DISCONTINUED- A Cure For Death (girlxgirl) || Twilight Fan Fiction ||

Chapter Four:

The Vampire's Out Of The Bag

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Previous chapter:

"You know, don't you?" I ask, my voice somewhat bitter. Bree jolts, her eyes widening impossibly.

"I don't know what you mean!" she squeaks.

"You're a merda liar, Bree." I sigh, and I look her straight in the eye, my gaze stony. "Your boyfriend and his family are vampires, and you fucking brought me to their house!" I spit out, before letting out a somewhat bitter laugh. "Thanks cuz!"

---

Her vampire boyfriend Edward snarls at me, moving too inhumanely fast for my eyes to follow, blurring over to Bree and pulling her protectively into his lap. Like I predicted, Bree didn't even blink an eyelid.

"I'm sorry Bella, but the Cullen's are good!" she tells me, her voice a mixture of hurt and upset. "I wouldn't take you anywhere dangerous! I swear!"

"She's right." Alice says, and I realize with a jolt, I'm still leaning into her, I go to move away, but her arms tug me back, and I crane my head around to look into her smoldering butterscotch eyes. "We don't hunt humans, I promise." she says, in that sweet, chiming voice, that makes me just want to melt into a big puddle of goo. "We hunt animals." she explains.

"Is that why your eyes aren't red?" I ask, as some of the tension rolls out of my body at her admission. She senses it, and smiles slightly as I relax in her arms.

"Yes," she chimes.

"How do you know about vampires?" Bree's moody looking boyfriend demands. I shoot him a withering glare.

"That's none of your business!" I hiss, at the same time as Bree speaks up.

"Wait, Bella... you said that Edward reminded you of the monsters who killed your family. Did vampires do that?" she asked, looking horrified.

You'd think that I'd have steeled myself against tears by now. Against the horror that overwhelms me when I remember that night. Well, I haven't. And Alice hugs me as I cry- I can tell it's her, smell her unique scent, feel her cold arms.

"You can tell us, Bella." she tells me, softly.

"There were three of them." My voice cracks as I begin speaking, and it takes me a few deep breaths before I can continue, "I was in the car, reading my book. Mamma was stargazing while papa and Gisella were sitting next to the fire. Papa was telling her campfire stories. The first one, James, came out of nowhere. I didn't even notice anything until mamma screamed. And h-h-he bit out her throat. He drank her blood then tossed her away like she was trash! Papa was angry. He tried to attack James, but James just picked him up and threw him at the stronzo who came out of the forest. I never learnt his name, but he had dark skin and glowing red eyes. He killed my papa! I managed to get out of the car, and I was running over, screaming at Gisella to run, but then the woman, Victoria, appeared and she ripped my little sister's throat out."

I'm crying uncontrollably at this point, but I don't even notice, I'm so lost in my memory. "I tried to attack the bitch with a wrench. It didn't work, of course, and she ended up on top of me." I let out a shuddering breath. "When I woke up in hospital, two months later, no one believed me! Hell, I wouldn't have believed me, if I didn't remember every second so damn clearly!"

Alice is rocking me, and I cling to her, crying. It never gets any easier, sharing this horror. I wonder if it ever will?

"Oh Bella, I had no idea!" Bree sobbed, squirming out of Moody's lap and wrapping her arms around me. I felt like the stuffing of a sandwich, wedged between the two girls. Well, one girl, one vampire. And I didn't really mind, except my hip was complaining- painfully so. I let out a sharp hiss of pain, and Alice immediately pushed Bree back, and pulled away from me, all in a blink.

"Alice!" growled Moody, scooping up Bree, who cuddled into him, adoringly. It was disgustingly sappy, "That was too rough!" he bitched.

"Shut up, Edward!" she scowled, before turning worried eyes to me. "Where does it hurt?" she asked.

"Everywhere," I admitted, "but mostly my finger and hip."

"Everyone clear out," Alice ordered, "do you think you could let Carlisle take a look, now?" she asked, softly, "then we can all reintroduce ourselves." I nod and smile, kind of shyly.

"That sounds nice." I say. And it kind of does.

-

-

-

After my finger was taped, my hip iced and a shit-load of painkillers were tipped down my throat, Alice and Carlisle led me into what appeared to be the game room, Alice carrying me, much to my embarrassment. "I'm not letting you walk on that hip!" was all she said, when I protested. And like I said before, she's stubborn." Thankfully, she put me back on my feet before we walked into the game room.

I'm not sure what I noticed first- the massive TV or the five waiting vampires. I couldn't help blushing slightly, as Alice helped me limp over to one of the velvety couches. Maggie is the first to speak up, and her cold tone from before has been replaced by a much friendlier one. "Hi, I'm Maggie," she smiles, "sorry for being kind of bitchy before, I just hate lying," she explains, "it's my Gift. I always know when someone's lying, and it annoys the crap outta me." she explains. The male vampire with honey blonde hair that fell just above his collar stepped forward and wrapped his arm around the little redhead's waist.

"I'm Jasper," he introduces himself, his tawny eyes reminding me of those of a lion. Guarded and fierce, even when he seemed at ease. "Maggie's mate."

Mate? I think, surprised. I want to mention it, ask what it is, but decide maybe later. The very tall, very burly male with the curly dark brown hair is next to speak up. "I'm Emmett," he introduces himself, in a cheerful voice, and I'm slightly surprised to see dimples when he smiles, and I can't help but think despite his massive weightlifter build, he has a slightly childish look about him. His arm is wrapped around the waist of a statuesque blond young woman, with long golden hair and the type of elegant figure that belonged on a red carpet or a subway. "This is my beautiful mate Rosalie." he introduces her. She scowls at him, swatting the side of his face.

"I'm well able to introduce myself, Emmett," she snaps, before she turns back to face me, her stunningly beautiful face softening. She gives me a sweet, gentle smile. "As you heard the oaf say, my name is Rosalie." she introduced herself, "it's lovely to meet you." Bree elbows Moody who goes next, still scowling at me.

"I'm Edward." is all he says, and Bree rolls her eyes.

"He's just annoyed that he can't read your mind, either," she smirks at me, "guess it runs in the family!"

"Wait- what?" I gape, and I scowl right back at Moo- I mean, Edward.

"Edward can read minds," Alice explains and then she grins. "Though it looks like he can't read either of the Swan girls!" she laughs. "And I'm Alice," she adds, "though I'm pretty sure you know that by now." I smile at her, and I can't help but notice that she never mentioned a mate...

It's my turn to introduce myself, I realize, as all the eyes turn to me. I resist the urge to gulp- it's just me in a room with five vampires and Bree. "I'm Isabella María." I introduce myself, blushing slightly at all the attention. "But I prefer Bella."

"Bella and Bree!" laughs Maggie, looking amused, "The Swan girls!"

"Morazzano-Swan." I correct her, my lip trembling slightly.

"Morazzano... Italian, right? Is that why you can swear in Italian?" Emmett asks. Rosalie rolls her eyes.

"Of course that's what you ask!" she scoffs, throwing her hands in the air, in an overly theatrical manner that makes me smile. "I'm married to a child!"

Emmett gives a slightly sheepish look, and then holds up a controller.

"X-box?" he suggests. I grimace and hold up my hands.

"Can't. My fingers still don't work properly and they're hurting right now anyway." Alice, from her spot on the couch next to me, gently grabs one of my hands, pulling it over to examine my fingers.

"What happened?" she asked, frowning.

"James broke them all," I mumble, looking away from her, not wanting to see any pity in their eyes.

"What?!" Alice growls, sounding furious.

"I wouldn't scream," I tell her, looking down at my lap.

"Why didn't you just scream?" Alice pleads, and one of her hands gently cups my chin, and tilts my head up so I was looking her in the eye.

"I didn't want to let them win," I explain.

"Oh Bella..." Alice basically whimpered, and I looked into her beautiful eyes.

"They won anyway." I say, bitterly. "When he broke my hip, I screamed. And then I couldn't stop screaming."

"Why did they let you live?" Jasper asked, bluntly. Alice hissed at him, actually goddamn hissed, and I tried to figure out how to word my answer, so it wasn't technically a lie, because there was no way I was letting them know about the deal made... a deal made without my consent, but still a deal- a deal with the devil. Twelve months, and then they were coming for me.

"I passed out. I'm not sure what happened after." I say, speaking the absolute truth, just not in the right context for answering Alice's question. Maggie doesn't react at all to my not-quite-lie, and I resist the urge to let out a sigh of relief.

And then Alice looks at my clothes and says. "Bella, those clothes are awful. I'm going to have to give you a make over and take you shopping!" she announces.

"Pay up!" Maggie instantly says, and Emmett and Jasper both scowl.

"They bet on how long it would take before Alice decided to take you shopping." Rosalie responded to my questioning look, looking amused. "She's right through, those clothes are hideous and they stink of wet dog." I blush and Alice glares at Rosalie.

"She does not stink!" my little pixie vampire hissed. Crap, I realize, trying not to blush even harder- Alice was not my pixie vampire.

"Leah helped her get dressed," Bree tells Rosalie, before grinning at me, cheekily, "Bella fell on her ass trying to put on her pants." Alice instantly looks at me, concerned.

"Did you hurt yourself?" she asks.

"Um... no?" I say, questioningly. And then I frown. "What does Leah have to do with the, um, smell?" I ask, genuinely curious. Bree mentioned that Leah didn't like her boyfriend, I remember, frowning.

"Leah's a werewolf," Rosalie says, bluntly. "What?" she then asked, defensively, as the vampires in the room raise their eyebrows at her while I attempt to not pass out in shock, "She was going to find out sooner or later!"

I blink a few times, my mouth hanging open in a rather unattractive way. My heart speeds up inside my chest, and Alice glares at Rosalie. "Look what you did!" she says, upset, "you've put her in shock!"

"I... I... I... a werewolf?" I ask, my voice faint. Rosalie shoots me an apologetic look.

"Okay, maybe I could have broken the news a little gentler." She admits. "Sorry Bella." I wave a hand in the air.

"N-no biggie." I mumble, mind whirring hundreds of miles an hour. I'd accepted vampires existed, yes. I'd had to- hadn't really been left with an option. But werewolves too? "Merda." I mumble, resisting the urge to run my hands through my hair- that'll only make my fingers hurt. Emmett chortles as I swear. Alice looks anxious. Rosalie looks apologetic. Maggie looks curious. Jasper looks wary. Edward looks annoyed. Bree looks relieved.

"Why do you look so happy?" I grumble, directing my question towards my cousin. She gives me a sheepish look.

"Sorry, it's just... nice to know I don't have to hide all this from you." She admits, biting her bottom lip. I reach out and grab her hand with one of mine and squeeze it gently.

"How did you end up getting mixed up in all this?" I ask her. She blushes, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Edward and I are mates." She told me, smiling in a rather besotted fashion, "he ended up saving my life when a van almost hit me in the school parking lot, but he exposed himself at the same time as slightly more then human. From there it was my superb guess work." Edward makes a playful face at her.

"It wasn't guess work, the mutt told you." He teased her. She pouted playfully, then gave him a stern look.

"Don't call Jacob a mutt!"

I perked up, slightly. "Jacob Black?" I ask. Edward makes a face, and I'm half sure that Alice hissed at my interest. Bree grins at me.

"Yeah."

"Is... is he a werewolf too?" I ask, frowning. "He's Quileute, right? And what about Beckie? And Rach?"

"Jake's a wolf," Bree confirms, and Edward snakes his arm around her waist possessively. "But Rebecca and Rachel aren't."

"How do you know the Blacks?" Alice asks, in a voice that she tried to make casual. I was still almost sitting in her lap, I realized, and I shifted over. I could swear that hurt flashed across her eyes when I did.

"Bree and I were very close when we were younger." I told her, then I looked down at my hands. "I'd spend half the summer with her, and that often fell on the same time as she came down to Forks to spend time with Charlie. We used to play with Jake, Rach and Beckie on First Beach."

Alice's hand finds mine, and her fingers thread through mine. I almost wince at the initial pain, but the icy temperature of her skin actually feels nice against the sore digits. "Bella's almost as clumsy as me." Bree speaks up, grinning at me, wickedly. "We spent more time falling in the rock-pools then exploring them." I mock-glare at her.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the clumsiest of them all? Brianna Swan, you say? Why doesn't that surprise me?" I tease her. She pouts.

The older female vampire with shoulder length wavy caramel hair drifted into the room and shot me a warm smile. Remembering that Bree said Esme had designed and re-done my bedroom, I gave her a shy smile. "My room looks amazing, Mrs. Cullen. Thank you." I tell her. Her smile widens.

"You Swan girls are both such sweethearts." She says, in a sweet voice. "It was my pleasure, dear." Her eyes drift down to my side and I blush when I realize her gaze is focused on my hand, currently linked with Alice's. I tug my hand out of Alice's grip, and place it on my lap, staring down. "Um... can I use the loo?" I ask.

"Sure." Alice beams, from next to me, and she sweeps me into her arms again. My face must resemble a tomato.

"You really don't have to carry me." I mumble, blushing.

"It's my pleasure, Bella." She says, her voice firm but musical.

She lowers me to my feet outside the bathroom, and Maggie blurs over beside me with my cane and a smile. "Thanks." I say, to both of them, before accepting my cane and hobbling into the bathroom. It's a magnificent bathroom, though by now I'd be surprised if it was anything less, all marble and gold and ivory. I let myself sit down on the bathmat, and take a few deep breaths. It's been a lot to take in- like a lot, a lot. Somebody knocks, and I jolt as Alice calls out,

"Are you okay, Bella?"

"I'm fine!" I call out, before standing back up and turning to the sink. I splash my face with cold water, and take more deep breaths. Deep breathing is actually very therapeutic- one of many coping techniques the various therapists I saw in the hospital taught me.

Alice carries me back downstairs, where she instantly starts a twenty-questions session. "Favorite color?" she demands.

"Green." I say, thinking of mamma and Gisela's eyes.

"Favorite food?" I roll my eyes.

"I'm half Italian, Alice. Pasta, all the way." I tell her, "try something harder!" She gives me a cheeky grin.

"First sexual experience?"

"Three and a bit years ago." I answer, without thinking. Bree coughs and splutters and I go bright red. Emmett wolf-whistles, Maggie gives a thumbs up, Edward looks horrified and Alice looks... jealous? I face-palm. "That was a joke, right?" I mumble.

"Yep." Alice says, sheepishly. I moan, and hide my face in my hands.

"I was drunk!"

"You were fourteen and drunk?" Emmett asks, grinning, "I love you already!" Bree finally recovers the ability to talk.

"Oh my frickin' god, Bells! Who was it?" She gasps.

"Ray." I mumble.

Bree's face splits into a huge grin. "Your neighbor?" She laughs, "He's gorgeous, but he's, like, three years older then you!"

"We dated for three months!" I protest, "besides, how old is your vampire?" Bree looks suitably chagrined.

"Okay, he's a hundred and seven." She admits.

"See!" I exclaim, "you've slept with someone who's ninety years older then you!"

Bree goes pink and looks at her hands.

"Actually," she mumbles, "we haven't... you know..."

"How long have you been dating?" I ask, surprised.

"Almost two years. With a slight break in the middle." She answers.

"And you haven't had sex yet?" I gape. Edward frowns at me.

"It's not right to have sex before marriage." He says, and I burst out into laughter, before realizing he's serious.

"Wait, you're serious?" I gape. He looks affronted. Everyone else looks amused- especially Emmett. "God, so you're a hundred and seven and you're a virgin?!" I splutter.

Emmett and Maggie start howling with laughter. Edward looks even more affronted. Rosalie is smirking, Alice is giggling behind a hand and even Jasper is smiling. Bree is blushing. "Why don't you get back to your questions Alice?" snaps Edward. Dickhead. Alice turns to me, smiling.

"Favorite animal?"

"Aardvark." She gives me a funny look. "What? They're adorable!" I defend my choice. "Have you seen how long their snouts are?" And the twenty questions continues.