Summary - "Bella is an average girl, struggling with her homosexuality and her life at home. Can the love of not one, but three vampires help show her that she shouldn't be afraid? A/B/R/V".
Author's Notes – Inspired by my dear friend Hollowgo...
Rating - Older Teen to Mature
By: WDG and Lash_Larue
The Garden of Four - Chapter Twenty Five – Some Like "IT" Rough
Bella came stumbling out of the garage a few seconds later with grease smudges here and there, but the things that stood out most were the satisfied grin on her face and the scent of left over sex on her skin. She was adjusting her pants when Alice and the others came in through the back doors. Blushing at their knowing looks, she was taking a deep breath when she felt Rose come out of the garage behind her.
Looking at Rose, she seemed to have a glow about her, even with her skin covered mostly in sweat and grease, and her hair looking wild and messy. She walked a little funny as well.
Emmett grinned and said, "So Rosie, did you like the big doggy ride?"
Bella growled low in her chest, warning Emmett that she didn't want him ruining what had just happened between her and Rose by turning it into something it wasn't. Alice smacked him upside the head a little harder than usual. It made a sharp cracking sound that was reminiscent of thunder off in the distance.
Even Esme was frowning when she came out of the kitchen. She would have crossed her arms over her chest if her hands weren't full with a tray of food for Bella's lunch.
Emmett, realizing he had gone a little too far, bowed his head and mumbled, "Sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood a little, ya know?"
Bella let out a soft rumble, only to be silenced by a cold hand on her shoulder. Rose smiled and shook her head. Kissing Bella's cheek, she mumbled "It's okay, I'm fine. It's just Emmett being Emmett. Go and have your lunch, I'm sure you worked up quite an appetite." She stuck her tongue out at Emmett, and led Bella over to the table where Esme had placed her lunch.
"I gotta admit it," Emmett said slowly, "I feel right sorry for that poor old Grizzly."
"Really," agreed Victoria, and she chewed her lower lip softly in thought.
Rosalie sat beside Bella and traced circles on her back as she ate, Bella relaxed noticeably, both from the excellent food and the soothing touch.
"I guess maybe I overreacted," Bella admitted when she had finished eating, "but it was a very special thing between us, and…"
"I know Bella, it really was special. Emmett knows that too, he just doesn't handle emotions well, the big old pussy," Rose explained.
"Ha! Right! Let's go see how the hunt went."
Bella was in a much better humor when they joined the others in the living room. No one mentioned the flareup.
"How was the hunting?" Rosalie asked.
"Great," Alice answered her, "we found a bear for Bella."
"A big bear," Emmett added.
"Tell her to just turn the wolf loose," Shelia had advised Victoria when it was decided that she would accompany Bella. "She has to understand just how powerful she really is before she can start learning to control her strength. A bear would be a good choice; they are powerful enough to challenge her a little."
"What about the risk to her? Strong as she is, she's still flesh and blood," Victoria asked her.
"Yes, but it is extremely durable flesh, and lycans heal very, very quickly. I do not think it likely that even a very large bear could seriously injure her, and you will be with her. A mere bear is no threat to a vampire."
"True enough. You know, I'm looking forward to it," Victoria admitted.
"Have fun," Shelia said with a knowing smile.
Bella had had her own conversation with Shelia and Alicia about her training hunts -
"Try and let your instincts guide you when you hunt next time, Bella," Shelia advised her. "You have to try and control them of course, before you change Charlie. But this time just let loose, give the wolf free reign. You have to understand just how powerful a predator you are, so that you will realize what you have to deal with. Victoria is going to take you to hunt grizzly. Also, you should be aware that really turning loose is going to trigger certain - urges."
"What sort of urges?" Bella asked.
"You'll likely get horny as hell," Alicia said bluntly. "You're a different sort of lycan, no doubt about it, but that might only make the feelings stronger."
"Does Victoria know that?" Bella asked worriedly.
"I think she's counting on it," Shelia told her. "Victoria is a very passionate woman. You don't need to worry about her, Bella. She can hold her own. You won't be able to really injure her in your human form anyway; you know how tough vampires are."
"We have talked with Victoria, she knows what to expect, and in the unlikey event that a human should show up during your hunt she is powerful enough to restrain you, if she needs to," Alicia added.
"I don't think that likely," Shelia assured Bella. She had seen the worried look on the young alpha's face. "Your instinct would be to protect the human under those conditions, I think. In any case, if you intend to change Charlie, you must prepare.
"Couldn't you do it?" Bella asked.
"It would not be the same. I like Charlie, he's a wonderful man, and I'm sure that I could change him without killing him. But he would not then be the lycan he will become if you change him. Part of your power comes from him, and returning that power to him will only make him stronger. Charlie has a very strong character, a nobility about him. That is part of what gave you your alpha status," Shelia explained.
"Part of?"
"I'm afraid so, you are your mother's daughter as well, Bella," Alicia said gently. "For all her faults, she has a strong personality, a strong will. We did a little checking on her."
"Oh," Bella said softly. She wasn't sure she liked the idea of having part of her mother in her, but she knew that it was true.
"So when do we go?" Bella asked.
"Early in the morning," Victoria told her. "No point in going while your belly is full, it helps to be a little hungry when you're hunting."
"I need a beer," Charlie announced when he, Jasper, and Edward came in.
"Have a seat Dad," I'll bring you one," Bella offered, "how did the workout go?"
"I don't think I'll be able to move in the morning. I'm too old for this shit," Charlie groaned as he fell into a chair.
"He did great, Bella," Edward assured her, "he's really in very good shape."
"For an antique," Emmett added.
"Keep it up moose, your day is coming," Charlie promised him.
"Well now, let's us just figure out how I'm gonna make some money off you on this, then."
"There they go again," Alice said when she and Victoria joined Bella and Rose in the kitchen.
"I made a sandwich for Charlie, Bella," Esme told her.
"Thanks Mom. Don't you ever get tired of feeding us?"
"Are you kidding?" Rose asked. "She's been waiting almost a hundred years to have someone to cook for." Esme shrugged, but she didn't deny it.
"Are you watching 'Firefly' again, Emmett?" Victoria asked as she entered the living area with Alice, Bella, and Rosalie.
"Yep. I swear if it weren't for letting Carlisle down I'd make dinner out of the assholes that canceled this show," Emmett responded.
"Emmett has a man-crush on Jayne," Edward told them all. Charlie snickered.
"Maybe," Emmett admitted, "but he's a big son of a bitch, make one hell of a vampire. Give me somebody to tussle with that I wouldn't have to be careful not to hurt."
"In your dreams, Emmett," Jasper snorted, "you can barely land a punch on me or Edward."
"Like trying to catch a flea, I admit it; at least I have Bella now. She can dish it out as well as take it. She almost broke my elbow last time we arm wrestled."
"Thanks Emmett, that's one of the nicest things anyone's ever said to me," Bella told him with a grin.
"I think River would make a good vampire too," Alice volunteered.
"Inara for me," Rosalie countered.
"Mal," Edward put in.
"Shepherd Book is out, though. Can't take a chance on him preaching forever, but I wouldn't mind changing Zoe." Victoria added.
"I like Kaylee," Jasper told them all.
"Jasper, look close," Emmett suggested, "Kaylee is a woman."
"That's not her fault, besides, she has a great smile," Jasper pointed out.
"What about Simon?" Bella asked.
"Looks too much like lunch, so does Wash," Emmett declared. "Come on Bells, it's time for round whatever of our b-ball tournament. My first shot is gonna be a jumper from the top of the key. We all know where it's going to land, don't we?"
"In your face, you big lummox," Bella jeered, "bring your ass out to the court."
Bella left before Charlie woke up, he was going to the school for lycan lessons with Shelia and Alicia, and to talk with some of the other lycans about their first changes, but he didn't have to be there until ten.
Bella was careful to be quiet so as not to wake him, and grateful for her newfound grace and surefootedness that made it easy to move silently. She still expected to trip over her own feet, but it never happened.
Victoria was waiting out front in her black Ferrari; the car was almost invisible in the pre-dawn light.
"Ready?" Victoria asked her.
"Let's hit the road," Bella replied, and she leaned over and gave Victoria a kiss on the cheek.
Victoria had a warm feeling in her belly as she pulled into the street, and once out of the neighborhood she nailed the gas.
"Running might be faster, because we could take a straighter path," Victoria told Bella, "but I never pass up a chance to turn this thing loose. We'll hoof it the last five miles or so to keep from scaring the bear."
"Okay," Bella said hoarsely, she still wasn't used to driving this fast.
"Remember to use your semi-human form for the hunt, but just let it go this time, right?" Victoria counseled.
"Okay, but can you at least pretend to watch where you're going?"
"Relax, Bella my love, I'm not going to wreck my baby, and it would take more than a car crash to kill you. You might as well get rid of those clothes so you don't ruin them when you change."
"You just want to see me naked," Bella snorted.
"You're damn right I do. How about it?"
"When we get out of the car, I couldn't stand it if you paid any less attention to the road," Bella told her.
"Fine," replied Victoria, and she put her foot down hard.
The black car sped through the dawn.
"I don't hurt as bad as I thought I would," Charlie said to himself as he got out of bed. "I hope nobody has any stories about their first change that makes me puke again, that would be embarrassing."
He showered and then fixed himself some breakfast.
"Here we are," Victoria announced as she pulled the car off the road and into the trees, "strip."
They got out of the car, and Bella smiled at Victoria as she undressed and put her clothes on the front seat.
"Look fast, here comes the wolfgirl," she said.
"Just a second," Victoria asked, and she took Bella in her arms and kissed her. "Okay, go ahead."
Bella trembled and shook as the change came over her, and Victoria forced herself to watch as Bella's body distorted with the sound of breaking bones. In a remarkably short time the transformation was done.
"You're getting faster at changing," Victoria commented.
"It's easier now," Bella said in her harsh lycan tones, "still hurts, but I'm getting used to it."
"Right, let's go," Victoria said, and she ran into the trees with Bella right behind her.
"There he is," Victoria whispered a little later, pointing ahead of them.
Bella nodded, her nostrils twitching as she tested the air. She felt the hairs along her spine bristle as she caught the scent of the huge bear, and tried to clear her mind and let the beast inside her loose. The wind shifted, and the huge bear caught their scent, dropped his fish, and charged, bellowing in fury. An answering snarl tore from Bella's throat as she sprang to meet him.
"Holy shit…" breathed Victoria.
Bella shifted to the side as they met, ducking under a swipe of the great paw and managing to tear the bear's flank in passing. The bear's response, however, was much quicker than Bella anticipated, and he managed to claw her thigh.
The pain made Bella's vision mist red, and she launched herself at the larger creature, knocking him deeper into the trees. Victoria moved silently, trying to keep them in sight, only to be struck by a flying alder that one or the other combatant had torn up by the roots.
The sound was terrifying, vicious snarls and booming growls, tearing, crunching, noises, and in spite of what she knew of Bella's power Victoria was a bit worried as she regained her feet and hurried forwards.
Silence fell before she found them. There was a rough circle of torn-up ground littered with broken trees and scattered bloody piles of flesh and fur. Bella was standing stock still, her beautiful white fur a mass of gore, and Victoria stopped dead in her tracks as she took in the destruction.
Bella howled, and changed back to human form. She stood panting, the wound on her thigh visibly healing.
"Bella," Victoria called in a low voice.
Bella did not respond, the blood was pounding in her ears as she tried to calm herself down.
"Bella," Victoria repeated, and this time Bella turned her head.
She saw Victoria standing at the edge of the clearing she had just made, naked except for her boots, having simply torn the clothes from her body.
Bella opened her arms, and Victoria swarmed over her, greedily licking and sucking the blood from her skin, letting her hands touch everything that they had been longing to touch. She sucked greedily at Bella's breasts, lapped hungrily at her cunt, and took the whole length of her erection into her mouth. A deep growl came from Bella's chest, and Victoria turned her back to Bella and dropped to her knees, then lowered her chest to the ground.
"Now!" Victoria demanded, and Bella seized her hips and drove into her, her blood lust transformed into desire for her mate. The force of her thrusts drove them forward, and Victoria grabbed on to a tree, only to have it break an instant later.
"That's it Bella! Give it to me!" Victoria screamed, and she reached back and slapped herself on the ass. Bella took the hint and began alternating slamming viciously into Victoria with smacking her on her bottom and thighs.
"Yesssss!" hissed Victoria. "Hurt me, bitch!"
Of course in human form Bella could not really hurt her, but she gave it a shot, and her palms stung from slapping the steel-hard skin of her lover, knowing that Victoria relished it, wanted it.
Victoria dug her hands into the ground, trying to gain purchase so that she could thrust back against Bella, wanting just that little bit more pressure, but the impassioned pounding she was getting shifted her forward with every thrust.
Bella was everything Victoria had imagined, and more.
Bella's lips curled as the smell of Victoria's arousal filled her senses, her blood, already roused from the battle, sang in her veins, her muscles exulted in exerting themselves to the fullest. Victoria squeezed her with vicious strength, and Bella gave herself over completely to the redheaded vampire that was now hers in every sense of the word.
"Damn it!" Victoria swore violently. "Hang on a second lover, this just isn't gonna cut it, not this time." Victoria eased Bella out of her, then stood and took Bella by the hand and led her over to a large boulder. She leaned against it and spread her legs wide.
"Now fuck me like you mean it, Bella," she panted.
Bit by bit the boulder disintegrated beneath them as Bella's strength and passion pounded it to dust with Victoria's body. At length the rock shattered when with a final thrust Bella emptied herself deep inside Victoria as they came together.
The only sound in all the forest was the rasp of Bella's breathing, and the gradually slowing thunder of her heart.
"That's my girl," Victoria whispered , nuzzling Bella's neck, "that's my good girl."
"You'll need to eat a lot more, Charlie," Alicia explained, "I'm sure you noticed that with Bella."
"Just a little, yeah," he replied, rolling his eyes. "I'll have to get a second job just to buy groceries."
"Since you're fully mature you won't need as much extra as Bella did," Shelia assured him, "and I'm sure Esme would be happy to feed you anytime. I never saw a woman who loved to cook for people so much. The Cullens aren't your everyday vampires."
"Can't say, they're the only ones I've ever met, at least that I know of. Damn fine folks, though. They've been good to Bella. Real good, apparently."
"Are you talking about her relationship with the Cullen women?" asked Shelia, and Charlie nodded.
"That's a bit unusual, even for immortals, but the bond is real. I can feel it when they are together. I think they are all fortunate to have each other; they all have unique things to offer, and where else would they find a match? Four lovely, but very dangerous, flowers," Alicia declared.
"A garden of four flowers, huh? Nice picture, and you're right, not much compares with them," Charlie agreed. "Victoria is a little scary though, don't you think? I mean, she's always been nice as hell to me, but…"
"Victoria seems to have a wild side, yes," conceded Shelia. "Oh, hi Bradley," she said in greeting to the young man standing uncertainly in the doorway, "come on in. Charlie, this is Bradley, our newest student. His first change was six months ago. He was bitten while vacationing in Brazil, luckily a local doctor knew what had happened, and convinced his parents to bring him here before the first change. Bradley, Charlie. Charlie might be joining us fairly soon. He's Bella's father."
The young man's eyes lit up at the mention of Bella's name.
"Bella's awesome! Baddest lycan I've ever seen! Hot as hell, too," he added. "Oh, sorry," he apologized when he saw Charlie's eyes narrow out of reflex on hearing that description of his daughter. "I just meant-"
"Relax kid, I was your age once. Anyways, you're right, Bella is pretty hot," he sighed.
"Yeah, she is. You're really okay with her being a lycan?" Bradley asked tentatively.
"Of course I am, she's my daughter before anything else. At first I didn't like it, but she's happy with it. Seeing her change that first time was terrible to watch, though. I thought she was going to die, thought I might too."
"You were with her for that?" the young man asked.
"Of course. I mean, not right with her, she might have accidentally squashed me or something, but I could hear and see, and I was with her right before and after."
"And you still love her?" Bradley persisted.
"Sure, nothing could ever change that." Charlie looked at the young lycan with sudden understanding on his face. "Your folks didn't take it too well, I guess."
"I haven't seen them or heard from them since my change. They called me a monster, I have no idea what would have happened to me if I weren't here."
"I'm sorry, son, I wish they'd stuck with you. They should have," Charlie said sympathetically.
"Charlie, it's what happens to most young people who are changed," Alicia said gently.
"Not many humans can adjust to the knowledge of what has happened to their children, they simply can't see past the lycan. To them, their child is gone."
"Fuckers," muttered Charlie, " 'scuse me."
"You want to change?" Bradley asked him.
"I want to support my daughter, mostly, but I have to admit that the idea of being so strong and fast is appealing," Charlie answered, and the boy's eyes lit up.
"That part is great! I wish you were my dad."
"Tell you what kid, help me get through this and I'll be your big brother."
"Deal. Okay, first off, it really does hurt pretty bad, but the pain doesn't last as long as you might think. The flood of endorphins and adrenaline masks the pain pretty quickly. After that, it just feels really, really, strange, kind of like you are literally puking your guts out." Charlie turned a little green, but managed a nod of understanding.
"Bradley is going to be a doctor," Shelia told Charlie, "Carlisle is going to help him get into med school."
"Doctor Cullen is cool, it's hard to believe he's a vampire," Bradley added.
"Nothing's hard to believe anymore," Charlie said, shaking his head ruefully. "What about changing back after the first time?"
"Changing back isn't as bad. It hurts, but not as much. Mostly it feels like you're melting instead of exploding."
"You've got a way with words kid; I'll give you that…"
"Damn, Bella, that was amazing," Victoria told her as she licked the last of the blood from Bella's body.
"Thanks, you too Vic, Alice and Rosalie are amazing as well. You're all different, but I love you all the same. I just can't believe how lucky I am to have you."
"We feel the same way, Bella. Fortunately we have a very long time ahead of us to enjoy one another, and Charlie will be around too!"
"Oh my God…" Bella whispered as she took in the destruction around her. "I'm going to kill him if I try and change him! That bear was enormous, and he looks like he's been in a fucking blender! I was out of my damn mind to imagine I could-"
"Stop it, Bella!" yelled Victoria. She grabbed Bella's face and forced her to look into her eyes. "Of course you could easily kill Charlie; any of us could, even by accident. But it hasn't happened, and it won't happen, because we all love him in our own way, and of course you love him most of all. The bear triggered instincts deep in the primal part of you, he challenged the alpha, and the alpha responded. It was necessary for you to understand just how powerful you really are, though. Do you see this?"
"I guess, but I can also see that I have a lot of work ahead of me. It's kind of hard to believe I could bite dad without taking his leg off after seeing this mess. Shit, I can't believe I'm even thinking of turning that bitch loose on my father, I must be out of my fucking mind." Bella sat down abruptly, and Victoria knelt beside her and put an arm around her shoulders.
"That's just it, Bella, you won't be turning her loose. Charlie won't arouse those instincts in you. He doesn't want to challenge you; he wants to help you, and to join all of us as a family. You know how much he loves Alice, and you must know how very much he loves you. The love will keep you from hurting him too badly, but you do have to do the work, yes."
Bella mumbled a reply, and leaned her head against Victoria
"And think of how much fun he and Emmett will have after he's changed!"
"Oh, yeah. That would be fun," Bella admitted.
"No my love, that will be fun," Victoria corrected, "and the four of us are going to have a lot of fun of a different kind someday."
"All of us together?"
"Oh my yes, yes indeed. Let's get back to the car."
"Vic, you're naked, what if we get pulled over," Bella asked her. Victoria snorted.
"Me? Pulled over? In that car? Please. Besides, I've got clothes in the trunk. We always keep spare clothes in the cars in case we get messy hunting. Come on, I'll race you!"
"Jane is coming," Alice announced suddenly.
"When?" Carlisle asked sharply.
"Soon, 15 minutes maybe."
"Why didn't you see this sooner?" Edward asked.
"I've been busy trying to see Charlie and Bella, it didn't occur to me to check on the Volturi. Why would they bother us? In any case, the fact that I didn't see this sooner means that it's not a real threat, it's only Jane and two of the guard for escort," Alice explained.
"Perhaps it's a social call?" Esme put forward.
"Outwardly, perhaps," Carlisle allowed, "but one thing the Volturi are not, is social."
"I say we get rid of them," Emmett growled, "I'm sick of those "unholier than thou" bastards."
"Good one, Emmett," Jasper said with a wry grin, "but that might not be wise." Emmett snorted, he knew that Jasper was right, but he didn't like it.
"Besides, Jane is tiny, but we all know she can lay us flat," Rose stated. "Maybe not all at once, but she can certainly do it fast enough for two of their fighters to deal with us one by one."
"Let's not borrow trouble," Carlisle decided. "Are they coming to the house, Alice?"
"Yes."
"Then let's meet them outside, it will be well to remind them that we have powers on our side as well," Carlisle decided.
"I can hear Jane," Edward told them, "she's happy."
"That can't be good," Emmett declared.
"Don't start trouble, Emmett," Esme cautioned. Emmett gave her a sulky nod of acceptance.
The Cullens gathered in the front yard to await their guests. They didn't have to wait long.
"Such a fine reception," Jane said, smiling as broadly as her small mouth allowed. " How did you know we were – oh, of course. Alice, no doubt. Aro sends sends his regards."
"How nice to see you Jane, to what do we owe the honor of your presence?" Carlisle asked her.
"Well, this is embarrassing, and I'm quite sure there is nothing to it. We have however heard rumors that you have been keeping company with mortals. You understand that we must investigate such serious allegations, specious though they doubtless are," Jane said apologetically.
"Well of course you must," Carlisle agreed, "as a matter of fact I keep company with mortals on a constant basis, I am after all a doctor. You know this, Jane."
"Certainly. I don't understand how you can stand such close contact with them, but that is not what is troubling us. No, we have heard rumors that you keep company with mortals who are aware of what you really are, and are therefore aware of our existence. You are also aware that this is forbidden. These mortals, if they exist, mind you, must be killed or turned at once." Emmett shifted uneasily, he really didn't like anyone other than Tanya telling him what he "must" do. Rose laid a restraining hand on his shoulder, and one of the Volturi fighters grinned lazily at him.
The wind swung about, shifting so as to blow from the house directly towards the Volturi delegation. Jane's eyes blazed, and the fighters sank into a crouch.
"The mortals could perhaps be explained, Carlisle my friend, but your house reeks of werewolf. There can be no excuse for that, unless perhaps you are skinning a few?" Jane said dangerously.
"Not ordinary werewolves, but lycans. That is who you scent, they are different, and they are our friends. Since they are immortals as well, no law has been broken," Carlisle explained.
"That is not for you to decide, lycan or werewolf, it matters not. They are children of the moon, and you will surrender them to us at once." Alice snarled, and Jane's gaze fell upon her. "So, you object, dear Alice? Perhaps these wolves are dear to you?" Jane sniffed delicately. "Surely you would not sink so low as to consort with a beast?"
Emmett lunged forward, unable to contain his rage. He hit the ground screaming, and one by one in rapid succession all of the Cullens followed suit.
"You'd never have beat me in my pure wolf form," Bella insisted when she arrived at the car shortly after Victoria. Victoria had already dressed, just to rub it in a little.
"Yeah, yeah, loser," Victoria taunted, 'just because you're a great lay doesn't mean you're fast. Just the opposite, in fact." They both laughed at that. "You know, I missed seeing that last time, are you up to showing me?"
"You just don't want me to get dressed, you perv," Bella kidded.
"That too, but I would like to see you. Oh, would it be too much after everything that's already happened? I don't want you to overdo. Not with that, anyway."
"What a horndog," Bella said, rolling her eyes, "but no, actually the change to pure wolf is easier, I just have to let it happen. To assume the intermediate form now I have to keep control of it. Tell you what, I'll go wolf, and you take your baby here and we'll see who gets home first, deal?"
"You're on, but I reserve the right to abandon the car if traffic is bad."
"Done." Bella stepped back a few yards, and the trembling began. The change was indeed faster than before, although not as seamless and quick as the best of the Quileutes could change.
"Damn! You're huge!" Victoria exclaimed as she looked up at the giant blue-white wolf that was now her lover as well as mate. Bella leaned forward and licked her from her knees to her face with one swipe of her tongue. "Yeccchh! Actually, that tongue is kind of interesting," Victoria teased.
Bella's ears pricked up, and she went rigid.
"Alice and the others are in trouble! Something is hurting them; I'm going, follow as quickly as you can!"
Bella disappeared in an instant. Victoria glanced at the car and decided that running would likely be faster. She punched the button for the security system and raced after Bella.
"You would do well to remain on the ground while I ask a few questions," Jane said silkily. Emmett tried to rise and found himself once again screaming in pain. "Don't be foolish," Jane said arrogantly, "if you move against me you will be destroyed. You all know this."
They did, and none of them liked it, least of all Emmett, who simply longed to tear the tiny vampire to bits.
"Two seconds, that's all I need," he thought as the pain gradually eased.
Bella was running like never before, shouldering her way through brush and trees alike. She leapt over huge boulders, toppled trees willy-nilly, and the forest emptied before her. Victoria had no trouble following her, for aside from the obvious trail she left, the smell of fear for her mates and family was heavy in the air behind her. Victoria dug deep and found a bit more speed.
"Alice my dear one, you seem especially attached to these abominations. Tell me about them," Jane requested.
"Fuck you," Alice hissed, and her head exploded with fresh agony.
"Manners, Alice," cautioned Jane. "Perhaps you will keep a civil tongue in your head to spare your mother this?" Esme screamed and thrashed on the ground, Carlisle tried to crawl to her and found himself helpless in agony.
"Now then," Jane said calmly, "shall we start again without the rude language, or shall I play with your beautiful sister?" Rose screamed.
"All right, all right," Alice gasped, "just stop it, will you? Please, Jane," Alice pleaded.
"That's better, I really don't want to hurt any of you," Jane lied.
"Bullshit," Emmett muttered, and a new round of agony was his reward. The fighters laughed.
"Alice, do you have something to tell me?" Jane asked gently in her tiny voice.
"One of the lycans is my mate," Alice panted, "you cannot interfere with another vampire's mate. That is a law too."
"Indeed it is, dear Alice, if the mate is another vampire. Your mate however, is an abomination, and that rule does not apply. You must be punished."
Alice's screams broke windows in the house as Jane turned the full fury of her power on her. Her family tried to help, but they were still dealing with the effects of their own bouts of the racking pain. Emmett gritted his teeth and forced himself to his hands and knees, glaring at the fighters that positioned themselves between him and Jane. Emmett snarled. The fighters laughed.
Alice just screamed and screamed.
Jane smiled pleasantly.
Through his contact with the ground Emmett felt a pounding in the dirt, and he felt the tingle of a familiar and much-loved mind touch his own. Edward's head snapped up sharply.
Emmett grinned horribly at the Volturi.
"You motherfuckers are in trouble now. The big dog is coming…"
Bella felt the pain of her family in her very bones, but rather than disable her, it infuriated her, and added to her speed. The earth trembled beneath the fall of her paws.
Alice felt the loving touch of Bella's mind, and the pain ceased abruptly.
Jane looked up, startled, and had just time enough to see something glowing white and positively enormous approaching at astounding speed before experiencing the curious sensation of the upper half of her body flying through the air while looking at her legs and lower body remaining where she had been standing.
A cloud of grass and dirt exploded from beneath Bella's paws as she stopped short and wheeled to attack the nearest Volturi, who had not yet begun to move.
"Shit hot!" cried Emmett as he leapt to his feet and closed on the other fighter.
Bella shook the Volturi guard in her mouth like a terrier would a rat, and bits of vampire flew all over the yard.
A shrill shriek split the air as Victoria arrived, and she joined Emmett in tearing the remaining Volturi guard into several pieces.
"Are you okay?" Bella asked them all, and they responded that they were.
"Alice got the worst of it," Rose told her as she struggled to her feet, and Bella went to Alice and sniffed her cautiously.
"I'm okay, Bella, really. Jane's power causes terrible pain, but no real injury," Alice explained.
"Jane is the little female?"
"Yes," Alice told her. Bella looked at the lower torso twitching nearby, and then trotted over to the upper half. Jane glared at her, trying to use her power against Bella. Finding that useless, she attempted to once again disable Alice, but Bella's mental contact with her family rendered that attempt futile.
"Can you understand me, you little cunt?"
"Yes, beast," spat Jane.
"Nobody. No. Body. Hurts my mate or my family, got it?"
"You'll pay for thi-"
The last thing that Jane saw before her descent into endless dark was the very biggest set of teeth that she had ever seen.
"I've got gasoline," Jasper announced, "we need to get rid of this garbage."
All of the Cullens but Alice gathered up the remains of the Volturi and tossed them into the blaze.
"I understand why you did this Bella," Carlisle said, clearly worried, "but the Volturi will respond. It will take them time to learn what happened here, but sooner or later they will. And they will seek vengeance, all of them."
"Let them come."
End of Chapter 25
So it looks like things are taking a turn towards a big fight coming in latter chapters.