Heidi & Bella - Part 9 (Hard Truth)

A/N: I made minor edits to previous chapters. Been having troubles trying to log onto my account so unable to post the new chapters earlier.


Life is fragile. She became a vampire to regain control of her life from external forces that were always forcing her hands. She couldn't control the fire that left her and her younger brother orphans. She couldn't control how undermined women were that she was unable to earn a substantial wage and keep a roof over her brother's head. Being poor was hard enough; dirt poor was even more worse.

Thus, she thrives from being a vampire; everything is within control and she doesn't need to worry about any wild cards. Earning a high rank among the Volturi guards provides her with a sense of security, freedom and various opportunities just at her fingertips.

However, thanks to the ugly situation handled terribly by the Olympic coven, she realises just how fragile things are when it comes to her human mate. Heidi built a majestic tower out of a deck of cards only to have it blown away with a gust of wind. So she's left with the only option; pick up the pieces and start anew.

The second Bella hears about Heidi and Victoria's past, she feels like she's suffocating six deep underneath a terrifying wave. Learning this new piece of information should not have made such a deep impact on her but it does; and it bothers her deeply. Feeling blood drained out of her face, she realises she needs an exit; a quick one.

"Can I come with?" she asked as the wolves were about to leave.

All seven vampires whip their head in her direction, taken aback by her request.

"But Bella…" Alice trailed, throwing her and Heidi a nervous glance. "I won't be able to see you."

Heidi stands there unmoved, unblinking.

"I prefer to be there."

The moment those words leave her lips, Bella can feel something shatter within. A flash of hurt crosses Heidi's face but is soon replaced by a stoic expression. Needless to say, Jacob has a smug look on his face.

Carlisle looks to the Alpha for confirmation and Sam gives them an assuring nod, "Bella's a target. She's our main priority now."

Heidi's jaws tense but she remains silent. Esme sports a concerned look but she understands Bella's reasonings. Just because they came back doesn't mean all is well between their coven and Bella. Emmett wants to protest but Heidi shushes him.

"You'll need your items. We'll escort you home and then there," she spoke with a finality.

Jake protested, "Like hell you will!"

Sam pulls him behind, trying to keep his pack under control.

"At least allow us to accompany Bella to the treaty line," Carlisle offered.

It seems fair enough thinking as the pack has to make preparations. All eyes turn to Bella for a decision. Unable to look Heidi straight in the eye, she just shrugs and glances everywhere else except onto those amber eyes. Jacob, Leah and Paul are ordered to meet them in 20 minutes.

Carlisle sympathises with Heidi, knowing the distance could cause emotional discomfort on the vampire.

"Are you sure about this?" He whispered slowly as Bella got onto her truck.

"I have a plan."

To be honest, Bella's decision works well with Heidi's plan. It gives her the chance she needs to try and confront Victoria alone. But she isn't naive. Regardless of their history, she knows there's not a scenario where Victoria would allow Bella to walk out of this alive. James' mating bond to Victoria could have been the only relief and love she had after Volturi massacred their coven. Vengeance is her only salvation.

An idea of trading Edward's life for Bella's does pop in her mind but that would have been too complicated. It's tempting but ineffective.

So here they are in Bella's room, accompanying her to pack. Heidi goes to the window and sees a glimpse of a brown fur hiding in the treeline. Jacob doesn't trust them enough to deliver Bella safely as agreed. She, Jasper and Carlisle are more than capable of protecting Bella but having an additional layer of protection doesn't hurt. It gives her comfort.

Heidi's eyes carefully scans Bella's room, taking every sight and scent she could before they need to part.

Bella's duffel bag is overloaded with her clothes. "If I didn't know any better, I would have thought you're moving away," Heidi tried to break the tension in the air, noticing the amount of clothes shoved in Bella's bag.

She grabs her toothbrush and zips it done.

"Charlie will be gone at least a week."

"I'm aware."

"I'll be safer with them."

"I think so too."

That surprises Bella. She half-expected Heidi out of all vampires would vehemently protest at the statement. Emmett, Alice and Jasper would have outright disagreed with Bella.

"You'll come back, right?" Heidi asked in a whisper.

"Once Charlie's back, yes."

Judging Bella's steely eyes, she knows there's no changing her mind. But doesn't mean she couldn't get some words in before the human leaves. So she easily grabs Bella's bag in one hand and stands so close to the human.

"I know you don't believe me but like I said, your safety is important to me. Nothing will get in the way of that."

She presses a quick kiss to Bella's forehead, freezing the human, and leads her downstairs to the old rotten truck. Wordlessly, she takes the driver seat and drives them to the destination with Bella's guidance. The whole journey there is silent except the loud rumbling of the old engine. They have the windows down so Heidi can keep track of the mutt's revolting scent. Jasper and Carlisle's car trailing behind them.

When they arrive, a few of the mutts are waiting by the roadside. Heidi exits the vehicle and glances at their surroundings, trying to see if there's any unwanted threat nearby. Once she's sure it's safe, she closes the door but not before leaning her body against it.

"Try not to punch any shapeshifters while I'm not around?" Heidi joked, eliciting a chuckle from the human.

Bella cradles her hand and nods.

"Try not to kill any of the Cullens while I'm gone?"

"If they don't do anything stupid, then I won't."

Bella's about to drive off but Heidi stops her, trying to linger in her mate's presence for just a few more seconds.

"You asked me why I've been trying to protect you. Well, you may not believe my reasoning now but I want to tell you anyway."

She slips a paper inside Bella's palm and takes a step back.

"Take good care of her or I'll murder each one of you," she warned the shapeshifters before running the other way, disappearing into the thick wood. Bella unfolds the paper and reads it:

You're my family now, Isabella Swan. And I protect my family.


Emmett goes ahead to ask what all Cullens have been thinking about, "Why don't we ask for the Volturi's help?"

Jasper places a hand on his shoulder, trying to placate his brother. Heidi just throws a disappointing look in Carlisle's way, annoyed at how shallow Emmett's knowledge is about how the Volturi operates.

Upset by Heidi's brush off, Emmett gets up to Heidi's face, trying to challenge her. He tries to get her attention by pulling Heidi's arm but in one swift motion, she throws him to a nearby tree.

"I don't have time for this!" Heidi growled. "Carlisle, your coven can cover the east and western side. I'll go North. The mutts will be covering the South."

When Emmett dusts off his bruised ego, Jasper pats his back with a shaking head, "She's an elite Volturi guard for many reasons, dear brother."

Carlisle feels responsible for not educating him enough. He doesn't talk about his past with the Volturi guard much because he tries to spare them from despair and his dark history. But misinformation can be deadly at this point.

"Son, we should be grateful it is Heidi that was sent here by the Volturi instead of the others. She's far more level-headed and experienced than I am. Forgive me for withholding information."

And so, Carlisle tries his best to explain it to him. Among all guards, the level of trust Aro puts in Heidi is far greater than the lethal twins and thus she is granted independence to roam around the world, carrying out the business side of things for them. If Heidi had gotten other guards involved, it would have put everyone in harm's way. Cullen coven might be prosecuted from the association with the shapeshifters alone, the shapeshifters could all be killed and people of Forks may be in danger.

"Then how do we trust her? How do you know she won't betray us?" Emmett questioned.

"For one, she's been tasked to keep Bella safe. And secondly, she doesn't want history to repeat itself."

Emmett stops in his tracks, fear starts to sink in. He's heard Heidi mention the Children of the Moon before. "You mean the genocide of the werewolves?"

Carlisle curtly nods. He was a part of the movement too; he didn't have a choice because the werewolves were killing innocent humans as well. They were all pushed to play a part in the war.

"What's that got to do with Bella's friends at the Rez? Don't tell me the red-eyed vampire has a conscience now!"

"Many Volturi love violence and death but no atrocity could compare to the war against the werewolves. None of us liked to speak of this past. Many of us were killed before we were finally able to stop them. Trust me when I say Heidi's the last Volturi guard who would want to start a second war."

The image still burns vividly in his head.

Heidi was one of Volturi's strategists but that also meant she was put at the frontline, always braving the threats first before the Volturi Kings themselves would step in. Too many lives were forfeited and destroyed. So much blood and venom were spilled. The sight of the battlegrounds could shake even the strongest vampire.

After the war is won, Heidi and Carlisle made a secret pact to never allow their world to engage in a war ever again. With how the Volturi Kings favour them two, they believe it is something achievable.

"Never again," she said.

He shook her hand in a blood oath, "Never again."

"Are they really that different?" Emmett wondered about the werewolves and shapeshifters.

Carlisle is thankful his coven never has to lead a life where werewolves exist. They were unpredictable, rabid and possessed a bloodthirst that could rival the greediest of vampires. He knows they wouldn't have been able to lead a peaceful life.

"Children of the Moon were at least twice Sam's size and oftentimes in their blind rage or hunger, would feast on humans too. Once they're turned, it's hard for the human side to regain control so naturally they stay in that form until they grow old or die."

Emmett shivers at the thought of losing control like that. He's so glad he became a vampire and belongs to Carlisle's coven. He couldn't picture being a bloodthirst vampire or even werewolves.

"Remember that before you go messing with Heidi again. I wouldn't try to provoke one of the Volturi guards responsible for the extinction of the werewolves," Jasper hollered from the front.

He doesn't like her, but Emmett definitely respects her now.