Chapter Two.
A young teenage girl screamed as Victoria sunk her teeth into her neck. A homeless man gasped, choked, and suffered while Riley finished him. The young teenage girl lost conscious first, and a few moments later, the homeless mans breathing abruptly ceased. Victoria licked her fingers and was satisfied for the night. However, she knew Riley would be feeding on another few victims in the next few hours.
"Riley, come over here." She called.
He dumped both bodies in a nearby sewage ditch and quickly walked over to Victoria who was over looking Elliot Bay.
"Yes?" He asked.
"I'm going to leave be leaving you for just a few days. I have another friend, he's a vampire too, but he's not fond of others presence. It sort of scares him. He's a lot older than I am."
"Why don't I just follow you?"
"He'll know. He'll sniff out your scent just to be sure it's just me. Don't worry, you two will meet when the time is right."
"Okay. What do you expect me to do though while you're gone? And when will I expect you back?" He asked, nervously.
"I'm leaving tonight, in a few minutes, and I'll be back in three to four days. Don't worry I will come back. You're my only hope for escaping."
"Anything I should know?"
"Yes, remember to only hunt at night. Take the ones who aren't going to be missed. Misfits, the homeless, and runaways. Nothing more. DO NOT feed in front of anyone or hunt in the town, stick to the deserted areas. Make sure you and your victim are alone! Dispose of all corpses properly as well! Last but not least, hide out in the abandoned post office for the day until night arrives. Careful with your movements too."
"Got it." He whispered.
"Good. Don't worry about anything. He's going to give me advice about escaping." She said, kissing his cheek.
"Well, I should get going. Remember what I said."
"Bye, Victoria. Please come back."
"I promise." She smiled.
They both parted. Victoria ran off into the night while Riley went to finish hunting. Elliot bay was less than three hundred feet ahead from Victoria. She bolted through the buildings, and restaurants of Seattle, and before she came within a thirty foot distance of the shore she jumped into the bay. She swam between Seattle and Bainbridge island north of Seattle up Elliot bay. She swam passed Hansville, Port Hadlock, Port Townsend, and swam a long distance into the border of Canada. From there she swam between the state of Washington and the country Canada in the Strait of Juan De Fuca ocean.
Finally she arrived at the bay of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. A month after James' death, Victoria had followed Laurent's trail to the area but made no effort to look for him. If she had, Laurent would be dead. But she didn't come here to kill him, she came to ask of his help. She wandered the mountainous area until she came across his scent. It was about a half an hour old. Well you weren't hard to find.
The trail led northeast into the country to an area in the park called Youbou. As expected, Laurent was hunting and in the process of murdering a hiker. She watched Laurent effortlessly grip the mans neck and begin his feeding. The wife, as Victoria assumed, laid dead on the ground several feet away.
"Hikers get old." Victoria shouted at him.
Laurent turned around, smiled, exposing the blood on his mouth, lips, and teeth.
"Victoria? Is that you? Isn't this wonderful! I was thinking about traveling out to find you!"
"Yes, you've been on my mind as well." She smiled.
"Looks like we were both lucky, eh?"
"Yes." She replied.
Laurent looked at her straight in the eyes and in them he saw unhappiness.
"James is…?"
"Yes. They killed him." She said.
"My apologies. James was one of a kind. Never thought he'd meet his match."
Victoria hissed and Laurent jumped back into a crouch, ready to defend himself.
"Relax Laurent, I'm sorry. It's just that other coven made the wrong decision that day. WHY? They chose to save and protect the worthless human being instead of their own!"
"The human was with one of the boys…his mate."
"That's crock and you know it! Our kind doesn't affiliate with humans. This other coven is completely delusional if they think they can be an immortal and live as a human at the same time." She shot back.
"Not all of our kind live the same lifestyle, dear Victoria. For example, you and I travel alone, others travel in packs, some of us choose to remain mysterious while others live amongst the world."
Victoria had no response to that. She knew Laurent was correct on that one.
"Enough, let's catch up." She demanded.
They talked in the forest sitting near the dead hikers. Victoria and Laurent shared information about their current life to each other. What they were up to. What opportunities they experienced. Etcetera. And what surprised Victoria the most was that Laurent had told her he had moved in with a coven of vegetarian vampires who reside in Alaska.
"You are so pathetic!" She told Laurent.
"Calm down. I have a found a mate. Her and I share great love. Sacrifices must be made."
"If you're with a human loving coven, why are you feeding on mortals?" She questioned.
"Ah, to be honest, it's rather hard. Animal blood is only appealing when you're drinking it. After you're done, you're still thirsty. I cheat sometimes though." He laughed and smiled.
"What a bad man." She laughed. "But I don't blame you. I don't know how those covens can survive on creatures like bears or rabbits." She laughed.
"Neither do I." He smiled.
"Laurent," she hesitated and took in a breath before continuing, "may I ask a favor of you?"
"Anything for you Victoria."
"I want you to check if Bella, the human girl, is still the Cullen family's pet. Just investigate and do nothing more. Report back to me on the status."
Laurent smiled before speaking.
"Ah, tell me where this is going Victoria. Vengeance? I'm intrigued already. Do explain."
"The boy, Edward, he killed James. For months I've wanted to go back to the town they reside in and kill him but just last night I developed a better plan. A mate for mate compromise, you see. I want him to suffer the pain of loss like I have to for the rest of eternity. I want to murder her. Slowly. Agonizing her before I deliver a painful death. Justice you could say. "
"Victoria? The human did no wrong to you." He argued.
"NO! BUT HER MATE DID! AND SO DID THE REST OF HIS FAMILY!" She shouted back. "James would have avenged me Laurent if it was I who had been destroyed by that coven."
Laurent sat speechless. He knew James' true feelings for the girl before him. Shortly before his death, James planned on killing Victoria…For fun. He saw her no more as an irritation, a pet peeve, an inconvenience that he would get rid of eventually.
Little do you know Victoria…
Victoria absolutely had no idea that the man she loved deeply only bothered to keep her around because of the way she attracted their prey.
"Victoria…Are you sure this is what you want to do? You will trigger a war with them and I guarantee this will end badly."
Victoria swung her right hand across Laurent's face. Laurent flinched and glared at Victoria while caressing his left cheek.
"I am aware of that! Which is why you will help me fight. You owe it to me and you owe it to…James." She warned.
"What happened with James and the Cullen's was not my fight nor was it any of your business either. He provoked it. Brought it upon himself. If he had not caused such a scene that day, all three of us would still be hunting like old times.
"But I suppose I shall be of service to you. I'll get around to investigating the Cullen turf in about three months. Their leader has invited me for a visit in early March."
"Great! So she still protected?"
"I assume."
"Perfect! Okay, I want to meet with you a week before you plan on going into their area. I want to be as organized as possible. I have a feeling I can still pull this off, even with her under their protection."
"I don't doubt that. Listen, I must go now. I haven't got another few minutes to spare. I must alter my eyes before returning to my coven. I'll see you in late February, Victoria."
"Alright. Off I go as well." Such a stupid tool! He must be the most dimwitted immortal ever!
Laurent and Victoria said their temporary farewells before parting. They agreed to meet a week before Laurent's scheduled visit to the Cullen's.
Back in Forks, Washington, Isabella Swan grieves over the month long absence of Edward Cullen. She positions her head on her pillow and drifts into a nightmare. But this isn't the same one that has been taunting her for the last month. It's a different one. A new kind of horror. She's in the forest, in the outskirts of Forks, and Victoria is across the field smiling at her. What is she doing here? Little does Bella Swan know that Victoria had just planned her future demise. Bella has no knowledge that this is a sign of what is coming…
Journeying back to Seattle, hunting on the way, Victoria spared no one who came across her path. She was ecstatic and that alone made her thirsty. The plan was to be followed through with. In just under three months, Laurent would go and investigate only to return with the tabs on Bella. Victoria would to do the rest. How Victoria was going to get through this period of time with excitement and anxiousness, she did not know. Time needs to fly by!
The sun was beginning to set as Victoria walked through the deserted part of town. She obviously knew Riley had preyed on the homeless because the scent of blood lingered in the air. I just hope he cleaned up after himself! Ugh, it's strong. Kid must've shredded the human before slurping their blood of the ground.
Ten minutes later, Victoria came to the entrance of the abandoned post office. It was clear Riley was inside waiting for her. She could eyes watching, waiting for the door to open. She opened the door and entered the building.
"Anyone home?" She called out, smiling.
"You're back?" Riley replied. "Early…"
"Yes."
"Well?"
"Well, what?" Victoria asked. Narrowing her eyes on Riley's.
"What advice did your friend give to you about escaping?"
"Not much. But it's enough to help us form a plan." Victoria lied, in fact, Laurent and her didn't discuss escaping. They discussed the plot of her hunting Bella Swan. And it wouldn't be long until she finally got her revenge.
"Oh." He said. Riley felt a hint of dishonesty in Victoria. He knew when someone lied to him but with Victoria he couldn't be sure. Either Victoria's words were in the wrong order or he was just over questioning himself.
"How have you been holding up during my absence?" She asked him
"Well, I felt…scared to go hunting alone at first but I guess it was alright."
"Good. Night is here again," she smiled, "have you gone hunting today?"
"No. Shall we?" He asked.
"Of course."
For the next month this was mostly their regular daily schedule. Hiding out during the day, although sometimes they wandered around Seattle out of the publics eye. Hunting at night was usually the same but Riley got a hold onto his self control real fast that he killed less and less. Sometimes only two victims filled him up.
Victoria continued to orchestrate her plan. Two months time Laurent would go to Forks for his visit with the Cullen's and report back to her with Bella's protection status, and she and Riley would infiltrate Forks. She would leave Riley as the bait, the distraction. She didn't care if Riley died, life went on…Forever for her. No time for regrets.
It was late December, and surprisingly Riley had been a newborn for about a month. Christmas was two days away and Victoria promised to take Riley to a nearby halfway house community in downtown Seattle. She figured no one would miss the drug addicts, parolees, or troubled runaways. This was her gift to him. And it bought her much trust from young Riley. Such a little dog…on a leash too! Only one month was enough. Victoria grew irritated of his presence but never let it get to her in front of him. She would usually vent by pounding walls and breaking windows across the city.
While Riley waited to feed on Christmas, Victoria waited anxiously. Another two months, ugh! The first month had gone by quick. But Victoria now sensed the time dragging. There was nothing more she wanted to do than to force Laurent to go now! After all, what was the harm? Just an early visit. But Victoria knew the other coven would smell something fishy so all she could do was wait. In late February she'd meet up with Laurent and follow him in and meet him after.
"Victoria!" Riley smiled. "I got something for you, an early Christmas gift." He handed her a newspaper wrapped two by two square shape box.
"…You shouldn't have!" She said, excited.
"I just thought that it was only right if I got you something as well." He smiled.
"Riley, thank you. That was very kind."
"So, when will we be escaping?"
"Oh. You reminded me. Well, you know how I visited a friend a few weeks ago?"
"Yeah, you said he gave you advice for escaping…"
"Well, I had forgotten to tell you that the leader of the other coven in Forks has invited him for a visit. So during this visit, it will be our time as they are distracted completely."
"Forks?" Riley said, stunned. "That other coven resides in Forks? I'm from Forks!"
"I know."
"Why didn't you tell me? I mean…What? They wouldn't harm someone from their own area!"
Victoria made a clicking sound with her tongue three times before saying, "You're wrong, Riley. Remember, they want to be the only immortals alive."
"So what? They 'own' Forks? The blood inside the town I grew up in belongs to them? What if they kill my family, Victoria? NO! I will not escape. Some one should put an end to them! Might as well gather up every vampire you know who are afraid of these gifted vamps!"
That was it…
Victoria's eyes zeroed in on Riley. He had just sparked an idea and he hadn't even noticed. Brilliant! An army!
For Victoria, her plan just got better. If the other coven kept protecting the human girl, Victoria would build and unleash her future army. But if Victoria got to kill Bella herself, without the coven interceding, then there would be no need for an army. Her purpose for this plan would be fulfilled and she would be happy for eternity knowing she avenged her love, James. With Riley's new suggestion, Victoria backtracked and started from scratch.
Two days later Christmas filled the air. Victoria and Riley smelt the dinners cooking all across Seattle. They heard children playing in the streets about a mile or two away. People sang, and opened presents. For an elderly couple, Christmas was a holiday from hell for them. During the early morning Victoria and Riley invaded the home of two senior citizens. Victoria drank the life out of the wife while Riley drank the life out of the husband. After they were done, Riley positioned the corpses on the couch facing the entrance with horror and agony stuck on their faces.
"I never thought being a Vamp would be so much fun!" Riley cheered.
"You sure are happy." Victoria said, smiling.
"Yes, honestly if the myths about our kind were true, I'd actually want you to kill me if we had to spend the day in coffins!"
That can be arranged…
Victoria thought.They ran back to the abandoned post office they'd been using for the past month. On the way Riley watched from a far distance as a television inside a small pawn shop sparked up with a news report.
The news reporter was in front of a home. Seconds later Riley realized it was his home.
In the background his father and mother were embracing. His mother sobbed uncontrollably.
The reporting gentlemen began…
"It has been one month since Riley Biers went missing without a trace. The young college basketball athlete was last seen at a local bar in Downtown Seattle a month ago. Riley left his home, in Forks, with friends on November 25th of last month. The Forks Police Department has interrogated those who were with Riley the night of his disappearance and has said that the three college teens last seen Riley socializing with a few people they were not familiar with at the bar. One man, Mr. Kevin Wilshire of Seattle, recently told both the Forks and Seattle Police Departments that he seen the young Riley unconscious and looked to be intoxicated five feet from the bar's entrance about a half hour before the bar closed for the night."
What? I wasn't drunk!
Without another glance at the television across the street, Riley bolted after Victoria's trial. He could still here the television.
"…Both police departments are wondering if this is an act of a murderer. However as of now, evidence, the little of it, of Riley Biers disappearance is currently being looked through. There are very few witnesses' and about two and half weeks ago, the Seattle Police Department came across Riley's cell phone which was located about two miles from the bar.
"Today is a very painful day for Riley's parents, as their son will not be present during this years Christmas. Remember, if any of you viewers out their know anything, please DO NOT be afraid to notify the Forks or Seattle Police Department.
"I'm Jonathan Welch's, FOX news."
The report continued from a different reporters perspective, but Riley paid no mind. He just wanted to get back to the hide out and maybe tonight he'd find the guy who lied.
Back at the abandoned post office, Riley entered to see Victoria standing at the foot of the huge stairs leading up to the second floor. She stared at him and he did the same back at her. She knew the news report he had heard must've made him feel uneasy. The silence continued for a full minute…
"I'm sorry you had to hear that." She apologized.
"Don't worry. Nothing I can do now to change anything, right?"
"Yes…"
"I'm going to get that stupid man who lied about me." He laughed.
"Well at least you have something to look forward to tonight." She smiled.
"Maybe you can help?" He said, while getting near her.
"No today's Christmas, have your fun…"
Because of the weather, Riley and Victoria were able to go out in the day time. However, Riley was to stay inconspicuous which meant they had to travel at fast speed in low populated areas of Seattle. He hated it. And of course the state of Washington put out an amber alert for his disappearance…Victoria had estimated about several months to three years before the authorities would eventually tell his parents their theories.
Christmas celebrations still echoed throughout the city. Victoria could here kids from nearby homes opening their gifts and screaming and jumping in excitement at what they got. She continued to run through back streets of apartment complex's with Riley behind her.
Slowing down, they came to an empty children's park. Thank god it isn't filled with children, Riley thought. He would have hated himself if he were to have murdered a child.
Victoria launched herself on top of the tower of a play slide. Young Riley positioned himself next to her a few seconds later. They both stared at the view of Downtown Seattle. They could see everything from the city's buildings', the water front, the space needle, and Mount Rainer.
"It looks much better at night." Riley said, Victoria nodding in agreement.
For twenty minutes, they both let the silence sink in. He watched as Victoria glanced around the city view. For some reason he felt as if Victoria never had the chance or took the time to sit down and enjoy her surroundings.
Building up confidence, he lifted his right hand and began to caress Victoria's neck.
She gripped his hand and placed it on his right thigh, "…Don't do that." She smiled.
"S-Sorry." He apologized.
"I'm not mad."
His feelings were beginning to take a different turn for Victoria. He'd only known her a month and only saw her as his creator and each others accomplice. But, unexpectedly, he wanted to see her as much more than that. He let is pass for the moment.
"Let's get out of here. I can here humans coming." Victoria said.
"Race?" He smiled.
"Stay inconspicuous…On your marks, get set-" Victoria's hand threw Riley back several feet and she ran.
To Riley it all happened so quick.
He only saw a brief movement approaching his chest before being thrust backwards and hitting the ground. He lifted his head and saw Victoria bolting ahead. Instantly he got on his feet and charged after her. She was fast. But he wanted to outdo her. He caught up several paces behind her and tried to get ahead. Her movements were to quick for his eyes to see.
Whoa! She's freaking fast!
And she was. He tried twice to get a hold of her, to get even for being tossed on the ground, he didn't succeed. What shocked Riley the most was that they were both running on wet surface. Still, Victoria remained on her feet, and so did he. He hoped that the excess rain on the ground would give him the advantage to win the race.
In the end, Victoria held the throne.
He gave her a pat on the back and she did the same in response.
They remained in the abandoned post office for the rest of the day. When night came neither of them wanted to hunt. Christmas would be celebrated for the next four hours and after that it would be a normal day for about a week, and then new years would hit. The time until Victoria's plan being put to play was drawing nearer…