Bella
When I dream, flashes of red bleed through my eyes.
All different shades, but so beautiful. In my dreams, Victoria's hair, her eyes, her lips, her teeth, it all flashes before me.
But this dream is a nightmare in disguise. I can only watch in horror as my fiery red melts into honey gold.
Yet, as I await the copper hair of my true tormentor, it doesn't come. Instead, it is wiped away by platinum blonde, beautiful.
God, how is she so gorgeous?
Vampires, all of them, are nothing to her. Rosalie Hale is pretty, but Kate Denali has the beauty only she can achieve.
How am I not scared of her? Why do I feel so safe with her?
She's not Victoria.
She's so different.
She's an animaldrinker.
She could kill me, and I think it would be okay, if only I died in her arms.
But fuck. Victoria needs me. Not Kate. What am I doing?
…
Laurent
Kate slams into me, hands gripping my neck.
"You better start explaining who the hell Victoria is and what she did to my mate."
How the hell does a human girl become so immersed in the supernatural?
"Victoria was James' mate. They hunted down Isabella for her scent. The Cullens, namely Edward, believed her to be his mate. James was intrigued by her scent, so he hunted her and then bit her. Edward sucked the venom out, and the others killed James. But they left Victoria alive, and after that I have no idea." I finish lamely.
Irina tugs Kate off of me, kissing my forehead. Kate seems angry, but we all ignore it in favor of going back into the room with the human.
…
Bella
Kate, Laurent, Irina, and Tanya re-enter the room.
"Bella, can you tell us what happened after James died?" Tanya asks. I nod sullenly.
"After James died, we entered a sort of peace. It was time for my eighteenth birthday, and Alice and Edward insisted I had a party after I said I didn't want one. I also insisted on no presents, but they didn't listen. I got a paper cut opening a gift, and Jasper, the family empath, got slammed with everyone's bloodlust and lunged. Edward had the bright idea to shove me into a glass table. After that, Edward leads me into the woods telling me I meant nothing to them and he abandoned me. Victoria found me out there."
A resounding growl shook the room. Kate prowls forward, before wrapping me tightly in her arms. Her face is buried in my neck, scenting me, my brain supplies.
The rest of the room stays silent as Kate brushes her nose against a scar, snarling slightly. I should be terrified, but I'm not. I have no idea why.
Tanya ushers the others out of the room, before leaving herself. Kate seems to be lost in her instincts, and I can only wonder why they'd leave a human with an instinctual vampire.
Kate nips slightly at one of my bites, and I quiver. She coats it in her own venom, spreading it with her tongue. The bite heals, and Kate seems happy about it.
"W-What are you doing?" I attempt to ask.
Attempt, because she's not even paying attention as she repeats the action to all visible bites.
By the time she's done, I've been reduced to a puddle.
I'm unnaturally aroused, something I hadn't been in a long time, even with Victoria.
Kate still seems fairly lost, and when she slowly pulls up my shirt to uncover my scarred stomach, I blush.
As she spreads her venom, I can't help but hope that this feeling never ends.
But won't Victoria be mad?
Victoria...
I tried to lightly push Kate away, but she didn't budge.
"Victo-"
A snarl interrupts me. Kate pushes herself up, and resumes her place at my neck.
"Don't talk about her." Kate whispers into my ear.
Fuck.
…
Victoria
I don't know where Isabella is.
I need her.
She's no James, but she is mine.
And I keep what's mine. I should've never left.
Laurent can help. He has to be able to.
I fish out my phone, hardly used, and dial his number.
A few rings later, and a hesitant greeting sounds from his end.
"Hello, Victoria."
"Laurent. Do you remember that girl that James took an interest in, before he died?"
"Yes."
Victoria notes how hesitant he sounds. Can't trust him, her senses are screaming at her. She ignored them.
"I need her. I'm not gonna hurt her. I know you're interested in the pansy lifestyle. I miss her." I purr.
"Victoria," A pause. Talking is heard in the background, and that's when I hear it. Bella. My Isabella's little nickname.
"Where is she, Laurent?" I scream. My Isabella, in a house filled with animal drinkers? What if she's tainted again? Then I'll have to fix her, all my work will be for naught.
"Answer me, dammit!" I screech into the receiver. A dial tone is my answer.
Laurent has hung up.
…
Tanya
We have to protect Bella. She's Kate's mate, but no one deserves that kind of torture. The pain of vampire venom is unimaginable for a human, but this girl doesn't have to imagine.
I know Kate is lost in her instincts, and I will allow this, but if anything happens further I will remove Kate. Bella needs to heal, mentally and physically.
Kate has waited thousands of years for her mate, and she will survive is she has to wait a few decades more for Bella to be ready.
Honestly, I feel as though we should call Rosalie in. Her history is dark, and while Bella is terrified of them, Rosalie understands at least one aspect of what Bella went through.
If I did, though, I'd have to ensure her confidentiality. Honestly, I would love to have Rosalie join our coven, but she seems stuck on her eternal brooding. We'll have to see.
I sigh, pulling out my phone. Rosalie is a call away. I'll ask her to meet up, before telling her of the situation. She hates Edward, and there is relatively no risk of her telling him.
…