So, here we have another chapter. There has been a lot of interest in investigating a 'Belrina' pairing before Rose and Bella complete their bonding. Let me know if it appeals to you and I'll take it into consideration.

Thanks for pushing this story over 300 likes and reviews and also to all those who have read my other story and sent me messages or reviewed it. You all make me very happy :D

The next chapter is almost ready so if you encourage me it will get finished faster ;)

Lil'D x

xxxxxx

"So, what going on?" Irina turned to her sisters when she knew the young ones were out of earshot.

"Well, we only had time to give you the basics," Tanya apologised with a shrug.

"They have a bond?" The youngest sister queried.

"Yes," Kate smiled. "It's very similar to ours although it's too early to tell yet if it's exactly the same. Although, we feel it may incorporate a mating bond as well."

"Really? Is that why Rose is growling every time I looked at Bella?" Kate smirked at that.

"Yep. Things have been a little touchy there. Rose has been knocked completely off balance by this. She's so reserved she has had trouble accepting her feelings for Bella." Kate explained and Irina nodded. She had been a little concerned about the young blonde's reaction to her but it was beginning to make sense.

"And Bella?"

"Well," Tanya spoke up to answer Irina's question, "Bella is, as you saw, a remarkable newborn. She's been turned just over a month and is in supreme control. I won't say complete control because earlier today she massacred an entire heard. But, that can mostly be blamed on the bond forming and the complications it has caused.

"Yeah, Rose came to because she was having a hard time handle the fact that she and Bella would be tied together by the bond. She was panicking that if she let it develop, one day Bella would find her mate and leave her." Kate added.

"Oh!" Irina screwed up her face in sympathy. "I can see why that would be a concern for her," she replied, knowing how wary the young blonde was of forming any kind of relationship, let alone one so intimate.

"Yes, so she left to talk to Emmett," Kate scowled at the memory.

"Which none of us took well given the revelation surrounding the existence of their bond," Tanya interjected.

"I went to talk to her and one thing led to another..." Kate trailed off, waiting for her sister to put two and together. It took a second but she turned to Kate with an incredulous look.

"You didn't?"

"She did," Tanya sighed. "And, although it was Rose who initiated it Bella's beast has not taken kindly to it. So, when she acted out yesterday I think that was the root cause."

"Um, that and the fact the girl was still virgin until Alice claimed her after her first kill. They killed human." Kate informed her sister who sat down, shocked by her words. A Cullen? And Alice no less?

"I know." Tanya noted the look of disbelief on her sister's face. "It's a lot for anyone to deal with, let alone a newborn." She paused to let the information sink in. "So, Bella's been struggling with that plus her developing bond with Rose. Rose has severe intimacy issues and now it seems both their beasts are staking some claim on one another. Kate has just helped Bella release some of that pent up sexual energy via her chi, with Rose present and that's' when they 'connected' for the first time. So you'll have to forgive Rose for being a little overprotective. You remember how that feels?" Irina nodded as she recalled the feeling when she first bonded with her sisters.

"It's been a busy day," Kate was the queen of understatement with her comment.

"It certainly has," Irina had a lot to think about. "Anything else I need to know about?" She raised her brows and surveyed her sisters. She'd only been gone a handful of weeks and to come back to all this was a lot to absorb, even for a vampire.

"Well, Bella had control before she killed the human. There is a possibility that she has a latent power when it come to assessing humans. Rose told me the man was a child abuser. The words fell heavily in the room, abusers were the lowest of the low in their collective opinion.

"Has she begun her training yet?" Irina queried.

"No, we thought it best to get her other urges under control first, it makes it easier," Tanya explained. It's been about getting her comfortable with herself and breaking the bond Alice had formed." Irina nodded. "I was considering starting tomorrow while she was still heavily sated from the herd blood she took but you have disrupted that plan, sister." Tanya smiled to shoow there was no malice in her words.

"Well, I would like to observe if she has no objections?" Irina stated as she returned the smile, she was happy to be home and would have returned earlier had she felt the call from her sisters that she had today.

"It would be best to check neither of them have any problem with that," Irina nodded her agreement to Tanya's reasoning.

"But Rose, Kata?" She turned to her sister in surprise. Kate shrugged.

"She came to me, I gave her what she needed."

"Control," Irina stated in a tone that caught both sisters attention.

"Yes," Kate agreed, her tone curious. "What do you know?" Tanya questioned. Irina paused, unsure how to phrase what she had to say. Both the elder sisters knew Irina was very good at picking up information, she had an attractive personality and even vampires warmed to her and shared information they might not usually.

"Well," Irina began, "on my travels I have come across a few that have been marked by Rosalie." The other sisters were shocked but stayed silent as their sister spoke. "All female, all the more exclusive of our kind. Some also marked by Emmett, but only two as the others mate exclusively with females," she informed her sisters. "Her mark is incredibly strong, she murmured as she thought of the scars on those vampires. "Binding." She finished, looking up to gauge her sister's reactions. To bind with a mark was a skill and ensured the loyalty of the vampire marked. It was based on the marking involved in mating but was a one way bond. In fact it was similar to the bond Alice had created with Bella, minus the complications caused by the makers bond and the fact Bella had been virgin.

"Rose has only ever been marked by Emmett," Kate confirmed. "I did not think it appropriate to change that." Tanya snorted as she tried to withhold a laugh causing Irina to turn her attention to her oldest sister. "What?" Kate queried indignantly.

"What? You said it yourself, you were her fuck-toy!" Tanya was full out laughing now and Irina joined in, much to her middle sisters consternation.

"Well, at least I've bedded her!" Kate retaliated. "From what 'rina said it's only the privileged that have.

"True sister, true," Irina pulled Kate by her hand, tugging her down onto her lap where she relaxed and nuzzled into her sisters neck, taking in her wonderful scent.

"Well, considering she has had no training it is remarkable," Tanya added while Kate was distracted and purring like a kitten she was so pleased to be close to Irina.

"But, was I wrong in thinking Bella has a small crush on our sister?" There was a few moments silent and Kate pulled back and Kate took the opportunity and change the topic. Irina blinked, confused by the comment.

"I think she may," Tanya confirmed. "That's going to be interesting. I don't pity you a jealous Rosalie." Kate chuckled then continued the conversation.

"Yeah, she actually threatened me when she thought I was trying to take advantage of Bella."

"Yes, she threatened to harm our cars if we misbehaved."Irina arched her brow at that then burst into laughter.

"She knows no fear," she chuckled as she marvelled at the young blonde's nerve.

"Yes, it seems that her protective instincts know no bounds where Bella is concerned." Tanya confirmed.

"Well, I find it all fascinating and would enjoy the chance to get to know them both better. Rose has always held herself away from me, although I never knew why," Irina sighed, she was a social vampire and it had always puzzled her.

"Me either, I suppose you have often been absent on your visits." Kate guessed.

"I have," Irina did not tolerate their cousins well and often made herself scarce when they visited. Rose and Emmett were the ones she liked the most but having to deal with Carlisle and the unspoken judgements he passed over their lifestyle was more then she cared to handle. She wasn't willing to hide the nature of the affection she had for her sisters during their visit as the other two sisters did. What they did in their own home was their business, no-one elses. And Edward, she shuddered internally at the thought of the arrogant young vampire. Every time she saw him she wanted to harm him in cruel and inventive ways so for the sake of peace she stayed away.

However, she had always been curious about his human. But, from what she had heard she was weak and ill-suited to becoming a vampire. But, she was very pleased to be wrong on that count, Bella intrigued her and she wanted to get to know the newborn better. She hoped the newborn's hormones did not prove too rebellious as she wasn't one for conflict, she was happiest when her sisters and coven were happy and did not want to encourage discord.

"Come, I want to bed you," Irina stretched to her full height and padded towards the stairs, her sisters following obediently, smiles of anticipation on their faces.

Xxxxxx

Rose had taken Bella to see the ice caps. It had been an interesting tour but Rose had seemed a little distant. Bella suspected she knew the reason, Irina's return. Rose had said she wasn't close with the youngest sister but Bella could not see why, she seemed very pleasant. They had returned when Kate had called to give them the all clear a day or so later. On their return the scent of sex had been a little off-putting but Bella was slowly getting used to such things being common knowledge what with vampire senses playing their role. Her thoughts were broken as the door to the barn opened and the subject of her thoughts entered.

"Hi," Bella blinked at the casual greeting. She had not yet been able to asses the younger sisters personality. Whether she was as laid back or Kate or more formal like Tanya. The greeting was friendly and she responded in kind, offering a welcoming smile as she pushed off on the skateboard she had been playing with.

Irina padded over to the board rack on her bare feet and selected a board that Bella and Rose had been warned by Kate not to touch so the newborn assumed it was Irina's. By the expert way the blonde pushed off and executed a complex flip it seemed she was a pro at this.

"So, how are you liking it here? They filled me in on what's being going on," Irina informed Bella with a smile.

"I-, I really like it." Tanya says I can stay." Irina nodded.

"You are welcome and I can't see Carmen or Eleazar having any problem with that. Rose too if she wants." Bella nodded.

"I think she does," the newborn vampire confirmed but a shred of doubt crept into her voice.

"Oh, if you're here she will want to stay," Irina informed her with a soft smile. "She won't want to be too far away for long. I can't stay away from my sisters for more than I just have. The world can be an exciting place but I belong with them, I have since the moment I first laid eyes on them."

"Rose and I had never been close. I always thought she hated me," Bella murmured and the words perplexed the blonde.

"Well, your bond is as unique as ours, I doubt it works exactly the same way, just shares similarities." Irina explained and that made sense to Bella. "Plus, from what I know of Rose she always had your best interests at heart but did not approve of your choices. Have you ever really thought why young one?" That earned a thoughtful pause from the newborn as she contemplated her elder's words. From the lengthy conversation on the matter Bella knew how Rose had felt, that she had disapproved of the Cullen's treatment of their human.

"I hadn't, until Rose explained it to me. She has always cared," Bella concluded and that earned her a smile form the blonde.

"She's just not the best at showing it, is she?"

"No, but she's getting better," Bella answered, suddenly shy again and Irina left the topic when she sensed this. It seemed the bond was still developing and neither participant were one hundred percent sure of their feelings yet.

"I won't lie, we are not especially close but I would like to get to know her better, I find her very interesting," Irina commented as she completed a series of jumps.

"She is," Bella confirmed and silence returned, the only noise the whir and clatter of their boards as they skated idly.

"Will you share your story with me one day young one?" Irina finally questioned as they continued to skate, the hum of the wheels and repetitive movements strangely therapeutic.

"Me? Why?" Bella frowned, she had nothing to tell she knew she was a child by comparison and had done nothing of note with her life.

"Because, I want to understand what makes you the vampire you are," the blonde countered. "It has a lot of bearing on who we become and I would like to know you better," she explained, giving the young vampire a warm smile.

"Um Ok," Bella mumbled, both embarrassed and flattered but the idea. She had been surreptitiously studying the blonde as she skated and liked what she saw, a lot. Irina would have been described as pretty in her human life, her features slightly less angular than her sisters and slightly softer. She was taller than Kate but smaller than Tanya who was as tall as Rose. She also seemed relaxed but without the mischievousness that Kate had or the more mature nature of Tanya, as leader of the coven.

From what Rose had said she expected Irina to be flighty and less substantial than the other sisters but she didn't find this to be the case. Instead, she seemed down to earth and extremely likeable. And pretty. Bella chastised herself for the thought, especially after what had transpired between herself and Rose earlier.

But she was confused but didn't know who to talk to. She would feel bad talking to Rose, and Kate was Irina's sister and probably biased. Then she had a thought. Maybe she could talk to Emmett? No, strike that, he was all for Rose. Bella sighed, she was stumped. Maybe Tanya? She always seemed to know how to help. Ugh! Hormones were a bitch!

Irina watched Bella's internal monologue with amusement, the poor youngling seemed to be struggling but she had no idea what the problem was.

"Can I help?" She offered and was surprised by the vehement shaking of the newborn's chestnut locks.

"No! Thanks!" She squeaked.

"Ok," Irina drawled and her companion's reaction gave her some clue as to what might be up. Her sisters had explained Bella's lack of sexual experience and how it was making things difficult for the youngling. She was too controlled most of the time to let her instincts rule her and she had heard of the problems this had caused Bella.

Even so, from what she had been told it seemed Bella was highly advanced and it couldn't just be from her acceptance of her change. She herself had also welcomed being turned but had existed for a period where she had little to no control over her actions. Not as long as most newborns but Bella had been turned a month and was acting like a mature vampire.

"Let me tell you my story," Irina began. "Maybe it will take your mind off things?" She smiled warmly at the brunette who nodded her acceptance but kept skating, the motion soothing her. "Can Rose hear too?" Bella questioned, she had a feeling it was going to be an interesting history and didn't want her friend to miss out.

"Alright, but then let's go inside?"

"Ok," Bella agreed easily and they carefully placed their boards tidily on the rack and went back to the house. They found Rose already in the living room and Bella hastened to join her on the couch, Irina curling up against the arm of the couch opposite them. It was only moments before the young vampires felt a shimmer in their chi but no direct contact and after a moment when the other sisters appeared they realised that Irina had been calling them to her.

"How does that work?" Rose questioned her elders as they settled around their sister, sandwiching her between them. It was obvious by the content looks all three held that they were very happy with their re-union and both the young vampires felt a satisfied calm emanate from their combined chi, whether they were consciously projecting it or not. Rose suspected that is was totally involuntary but it fascinated her none the less.

"I think of them and they come," was Irina's simple answer. "Yesterday I felt their need for me, they missed me so I returned." Rose frowned.

"Yes, but where were you?" She kept up her questioning.

"South America, I was hoping to run into a friend but came home as soon as I felt them," Irina explained, snuggling into her sisters as she spoke.

"So distance is no barrier?" Rose was fascinated.

"It was faint but still there. They have never been distressed when I have been in Europe or any other continents but as far as I know distance is not an issue." Rose accepted the answer but had no further questions so Irina began her story.

Xxxxx

Next on Crimson Bonds

"Enter," the voice was low and melodious and it sent a shiver through me. After a moments hesitation I turned the large round handle and entered the room, quickly looking around to get my bearings. It was dark, lit only by a few candles, I saw a tub set out in front of the fire and began to carry the bucket towards it.

"Give that to me," the same voice commanded and a figure appeared out of the dark shadows of the room. A woman glided towards me but her features were in shadow, all I could see was a mass of golden hair, piled on top of her head, ringlets hanging down to both hide and frame her face.