There's a humming in the restless summer air
And we're slipping off the course that we prepared
But in all chaos, there is calculation
Dropping glasses just to hear them break
You've been drinking like the world was gonna end (it didn't)
Took a shiner from the fist of your best friend (go figure)
It's clear that someone's gotta go
We mean it but I promise we're not mean
And the cry goes out
They lose their minds for us
And how it plays out
Now we're in the ring
And we're coming for blood
You could try and take us (oh-oh)
But we're the gladiators (Oh! Oh!)
Everyone a rager (oh-oh)
But secretly they're saviors
Glory and gore go hand in hand
that's why we're making headlines (Oh! Oh!)
You could try and take us (oh-oh)
But victory's contagious
Delicate in every way but one (the swordplay)
God knows we like archaic kinds of fun (the old way)
Chance is the only game I play with, baby
We let our battles choose us
No-one round here's good at keeping their eyes closed
The sun's starting to light up when we're walking home
Tired little laughs, gold-lie promises, we'll always win at this
I don't ever think about death
It's alright if you do, it's fine
We gladiate but I guess we're really fighting ourselves
Roughing up our minds so we're ready when the kill time comes
Wide awake in bed, words in my brain,
"Secretly you love this do you even wanna go free?"
Let me in the ring, I'll show you what that big word means
1 year.
I looked over the deck to see she was still half out of it. I hate seeing her like this and it pains me even more to know that there is nothing I can do to help her.
Today is our one year anniversary. It is also her father's birthday.
It is a happy day, but it is also a struggle as well.
"Whoa!" Jemmerson yelled as she lost hold of the ropes once again.
That is it.
Gibbs relieved me and I swiftly made my way down to the main deck where the chaos was taking place. Without a word I grabbed her arm gently and steered her toward our quarters, she did not go willingly of course but she went.
No one said a word, not even a whisper, as we made our way into the sanctum of our quarters where we could no longer be eavesdropped upon.
"Alistair-"
"No, for once you are going to listen. I know what this day is, do not think that I do not because I do and I know how it affects you my love. And I need you at your best, just take a breath and relax. The crew can take it from here until we get to port."
She looked at me sadly with those baby blue eyes that pierced my heart every time they looked into my own eyes. The eyes of evil.
"You are wrong. You do not know what this day does to me. It does not hurt me in the way you think, it hurts me worse this year because it is our first wedding anniversary and here I am thinking about my father who is more than likely dead. I miss him so much Alistair, so much and you may never understand just how much that truly is. And I hate the effect that his missing role in my life is affecting our first year."
"Bella, you should not worry like that-"
"But I do! Because he was not there to see it! And it makes it even worse!" she cried angrily.
This is only the second time she has cried in front of me. I was getting ready to say something when someone burst through the doors without even so much as a knock. I whipped around, ready to kill but stopped when I saw the distressed look on Jacks face.
"What is it?"
"You better come look at this mate!" without another word Bell and I followed him back onto the main deck where everyone was running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
"What is going on here?!" I yelled as we made our way to the mast that was facing land.
"Not sure Cap'n'. Looks like they be under attack."
"Should we port?" Jemmerson asked as we looked at the small village that was alight with screeching women, men, and children. Along with large lapping flames that came from torches and what looked like a church.
I was about to give the order to continue on when I heard a whisper come from my right.
"No." I looked at her sharply to see her eyes were wide and scared. This was her home. The one she told me about, the place where she lost everything.
"Bring her in!" I yelled, surprising everyone, especially the little angel beside me who was giving me those big shocked eyes.
I winked before heading back to our quarters to grab my effects.
"Alistair!" Bell yelled as she followed hot on my heels.
"If you are going to question my decision then I suggest you go back on deck and help the men." I spoke gravely, knowing her tendency to question my authority.
"Of course Captain." She huffed angrily before turning and going back out, slamming the doors behind her as she went for good measure.
Lovely.
I huffed angrily and grabbed my effects before walking back onto deck as I strung the belt around my waist. I felt the ship jerk slightly as the anchor dropped, looking out onto the water as the boats were being readied I saw another ship at the docks.
Never before had I seen the ship before, no one else seemed to notice the ship as they were too busy with grabbing their weapons and readying the boats.
"Cap'n'!" I jerked my head to the right my heart was racing, I can't believe I am doing this.
"Aye?" Jemmerson appeared by my side instantly as the first boat lowered to the sea.
"Are ye sure about this? It could be dangerous." His eyes were concerned, but his stance told me otherwise. He was ready for a fight, it's been a full year since we had a good fight.
I smirked at him, catching sight of my Isabella from the corner of my eye.
"It will be like old times." He smirked back at me, his eyes changing straight away to excitement as he held onto the hilt of his sword as he ran to the next boat.
"Bella!" She turned her blue eyes on me just as she sheathed her sword, her eyes were hardened, closed off.
I really struck a chord. There is no way I could leave it like this, if we go out there and something happens to me…she has to know I didn't mean what I said, I didn't mean to hurt her. She has to know that I love her.
So without another thought I strode to her side, pulled her into my body and crashed my lips to hers passionately. She responded immediately, her hands going straight to my hair as I held her waist and grasped her tightly to my body.
We pulled away with a gasp, her lips were slightly red and her eyes were no longer hard. They were soft and loving as I have always known them to be.
"Know this, I have always loved you. I always will love you, I did not mean to hurt you with my words. I love you more than life itself and if something happens to me then you must know how much I truly care for you."
Her eyes watered, truly understanding the severity of the situation for the first time.
"Alistair, do not talk like that. You will be fine, I will make sure of it."
"No, you will not. You have to take care of yourself."
"I cannot live without you! If it comes down to me or you, it will be you every time Alistair. I cannot die, you can. I will not lose you!" She said with such conviction.
"If you wish it that way, then promise me this. If something does happen to me, promise that you will not hold back and that you will change me."
Her eyes widened as the men kept piling into the boats and heading to shore, two more boats left one of which we would have to board soon.
"I promise." I nodded my head slightly, kissing her lips once more. Hopefully it was not for the last time either.
I released her from my grasp and we both moved to the last of the boats and headed for land, leaving Gibbs behind to watch the ship. I prayed to a God that may not even exist, that we would come out of this alive…all of us.
With all the men rowing at once it did not take us long to catch up with the other men, two boats had already made port and had already began protecting the small village. Something I never thought I would see pirates do, protect something.
Soon we all joined in on land, there were people everywhere. Mostly running and screaming for their lives, others were more easily distinctable as they were the ones causing the trouble.
"You stay close to me, alright?" I looked down at her gravely as we stepped off the boat. She nodded once swiftly before following me into battle.
We unsheathed our swords and joined into the fighting as well.
"Who are these men?" I heard Jemmerson yell from behind us as we bowled through two men, slicing into them easily before moving to the next.
"Not sure, but protect this village with all yer might mates! Fight to the death!" I roared while slicing into yet another man.
There was a collective roar from the men as they pushed on, cornering the filthy rats that ambushed this small defenseless village. There was a scream so loud that it turned both Isabella and my attention towards the small church in the middle of everything.
"Alistair!" I turned my eyes to my love to see her slice straight through someone without much effort at all before she turned toward the church. I knew what she wanted and I easily sliced through the rat fighting upon me.
I followed her toward the burning church to find that there was no one there…then what did we hear? We looked at one another in confusion before Bella turned back to the church and moved forward, she could go in without being harmed. I could not.
So I stayed back and watched her, making sure no one came up on us as we watched the burning church. I turned to look behind me and just in time too as someone more perfect than even my Bella came up behind me and swung his sword at me.
A vampire.
I blocked his swift blow easily and we went head to head. This is the hardest sword fight of my life, and I have gone against my own wife before.
I turned at the sound of metal clanking against metal, my eyes widened and my heart sped up to an all new speed as I watched my lover, my husband. He was fighting none other than Vaughn Volturi, Aro's son.
With a deep growl in the back of my throat I moved toward the sparing pair in hopes that I could save my one and only love. He is an extraordinary pirate, but he is only man. He does not have a chance against a full-fledged vampire.
I drew my sword and jumped from the steps of the church, only to come face to face with two sad excuses for pirates. I sliced one in half while simultaneously kicking one away when something to my left caught my eye.
My attention was immediately diverted, even half vampires are easily distracted. My eyes widened at what I saw before me….it was my father. He was standing on the doorstep of a small home that remained untouched.
We locked eyes, they were not the eyes I remembered, the eyes that I had inherited. They were a bright gold, what did that mean? Was he a vampire like Vaughn and Aro? Before I could dwell too long on the man that looked like my father I suddenly felt cold.
A blood curdling scream ripped through my lips as I realized that it was a sword that had sliced straight through my stomach. I looked up into the eyes of the man who was the cause of my demise.
I felt the sword slip from my body as I fell to the ground, hearing everything go by me in what felt like slow motion. I heard it, I barely registered it, the sound pierced my waning heart. It was the cry of my love as he watched me fall to the cold hard ground.
My eyes looked weakly to my love as he was forced to look at me by the overpowering vampire holding his face tightly so that he could watch me lay here dying. No, no, this is not happening.
"Now Miss Bella, you get to watch as I take your husband's life." I heard him whisper to where only I could hear him. Tears streamed down my face from the corner of my eye.
I gasped slightly as I saw movement above me, afraid to be subdued by that final blow. I looked above me to watch my death for the millionth time when suddenly there was a twist in the endless play of my death.
My eyes widened slightly as I saw my father appear out of thin air and snap the man's neck. He fell to the side, dropping his sword with a clatter as my father dropped to his knees and taking me in his arms.
"Bella? Is that you?" he whispered, tears that would never fall in his eyes as he looked upon my dying form.
"Daddy?" I was unfocused, my mind was on my love as he fought for his life as I let mine fade.
Suddenly both of our attentions were diverted to the pair facing off just mere feet away.
"Come on Captain Baur! I know you can fight better than this! Don't you want to avenge your wife?!" My blood ran cold at his words.
He was baiting him, and it was working.
"Daddy, you have to help him." I whispered to my father, pleading with him.
"Bella I have to get you home, I cannot let my only daughter die."
"I am not going to die! I cannot die! But my husband can, now save him!" I raised my voice, I was in distress and I was fading fast. I needed to know that my love would be safe before I died.
He looked at me in confusion before looking up to watch the pair, calculating quickly…but not quick enough.
The worse thing I could ever think of happened in that moment, my husband let out a blood curdling scream that had my heart breaking in two. My head jerked to the side to see Vaughn sink his teeth into my lover's neck.
"NO!" I screamed, tears streaming down my cheeks. Somehow I was able to stand on unsteady feet, Alistair's eyes locking with mine as he was posed in my direction.
I was about to move forward when I felt a sharp pain in my heart. I looked down and found a sword lodged in my chest, I looked up and Alistair's eyes widened. I heard a scream before the sword slipped from my body once more and I fell to my knees.
"Enjoy your newborn and dead daughter Carlisle." With this Vaughn disappeared, taking his men with him and heading for the Swan. I fell to the earth once more, my eyes never leaving Alistair as he stood unsteadily to his feet and staggered to my side as I writhed in pain.
This is the worst death I have endured to date.
"Be…Bella." He rasped as he pulled me into his arms….never have I seen a newborn able to move after being bitten. He should be screaming on his back right now, but he is here holding me as I lay dying.
"I need to get the both of you out of sight. You should not even be able to move." Alistair looked up above my head to see my father standing above us.
"Who are you?" He was so coherent….how?
"Her father, let me get her to my home and I will bring you as well."
"I have her." Then he did the most extraordinary thing a transitioning human could do, he grabbed me up in his arms and stood up straight.
My father's eyes widened slightly, but the look on Alistair's face must have convinced him that he could carry me. He nodded once and led him toward his home, once there he took us to a back room and Alistair laid me down on the bed. I writhed and soon began shaking violently, Alistair held my shoulders down as my father grabbed a syringe and injected it into my arm.
"What is that?" Alistair asked with a worried eye.
"Something to help soothe her. What did she mean when she said she cannot die?"
"Do you not know?" He shook his head in the negative.
"She is a half blood, half vampire/half human. She cannot die, she can be killed. But she cannot die."
"I left before she was born, I could not handle the smell of my wife's blood any longer. I did not know she was such a creature, I was only able to care for her until she was of five years….and then we were separated during a raid."
I shed a tear, remembering the night in perfect clarity….now I know he is alive. I took one last breath and soon felt myself grow cold almost instantly.
"Bella?" I asked one, two, three times before hanging my head and taking her hand in mine. Crying tears that I knew would soon dry up, I felt the pain, it was excruciating but I paid it no attention because the pain of watching my love die was even more painful than the fire burning inside of me.
"Do you not feel anything?" I looked up into the golden eyes of my wife's father. They look exactly alike, apart from the eyes. But I could picture him with her eyes.
"I feel it, but the pain I feel at watching her die for the first time is much more excruciating than the fire she has warned me about for the past four years."
"I know it hurts, but please lay down. Your body will soon lose strength the longer you push yourself to stay upright."
I knew nothing of this change, only the things my love had told me and at this moment I did not remember anything she had told me. So I complied with the wise vampire and laid down on the bed beside me wife, I would lie down but I would not leave her.
Just as I lied down a sharp pain shot through my body and I knew nothing but darkness.
…
…
…
…
…
It's been two days since I awoke. With the injuries I sustained I should have been out for much longer, but thanks to my father I was awake much sooner than I ever would have expected.
I blotted his forehead with the wet cloth, praying he would wake up soon.
"Judging by the sound of his heart, he should wake up in mere moments Bella."
"He really carried me all the way here….while undergoing the change?" My voice quivered as I watched my lover's pain contorted face.
"Yes he did, it was remarkable Bella. Never have I seen something like it, he loves you Isabella."
I smiled as I looked upon my husband, suddenly his eyes opened and he sat up straight on the bed. I held my breath as my father stood absolutely still, he is a newborn after all and so we must be extra careful with our movements.
"Bella? Bella?" He asked frantically, searching for me in distress until his eyes found my form beside him on the bed.
His eyes instantly softened when he realized it was me, I was blown away by his beauty. His hair was lighter and slightly longer, his eyes were blood red but they were still my Alistair's eyes, his features more defined and sharper than ever before, he truly was beautiful.
We were equals now, he was as fast as me, as strong as me, everything I could do he could do.
"I am right here my love." I whispered softly to him, soothing him instantly with my voice.
He did not say a word, he took me in his arms and held me tightly to his chest. He buried his face into my neck, taking in my scent before he kissed my neck lovingly. I averted my eyes to my father and he knew he had to leave, knowing very well that the newborn desire to mate was even more powerful than even a mature vampires desires.
Without a word he slipped from the house, leaving us alone.
"Bella….so soft, and warm. Beautiful. Mine." He whispered against my skin as he laid us down, his speed catching him slightly off guard whilst it excited me.
"All yours my love." I soothed as he devoured my body with his eyes and lips, he kissed up and down my neck, down my arms and back up again before he ripped my dress from my body with his clothes following soon after.
I would have to teach him how to dress and remove clothing without destroying it. Once our clothes were a thing of the past he was instantly inside of me, filling me fully and making me complete for the first time in days.
"My Isabella, my love, my wife." He chanted as he made love to me, moving as fast as he possibly could. It felt amazing, I have never felt pleasure such as this in my life, vampires are fast and so you can imagine their lovemaking to be fast as well.
"Tell me if I hurt you." He rasped as his speed increased, taking me to all new heights.
"You could never hurt me my love."
"I love you my sweet wife, come with me!" he roared in pleasure as he came undone, bringing me over the edge with him.
"ALISTAIR!" I screamed in ecstasy as we rode out or orgasms.
With a passionate kiss he pulled away and laid beside me on the bed, he knew he was not tired as he would have been if he were still human. But he knew my limits and so he laid beside me and held me tight in his arms but not too tight of course….again, he knew his limits.
"How are you able to control yourself like this?" I asked with a raised brow as we huddled closer together, it would never be close enough.
"I do not know actually, my mind is going a mile a minute and I can barely comprehend the fact that I can hear a family two miles away from here as they clean up the wreckage that is their home….but I do know one thing, that I cannot hurt you nor will I."
"You are amazing my dear husband, but we will most certainly have to work on the dressing and undressing. But do not feel bad, it is incredibly hard for newborns to dress themselves for a while after their change."
His eyes shifted downwards at my words, if he were human he would be blushing.
"Come, let us make ourselves presentable and go out to speak to my father."
I helped him dress and had him help me as well so that he could see what it felt like and so he could begin to get the hang of it. He looked at me with an odd expression once we were dressed and I could not help but to squirm under his gaze.
"What is it my love?"
"I do not remember you wearing a dress, only the one from our wedding day." I looked down at the light green, quarter sleeve dress that I was wearing. I did not want to wear it, but after a long argument with my father I finally conceded and put on the damn dress.
"I am only wearing it to appease my father, come let us join him in the foyer." I took his hand in mine and we both smiled at the electricity we felt at the contact.
With smiles that could outshine the sun we made our way into the foyer where my father was already awaiting us. We walked in and sat down together on a chair across from my father, he smiled at our clasped hands as we sat close together.
"How are you feeling?" He asked with a concerned look in his eye.
"I be alright mate, thank you." Father grimaced at his grammar, it was hard on him to learn I had lived a life as a pirate and married one as well.
"Good, Bella does he remember much?"
"He remembers our wedding, which was a year ago."
"I remember everything actually, why? Should I not?" both our necks nearly snapped as we looked at him….that is impossible.
"No one person who has been turned into a vampire has been able to remember everything, if anything, from their human life."
"He is right love, it is unheard of. Seeing as how you have all your memories, love that is a blessing."
"Oh yes, I only wish that I had half of my human memories. And I have only been a vampire for as long as my daughter has been alive and only a few years before she was born had I been changed."
Alistair looked between us in consideration, I could see the wheels turning in that great mind of his. He was thinking hard about something, what? I was unsure.
"He attacked this village to steal my ship, kill my love and take my life." He whispered suddenly, surprising both me and my father.
"Who?"
"The vampire that changed me, I remember him whispering in my ear before he bit me. He said: 'enjoy your new life, I know I will enjoy your ship.' I think he made a snide remark about Bella as well, but that is the only blank space in my memory."
"Why would a vampire want to steal a ship?" I thought aloud.
"And a full human crew." Alistair growled through his teeth, growing angrier with the thought.
"It does not make sense, but at least the both of you are safe. That is all that matters."
I nodded my head in agreement, my father does not agree with the pirate lifestyle and so it is best to agree with him rather than start an argument.
"Bella, love can I speak to you alone?" I looked to my lovers eyes and saw a need there, something I had been afraid of since I awoke to see his change in full pursuit.
"Of course, excuse us father."
I took his hand in mine and led him back to the room we were in once before and locked the door behind us.
"What is it my love? I saw that look in your eye, what is troubling my husband?" he turned to me, a burning passion that had my heart racing.
"I must go after him." It stopped all at once.
"What?" my voice cracked and I felt faint.
"Bella my love, he sent those men here to kill you and get to me. He wanted to send a message to the men of the sea that he took out the most feared pirate in these waters. I cannot let him get away with this, I must go after him and make him pay."
My heart was shattering, we were just about to begin our forever and he…he was wanting to leave?
"Bu…but we just, Alistair I cannot go with you if you go." He knew this.
"I know, I do not wish to leave you behind. But I cannot just stand aside and let that monster get away with the things he has done. He killed you, he took my life just to take my ship and steal my life and prove himself a pirate. Well we both know he is nowhere close, I will be dammed to Davy Jones' locker before I let a pirate run my ship."
I could see it in his eyes, there was no way that I could get him to stay. He was a man on a mission, and I was not going to stand in his way.
"Just promise me that you will come back to me. That you will find me again." The tears were streaming steadily down my cheeks as I looked into his perfect ruby eyes that filled with venom.
"Always."
He kissed me passionately for the last time before he vanished from the small house. Be safe lover, so that you may return to me one day.
The long awaited chapter 8! This is the big one you guys, this took a long time to write and it is 11 pages. I have had this scene planned out in my head since this story started and I am so excited to finally be sharing it with you, I hope that you enjoy! Next, we jump into the 21st century finally. Leave some love please:)