*Peeks out from behind hiding spot*. I can not apologize enough for leaving the updates this long. Every author seems to use this excuse but I was swamped with exams and study. Now the exams are over I can get back on track. I was quite surprised by how many of you thought explosions would be a good thing...Thank you to all who have and continue to review my story. You guys make it worth while. As always any questions or criticism are welcome. Enjoy. :D
Big Steph Meyer owns all of Twilight as usual.
Fire.
Everywhere I looked crimson flames engulfed the golden garden, licking at the stone statues who could not escape them. My immediate thought was of Alice, vampires were very flammable. Only when I reached behind myself for her, my hands came up with solid earth.
This is when I realized I was on my back on the ground. Lifting myself up onto my knees I coughed up black substances and smoke slowly slithered out of my mouth. My training kicked in as soon I was on my feet, searching through the grey smokescreen for threats.
Screams echoed all around me, making it impossible to pick a direction to go on. Whatever happened it was intended to kill me. Picking one route I started to run down the aisle of hedges, whose emerald leaves I was so used to had turned into obsidian ashes.
That scream was close! Must be on the other side of the hedge. Please by Zeus don't let it be Alice screaming. Taking a running leap through the crumpling hedge I came across a sight I never thought I'd see. In the middle of the row was the body of an angel lying in a heap, surrounded by four pale figures.
The vampires turned all at once and their glowing red eyes latched onto mine. How the hell did they manage to kill a fully armored angel? For that matter how did vampires get into Olympus? That sniveling wretched bastard Edward will pay for this. I know he has something to do with it.
My inner monologue is interrupted as the four leeches surge forward. By Zeus they are fast! Even by supernatural standards. This isn't right, something has drastically enhanced these vampires abilities.
Dodging under one leech I aimed a kick at the closest one coming at me. It missed and he was upon me. His unnecessary breath brought bile to my throat as the smell of rusted iron lathered over me.
The rest of them joined their comrade and soon I had blows raining down on me. I tried to block as many as I could but more and more slipped through my defenses.
As all seemed lost, a roar strangled out from down the row of hedges. The four vampires on top of me stopped their assault and faced the source of the guttural roar.
Black mist threaded through the hedges and encroached upon the group. All at once spires shot out from the mist and pummeled into each individual vampire, sending them hurling across the burning landscape.
The spires receded and out of the mist stepped Hades. His wrinkled face was scrunched into a fearsome snarl. The god of death quickly made his way over to me and picked me up. "Isabella, I found you at last. Zeus sent me out looking for you as soon as the vampires attacked. He is in the courtyard with the angels, fending off any leech that comes near to the palace." His raspy voice breathed out. He sounded labored.
"Hades, how long have you been looking for me? I just woke up and found four vampires crowded around a dead angel. How are they here and why are they so much more powerful then they should be? Where is Alice? Is she alright? She was with me before I was knocked out."
"Calm down child, your mate is safe with Zeus. He knows better than to face your wrath by not keeping her protected. We need to make our way back to the courtyard and assist my brother in destroying these abominations. They have only attacked the gardens so far, thankfully the rest of the city is safe." He graveled out.
Alice was safe, thank Zeus! Without a second thought I jumped out of a Hades's strong arms and started making my way from the direction the god had come. We encountered no other vampires on our way back but were greeted with bodies of different species.
Emerging from the maze we came upon chaos. In front of the palace gates stood Zeus, proud and strong, hurling lighting bolts into the massive onslaught of red eyed vampires approaching from the west entrance. Angels descended from the skies and attacked the intruders with long golden spears and swords. Centaurs charged from behind Zeus and into the ranks of vampires. Charlie was spear heading the attack from the air while Poseidon gave orders and pointed to various positions on the battlefield.
Upon seeing me the king of Olympus visibly sighed and beckoned us over. Weaving in and out of fighting creatures proved difficult and many times I had to engage in combat, with the help of Hades who was always behind me.
When we reached Zeus he clasped me into a bone crushing embrace and pointed into the palace where the guests had gathered. I immediately ran in and searched the throng of people for Alice and her family. Upon seeing them in the middle of the crowd I started shouting and waving for them. The creatures cowering in the palace halls were too panicked to listen to authority at the moment so pushing and shoving was what I ended up doing.
There was a space between the Cullens and the rest of the creatures in the hall. Even in these circumstances prejudice ran deep and no one wanted to risk touching, Zeus forbid, a vampire. I on the other hand had no such qualms. Reaching my pixie I engulfed her into a bone crunching hug from behind and breathed in her delicious scent.
Sensing the person hugging her was me, Alice immediately struggled against my grip until it was loose enough for her to turn around. Allowing her to give me an equally bone crunching hug.
"Isabella! I thought you were gone! Jesus don't do that to me. You were on the ground and wouldn't get up, then the other vampires came and tried to take me away. If it wasn't for Emmett I would have been kidnapped." My pixie sobbed into my neck. Hushing her and patting her back I looked over her shoulder to give the massive Cullen a nod before returning my attention back to my distraught mate.
"It's fine Alice. I was knocked out but I was unharmed. When I awoke and found you weren't there I nearly lost my mind. Hades came for me. I'm so glad you're okay." I cooed into her ear as I gently rubbed her arms and back.
The rest of the Cullens looked on with mild concern as the explosions started to quieten down outside. Looking towards the humongous doors I made out the figure of Zeus. He held up a hand and all was quiet.
"My dear friends. I ask that you all remain calm and collected as I tell you this, for the danger has passed. Olympus has been attacked! Attacked by a coward behind his false throne. Vampires know of our existence and have means to transport themselves to our city. I do not know the answers to the questions you all obviously have. But I can tell you, we will not tolerate this outrage. The Volturi will pay for their sacrilege full force. I encourage you all to remember it is not vampires in general which have caused this attack, for we have an amazing coven in our company as I speak. It is not their fault and they had nothing to do with it. Please, go about your daily lives and know that the danger has passed. You are fully protected." At this Zeus brought his hand back down and quickly strode out of the palace doors, no doubt to a war meeting.
The creatures around us all visibly relaxed and mild conversation began. Slowly, very cautiously, the inhabitants of Olympus made their way back out the doors of the palace. I tightly put my arm around Alice as we made our way back to the guest rooms we had been occupying.
"Do you know who is responsible for the attack my Bella? I'm afraid Zeus wasn't very clear on the specific person responsible." My mate tentatively asked from beneath my arm.
"I wish I had the answers for you Alice, but vampires showed no banner of any sort on their person. I have a strong inclination that the Volturi are behind it. Edward phoning them hours beforehand is just too coincidental." I tightened my grip on Alice's shoulder as we passed Hades room and consequentially Edward, who was in a cell on the far right of the room. Persephone had her hands on her hips as she debated him over something. Their conversing slowed considerably as we passed.
"Are you sure we have to keep him in there Isabella dear? He has never been of any trouble before." Esme's concerned voiced asked from behind me. Usually I hate being called Isabella and only let a select few call me it. But Esme being Alice's mother figure and the fact the woman was so damn loving made it easier to handle.
"I'm afraid so Esme. He has proven he is a risk to the people who live here and cannot be trusted. Many people died today, most likely caused by his pompous decision." At this Esme sighed heavily and dropped back a bit. The truth of my words seeming to get to her. Edward was responsible for the deaths of the many men and woman who died in the vampire's attack. He unwittingly unleashed the Volturi war machine on us at a moment we were unprepared and had our guard down. I would make sure he pays fully for his actions.
"This is my room my Bella, you can come in if you like..." Alice winked at me and strutted into her room. Her hips swaying seductively. Emmett let loose his trade mark booming laugh and clapped my shoulder.
"Go get her tiger." He whispered into my ear before running away from the ensuing slap Rosalie was going to give him. That was just too creepy, I mean he views her as a sister.
Although I will take the tree trunks advice and follow the pixie inside.
Entering the lavishly decorated room I found said pixie on her bed staring up at the ceiling. "What up Tink?" I asked my mate.
"Tink? That has to be the most insulting nickname you've come up with yet." She giggled and swatted my arm.
"Not really, Tink is short for Tinkerbell. She is the cutest pixie I know of." I answered with another wink. If vampires could blush she would be.
"Then I love it. Just don't call me it around Emmett." She softly said while resting her head on my arm.
"Too late!" The muffled cry of Emmett shouted through the door. Alice face palmed and sighed heavily.
"You know you've unleashed decades of teasing on me right." She said through her hand.
Chuckling I wrapped her up in my arms and rolled us onto our backs. "I'll just have to hide you away for a few decades then, just the two of us." Alice's shoulders shook as she giggled and took her hand away from her face.
"I'd like that a lot." She whispered before leaning up and capturing my lips with hers. We held our positions for a few minutes before I started to move my mouth against hers, ever so slowly. Catching on my beautiful mate slowly replicated my movements and soon we were mastering the technique. Her hands came up and embedded themselves in my hair as she brought me back down to rest slightly on top of her. My own hands didn't know what to do with themselves so started to run circles into the exposed skin on her waist. Apparently this was a good move as Alice moaned into my mouth.
Even though Aphrodite and I had been lovers, we had never actually kissed. It was all sexual and as a result I was inexperienced with loving embraces and sentimental kisses. I knew how to get a reaction by using my tongue, although on a completely different area than the mouth. What the heck, I'm going for it.
I plunged my tongue into Alice's mouth the next time she opened it and was immediately engulfed with the cool sensation of her own. She looked just as surprised as me at the feeling as her hands stopped their ministrations in my hair for a brief few seconds. Her tongue though was slowly moving forward and into my mouth and I wasn't going to fight for dominance. Inch by inch she entered my mouth and by god the feel was magical. My own moan echoed from my throat but was stifled as Alice took control and picked up the pace. Her hands quickly dropped to my hips and crawled closer to a location I wasn't happy with.
I had to put my hands on her shoulders and gently push to break our intimate embrace. "As much as I want to continue this Alice, I think we need to take it slower. You are my mate, my forever. We have all the time in the world to get to that point. I don't want us to instantly jump into bed together when the moment gets heated. I understand you are at that point emotionally but I've only just started this relationship with you and I want to do it right. That means multiple dates, hand holding, candle lit dinners and all that other couple stuff." My speech was interrupted by a slender finger placed on my lips.
"Bella, honey, I completely understand and I'm sorry. I've just been in this relationship for years longer than you have and I've been craving you since forever. I will take a rain check on how far we let it go but forgive me for getting worked up a little bit." She whispered into my ear as she positioned her head into the crook of my neck.
"I know pixie. I want to, trust me. But I want my mate to be treated the right way before jumping into bed with her. I was serious about all those dates I mentioned. I want it all because you deserve it." I rested my head into her midnight locks and smelled her delicious scent.
"It's things like that, that make me love you Bella." She sighed into her evidently favourite spot on my neck.
Crap, what do I do now? I can't leave her hanging after she said she loves me. If I say nothing then it'll create awkwardness. If I say I don't love her then it'll create even more awkwardness. What do you do Swan?
Alice giggled beneath me and lifted her face up to meet mine. "I can feel that you're freaking out on what to say to me. But I don't mind it that you can't say it back yet. I mean we just met the other day. If we instantly fell in love then it would be like our freedom was taken away. I have been in love with you my whole life baby. I will keep saying it and I know one day you'll be able to say it back." She gently nipped at my lips as she finished her deceleration of love and fell back onto my chest. A deep purr rumbled throughout her body making it vibrate slightly. Although she was happy with where we were in the relationship, I could tell she was a little upset I couldn't say I loved her right now. But I'm sure I will be able to soon with the way she makes me feel inside. I have to reassure her I'm not freaked out by it.
"This is probably the wrong time but when you were talking about freedom, is it sad I pictured you in a kilt with blue paint across your face wielding a clamor?" I asked.
A bubble of musical laughter escaped my pixies mouth as she sat up. Raising her fist into the air she loudly pronounced in a strong Scottish accent, "You shall never take. Our. Freedom!" Before settling back down to her previous position. "Don't let Emmett know I just impersonated Mel Gibson." She quietly whispered after my laughter died down.
"Too late!" The muffled voice of Emmett yelled through our door.
There we go guys. Another chapter done, so feel free to tell me what you think. I am going on holiday this week for little over ten days. So i apologize for that in advance. Till next time peeps!