Part IV 'Losing Love in the City of Sin'

Chapter 12

Bella had officially crossed her first year mark as a vampire, and she was thrilled to leave behind the title of 'newborn'. Emmett had organized an extravagant family vacation in Las Vegas to celebrate the occasion, and Bella couldn't contain her excitement. She had never been to a city like Vegas before and was eager to explore all its offerings. As Emmett listed the endless possibilities of fun activities they could enjoy during their stay, Bella's anticipation grew with every passing moment.

Bella received a special gift from Jasper, and as she began to unwrap it, she playfully teased him by saying, "Don't worry, I'll try not to get any paper cuts." Jasper looked chagrined at the reminder of Bella's blood, but she quickly bumped her hip into his to show she was joking and harbored no ill feelings towards him. Inside the package, she found a Colorado driver's license and other necessary documents for her new identity. The license bore her new name, "Bella Cullen," and showed her as 21 years old. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Bella hugged Jasper tightly and thanked everyone, declaring it to be the best present she could have received.

Edward attempted to dissuade her, saying that Vegas was a place of vice and no self-respecting person would visit there. Bella gave him a strange look and explained that they were vampires and if there was a place custom-made for them, it was Vegas.

As everyone excitedly prepared for their trip to Vegas, Carlisle and Esme bid them farewell but decided to stay home for some much-needed alone time. With subtle smiles, they encouraged their 'kids' to have a great time, knowing that they too would be enjoying their own special kind of fun.

As the group piled into Emmett's Jeep, Bella couldn't help but remember their last long road trip from Forks to Colorado. She had watched as Emmett drove with excitement, and she couldn't help but feel the urge to get behind the wheel herself.

"Hey, Emmett," Bella spoke up. "Now that I have my license, do you think I could drive the Jeep for a bit?"

Emmett scoffed, "No way, little sis. I'm the only one who drives my Jeep. And let's be real, I've seen you drive back in Forks. You barely went 30mph. It would take us a week to get to Vegas at that rate."

Bella wasn't about to take that insult lying down. "That was human Bella, you know that doesn't count. Plus, I think that was the max speed my truck could go. Come on, Emmett, let me try. We're headed to Vegas, how about we make a wager early? First one to score a kill takedown gets to drive. Or are you too scared to take on a little girl?"

Emmett couldn't resist a challenge. "You're on, Bella. But don't forget, you may have gotten good at sparring, but if we were fighting for real, you wouldn't stand a chance. Let's see what you've got."

As Emmett and Bella got into their fighting stances, the other Cullens formed a large circle around them, leaving plenty of space for the match.

Jasper spoke up first, "My money's on Bella. I've seen what she can do."

"Bella, I don't think this is a good idea. You could get hurt," Edward voiced his concern.

Rosalie smirked. "I have to go with my husband on this one. Emmett's got this in the bag."

Alice looked thoughtful. "I haven't gotten a vision yet, so I don't know who's going to win. But I have a feeling this is going to be interesting."

Emmett grinned. "You guys don't know what your talking about. Bella's going down."

Bella just rolled her eyes. "We'll see about that, big brother."

The Cullens continued to banter back and forth, placing bets on who would win. Meanwhile, Bella and Emmett circled each other, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Bella knew she could take Emmett, but she didn't want to be overconfident. She waited for him to make the first move. When he lunged at her, she slid down to the side to avoid his frontal attack, then quickly moved behind him and kicked his legs to make him stumble forward.

As Emmett rebounded quickly, he jumped to land on Bella, but Bella did a backflip, kicking Emmett in the head as she stayed away from his arms which were trying to grab her. As Emmett was momentarily dazed from the hit to the head, Bella went on the offensive. She lunged and dived, hitting Emmett in the stomach and sides. She bent low and swept his legs out from under him.

Emmett fell to the ground with a thud, but he wasn't giving up yet. He quickly rolled over and got back up on his feet. Bella was impressed. Emmett was fast for someone his size. But Bella was confident that she could take him down.

Emmett charged at Bella, but she was ready for him. She sidestepped him and kicked him in the back, sending him flying forward. Emmett turned around and glared at Bella. She was smiling at him, taunting him.

Emmett charged at Bella again, this time with more force. Bella knew she couldn't avoid him this time, so she stood her ground and waited for him. As Emmett got closer, Bella jumped and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying backwards.

Emmett hit the ground hard, but he got up quickly. He charged at Bella again, but this time he was more cautious. He circled around her, trying to find an opening. Bella was waiting for him. She knew he would try to take her down with brute force, so she waited for him to make his move.

Emmett lunged at Bella, but she was too quick for him. She sidestepped him and kicked him in the back of the leg, making him stumble forward. Bella then grabbed him by the arm and flipped him over her shoulder, slamming him onto the ground.

Emmett was on his back, trying to catch his bearings. Bella was ready to finish him off. She had her mouth pressed to Emmett's neck, her teeth barred against his skin.

"Keys, please," Bella said, smiling at Emmett.

Emmett was defeated, but he was also impressed. He knew Bella was a great fighter, but had not expected to lose that easily.

"You got lucky little sis. I'll get you next time" Emmett could not believe he lost as he handed Bella the keys.

As everyone got into the Jeep, Bella slid behind the wheel. She had never driven such a big and powerful vehicle. She adjusted the seat and mirror as Emmett was a giant compared to her. "Okay, guys, Vegas here we come. The speed limit is 75 right?" Bella grinned, enjoying the feeling of adrenaline starting to build inside her as she spoke.

Jasper leaned forward from the back seat, a smirk on his face. "I'm pretty sure you misread the speed limit sings, Bella," he replied, his eyes glinting mischievously.

Bella laughed, her eyes meeting Jasper's in the mirror. "Well then, I guess we better not go that slow!" she said, revving the engine.

Edward sighed, his hand tightening on the door handle. "Bella, please be careful," he said, his tone worried.

Bella rolled her eyes playfully. "Don't worry, Edward. I'm a good driver," she replied, before hitting the accelerator and sending the Jeep flying down the road.

As Bella pushed the vehicle past 130mph, she felt a sense of freedom wash over her. It was exhilarating to be on the open road with the mountains in the distance and the wind in her hair. She loved the feeling of the wind whipping past her face, the roar of the engine drowning out all other noise.

Emmett let out a whoop from the passenger seat, his eyes shining with excitement. "Yeah, Bella! This is what I'm talking about!" he exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air.

Bella grinned at him, enjoying the way his infectious energy seemed to fill the car. Before they got to Vegas Bella pulled off the highway and drove til they reached the edge of a dense forest. "Ok, let's split up, guys," Bella said to the rest of her family, not bothering to hide her excitement. "Try to be quick and not to get too messy, I want to get to Vegas tonight."

Bella took off into the forest, sprinting through the trees with lightning speed. She could hear the sounds of her family members going off in there own directions looking for prey. She soon picked up the sound of a deer's heartbeat and followed it until she came across her prey. In one swift movement, she pounced on the deer, sinking her teeth into its neck.

Bella felt a surge of power and pleasure coursing through her body as she drank from the deer. The warm, rich blood flowed down her throat, filling her with an exhilarating rush of energy. She closed her eyes, focusing on the sensation of the blood, and felt a tingling warmth spreading through her limbs.

The act of biting into the deer's neck and drinking was a primal, almost erotic experience. Bella found herself getting lost in the sensation, her senses heightened and her body buzzing with excitement. She felt alive in a way that was hard to describe, her thirst quenched and her hunger satisfied.

Bella's mouth tingled, and she could feel her body responding to the blood. It was a potent cocktail of pleasure and power, and she relished every moment of it. As she finished her meal, she let out a deep, contented sigh and opened her eyes.

The forest was alive with the sounds of the night, the rustling of leaves and the chirping of crickets. Bella always felt more attuned to nature after she had fed, her senses sharper and her mind clearer. She stood up, feeling invigorated and energized, and took a deep breath of the cool, crisp air.

After she finished her meal, Bella inspected her body, but there was no sign of blood. A smile spread across her face as she ran back to the jeep to wait for the rest of her family to finish. She couldn't wait to get to Vegas and enjoy the rest of their trip together.

Once everyone had returned, Bella handed the keys over to Emmett with a smile, feeling satisfied and energized from the hunt. "You're up, Em." she said, her eyes shining with excitement.

Emmett let out a booming laugh as he took the wheel, revving the engine before taking off down the winding roads that led to Vegas. Bella held onto the handle above her head, the wind rushing through her hair as they sped along.

As they approached the city lights of Vegas, Bella felt a surge of anticipation. She knew that the next few days were going to be filled with excitement and adventure, and she was ready for it all. "Let's do this," she said to no one in particular, a fierce grin on her face as they entered the heart of the city.