Chapter 19 – Separated But Not Destroyed
JPOV
Bella looked at me in confusion. She has heard this word before but I never explained what a depraved creature a vampiress was. "They are beings worse than a vampire. In our days of desperation, with our children dying and women very few, some of our males hoped to convert human woman into Carpathian. We were in dire straits and needed some form of salvation. A vampiress is the creature we feared you and Raven would become if your conversations weren't successful." Her brown eyes blinked and watched me. She didn't interrupt with any questions, so I continued.
My hands held Bella's body against my own and my forehead brushed hers. I couldn't think about her becoming such a creature. To see her beautiful face be marred with the damnation of her soul. A gentle hand caressed my face and caught the ends of my hair, "Just tell me. I'm right here." She curved her arms around my neck. My eyes closed, "A vampiress is a female vampire, but she is wild and uncontrollable. A vampire would have to be truly foolish or insane to create such a thing. Our males gave into their darkness when they traded their souls, but a woman. She is light and laughter and not meant to such a monster. Her mind would break and she would be insane. She would listen to her maker for some time, but in most cases she would turn on him and run wild. A vampiress would feed on children. When we saw what this creature was, it was up to our males to kill her. When Raven was first converted, she was watched closely by our males for a long time to make sure she wasn't going insane. Mikhail explained our concerns for her and she laughed at us."
Bella smiled, "That sounds like something she would do." My hand pulled her closer into me, as if I was trying to make us one so that I wouldn't lose her.
You're not going to lose me, Jacques.
Bella's reassurance did little to ease my mind as I thought about her being trapped by the vampire's trap. I couldn't shake her fear or the look on her face as she tried to protect Savannah from the trap. She touched my face, making me look at her. Her heart shaped face filled my vision and she smiled at me, We have something more important to worry about. I will do what I can to keep myself safe, but we have to go make sure that this vampiress doesn't come after our son.
You're right, but you are still a concern for me.
She breathed against my skin, And my concern are our children. If she comes after them, then she's going to deal with me.
Anger poured out with her words and Bella was vehement on defending our children with her lives. She thought of plunging a dagger into Bryan's chest all those years ago, but he was replaced with a woman in her mind. *O ainaak jelä peje emnimet ŋamaŋ, she lamented as she looked at me.
My hands caught her face, That is why I love you. My lips caught her and she pulled herself tightly into my body. There was a vengeful, protective way about Bella that I couldn't resist. When she defended herself, she was the most desirable sight that I have to have her right away. My hips pinned her to the wall. Her fingers combed through my hair as flames of desired licked over the both of us.
Focus, baby. Kill vampiress first, then we can go wild all day.
I groaned, You're right. Let's go.
Bella and I walked into the study to find Gregori holding Emmett's arm, examining the scald mark. His brow was pulled together as he looked at my son. Emmett shivered a bit, but stood his ground. He knew Gregori wouldn't hurt him, but he was still intimidating to him. Alice refused to move from Emmett's side, even resisting going to Savannah who was reaching for her. Gregori stood up, towering over the children, "It is as you feared, Jacques. A vampiress is in our mists." Cold ran through me; worse than fear. A vampiress has marked my son and attacked my family. She distracted me by hurting Bella and scaring Alice, so that she could mark my son. But now, I wondered what reason she wanted him? If it was merely to feed on him, she has already done that. There had to be another reason; something I am missing. The twins looked at myself and their mother.
Daddy? What's a vampiress?
I looked at my daughter as she waited for me to answer her. My head shook slowly. I would rather face a thousand deaths than to see fear in my child's face. Bella brushed her hand on my chest, "Don't worry about that, right now. Come on, you and your brother needs to feed. Come with me." The children took Bella's hands and they walked across the room. The twins sat by the fireplace. Raven sat Savannah next to Emmett, who hugged him, "Emmy." Everyone turned at the sound of Savannah's voice. She rarely spoke out loud and when she did, it was only when she was upset and truly wanted something. Emmett hugged his cousin, "Yes, you little bratty baby?" Savannah leaned against Emmett and said nothing else.
Bella and Raven looked at each other, speaking on their private path while they went to prepare the children's mixtures. Mikhail watched the children as they sat together. Emmett was making a book float into his hand and he read to Savannah.
Mikhail glowered deeply, This cannot be. Even the undead know not to create such a monster. She would turn on him in an instant.
Gregori glanced at the children over his shoulder, We must inform our people. They must take great care. This could be disastrous. You and Jacques have the most to lose. It was a reason why Bella was attacked.
I looked at Gregori, Why is it that it was my woman?
Gregori looked at my children, Bella was the first to bear healthy children after her conversion, including Alice. She has become a beacon of hope. It is hoped that she bears more female children. The vampire knows this. If something happens to Bella, it would be a great loss. And, Alice was in danger, along with Savannah. There was a bit of anger to Gregori's voice when he mentioned Savannah. This vampiress is smart; smarter than the others. It seems she planned all this.
My own anger was getting to me. My family was targeted and it had to be stopped. Mikhail sighed heavily as he prepared to call all of our people. The air was charged with his strength as he connected every Carpathian within the mountain range. Even the elusive males could feel his call. Bella and Raven were unmoving as they felt Mikhail's power, To my people. We have a great danger. A vampiress walks our homeland. She has already begun her assault against us and it will not be the last. Sleep deep in the earth, under heavy safeguards. Do not rise alone or without scanning your surroundings. If you sense her, do not engage her. She is not sane. Inform me immediately and take great care. A vampiress is a ruthless killer.
Gregori and I stood silently as Mikhail spoke to our people. Bella and Raven came into the room and gave the children their mixtures. Emmett was reluctant to drink, still shaken up with what was happening. He looked up at his mother and she hugged him. We had to get rid of this monster before she returned. A vampiress was the worst form of vampire; deadlier, uncontrollable beyond words and feeds on small children. She left my son alive and I am grateful for that, but she would return. There was enough blood taken from him, that she could now be a shadow in his mind. At a whim, she could control my son to do what she wanted. I fear that she could be looking through his mind right now, to see who all our family is.
I have the same concern and I am blocking that, Gregori shared my concern. She took a great deal of his blood and your son could be used as a puppet. I have a hold on his mind right now, so she cannot get to him, but she is fighting me.
You can feel her?
I can. It feels like she is clawing at my hold. She doesn't want to harm Emmett, but keep him. She believes that Emmett is her son and that he was stolen from her. The vampire who created her said that he knows where her son is.
My eyes widened in shock. She was after my son! Emmett was laying his head in Bella's lap, while she combed her fingers through his hair. Their sight was one I would never forget; my woman comforting my children.
The study doors opened to Jasper, Emmett and Edward, "We couldn't pick up her trail. She's hiding her thoughts from Edward, she is masking her emotions so Jasper isn't getting a damn thing and she went over the water, so we lost her trail." Emmett looked up at his uncles, "She's in an underwater cave with an air pocket. She's in the soil that's lining the roof of the cave." The room was silent as Emmett described the vampiress's resting place. Bella patted his head, "How do you know that, honey?" "I just do, Mom. I can't explain it, but I feel it." My eyebrows pulled together. This thing was getting past Gregori's reach and seeping into my son's mind.
If you'll let me, I can see into Emmett's mind and see everything. Edward asked permission and I allowed this. He could be of help. Edward crossed the room. Before he reached them, I stood by Bella's side, resting my hand on her shoulder. She internally groaned, but I didn't want to hear it. Edward took Emmett's hand and looked into his mind.
The edges were black garbled sights of nothingness and everything was dark. A pair of burning red eyes was gazing back and a cruel smile formed in the dark. A hauntingly beautiful voice was whispering in his mind, Come to me, my little boy. These people took you from me. That girl is not your sister, but a trickster. She is nothing to you and pretends to be closest to you. Get away from them and I will find you. They will hurt you and keep us apart. Come to me….
Emmett began to tremble as he looked at Edward. His hand, resting on his knee, was shaking as the vampiress continued to call him. Jacques, make him stop. Emmett is scared, Bella pleaded.
Edward looked up, "She is trying to find him, locate where your home is." Emmett suddenly screamed and pushed Edward away, "Stay away!" He leaped over the couch and ran for the double glass doors. Gregori and Emmett were there before he was, stopping him. Emmett snatched our Emmett up into his arms, "Don't even think about it, little guy." Bella moved around the couch, "Emmett, stop it! Listen to me." Emmett hissed at her and swiped his hand at her face, which she deftly dodged, "You thieving liar! I want my mother."
Bella visibly paled as Emmett yelled at her. Gregori was holding Emmett's hands, "Be still. You are being told lies. Bella is your mother." Emmett fought against their holds, "Get off me!" Jasper walked over to them and placed a hand on Emmett's chest. His influence put Emmett to sleep. He fell limply in Emmett's arms, who handed him over to Jasper. He had to maintain his hold so that Emmett would sleep. Bella remained unmoving as they went to see to Emmett. "Bells?" Emmett Cullen put his arm around her shoulders and looked at me, She's really upset, man.
I walked around the couch and stood in front of Bella, Angel, come.
Bella nodded slowly and I took her hand. We walked out to the courtyard, into the evening air. The smell of morning was settling into the air, as sunrise was an hour away. Bella was looking away from me, her hand over her mouth. My fingers closed around her wrist, pulling her hand away, Angel, he will be alright.
She nodded slowly and took in a slow breath. Brown eyes looked up at me, wet with oncoming tears, I'm not crying, I swear, but I am mad as hell. I've never seen anything like this and I don't like it. I want it over.
I took her hands and held them to my chest, I will see to it that this creature is destroyed and our family is safe. I swear this to you.
My arms circled around her waist and Bella leaned her head against my chest. She was safe, my daughter was safe, but my son. This was unbelievable. Why couldn't I protect my family? This whole matter is making me doubt myself. Bella groaned and pulled away from my hug, "Oh stop it with your little pity party. I'm tired of it." My eyebrows pulled together as I looked at Bella. She turned and looked at me, Yes, I am just upset about this as you are, but honey, you have got to stop beating yourself up. You and Mikhail do the same thing. You think that because something that has occurred that wasn't in your control was your fault. It's not. Jacques, this was that messed up vampire who made this bizarre woman who thinks she can just take children. Stop making yourself feel bad and let's focus on getting this thing out of our home. Please?
My heart was pounding as she spoke. It was no wonder that she was mine. My hands held her face and I kissed Bella slowly, I love you so much. Her fingers wove into my hair, deepening the kiss, I love you too. But I am tell you now, that if you try to keep me and the kids locked in the earth while you go hunting, you're going to regret it for the rest of your life.
I laughed under the kiss, Alright, I won't but you have to listen to everything I tell you. If you do not, you're going in the earth and I will not care how mad you will be.
Bella slowly opened her eyes and looked into mine. The dimples in her cheeks gave her away; she was fighting a smile. Bella and I looked back to see Alice walking towards us. She was rubbing her eye, "Daddy, Emmett doesn't remember me. He thinks I am making it up when I say I'm his sister." Alice started to cry, "He hates me, Daddy." I dropped to one knee and gather Alice in my arms, "He doesn't hate you, my little one. He is under the vampiress's influence. He doesn't know what he's saying. Trust me, he will be fine." Alice sniffed and curled her arm around my neck, expressing her fatigue. I stood with her in my arms.
Bella patted Alice's head, "Don't cry, sweetheart. Emmett is not himself. But your dad's right. He'll be fine soon. Do you want to stay with us to sleep or with Savannah?" Alice shook her head under my chin, "I want to stay with you. Gregori already put Emmett in the earth so he could sleep. He's going to sleep over Emmett, so he can't rise early." Bells breathed slowly and put a smile on her face, "Well, then I think we should do the same."
I smiled at her, You are so good.
A touch of a blush appeared in Bella's cheeks, It's a gift. Come on, I do want to get some rest too.
*Carpathian Language Guide
O ainaak jelä peje emnimet ŋamaŋ – Sun scorch that woman forever (Carpathian swear words)
