Chapter 17 – Bait
It was almost time for Heidi to bring in another group. She spoke with me and suggested that I went with her. She thought it would be good that someone else knew the methods of getting in a large group of humans. The burn in my throat blazed. I hadn't fed in a week. Helping with Bree's training was a lot of energy, burning up the blood in my body.
Heidi gave me an outfit that she normally wore; dark stockings, a red form fitting dress and black heels. This was her disguise to round up humans, a Volterra tour guide. Also, she gave me a pair of contact lenses. "They will irritate your eyes," she warned. My vision was blurred from the filmy lenses. My first instinct was to take them out, but I had to endure them.
After changing my clothes, Felix appraised me. He was standing silently in the closet doorway as I looked at my own reflection, "What do you think?" The dress opened to the front and closed with a black belt. The two sides overlapped one another to the front, revealing my legs as I walked. Felix moved to stand behind me. He slowly grazed his hands down my sides, "Alluring. You'll bring in more men." His compliment made me smile, "But they're not your preference. Your prefer women with their blood lightly flavored with fear." He chuckled darkly, "You know me well." His hand moved down my neck, to my chest where his touch slowed. He inhaled a sharp breath, feeling the silky texture of the dress, "Hurry back. I'm hungry." "For what, I wonder?" He pulled me against his frame, "What do you think?"
Pressing my lips to his, I tried to diminish his appetite. Felix was thirsty for blood and hungry for me. Neither of us mentioned Helena again. Her portrait was burned. "I don't need it anymore," he looked at me, "She was my past. You're my present and future." The both of us watched as the flames consumed the painting."
Heidi and I passed Carlisle, Esme, Edward, Aro & Sulpicia. Esme's expression saddened as she knew what I was going to do. "Ah Bella," Aro sang, "Learn well from Heidi." I nodded. "I will teach her well," Heidi added. My eyes didn't meet with Edward's, but I knew he was watching me. I allowed my walk to be much smoother, trying to tempt him.
Heidi blended in amazingly among the humans and the other tour guides. She stood underneath a black umbrella with long elbow length gloves on her arms. Only a small portion of her skin showed on her arms, as did mine. We had to be careful not to let sunlight touch our bare skin. She spoke fluently in several languages as she ushered her tour group through the city. Heidi introduced me as her assistant. It was my job to keep the group together and make sure there were no stragglers.
"Now," Heidi was guiding the group into the tower, "this is the site where St. Marcus drove out the last of the vampire scourge from Volterra. It is also said that St. Marcus still walks these halls." She repeated the words in the other languages. I maintained a straight face, knowing what she said about Marcus was the first bit of truth she said. The tour group gushed over the architecture, of how the ancient stones fit with the modern designs. They were guided through the reception area. Tara bowed her head as Heidi introduced her. "This way, please. And stay together." Alec opened the hidden door to the antechamber hidden in the turret.
Tour members snapped their cameras walking down the ancient hall to the antechamber. They marveled at the old torches that provided the low light. The group walked into the chamber. Heidi turned to look out to them, "And this room is where St. Marcus wanders the most. If you're quiet enough, you can still hear his footsteps." She signaled to the members to remain still as she spoke.
Two teenage boys were whispering to each other and looking at me. I walked behind the group, keeping them together. "The blond's hot," one said. He practically drooled as he looked at her. "What about the brunette? What was her name again?" "Welcome guests! Welcome to Volterra," Aro began on his role. The two boys lingered in the back. I stepped closer to them, "Please, don't separate from the group." One of them smiled, "Hello." My contact lenses were almost completely dissolved, "Hello." I blinked once and they were gone. My vision was clear again, seeing the boy's smile disappear and his eyes were blank. Heidi moved to stand by me, "You're a natural," she complimented.
The humans stood together, silently. All of them wore blank expressions on their faces. They reminded me of a herd of sheep. Alec was standing in front of the group, staring at them. He was being kind, making them blind and deaf before we fed. Guttural snarls began to fill the room. "Let us feast," Aro announced. Blurs flashed through the crowd as the Guard members made their selections. Felix took down two humans at once. One was pinned to the floor, while he fed on the other. My eyes caught one human man with several tattoos on his arm. My teeth sank into his neck before someone took him.
The blood touched my teeth, making my throat burst in flames from anticipation. The blood dulled the fire before the taste of it registered in my mind. My eyes shot open from the marred taste of the blood. It was tainted with the taste of chemicals. Being close to the human, I realized his scent was revolting. My teeth pulled out of his skin, leaving my venom in his blood. He began to groan in pain. His neck snapped in my hands in the next moment and I took down a woman. Her blood was clean and refreshing. There was a slight taste of fat in her blood, making her taste better. My eye fell on another human. They were emptied within seconds.
When the last of the humans were drained, members were instructed to dispose of the bodies. While walking to my chamber, I removed my long gloves. I felt satisfied that I was able to help feed the Guard. I was becoming useful. Catching a glimpse of my reflection in a hanging mirror, my eyes were a bright crimson again. The color of red was the same as my dress. They way Heidi herded the group to the tower was a sight to behold. They were drawn in by her beauty and captured by the sound of her voice. Those boys who were watching me and her were en traced. It was flattering listening to their hearts race. It was still strange to be appealing to men.
"Isabella," my body froze from the sound of my name. Esme was behind me, with her hands on her waist. Her foot tapped like a mother's scolding her child, "Come in here please," and she pointed to her door. This wasn't going to be good. My shoulders slumped as I passed her.
The door closed and she moved to stand in front of me. "Bella, of all the things you could be doing with your immortality, you help Heidi bring in those innocent people?" her arm extended behind her, gesturing to the door. She breathed a long sigh, "Bella, honey, how can you do something like that?" She spoke about it for a long moment, while I sat silently. It was strange how we fell back into our old patterns of mother and daughter. Esme always reminded me of my mom. She was the closest one I had now.
"Esme, this is who I am. I'm sorry that it upsets you." I've never seen Esme this upset. There was one other time I've seen her upset and that was on my birthday, when I was injured. She paced back and forth in front of me. "I just can't believe that you do this." She sat down next to me, "Is this what you really want? To live in Volterra?" How many times are people going to ask me this? I knew she only worried about me, but it was getting annoying. "Yes, I love it here," I said with strong emphasis. I told Esme about my time in Volterra and why I was happy here.
There weren't as many restrictions as the Cullens faced. I didn't have to hold back my strengths as much as they did. "I don't have to worry about curfews and limiting my strengths with others. I love it here. And I love being with Felix. I know you don't approve, but you can be sure I'm happy." She shook her head slowly, "If only things were the way were meant to be." I rested my hand on her shoulder, "This is the way things were meant to be. I'm sorry."
She laughed when I said, "I am a cop's daughter. It was within me to uphold the law, but most of all, I loved being here with Felix." She smiled as I told her about how much I really loved him. That he was a different man when we're together. "As long as he makes you happy, dear." She combed her fingers through her hair, resting her hand on the back of her neck, "I just can't believe I have a Guard member as a son in law." I laughed, "Well, think of it as extra protection, if you ever need it."
Her eyes told her emotions as I told her about the articles I read about my own funeral. She sighed, "It felt like someone took my heart. None of us could believe you were dead. Alice didn't have the heart to look for you, in fear of what she might see. And, what it did to Edward." She shook her head, "It was a vain hope, leaving you so that you could have a normal, human life." My hand covered my eyes in frustration, "Who said that's what I wanted?" She was taken aback, "What do you mean?" "I never felt like I belonged. I was always fumbling through life, until you and your family."
"Since I met you, I've done things I never imagined I could do. And now, I'm immortal and I love it. This is what I want. This is my life and I'm living it." I leaned my head against her arm, "Esme, I know that's what Edward wanted, but I wanted this." Esme patted my hand, "As long as you're happy. Even if you're here, I'm just glad you're alive. Looking at your grave, I felt like one of my children was dead. The same way I felt when my baby died. But with you, it was more." I hugged her to comfort her. That pain is what Renee and Charlie are enduring. No parent should have to feel that. "I felt like it was my fault. We never should have left you. It was irresponsible of us to leave you alone, knowing the world we live in." I hugged her closer, "Mom, stop. It's no one's fault." She sniffled, "I'm here and alive. You won't eve lose one of your children again." We looked at each other. She held my face, "As long as you stay out of danger." I breathed a laugh, "That's why I married Felix. He's strong enough to keep me safe."
All Esme was asked that I would call her from time to time. Even though I wasn't in her family, she still saw me as her daughter. That made me feel better because, she was the closest thing I had to a mother.
