(no subject)
Preface
I never wanted this. I didn’t ask for it, plead or beg. It just happened to me. The outcome brought me into a world I never thought could exist. A world with monsters and myths. A world where I too, was considered something of the unknown, unreal.
What I am shoved me into the underworld of dark and twisted thing. I tired so hard to avoid anyone of ever knowing. This is something I would never put on anyone, especially her. She’s too good, too innocent to be brought up in this miserable world of undead, cold hearts. She deserves better than this world, dark and dead. Yet, that’s exactly where her path of life is leading her.
Where he is leading her. No one asks for this. Well, at least no one in their right mind would. She has for him. But, I’ll be damned if I don’t stand in her way. For the better. I’m doing this to better her, give her, her life back. Something he planned to take. Something he should never have the rights to touch in the first place. If anyone gets to play God with her, it isn’t going to be him.
Chapter One
I ran. Through the moist forest, ignoring the whips and scraps of branches that drooped heavy from rain into the darkened path. I had to get away from whatever it was that was chasing me. I wasn’t sure of what, all I knew, all I could fathom to think at that one moment was to run. I could hear the pounding footsteps behind me closing in. Foot falls sounding like they came from heavy, thick soled boots. My throat closed and my chest burnt as I suffered to take in the cold air around me. Too scared to look over my shoulder, and with my reputation for “gracefulness” I couldn’t chance it. So, I focused on the moist ground, the smell of musk in the air from the rain, always rain.
Then a clearing, smog covered the space ahead of me and I saw him, with the moonlight shining down on him like a golden beacon of safety. A smile spread over my face, I was safe. I ran into his stone like body, wrapping my arms around him as the wind knocked out of my lungs from his hard chest. I took in his unruly hair, flawless white skin, his eyes closed as his face inched closer to me own as his hands circled around me holding me tight. The tip of his noses slowly skid across my temple and down my cheek. His breathing staying slow and soft as I focused on it to calm my own. His wonderful, sweet breath found its way into my senses, I was safe.
The air changed around us, mist that surrounded the clearing disappeared. The pounding steps that seemed to echo in my head faded and the shadow made themselves known in front of us through the thick trees. I felt his head lift up from my shoulder as he took in one last breath of my hair. A growl rumbled through his chest, against my own as I clenched my hands tighter to his stone arms. I chanced a look over my shoulder, swallowing down my fear that rendered me frozen against him. He slowly loosened his grip around me, sliding me to his side, placing me behind him. I felt his cold hand against my stomach as he pushed me behind him. His legs bent slowly as his prefect teeth shown from his pulled back lip. Another growl erupted from his stomach and out his throat as the shadow came forward. His fist gripped around the extra fabric on my shirt, making sure I wasn’t going anywhere, keeping me where he wanted me.
My eyes widened when I saw her. Strong curvy silhouette, same height as I remember. Her hair usual dark, mahogany hair black from the shadows covering her body. He still growled, holding tighter. I felt my body jerk backwards as she stepped towards us. She raised her hands in front of her, palms up in surrender as he stopped, watching her carefully with a curious tilt of his head. I peered out from behind him as she gave me a smile, wiggling her fingers to say hello. Something wasn’t right, her movements, slow and graceful, her skin in the moonlight, soft and elegant.
Her eyes darted from me to him. Him to me. They narrowed on him, my beacon of safety, my hope, my love and I couldn’t feel his hands on mine any longer. He took a step forward. She took a step forward. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, as his forearms flexed, strong muscles beneath his snowy skin. Then, she charged.
*
I shot up in my bed covered in a cold sweat. My lungs quickly filling with air that I gasped into them. I was able to finally slow my breathing, my heart still hammering fast in my chest as I felt a cold hand on my shoulder, gently pulling me to lay back down. I took in my surroundings and saw my blue walls, the old rocking chair in the corner slowly swaying as if someone just got up from it quickly. I turned my head and my body relaxed instantly.
“Bella?” He asked, his velvet soft voice making the tension slowly seep from my body. “Bella, what happened?”
“I just….Bad dream.” I murmured as he nodded slowly, pulling me back down next to him on my old mattress.
“Would you like to talk about it?” He asked kindly as he brushed a piece of hair from my face. I smile, moving into his cool touch as his perfect smile went over his stone features.
“Remember how Renee was talking about Scarlet?” I asked softly, turning into his body.
We had just come back from seeing my mother in Florida the pervious week. She spent most of the first day filling me and Edward in on my sister’s life. She had moved everywhere in the country so far. Seeing and doing so much. Renee showed me letters and post cards, she had been keeping herself busy.
I never talked about Scarlet much. She was a lot more like my mother than I was. Always doing something, going somewhere. She never stayed at one place for too long because she wanted something different. She needed adventure, or so she thought.
“I wasn’t made for a small town and a small life Bells. I need something more, this life I’m going through is a whole lot more.”
I never really got what she was talking about. As if her life was that much more significant than mine. That she was the rightful Swan to go through life without plans or expectations of anyone else. But, that was Scarlet. She just had that right.
“Yes, of course.” Edward answered, still playing with strands of my hair as he laid beside me.
“It was about her. I was running through the woods and I came to an opening. You were there and I ran to you, but then something came through the forest. It was dark at first but then she came through. You seemed really, protective over me, pushing me backwards as she came forward.” I paused for a moment in confused, shaking my head to continue. “She smiled and then everything seemed different, everything slowed down and then she ran at us, like she was going to attack… And, I woke up.” I shrugged as his brows slowly creased.
“I was protecting you from your own sister?”
“It seemed that way? It also was like, you were going to fight her.”
“Huh.” He said, his eyes slowly moving across my face and down my neck. He leaned closer, touched his cold nose against my throat as my eyes slowly closed. I heard that familiar growl from my dream come back to his throat as he moved off the bed and on his feet in a swift motion. “Charlie. I’ll be back to pick you up.” He said leaning and kissing my forehead before going through my window.
I heard the door in the hall click shut and Charlie coming towards my door, pausing for a moment and then the groan of the old floor boards of the stairs as he moved down them. I sighed looking towards my opened window, knowing it was pointless and Edward was already halfway home already. Yawning, I pulled myself from my bed and pushed myself down stairs.
Going into the bathroom I started for a shower, knowing it would be another half hour before Edward thought it responsible for him to show back up to pick me up for the day. Charlie of course was going fishing since it was the weekend and my day most likely consisted of Edward throwing application after college application at me to fill out.
Groaning to the thought I ran a towel through my now wet hair, looking up into the mirror. I sighed softly to myself, wiping off the steam with my towel and tossing my hand through my hair before putting it up. I couldn’t find the energy to actually fix it up as I normally would while spending the day with the most beautiful creature in the world.
My thoughts didn’t stray too far from my dream. Her image, the smile on her face made my stomach twist all over again. She was frightening but, something told me she wasn’t attacking me. She was attacking… Edward.
I jumped to the sound of someone knocking on the bathroom door as I pulled my thermal dark violet shirt over my head.
“Bells?”
“I’m almost done dad.” I said in a breath as I gave one more glance in the mirror before rolling my eyes and moving to open the door.
“You’re mom just called. Told her you were in the shower, so you should call back. She seemed excited about something.” Charlie shrugged as I smirked a little. It never took much to excite my mother.
“Sure. She say what it was about?” I asked leaning against the doorframe, switching my weight to another foot.
“Something about Scarlet, I think? I asked but she told me she wanted it to be a surprise. I don‘t exactly like that, so you better find out what it is. You know your sister.” He said in a shrug and moving back down the hallway. I did know my sister, meaning she loved springing up out of the wood work whenever she deemed fit. Charlie and myself however, weren’t one for surprises. I followed him down to the kitchen as he rounded up his fishing gear. I picked up the phone, jumping up on the counter and leaned forward to dial the familiar number of my mother’s house.
“Hello.” Her voice was always so musical and happier in the morning.
“Hi mom.” I said looking down at my feet as my heels bounced off the cabinet.
“Bella! Hi sweetie. How are you?”
“Good.”
“How’s Edward?”
“He’s good.” Perfect as usual. “You called me earlier?”
“Oh right, right. Scarlet is going to be heading your way.” She said with excitement, pausing. Most likely waiting for my just as excited response.
“Oh wow, really?” I asked, forcing my voice to raise with the false excitement to please her.
“Yeah, she said she was going to try and get a hold of you!”
“Why is she coming to Forks?”
“Oh, no not Forks. Seattle.” She corrected as my brow slowly creased. Seattle as of late was the wrong place to be. A massive amounts of killings have been spreading through the city and they’ve yet to find a reasoning or suspect. The Cullen’s are hell bent on the reasoning being new born vampires. It wouldn’t surprise me, nothing really surprises me anymore.
“W-why Seattle? Is she not aware of the killings?”
“She said she wasn’t staying there long…” Her voice slowly faded with concern. “Why do you think that it’s getting bad?”
“Yeah mom, really bad. She shouldn’t go. Charlie won’t let me go even with Edward and his sister.”
“Well, Charlie was always a bit overprotected.”
“I think in this case it’s kind of necessary. When is she coming? Does she want me to come and get her?”
“I don’t think so? She said she’d find her way there. And, if Charlie doesn‘t want you to go than neither do I.”
“Charlie is going to want Scarlet here-”
“Is Scarlet coming?” Charlie asked coming into the kitchen. His officer jacket over his shoulder and tackle box in hand. I sighed and nodded my head, placing my hand over the receiver.
“Yeah, mom said she’s going to in Seattle.”
“What? No, absolutely not! She’s going to the airport and that is all.” He said sternly as I sighed.
“I know dad but-”
“Tell Charlie that I’m going to talk to Scarlet and see if she’ll postpone her trip another time.”
“Do you two want to talk?” I asked looking at Charlie as they both said ‘no’ at the same time. I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Ok, fine. Talk to Scarlet, tell her to call me later.”
“Ok sweetie. Tell Edward I said hello.”
“Will do.” I said jumping from the counter, ready to get rid of the phone. “Love you mom.”
“Love you too honey, bye.”
“Bye.” I knew as soon as the phone went on the hook Charlie was glaring at my back. Sighing I turned slowly to look at him, crossing my arms over my chest. “She’s going to try and talk Scar into staying until everything settles.” I shrugged.
“Well good. I don’t want you going there to get her, or her dragging you there for some shopping spree.” He said shaking his head and turning towards the door. Scarlet and me were complete opposites. She was outgoing and loud, humorous and always looking for something to do, a scene to cause.
Charlie was more like myself in the sense that we liked our low-key, quiet lives. When Scarlet came to visit him in those little times she did, they mostly fought. Him set in his overprotective ways and she not having the capacity to listen to order or to be held down by it. She was a ‘free spirit’ or at least that’s what she liked to refer to herself as.
“I doubt it would be for a shopping spree. She knows I don’t go for that kind of thing.”
“She’d find a way to get you into the city with her. They have libraries and book stores there Bells.”
“Well, whatever. Either way, I’m not going. She’ll come a different time. It’s too dangerous.”
“I’m glad you finally think so.” He said a little unsure as I smirked a little.
“Well Edward had a little to do with that.” He shook his head grunting something in response.
“Bye Bella.” He said heading for the door. He was still not pleased with Edward since everything I went through when he left. I suppose I should be grateful or happy for the fact that my father paid enough attention to my mental little break down. However, now it was just getting to the point of over doing it. Edward was back and not going anywhere again, I guess it’s just hard for Charlie to grasp that.
“Good morning Charlie.” I heard the angel like voice say from the front door as a smile spread over my face.
“Edward.” My dad responded shortly before moving past Edward and making his way to the car. Edward shut the door behind him, walking into the kitchen with an arm filled with envelops.
“Hello love.” He smiled my favorite smile before settling himself in a seat.
“Aren’t we leaving?” I asked still standing as he looked up at me, spreading the papers across my kitchen table.
“In a moment. Sit.” He said pushing the chair beside me out with his foot quickly. I sighed and sat myself across from him.
“Don’t you think I filled out enough of these?” I asked arching a brow at him and placing my hand around the side of my neck and leaning my elbow down on the table. He shrugged slightly spreading out the more, and what seemed like endless college applications.
“Never hurts to fill out a few more. Just incase.” He said raising his beautiful topaz eyes to mine with that perfect smile, flashing his teeth.
“I don’t understand the point, I’m not going to be able to be in college once-”
“Humor me.” He said pushing a paper towards me as I sighed and started filling out the repetitive questions. I barely had to look at the page anymore to know what was next. “So Scarlet believes that she won’t be harmed in Seattle?”
“Who knows what Scarlet believes.” I said with a little more bitterness to my words than I intended.
“You rarely speak of her.” He said, not as a question. I rose my eyes back to his as he watched me intently.
“There isn’t really much to say.” I shrug.
“Did you get along as children?” He asked tilting his head to one side.
“As much as any sisters would. She left for college in New York when I was thirteen and came back only for holidays or special occasions. So I didn’t really do a whole lot of growing with her. Then from there she moved around the country, going place to place never staying there long enough to get a real address.” I shrug again. I looked back down at the paper I was filling out and away from his inquisitive gaze.
“She chose an interesting time to come back. Was she not aware of what is going on?” He asked after a moment of looking me over.
“She has to of known. She most likely thought it wouldn’t of bothered her, or she would have been able to avoid it.”
“Perhaps its for the fact of Graduation in a week and a half?” He suggested as I felt my hand clamp harder around the pen in my hand. Was it really that short a time away? I almost had forgotten that, or possible tried to put it completely out of my mind ignoring what was to come after. Not that I didn’t want it to happen, the infinite future to have with this beautiful creature before me. I suppose it was facing the let down I was sure to cause my mother and father. Scarlet would have never of known the difference. I guess when she’s fifty and I’m still in the body I posses now she might become a little curious, however it’s doubtful.
I shake my head to my own bitterness, raising my eyes to meet Edward’s. His perfect dark brow arched slightly as he looked towards me. I quickly searched my brain for the pervious question he asked me that brought on the jumble of questions racking it.
“I-I guess that could be one reason.” I sighed. “Renee would have mentioned it though.” I pointed out.
“Maybe it’s a surprise?” I shrug again. The though of just being aggravated at my sister was doing me fine for now. I had no desire to justify her actions. She never did, so why should I give her the satisfaction?
“They all know I hate surprises.” I grumble as he kept watching my face. I kept my eyes focused on the paper in front of me, knowing my name I still struggled with writing it under the intensity of his gaze that burned into the side of my face.
“All the more to do it.” I sigh with a slight roll of my eyes that he of course catches. Him and all of his perfection would never ware on me or get old however, aggravating was a totally different thing. “Maybe she just wants to see you?” He offered. “I’m sure Renee has told her all about your new life here and perhaps she wants to come and see for herself. She loves you Bella, there is no doubt in my mind about that.”
“You don’t know her.” I let out in a soft breath, knowing he heard it.
“That may be but, I know you. And I know it is incredible hard not to love you.” I felt heat rush to my cheeks. How can he be so charming when I am trying to be mad. I heard the softly movement beside me and then completely aware of how close we were to one another. His cool fingers brushed the heat down on my cheeks as I slowly rose my eyes to his and all aggravation seeped slowly from my body. “What is it that really worries you, love?”
“What do you mean?” I asked innocently.
“About your sister and her coming here. Is it to do with the dream this morning?” He explained as I shrugged.
“No, not the dream… I just don’t want her to think she can handle herself. Like, what’s going on in Seattle isn’t a big deal. She rarely takes things seriously and I know she‘ll find trouble there and the next day in the paper I don‘t want to open up to familiar name in the obituaries.”
“Well, maybe Charlie or your mother can break through to her.” He reasoned as I sighed. Not likely.
“Yeah…”
*
I really had not been thinking about Graduation. It was a week, just one week from today and I thought my heart surely stopped upon reading the poster board Alice pointed out to me. I didn’t understand her ideas of throwing me a Graduation party, or why she was explaining it to me so soon, graduations in my mind being months away. Little did I actually know, it wasn’t. I sighed as I walked with Edward through my classes.
Scarlet. She was sure to be showing herself soon enough. Renee and Charlie both had got her to stay away for now. Neither of them knowing her exact whereabouts. She had said something about being in California, enjoying the sun. Something to me, about her voice seemed off.
I talked to her a few nights ago, after the long conversation we had about the killings becoming worse. The news and everyone seemed to suspecting a serial killer. However, my vampire family knew the real reason. Not the actual who. That was the real problem. An army of newborns are being created. But, we can’t figure out who, or why? Edward is set on it being the Volturi. Jealous of Carlisle and his large family. Everyone seemed to have their own theories, what was certain was that they were going to fight, and that scared me more than the Volturi themselves. We’d be out numbered but not out skilled, as Jasper put it. But, that didn’t mean they’d be faster and stronger, something that just thinking about it made my stomach churn. What if one of them didn’t return as I sat back and waited in safety. What if that someone was… I didn’t even want to think about it.
Scarlet had told me that she would be here for my Graduation and she couldn’t wait to see me. She was ‘close by’, the way she put it made me tense. It seemed like she was giving me a double meaning in her words, like I should know what she was feeding me but she never gave up anything more. I just summed it up to me being completely stressed these past couple weeks. Everything was going to seem like a conspiracy against me.
I still was able to go through the motions of school, not really paying attention but alive enough to pretend. I wanted to just get this over with, be graduated and have it behind me. Have whatever it was that was chasing me, behind me. Have my sister coming here behind me. I wanted it all done with.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket jolting my out of my thoughts. I felt around for a moment before looking at the familiar name on the screen. Scarlet.
“Hello.”
“Isabella Maire Swan, is that really anyway to greet your loving and beautiful sister?”
“Hello Scarlet, better?”
“Ouch. Wake up on the wrong side of the bed Little Bells?”
“No, I was just…” I sighed softly shaking my head. “I have a class I need to get too, what’s up?”
“I suppose you’ve heard from mom ‘bout my visiting?”
“Yeah, uh, do you think that’s wise since-”
“I’ll be fine. Nothing can stop me from seeing my favorite sister.”
“I’m your only sister.”
“Which makes my statement true. So, how are things?”
“Good.”
“What’s with the one word answers? You regressing back to your teen years of angst?” I sighed once more making my way to my next class.
“No, I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Are you and um, Ed-Edward? Is that it? Are you guys alright?” I smiled a little to the mention of his name, I still can’t help that.
“Yeah, we’re fine. Never better actually.”
“You know if you ever need anyone to talk to I’m there for you Bella. Really.”
“I know.”
“Good. So, I plan on coming next week sometime. I’ll give you and dad a call when I’m at the airport. He’s none too please with this whole ordeal and I have strict orders from the Sherriff to stay put in that damn airport and to not move a muscle until I see him.” She chuckled, trying to impersonate our father as I couldn’t help the smile that broke across my face.
“That was pretty spot on.”
“I know right? It’s creepy.” We both chuckled as she sighed through you phone. “I missed you Bells.”
“I miss you too, but hey, we’ll see each other soon. How long has it been?”
“Too long.”
“Last Christmas?”
“No, I skipped, remember. I was in London, on uh, work.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right. What work?”
“Some firm. So, anyways I’ll see you in a week little sister, I don’t want you being late for class. Say hi to uh, Edmund or Eli or whatever for me.” I chuckled rolling my eyes.
“You know his name.”
“Edward.” She said exasperated.
“Thank you. Bye Scar.”
“Bye Bells.”
Chapter Two
Scarlet’s POV
The sun started to fade in the horizon as the Seattle skyline began to come alive with twinkling lights. I sighed heavily as flipped my phone shut and tossed it onto my hotel bed. It buzzed against the bedding. Renee. I didn’t even have to look. Three voice mails already telling me to stay away from Seattle, that I would get an ear full from Charlie if I went at this time. The Killings. They both said in a matched worried disgust. I chuckled with a shake of my head, if they only knew.
I do feel bad for my sister. Poor girl, dealing with the both of them, hounding on her constantly. I miss her. I honestly can’t believe she’s already graduating. Seems like just yesterday I was carrying her on my back in our yard in Phoenix, her child like giggles and bouncy mahogany curls in pig tails. That’s how I always remembered my baby sister, innocent and beautiful. I haven’t heard from her in months makes me disgusted I had let myself wait this long. Just to hear her beautiful voice again would be enough to make this visit worth it. Even if I don’t finish what I came to accomplish, however I knew I would.
My life has been this way since the day after my eighteenth birthday. I was welcomed into the underworld that no one knows of. That people secretly fear and hope and pray to God that it never really would become true. It is, and those poor soul’s prayers were just going unanswered. Here, there was no God, just the evil that roamed and stalked the night, haunting and thriving for the simple sound of a beating heart. Blood pulsing through hot veins, alive and pure that they wanted to just sink their teeth into.
I smirk at nightfall. It’s time once again for me to leave and stalk the stalker. I stuff my rosary beads between my breasts, giving it a simple kiss and small wish of security. No God, but these were given to me by someone special when everything started to change. The closer to my beating heart it lied the more comfort I felt. Something to give me hope to survive a fight from the damned and unbreakable.
“Good-night Ms. Swan.” The doorman winked at me as I exited the ritzy hotel I was keeping my things in. I never slept. Not with the nightmares, not anymore. I smiled back sweetly as his eyes scanned over my body a little too long for my liking, but he was young so, I allowed it shrugging it off.
I tugged my leather jacket tighter to my bust and listen. Shuffle of quickly moving feet, the steady sound of forced breathing, a hiss, a growl, whimpers anything, just listening and waiting.
Seattle has been a war zone for days now and it took the second headline in my news paper to know what the case really was. Newborns. They were easy to rid of usually but, something about these… They kept growing. Someone that had control of their thirst and were creating them, creating more for a reason but I couldn’t understand why. I turned a corner when I heard it. The whimper of a muffled scream.
Snapping my head in the direction of the alleyway I slowly entered the darkness, cloaking my body underneath it and saw them. Three. It wasn’t going to be hard. Sliding my body hard against the bricks of the cold alleyway, my back covered in leather slowly moved down to the grimy ground. Out stretching my leg and pulling my body, then the other and so on until I was right there. Silence was key. They could smell me, I knew that but, they were too enamored with the poor soul they had inches from their deadly teeth to notice my approach.
I pounced just as their face was disappeared into the nape of the blonde girl’s neck. Their stone body collided hard with mine as we stopped against the metal of a dumpster. The imprint of his body was left as I held my arm out around his neck. He snarled and hissed, trying with all his strength to move. Newborns were always stronger. He broke my hold and spun my body hard against the alleyway bricks.
My skull cracked, echoing through the narrow space as his lip pulled back over his teeth in a sickening smile. I narrowed my eyes, kicking my foot out as my thick soled boot connected with his stomach. He flew back, breaking through the brick wall of the building across from me. The girl’s eyes widened at the hole as the Newborn flew back at me. I ducked and darted out of the way just in time as he stopped himself from smacking into the next building.
The others stood watching, waiting for their in. I kept them in my peripheral vision, and the girl just as close. One broke away from the other, tossing the poor girl into the steal arms of my other audience member. I was pressed between the too. Their teeth inches from my neck, chest, back. My arms were twisted behind me as my chest pushed against the marble of the Newborn man in front of me.
He had to be at least early twenties. Beautiful, with his strong jaw bone, and perfect nose, round full lips with a moppy head of blonde hair and blazing, sickeningly red eyes. They dug into mine as I kept my heart rate steady. He smelt me, skimming his icy nose against the side of my throat to my hair.
“Beautiful.” He murmured as I just growled in response. “Stand still.” He said softly, leaning into me. I felt his hard teeth open against my skin and I braced myself. I clenched my eyes and gritted my teeth as the girl’s high pitched scream rolled through the two buildings, almost vibrating through my body. The other moved my hair off my neck and watched intently as the other sunk his teeth in.
It always felt like hot lava flowing through me instead of blood. I swallowed hard as he took in my blood, sucking vigorously, greedily on my neck as my breath became labored. I felt him detach himself, and stumble back. He wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand spitting my it from his mouth, his brow creased and face in pure disgust. I smirked, grasping my neck as I put pressure on the gaping wound, which was already slowly starting to heal.
His eyebrows furrowed deeper as he fell forward onto his hands and knees. The other two went to his side, snapping their heads at me as I just smirked and slowly backed myself away, going to the girl. They never did learn. As my blood moved through his system his body began to tremble, like a artic breeze just rolled through his veins. The others asked if he was alright, what was going on.
“Just wait.” I said darkly as they snapped their heads back to me and back to him. Then it stopped, the convulsing and shaking. His body fell to the moist concrete and combusted. Dust covered the ground where he once laid and the others stepped away quickly with wide, red eyes. The girl trembled at the scene before her against the wall. I walked to her outstretching my hand as she ignored it. I quickly grabbed her and put her behind me. “We don’t have much time, they’ll be more, we only have two minuets.”
“How do you-” She stammered as I shook my head, grabbing her hand and started running. The others kept their faces down at the remains of their friend, as we hurried past.
“Go to the hospital.” I said to the girl as we stopped from our run when I heard her breathing get heavier. She shook her head and I shook mine with a sigh. “Don’t argue with me, you’re traumatized.”
“Wh-wh-what were those -”
“That doesn’t matter. Just go!” I said shoving her as she stumbled and then ran again. I watched her cross the street safely, a few car horns and yells from their windows, but she made it to the stoop of the large hospital running through the doors.
I sighed turning my attention back towards the darken alleyway I knew they were waiting. I could feel their seething anger, hear their hisses, and growls.
“You shouldn’t exist!” I heard a beautiful, angelic voice say from the shadows. I furrowed my brow for a moment. A woman, I wasn’t expecting that.
“Nether should you.” I spat back as she growled louder. The wind rolled through us and I smelt something familiar roll along with it. My stomach twisted slightly to the scent. I stepped into the darkness seeing her. Her hair billowed from her perfect heart shaped face in fiery red waves. There was at least ten more behind her but they kept their distance from me, knees bending and hands clenched ready for an attack when the command was sent. “Who are you?”
“No questions!” She hissed. I nodded. “Who are you?”
“You just said no questions.” I smirked as she stepped forward then stopped. I could smell her icy, sweetness from her breath, chest raising and falling heavily in still seething anger as it came across my face.
“Slayers were killed off centuries ago! You are not one of them! You are an impostor!”
“I’m sure your friend back there would beg to differ.” I said crossing my arms over my chest. I ranked my eyes slowly over her body and caught something that didn’t fit. A sweater, red and bright against her snowy white skin. My stomach twisted once more at the familiar scent washing from this vampire, from that sweater. “Perhaps you would like to see for yourself?” I asked stepping towards her as she quickly took one back. I smirked. Her narrowed red eyes disappeared before me as I looked up watching them all scale the walls and run. Cowards.
I never wanted this. I didn’t ask for it, plead or beg. It just happened to me. The outcome brought me into a world I never thought could exist. A world with monsters and myths. A world where I too, was considered something of the unknown, unreal.
What I am shoved me into the underworld of dark and twisted thing. I tired so hard to avoid anyone of ever knowing. This is something I would never put on anyone, especially her. She’s too good, too innocent to be brought up in this miserable world of undead, cold hearts. She deserves better than this world, dark and dead. Yet, that’s exactly where her path of life is leading her.
Where he is leading her. No one asks for this. Well, at least no one in their right mind would. She has for him. But, I’ll be damned if I don’t stand in her way. For the better. I’m doing this to better her, give her, her life back. Something he planned to take. Something he should never have the rights to touch in the first place. If anyone gets to play God with her, it isn’t going to be him.
Chapter One
I ran. Through the moist forest, ignoring the whips and scraps of branches that drooped heavy from rain into the darkened path. I had to get away from whatever it was that was chasing me. I wasn’t sure of what, all I knew, all I could fathom to think at that one moment was to run. I could hear the pounding footsteps behind me closing in. Foot falls sounding like they came from heavy, thick soled boots. My throat closed and my chest burnt as I suffered to take in the cold air around me. Too scared to look over my shoulder, and with my reputation for “gracefulness” I couldn’t chance it. So, I focused on the moist ground, the smell of musk in the air from the rain, always rain.
Then a clearing, smog covered the space ahead of me and I saw him, with the moonlight shining down on him like a golden beacon of safety. A smile spread over my face, I was safe. I ran into his stone like body, wrapping my arms around him as the wind knocked out of my lungs from his hard chest. I took in his unruly hair, flawless white skin, his eyes closed as his face inched closer to me own as his hands circled around me holding me tight. The tip of his noses slowly skid across my temple and down my cheek. His breathing staying slow and soft as I focused on it to calm my own. His wonderful, sweet breath found its way into my senses, I was safe.
The air changed around us, mist that surrounded the clearing disappeared. The pounding steps that seemed to echo in my head faded and the shadow made themselves known in front of us through the thick trees. I felt his head lift up from my shoulder as he took in one last breath of my hair. A growl rumbled through his chest, against my own as I clenched my hands tighter to his stone arms. I chanced a look over my shoulder, swallowing down my fear that rendered me frozen against him. He slowly loosened his grip around me, sliding me to his side, placing me behind him. I felt his cold hand against my stomach as he pushed me behind him. His legs bent slowly as his prefect teeth shown from his pulled back lip. Another growl erupted from his stomach and out his throat as the shadow came forward. His fist gripped around the extra fabric on my shirt, making sure I wasn’t going anywhere, keeping me where he wanted me.
My eyes widened when I saw her. Strong curvy silhouette, same height as I remember. Her hair usual dark, mahogany hair black from the shadows covering her body. He still growled, holding tighter. I felt my body jerk backwards as she stepped towards us. She raised her hands in front of her, palms up in surrender as he stopped, watching her carefully with a curious tilt of his head. I peered out from behind him as she gave me a smile, wiggling her fingers to say hello. Something wasn’t right, her movements, slow and graceful, her skin in the moonlight, soft and elegant.
Her eyes darted from me to him. Him to me. They narrowed on him, my beacon of safety, my hope, my love and I couldn’t feel his hands on mine any longer. He took a step forward. She took a step forward. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, as his forearms flexed, strong muscles beneath his snowy skin. Then, she charged.
*
I shot up in my bed covered in a cold sweat. My lungs quickly filling with air that I gasped into them. I was able to finally slow my breathing, my heart still hammering fast in my chest as I felt a cold hand on my shoulder, gently pulling me to lay back down. I took in my surroundings and saw my blue walls, the old rocking chair in the corner slowly swaying as if someone just got up from it quickly. I turned my head and my body relaxed instantly.
“Bella?” He asked, his velvet soft voice making the tension slowly seep from my body. “Bella, what happened?”
“I just….Bad dream.” I murmured as he nodded slowly, pulling me back down next to him on my old mattress.
“Would you like to talk about it?” He asked kindly as he brushed a piece of hair from my face. I smile, moving into his cool touch as his perfect smile went over his stone features.
“Remember how Renee was talking about Scarlet?” I asked softly, turning into his body.
We had just come back from seeing my mother in Florida the pervious week. She spent most of the first day filling me and Edward in on my sister’s life. She had moved everywhere in the country so far. Seeing and doing so much. Renee showed me letters and post cards, she had been keeping herself busy.
I never talked about Scarlet much. She was a lot more like my mother than I was. Always doing something, going somewhere. She never stayed at one place for too long because she wanted something different. She needed adventure, or so she thought.
“I wasn’t made for a small town and a small life Bells. I need something more, this life I’m going through is a whole lot more.”
I never really got what she was talking about. As if her life was that much more significant than mine. That she was the rightful Swan to go through life without plans or expectations of anyone else. But, that was Scarlet. She just had that right.
“Yes, of course.” Edward answered, still playing with strands of my hair as he laid beside me.
“It was about her. I was running through the woods and I came to an opening. You were there and I ran to you, but then something came through the forest. It was dark at first but then she came through. You seemed really, protective over me, pushing me backwards as she came forward.” I paused for a moment in confused, shaking my head to continue. “She smiled and then everything seemed different, everything slowed down and then she ran at us, like she was going to attack… And, I woke up.” I shrugged as his brows slowly creased.
“I was protecting you from your own sister?”
“It seemed that way? It also was like, you were going to fight her.”
“Huh.” He said, his eyes slowly moving across my face and down my neck. He leaned closer, touched his cold nose against my throat as my eyes slowly closed. I heard that familiar growl from my dream come back to his throat as he moved off the bed and on his feet in a swift motion. “Charlie. I’ll be back to pick you up.” He said leaning and kissing my forehead before going through my window.
I heard the door in the hall click shut and Charlie coming towards my door, pausing for a moment and then the groan of the old floor boards of the stairs as he moved down them. I sighed looking towards my opened window, knowing it was pointless and Edward was already halfway home already. Yawning, I pulled myself from my bed and pushed myself down stairs.
Going into the bathroom I started for a shower, knowing it would be another half hour before Edward thought it responsible for him to show back up to pick me up for the day. Charlie of course was going fishing since it was the weekend and my day most likely consisted of Edward throwing application after college application at me to fill out.
Groaning to the thought I ran a towel through my now wet hair, looking up into the mirror. I sighed softly to myself, wiping off the steam with my towel and tossing my hand through my hair before putting it up. I couldn’t find the energy to actually fix it up as I normally would while spending the day with the most beautiful creature in the world.
My thoughts didn’t stray too far from my dream. Her image, the smile on her face made my stomach twist all over again. She was frightening but, something told me she wasn’t attacking me. She was attacking… Edward.
I jumped to the sound of someone knocking on the bathroom door as I pulled my thermal dark violet shirt over my head.
“Bells?”
“I’m almost done dad.” I said in a breath as I gave one more glance in the mirror before rolling my eyes and moving to open the door.
“You’re mom just called. Told her you were in the shower, so you should call back. She seemed excited about something.” Charlie shrugged as I smirked a little. It never took much to excite my mother.
“Sure. She say what it was about?” I asked leaning against the doorframe, switching my weight to another foot.
“Something about Scarlet, I think? I asked but she told me she wanted it to be a surprise. I don‘t exactly like that, so you better find out what it is. You know your sister.” He said in a shrug and moving back down the hallway. I did know my sister, meaning she loved springing up out of the wood work whenever she deemed fit. Charlie and myself however, weren’t one for surprises. I followed him down to the kitchen as he rounded up his fishing gear. I picked up the phone, jumping up on the counter and leaned forward to dial the familiar number of my mother’s house.
“Hello.” Her voice was always so musical and happier in the morning.
“Hi mom.” I said looking down at my feet as my heels bounced off the cabinet.
“Bella! Hi sweetie. How are you?”
“Good.”
“How’s Edward?”
“He’s good.” Perfect as usual. “You called me earlier?”
“Oh right, right. Scarlet is going to be heading your way.” She said with excitement, pausing. Most likely waiting for my just as excited response.
“Oh wow, really?” I asked, forcing my voice to raise with the false excitement to please her.
“Yeah, she said she was going to try and get a hold of you!”
“Why is she coming to Forks?”
“Oh, no not Forks. Seattle.” She corrected as my brow slowly creased. Seattle as of late was the wrong place to be. A massive amounts of killings have been spreading through the city and they’ve yet to find a reasoning or suspect. The Cullen’s are hell bent on the reasoning being new born vampires. It wouldn’t surprise me, nothing really surprises me anymore.
“W-why Seattle? Is she not aware of the killings?”
“She said she wasn’t staying there long…” Her voice slowly faded with concern. “Why do you think that it’s getting bad?”
“Yeah mom, really bad. She shouldn’t go. Charlie won’t let me go even with Edward and his sister.”
“Well, Charlie was always a bit overprotected.”
“I think in this case it’s kind of necessary. When is she coming? Does she want me to come and get her?”
“I don’t think so? She said she’d find her way there. And, if Charlie doesn‘t want you to go than neither do I.”
“Charlie is going to want Scarlet here-”
“Is Scarlet coming?” Charlie asked coming into the kitchen. His officer jacket over his shoulder and tackle box in hand. I sighed and nodded my head, placing my hand over the receiver.
“Yeah, mom said she’s going to in Seattle.”
“What? No, absolutely not! She’s going to the airport and that is all.” He said sternly as I sighed.
“I know dad but-”
“Tell Charlie that I’m going to talk to Scarlet and see if she’ll postpone her trip another time.”
“Do you two want to talk?” I asked looking at Charlie as they both said ‘no’ at the same time. I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Ok, fine. Talk to Scarlet, tell her to call me later.”
“Ok sweetie. Tell Edward I said hello.”
“Will do.” I said jumping from the counter, ready to get rid of the phone. “Love you mom.”
“Love you too honey, bye.”
“Bye.” I knew as soon as the phone went on the hook Charlie was glaring at my back. Sighing I turned slowly to look at him, crossing my arms over my chest. “She’s going to try and talk Scar into staying until everything settles.” I shrugged.
“Well good. I don’t want you going there to get her, or her dragging you there for some shopping spree.” He said shaking his head and turning towards the door. Scarlet and me were complete opposites. She was outgoing and loud, humorous and always looking for something to do, a scene to cause.
Charlie was more like myself in the sense that we liked our low-key, quiet lives. When Scarlet came to visit him in those little times she did, they mostly fought. Him set in his overprotective ways and she not having the capacity to listen to order or to be held down by it. She was a ‘free spirit’ or at least that’s what she liked to refer to herself as.
“I doubt it would be for a shopping spree. She knows I don’t go for that kind of thing.”
“She’d find a way to get you into the city with her. They have libraries and book stores there Bells.”
“Well, whatever. Either way, I’m not going. She’ll come a different time. It’s too dangerous.”
“I’m glad you finally think so.” He said a little unsure as I smirked a little.
“Well Edward had a little to do with that.” He shook his head grunting something in response.
“Bye Bella.” He said heading for the door. He was still not pleased with Edward since everything I went through when he left. I suppose I should be grateful or happy for the fact that my father paid enough attention to my mental little break down. However, now it was just getting to the point of over doing it. Edward was back and not going anywhere again, I guess it’s just hard for Charlie to grasp that.
“Good morning Charlie.” I heard the angel like voice say from the front door as a smile spread over my face.
“Edward.” My dad responded shortly before moving past Edward and making his way to the car. Edward shut the door behind him, walking into the kitchen with an arm filled with envelops.
“Hello love.” He smiled my favorite smile before settling himself in a seat.
“Aren’t we leaving?” I asked still standing as he looked up at me, spreading the papers across my kitchen table.
“In a moment. Sit.” He said pushing the chair beside me out with his foot quickly. I sighed and sat myself across from him.
“Don’t you think I filled out enough of these?” I asked arching a brow at him and placing my hand around the side of my neck and leaning my elbow down on the table. He shrugged slightly spreading out the more, and what seemed like endless college applications.
“Never hurts to fill out a few more. Just incase.” He said raising his beautiful topaz eyes to mine with that perfect smile, flashing his teeth.
“I don’t understand the point, I’m not going to be able to be in college once-”
“Humor me.” He said pushing a paper towards me as I sighed and started filling out the repetitive questions. I barely had to look at the page anymore to know what was next. “So Scarlet believes that she won’t be harmed in Seattle?”
“Who knows what Scarlet believes.” I said with a little more bitterness to my words than I intended.
“You rarely speak of her.” He said, not as a question. I rose my eyes back to his as he watched me intently.
“There isn’t really much to say.” I shrug.
“Did you get along as children?” He asked tilting his head to one side.
“As much as any sisters would. She left for college in New York when I was thirteen and came back only for holidays or special occasions. So I didn’t really do a whole lot of growing with her. Then from there she moved around the country, going place to place never staying there long enough to get a real address.” I shrug again. I looked back down at the paper I was filling out and away from his inquisitive gaze.
“She chose an interesting time to come back. Was she not aware of what is going on?” He asked after a moment of looking me over.
“She has to of known. She most likely thought it wouldn’t of bothered her, or she would have been able to avoid it.”
“Perhaps its for the fact of Graduation in a week and a half?” He suggested as I felt my hand clamp harder around the pen in my hand. Was it really that short a time away? I almost had forgotten that, or possible tried to put it completely out of my mind ignoring what was to come after. Not that I didn’t want it to happen, the infinite future to have with this beautiful creature before me. I suppose it was facing the let down I was sure to cause my mother and father. Scarlet would have never of known the difference. I guess when she’s fifty and I’m still in the body I posses now she might become a little curious, however it’s doubtful.
I shake my head to my own bitterness, raising my eyes to meet Edward’s. His perfect dark brow arched slightly as he looked towards me. I quickly searched my brain for the pervious question he asked me that brought on the jumble of questions racking it.
“I-I guess that could be one reason.” I sighed. “Renee would have mentioned it though.” I pointed out.
“Maybe it’s a surprise?” I shrug again. The though of just being aggravated at my sister was doing me fine for now. I had no desire to justify her actions. She never did, so why should I give her the satisfaction?
“They all know I hate surprises.” I grumble as he kept watching my face. I kept my eyes focused on the paper in front of me, knowing my name I still struggled with writing it under the intensity of his gaze that burned into the side of my face.
“All the more to do it.” I sigh with a slight roll of my eyes that he of course catches. Him and all of his perfection would never ware on me or get old however, aggravating was a totally different thing. “Maybe she just wants to see you?” He offered. “I’m sure Renee has told her all about your new life here and perhaps she wants to come and see for herself. She loves you Bella, there is no doubt in my mind about that.”
“You don’t know her.” I let out in a soft breath, knowing he heard it.
“That may be but, I know you. And I know it is incredible hard not to love you.” I felt heat rush to my cheeks. How can he be so charming when I am trying to be mad. I heard the softly movement beside me and then completely aware of how close we were to one another. His cool fingers brushed the heat down on my cheeks as I slowly rose my eyes to his and all aggravation seeped slowly from my body. “What is it that really worries you, love?”
“What do you mean?” I asked innocently.
“About your sister and her coming here. Is it to do with the dream this morning?” He explained as I shrugged.
“No, not the dream… I just don’t want her to think she can handle herself. Like, what’s going on in Seattle isn’t a big deal. She rarely takes things seriously and I know she‘ll find trouble there and the next day in the paper I don‘t want to open up to familiar name in the obituaries.”
“Well, maybe Charlie or your mother can break through to her.” He reasoned as I sighed. Not likely.
“Yeah…”
*
I really had not been thinking about Graduation. It was a week, just one week from today and I thought my heart surely stopped upon reading the poster board Alice pointed out to me. I didn’t understand her ideas of throwing me a Graduation party, or why she was explaining it to me so soon, graduations in my mind being months away. Little did I actually know, it wasn’t. I sighed as I walked with Edward through my classes.
Scarlet. She was sure to be showing herself soon enough. Renee and Charlie both had got her to stay away for now. Neither of them knowing her exact whereabouts. She had said something about being in California, enjoying the sun. Something to me, about her voice seemed off.
I talked to her a few nights ago, after the long conversation we had about the killings becoming worse. The news and everyone seemed to suspecting a serial killer. However, my vampire family knew the real reason. Not the actual who. That was the real problem. An army of newborns are being created. But, we can’t figure out who, or why? Edward is set on it being the Volturi. Jealous of Carlisle and his large family. Everyone seemed to have their own theories, what was certain was that they were going to fight, and that scared me more than the Volturi themselves. We’d be out numbered but not out skilled, as Jasper put it. But, that didn’t mean they’d be faster and stronger, something that just thinking about it made my stomach churn. What if one of them didn’t return as I sat back and waited in safety. What if that someone was… I didn’t even want to think about it.
Scarlet had told me that she would be here for my Graduation and she couldn’t wait to see me. She was ‘close by’, the way she put it made me tense. It seemed like she was giving me a double meaning in her words, like I should know what she was feeding me but she never gave up anything more. I just summed it up to me being completely stressed these past couple weeks. Everything was going to seem like a conspiracy against me.
I still was able to go through the motions of school, not really paying attention but alive enough to pretend. I wanted to just get this over with, be graduated and have it behind me. Have whatever it was that was chasing me, behind me. Have my sister coming here behind me. I wanted it all done with.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket jolting my out of my thoughts. I felt around for a moment before looking at the familiar name on the screen. Scarlet.
“Hello.”
“Isabella Maire Swan, is that really anyway to greet your loving and beautiful sister?”
“Hello Scarlet, better?”
“Ouch. Wake up on the wrong side of the bed Little Bells?”
“No, I was just…” I sighed softly shaking my head. “I have a class I need to get too, what’s up?”
“I suppose you’ve heard from mom ‘bout my visiting?”
“Yeah, uh, do you think that’s wise since-”
“I’ll be fine. Nothing can stop me from seeing my favorite sister.”
“I’m your only sister.”
“Which makes my statement true. So, how are things?”
“Good.”
“What’s with the one word answers? You regressing back to your teen years of angst?” I sighed once more making my way to my next class.
“No, I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Are you and um, Ed-Edward? Is that it? Are you guys alright?” I smiled a little to the mention of his name, I still can’t help that.
“Yeah, we’re fine. Never better actually.”
“You know if you ever need anyone to talk to I’m there for you Bella. Really.”
“I know.”
“Good. So, I plan on coming next week sometime. I’ll give you and dad a call when I’m at the airport. He’s none too please with this whole ordeal and I have strict orders from the Sherriff to stay put in that damn airport and to not move a muscle until I see him.” She chuckled, trying to impersonate our father as I couldn’t help the smile that broke across my face.
“That was pretty spot on.”
“I know right? It’s creepy.” We both chuckled as she sighed through you phone. “I missed you Bells.”
“I miss you too, but hey, we’ll see each other soon. How long has it been?”
“Too long.”
“Last Christmas?”
“No, I skipped, remember. I was in London, on uh, work.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right. What work?”
“Some firm. So, anyways I’ll see you in a week little sister, I don’t want you being late for class. Say hi to uh, Edmund or Eli or whatever for me.” I chuckled rolling my eyes.
“You know his name.”
“Edward.” She said exasperated.
“Thank you. Bye Scar.”
“Bye Bells.”
Chapter Two
Scarlet’s POV
The sun started to fade in the horizon as the Seattle skyline began to come alive with twinkling lights. I sighed heavily as flipped my phone shut and tossed it onto my hotel bed. It buzzed against the bedding. Renee. I didn’t even have to look. Three voice mails already telling me to stay away from Seattle, that I would get an ear full from Charlie if I went at this time. The Killings. They both said in a matched worried disgust. I chuckled with a shake of my head, if they only knew.
I do feel bad for my sister. Poor girl, dealing with the both of them, hounding on her constantly. I miss her. I honestly can’t believe she’s already graduating. Seems like just yesterday I was carrying her on my back in our yard in Phoenix, her child like giggles and bouncy mahogany curls in pig tails. That’s how I always remembered my baby sister, innocent and beautiful. I haven’t heard from her in months makes me disgusted I had let myself wait this long. Just to hear her beautiful voice again would be enough to make this visit worth it. Even if I don’t finish what I came to accomplish, however I knew I would.
My life has been this way since the day after my eighteenth birthday. I was welcomed into the underworld that no one knows of. That people secretly fear and hope and pray to God that it never really would become true. It is, and those poor soul’s prayers were just going unanswered. Here, there was no God, just the evil that roamed and stalked the night, haunting and thriving for the simple sound of a beating heart. Blood pulsing through hot veins, alive and pure that they wanted to just sink their teeth into.
I smirk at nightfall. It’s time once again for me to leave and stalk the stalker. I stuff my rosary beads between my breasts, giving it a simple kiss and small wish of security. No God, but these were given to me by someone special when everything started to change. The closer to my beating heart it lied the more comfort I felt. Something to give me hope to survive a fight from the damned and unbreakable.
“Good-night Ms. Swan.” The doorman winked at me as I exited the ritzy hotel I was keeping my things in. I never slept. Not with the nightmares, not anymore. I smiled back sweetly as his eyes scanned over my body a little too long for my liking, but he was young so, I allowed it shrugging it off.
I tugged my leather jacket tighter to my bust and listen. Shuffle of quickly moving feet, the steady sound of forced breathing, a hiss, a growl, whimpers anything, just listening and waiting.
Seattle has been a war zone for days now and it took the second headline in my news paper to know what the case really was. Newborns. They were easy to rid of usually but, something about these… They kept growing. Someone that had control of their thirst and were creating them, creating more for a reason but I couldn’t understand why. I turned a corner when I heard it. The whimper of a muffled scream.
Snapping my head in the direction of the alleyway I slowly entered the darkness, cloaking my body underneath it and saw them. Three. It wasn’t going to be hard. Sliding my body hard against the bricks of the cold alleyway, my back covered in leather slowly moved down to the grimy ground. Out stretching my leg and pulling my body, then the other and so on until I was right there. Silence was key. They could smell me, I knew that but, they were too enamored with the poor soul they had inches from their deadly teeth to notice my approach.
I pounced just as their face was disappeared into the nape of the blonde girl’s neck. Their stone body collided hard with mine as we stopped against the metal of a dumpster. The imprint of his body was left as I held my arm out around his neck. He snarled and hissed, trying with all his strength to move. Newborns were always stronger. He broke my hold and spun my body hard against the alleyway bricks.
My skull cracked, echoing through the narrow space as his lip pulled back over his teeth in a sickening smile. I narrowed my eyes, kicking my foot out as my thick soled boot connected with his stomach. He flew back, breaking through the brick wall of the building across from me. The girl’s eyes widened at the hole as the Newborn flew back at me. I ducked and darted out of the way just in time as he stopped himself from smacking into the next building.
The others stood watching, waiting for their in. I kept them in my peripheral vision, and the girl just as close. One broke away from the other, tossing the poor girl into the steal arms of my other audience member. I was pressed between the too. Their teeth inches from my neck, chest, back. My arms were twisted behind me as my chest pushed against the marble of the Newborn man in front of me.
He had to be at least early twenties. Beautiful, with his strong jaw bone, and perfect nose, round full lips with a moppy head of blonde hair and blazing, sickeningly red eyes. They dug into mine as I kept my heart rate steady. He smelt me, skimming his icy nose against the side of my throat to my hair.
“Beautiful.” He murmured as I just growled in response. “Stand still.” He said softly, leaning into me. I felt his hard teeth open against my skin and I braced myself. I clenched my eyes and gritted my teeth as the girl’s high pitched scream rolled through the two buildings, almost vibrating through my body. The other moved my hair off my neck and watched intently as the other sunk his teeth in.
It always felt like hot lava flowing through me instead of blood. I swallowed hard as he took in my blood, sucking vigorously, greedily on my neck as my breath became labored. I felt him detach himself, and stumble back. He wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand spitting my it from his mouth, his brow creased and face in pure disgust. I smirked, grasping my neck as I put pressure on the gaping wound, which was already slowly starting to heal.
His eyebrows furrowed deeper as he fell forward onto his hands and knees. The other two went to his side, snapping their heads at me as I just smirked and slowly backed myself away, going to the girl. They never did learn. As my blood moved through his system his body began to tremble, like a artic breeze just rolled through his veins. The others asked if he was alright, what was going on.
“Just wait.” I said darkly as they snapped their heads back to me and back to him. Then it stopped, the convulsing and shaking. His body fell to the moist concrete and combusted. Dust covered the ground where he once laid and the others stepped away quickly with wide, red eyes. The girl trembled at the scene before her against the wall. I walked to her outstretching my hand as she ignored it. I quickly grabbed her and put her behind me. “We don’t have much time, they’ll be more, we only have two minuets.”
“How do you-” She stammered as I shook my head, grabbing her hand and started running. The others kept their faces down at the remains of their friend, as we hurried past.
“Go to the hospital.” I said to the girl as we stopped from our run when I heard her breathing get heavier. She shook her head and I shook mine with a sigh. “Don’t argue with me, you’re traumatized.”
“Wh-wh-what were those -”
“That doesn’t matter. Just go!” I said shoving her as she stumbled and then ran again. I watched her cross the street safely, a few car horns and yells from their windows, but she made it to the stoop of the large hospital running through the doors.
I sighed turning my attention back towards the darken alleyway I knew they were waiting. I could feel their seething anger, hear their hisses, and growls.
“You shouldn’t exist!” I heard a beautiful, angelic voice say from the shadows. I furrowed my brow for a moment. A woman, I wasn’t expecting that.
“Nether should you.” I spat back as she growled louder. The wind rolled through us and I smelt something familiar roll along with it. My stomach twisted slightly to the scent. I stepped into the darkness seeing her. Her hair billowed from her perfect heart shaped face in fiery red waves. There was at least ten more behind her but they kept their distance from me, knees bending and hands clenched ready for an attack when the command was sent. “Who are you?”
“No questions!” She hissed. I nodded. “Who are you?”
“You just said no questions.” I smirked as she stepped forward then stopped. I could smell her icy, sweetness from her breath, chest raising and falling heavily in still seething anger as it came across my face.
“Slayers were killed off centuries ago! You are not one of them! You are an impostor!”
“I’m sure your friend back there would beg to differ.” I said crossing my arms over my chest. I ranked my eyes slowly over her body and caught something that didn’t fit. A sweater, red and bright against her snowy white skin. My stomach twisted once more at the familiar scent washing from this vampire, from that sweater. “Perhaps you would like to see for yourself?” I asked stepping towards her as she quickly took one back. I smirked. Her narrowed red eyes disappeared before me as I looked up watching them all scale the walls and run. Cowards.