-A/N: Hello, sorry it took sooooo long! I've been really stressed out lately; I'm at my wit's end. One could even say that I'm ready for them to come and take me away to the funny farm! Ok, I won't bother you with my problems, you don't need to hear me complain about my life, I'm sure I'm just blowing things out of proportion. Anyways here's the story, I do hope you enjoy it! And…if you really want to show your appreciation you could…oh, I dunno… leave a review (I know I'm horrible to ask for a review, but it lets me know if I'm doing well or not!) Lots of love to all my readers, hope you like it! And while I do realize that newborns can't go anywhere near humans for a few years, Bella's got self-control…but only to a degree, she's only hungry for certain people. -
When we finally arrived at the mall, a mildly irritated Himiko shook me out of my thoughts and fantasies. Apparently she had broken a heel while playing ninja, I found that completely hilarious and couldn't control the mirth swelling inside me. My thoughts had swirled so much around the Cullen's, it was becoming almost obsessive, I was coming near hysterics, probably heading for a nervous break down if I kept this up much longer….
As we headed toward the mall's wide sweeping entrance and grand white stairs, Medea and Victoria struck up an animated conversation on a variety of things, since Himiko was mildly pissed and I was off in la-la land, their attentions focused on one another, understandably so considering we other vampires were feeling the need to go off and brood. Quickly becoming bored with the miscellaneous chatter, Medea decided we should continue our little game of truth and dare, only we should probably stick to truths, as Himiko put it so eloquently " I'm not helping any of you idiots if someone gets caught doing a dare, and I'd rather not have to haul ass out of the mall while running from blood bags in a renta-cop golf cart, are we clear?" She hadn't fed in a while, and she was a bit snappy.
So, we walked up the stairs with as much confidence and swagger our bodies would allow, and as vampires we soon had men –and a few women- Staring at us, well actually…it was more akin to sizing up a nice juicy steak to serve up with a side of gravy.
As we strode in, I had a near out of body experience. I saw us, walking in and to tell the honest truth, we could have passed as Gods.
Medea, with her icy ocher eyes had lovely dark chocolate hair, with ever present caramel streaks fading in and out, and olive skin under the traditional vampire glow-and-glitter skin, she was dressed in simple black skirt that wafted past her upper thighs, her torso was accentuated by a tight hot pink spaghetti top, she had on black sandals with pick straps. She was so tiny though…she looked like a little doll…so helpless and innocent.
In stark contrast to Medea's innocent and maiden charm, Himiko was certainly of a different hold.
Her hair was almost blue in the light; the obsidian locks now cascading down her back like a fountain of black silk. Her dark red eyes were shimmering rubies encrusted into a marble face
–I was so glad she could control herself so easily, damn her and her perfect gift. You have to understand though, Himiko was gifted with extreme self-control, and while she longed to drain every human nearby, she had been in life an excellent student in the art of self-denial and could withhold herself and make it look easy. My own control was wobbling and I probably would have snapped if it weren't for Medea. Her little gift to hold herself and other's back was astounding…In a sense she was like Jasper, she could easily affect your mood, but Medea was limited to only withhold people, and even then she had to try very hard with me. -
Himiko was angular, lean but muscular. Her body screamed –I am dangerous, step off. —She was dressed in tight fitting black pants, designer made if I wasn't mistaking. She was wearing a scarlet top, and it went perfectly with her skin. It wrapped gently around her neck, giving an ample view of her cleavage.
Victoria was wearing a simple green sundress; it was strapless, and trimmed with nearly opaque black lace. Her orange hair shimmered around her, needing no wind to dance its fiery movements, her eyes were brown, not yet gold, but faded from red. She was taller, and she was a little thicker than the rest of us. She older in appearance, but not by much. She was stunning, her curves was perfect, dazzling and swaying to a beat of some un-heard song. She was graceful, her moves were predatorily even in flip-flops with plastics daisy's on them. Confidence rolled off of her in waves, she was so sure of herself, she needed no one else to tell her she was beautiful or powerful, or smart and pretty…oh no, Victoria knew this all by herself without being told, but still managed to be completely humble. I will admit, I was slightly jealous of her charm.
Then, I saw myself. Dressed like someone else, walking and talking like someone else…who was this girl? This wasn't me…this wasn't Bella…
Could this be Isabella, the one I had tried so desperately to be?
I moved with grace now, at first I had been so excited, I could walk and not trip! But, I hardly noticed that anymore…and that depressed me.
My looks were not my own, I had long wavy hair, milk chocolate hair framed with tiny little rays of blonde that snaked through my hair like ivy around a tree. My eyes were big, shinning red still. I looked almost angelic, fairy like one could say.
My face seemed a little more heart shaped than I remembered, my hair now curved into a tiny widow's peak on my forehead. My lips were full, just as before but they had gained a definite pouty look. I wasn't really sure if I liked that. My hair was held back in a simple ponytail, I wasn't trying to be glamorous; in fact, I'd been trying to keep a low profile. I was wearing simple shoes, black leather pumps, and a pair of fitted blue jeans, the jeans themselves were dark, nearly black but faded between the two color tones as I walked, creating a shimmering affect. I was wearing a cobalt blue spaghetti top, and sensible leather jacket. We all had one feature in common, the dark, bruise like bags under our eyes.
I almost forgot about the one detail I actually did like, around my thin neck hung a simple white gold locket, an intricate heart that my mother had given me when I was only a little girl, probably no more than seven. Inside it, was a picture of Renee and Charlie when they were still married, arm in arm holding onto a little me. On the other side of the locket, was photograph of myself at seven, Charlie, Renee, and Phil. What an awkward Thanksgiving that had been…
On anyone else, the outfit would have been cute and soccer mom-ish. But no, I hated to admit; -And I would never admit this aloud. - But on me, the outfit looked like it should belong on a runway. Damnit, I don't like to bring attention to myself! Anyone who was/is/could be a klutz will tell you that it is not smart to bring attention to yourself, because you will fall flat on your face.
Being a graceful immortal or not, that was a hard habit to kick…and it probably doesn't help that I'm clutching onto that habit for dear life.
As my out of body experience ended, my thought's once again danced away from the present moment, while the others lead me away. My eye's thought of Emmett and Jasper, and I tried my best to sort out my emotions. For some reason, the intense feelings for Jasper were fading. He seemed…family like, in a distant and standoffish manner. In my reasoning, it was probably because of Alice. Alice and I had always been very good friends, and I would never hurt her. Not if I wanted to, no matter that she left me, I would always be her friend, even if she didn't want to be. But Emmett…I don't know why…by his dark curled hair, those dimples, that smile made me shiver. Why was it I was feeling like this? I may not have been overly fond of Rosalie, but I wasn't about to go about flirting with Emmett and breaking their love life apart…at least I didn't think so…. But who's to say these days?
Slowly, we made our way to a department store with fancy cursive blue neon writing above it. It was titled –' Rhythm'.
This store was definitely not something I would normally like, it was filled with skirts and odd necklaces, by the end of it though I had found myself a few pairs of skirts that I could tolerate, a top that I didn't mind, a pair of knee high black high-heeled boots that I adored.
Next door, we found a shop that had bright and stark letters in glowing red neon was store more my style, and I could see that Victoria shared my thoughts, for eyes lit up like comets as she saw the store. It was for more…tough, I suppose the word would be, women. It spelled out 'Roxanne's'
We strolled in, and I immediately attacked the nearest rack with the utmost viciousness. I found a few shirts a in a varying array of colors. I found many jeans, seeing as how my old one's hardly fit anymore, what with the massive amounts of random growing I'd done.
I found many jackets I liked, a few denim one in different styles. Medea made me try on one outfit she'd picked out, one she'd swore I would like.
We swung to the dressing room in our graceful manner, our moves simple steps in an intricate dance with unseen partners as we twirled our way there. Of course, we attracted many stares. Medea giggled when a man fell over, she insisted he had been staring at my…bum, for lack of better words. I protested, that couldn't be so! But never the less, we reached the dressing room. I found an empty booth, it was rather large. I saw a few hangers, and a few tops some lazy shopper had refused to take back, I rolled my eyes at this, finding it irritating for some God knows reason.
I quickly undressed, and put the outfit on, not really giving it much heed.
"What do you think of it?" Medea called, I could practically feel her bouncing on the balls of her feet, she was almost adorable when she was this child-like, it was rare to see this vulnerable, without her guard up like an iron barrier.
"I like it!" I called, not even having seen it yet.
I turned and saw myself, and with a sudden gasp I saw myself. I did like it! I was dressed in long brown skirt that flowed around my calves, the skirt itself was decked out many pearl white polka dots. The shoes was high-heeled and strapped sandals, brown as well My top was made from crushed velvet, honey brown the hugged my now lithe body. It ended around the top of my breast, with a large piece of clothe that wrapped around a little higher around it. It was sleeveless, from my pierced ear hung dangling crescent moons crafted from shell.
My breath was robbed from me, I could not tell you how stunned I was, could this really be me?
I heard a faint chuckle, no doubt Victoria's. She was convinced that I was beautiful, and that I was as lovely as an angel.
Despite my thinking, I could not deny this. I changed back, not wanting to have to deal with a smug Medea. We got a few more things, then left Roxanne's and headed to a store that I had been all to familiar with in my brief time as Alice's shopping buddy, Hot Topic.
Alice really hadn't been that big of a shopper, it just gave her something to do, a hobby that would never die out, no matter how the centuries changed. We dashed in, and almost instantly I spotted him.
I'm not sure what hit first, the unfamiliar scent or the almost excruciating heat that radiated from his body. But sure enough, behind the counter was a young werewolf. He looked up, but instead of a snarl, he gave me a grin and a small wink.
I took him in, wary. He was short compared to most of the men here, maybe about five eight. A skinny frame covered in dark and rather…tight, fashions from the store, which fit his Mediterranean complexion. His ears had multiple piercing, approximately eight in each ear. His hair was a lovely raven black, curly and down to his shoulders in angelic ringlets, his face was angular, just like a vampires. His eyes, a lovely amethyst hue, were framed by long and thick dark eyelashes that seemed almost feminine.
He smiled, flashing a set of shockingly white teeth. Victoria close behind me, mother in protect mode. Himiko was close too, seemingly at a good attack angle. Medea just kept up her charade of obliviousness, and went to haggle over a pair of pinstripe stockings. I crept up to him, still a little unsure.
He grinned that endearing smile of his, and in a voice so low that only a vampire could hear it; his smooth voice rumbled out like silk. "Well, well, well, what do we have here? Vampires? Oh, how kind of you to visit my shop!" He winked at me again, Victoria growled. She did not obviously like that fact that this wolf was flirting with me.
He extended his hand; out of reflex I shook his. He lifted the hand up to his lips, brushing slightly over my skin, almost searing it with his intense heat. His eyes caught mine, "Nice to meet you, what is your name, oh fair ice maiden?" His accent was British, but it had overtones of a slight Italian drawl. His eyes stared into mine, seductive as sex and tempered with sweet wine. Was he trying to bed me or introduce himself?
Okay, weren't werewolves supposed to hate vampires?? Did I miss a memo?
"My name is Isabella, aren't wolves supposed to hate us?" Blunt though it may have been, he did not seem to mind. He chuckled lightly, the sound echoed around us, sounding distinctively like the purr of a cat.
"I see you are American. Only those wolves dislike your kind, for you see they formed to protect their tribe, ne? Well, we on this side of that lovely ocean, formed out of simple of evolution. My dear, I hate to break it to you, but you won't get to fight me…unless you'd like a nice little struggle back at my apartment…" His voice trailed off. His hand lingered on mine, I moved it away, his hand held mine like I was some long lost lover…it was rather, unsettling….
"Why how kind of you…I'm sorry, what did you say your name was?" My voice was smooth, as if I would let this dog figure out that I was nervous, I wouldn't let him know I wasn't in control.
"Oh my dear, I didn't say my name. I find its best to not give it to strangers…and you're as strange as the come." His voice slipped from his velvet and full lips, he was beautiful.
"But, since you've been so sociable to moi, my name is Sappho." His voice held steady at this, but I could not stop myself from letting out a giggle. –A/N: Sappho is pronounced like 'Saf-oh.'-
"What do you find so funny, oh mighty Sanguine princess?" He cooed. –A/N: Sanguine means blood, or blood drinker. -
When I finished my little out burst, I studied his expression. It was guarded, his eyes taking in everything around him.
"Sappho?? Honestly, how ever did you come by that name?" I retorted.
"Its Greek, my darling blood sucker. My parents gave it to me, and I've seen no reason to change it." While his expression betrayed nothing, his definitely miffed tone did nothing to hide his slight agitation.
I decided to be a little playful with this wolf. My hand rose and began to scratch him behind the ears. The girls were to say the least, stunned. Even Medea looked like she'd just experienced a large volt of electricity shot through her. But, most shocked of all was Sappho. His jaw had dropped, and his eyes clouded over in confusion, and lust.
"Ah, did I make the little puppy angry?" Sappho growled a little, but this threat was quickly tossed aside as he leaned subconsciously closer to my hand. I flashed him a quick but telling smirk, it was smug enough to let him know I had won. Sappho growled, but this time it sounded more like a purr.
"Oooh, stop…no, wait please continue…oh right there." He growled out. My hand retracted, but his massive paw like hand caught me by the wrist. He let out a low whine, similar to a dogs sound for frustration.
"Let go of her, mongrel." Called out Victoria, she had snapped out of her little daze and was leaning into a small crouch, deadly and cold her eyes shown like black diamonds.
"My oh my, do I detect a little bit of animosity?" Sappho grinned; his smile could have easily lit up the room if it weren't for the dark looks flashing between Victoria and him.
"I don't trust dogs if they haven't had their shots." Victoria snarled.
"Victoria, please calm down. I'm sure if anything goes wrong I'll be able to handle him." My voice seemed to reassure her, she backed down. But, this did nothing to lower her tension to Sappho.
She motioned for Himiko to leave, she turned and gave me a quick hug, slipping a small metal square into my hand, I looked down and saw that it was a small cell phone.
"I'm the first on your speed dial." She whispered into my ear. And with that, she turned and sped out of the store.
With an almost exasperated groan, I turned to face my lovely but would be seducer. He was still there, grinning for all the world like a Cheshire cat. This irritated me, I don't know why but it did, scratch that, it really did.
"What's got you so smug fur ball?" I growled out.
"I see someone has so quickly turned on me! And here I thought that most vegetarians were friendly and loyal!"
Medea came over, hovering around me like a mother hen. Her inability to focus was making it hard to restrain myself, all of my new vampire feelings where hurling at me like knives, including the aggressive part.
"We need to leave, it was nice speaking with you Mr. Sappho." My voice sounded sharp, even to my own ears. I turned to leave, but Sappho grabbed my arm and spun me around, I was about to yell at him when his lips crushed into mine, his own scent and taste spinning around me, oh God I was in heaven! How on earth did the Cullen's find this smell offensive? Maybe it had something to do with the American wolves…but, I quickly forgot this query as Sappho proved to be rather nimble with his tongue. He pulled back, our lips barely brushing one another, his dark skin a glitter, his eyes had darkened from amethyst to magenta. His dark curly hair fell around us both in a curtain of soft silk, he smelled like grapes. He moved slowly to my ear, his lips tracing my cheek, he nipped the bud of my ear, and whispered softly "You smell simply divine, Isabella. Like temptation personified…my number is 555-8623, call me." And with that, he pulled back a little. Just as he was about to move in again, I felt myself hauled through the air, I could see myself attached to Medea, her tiny but capable hands pulling me along.
We stopped in a few yards away from the store, Medea whipped around. "What the hell was that?"
Before I could answer, Himiko and Victoria seemed to shimmer into existence next to Medea, each looking the part of detective.
Great, I was probably going to play witness and get interrogated. Well crap.
So, I decided to do something that would get me out of this, I was going to regret this, terribly, but I was going to regret letting them investigate this further.
I jutted my finger out, and yelled. "Oliver no don't hurt him!" By the time their heads had turned to look where I had gestured, I was already back at Hot Topic, literally sweeping Sappho off his feet.
We were out of the store in minutes, he looked rather bemused, but his natural cool composure was ever-present "Mind telling me where you are keeping me hostage?" He cooed, I just kept up my pace, too focused on finding running water that would throw off my scent. After crossing a rather large knee-deep pond, Sappho finally spoke again. "Turn left up here, it's where I'm staying." My only response was sharp nodd.
What the hell was making me think like this? This was not like me, at all. I mean seriously, how often do you think of me kidnapping someone else ?! But, I felt like I would need to be around Sappho, like I would need to be in his presence. There was something about him, and I was going to find out what it was.
This place looked strangely familiar, I'd seen it some place before. When we reached the appropriate building, I let him down in the lobby, an elderly woman shooting us dirty looks, so, just to complete my out of character moment, I hissed at her. She scurried off, and Sappho chuckled, finding this hilarious. "Do you have a room mate?" I called in a tight voice. Being around this many people was hard, especially without Medea's power to restrain me. "Just my little sister."
As we walked up the stairs, this building became increasingly familiar, but why? When we reached the door, Sappho knocked. The door opened to reveal one of four things.
The first, was Ashley. Apparently, she was Sappho's little sister. She smiled warmly and greeted us both with hugs.
The second was that the room was unnaturally silent, only Ashley's and Sappho's breathing really caught my notice.
The third was what caused the silence, because there, waiting with un-touched cups of tea, was Victoria, Medea and Himiko. And all of them had very smug and satisfied looks hung across their faces, veiling them like a thick curtain.
Couldn't I catch a break? Just once, please?
But no, to add to all of that, I finally noticed the fourth thing. I'm not sure which one of them was the cause of this particular thing being here, but there in a chair was sitting a rather pensive, extremely irritated Oliver.
His expression was one that I had seen once before, the time Edward had a stand off with Victoria.
"Who are you?" Sappho called to Oliver, studying him quickly, sensing the tension.
"I am Isabella's boyfriend, whom are you?" Boyfriend? BOYFRIEND?! Okay, note to self, find out and test interesting and new ways to kill Vampires, especially male Vampires.
Sappho though, did not seem put off by this. His lithe arm wrapped around my dainty waist and pulled me close, and he grinned that smile of his. "I'm Sappho, and I'm the guy who is sweeping her off her feet." To add to his statement, he switched our positions from earlier, my body now pulled close to him, tiny in comparison to the confidence he shot off like fire works. My cold form melded smoothly against his burning body and he held me with ease.
Did every guy in my life have to drive me nuts?