I've got a plan for these two. A good plan. At least, I think it's a good plan. We'll see. Thanks for sticking with me on this one. Too many plot bunnies, not enough hours in the day…I tell ya!
There will be smexy times in the next chapter. In addition to the smexy times, Bella and Edward are going to be discussing their future after the battle, communication from the Volturi and a message from James and Victoria.
Chapter Seventeen
EPOV
I jumped up, swiped the flag and ran to the center of the field. Esme was there and I handed the flag to her with a triumphant grin. "Did we win?" I asked. She gave me a sheepish grin, looking over to Eleazar, who was whistling as he waved my red flag. "Wha…? How?"
"Diversionary tactic. Brilliant," Eleazar snickered. "Kate was easily taken out and by the time Alice arrived, I had already gotten the flag."
"So, that fight with Bella was unnecessary?" I pouted. Bella ran up and hopped onto my back.
"Not unnecessary. Did you learn something?" Eleazar asked.
"A few new tricks from this one," I said as I patted Bella's ass. "Plus, I was able to reign in my bloodlust."
"I felt that, Edward. I was ready to jump in if need be, but you did it all yourself. Not many newborns could accomplish that," Jasper said, giving me a beamingly proud smile.
"Then, this exercise was a success," Carlisle said.
"I'm still pissed that I lost, though," I scowled.
"Baby, you didn't lose. You still have me," Bella said as she kissed my neck. And I fully expect you to do that tongue thing on me, baby. Now that you teased me with it, I want it.
Ready for some adult wrestling, Mrs. Masen? I asked, waggling my brows.
"Fuck, yeah," she purred, grinding up against my back.
BPOV
Edward took off like a shot. I don't know where he was running but I knew that I needed him something fierce. My pants were drenched from our fight while playing capture the flag. "Where are we going, Edward?" I asked.
"I don't know. I need to be away from them. I love our family, but they can be overbearing," he said as he sprinted.
"Go to the house and pick up a car. We can stay in a hotel in Milwaukee," I said as I sucked on his neck.
"You're fucking brilliant, angel," he growled, changing his course. We made it back to the house. I flew upstairs, packing a bag for a few days for both of us. Edward was waiting in the kitchen of Esme's home, eyeing me hungrily. "Will I be okay in the hotel, Bella?"
"You have remarkable restraint, Edward," I said as I walked toward him, cupping his neck to bring him to kiss me. "I can shield you, if you're nervous," I murmured before covering his lips with mine. He picked me up and growled lowly in the back of his throat. His erection was straining against his pants. "Edward, I can hear them coming. We've got to go."
"Fuck," he moaned as he pulled away from me. "Do not touch me until we get to the hotel, angel. I will seriously not be held accountable for my actions if you do."
"Got it," I giggled. I picked up my keys and we ran out to my Ferrari. I was in more control of my body and I got into the driver's seat. Edward slid into the passenger's seat, staring at me like I was his next meal.
Drive. Fast. He commanded with his mind. I nodded and turned over the car. I pulled away from the house, peeling down the driveway and nearly running over Garrett. He laughed heartily, mentally and told us to not break anything. I snorted and broke every single traffic law to get to Milwaukee. Thank goodness, there was no traffic at two in the morning. I made it into Milwaukee in no time. The first hotel I saw was the Iron Horse Hotel.
Hold your breath, Edward. You're not in control, I said to him. His eyes were black onyx and so there was no concern about scaring the concierge with his blood-red eyes. I shielded him and we walked into the hotel after we used the valet to park the car. I walked up to the front desk. "Hello," I said seductively.
The concierge looked at me, his blue eyes appraising me. Fuck, she's gorgeous. I wonder if that's her brother. "Welcome to the Iron Horse Hotel," he said, his voice squeaking slightly. Jesus, am I going through puberty again? "How can I help you?"
"My husband and I were on a road trip and we just need a break for a few days. Do you have a room available?" I asked, dazzling him with my vampiric beauty.
"The only room available is the suite," he responded after he checked the computer. "Would that be alright for you?" And your husband, he sneered mentally.
"Perfect," I said as I put down my new Isabella Masen credit card. "Three nights, please?" His mental grumblings were about he'd end up alone with a cat. He handed me the credit slip which I signed with a flourish. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Room 609," he said, handing me two keys. "Do you need help up to the room, Mrs. Masen?"
"No," Edward growled as his arms shot around me, nuzzling my neck. "Come on, Mrs. Masen. I need to fuck my wife." I waved at the concierge as I was dragged to the elevator. Once the lift arrived, Edward pulled me inside, picking me up as he devoured my mouth. I wrapped my legs around his slender waist, rocking against his straining erection.
Jealous, baby? I asked as I threaded my fingers into his thick bronze locks.
He wanted what was mine, he snarled, biting down on my neck. "Mine. You're mine, Mrs. Masen."
"Always, Edward," I said as I cupped his face. "Stay in control until we get into the room."
"I'm trying," he panted. "I seriously hope that you're not too attached to those clothes. They are going to be ripped off your body as soon as we're in the room, baby."
The door dinged and I hopped out of his arms, pulling on him until we reached our suite on the far end of the hotel. I opened the door and was dragged into the room by a very horny, domineering and sexy Edward. His thoughts were filled with every sexy situation he could imagine, starring us.
As soon as our door was shut, Edward's mouth was on mine. Fantasy number one, he thought to me. His hands shredded my shirt, revealing my bra-covered breasts. He fell to his knees, licking and biting at my skin. He looked up at me and suckled my breast into his mouth as he cupped the other. With a flick of his fingernail, my bra opened and he tugged it down. "So fucking beautiful," he whispered before devouring my breasts with his mouth.
"Yes," I moaned, tugging on his hair. "More, Edward."
"How much do you think they'll charge us if we destroy all of the furniture in the room?" he asked as he nipped at my tits. He swirled his tongue along my nipple. I really don't think most of this is going to survive our stay. I want to fuck you for days, Mrs. Masen.
Let's not break through the walls. Any money we spend will be money well-spent, I smirked as I arched my breast into his mouth. He bit down on my nipple and tore my pants away from my body. "Fuck," I moaned. Edward pulled back and ripped my panties from my body. I was completely naked, save for my shoes. He eyed my pussy. He licked his lips and a low rumbling grown filled the room. His black eyes appraised me and the growl grew deeper, causing the wetness between my legs to seep down my thighs.
"Turn around," he said, giving me a sexy smirk. "Spread your legs, Bella. I want to feast from your pussy."
"Oh, GOD!" I moaned as I turned, my ass facing him. He gracefully slid beneath my body and spread my lower lips. His tongue glided along my slit, earning a guttural moan from me. He inhaled deeply at the apex of my thighs.
"So sweet, my beautiful wife," he crooned. He breathed again, relishing my scent. "I wish I could bottle this, Bella. It's so good."
"Edward," I whimpered, rocking my hips.
"That's it, Bella. Ride my face," he growled, flicking his tongue along my needy clit. He turned his body and licked up the back of me, circling his tongue along my ass. His fingers were massaging my sensitive bundle as I moved sinuously over his hand and face. One of his hands was gripped on my hips. If I were human, I would have had bruises. He moved his mouth from my pussy, biting down on my ass cheek. I fell forward, pressing my face against the cool metal door. Edward stood up and spun me around. He swept me off my feet and put me on the desk next to the door. The wood groaned under the pressure. "Spread those pretty legs, Bella. Show me your pussy, baby."
I bit my lip and displayed my wet, dripping and needy sex. He tore his clothes from his body, burying his face between my thighs. His tongue slid between my folds, fucking me. I bucked against his face as he licked me. I was close to coming all over him. So fucking amazing, he purred mentally. Your taste is like the sweetest ambrosia. I'm not moving from this spot for at least a day. I want lick your pussy forever.
"What about my fun?" I pouted as I gripped my breasts.
At sunrise, you can have your taste. I've got five hours of tongue fucking to do and you've got five hours of screaming to give me, angel, he said as he bit on my pussy lips. I fell back and let the feelings he was doing wash over me.
Edward kept his promise and he fucked me with his tongue until the sun rose. After that, we moved to the bed and I straddled his head, still enjoying his mouth on me. I got my own taste, sucking his cock eagerly while he plunged his fingers into my pussy. I'd come so many times already, dousing us both in venomous release from the power of my orgasm. Edward also came numerous times. I eagerly swallowed it all down.
By midday, we were just staring at each other in the disheveled bed. We weren't tired but I wanted to look into his eyes. I was deprived of them while we were working each other over with our mouths. "I want to see you," I whispered.
"You are seeing me," he said as he caressed my face with his fingers.
"No, I want to see you touch yourself," I said, dropping my gaze to his chest. If I were human, I'd probably be as red as a tomato. God, I feel stupid asking to see that.
"Bella, angel, don't be," he said softly. "I want to see you, too." I looked up at him and he gave me a seductive smile. He moved so he was seated in front of me, leaning against the headboard of the bed. His cock was soft but he wrapped his hand around it, slowly stroking it from base to tip. Spread your legs, Bella.
Nibbling on my lip, I opened my legs and reached between my thighs. I gently touched my clit, circling it slowly. "Like this?"
"What does it feel like, Bella?" he asked as he looked up to me. "Describe the sensations you're feeling as you touch yourself."
I don't know how, I said, rolling my clit between my fingers. You're so much better at the dirty talk, Edward. Then again, you're just sexy as hell.
"Do you know how sexy you are?" he asked as he twisted his hand around his cock. "Seeing you touch your body. Your arousal spilling out of your pussy…hmmmm, it's so fucking sexy. Beautiful. Alluring. Forbidden."
"Forbidden?" I asked out loud.
"Forbidden. Seeing another person make themselves come is a taboo. Most people would shy away from it, but seeing you play with your body, makes me harder. What are you thinking about as you touch your sex, Bella?"
You, I thought. My mind flooded with what we did against the door; his lips between my legs; his cock inside of me, taking me from behind; kissing as we made love slowly; his smiling green eyes on our wedding day; the love radiated from us whenever we were together.
"Bella," he murmured as he crawled over to me. He cupped my face as I continued to rub my clit. "My Bella," he whispered reverently. He kissed me and rolled us so I was on my back. "Is that how you see me?"
"You call me an angel but in reality, it's you," I said, wrapping my legs around his waist. "I love you and with you, I feel whole, complete and at home. Even more so when we're one."
"Then, who am I to deny my wife those feelings?" he said as he slid inside of me. I moaned, coming from the sweetness of his words and the love pouring from his very soul. His mind filled of how envisioned me. He truly did see me as an angel, minus the wings. The love he felt for me was all-encompassing and he was never, ever going to let it go.
We stayed linked for the remainder of our time in the hotel, breathing the same air and sharing the same body. We only separated to shower, but even then, we couldn't resist each other and ended up making love in the shower. After three days of nonstop sex and being naked, we dressed and checked out of the hotel. The damage to the room was fairly extensive. The bed frame didn't survive and the mattress was pretty torn up. The desk was intact, minus the huge crack down the middle. However, Edward was the proudest of the door. It was a perfect outline of my back, with his hands on my ass. He took a picture of it with his camera, grinning like a buffoon as he saved it as the wallpaper of his cell phone.
We left the hotel and drove back to the house in Whitefish Bay. Everyone was otherwise occupied. Apparently, we weren't the only ones who needed a little sexual release, Edward snickered.
"Apparently not," I quipped. "You want to hunt? You're eyes are pretty dark and you've got circles."
"It probably would be prudent," he said. "I really don't want to have my mind invaded by five sets of horny vampires."
"Imagine poor Irina," I frowned. "She's got to be uncomfortable."
"Come on, angel. You're thirsty, too. Your eyes are nearly black," he said as he traced underneath my eyes. I nodded and we got out of the car, running north toward a nearby forest preserve. Want to hunt together?
Yeah. I'm kind of attached to you, Edward, I giggled. He rolled his eyes and we focused our minds on finding something to drink. We eventually found a small herd of deer. We both drained two deer each. Edward even found a small brown bear, finishing it easily. He was smacking his lips, toting the benefits of eating carnivores. I rolled my eyes.
"Bella, can we go and talk?" Edward asked. His mind was blank and he had a worried expression on his handsome face.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine, but I want to talk to you about what's happening," he said as he took my hand. He picked me up, slinging me on his back. Hold on, Angel.
I giggled and wrapped my arms around his neck. He took off like a shot ran us to a small meadow, just outside of Green Bay. It had taken him a fraction of the time to run there, but apparently this conversation needed to happen in private. No vampire ears or horny concierges. He sat us down in the middle of the meadow as the sun was beginning to set. He took my hand and kissed my wedding rings. "I love you, Bella. You know that, right?"
"As I love you, Edward," I said.
"We need to have a plan if something goes wrong," he said, his eyes impossibly sad. "With the battle. I know that Alice foresees that everything will be hunky-dory, but I want to ensure that we're safe."
"Edward, we're going to be fine," I said angrily, reiterating it mentally.
"Bella, everything could blow over or it could be a bloodbath," he sighed. "I just want to have a contingency plan, angel. The business man in me always has a contingency plan." He took a breath and brushed my wild hair away from my face. "If something happens, and we're separated, come here. As soon as I'm able, I'll be here, Bella. If I am not here after a day, then, it's safe to say that I didn't survive."
NO! I screamed mentally.
"Bella, please, baby," he whispered, taking me into his arms. I'd travel through hellfire to get back to you, angel. You are my life. My soul. My everything.
"I can't lose you. I just found you," I whimpered, wrapping my arms around his neck.
"I can't lose you, either," he said, brushing venomous tears from my cheeks. "I just want to make sure that you know everything. Absolutely everything." I sniffled and nodded. "Jasper has arranged for my will to be updated. He also leaked a press release after our wedding that I had gotten married and that was the reason for my sabbatical. If something happens to me, everything that I have goes to you, Bella."
"I don't want all of that. I want you," I said petulantly.
"I know, baby," he said, kissing my forehead. "Jasper also had the forethought to do the same for you. I've been added to your accounts. If both of us don't make it, all of the money goes to my parents with explicit instructions on how to use it."
"I hate this. We should be celebrating our love and enjoying our time together. Instead, we're talking about wills and contingency plans. I hate James. I hate Victoria! I hate all of this. I just want you. I want to be with you forever," I said as I buried my nose into his neck.
"We'll get that, Bella. I have faith in Alice's visions that we will be successful in our fight against James, Victoria and the rest of their motley crew. I have faith in us, too" he said, rubbing his hands along my sweater. "There are so many things I want to do with you, Bella. I want take you on a proper honeymoon. I want to make love to you on a beach in the moonlight. I want to see the world through your eyes, Bella." And we will. James, Victoria and all of them won't steal my future with you. You hear me?
"I hear you," I said, kissing his lips softly.
Our phones rang simultaneously. Mine was a text from Jasper and Edward's was a phone call from Carlisle. We were needed at home. The Volturi had contacted us.
We ran back and made it to the house in record time. Everyone was in the living room, waiting for our return. Jasper gave us a knowing smirk and Alice just giggled. Edward rolled his eyes as he walked to a fluffy chair in the corner and pulled me into his lap. "Now that we're all here, the Volturi have contacted us. Or rather, they contacted Eleazar and me," Carlisle began. "They also tried contacting Bella but her phone was not on and they turned us."
"Why me?" I asked.
"You are the closest, at least according to their records, to the action. They needed a spy," Eleazar explained. "Victoria and James have become sloppy."
"What do you mean?" Esme questioned, taking Carlisle's hand.
"It means that James and Victoria are unleashing savages in the city, not teaching them the proper ways to be a vampire," Carlisle said sadly. "The girl we destroyed is only one of…how many did Aro say?"
"Roughly thirty, plus James, Victoria, and Tanya. I also think that Laurent also arrived. His trademark for leaving bodies is to give a bloody kiss on the lips of his victims," Eleazar growled. "There have been ten bodies found like that all around the city. In the open air, not buried or destroyed."
"Is that normal? Ten bodies?" Edward asked.
"It seems a bit gluttonous," Kate shuddered. "Perhaps Laurent is trying to forget the taste of animal blood and he's gorging himself on humans. What did the humans look like?"
"They all looked similar to Irina," Eleazar frowned. "I think he's sending you a message, my daughter."
"He wants revenge?" Irina asked, her face deepening into a frown. "I don't understand why. It's not like I forced him to drink from the blood of animals. He said he wanted to change."
"He also said he loved you and that you were his mate and then he got the bug up his ass that you weren't. Irina, Laurent is an asshole," Kate spat. "You deserve better than him."
"Spoken like a mated woman," Irina growled, her golden eyes filling with tears. "You all have someone. I'm alone now and I hate it!" She hopped up and stomped to the window, trying to not cry. Carmen got up and wrapped her arm around Irina's shoulders. She turned, crying into Carmen's neck.
"Use those feelings," Jasper said to Irina. "I know you feel betrayed, hurt and angry."
"You're an empath. I had forgotten," Irina sniffled, wiping her nose daintily. "How do I use those emotions? I'm hurt more than anything."
"No, you're angry," Jasper said, narrowing his eyes. "The hurt is the most prevalent emotion now, but you have a deep-seated anger towards Laurent for using you. Use it, Irina. Make him pay for what he did to you."
"Back to the Volturi," Carlisle interrupted. "Irina, I'm sorry about what Laurent did to you, but he's a part of the problem."
"I understand, Carlisle. Let's just say that Laurent has fucked with the wrong woman," Irina snarled, sitting down next to Kate, who hugged her sister. "I apologize, Carlisle. Let's talk about taking these assholes down."
Carlisle gave her a smile before looking at the rest of us. "The Volturi do not want to send a contingent of their guard unless it's absolutely necessary. However, Caius is ready to end them and anyone who knows about them."
"That includes us," Esme frowned. "Caius is blaming our family and Bella for this mess."
"We didn't do anything!" Edward barked. "Seriously, this chaos dude is ready to sign over a death warrant for us because we had some knowledge over this crap?"
"Caius," Eleazar corrected. "And yes, he is. Let's just say that Caius is all about following the rules. He is unwavering in our way of life and maintaining our secret. Humans cannot know about us. I'm surprised that the Volturi didn't swoop in on your wedding or that your parents are still alive, despite their knowledge of our existence."
"That's because no one is going to tell the Volturi about that," I said. "Edward's family is not to be harmed."
"That may prove to be a challenge, Bella," Carlisle said. "Aro is also a mind-reader. But his gift is different from yours or Edward's. He has to physically touch someone to access their thoughts. But, once he does, he reads all of the memories, thoughts and experiences. Every thought that you've ever had, every person, everything, he'll know."
"What if I shield them?" I asked. "Would he be able to penetrate it?"
"I don't know," Eleazar said. "Let's try it, using Edward. Bella, block me." Eleazar filled his mind of memories of our wedding. "What am I thinking of Edward?"
"Our wedding day. The vows, our first kiss…" Edward murmured, his gaze blank. I covered Eleazar with my shield. "Now, nothing. I only hear the others." He turned to Carlisle. "It may work."
"I can't shield everyone," I said. "Aro may become suspicious thinking that his gift is waning."
"I think the most important people who need to be shielded are Edward, you and, I think Alice, too. The rest of us had barely any interaction with your parents, Edward. This may be a moot point, though. The Volturi may not even come," Eleazar mused out loud.
"But Carlisle just said that Caius blames us and Bella for this mess," Garrett said, arching a brow. "It's not our responsibility to police every rogue vampire. Hell, every one of us may have a moment that we went off the grid for a spell. That's not fair, nor is it our job, Eleazar. If the Volturi are so concerned, then they should have some of the Guard stationed in the states. I refuse to be punished for their small-mindedness. It's bullshit."
"Garrett, breathe baby," Kate said as she patted his cheek. "The man is not going to get us." Garret rolled his eyes and pulled Kate into his lap. "Sorry about him. Once a Revolutionary, always a Revolutionary."
"Caius is ready to hunt us all down. Marcus, on the other hand, is the voice of reason," Eleazar said, smirking at his daughter.
"Or disenchantment," Carlisle snorted.
Eleazar rolled his eyes. "Marcus is done with being vampire royalty. Has been for a long time."
"He was done when I was there two hundred years ago," Carlisle said, quirking a brow. "Anyhow, he'd rather stay in the castle in Volterra, surrounded by his memories of his mate then travel the world in search of wrong-doers of vampiric law. Aro is easily amused and if the situation is interesting, he'll intervene."
"As of right now, I do not think that it's interesting enough. However, it if escalates, the Volturi will send the Guard to exterminate the problem and all who knew about the problem," Eleazar said grimly.
"What else did Aro say?" Alice asked.
Do you think that the Volturi will exterminate us, angel? Edward's frantic mind asked.
Not if we step in sooner rather than later. We may need to do another recon mission prior to the fight in October, Edward. We also may have to destroy some more newborns.
His face fell and he scowled deeply. I hate taking another sentient life, Bella. Even if they are evil and unaware. Can't they be taught?
Not if they were turned by James. It sounds like he's changing them and releasing them into the city. They have no recollection of their humanity and they're savages, I said, caressing his face.
"You're not," he whispered.
It's because I had Jasper to help me. Though, if I had woken up from my change without the guidance of my brother, I would have been. He stared into my eyes and he held me tightly, like I was going to disappear.
Alice isn't a savage, either.
Her mind perked up when she saw our conversation included her. She looked at both of us and her mind swirled of a vision she had when she first woke up. It was of Carlisle's face, his warmth and his golden eyes. Following closely after that was Jasper, sitting in a diner in Philadelphia. Her mind chirped into ours, I knew that I wasn't going to become a monster. I saw Carlisle. I saw his way of life and I adopted it from the moment I woke up. I've only slipped once and that was within the first year of my existence. A miner in Tennessee fell and broke his back when he was exiting the mine shaft. He cut his hand and I was so thirsty that I attacked without even realizing it. After I saw what I did, I vowed to never drink another drop of human blood. I did not want to lose my conscience.
"Now, we need to figure out what to do about the Volturi," Carlisle said, getting up from his seat. He began pacing the length of the living room. "Garrett has a point about us not being the police for the Volturi in the United States. But, since we do know about it, we should do something."
"We are doing something," Alice said.
"The bigger question is do we do it now or later?" Eleazar posed. "Use the element of surprise." He pursed his lips, looking around the room. "I personally think we should go now." His family nodded in agreement. Irina just wanted revenge on her ex. Mentally, she was counting all of the different ways she could dismantle Laurent.
"Jasper, what do you think?" Carlisle asked.
"There are merits for going early, but also waiting, too. Going early, we do have the element of surprise. However, we are not as skilled in fighting," Jasper said thoughtfully. "Most of us are battle-hardened. Edward, unfortunately, is not. We also need to work with him if he doesn't have Bella by his side. Ali, what do you see if we go early?"
Her eyes glazed over and she pictured if we went in the next week or so. It was not pretty. "I don't recommend it," Alice said, wrinkling her nose.
"Your visions are subjective, right, Alice?" Carmen asked.
"Yes. Based on what we can do and the amount of newborns in Chicago, along with James, Victoria, and Laurent, we will suffer heavy casualties. We need to wait. It's our best bet," Alice explained.
"But what about the Volturi?" Kate asked. "What if they think that we're dragging our asses on this?"
"Then, we explain to them our reasoning for waiting. It would be beneficial to wait, Kate. The newborns are highly emotional, unstable and likely to destroy themselves than have us do it," Jasper said.
"Edward is a newborn and he's not emotional or unstable," Garrett snorted.
"Compared to when I was a human? I'm very much different," he said. "I feel like I'm out of control and my mind is reeling. I also have a temper, which I never had as a human. I was very even-keeled and mellow. I never yelled or fought with anyone as a human, but I've had to fight my best friend; I've yelled at Bella; and I stressed out over a situation that wouldn't have bothered me if I were human."
Emma and the baby? I asked. Edward nodded, kissing my palm. "Garrett, it also helped that Edward's got this amazing support system," I said. "We would never allow him to hurt another person. Jasper assists with his gift and our relationship is…"
"Amazing," Eleazar said wistfully. "In all of my life, I've never seen a mated pair move so fluidly. And I've been around for a long time. It's like you've been together for millennia, not a few short months."
"I think it also has to do with the fact that Bella changed Edward," Carlisle said. "But, you two were connected even while he was human, right?"
"Pain in the chest or an emptiness when we were apart," Edward said, rubbing his sternum. "The pain was when I was human. The emptiness occurs now, but we haven't been far apart for a long time to see if the pain would rekindle."
"Nor do we want to try," I said as I snuggled closer to him.
"Be that as it may," Eleazar began, "you do need to practice fighting separately. If we are going to wait until Halloween, then we need to work on that. Edward, you will work with Carlisle and his family. Bella, you will work with us."
"When?" I asked.
"Some of us need to hunt. The day after tomorrow," Garrett said.
"It would also be beneficial to do another recon mission. Let's aim for a week," Jasper said. "It's the beginning of September now. Let's go right before Bella's birthday."
"Birthday?" I squeaked. "I don't even remember what day I was born." I frowned deeply, saddened that I couldn't remember that. I couldn't even remember what my parents looked like or anything. Then again, human memories fade. What little memories I had were so fuzzy, that I had to strain to remember them.
"September 13th, angel," Edward whispered, kissing my neck. I gave him a shocked look. "Jasper just thought it."
"Oh," I said, feeling kind of stupid.
"Okay, you all go hunting," Carlisle said to Garrett and whomever else needed to go. "We'll devise a plan for training Bella and Edward." We groaned but we both knew that it was inevitable. If we wanted our mission to be successful, we needed this training. I certainly did NOT want the outcome of Alice's vision to come to fruition.
I just met and loved my new family. I'd be heartbroken if Carlisle, Esme and Kate didn't survive the attack with the newborns. I know that Alice would fade away if Jasper died.
And losing Edward? Out of the question, people.
Training it is…
xx A&M xx
Two days later I was in a field in the western portion of Wisconsin, just outside of Eau Claire. Eleazar wanted to ensure that I couldn't sprint off and be at Edward's side in an instant. It also was checking our distance range in the 'empty' feeling. For me, it was like an elephant sitting on my chest. Apparently, it was worse for Edward. He was actual in physical pain. I just felt slightly suffocated.
I just wanted this training nonsense done so I could get back to my man.
"Okay, Bella," Eleazar said as he rubbed his hands together. "I know that you're a trained fighter."
"Semi-trained," I said, wavering my hand. "I know enough to make sure that I don't get my ass kicked."
"How often do you rely on your gifts?" Carmen asked, her voice lilting in her soft accent.
"Probably more than I should," I shrugged. "The zinger is beneficial when I need to stun an attacker. My shield is good when I want to keep people out, mentally and physically. My mind reading, yeah, that helps me pluck the ideas out of the opponents head."
"Have you ever had your gifts rendered useless?"
"Yeah," I sighed. "On my wedding night. I nearly lost control with Edward and I needed to hunt. I ran off to hunt and when I came back a vampire was in my bedroom, reading to take Edward away. I tried to zing him, but it wouldn't work. I attacked and Edward was thrown through a plate glass window, breaking nearly every bone in his body."
"You changed him on your wedding night?" Irina asked, her golden eyes wide with shock. "I didn't know that. Well, I knew you changed him recently, but on your wedding night. Damn. I didn't know."
"I was a mess," I said, smiling softly and rubbing my chest. "I was so afraid that I was going to kill him. He was dying already and he knew that it was change or die. He begged me to change him. So, I did."
"How did the fight go?" Eleazar asked.
"Well, the vampire was fairly new and definitely unseasoned in the art of fighting. He was destroyed easily once I knew I had to fight him using my strength and not my gifts." I pulled my hair back off my face and tied it up in a messy bun. "How are we going to do this today?"
"Combination of the two," Eleazar said. "With me and Carmen, use your gifts."
"Even the zinger?" I asked, arching a brow.
"Even the zinger," Eleazar snickered. "Just don't cause any permanent damage."
"Got it," I said as I looked at him. "I'm assuming that I will be working with Garrett, Kate and Irina on just straight fighting, right?"
"But here's the kicker," Carmen smirked.
"I have to do a combination of both," I sighed. "Fabulous. Now, I can't shut off the mind reading for you three and keep it open for you two. That needs to be on all of the time."
"Understandable," Garrett said as he circled me. He smiled and then sprinted toward me at full tilt. I shrieked, flipping out of his way. The training session began in earnest. I was fighting with Kate, Garrett and Irina, while trying to ward off Eleazar and Carmen. It was insanely difficult. I wanted to rely on my gifts to zing all of them, but I could only focus my zinger attacks and shield usage toward Eleazar and Carmen. I was getting frustrated. I mean, beyond frustrated.
Garrett was trying to reach me and Kate was zapping me. Irina was wrestling with me while Carmen and Eleazar were pinned with my mental shield. With a shrill shriek, I pushed my shield out around me. They all fell to the ground and I glowered at them.
"Whoa," Kate said as she poked the shield that surrounded me. It felt like someone was poking through a tent, but not able to get through.
"Can you feel that?" Carmen asked as she ran her hand along my shield.
"It's like leather, but see-through," Garrett mused.
"As nice as that doesn't feel, please stop," I snapped.
Everyone pulled back and looked abashed. "I'm sorry, Bella," Eleazar said quietly. "Like all of our gifts, yours is tied to your emotions. Now, I'm not Jasper but I can safely assume that you are not pleased right now."
"I'm pissed off, frustrated and I want Edward," I growled.
"Could you wrap your shield…?" Eleazar began and as he spoke, Edward came tearing into the field. His eyes were black fire. "Edward?"
"What did you do to her?" he snarled, dropping to a defensive crouch.
"We were working with her and her shield exploded. She can't let anyone in," Carmen explained slowly and calmly.
"Edward, I'm fine," I said as I walked over to him, enveloping him in my super shield or whatever. He captured my gaze and held me tightly. The shield wrapped around us, keeping us together.
"I felt something in my chest. I knew I had to get to you. Jasper and I were sparring and I just left. I've never run so fast, angel," he said against my hair.
"I would love to see what Marcus has to say about you," Eleazar said quietly.
"Why Marcus?" Edward asked, still holding me against his body, shielding me against Eleazar, who he still perceived as a threat. "Isn't he one of the Volturi?"
"Yes, he is. However, his gift is to see the relationships; how people are bound together," Eleazar said, looking at Edward warily. "Like I said earlier, I've never seen a mated pair of vampires like you two."
"I think it's sweet," Irina said, looking at Edward and my embrace longingly.
"I think there is something more between the two of them," Eleazar chided.
"We're not a science experiment!" Edward snapped testily. I sound like an ass toward him, but I hate this. All of this training…
"Of course not," Carmen said, smacking Eleazar's arm. Eleazar nodded, dropping his gaze to our feet. The rest of the family had arrived and were shocked at the scene in front of them.
"I think we can add another gift to Edward's arsenal," Jasper snickered. "Supersonic speed. I think you broke the sound barrier, Edward."
"I needed her," Edward murmured tightening his arms around me. I love you, angel. I can't do this. I need to be near you. When we train, we stay close. "Got it?"
"I got it," I whispered, kissing his lips. When our lips touched, the super shield dissipated and we were able to be approached. As we moved closer to our family (granted, closer to Carlisle and Esme), Alice was deep in a vision.
"Alice?" Jasper asked as he touched her arm. Her vision ended and she gave him a half-hearted smile. "What is it, sugar?"
"We need to do another recon mission," she said. "James and Victoria have increased their production of newborns. Laurent is now helping them, too. We may not be able to fight yet, but we have to do something to quell the growth of newborns in Chicago. By the end of the week, there will be roughly fifty of them."
"That could decimate the city," Esme breathed.
"We need to do more than a recon mission," Garrett sneered. "We need to destroy these newborns."
"NO! It can only be reconnaissance," Alice said. "We can destroy any newborns that attack, if they do, but if we go in, guns blazing, our family will be destroyed. I just found my sister. She just found her mate. We wait."
Alice's words did little to calm me. If anything, it made me more nervous. She was deliberately thinking of everything but her vision, which was fuzzy at best. Edward looked at me and he had the same trepidation and anxiety in his red eyes. There was something more that Alice wasn't telling us and it did little to assuage our mounting fear.
I just prayed that our contingency plan wasn't needed and that everyone survived.
That seemed less and less likely.
A/N: So, we had some lemonade, some discussion, some fighting and some lead in to the climax of the story. Lots of stuff is going on. I hope you liked it. I have some pictures for this…Pictures of the hotel are on my blog (links are in my profile). There are some pervy pics that go along with this chapter, too. Those are on my tumblr (I'll provide links on my blog post). The link for my tumblr is on my profile, as well. I'm also on Facebook (Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation) and on Twitter: tufano79. I'd appreciate some lovin!
Up next we've got some action and the return of a couple of characters…who do you think?