Butterfly Weed
—--
(A/N: Will I ever stop making shitty Twilight fanfiction where I traumatize the shit out of Bella and make her be in love with Rosalie? No. I won't. I'll probably be old as fuck in a nursing home somewhere and still have time to take corny straight romance novels and make it have lesbians. It might be my superpower, you never know. Anyways, it's another AU, except Maria is chasing Jasper down and she's the one who finds Bella in the woods during New Moon. Side note, I'm making it so that the original Twilight plot took place in 1963. Starts off Bella/Maria, ends with Bella/Rosalie. Because I can. Okay, also real quick I'm gonna explain vampire mating in this.
Chosen Mates- What it sounds like. Chosen mates have to administer three bites within the same five minute interval, and the one receiving the marks has to be willing.
True Mates- It's at first sight. You immediately know when it comes to your true mate, however to solidify this you also need to administer three bites within the same law. )
—--
Isabella Swan was a good person, dammit. She had taken care of her mother, Renee, until Phil was in the picture, and she took good care of her father, Charlie, as well. It's bull-fucking-shit that the pansy known as Edward Cullen wants to say that she is anything less. Bella will admit, what leaves her comatose on the forest floor isn't Edward's abandonment, It's the family that claimed her as their own. They left, too. Isn't Carlisle three-hundred and eighty-two? Why would he listen to a forty-year-old that acts like a spoiled child?
It just didn't make any damn sense. Bella did her very best. She cooked for Charlie, she took care of the bills for Renee, she did everything Edward had asked of her, she indulged Emmett and his playful nature, same goes for Alice, and she even tried to make nice with his Ice Queen sister! Yet she's not good enough? No way. She worked so hard, for a family that wanted nothing to do with her.
So she lays there, motionless on the forest floor, cursing them to hell. She's angry, and she's broken. How dare he ruin her like this?
She's broken out of her musings by a light tap on her shoulder. She looks up, and screams when she's met with raven hair and crimson eyes.
"Oh, hell!" She cried. The woman smiled at her.
"Now that's not very lady-like." The woman giggled, and Bella scowled.
"I'd say bite me, but I've had enough of your kind tryin' to do that." Bella snarked. The woman's smile faltered, before coming back full force.
"Oh, I like you, firecracker." The woman giggles again, the sound slightly unnerving. Bella frowns.
"What do you want, you glorified tampon?" Bella snarled, and the woman was sent into a fit of giggles again.
"Oh, that's certainly a new one! I was actually wonderin' if you know a Jasper Whitlock?" The woman's playful demeanor quickly turned sour, and Bella snapped her eyes to meet dark ones.
"And if I do?" Bella challenged. The woman quirked a perfect brow.
"Then I'd suggest you tell me, darlin'." The woman threatened.
"Oh, I know him. But he's long gone now. You want to kill me? Proceed. At least I won't have to get dragged into another vampire's petty junior high drama." Bella snarked, and the woman smiled cruelly.
"Oh no, darlin'. I'm afraid I've taken quite the shining to you. Looks like you'll be invested in my, as you put it, 'petty junior high drama' for eternity." The woman bared her teeth. Bella flinched a bit, and backed away.
"I'm afraid I'd rather not. Consent is key. Kill me, why don't you?" Bella snarled. The woman laughed again, melodic and giving way to a false sense of security.
"Oh, I'm sorry, firecracker. Things have just got to be this way." The woman smiled, before lunging. Bella squirmed for a moment before sharp canines pierced the delicate skin of her neck. The woman moaned at the delectable taste of Bella's blood.
—--
Three days later, there's only three things on a newborn Bella's mind. Blood, sex, and revenge. Bella wakes up, and the woman tells Bella her name.
Maria.
Bella rolls the name around on her tongue, resentment for the woman leaving a bitter aftertaste. The woman- Maria, her mind corrects- smiles lustfully at Bella.
Maria leaves, only to come back an hour later, with a struggling boy in her arms.
"Come on, firecracker. I know you're hungry," Maria said, before biting into the squirming man. She pulls away, blood coating her lips. Bella sinks down, lost to her instincts. As her fangs sink into the tender flesh, she realizes nothing had ever tasted sweeter. When she drains him dry, she wants more. She sees the blood coating Maria's lips, and she is fueled by her two baser instincts.
Hunger and lust.
Her lips meet Maria's, eager to taste her. She doesn't know if it's Maria herself, or the blood on her lips, but Bella simply cannot get enough. She ravages Maria, and doesn't find herself satisfied enough until another three days pass. Maria teases her relentlessly, though ultimately she couldn't complain.
"I still hate you, you know." Bella had said, months later, breaking the post-coital bliss between herself and Maria. Maria smirked, turning to face her.
"Yeah, I figured. That's fine, firecracker. You don't have to be my biggest fan, but you do have to do what I say." Maria replied. Bella scowled, but Maria knew she had taken what she said to heart. It was quiet for a little while longer.
However, despite Bella's new vampiric status, she kept her resentment for the Olympic coven. Maria started to turn newborns haphazardly, and flaunted the threat of the Volturi over Bella's head, forcing her to train them. One night, Maria whispered to her that the scars from the restless newborns that adorned her skin reminded her of her lost major.
Bella knew it right then. Maria wanted to turn her into a copy of her perfect major. Her soldier. Bella knew the woman had missed her warlord days terribly, and that Bella was just another instrument of her twisted nostalgia. However, Bella stayed loyal. She wished to bring hell down on Edward Cullen.
—--
It all changed the moment Maria had the idea to use Bella as a seductress. Maria used the flimsy excuse of, "Oh, It's just become too dangerous for me. You aren't well known, you can do it." Maria had said, and Bella was forced to agree.
That was how, in 1976, Bella found herself in this position.
She had been working up the girl for the entire night, breaking down her walls. Bella usually didn't have an issue, but this girl was repressed. She had no idea Bella could smell her arousal, and thought she was doing a good job of pretending she wasn't attracted to Bella.
"D'you wanna dance, sugar?" Bella slipped in some southern twang, noting how flustered it made the girl across from her. Just as the girl was about to stutter out a reply, a delicate hand landed on her shoulder.
"Actually, sweetheart, I wanna dance with this heart-throb." The woman purred, and the girl's lust sky-rocketed. Bella could tell that she was across a fairly old vampire. If she had to guess, she would say about seven-hundred years-old. She flashed her elongated canines, and Bella nodded subtly. The girl was about to reply, but Bella didn't give her a chance, whisking away with the other immortal. Bella swayed her hips slightly, and she noted how the elder vampiress lowered her gaze. Bella smirked, leaning in until her lips ghosted the shell of the woman's ear.
"It seems I've met my match. You seem to be quite the seductress, darlin'." Bella murmured. The woman grinned.
"Oh, you're fun, sweetheart. Name's Heidi, what's yours?" The woman purred.
"Isabella," She replied, turning Heidi around in her arms gently. Heidi allowed herself to be turned, and pushed her back into Bella's front. "Pleasure to meet you, Heidi."
Heidi shivered, invisible to the human eye, but all too clearly to Bella. Heidi immersed herself in the way Bella said her name. Heidi allowed herself to bask in the moment for a minute, before pressing herself tighter to Bella.
"Unfortunately, I'm not here for pleasure," Heidi frowned in disappointment before continuing. "I'm with the Volturi." She finished noting how Bella's movements faltered slightly.
"Are you here to investigate Maria?" Bella finally asked, and Heidi again noted the slightly hopeful tone Bella had.
"Yes, actually. I'm assuming that from those scars on you, you're associated with her in some way?" Heidi replied. Bella shivered as Heidi's finger traced the mating scars on her neck.
"Hm. You could say that. She's been attempting to make me replace the major, at least until she finds him. I'll make you a deal, I'll tell you everything if you grant me immunity." Bella asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
"Deal."
Over the next few months, Bella and Heidi met in secret, planning as Bella disclosed information. Bella was facing repercussions for that, though. Heidi noted the numerous bite marks on Bella's neck from Maria. It seemed Maria could smell Heidi on Bella, and her vampiric nature caused her to become violent most nights. Heidi couldn't help but feel guilty, despite Bella's numerous assurances.
"It's okay, Heidi. Really."
"Except it's not, I mean, have you seen yourself? Not even your face is safe!" Heidi growled, eyeing the scar on Bella's lip from where Maria's fang had cut into her. Bella sighed.
"I mean, what can we do? If we bring in more of the Volturi guard, then Maria will know the moment they cross into her territory. I mean, unless-" Bella cut herself off, and Heidi recognized her contemplative look.
"Bella, what are you thinking?"
"Well, Maria has been wanting to tie me down with a mate bond. I can give her that, but before she has the chance to issue the third bite, the reinforcements can enter and attack. I'll deal with Maria and the elite newborns, you all deal with the others."
"Bella, are you insane? What if she manages to do it, and you die when we kill her? It's insane!" Heidi growled. Bella smiled sadly at her.
"I can't keep doing this, Heidi. I'd rather take a chance like this than live with her for the rest of my eternity. This is the best way." Bella sighed, and Heidi felt the venom pooling in her eyes. Though it had only been six months, Bella had quickly become very dear to her. Her heart lurched at the idea of losing her, but the rational side of her knew Bella was right. This was their best shot.
—--
Bella was nervous. If Maria was quick enough, and administered the third bite, then she would be bound to the woman forever. If Maria became her chosen mate, and she somehow survived this, she would be comatose until she was able to find her true mate. 0However, she couldn't show Heidi how terrified she is of such a fate.
She needed to be strong. If not for herself, for Heidi. If not for anything else in the world, then for revenge. Bella cannot forgive the Cullens for what they had done. Bella also can't help but wonder, if Edward never left her alone in the woods, would Maria have ever found her? Would she have lived the last thirteen years happily? With her father? With Jacob and Leah?
These questions seem pointless in the long run, however. What's done is done. She will not forgive, and she certainly will not forget. She's hurt, and she's angry. Maria preyed off of that. She was made strong, but she misses her weakness. This strength has come at much too steep a price. Love kills. It decimates.
She vows she will never do it again.
So yes, she's very scared as she walks into Maria's study. She knows she still smells faintly of Heidi, and that Maria has been suspicious. She hopes that Maria believes her nerves to be caused by the mating.
"Maria," Bella starts, and Maria turns and sniffs the air. Her eyes darken considerably. "I wasn't sure, at first. I was scared. They… left me. I was scared that if I let you make me yours, you could leave too, and it would kill me. I know that this isn't about love for you, but still. I give you my consent to administer a third bite." Bella finished, taking note of the surprise etched onto Maria's face. Just before she starts to worry, Maria breaks out into a grin.
"Oh, of course, firecracker. You'll be mine, alright." Maria snarled, before pouncing on Bella. She let it happen, let Maria drag her to her bedroom. Maria pushes her, violently, into the bed. She's used to this, this recurring violence. Maria rips and tears away her clothing, and Bella tries her best to seem like she wants this. She hopes to god Heidi will be here soon.
—--
Heidi was worried. She was waiting for Jane, Alec, Demitri and Felix to arrive. She also called for Chelsea, in case Maria succeeded in mating with Bella. She could at least dampen it. So far, the majority of her reinforcements had arrived. She was still concerned though, she knew they had to get there within the next hour.
Bella had confided in her that usually, when Maria is angry or excited, she finds herself unable to wait. These things usually last an hour. It had been twenty minutes, and if the rest didn't come soon, they'd be late. As the last few stragglers arrived, Heidi quickly took off at vampire speed, launching herself across streets and buildings. The rest followed behind, only slightly confused by how hasty she became.
As they came up on Maria's warehouse, Hedi directed them.
"Alec, release a fog over the newborns. They're extremely instinct driven, fear won't take charge of them. If they're cut off, they'll become comatose. Felix, go in there and dispatch the ones who don't stop moving even after. Demitri, locate Bella and Maria and me and you will go break it up. Jane, help Felix in any way you can. Alec, focus on keeping the cloud concentrated while the rest of the guard surrounds the building. Let's go!" Heidi commanded, and everyone nodded.
Heidi and Demitri ducked in between alleys, rounding on the shattered window that is directed above the catwalks. Demitri jumped down, Heidi quick to follow. They went quickly, locating Bella and Maria, meanwhile Felix and Jane caused the necessary distraction for Alec to mute the newborn's senses. Felix quickly dismembered them, and he and Jane advanced down the halls while Alec focused on keeping them under the shroud.
The guards quickly and efficiently surrounded the building, ready to attack.
—--
Heidi burst through the door, quickly followed by Demitri. Maria turned from Bella's neck, just as she was about to administer the third bite. She snarled at the intruders, and Bella turned Maria to her, before snapping her neck and ripping her head clean off.
"No. You do not snarl at guests, darlin'. That's just bad manners." Bella snarked. Maria started to flail, but Heidi quickly ripped off her arms and legs.
"She's nothing without the newborns. Without me. Without her precious major," Bella spat, taking out a rusted lighter from the nightstand. Heidi watched, transfixed, as Bella lit Maria's body aflame. The flames quickly spread, licking the ceiling. Bella ushered Heidi and Demitri out of the room, as they rushed through to collect the others. The guards outside dealt with the few rouge newborns that had escaped, and Bella stayed to watch the flames engulf what had taken so much of her.
Heidi comes up behind her, wrapping her arms around Bella's midsection.
"Come on, Bells. Let's go." Heidi whispered, and Bella tiredly nodded.
"Yeah. Let's."
—--
Bella spent the next two decades with the Volturi, going on missions with Heidi. She became very close with the queens. She found it was easy to be around them, and as she came to be held in high esteem by the elite guard, learning how to utilize her shield ability. She happened to get closest to Caius, though.
Caius viewed her as a little sister, and dispite everything, Bella looked up to him. And, despite their reputation, she grew closer to the witch twins, viewing them as her little siblings. She cared deeply for them, and helped them in any way she could. And, if perhaps, she and Sulpicia grew to be especially close, well you couldn't really blame her.
She stayed with the Volturi until late 1996, where she decided to branch out and explore. So much of her immortal life so far had been spent cooped up somewhere, be it in Maria's warehouse or Volterra. Bella expressed a wish to explore, see the world, and the Volturi allowed it on the condition that she must visit once a year. She agreed, of course. She adored them, and it wasn't a hassle. When Bella set out, much to the amusement of everyone else, Sulpicia tackled her and made out with her in the middle of the throne room. A mixture of wolf-whistles and groans chorused around them, and Sulpicia pulled her close to whisper in her ear.
"In case you find yourself a mate, something to remember me by." Sulpicia had purred. Bella scowled at her teasing nature.
—--
Bella had been traveling across Egypt, and finally stopped for a meal. As she was about to enter a club, she heard struggling. She went to check it out, and found a man beating a woman to death. Bella quickly snapped his neck, and proceeded to drain him. Once she finished, she crouched down next to the woman in the alley. The woman was still conscious, and Bella asked her.
"Do you know what I am?"
"Yes… Vampire…" The woman muttered, blood seeping in between her teeth. Bella scowled at the crumpled corpse she drained.
"Do you want a second chance? Do you want me to make you like me?" Bella asked, softly tucking the woman's hair behind her ear.
"Yes…" The woman again stuttered out. Bella nodded, and wasted no time sinking her fangs into the woman's neck.
Three days later, the woman's crimson eyes snapped open. She was still in Bella's protective hold. The woman eyed her scars, and immediately tried to pull away. Bella kept her grip.
"Calm down, lovely. I'll take you to feed, just tell me your name first." Bella whispered, careful not to startle the newborn further. The woman calmed slightly, before nodding.
"Yes," The woman rasped. "My name is Malia."
Bella nodded.
"My name is Isabella. Come with me, and I will take care of you." Bella replied, calmly gesturing for Malia to follow behind her.
Bella taught Malia all she could, before they had to leave Egypt. Malia was almost six months old when she met her mate, Lottie. Lottie was turned during the height of the Revolutionary war, by joining the army pretending to be a man, in search of her brother.
When she came across her brother's missing troupe, completely massacred, she was devastated. She ran off into the woods, until she came across the nomadic vampire that had killed her brother. The man was still full, but attempted to drain Lottie anyways. He left enough blood in her system that she was turned, and she had been a nomad ever since.
Bella had sympathized with her, telling her and Malia of her experiences. She offered Lottie to travel with them, unless Malia would want to go off with Lottie by herself. Malia expressed that she could never choose, not between her sire and her mate. Lottie decided to join with them, and they continued their travels. With Bella's yearly visits to the Volturi, Lottie and Malia had to be quickly acquainted with them. Sulpicia would drag Bella off, then Caius, then her time would be evenly split between the rest of the guard.
Bella was reading in the library, leaving Lottie and Malia to their little sexscapades, when Heidi entered.
"Hey, Bells." Heidi called to her, softly. Bella looked up, a large smile splitting her face.
"Heidi," Bella sighed. "I missed you the most." Bella whispered, and Heidi darted over to hug Bella tightly.
"I talked to Caius. I asked if I could join your little coven, you know? I had to sweeten the deal, say that I'll keep an eye on you and make sure you're safe, and he agreed. He talked to Aro and Marcus, and convinced them. So, if you want me, you have me." Heidi finished, smiling nervously. Bella's smile was like looking at the sun.
"Of course, I want you! You're my best friend, Heidi I, I don't even know what I would've done without you. I always miss you so much when I'm gone." Bella whispered to the last bit, and Heidi hugged her tightly.
"I know. I always miss you too, Bells."
And that was how Bella's lovely little coven went up to four.
—--
Eventually, Bella confided in her coven what events led up to her being found by Maria. The girls were outraged, to say the least. Malia threatened bodily harm, and Lottie was quiet, which she usually was when scheming. And Heidi was livid. Heidi had a tight grip on Bella for the next two days, unwilling to let Bella out of her sight.
Malia and Lottie stay close too, on guard. They may not be as close as Heidi, but they still loved Bella. Lottie and Heidi respected her, as young as she may be, she was a formidable and responsible coven leader, and Malia adored her. Malia was a little biased though, since Bella was her sire. Bella had confessed to Heidi that she was scared of being a sire, after what Maria had done to her.
Bella's ever-growing coven gained yet another member when Malia had returned to their current residence with a battered nineteen year-old boy in her arms. Malia informed her that the boy's name was Cory, and much like Malia, he had wanted to be changed.
"Please, Bella. You did it for me, I can't… I know how this is. To have everything uprooted in your life in such a violent manner. He wants this. I know how against it you are, to turn someone against their will." Malia pleaded with Bella, and Bella sighed before agreeing.
"Fine."
Bella sank her teeth into his neck. She really wasn't looking forward to getting another newborn. Malia is still only a few years old, and even though her control had vastly improved, she was still driven on instinct.
Bella really wasn't looking forward to this.
—--
Cory ended up complimenting Bella's rag-tag coven well. He was the only boy, but he was comfortable because as a human he had seven sisters. Malia babied him, Lottie joked around with him, Heidi cared for him as well, but mostly ignored him unless he spoke to her. He did, however, end up respecting Bella, just like Malia did. He was very steadfast and quick to learn the ways of vampirism, and Bella commended him.
The boy matched Malia in his enthusiasm, which came as a massive relief to their coven mates that at least one of the two could now be level-headed. Across their many travels together, Bella had yet again come across various nomads, and by a stroke of luck she happened across Garrett while she and Lottie were hunting.
Lottie immediately charged at him, holding him in a vice grip. He reciprocated, once the realization settled.
"Lottie?" Garrett sounded as close to tears as a vampire could get. Lottie laughed, venom pooling in her eyes.
"Yeah, it's me. I- It's been so long, Gar. What- we have so much to talk about, holy shit, this- This is Bella, she's our coven leader and- oh my god, you have to meet my mate, there's so- there's so much," Lottie exclaimed. Bella smiled softly and trailed behind them as Lottie excitedly led Garrett back to the house.
As they drew closer, Cory, Malia, and Heidi stepped out on the porch to meet the newest arrival. Cory's eyes widened, and he blurred to Garrett.
"Oh, wow." Garrett breathed. Bella sighed. She supposed she now had another coven member.
Her and Heidi stand together, hands brushing slightly.
"Well, it seems we have yet another mated pair. It was awkward enough having to ignore Lottie and Malia, but not Garrett and Cory?" Bella sighed, and Heidi slapped her arm slightly.
"Oh, you're one to talk. The whole castle can hear it when Sulpicia drags you off." Heidi countered, and Bella balked.
"She's so fast, I don't have the chance to run! She's insatiable!" Bella cried, and Malia, Lottie, and Heidi laughed at her expense, as Garrett just looked confused. Cory noted his mate's confused expression.
"Trust me, you'll know soon enough."
"I don't think I want to." Garrett replied, grinning sheepishly.
Cory laughed, and Bella noted the star-struck look that crossed Garrett's face.
—--
Luckily, Bella's coven didn't grow after that. Bella had taken her coven and decided to settle in Seattle, close to home, but not close enough. Bella and her family were comfortable there, simply enjoying their day-to-day life, when it hit Bella that she could visit her father's grave. Something she was never brave enough to do. When she ran the idea by her family, they all immediately volunteered to go with her.
"I wouldn't mind if all of you came, I'd love to tell my dad about you all. But, we need to keep a low profile." Bella said softly, and Heidi held her gently in her arms. Bella nodded, and everyone gave her a soft smile.
They decided to wait for a particularly brutal storm so most of the Forks population would be inside, that way they would be as inconspicuous as possible. Bella's only worry was that her visit would be during one of the Cullen's rotations, but Heidi quickly assured her that even if it were, they by no means had to speak to them.
They all set off one stormy morning, and arrived an hour later in Forks, parking outside of the cemetery gates. Bella and her family quickly exited the car, heading in to find her father's grave. They split up to search faster. Garret found it, and with a quick call for the rest of them, they assembled around it. Bella sat down in the dirt, and the rest of her group backed away slightly, walking around and keeping watch.
After a few hours of Bella sitting, talking to her father, was she ready to leave. She already felt lighter, and after having rehashed her life since she had first moved to Forks in 1963, did Bella feel happier. She rounded up her family, and they all trekked back up to the car.
As they rounded the corner, they came face to face with a coven Bella had hoped and prayed she'd never see again. The Cullens.