This chapter is a little shorter than normal, but it came to a natural end and the following chapter is a switch in tone so I felt it best to stop until next time. Also, a tissue warning may be needed.
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Chapter 14
"How long does it take for our body to do … whatever it does with the blood we consume?" Bella asked into the darkness hours after we'd gone to our room to complete our mating. We'd done so several times over, each time better than the last.
"For a mature vampire, we usually feed once a week or so. We can stretch it longer, but we usually feed more frequently. For a newborn, it is different. You know that you're stronger than us. That is because your own blood is still in your tissues, but the need to feed is stronger as a newborn because you're expending more energy. You should be feeding more frequently than once a week, and since you only fed once, your body will go through that blood faster." I didn't know what answer she wanted, if she needed him to live on in her for longer, or she wanted his blood to be gone from her as fast as possible.
"What will they do with his body?"
"Bodies are burned when the death happens within the city."
"So if I wait another day or two and then feed, I won't be carrying him inside me anymore?"
"Yes, but you will need more than one kill. We usually drink two at a time."
"How are you able to do that with the population so high in Volterra?"
"Most of the city will empty out in the next few days. The Choosing is the biggest event of the generation. The council will reconvene when needed, but they won't bring quite so large of an entourage. You will see in time that it isn't as horrific as it feels today."
"I know that. As a Wanderer we killed animals to survive, and Wanderers are like that to our kind. My issue is it was Jacob … he was my friend, Edward. That would be like Rosalie or Emmett being brought before you to consume."
I pulled Bella closer to me, hating how much this hurt her. I couldn't even believe the pain she was feeling. I knew the day would come that Felix and Alec would pay, but I needed to be smart or it would be the end of all of us.
We didn't leave our room until daylight filtered through our windows, when we did, my family was all gathered in the living room. "Did something happen?"
My father turned to me. "Marcus never made it out of Italy. Someone tracked him and his guards and he was killed. His body was left at what was our home. We found him when we returned to get the last of our things."
I didn't move. I love every member of my family, but Marcus and I had a special bond. "Did Edward and Elizabeth make it to Rome?"
"Someone trusted reached them and told them what happened. They were escorted to the ocean and are returning to the Pacific Northwest to oversee our lands."
"We need to kill these bastards!" Garrett shouted.
"No, if we go after them now, then we will all die. They came to the Choosing ready for a fight. We need to bide our time and figure out the best way to go after them. Those responsible will pay, but I will not gamble with anymore lives. I want everyone fully moved into the Royal Residence by sundown. We have members of the royal guard that are loyal to our family because of the relationship our father built with them. No one will leave without a portion of the guard. We will hunt in groups and be cautious. The city is emptying out, once that is done, we will make our plans."
My family all nodded in agreement, I could see the look on Garrett's face, so I gestured for him to stay back. Mom approached Bella, asking to talk to her, so I used that moment to calm my brother down.
"How can you be so detached about Marcus? You were closer to him than anyone?"
"I'm enraged that he was taken from us. But like I said, if I strike against them too soon, they will hunt down every member of our line. I won't do that to our family, and I cannot risk Bella like that. She is brand new to this life and she is my priority."
"Fine, I get that. But when the time comes, we take them down together," he said.
"Together."