Once Isabella had finished eating she placed the leaf down to the side and attempted to shuffle forward again to get out of Zafrina's arms. Yet again however she found herself unable to move as the vampire tightened her arms around Isabella's waist, effectively restraining the human girl.
"Mine, you will stay" Zafrina said again, her voice gentle but authoritive as if she were reprimanding a child.
"Yes yes so you've bloody said, I am yours apparently but it doesn't change the fact that I need to stand up or I'll lose the feeling in my legs. Now let me go" the human demanded, finally having enough of always being held, she wasn't a touchy person, usually she hated being held like she currently was being and the fact that she was actually enjoying having Zafrina's arms around her was only irritating her because she didn't know this woman. She didn't even like her father holding her for goodness sakes, so why did she like it when this red eyed vampire did it?
"No you won't, you are perfectly fine staying where you are" Zafrina said, not moving a muscle to release her girl, nuzzling her nose against the human girls hair, taking in her scent. The human may not understand just what she was to Zafrina but that didn't mean the vampire wasn't going to keep her as close as possible whenever she could.
"Why won't you let me sit or stand by myself? I'm perfectly capable of doing so and I hate being touched, especially by strangers" Isabella said, deciding to be more direct in voicing her displeasure, hoping that providing an explanation for her need to move would appeal to the vampires common sense.
"I like holding you" the vampire replied and it was then that Isabella noticed that the two vampires in front of her were having a difficult time in trying not to laugh at them. She glared at them in annoyance and accusation, perturbed that they were laughing at her instead of helping. Inwardly she smirked when her glare had the desired effect and both vampires in front of her schooled their features into more sympathetic ones than their previous amusement allowed.
"Zafrina, you cannot hold her in your arms all the time, you are only upsetting her" Senna said as she addressed her sister, knowing that the older vampire wouldn't like the fact that she was upsetting her mate.
"Fine, but you cannot escape, you will stay where I can see you" Zafrina huffed before releasing her grip on the girl, allowing her to stand.
"As if I have any hope of out running you" Isabella muttered, rolling her eyes as she stood, crossing her arms in front of her chest protectively in a gesture that she hoped showed her indifference and not the vulnerability she currently felt as she took in the position she was in for the first time.
She was alone, in the middle of the Amazon forest with only three red eyed, human drinking vampires for company. One of which has some unknown attachment to her and for some reason she also is drawn to this vampire. For a girl that vowed herself off the supernatural she sure did seem to end up in their company far more than she should be.
"Isabella, what do you know?" The question surprisingly didn't come from Zafrina as it had previously, Instead it came from Kachiri as the brunette vampire suddenly appeared right in front of the human with a concerned look marring her features.
Isabella shook her head, not wanting to lie to the vampires but not wanting to have a truthful discussion either about her knowledge of vampires nor how she came to know. The human tried to keep her facial features neutral and not let any hint of the pain she felt when thinking of them cross her face. However she knew by the worry that settled in Kachiri's eyes and the way the ancient reached out to cup her face that she had failed miserably in her task to do so.
"Isabella we need to know what exactly you know" Zafrina said, joining Kachiri in standing in front of the human girl, authority ringing through her voice and Isabella could tell then and there that she didn't have much of a choice in the matter. She sighed softly. Covering her face with her hands as she pulled away from Kachiri and turned to face away from the three vampires, trying to gather her thoughts and her resolve to get through this without allowing herself to succumb to the familiar devastation she always felt when she allowed herself to think to deeply about the Cullen's. She didn't know these women or their intentions and therefore really did not want them to see her fall apart.
Drawing in a deep breath, Isabella set her shoulders and squared them as she set her jaw, burying the emotions down as deeply as she could.
"Do not ask me to tell you how I know or who I know because I cannot face that right now. I do know you are vampires, I've known for months about the existence of vampires" her words were whispered but lacked any real emotion and the vampires around her could see the way her body was coiled tightly, as if straining to keep the human together. It was clear to them that whatever had led to the human gaining knowledge on vampires had been an extremely traumatising event for the girl. Her hidden pain was palpable to all three woman and they knew that they should not push for more information.
"Okay Isabella, we won't push" Zafrina murmured as she pulled her mate into a gentle hug, sensing her distress and needing to comfort her.
"Now that you know what I know can you tell me what you mean by I am yours?" Isabella's words were a whisper as she allowed the vampire to hold her, surrendering temporarily to the comfort the older woman provided. If she were honest with herself, Zafrina's arms wrapped tightly around her waist and the soothing scent of the woman who held her so tenderly were the only things keeping the memories at bay in that moment. She had no doubt that if the woman hadn't been holding her she would be unable to suppress the heartache that constantly threatened to rupture the painstakingly won notion of control and healing she had perfected over the months.
"My mate, you are my mate Isabella" Zafrina murmured, tightening her arms when she felt Isabella tense and her heart rate pick up. She hadn't expected to hear those words, hadn't expected to have an unknown vampire kidnap her in the middle of the night because she was her mate. She didn't think she had a mate. Hell she didn't even know if she had wanted a mate. Yet she knew even now she wouldn't ever be able to reject the woman, analysing the way she had felt earlier in the woman's arms and how safe, protected and entirely comforted she felt now in the woman's arms she knew it was the mating bond.
She had been feeling it all along. From the moment she had locked eyes with the woman back in her tent. It explained her inability to run, her cooperation when she was told to stay quiet. Falling asleep and even feeling secure and safe with an unknown human drinker so close to her despite knowing the woman could kill her at any second with little effort.
She was this vampires mate, she knew it was true and was almost relieved at the news, it explained the vampires adamant proclaiming that she was hers and wouldn't be killed. She realised the vampire couldn't kill her, the mating bond wouldn't allow it, if it worked how Carlisle's books said it did then the moment the vampire had scented her the older woman would have done anything to get to her and protect her from any and all dangers. A mate bond being the most sacred and coveted thing in the vampire world. It also proved HE had lied, she wasn't his mate, she knew that but now there was proof and that made her feel a little better.
Though the news also brought great sorrow to her heart. She was mated to an ancient goddess, a woman who already seemed a little more than intent to keep her as close as possible and it probably meant she wouldn't get to see her father again, she wouldn't get to graduate nor say goodbye to her mother. The thought of never seeing Charlie again, of him believing she had died in the rainforest hurt to even think about. It would devastate him and the lack of answers as to what exactly happened to her would offer him no comfort or closure.
"You aren't going to let me leave the forest are you?" She questioned quietly, her voice filled with emotion as she brought her hands up to clutch at Zafrina's shoulders.
"Do you want to leave?" Zafrina's voice had become softer, free from the previous commanding tone, as she gently stroked her hand through Isabella's hair, still holding the human close by the waist with her other arm.
"I don't want to leave you" Isabella surprised herself, as well as the three vampires present with the truth of those words. She did genuinely mean them, she didn't want to leave her mate behind, now that she had found her it was clear that she was always destined to become a vampire, she wanted to become a vampire but she still couldn't stomach the thought of leaving Charlie forever, so abruptly.
"But I am also not willing to leave my father without any closure. I want to see him one last time, I want to graduate high school. I want to say goodbye to my human life on my own terms" she replied, pulling away from the vampire slightly to look up at her.
Zafrina could see the conviction in her little mates eyes, she could see her pain, her longing, her love for her father and couldn't find it within herself to deny her of her wish.
"Then we will leave with you, we will return to your home and you can finish your high school. Then we will help you give your father his closure before returning here where I will change you. But I must change you as soon as we are back. The laws of the Volturi are clear Isabella, a human that knows of our existence must be changed or killed and I will not risk your life by keeping you human any longer than necessary. Do you understand?" The ancient replied, firming her tone when she spoke of the vampire rulers. Willing Isabella to understand that her being turned was not up for negotiation, she would not lose her mate. Couldn't even fathom letting the girl remain human. Even now she was fighting the urge to claim and turn her, wanting to ensure her mate was not in any unnecessary risk, being human made her vulnerable, turning her would give the vampire peace of mind that her mate wasn't as fragile but she could and would hold off until her girl had graduated. For Isabella's sake.