The Safe Haven

Chapter Four - They've Got Him

It had been almost two months since Bella had left Forks for New Orleans, and she had loved every moment of it. She could taste the beautiful freedom on her tongue in the brisk New Orleans air.

Bella's days were full of an activity of some kind, life was never boring. She would find herself exploring and learning the history of the quarter with Elijah, or in a local shopping mall with arms laden with clothes with Rebekah. Bella found that she didn't really mind shopping that much when she could make her own clothing decisions.

The Mikaelsons would spend their days together, but the nights were just for Bella and Klaus, making up for lost time behind a locked door.

However, there was one part of Bella's old life that she simply refused to leave behind. Her father. Elijah had managed to gain access to a secure line so that she could communicate with her father safely, with the Cullens you could never be too careful. 

Charlie was keeping her informed about what was happening back in Forks. He said that the Cullens were hunting for her like madmen, one of them in particular, but Bella was adamant that she was safe in New Orleans under the protection of the Mikaelsons. If the Cullens dared to show up here they would simply be fools digging their own graves.

Charlie was planning to visit as soon as it was safe to do so, something that Bella was excitedly looking forward to, she was excited for Charlie to meet Klaus and the rest of the family she loved so dearly. They had to be careful though, they could never tell which Cullen was lurking around the next corner.

Bella had also been keeping in contact with Rosalie and Emmett when possible. Although the contact was minimal for Bella's safety, Bella knew that the Cullens had no idea about their involvement in her escape and they were keeping her updated on how close the Cullens were to knowing her true whereabouts.

But Bella felt safe. Safer than she had in a long time. She felt her safest when she was wrapped in Klaus' arms at night, or when Elijah decided that it was due time for a Mikaelson game night, or when Rebekah decided to drag her out of bed just after dawn for a fresh coffee and beignets in a corner cafe before a shopping spree. Bella loved their antics, and she loved her family.

In the weeks since her arrival in New Orleans, she had also become acquainted with the locals. Bella had become acquainted with Camille, a local bartender and friend of the Mikaelsons when she had gone out for a drink one evening with Rebekah. She had met local witches Davina (who she learned was dating Kol when the Original swooped in and kissed the witch right in the middle of a council meeting) and Vincent, who she learned used to be Finn, and then wasn't, it took Bella a while to wrap her head around the whole body-swapping situation.

She had also become acquainted with Marcel, a boy who she had originally believed dead. Klaus had told her so much about him in Phoenix and back then Bella had been saddened that she would never get to meet the boy that Klaus considered to be a son. Bella had also become good friends with a hybrid girl named Hayley, someone Bella knew Elijah was becoming rather attached to. Bella could see the attraction between the two, anyone with eyes could, the way they spoke and acted around each other made it clear they were supposed to be together.

And everything was fine. Until it wasn't anymore.

When her phone started to vibrate on her bedside table, it was still dark out. Bella thought little of it and simply ignored it, it wouldn't be the first time a scam caller had dialled in the night. Eventually, the buzzing stopped and Bella sighed happily, snuggling closer to Klaus and slipping back into her slumber. Just as Bella felt like she was on the cusp of sleep, the phone vibrated again.

"Jesus bloody Christ who is calling you in the middle of the night?" Klaus groaned from beside her. Sighing heavily, he blindly reached towards the nightstand and swiped up the irritating brick of metal, answering it before Bella could even open her eyes.