The Guard
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 04
With her fully charged phone tucked safely into her pocket, Rose peered around carefully as she gained the bottom of the stairs, quickly spying her husband, his full focus captured by the loud, violent game he was playing on the massive flat-screen.
She had made quite certain his 'other needs' had been fully met earlier, and she knew he would be quite content planted in front of the TV for the next few hours. He wouldn't even notice she was missing. Her Monkey Man was nothing if not predictable.
The rest of the family were engaged in various other things. Alice and Jasper because of their gifts, being the main couple she had to worry with, were in Jasper's study, both knee-deep in canceling everything involved in the wedding that would not be. They had cut it close, and now appeasing the many vendors and guests was turning out to be a huge pain in the ass, not to mention expensive. She smiled as she thought of it because their stress only worked to her advantage. Well, that and she hadn't wanted the wedding to take place in the first place, idiot human that Bella was for wanting to join this life in the first place.
Carlisle and Esme had gone to Seattle to meet with some friends who had already arrived. They were busy entertaining them before sending them on their way. They felt it was the least they could do for their dear friends' trouble, especially since the group of them had traveled from over-seas to be here for Edward's momentous occasion. She couldn't hold back a sneer at the thought.
After one last cautious look around, she made her way to the back door and quietly slipped out before taking off toward the thick forest.
Once she was well out of range of any hearing and gifts, she hopped up on a boulder, pulled out her phone and made the call.
"What is it?"
Her lip curled at his curt greeting. "Hello to you too, dear brother."
She heard him sigh. "I don't exactly have time for niceties, Rose, so why are you calling?"
"I take it you've managed to stay ahead of them?"
"Only just," he replied, sounding harassed. "Demetri's very good, but no match for my gift. I'm able to hear him from miles away, but admittedly, Bella slows me down."
She rolled her eyes. "Why do you insist on dragging the stupid human around then? Either leave her behind for them," he interrupted with a growl, "or finish this. Drain her and in the process, save your skinny ass. You're playing a dangerous game, one I can no longer help you with."
"Look, I appreciate the help you've been, but you're right, they're on my ass now and there's no more you can do. I can handle this. Don't worry."
"Don't worry," she scoffed. "Edward, you may be a pain in the ass, but you're my brother and I don't want to see you toasted over the human bitch. She's done something to you; ever since you left her, you've been changing, and not for the better." She sighed. "Just suck her dry—I know you want to—and be done with this! Once she's ended, the Volturi will most likely tire of chasing you and go on about their business. Aro knows you're Carlisle's favorite, and Carlisle has Aro's favor. Once his ire cools, he'll call off his dogs and our lives—our family—can go back to what it once was. Please, brother."
On the other end of the connection, a very flustered looking Edward cast his black gaze over to his singer, her pungent, mouthwatering blood calling to him stronger than ever as the virtual flames in his throat burned higher and hotter than he'd ever experienced before. He choked down yet another mouthful of scorching venom. "You may have a point," he rasped as his eyes zeroed in on the throbbing pulse in the human girl's delicate neck. "Why have I resisted all this time?" He muttered, seemingly lost in thought.
"Because you didn't want to disappoint Daddy dearest," Rose sneered. "But Edward, he loves you best, brother. He always has," she said, her tone sad, yet somehow full of resentment. "He will understand. He'll forgive you. He always does."
"And you, Rose? Will you forgive me?" he asked, sounding more vulnerable than he ever had before.
"Of course," she murmured. "Why do you think I made this call? I just want my brother—my family—back."
"All right, Rose," he quietly agreed. "You're right, she's done something to me, since the day I met her, she's been all I could think about. Her blood…just the scent of it intoxicates me—makes me do irrational things, but now it's time to end it; end my suffering, satisfy this craving that's slowly driving me insane…"
"Yes!" she encouraged, her hand clutching her phone tightly as she listened to him reason it out. "You'll be all right once you give in to your need! I'm sure of it! Emmett completely lost it when he met his singer, but was fine once he'd drained her, remember? Your resistance and the resulting obsession isn't healthy. Drain her, Edward. Sate your thirst and then come back to us when it's safe."
"Okay," he whispered, a predatory gleam in his black eyes as he watched Bella fidget on the couch. "I'll call you when I can."
Their call disconnected and Rose lowered the phone as a satisfied smirk curled her lips. "Finally," she whispered while gazing up into the trees and the grey sky beyond. "Finally."
~o0o~
Bella eyed her captor warily as he raked his fingers through his disheveled hair while pocketing his phone.
She hadn't been privy to his conversation as he'd kept his tone too low for her to hear, but the way he was now watching her, his black gaze manic and hungry, was worrying, to say the least.
She was weak and feeling sick and it was probably due to the fact that the only nourishment she'd had had been through the IV she'd been hooked to the first few days while she'd been drugged and tied to a bed. They'd been running since then—three days? Four? She wasn't sure anymore as there were still times he would inject her with sedatives, so he wouldn't have to deal with her, she was certain.
She realized her mind was wandering when he moved closer to her, his gaze locked on her exposed neck. She moved a hand to cover it and his smile widened.
Worrying… In any other circumstance, she would have snorted at such a tremendous understatement to describe her situation, but she was too busy being absolutely terrified, especially as she watched his manic expression.
"Isabella," he drawled as he cocked his head. "It seems our time together is drawing to a close. Our story is finally ending." He approached and lightly traced her cheek with his cold fingers. She shuddered. "But it's no surprise, is it?"
She licked her dry lips. "I guess. The only surprise may be the kind of end you have in mind," she murmured, her voice trembling with fright even as she held his gaze.
His smile grew. "Why, it will end the only way it could for a lion and a lamb, my sweet little human. The way it should have ended the first day we were unfortunate enough to meet."
She swallowed heavily, her heart feeling like it would beat its way out of her chest any second. "You're going to kill me," she stated, for there was no question in her mind. The answer was there, in his eyes—eyes she had seen before, on that fateful first day in biology.
He drew her up from the couch, pulling her snug against him, his arms easily holding her full weight as her legs failed her. "Yes," he stated simply, his tone congenial as he tenderly tucked some stray hair behind her ear before sweeping the rest behind her shoulder. "We always knew this was a possibility, didn't we? I even told you to stay away, didn't I? But did you listen?"
"No, I didn't," she said, as bitter resentment leaked into her voice. "It will be my greatest regret."
"Bella, Bella, Bella," he said with a sad look. "Don't worry, love," he murmured. "It's a regret you won't have to suffer for long, my sweet, sweet little human. I'll see to it."
With that, he took out a pocket knife, flipped it open and made a cut in her neck, his actions too fast and blade too sharp for her to register what he'd done as he sealed his lips over the incision and began to suck.
A gasp escaped her parted lips when she felt the heavy draw on her blood, her head feeling light and vision swimming as her already weakened body began to succumb quickly to the blood loss.
'Oh god,' she thought as sorrow filled her. 'I don't want to die. Not like this…not with him.'
She stared at the barren wall behind Edward, her eyes becoming blank and glassy as he literally drained the life from her, but she blinked in confusion moments later as his head snapped up.
He hissed and the next thing she knew, she was in his arms, they were outside and he was running.
'Demetri, it has to be,' she thought with hope as Edward adjusted his hold on her and picked up speed.
As her head lolled over his arm, her blood continued to flow from the cut, spattering and becoming cold and congealed on the shoulder of her shirt as the wind passed over her body. She noticed none of this however, as her thoughts took on a dark mien. 'If I live through this,' she promised herself, 'I will see this fucker burn.'
~o0o~
On a boulder miles away, sat a hulk of a vampire, his legs crossed and back straight, his disciplined mind completely quiet even as his senses remained alert.
He was watching…listening…scenting the gentle wind, for any signs of his quarry.
Shockingly, he smelled the blood first. For some reason, it stood out to him more than any blood he'd ever smelled, and for an ancient such as he, that was saying something.
Such a curiosity intrigued him, but he stifled it. He didn't want to give away his presence by actively thinking, not when his mark was this close. There would be time enough to contemplate later, when the little asshole was caught.
Soon enough, the unmistakable sound of running tickled the edge of his consciousness followed by the distinct scent of the mind-reader. It was almost time to act, but he held his place until the scrawny bastard was closer. He was tired of the chase and he knew his brother was beyond fed up with it too.
Demetri was a proud being, not to mention a hot head and being bested by a mark, even temporarily, wasn't something he tolerated well.
He felt a smirk quirk the corner of his lips as the mind-reader came into view.
It was time to move out and end this.
With nary a thought, his body was off the boulder and moving, flashing through the trees with breathtaking speed, especially for one as large as he.
His speed; it was something he prided himself on. No one ever suspected he could move as fast as he did, and that, combined with his fighting prowess, was many an adversary's downfall.
As it would be today.
Before the mind-reader even made it into the little hunting cabin, he was upon him and the two skidded to a halt facing off, the mind-reader crouched and hissing even as he clutched his prey, for that's what she was to him, there was no doubt in Felix's mind.
He smirked. "Give it up, child. You won't outrun me and your human will only suffer if you try."
"Mine!" the crazed mind-reader growled and Felix felt something within him rebel at that. It was as if there was a band around his chest tightening at the thought and he didn't like it a bit. Nor did he like the sight of her bloodied form in the shifty little bastard's hold. 'Fuck. What's wrong with me?' he wondered even as he shifted on his feet with every subtle move of his mark.
"You won't take her! She's mine to finish!"
Felix beat back his personal feelings and cocked a brow. "Master Aro has ordered her retrieval as well as yours. That is my mission and I will see it done."
The mind-reader hissed again and sneered, "You'll have to catch me first." He took off but looked at Felix in shock as he easily kept pace with him.
Again, they skidded to a stop and faced off, only now the mind-reader looked panicked, his gaze darting around for an escape before settling back on the patient form of Felix who smiled. "Ready to concede?" He was keeping his cool, but inside he was worried. The human's heart beat was now dangerously slow, dangerously weak. If he didn't end this soon, she would die and something primal within him—something he couldn't yet put a name to—roared in anguish at the notion. He just couldn't allow that to happen.
"You won't escape, mind-reader!" he growled, his fists clenching and massive muscles coiling to strike. "I vow it." He allowed himself to picture the outcome of his attack in his mind and the mind-reader whimpered, his black eyes wild as he shifted in place.
Almost before Felix could react, the little human's body was flying toward him and he barely caught her, pulling her into his chest gently as the mind-reader took off into the trees.
What to do?! He looked down at her still form while listening to the slow, shallow thud of her heart. She was dying. She only had minutes left, if that, he knew, and if he took the time to go after the mind-reader, she would not survive.
With tenderness he didn't know he possessed, he nuzzled under her jaw, taking her scent deeply into his lungs as his eyes closed and he knew…in that moment, he knew, he couldn't lose her.
With that last realization, his decision was made and he parted his lips, placed his mouth over the deep cut and bit as a deep, instinctive purr began to rumble in his chest.
With her fully charged phone tucked safely into her pocket, Rose peered around carefully as she gained the bottom of the stairs, quickly spying her husband, his full focus captured by the loud, violent game he was playing on the massive flat-screen.
She had made quite certain his 'other needs' had been fully met earlier, and she knew he would be quite content planted in front of the TV for the next few hours. He wouldn't even notice she was missing. Her Monkey Man was nothing if not predictable.
The rest of the family were engaged in various other things. Alice and Jasper because of their gifts, being the main couple she had to worry with, were in Jasper's study, both knee-deep in canceling everything involved in the wedding that would not be. They had cut it close, and now appeasing the many vendors and guests was turning out to be a huge pain in the ass, not to mention expensive. She smiled as she thought of it because their stress only worked to her advantage. Well, that and she hadn't wanted the wedding to take place in the first place, idiot human that Bella was for wanting to join this life in the first place.
Carlisle and Esme had gone to Seattle to meet with some friends who had already arrived. They were busy entertaining them before sending them on their way. They felt it was the least they could do for their dear friends' trouble, especially since the group of them had traveled from over-seas to be here for Edward's momentous occasion. She couldn't hold back a sneer at the thought.
After one last cautious look around, she made her way to the back door and quietly slipped out before taking off toward the thick forest.
Once she was well out of range of any hearing and gifts, she hopped up on a boulder, pulled out her phone and made the call.
"What is it?"
Her lip curled at his curt greeting. "Hello to you too, dear brother."
She heard him sigh. "I don't exactly have time for niceties, Rose, so why are you calling?"
"I take it you've managed to stay ahead of them?"
"Only just," he replied, sounding harassed. "Demetri's very good, but no match for my gift. I'm able to hear him from miles away, but admittedly, Bella slows me down."
She rolled her eyes. "Why do you insist on dragging the stupid human around then? Either leave her behind for them," he interrupted with a growl, "or finish this. Drain her and in the process, save your skinny ass. You're playing a dangerous game, one I can no longer help you with."
"Look, I appreciate the help you've been, but you're right, they're on my ass now and there's no more you can do. I can handle this. Don't worry."
"Don't worry," she scoffed. "Edward, you may be a pain in the ass, but you're my brother and I don't want to see you toasted over the human bitch. She's done something to you; ever since you left her, you've been changing, and not for the better." She sighed. "Just suck her dry—I know you want to—and be done with this! Once she's ended, the Volturi will most likely tire of chasing you and go on about their business. Aro knows you're Carlisle's favorite, and Carlisle has Aro's favor. Once his ire cools, he'll call off his dogs and our lives—our family—can go back to what it once was. Please, brother."
On the other end of the connection, a very flustered looking Edward cast his black gaze over to his singer, her pungent, mouthwatering blood calling to him stronger than ever as the virtual flames in his throat burned higher and hotter than he'd ever experienced before. He choked down yet another mouthful of scorching venom. "You may have a point," he rasped as his eyes zeroed in on the throbbing pulse in the human girl's delicate neck. "Why have I resisted all this time?" He muttered, seemingly lost in thought.
"Because you didn't want to disappoint Daddy dearest," Rose sneered. "But Edward, he loves you best, brother. He always has," she said, her tone sad, yet somehow full of resentment. "He will understand. He'll forgive you. He always does."
"And you, Rose? Will you forgive me?" he asked, sounding more vulnerable than he ever had before.
"Of course," she murmured. "Why do you think I made this call? I just want my brother—my family—back."
"All right, Rose," he quietly agreed. "You're right, she's done something to me, since the day I met her, she's been all I could think about. Her blood…just the scent of it intoxicates me—makes me do irrational things, but now it's time to end it; end my suffering, satisfy this craving that's slowly driving me insane…"
"Yes!" she encouraged, her hand clutching her phone tightly as she listened to him reason it out. "You'll be all right once you give in to your need! I'm sure of it! Emmett completely lost it when he met his singer, but was fine once he'd drained her, remember? Your resistance and the resulting obsession isn't healthy. Drain her, Edward. Sate your thirst and then come back to us when it's safe."
"Okay," he whispered, a predatory gleam in his black eyes as he watched Bella fidget on the couch. "I'll call you when I can."
Their call disconnected and Rose lowered the phone as a satisfied smirk curled her lips. "Finally," she whispered while gazing up into the trees and the grey sky beyond. "Finally."
~o0o~
Bella eyed her captor warily as he raked his fingers through his disheveled hair while pocketing his phone.
She hadn't been privy to his conversation as he'd kept his tone too low for her to hear, but the way he was now watching her, his black gaze manic and hungry, was worrying, to say the least.
She was weak and feeling sick and it was probably due to the fact that the only nourishment she'd had had been through the IV she'd been hooked to the first few days while she'd been drugged and tied to a bed. They'd been running since then—three days? Four? She wasn't sure anymore as there were still times he would inject her with sedatives, so he wouldn't have to deal with her, she was certain.
She realized her mind was wandering when he moved closer to her, his gaze locked on her exposed neck. She moved a hand to cover it and his smile widened.
Worrying… In any other circumstance, she would have snorted at such a tremendous understatement to describe her situation, but she was too busy being absolutely terrified, especially as she watched his manic expression.
"Isabella," he drawled as he cocked his head. "It seems our time together is drawing to a close. Our story is finally ending." He approached and lightly traced her cheek with his cold fingers. She shuddered. "But it's no surprise, is it?"
She licked her dry lips. "I guess. The only surprise may be the kind of end you have in mind," she murmured, her voice trembling with fright even as she held his gaze.
His smile grew. "Why, it will end the only way it could for a lion and a lamb, my sweet little human. The way it should have ended the first day we were unfortunate enough to meet."
She swallowed heavily, her heart feeling like it would beat its way out of her chest any second. "You're going to kill me," she stated, for there was no question in her mind. The answer was there, in his eyes—eyes she had seen before, on that fateful first day in biology.
He drew her up from the couch, pulling her snug against him, his arms easily holding her full weight as her legs failed her. "Yes," he stated simply, his tone congenial as he tenderly tucked some stray hair behind her ear before sweeping the rest behind her shoulder. "We always knew this was a possibility, didn't we? I even told you to stay away, didn't I? But did you listen?"
"No, I didn't," she said, as bitter resentment leaked into her voice. "It will be my greatest regret."
"Bella, Bella, Bella," he said with a sad look. "Don't worry, love," he murmured. "It's a regret you won't have to suffer for long, my sweet, sweet little human. I'll see to it."
With that, he took out a pocket knife, flipped it open and made a cut in her neck, his actions too fast and blade too sharp for her to register what he'd done as he sealed his lips over the incision and began to suck.
A gasp escaped her parted lips when she felt the heavy draw on her blood, her head feeling light and vision swimming as her already weakened body began to succumb quickly to the blood loss.
'Oh god,' she thought as sorrow filled her. 'I don't want to die. Not like this…not with him.'
She stared at the barren wall behind Edward, her eyes becoming blank and glassy as he literally drained the life from her, but she blinked in confusion moments later as his head snapped up.
He hissed and the next thing she knew, she was in his arms, they were outside and he was running.
'Demetri, it has to be,' she thought with hope as Edward adjusted his hold on her and picked up speed.
As her head lolled over his arm, her blood continued to flow from the cut, spattering and becoming cold and congealed on the shoulder of her shirt as the wind passed over her body. She noticed none of this however, as her thoughts took on a dark mien. 'If I live through this,' she promised herself, 'I will see this fucker burn.'
~o0o~
On a boulder miles away, sat a hulk of a vampire, his legs crossed and back straight, his disciplined mind completely quiet even as his senses remained alert.
He was watching…listening…scenting the gentle wind, for any signs of his quarry.
Shockingly, he smelled the blood first. For some reason, it stood out to him more than any blood he'd ever smelled, and for an ancient such as he, that was saying something.
Such a curiosity intrigued him, but he stifled it. He didn't want to give away his presence by actively thinking, not when his mark was this close. There would be time enough to contemplate later, when the little asshole was caught.
Soon enough, the unmistakable sound of running tickled the edge of his consciousness followed by the distinct scent of the mind-reader. It was almost time to act, but he held his place until the scrawny bastard was closer. He was tired of the chase and he knew his brother was beyond fed up with it too.
Demetri was a proud being, not to mention a hot head and being bested by a mark, even temporarily, wasn't something he tolerated well.
He felt a smirk quirk the corner of his lips as the mind-reader came into view.
It was time to move out and end this.
With nary a thought, his body was off the boulder and moving, flashing through the trees with breathtaking speed, especially for one as large as he.
His speed; it was something he prided himself on. No one ever suspected he could move as fast as he did, and that, combined with his fighting prowess, was many an adversary's downfall.
As it would be today.
Before the mind-reader even made it into the little hunting cabin, he was upon him and the two skidded to a halt facing off, the mind-reader crouched and hissing even as he clutched his prey, for that's what she was to him, there was no doubt in Felix's mind.
He smirked. "Give it up, child. You won't outrun me and your human will only suffer if you try."
"Mine!" the crazed mind-reader growled and Felix felt something within him rebel at that. It was as if there was a band around his chest tightening at the thought and he didn't like it a bit. Nor did he like the sight of her bloodied form in the shifty little bastard's hold. 'Fuck. What's wrong with me?' he wondered even as he shifted on his feet with every subtle move of his mark.
"You won't take her! She's mine to finish!"
Felix beat back his personal feelings and cocked a brow. "Master Aro has ordered her retrieval as well as yours. That is my mission and I will see it done."
The mind-reader hissed again and sneered, "You'll have to catch me first." He took off but looked at Felix in shock as he easily kept pace with him.
Again, they skidded to a stop and faced off, only now the mind-reader looked panicked, his gaze darting around for an escape before settling back on the patient form of Felix who smiled. "Ready to concede?" He was keeping his cool, but inside he was worried. The human's heart beat was now dangerously slow, dangerously weak. If he didn't end this soon, she would die and something primal within him—something he couldn't yet put a name to—roared in anguish at the notion. He just couldn't allow that to happen.
"You won't escape, mind-reader!" he growled, his fists clenching and massive muscles coiling to strike. "I vow it." He allowed himself to picture the outcome of his attack in his mind and the mind-reader whimpered, his black eyes wild as he shifted in place.
Almost before Felix could react, the little human's body was flying toward him and he barely caught her, pulling her into his chest gently as the mind-reader took off into the trees.
What to do?! He looked down at her still form while listening to the slow, shallow thud of her heart. She was dying. She only had minutes left, if that, he knew, and if he took the time to go after the mind-reader, she would not survive.
With tenderness he didn't know he possessed, he nuzzled under her jaw, taking her scent deeply into his lungs as his eyes closed and he knew…in that moment, he knew, he couldn't lose her.
With that last realization, his decision was made and he parted his lips, placed his mouth over the deep cut and bit as a deep, instinctive purr began to rumble in his chest.
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.