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Enjoy.
He looked every bit as gorgeous as she remembered. The smile that he wore was not the sinister one she had seen recently but an uncertain one. Bella knew that by inviting him in she had wrong footed him, he didn't know what to expect.
Bella sat quietly as he walked slowly around the room looking at the photo's she had on the walls.
"Drink?" She asked him with a challenging raised eyebrow and a nod towards the bottles of wine and Scotch whisky on the table next to her.
He chuckled quietly.
"Thanks hen." He replied while reaching for the whisky.
"I saw you drinking that at the club that night. I didn't realise vampires could drink alcohol." Bella said conversationally, laying her cards out on the table, figuratively speaking.
"So you do know." Alistair looked her straight in the eye and sitting on a chair opposite her. "I thought as much. How?"
"Does it matter?"
"Not really. I am simply curious as to how you survived getting bitten. And yes we can drink alcohol, or rather our bodies can absorb it, takes a hell of a lot to get us drunk though and if we have too much it has to come back up."
Bella laughed at that and decided to answer.
"I was bitten by a psycho, my ex-boyfriend, a vampire, sucked the venom out to stop the change." She was trying not to give too much away yet. She didn't know if he was going to kill her or not. If she told him about the Cullen's and he knew them he might just tell them where she was. Bella definitely didn't want to risk that.
"Psycho?"
"A nomad, he liked the hunt. He decided I would be an entertaining game. What else would you call him?" Bella responded tartly.
"A vampire." Alistair said slowly, carefully enunciating the word as though he were talking to a dumb child. Bella supposed she was a child to him.
"Are all vampires sadistic and cruel then? He pretended he had my mother and that he was going to kill her, to get me to go to him." Bella asked with indignation.
"Don't get shirty with me hen. It's got nothing to do with being sadistic and cruel. It's just what he was. We hunt, we feed, most on humans. Why should we care if it's not nice for you? Do you care what the cow thinks?"
Bella considered he answer carefully. "No I don't suppose I do consider the cows, thoughts and feelings but there are rules and laws to prevent cruelty and inhumanity."
"Well guess what sweetheart. We Are Not Human." Alistair growled out at her and stalked to the other side of the room. This girl had him in knots. How could she get a reaction out of him in ten minutes when he had spent centuries not reacting at all?
He had been shocked by her calmness earlier this evening. He had almost left several times but something had compelled him to stay. Then the window had opened. Her scent had drifted down to him making him take deep breaths. It had calmed his annoyance.
Shocked did not really begin to describe his feelings when she had invited him in. What sort of human willingly and knowingly invites a vampire into their home? And yet it was obvious she knew what he was by the fact she didn't raise her voice. He had laughed darkly as he walked to her front door. Did she have a death wish? She hadn't appeared suicidal when they met before but then again she had been very drunk.
"Oh well, I'll be happy to oblige" he had thought as he approached her door. "Might still get desert even."
And yet now here he was in her flat, drinking her whisky and he hadn't made a move toward her at all. He had even moved away from her when he felt himself getting angry. Why? He didn't like it that she seemed to be judging him, he wasn't one to question his choices. Who did she think she was to do so?
Bella could see that she had annoyed him and that wasn't what she had wanted to do. She had hoped that if he could come to see her as a person he would stop stalking her and leave her alone. She knew having an angry vampire in her front room was not a good idea. She also realised he was right. She couldn't expect human values from inhuman beings.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound so self-righteous." Bella said quietly. "I don't think he was a psycho for feeding on humans, just for toying with me the way he did."
Tanking a deep breath. Bella decided to change the subject.
"So Alistair, tell me about yourself, what's your name? When were you turned?"
Taken aback by the question he paused before answering and poured himself another large whisky. Noticing her empty glass he filled it for her automatically. Her whispered "thank you" made him shake his head. What was she doing to him?
"I was turned in Scotland in 1306, my name is Alistair Buchanan." He answered abruptly. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell her about himself, on the contrary, he felt the urge to tell her everything. But he was confused at what was going on. He needed time to think.
Bella could tell that was all she was going to get on that subject tonight. Taking another deep breath she spoke in what she fervently hoped was a confident tone.
"Well listen Alistair, you stalking me was fun and all but let's be honest here, if you were going to kill me you would have done it by now. Which means that if you are going to continue to hang around you really should try to look a little less like a tramp and fit in. Your scruffiness does tend to make you stand out."
Alistair nearly spat his drink at her when he heard the matter of fact way she told him he was a mess. He had never had a female make that comment before. Most were dazzled by his vampiric looks. Looking down at his stained, ripped jeans and holey footwear he had to admit she was correct.
"I took the liberty of buying you some clothes and stuff." Bella continued cheerily. "They are in the spare room. If anything doesn't fit I can take it back tomorrow, just don't take the tags out. The bathroom is down the hall. Help yourself. I have left you a spare key so you can come and go as you want, just don't bring girls back here to kill ok."
With that she stood and carrying her wine walked into her bedroom.
"Good night Alistair."
Sitting looking at the half empty glass in front of him Alistair had to ask himself.
"What the fuck just happened? When did I become a house guest?" He was unable to understand why he hadn't just killed her when he first thought of it. He should just kill her now. Growling in annoyance he headed towards her bedroom door but stopped. He couldn't do it. So instead of draining her he obediently went to the bathroom to shower.
Although he hated to admit it, the shower felt good as did the clean clothes. They were basic and practical, jeans, t-shirts, jumpers and a couple of jackets. There was a hat, scarf and gloves. They both knew he didn't need them so they must be so he could fit it. The boots fit as well, they were clean and smarter. Isabella had bought him several changes of clothing and footwear as well as toiletries. She was obviously planning on him being around for a while.
He never stayed in one place long, he just wandered but for now he didn't feel like leaving. He was not being pulled in any given direction. He decided he would stay a while. Putting the clothes in the wardrobe he headed back out into the main part of the flat and poured himself another drink, it was a rare thing for him to enjoy these days. Her scent was everywhere, along with that of another, a female he thought. The other scent was quite strong in the room he had been allocated so it clearly did not belong to a lover. For some reason the thought of Isabella having a lover made him annoyed again. Why he didn't know? She was nothing to him, right?
Alistair had to be honest with himself. She was an enigma. She was slowly sliding under his skin, becoming part of him. Becoming something to him. What he wasn't sure, but something. A small wart on the back of his hand, part of him yet not an altogether welcome part. He began to suspect that he would not be able to kill her. She clearly thought that as well. It dented his ego a bit to think she wasn't afraid of him anymore. That was a recent development though, he wondered what had changed. He also wondered who the vampire was that she had known. He couldn't understand why they would try to stop the change, clearly they were strange.
Being bored and in a nosy mood he studied the photo's again for a clue as to the identity of the mysterious vampire. That was his excuse but really he just wanted to get into Isabella's head and figure all this out. Looking at the one of her with a group of half-naked men made him growl again. There was another couple of photographs of these men, one of them looked very friendly, perhaps too friendly, but in others they were with women. He could clearly recognise her father and mother in other pictures and what looked like school friends both past and present, but no vampires.
"She was cute when she was younger" he thought as an aside while sipping his drink. He rummaged through her note books and address books to try and find a clue but there were no names he recognised. There was nothing in the drawers and cupboards either. His now obsessive browsing brought him to her bedroom door. Should he? No he shouldn't, he turned away but turned right back around. He was curious and knew anything really private would be in her bedroom. He might find out some juicy titbits. But no he couldn't go I there, she was sleeping. He turned away again but in a flash turned back and quietly opened her bedroom door.
Standing in the doorway, the door partially open should he disturb her he slowly looked around the room. Moving into the room he noticed there were more pictures in here, parents again and a picture of the friendly boy, with a man in a wheelchair, his father Alistair surmised. He carefully opened a couple of drawers but they were filled with clothes so he closed them. The underwear drawer held no secrets. He picked out several items and carelessly threw them over his shoulder. Alistair smirked to himself as he examined some articles in more detail, concluding that Isabella had good taste. He wondered absently what she would look like in just these. Stepping away from the drawers he noticed he had made quite a mess so quickly scooped up the discarded contents of the drawer and replaced them.
Looking around he spotted her phone was beside the bed so he picked it up to look through but stopped when he looked at her face. Isabella was sleeping peacefully. What kind of human would sleep like that with a vampire so close by? Perhaps she was used to sleeping around vampires, after all he was her ex she had said. Perhaps they spent many nights together. That thought didn't sit well with Alistair. What kind of vampire watched a human sleep? Then he chuckled, apparently the kind like him. Had the ex just laid there gazing at her? That must have been boring. Did she find it awkward? Probably not after all humans slept together all the time.
That still didn't explain who he was. Obviously they had broken up which was why she was here alone, but why didn't he want her turned? Perhaps she had meant very little to him. But if that was the case why go to the effort of saving her from the nomad. Too many things didn't make sense to Alistair and he didn't like it.
As he watched her she turned over and mumbled something incoherent.
"She talks in her sleep!" he thought with a smile. That made things slightly more entertaining. With a smirk on his face and a child-like urge to be mischievous he whispered, "What was that hen?" Not expecting an answer but grinning like the child who had just put glue on the teacher's chair and almost squirming on the spot he realised he was trying to hold his non-existent breath.
"No Edward, don't" she muttered.
"Edward!" Alistair was surprised, who was Edward? His curiosity was peaked, this he had to know. Looking through the contacts on her phone she spotted several pictures he recognised. Jacob, Emily, Angela and Becky they were all in pictures he had seen on the walls. But no Edward or any other name he recognised. Reading quickly through her text messages, emails and Facebook gave him no further details. He headed back into the front room to check out her laptop and hopefully get some information.
The laptop held nothing helpful either but it did kill a few hours. By the time he had finished rooting through her e-mails and files it was morning and Isabella was stirring. He put the laptop back in her bag and sat watching the television in what he hoped was a nonchalant manner. The fact he was hoping was new to Alistair.
"You look much better." Isabella said when she came into the room. She was wearing a t-shirt and tight jeans. Alistair looked at her long legs and slender waist in appreciation. He followed her into the kitchen, watching her backside the whole time.
"So what did you do last night besides go through my underwear drawer?"
"I was curious about you Isabella." Alistair admitted without a hint of remorse while leaning against the counter. "I am trying to uncover your secrets." He added with a rakish grin.
Bella blushed at that. The thought of him 'uncovering her secrets' was a nice one.
"It's Bella, and the only secrets in that drawer are 'Victoria's'. Next time do try to put them back the way you found them."
Alistair chuckled.
"You are an unusual human Bella, there are few I bet that would sleep so peacefully with a vampire in their room, but of course you must be used to that with your ex?"
Bella made herself some coffee before answering.
"My ex used to enjoy watching me sleep, even before I knew him. He would sneak into my room at night and watch. I thought it romantic at first, now I think it was weird. After all that is all he ever did, watch."
Alistair raised his eyebrow in surprise.
"What? He would just stand in the corner and stare like some deranged statue?" He laughed loudly at that.
"Oh my god. Edward! It was Edward Cullen wasn't it, your ex? He's the only one I know puritanical enough to do something like that. Dear god! How did you survive the boredom of dating that little prick?" Alistair doubled over laughing. "I can't believe it after all this time he finds himself a female willing to spend time with him and all he does is watch her sleep. No wonder he is an ex."
Bella was shocked that he had guessed correctly. Where he had got Edward from she had no idea.
"How do you know his name?" She challenged accusingly. "How do you know him?"
"Oh now come on hen, no need to get upset." Alistair said, still laughing. "You mentioned the name in your sleep and when you described his behaviour I put two and two together. I met Carlisle a couple of centuries ago and met Edward about fifty or so years ago. We didn't get along."
"Are you still in touch with them?"
"No, but I can find them if you want." He couldn't understand why the thought of taking her to them filled him with dread.
"No, definitely not, I don't want to find them." She had blurted it out before she could stop herself.
He looked at her questioningly. Bella drained her coffee and made another and some toast. She would need it. She then proceeded to explain her connection with the Cullen family and how they had left her. She told him the whole story of James and about her father and mother. For some inexplicable reason Bella trusted the man before her. She felt compelled to tell him all her deepest, darkest secrets but held back from telling him everything. Why? She had no idea. But she wasn't prepared to tell him about Victoria, her death and the expose the pack just yet.
When she finished her story Alistair was thoughtful. He was impressed by her courage and resilience. He thought there was something more to her reaction when Edward left but didn't mention it. That wasn't a normal reaction as far as he knew. It seemed to him like she had suffered some kind of withdrawal. He kept those thoughts to himself for now. The boy had been clearly very confused.
"Well hen, don't worry, I won't contact them and I can make sure they'll stay away from you." Why he was offering he wasn't sure. What the hell was she doing to him? A human! Causing him to make promises. Promises. Hell he couldn't remember the last time he made a promise. Except for the normal male promise, "You'll not regret it in the morning". All he was certain of was that as long as she wanted to stay free of the Cullens he would make sure she was. Besides it gave him something to do. And he suddenly realised how bored he had been for the past two centuries.
"Thanks. I am not ready to see them again. I may never be. They hurt me badly, but worse they cost me time with my dad I will never get back." Bella struggled to compose herself. Re-visiting the past had been harder than she anticipated.
"So did all the clothes fit? Do you want anything else?" She asked abruptly, changing the subject.
"Yes hen they are fine thank you. You didn't have to go to such trouble though," he answered, mystified at her sudden change of subject. Mystified by this small human and her intentions.
"Really, I did. I mean I'm not the most fashion conscious of people but even I know holes are not good." She laughed. Relieved that he had not reacted or asked about the change in conversation. "Want to go for a walk? You can tell me about yourself." She asked with a smile.
Alistair looked out of the window, it was cloudy enough.
"Sure hen, why not?
They spent the day, walking, talking and laughing. They got to know each other. By lunch they were well on their way to becoming firm friends. He sniffed at her lunch with a disgusted sneer and refused to even taste it until she informed him that Edward had tried food for her. Bella found the expression on his face as he forced down a chip hilarious. She laughed even louder as he disappeared into the bathroom and came back out with a really grumpy expression.
"Come on grumpy." Bella laughed linking his arm. "I need some more whisky."
"I'll get this hen." He said later handing over a card to the cashier.
"Where did you get that?" She whispered accusingly as they left the shop and headed back to her flat.
"Took it from the guy I killed last week." He announced matter-of-factly, then burst out laughing at her scandalised expression.
"Oh my god. They could track that to me." She hissed back looking round as though she expected the police to jump out on her at any second. "They might think I killed him"
"Oh hen, you should see your face" he said as he closed the flat door behind them.
"I am so glad you think me being arrested is funny." She huffed as she put the groceries away and poured two glasses of whisky.
Raising an eyebrow at her strop Alistair smiled as he took the proffered glass.
"The Cullens have money, why would you assume I don't, just because I don't dress up like a film star does not mean I am poor. I just never really need it."
"You mean that's yours? Oh thank god. I really don't want to go to jail."
"Oh don't fret hen, I'll keep you safe, promise." On impulse he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gently kissed her cheek. Bella gasped and turned toward him, quickly pressing her lips to his.
Stepping back Alistair looked away. He was shocked by his actions and her response. Humans were easy to seduce but he wasn't trying to seduce her. It was confusing.
Bella opened her mouth to rant, that he needn't start the 'I'm sorry for the kiss' speech and the 'you aren't what I want' one but was silenced by his lips on hers again.
"Don't Iseabail," he said while rubbing his thumb on her cheek bone. "I'm not sorry, I'm just not sure what's going on here and I don't want to lead you on. That in its self is unheard of where I am concerned."
Bella nodded and smiled she wasn't sure how she felt herself. She excused herself and made her way to the bathroom and turned the taps on to run a bath.
"Oh by the way hen. I wanted to ask. Why are there pictures of you with a lot of half-naked men all over the place?"
Bella chuckled quietly.
"They are my friends. They are half-naked because they keep ripping their clothes to shreds."
"Eh? Why?"
"They are werewolves."