So yeah, the coven has a new member. Here is a little more for your reading pleasure but I'm looking forward to the chapter after as well.
Thanks for SO many reviews last chapter and I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long this time.
Enjoy x
xxxx
Storm didn't sleep long, only about forty minutes, a short nap like she did when in wolf form. When she woke she was immediately up and tugging at them to get them moving. The three mates exchanged a look but they couldn't refuse her anything so followed her downstairs.
"Should we give her some clothes?" Rose questioned Victoria who shook her head.
"No, Vargr wore as little as possible when human, they would be happiest naked but that was impractical for war. She does not seem cold and the house is not heated enough for a human." Both Bella and Rose were impressed by her knowledge but it was Rose that questioned her on it.
"How do you know so much?" Victoria shrugged before answering.
"They are legends even in human mythology from my country so there is plenty written about them and they are even depicted in early artwork." She explained with a warm smile for her mate. Since it had been such a short time since their mating they was still a lot they didn't know about their newest mate and it was times like these that she intrigued them both. From their time in Brazil with Victoria they knew she was extremely knowledgeable about early history but still she kept on surprising them.
By the time they reached the living room Storm had created havoc. She was standing before the shelves that held the coven's dvd collection rapidly creating large piles either side of her. Rose snorted when she saw the largest pile was all Bella's animated films but thankfully not all Disney, some were anime which Rose preferred but all the films were bright and colourful.
The vampires were bemused when a dvd case was frantically waved in front of them and a small finger jabbed towards the TV accompanied by a relentless chattering.
"She wants you to make the black screen dance with the pictures in this box," Victoria announced, the request made all three mates smile. Bella obliged and Storm watched in fascination as she put the dvd into the machine before bouncing over to the couch, sitting on the very edge, elbows on her knees and leaning forward, eagerly waiting for the movie to start.
"Storm would you like some films of your own?" Rose asked, eyes flicking to Victoria in the hope she would translate. Before the film started, while Bella was fiddling with the menu, a task no easier for a vampire it seemed, Storm darted forward and scooped up her selected pile of plastic cases.
"Storm!" She announced and ran out of the room and her small feet could be heard scampering upstairs, the vampires followed and saw her dumping the films on the bed in what was now her room.
"Ooook," Rose chuckled. "So Bells, looks like you need some more movies."
"Yeah, but if it makes her happy," the newborn smiled. "Whoa!" She quickly moved to one side as the small but solid body flew back out into the hallway and thundered back down the stairs and her entourage could only follow. As they settled themselves back down there was the sound of a car pulling up.
"I called Carmen and Eleazar," Tanya spoke up. "They should be able to see her before she turns back," the coven leader informed the others who murmured their agreement. Victoria was a little put off by the information but had met both vampires on her arrival in Alaska, they had been pleasant hosts she supposed, but they left her to her own devices.
"Where is my Storm?" Eleazar's voice boomed out as the front door swung open. It was his standard greeting for the wolf, now child, and as soon as she heard his voice she was off again.
"Papa!" She was in his arms before he could protest, both he and Carmen overwhelmed by the revelation and the small child now clinging to the coven's only male vampire.
"Steady, little one," Eleazar cautioned. "Let me see you," he gently freed himself and placed Storm on the floor where she proceeded to perform a what looked like a mini dance and spin in a circle, chattering all the while.
"She is happy her papa has returned, she has missed him and wants him to read her more stories," Victoria translated from where she stood behind the main group, the chaos unsettling her somewhat but not prepared to leave her mates at this exciting time.
"She is Vagr, yes?" Carmen questioned, curious eyes seeking out the nomad.
"Yes and Victoria speaks her language," Bella gushed proudly, the ancient feeling a little awkward at the obvious admiration from her mate. But, only a split second later she felt the love of both her mates filtering through the bond, that and the gentle nudge Rosalie gave her helped the nomad relax.
"Amazing," Eleazar was still staring in awe as Storm tugged him toward the couch and pushed until he sat down, then went to retrieve first Rose, then Victoria and Bella and chattered at them until they did the same.
"How many vampires does it take to break a couch?" Irina queried drolly, the image of them all packed like sardines onto the resigned piece of furniture was comical to say the least. The space issue was solved when Victoria pulled Rose onto her lap, much to the blonde's secret delight, and Storm crawled onto Bella's, waving the remote around frantically as she did.
The full coven were together for the first time in what seemed like an age, Tanya thought as she surveyed the room. She had settled with her sisters, the other couch still packed as Storm held court as they watched the movie, chattering away happily, Victoria translating when necessary. Carmen was sitting in the chair adjacent to Eleazar's position, eyes still wide with wonder as she watched the interaction between her husband and wolf child.
"A miracle, sisters," Irina murmured so that only the three of them could hear.
"Indeed," Tanya replied, happy because her coven was happy.
"But what now?" Kate chipped in, eyes flicking between the vampires occupied by the child. "Yes, a miracle but it raises concerns, we cannot hide her presence her forever."
"I know, we shall discuss this as a coven, soon," Tanya reassured her sisters. "I do not wish to attract the attention of the Volturi, we are strong but their numbers are greater."
"We shall talk, we all there are ways to conceal the reality from ones so blinded by their perception of power," Irina replied. "Victoria is a strong ally, there are few stronger," the youngest sister added as she snuggled closer to Tanya, enjoying her customary position.
"Yes, but we need to know exactly how strong," Kate murmured, still curious about the nomad's true strength, both in combat and in other areas. From what Irina had told them the ancient vampire has some interesting, additional powers.
"But now let us enjoy the quiet time, sisters. We are now responsible for three younglings and they deserve to be allowed to grow unfettered by such worries." Tanya cautioned as she saw their conversation was drawing curiosity and she did not wish to detract from the precious time they were being granted with Storm in her human form.
The film ended and the next thing the vampires knew Storm was running through the house and out of the back door.
"Why do I feel a little ridiculous? Eight vampires following a child around like they've never seen one before," Kate murmured as the coven trooped off behind the girl.
"Yes, but look who's at the front of the pack," Rose teased the petite blonde who was actually leading the way outside, towards the barn it seemed as Storm, still naked in the cool air of Alaskan spring, tugged at at the large door, digging her heels in and putting her weight and considerable strength into the task.
"Oh sweetie," Rose was the one to rush forward and help, easing the door open only to be left in the dust as Storm charged inside and went to grab one of the skate boards off the rack, struggling a little to free it but then carrying it in both hands towards Kate.
"You want to skate?" Kate knelt down so she was eye to eye with the wolf girl. A nod and a pout were followed by a shy look and a smile as Storm leapt as high as she could in the air repeating the same word over and over.
"She wants to fly," Victoria frowned, confused. "How can she fly?" The skateboard was an unknown to the ancient as were the strange constructions inside the barn.
"Oh, maybe like this!" Bella grabbed her custom board, Rose and Kate a blur behind her as the three of them took to the ramps and began to show off their most impressive moves, flying high in the air and executing intricate flips as they did so. Victoria could only stare at their exhibition, totally in awe of how effortless her mates made it look. And sexy, she thought as her chest rumbled, the sound and feeling producing an instant reaction in her mates as they dropped off their boards and turned towards the nomad.
"Oh my," Irina whispered to herself, the sight of Bella and Rose stalking towards their mate was extremely arousing, both younger vampires advance with eyes black and fangs showing. It wasn't until Storm, either oblivious or ignoring the sudden tension in the barn, stepped in front of them brandishing her board that the mates came to a stop.
"Sorry," Rose mumbled self-consciously as she blinked, recalling her fangs. "Bella?" The blonde reached out a hand to clasp the newborn's, she was still out of it, in full predator mode.
"Isabella!" Victoria growled and all the vampires present felt the alpha emanate from the red-head but it had the desired effect. The newborn snapped to attention, looking sheepish and still black-eyed but now focused on Storm.
"Come on, let me show you," Bella took Storm by the hand and led her to the ramp, demonstrating how she had learned. However, it was much easier for the child as she was not as dense as a vampire but still very agile. The coven were enchanted by the wolf girl's attempts to skate, she was catching on quick but not before a few feet were stomped, knees and palms scraped, and asses fallen on.
"Maybe enough for today?" Victoria queried with her mates who took a look at their charge, she was obviously tiring and getting more and more frustrated.
"Food, she needs food," Bella suddenly concluded, realising how long it had been since Storm had last eaten. Victoria translated and her words were met by vigorous enthusiasm.
"But we don't have human food," Kate suddenly realised as the coven were making their way inside.
"Nothing at all?" Bella worried, so used to the Cullen's pretence of being human.
"Wait," Irina darted away, into the basement and came back with a tower of frozen food boxes and cartons. "I got these once in case human Bella ever came to visit," she announced proudly.
"You did?" Bella was touched and smiled shyly at the blonde.
"Yes, and it also makes sense, for protection," Irina shrugged. "You never know, it may be possible that a human requires entry to our home. Law enforcement possibly," she shrugged but even Tanya looked impressed.
But again Storm took the lead and was tossing boxes around without a care, after sniffing them to decipher their contents, until cautioned by Victoria. Eventually she settled on a choice that made Bella smile. Pizza and ice cream.
"No!" The newborn scolded the girl when she ripped the top off the box of ice cream and started scooping it out with her hands. "When on two legs you need to learn to eat like a human!" Storm blinked, slightly startled by the reprimand, eyes wide as she studied her vampire sister. An exhale and her shoulders sagged but the coven were touched when Storm nudged Bella with her nose then licked the back of her hand. A very wolf-like apology but adorable none the less.
"See, we use a bowl and a spoon," Bella rifled through the kitchen cupboards but found nothing of use. "Really? So not suspicious guys," she rolled her eyes at Tanya who looked a little embarrassed to have their home found lacking of human utensils. "Use the box and I will cook this for you," the newborn handed Storm the best spoon from a bunch of weirdly bent ones, not asking how they came to be that way. It was knowledge she could so without, thank you very much.
The coven, especially Victoria, were intrigued and fascinated by the human actions of Storm and Bella as she efficiently stripped the pizza of its packaging, placing it in the oven to cook. "We need to go shopping," the brunette growled, frustrated at not being able to properly care for her charge.
"We'll go as soon as we can," Rose promised,, smiling at her mate. "To the cook shop and the market."
"And maybe Storm can choose some things for her room online?" Carmen suggested but the wolf-girl was oblivious to thee conversation, she was too busy demolishing the tub of rocky road.
"I'm sure she would," Tanya nodded her agreement. "Kate, can you obtain identities at several different ages as we do not know how old she will appear when she next turns."
"I'll get on it, good plan," Kate confirmed, brows raised as she took in the mess Storm was making, half melted ice cream was all over her face, dribbling down her arm, even in her hair. "Someone is going to need a bath," she added with a wrinkling of her nose. At the words Storm's head whipped round to glare at Kate. 'Bath' that was a word she recognised, it meant being lifted into a pool and sprayed with water. She did Not Like Baths! The coven were startled by the girl's reaction, she leapt up, growling but making sure not to leave the ice cream, and made a run for the back door, she made it too, the vampires totally stunned as the wolf-girl ran off, growling and chattering as she did.
"Apparently, Vagr do not bathe, they are cleaned by their mothers. The falling water is worse than rain and it gets in her eyes and nose," Victoria translated the indignant rantings that could still be picked up as Storm ran.
"Well, Vagr do not get any more ice cream!" Bella called after the rapidly retreating child, they soon found she had run around the back of the barn and tucked herself behind the log pile there, a favourite hiding place of the wolf's especially when she wanted to ambush supposedly unsuspecting vampires. "No bath, no ice-cream!" Bella repeated firmly as the two creatures stared each other out. A huff and the now empty carton was flung at the newborn who could only stare in shock as the residue splattered all over her clothes.
"Ok, time out kid," Rose stepped up and fixed Storm with her patented 'don't fuck with Rosalie Hale' glare. "Bath time, come on." A hand was held out as the battle of wills continued, the coven transfixed by scene. "No ice-cream and no dvds, Storm," Rose threatened and that produced a whine. "Come on, bath time is fun," she entreated, turning the full power Rosalie smile on the child. Her words had been translated by Victoria but even Storm knew better than to keep resisting the blonde.
A huff and she slid out from her cubby and took Rose's hand but not before a glare and a pout let the coven know exactly how she felt about the matter.
"Come on, little one," Rose gave the small hand a squeeze as she led her back into the house.
Xxxxx
Next on Crimson Bonds
"I wish to speak to the one called Emmett,"Victoria announced as she confronted the entirety of the Cullen coven."