This Chapter is rated 'T' for mild language and dark themes.
Previously: Jean entered Swan's room to let her know that Welsh had arrived.
Bella's P.O.V. (3624 words):
"I don't really wanna be the queen." ~Meet Virginia by Train
.:!*!:.
"Very well. Let Riley know that I will be right down." I replied, waving a hand at her as dismissal. She shut the door, and I quickly changed into jeans and a tank-top. It showed off my scars, which would prove to Welsh that I was, in fact, the second-in-command of this army. I left my room and walked down the stairs right away. Ignoring the guests for a moment, I made my way to the kitchen. Riley led the others after me silently.
I poured myself a glass of milk and opened a protein bar. As I ate the small snack, I observed the two male vampires I had yet to meet. It was obvious which one was Welsh. He stood tall and confident. His short, jet black hair was slicked back against his head. His eyes were a bright red, not bright enough to signify a newborn but to hint that he had recently fed, and why not? Maria had enough territory to boot.
The male vampire on his right flank had also fed recently but was not a newborn. This one had light brown hair that was unkempt. His jaw was stronger than Welsh's, but he was a couple inches shorter than his superior's six foot frame. He also didn't look half as confident. He was watching me with what looked to be a mixture of awe and nervousness.
"As you might have guessed by now, I am Boss Swan." I said, dropping my empty glass into the sink behind me without a glance. "You must be Staff Sergeant Welsh. Riley told me of your meeting. I apologize that he had you believe that he was Boss Swan. I'm sure you can understand our need for secrecy?"
"Of course. I must admit that I am surprised. The Mistress had faith in your legend, but I'm afraid I was not so believing." Welsh replied, a smirk lighting his face. A grin spread across my lips in answer.
"I cannot blame you. I would not have believed such things either." I assured, and my grin fell away. "Onto business. You spoke to my second of a partnership of sorts. I assume that is why you are here?"
"It is. The Mistress had hopes that we could combine our armies and our land. It would be mutually beneficial, and she has faith that, between the two of us, we can overtake the entirety of the South."
"I don't doubt that." I replied, pretending to think on his offer. I walked around them to take a seat on one of the couches in the living room. Riley offered the couch across from me to our visitors, and he sat beside me once they had taken their places. I stayed silent for a long moment. "I'm afraid there will need to be conditions on our side if this is to work. Mistress Maria must have a few of her own as well. Did she inform you?"
"She did." Welsh answered, taking it as initiative to list them. "She would gain command over you, and Chief Victoria would gain command over myself. All land would be shared. The border at the San Antonio Bay would be abolished. Her final request was the one she thinks you will not take to quite as kindly."
"Go on." I pressed, holding back the laugh at the title he used before Victoria's name. Chief? She led nothing.
"You must be changed. The Mistress would demand it." Welsh said, shocking me.
"Well, contrary to your Mistress's understanding, it is not I that would have a problem with that term. She will need to take that up with Vic." I told him honestly.
"It is your Chief that demands your humanity?" Welsh questioned, his face displaying his disbelief. I chuckled darkly.
"It's far easier to take advantage of me in this state. Well, it was until the Major and I created our alliance. He noticed that my command was less effective after my punishments. Her blood-lettings would weaken me for days at a time." I kicked my feet up onto the coffee table that separated the two couches. I smiled slightly. "Becoming a vampire would only heighten my potential. That, though, is what Victoria fears. She will be difficult to convince."
"The Mistress can be very persuasive." Welsh said, his tone hinting at the kind of persuasion he meant. I found a true smirk coming to light on my lips.
"As much as I would love to see Mistress Maria show Vic how pathetic she really is, it won't be necessary. If my terms are accepted, I can make sure that she is receptive to the idea of my change." I replied softly.
"You talk as if you are the Warlord." Welsh commented.
"Far from it, I wager." Was all I said before I continued. "I keep my place as interrogator, and my allies are not part of this deal. They will have the authority to choose whether they ally themselves with Mistress Maria. Their alliance with me shall not be broken, but they will, in no way, be required to answer to anyone other than myself."
"I'm sure that can be arranged." Welsh replied, standing. "The Mistress is waiting at the border. If you would let Chief Victoria know of the terms, I will bring her to finalize the deal."
"When she arrives, the location of the main base must be discussed as well." I said, standing too. Riley and Welsh's second followed suit.
"Of course, and I look forward to working with you, Boss Swan."
"Likewise." I stated, and the two of them ran back out and ran to the south. "Riley, this is it. Threaten the army. They need to be on their best behavior from now on. I can't be their best friend anymore. Let the Whitlocks know she's coming. I've got to go talk to Vic."
"Good luck, boss." Riley said, disappearing out the back door. I ran to the basement door, slamming it behind me. I flew down the stairs.
"What if I told you that there was a way for you to hunt in Mexico City tonight?" I asked, causing Victoria to turn to me.
"How so?" She questioned, obviously liking the sound of it.
"Maria wishes to combine our armies. I've already gone over everything with her second-in-command. Maria is coming here now to finalize the partnership and decide on a location for the main base with you. She demands I be changed, but I figured you wouldn't mind so much if you got to have your name on so much land." I took a deep breath and continued. "She plans on using our strength to wipe out the rest of the Warlords before they know what hit them. If you accept this deal, you'll own more land than anyone since Benito himself."
"You've done well, my pet. I find it hard to believe that you pulled this off. I will accept the condition that you be changed along with whatever else is necessary." Victoria replied, turning her back on me once more as dismissal. "Show her down here when she arrives. I want only you, Maria, and her second in my map room. Am I understood?"
"Perfectly." I answered, returning to the living room. Jasper was waiting for me by the front door.
"She is almost here." Jasper stated, his posture ridged. "I can feel her come closer through the sire bond."
"Go wait with Peter and Char." I said, hugging him as fiercely as I could. "Remember to keep tabs on my emotions. Maria is demanding I be changed, and I want you to train me. What do you think?"
"I'd be honored." He replied, hugging back as tightly as he could without breaking me. He let go and headed out the back door. "Call me when you're ready for me to come in. She's here."
"Okay." I whispered as he turned and dashed out the back door. I took a deep breath, and just as I felt I was composed enough to deal with this, Riley walked in the back door with Welsh, his second, and the Devil at his side.
"Boss Swan, I've been looking forward to meeting you. You've made quite the impression on the South." Maria said smoothly. Her heavy Mexican accent was laced with an almost seductive silk. I nearly trembled in fear, but I didn't break my expressionless mask. "Where is Victoria, mi cisne pequeña?"
"It is an honor to be at your service, Mistress Maria." I replied with a low, respectful bow, but I did not break eye contact. The fact that she was already calling me her little swan was a bit disconcerting. "Victoria is down below. She has requested that I, your second, and yourself be the only ones to attend the finalizing."
"Of course." Maria agreed easily. Maria turned to Welsh's second. "Paul, trail Riley and observe the way the newborns are trained here."
"Boss?" Riley questioned, watching me with a raised eyebrow.
"Get them on drills, and run a feasibility test**. I want to be sure we have enough newborns to always have five on patrol at a time." I ordered, dismissing him with a flick of my wrist. ( A.N.: Feasibility test is a military term meaning an operation plan to determine whether or not a plan is within the capacity of the resources that are available.) When Paul and Riley were out of the house, I indicated to the door that lead to Vic's map room. "If you would please follow me."
"Lead the way." Maria commanded, and I obeyed without pause. I reached the bottom of the steps to see that Victoria was waiting for us. She looked nervous, and she wasn't doing a good job hiding it. I rolled my eyes. If I wasn't human, there was no way I would still be under her command. Without me, she would be the biggest joke of a Warlord in the South. "Victoria, it is great that I finally get to make the acquaintance of the one that owns Boss Swan."
"I must admit that I was shocked to learn that she had gained your attention, Maria." Victoria said to her before looking at me. "Isn't that right, my pet?"
"Yes. You were quite shocked, and I've told you not to call me that." I replied, growing annoyed. Vic looked angry by my blatant disrespect.
"You dare speak to your Warlord so?" Maria questioned, and I knew this was it. If I said the right thing, I'd be in the fast lane, but one wrong move, and I'd be in a deep spot of trouble.
"Victoria is no superior of mine, Mistress." I answered calmly. Maria nodded slowly a few times before speaking.
"You remind me very much of the Major. I see now why he has allied himself with you." Maria said, turning back to Victoria and stuck out her hand. "Do we have a deal?"
"We do." Victoria replied, taking the offered hand and shaking it. I now belonged to Mistress Maria. I had to swallow back bile as it rose in my throat.
"I shall let Swan choose nine to leave with you here. I will be bringing the rest back to Monterrey. I'll be taking Swan with me." Maria said in a tone that made it obvious that nothing anyone said would change her mind.
"Thank God. Please take her off my hands." Vic sighed out, confusing me. "Make sure she suffers. She killed my mate."
"You did now, did you?" Maria asked, pausing to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. Her red eyes darkened slightly. "When we get to base, you will have to share the story with me."
"As you wish." I replied, nodding my head at her.
"I own you now." She said, her voice suddenly like steel. I felt my breath stop. What the hell had I gotten myself into? I had no idea what was going on. Maria wasn't acting like anything I'd expected, and I could admit to myself that I was terrified. "Do you understand, mi cisnepequeña?"
"I submit myself to you willingly, Mistress." I murmured as reverently as I could. Maria's intense gaze went entirely black, and I noticed Welsh's eyes widened at her expression. He obviously had an idea of what was going on. He looked angry, shocked, and...jealous? Nothing made any sense.
"You have five minutes to pick the nine that are to stay behind, and then we are to head back to base." Maria said, twisting her hand and heading back upstairs without another look in Victoria's direction. Welsh and I followed automatically.
When we reached the landing, I turned to head out back where Riley was running drills. I was relieved to see it was already well passed nightfall. I let out my high pitched screech, and the newborns that were used to being under my command got into their line. The others were looking as though they would leap at me any second. I sighed. At my sigh, one of the newborns created my Maria darted for me. One of the newborns under my command, Kyle, came to my defense, pinning the other to the ground.
"It was foolish of you to attack me so." I muttered under my breath, walking closer. I looked down on the newborn and spit on him. "Weak and pathetic. If you cannot control yourself in the presence of one human, one that is your commander, mind you, how do you expect to have the control that is necessary to survive beyond the week? Listen good, all of you. I am your superior, now and forever, and if any of you so much as roll your eyes my way, I will have no problems building your fire. Understood?"
"Yes, Boss Swan!" Those under my command shouted, and those created by Maria gave the same growl that they had under the Major. It took everything I had not to smirk at how little Maria had changed.
"Good." I said between my teeth before picking out seven newborns. Most of them were from Maria's army. I needed those with the most control to be the ones near me during my change. I snapped my fingers and turned my back on them. "Back to work! Those that were not chosen to stay, we move out in two minutes." I began walking to the house.
"Peter said you were ready for me." I heard Jasper say as he fell into step behind me.
"Par usual, the all knowing bastard is right." I replied, smirking slightly. "I was going to request that Peter and Charlotte stay behind. I need someone that knows what they're doing. Victoria would bring the Volturi down on us in a day if she was left to her own devices."
"Yes. I believe that would be efficient." Jasper said, sending me a wave of gratitude. I was glad he'd understood that I was trying to give them an out. After all that Jasper did to get them out of Maria's grasp, I didn't want them to have to go back if it could be helped.
"Excellent. If you could let them know?"
"Will do." Jasper stated, dashing away. He shouted over his shoulder. "You should get ready to leave!"
I rolled my eyes and smiled slightly as I hurried upstairs to grab what little belongings I owned and put them into a small backpack. I was back downstairs within moments, and Riley came to take up his place on my flank.
"Report." I commanded him as we walked out the front door to where Maria was waiting with Welsh and Paul. The rest of the army, which had grown to nearly 40, was in ranks behind them.
"Jean will keep her place next to you. The Major has offered to take up my flank as I escort you to Monterrey. Mistress Maria will bring up the rear." He answered, easily falling back into the routine we'd had going before I'd warmed up to him completely. "The Mistress ordered that we leave on your order."
"Then we move out." I replied, twisting my arm to have him bend over so that I could climb onto his back. I let out my screech, and Riley took off, the Major and Jean sticking close to my sides. When we drew closer to Maria's camp, I turned to Jean and gave an order. "Scout ahead, Jean. You know what to do."
"Yes, boss." She said, flitting easily ahead with her newborn strength. It didn't take long for Riley to come slowly to a stop just at the bottom of a ridge.
"This is the edge." He whispered.
"Then here we'll wait." I muttered lazily. There was a growl from over the ridge that I recognized as Jean's and one answered soon after. The sound of vampires being ripped apart echoed through the humid, night air. Riley leaned forward as if to rush to help. "Stop. Do not move."
There was only silence. When three minutes passed and Jean had not returned, I tapped Riley's back three times, letting him know I wanted down. I was going in. We needed the situation evaluated, and now that Jean was out of contact, I was the only scout I trusted.
"Swan, are you sure?" Jasper asked, speaking up in front of Maria for the first time since she'd arrived.
"Of course I am." I replied, tilting my head to lock my gaze with his. "It's my job, Major. I'm a scout. It's what I do."
"Are you not a second-in-command first?" Jasper countered, and I smirked.
"Yet in the end, we all end up on the frontline." I said, my smile growing. "Do not worry, Whitlock. I shall return shortly."
He nodded, and I began running up the hill at a dead sprint. What I saw when I reached the top shocked me beyond belief. There, where Maria's camp used to be, was a newborn breeding ground. Riseborrugh's presence didn't surprise me in the least, but his new ally sent chills of horror down my spine. Next to Riseborrugh, in the middle of changing a human into a newborn, was none other than Vladimir, one of the Romanian Brothers.
My fear must have been extremely strong, for Jasper was beside me in the next instant. The moment he saw Vladimir, he froze. I was the first to recover, and I grabbed Jasper's hand. It snapped him out of his shock, and I pulled him in the direction of the army at the base of the ridge. He didn't need anymore prompting. We returned to the bottom, and I motioned for Jasper to go stand next to Riley. I, on the other hand, went straight over to Maria where she was waiting patiently behind the army.
"What's the problem, Boss Swan?" Maria asked, a sultry smile on her lips that made me think she knew exactly what was going on.
"I mean no disrespect, Mistress, but if you know anything about the scene I witnessed over this hill, I believe it would be best to share it with me." I said, the words barely coming out calmly from between my teeth.
"You recognized Vladimir then, no?" She asked, her smile widening. I simply stared back, waiting for her to continue. She laughed. "It's a deal I made with him. I will use my army to help him annihilate the Volturi, and he will be sure that all of the Americas belongs to Mistress Maria when the Romanians retake the crown of the vampire world. You should feel honored to be a part of it."
"If this is to work, we need to work quickly. He is changing a great deal of humans over the ridge. We'd better hope I get over this newborn stage quickly, or controlling them will be a bit of an issue." I replied, not bothering to hide my exasperation. "I hope you know what you are doing, Mistress."
"Watch your tone, my second. I have everything under control. Vladimir and I have gone over all the details. You will be briefed when you awaken from your change. Depending on your behavior during the meeting, you will be fed or tossed to the mercy of your own army." Maria spat, her eyes flashing the way I'd been anticipating from the beginning. "You're mine now, Swan, and you'd best remember that."
"Of course." I replied, but I continued, knowing that I couldn't back out of any accusations. Maria would view it as a weakness of character. "As long as you know what and who you are dealing with."
"You, my new second, don't need to worry about that." Maria replied, before her eyes darkened the way they had in the map room. "You could be of great use to me, perhaps more, if you are lucky."
She suddenly, and without warning, put her hands on either side of my face and tilted my head back. Her teeth were in my neck in the next second. I was able to hold in the gasp, although I was shocked at the quickness and publicity of which she was choosing to do this. Her next words made it all make sense however, and they made me even more determined to not scream. I needed to be strong. The plan depended on it, and there was so much at stake.
Maria's voice rang through the Mexican night with an ominous foreboding, leaving no room for argument.
"You're mine, Boss Swan, and it is through my venom that you shall take your place at my side. Witness this day. Boss Swan is my chosen! The South has met its match." She had, indeed, chosen me over Welsh, then. I was already in. Now, I just needed her trust.
The last thing I heard before succumbing to the burning pain was Staff Sergeant Welsh's enraged roar, quickly followed by the ripping, metallic sound of a vampire getting torn to pieces.
A.N.: There you go. The next chapter is in Riley's POV. I'm not going to get into the burning of the change or any of that. I believe all of us in the Twilight, FF world have read those scenes enough for eight lifetimes.
What do you guys think is up with Maria? What's the deal with Welsh? How do you think Jasper is going to handle being in Maria's camp again?
The 10th song of the OSDU playlist is now up on my profile. I'll be updating in a week! Thanks to all those that are adding this story to their alerts/favorites lists. Thanks to all those that are adding me to author alert/favorite. It flatters me!
I hate to be one of those people that talks about their own stuff, but I put up a one-shot last week. It's called Indestructible, and it is about Jasper's life in the South (or how I imagine it). Please check it out if you're in the mood! =D