Here you go, as promised.
Thanks for all the reviews and for putting this story over the 1k review mark. It's a huge milestone and always hope I'd reached that, it's very pleasing that so many of you have enjoyed coming along on this ride with me.
Next chapter needs tweaking and we will be seeing a bit more of Alice soon too. Sorry for any typos, it's pretty late here.
Enjoy, Lil'D
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Victoria was beginning to get agitated, extending her senses to their fullest, trying to detect the young one's approach.
"I was not sure if you would come," the nomad made her presence known and the young vampires looked up to see her perched high above the jungle floor, near the top of the canopy where rays of brightness filtered through. Their sensitive eyes picking up every ray of refracted light as it darted off her skin, setting a halo of fire, red eyes gleaming in its midst. "Come, I have much to show you, little ones," she teased poking her tongue out before flashing off into the forest.
"Did she -?" Rose was astonished by the cheek of the elder, Bella intrigued by her playfulness, it was out of character but she had seemed excited about today's trip.
"Yes Rose, she did," Bella confirmed as she bit her lip, unsure of her mate's reaction to the red-head given last nights' breakdown, one that had been followed by some incredibly guilty sex. Well, Rose's guilt had led to very hot and dirty sex and a very satisfied Bella.
"Yeah, but are we going to let her get away with it?" Bella was snapped out of the short, but incredibly X-rated daydream.
"Hell no?" The phrasing cause a burst of laughter to erupt from the blonde.
"I promise to behave, if not, my ass is yours!" Rose promised, throwing a wink over her shoulder as she took to the trees. "Come on, my little caterpillar."
Bella blinked. Caterpillar? What the fuck was Rose on? Maybe that cow she fed on last night had some disease or something? Whatever, the brunette shrugged off her mate's schizo behaviour, her bond told her everything was Ok so she followed Rose who was hot on Victoria's trail.
They chased for miles through the thick foliage, Victoria leading them on an intricate dance across the vastness of the jungle.
"You are so slooow," the nomad commented with a smile. "So?" It was only then that the mates took in their surroundings. Victoria was perched on what appeared to be a large rock, a scan of the area with their vampire vision discerned the ruins of a temple or other such monument, reclaimed by nature, eaten by time.
"It's here!" Bella exclaimed, leaping and bounding from ruin to ruin, her childlike enthusiasm captivating her companions and they found themselves trading a look, unfathomable, but a shared moment nonetheless as red eyes met golden in silent appreciation of the newborn. Rose was the first to look back to her mate, uncomfortable with the intimacy of the moment and previous revelations of her weakness before the nomad.
The moment passed and Rose joined Bella on her explorations while Victoria observed their carefree interactions as they ripped away the worst of the vines to discover the treasure beneath. She didn't understand this. How they could be so free with each other, the sex she understood but not this other level of connection.
She liked Irina, Irina was her friend and the sex was nothing short of astounding but she had no desire to spend more than a few days with her every year or so. She had lived a long time, seen mates together but she just did not understand. A sniff, taking in the scents of the jungle and the younglings. She liked being alone, it was only a small part of her that acknowledged that she may miss the company of the young ones, they had proved an interesting distraction from her solitude.
Eventually Victoria joined them and with all three working on the site it was only a matter of minutes before it was cleared enough to get an overview. The mates were surprised when Victoria leaped up into a tree that overlooked the site and settled herself on one of the branches, casually pulling out a sketch book, hand blurring across the page as she wore down pencil after pencil in her endeavour. They waited the mere moments it took her to finish before the pad was stashed somewhere on her person and she jumped down, the impact, jarring the ground.
"Are we done?" The question was abrupt, the nomad eyed the others, awaiting their response.
"Uh, yeah," Bella nodded. "I am. Rose?"
"Yes, it's not going anywhere, we can always come back," the blonde confirmed with a smile. "Right?"
"Tomorrow it will rain," Victoria confirmed so emphatically the Bella couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter.
"Bella!" Rose hissed as she swatted her mate on the arm.
"What?" Victoria frowned as she looked between them, she was confused.
"Sorry," Bella was still grinning as she apologised for her rude outburst, she just couldn't help it. The nomad was sometimes so serious when she spoke, it was kinda cute Bella mused as she schooled her features.
"Victoria," Rose frowned as she paused and the red-head raised her brows, giving the blonde her full attention as Rose hung her head and toed the ground with a bare foot. She had refused to wear the hiking style boots Bella had chosen for such expeditions so instead opted to go barefoot as Victoria did.
"Yes?" The nomad had no idea what was going on.
"I talked with our coven leader, we decided to leave tomorrow," the blonde informed their new friend. Victoria read between the lines and deduced that Rosalie's breakdown yesterday had triggered their return but she could not analyse how that made her feel.
"So, we won't be coming back here," Bella added. "Not tomorrow at least," the newborn spared a brief smile for the nomad who's face quickly lost it's surprise to be replaced by a stoic, unreadable look.
"Are you able to accompany me further today?" The request was so formal Rose snapped her attention to the red-head and golden eyes studied her closely but nothing seemed out of the ordinary, it was just a feeling the blonde had.
"Of course," a nod of response and a hum of agreement from Bella.
"Alright, follow me. If you can!" Once again there was a motion so fast that not even their vampire eyes could perceive it and they were left alone.
"You heard her," Bella shrugged, sparing her mate a quick glance as they began to follow the scent trail, knowing that Rose felt some guilt for being the reason their trip ended but they had extended their stay in the area longer than originally anticipated. "Come on, she's excited so it's got to be something epic. I mean, have you ever seen her this -," Bella searched for the word to describe Victoria's behaviour but failed to come up with a better description than 'excited.' "Whatever, she's like a kid at Christmas. Well, the bad-ass ancient vampire kind."
Rose just smiled at her mate's ramblings but kept pace with her as they ran, Bella not leaving her behind as she often did. The blonde was glad, it was sometimes wearing how much stronger and faster her mate was.
"Nearly there," Bella commented and broke through her mate's reverie, the build up of Victoria's now familiar scent indicating she was close by and relatively stationary.
Victoria stood and waited, arms crossed over her chest, feet planted slightly apart as they sunk into the soft loam beneath, her back to the cliff face that reared up out of the jungle. The young ones appeared simultaneously as they broke into the small clearing side by side.
"Nice of you to join me," she smirked receiving a slight smile and an eye roll from Rosalie, Bella presented her middle finger but the nomad refrained from any innuendo in order to spare the blonde's emotions another overload. The restraint wasn't missed by Rose, she slid her eyes to the red-head but received no acknowledgement of the action.
"Where are we?" Bella's ever present curiosity got the better of her and she invaded the silence with her words, eyes roving around the area that could have been any other random location in the vastness of the jungles.
"We are here," Victoria replied facetiously, the tip her tongue poking out at the newborn and both young vampires were happy to see a little playfulness return after their announcement.
"And here is -?" Rose added, arching a perfect brow to emphasise her query.
"Wait." They obeyed instruction as they watched Victoria move to the cliff face and stand before the relatively flat surface, arms stretched to either side as she found a crevice with the tips of her fingers. A sudden rumble and she had casually lifted what appeared to be a large slab of the rock away and exposed an opening wide enough to allow two people entrance side by side.
"Come," a smile and a finger beckoned to the younglings and Victoria was pleased by the expression of surprise on their faces. She even detected a hint of awe and it pleased her that she was able to impress them so. She stood back from the dark opening so they could go inside, both giving her curiosity laced glances as they passed.
Bella entered a little ahead of Rose, she was surprised to see a natural fissure creating a passage inside the cliff itself. Victoria leapt over their heads and landed in a crouch a few paces in front of the newborn, after a few paces the passage took a sharp turn into the rock. They had reached a cave, hidden behind a mat of creepers and vines, the light filtering down from above enough to sustain the foliage
"Come," Victoria beckoned, pushing back the vines. What they saw inside blew their minds.
There was no natural light in the cave but enough bleeding through to allow vampire eyes more than enough to view the spectacular display.
"Way to go Lara!" Bella murmured as she surveyed the literal treasure trove that lay within. Gold statues, chalices and many other decorative forms of the precious metal were laid out on the natural shelf formations within the cave. The cave itself was about fifteen feet high, it didn't extend very far into the rock, only about twenty feet and narrowed toward the back where Bella spotted stacks of plastic crates and wondered if that was where Victoria stored her more perishable items such as paper and clothing, the jungle humidity caused rapid damage to such things.
"This -," Rose was literally lost for words as she saw thousands of years of history spread out before her. Any human museum would pay the earth to own even one of these items. Their value would be, well priceless.
"Where did you find all of this?" Bella questioned, her eyes lighting on a particular shelf, distinctive for it's lack of shine, the items not in keeping with the rest of the hoard but old none the less. Victoria saw where the newborn's eyes had drifted and frowned, she should have moved those, she berated herself, but to do so now would only increase Bella's interest.
"Around," was the only reply she gave to the question. She had travelled this area for many centuries and even one artefact discovered every couple of decades still resulted in a sizeable collection. Bella nodded, her eyes lingering on the small dagger and what appeared to be the remnants of another blade lying next to it but this was broken, snapped in half, the two parts lying together.
"It's amazing," Bella turned and smiled at the red-head, sensing the nomad's discomfort when she saw what had taken her interest.
"Can you tell us about these," Rose gestured, encompassing the amazing bounty in a wave of her hand. "Please?" She entreated their sometimes reclariant companion but was happy to see an almost shy look appear at the question before a nod of assent was given and the stoic mask returned.
Victoria was cautious at first but when her audience showed a genuine and enthusiastic interest in her possessions she settled herself onto the floor of the cave as Rose and Bella bought her objects and artefacts to explain their histories and tales of how she had discovered them.
Rose found herself so caught up in the storytelling that hours flew by like minutes. It wasn't until they had exhausted all but a few items that they realised it had become almost dark outside and the light in the cave so diminished that the glow emitted by the light reflecting off Victoria's treasures had faded. There had been ones that the blonde had decided not to ask about, a silent caution that was mirrored by Bella and communicated by their bond. Every time the shelf holding the dagger had been approached the red-head had tensed so they reached a silent consensus not to question her on those items.
"We should leave, you must return to your hotel and gather your things," Victoria announced as she stood and brushed some loose dirt off the ass of her shorts.
"We should but this has been so amazing," Bella beamed at the nomad who looked a little taken aback by the brunette's mega watt smile but after a second she returned it with a more restrained but no less genuine one. Rose was relieved to see that her outburst yesterday had not seemed to affect Victoria's interactions with them today and she was glad. Bella enjoyed the friendship and Rose would hate herself if her actions deprived her mate of anything that made her happy. And, they were going home where she could get her shit sorted out and stop acting like a whiny little bitch.
Bella sensed her mate's mood change and jumped in to distract her, the guilt from the blonde almost palpable through their bond.
"Come back with us," Bella urged the elder vampire. "We have a package for you from Irina, it arrived yesterday but I'm afraid I didn't give you it." She didn't need to add this was because she had been distracted by Rose.
"Really?" Victoria smiled as she thought of her friend. It had been a while since they had met, maybe it was nearly time to get together with her. Goodness knows her libido could do with quenching, spending time with the young ones had been wreaking havoc on her hormones but she knew better than to act on them, neither Rose nor Bella were free agents, their bond was very strong and she respected that. But, they were both very beautiful and sexually appealing creatures and it was a shame no fun could be had. Yes, she needed to get in touch with Irina. Maybe the younglings would pass on a message for her?
"Yes, you should run back with us," Rose agreed and watched as Victoria ensured everything was safe and then effortlessly shifted the cliff face back into place, the only sign it had been moved was the disturbed vines that has snapped where they covered the seam in the rock.
"I will," Victoria agreed with a smile. "Let us go." She led but they stayed together as a pack, exchanging odd comments as they ran.
It was Victoria that picked up the scent first but then it was already too late. A large male vampire stepped into their path and they came to an abrupt halt, leaf litter spraying up as they skidded to a stop.
Victoria was prepared to take the lead but it was Rose who stepped forward.
"Leave, she commended and the male curled his lip in a snarl.
"No," he refused, his eyes lingering on the female's bodies, particularly Rose's. "I don't think I will." His voice was heavily accented, Spanish.
Again Victoria was about to step in and end this before it began.
"You dare look at my mate like that? Speak to her that way, threaten her?" Bella's eyes had blackened and her fangs were showing. The male just threw back his head and laughed.
"I will look at her however I please! Then I will rip your heads off and make you both watch as I fuck -," That was all he had chance to say before the newborn issued a mighty roar and snapped her hand out to grab his throat.
Victoria watched, open mouthed at the spectacle before her, she knew Bella was very strong for her age but she still should not be able to hold him like that, crush his neck like that. The male was old and large, mass did have a lot of say on strength, especially coupled with age but he was hanging like a kitten from her grasp.
"Rose?" Bella growled and the blonde stepped forward.
"He thinks he's a big strong vampire," the blonde purred but it was a dark sound, her fingertips trailing over his cheek and as she touched him he let out a blood curdling scream.
"No! Stop! Stop!" He begged as he struggled, kicking and screaming in the newborn's grip. , frantically clawing at the hand holding him immobile, only the toes of his boots scraping the ground.
"No, I don't think I will," Rose snarled. "You have insulted my mate, you confront us and now you will pay the price. We are Denali's, you will never, ever, harm another with the intent to for yourself on them again," her words reverberated off the nearby rock face but the animals had left as soon as the vampires had entered the area. As she spoke she locked eyes with him and Victoria watched in rapt fascination as he fought to look away but seemed unable as black eyes bored into his own.
Irina had explained how powerful she and her sisters were but the nomad had only experienced the pleasurable side of their powers, now she was rapidly learning they also held a darker power as she watched the young vampire work. It explained so much but also so little. The younglings were obviously extremely powerful and strong but they had not demonstrated this until now. The confidence had been attractive but not necessarily explainable. To see it demonstrated like this was astounding.
The red-head watched as Bella dropped the male who fell on his knees, grovelling at their feet, begging them to stop, to take it away. Victoria had no real comprehension of what they had done but again returned to Irina's explanation of their powers, that they could implant powerful suggestions that could not be overridden by the victim. It seemed she was seeing this demonstrated first hand and she was grateful that she was on good terms with the young ones.
"You will leave, I command you," Bella growled, her face mere centimetre from the male's and he look so absolutely terrified of her.
"Yes, yes," he whimpered and scrambled away from them but did not leave the clearing his eyes fixed on Bella.
"Go." The final word hit the air and he vanished into the jungle.
When he was gone it was, silent only the smallest insects had not fled.
"You are very powerful," Victoria knew she was understating but no other words really described them. "Irina has explained to me how her powers work but I never realised -," she shook her head and left the sentence unfinished.
"It was a surprise to us both, and our coven," Rose volunteered, her arms wrapped around Bella's waist as the newborn embraced her, head resting on the blonde's shoulder as they both observed the nomad, Rose raking her fingers through her mate's hair, Bella relaxing under the touch.
"Bella was always unique," Rose added. "From the time she turned she didn't fit into any mould they tried to put her in," she paused, looking to the elder, she saw only interest there. "That was why we went to the Denali's, I knew Tanya would help her, help us. I wanted to leave, the way they treated Bella just gave me the push"
"They did help, they are my family now," Bella added with a tight smile.
"But we are also Alpha, both of us," Rose straightened as she spoke, looking Victoria dead in the eye. At that the nomad straightened up, every muscle tensed, every sense on high alert. If that were true then she could very well be in serious trouble. Bella took a step forward and stood beside her mate, both standing tall, fangs down, eyes black.
Victoria had encountered Alpha's before, in total three in her lifetime. She had found them to be foul, power hungry creature's and her fingers stretched into claws at the memory. The memory of their blood on her hands as she slaughtered them like the animals they were.
Rose sensed the change in the nomad and telegraphed her concern to Bella.
Victoria watched as the mate's simultaneously dropped their eyes and stepped back.
"We would never hurt an innocent," Victoria heard the words but maintained her stance. Submission meant very little when faced with such power.
"We would never hurt you," Bella raised her eyes and stared at the red head.
"No, we wouldn't. Neither would our coven, unless you decided to attack us. But you wouldn't do that, would you?" Bella grinned, the action releasing all the tension in the air as Victoria couldn't help but issue a half smile in return.
"No, I do not think I would," was the short but honest response.
Xxxxxxx
Next on Crimson Bonds
She directed Bella towards a small store located in a quieter corner of the mall. Bella eyed the window display curiously it was tastefully decorated with a mannequin posing in lingerie.
"Underwear shopping?" The newborn queried with a raised brow. Now that she would be happy to do.
"Not quite," Rose led her inside and at first it seemed Bella had been correct until she looked a little deeper. It was a sex shop.