Four

Chapter Four

“I’m human, not stupid?  Now what the hell is going on?  No more games!”
Seeing her like this even in her human shell was divine, she was spirited and vivacious.  I could see now why she had intrigued not only Aro but Marcus as well.  She had to qualities suited to the makings of a stunning immortal, and I couldn’t wait to see the outcome.  

I was furious and indignant when Aro had suggested that I accompany the guard in their retrieval of the human, Isabella.  What care had I in their new project, it was only when Aro told me of vile notions he had heard in the boys thoughts and that of the psychic’s visions that I found myself on our private jet bound for the America’s.  As much as I hated the human race I was never much inclined to play with my food.  

The girl had risked life and limb to see Edward Cullen safe, she had faced myself and my two brothers and begged us to kill her all in hopes that the Cullen boy would be spared.  And his idea of payment for that debt made my long since dead insides crawl.  I wanted the Cullen dead and if I had my way, he would be.

My thoughts shifted quickly as the Fae-like creature gave her explanations to Isabella to the moment I had seen her, Isabella, out in that field.  Shaken with grief and fear as Jane threatened to end the life of the young newborn.  



Hearing the Cullens in the distance was somewhat enjoyable, they were a perplexing coven… no their were not a coven.  But they were interesting to Aro and completely infuriating to me.  To have come out unscathed after their grave misdeed- telling a human of our existence and allowing them to live was an offense punishable only by death.  However, due to Aro kinship with Carlisle they were spared their lives if they complied with our wishes in changing the human girl.  

I knew that Aro coveted her as his own, why would he not, she was greatly gifted even as a human.  But what had forced me on this expedition puzzled me.  I found myself agreeing to come without a moments hesitation and before I realized what I was doing.  

“The Volturi doesn’t grant second chances.  Keep that in mind.  Caius would be interested to know that she’s still human.”  Jane informed them, truthfully glancing over her shoulder in my direction.  “Wouldn’t you.”

I chuckled at her antics.  ‘Well, well, Edward. I see you haven’t eaten your human yet, whatever are you waiting for?’  I asked his through his mind connection to mine.

He crouched down low in front of her as if he could protect his kill from me.  ‘If I wanted her boy, I would take her.  Do you really think you could stop me?’

“Edward,”  Carlisle asked low.  “What is it?”  

“Caius.”  He snarled and caused me to laugh.

Stepping out from under my cover of thick spruce and moss I showed myself and the little humans heart was racing with anticipation.  Mmmm, delicious.  When she came into view I sucked in an unneeded breath, she was absolute stunning.  I had seen her in Volterra but for some reason my perfect memory seemed to be lacking.  

Her eyes widened at the sight of me as I stopped in front of Carlisle and she let out a small laugh.  Many of the Olympic Coven turned to her briefly, surly questioning her insane outburst, and I admit I was quiet curious myself.  

Lowering the hood of my cloak and I saw the lovely Isabella’s eyes widen further, it was somewhat expected as many who see me in close proximity for the first time are shocked by my appearance, but she was not looking upon me with disgust, no it was dark bouts of lust that swirled in her rich chocolate eyes.  I noticed her inching forward, unbeknownst to herself and my eyes darkened.  She was not afraid of me.

I heard Edward Cullens growls long before his arm shot out to retrieve his pet from approaching me further.  I knew the Cullen boy hated the Volturi and especially me, he saw me as competition or so my brothers tell me.  

“Edward please.”  The beautiful blond one I hadn’t met yet, she reminded me so much of my sister.  “You’re going to get us all killed.”  

‘She’s right, Edward.  Learn your place or you will be joining the others in the fire today.’  I thought to him with a glare, my happier mood all but vanished in the presence of this selfish, spoiled brat.

“You should listen to your sister.”  Jane informed him, knowing I was moments away from losing what patience I was currently fighting to keep.

I watched the delicate creature in Edward’s grasp, she was as fragile as sugar spun glass and here he was gripping her so tightly her hand was changing color from the lack of oxygen her human body required.

“Edward, son you need to let go of Bella.”  Carlisle told him softly, it was as if he didn’t want to spook him and looking again at the young vampire I could see why.  His eyes were the color of the blackest pitch; he was thirsty and it seemed his little human pet was on the menu.  Edward’s only response to my thoughts were to tighten his hold of his prey and growl.  

“Edward,”  the human cried.  “please let me go, you’re hurting me.”  She was struggling to break free of his hold but I could see the defeat in her eyes, she knew she wouldn’t be able to free herself.  And in that moment, something shifted, powerful and profound.  I was angry, nearly boiling over with it.  I didn’t have a clear understanding of why this human in pain bothered me so greatly but as my instincts grew protective, I acted, I am for nothing else, a man of instincts.

“Release her.”  Or I will lop off your head.  I finished silently.  Looking into his eyes he struggled to keep the real him in check, he wanted nothing more than to throw my beauty to the ground, fuck her and drain her.  ‘That will not be happening Edward, she will return to Volterra with me.’  

“I will not allow you to corrupt her with your filth.”  The boy spat and I saw Jane inch forward, she would have taken any excuse to burn him.  “She would never go with you willing and…”  he trailed off lowering his voice to where only we could hear him.  “if she did I would kill her in her next breath.”

“Edward!”  Carlisle gasped.  “You don’t mean that.”  I forcible held the immature eye-roll.  Of course I knew he meant it, in fact it would seem that he was merely looking for the right time to execute his plan.  

“Of course I do.”  He replied with venom streaking down his chin.  “I would kill her before you could move.”   He made sure that none but us could hear those final words and for that I was somewhat glad, she didn’t need to hear how little she really meant to him, not yet, at least.

“Is that what you think boy?”  I asked him smugly.  “I don’t think you could do it before I removed that arrogant head from your body.  Let’s test it, shall we?”  

“Edward, please!”  Isabella begged again, and began pulling against him in earnest.  

“Carlisle,”  I warned.  “If he doesn’t release her I will have it removed, permanently.”  

“Jasper, please.”  Carlisle asked politely and I scoffed.

The bite ridden southern vampire I remembered seemed nothing more these days than a docile house cat, the Major Whitlock of old would have take out this string of newborns single handedly, then again the Jasper Whitlock of old wouldn’t be feasting on animal blood.  He had gone soft and it showed when he went for the pin and not the kill.  Huh.  It disgusted me in its wastefulness.

The human visibly winced when the Cullen was removed from her person, and nearly collapsed with the blood rush I was sure she felt.  It was verified that he had in fact broken her arm and it only further confirmed that he was indeed not her mate, no mated vampire could ever hurt their intended, human or not.  Sulpicia was no more than a girl when Aro came across her in her human state, and given his age and hers he was made to wait.  Never in that time had any harm come to her, not by his hand or the hand of any other.  This girl already barred the mark of another against the soft flesh of her wrist and it was a burden on my soul to see it there.  

I caught sight of her stare as her eyes burned a hot path up my body, and when her eyes met mine they were nearly black.  Inhaling deeply, I scented the air and it hit me like a tidal wave, the tangy sweetness of her arousal, it was thick and I could tell this pure little human was very wanton.  I held back a groan of pleasure as her cheeks heated up with the scarlet blush of her neediness and my trousers strained by the heaviness of my engorged manhood.  

I had made up my mind in that instant, this little human was coming with me. I didn’t know what purpose she would serve but I knew I would not be leaving the America’s without her and it had nothing to do with my brother edict.  

“NO!”  The young Cullen screamed thrashing against the lone boot that held him in place.  “She not going anywhere with you.”   

Inwardly I laughed in amusement as I noticed once again that my little brunette had once again started forward, she seemed drawn to me.  She came without fear it would seem and for some reason it pleased me greatly.

“Shut you mouth, you foolish boy.  I’m am tiring of this game you are trying to play.  I came here for a reason, do you really think I’d give up because you refuse to give up your pet?”  

I had to argue with Carlisle over the situation, he stupidly believed that the boy still held love for the girl he would so easily end to be kept from another man.  It was only after the clairvoyant one confirmed all that I had said did Carlisle hold his head in shame.  After Isabella had heard everything did I smell the saltiness of the air, her tears.  She would shed tears for that bastard and I wouldn’t have it, I would kill him for this infraction.

“It’s not true,”  He wailed.  “Don’t listen to her, Bella.  I love you.”  

‘You stupid, pompous, foolish-’

“Shut the fuck up, Edward.”  Jasper told him, effectively ending my ranting thought, kicking him swiftly with he free boot for good measure.”


I don’t know what had possessed me to let the new one go free, other than I could find myself being responsible for causing the little human more pain.  I’ve heard of few vampires who had gone insane with age and was starting to wonder if I, myself wasn’t defective as well.  For me to act this way was not only strange but admittedly terrifying.  Inwardly I was pulling at my hair and once again cursing my brothers for ever suggesting that I make this journey.  At first I thought they only needed my the hammer for my kind of justice but as the trip has played out I wonder if they were up to something else entirely.  Intrigued as they are, I wouldn’t put it past them.    

“So, I’m just to drop everything and run off to Volterra?”  Bella asked with more venom lacing her voice than of any vampire I had ever encountered.  

“It would please me greatly, Ma dame Isabella.”  I found myself speaking before I could stop myself.  Her cheeks flushed crimson and once again I found myself having to discreetly adjust my painful erection, though as the small dark haired one laughed I realized I was not as discreet as I would have liked.

“O-of course.”  She said breathlessly and headed back off to her bedroom.

I did not see her again until the following evening, as she and the psychic had spent most of the day at the hotel spa, she came back nearly glowing despite the ugly purple plaster on her arm.  Alice as I have been told more than once to call her whisked her off just as quickly.

I was nearing midnight and the others of the Cullen coven needed to hunt before the lengthy flight to Italy.  Jane and Demetri were guarding the door and I took the opportunity to sort through some of the strange happenings I seemed to be finding myself in as of late.  

She entered through her bedroom door and I could tell by the state of her dress she thought herself to be alone.  She was exquisite, her hair hung in lose long waves of umber, gold, and cherry.  She wore a dressing gown of thin sheer silver and it almost clung to her near naked body like a second skin, I could see the way her pert nipples reacted to the cool air of night and the light strip of dark curls that lined her sex.  

A deep resonating growl escaped my throat and her head whipped to the side, seeking out the origin of the noise.  It took her only a moment to spot me sitting in the nearby chair.  

“I’m sorry,”  she gasped wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to hide her blushing body from my sight.  “I thought I was the only one in here.”  

“It’s quite alright, Isabella.”  I told her huskily, rising from my spot and slowly encroaching on hers.  Inhaling the air around her I found myself growling again in contentment, her scent was as fragrant as any perfumes from my boyhood.  She stood still as a deer caught in the headlight, and I was afraid that any moment she might flee from me.  

I circled her once like a wolf would its pray right before the strike.  “Isabella?”  I called, lifting a lock of her mahogany hair from her shoulder and bringing to my nose, it was the most heavenly smell and I wanted to drown myself in it and then parade around for all others to enjoy.  But if I were to be honest with myself, I felt quiet possessive over it, I would most likely kill another man with that scent upon their skin.  “Je tiens ¢a vous faire goûter.”  I growled.  

She gasped taking a step further in my direction, just a step further and I could be saturated in her warmth.  ’Mon diue.’  I cursed quietly as she gripped at my shoulders, her head scolding me through the thin fabric of my waistcoat.  I could feel the venom pooling into my mouth as I imagined her glistening crimson nectar flowing into my mouth as I pumped full of my cold dead seed.  I pulled away abruptly hearing the commotion from down the hall.  It was the Cullens and Carlisle was with them.

Bella seemed to be in a daze as I pulled away from her, taking up my original seat, not wanting the others to know what had transpired between us, at least not until I figured it out for myself.  

The psychic wore a deep frown of displeasure when she entered through the door, her siblings and falsified parental unit following close behind.  

“We need to leave.”  She said as she rushed through the room, stopping in her tracks as she took in Isabella’s disheveled state.  Bella’s face was red as I had ever seen it, and I found myself thinking that I would miss it when she was one of us.  

Bella stripping from her daze, looked around her eyes furrowing before mutter, “Stupid sexy vampires,” under her breath.  Alice turned to me, her eyebrow cocked with a cheeky smile on her face, and it only led me to believe that she had seen exactly what had happened.  The nod of her head confirmed it.

“What seemed to be the problem?”  I asked in all haste, I wanted to be rid of the Cullens sooner rather than later.  

“Edward.”