Disclaimer: The characters of Twilight are owned by Stephenie Meyer. The content, ideas and intellectual property of this story and the 'American Vampire Series' in its entirety are owned by Just4ALE.
Also, a shout out to The Lost Boys at the end of this chapter.
Chapter 11: Live Like You Were Dying
BPOV
Tim McGraw has this song called Live Like You Were Dying. It is about a guy who realizes that he has cancer and has only so long left to live… so in the time that he has left, he does all the things he should have done and becomes the man he should have been.
I secretly loved this song… and I only used to listen to it on my iPod when I knew that no one else was around to see or hear me for a number of reasons:
A) It was a country song… and sorry but I took a crapload of ribbing for anything country-related, including my old pick-up truck that I used to drive when I was in high school, from my three city-born and bred girlfriends,
B) I liked to sing it at the top of my lungs, and that was something no one should ever have to hear, and
C) It actually cracked my Vulcan exterior and made me cry when I heard it… and there was no way in hell I was going to let anyone see that.
Nevertheless, I was a firm believer in this philosophy, long before his song came out. It was part of the reason I took trapeze and karate and tap dancing and free-form dancing and ice skating lessons. I didn't want to look back on my life and regret not having tried to do stupid, silly things even if I sucked at them.
Moreover, I really held to this philosophy whenever I went on vacation. Aside from a trip to Bermuda and a trip to Mexico, most of my vacations were typically active city vacations. I felt that I never knew if I would have the opportunity to be in that city or country again and that I should see everything I could in the short time that I was allowed. At some point, I'm sure I'd have to see a psychiatrist and this philosophy would probably come up. The shrink would probably point out some odd notion like the thought of death kept me alive. What would he say about my bizarre vampire attraction? Well, my ex-boyfriend was technically not alive… It would probably take years of therapy to work out that one.
And so, because they were trying to get me out of my funk, Serena and Nicole let me set the pace and pick the spots for our daily activities. So I never stopped. I was like a shark… sharks had to keep moving or they'd die. Hmmm, again with the death thing.
Serena was used to this vacation pace. I'd dragged her sorry butt all around Italy the last time we were here together three years before and I had caused her to get heat exhaustion trekking around Santorini one time to the point that she actually needed medical attention. But poor Nicole! I wore her out. I let her sleep in until 8:30 a.m. each day – that was late for me – and got her up to make sure she got breakfast before we started out each day.
We went to Florence on the first day and we did every darned tourist thing that one could do. Saw the Duomo. Took in the view of the city from the Belvedere… it looked just like Hannibal Lecter's drawing in "The Silence of the Lambs" – yes I watch too many damn movies and remember them all. We went to the Ponte Vecchio. We went to Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. We spent time ogling Michelangelo's David at Galleria dell' Accademia - and I do mean "ogling" him. Serena stopped at the Ferragamo store and picked up another four pairs of shoes. Nicki and I purchased beautiful leather jackets and matching leather gloves… NOT from Ferragamo. That night at dinner, Nicki could barely keep her eyes open to ogle Serena's kitchen version of The David: Marco.
The next day, we drove to Siena and spent time wandering the city. I loved towns like these, with busy streets and then quiet ones, Gothic architecture, brick buildings, and main plazas just for sitting. I left Serena and Nicki to sit having beverages around the Piazza del Campo while I wandered around. Luckily, we were visiting about a month or two before the crazy Palio horse race took over the town.
Serena and I took turns driving, depending upon how much there was to do at the destination and if we wanted to make it there that day. On the third day I did the driving because I wanted to hit two spots: Lucca and Pisa. Serena sat in the passenger seat while Nicole sat in back re-reading Pride and Prejudice.
"Which of Jane Austen's leading men do you think is the best?" Nicki asked.
Serena looked back at her. "Mr. Darcy. He's my leading man."
Nicole nodded. "Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy… Shit, was he good looking! But I have to say that I love Edward Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility. And Hugh Grant playing the role? Drool!"
"Oh my God, yes!" I breathed. "I hadn't read the book when I saw the movie and that scene when he shows up at the end and declares himself to Elinor… when she burst into tears, so did I! I didn't know how he felt so I was as clueless as she was. It came out of nowhere. I wasn't even choked up! Just instant tears!"
Nicole sat up. "You, Bella? You cried at a movie?" She laughed. "You gave me such shit during Freshman week about crying during a movie." She looked at Serena. "Freshman week, they showed some sappy movie and she muttered that she hoped people didn't cry because she hated people crying at the movies. Because I was trying to make a good first impression I had to furtively wipe my tears as I sat in the seat next to her."
"Yes, and I'd still give you shit about it. As I said, it came out of nowhere in this movie! That never happens to me."
It was quiet for a moment and Nicki spoke again. "Have you cried about your Edward yet?" she asked softly.
My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. Serena turned back to Nicki and growled at her. "Jesus, can't you wait until she's not driving so you don't get us all killed? What kind of question is that to spring on her?"
I took a breath. "No, it's okay Serena. Nicki knows me, and she knows the answer to that question. She's just verifying it," I said, looking back at her in the rearview mirror. I shook my head no.
"At some point you have to let it out, Bella."
"I'm not holding it in. It will just happen when it happens."
"Something will make you crack," Nicki said, "and when that happens, look out. It will be Like Water For Chocolate tears. Scary."
I looked at her in the mirror. She squeezed my shoulder.
"Just don't let it happen when you're driving with me in the car," Serena muttered, and then we all started laughing.
"Anyway, I think my pick is Captain Wentworth from Persuasion," I said when the laughter died down.
Nicki looked surprised. "You're kidding."
"No, Captain Wentworth for sure. He fell in love with Anne and never forgot her over all those years. He's all jealous of the other guy. And then he overhears her conversation with his friend and then he's waiting out there on the street for her. The movie version with Ciaran Hinds wasn't as glamorous as the other adaptations, but, ah, I love him. That's devotion."
We hit Lucca first and spent a great deal of time walking on top of the main ring that circled the city. It was a lovely walk with trees and benches and old men playing bocce ball, tipping their hats to us as we walked by. After spending a bit of time wandering around town, we made our way southwest down to Pisa. Serena rolled her eyes at us, but I made her take the photos anyway because I did one of those never-want-to-regret-not-doing-it things with Nicole trying to hold up the tower and me trying to Karate kick it down.
When we returned, Marco cooked another fabulous meal for us. He came out each night to see how we enjoyed the food. I had the feeling that he and Serena were involved but I hadn't had enough alone time with her to ask. Each time he came out, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was assessing something when he looked at me. I wanted to chalk it up to possible pillow talk between him and Serena and not that I had some weird attraction to him, or him to me. I could totally acknowledge the guy was beautiful… but Johnny Depp could leave his girlfriend and declare himself to me and I still wouldn't be ready for it. Unfortunately, my heart was gone.
On the fourth day, we went to Volterra. I decided to give Nicki a break and let her sleep in so we didn't leave until lunch time. I drove again, although it wasn't that far. Serena directed me and as we pulled into view of the beautiful hill town, Serena spoke. "Okay, we're here: Volterra. Just like you remember it, BB."
It was just like my dream. We parked outside the city and made our way up a cobblestone path into the city, wandering around and taking photos of the lovely streets. We stopped and had a long relaxing lunch and then we decided to split up to take in what we each wanted to see. Serena wanted to check out the alabaster and Nicole wanted to see the Roman amphitheater. I wanted to wander around the little streets taking more photos and searching for that one restaurant Serena and I had eaten in so many years ago. We agreed to meet up at the Piazza dei Priori later at 5 p.m.
I wandered up and down the narrow streets, wishing I had Serena's eye for photography. Many of the photos around her pensione were ones she had taken when we were on vacation. A rusty fence became a blurry barrier to a beautiful flower garden; a little figurine on a shelf in a window became an enchanted statue. She even had an eye for people… I passed an attractive man and woman leaning against a wall, looking at me for a moment before turning their gaze back to each other; to me they were just a man and a woman, but Serena's photography could make them into lost lovers stealing a moment alone. She really had an eye for beauty. I just had photos.
As I looked at my map, I noticed I had taken a wrong turn heading in a direction toward the edge of town rather than back toward the center. So I turned around and saw that same man and woman standing in my path. I went to pass them, but they stepped in front of me. If I went left, the man went to his right, mirroring me.
"Scusi," I said, looking down at his feet, trying to get around him.
The man spoke softly in accented English, "Are you lost, bella?"
My head snapped up. How did he know my name? Then I realized he was just speaking in Italian. 'Are you lost, beautiful?'
"No," I said, gesturing that I wanted to pass.
"Dove va?" the woman asked.
I pointed to the road behind them. "Per favore."
The two of them continued to look at me. They stood like statues. Suddenly I heard a voice from behind them.
"Bella, venga con me." I looked behind the man and woman as they turned to see who was speaking. I had a big ole sense of déjà vu when I saw that it was Marco. I looked behind me for a moment to see if by any chance Edward was there. He wasn't.
The man and woman stiffened and let me pass, but I could swear that I felt each of them inhale as I walked by. Déjà vu indeed. Don't even tell me.
I walked slowly toward him, like I was just out for a leisurely stroll and not someone who wanted to bolt. And then I put my hand into Marco's outstretched, cool hand. Oh, you've got to be kidding. We strolled away calmly.
When we were a few streets away, I stopped and looked at him. "Marco, what are you doing here?"
"Serena said that you were coming to Volterra. I came to watch for you," he said in his beautiful voice with his beautiful Italian accent. "You should not be here, Bella."
"Why? I've been here before and didn't have a problem."
His eyes were gentle. "You have un segno... a mark. You have been with a vampire, no?
Ah, yes. The last time I was here was before I knew Edward and I'd only visited for a few hours back then. It had been a month since Edward left which meant the bite marks should not have been visible… not to human eyes. Hence the cool hands. "You're a vampire."
He nodded. "Si."
"Does Serena know?"
He raised an eyebrow. Of course Serena knew. Leave it to her to find the hottest Italian civilized vampire and make him her cook!
"You are being followed. Those two will follow you still. You must leave the city."
"But what about Serena and Nicole? We have to get them… they won't be safe."
"Serena has my mark on her." Nice work, Serena. "It is fresh; she will be safe… and I know where she is. But your mark is old. You look abandoned."
I stiffened. Yeah, I'll bet I do. "I was abandoned, Marco."
He touched my face. "I know that you think so... Ma non credo che sia tutto finito. It is not finished." I looked at him, confused. "I have a gift. I see bonds. It is like una corda - rope - between people. You have a very long rope attached to you… it is faint… but it is there."
"That is my attachment to him…" I began.
"No, it is not one way. The rope is tight as if it were being pulled from both directions."
I shook my head. Rope... Jeez! I didn't need to hear this and start hoping. "He's gone," I stated. "I'll start back to the car. It's just down that road," I said, pointing in the opposite direction from where we had been. "Please go get them."
"You should not be alone."
The truth was that part of me was tired of fighting the inevitable. Clearly my number kept coming up and someone kept stopping it from happening. I just wanted my friends to be safe and not pay for my mistakes. If it was my time, maybe I needed to accept it. "I'll be okay. I'll run there now. You can keep an eye out for them."
He paused and then started running down toward the Piazza. I jogged in the opposite direction when the man and the woman ghosted out ahead of me.
"Bella!" Marco called. I looked back at him. "Go find Serena and Nicole and get them out of here!" I shouted.
Suddenly, I was pulled down a side street. The woman had me by my shirt. "Where is your master?" she asked in a slight accent.
"He is traveling," I answered.
"No one leaves their pet like this," the man said smoothly. "E vero, Heidi?" He moved my hair from my neck and leaned in to sniff me. "Mmmm, deliziosa!" Instinctively, I slapped his hand away from my neck.
Heidi snarled. "How dare you touch him!" She grabbed me by my arms and threw me across the alley into a wall. My whole body felt the jolt and the horrible pain as I slid to the ground. I groaned loudly as I tried to sit up.
"My friend will be back and he'll bring others to help," I said weakly. "You should leave before it is too late for you."
Heidi gestured to the man to get me up. "Santiago…"
Santiago lifted me up by my biceps and brought his face toward mine. "We will be finished before he returns."
My head was still buzzing and for some reason I thought stalling would help. "Why me? There are plenty of tourists out there for you to have."
"Il sangue è dolce... sweet… and different from others. We smelled it when you came to town."
What's up with these Italian vampires? What about the energy thing? "But I'm not afraid. Doesn't that matter to you?"
"But you will be," he said. "You will be." And then I felt myself flying again. This time I slammed into something sharp and metal. I heard myself yell out in pain as I hit the corner of the dumpster and collapsed again to the ground. I'd hit my lower rib cage and belly pretty hard. I was pretty sure that something was broken.
They started to walk toward me slowly. Now I was afraid and in a LOT of pain. Heidi licked her lips and knelt over me, touching my face with her hand. "Ah, bella donna. It will end... presto." Ah, maybe that is good... soon is better than prolonged.
Then a familiar voice came from our left. "Hands off! She is protected by our coven." We all looked to see the source. Am I unconscious? Is this a dream? Rosalie and Emmett were standing about 20 feet away.
Santiago stepped forward and crouched low, growling at them. "Neither of you is her master. Let him step forth and claim her."
I felt dizzy and my stomach was really in pain. If they needed to see this master of mine, I was a goner. I didn't know what bullshit Marco was trying to sell me, but I knew the bond was severed from Edward's side.
Emmett took a step forward. "He is traveling. We are here to protect her."
Two other shadows appeared behind Em and Rose. They were outnumbered. I prayed. God, please don't let me be the cause of their deaths. Just take me.
"You should go. You have no chance," Heidi said, nodding at her companions.
"Hello," came another familiar voice to my right. Carlisle and Jasper were at the intersection between this alley and the street.
"It would be best if you let the girl go," Jasper said.
Heidi smiled and touched my face again. "Your coven came to protect their snack. That is nice."
And then without warning she took my forearm to her mouth and bit in.
I screamed out and was met with another like scream. "Bella!" I could see from my slumped position on the ground that Marco was standing on the main road with Serena and Nicole who were wide eyed taking it all in. It was Serena's cry.
And then all hell broke loose. What I remember was fuzzy because of the raging headache and overall pain I had from slamming into things.
Esme appeared beside Serena and Nicki and Marco asked her to take them. I saw her whisk them away somewhere to the right. Alice appeared and lunged after Heidi and the two began a vicious blurry dance. Marco got into the fight, taking on Santiago, the two ripping and snarling at each other.
To my left, Rose and Em had turned on the vampires behind them and Carlisle and Jasper joined in where they could in all fights to help get the upper hand. The snarling and ripping started to fade for me as I became aware of a painful sensation in my arm. It was warm at first, and then it began to get hotter and hotter until I felt like my arm was being held over a raging fire. I heard yelling and realized that it was coming from me.
Esme appeared and stepped in for Jasper. Then I saw Jasper and Carlisle hovering over me. Carlisle gently touched my stomach which only caused me to yell out some more.
"Her ribs are broken and I believe that she is bleeding internally," he said looking at Jasper. He looked at me and touched my forehead. "Bella. I could let the venom spread if you'd like. You'll heal that way."
Become a vampire? Without Edward? Is he joking? I had only wanted to be one to be with him. What was the point of one existence without him, let alone eternity? I managed to make eye contact. "No…" I moaned. "Just drain me and get it over with."
Jasper spoke softly, sending a peaceful wave over me. "No, Bella. It isn't your time yet. Please don't say that. He still loves you."
I didn't want to hear it. "Yeah? Where is he, Jazz?" I spat out amidst my pain. Weird thoughts passed through my head in my agonized state. I HAVE to live it up each day because every time I turn around a vampire tries to kill me! "Fucking Tim McGraw..." I groaned. Jasper looked confused. "Oh SHIT," I cursed. "PLEASE, make it stop somehow!"
The growling and ripping was subsiding and the fire in my arm was horrible. I could hear Carlisle and Jasper speaking softly.
"Jasper, we have to do two things. I can suck the venom out because I know it will be difficult for any of you, but she needs a little blood. Can you help her?"
I didn't hear an answer but I guess it was in the affirmative. Carlisle's mouth was on my forearm and I could feel him sucking on me, almost like one would to give a hickey. The pain in my arm subsided, only to make me acutely aware of the pain I felt everywhere else, particularly my stomach and ribs.
Then I saw Jasper's forearm hovered over my mouth, his open wound dripping his dark blood down. He pressed it to my lips and his eyes met mine. Touching my forehead, he nodded and said "Drink Bella. Heal." I drank slowly. His blood tasted so different from Edward's… good, but different and not as sweet. While I took it in, I wondered if I could just be an honorary vampire at this point with the amount of blood I was taking in from them... Then we wouldn't have to bother with the turning part.
I saw Marco's face looking over Jasper's shoulder. I didn't need very much blood and I could feel it working instantly. I felt the familiar rapid and painful tightening inside my belly and ribs as my body healed. Jasper pulled his forearm away and nodded to Marco, who then picked me up and whisked me off down the street.
He entered a hotel two doors down and we made our way to a room on the third floor. Stepping into the room, he quickly moved to put me down on the couch. Serena and Nicole gasped as he came in with me.
"I think it would be best to get Bella out of Volterra before any their friends come looking for her," he said.
Serena nodded. "I'll take Bella and Nicole back to the pensione."
"Wait!" I cried. "What about them? Carlisle, Jasper…"
"I will guide them back to San Gimignano. I will bring them to the pensione." Marco looked at me. "I think you need help to the car." And with that, he picked me up again and carried me down the street until we were out of the city walls and at Serena's car. Once inside, Serena-Leadfoot floored it.
Nicole was wide eyed. Finally she spoke. "Um, can I just ask… WHAT THE FUCK?!! What just happened?"
Serena shook her head. "That's the one thing I never could stomach about Volterra. All the God damned vampires."
A/N: The Cullens save the day once again!
Thanks again to AnnaLund for her help with the Italian phrase clean-up!
Thanks for reading so far. And THANK YOU for the reviews. Please keep it up! More reviews!
FYI - For Marco, I was totally imagining Gilles Marini (Dancing with the Stars runner up/Naked Neighbor in the SITC movie) as this guy... Swoo - oon. I know... NOT Italian, but who cares!
Post A/N: So, um, Vampyre... are you sure you don't want to go to Italy? With vamps like Marco running around there, I'd consider it... And since I seem to run into weird characters in real life, we might actually find him. Feel free to send me a PM to discuss. LOL.