Part 4

Edward had never liked Carlisle's Viking friends much, even though he had only seen them a couple of times and he liked them even worst now that this brute named Rollo had decided to follow him until he had his rage and bloodlust for Isabella Swan under control. For some reason, the most dangerous of the Viking Coven had taken a liking to the human girl and had decided to protect her, especially from him.

He had brought him a shirt with Bella's scent on it so that he could grow accustomed to the smell and, when Edward had decided to just drain Bella and be done with it, Rollo had grown wild and ripped his legs out, waiting two days before he gave them back and then taking even longer to work on Edward's control.

Edward hated that the Viking kept on calling him "kid", as though he was some 8 years old that needed to be watched constantly and told what to do.

"She's just a human and not even an interesting one at that, why are you so defensive of her?" Edward asked, unable to decipher the warrior's thoughts clearly.

"Because she's my Soul Mate, destined for me, prophecised a long time ago. I've been watching over her for the past few years, waiting for her for centuries, and I'm not about to let you or anyone else harm her in any way." Rollo growled to answer to boy.

"There's nothing special about her, you'll find someone else easily." Edward rolled his eyes before Rollo hit him, making fall on his ass, and growled dangerously at him.

It took two weeks before Edward calmed down and one more week for him to be able to control himself around Bella's scent. When they finally got back to Forks, Bjorn told his uncle everything that he had missed and that Bella not only knew that they were vampires and accepted it but also that she was their friend now. Both himself and Torvi had grown quickly to love her like a dear friend and even though she hadn't seen the rest of the coven yet, they were sure it would go well.

"Torvi and I meet her after school twice a week so that we can do our homework together. The Cullens have kept their distances so far even though Alice really wants to get to know her. Most of the time, we meet at her place but she came over once. Floki and Helga were in Seattle and my parents were hunting." Bjorn explained.

"Good. Will she have to sit by Edward in Biology?" Rollo asked.

"Yes, sadly, she won't have a choice, the teacher doesn't want to change assigned sitting without a good reason and we couldn't very well tell him the truth. Will he be able to control himself?" Bjorn asked worriedly, having grown to love the girl like family.

"I believe so, yes. But it's a good thing that Torvi and you are in this class as well. In case he loses control, you'll be able to protect her." Rollo decided.

"Yes, don't worry Uncle, she's one of us and we protect our own." Bjorn nodded.

"The girl will be fine, Rollo, don't worry. She'll live to join us in a few years. I've seen it." Floki reassured his friend.

.

Bella didn't speak much to her father, neither of them were very talkative people but the silence between them was always comfortable. Bjorn had told her that her father knew what they were, through Billy, and that he accepted what they were. Charlie had apparently had a run in with Ragnar and Lagertha a few weeks ago.

"Dad, I... I was wondering... Do you like the Lothbrok family?" She asked him one evening.

"Sure, they're nice enough. I went fishing with Ragnar and Floki a few times. They're fun people. Good people. Billy likes them too. Why?" Charlie asked her.

"Bjorn and Torvi are at school with me, we share several classes. They're nice." Bella replied.

"Nice kids." Charlie nodded.

"I... They're different though." Bella hinted, wishing her father would bring the vampire subject before she did.

"Different yes, but good people." He insisted.

"I know. I... I know what they are, dad. And I know that you know too." Bella said.

"They told you?" Charlie asked her, surprised.

"Kind of. Jacob told me their legends and I figured out enough to guess and ask them. I... They've been watching over me for a while. They gave me this necklace for my 9th birthday and Bjorn's uncle saved me from a crazy car when I was 8." Bella revealed.

"Bjorn's uncle... Rollo? I've only seen him once. Big guy but nice enough. Why did they tell you? I know that they told me because I was hunting a serial rapist and witnessed Ragnar draining him with Lagertha. They told me what they were and I promised to keep the secret as long as they didn't hunt humans but they mainly feed on animals, they only drink from humans when they're evil." Charlie declared.

"Bjorn refuses to tell me why, he says that I'll find out in time but he and Torvi say that I'm one of them, that I was prophecised. Over the years they gave me lots of books on Vikings, before I even knew any of them, and I think it has to do with this Rollo." Bella replied.

"Have you met him?" Charlie asked.

"No, not yet. I mean, not since I was 8 and he saved my life but I was a kid and he looked like a giant to me back then, why?"

"You seem to like him. In a way a father never likes his little girl to like a man." The father noticed with a small smile.

"I... I don't know... I think so, but it doesn't make sense since I've never really met him..." Bella shook her head.

"Not everything has to make sense all the time, I've learned that over time. I trust you, Bells. You're a mature and responsible girl, especially for your age. Your mother used to say that you were born 35 and grew more middle aged every year and she's right. Whatever it is, I trust you. Just... Be careful and don't do anything you don't want to do." Charlie told her sincerely.

"Thanks dad."

When Bella went up to her room after dinner, planning on reading a book before going to bed, she felt immediately that something had changed. She couldn't see anything but she could feel it, without knowing why. Something had changed since she had been in it an hour ago to drop her school bag. Standing in the doorway, she waited a few seconds before she turned on the lights and a few more seconds before she walked in and closed the door behind her.

"It's only me, Bella." Torvi said in an amused voice, showing herself from where she had hidden, between the wall and the closet.

"Torvi, what are you doing here at this hour?" Bella asked her, relaxing immediately.

Deep down, Bella was also disappointed. She had been half expecting Rollo to show up, maybe because she had spoken with her father about him.

"Rollo's back and he's asked me to warn you that Edward Cullen will be back to school tomorrow morning. You'll have to sit by him in Biology. He should be in control but if you feel unsafe, or if you're scared, don't hesitate to do something. Either pretend you're sick and go to the nurse's office or whisper for help and Bjorn or I will find a way to help you. Rollo won't be far either." Torvi explained.

"Does it mean that I'm finally going to get to meet him officially? Rollo, I mean." Bella asked.

"Not yet. Floki feels that it would be best if he waited a little longer before he introduces himself, and Floki's warnings come directly from the Gods, so we have to listen to him. It won't be more than a few weeks apparently." Torvi replied.

"Oh." Was all that Bella could say but Torvi smiled when she heard the disappointment in her voice.

"Don't worry, it was foretold, you'll see him and everything will become clear then."

"I hope so. What about the Cullen's? Are they dangerous or something? Because you and Bjorn seem to always stop them from coming close to me." Bella asked, thinking of Alice Cullen's numerous attempts at coming close to her.

"Bjorn tends to be a bit overprotective of the people he cares about, we all are, that's our way and we've all grown to care deeply about you. Don't worry, they're not dangerous, we're just worried because Jasper has a hard time controlling his thirst around humans, mainly because of his gift which allows him to feel what everyone else is feeling." The blond explained.

"I see, so he feels the thirst of 6 other vampires at school, plus the roller coaster of emotions from all the teenagers... Now I feel bad for him, especially since several girls have got to always have their periods around school... It's a wonder he manages to keep this calm! But it's safe for me to talk to Alice, then? She seems to want to befriend me and since they don't talk to anyone else..."

"Don't worry, it's safe, you can talk to her, just remember that they are all younger than we are and control sometimes is harder for them. They don't have the same blessing from the Gods as we do. Well, except for Carlisle that is."

"I'll try to remember that. Thanks."

"Goodnight Bella. I'll see you tomorrow at school." Torvi told Bella before she left by jumping from the window.

Bella looked out the window after her friend, half expecting to see someone else waiting outside, maybe Rollo. Closing the window with a sight, Bella opened the second journal that had been given to her, curious about what her Bear, Rollo, would teach her in this volume.

Unfortunately, Bella was so tired that she was only able to read the first couple of pages, where Rollo introduced his family.

The first journal had been mostly about his view on their way of life, this one seemed to be his history.

.

The next morning, when Bella arrived to school, she noticed immediately that Edward was there, standing by the front door with his siblings. She decided to act as though she hadn't noticed, Bella walked inside, noticing that Bjorn's car wasn't there yet, which was weird because he was always there long before her. When she walked by the Cullen's, Alice smiled and nodded her way, so Bella did the same and went to her locker. There, she was surprised not to see her friends either. Bjorn and Torvi were usually making out against the lockers by this time.

Deciding not to worry about people who could break a mountain if they wanted to, Bella went to class and chuckled when, 15 minutes into the class, Torvi arrived, claiming that she forgot to wake up.

"Nice excuse coming from someone who doesn't sleep." Bella whispered her way when the Viking vampire sat by her side.

"Well, it's not completely wrong, Bjorn and I did forget to get out of bed, we just weren't asleep in it." Trovi replied with a grin, making Bella blush.

"At least it makes you look more human. The Cullen's never use that excuse, they're never late, people get suspicious." Bella chuckled.

"True." Torvi nodded.

The rest of the morning went by without any problems and, when it was time for lunch, Bella sat at her usual table with Bjorn and Torvi, surprised when Alice and Edward joined them. Bella noticed that her Viking friends had made sure to place themselves between the Cullens and herself, ready to protect her if need be.

"You're not spending lunch with Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie today?" Torvi asked them.

"No, Emmett and Jasper are arguing about a wrestling match they had last night, they disagree as to who the winner was and it's boring." Alice replied.

"Wasn't there any witnesses to decide?" Bella asked.

"No, after a time, their games become annoying. They're both extremely childish." Edward replied, speaking to Bella for the first time, acting as though he hadn't been exceptionally rude the first time they had met.

"They could just have a rematch." Bella suggested.

"This was the rematch, of a rematch." Alice chuckled, making them all laugh.

"They should have the rematch in front of my uncle and let him decide. He'll end up joining in on the fun and declare himself the winner after having handed them both their asses." Bjorn suggested, making them all chuckle and getting Bella thinking about the man and the importance he already had in her life while she hadn't seen him since she was 8.

"That man is such a brute." Edward frown, talking about Rollo.

"Be careful about what you say about my Uncle, Masen. Being Carlisle's first companion won't protect you much longer if you keep this up." Bjorn growled.

He knew that by calling Edward by his human last name, he was setting him apart from the rest of the Cullen coven and he knew that it would anger Edward, but he didn't care. Bjorn loved his uncle as much as he loved his parents and he wouldn't let anyone ruin this potential happiness for him, especially not a stubborn child like Edward. His uncle had waited too long for Bella to let anyone prevent this from happening.

"What's going on?" Bella asked, surprised by the sudden turn their conversation had taken.

"Edward doesn't like Rollo very much." Alice replied in an apologetic tone.

"But why? He's been helping you for the past few weeks, right?" Bella asked him.

"It wasn't exactly unselfish and I don't like his ways. He's covered in tattoos and..." Edward started to say but was cut by Bjorn:

"Shut it now if you don't want to have to miss any more school. My uncle is a great man who has suffered more than you ever have in your life, and yet he's still standing, still alive, still fighting for his happiness. You don't mesure up to him." Bjorn had spoken in a low growl and even though Bella barely heard it, she couldn't get herself to be scared.

She knew that she was safe with the Vikings and even if Bjorn got out of control, Torvi would help her.

"Calm down, both of you! You don't want to cause a scene here." Alice whispered as Edward started growling as well.

"I know what you're trying to do, you know. You're trying to get me to stop talking to keep Bella in the dark about the man who claims she's destined to be with. Doesn't she deserve to know the man who wants to have her?" Edward declared with an arrogant grin, surprising Bella.

"It wouldn't bother me if you spoke the truth but you don't know Rollo enough to speak the truth. As to his bond to Bella, he's kind enough to wait for the time to be right and she didn't know about it until you told her, simply because my uncle wanted her to have a choice." Bjorn replied angrily.

"He's too old for her, he doesn't deserve her." Edward snapped.

Bella could see, out the corner of her eyes, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie ready to come if necessary.

"How do you know? You don't know me. You don't know anything about me, you've barely spoken to me since I got here and you almost ate me the first time you saw me. You don't speak for me. As to his age, he's not growing any older, I have time to catch up with him before I'm turned." Bella snapped, angry and making Torvi smiled.

Bjorn would make sure to let his uncle know that Bella had defended him with such fire, it would please him but he was probably hanging out in the woods behind the school, just in case they needed him to protect his beloved Bella.

"You speak without knowing. And you'd actually consider turning into this? Lose your soul over that brutish beast covered in tattoos?" Edward asked her in a calm but condescending tone.

"Lose my soul? Now that is complete nonsense but let's not get into that, it would risk hurting that hard little head of yours. And he's not a brutish beast, he's my bear. I'm going to class, if you speak to me in Biology, I'll scream and get you in trouble. Or I'll tell people that the real reason you're mad at me, is because I know your secret and I'll spread such ridiculous rumors about you around school that you'll have to hide or leave town. Don't worry though, the rumors won't touch the rest of your family." Bella snapped before she stood up and left the table.

"She's got fire, mom was right. She would have made a great shield-maiden." Bjorn stated with a smile as he and Torvi stood up and followed Bella.

"I'm not so sure her coordination would have allowed her to be one." Alice added, trying to be nice and to prove that she wasn't necessarily on her brother's side.

"True, but it would have gotten better over time." Torvi replied as she followed Bjorn to Biology.

As they walked away, they could hear Alice scolding her brother for his behavior and it made them smile.

Do you think Edward will be nicer with Bella? What do you think he'll do?

(By the way, today's my 31st birthday and the first one without my father so i'm all alone. A review would make a great present, wouldn't it? :-) )

Review please

Lorelei Candice Black