When they left the encampment the next morning, James recieved a warm farewell, and invitation to visit soon. Victoria was ignored, but she didn't mind. She couldn't wait to get as far away from the tribe as possible
"On our way back," James commented idly after nearly an hour of running, "we'll have to stop in Volterra."
"Why?"
"If this place is found out, with that immortal child and such a large group, they will all be destroyed. If Aro looks at their thoughts and sees us knowing of it, we will certainly be taken out as well. So we must report their location to the Volturi before we can be assumed guilty by secrecy and association. Although," here his previously unconcerned tone turned icy, "I am certainly in no hurry to see that Demetri again."
Victoria raised her eyebrows, slightly taken aback. "You have a dispute with a member of the Guard?"
"Not precisely," he shrugged, not quite meeting her eye.
"और राक्षस?"
Victoria watched silently, eyes lowered, as James conversed fluently with the villagers in the native tongue. They seemed wary of the pair, and Victoria was careful not to look directly at any of them, for concerns of the red frightening them.
"C'mon, let's go," James muttered, turning to take her by the arm.
"Do you have a direction?"
"They won't talk- we make them nervous. I'll come back alone tomorrow. Very superstitious lot, this group."
"Where'd you learm to speak the language?"
"Long story, fairly boring."
"Are we hunting tonight?"
"No. We don't want to cause undue panic in the immediate area. This will be difficult enough without having to explain missing bodies."
"Well, what then? If we can't run, can't hunt-"
"And I'm afraid there are no ostentatios hotel for you to relax in either. We wait, Victoria."
"I know that," she huffed, increasing her pace to keep up with his longer strides.
"This overlook should suffice- we can watch from up here, and head down in the morning." James settled onto the rocks, and Victoria dropped gracefully next to him with a little groan.
"Rocks, James. Pointy, hard, rocks." With a less than subtle yawn, she stretched her arms and settled into his lap. She could feel his moment of hesitation, but he decided not to push her away.
"Tell me a story," Victoria pleaded, snuggling against him.
"Once upon a time, there was a red headed princess who annoyed the hell out of everyone she met-"
"No, not like that. A story about you. When were you changed? Who changed you? Do you remember your life before?"
"A long time ago, a vampiress who was too bored for her own good, and not enough to interest you," he replied briefly.
"I am interested," she insisted, turning over to face him and becoming momentarily distracted by an exposed inch of muscled flesh between the hem of his jacket and waistband of his trousers.
"Alright;" He sounded irritated, but Victoria didn't look up. He didn't respond immediately, and, tired of waiting, she leaned forward and nipped at his abdomen.
"James?" she prompted. He still didn't reply, but pressed his palm to the back of her head, bringing her forward once more. Delighted, she lavished kisses across his skin, tongue darting playfully along.
"I've decided," he began, leaning back and propping himself on his elbows, "that you're not going feed until after we're finished here. Your senses are much sharper when you're thirsty, and I need you at your most useful."
"James!" she cried, furious. "You can do no such thing!" Victoria bolted upright, eyes blazing. He arched one eyebrow, unimpressed.
"Oh really?"
"Really. I'll not be starved like a slave at that camp. You can't stop me from going and finding humans!"
James chuckled softly, still not bothering to stand. "I think you'll find that I in fact can, but I won't. If you leave, Victoria, you're not coming back."
She glared at him as though he'd slapped her. "And you? What will you do?"
"Obviously, I'll need my stength if I wish to hunt one of the Children of the Moon."
"Hypocrite!" she spat, voice morphing into an enraged snarl, crouching and preparing to spring. Immediately, James growled back and took a defensive stance, eyes narrowed.
"Calm yourself, Victoria-"
"No!" she sprang forward, but James was accustomed to her straightforward method of attack- he caught her easily and flung her to the ground.
"You promised you wouldn't deprive me," she whined, reaching out to lazily bat at his ankles.
"And you promised to do what I said. You'll be generously rewarded, pet," he dangled the carrot before her, but she refused to grab at it.
"No. Not if this is going to take longer than... a week," she decided, selecting the limit to her self-denial.
"As you will."
"Good," Victoria replied, feeling distinctly as though she'd won nothing.
"That stench!" Victoria complained. "It smells dreadful! Let's go back-"
"That means we're getting close, you fool," James snarled. "Have you no brains beneath that fiery mop?"
"I can't think!" she snapped, closing her eyes. "I'm thirsty!"
"Hush!" Abruptly, he froze. "We're close. Through that clearing, just down at the foot of those rocks. I can hear it."
"Good," she turned in the direction he indicated, "Let's go."
"Stop!" He grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her back. "Here." From his pocket, he withdrew a length of heavy fabric. "Close your eyes, pet," he crooned, siding up behind her and sweeping loose strands from her face. "Now, I'm going to tie this on," he murmured, tone soothing and soft as he stroked her neck tenderly. Still, Victoria snarled and whipped around as he moved to blindfold her.
"I don't think so," she growled.
"If I let you watch, you'll panic. This way, you won't have a choice- you'll merely listen to that wonderful sense of yours, and honestly tell me when to get out, if necessary."
"I won't!" she cried, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Very well- I tried to be civil about it." Immediately, she was flung to the forest floor, arms pinned behind her back, and the blindfold tied securely around her eyes.
"The sense only works for me anyway- how will I be able to know if I'm not with you?"
"Because I am the only thing standing between you and that monster- if any harm should befall me, you are almost certainly doomed." Without another word, he sprang away. Her first instinct was to tear away to cloth, but as a sudden cacophony of snarls filled her ears, she froze.
James. She could call out to him, but she knew the sickening fear that filled her was not the same draw that kept her from danger- in fact, she worried that if she distracted him, he would be further endangered.
The sounds that came from the fight caused Victoria to shudder. Like an avalanche, or rocks being torn apart, a horrible grinding... Victoria whined softly, filled with real fear for the first time since her transformation. She sucked in quick lungfuls of air, but was not calmed. She could concentrate on nothing but the danger that James was undoubtedly in.
Suddenly, Victoria felt it, and knew she had been wrong. Her sense would not be stifled if it was James she was watching out for- in fact, it seemed heightened, expanded, clearer and more definite than she'd ever experienced.
"James!" she cried, pleading that he'd listen, that he'd come- suddenly, two strong arms caught her and they were flying. Hurriedly, she ripped the blindfold away, breathing a deep sigh of relief and curling her arms around his neck. His eyes were shining, and there was a smear of dreadful scented blood across his cheek and shoulder. "Northeast," she murmured, knowing he'd hear. He adjusted his course slightly, and she watched his expression carefully. He seemed frighteningly exhilarated- bleakly ecstatic, and he was running faster than she'd ever known a vampire to move. His chest rose and fell rapidly, and despite her enhanced sensed, the trees seemed to blur. It was mere minutes before she knew they were safe again- werewolves were very territorial, and if they'd moved outside of this one's, it probably wouldn't follow.
"We can stop," she suggested, and it took several more long strides for him to halt. He flung Victoria to the ground and she opened her mouth to protest, but he fell upon her as though she were prey. His arms caged her and he pressed against her mercilessly. Her instincts, sharpened and made raw by the lack of sustence, told her to fight, and she shoved him away without thinking. He seemed startled for a moment, before shock melted into a ferocious glee that frightened her. He launched for her again, holding her down by the throat and shredding her shirt with his teeth. She stiffened, pushing at his arm angrily, finding him immobile and ungiving this time. "James!" she hissed in frustration. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she felt his mouth drop to her navel. "James!" she gasped, resolve melting into easy compliance. At the same moment, he rolled away, sprawling on his back and sighing.
"I have to go finish. I'm not waiting another night. Is it safe to go back?"
"No," she replied sulkily. He gave her a severe look.
"Are you lying?"
She sighed miserably. "Yes." In a flash, he was gone. Victoria sat up unhappily, trying in vain to hold the remains of her shirt over her torso. Frustrated, she shoved a grimy hand through her brilliant hair, shaking out several leaves. She longed to return to civilization, but even more wished that this hunt would just end, that the danger would be gone.
It was nearly dawn, and she hadn't moved a muscle. The sun had not risen, but the horizon glowed softly. Victoria looked up at last at the gentle sound of crunching underbrush.
"Well?" she prompted, leaping up lithely to rush to his side. He seemed to be limping, but grinned nonetheless.
"It's over." A bleak sort of glee consuming his features, and he open one fist to reveal two long, razor-sharp fangs. Victoria's eyes widened.
"It's dead?"
"Did you doubt me?" He pocketed the canines and grabbed his knee, wrenching the leg straight. He hissed slightly, but stood erect. "You shouldn't do that, sweet," he murmured, touching her chin briefly.
"Can I see it?" she asked, curiousity and relief overwhelming her.
"Not much left to see, really." He glanced at her critically, seeming to notice for the first time her bare torso. "I suppose you can't travel like that," he commently idly, "to Italy."
Victoria's eyes were wide as she looked about at all the stony faces. Perfect, white faces, some vaguely interested by their arrival, but most not.
"James!" A wispy voice drew their attention. A surprisingly frail vampire was moving towards them with a warm smile. "And who is this? My dear," he held at a hand in greeting. "I am Aro."
Aro! If her heart could beat, it would be pounding furiously. "I'm-"
"Wait!" James grabbed her wrist, ceasing it's movement. "There is something I must tell you first. It is why we came here; our innocence is entire." He released Victoria and brushed her aside, instead grasping Aro's outstretched hand in his own. She scowled at his rudeness, but went ignored. They stood like that for several moments, until Aro's brows quirked in surprise.
"So many?"
"Possibly more."
"I'll send the Guard out tomorrow. Thank you for the information, James."
James nodded once, and stepped back. "We will be going now; I thought it was important that I pass the message along."
"How right you are! But such a hurry? Your stories would provide interest to the others, I'm sure- Caius will appreciate your efforts, I know."
"I am afraid we must be off-" he paused suddenly, eyes flicking briefly towards a tall, dark vampire that had just entered. His lip twitched in distaste. "Now. We must leave-"
"James!" the vampire cried in apparent delight. "James!" he was beside James in an instant, arm flung over his shoulder. "James, long time! Have you come back for a game? Come on; I'll give you the advantage. And a head start! How about..." His bright, scarlet eyes fell upon Victoria. "Your mate!" his words flew so rapidly, a human would have missed them.
He stopped.
"Your... mate." His eyes narrowed maliciously, and he grinned, revealing two rows of dazzling, lethal teeth. "You have a mate."
He released James and flashed to Victoria. "My dear," he purred, extending a hand. She excepted it warily, and he drew her close, lifting her fingers to his lips. "I am Demetri. And you are...?"
"Victoria," she replied, confused and flustered by he nearness. Still grinning, Demirtri reached to curl a lock of her flaming hair around his finger. His other hand droppped to her lower back, ushering her closer still with uncompromising strength. "This is a fascinating color. I've never seen it before." Beside them, James rolled his eyes.
"She isn't my mate."
Instantly, Demetri was at James' side again, seeming to have forgotten Victoria. "So, a game then?"
"Leave me alone, Demetri. Victoria and I were on the way out."
"So she is with you, then?" Once more, he was stroking Victoria's hair. "Really, just a remarkable color. Have you had a tour yet? We have some breathtaking views of the city, and truly historical art." He curled an arm around her waist, guiding her across the large chamber. She glanced over her shoulder at James; he appeared supremely unconcerned with their departure, and had turned back to Aro once more.
They moved into a narrow hallway, and found their path blocked by the hugest vampire Victoria had ever seen. She gaped up at him. Demetri grinned.
"Look what I found, Felix," he began, sounding smug. "Look at her hair, isn't it unusual?"
The enormous figure looked down at the red-head with mild curiosity. "Where'd she come from?"
"It seems that she belongs to James."
"Your James? I thought he said he was never coming back."
Victoria scowled. She was sick and tired of misogynistic males acting like she didn't exist.
"If you'll excuse me," she interrupted primly. The low, masculine rumble was jarred by her girlish lilt. They looked at her in surprise. "You did not find me; we came here to report an incident to Aro. I realize that my hair is not a normal color; please stop touching it. And I do not 'belong' to James-"
"Yes you do, sweetheart." James appeared by her suddenly, curling an arm around her shoulders and pressing his lips slyly to her temple. "Gentlemen," he nodded curtly at the other two males. "We shall take our leave now."
"Oh, I think not," Demetri replied. "You just got here, and I'm awfully bored. So, either let's have a game, or..." his tongue slid laciviously over his lower lip, "let me take your lady friend on a tour of the place."
James took less than a second to consider. "Go on then. Take her."
"What?" Victoria cried, furious. She was well aware that Demetri had no intention of showing her around the city. "No! You can't barter with me!"
"What's going on here?" They all looked up as a fifth vampire appeared. She smiled seductively at the men as she drifted past, cupping Felix's chin and letting her fingers drift across Demetri's chest before arriving at James. She gave a dazzling smile, cocking her head. "You're new," she purred expectantly.
"He's not," Demetri inserted, suddenly bitter. "He's been around before. What are you up to, Heidi?" he asked suavely, dropping the octave of his voice and flicking his dark hair out of his eyes.
She didn't look away from James. He started back, seemingly untaken with her dazzling beauty. Meanwhile, Victoria tried not to sulk.
"I'm Heidi," she murmured, tracing his lower lip with the pad of her thumb. He gazed stonily back.
"James," he announced, quirking one eyebrow as she eased forward.
"Yes, yes you are," she replied, squinting slightly. "Interesting. Your desires are... intangible. That's quite unusual." She laced her fingers through his hair, pressing her palms lightly inward. For a moment, he seemed wary, but then his eyes widened, and breathing quickened.
"How are you doing that?" he demanded, placing his hands over hers as though to prevent escape. She smiled beautifically.
"I've got a gift."
This statment seemed to irritate him, but James was apparently unable to move away. Victoria glowered openly. With a chiming laugh, Heidi stepped back, obviously enjoying James's frustration. "Demetri, Felix," she continued in snappish tones. They were quick to respond.
"Yes?"
"What is it?"
"Come with me," she commanded airly, "and leave this lovely young man to go on his way." She linked arms with Felix, but gave Demetri a stern look when he reached out to her. "You were being obnoxious again- haven't I told you that you ought to present a more refined demeanor to guests? Really, you'll give us all a bad name," she admonished as the trio vanished down the corridor. James's eyes followed Heidi until she vanished.
Victoria cleared her throat loudly, and he turned to her with a strange glint in his eye.
"Very well, my fiery little pet; off to Paris we go."
(A/N: For anyone who doesn't know, Heidi's talent is to create the illusion of people's desires. I feel like James's desire is the ultimate adrenaline rush, which is what was going on just there. Back to Paris for Laurent now!)