Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Blood And Steel

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 02:

Leavenworth Prison

“He’s a big dude.” Ty pointed out.

“Yep.” Connolly agreed.

“He nearly beat his last commanding office to death. You sure you want to do this?” Ty asked him.

“He nearly beat him to death. He could have killed him if he wanted to. He is not that bad of a guy.”

“His service record reads like a mass murderer’s rap sheet. He has been in the brig four times in six years for six month stays. If this guy dies he is probably in for life.” Ty pointed out.

“Yep. He knows it too. Let’s go say hi.”

Connolly and Ty walked in and pulled out seats from the table sitting down next to the 6’9, 290 pound slab of muscle known as Dan Hawk. He stared at them blankly, making no comment on their entrance as he sat across from them, arms handcuffed from behind him.

“Could you please remove his cuffs?” Connolly asked an MP.

“Not a good idea sir.” The MP replied.

“Good thing I wasn’t asking. I am ordering you to remove his cuffs.”

The MP shrugged.

“Your funeral.”

“Maybe we should listen to the guy.” Ty suggested quietly.

“Nah. Mr. Hawk has agreed to see us. We want him as comfortable as possible.” Connolly smiled.

Dan Hawk placed his now free hands on the table in front of him. Since Hawk wasn’t saying anything Connolly figured he would break the silence.

“Daniel Hawk, former Green Beret. Been promoted to Sergeant twice and demoted four times due to inflicting serious bodily injuries on your commanding officers. Your last officer in Iraq is currently in a coma but showing signs he may make it and live. Does that make you happy Mr. Hawk?”

Hawk said nothing.

“He asked you a question. Where the hell you from boy? They speak English there?” Ty asked.

“I’m from Hell.” Dan Hawk answered, speaking for the first time. Connolly smiled.

“See? I told you he would be perfect for us, Ty.”

“Crazy motherfucker is what you are Hawk. You from Cleveland. Says so in your file.” Ty pointed out.

“Then why did you ask little man?”

“Little man?! Just cause I don’t eat steroids the way most people eat Rice Crispies like you, don’t mean shit. You want to talk little pull it out and let’s see what your pharmaceuticals have done to you, little man.”

“Ty let’s get on point and leave the comparing of dicks till later. Mr. Hawk I have been authorized by the President of the United States to form a special ops team and offer you a spot on it in exchange for a full pardon. A very different team that will be going against very different enemies, most of whom are stronger than you.”

“Bullshit. Stronger than me?” Hawk laughed for the first time.

“I’m not in the bullshit business. Would you be willing to answer a few questions for me or do you have somewhere to be right now?”

“You all about bullshit. This? This right here? Bullshit. When you said we was recruiting I didn’t know you were bringin my ass to this place.” Ty said quietly to Connolly.

“Ty relax. What about it Mr. Hawk? Could you humor me?”

“Go ahead. As it turns out I don’t have a fight scheduled until 2100 in the rec yard. Then when I beat him to dust I plan to spend the next month in solitary to get away from the noise.”

“Excellent. Now let’s start with why you seem to assault your commanding officers.” Jason suggested.

“I haven’t found one worth following.”

“Been there. But we all have our orders to follow, right?”

“Like you? You are quite well known among your peers Lt Commander Connolly. Don’t seem surprised I know who you are. Your legend precedes you. As does your penchant for disregarding orders and taking unnecessary chances.”

“As far as unnecessary, I suppose that is in the eye of the beholder. I like to win. The chances I take are on my own. Not with my men’s lives.”

“That supposed to mean something to me?”

“Why did you nearly kill your last commanding officer?” Connolly asked.

“He gave me an order I wouldn’t follow. He tried to carry out the order himself. I didn’t agree with his actions so I took matters into my own hand.”

“According to the offense report he ordered you to shoot a possible insurgent who had crossed the boundary. You refused. He tried to take your weapon and you beat him nearly to death. Fractured jaw, fractured ribs, broken arm, and cracked skull. Then to top it off, you threw him off the tower near the minefield in front of the compound.”

“Yes, I didn’t throw him far enough. Does the offense report mention the possible insurgent couldn’t have been older than ten? He was chasing a soccer ball.”

“So you like kids? That’s good.” Jason said smiling.

“I don’t kill children unless I have to. He wanted to kill them for fun. I had fun with him instead.”

“What about the others?” Connolly asked.

“If they were worth following they would have defended themselves better.” Hawk answered, shrugging his massive shoulders.

“So if I beat you in a fight you will follow me?” Connolly asked.

Hawk smiled.

“Yes. If you beat me in a fight, hand to hand, I will follow you anywhere. But understand if we do this I will kill you. I will show you no mercy.”

“I have never have expected any in my life. No reason to start now. Shall we do this here or the yard? Want witnesses?”

“The yard will work.”

“Sure you want the prisoners here to see what I do to you? Because once I do, you won’t be able to stay here. You are going to have to come with me.”

“I will take my chances. As far as this place? I like it here. Always a fight to find. It suits me.”

“Mr. Hawk I need to know we have a deal. I have a calf muscle and some ribs that have barely healed. If I do this I want something out of it. I want your word you will follow me and follow my orders without hesitation.”

Dan Hawk smiled inwardly. He along with many others in the military had heard hyped up legends of this man’s exploits. They made him seem almost superhuman. Hawk was pleased to find they were merely myth. 6’3 maybe 180 pounds. Jason Connolly was just a man, a man to break. A man who would elevate his status in this hell he called his home.

“We have a deal.”

“MP, take us to the yard. We have training to conduct.”

The MP once again shrugged his shoulders and opened the door leading them through the smelly metallic corridors to the semi fresh air of the courtyard.

“Jay you don’t need to do this man. This fool is crazy.”

“He is damn near as strong as vampires Ty. I want him on the team.”

“Ain’t gonna be no team if you get snapped in half. Just offer him the pardon and he can say no and we can get the fuck out of here. You know when he kills you I’m gonna have to shoot this bastard anyway.” Ty argued.

Jason turned around, annoyed.

“Would you fucking relax already? If I wanted to be nagged all the time I would have gotten married.”

“Like a woman would have you. We just been through a lot of shit together and I would hate to see it end here. That fucker is crazy. All he cares about is battle.”

“Which is why I want him. Now let me do what I do.”

Connolly reached the middle of the yard where Hawk stood ten feet away. Hawk pulled off his shirt and Connolly did the same. Milling around in a circle were one hundred or so prisoners not saying a word.

Hawk struck first. Connolly stood where he was and took the roundhouse punch thrown by the giant. He stumbled back a few feet but didn’t lose his footing. Hawk smiled and continued circling.

“Not bad. That the best you got or can you hit harder?” Jason asked him.

The smile left Hawk’s face and he rushed Connolly. Again Connolly did not move. Hawk’s shoulders crashed into him and lifted him in the air. He felt himself flip in the air and land on his back. He tried to stand up only to feel Hawk’s boot in his stomach, flipping him in the air once more.

Jason Connolly laughed from the ground where he lay on his back.

“I told you he was strong Ty. Not very skilled though. He telegraphs his moves. Watch.”

Hawk struck again with his fist as Connolly got to his feet, this time finding air. He followed with another strike, finding air once more.

“I’m a big fan of Bruce Lee, Hawk. What about you?” Jason asked him circling him, his feet never staying still.

Hawk didn’t answer. Instead he leveled a high kick at Connolly’s head. The man was no longer there however. Instead Jason had dipped to the ground and swept Hawk’s planted leg, causing the man to fall and grab his ankle. Hawk was shocked. The man moved like lightning. Before he could look up a boot had struck him in the jaw.

“You see Bruce said you must be shapeless in a fight. You my friend have a hell of a shape. You are a fucking target. I know how strong you are now. I want to see if you can fight.”

Hawk rushed Connolly from the ground only to see the man us Hawk’s shoulders to flip over him. When he turned he caught a sidekick directly into his solar plexus, the one area of his chest, not covered with massive muscles. The pain made him clutch his chest.

“Bruce Lee also said to notice how the stiffest tree is the most easily cracked while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.”

Connolly now stood in front of Hawk only two feet away. Hawk swung repeatedly, missing every time while Connolly moved faster than his strikes could be launched. Connolly caught his wrist on the last strike and with a twist, Hawk was on the ground.

Hawk lifted himself off the ground by his arms only to have his arms swept away and his face slammed into the gravel of the yard.

“The less effort, the faster and more powerful you will be. You really never seen Enter the Dragon Hawk? It’s a Kung Fu classic.”

Hawk stood up with a roar and charged. Connolly stepped aside and planted a fist in his left ear. Hawk stumbled but regained his feet. Looking for his enemy he saw only the bottom of a combat boot striking at him like a cobra.

He blacked out but the pain of his crushed nose soon woke him up. He realize he had one leg in the air, wrapped by Connolly’s arms. His foot hovered over Hawk’s knee.

“I really don’t want to break your leg or wreck your knee. That will mean months of rehab and you will be of no use to me then. I need warriors now. You want to come with me or live out your days here crippled? I won’t kill you but I will leave you here. The choice is yours to make. Will you follow me?”

Hawk took a deep breath and swallowed the blood in his throat that drained from his broken nose.

“I’ll follow you anywhere.” He gasped.

“Good.” Connolly reached out his hand and the large man took it.

“What do you say we get out of here? We have much to do. Number one is I have to get to Wyoming. You guys are going to Coronado. I have someone to pick up. Then we get to work. You are going to have a lot of reports to go over. The rest of the guys are already studying. We are thousands of years behind the curve but we will catch up. Welcome aboard.”

Wonderland, Cheyenne Wyoming

Bella Swan screamed in frustration as Winter struck her in the head once more with the bamboo sword.

“Come on Bella. Keep your guard up.” Winter told her for at least the twelfth time this morning.

“Why? We aren’t going to be fighting vampires with swords. They do not need swords.”

“How can you use your blade to kill vampires if you don’t know how to handle it?”

“I’m strong and fast right? I just cut their fucking heads off.” Bella told her, dropping the sword and walking to a nearby fence post. Taking a cigarette and lighting it, she breathed in the smoke enjoying the smell of the tobacco. There was no alcohol here. The place was like a daycare for kids gifted in the supernatural, the only other adults around being Chris and a few scientists who seemed to genuinely care about the children. Still Bella had her cigarettes to help her relax. The strength and speed the sword had imparted to her when Winter crossed the blades was like a drug to Bella. Still her nerves were constantly on edge and her confidence was sorely lacking.

“Bella you need to quit smoking.” Winter said in frustration, throwing her practice weapon to the ground.

“You sure this place can’t be discovered? Alice Cullen… her visions…”

“Don’t work on you.” Winter told her.

“Yes they do.” Bella argued.

“If they did, do you think the coven would have risked seeing you almost lost to that rag tag band of nomads? Don’t you think she would have seen you leave? At least seen your destiny change from no longer being a vampire?”

“She told me she could…” Bella started.

“Exactly. She lied using the belief that she could see your future to manipulate you. None of their powers worked on you, so Edward enthralled you. Jasper never made you calm. That was the enthrallment. If Aro, Jane and Edwards gifts had no effect on you, then why do you think hers would? Her telling you the future was just another way to control you. How else would you have escaped them so easily to run off to James? She likely found you by having a vision of James in a ballet studio. You feel in love with him voluntarily and let him drink your blood. That is why the enthrallment worked. He never would have been able to force it on you.”

“Still there are children here. How do I know my presence won’t attract vampires here? If they find me…”

“Then we will deal with it. Together. But Bella they won’t find us. Chris has enough wards on this place that no one who does not belong here can find the place. That’s why there are no military guards here.”

“I’m surprised. Those kids… the CIA will take them all one day right? When they are old enough or have enough control of their gifts. They will go through what you went through.”

“Most likely” Winter admitted.

“Does that seem right to you?”

“Other countries have their own gifted. These children have no home except the one Chris gives them. He teaches them to control their gifts rather than live in fear of them and be accepted into society. You think these children who speak to the dead should be left alone? Unprotected against the entities of the other world? They aren’t harmless ghosts Bella. Some are evil and can affect this world. They can hurt those children who are open to them. Some are powerful enough to hurt those who aren’t open to them.”

“What about you? What about your gifts?” Bella asked. Winter had told her a bit, but not much.

“I’m working with Chris. You will as well. But you need to learn to fight. Now put the fucking cigarette down and fight.”

Bella moved to drop the cigarette but before she could it was taken from her hand. She turned, shocked that she could be snuck up on. Winter was shocked as well.

A man.

A human.

He had the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen.

Taking a drag off the cigarette he dropped it to the ground and used the heel of his boot to snuff it out.

“Those things will kill you I hear.” he said with a grin. “Now which one of you ladies is Bella Swan?” he asked, never taking his eyes off of Bella.

“She is.” Winter told him. “Who the hell are you?”

Connolly pulled his gaze from the most beautiful set of brown eyes he had ever seen and turned to Winter.

“Jason Connolly. Bella is coming with me. Time to teach this lady how to fight.”

“I am training her. She isn’t ready to be with you.”

“From what I saw you were teaching her how to get hit in the head with a stick Agent Drake.”

Bella was speechless as she looked at Winter and Jason. A part of her did not want to leave her friend or this ranch. This was nice. Warm. She had something resembling a home here.

Another part of her couldn’t bear to be away from this man. Was he a vampire? Had he enthralled her already? No, she could practically feel the warmth radiating off of him. His grin, his lean build, his sandy blonde hair.

“She hasn’t learned to use the weapon. She has to learn to use her kat…”

“She can’t do a damn thing until she learns who she is underneath all the vampire bullshit she has been put through. Enthrallment fucks with your head from what I have read. She has been a snack and a slave to a vampire for over a year. She needs to remember who she was and learn who she can be. Nothin against you Winter. I have read about what you have done. What you have lost. I have great respect for you. Give me six weeks. I will bring her back a warrior. Then she can use that wicked blade by your side. By all our sides. Until then she is useless to us all.”

“I am not useless!” Bella yelled. Up until this moment she had thought of nothing but his eyes, his grin, his tall lean body. His assessment of her, made her think differently. Now she was pissed off.

“No ma’am you aren’t. I plan to make sure you learn that. That you remember that.”

“She can stay here. Do what you need here.” Winter suggested forcefully.

“No Winter. Jason is right. Bella has to go with him. When she returns she can learn to use the blade. Learn to use her gift. Not until then.” Chris told her, walking up.

“Mr. Jennings. Pleasure to meet you sir.” Connolly told him.

“Same here Commander. Call me Chris.”

“Commander no more I’m afraid. I just go by Jason. I don’t exist anymore than you do now.”

“What do you mean you don’t exist?” Bella asked, continuing to take in Connolly’s appearance. She had not felt a genuine attraction for a man in so long she forgot how overwhelming it could be.

Connolly for his part had come, expecting a child, a pathetic vampire snack he would have to mold into something resembling a fighter.

Once he saw her, that notion went out the window. In his 28 years he had seen attractive women and slept with more than his share, never more than once or twice.

Not one ever affected him the way this one did. She was gorgeous. Her eyes were wary like his. Her soul older than her twenty years. But her face, her body all called to him. That brown hair that flowed from her head. For the first time he wondered if he was the right one to train her. He couldn’t take her through the first week. But training her afterward?

Then he realized he would allow no one else to do it, so that issue simply didn’t matter.

“I go with her.” Winter said forcefully. Connolly took her in. She resembled Bella in buid. Her hair was darker and much shorter. Winter’s eyes were blue as opposed to Bella’s brown.

Connolly recognized the way Winter looked at Bella.

“Fraid not ma’am. That’s not part of the deal. You have an issue with it, take it up with the President.”

The fence posts flew out of the ground, causing Bella to jump back. Connolly didn’t flinch. One look at Winter’s eyes and he knew. He also knew what she could do and that she would probably have a temper. At least when it came to Bella.

“They probably shouldn’t be far apart. Bella won’t be apart from her Katana. It has to stay near her or she loses her strength. Winter will keep it. She will stay out of the way.” Chris suggested.

“Fine. You interfere in an yway you are out of there Winter. You went through CIA training. What Bella will need is much tougher. But she will survive. She won’t have a choice.” Connolly said, pulling his eyes away from Winter and taking in Bella once more.

“What do you mean? Where are you taking me?”

Connolly smiled.

“Coronado California. You Ms. Swan are going to BUD/s. At least parts of it. There is no training scheduled there for the next 6 weeks. It will be the perfect place for you. Don’t worry about packing your bags. A helicopter will be here in five minutes to take us and everything you need will be there.”

Connolly walked off and called his old friend Jack Webb. The two had conducted missions together many times and Jack was one of the best Jason had ever come across. Jack was waiting for their new charge with Hawk and Ty.

What’s up man? You on your way?”

“Bout to be. Listen I can’t participate in the first week. I will observe and that will be it.”

“Why? You were supposed to be the head trainer.”

Connolly didn’t say that he thought he may have fallen in love with her the first time he saw her. He left it alone.

“I will watch. After the first week I will teach her everything I know. I will teach her to be a killer. But the first week? That is going to belong to you three.”

“Why? All that talk about us going into combat with these two super women and not treating them any differently and you are backing out. What kind of bullshit is this?”

“I meant every word I said. It’s not the pain I am worried about. She needs to learn different skills from me. It’s my call. You three handle the first week. This isn’t up for discussion Jack. You break her down and I will build her back up. Find out what is underneath the mess I’m about to bring you. Show her no mercy. The vampires won’t.”

Coronado California. Navy Seal training base

Bella was shown to a dilapidated shack by Connolly. It was 9 PM and she was exhausted from the trip here. Physically she was exhausted from the travel. Emotionally she was exhausted by the presence of the man beside her. She did her best to take her eyes off of him but every now and then their eyes would meet. He would always smile and look away.

She was attracted to him. Bella had given up on the idea of love a long time ago. She certainly didn’t believe in love at first sight. It reminded her of imprinting and she never wanted any of that. She knew nothing about the man, but he knew about her and a part of her was deeply ashamed by that. He knew what she had let herself become and still he smiled at her.

He looked at her as if he wanted her and it drove her crazy. Winter had sat closely beside her the entire trip not saying a word, holding Bella’s hand. In the month Bella had been at Wonderland she had rekindled her friendship with one of her oldest and few friends she had. While Bella knew she could not replace Summer, her presence seemed to sooth Winter somewhat the way Chris’s presence seemed to calm everyone around him.

Winter was worried and Bella sensed it. When the chopper landed and Bella stepped out, Winter asked for Bella’s blade. Bella handed it over reluctantly. She had a feeling the blade would give her the strength she needed to get through anything. Still as long as it was near…

After handing over her blade Winter gave her a hug and disappeared leaving her with Connolly. She knew she was on a beach and wished she could see the ocean through the darkness.

She was a bit surprised by the state of her housing. She hadn’t expected much from the US military but this place was barely better than the house she had had in New Mexico.

“That is your bed. On it are a pair of combat boots, pants, underwear and a t shirt. Put them on and lay down. Get some sleep. You are going to need it.”

“Why?” Bella asked.

“You are strong but you don’t have your blade. You aren’t going to be as strong. Besides strength you are going to need endurance. You are going to be tested. We will find out how strong you are inside without that sword of yours you can’t seem to fight with yet. Make no mistake Bella, this will be the most difficult thing you have ever done. I plan to cram 6 months of training into 6 weeks. You start in the morning when your instructors wake you.”

“I thought you were my instructor.” Bella asked, confused. She had been looking forward to spending more time with this man.

“Next week you learn what I have to teach you. This week you learn about yourself. You think you are strong and fast. You will be tested. You will do everything your instructors tell you to do. You will not quit. These instructors are not Chris Jennings. They aren’t here to make you feel better. They aren’t here to beg you to quit smoking the way Winter has been. They are here for one purpose and you will follow their orders. Again, I stress this. You will not quit.”

“And if I do?” Bella asked.

“You won’t. The eyes are the window to your soul and I can see it in your soul. Good luck this week. I won’t be far away.”

3 AM

Bella woke to the sound of pots banging next to her head. She shot up straight in bed, waking from a dream about Jason Connolly, the first time she had a dream that wasn’t a nightmare in a very long time. She was annoyed at the noise until she saw the monster standing over her.

“Get your ass up vampire snack!” Hawk yelled at the tiny woman in bed.

“Do we need to drink some of your blood before you get out of bed? Because we don’t do that sick shit here.” A tall bald headed black man said to her with a smile. The smile wasn’t friendly.

Another man walked in between them. He was average size, built more like Connolly. There was no smile on his face.

“My name is Jack Webb. You are to call me Master Chief. The other two men you will address as sir. Now get your scrawny ass outside now. Somebody told me you weren’t a quitter. Let’s find out if it is true. Welcome to Hell Week.”

Ontario Canada

Edward sat in front of Carlisle, a worried man. He knew Carlisle’s thoughts. He knew his maker was not happy with him.

“I am confused Edward. Perhaps you could enlighten me. Why has Bella not contacted you? You seemed so certain that she would. All she needed was time away from the La Push wolf pack and Jacob Black and she would come to you. I didn’t panic when she left. You told me not to. The enthrallment was complete. Yet here we are and she is nowhere to be found.”

“I don’t know why. I suppose Jacob Black had more of an influence than I estimated.”

“You stood by while she kissed him on a mountain top and did nothing.” Carlisle pointed out.

“Had I acted Jealous it would have pushed her further away. I played on her guilt.” Edward told him truthfully.

“We were lucky enough to discover a shield. Do you know how rare those are? Of course you do. You had her. She loved you. She let you drink her blood. Why didn’t you turn her sooner?”

“You all agreed she would be turned after the Victoria problem had been settled. We needed her as our link to the wolf pack. Without their help our coven could have been eradicated. You agreed, Jasper agreed, now this is my fault?” Edward argued. “I miss her. I want her. You think I haven’t been doing everything in my power to get her back? She wasn’t just a weapon to me. The silence of her mind, the taste of her blood. The obedience she showed until the end. I wanted her. I still do.”

Carlisle sat back and sighed. He admitted he could have handled the situation better. He let Edward have his fun. He let him enthrall her. He let him fall in love with her. When she was thought dead Carlisle had no idea Edward would act like such an idiot, running to Aro and begging for death. Alice used Bella to save Edward. Alice and Edward were always close, closer than Jasper would have liked. Rosalie screwed everything up with her mouth.

As a result Aro found out about Bella.

Now he felt pressure from the Volturi. They did not know she had ran and they had no idea Carlisle had no idea where she could have gone. Every time Edward attempted to get close enough to Sam Uley to read his thoughts he was chased away by the pack.

Carlisle would be damned if he would give up Bella or Edward to the Volturi. But he needed Bella turned before he could face them. He had friends. Friends who would fight with him and establish a new order. But without Bella, his friends and coven would simply fall prey to Alec’s gift. They would be destroyed in seconds. Instead Carlisle had stalled Aro.

Aro however was running out of patience. He had place a deadline on Carlisle to bring him the vampire Bella Swan to the castle in Italy no longer than three months from this day. Carlisle had his entire coven and the Denali’s looking for Bella for over a year. Jasper had his human contacts looking for her. Alice watched her parent’s future. Nothing.

It was if she disappeared from the face of the Earth.

“We must double our efforts. Without Alice’s visions we are lost. We must draw her out somehow.” Carlisle pondered.

“Emmett and Rose are watching her mother. Jasper has been keeping tabs on her father through his humans. She will not stay away forever. She will return.”

“We have three months.” Carlisle pointed out.

“We have Jasper.” Edward countered. “Garrett and Peter will come if he calls. The Volturi will not…”

Carlisle slammed his fist on his desk, breaking it in two.

“Find her Edward. Find her and make her yours at all costs. Do you understand me? Without her we do not fight, we run. You do not know Aro the way I do. You do not know there is no line he will not cross. Now go and feed. Your eyes are black. Feed and find her. Leave no stone unturned. Search the most remote places on Earth. Find her Edward or we all die.”

“Shall I feed from animals?”

“Are you going to school? No you aren’t. I don’t give a damn what or who you eat. Just make sure the carcass is gone and get to work.

Volterra Italy

Aro walked alone through the hidden corridors not even his brothers knew of, underneath the castle. This castle was built by him for a specific purpose. Every thousand years an opportunity arose. He had missed the last opportunity. Foiled by children. Two human females wielding samurai blades before Katana’s were even in use in Japan. Where they came from Aro had no idea. He did know they tore through his coven, even killing Marcus’s wife. He ran at the time. Ran and begged for his continued existence.

He was granted a reprieve from his failure. He was allowed to build a stronger army, a gifted army. One that would dominate the vampire world. For when the next thousand years passed, he would be prepared. No excuses.

Still there were gifted vampires he needed. Vampires who would help him not only control the living but the dead army his master planned to raise. He needed the girl who could see the future, he needed the vampire warlord who could instill fear in any opponent. He needed the mind reader.

He most definitely needed Bella Swan. Her arrival in his throne room voluntarily was the most good fortune he had in many years.

It would be a simple thing to kill Carlisle and Esme and the other two, Rose and Emmett. He would have Chelsea bind the others. Bella Swan was enthralled by Edward. She belonged to him. She would follow him anywhere. Even if they had not been lovers she would be enslaved to her maker.

Aro did not plan to simply rule the vampire world. He already did. He did not plan to simply rule the human world. This would be too easy. He would sit at the side of the most powerful being he had ever encountered and rule the living and the dead at his lord’s side.

He approached the door leading to the chamber. Even to this day he felt a chill before entering the room. Steeling himself he entered the dark room. No light was permitted in, making it impossible for even him to see what was inside. This was fine with Aro. He had seen his master once. He had no desire to see him again. The lord was a demon not even Hell could hold.

“Has she been turned?” A deep voice asked quietly.

“No my Lord. I do not believe so. I have given Carlisle a deadline of three months. This will give us enough time to execute our plan.

“I cannot leave this room until the gates have been broken. One twin has died. Have you found the other?”

‘No my lord. Demetri cannot even see her.”

“Your two prizes were cowards. Jane had the advantage. She should have killed both.”

“Alec was injured. Jane panicked and ran. She was punished for this. My guard will not fail me again. There is only one now. Even with both blades they are susceptible to our gifts. The one twin’s death proved that.”

“The twin has been replaced. Even now the new child is learning to fight. I can feel this. I know it. It is imperative you find them and kill them both this time. They are all that stand in my way. We will not be stopped this time.”

“Of course my Lord. I shall double our efforts.”

“And the shield? The gates will not be unprotected. Many hazards lie in wait for you. Three months? You think this will give you the time she needs to be ready? We have less than a year Aro. Her gift must be honed. She is the only one who can lead your army through the protective measures in place. Alice can give forewarnings but only the Swan girl can get you through what lies ahead.”

“She will be ready. Bella Swan will be ours. I swear on my existence my lord.”

“That is exactly what is at stake. If I have to spend another thousand years in this cell I will make certain you spend it here with me. Be gone and come back when you have news that you have completed your tasks instead of news of continued failure.”

“Of course my lord.”

Aro hurried outside. He must talk to Demetri. Perhaps Alistair could be found and have better luck. Aro had to have Bella Swan.

He had lived too long to fail now.