Chapter 13: Bella just can't get a break!
Bella smirked at Rosalie's stunned face after her little catty comment. Bella has been waiting to say that for years to the blonde vampire. Bella knew that one day one or all the Cullen's would come back, it was just a matter of when and if she would be alive to see it. Granted when Leah confirmed that there was a Cullen at the airport yesterday, Bella honestly thought it was Edward. To see that it was Rosalie of all the Cullen's to return, well color her surprised! To further Bella's shock though, Rosalie is not only here but, in her home, which is most certainly not on Cullen territory. To see someone like Rosalie whom was always a stickler for the rules break the treaty and bringing a war upon her coven just to see her, well Bella would have been flattered if she weren't so tempted to set the bitch on fire!
Taking another puff of her cigarette, Bella leaned against the window as she waited for the vamp to collect herself and retaliate. The Rosalie she remembered wouldn't let a comment like that slide without recompose. Besides the between the cigarette, her amused mate being near and antagonizing the blonde, Bella could almost forget the panic she feels about her mother being in an accident and the almost crippling fear that her mother sis dead. Bella has lost enough family overseas, she doesn't need nor want to lose more family here as well. After a minute of staring incredulously at the smirking human in the room, Rosalie finally gathered herself to respond.
"Excuse me?!" Rosalie growled in stunned agitation, subconsciously taking a threatening step towards the human. Seeing the threatening maneuver towards her imprint, Leah leapt to her feet and growled warningly at the vampire. No matter how badass Bella is and no matter that they both knew that she can take care of herself, Leah would not let this bitch threaten her mate. While Leah reacted to the silent threat, Bella angled her body so that her back is toward the wall and surreptitiously slipped her hand not holding the cigarette behind her back. Anyone looking would thing she was scratching her lower back, but she was really reaching for her special gun. Now that she is free from the mating bond tying her to the vampire they can hurt each other, so if the blonde doesn't back off Bella can shoot her…if Leah doesn't get to her first.
Seeing the wolf threaten her for taking that threatening step towards the human had Rosalie's lip curling in a sneer, as if she would hurt her mate! Rosalie was just trying to intimidate her! But seeing the wariness in Bella's eyes as she eyed her like she would an enemy, hurt shot through Rosalie's heart. Now that Rosalie is acknowledging her bond with the human, she finds that any rejection or perceived rejection hurts. With a huff of annoyance to cover up her hurt, Rosalie took a deliberate step back from the other occupants in the room.
Once the vampire was at a respectable distance, the other two relaxed a fraction, although they both will be quick to act in case the vampire forgets herself again. Bella's hand slowly slipped from her gun to her side, luckily, she is a quick draw, so should she need to she could get her gun out in a flash. Releasing a frustrated sigh at the drama already with just two damn sentences between them, Bella flicker her cigarette out of the window. Wearily rubbing her hand across her face, Bella decided to get this shit over with in the hopes that she can get some much-needed answers from the blonde before kicking her ass out!
"What are you doing here Hale?" Bella wearily asked the vampire, she knew that she needs to be the bigger person here. If what she remembered of the blonde is correct, she will drag this out to prevent straight answers from her or she will just be a bitch and make you work for answers. Bella is in no mood for that though, not only is she tired from last night, her nightmare and the panic attack, but she also needs to find out what is going on with her mother. Not only that though, but she has a funeral to attend to tomorrow morning and a ceremony in the afternoon. So, the sooner she gets her answers, the sooner she could show the vampire the door and cuddle with her wolf to sleep.
Seeing how weary Bella is, Rosalie decided to cut the usual song and dance though. Rosalie felt bad to be causing her mate such stress and she knew the news she is going to share will add to that stress. Unfortunately, mate or not she cannot change who she is. So even though she intended to be straight with her mate, she will not sugarcoat things.
"There is a price on your head, the entire supernatural community will be looking to have your head on a platter." Rosalie bluntly told the human, although crude it got the message across. Bella blankly looked at her former mate, seeing that she was being serious and was not fucking with her, Bella slumped against the window with a groan. Bella covered her face in her hands and just shook her head tiredly. Bella was not even surprised nor was she fazed at this point. If Bella were anyone else, she would be freaking out and scared shitless. At this point in her life though, she was so desensitized to her life being in danger that she could only groan and shake her head in exasperation.
Leah on the other hand, she could and would freak out enough for them both. Even though she was warned of the danger that Bella was in, Leah could not help but feel an intense fear at the thought of her mate in danger of being hunted by not just vampires, but the entire supernatural community. Leah glanced at her mate and seeing just how done she was with everything, Leah could only wince in sympathy. Bella has been through enough shit in her life. Now being hunted by thousands of various creatures on top of the consequences of the war, Leah knew that Bella was going to crack soon enough. Leah just hope and prayed to Taha Aki that when she does crack, that she will be there with her to help put her together again as she had so many times before.
Although, Leah had a terrible suspicion that when Bella does lose it, she won't be enough to help her this time.
She just prayed she was wrong.