"Very good, Gatáki. This time, I want you to try to not look at Alec's feet. You giving yourself every time you do."
Letting out a breath through puckered lips, Bella nodded and took back up the stance she was taught as Alec got back to his feet.
For the last two hours, she, Demetri, and Alec had been out in the gardens, out of the way of the training guards, and out of the view of prying eyes. She wasn't being taught how to fight in so many words, but she was learning some basic techniques that took a decent amount of effort to pull off, which was intended to wear her out. The problem came from her inability to actually trust, and that didn't just go for the two males. Bella had a very long list of reasons to believe vampires could actually be hurt, and she was actually pretty worried she would fuck up and she would end up lose her arm.
She had overheard some things during a half conversation between Demetri and Alec, but the former shut it down pretty quick, so she wasn't really sure what it everything entailed, but she knows she heard Demetri say to be careful not to twist a certain way because he wasn't sure Bella's arm could actually be reattached.
As a result, she kept dropping her shoulder, or glancing at Alec's foot to know which way he was planning to go, so she could make sure she didn't. It defeated the purpose of hand to hand combat when the 'hand to hand' part was sorely lacking, but she was scared, and she thought that was pretty understandable fear. She was making enough changes to show she was trying, though, and both males noticed.
Alec, once he was on his feet, popped his elbow back into place, and sighed. "Stella." When she looked at him, he gave her a small smile. "I know well enough what I'm doing that I'm not going to hurt you. You, though, are strong enough to do serious damage if you don't trust me just a little bit."
Unable to help it, Bella frowned as she crossed her arms. "I'm sorry. It's just... I heard what Demetri said about my arm, and I got scared."
Grinning at her, Alec dropped into his crouch. "And now that I know what the issue is, we can have some fun."
She didn't find all that much fun about the situation to that point, but after another ten minutes, she was trying very hard not laugh at Alec's overdramatics as she listened to what Demetri was telling her to do from a few feet away. He was crouched down, his fingertips on the ground, paying closer attention to her than she had seen him pay to anyone in the training chambers, calling out corrections as she made the mistake, praising her when she did something right, also making sure she knew not just when she did something wrong, but what it was.
Alec was actually pretty shocked at the level of patience Demetri was showing to the girl. Yes, he was perfectly aware what the tracker's intentions were with her, but in the past, he had always been much harder on the female that held his attention, because holding the attention of anyone in the coven made that vampire a target for others. There were limited spots available for others, and the only way to get one was to become the mate of someone that was already a member.
Everyone but probably Bella herself knew she didn't get her place as a Voltalian because she was adopted by Demetri. She got it because by the time they returned to Volterra, the attraction was already there, and by the time Demetri took her from the throne room, the intent was clear as day as well. Never once had Demetri gone after someone like that over a female, and certainly not one of the kings. The tracker never told anyone what happened in the woods, or what drove his actions when he did what he did, and it really didn't matter. Alec thought it was amazing, and he was truly happy for Demetri.
It took her a half hour, but when she finally pulled off a successful hip toss, after countless failed attempts, there was complete silence from every direction as Alec slid on his shoulder blades across the ground. The small session had caught the attention of a group of guards returning from their patrol of the city, and little by little, more and more appeared to watch as the newborn took part in the games of the Elites. It was actually a pretty rare treat they got to see the familiar bonds between the members of the coven, so when a show presented itself, it was a spectacle they didn't want to miss.
The silence was shattered by a high pitched, octave changing whistle when Alec stopped ten feet from his point of impact. Not expecting it, Bella jumped, but when she looked to see where it came from, her eyes went wide, her lips parting, as she slowly turned, taking in the ring that had formed around her, Demetri and Alec. It wasn't solid, but there was a distinct surrounding of bodies that lined the wall of the gardens, or others watching from balconies. As her eyes landed on each one, they would pause in their applause and bow their head to her before they resumed their clapping.
To her absolute, utter shock, even Aro had been present, drawn to investigate very excited voices, and decided to stay and watch when Caius and Marcus appeared next to him. It was grudgingly, but he had to admit she earned her win over Alec. There were many, that were many times her age, that couldn't get him to his back, and though it was clear that was what she was being taught to do, the young man hadn't made it easy for her.
When Bella finally found herself facing Demetri, who was also clapping for her, she shifted her eyes from side to side as she made her way over to him, her voice low and face worried. "What is going on?"
A grin appeared on Demetri's face as he too gave the garden a once over. Tilting his head to the side as he returned his sights to his charge, he clicked his tongue. "You have just earned the respect of your guard..." It was then he stopped clapping, his eyes closing as he bowed in a much more regal manner than the others. "Mistress."
Bella's eyes went wider at the action, her hand covering her mouth as she once again looked around her. "Oh, God."
When Demetri reopened his eyes, he looked at Bella through his lashes, a smirk pulling at his lips that she had seen enough times over the last few weeks to know he was about to do something, but she wasn't able to move back fast enough to prevent it. He shot toward her, and the squeal was barely given life before she found herself hoisted off the ground, turned, and perched on one of Demetri's shoulders. She wasn't even fully settled before there was an almost barked cheer done in unison from the surrounding bodies.
Alec, who had gotten to his feet, had a warm smile on his face as he made his way back to Bella and Demetri. Dusting the grass and dirt from his jacket, he chuckled. "It's not so bad once you get used to the Pomp and Circumstance that goes with titles around here." Alec out right laughed at the wrinkled nose and groan from the infant on Demetri's shoulder. "If you think what's about to happen is bad, just wait until you and Demetri here are mated."
Glancing up at his female, Demetri curled his tongue as he watch her look anywhere but an actual person. While that was absolutely his intention, and one he had made pretty clear to her, it was the first time it was said so directly, and he was curious how she would react to hearing it from someone else. While she wouldn't look at him, she was doing her best to hide a smile at the statement by pressing her lips together. He could see it in her eyes though, in the way they seemed to shine.
She was looking forward to it.
A grin settled on his lips as he used his free hand to shove Alec in the shoulder, a gleeful spark in his eyes. "Just want until Felix finds out you were thrown around like a sack of shit by an infant."
With a snort, Alec crossed his arms as he righted himself. "I'm not worried about Felix."
Demetri crossed his arms over Bella's shins, his head tilting and settling in the curve of her hip. "Oh?"
Face pinching, Alec shook his head. "Nah. It wasn't just any infant," pointing to Bella, "it was that one, and even he would have eaten dirt for her. So, he can try, but if he wants to be a dick, I'll kick him so hard in his, he'll sing soprano for a month."
Setting her hand on the back of Demetri's neck, Bella looked back and forth between him and Alec, her brows slightly creased as she returned to the conversation. "Isn't that like... the biggest no-no ever between guys? Bro code, or whatever it's called, to not kick another dude in the balls?"
To her surprise, both of them snorted hard at the questions, though it was Demetri that answered as he looked up at her. "When you deal with someone as big as he is, there is no such thing as off-limits. Sometimes, it's the only way to stop him."
There was a snicker from Alec as he nodded his head. "Other times, it's just really funny. You do know what they said is true, right?" When her response was a lifted shoulder, he grinned. "The bigger they are, the more shit they break on the way down."
Across the garden, there was a set of red eyes that watched very closely as the three Voltalians headed back toward the palace entrance, most specifically, the infant still situation on Demetri's shoulder. She was the reason he was there, and as the three vampires vanished inside, those eyes narrowed, plans flashing through the liquid depths. He would simply need to bide his time until his opportunity presented itself.
*X*
She didn't know if vampires could get migraines, but Bella was well on her way to having one. Fingertips pressed to her temples, she sat in the overly posh and done up 'Queen's Room', once again stuck with Dora and Sulpicia as they gushed on and on about some fucking thing or another. She knew she promised Demetri she could last the ninety minutes he would be gone, but it had only been sixty, and if she had to hear one more fucking rumor about who was fucking who, she was gonna rip something, or someone, apart.
Seriously... how could the two find so much interest in someone else's sex life? They never talked about theirs; oh no, that would be improper. A Lady doesn't kiss and tell, blah blah blah. Bullshit. She knew more about Dora's bedroom antics than she ever cared to know, because Caius was a dog, and he thought Bella's reactions were hysterical. It came in the guise of how to please a male vampire, but really, Bella was positive Caius was just a pervert.
Since she had her eyes closed, she hadn't noticed when the other two females looked at her, but her head shot up and her eyes opened with a snap when Sulpicia tapped her on the knee. "Huh? What?"
With a smile and giggle, Sulpicia repeated herself. "What do you think about those colors for your ball?"
Well, she certainly had Bella's attention now. Blinking, she slowly lowered her hands, both brows raising to her bangs. "I'm sorry, my what?" There was no way she heard that right.
Dora leaned back into her seat, tapping her hand with her fan. "Your ball." At the horrified expression she received, she sighed. "Do you have any idea how long it's been since someone joined the coven and not just the guard? A millenia. Of course there is going to be a party for you. You're a Voltalian now, Bella, and Voltalians hold balls."
Unable to help it, Bella snorted so hard at the statement she actually choked. She was positive it wasn't meant to sound like it did, but between Felix, Alec, and Caius, her mind was basically ruined. Banging on her chest with a closed fist, she hacked on the venom that was stuck in her throat, waving the other back and forth like she was trying to bat a fly. Her voice was also choked as she gagged. "No... God no. There isn't going to be a ball."
The two queens glanced at each other, matching grins on their face before Sulpicia turned back to Bella. "Well, of course there is. Why do you think it took four cars to pick people up from the airport? There are the dress designers, seamstresses, party planner, personal shoppers, decorators, cleaners for the ballroom. This is a huge event, and there are sure to be hundreds in attendance. Besides..." leveling the infant with a look, she titled her head to the side. "The party is just as much for Demetri as it is for you."
Something in the way that was said, and the way Sulpicia's eyes seemed to dance made Bella's lip curl. "Does he know that?"
Sighing, Sulpicia leaned back into the mound of pillows behind her, playing with her own hand fan. "He will be by the time he returns." There was a clear look of questioning attitude directed at her, which was certainly not something she was used to receiving. It had been a very long time since her words were challenged, and she wasn't really sure how to respond for a moment. But, she did, and it was with an offhand tone. "When you throw as many parties as we have, you learn men tend to lose focus during the planning process. So, instead of continually fixing their mistakes, or keeping them on task, it's both easier and better for all involved to just shoo them away with a date and time to show up."
A narrowing of her eyes, Bella ran the tip of her tongue along the back of her teeth before she tsked. "He doesn't know anything about this at all, does he?" When both females shrugged, she stood. "Well, I'm gonna go. But before I do, I think you should know the people of Hell will enjoy a glass of ice water before I show up to any fucking party." Before she was fully out the door, she heard one of the call 'but it's for you', to which Bella responded as she slammed the door behind her. "Don't care."
Leaning against the doors to her back, Bella dropped her face into her hands with a groan. She was really tired of decisions being made for her. It was like... first her every movement was monitored when she was a human, and being forced to do things she didn't really care to do. It started out with humans telling her not to talk to the Cullens, which admittedly was actually probably the best advice she had never listened to. Then it was Edward telling her which humans she could or couldn't talk to, based solely on those human's private thoughts. If he had any idea what kind of shit went through her mind, he certainly wouldn't have come back from Alaska.
Then, it was someone else's decision that made her a vampire. Sure, she might have wanted to be one, but she certainly didn't want to be used as a pawn in a game. She didn't want to be chased literally across the country. She did understand that, generally speaking, nobody got to pick their sire, but also generally speaking, you don't know vampires exist prior to becoming one. Then, there was little fact she had the sire she had because Edward was an idiot and challenged someone he didn't know, and pissed off a fucking psycho.
It was also someone else's decision that led her to having no use of her jaw. It was someone else's decision on where she lived, how she lived, where she was allowed to go, and what she was allowed to do. She wasn't so much angry over some of the latter things. She understood why those rules were in place, and honestly, pretty much anywhere beat the woods as far as somewhere to live. She didn't like Northern Washington when she was human, and shockingly, it was far less hospitable to a vampire than it was to humanity. As far as the restriction of her movements, there were a lot of bodies, and she didn't get along with hardly everyone currently.
Other than that, this ball bullshit was a blindside she certainly didn't need. Why they hell does everything that happens around this place come across as someone doing you a favor? A ball, party, whatever, in her honor, meant center of attention, and the last thing she wanted was to spend several hours in the presence of people gawking at her appearance. It was degrading, and if there was a God, she would be able to figure out a way so it wouldn't happen.
Her steps had been pretty aimless since she knew this part of the palace, so she hadn't been watching where she was going. She was perfectly able to get from that loung to the Elite wing without looking up, and all she was trying to really do was get to her room and sulk while she came to terms with the fact she was going to have to not only stomach being the center of attention, but that she would also be showing the entirety of this bullshit ball she had no idea how to dance. The part of that she was going to have to stomach was that, because of that, she was likely going to make Demetri look like an idiot.
So caught up in her thoughts, she hadn't been paying all that much attention to her surroundings. She never had to before, so it didn't cross her mind she would have to now. It wasn't until she found herself snatched from the main hallway into a side corridor she snapped to attention. Honestly, it wasn't really something that was abnormal. Demetri had done it a handful of times. When it came to the more physical aspect of their growing relationship, he was actually quite private with it. That's not to say he didn't make very public shows of his intentions, but usually, he didn't care for the answering attention. Their time together was also beginning to get interrupted as she got more settled and comfortable, so they had more stolen moments during the day then they had actual time together other than when she ate.
She hadn't heard he returned, so she was surprised enough at the action to not react right away. It was what happened after her back was slammed into the wall that finally brought her back fully to her body. Demetri didn't waste his time with her, not knowing how much or little he would have in that particular moment. When he had her alone, he kissed her. When she realized there was a hand over her mouth instead of a pair of lips, her eyes widened and snapped up to the very odd looking orange colored ones looking into her own.
She started to struggle when Edward's dipped down, a shudder dancing down every vertebrae of her spine when his nose made contact with her neck. The way he had her pinned, his whole body's weight pressed against her and his leg between her thighs, she couldn't get the angle needed to push him off. If her heart worked, it would be beating in her throat. She had been scared before, but never has she been awashed with such a level of terror as she was when she heard a moan in her ear.
Kicking up the struggle, Bella did the only thing she could think of. With his leg between hers, that put one of hers was between Edward's, and in an act of desperation when she felt his teeth scrape her shoulder and heard a mumbled 'mine', she drove her knee up as high and as hard as she could. It didn't have the full effect she was going for, but it did get him to let her go, and he did drop to his knees.
She hadn't been given a lot of room to get past him, and when she tried, his hand shot out, snagging her ankle and taking her to the ground as well. Hitting hard, she rolled to the side, looking down her body, locking her eyes on Edward's now black ones. They had a wild look, and with a hard breath, she used the foot he wasn't holding to kick him in the face.
That got her loose, and she scrambled to her feet. Not looking behind her, she took off, but it wasn't long before she heard the sounds of following footfalls. When she heard the growled 'get back here', she whimpered, cursing the fact there wasn't any guards on this floor. There had never been a reason because the only thing on it was a handful of empty rooms, the Master's wing and the Elite wing, both of which had additional security measures in place to keep others out; not to mention, during the day, the only people on the floor were Athenodora and Sulpicia, who no one was stupid enough to try anything with.
Recalling just how fast she had discovered Edward was during that ill fated baseball game, she tried to run faster. She wasn't sure she was faster than he was, but she was actually the one at the disadvantage because she only had one place to go, and she had to get past the lock to get there. Turned out, that wasn't the hard part. When she reached the double doors of the Elite Wing, she went to press on the panel to open it, but ended up putting her hand through it. She succeeded in getting the door to unlock, but with the electric lock now broken, she had no way to keep the door closed, but she was gonna try. She only had to keep the doors between them for another few minutes and one of the Elites would show up.
She was very quickly learning why the guards were taught not to make plans.
She made one, and it absolutely did not work.
She did get the door closed, but it didn't stay that way.
Edward slammed into it with so hard, she was sent flying backwards with so much force, she only hit the ground once, on the back of her head. The back of her stone head broke one of the stone tiles, and she found out it wasn't a fluke when she was half knocked out back in Washington when she tripped herself on a tree root.
Because of the way she landed, her body folded over itself, and she went tumbling across the floor. She decided then and there it was Edward's fault she was so damn clumsy and prone to nasty falls as a human when, because of him, she went through the nearly floor to ceiling window at the end of the hall. Because of how hard she hit her head, she didn't have the state of mind to catch herself, and it was a long way down. She also wasn't sure which way was up. Her eyes were glossy, the world was spinning, and the commotion from her rather abrupt appearance was fuzzy at best.
The guards in the garden stood shocked in place, hesitating for a moment too long to to be of any use... all but one.
Darting from the place he had been hanging out for the last two days, Peter hurtled a bush and ras as fast as he could, dropping to a knee and digging his other heel in front of him into the pavement to slow himself down, the hood over his head falling off, getting himself under the falling female just in time to catch her before she had a rather nasty landing, with a "gotcha."
Wrapping his fingers around her clawed up shoulder, he squeezed hard enough to stop the jarring of the sudden stop from a six story fall, effectively saving it from being severed completely by gravity.
Still not fully there, Bella looked up at who caught her, but when she didn't recognize him, she ripped herself out of his arms, rolling away and onto her heels and palms, at just about the same time the dozen or so actual guards descended on the pair.
It wasn't so much a problem she didn't know who he was. There were plenty of guards she hadn't seen before, so seeing a new face wasn't exactly uncommon for her. When the guards, who knew everyone by at least sight, also didn't know who he was, was when shit hit the fan.
There were four guards between them, and Bella watched through their legs as the man before her put his hands up, following the very direct orders given to him to get to his feet. Her eyes were locked on his, and there was something in the red depths that struck her as off. He wasn't afraid. There wasn't an ounce of fear in his eyes. There was a healthy dose of triumph, but nothing to indicate he was even slightly worried about what was about to happen to him.
Lurching forward to her knees, she called for the guards that were taking him away to wait, but she found herself held back by two of the higher ranking members of the guard; Bradley and Philip, if she recalled right. They also wouldn't let her go until they were certain the imposter was at least one floor down, and when they released her, Bella was off again.
She knew the general location of the dungeon, but that wasn't where she was going. She was on a mission, and that was to prevent one very bad thing from happening. Like hell she was going to let Edward get away with his actions, and without Demetri being there, Caius was the next best thing.
Not having a single shit to give if they were busy, Bella slammed herself into the doors to the throne room, knowing she would find Caius, and that at least he would listen to her. Turned out they were exceptionally busy, but that didn't stop her from interrupting and going straight to Caius.
Still somewhat dizzy from hitting her head, she tried to explain what just happened, causing one hell of a scene that had caught both Marcus and Aro's attentions. All three listened, but with the combination of her not being able to fully open her mouth, the overproduction of venom, and her upset, none of the three could understand a word she said, though all three did actually try. Hell, the man on his knees in the middle of the room even tried to figure out what the infant was going on about. Clearly there was something very wrong, and if she was ballsy enough to interrupt them, it was something they needed to know.
Standing from his throne, Caius set his hands on Bella's shoulders, slouching enough to look her in the eyes. "You need to settle, Stella. I cannot understand you."
Before she was able to try again, another voice sounded at the doors, catching everyone's attention. "Masters, an imposter was found amongst the guard. He's in detainment, and the Elites have returned."
Caius, nodding to the guard, looked at the infant with a smile. "See now? Demetri will have this all sorted out in no time, and everything will be fine."
Bella's stomach dropped right out of her asshole. "Oh... oh no."
Pulling herself free of Caius' hold, she tore off back across the room, skidding to a stop, barely avoiding slamming into the wall, and pushing herself off of it in the direction she wanted to go. She had to cut him, or she knew something really bad was about to happen to someone who didn't deserve it.
She barely made it to the end of that hall before she heard a 'what' that was loud enough to echo around the halls. Once again sliding to a stop, she was only able to catch a flash of the tracker before he vanished before her eyes. She was closer to the entry to the catacombs, but he was faster. There was zero chance she was going to catch him, but that didn't stop her from going after him.
There had been so little time between the gardens and Demetri's return, Carlos had only gotten Peter into a cell, but not gotten the door closed before the Dungeon Master found himself bouncing off the cell that held Jasper and the sound of stone on stone rang out and bounced off the walls.
"Demetri!"
Darting into the cell, she slipped between her guardian and the body of the man that caught her. Glaring at the former, she put her hands on his chest and shoved him back as hard as she could. "What is the matter with you?" Pointing a finger at him, she snapped as he opened his mouth. "And I don't want to hear shit about him pretending to be a guard. You're the one always calling them morons, so are you really all that surprised someone actually outsmarted them?"
With a growl and narrowed eyes, Demetri crossed his arms. "No."
Crossing her own arm, Bella cocked a brow. "Besides, you should be thanking him." When she saw both of Demetri's brows shoot up to his hairline, she licked her lips. "He saved me, Demetri. He caught me when I went through a window, which probably saved my arm, and he didn't have to."
Eyes shifting to the vampire on the cell floor, Demetri watched as the male popped his jaw back into place before returning his eyes to his charge. "You are going to want to start from the beginning if you wish to save his life, Neos."
So, she did. She started from the moment he left, leaving nothing, including her irritation over the bullshit ball, out of her explanation. To her surprise, he stayed for the whole thing, his eyes flashing when she told him the reason for the broken security panel and window, were because she had been running from Edward. The nose that came from him when she told him what led to her running from him had her super glad she couldn't piss herself anymore.
By the time she was done, there was a slight waver to her voice, because the more she spoke, the less person-like Demetri looked and the more demonic his features became.
When there was nothing from her for a moment, Demetri backed out of the cell, crooking a finger at Isabella, and slamming the door closed once she was out. Glancing at Peter from the corner of his eye, he growled again. "I will deal with you later." Returning his eyes to Bella, he sighed through his nose. "Go your chambers and wait for me there."
He didn't say anything else, just sidestepped her and when she turned and called to him, he didn't turn back. Bella, sighing herself, nodded to Carlos when he asked if she was able to find her way back to the main level by herself, but she was stopped before she made it to the hall.
"Little Darlin'."
Turning to look over her shoulder, Bella looked back to the vampire that saved her, Peter if she heard right, her brows creased. "Yeah?"
Peter slipped his hand through the bars of his cell, crooking a finger at her, and giving the ol' Whitlock salute to Carlos when he told him to leave the girl alone. He literally risked his life to save hers and he was going to do what he came to do; he didn't give a fuck.
He waited until she was back in front of his cell before he opened his hand, picking up a piece of stone that sat innocently in his palm, holding it up for her inspection between his thumb and middle finger. Cocking his head to the side when he heard her gasp, he grinned slightly. "You know what that is, don'tcha, Youngen?"
Hands coming up to her face, Bella covered her nose and mouth as her eyes began to itch. For a long moment, she just looked at what was being held to her. After a time, with a trembling voice, she all but whimpered. "James."
Grin changing to a small smile, Peter clicked his tongue. "Amazin' how little we need ta recognize our sire, ain't it?" He watched with understanding eyes as Bella's hands dropped to her lips, but when it was clear she wasn't going to be able to get the words out, he hummed. "I met that sumbitch 'bout thirty years back. Ain't gonna say much on it. He put his hands on my ol' lady, so I put my hands on him. Found this when I was cleanin' my truck few weeks later. Didn't wanna keep it, but somethin' told me I was gonna need it." When the infant continued to stare at the last piece of her sire, Peter dropped it into his palm, and held it out to her. "G'on now. Ya know ya want to."
Jasper, Alice, and Emmett watched as Bella picked up the broken piece of vampire skin like it was the most precious thing in the word. Jasper didn't have the best view because he was right behind her, but Alice and Emmett did, and they both turned away from the look of utter devastation on her face.
Cupping the piece of James in her hands, Bella swallowed hard and sniffled. "I hate that I miss him." Keeping her head down, she flicked her eyes to Peter's. "I don't want to."
Slowly, Peter nodded, his own eyes going soft. "You won't always. The older ya get, the less you gonna care he gone. It hurts now cause you a baby, and babies need they sire."
Rubbing the back of her jaw on her shoulder, Bella cleared her throat. "Demetri told me that." Then she frowned. "Sorry I didn't stop him from hitting you, by the way. He's faster than I am."
With a shit eating grin, Peter laced his fingers together outside his cell door, kicking a booted foot up on his toes. "Ain't gonna lie, Little Lady; that fella a yours got one helluva right hook." Then he shrugged. "But he ain't the first fella to ever go off halfcocked over a female. He can't help it, though. See, us males don't take too kindly ta other males touchin' our lady. Don't much matter the reason why, either."
Chuckling at the raised brow he got from the newborn, Peter cocked his head to the side. "Let me tell ya a story. Now, I love my lady dearly, but Char... she got this tendency ta be a bit ditzy at times. She been a vampire for a while, but her navigational skills lack somethin' awful. Few years back, we moved ta a place she ain't ever been, and while she was out doin' whateva the hell she she was doin', she got herself lost. Knew it was gonna happen, so I just go look for her. When I found her, she wasn't doin' nothin' wrong, just askin' directions back ta her car. The guy, though, touched her and it took every ounce a mind I had not ta knock that human's head clean off his shoulders. Char was upset cause she don't like not knowin' where she is. Comes from where we was raised, and not knowin' where you at usually gotcha killed. Rationally, I knew all the guy was trin' ta do was calm her down, but I broke his jaw in three damn places cause ya don't touch a fella vampire's lady. Ya just don't."
Brows creasing, Bella shook her head. "But you were only trying to help me."
Peter shrugged. "That's all that human was tryin' ta do. Didn't care. Charlotte mine, and ain't no other fella gonna touch what's mine. I'll fuckin' kill 'em and not. give. a. fuck. It's the way we built, Little Darlin'. When it comes to our lady, we a possessive bunch and we don't share... ever. You can do whatever the fuck ya want to anythin' else we got, but fuck with her, you just plan fucked."
Rubbing her fingertips along the piece of vampire flesh in her hand, Bella bit into her lip as she jutted out a hip. "If James touched Charlotte, how was he alive to bite me?"
At the question, Peter actually growled. "Cause just like your fella, I don't hit females if I can help it. One got between us, so I backed off. She gathered him up and they took off. I had Char ta tend to, so I didn't go after 'em. Had I seen 'em again, though, I'da killed 'em both just for shits and giggles."
Bella wasn't able to do much more than nod. She couldn't speak for Peter, but in Demetri's case, there was always someone else present that could deal with a female, so he didn't usually have to. He had told her that wasn't to say he wouldn't if he was pushed to a certain point or if he was defending himself, but if there was another way to handle a situation involving a girl, he would exhaust all other avenues first. He knew he was physically superior to females, so it wouldn't be a fair fight. He also didn't tolerate any of the male guards attempting to overpower a female. That shit was handled on the spot, and she had personally seen him kill three that tried. It wasn't that he thought females were incapable of defending themselves, he just didn't think they should have to defend themselves against a male they had very little chance of beating. She assumed it came from his upbringing as a human since he was at least in his early 20s when he was bitten, so whatever morals he was raised with were pounded in his skull long enough for them to stick.
Scratching at the more graze like slashes on her neck, Bella recrossed her arms. "I don't understand something." When Peter waved a hand to her, she rocked herself back on her heals. "You're Peter Whitlock, right?" Like a smart ass, Peter dipped his head in a shallow bow with a grin, but said nothing, so Bella did. "The day I arrived here, Demetri and Alec were talking about you. Alec said you were wanted for war crimes, but Demetri had said he wasn't even convinced you were real; just some made up person from years ago to make Jasper feel better about himself for being an epic douche." There was a grunt behind her, and a snort from the one in front of her, but she just licked her lips and got to her point. "You had to know how stupid it was to come here, but you did it anyway. Why did you give up your anonymity, just like that?"
Peter hummed in his throat. "It weren't just like nothin'. Anonymity ain't so great as ya think, Sugar Bitches. When ya spend so much time and energy hidin', there ain't a whole lot left of it for livin'. Sides that, with that sumbitch behind ya where he at, it was only a matter of time 'fore shit went tits up for me and my lady. Wouldn't a taken long, either, not with your fella bein' a damn bloodhound."
Unable to help herself, Bella giggled slightly. "I've heard him called that a time or two."
Peter snorted. "It's true, and once he got a lock, ain't noone gonna out run 'im. He the fastest mother fucker on the planet, and if he out to catch ya, he gonna do it. I came here for two reasons. The first is ta protect my ol' lady. If I'm here, ain't nobody lookin' for her. The other was ta give you that." There was a hard scoff, and he flicked his eyes to his sire behind the newborn. Now, there wa a snarl in Peter's voice. "Shut it, Major. You ain't got the right. You done fucked up big, and you gonna learn there consequences for fuckin' up. She a baby. You know how ta handle babies, and it sure as hell ain't whatcha did. Wranglin' only effective if ya got the balls ta follow through, and you left yours in Mexico. You exactly where your ass belongs, and when you get out, I'ma be there waitin' ta kick ya ass."
With one last hard growl as Jasper snapped his head away from the piercing gaze, Peter returned his eyes to Bella, and pointed to the piece of James in her hand, his voice softening and losing the hard edge. "You get that to your fella. He'll know what ta do with it." At her inquisitive look, there was a partial debate by Peter before she sighed through his nose. "It the only thin' that gonna fix," tapping the back of his own jaw, "this."
The newborn visibly jolted. "He knows how to fix my face?" It was then Carlos once again attempted to intervene, but Bella shot that shit down with a glare and a 'shut up'.
Cringing, Peter scratched the back of his head. "Anyone that had it done to 'em knows what ta do." When he saw her eyes darken, he clicked his tongue. "Don't get all pissy, now. You ain't got the slightest idea what you in for with it. Sure, he knows what ta do, but trust me when I tell ya he ain't keepin' it from ya. He just prayin' there another way. There ain't, but that 'sides the point."
Glare still firmly on her features, Bella's voice took on a much less friendly tone. "Then what is the point?"
Changing his position, Peter grabbed the bars of his door, and leaned as close to her face as they would let him, locking his eyes on hers. "It. fuckin'. hurts." Leaning back when he knew he had her attention, he used his hands to explain. "You pretty damn young, so it gonna be pretty damn fresh in ya mind. I want ya ta think 'bout your change. Remember the fire? How long that shit lasted?" Though it was clearly an uncomfortable one, he saw Bella nod, and he went on. "You goin'ta feel every bit a it, all over again," bringing his palms together, "in all 'bout fifteen seconds... in ya face...twice. Once for the bone, and once for the graft. You move, even a little bit, he gonna have ta rebreak the bone, and do it again." When he heard her gulp, he humphed. "Ain't so pissy now, are ya? You ain't gonna have no help with it, either. You gonna havta do it all on your own. That twin's gift ain't gonna do shit." When he saw her drop her eyes, he sighed. "You gonna need ta talk ta your fella. He'll make sure ya understand whatcha gettin' into, but I'm here ta tell ya, it ain't pleasant."
Shoulders hunching, Bella snorted. "Sounds like that's a fucking understatement."
Huffing a slightly amused, but mostly sympathetic, noise, Peter backed off his cell door, taking a seat a foot away from the bars, and looking up at her. "You ain't got no idea how true that shit is."
Tapping her foot a couple of times, Bella bit hard into her bottom lip before she crouched down to Peter's level. "Since you know so much, do you know what you did to yourself when you came here? What's going to happen to you for helping me? What's going to happen to Charlotte if you don't resurface?"
Dropping his head back against the wall, Peter closed his eyes. "Char gonna be just fine, don't you worry none 'bout her. As for the rest..." cracking an eye open, "I'm wanted for war crimes, Little Sugar. I ain't goin' nowhere."
Remaining in her crouched position for a few moments, Bella's mind danced with different scenarios on whether there was anything she could do. She didn't know how, but she knew she owed this vampire more than just his freedom, so with a hum in her throat, she stood. As she slipped the piece of her sire into her back pocket, she turned away from Peter's cell and left the block, her words floating back to Peter's ears, making him open both eyes and cock a brow.
"We'll see about that."