Chapter 45

I awoke slowly, savoring the comfort of the soft bed beneath me. It felt so good that I couldn't help but wish there was a way to transport this bed to UCLA and replace my mediocre, at best, twin-size. Though, I had to admit, that seemed rather unlikely. I couldn't have my bed taking up half of our room; I'm sure Rebecca would have something to say about that. Although it is a king-size, maybe we could share…

As I rolled over, I was met with empty space, and I remembered that Demetri had mentioned last night that he had to go sign some documents at the town hall. He had hoped to be back before I woke up. Being the silent rulers of the city meant they had a lot of bureaucratic duties, which one might not expect would fall to the town's vampire population. Most of it could be delegated to the civil service, but decisions and signatures had to be handled by the man in charge at some point.

I sat up, grabbed my phone, and sent him a quick text. I received an immediate response, stating that he was delayed but should be back in roughly an hour.

As I stretched my arms out wide, I was feeling so good and relaxed. I couldn't help but think back to last night and all the fun Demetri and I had had. Somehow, the sex between us kept getting better and better. We had had so much fun engaging in our sexy time in front of the giant mirror in Demetri's living room. Somehow, I could never get enough of watching us as we indulged in so many wonderfully sinful acts. Just thinking about them was getting me all worked up, but with Demetri not here to help me out, I didn't want to get any more aroused, so, as difficult as it was, I stopped my impure thoughts.

Thankfully, right at that moment, I heard my stomach rumble, which distracted me and clued me in that, in fact, I was quite hungry. I hopped out of bed, went to the dresser to pick out my clothes for the day, and then went to take an enjoyable shower. After my shower, I made my way down to the kitchen to eat a quick meal, ensuring I'd be ready for whatever we decided to do today once Demetri returned to the castle.

As I ate, I couldn't help but imagine what the kitchen must have been like when it was built so long ago. Even now, I could see the original structure behind some of the recently installed amenities. A kitchen of this size, in such a massive castle, probably would have required a staff of dozens to operate successfully. Truthfully, the entire castle was a true marvel of construction.

After finishing my meal, I placed the plate in the dishwasher and decided to explore a bit. The castle was so vast that I had only really seen a tiny portion of it.

I had just started down the hallway when I heard a thunderous crash behind me. As I began to turn my body, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a large door explode outward, shattering into pieces against the opposite wall. My brain was still processing this when something faster than I could make out sped toward me. All I could see was a blur, and just as I started to deploy my shield, it was already upon me. I barely managed to get my shield up as it slammed into me. I hadn't gained my balance or fully deployed my shield, and I found myself flying backward, slamming hard against the far stone wall.

I was pretty dazed and didn't quite know which way was up. I didn't think I had lost consciousness, but as I became more aware, I found myself on the floor, my back propped up a bit by the stone wall behind me. Thankfully, my shield had absorbed the brunt of the damage. There was a loud commotion around me, but I was still a bit out of it. The saying "seeing stars" was pretty accurate at the moment, as I was having a hard time thinking clearly. I knew that thing must be a vampire, and if I hadn't raised my shield in time, it would have shattered every bone in my body if it had hit me full force like that. My back and head were pounding from hitting the wall so hard, but I felt I would be okay once I regained my bearings.

I had had my shield at full strength from the moment I went flying, and as I began to think more clearly, I slowly raised my head and took in the beast in front of me. It was going insane, attempting to break through my shield. I had never seen anything move that fast. It was a blur, and the noise was deafening as it continuously battered itself against my shield, over and over, attempting to get at me as if it were an enraged animal.

I shook my head, attempting to clear my thoughts, knowing I had to take control of the situation before it spiraled even further out of hand. Suddenly, a scream pierced the air, and I heard someone yell my name, "Bella!" I turned my head to see Chelsea standing at the other end of the long hallway. Before I could react, Chelsea charged, and in the blink of an eye, she was grappling with my attacker.

I tried to clear my head, desperate to help, but they were both moving at lightning speed, making it impossible for me to discern what was happening. Then, a terrifying sound filled the air, like metal rending, and something was hurled forcefully against my shield. As it fell to the ground, I realized it was an arm, but it was too small to belong to my attacker. It could only belong to a woman. I lifted my head and watched in horror as Chelsea and my attacker held still for just a second, during which the larger vampire viciously ripped Chelsea's head from her body, as if it were nothing. He then threw it down the hall, where it started to roll like some grotesque bowling ball, while her body was thrown unceremoniously behind him.

That cleared my head, as my anger surged. As the beast charged at me yet again, I unleashed my shield, slamming the vampire forcefully against the far wall and suspending him in midair. Slowly, I got to my feet. My head still hurt, but I had had enough. I prayed Chelsea would be okay when they put her back together, but this asshole… his time was up.

I advanced, closely observing the deranged vampire who appeared to be doing everything in his power to break free and attack me. As I peered into his crazed eyes, I could discern no awareness behind them. I knew precisely what needed to be done and was on the brink of ending this when, to my astonishment, the vampire managed to get around my shield. I was quite surprised when, rather than trying to break through my shield, he effortlessly demolished the wall behind him, as though it were made of butter. In only a second, he was free once more, relentlessly bashing against my shield.

It was unmistakably clear that this vampire was a newborn, and his sanity was utterly shattered. I shook my head, gazing at this pitiful excuse for a vampire, finally saying, "Yeah, fuck you too asshole."

I acted again, this time grabbing the vampire within my shield and tightening my grip on him while raising him a foot into the air. He struggled to break free, but my shield was no stone wall. There would be no escape this time. One slice, and it was over. The vampire's body went limp instantly, and I released it from my shield, letting it drop to the ground in a lifeless heap.

I looked up at the floating severed head, still suspended within my shield, and was horrified to see its eyes flitting about wildly, seemingly disconnected from any conscious thought. It was the most macabre sight I had ever seen. I shook my head and silently prayed I would be nothing like this fucker when I was a newborn.

I wished someone would come to help Chelsea, but this section of the castle appeared to be deserted. Otherwise, I was certain it would be teeming with vampires by now, considering the noise and commotion. I resolved to go get her help myself and figured I should take the head with me, as I was sure Aro would want to read it before someone threw it in a fire.

I lowered the shield, allowing me to reach for the head and grasped it by its hair. I turned the head around so I wouldn't have to look into its ghastly face. His neck was oozing venom, which dripped onto the floor like a leaky faucet, so I held it far away from my body, similar to how one would carry a raised lantern. I'm sure I must have looked quite the spectacle.

As I made it to the throne room, I used my shield to have the doors swing open before me. Stepping inside, the first individuals I noticed were some of the guards, among them Alec and Heidi. They seemed engrossed in a lighthearted conversation, but that changed the moment Alec spotted me. His body stiffened, and his eyes widened in shock.

"I'm alright, Alec, but could you please go to the hallway outside the kitchen and help Chelsea? She's in bad shape." He nodded and swiftly zipped out of sight, heading down the same hall I'd just come from. Passing by Heidi, I nodded at her and approached the dais where the three Kings were hopefully waiting. There, I saw them, all present and standing, clearly having heard my words.

"Bella! Are you alright? What has happened?" Aro spoke with urgency, his concern evident as he quickly and loudly questioned me. He looked me over to ensure I was okay, his gaze filled with worry.

"I'm still a little shaken, Aro, but I'll be fine," I told him as I raised the severed head, my tone laced with derision. "This thing attacked me. It must be a newborn. I assumed you would want to read it before one of us tosses it in a fire." I heaved a sigh, my head was no longer pounding, though it still hurt when I moved.

"Certainly. Bella, you can hand me that, but please sit down and rest. You look like you've been through quite an ordeal," Aro suggested. He indicated that I should take a seat in his throne, and I gratefully complied, eager to be rid of the severed head, which was undoubtedly the grossest thing I'd ever touched. After handing the head off and sitting down, I closed my eyes for a moment as I let my body start to calm down. To my surprise, the throne was incredibly soft. Most vampire chairs I'd encountered, aside from their sofas, were hard and uncomfortable.

I observed as Aro gingerly held the severed head by its hair, then turned to Heidi asking, "Please call Demetri and ensure he is on his way back to the castle. Inform him about what has happened, but be sure to convey that Bella is safe." My attention shifted to Heidi as she reached for her phone to make the call.

Returning my gaze to Aro, I saw him eyeing the head with disdain. "Now, let's see what your story is," he remarked more to himself, or maybe he was talking to the head. Aro, who had been holding the head without direct contact, closed his eyes and touched its face. Instantly, he stiffened as he absorbed the entire life story of the vampire. It lasted only a second or two, but I observed as he shook his head slightly at what he had seen and then opened his eyes.

"I see. What a shame," Aro remarked, looking up at me, Caius, and Marcus, still shaking his head. "This vampire has caused much turmoil and heartache in his short second life. I suppose I should briefly begin with his backstory." He signaled to a guardsman to take the head from him before he continued. I observed the guardsman, the first Asian vampire I had seen, as he retrieved the head and returned to his post at the side of the throne room. Then, I turned my attention back to Aro.

"That vampire's name was Fredrick," Aro began, recounting the tale. "He was created by our dear friend Angelique just last month when she met Fredrick in Paris, where he worked as a bouncer. She fancied him and thought he would make a suitable companion. Sadly, Angelique could not control her new progeny, and she was in the process of bringing him to Volterra to see if we could do anything for him when he attacked and tragically destroyed her." I noticed Marcus's reaction; it was as if he'd been punched in the gut, and his usual melancholy seemed even more profound. Turning back to Aro, he continued, now addressing Caius and Marcus, "This is the vampire we received reports about two weeks ago, of an out-of-control newborn in the wilds of France."

At this, Caius interrupted Aro, rising so abruptly that I missed the movement. "What!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with anger. "That vampire was securely locked in our dungeons. Who released him, Aro? Such treachery cannot be left unpunished."

"Calm yourself, brother," Aro said, gesturing with his hands for Caius to retake his seat. "I will address all of it in just a moment. Our dear Bella deserves the full story of what has befallen and affected her so today." He turned to me, and I nodded, indicating for him to continue with his account. Aro smiled at me and continued, "We dispatched a team to France to investigate the reports of an out-of-control vampire. The team included Alec, whose gift easily pacified the newborn, and they brought him back to Volterra for trial. This Fredrick was securely held in one of our cells in the dungeon, and we intended to proceed with the trial during our next court session next week, after you had departed."

Aro heaved a sigh, giving me a solemn look before continuing. "I must apologize, Bella. We made you a promise that you would be safe here, but even we can't account for all possibilities. Our cells have successfully held all vampires for over a millennium without anyone escaping, but it appears this Fredrick possessed strength beyond any vampire I have ever encountered. It was most likely some sort of gift. I've just witnessed his final moments, and when he caught the scent of your blood earlier from inside his cell, he became enraged. Somehow, he broke down the door and tore apart the four guardsmen who were on duty in the dungeons." Aro then turned to another guardsman and instructed, "Malcolm, please find Corin and see if you can put the guardsmen in the dungeon back together. I fear they were so extensively torn apart, I'm uncertain if all of them will survive. At least Corin can try and make them content during the painful process of being pieced back together, if, in fact, they can be saved."

Hearing this, I couldn't help but speak up. "Chelsea tried to come to my rescue. She'll be alright, won't she?" I was very worried now for my friend.

Aro smiled. "Yes, I saw what Fredrick did to her, and while it must have been terrible for you to witness, I assure you that by tomorrow, she will be fine, and you will be able to see her if you wish." I let out a sigh of relief, feeling a deep need to thank her for her brave attempt to save me.

Aro paused in his narrative, his thoughts now clearly on my well-being. "Is there anything you need, Bella? Would you like me to summon a doctor? I saw how violently Fredrick slammed into you, and I'm incredibly relieved that you weren't more seriously injured. While you seem fine to me, I must acknowledge that I'm no Carlisle." I appreciated their concern for my welfare.

"No, I'll be fine. I'm still a little sore, but I believe it was more the shock of everything that rattled me. I'll feel much better once Demetri returns." I was beginning to regain my composure, and the pain in my head had subsided.

"I'm glad to hear that. Demetri should be back very shortly. I hope he will be calm. A vampire can get quite protective when their partner is threatened," Aro eyed the head held by the guard for a moment, before turning to address Caius and Marcus. "Brothers, I think we can forgo the trial for Fredrick and pass judgment now, would you not agree?"

Caius, who had retaken his seat but remained alert and ready for action at a moment's notice, responded, "Certainly, Aro. Guilty, of course!"

I turned my head to Marcus, who also looked much more alert than usual. "I agree, brother. Guilty."

Aro turned to the guardsman who was still holding the head and gestured for him to approach. "Yoshitaka, please dispose of that in the furnace, and then find his body near the kitchen and take care of that as well."

I watched the guardsman bow and start to leave when I quickly spoke up, "Actually, Aro, I was hoping I could have the newborn's body after his head has been destroyed, of course." Aro regarded me with a questioning look, so I continued, "Ever since I learned about my explosive power, I've been concerned about what it might accidentally do to vampires, given that fire is your only true weakness. I'd like to conduct some experiments with the body, creating differing degrees of explosions, to understand what to expect and what might happen if a vampire were near one of my explosions. Having some definite answers would greatly contribute to my peace of mind."

"Of course, Bella," Aro responded. "We'll arrange for the body to be cleaned up, and you can conduct your tests at your own pace once you've had a chance to recover from your ordeal. I can hear Demetri exiting the elevator now."

Aro stepped aside, clearly not wanting to come between Demetri and myself.

I gazed towards the front throne room doors, yearning to have Demetri back so he could hold me. Before I could register any movement, a blur sped to me, and Demetri appeared, kneeling in front of me, concern etched on his face. He held my hand protectively and spoke gently, though I could sense his underlying rage. "What happened, Bella? Are you okay? Who do I have to kill?"

I smiled, rising from the throne, and pulled him into a comforting embrace. It felt wonderful to be in his arms again, and I let the day's horrors melt away, leaving me in a state of peace. "I'll tell you all about it soon. I'm fine, and you don't have to kill anyone. I've already handled it. But I would like to go back to our room and just relax," I added.

I had intended to walk to our room with Demetri, but it seemed he was more scared about what could have happened than he appeared. As without a word, he swiftly scooped me up into his arms and before I could fully grasp what was happening, we were racing through the castle, and in just a few seconds, he was gently depositing me on our bed.

I smiled and looked up at him, reaching up to gently pull him down so he was lying on his side next to me. I snuggled closer to him and began to rub my hand along his body as we gazed into each other's eyes. "Relax, I'm okay," I assured him, trying to convey my well-being through my eyes.

"I'm so sorry I left you alone, Bella. I won't make that mistake again," he said, his hand gently massaging my side and back, which felt so incredibly soothing.

"While I'll never complain about having you by my side, I don't want to feel like I only have a guard. We're equals, and I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I'm happy being here, and I believe that what happened today was a rare event. I'm sure the Kings will step up security when I stay here in the future. So, please, relax, and I'll tell you all the details of what occurred."

We spent the next few hours talking and unwinding. Afterwards, we made love several times, slowly, in our bed. We just needed to reconnect after the traumatic events of the day. By lunchtime, Demetri had calmed down enough to be around others, and we returned to the kitchen. Walking past the spot where only a few hours ago I had fought for my life felt strange. Aside from the major damage to the wall where the encounter had occurred, the hallway appeared spotless, and you wouldn't have been able to tell a battle had just taken place there.

While I ate, I discussed with Demetri the experiments I had in mind for the vampire's body I had acquired. I had been wanting to conduct these experiments ever since I first discovered my explosive power, but it wasn't something I could ask a living vampire to assist me with. Furthermore, getting a hold of a dead vampire was a little beyond my reach. Now that I had the body, I could embrace my inner mad scientist, but I decided I would wait a few days for the castle and everyone to return to normal.

Fortunately, as is often the case with vampires, that happened quickly. The very next day, Demetri and I paid a visit to Chelsea, who, thankfully, appeared to have fully recovered. I gave her in a big hug, expressing my gratitude for her heroic attempt to save me. Demetri extended his thanks as well, and we settled into her living room, where I recounted the events that had transpired after she had been incapacitated.

After our conversation, I thought it would be a good time to lighten the mood and have some fun, especially considering that trouble inside the castle was a rare occurrence. I suggested that we try some of the experiments Jane and I had discussed a couple of days ago. We invited everyone out to the gardens to enjoy the sunshine, and what started as a simple gathering soon turned into an impromptu party.

We set up multiple water hoses and began playing games that involved my shields and water. This combination made the shields visible, thanks to the water. Most of us changed into our bathing suits, and we had a blast. I even worked on creating a water slide, which turned out to be a fascinating mental exercise. With the water spraying on my shield, I could observe in real time how I manipulated it to achieve the desired angles and length.

It had the feel more of a beach party, and while we were missing the actual beach, everyone had a fantastic time.

The next day, Demetri and I decided to spend the afternoon carrying out all the experiments I had in mind with the body. Aro had kept his promise and arranged for someone to clean up the body, even sewing up the neck hole to eliminate any traces of venom. I think Demetri was looking forward to this as he had been unable to seek any form of retribution for Fredrick's actions against me. Watching his body being subjected to various punishments and eventual destruction would hopefully provide him with the closure he needed.

Demetri took charge of handling the body, carrying it over his shoulder to the garage where he dumped it unceremoniously in the trunk of a car. We decided that the forest was the best place to conduct our tests, as causing explosions outside the castle would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention. Fortunately, during the drive, we managed to avoid being stopped by the police, which was a relief, given that having a headless corpse in your trunk is never a good idea, especially when the driver of the car is a vampire who would most likely devour any cop who discovered our third passenger.

I learned quite a bit from causing explosions near the body, the most important of which was that vampires were far more resilient than I had initially thought when it came to fire. I was immensely relieved to discover that, if a vampire didn't have any open wounds, fire from my explosions wouldn't harm their skin or lead to any permanent injury. It appeared that the real threat of fire only materialized when their venom was exposed. Given how challenging it was to inflict physical damage on a vampire, usually requiring another vampire to do so, my explosions going off near a vampire by themselves weren't the life-threatening events I had initially believed them to be.

After I had put Fredrick's body through the ringer and watched it withstand everything I could subject it to, I decided it was time to get rid of the body once and for all. For my final experiment, instead of triggering an explosion near the body, I channeled my power directly into the body, causing an explosion that essentially immolated it from the inside out. As Demetri and I watched, it turned into purple smoke and blew away with the wind. This experience had taught me a great deal about vampire physiology, but, more importantly, it served as a valuable lesson never to let my guard down, no matter where I found myself.

Demetri and I had a wonderful Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning was even more enjoyable. I can't say for sure if I was on Santa's naughty list, but Demetri certainly got me a naughty Santa's helper outfit as a gift, which we promptly put to good use. As my last day in Volterra arrived, I felt even more certain about my desire to live here after my change.

Instead of returning to California, I asked Demetri to drop me off in Seattle, where I planned to surprise Charlie. We had kept in much better touch over the past year than when I was growing up, but I still hadn't seen him since I departed for college. I thought it would be a nice surprise to spend a couple of days with him before returning to school.

On the plane ride back, Demetri decided to play the same game we had enjoyed on our way to Italy. He worked me over but good, trying to get all the bodily fluids out of me that he could manage, and I don't mean my blood or urine. For hours, he had his head between my spread legs, using his tongue to lick and tease me to countless orgasms. Good god, that man knows how to push all the right buttons.

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter. I thought it would be nice to add just a touch of drama to the story. Every chapter can't be all rainbows and unicorns.