The fog was thick from grass to tree tops. The moon gave dim lighting to the coven of vampires that laid in the cemetery, red eyes hooded as they relaxed together. They were safe. A female who was dressed like a proper lady slunk to the tomb that had PIERSON written on the top, her hands rubbing her stomach to her breasts. She entered the tomb, whispers echoing and then moaning. The others pretended to not here, speaking with each other and turning their backs to the sex.
They were more civilized than Maria's lot, that was for sure. Astrid fixed the hood over her red hair and crouched low to the ground, glad for the looming iron fence that squared off the Olivewood Cemetery. Major had taken Glenwood and National Memorial, it was just their luck that Astrid had found Benito's army. She counted thirty visible vampires and could smell more in the area. She had a feeling Benito was larger than they thought.
She saw enough. Astrid creeped away from the fence and back onto the deserted street. She walked through the sleeping town of Houston, the lights turned off and doors locked from monsters like her. She kept her head down and ears open, just in case scarier monsters wanted to make an appearance. Her skin had been crawling the past three weeks. Where was the Volturi? Why had she only seen them that one night?
Eventually Houston ended and the wild began. She took off running, smelling for Major. She found him but it wasn't because of his smell.
"Fuck!"
She stepped back as a leg was tossed in front of her. She looked to her right where between the trees an unfamiliar woman laid torn on the foliage. Major stood over her, heaving, and using her limbs to throw as if they were rocks. His face was contoured into one of pure anger, the air heated with his emotions. Astrid braced herself before getting closer to him.
"Major?" She asked softly, stopping before she entered the tree line.
"Astrid. Did you find anything?" He stepped over the body, his face relaxing at the sight of her.
Her eyes dropped to the female, "What did you find?"
"An annoying cunt. She thought she could take me." Major shook his head in humor. He was close enough to run his hand down her shoulder as he passed her.
"Oh. Well, I found Benito in Olivewood. They're bigger than us." She met the woman's dead stare before turning and following her Major. His shirt was dirtied and torn from the woods, a once white shirt now soiled. She easily caught up with his fast pace.
"Are you shocked?" He snarled, rubbing at his face in a human way. "They're like fucking rabbits."
Astrid grabbed his sleave and stopped. The fabric teared as he continued to walk but the ear piercing sound made him stop instantly. He looked at his exposed wrist before resitng his red eyes on her. She heard an owl fly off behind her.
"Major, it's okay. We'll figure it out."
He walked back to her and grabbed her hands, thier granite fingers entwining. He looked up at her through his eyelashes and gave her a grin that melted women. It gave Astrid the chills.
"I have it all handled, doll. All you have to worry about is surviving." He tugged at a loose strand of her hair before pushing it under her hood.
Astrid nodded and walked off first. Her skin was still crawling and she didn't know if it was from Major or the feeling of disaster looming over her head.
Astrid and Major returned to the farm in two days, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. She felt careless but Major was in a celebratory mood, a smile on his face that didn't seem to have a twisted secret. She enjoyed their trip back and wished it lasted longer when they spotted the farm with a broken white picket fence. It mid afternoon, the entire army was in the yard, and all eyes were on them.
Elizabeth and Roosevelt, the last of the ten, were huddled by the barn doors. Their clothes were torn and hair standing up in gravity defying ways. They looked like savage children, eyes dark and sinister faces. The rest of the newborns seemed to give them a birth, keeping a safe distance and for once ignoring them. Maria flittered out of her room, her hair unusually messy and her eyes dark as well. She met Major and Astrid half way, eager to hear the news.
"Well?" She urged.
"We didn't find them. We'll try out of Houston tomorrow night." He said in a relaxed voice, his arms behind his back and meeting her insane gaze head on.
Maria's hands balled into fists, "We've checked everywhere! They have to be in Houston! Useless!" She smacked the air, no doubt imaging Major's face.
"We'll try again, Maria." Astrid said in a breezy voice. Her eyes caught on the barn before landing on Maria's composed face.
"Yes, darling Astrid," Maria slid closer, her claws reaching out to tug at one of Astrid's curls. She hated the fascination that vampires held over her hair. "You will. Major will stay behind to help train and make newborns."
Astrid bowed in respect and stepped back. Major tensed before nodding as well. Maria gave one last look, one that conveyed how important it was for Astrid to find Benito, before returning to her hide out. The yard relaxed and dispersed. Astrid looked over her shoulder to Elizabeth and Roosevelt and they nodded in response. She didn't realize it was possible for newborns to look tired.
She turned to Major but he was already following Maria into the house. She knew that he was going to pleasure her. It was practically a requirement after he returned from a long trip. It irritated her to no end but she swallowed the attitude and turned towards the barn, eager to see how Peter was doing. She nodded as she approached the barn, Elizabeth lowering her eyes in respect. The youngling eagerly walked off, relieved to get out of the camp. Roosevelt hesitated, not yet fully trusting of Astrid, before trudging after his counter part. No matter what they felt about Astrid, she was protecting Charlotte and Peter just as much as they were.
Astrid pushed the barn doors apart and slipped into the shaded barn. Hay laid strewn on the floor with a lump in the center, blending in with the dark shadows. The vampire moved at sound and Astrid met starving black pupils. She wanted to whine in sympathy for the man; he had only protected Charlotte and he was being starved and abused by Maria. It had been three weeks, when was Maria going to stop?
"Hey there." Peter croaked. His body stiffly sat up, looking like he needed oil to loosen his joints.
"Hey there, partner. How you holding up?" Astrid kept her voice neutral. She edged closer and crouched beside him. He had new bite marks on his neck.
"Just dandy. I'm looking at it like a vacation from this hell hole," He chuckled. "Where is she?"
Astrid shrugged and looked away. The room filled with tension, her skin prickling at the sudden dark mood. They both knew she knew where Charlotte was, that she was keeping her safe, and he despised her for it. He loathed the idea of Astrid keeping Charlotte a secret to him but she knew that if she uttered a word to Peter, someone would over hear. Maria was prepared to kill Charlotte the moment she saw her again. She didn't like another female inspiring a rage in her camp. Maria was the only one who could incite that from her army and her soldiers were nothing but eager to follow out her orders.
"Where's Major then, huh? At least tell me something." Peter groaned, returning to his pathetic lump on the ground.
"Doing his manly duties and pleasing Maria." Astrid snorted.
"Do I hear some jealousy? Huh. About time."
Astrid blinked, "What do you mean?"
"You've been up his ass since you were reborn, whether it be annoying him or doing his every bid. Not gonna lie, it's hilarious, but damn you took a minute to realize it was more than godly worship." Peter rolled onto his side, letting out a human groan. It hurt Astrid's ears.
Astrid was left speechless at the blatant statement. Peter didn't like the silence and kept talking.
"I'm feeling nice today I'll tell you a little secret. The day you were reborn was the day I had my first real, what do we call it, a vision?" Peter shrugged. "I saw you and Major smiling at each other so vividly, it knocked me off my feet almost. I never told him about it. But, I saw my vision come to life months ago. About time you two got along."
"It's called friendship, Peter," Astrid stood and brushed hay off her dress. "Something I'm sure you've only experienced with the Major."
Peter chuckled darkly, the sound ringing in her ears when she walked away.
Astrid lingered in Houston for two days. She was constantly moving, nervous for the Volturi to make a sudden appearance. The last thing she would need is them showing up and ruining everything.
She was agitated by day two. Astrid hated doing nothing and that was what she was doing. She spent the days agonizing over Major's plan. What did lying about Benito accomplish? He wouldn't tell her anything. Was he nervous she would tell Maria? The idea made her blood boil. But then she thought of the night Charlotte was torn apart, of his hand on her shoulder and the commitment he was expressing. But, then again, he was the fucking Major. The shithead could be pulling her leg.
She thought of Peter's words. She did feel something for Major, something that had changed over the past year, and it was something she rather liked. She liked the feeling of safety that overcame her when she was by his side. He was her confidant, her only ally when the ten turned against her. He understood her darker side and she flourished in his darkest times. They had slaughtered and killed together. He had watched her murder a whole family with nothing but pride. It was disgusting - or it would be if she was still human - but to her it was everything that mattered.
Astrid came to the conclusion that if she died in Major's plot it would be better than in battle. Even if she was betrayed she wouldn't be upset if it was for him.
God, she was a fool.
She returned to camp three days later with empty hands. Maria stood in the center of the yard as Astrid gave her the news, her eyebrow raised and lips purse. She was frozen, and Astrid momentarily wondered if Maria had finally broken. She looked over her shoulder, instantly finding Major's welcoming red eyes. She gave him a small quirk of the lips, a silent I missed you in their language, and he nodded in response, the familiar warmth of his gift drifting on her.
Astrid faced Maria at the sound of movement. Maria raised her hand and grabbed Astrid by the neck, shoving her to the ground. Her right foot landed on Astrid's shoulder, holding her down, while her other hand joined her first at her neck. Astrid gasped in horror, feeling her claw break her skin, could hear her own skin being torn apart.