Bella, the Vanderbilt Vampire:
Recap: Bella's POV: "California."
Chapter 20: Soulful Sea
Bella' POV:
We loaded up our misfit caravan and began to drive on State Route 1 through Big Sur leading to Nepenthe. We decided to stop there to stretch and eat. I am so happy. I love this big band of people. They are all so wonderful. I hope that this calling I have is helpful to others. Everyone, mostly, deserve peace and happiness. I have a feeling that we will be in contact with another creature soon. However, I am afraid. I can sense a darkened aura when I focus on the call. This creature will need more help than the others that I have encountered. But I will do this.
"Bella?" Called Edward from his spot in the driver's seat.
"Yes sweetie?" I turned away from my view of the Californian coast.
"We are arriving at Nepenthe, love," he informed.
"Wonderful, I am so glad to be here with you and our family." I told him and took his free hand. He immediately began rubbing circles on my hand with his thumb.
"Agreed. I have longed to be with you and have a family all of our own." He admitted.
"I bet this isn't the family you imagined is it?" I joked.
"No, but reality far surpassed anything I could have come up with. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
"Me either," I agreed and kissed his knuckles. He then reciprocated the kiss before pulling off at an overlook of the cliff. Our family pulled off next to us afterwards.
"How is everyone doing?" I asked. Everyone replied in the positive. "Great. Now we are five minutes from some nice woodlands and some wonderful cafés that I read about on Yelp. Is everyone okay with splitting up and getting sustenance before hitting the road again?"
"Sounds great Bella. The pack, imprints, and I will head to the café's while you all hunt. What time should we meet back up?" Sam asked.
"I think by sunset should give us plenty of time considering that it is only noon. And I think we should meet back here. The vamp half can lock up the cars and leave them here. They should be relatively safe." I explained.
"Alright, let's go get some food!" Paul cheered.
"Is that all you think about?" Rachel rolled her eyes while asking.
"Not everything," he smirked and ogled her. She giggled.
"Get a room!" Jared complained.
"We just might. We have a few hours and there's always room service." Paul said.
"Dude. That's my sister! Gross." Jake complained.
"Jakey, it's only natural. When two adults fall in love their hormones demand a certain level of intimacy." Rachel teased.
"If you need more details I can give you more," Paul added gleefully.
"Alright enough. We don't need Jake dying of embarrassment. I don't think I could revive him. Now time is wasting. Let's go and we will get back together soon. Happy hunting everyone." I said. The pack immediately packed up and headed to the café. We locked up our cars and headed to the forest. Rose and Emmett took the East side. Esme and Carlisle took the West side. Alice and Jasper took the South. Ironic for Jasper, am I right? That leaves the North for Edward and me.
"Ready love?"
"Absolutely." I grinned. "Race ya? First to bag some blood wins."
"What's the prize?"
"We can leave that a mystery." I said and took off into the trees.
"Cheater!" He yelled and started running on the forest floor. I laughed loudly. Now focus Isabella. I stopped in a particularly tall tree and closed my eyes and opened myself up to my other senses. There. I ran towards the scent of an older cougar. I didn't like hunting the younger animals that had more life to live. I reached the cougar in no time. Quickly, I drained him and buried him. Looking down at myself and saw that I got quite a few drops of blood and mud on my person. Good thing I am close to the ocean. I quickly ran over and began a quick wash in a shallow, private lagoon.
Then I heard it. A woman was singing an agonizing song. It sounds like she was a few miles down the bay. I dove under the waves further out into the sea and swam towards the direction of the singing. I floated to the water's surface and scanned the area. This area of the beach had ruin and driftwood washed upon on the shore. Large boulders were among the waters in this cove like area as well. On one of the boulders was a woman with long blonde hair and dark blue eyes. She had no top on and instead of legs she had a long fin. So, she's a mermaid? I swam closer and pulled myself on what looks to be half of a ship. The mast to be specific. I washed her sing and cry. Who is she singing to? Then violent waves started rocking against the mast. I looked out to sea and a small boat was coming this way. Two men were rowing along with their small motor.
"Come to me and forever we shall be!" she called and started her song once more. Oh crap. She's not a friendly creature. I am just not sure if she is a mermaid, siren, undine, or something else. Another naked woman flew, yes literally, down onto the rock next to her and began singing as well. I believe it is time for this chosen one to intervene. I dived into the water and swam swiftly to the men on the boat. I grasped their boat from underneath and took them west of here. Once I felt that they were safely away I broke the surface of the water again.
"Who are you?!" the younger man with the dark curly beard exclaimed.
"That doesn't matter. I need you both to listen. You never saw me or the other woman singing. You were fishing when a strong current pulled you out here. You will sail to shore and find your way home. Do you understand?" I compelled them.
"Yes." They said and began rowing towards shore. Phew. A disaster avoided. I swam back towards the women. I arrived on the shore and quickly approached them.
"Hello." I ventured closer to the beach near their cove.
"Why?" The mermaid screeched and launched into the sea. I could see her under the surf swimming towards the shore. I looked at the other woman who had chocolate colored hair and matching wings and skin. She scowled and launched into the sky. She was flying close to the cove as well. I decided to make myself comfortable and sit on a piece of driftwood. The siren flew down to the edge of the water and lifted the mermaid out and carried her to a shallow pool close to where I sat. The siren sat in a crouch next to the pool.
"I am Isabella Vanderbilt, the Venustus Eligitur Salvatoris. I was born to help all super natural creatures. I can bring you the peace that you need. Would you like to accept my help? I can tell that the both of you are suffering." I informed the two females.
"We were doing fine until you sent those two souls away. We needed those men." The siren griped.
"Can you tell me why you think you need them?" I asked.
"We have a duty to fill. If we don't collect their souls, then the master will punish us far worse than this life entails." The mermaid chipped in.
"Who is this master? I would like to talk to him or her." I said and stood up. The two looked at one another and burst out into laughter.
"Oh goodness. I haven't laughed like this in ages! Have you Autumn?" the siren said as she held her sides.
"No Summer. Not since we have been cursed back in the early eighteen hundreds." The mermaid, Autumn, replied.
"I am serious. I can help you shed this curse and get back a life or move on. That would be your choice." I told them.
"You can't be serious. NO one is more powerful than the master. He is wicked incarnate. No one visits the master. It is simply not done." Summer, the siren, scoffed and began braiding Autumn's long blonde hair.
"But what if she is Summer?" Autumn turned and began whispering, unbeknownst to them that I can hear them. "Do you really want to pass up this chance? She could help us out of this curse. We could be normal, and we wouldn't have to murder anymore innocents. The master's newest right hand says that we could be in trouble next. Our quota is pretty low."
"We haven't' had many people sail close to our cove in the last hundred years. We can't control that!" Summer whispered back as she finished the braid and tied it with some twine.
"According to Arthur we are supposed to work harder to get mortals here," Autumn complained. "But that is not the point. She could help us."
"She could also be our doom. Don't you forget the girls from Circe." Summer warned. Wow. They have heard of the Odyssey. So, some of it must have been factual. I wonder just how much. Snap out of it Bella. You have a job to do.
"I don't mean to interrupt. But I promise to break you from this curse and protect you from the evils that you seem so deathly afraid of facing. Trust in me." I spoke and approached them with my hand held out. "Do we have a deal?"
"What's in it for you? We get to break free of our indentured servitude and live. What cost does this come with?" Summer asked.
"Your peace. That is all that I want." I said and watched the two look at one another and then nod their heads.
"You have a deal Isabella," Autumn said and shook my hand excitedly. "When would you like to go?"
"Now if you two are ready to take me." I said.
"Then be prepared Isabella. The trip to the undine world is quick but it is not pleasant." Summer said.
"Alright. Let me let my family know," I said and pulled out my cell and sent a mass text to the pack and the family. They are going to lose it. "I am ready ladies."
"Take our hands," Autumn said. I complied. "Get ready!"
"It helps if you close your eyes." Summer suggested.
"Okay," I said and did as she suggested. I screwed my eyes shut. Then I felt a warm feeling flow through my entire body. Then I felt like I was spinning faster and faster and faster. I am getting dizzy and I am a freaking vampire. I could still feel their hands. Then my hearing was overtaken by the sound of bubbling and rushing water. The heat I was feeling left in a rush and I actually felt cold. Then their hands dropped me and I stumbled back. I opened my eyes and looked at Autumn.
"Welcome to our home." She said.
"Sister, I think you meant Hell," Summer deadpanned. Then I began to take in my surroundings. Oh goodness. What have I gotten into? Probably should have brought back up.
Message to Pack/Family/Edward:
Hey everyone. Don't worry but I came across two souls in need of helping. It should not take me long at all. I will probably be a little late meeting up. But don't worry! Enjoy one another.
With Love,
Isabella. 3
Sent Successfully at 7:18 PM
(AN: Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed this installment. Just to let you all know I have never been to California. So if I got anything wrong, I apologize. I am sorry to have been away for a long period. But I have just been blessed with a new wonderful job this past year that needed my attention. I have also been able to obtain my copyright for my novel. Therefore, I will be publishing soon. Pray dear readers. But I hope to write more but I don't want to make promises that I can't keep. But I am not abandoning this story. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Have a great summer! Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga. )
○Forever and For Always ○
~LHNT~
A.K.A.
*Heather* :D