Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Protecting Maddie

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 28:

BPOV

I didn’t like this.

“I don’t like this.”

“What’s wrong baby?”

Everything.

“Everything. I feel them. At least I thought I did. Obviously they haven’t been here in a while judging by the scents. But there are several old scents, not just one. And I can swear one smells like Carlisle Cullen.”

“You can’t get a vision, Bella? Alice?” Jasper asked.

We both shook our heads. I got nothing in regards to Garrett or Charlotte.

“No, but I can feel them. At least where they were. And they were here.”

“Judging by the scents they weren’t here long after Garrett left us to come help his friend. And if Bella is right, the friend was most likely Carlisle Cullen.” Peter commented in a low voice. He was not happy. He and Garrett are close. He and Char are close. She was like a sister to him. A sister whose boobs he stared at occasionally, which was kind of creepy, but still she was like a sister to him.

Carlisle Cullen. Bastard.

“Bella can you find the Cullens?”

I searched for five minutes but came up with nothing.

“They are like Char and Garrett. I can feel them out there somewhere but I can’t pinpoint it. But they have been here. Not long ago. Char and Garrett met them.”

“I don’t like this.” Alice commented. “How could mine and Bella’s powers be blocked? I realize I am known and there are ways of blocking me but nobody knows Bella can track. How would they know to even block her? Another shield?”

“I doubt it. It is probably something much simpler.” Jasper whispered.

“Don’t hold back or sound cryptic Jasper. Out with it.” I get annoyed with cryptic. Reminds me of when Edward Cullen first started trying to talk to me. It would be better if we didn’t be friends, Bella. No shit. You are my personal brand of heroin. Hope you overdose with a dirty needle, fucker. The lion fell in love with the lamb. How’s the leg I ripped off of you? Who’s the lion now bitch? God I was so stupid. Glad AJ straightened me out when it came to men. And then I got my Peter. The Lion may have loved me but I was fucking the Stallion now. What a ride it was…

“Neither of you could see the wolves in Port Angeles. They blocked both your visions. I bet if Bella tried to track them, she couldn’t. Built in defense mechanism against their natural enemies.”

Oh yeah. Back to business. Wolves. Garrett and Char missing. Cullens must die. Got it…

“So you think the wolves of La Push helped the Cullens take Garrett and Charlotte?” I asked skeptically focusing on the present.

“No, but werewolves are involved. At least that’s my working theory.”

“So werewolves are simpler than a shield?” I asked smiling at him.

“Jasper, you know Caius killed all the werewolves two hundred years ago.” Peter said, doubt coloring his face.

“I know there is no way Caius got them all. In two hundred years a population can rebuild itself. I would bet there are werewolves enslaved by the Volturi or working with the Romanians to get revenge on the Volturi in this war.”

“Meaning vampires took Garrett and Charlotte and are probably keeping them with werewolves . Also the Cullens are with them.” Bastards. Motherfucking bastards.

“Wait. Why would either side want Garrett or Char? They aren’t gifted. Great fighters sure but both sides have been after gifted vampires.” Alice asked.

“I don’t know little one, but my guess would Carlisle set them up. He asked them for help and they came running.” Peter said. He did not look happy.

“But why Peter? Why would Carlisle set up Garrett and Char?”

Jasper answered before Peter could.

“Because he needed to find us. He wants Bella and Maddie. He always has. He needed to find us and he knew we wouldn’t come to help him. So he called Garrett and set them up. Set them up to be taken. He knew we would come looking for them.”

“How could Carlisle know we would come looking for them?” I asked, irritated already.

“We’re here, ain’t we?” Peter answered.

Good point.

So we walked into a trap? I immediately scanned the area for anyone. Maddie was outside. She was the only presence I felt.

“I got nothing guys. If it’s a trap they gave up springing it weeks ago.” I finished that thought right on time to hear Maddie’s scream. The four of us were outside in a second.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” She looked scared but I didn’t see a threat. Albeit Garrett and Char’s home was deep in the swamp. If werewolves were around they could certainly hide well.

“S..s..s… snakes!” She whispered.

We all looked on the soggy ground and saw several Water Moccasins curled up on the ground. Big suckers. One was near Maddie’s feet.

“Maddie, sweetie. You are a vampire. Snakes can’t hurt you.” Maddie has always been petrified of snakes. Peter and Jasper were smirking. Alice was picking the snakes up and tossing them back into the bog.

“One bit me and tried to wrap around my leg!” Maddie was actually shaking. Poor baby. I walked over to her, kicking the offending snake into the nearby creek. He tried to bite me too as I kicked. Guess I just bent his fangs.

“Baby, they can’t hurt you.” I held her and rubbed her head, running my fingers through her hair. Even after the change it still calmed her down.

“I know but they are so slimy and the fangs and they were everywhere and I don’t want to touch them. Can I come inside? Is it safe? I don’t want to stay out here with them.”

I heard Peter laughing. “I can’t believe you are still scared of snakes. I thought you would have gotten over that years ago living in the country.”

Maddie gave him a not so nice look.

“You want to talk about getting over things? You ready to go to a circus with me?”

That wiped the grin off his face and put one on mine.

“I am not going to a goddamn circus with you Maddie.” Peter whispered. “And we won’t bring that up again. Clowns are the minions of Hell.”

“Maybe Alice and I might have some fun with makeup when we get back. I’m feeling like being a clown this Halloween. Maybe now that I’m not in school I can walk around like that for a while. Weeks even.”

It wasn’t a well-known fact outside the family that while Maddie was scared of snakes, Peter was absolutely terrified of clowns. Always has been apparently. He never would talk about it with me. Maddie, Alice and I have a theory that he was beat up by a clown as a boy but he would neither confirm nor deny that. When Maddie first figured out that Peter would avoid her clown stuffed doll, she got Alice to paint her face like a clown and walked around the house an entire weekend wearing that makeup. Peter confirmed her theory by leaving the room when she walked in and refusing to hug her while she had that makeup on. For weeks afterward, whenever her and Alice would go shopping Maddie would buy a little clown figurine and sneak it into Peter’s underwear drawer.

Peter must really love Maddie to have not killed her over the years for the crap she pulled on him.

“Yeah and maybe I throw a few rattlers and water moccasins in your underwear drawer.”

Judging by the look in Peter’s eyes and on Maddie’s face, there would not be any clowns running around our house. Actually we didn’t have a house per say at the moment. Maybe we should get back on topic here.

“So what do we do?”

“They are with the Romanians or Volturi. We find a safe place for you girls, and Peter and I find out who is holding them.”

I must not have heard that right. The powers must be fogging my brain.

“I’m sorry, did you just say a safe place for you girls, Jasper?” Peter was looking in the other direction and moving slowly away from Jasper fucking Whitlock.

“Yeah… I mean… you don’t want Maddie close to the Volturi right? Are you going to leave her with Alice alone?”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean, Jasper?” Alice asked, stepping up beside me.

“Nothing, I just mean, if a bunch of vampires or werewolves or whatever come looking for Maddie do you… I mean are you ready to hold them all off on your own?”

“I’m not staying behind Jasper. They are my family too and I am the most powerful vampire here.” I pointed out.

“Technically since I am a newborn and have the same powers you do, I’m the most powerful, Mom.”

“Maddie, stay out of this.” I told her without looking her way.

“Mom, if you go, I’m coming with you. I go where you go. We are a team, remember?”

Shit. Peter was smiling. He thought he had me. He thought he was going to go off and play cowboy with the two most powerful covens in the world and leave me behind. Thank God I couldn’t get pregnant and had a lot of shoes. His chauvinistic ass would have me in the kitchen in a heartbeat.

“Your right Maddie. You, Alice and I will go check on the Volturi and the two Cowboys can go look for the Romanians.”

“I’ll be goddamned!” Peter yelled.

“Vampire hearing! No need to scream.” I reminded him. More snakes just slithered off into the water.

“Bella, I know you are full of shit. There ain’t no way you are letting Maddie within a thousand miles of the Volturi. So let’s cut the crap.”

“Uh… loving Mate? Go fuck yourself! As a matter of fact that is exactly what you are going to be doing for a few years if you don’t start treating me like an equal. Or do I need to paralyze your ass and have Maddie and Alice put makeup on you again to prove a point? You should be staying and protecting Maddie.”

“You won’t go without me Mom…”

“Yes Maddie, I get that. Everybody understands.” I replied rolling my eyes. I mean I love her and didn’t want to be away from her, but I owed it to Char and Garrett.

“You know Maddie, one of these days you might want to look into using those strong sharp teeth you got to chew threw the umbilical cord attached to your mother.” Peter commented bringing his usual subtle calm observations to any situation.

“What the hell did you say?” Maddie whispered.

“You heard me fine, kid.”

“As long as we are talking about things that always seem to be attached to my mother, what about your…

“Why don’t we all calm down?” Jasper said. I felt to see if he was using his power but he wasn’t. Good thing he wasn’t. I was irritated and fully planned on staying that way.

“May I make a suggestion?” Alice asked.

We all nodded. Nobody had a better idea.

“I think we should all stick together. Bad things happen when we split up. Nothing good has ever come of it. We should all go to Romania and Italy. That way we can keep Maddie safe and work together to find Garrett and Char.”

It was the best idea in a bad situation. I didn’t like bringing Maddie along but with us Peter, Jasper and I could protect her. With Alice I wouldn’t always have to be looking for the future.

We stood in silence for a few minutes.

Finally Peter spoke.

“I don’t like the idea of my little girl being that close to the Volturi. I know she is powerful but she can barely dress herself. But… if we don’t bring her along, Bella and I would be too worried to be much good. At least with her there, we can protect her.”

I nodded my head as did Jasper.

“Has it ever occurred to any of you people that I don’t need protection? I am a damn vampire after all! I can read minds, I can control the elements, I can see the future and I can manipulate emotions. I can tell if someone is lying. Soon I will be able to put people in visions. The first thing I’m going to do is make Peter think he is at a circus. I’m strong, I’m fast and I can fight.”

“You are all those things Maddie and you can’t do any of them worth a shit yet so why don’t you be quiet while the adults have a conversation.” Peter replied without looking at her.

Oh damn.

That was not good.

Peter must have forgotten that Maddie’s emotions were still that of a newborn. And judging by the look on her face those emotions were not happy.

“Baby, what Peter meant is…”

“What? What did Peter mean Mom?”

“He…”

“She knows what I said Bella. Don’t make excuses for me. If she can’t handle the truth that’s just too damn bad.”

“You want to fight me old man?”

“No Maddie. Peter doesn’t want to fight you.”

“Kid you got a couple hundred years to go before you can take me. You will also need a couple hundred more powers.”

Maddie charged him. Dammit.

Peter to his credit never hit her. He just dodged. He tripped her once. Jasper stood back smiling. I didn’t find this funny at all but Alice stopped me from getting between them.

“She has to learn some humility, Bella.” She whispered to me.

Maddie tried her best to hit Peter. After the fifth time she tripped she finally stopped trying to attack Peter.

“You ready to quit foolin around kid? We kinda need to get down to business.”

“You didn’t hit me.” She said quietly.

“I never will. No matter what, I never will.”

Maddie dropped her head. She finally looked up with venom in her eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

Peter hugged her.

“No problem kid. I love your fire. But you got a lot to learn and you are going to have to let us take the lead and follow orders okay? Can you do that soldier?”

“Yes sir.” Maddie whispered.

I smiled. I remember the first time Maddie called him sir. It was her way of admitting he was right without having to say it.

He looked at Jasper.

“Where first?”

I took this one.

“The Volturi.”

Everyone turned towards me.

“Any reason why?”

Sure. It was simple.

“I think the Romanians have them.”

“Okay…”

“I want the Volturi’s powers. I want them all before we go to Romania.”

Jasper nodded. He got it.

“How do you propose to do that? If we walk in a fight is gonna break out. They know us. They ain’t gonna lay out a buffet.”

“They know you. But they don’t know me.”

“You think I am going to let you go in there alone?” Peter asked me.

“I know their powers. I know what they can do. Once I can do what they can do, getting the information and getting out will be easy. I won’t even have to search the castle. No fight needed. If they come for us it will be too late. I’ve paralyzed Jasper for up to an hour after I had left a room. Now before you go all macho on me, just listen.”

Too his credit he did. They all did.

“Okay.” Jasper responded. “It’s a good plan. Alice darlin, can you get us a private plane? We need to get to Italy and I don’t think Maddie is quite ready to be in a pressurized tube a mile above the earth with innocent humans. I can fly. That way if she breaks the hull no pilot will be killed.”

“You guys need to realize I’m not an idiot. I know I’m new to this but give me some credit.”

Maddie POV

Holy shit those human guys in baggage smelled good. I had to hold my breath and keep repeating that people are friends not food. It quickly turned to people are food not friends. Thankfully Mom and Peter had a good grip on both my arms and Jasper was behind me. That could have gotten bad. I seriously wanted to fuck and eat them, in that order. I’ve never even had sex! But damn did I want to in that moment. I missed my blue friend. I will never understand how Mom sat in McDonald’s with me after she turned. Those damn boys smelled so good. I could still almost taste their scent. And those damn biceps…

We were now in the plane safely away from humans. Peter just asked me something.

“What?”

“Do you want to play chess? It will help your dexterity and pass the time.”

“Uh no…” Damn I was hungry.

“You okay, baby?” Mom asked.

“Yeah Mom. Do you think we will have to deal with many people when we land?”

“We will make sure it is as few as possible. Alice is having a limo pick us up on the tarmac. We have a house outside the city we are renting. You will be okay.”

“Can I have a boyfriend Mom?”

“Uh, what?”

“Mom I am having strong urges. I mean strong damn urges Mom. I mean I didn’t want to just eat those guys, I wanted to…”

“Okay little girl. I think we got the picture.” Peter replied looking down.

“Baby, it’s natural to have these feelings especially at your age and now that you are a newborn.”

“Yeah Maddie. Most newborns just want to fuck and feed.” Jasper replied walking up.

“Jasper!” Mom and Peter yelled at the same time.

I wanted to hear more.

“Why is that, Uncle Jasper?”

“Natural instincts. Vampires are primal creatures. We think. We reason. We love and we hate. But at our core we are animals. Creatures who survive on blood. Sex and death. That’s your nature now. You can control it. But it will be tough. You were able to hold off on the island because you were surrounded by family. But don’t be surprised if you feel like a nymphomaniac virgin for a while every time you see a male, human or vampire.”

“Jasper I swear…” Mom began.

“Just being honest with her Bella. We talked about his. You can’t sugarcoat everything for her.”

“You don’t have to be so fucking crude about it either.” Peter responded.

“My apologies ma’am.” Jasper replied, winking at me. “Now the plane is on autopilot. My Mate is behind that curtain and I am going to feed some of my more primal urges. Try not to listen and make sure the newborn doesn’t break anything.”

That was just gross. I accidentally read Uncle Jasper’s mind once. It was as bad as Peter’s. I stayed the hell out of it now.

“So what are we going to do there when we get to the house Mom? Hang out while you do your thing?”

“That’s the idea.”

I didn’t like the thought of Mom going in there alone. Peter didn’t either but he agreed it was the best plan. I thought the best plan was the two of us going in there. We could get what we needed and level that whole damn place. Mom preferred the sneakier approach. But we could destroy them. It would be as easy as breathing. Like those Italian assholes could hold a candle to us.

I suppose I could work on my powers now that I had time. Oh crap, Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper are going at it. I threw on my headphones and turned the volume as loud as I could. It didn’t make a difference.

She just called him Major Whitlock. What the hell?

Mom says I will get used to this. She said the sound of sex is something you have to deal with as a vampire in a coven.

I will never, ever get used to the sounds Mom and Peter make.

Who do you belong to my Bella?

Oh you Peter! I belong to you. Bite me baby! My soul belongs to you!

Sick. I mean just shut up already. Do you have to talk?

Just sick.

“Maddie could you turn that shit down? Fucking rap music.”

“Peter, stop cursing so much around her.”

“She’s 18, Bella. You think she doesn’t curse when you aren’t around? Hell she does it sometimes when you are around and you don’t say anything to her. Only to me.”

“She learned it from you.”

“No she didn’t.”

“Yes I did Peter.”

“Dammit Maddie!”

“See?” I helpfully pointed out.

Peter gave up. Hehe.

I focused on him. I thought of the last circus Mom took me too. She got us floor seats and the clowns came to sit by us after they got out of their cute little car. Open that box Maddie. Nope, not that one. Sure as hell don’t want to read Peter and Jasper’s thoughts right now. Judging by the look on Mom’s face listening to Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper and the way she is looking at Peter I am glad I can’t read hers.

Did he just call her his Yankee prisoner? What the hell is wrong with these people?

I focused on the boxes in my head. There it was. Circus. Yep Peter’s face just went blank. Now he was shaking. I had to smile. That probably gave it away.

“Maddie!”

I closed the vision and Peter’s face snapped out of the look of fear it had been carrying.

“What? I was bored.” I told Mom, shrugging my shoulders.

Peter got up and walked to the laptop on the back desk. Closer to Major Whitlock and his Yankee prisoner. Freaks.

“What are you doing Peter?” Mom asked.

“Looking up what types of snakes they have in Italy. Since I can’t make people think they are seeing things I guess only the real deal will work for me.”

I looked at Mom in panic and she just smirked. Oh shit. He wouldn’t.

“Oh look Bella. Did you know they have European Vipers her in Italy? They are like our vipers except a lot bigger and scalier. Looks like they have bigger fangs too.”

Oh shit.