Chapter 5

Visitor: Friend or foe

The moonlight directs it glow against the shack but on the east side of the building, shadows linger. A small form of an adult vampire dwells in the shadows. A deep snarl awakes in the pit of darkness as Bella returns the same greeting. Maintaining a distance, Bella crunch posture becomes more menacing as her thoughts worry over her younglings. Curling her upper lip, Bella reveals her white teeth that shine brightly against the moonlight. Her skin is comparable to a polish glass doll as the silver moonlight glitter over her frozen flesh. Brown stands of hair falls over her shoulders and drapes down her chest. Bella's eyes reveal a deep golden copper that too, glows in the light.

The creature in the shadows snarls lowly before stepping a single step out of the shadows and into the silver light. Revealing itself as a female vampire as her skin glitter genuine brilliance. The creature wears a long sleeve white top with a deep round neckline. The fabric is tight around her waist revealing a curvy body. A loose royal blue long skirt encircles her hips as the hem drapes freely down to her ankles. A black belt wraps around her hips to prevent the skirt from falling. Strawberry blonde hair curls to her collarbone with several strands of bangs cupping the side of her face. Her face is a diamond shape with large golden eyes and a straight nose. Like any other vampire small dark rings circle beneath her eyes.

The female's posture is slightly crunch down with her arm sprawling either side of her body, prepare for any conflict. Her golden eyes stare deadly at the vampire before her. Curling her lips upper ward, grinding her teeth together follow by a low hiss.

Bella stares intently at the vampire not really sure what to do. Never once crossing paths with another off her kind. The sensation of confusion leaves Bella blind to any future battles. Even though there is no training on her belt, Bella remains confident and relies on her instincts.

"What do you want?" Bella ask in a low demanding voice, tone is harsh as sounds of hissing flows in her words. Keeping intense contact with her guest, Bella wait in anticipation for her reasons of stocking her home.

The female vampire returns a defensive snarl, curling her lip farther back. Her face becomes more distraught by the moment. Bella couldn't help but wonder what she did to offend this poor creature.

Shortly after the female's menacing hiss, another low hiss comes from within the shack. The female vampire snaps her head towards the building while furrowing her eyebrows in anger. Turning her attention to Bella before saying in intimidating voice that is spine-chilling, "You're on my lands." The female vampire speaks through teeth while only her lips are moving.

This new piece of information slightly startles Bella as her eyebrows furrow in confusion. "What do you mean, this place had been abandon more than…" Bella confesses in uneasy tone before her guest interrupts her.

"Thirty years." Once again she speaks through her teeth and tilting her head to the side ever so slightly. 'This is my home." The declaring tone in her voice is firm.

When realizing the vampire's intentions, Bella stands up straight from her crunch to show she does not want a quarrel. Squaring her shoulder, Bella keeps a firm stare at her guest and lowers her upper lip.

The vampire stares in wonder to why Bella is no longer in her defense position. Staring intently at Bella with narrow eyes while running every possible plan that Bella might have up her sleeve. When coming up with no answers, the vampire rises from her position to match Bella's stance but retaining the same glare.

"My family and I have been living her for the past year there was no signs of owners for this home." Bella says carefully while her voice is still uneasy.

"Yes…" The female begins in murmur as her eyes glance to the house and then back to Bella. "I can see you have immortal children, don't you realize that's forbidden!" She spats coldly receiving a deep snarl from the young boy in the shack.

Once again the female's words confuses her again, "Immortal children?"

"Yes! Immortal children! Don't you know the law!" Her voice gets harsher with each word while staring with a 'what on earth' expression. "You're not allowed to change children into vampires!"

"But….I didn't change, I gave birth to them."

The creature furrows her eyebrow deadly with pure fury as she spat, "That preposterous! That is not impossible you filthy lair!"

The vampire's words fuels Bella's anger as she curls her lips once again. A low deadly hiss comes from Bella as her eyes narrow at the creature.

"Their heartbeat, Bella….tell her the children have a heartbeat!" That voice echoes in Bella's mind as Bella immediately drops her fuming expresses. Widening her eyes to that voice that haunts her mind, the velvet voice returns to her after over a year of silence.

The vampire stares in bewilderment to Bella's sudden change in expression as she stares more intently at her.

"The heartbeat….. Listen to their heartbeats." Bella demands with a hint of pleading in her voices.

The female vampire stares at Bella with an uncertain expression while squinting her eyelids at her. Soon after, the vampire's eyes soften momentarily, as her eyes widen slightly in disbelieve to what she is hearing. Two heartbeats beating faster than an average human. "Impossible…." The creature murmurs out loud to herself in hesitation as she drops her eye to the snow where her feet at corrupt by. Although, she can smell the scent of vampire on their flesh but there is another smell…..a small human aroma waving off their small bodies. The creature soon gathers all over her thoughts before darting her eyes to Bella. Staring skeptically at Bella, "How?...."

Bella hesitates with her question consider that she can't remember anything before waking up in the woods with the twins. Pursing her lips, "I don't remember….." Bella trails off as she wonders in her thoughts. But a sudden curiosity swells in her chest to wonder if her unseen face mysterious man had some part in her pregnancy.

The vampire purses her lips in thought as she tries to determine whether or not to trust this vampire. Considering her children's heartbeats, the vampire decides to give Bella a chance. "Well that complicates things…" Her voice is soft and thoughtful before trailing off, "Very well…. I will not inform the Volturi of…… your situation."

Bella cocks an eyebrow, "The Volturi?" Bella asks curiously, a small twitch of fear awakes in her chest to wonder how the so called Volturi could do to her situation.

"Do you not know anything?" The female vampire asks in bewilderment with her eyebrow furrowing in disbelief.

Bella shakes her head side to side, indicating a 'no' as she slightly feels embarrass to not know important things.

"Well then, I guess I am going to have to teach you the rules" The vampire says in certain as her voice softens dramatically into a kind and gently voice. "The name is Mildred."

Bella expression softens to the Mildred's kindness as she response, "Bella."

Several hours pass on by as Mildred explains the laws that the Volturi written in stone and how power their family are. Of course, the conversation about forbidden immortal children was explained to Bella. This new piece in formation made Bella's body go cold, colder than a vampire's body can go. Knowing what the Volturi can do to her family will surely sends many fearful thoughts through her mind.

Mildred sits quietly on the old couch with her body leaning forward and her elbows resting on her knee caps. Slouching her shoulders forth, Mildred stares poignant at an old photo of her family of six. If a vampire can cry, there would be tears streaming down her polish white cheeks. Her strawberry blonde hair leans in the same direction with her tilting head as her hair curtains her face. The heart-wrenching sensation of aching for her family throbs in her heart. Even her sadden expression pains Bella to stare helplessly at her guest.

Bella sit across from Mildred, in a chair by the small table. The chair is slantways towards Mildred as Luken sits on the table with his small legs swinging as his mind wonders off elsewhere. Renesemee sits next to Mildred, her back leaning into the cushion and her legs sprawling out before her.

A soft scoff comes from Mildred, "Thirty years…..has it been that long." Mildred asks in sorrow as she directs that question to herself. A deep sigh is release from her lungs as she closes her eyes in mourning.

Bella's tilts her head to the side with a worry expression before nibbling on her lip. "Wh-What happened?" Bella ask hesitantly as her curiosity got the best of her.

Mildred swallows a lump in her throat as she releases another grieving sigh. "My family lived in this house for more than twenty years; my father loved the wilderness as well as my mother." Mildred beings as she chuckles bitterly at her parent's interest in the wilderness, "I was a child when we first moved here, in the late 40's. My father just resigned from the military, he seen too much in Pearl Harbor. I was the third child out of three boys. My mother home schooled us, you can say we were sheltered. I married when I was seventeen to my childhood friend, Brain." A soft smile grows on her lips as she pictures his face in her mind. "He was a free spirited person always knew how to put a smile on my lips. He was a carpenter in a small town, west from here. I never had any children; I was unable to carry any. When I was twenty one, my husband and I came here for a small family reunion, it was the first time in months since I was able to see my eldest brother, Eric. It was a wonderful reunion…..at least….at first." Mildred's voice slowly drops to a sadden murmur towards the end of her sentence. Sorrowfulness grows painfully on her face as the horrible memories invade her weary mind; breeding more sadden into her old heart. Mildred's thin lips begin to tremble to the memories before she continues, "But…" Mildred's voice breaks, her breathing becomes shaky and her golden eyes stare off with her mind lost in her thoughts, "They came." She hisses. "They broke into the house and massacred my family, there was a lot screaming….there was one female and one male. The female bit my arm it was painful. I know right then I was going to die, I staring death in face! But my husband came to defend me but that female….That wrenched female!.....Killed him." Mildred bows her head deeply, pursing her lips and breathing quivering. "That was the last time I ever saw him…..Then, I felt the painful flames of the venom and I woke up like this." She lifts her head and gestures with her right hand at her body.

Bella nods once with her own eyes saddening to Mildred tragic past. "I'm sorry." Bella manages a small whisper. A twitch of torture swells in her chest when not finding a way to comfort Mildred. "Do you know who they are? The ones who attacked you?"

Sourly, Mildred shakes her head side to side while locking her jaw. Her lips pout forward follow by an inhaling angrily. "No…" Mildred says bitterly, "But that night, I smelt their scent and I been following them ever since….." Mildred pauses momentarily, glancing her golden eyes to Bella who has the same color irises. "You don't hunt people?" Mildred states rather than ask the question.

"No"

"How did you get over your thirst for them, I don't know about you but it was difficult for me and….your only a year old" Mildred asks, voice full of astonishment and her tone carves for the answers. Then, one side of Mildred thin lips twitch up to a smile, "Vampire wise of course."

Bella returns a kind smile of friendship but her smile fades when thinking upon her question. She never once really put thought into why she didn't kill people. Although, the memory of that voice comes to her mind but she not sure if it would be wise to confess that detail yet. "I don't know, I guess I am a natural."

Mildred sends a simple smile before fading out, back to her chagrin memories.

"How did you do it?" Bella asks curiously.

Mildred shot up her eyes to meet Bella's before answering, "It was difficult, the fresh scent of the blood covering the land was tantalizing. But, I think it was the last memory I had before changing. Seeing their faces." Mildred hisses when thinking about those two vampires. Mildred pauses while trying to put her word together correctly. "My vengeance to find these vampires has been my motive for everything, I came back here in hopes to find their scent again but by the smell of it, it has faded away. But, I have to give most of the credit to a family of vampires called the Denali…."

Denali.. The name repeats itself in Bella's mind when the word triggers some sort of a memory. She has heard that word before but where?

"They taught me the way of this life and I have been bounded to it ever since. I considered living with them permanently but I couldn't let go of my hatred for them."

"Do you remember what those vampires look like?" Bella asks after snapping out of her own thoughts.

Mildred eyebrows knit together in thought, "Well, briefly. I remember the woman being…beautiful…. She had long hair that looks like it was fire… Posture of a feline and hisses of a snake….." Mildred continues on; voice deep in thought as once again her words trigger Bella's memory.

Firry hair. Posture of a feline. Hisses of a snake. A flash shocks into Bella's memory.

"You brought a snack."

"You're a human…"

The female vampire's eyes deep with crimson that moves frantically across Bella and unknown other's faces. They stood in a large field and facing the three vampires with crimson flowing in there deadly eyes.

A deep gasp from Bella fills the room as her high pitch voice echoes through the shack. Furrowing her eyebrows together, Bella's face becomes frighten and her eyes widen in fear. Bella's froze body stiffs with her shoulder slightly rising to her jaw line and her throat becomes tight.

After her sudden gasp, Luken and Renesemee dart to her, clinging onto her back. Renesemee places her finger gently on Bella's chin as she communicates her words to Bella's mind. Both children express a worry feature for their mother. The cold skin mesh together as they wait for Bella's unspoken words. Two small pairs of eyes stare intently at Bella.

"Bella?" Mildred asks in concern with her eyebrows furrowing in worry. Her body is leaning forward in anticipation. "Bella are you alright?" Her voice is frantic as she fears that she has told too much to her new friend. Mildred's golden eyes move rapidly to either Bella's eyes to find a sign of relief.

Bella's eyes stare off before finally, her stiff body loosens slightly. Inhaling a deep breath, Bella as the human scent of her children burns her throat but nothing she can't handle. Bella bows her head forward and digs her hands into her hair. The palms of her hands grip a hand full of hair with brown strands draping down between her fingers. Closing her eyes tightly as small fragments of the hunt appear in her mind but once again the mysterious man is still unseen.

"Bella are you alright?" Mildred voice is high pitch even in her own ears.

"Ma?" Luken speaks for the first time since Mildred has arrived. His sweet angelic voice is soothing as he places a soft cold hand on Bella's tighten fist.

After moments have pass, Bella loosens her tight grip on her hair and releases a deep sigh. Pursing her lips to her old memories as Bella slowly lifts her head and drops her hands into her lap. Her face is in anguish. Before she new it, Bella observes her surrounds and notices everyone's frantic expression. If she could blush, she would be blushing a deep crimson. "Sorry…." Bella manages to speak a single word, voice is low and in a sad note. Bella turns her head slightly to her small daughter who is still asking her frantic questions. Wrapping her adult hand around her daughter's tiny fist, "I fine, baby, just another flashback."

Both children relax slightly but still clinging onto their mother. Luken leans his head against Bella's shoulder in a sign of comfort. His short dark brown hair gently brushes against Bella's jaw line.

"Flashbacks? Do you get them often?" Mildred asks curiously, her voice is still full of concern. She tilts her head to the side, allowing her hair to fall in the same direction.

"Sometimes…." Bella declares as she goes on and explains to Mildred of her flashback, the mysterious man. The conversation switches to Bella's past or at least what she remembers. Even the story about leaving Washington and her father Charlie.

Mildred meditates on Bella's short past as she strokes her soft cold skin with her slender fingers. A simple 'hmmm' comes from her throat and her eyebrows furrow together in thought. Soon after, Mildred drops her hand to her lap and slightly leans forward, placing more weight onto her knees. "Well do you still want to remember your past?" Mildred asks curiously and a hint of enthusiasm.

Bella considers her question as she furrows her eyebrows in thought. Tapping her fingernails on her kneecap and purses her lips together. Then, Renesemee replaces her finger onto Bella's chin with her eyes full on excitement.

Transmitting her words to Bella's mind as her lips grow to a large smile and revealing her small pearl teeth. The apples of her cheeks grow larger and a low squeal echoes from her throat.

Bella directs her attention to Renesemee before saying, "I don't know honey, I don't know how good you two are about your self control." Bella says coolly, voice is calm and sweet.

"Road trip mama! Road trip." Luken half screams with delight, voice is high pitch. His smile grows much larger than Renesemee as a twinkle of excitement shines in his golden eyes.

"We can teach them." Mildred chimes with her enthusiasm still at bay, voice urging Bella to agree. She seems to be more excited about the idea than the twins. All three glance at Mildred, only the twin faces brighten up more making their beauty even more radiate. "Oh come one, we can travel around a bit and I can teach you how to fight….it seems to me you didn't know anything when we first met."

Bella cringes in embarrassment when realizes Mildred knew about that from the beginning. She purses her lips before sighing a deep sigh. "I've never been to New York." Bella gives in with a low voice. "Fine."

Mildred hops to her feet, pulling in her hand as they turn into fists. Her face brightens up with excitement and her radiate smile growing large with the apples of her cheeks growing enormous. "Good but since the young ones are still young, it might take time to get use to the scent of humans.... but don't worry with the both of us we can teach them. It'll take probably a few years but none of the less they can do it. After that we'll figure out your past and travel around. And of course, I'll teach you how to fight." Mildred announces thrillingly with excitement as she slams one fist into her palm of her hand to express her point. "I'll be fun."

Bella nod once, her face is feature exhilaration to the ideas of Mildred. Of course, a small twitch of fear for her children's self-control comes to her mind but she has confidants that Mildred knows what she is doing. "And, in return I'll help you find your vampires."

To be continued

AN: Ok, just to let you know I will not be updating the next two weeks, it spring break which mean ROAD TRIP!!!

So thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it.