Sooo, apologies for the fuck-up that was chapter 19.

I was rushing and then ff was being a little bitch. But, thanks for bearing with me and for all the messages and then reviews. Seriously, you guys rock and because you keep on motivating me here is chapter 20. The 'for real' chapter 20 not a duplicate.

To clarify from the last chapter - Kate stated that Irina was 'not young enough' meaning she was not still a child who would not attract the attention of men. But, at 14 she was too young to turn to protect her that way. Irina was scared of Sasha as she did not feel comfortable around her as she did Kate and Tanya, she felt a human's natural wariness around vampires when near Sasha.

Next chapter is the last of the back story and it gets a little smutty..well, it's me so it's very smutty.

But, it's not quite done yet and not sure exactly when it will be finished but you know how that goes, I feel we have a nice symbiosis going on here ;0)

Thanks for reading everybody and enjoy your Saturday night.

Lil'D signing off

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I felt the man following before I saw him. I was on my way back from the market where I'd been choosing a few personal items I required that I didn't want the sisters to buy for me, I'd been distracted browsing and hadn't realised it had started to get dark. As I left the market I picked up a tail, the streets were getting quieter and we had rented an apartment in the upper class area of the small city we were staying in. It should have been safe but I was well dressed and unaccompanied, an easy target.

I kept to the busiest streets as I tried to lose the man I'd caught a glimpse of over my shoulder. I'd insisted on coming out alone as I'd been feeling a little claustrophobic. I loved spending time with Katarina and Tanya but I needed some time alone. I continued walking down the street, trying not to let my shadow know I knew I was being followed when I was pushed into an alley. Before I could scream the man's body that had been pressing me against the wall was floating in the air in front of me, or so it seemed.

I dropped my eyes and didn't dare look up, almost knowing what I would see. I'd had my suspicions for some time now but they had never been confirmed. The cold, hard bodies, the speed and grace with which they moved when caught off guard or when they thought I wasn't looking, their strength, the way their eyes switched colour and most significantly the way my family never ate.

I kept my eyes closed until I heard a dull thud.

" 'rina?" Kata queried softly and I felt the air move as she came to stand in front of me. I didn't look up to meet her eyes, instead sliding them along the ground to the left where they encountered the crumpled body of the man that had attacked me. "Are you alright? Did he harm you little one?" I shook my head, the worry in her voice cutting through my other thoughts.

"No, I'm fine." I murmured distractedly.

"Look at me," gloved fingers grasped my chin and forced it up. "I'm sorry," I looked up into red eyes as she apologised to me.

"What for?" I rasped, my throat tight from the angle she had forced it into. My question was met with a frown and she relaxed her grip but did not release me. "For letting you get hurt," she answered swiftly.

"I'm not hurt, I'm fine," I countered and the frown remained at my challenging tone.

"For not getting here faster. He could have hurt you," she tried again but I just blinked. " 'rina! What do you want me to say?" She was upset. She was upset with me.

"Here," I held up my handkerchief, "you missed a spot.," indicating the blood smeared on the corner of her mouth. Kata released me so fast I stumbled as she pressed herself against the opposite wall of the alley, her hand coming up to remove the offending mark with a cat-like swipe.

"I -, we," she hesitated, searching the alley as though it would give her the answer she desired. "How -?" Now that question I could answer.

"Do you think me stupid? Be honest with yourself, have you ever really hidden yourselves from me?" She didn't answer. "You are careful but sometimes you forget yourselves, you are too comfortable around me at times," I smiled ruefully. "If I'm honest, I like that you fell so safe with me. But, I also wonder when you are going to get bored of me and leave me in the next town." I watched as red eyes opened wide.

"No!" She cried and was in front of me before I even saw her move. "Irnina, no! We could never leave you, little one," a cold palm cupped my cheek and frozen lips pressed against my forehead."Don't you know we love you? You're our sister, we would never, ever leave you," she reassured me. "What do we need to do to prove that to you?"

"Be honest with me. Tell me what you are, where you came from." I demanded softly.

"It's not my decision to make, Sasha -,"

"Sasha is not the one I care about, you know that." If I admitted it I was still a little afraid of the elder woman although I had overcome my initial fear of her and she had never done anything to make me fear for myself. I just didn't feel as comfortable around her as I did Tanya and Kata.

"Let's go back to the inn, we can talk there," Kata entreated and I nodded my agreement, allowing her to take my hand and lead me back to the inn.

Xxxx

"She's safe. She needs to know." Were Kata's only words on returning to the inn. Both Sash and Tanya were there and the sisters looked to her for a response.

"So be it," the elder woman gave her permission and Kata pushed me gently into the nearest chair. "Just know that we love you and if you want to go then no one will stop you. No-one will hurt you," she pledged and I nodded, biting my lip as I looked between her and Tanya.

I had seen enough to have formed suspicions but apart from the odd occasions they acted like normal women. Powerful and rich women but women none the less.

" 'rina," Kata called my attention and I gasped as I looked at her. Her eyes were still red but a little darker, what shocked me were her teeth, canines elongated and sharp.

"Vampyre!" I gasped and Kata dropped her head. It all made sense now but I had believed them to be mythical creatures. But, every now and then stories of bloody massacres were attributed to them. I myself however had suspected it was bandits trying to cover their tracks so the locals would blame the supernatural. Yet here they were, the three supernatural blood-sucking fiends right in front of me.

"I'm sorry," Tanya whispered, "we will let you leave." I frowned.

"Why would I leave?" I questioned. "Unless you wish me to?" The thought upset me and I felt my eyes begin to moisten.

"No, child we care for you." It was Sasha that spoke and her words shocked me, maybe more than their confession.

"Come here," I beckoned both sisters forward and they obliged, both sinking to their knees before me so we were face to face. "Can I?" I reached out my hands to touch their faces. They were cold even in the warm room, and so smooth. "Beautiful," I murmured as I traced the planes of their cheekbones with my fingertips, I paused when a deep purring began to emit from both of them. It startled me but I assumed it felt good so continued. I hesitated as I reached Kata's lips, an almost imperceptible nod of her head gave me permission and I brushed the pad of my finger over the sharp point of her tooth.

She hissed and I snatched my hand back.

"Sorry," she murmured. "It's just very sensitive." I blinked and her eyes were now as black as night. She blinked and they were back to their normal red. "Our eyes darken when the beast takes control." Tanya explained softly as she watched Kata carefully.

"Beast?" I asked, unsure of what she meant.

"When we become vampyre an element of our soul is overtaken by a beast that gives us both immortality and a thirst for blood."

"When it takes control we find it harder to control our -, urges." Sasha stepped in to explain. "But, over time our control can allow us to live among humans," I frowned at the inference that we were not the same species but it did make sense, if what she said were true.

"Living with a human is unheard of for our kind. But you're special." Tanya reassured me with a smile. "We have no hunger for your blood and we have felt a connection to you since we first met," she confirmed and Kata nodded her agreement.

"Tanya and I have a unique bond among our kind," Kata explained. "We feel you are also a part of us, through our bond." I frowned. This was not making much sense, she scowled when she realised I was not comprehending her words. "You have never been afraid of us, of Tanya and I?" I shook my head.

"No."

"But you have felt fear of Sasha?" I bit my lip and nodded, my eyes flicking to the oldest woman who was smiling at me.

"It's natural child," the elder woman reassured me. "In fact, you should have felt too uncomfortable with my daughters to be in the same room, let enough bathe when they first met you. You lack a human's normal self-preservation instincts when around my daughters. It's a very good job we love you." My eyes widened as she included herself in the admission.

"We really do," Kata agreed passionately. "But, if you want to leave we will find a safe place for you and ensure you are well cared for." I was shaking my head before she had finished speaking.

"No! Please, no -," my breath caught and I started to cry. "Please don't leave me. I love you too, I've always felt safe with you. This changes nothing, I just needed the truth," I gasped as I lunged toward Tanya and wrapped my arms around her neck, burying my face in her hair. She froze for a second before returning the embrace and murmuring soothing words in my ear.

"If you wish to stay child there are things you need to know." Sasha spoke, her voice authoritative and stern and we all paid her attention. "Firstly, although we do not hunger for your blood there are moments when we are not fully in control. This will occur if we are exposed to blood or angry or in any other intense emotional state." I nodded. "If our eyes are black do not approach us as we may attack you without thought but do not run either as that will encourage the beast, it likes the chase," she explained.

"I understand, what should I do?"

"Just stay still, I believe our love for you will suffice to keep you safe." I didn't miss the worried glances the three vampyre exchanged but I felt secure in their love for me.

"Secondly, I want your permission to change you into one of us if your life becomes endangered through sickness or injury." I gasped. Both Tanya and Kata turned to the elder vampyre, confusion writ upon their beautiful faces. "My daughters care too much for you to be lost to your human weakness," she clarified. "I gave Tanya nor Katarina any choice in the matter but I am giving this to you." I frowned at her words but saw no malice on either of the sisters faces, I would ask them about that when we were alone.

"I give permission." I whispered, not really knowing what I was accepting but knowing that I did not want to leave them for any reason. The sisters did not look happy nor sad, their emotions unreadable.

Rose shifted on hearing Irina's word, her mind seeing so many similarities between the blonde and Bella, her Bella.

The first time I saw them kill a man, really see it not just in a darkened alley, I was fascinated by the brutal grace. They did not make a habit of it but times were dangerous and four women travelling alone made a tempting target. It was Tanya, she snatched the man from the air right in front of me, roughly by his hair and as she pulled his body to hers I saw the beast. She looked me dead in the eye before she spoke.

"This is what we are little one," she said before her fangs appeared and she bent to his neck. I saw her teeth puncture soft flesh but he didn't struggle like I thought he would, he seemed to be in ecstasy and moaned in pleasure as she drained his life.

Rose felt sickened by her words but Bella was just as fascinated as Irina had been, her fangs ached and the pit of her belly warmed. Irina noticed this and studied the youngling, this one had tasted human blood, and enjoyed it, of that she was sure.

"This is what we are," Tanya repeated as she confronted me, lips still red with his blood but I didn't flinch. Instead, I reached my hand out and wiped the blood from her mouth with my finger and offered it to her, there was a hiss and a snarl but she accepted the offering and sucked my finger clean. She was still beautiful to me.

"She accepts us," Sasha announced from behind me.

"I do," I agreed but felt uneasy, not because of the death I had just witnessed. Public executions and other forms of death were commonplace. But, at the fascination it had held, that Tanya had held for me as I watched her kill. I didn't dwell on these thoughts but as time went on I came to the realisation that I could do that, to survive as they did.

It was after I gained that insight into myself that I asked to be turned.

"You were too young, only sixteen," Tanya murmured.

"I know this now!" Irina snapped and scowled at her sister as she shoved her playfully on the shoulder, Tanya gave a disgruntled snort but did not retaliate.

"And I agreed to wait," she confirmed to their audience.

"She did," Kate agreed.

"But after that things did change, we became closer as if the inevitability of my turning, becoming one of them, had removed the last barrier in their full acceptance of me. Not that I had harboured any doubts but the silly vampyres seemed to think I was going to leave them for a handsome man at some point."

"Many tried 'rina," Kate grumbled petulantly.

"I was always yours, you know that. I always have and will always come home to you." Irina confirmed to her sisters. And with that comment Rose gathered another insight into their relationship and a greater security in her feelings for Bella. Looking at the three of them now it was obvious that they would always be together, that no other could come between them. Rose felt such relief that Bella shifted next to her, the unconscious reaction to the flare of Rose's chi.

"Yes, I had many suitors," Irina relented. "We all did. Every town had a man wanting to win one of our hands for marriage but they were easy to dissuade, when you have vampyre as companions." Kate growled again, it seemed the memory still irked her and Rose knew exactly how she felt. Bella was hers and she would react badly if anyone tried to take her away.

"Yes, although I do know the more persistent did seem to disappear," Irina accused her sisters who had the decency to look guilty. It was obvious to the young vampires that the older sisters absolutely adored their youngest sibling and would do anything to protect her. Although their actions would never sit well with Rose she could sympathise with them.

Bella was fascinated by Irina's easy acceptance of the harsh nature of her sisters as vampires. She didn't know if she would have felt the same about the Cullen's had they been human drinkers. But, she reasoned, she might not have have survived the fact that she was Edward's singer.

"You were never tempted by her blood?" Bella raised the topic that had been on her mind.

"No, never!" Tanya sounded appalled by the suggestion. "Even in the heights of blood-lust or passion it never crossed our minds. She was always safe, even when she would bleed." Bella blinked when she realised they were referring to Irina's cycle.

"Rose?" Irina questioned the young blonde on the subject. Rose gave it a moments thought and shrugged.

"It never bothered me. She was a clumsy human, always injuring herself but even a fresh wound did not trouble me. Although except from Carlisle I was the only one," she confirmed. "She was Edward's singer," she added as an afterthought, forgetting how sensitive Bella was to any mention of her brother. The sudden snarling from the now agitated newborn alarmed her.

"Hey, easy!" She reached out for Bella's hand as the brunette launched to her feet.

"Calm down, Bella!" Tanya barked and both the young vampires felt a wave of calm flow into them from the sisters as well as an accompanying blast of super strength pheromones which made Bella blink then sit back down next to Rose where she promptly snuggled up to the young blonde, feeling suddenly calmer due to the outside influence.

"Sorry," she mumbled and Rose stopped breathing to try clear her head from the almost cloying scent in the atmosphere.

"Ok, can you dial it down a bit please?" She hissed through clenched teeth, Bella practically comatose as she purred happily away, snuggled up against her side.

"Sorry!" Irina chuckled. "She's very receptive, isn't she?" Rose narrowed her eyes at the innocent question.

"She is, so be more careful," she warned her elder, not liking her interest in the newborn.

"Anyway," Tanya interrupted Rose's thoughts as she caught the young blonde's possessiveness and not wanting it to get out of hand, there really was no need. She knew her sister's question had been innocent. If it had been Kate she would have suspected an ulterior motive but Irina, no. "It seems that you have been immune to the call from Bella's blood, it is very telling but only now it is in full context." Tanya mused as she idly flicked her gaze over the young ones. Bella was looking more alert but still stayed close to Rose. It was- , cute?

"Maybe," Rose was unwilling to commit to her reasoning. Irina sensed this and restarted her tale.

"I had no interest in others, I never had but we never knew if it was the bond or lack of suitable matches. But, it wasn't until we finally stopped travelling and returned to their home that our relationship developed." She paused to share a look with her sisters.

"Irina was an inquisitive young one, nothing seemed to phase her," Kate murmured as she placed a kiss on Irina's cheek.

"I just wanted to be close to you, I felt left out," she pouted, quite adorably Bella thought as she wrinkled her nose in confusion.

"So you -? As a human?" Rose questioned, surprise tingeing her tone.

"Yes, I told you it could be done when you arrived," Tanya reminded her and Rose shrugged, the thought had never appealed to her but maybe if she had felt a mate's attraction towards the human Bella she would have been tempted. It had always seemed strange to her that Edward never made more of an effort to pursue sexual relations with the human, if he loved her as much as he claimed.

"It can be quite satisfying, for both species, as long as no venom enters the blood stream," Kate confirmed and Irina hummed her agreement.

"And, if it had it would not have been a problem, not after she became older anyway. Sixteen was too young to be turned." Tanya agreed.

Rose kept her expression stoic but her human values and experiences rebelled against the morality of becoming sexually involved with one so young. especially as they were hinting at blood-play, which was extreme in human sexual relations although a norm in vampire ones. But, her more rational self reasoned, girls were married off as soon as they bled back in the darker ages and high school teenagers today were happy to give in to their carnality at a similar age. So, given that Irina had obviously been a willing participant she quashed her disapproval and returned her attention to the conversation.

However, it seemed it had come to an end as the sisters were distracted with one another, humming away rapidly in their native tongue so instead Rose focused her attention on Bella who was staring at the three blondes. A tug on the newborn's hand caught her attention and the brunette guiltily met her eyes.

"I can see you have more questions, young one?" Irina had picked up on Bella's curiosity.

"Um, yes." Bella flashed a look at Rose then back to Irina.

"Maybe you would like to talk alone?" Tanya suggested. Bella felt uncomfortable cutting Rose out of the conversation but maybe talking with Irina would help her resolve some of the questions she had surrounding her transition from human to vampire and the hard time she was having surrounding her more base urges? And by base she meant sexual, she admitted to herself with a sigh.

Rose saw Bella battling with herself and knew she had probably helped as much as she could. And, Irina's human life had held a lot of similarity to Bella's so maybe there was insight to be had that she just wasn't qualified for? With that in mind Rose left with Tanya and Kate, against her instincts but for any of this to work she had to trust Bella and allow her to grow as a vampire, whatever that may take. Anything for her happiness.

"Come," Tanya went to throw an arm over the young blonde's shoulder then stopped herself, realising which vampire she was dealing with. Instead she briefly rested her palm against Rose's back as they left Bella and Irina alone. "Hunt. It's been a while and it will help," she suggested. Rose grunted but then walked out of the house then ran into the forest.

xxxxxx

Next on Crimson Bonds

"She watches us, sister," Kata purred when she saw me standing in the doorway. I was frozen as I took in their nakedness as they lay on top of the bed. Kata was lying over Tanya, skin pale and smooth. There was also a scent in the air, one which even I could detect.