Chapter 14
Siblings Are Demons in Disguise
"I'm leaving!" Bella raised her voice as she was getting out of the house.
"Where are you going?" Stefan's voice sounded careless.
"Edward and I have a date, don't wait up!"
"I never do!"
Bella chuckled and ran to the car, quickly opening one of the back doors and throwing a gym bag inside. She, just as quickly, closed it and jumped into the passenger seat.
"Hey."
"Hello." I smiled. "I gather you didn't tell them where we going?"
"Let's leave their hearing vicinity first." She spoke mischievously.
"As you wish."
I started my Vanquisher and quickly got out of her driveway, taking a route to the highway. I could hear Alice's thoughts as she followed us through the forest line. The little devil was determined to accompany us, no matter how many times I said no. I was hoping she would give up her chase when we were around the Montana border.
"Are we far enough now?" I asked, turning on a ramp onto a highway.
"I'm sure if I told them where we were going, they would insist on coming with. And I assumed four people cornering a vampire who can sense danger wouldn't be such a smart idea."
"You're very sensible."
"Especially when two of the four are hot-headed and would try to get your friend to cooperate at any cost."
"She's not my friend."
"A friend of your friend. Whatever." Bella rolled her eyes. "Besides, what's the point of a getaway if my brothers are with us?"
"Or my sister," I mumbled looking out of the window.
"I'm not giving up, brother." Alice thought in her head.
"Pardon?" Bella looked at me confused.
"Alice really wished to come, but don't worry."
"Not to say that I don't like her presence, because I do, but why would she want to come?"
"I haven't the faintest idea." I groaned. "She's been keeping her thoughts to herself as of late. I'm getting rather tired of Arabic translations of popular 1970s movies."
Bella laughed, clapping her hands as though she found Alice's antiques most joyous. I sent a wondrous look at her.
"The way she annoys you is the most sibling thing ever."
"None of my siblings can get to me the way she does, that's for certain."
"Even Emmett?" She asked surprised.
"Emmett is a goof, but he's always been a good sport and knew when to leave me to my own business. Alice seems to stick her nose into everything everyone else does or wishes to do in the future."
"What about the others?"
"Jasper is great. Honestly, I don't have anything bad to say about him. I suppose we're more alike in our character, calm and quiet. He's the best at confiding secrets, I would say, probably better than Carlisle even. And Rose…Well, I love her to death, but she's the most hot-headed and in a bad way righteous person I've met. She's also very stubborn, to the point of never changing her mind about something...stubborn. She vexes me the most at times."
"Do you think she will ever change her mind about me?"
"I think she's much like Damon, would need time to get used to you being in her life." I shrugged my shoulders.
"Good thing we have forever to win over our respective siblings, eh?"
"I think with Damon, I would require just a tad more than that." I chuckled.
The older Salvatore still hasn't warmed up to me. At least with Rosalie, I could be certain her disdain toward Bella would pass. She knew Bella was to be her newest sister, and there was no way of changing that, so she might as well start warming up now.
"Well, if everything goes well in the next few days, I think he would be quite grateful to you."
"I should hope so, I'm burning quite a bit of gas at his expense."
Bella laughed fervently, her voice filling the entire car with its melodic sound. She wore full black today, which made her pale complexion look that much radiant. Her fitted turtleneck allowed all of her curves to pop out in the most wonderful ways, the puffy vest that she wore atop of it gave her a comfortable snuggle ambiance and the loose cargo pants made her hips and thighs look plump and oh-so-desirable.
"Were you thinking about running through the forest today?" I asked curiously, looking at her shoes. The dark blue with black gortex running shoes looked rather odd.
"You would need to hunt one of the days, wouldn't you?"
"And you were planning to accompany me?"
"It's our weekend getaway. I'm not letting you out of my sight." Bella threatened. "Besides, I think it's time I saw you hunting."
"I'm so inconsiderate, I haven't even thought about your diet."
"I assure you, I can just as well catch a few deers."
"Haven't you described animal blood as 'yucky'?"
"Things we do for love, I suppose." Bella sighed jokingly. "I kid, of course, I can tolerate animal blood. Don't expect me to switch to it completely, I don't think I would bear it for long. But seeing how human blood affects you, I know I would have to come up with a better system once we move in together."
My leg almost slipped from gas at her words.
"Is it something that you wish?"
"Well, I miss you terribly when we're not together, and seeing how we've already established that this relationship is forever, I don't see why not. However, living under the same roof with 6 always super-hearing vampires is…strange."
"And you would move in with me? This soon?"
"Edward." Bella chuckled. "Are you nervous? You seem to be repeating yourself. We don't need to right away if it's not something that you're ready for."
"Bella, I would move all of your belongings right this second if we were still in Forks."
"Oh." Bella smiled, her blushing cute as ever on her cheeks.
"Who's nervous now?" I parried with my own smile.
"Let's do it." She said at the same time.
To be quite frank, it felt as though my heart was going to start beating again. The most foolish and idiotic smile must have spread on my face. Bella laughed, taking hold of my hand and squeezing it with her mighty strength.
"Oh finally!" Alice screamed in her head. "I'll phone Esme right this second! She would be delighted!"
I ignored her. My sister was holding to her promise and I could her hear calling our mother right that second. Alice…Only till the Montana border, not further...
"It's happening!" The pixie's voice sounded like a shriek. I was sincerely hoping Bella's hearing wasn't turned on.
"About time!" My mother's voice was more thrilled than Alice's. "I'll put our plan in motion. Tell Edward and Bella I'm very proud and happy for them. They needn't worry, I'll take care of everything."
Oh, those meddling mothers and over-excited sisters…They made a man feel so incredibly annoyed and loved at the same time.
As Bella and I spent the next few hours in comfortable silence, pondering our newest decision, I realized that whatever I do in the future, as long as it is with her, I shall be incredibly happy.
Bella's phone rang when we were close to Montana's border, and I sighed wearily, still hearing Alice's thoughts from the forestry area. I hoped she would have given up by now.
"In your dreams, brother. It's going to be cloudy for the rest of the drive, and we're getting very close to nighttime as well. I'll meet with you in South Dakota around midnight. So you might as well tell Bella I'm here for this trip."
"Ara." Damon's voice sounded pleasantly frustrated. That is so that whoever was next to him must have been someone Damon perceived as a friend. "Why is the most adoring member of the Cullen family here to pack your room?"
Esme…
"Alice." Bella breathed out. "If you must know, I'm moving out."
"Where are you?"
"Wallace?" She said unsure. "Somewhere in Idaho for sure."
"I would never resort to using foul language in front of such a woman as Esme, so I'll be gentle in asking what the actual devil are you doing in Idaho?"
"Road trip. You've seen Edward's car, how could I refuse a proper trip on such a beautiful ride."
"Arabella," Damon spoke insistent.
"Oh, calm down, brother. Edward and I discussed it, and we both wish to move in together. Alice must have seen this decision and told Esme about our intentions, and Esme, being the lovely person she is, just wished to help us. I don't have anything in my room to be embarrassed about, so if she wishes to do us this kindness, let her in and be nice. I'll talk to you later."
Bella hung up the phone.
"I'm sure you left him speechless."
"Honestly, I can't worry about him today."
"I do need to tell you something. Alice has been following us since Forks."
"Excuse me?!"
"I hoped she would have given up by now, but she's still running along the edges of the forest…Right there." I pointed at my window.
Bella looked closer, her eyes squinting a bit. Her jaw fell slightly when she noticed the blurry figure.
"I can't believe it." Balla gruffed. "And you let her run outside instead of driving with us?"
"I know you might think I'm a bad person for doing so…"
"Not at all." Bella cut me off. "I think I love you just a little more for trying to give us some sort of privacy."
I looked surprised at her. She was on my side? She thought Alice was wrong to follow us? Bella might have loved me a little more for refusing my sister, but I loved her a great deal more for choosing to agree with my decision.
"You're both so disappointing."
I chuckled.
"What is she saying?"
"We disappoint her."
"I'm rather disappointed in you too." Bella raised her voice slightly. "If I'm to be your future sister, you need to understand I require some privacy with your brother."
"Bella, it's because you're to be my future sister, I cannot allow it! Sisters before misters!"
"Ali, go home, leave us be. Or I will make sure you hear us loud and clear this entire trip!" Bella threatened.
"Bella!" I spoke slightly embarrassed. Did girls ever have a filter?
"Nothing I haven't heard before!" Alice countered. "I should tell you though that I do have an ulterior motive to coming with you two lovebirds. I would much rather be with my husband right now than running through these muddy woods."
"What's your ulterior motive?"
"As if I could ever tell you that! You will need me with you, that I can tell you for sure."
"Well, until I hear something more specific, you may continue running in these muddy woods!"
"I'm so in love with you right now." I couldn't not say it.
"You like how I manage your sister?"
"No, I love."
Bella laughed, pushing herself closer and kissing my lips.
"It would be very upsetting if I crashed my car."
"You would never be able to."
And she continued kissing me for another second.
Just as Alice predicted, we reached South Dakota close to midnight. Bella looked restless, and a touch excited.
"Is it time for a hunt yet?"
I took an exit from Highway 90 into the Black Hills region of South Dakota, one of my family's favorite national park areas. It had jagged peaks, colorful canyons, and breathtaking forests, not even mentioning all the wildlife roaming them. Mountain lions, coyotes, and wild bisons made a great challenge, but there were elks, antelopes, and deer in case the bigger prey got away from us.
Hunting in the middle of the night made it so much more desirable. It was the time I truly let the monster inside of me out, let it be the predator it always craved to be. It felt more fitting.
Bella stepped out of the car as soon as I parked, stretching her legs out of habit. She turned at the swooshing noise and before I could react to the newcomer, I heard their thoughts. Alice caught up to us. "You look like hell," Bella noted with humor.
I stepped out of my car and assessed my sister. The wind blew up her short hair, and streaks of mud covered not only her boots and trousers but her blouse as well. She did look like hell.
"I require a shopping trip at the next town we stop."
"Unfortunately, dear sister, we're not stopping at any towns. Laurent said Victoria took up a residence in the Black Hills. We'll be looking for her on foot from now on."
"I suppose you'll just have to find a stream to wash yourself off." Bella shrugged, getting Alice as offended as I thought she would have been.
"You're very lucky I love you, Bella." Alice choked.
"I'm truly honored and touched, Ali." Bella chuckled. "So, shall we hunt?"
"In case you wish to get this over with, you might want to listen to someone who already knows where Victoria is." Alice crossed her tiny arms and watched Bella and me patiently.
"We're listening." I crossed my own arms, waiting for her to present us with another one of her all-knowing speeches.
"Head south-west. I can see a self-made tree house of sorts, it's right beside a little pond." Alice finally opened up her mind, I was so tired of Arabic, and I caught a glimpse of the area she'd seen in her vision and nodded.
"Shall we?" I turned to Bella, offering her my back. She jumped up with glee, wrapping her legs around me.
Alice followed us, but she had never been able to catch up to me and tonight wouldn't be an exception. I raised through the dark forest, following the direction my sister insisted on, but looking out for prey. It was harder to do with Bella's sweet scent enveloping me whole.
"A bison herd to the left. Alice has declared dibs." I explained to Bella.
"I would've loved to see little Alice take on a bison."
"She's married to Jasper and has occasionally won in sparring matches between them," I noted.
"She could predict his moves, can she not? Besides, I doubt Jasper would ever dare hurt her intentionally or otherwise."
"Can you smell it?" I spoke after a few seconds. Bella nodded. "I think it might be hard for you to distinguish between an herbivore and carnivore, seeing how you don't hunt animals, but this almost muddy scent is coming from elks, maybe a mile away to the west."
"How can you tell the distance so easily?"
"About a century of practice?" I shrugged.
"Show off." Bella snorted, her voice ringing in my ears. "I take it we're skipping the elks."
"I'm looking for a mountain lion, maybe even a bear if I'm lucky."
About fifteen minutes in, I finally tracked the scent I was looking for. I would have my prized meal tonight after all.
"Do you smell that?" I asked again. "Just south from here."
"It's a little more appetizing." Bella agreed.
"That's a mountain lion."
Right before meeting eyes with my prey, I stopped and quickly, but gently pulled Bella down from my back and settled her next to a big tree. She looked expectantly at me and jumped up, settling herself on one of the branches of a massive tree.
Having an audience was something I felt slightly embarrassed about, never had that happened before. There was something intimate about letting Bella watch me feed. But as she would say, Bella and I were to be together forever, and sooner or later she would have to see this side of me.
I let my instinct take over. Inhaling the sweet sense of blood, listening to the strong heartbeat of a truly helpless animal in front of me. A primal roar erupted from my mouth and I pounced at the clueless prey. The lion's roar was overpowering, the struggle for survival so instinctual. I would have loved to fight it any other day, but today I needed my clothes to be in one piece so I buried my teeth in its neck, biting hard through the skin and letting the hot rich liquid sip down my throat.
"That was so…" I heard Bella's voice beside me when I finished. "...hot? I don't know the right word for it, I'm afraid."
Her eyes were filled with fire and passion.
"The way you moved, the way you fought and won. I get why you were against me seeing it for such a long time. How could I stop myself from tearing your clothes off now?"
She came closer, almost tauntingly so, and breathed in. "Even the smell of blood on your lips is so inviting." She licked her lips and then jumped at me. The force of it and the shock almost knocked me down.
I grabbed her by the legs, pushing her closer to me. Our mouths met in a passionate embrace, and I felt a touch weak in the knees from all of the feeling. I pressed her back to a nearby tree, giving both of us support as her tongue explored my lips and mouth.
"Holy hell people!" Bella groaned at the destruction. I growled, which might have been worse.
"Alice…"
"I mean are you here to prove vampires can procreate or find a way to save your brother's girl? You live together now, there will be plenty of time for that later!"
"If you're going to wish to never to see her again, I will truly support you," I whispered.
"That sounds delightful." Bella agreed, her eyes never wavering off mine. She licked her lips once more, such an invitation…And then pulled her legs off me, standing on the ground again.
"Yeah, yeah, like I would believe that will ever happen." Alice chippered. "Chop, chop, now. We still have to find Victoria's tree house."
"I'm going to kill her one day." I groaned into the tree trunk and took Bella's hand in mine.
"No, you won't!" The annoying little voice spoke from the distance. She knew it would irritate me even more, that's precisely why she was doing it.
"We shall not talk to her for the rest of the trip home, and don't you give her any clean clothes that you packed."
"I would never dream of aiding our enemy," Bella assured.
I'm in my Bridgerton era again...It's probably clear by the dialogue exchange. Sorry:) Please review!