking go there."
His eyes turned black. Whatever he heard from their sister was enough to enrage him. Though, Alice didn't have to guess what particular incident Rosalie was thinking about.
"You have no right-"
"I have every right!"
Carlisle stepped in between them. "That's enough!"
"But it's not!" Edward roared. "Nothing for her will ever be enough!"
Emmett bared his teeth at him, muscles flexing as though he were about to pounce. But he remained still, holding the baby in his arms and not daring to move.
But the damage had been done. And their yelling had awoken the baby.
Alice sees streams of fire spewing from the child's mouth. She sees the house in flames. Isabella is panicking, inconsolable.
"Get her out of the house," Alice breathed, coming back to herself the moment Isabella started screeching. "Get her out of the house!" She raced forward, snatching Isabella from Emmett and getting her outside just in time.
Streams of fire spewed from her lips and into the night sky, dissipating into the air as Alice held her up and away from all things flammable. Jasper returned in time to see Isabella scream more flames into the night, and the vampires watched in shock.
When the flames died down is when Isabella finally stopped screaming. She was finished with her tantrum, though Alice suspects it was due to Jasper's influence, and that's when Alice slowly brought her back to her chest.
She has a gift. An amazing one. She let her mind wander to the future. To an older Isabella making campfires and creating smores and doing neat tricks with her flames. It excited her. This baby was special. She was amazing. She's a little weird.
"The fire," Emmett murmured, glancing at Rosalie who still hadn't moved. "Do you think…"
"It could have been anything."
"No one is blaming her," Esme said, "She's a baby."
Rosalie looked at her. "Which is exactly why she doesn't need this hanging over her head when she's older."
"You still propose we keep her?" Edward asked.
Isabella yawned, stretching out her arms before giving Alice a sleepy smile and closing her eyes once again. The seer is the first one to speak, a fierce protectiveness washes over her as she turns to level a glare at Edward.
"We have to keep her." Edward looked as though he were about to argue but she didn't give him a chance to open his mouth. "The humans won't be able to handle her. She could hurt someone. They could hurt her. They don't...they can't handle her." It felt so deeply personal and she didn't know why. "They'll call her a freak. They'll lock her away and I'll be damned if I let that happen."
Edward looked at her with glassy eyes. "Alice-"
"She's a child!" She held Isabella tighter to her chest.
Alice sees flashes of padded rooms and men in white coats. "Dad!" Her own voice is loud and fearful. It's human. "You have to believe me!"
"You're supposed to protect children, you can't just...you can't just lock them away because they're different!"
"She's suffering from hallucinations. It's best if you leave her here."
"She's a child," Alice repeated, venom pooling in her eyes as she looked down at the baby in her arms. "I...I can't..."
The past was trying its damndest to haunt her. But she still couldn't remember.
Jasper gently gripped her shoulder, saying something that she couldn't quite hear.
Is that what happened to me? Humans feared my gift so they locked me away?
"Alice is right." That got her attention. Carlisle was looking at her with a mix of sympathy and pride. "Isabella would be better cared for with us. We can help her control her gift...and as long as our limbs stay attached and we keep our hair away, then we'll survive her flames."
The empath cleared his throat. "She doesn't have any close relatives either. No aunts or uncles. Her grandparents died before she was born." He glanced at the baby. "I couldn't find anything about her father. Just a man Renee had divorced before Isabella was born. But even then, we can't be sure if he's her birth father."
"So we keep her," Rosalie moved forward, almost robotically, as she went to Alice's side. "She's perfect." Her eyes are wet and despite her obvious restraint, she looks so gentle at that moment. As though she had given birth to Isabella herself. "Blonde hair, only a shade lighter than mine." She reached out, gently stroking her head. "Brown eyes, just like Emmett had when he was human."
Edward watched her closely. "You want to mother her...are you sure that's a good idea?" He was being genuine, and thankfully Rosalie detected his concern.
"I've thought a lot about this, believe it or not."
"I know you have."
"Then you know that she will call me her mother when it's right for her, not for me." She looked away from him. "And you know that I'll hunt frequently, and hold my breath whenever I'm around her."
Emmett frowned at this. "She should know that you're her mother. She should call you 'mom.'"
"If I'm a suitable mother, then that is what she will call me," Rosalie murmured. "I chose her...that doesn't mean she has to choose me." Alice watched as her sister moved away, eyes darkening slightly and a hand going to her throat. "I…" she swallowed thickly, tearing her gaze off the human. "I need to hunt again. Then I'll handle the fire department, police, anyone who asks questions."
Alice tried to lighten the mood. "You've always had a way with words." She had always been a little envious of Rosalie's gift. If only because it wasn't the burden of farsight.
Emmett grinned. "Hell yeah she has." He took her hand in his. "Let's go." They darted off into the woods.
Jasper watched them go, waiting until they were out of earshot before speaking. "She's ashamed. She doesn't feel that she'll be a good mother."
Alice shook her head. "She'll be great, besides, we'll help her." They all entered the house, seating themselves in the living room. Isabella was still fast asleep in Alice's arms.
Esme smiled at the seer. "You're right. She's not alone." Her eyes softened as they fell on Isabella. "It'll be nice to have a baby around." Her mother had never experienced loving an infant before. Not since the death of her son.
Edward looked at Isabella worriedly. "I'm afraid I'm terribly inexperienced when it comes to diaper changing." Alice laughed at that, despite her brother being completely serious.
Jasper smiled at him. "I second that. I'm more experienced when it comes to loading and firing muskets."
The seer grinned at that. "I'll teach my Union soldier how to traverse a new battlefield." She kissed Isabella's nose. "Raising a child!"
"And where did you learn how to change a diaper?" He challenged.
Alice stared at him for a moment before a scowl overtook her features. "Jasper, I was only making a statement...a declaration!"
The empath smiled at her. "I can't question your declaration?"
"No. You were only supposed to be endeared by it."
He pressed a kiss atop black curls. "I'm always endeared to you, darlin'."
Edward frowned in annoyance. "I was serious about my concerns." He looked at Carlisle. "Surely you know how to change diapers."
Their father smiled at that. "I do. So does your mother."
Esme reached out and took his hand in hers. "He lets me help with the newborns at the hospital." She perked up and turned to Edward. "There's this wonderful website called YouTube. You can learn all sorts of things on there!" No one had the heart to tell her that YouTube had already been around for years.
Edward gave her a small smile. "I think I would prefer it if you taught me."
"Me too," Jasper said.
Alice grinned at Esme. "And me three." Esme's eyes were shining, and her children and husband couldn't help but smile at her excitement.
"I'd love to."
Things were never supposed to get this interesting. Yet here he was, staring at a coven of vampires that had a nice-smelling human in their midst. As always, he let Laurent do the talking, and for the sake of subtlety, he acted as though he was bored. When, really, he could hardly recall the last time he had been so intrigued.
"Pardon our intrusion...your eyes. Why are they gold?" Laurent frowned, watching as the blonde man, their leader, stepped forward.
"It's because of our diet." His voice was smooth and soothing in a way that mirrored Laurent's. "We drink animal blood instead of human blood."
The tracker nearly laughed at the stupidity of it all. He almost mocked him when his eyes fell on her.
His eyes widened and he had to stop himself from acting impulsively. I'm a hunter, not a barbarian. If Laurent noticed his silence he didn't comment on it, thankfully.
He didn't think he'd find her again. Especially in this dump of a town, of all places.
Mary Alice.
She looked almost exactly as she did one hundred years ago. Short, curly black hair and large eyes that were now gold instead of brown. Her bright eyes made her dark, black skin appear to be glowing. She looked radiant.
Mary Alice was petite, and just as she had when she was human, she looked delicate and doll-like. She looked the same, yet so different.
Despite her delicate appearance, she no longer looked fragile. Her short stature and thin frame didn't obscure the way she carried herself. She wasn't the same girl with gaunt cheeks and large bags beneath her eyes. She wasn't the same girl that stayed up for days waiting for him to strike.
She's not the same girl that slipped through my fingers.
Now her head was held high and her smile was bright and her eyes were filled with mirth. There was a hidden strength to her, one he could only assume was bestowed unto her by vampirism.
He was surprised that she didn't seem to recognize him. Surprised and lucky.
"The wolves," Mary Alice murmured, looking up at the man that stood at her side. "I couldn't see their arrival." She couldn't see?
She had a power, something similar to when she was human. James remembered it well. Hunting her mother and being happily surprised that Mary Alice had somehow known he was coming.
She spoke of visions when she was a human. It must have manifested into something stronger now. Farsight? Whatever it is, the shifters affect it. They distort it.
"Don't worry about it, darlin'. It's alright."
She stood next to a tall man with honey blonde hair. James's eyes fell to the scars that littered his forearms and he nearly bristled at the sight. He's experienced. Strong. He had wiry muscles and wore a matching baseball cap with Mary Alice.
The man, her mate by the looks of it, was eyeing him warily. Sizing him up and staring at him in a way that was unsettling. He forced himself to relax, knowing better than to attempt any attack in the midst of all the vampires, let alone this one.
A hunter waits. Watches. I won't fail. Not this time.
On the other side of Alice stood a girl, a human. He looked at her closely, noting her callused hands and the baseball bat slung over her shoulder. When her wrist rolled is when he noticed the bite. The silvery scar was on her vein and it nearly made his eyes widen.
She was bitten. Attacked by another vampire? Or did one of her vampires slip up?
The human was a bit taller than Alice, with bright blonde hair and dark brown eyes. Her features were sharp and her face was slender.
Her body was toned, it was that of an athlete, and he blinked in surprise when she narrowed her eyes at him. This human has guts. Brown eyes searched his red ones before she rolled her eyes and looked away. She has guts and I'd love to rip them out.
He imagined she would be a fun hunt if she were a vampire.
Her scent mingled heavily with the other vampires, but he could detect the sweetness of her blood and he swallowed thickly.
It smells almost as good as Mary Alice's.
There was a strange, smokey undertone to her scent that made his brow furrow. She's not a smoker. Her airways are clear and she doesn't smell like nicotine.
The smoke smelled something akin to a bonfire, but there was something else there that he couldn't quite pick up. She smelled off. Unusual.
"Do you have some sort of staring problem?" Red eyes flickered over to the blonde woman that had come to the human's side.
She was beautiful, even for a vampire. She stood a few inches taller than the human and her gold hair, barely a shade darker than the human's was pulled back into a ponytail. Her bright red cap matched the human's own baseball cap.
Her features were sharp, model-like in appearance, from her jawline to her cheekbones. Her full lips were curled into a sneer, and she stood slightly in front of the human.
"Rosalie, please." Another vampire, a brown-haired woman, tried to calm her, but Rosalie continued to glare at him.
The human seemed more amused than anything, much to his annoyance. Her lips quirked into the smallest smile but she said nothing.
Fear me. I could tear you to pieces.
That's when a burly vampire stepped forward. He was massive, the tallest of the vampires, and undoubtedly the strongest. He had short, black curly hair and broad shoulders that were hunched in preparation for a fight. The hunter made note of him and of his protectiveness of both Rosalie and the human.
Possibly Rosalie's mate.
He'd have to be mindful of the large vampire, and of Mary Alice's mate.
James made note of Rosalie's confidence. Either she could hold her own in a fight or she was emboldened by the number of vampires in her coven.
He straightened and gave Rosalie an apologetic smile. "I was surprised by the human, is all. I hadn't realized you brought a snack." Laurent elbowed his side and Rosalie snarled at him in response. "I'm sorry. Bad joke." That's when he noticed Mary Alice's narrowed eyes and bared teeth.
You're attached to your pet. Interesting. All the vampires seemed disgruntled with his remark. They stood defensively, preparing to protect the human. You're all attached to your pet. Interesting and unfortunate.
Laurent moved so he was slightly ahead of James, and that's when the blonde vampire from earlier stepped forward. "I apologize for his sick sense of humor. I'm Laurent, this is my coven-mate, James. We heard you playing and wondered if you'd be interested in two more players."
Better to let him do the talking.
Laurent had always been the charmer of the three. His voice was smooth, and his accent always endeared him to those around him. Whereas James had a rough voice, gravelly and aggressive, and Victoria had never cared to be charismatic.
Initially, a game of baseball had been their prerogative. He had been growing restless. His hunts were too easy, they were over too quickly. But Mary Alice, she'd make for a good hunt. She'd be a challenge.
James could feel her mate staring him down, eyes narrowed and body tense. The tracker forced himself to relax and averted his gaze.
The blonde man cast a glance at the human, who shrugged carelessly, before turning back to Laurent. "I don't see why not. I'm Carlisle, and this is my family."
Esme, Carlisle's mate, was not a vampire James concerned himself with. She looked lovely, lacking any hint of malice that was so prevalent in Rosalie.
Her gentle eyes and lack of scars spoke volumes about her fighting abilities. She looked too trusting, as though gentle words would appease her no matter the situation. She was a little taller than Alice with caramel-colored hair and soft facial features. It gave her a look of compassion.
She doesn't seem to be a threat. But I know better than to underestimate her.
Edward was Carlisle's son, but he was absent. Apparently, he was visiting another coven in Alaska.
"He's truly your child?" Laurent asked, and the man nodded.
"Not by blood. But he is mine all the same." James nearly rolled his eyes at that, but he knew better. Instead, he looked at Carlisle curiously. "This coven is more than an amalgamation of vampires. We're a family."
Pathetic.
James allowed a hint of a smile. "A family...that's nice." Laurent eyed him but he was ignored. "We have another coven-mate, Victoria. She's the closest thing I have to a sister." He noticed the vampires relax slightly at his show of emotion. Too easy.
However, Mary Alice's mate and the other blonde, Rosalie, weren't so easily fooled. While the other Cullens wanted to see the good in others, those two vampires knew better, just as he did.
So did the human, much to his surprise. Dark eyes stared at him, making sure he caught her gaze before she rolled her eyes. Bold. Too bold for a human.
Emmett was the burly vampire, and Jasper was the name of Mary Alice's mate. As it turned out, Mary Alice only went by Alice now. Or maybe that's the only name she could remember after she had turned.
Finally, Carlisle introduced the human. "This is Bella, my youngest daughter." He gave her a smile and she gave him a small one in return.
James gave her a nod. "Bella, it's nice to meet you." She looked at him. "I apologize if I upset you with my joke earlier."
"You didn't. I was actually a little disappointed that it wasn't more original." She hummed, rolling her bat against her shoulder for a moment before cocking her head to the side. "You want to play with us, but are you any good?"
Cocky bitch.
He found he wasn't agitated by her attitude. But somewhat entertained by it. "It's been a while since I've played. I'm sure I'm nowhere near as good as you."
This evoked an amused smile from the human. "Whatever." She began walking to home plate with the bat still resting on her shoulder. "You're on my team. I'll show you the ropes."
James wasn't sure what his plan was yet. But he knew he'd get nowhere being aggressive. He'd have to wait and watch. Figure out the Cullens before he made a move.
He smiled and began following her. "Alright." As he passed the other Cullens he couldn't help but glance at Alice once again. She was looking between him and Bella apprehensively and he forced himself to look away.
She really doesn't remember me. His ego was wounded but he knew it was for the best.
James could feel Jasper's scrutinizing gaze on him, as though he could read him, and that's when he forced himself to relax.
Can you read minds? He glanced at Jasper, who hadn't reacted at all to what he thought. No. Or else you would have torn me apart already. The knowing look in gold eyes nearly unnerved him. But you can read something else.
A firm hand gripped his arm and he looked to see Emmett staring at him. Rosalie was at his side, far more menacing with her icy glare, but Emmett's looming presence aided in unnerving him.
"Play nice." His voice was deep, filled with warning, and then he flashed him a cheery smile and clapped his shoulder. "Good luck out there!"
Fucker.
"You too." James nodded before meeting Bella at the plate. "You're very cocky. Especially for a human surrounded by vampires." The other Cullens fanned out and Laurent joined half of them on the field.
Alice, Jasper, and Carlisle joined the two at home plate. It took all his self-control to not stare at Alice.
Bella shrugged, eyes now on Rosalie as she made her way to the pitcher mound. "I grew up with vampires. Real cocky ones." Emmett gave her a thumbs up and she smiled at him. "My siblings have rubbed off on me."
This made the tracker frown. "What happened to your parents. Your human ones."
"A house fire killed my mom." She supplied carelessly, not taking her eyes off Rosalie, who winced at the mention of it. "I was a baby. Rosalie found me, and they all decided to keep me."
Her lack of emotion surprised him. "I'm sorry to hear that."
She spared him a glance and shrugged. "Don't be. I didn't know her." James couldn't help but respect her detachment. "Besides, I have a mother. She's amazing."
Esme stopped on her way to the catcher position, planting a kiss on Bella's forehead before she got into position. He noticed Rosalie's jaw clench for a moment, eyes narrowing when Bella sent a warm smile Esme's way.
Anger? No. Envy.
The blonde abruptly looked away from them, eyes falling on Jasper, and giving him a stiff nod. James almost frowned at the interaction but acted as though he saw nothing.
Laurent had struck up a conversation with Emmett, asking him about his diet and the best animals to eat.
"Definitely bears." The largest Cullen assured him. "Black bears, specifically." There's a history there, James could hear it in Emmett's voice. The tinge of malice that appeared as he spoke of hunting them.
Suddenly James was shouldered out of the way by Jasper. He growled at him reflexively but Jasper didn't even blink.
"I'm next to bat." He had a hint of a southern drawl. It was subtle but still noticeable. It would have been soothing to some, but it made James bristle.
Carlisle was quick to intervene. "None of that, Jasper. Please." His son turned on his heel and blocked Bella from James's view.
"It's Rose." He spoke quietly to the human as if the blonde wouldn't hear him.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Rosalie sniped, though there was no anger in her voice.
"That I have an easy homer." Bella crowed, and James watched as Alice practically bounced to the human's side.
"She's right. You always go easy on her." The smallest vampire chimed in, sharing a giggle with Bella as Rosalie scowled at the two of them.
James watched the coven interact with bemusement. They were all obviously close, and their interactions with the human were curious. Unnatural. As were their interactions with each other.
I've never seen a coven so chummy.
Rosalie rolled her eyes. "I don't go easy on her. She's just very talented."
"I am talented." Bella agreed.
Alice grinned. "And you do go easy on her." Another laugh was shared between them.
When Rosalie pitched he was surprised that she didn't pitch at human speed. While it was slow for a vampire, it was still too fast for a human to hit properly.
But Bella swung her bat and struck the ball.
It was a grounder, going relatively fast and far for a human's hit. The girl winced, arms trembling from the aluminum bat's vibration, but she dropped it quickly and took off running. Given that she was an athlete he wasn't surprised that she ran fast for a human.
Rosalie sped towards the ball and Alice sped towards Bella, swooping her up and taking her to first right as Rosalie threw the ball to Laurent.
"Safe!" Carlisle shouted, surprising James with the excitement in his voice.
Bella was laughing loudly as Alice held her upright. Body pumping with adrenaline. "Barely!"
Alice frowned. "What do you mean, barely? I was fast!"
The human shrugged, wearing a taunting smile as she did so. "I guess I'm just used to Edward's speed-"
"Oh, you two are the worst. Insufferable together and apart." Alice grumbled, only perking up when Bella kissed her cheek.
"Love you."
"I love you too."
Laurent looked at Bella in awe. "How did you hit that?"
The human smirked at him. "It's all about timing. Timing and luck."
Alice leaned against her. "And Rose is a big softie for our Bell Bell."
"Alice," Bella groaned while Rosalie gave the human an eye roll. But he could see the love in her eyes for the girl.
Edward is the fastest. Rosalie and Alice are extremely endeared to the human, just as the rest of their coven. Jasper can possibly read my intentions. Alice has some form of farsight that is affected by the shifters.
James glanced at Esme, assuming she'd be far more open to speaking with him than Jasper.
"When will Edward be back?" He was another variable he had scarcely considered until now. What if he also has a gift? One that hinders my hunt?
Esme looked thoughtful. "Well-"
"Why does his arrival concern you?" Jasper interjected, voice thick with suspicion. "Considering sticking around?"
James bit back his irritation and shrugged. "Maybe. I like what you all have here. I'd like to see more."
"Jasper," Esme spoke before he could. "You're up." Her reminder was gentle, and Jasper nodded stiffly. He shot James another glare before picking up the bat and turning his attention to Rosalie.
Carlisle cleared his throat, catching James's attention. "If what you say is true then you should know that hunting humans in Forks is off-limits. We also have a treaty with the shifters. We stay off of their territory and they stay off of ours."
James looked at him thoughtfully. "And if I were interested in your diet?"
Laurent made a surprised noise while Carlisle gave him a reassuring smile. "We'd be happy to work with you through that if you liked." He frowned at Rosalie's growl of displeasure. "This isn't the first time we've done this. The Denali's, Peter, Garrett, Charlotte-"
"I had the same response to all of them," Rosalie muttered, wrinkling her nose as her gaze once again fell on James. "I don't like unpredictable vampires. Why would he be any different?"
Emmett, apparently the optimist, spoke up. "Well, you like those vampires now." He pointed out, making her roll her eyes.
"I don't like Garrett."
Jasper shrugged. "He's alright."
"He's kind of annoying," Alice said.
Emmett scowled and crossed his arms over his chest. "Okay, I also don't like Garrett."
"He's a fucking asshole." Bella chimed in. "But...I kind of like him."
Alice scoffed at that. "Of course you do. He practically bribed you."
"He did bribe me. And he calls me beautiful, which is why I like him."
"God you're shallow."
Bella rolled her eyes and a smile played on her lips. "You're as deep as a puddle. Tanya flirts with you and she's instantly your favorite Denali."
The seer sniffed and turned her nose up at her. "I make it a habit to befriend those with good taste."
Esme sighed, cutting Bella off before she could retort. "Girls, we're off-topic." They both looked at each other and snickered, only quieting down beneath Esme's stern stare.
Carlisle smiled apologetically at James. "You'll have to excuse my family-"
James shook his head. "You don't have to apologize for them. I understand why I'm not fully trusted, I'm new." He then glanced at Bella and Alice. "And I bickered with my sister often when I was human. There's nothing to apologize for, Carlisle." He was very surprised to learn that this coven had converted so many human drinkers. "If your offer stands...I would like to try a change in diet."
The coven leader looked happy with his response. "We'd be more than happy to help."
James ignored Laurent's confused look. "Thank you."
Bella wasn't sure how she felt about James. It had been a couple of weeks now since he started visiting their coven. He made fast friends with Carlisle and Esme and often went out of his way to speak to Bella and Alice.
Alice was hesitant and Emmett seemed unsure, but they were both friendly and welcoming whenever James came around. His behavior wasn't out of the ordinary and Bella found that she didn't hate his company.
Edward still wasn't back, much to her annoyance. There wouldn't be this much uncertainty within their family if her mind-reading brother was with them.
Rosalie and Jasper didn't like James, but that was nothing new. Bella hadn't been alive when their cousins changed their diets, but apparently, they had gotten the same reception from the Hales and from Edward as well.
Jasper didn't like that Tanya flirted with Alice, while her sister had been charmed by the eldest's attention. It took him a long time to come around for Tanya, specifically.
"My Belle." Rosalie's soft voice reached her ears, and she grunted before curling into her pillow.
"No. No school." She grumbled, squeezing her eyes shut when the vampire opened the blinds. The sun wasn't out but the snow was thick and added too much light into her dark room.
A quiet hiss escaped her, making Rosalie laugh. "Come on, little dragon, you have to get up." The bed dipped as the blonde sat by her side. "Were you up late again?" She was gently drawn into Rosalie's arms and Bella instinctively curled into her.
"You're the vampire. You tell me." Bella muttered, fisting her hands in her shirt and closing her eyes again. "Tell mom I'm sick."
A cold hand ran through her hair. "She laughed." Bella nestled into Rosalie and groaned in annoyance.
Her sister hummed and stood to her feet, holding the human close to her chest. "Does it bother you?" She asked quietly. Rosalie's breathing was steady, and her eyes were gold, but she didn't want to push it.
"I'm above my baser instincts, Bella," Rosalie murmured.
Bella winced but pressed on. "That's not what I asked."
"You know better than to ask."
She sighed and tucked her head beneath her chin. "Sorry." She mumbled.
Rosalie hummed and pressed a kiss to her hair. "It's not a problem. Not anymore…you know that."
"I just want to make sure you're okay." This won't be a problem when I'm turned.
She could hear the smile in her sister's voice. "Very little troubles me when I'm with you." Another kiss was pressed to her forehead. "Hungry?" She was torn between allowing Rosalie to continue cuddling her and getting food.
Her stomach rumbled and made the decision for her.
Bella pointed groggily at the door of her room. "Food."
Rosalie laughed quietly at this. "Manners?"
She held back a petulant whine and nestled closer to her. "Food. Please."
The blonde closed her eyes and when she reopened them she was sitting at the table. Rosalie pulled up a chair next to her.
"Did you study for your anatomy test?" Esme had a plate of eggs in front of her in seconds and Bella blinked tiredly at her.
"Dad drilled all the answers into my fragile skull." She glanced outside and scowled. "The sun's not even out and I'm awake?"
"Enough of the complaining. You get up at the same time every school day and you make the same complaints every school day." Emmett laughed as he came bounding down the stairs. "Did you even thank mom for making you breakfast?"
She loved her brother, but sometimes he acted like a second dad.
However, Bella recognized her poor manners and gave her mother an apologetic look. "Sorry. Thank you for breakfast, mom." She smiled when Esme smoothed down stray strands of blonde hair and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"You're welcome, baby."
Emmett smiled at Bella. "We have to get you up early. You take forever to get ready and wake up fully with all this gloomy weather." When they stayed in sunnier areas Bella was much more chipper in the mornings.
"Yeah, yeah."
"Also, the sun's hardly ever out." He unhelpfully reminded her.
"You know what I mean," she scoffed, stuffing an egg into her mouth. "I can feel the sun, even behind all the shitty weather. But it's not out yet. Probably because it's not even six in the morning-"
"Bella Hale." Rosalie reprimanded, putting her hand beneath her chin and forcibly closing her mouth. "How many times do I have to tell you?"
Bella swallowed and refrained from rolling her eyes. "It's early. Sorry I can't be your perfect angel all the time." Rosalie removed her hand, giving her a reproachful look before standing to her feet.
"You can make it up to me by letting me do your hair."
Bella jutted out her bottom lip and looked at Esme. "Mom. Rosie's trying to make me her doll again." Her sister scowled at her, and the human winced when she noticed the tension in her shoulders. "I mean, I'd love for you to do my hair."
"Better."
She didn't know why that was a point of discomfort for her sister, but she knew better than to ask. Especially when everyone could hear them.
Emmett cut through the awkward silence. "Alice and I have sunny enough personalities. Let us be your sun in this dreary and miserable town."
Bella, grateful for the distraction, wrinkled her nose. "Took you a while to come up with a decent response, huh?"
The burly vampire laughed and ruffled her hair. "So cranky! Where's Jaspy when you need him?" Waves of peace washed over her and she snorted.
"He's here. But you already knew that, didn't you, bat ears?" He stuck his tongue out at her and she threw an egg at him in response.
"Bella." Her mother warned, raising an unimpressed brow when Emmett caught the food and tossed it back at her.
Rosalie intercepted it, giving her mate a stern look that made him huff. "She threw it first!"
"Don't continue to antagonize her. The house was in flames last time." Bella and Emmett shared an amused smile, one that made Esme sigh.
"That isn't funny." But the way her lips quirked upwards said otherwise. "You both really upset Alice with your recklessness."
"That's exactly why it's so funny." Emmett's thunderous laugh echoed in the kitchen. "We're rich and she was upset about some shoes."
"They were Dior!" Alice screeched from upstairs. "Limited edition!" There was silence for a moment and then a loud scoff. "Don't tell me to calm down, Jasper! Those were my babies!"
Bella smiled, just barely suppressing her laughter. "I bought you new ones."
"It's the principle, Bella! You're not supposed to do that in the house!" Alice was downstairs in a flash. A scowl on her lips and her hands on her hips. "And of course, when you break the rules, it's my things that are destroyed!"
Rosalie rolled her eyes. "She melted my favorite Gucci purse, Alice. Do try to stop being so dramatic."
Bella scowled. "I was four!"
"You," Rosalie narrowed her eyes, "Were mad about being disciplined."
"If it makes you feel any better, I really thought the purse belonged to mom." Esme laughed at that, embracing her from behind and kissing her temple.
"I'm glad you were wrong."
Bella chuckled and leaned into her. "Well, I sure wasn't. Rosalie lectured me for a week. And clearly, she still hasn't let it go." Through the windows, she could see sunlight peek through the trees and her eyes widened. "Yes!" Strength coursed through her veins and she stood to her feet. "No school!"
"Well, this wasn't on the forecast." Alice sighed. "And with the wolves, it's been difficult to see much of anything."
Bella rolled her eyes. "The sooner we get out of this dump the better. No mutts. No bleak weather." She stretched before walking towards the front door. "When I'm finished with school I want to go back to Phoenix. That's where I want to be turned." Turned in the light of the sun.
She stepped outside, not bothering to put on shoes as she jumped from the top of the steps and landed on the ground. The sun warmed her skin, energizing her in a way nothing else could.
Bella smiled, eyes widening and heat flowing to her fingertips. "Finally." Orange sparks danced across her skin and warmth filled her body. A sigh escaped her, making steam seep from her lips and float into the cold morning air.
She could hardly feel the cold that nipped at her bare feet. Snow gave way to the heat that encompassed her, leaving puddles in her wake.
"If I could I'd melt all the snow." She mumbled, watching as a small flame danced across her fingertips. She hated Forks.
If I could, I'd burn it to the ground. Then we'd never have to come back.
For a moment she was glad Edward wasn't here. He'd be disappointed in her. But her power was one of destruction. It was in her nature.
Stop that. She chastised herself. It's not in your nature. You choose who you are. Her fingers found the scar on her wrist, calming slightly at the cool sensation of the bite mark. I'm not a force of destruction. I'm not.
Her talks with her father and Jasper were supposed to be paying off. For a time they really did help. I need to speak with them again. The reminders aren't working. Not anymore.
"Nice out today." Emmett's voice caused her to snap back to reality. She opened her eyes and turned to face him. "Want to come hunting with me and Rose? We can go find things to burn after if you want."
Bella shrugged, but inwardly she was ecstatic about having the chance to burn something. Anything. "Sure. I haven't seen you take down a bear in a while."
He grinned at her. "I'll give you some pointers while I do." Suddenly he was in front of her, ruffling her hair. "I taught you how to throw a baseball. It's only right that I teach you how to hunt."
She smiled affectionately at him. "That'd be...nice. When I'm like you, I'll catch twice as many bears."
"Oh, please." He snorted, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "I'm already the bear master." Before she could retort he gave her a serious look. "After we've had our fun you're going to finish your paper for History."
"Emmett-"
"It's due tomorrow and you're only halfway finished." He reprimanded and she groaned before rolling her eyes.
"It's about the Revolutionary War. Like we haven't talked about it every year since fifth grade." She muttered. "I could write it in two seconds. Just let me enjoy my day off."
"Bella."
She frowned at him. "Okay dad, I'll get right on that." She bared her teeth at him before stomping back into the house. "Have fun hunting. I wouldn't want to get behind on my stupid schoolwork, so I better-"
"Sweetheart," her mother's voice made her pause. "He's just trying to help."
If Bella was a flame then Esme was the water that put her out. Edward could placate her, Carlisle and Jasper could soothe her, and Alice and Emmett took her mind off things. But Esme, and oftentimes Rosalie, were the two that could extinguish her anger the fastest.
"Yeah, real helpful, nagging me about school." She muttered before sighing and rolling her eyes. "I'm sorry, Emmett." Rosalie's lips pursed with displeasure but Bella ignored her. "Alice, do you want to hang out with us today?"
Emmett came back into the house, brow furrowed and shoulders slightly hunched. She had apparently struck a nerve without meaning to, and it made her feel sorry about her half-assed apology. Rosalie went to his side, putting a hand on his shoulder and making him visibly relax. Calmed by her touch.
I'll make it up to him later.
The seer brightened, racing forward and swooping Bella into her arms. "Of course I do, my beloved baby sister!" She pinched her cheek. "You're just as cute as the day I met you! Just much sassier. I blame Rose."
Bella laughed and batted her hand away. "I'm not cute. I can breathe fire! I'm a dragon!" She opened her mouth to show her when her mother cleared her throat.
"Bella Hale! Not in the house!"
"And not near my hair!" Alice squeaked, putting her down and making Bella laugh.
"Well, let's go! If I don't burn something soon I think I'll lose it." She said it was a smile, but she was completely serious.
Their hunting went well and Bella made sure to rambunctiously cheer and applaud Emmett when he took down his two bears.
She watched from high up in her branch, practically bouncing on the tree limb as she cheered. "Woo! Kick his ass!" Her large brother made a show of it, snapping their necks with ease and grinning broadly as he pounded his chest with his fist.
"I am the bear master! Fear me!" He roared, making Alice giggle and Rosalie roll her eyes.
Bella hopped down from her perch. "Well, if I was a bear, I'd piss myself at the mere sight of the mighty bear master."
He wiped the blood off his chin with the back of his hand and flashed her a smile. "You're flattering me."
"Is it working?"
He bent over and kissed her forehead. "Sure is, kiddo."
Burning things used to be cathartic, and in many ways it still was. But her family always stressed her being in control of her power and of her emotions. It made sense when she was younger, but now she was restless and frustrated and she had to limit herself for the sake of her surroundings.
She understood that she needed to be cautious. A forest fire would be catastrophic and something her vampires wouldn't be able to control. Wildlife would needlessly die and she would feel terrible for her part in destroying the ecosystem.
But it would be beautiful. A red sky. An omen. A warning.
No one else knew of the power she possessed, but she wanted them all to see it.
The stupid humans at her school that tried to speak to her and gossiped about her family.
The stupid mutts that mistreated her family.
That stupid fucking cop that gave me a ticket for going a little over the speed limit.
But it was the shifters in particular that aggravated her.
She wanted to show them her fire. They've never encountered a dragon, and the smell of burning fur would be a small price to pay. They didn't respect her, they thought she was hypnotized, they thought she was stupid.
But she was more. She was more than they would ever be. And when she was turned she would show them.
"I wouldn't kill them." She said, watching with slight annoyance as her vampires packed the fire with snow, keeping it from growing larger. "I would just scare them."
Rosalie eyed her. "Why bother? We don't care what the mongrels think."
Bella scowled at this. "Well, I do. They're so rude and condescending all the time. And dad just lets them get away with it."
Emmett shrugged. "He knows when to pick his battles."
"I guess."
Alice danced over to her with a handful of snow. "Do you need some of this too?" She teased.
Bella frowned at her before turning back to the burning tree. Disgruntled by the small flames that were being suppressed by her siblings.
The flames could never grow. Her family would never allow it.
For a second time that day, she was glad Edward wasn't here. Her thoughts would distress him, and that's the last thing she wanted to do.
Smoke seeped from her fingertips and she hummed before looking back at her sister. "I just might."
"Alice told me about James. What do you think about him?"
Bella kicked a rock, watching it skitter across the forest floor before disappearing into a clump of snow. "He's fine. Sometimes he's funny." She adjusted the phone at her ear. "When are you coming home?"
Night was approaching and she could feel it. The day had become dreary, the sun couldn't be seen, but she could still feel it and she knew it was slipping away. She zipped up her coat, the useless piece of fabric that was for appearances only, and tried to get herself to lighten up.
Relax. You're talking to Edward.
"Do you miss me that badly, Izzy?"
"Don't be a dick. You know I do."
A soft laugh came through the speaker. "I miss you too. I apologize, I was just curious."
She growled under her breath. "Yeah, well I'm just curious about when you're coming home."
"Bella."
"Edward." She repeated, voice oozing with mock condescension. "Just come home. Then we can tell mom and dad that this place is shit and that we need to move."
There was silence on the other line before Edward said, "You know we'll be back, right? Forks is a good place for our kind."
"I'll appreciate it when I'm turned." She groused, kicking angrily at another rock. "Stop avoiding my question!"
Edward sighed at her anger. "I'm not sure...maybe another week or two."
She fought back her snarl, taking the phone away from her ear and swallowing the heat that rose to the surface of her throat. This is bullshit. All because he can't stand to be around a human girl.
Bella put the phone back to her ear. "You can't just come back now? You only see her at school." She reminded him. "I grew up with Rose. She's around me all the time and she has a handle on her bloodlust."
There was silence on the other line for a moment before he spoke again. "She didn't always have a handle on it." The reminder nearly made her phone melt in her hand. "Bella?"
"It was an accident! She doesn't need that shit hanging over her head!" She hadn't meant it. Rosalie was so torn up after it happened that she was gone for months. But that wasn't her. I know it wasn't. Her fingers grazed her wrist.
A piece of her sister would forever remain with her. The scar was cooler than the rest of her body. A strange and comforting reminder of what she was to become.
Edward sighed, remaining calm as he spoke. "I wasn't saying that to be cruel. I was reminding you that it's easy to lose ourselves to our bloodlust. My control isn't nearly as strong as Rosalie's. I don't want to risk hurting Jessica or anyone else."
She almost snarled in frustration. "Then let's move! I've been saying that from the very beginning!" She kicked another rock. "I told you all I didn't want to go to fucking public school in the first place!"
Bella had been homeschooled until she was in seventh grade. Then her family had insisted that she needed more "human interaction." A waste of time. Just like going to this stupid high school.
"Bella." She ignored him.
I want Edward here. Now.
She kept walking, for a while, not paying attention to where she was going, but trying to alleviate some of her anger.
The siblings talked a bit longer, Edward failing to reassure her and Bella failing to calm herself. It ended with her hanging up the phone and taking off in a sprint.
Heat flooded her body, needing to be released somehow. She wanted to set something ablaze, she wanted to be consumed in the flames herself, and watch as it melted everything in its wake.
Bella ran until her lungs burned and her legs felt like jelly. She slowed to a walk, anger temporarily stifled by her run, but she was far from satisfied. Her breathing was loud, much louder than she would like it to be.
The sky above her cleared to show the ending of the twilight. The soft glow of the sun was being devoured by the darkness as bright yellow mixed with dark blue. She felt her energy began to decline.
"Shit."
Bella wasn't sure where she was. She hadn't had time to navigate these woods since she moved, and she stepped with caution and relative silence. The crunch of snow beneath her feet nearly sent her into a tizzy.
She kept alert, slowing her breathing as she looked around, and knowing she would have to call one of her siblings to pick her up soon.
Alice. She won't give me a lecture for being out here alone.
A twig snapped and she reacted. Diving forward just as a shadow loomed over her. She tucked her body, rolling across the forest floor as teeth narrowly caught the back of her coat. The rip of her coat made her body heat up. She was on the verge of choking back smoke.
Bella snarled, reaching out blindly and grabbing a stick, never taking her eyes off her attacker.
A large grey wolf stood before her, smaller than the rest of the pack, but massive nonetheless.
"I'm not a vampire you fucking idiot!" Bella snapped, baring her teeth and pointing the stick at the wolf. "Come any closer and you'll lose a goddamn eye!"
The wolf snarled at her, dark eyes roving over her form before its hackles fell. With a shudder the wolf shifted back, body shrinking into that of a girl. A tall one at that. She was beautiful with light brown skin and dark black hair.
Beautiful and muscular and naked.
She remembered her from the meeting. Leah.
Bella forced herself to stare into brown eyes, her own teeth still bared and body crouched slightly in preparation for an attack.
"Why are you on our land, leech lover?" The girl snapped, bristling slightly when Bella spat near her feet.
"Because I fucking can be, you filthy mongrel!"
Leah surged forward and Bella swung the stick. The shifter caught it with ease, scoffing at her until Bella slammed her boot into her shin.
She snarled at that, wincing from the pain and shaking slightly. "Fuck you!" Ripping the stick from her grasp she threw it aside, reaching out and catching Bella by the collar of her coat before dragging her closer. "I should rip out your throat!"
Bella felt her skin heat up. "I'd love to see you try, mutt." She allowed her arms to dangle at her sides, smirking when Leah shifted even closer to her. "Do you always threaten women with your tits out? Or am I just lucky?"
Her eyes narrowed. "You're fucking sick."
She put her hands up. "Don't worry. I won't touch...unless you want me to." She laughed as she was shoved backward, stumbling slightly but never losing her balance. It felt so good to make someone else angry.
It was like she could see the fire inside of them. She loved stoking the flames, seeing how large she could make that fire grow. The shifters were the easiest to rile up. They were hot-tempered, just as she was, maybe even more so.
It was relieving to know that she wasn't the only basket case around here. Her siblings were usually so cool and collected, while she was the polar opposite.
She didn't like the shifters by any means. But she somewhat envied them. They were able to turn into massive mutts and run around as angry as they pleased. They could be angry without being scrutinized and treated as though they were a ticking time bomb. They were able to run off their anger, tear up the forest floor with their claws and fight with one another until they were no longer angry.
Meanwhile, her flames were reduced to her stupid fire-pit or some dead tree in the forest. It wasn't enough. It would never be enough.
So pissing people off is the next best thing.
"Fucking pervert!"
"Me? I'm not the one stalking girls in the woods and confronting them with my pussy out!" Her hand grabbed her coat again and Bella grinned, sharp and dangerous as she was yanked forward.
Leah raised a fist threateningly. "Shut up! You smell just like them-"
"Your massive fucking ears couldn't hear my heartbeat?" She jabbed, laughing when Leah's fist began to shake. "Careful, puppy. If you lay so much as a finger on me my family will kill you." Leah snapped her teeth at her and Bella's grin broadened. "You mutts are so bold. But you can be so easily killed, did you forget that?" She asked, watching Leah's anger rise to the surface. "Guns. Knives." She tilted her head to the side. "Fire."
A growl ripped from Leah's throat. "Are you threatening me?"
Bella placed a hand on her fist. The temperature of her skin matched that of the shifter.
It was odd touching someone who wasn't a vampire. Her entire life all she had ever known was cold skin. She recalled the first time a human had touched her arm, it had been startling. Unpleasant. They were too warm, and the shifters, as she now discovered, were even more so.
It made her skin prickle with discomfort, but she didn't pull away.
"I'm reminding you." She slowly reached out, waiting for Leah to snap at her but surprised that she never did. Her thumb found the shifter's pulse point on her neck. "You can turn into a large mutt. You're stronger and faster than the average human." She smirked at her. "But you still bleed like one."
Leah stared at her for a moment before she sneered. "Your precious leeches can be killed."
"Not by the likes of you." She could feel her pulse race beneath her thumb. Get angry. Show me your fire. "Your pack is inexperienced. You could take one vampire. Maybe two. But seven? Soon to be eight?" She smiled blithely at the shifter. "I'm afraid that won't go well for any of you."
Leah narrowed her eyes. "Well, if they turn you, I guess we'll have to see."
Bella removed the shifter's hand from her coat collar, her smile never leaving her face as she attempted to smooth down the wrinkles on her ruined coat. "I guess we will." She began walking away from the shifter, unsure of where she was going but knowing she was walking back to the vampire's side of the border. "I like our conversations, Leah."
"Fuck you."
She turned and gave her a wink. "I implore you to wear some clothes the next time I see you. I was awfully distracted."
"You piece of...wait, next time?" To her surprise, Leah didn't sound opposed.
"Next time...I'm sure I'll run into you again." She hummed. "I'm still learning my way around Forks. I'm unfamiliar with these woods so it's easy to get lost."
The shifter didn't look amused. "You like making me mad."
Bella shrugged. "Don't flatter yourself. I would have done the same with any shifter." She huffed out a laugh before giving her a lazy smirk. "I don't know about you, but yelling made me feel a lot better about being trapped in this shit town."
Leah snorted at that. "I don't understand you, Cullen."
"Hale." She corrected, stopping to face her. "What's your last name?"
The shifter eyed her for a moment, crossing her arms over her chest before muttering. "Clearwater."
Bella nodded before turning on her heel. "See you next time, Clearwater. And make sure to wear clothes."
Her skin cooled and there was a slight bounce in her step as wandered back to her side of the border. She knew she'd need to call one of her siblings to pick her up.
But Bella still wanted to burn something. She still wanted to-she froze, the hairs rising on the back of her neck and goosebumps rising up on her skin. She whirled around, relaxing slightly when she realized it was only James.
"What a happy coincidence. How did you know I was here?" Red eyes looked at her curiously as he walked to her side. He seemed slightly excited that she had been aware of his presence and that somewhat unnerved her.
"I grew up with vampires. Call it a sixth sense." They wordlessly fell in step with each other. "What are you doing out here?"
She knew she should be cautious around James. He was still new, he still had red eyes, and he was clearly dangerous.
And while she was alert, she found it difficult to be intimidated by him. She had been around far more intimidating vampires. Far more powerful ones. And her family was just around the corner. They wouldn't let anything happen to her.
He could still snap my neck in an instant. But if he had wanted to by now he would have. And hopefully, he isn't stupid enough to enrage seven vampires.
Rosalie had used her allure to ask what James's real intentions were when he had approached them during their baseball game. And while her power varied on vampires, James had answered without a hint of hesitation, easily succumbing to her gift and becoming startled when he realized what had happened.
"I've been bored. Baseball seemed like a fun way to rid me of the feeling." He had answered. And while that had alleviated any lingering suspicions in Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper were still wary of him.
Her sister had also interrogated Laurent, who hadn't raised any red flags with his answers either. "Or," Rosalie had growled, "James is keeping him in the dark."
But the nomad had been coming around for a little while now, and nothing in his behavior suggested he had ulterior motives.
Jasper had raised his own concerns. "His emotions...they're angry and sinister half the time. It feels wrong." But that was hardly enough evidence to accuse the nomad of anything. Her father had pointed out that all of them had been irritable when changing their diet, but the empath still watched James through narrowed eyes.
If Edward were here we could have this sorted out quickly.
James sighed, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "I just finished hunting. I figured I'd...you smell like those mutts."
Bella shrugged. "I had a run-in with one of the dogs. Nothing serious."
He chuckled at this. "Not a fan of them?"
"No." The sunlight vanished and she squinted into the darkness. "Think you can get me home?"
The nomad held out an arm to her, giving her a charming smile. "Mind humoring me?"
Bella looked him up and down before a snort escaped her. "I don't swing that way."
"I think Rosalie would murder me if that's what I was proposing."
She smirked, linking her arm with his. "You've obviously never seen Esme when she's angry. Or Carlisle." They continued to walk through the forest. "What did you want me to humor you about?"
"Just a few questions."
Bella still wanted to find things to burn, even though the disappearance of the sun was tiring her out. Maybe a conversation with James would be good for me. She could use him as a distraction, just as she did with Leah.
"Fine. But only if you answer a few of mine first." He conceded and she continued. "Your human life, what was it like?"
His eyebrows raised. "Oh. You wanted to ask personal questions."
She glanced up at the moon, wishing more than anything that it was the sun. "Were the questions you had for me not personal?"
He smiled at that, looking amused. "Fair enough." He was quiet for a moment, carefully mulling his words over before speaking. "I was born in Pennsylvania, a little after the American Revolution. My father was a French trapper, he taught me everything I knew about hunting and tracking and trapping. And that became my profession when I got older."
When he said nothing else she bumped her shoulder against his. "You're holding out on me."
"I am." He looked at her. "Question for a question?"
She was tired. But at the same time, she was curious to know more about James. She wanted to formulate her own opinion of him, not just simply take on the ones that Jasper and Rosalie insisted to be true. Just as she had done in the past.
"We're walking in the direction of my house, right?" She knew it was vaguely in this direction, but it was dark and difficult to see.
He nodded. "We can run if want?" He examined her closely. "You seem tired." He sounded concerned, but he didn't look concerned. If anything he seemed a little frustrated with her exhaustion.
She glared at him."You don't have to act like you give a shit." Another common finding in vampires, red eyes or gold, they could become easily aggravated with human attributes. Walking slow. Having to eat. Having to pee. Having to sleep. "I'm fine anyway."
James rolled his eyes. "I was just trying to help."
"I didn't ask for it."
To her surprise he conceded. "No, you didn't." They walked in silence for a little while after that.
Bella sighed and bumped him again with her shoulder. "What question do you want to ask?" Their arms were still linked, and while he wasn't family, the feel of familiar cold skin helped calm her.
Red eyes looked at her. "It's about your human mother...if you don't mind me asking."
My human mother. She rolled her eyes and shrugged. "As I said, I never knew her. So no, I don't mind you asking."
"Do you know her name?"
"Renee Swan." My human mother, who is most likely dead because of me.
James nodded slowly before asking, "Do you really feel nothing for her?"
"That's another question. It's my turn." She pointed out, making him huff out a laugh.
"Fine, your turn."
Bella eyed him for a moment. "You mentioned having another coven-mate. Is she your maker?"
"I killed my maker." He said it as casually as though he were mentioning the weather.
The fire wielder blinked, a feeling of unease settled on her chest. "Did your maker deserve it?" He gave her a look and she cursed under her breath. "Right. Your turn."
Bella thought he was going to ask his previous, unanswered question. But he didn't. "Your birth mother died, but what about your birth father?"
"He wasn't in the picture, and my family couldn't find anything about him when I was a baby." She said easily. "When I got older," when I was able to control my gift, "Carlisle told me that Renee had been married and then divorced. But that didn't mean he was my father. He offered to help me find him, to get a name, but I didn't want to." She shrugged. "Carlisle has always been my dad. My human father never concerned me."
James mulled this over for a moment, looking out at the snow-covered trees as they continued their walk. "You're not curious?" She ignored the fact that he asked her another question.
A yawn spilled from her lips and she found herself leaning a little more on the vampire. "Nope." She looked down at their feet, annoyed by the loud crunching of snow. "Why are you turning to an animal diet?"
He grinned at her, sharp and amused. "I've been so bored lately...I could use a challenge." Before she could ask what he meant the vampire slowed, listening to something for a moment before removing his arm from hers. "Emmett and Jasper are coming this way, looking for you." He placed his hands behind his back, as though showing he was on his best behavior.
Bella was surprised it took any of her family members this long to come get her. Especially given that she was alone in the woods with James. Maybe one of them was keeping an eye on us. Maybe they wanted to see if James would reveal something sinister.
But none of her family members would use her as bait. Even her parents, who liked James, wouldn't have left her alone with him. They would have come to her side immediately and offered for them to all walk back together.
Because while her mother and father trusted James enough, they weren't stupid. Bella was never to be left alone with vampires that were trying to switch their diet.
So why was I?
With her free hand, she pulled out her phone. It's only 6:30? She hated winter. Her phone had been on silent, and she hadn't noticed the vibrations that came from a few missed calls from her parents and siblings, as well as a variety of texts from everyone.
This made her frown as she read the one from Alice.
"The Favorite": Where are you? We have guests, remember?
The message had been sent twenty minutes ago.
Bella: Sorry, didn't see this. Be home soon
She huffed and shoved her phone into her pocket. Bella had completely forgotten that they were having company over. She didn't want to make nice with any more humans. She wanted to either sleep or talk more to James. Anything was better than being forced to be friendly.
Especially with humans. They're temporary.
She looked at James, who smiled at her. "I like our conversations, Bella." The smugness in his voice made her eyes narrow. "It makes me feel a lot better about being trapped in this shit town."
This gave her pause. "...you heard me and Leah."
"I did. Not intentionally." He assured her, keeping his hands behind his back. "I stayed near in case the mutt tried anything. They have some nasty tempers. A real pain in the ass to deal with." He looked past her and offered a polite smile. "Emmett, Jasper, I was just walking Bella home."
And sure enough, her brothers appeared.
And sure enough, Jasper was instantly hostile. "What the hell are you doing with her?"
James raised a bemused brow. "I just told you. I was walking Bella home."
"Let me make this clear to you, since you seem to be struggling to take a hint," the soldier growled. "You should never be alone with her. And the next time you find that you are, either come get one of us or leave her be. Got it?"
James clenched his jaw before offering a smile. "Got it."
Emmett looked at Bella worriedly. "You went into shifter territory?" He looked between the two of them. "I guess that explains why we couldn't smell you. We weren't sure where you were until we heard you." His nose wrinkled. "You both reek."
Bella smiled slightly at her brother's jab. Feeling better knowing that it had been the shifter's fault for her family's absence. "It was an accident. I was just out here so I could talk to Edward on the phone and blow off some steam. I bumped into one of the shifters but I'm obviously fine. James was out here hunting and he found me. We were just talking."
Jasper looked at James through narrowed eyes. "And what exactly were you hunting?"
The nomad gave him a tight smile. "Can't smell the bear on my breath?"
Emmett chuckled at that. "Told you it was better than deer."
"You weren't kidding."
Exhaustion crept over her and she trudged to where Emmett was standing. "Can you please take me home?" He smiled warmly at her, picking her up and holding her close to his chest. She then looked at James, giving him a small wave before saying, "Later." She was still curious about him. And she still didn't know how she felt about him.
It was annoying.
"See you around, Bella."
Emmett held her close as he began running home. Jasper shot a glare at James before following Emmett.
Her burly brother pressed a kiss to the top of her hair. "It's almost like you're a baby again."
She huffed out a laugh at that, closing her eyes and playfully smacking his chest. "I'm eighteen."
"Don't remind me. You grew up way too fast." He dropped her off on the porch, gently brushing her stray strands of hair behind her hears. "I know it's a little late, but try to be nice."
"Sure." She muttered, walking into the house and seeing everyone sat at the dining room table. The guests were a man and a woman, both of them had their backs to her and didn't hear her come in.
The food had been served and they were already eating. At least I missed out on half of dinner.
There was a chair left open between her parents, and she didn't bother even glancing in anyone's direction as she went to sit down.
Her mother gave her a look as she picked up her silverware. "Aren't you going to introduce yourself?" Bella wasn't even hungry. She didn't even want to be there. She only wanted to sleep.
She looked up from her food, looking at the woman across from her first. She looks familiar. She had light brown skin and long black hair. Her face was slender and narrow, and her eyes were a beautiful dark brown.
The woman smiled at her. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Sue Clearwater." Clearwater. That's why she looked so familiar. Leah's the spitting image of her.
"Nice to meet you too. I'm Bella." Her eyes trailed over to the man and she froze.
His brown hair was slightly spiked in the front and his light brown eyes oozed with familiarity. Not because she had seen him before, but even before their first encounter she had felt as though she knew him from somewhere. She just didn't know where.
Her eyes narrowed and she leaned back in her seat. She recognized that ridiculous, bushy mustache anywhere. "Officer Swan."
He wasn't the first Swan she had met. And while the name wasn't extremely common, it didn't raise any alarms at hearing the same last name as her birth mother.
They both crossed their arms over their chest. "Ms. Hale. I thought your name sounded familiar." He responded gruffly. "Driving safe?"
"Always am."
Carlisle interjected. "I'm sorry, you two are already acquainted?" He gave Bella a look. "And just how did that happen?"
She looked away from him, cheeks flushing slightly as she answered. "Last week I was going a little over the speed limit and this guy didn't have anything better to do."
The officer scoffed at that. "A little?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Yeah. A little, you glorified hall-monitor–"
"Bella Hale," her mother snapped, instantly making her shut her mouth. She hadn't wanted to come to this stupid dinner anyways.
She gritted her teeth, calming slightly at the cold hand her mother placed on her wrist. "I'm sorry, officer Swan."
He opened his mouth, still looking angered by her comment, but Sue placed a hand atop his. She gave him a stern look and he cowed beneath it, cheeks reddening as he straightened in his seat.
"It's uh, it's not a problem." He cleared his throat, patting Sue's hand before picking up his knife and cutting into his steak. "I shouldn't have brought it up."
You're damn right you shouldn't have.
"You said speeding," her father looked at Bella, who refused to look up from her plate. "By how much? And why haven't you come to us with the ticket?" Alice, who had been fake eating in relative silence, became tense at that question.
Bella fought back a smirk when her sister interjected. "Does it really matter, dad? She's safe now. The ticket is paid off-"
Their mother raised a brow. "How did you know the ticket was paid off, Alice?"
The seer blanched before actually stuffing food into her mouth. "Sorry," she put her hand up to cover her mouth, "Chewing." Bella's amusement died down when she saw four sets of disapproving eyes on her. Rosalie. Emmett. Carlisle. Esme.
She wished Edward was here. He'd at least get their parents to see reason. Then they wouldn't make a big deal over something as stupid as a speeding ticket.
Officer Swan winced, scratching the back of his neck as he looked at the Cullen and Hale family. "It really wasn't a big deal. I didn't mean to make this...um...awkward."
Bella bit her tongue to stop herself from snapping at him. For mom, I'll be nice. Instead, she forced herself to eat.
Esme looked at him. "You did nothing wrong, Charlie."
Sue smiled playfully at him. "Yes. You did nothing wrong besides being," she smirked at Bella, "I believe you called him a 'glorified hall-monitor.'" A quiet laugh escaped her. "You have sharp children, Esme. I think my oldest would get along well with Bella."
"Your oldest is too snarky for her own good." Charlie huffed out a laugh. "She and Bella are both fiery enough, that's for sure." Bella smiled slightly at that but continued to stare at her plate.
Dinner resumed normally after that. Bella didn't speak unless spoken to. And when the guests were leaving she slipped into her room, falling asleep before she could be lectured by any of her family members.
Humans were aggravating. She didn't have to be a vampire to know that. And high school was hell. Just one more year. She didn't know how her siblings managed, but she was grateful she wasn't alone.
Humans are useless. They're fragile and weak. They're nothing.
All the staring was normal. So were the rumors and gossip and questions. It was normal, and after being there for a few weeks, and at other schools prior, Bella knew she should have been used to it.
Poor Jasper and Rosalie had to be stationed at the middle school she attended in order to help regulate her emotions. Though Rosalie was mostly there for damage control, she was also the one who could soothe her as easily as their mother.
Bella had been the target of many rumors before. She had reacted to them before. But she liked to think she had grown as a person. She liked to think she had gotten better.
She was used to her infuriating peers saying infuriating things.
"What the fuck did you say?" The blonde snarled, slamming her hand against Lauren's locker. The girl jumped and the boy she had been talking to scampered away.
Bella was used to her infuriating peers. But that didn't mean she tolerated them.
And she had gotten better when it came to nasty rumors. But only the ones that were directed towards herself.
"W-What's your problem?" She stammered, making Bella clench her jaw.
"You. You're my problem." She reached out, grabbing Lauren by the collar of her shirt and dragging her closer. "Alice isn't weird. I am." She shoved Lauren away, and the girl smacked against the lockers with a startled yelp. "Go spread that rumor."
Lauren bolted away, muttering curses under her breath but not daring to look Bella in the eye again. Any onlookers were quick to continue on their way as well, casting wary glances in her direction but never making eye contact.
Bella stood there for a moment, glaring at the lockers, where Lauren's head had just been.
Stupid bitch. If I could I'd light her hair on fire. I'd laugh as she tried to put it out. And the fire would grow and spread and-
"Bella." A gentle hand touched her shoulder, and she was shaken from her thoughts. Jasper stood there, pumping her with waves of calm and making a shaky breath release her.
No. I wouldn't do that. I don't want to hurt her.
But her skin was unnaturally warm and her heart was racing. She wondered how much longer she could continue to lie to herself.
It's not a lie. I don't want to hurt anyone.
"Thanks, Jasper." She grumbled, leaning into her brother's touch. "You heard what she said about Alice-"
"I did."
"And she doesn't deserve that!" Bella hissed, balling her hands into fists. "She's not weird. None of you are weird!" Alice had always been somewhat self-conscious about how others viewed her. And while she couldn't remember her human memories, Bella couldn't help but wonder if something had happened then to make her so put off by others' perception of her.
Jasper gave her a gentle smile. "All of us are rather strange, don't you think?" The halls were empty and the late bell rang.
"So? That doesn't give her the right to talk about us. Especially Alice." Bella growled. "How do you do it? Don't you want to just...tear everyone apart when they mention her?" She made sure she kept her voice low, too quiet for anyone to hear but the vampire.
Her brother furrowed his brow. "Your temper...it's getting more difficult for you to manage."
Bella scowled at him, stepping away from his touch. "Anyone would get mad if they heard someone talking about their sister."
"Yes," he conceded. "Mad. But not…" he trailed off and shame encompassed her.
"I...I wouldn't hurt anyone. You know that."
"I do." She wasn't sure if he said it for her benefit or for their siblings. "You're wasting our lunchtime and I'm starving." More waves of calm washed over her and she sighed before giving the vampire a hug.
"Thank you." Jasper smiled and dropped a kiss on top of her head before giving her a gentle squeeze back.
"Anytime."
Lunch was uneventful, as it normally was. Bella sat in between Emmett and Rosalie, who both doted on her when it came to eating her food, but she wasn't hungry.
Lashing out at Lauren wasn't something she regretted, but the thought of setting her ablaze was something she couldn't take her mind off of.
Lauren's lunch table kept glancing in her direction, a mix of awe and fear and disgust. But Bella didn't care. She had made her point. And now they were focused on her. Not Alice.
"Thanks for defending my honor, Bell Bell," her sister beamed at her from across the table. Looking genuinely touched by her defense.
Bella nodded, feeling fiercely protective over her. "Always."
"I'd do the same for you." She promised, sparing a glance at Lauren. "If you want, I could go over there and break a chair over her head." She said it so calmly that Bella couldn't help but laugh.
"How about we let me be the hothead. You're too cute for all that nonsense."
Alice sagged in exaggerated relief. "Oh, thank goodness. I can't pull off the whole, 'badass' thing. I'm too cute and too expensive." The sisters laughed at that while their siblings watched on in amusement.
While Alice had brightened her day, Bella still couldn't help but think about her response to Lauren.
Humans are temporary.
With that in mind, she knew she should be more uncaring of them. But she had always been emotional. The polar opposite of Rosalie, who she so often wished she emulate.
Her sister was cold, and while quick to anger, she was never impulsive. She was always so put together, so quick and calculating in her responses.
"Bella?" She looked over to see gentle gold eyes filled with concern.
Rosalie was like ice, but she always melted for Bella.
"You didn't eat breakfast." Manicured fingernails gently tapped her knuckles. "Which I only allowed because you promised you'd eat lunch."
The rain obscured the sun. She was trapped in school with humans. And she had nearly lit one on fire. She glanced at the empty seat at their lunch table, and if possible, her mood declined even further.
I miss Edward.
Bella slumped in her seat, resting her head on her hand and looking away from expectant gold eyes. "I'm not hungry."
Emmett placed a hand on her shoulder. "Still, you really should eat. Maybe it'll make you less grumpy."
She shrugged. "I just don't want food." She ignored Jasper's knowing gaze. "And I'm not grumpy." She muttered, earning her a soft huff from Emmett and a kiss on the temple.
"Whatever you say, Rosie junior." Surprisingly, Rosalie didn't snap at her mate. Instead, she interlaced her fingers with Bella's, giving her hand a gentle squeeze and remaining quiet. A cold thumb grazed the scar on her wrist and Bella shot her a look.
Don't do this to yourself.
Her sister looked away from her but didn't release her hand.
"So, you won't eat...not even for," Alice lifted up her french fry, "A dragon snack?"
Scooby-Doo references. My one weakness.
Bella cracked a smile, overwhelmed with nostalgia and unable to suppress it. "You know I can't resist a dragon snack." Alice tossed all her fries and Bella didn't miss a single one, snatching them all out of the air with her teeth and laughing quietly with her sister.
Rosalie feigned annoyance but Bella knew she didn't mind. Not really. She leaned her head on her sister's shoulder when she caught the last fry, grateful for the calming sensation her cold skin provided.
"You're making me look soft," Rosalie grumbled but rested her head atop hers anyway.
Emmett looked amused. "No one will be surprised to see you being soft with one of your fellow triplets." He then winked at Bella. "Well, you have my dimples. Maybe we should have played twins. Rosie and Jaspy get all the fun."
Rosalie smiled slightly at this. "She has your eyes too." She looked at Bella fondly. "Pretty hazel ones."
Jasper shifted uncomfortably and Alice stiffened in her seat, drawing all eyes on her. "Bella," the blonde looked at her, "Mike likes you." Gold eyes sparkled with amusement. "He's coming over here to ask to speak to you alone."
Bella wrinkled her nose at that and Emmett scowled, whipping his head around to look at Mike as he stood to his feet.
Her largest brother had always been overprotective. Much like Rosalie felt like a second mother, Emmett often felt like a second father.
"Bella's beautiful, it's only normal that she'd have many suitors." Rosalie sounded amused, almost proud, even. "Don't worry, I'll handle this."
Alice frowned at Rosalie and Emmett. "You two always get like this. Let Bella choose."
The fire wielder nearly gasped in offense but instead chose to scowl at her. "I'm a lesbian."
Her sister smiled impishly at her. "Doesn't mean you have to turn down a free meal."
This evoked a laugh from her. "You're terrible."
"I'm right!"
Mike stopped at their table, shifting awkwardly as all eyes fell on him. He glanced around nervously, unsettled by Emmett's glare and Rosalie's searching gaze. He then focused on Bella.
"Hey, I'm Mike." He gave a stiff wave. "You're Bella, right?" Rosalie began tapping her fingernails against the table. A steady rhythm of impatience, and Mike tensed at the sound.
Bella glanced at Rosalie before turning back to Mike. "Yes. Now go away." Cold. Like ice. Cold like Rosalie. Esme was her mother, but no one influenced her the way Rosalie did.
The humans around them began to stare and whisper.
Mike faltered at this but persisted. "I was just wondering if we could talk."
"No."
"It would only take a second–"
"She said no," Rosalie interjected, voice as thick as honey and eyes darkening slightly, "Go away."
Mike's eyes glazed over and he nodded slowly. "I...I will go away." He repeated, monotone and mindless. He moved robotically as he returned to his table, and Jasper shot Rosalie a wince.
"Was using your allure really necessary?"
Sharp eyes met Jasper's. "I use my gift when people struggle with the word 'no.' And that certainly won't change."
The bell rang, cutting the tension that had settled over the Cullen table.
Bella pulled away, keeping her eyes downcast as she picked up her trey. "I'll see you all after anatomy." She told her siblings, pretending to be too focused on gathering her things instead of looking at them.
Her sister perked up at that. "Yes, you will!" She was practically vibrating with excitement in her seat. "African American Lit is the best class I've taken in years!" Her eyes gleamed with mirth. "I'm tired of hearing about slavery. It's so nice to hear about the amazing things my ancestors have done."
Jasper smiled fondly at her. "It is. Makes me relieved to be born a Yankee."
Emmett laughed at that. "Our Union soldier who's as country as can be." They all stood up from their seats, and Bella felt herself relax as the subject changed. Rosalie's past was one they all detested thinking about.
The soldier rolled his eyes. "I'm from Northern Missouri."
"Yeehaw," their burly brother laughed.
"It's the midwest. It's not like it's Texas." The empath muttered.
Alice sniffed at that, leaning into her mate dramatically. "Thank god for that. I might have had a Confederate for a mate. Yuck." He chuckled at that, leaning down to press a kiss to her dark curls.
"Yuck indeed."
Rosalie walked her to class, just as she always did. She parted with her by gently patting Bella's cheek, eyes happy but face neutral.
The only class she genuinely dreaded was anatomy.
Edward was gone, he couldn't stand to be around his singer, so now she was forced to sit with Jessica Stanley. She didn't dislike Jessica. She only wished that she wouldn't talk so much. She only wished she wasn't Edward's singer.
No one else approached Bella. Not after her outbursts or Rosalie's glares or Emmett's intimidating presence. But none of her other siblings had anatomy with her, and they weren't sure when Edward was coming back.
Bella arrived at class early, hoping to temper herself before she was trapped with all her insufferable classmates.
Ed: Be nice
Bella smiled slightly at her phone.
Bella: Didn't know your nosey ass could read minds from Alaska
Ed: As your favorite brother, it would be irresponsible of me to not check in on you. I know you find class incredibly dull without me.
That was true. Without Edward to write notes to, she was insanely bored. He was a good brother.
Where Emmett felt more fatherly at times and Jasper more like a reverend she went to in order to confess her sins, Edward had only ever felt like a brother to her.
He never pried, and more often than not he'd break his usually very serious demeanor in order to be childish with her.
Where Emmett was good at being goofy and carefree, his doting nature when it came to Bella often got the better of him. Edward would dote too, but he never sounded like a father or tried to be one to her.
He and Alice her best friends.
Bella: Favorite brother? That's a stretch
"Hi, Bella!" The blonde nearly snarled when Jessica bounced up to her, plopping down in the seat to her right. "So, my friends and I are going to La Push this weekend to go swimming."
She sat up straight in her seat, not even bothering to glance in her direction. "Cool."
"I was wondering if you, like, wanted to go."
First Mike and now you? She didn't know why everyone insisted on bothering her today.
Ed: I know you're in anatomy. Be nice to Jessica, she likes you.
Bella: She's a blabbermouth and she's your singer
Ed: That's not her fault. Don't take it out on her.
Bella growled under her breath before looking at Jessica. "I don't like swimming." It was the truth. She detested water, save for extremely hot showers.
The brunette visibly deflated at that. "Oh…" she then perked up again. "Well, we won't just swim! You look pretty athletic," her face reddened and she spoke faster, "We bring footballs and frisbees to throw around. Then we have really big bonfires on the beach."
This caught her attention. "Bonfires?"
Jessica nodded eagerly. "Yeah!"
"Will Lauren be there?"
"Uh...do you want her to be there?"
Bella cocked her head to the side. "Isn't she your friend?"
The brunette winced before shrugging. "Not really...she's pretty mean."
"She's a bitch."
Jessica's eyes widened for a moment before a startled laugh escaped her. "She is. She is a bitch." Bella cracked a smile at that before forcing it to go away.
Humans are temporary.
"What she said about Alice was really not cool." Jessica continued. "I have art with her, she always makes, like, the most amazing things." Bella wanted to tell her to fuck off, but the girl sounded so genuine and so in awe of her sister that she just couldn't. "The class has barely even started and she's already drawn the coolest things."
Bella ignored her phone buzzing. "Yeah, Alice is pretty talented like that. She's always made me things ever since we were kids."
The first gift Alice had ever given her was when she was a baby. It was a clay sculpture of a dragon, and she's had it sitting on her bedside table ever since.
Jessica's eyes shined with interest. "That's so cute! Did you guys get adopted at the same time?"
Humans are temporary.
"I guess so," she shrugged, the smile slowly falling from her lips. "I don't remember anything before the Cullens." The rest of the class started filing in and she became silent.
Her anatomy partner sighed at that before scribbling something down on a piece of paper. "Well, if you want to come to the bonfire...text me."
And when the bell rang Bella was the first one out of the room, leaving the paper with Jessica's number sitting on the desk.
James arrived later that day when Bella was alone. She was working on her paper when he showed up.
He politely knocked on the door and she snorted. "Like I could stop you from coming in."
He chuckled and opened the door. "I'm nothing if not a gentleman."
Bella cracked a smile at that. "I think we both know that's a lie." She turned her attention back to her paper. "My parents went hunting. They'll be back soon." After their last talk, she was more at ease around him.
"Is that a threat?" His voice was playful but she could see the way his eyes darkened.
"No. A threat would be to tell you that Emmett and Jasper are already on their way home." A lie. "So is Rosalie." She kept her breathing steady and her eyes disinterestedly fixed on her paper.
"You distrust me. Even after our great conversation the other night?" He sounded amused. "I could have killed you then. But I didn't."
"For all I know you're the type to play with your food before eating it." She hummed, glancing up at him. "Which would be a silly move on your part."
He sat at the counter. "How so?"
"I'm not squeamish." She replied evenly. "I'd offer you very little entertainment."
James smiled at that. "Don't sell yourself short. I happen to be very entertained by you." He looked away from her, listening intently before looking at her again. "Your siblings are taking their sweet time getting here."
I'm fucking aware. She shrugged and looked back at her paper. Why did no one pick up on your scent and come home?
James seemed to notice her distress. "My gift. I can mask my scent." Bella paused for a moment, disturbed by the admission. That's why Emmett and Jasper couldn't find us.
"It makes you the perfect hunter." He nodded and she narrowed her eyes. "Strange thing, actually. I didn't know humans could pick up on your scent from a distance."
"I hunt many things. Shifters being one of them."
"And vampires being another?" She guessed, making his smile broaden. He seemed pleased with her perception. Excited that she was putting everything together.
"What makes you say that?"
She rolled her eyes, refusing to let her unease show. "Unless you're hunting packs, individually shifters aren't much of a challenge."
He raised his brow. "Could you take them?" His voice was drenched in mockery and she narrowed her eyes.
I can, she wants to tell him. I can turn them into ash if I wanted.
"A stray bullet could." She snorted, turning back to her paper. "And seeing as werewolves are extinct, it would only make sense for you to hunt vampires. They're more of a challenge."
He hummed and took a seat next to her. "Smart. Your father taught you well."
"He did."
"But he's not the one who taught you to be cynical."
Bella smiled thinly at him. "I'm not sure if you can teach cynicism, not really." She closed her laptop with more force than necessary. "Jasper and Rose tried but...I ended up learning it on my own."
Red eyes stared at her. "Care to elaborate?"
"No." She raised a brow at him. "Care to elaborate on why you're actually here? Doesn't make sense for a hunter such as yourself to switch diets." Bella paused, jaw tightening as his eyes turned black.
"I told you I liked a challenge."
Seven vampires will definitely be too much of a challenge for you, asshole.
"I guess I should have seen that coming."
James smiled. "It's nothing personal. No harm will come to you if your vampires listen to my instructions."
Bella growled at him and bared her teeth. "Liar." Fury rose to the surface but before she could move her world went dark.
"Are you insane!" Bella stirred at the sound of the familiar voice. "First you anger the shifters, and now this? The Cullens have shown us kindness and you-" Laurent?
"Don't even think about it, you little weasel," James snarled. "Do you think Emmett or Rosalie or Jasper will care if you helped me? They'll kill you!" He growled. "And if you try to leave, then I'll kill you."
Laurent cursed in another language. "You bastard! You stupid bastard! Just wait until Victoria finds out!"
Bella's eyes slowly opened and she grunted at the throbbing pain that assaulted her head.
James. She sat up quickly, hissing at the pain in her skull. Fury encompassed her, made her see red, and nearly made flames shoot from her fingertips.
"Rest, little dragon."
A deep breath escaped her and her anger was subdued. The thought of cold fingers stroking her hair and gold eyes staring down at her lovingly was enough to placate her. For now.
She sat up and took in her surroundings, ignoring the vampires that were now staring at her. They were in a run-down shack of some sort. The dilapidated building had clearly been abandoned, and the couch she was laying on was stained and with an unknown red substance.
Blood? Either way, the sight didn't unnerve her. There was a bar with black fading paint and a barstool that was partially torn up. It looked as though someone had taken a bite out of it, removing a large chunk of black leather and ripped up cushion.
"Bella," Laurent was in front of her now, eyes roving over her form worriedly. "I am so sorry about this. I had no idea about James's plan-"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Then take me home." James watched them closely and Bella bared her teeth at him. This made his eyes widened and a surprised laugh escaped him.
"You were definitely raised by vampires."
Laurent shot James a glare before giving Bella an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I...I can't. James would kill us both."
"Then kill him first!" She snapped, anger building by the second. "You and this Victoria woman…" she trailed off, hissing and clutching her throbbing head. "Just rip off his fucking head and be done with it!"
She saw something shift on the floor, and that's when she noticed a person bound and gagged. Her eyes widened when she saw the tribal tattoo on his shoulder and she looked at James in disbelief.
"Do you have a death wish?" The shifter wasn't moving aside from slow and steady breaths. He looked younger than the others, his face was unfamiliar to her, difficult to see. "Laurent," she turned to the dread-headed vampire. "You're going to die If you don't let us go." The vampire looked torn but didn't make a move to assist her, unsurprisingly.
The hunter stepped forward, looking at her in amusement. "Laurent won't be doing that. He knows I'm his safety net." He grabbed her throat loosely, trying to intimidate her but failing miserably. "You're far too confident for a human." He hummed. "And surprisingly, you're pretty for a human."
Bella smiled at him, all teeth. "Well, you're pretty fucking ugly for a vampire." Before she knew it she was soaring into the air, cursing profusely when her back struck the wall. Pain encompassed her body, and for a moment she couldn't breathe.
Before she could slump to the ground steady hands caught her, and she was cradled to Laurent's chest. "You fool!" He snarled. "If you knock around their human we have no hope of surviving!" She blinked back tears as she sucked in ragged breaths, clinging to Laurent's shirt for a moment to steady herself.
James smiled. "I won't kill her, and I won't maim her...yet. So long as her vampires do as they're told." He then gestured at the shifter. "I know about the visions, and I know the shifters distort it...so I took one for myself."
Dread crept into her. He had this well planned out. He blinded Alice's visions, he can cover our scents. How are they supposed to find me?
Despite the stinging sensation in her back, and despite her panic, Bella squirmed in Laurent's grasp. "Put me down!" She snarled, and he was quick to comply with her demands. She was hunched over slightly, still catching her breath as she leveled her glare at James. "They'll tear you limb from limb. And I'll be the one to light the match, you sorry fuck."
The tracker cocked his head to the side. "I'm not scared of you, blondie. But you should fear me. I don't parade around with gold eyes, pretending to be something I'm not."
"You think you're scary?" She laughed mockingly at him, knowing it would be better to shut her mouth but she was too angry to do so. "I know red eyed vampires. Ones that are more powerful than you could possibly imagine." She was ready to list the names, ready to strike fear in his eyes, but her gloating would have to wait.
"James." The new voice belonged to a woman. It was soft and alluring, higher-pitched and ethereal. Bella couldn't help but straighten at the sound of it, feeling her heartbeat quicken and a tinge of warmth surged to her cheeks. "You brought food." A shiver ran down her spine and she moved so she could get a better look at the new arrival.
The vampire was breathtaking. The first thing Bella noticed about her was her hair. It was a bright orange tinged with red. It looked like fire. Wild and untamable and consuming. She wanted to run her hands through the flames of hair that cascaded down the woman's back.
The woman was shorter than Bella was by a few inches. Her features were angular and she was model-like in appearance. Her face was slender and her cheekbones were sharp. Besides her wild hair, she looked perfectly put together. She looked beautiful.
Red eyes hadn't bothered to even glance in her direction, and Bella couldn't help but take a step forward. "Bella." She blurted out. "I'm not food. I'm Bella."
The vampire stiffened, and it was as though she was refusing to look at her. "Speak when spoken to, human." Her voice was alluring. Lethal. As were her movements. She walked like a cat, all her steps were purposeful and swift. She walked on her toes, graceful and poised to strike at any second.
However, Bella couldn't help but narrow her eyes. "I'll speak whenever I want." Look at me. Notice me.
She didn't know why she had to get her attention, but she knew she had to.
"Victoria," Laurent moved closer to the redhead. "Perhaps you can speak some sense into James. He's kidnapped this girl, and she belongs to seven vampires." He sounded fearful and exasperated. "He kidnapped a shifter as well. Just a boy by the looks of it. But I've seen the wolves, there's at least seven of them. He's going to get us all killed!"
Victoria's eyes widened a fraction. "You…" she turned to James, lips curled back into a sneer. "I ask one thing of you, and do you remember what that is?" She doesn't get loud when she's angry, not like Bella does.
Her voice was quiet but there was heat and anger behind it. Bella had to stop herself from moving closer, still aggravated that the redhead wasn't looking at her but enraptured by her all the same.
James was unfazed by Victoria's anger. "I remember our arrangement. Do you?"
"Our arrangement," Victoria growled, "Was made with the assumption that you wouldn't do something this stupid."
He smiled blithely at her. "You know what they say about assumptions-" she backhanded him and he staggered backward. Bella watched with bated breath as the smallest vampire seemed to loom over the tracker. She radiated power in a way that James never could.
"Enough of your bullshit, James. Take the mutt and the human back, now."
Bella gritted her teeth. "You know my name, use it."
Victoria was still glaring at James. "Laurent, shut her up, please." Honestly, Bella was taken aback by her manners.
The dread-headed vampire looked at Bella helplessly and she bared her teeth at him. "I fucking dare you to try!"
He sighed and shook his head. "Just stay quiet, Bella, please." He had a soothing quality to his voice, one reminiscent of her father, but unlike her father, Laurent wouldn't be able to soothe her. She would give them hell until she was returned back to her family.
Bella was about to snap at him but she stopped when James spoke up again. "The human's sister, if you could really call her that," he huffed, "Is Mary Alice."
Victoria paused at that, anger evaporating as she looked at James in bewilderment. "Mary Alice...are you sure?"
"Mary Alice?" Bella echoed.
Laurent grimaced. "Bella-"
James continued as though neither had spoken. "It's her. I'm sure of it." He lost all traces of mirth in his eyes. He was serious now, eyes black and shoulders tensed.
Bella hated the look in his eyes. It was one she had seen before. One she was all too familiar with.
He wants to hurt her. He's using me to get to her so he can hurt her. He's going to hurt Alice. He's going to-
"You leave Alice out of this you sick fuck!" She roared, moving forward without thinking, only to be caught by Laurent.
Victoria ignored her outburst. "Well...I suppose that changes things."
James gave her a grateful look. "It does."
She eyed the unconscious shifter. "What's the mutt for."
The tracker looked pleased to get the chance to explain himself. "Mary Alice has visions. The shifters distort them. She can't see us because we have him." He was talking faster now, becoming more excited with each word he spoke. "And if the wolves get involved, even better. It's been so fucking long since I've had a good hunt."
Bella snarled at that, fighting against Laurent to get to James. But of course, his hold on her was too strong.
She didn't even know what she'd do once she got to him. Her flames couldn't hurt him, not when all his limbs were attached. At most she could burn off his hair, but that was only mildly irritating in the grand scheme of things.
She wanted to kill him. She wanted to watch the flames burn the flesh from his bones as he screamed in agony.
Laurent tried to calm her. "Bella, please-"
"If you touch a hair on her head I'll kill you!" She continued to fight against Laurent's hold but to no avail.
Victoria still wouldn't look at her. "You have claws." She laughed, examining her own nails as she spoke. "Shut up before I rip them off, human."
It was the breaking point. "You fucking look at me when you threaten me!" Her skin was heating up and her rage felt uncontainable.
An airy laugh escaped the vampire as she continued looking at her nails. "And what is there to look at?"
Bella's eyes widened and a disbelieving laugh escaped her. "Me!" She opened her mouth and roared. Streams of fire erupted from her lips and she felt Laurent release her, jumping away in shock.
James stared at her with wide eyes, mouth open, and eyebrows raised. Her flames spread but she was too far away for them to latch onto anything. Her fire vanished into the air and she closed her mouth, chest heaving in rage as she met Victoria's surprised look.
Finally.
They both froze, eyes wide and mouths slightly agape when brown clashed with red.
Oh.
Bella felt her heart speed up and she couldn't help but take a step forward. Warmth flooded her body but it was different.
It was a gentle warmth, one that cocooned her in comfort and made her fingertips spark with excitement. Her cheeks burned red, and for a moment she completely forgot where she was.
Oh no.
Victoria looked at her as though she were all that mattered. Her eyes had softened and her hands curled into fists.
This can't be happening.
Bella was certain she had never seen anyone as beautiful as Victoria.
James looked at them in disbelief. "You're fucking kidding me." He fired off questions at Bella about her powers but was ignored. She was too fixated on Victoria. "Answer me, human! Before I-"
The redhead didn't spare him a glance. "If you ever touch her again I'll rip off your head." She spoke softly and Bella felt goosebumps erupt on her skin.
The tracker snarled and stepped into Victoria's line of sight. "I'm not giving her back!"
"No, you're not." Victoria breezed past him, stopping in front of Bella and grabbing her chin. It wasn't gentle, but firm and possessive. "She is mine. I don't care what you do with the rest of the Cullens or the mutts, but Bella," she inhaled sharply at the sound of her name leaving Victoria's lips, "Bella belongs to me."
She didn't care if Victoria was the most beautiful vampire she's ever seen. This wasn't happening. There was no way she could be attracted to a woman who would aid in the death of her sister.
Laurent's eyes widened. "You're both insane. This girl can breathe fire. She's been raised by vampires, seven of them who are no doubt enraged and looking for her. We have no business holding her hostage. I don't care if she's your mate. We need to return her and we need to return the boy!"
Bella tried to take a step back, it was one thing to feel the mate bond, it was another thing to hear it be acknowledged.
But Victoria wouldn't let her move away. "Mate?" The grip on her chin was almost bruising at this point, as though Victoria was trying to emphasize her claim.
The redhead smiled, sharp and predatory. It was nothing like the way Rosalie looked at Emmett or how Esme looked at Carlisle, and it didn't resemble how Alice looked at Jasper.
"As I said. You are mine. You don't have a choice." Her lips pursed. "And neither do I."
Bella snorted and tried to remove her hand from her chin. "I don't belong to anyone. Especially not you." Victoria released her but neither moved away. "I'm human. The bond is felt but not completely reciprocated."
Victoria was shorter than her by a few inches, but it did nothing to curb her ferocity. "You will when I turn you," Bella stiffened at that, baring her teeth when the redhead laughed. "Oh, but don't worry, you have much to learn before I bite that pretty throat of yours."
Her eyes widened and her heart thundered in her chest. "You're not turning me," it was supposed to be Rosalie or Emmett that turned her. The family had decided on that long ago. Because even though she was Rosalie's singer, her sister had come a long way since she was a child. And Bella loved the idea of being her newborn.
Victoria smiled blithely at her and James moved so he stood in-between them. "What else are you hiding from us? Can you light your body on fire? Can you shoot flames?" He questioned, wary and excited by the revelation of her power.
Bella growled, aggravated by him blocking her view from Victoria. "Why don't you come and find out."
Laurent let out a distressed noise, making all eyes fall to him. "This is insane." He looked at Victoria. "We don't need to be a part of this. This is James's fight. Bella is your mate. The Cullens won't attack us if we bring her back. And the wolves will be grateful if we bring back their boy."
The human nodded, trying to suppress her aggression as she looked at Laurent. "You're right. My family won't hurt you if you save me. And I would vouch to the mutts for you." She then glared at James. "If you weren't such a fucking coward, you could ask my sister to fight you herself, or whatever it is you want from her."
Mary Alice...he knew her.
Victoria laughed, and before Bella knew it she was sitting in her lap on the couch. "These Cullens sound very nice. I'm willing to bet that I have some type of immunity when it comes to you." Bella struggled in her grip, hating the way her heart stuttered at the vampire's touch. "They wouldn't want you to be without your mate, would they?"
She startled when sharp teeth nipped at her neck. "Fuck you! Don't touch me, you bitch!" A soft hum escaped the vampire, and she hissed when a cold tongue licked at her pulse point. Everywhere was burning and she needed to leave. "I said get off me you fucking freak!" Bella felt disgusted for being aroused by the enemy.
Everythings wrong. This can't be happening.
The tongue left her throat and she nearly growled at the loss of contact.
Get a grip. You need to get out of here.
She thought about lighting the vampire on fire. But she couldn't.
Victoria looked like a beautiful flame, and the mere thought of her losing her hair was enough to make her suppress her own fire.
Pathetic. You're a dragon but act like a maiden in the arms of this monster.
A cold hand gripped her jaw roughly. "I appreciate your aggression, Bella, but do try to be nice." The girl swallowed thickly as red eyes bore into her brown ones. "I'm sensitive, and insulting me, well...that's no way to treat your mate."
Bella scowled at her, grateful when the tight grip released her jaw. "I don't want you."
"And you think I want some soft human to call my own?" Victoria hummed, "Though, you being human does have its benefits." She ran a hand through her blonde hair. "You're so much more malleable this way." She purred, eyeing her neck again hungrily and making Bella clench her jaw. "And you already have power...imagine your strength as a vampire."
Bella felt sick for relaxing at her touch. There was a small pull she felt to Victoria, one that would only intensify when she was turned. It terrified her. She had never wanted to be mated.
She wasn't like her brother, pining for the perfect woman to make herself feel whole.
She was a dragon. Dragons didn't swoon over pretty faces, they melted them. Yet she couldn't melt Victoria's.
"I'll kill you." She promised before looking at James. "And you." She then looked at Laurent. "And you for your compliance alone."
He hissed at that. "Should I make a stand, these two will kill me in seconds. Forgive me if I don't worry about a human's threat." Despite his anger, his voice still quivered with worry, and this made Bella grin.
"Then worry about what my family will do to you when they find us."
AN: 22k. Happy Pride Month you beautiful sapphic and gay fucks. Do yourselves a favor and look up Kristen Stewart as a blonde. You're welcome.
Black Alice and Union soldier Jasper supremacy. Blonde Bella supremacy. Toxic Victella supremacy.
Any and all criticisms of this story will be considered a hate crime during the month of June, so please wait until July to be homophobic :D (There's always that ONE person so just know that this is a joke...kinda.)
If you're like "this is an unhealthy relationship" like? No shit. It's Victella. I'm tired of healthy relationships I need some goddamn chaos.
Okay, love you. All homo :)
