Finally, Chapter 3 is up. Many thanks to all the readers—especially those that reviewed. You are all truly appreciated.
Also, this chapter is sort of another set-up, but I wanted everyone to know that I especially enjoyed writing the scenes that feature both Rosalie and Rogue. Take it off!
Ha. Enjoy.
Chapter Three:
Carlisle's hand was on the doorknob when Rosalie suddenly appeared through the thick mass of people attending Ben and Angela's engagement party, an unreadable expression painted across her beautiful features.
"I've got it," Rose said, a worrisome tone coloring her angelic voice.
Carlisle gave his adopted daughter a look of confusion. "Are you sure?"
"Of course; Alice said so." Rosalie fought a smile. Carlisle nodded, and then returned to the guests as she quickly opened the door and slipped outside.
Rosalie smirked at whom—or what; rather, she couldn't decide which—was standing before her.
On the dim-lit porch, a quaint-looking girl stood daintily, clutching a small purse in her right hand. Rose scanned the stranger from head to toe—the girl stood about the same height as she, with a firm physical structure yet curved in the right places, similar to her own. Her hair spilled along her shoulders in a mess of scarlet-brown curls, a portion of her bangs streaked snow white.
Nice dye job, Rosalie thought to herself, lowering her eyes to see the jade-green sundress that complimented the pale girl's skin-tone. Her jewelry seemed coordinated enough, but why was she wearing gloves? And were those cowboy boots? Tacky, Rosalie let out another internal critique.
The girl standing before her was the epitome of a southern belle—too bad they were located in the Pacific Northwest.
Overall, the girl is much less prettier than me. Rose smiled to herself, now concluding that Alice's vision hadn't concerned this evident human specimen; she was probably just another guest.
"May I help you?" Rosalie questioned the visitor, raising an eyebrow. Though she was certain that this girl did not present any danger, she was still just as prude to any other passerby.
Rogue fought to keep her tone polite as she answered, "Yes please," overdoing the country accent as part of her disguise. She was already irritated with the blonde, and hoped—although she knew for certain that she indeed was, judging by her stunning beauty and icy white skin—that she wasn't one of the incredible vampires the Professor had seen. "May I speak to Isabella?"
Rose determined that this girl wasn't familiar with Bella as she referred to her incorrectly. She scowled as she answered, "Bella,"—pause—"is busy at the moment. Would you like to come inside?"
Rogue considered this, but quickly rebutted. The Professor's words—though he was miles away in the clearing—repeated themselves in her head: Speak to Bella, warn her, and—depending on her response—we'll move on to our next position.
"No thank you," Rogue said too nicely after the thought. "It will only take but a minute—are you sure she can't come outside?"
Rosalie shifted her weight to one leg and placed a hand on her hip like she used to do as a human when people were giving her difficulty. Her slight movement caused the other girl to fidget instinctually, and a cluster of her scent flew into Rose's face. The foreign smell now danced inside her nostrils, unfamiliar, yet interesting; it was too delicate to be a vampire's, yet all too irregular to be a human's, despite the rhythm of her beating heart. Sweet and sour—what was she?
"Perhaps you need to speak to Angela? This is her party, after all." Rosalie pressed, now trying to decipher the foreign scent of the other girl.
No one mentioned an 'Angela', Rogue thought as she carefully worded her response: "You see, I have a gift for Angela, but I desperately need Bella's approval." She smirked, but was terribly annoyed. The Professor figured this would be an easy errand for her because she looked of age—wrong, wrong, wrong.
"I see," responded Rose, her voice full of discouragement. Her tone was firm and frightening, although it didn't do much to her counterpart. Perhaps this girl wasn't as innocent as she looked. "I'll just have Bella take a peek before Angela opens it. If she disapproves, we'll return it."
"Surely Bella can speak for just a sec," Rogue snapped, becoming flustered. She searched in her mind for ideas, but failed to find any that were relevant. Usually by now, the Professor would have intruded her mind, filling her with a superb script to recite. But he wasn't, and she knew something was wrong.
The game was over. "Who are you?" Rosalie asked in a deadly tone.
"Marie," Rogue spat back venomously.
"Funny—Bella's never mentioned you."
"She's probably forgotten about me; it's been awhile."
"Doubtful."
The two women eyed each other fiercely, an electrical current surging between them. The tension was now tangible in the air, and Rogue could read confusion in the blonde's face. She wasn't used to being challenged like this.
"Fine, have it your way." Rogue said, beginning to make her way down the walkway of the porch. She wasn't sure how to react, or what to say next, but the blonde couldn't be trusted. Maybe if she just made things easier, and flew around back. . .
Without another word, Rogue leapt into the air, mind racing, unable to think. She just had to find Bella—she had brown hair, and should be carrying a baby. But then, Rogue was on the ground again.
"Oof!"
As soon as Rosalie had seen the strange visitor jump into midair, and float upward—was the girl flying?—she'd catapulted herself off the porch railing and ascended toward her, determination burning in the blonde's eyes. Within an instant, she'd wrapped her arms around the other woman's waist and tackled her onto the ground, both of them landing with a thud.
Her thoughts jumbled, Rogue looked up in surprise at her attacker, who stood crouched in front of her. She could have sworn the woman was growling as her pearly white teeth flashed a snarl. She wasn't like the vampires depicted in the horror film she'd gone to see last Saturday.
Rosalie's eyes locked onto her prey, instinct now overpowering her entirely. If she was looking for Bella, she must want Nessie, too—they were a two-for-one package. Rose wasn't going to let anything happen to Renesmee; not on her watch, at least.
Rogue was standing now, facing Rosalie in a fighting stance.
"Look, suga—I don't have time for your games," Rogue warned, her eyes piercing Rosalie.
Rosalie smiled, shaking her head, as planned her next move. She took but two steps forward, and in a flash, she'd rammed Rogue with her shoulder with the force of a professional football player, knocking the southern beauty on her back. Rose now stood above her counterpart, smirking wildly.
"Who's playing?" her question was painted with venom.
Despite the confusion now flushing within her, Rogue wanted to fight. The plan obviously wasn't working, and the Professor wasn't updating her mind. There was nothing more she could do other than grab hold of the blonde's thick hair and fling her sideways as she lifted herself off the ground.
Rosalie's reflexes were quick—she hardly knew she was being tossed until she landed on her feet again. The two women then lunged at one another, fists flying.
Rogue's movements were strong and powerful, but Rosalie's speed was difficult to counter. The match-up was a close bout, but Rogue eventually got the upper hand as she caught Rosalie's leg in mid-kick, flipping it over the blonde's head and forcing her to perform a back flip onto the ground. Rosalie was shaken for only a split second, and then returned the favor by grabbing hold of Rogue's boot and thrusting her overhead in one swift gesture.
Rogue, of course, landed on her feet, but a massive fist greeted her when she turned to face her opponent once more. The punch was deafening—it felt as if she'd been struck with a cinderblock. In that one second of puzzlement, Rosalie took hold of Rogue's arm and thrust her into a nearby tree. The thud of the trunk against Rogue's frame was loud; for the first time, Rose noticed that the two women had taken their fight into the forest.
Taking a fistful of Rogue's hair, Rosalie turned the woman's body and pinned her against the tree, her instincts still in full control. Rogue's vision was blurred as pain electrified her body, and she struggled to stand erect, her only support being Rosalie's menacing fist entwined around her warm neck.
"Whatever you are—you're still human." Rosalie said maliciously.
The anger that brooded inside her caused her to forget her surroundings entirely. In this very moment, she was no longer a vegetarian—she was a thoroughbred carnivore. The blood that flowed within her prey's veins was utterly irresistible. . .
Without another word, Rosalie pressed her lips to Rogue's throat.
*-*-*-*
Rogue's throat was burning.
Her head was spinning and her thoughts were incoherent—all she knew for certain was that it burned. Her mind searched for things similar to the sensation she felt now inside her throat, scavenging throughout the memories of past encounters with other mutants and people, but she found nothing that could compare to the brilliant sting that tore throughout her lungs.
Rogue's sight was blurry, incapable of focusing on the images that surrounded her now. She felt rabid, uncontrollable—like a predator.
A brief glimpse of a blonde woman convulsing on the ground at her feet caused the previous scene to be thrust back into Rogue's mind forcefully. If it weren't for the unfathomable fire that loomed inside her, she would have been suffering from an equally painful headache.
The sight was replayed in slow motion, the final scene ending in the delicate kiss Rosalie placed on Rogue's neck. At first, Rogue allowed a smug grin creep along her features, knowing that even in her weakened state the vampire would suffer from the contact with her skin. But in that same instant, Rogue felt fire ignite inside her throat as her opponent—a faded memory said that her name had been 'Rosalie'—slumped onto the ground, gyrating wildly at the shock of Rogue's touch.
The present was suddenly much more vivid than the past, although she did not know why. Her eyes seemed to lock into places that she didn't even knew existed—the small skeletal structure of a leaf that, even in the darkened forest, shimmered brightly with detail. And despite the ember that danced along her tongue, her skin felt ice-cold.
But the most prominent enhancement was surely her sense of smell. Rogue's eyes widened as she turned to face the house that she and Rosalie had stumbled away from during their bout. Hundreds of delightfully appetizing aromas filled her nostrils, teased her craving. Even in her muddled sate, Rogue could recognize the metallic scent that toyed with her senses. Now, however, the metallic pang was utterly and inescapably sweet.
Rogue took a step forward, catapulting herself off the ground in one swift movement. Soon she flew above the trees, her senses guiding her back towards the house.
She needed blood, and she needed it now.
*-*-*-*
This time, Emmett got the door.
The only difference was that there wasn't an actual knock at the door this time—instead, it was flung quite forcefully through the house, and in the doorway stood a monstrosity like no other. Eyes widened as some of the party guests saw what had just happened, but Jasper quickly got them all in a warmer mood, which helped them conclude that it was all just theatrics, and that the Cullen's had a niche for entertainment and throwing wonderful parties.
As Carlisle and Esme distracted the guests, Emmett approached the danger at the door.
The deranged beast that attacked him came in the form of a beautiful woman—the shimmer in her crimson-red eyes immediately told him that she was a newborn.
Emmett was unsure what had happened when Rosalie sped through the house just minutes before, convincing Carlisle that the door was for specifically for her, but he was observant enough to know that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.
Edward! Emmett's thoughts were almost as loud as his whooping voice, his mental tone strained as he defended himself against the wild woman who challenged his might. Her attacks were swift—almost as if she'd practiced fighting before—but his strength was beneficial, as always. He managed to get her out of the perimeter of the house and the humans, cornering her in the thick trees once again.
In a matter of seconds, Edward, Bella, and Alice had arrived to view the remarkable scene that was being played out before them. Leah and Seth could be heard watching closely from the woods. They quickly headed around back to keep a closer eye on Jacob and Nessie.
"A newborn?" Alice spoke aloud, although her question was mainly directed to herself. Why couldn't I see her, then?
"I don't know," Edward answered his sister's thoughts as he leapt forward to restrain the savage woman attacking his brother.
Skillfully, the two brothers apprehended their visitor and forced her onto the grounded. She writhed uncontrollably, fidgeting wildly, but Edward cooed something in her ear that made Bella especially infuriated.
"The hell if I won't hurt her," Bella said acidly, folding her arms. She didn't like where this was going. Edward shot her a pleading glance, but Bella was unconvinced. "This woman has come to hurt our family, to hurt our daughter."
Before Edward could respond, Emmett leapt up suddenly and they all watched him as he dashed into the forest.
"Rosalie," Edward spoke calmly, now redirecting his attention to the apparent newborn. As Emmett came back into sight, Rosalie in arms, Edward suddenly realized something as well. Alice heard, too.
"Her heart is still beating," they said in unison.
And then lightning struck.
*-*-*-*
Okay, in the next chapter, everyone will meet. Enticing, isn't it? Ha.
Once again, I want to thank my readers. I'm glad that there are still people among us who enjoy absurdities just as much as I do.
Please review this chapter. All of your thoughts are inspiring.