Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Claws

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 18:

Bella

I never thought I would return to this place alive. I knew my body would be returned one day for disposal but to see this place again with my very alive eyes was a bit surreal. Even after a relatively short time away it seemed so different and yet familiar at the same time.

It was a good way to describe myself I supposed. The same yet different. I was no longer the girl who was sent away to face danger on her own with a single minded determination to kill until I was killed.

That made this all the more difficult. I had to become that girl again. If I showed I changed, mentally, if I showed too many emotions, had an outburst, gave any indication of chest pain that should not be there was making it literally hard to breathe, questions would be asked, questions that would lead the Organization to a small group of humans and vampires trying to take them down.

I walked towards medical as I was instructed on the flight here. My sisters were all dead, I recognized none of the girls training in the area below, but this place still felt like… home. It was the only home I had ever known until recently.

It may be the last home I know. Should I survive this upcoming challenge, did I really expect the Organization to let me return to my old life? As soon as the medical exam was conducted, they would know about the increase of venom in my blood, the greater strength I possessed and no doubt wish to study me further. I would most likely be made into a control subject, being observed until I transformed one day into a Jaguar or my blood became overcome with venom and my organs shut down.

“10877.” a voice from my past greeted me.

Dr. Winston, my personal physician/ researcher I suppose would be a sufficient title. Considering he was the one that conducted the genetic manipulation when I was a newborn, he could almost be considered a father figure in a twisted way. The man did name me Isabella after all, a self-proclaimed testament to his brilliance. Still there was no bond between the two of us. I was his monster and he was my Dr. Frankenstein. We were only allowed to show and receive love from Mother as we grew up. Doctors who did not treat us as test subjects or weapons, who showed even the slightest chance of forming a personal bond with a girl were replaced immediately, to other age groups or other labs around the world. Not that this man would ever attempt to bond with his experiments.

“Doctor Winston.” I greeted him, no emotional inflection in my voice. This was important.

“Isabella. It must be good to be home. Being on your own in the wild with no one but yourself to count on, facing evil with no true back up, not able to return home after battles, I am sure you have been a wreck.”

I suppose he expected me to agree with him.

“I am able to handle any situation on my own.” I told him, sounding confident but with a level tone of voice. Be a robot, Bella. Be stone.

It scared me how easily this came to me. Why shouldn’t it though?

“You won’t be able to deal with what you are facing tomorrow on your own. Undress, stand next to the exam table. You know the drill.”

Yes, I did. Undress, stand surrounded by scientists while the cold hearted bastards poke me, draw blood, examine muscle tone, teeth, claws.

“You haven’t grown since your last physical in height or weight. Claws out.” he ordered and I complied. I always complied.

A female scientist ran a steel block against my claws, both hands and feet. I opened my mouth and dropped my incisors while a technician placed a mouthpiece in and took an X Ray of my teeth.

Then I lay flat on the table for the next portion of the exam.

I hated cold hands and cold gloves.

“Have you had sex since you have left the base, either male or female?”

“No.”

“Have you had increased urges to give into more feral desires? Sexual desire, urges to fight or kill humans, irrationally angry outbursts for no reason?”

“No more than in the past.”

“Have you felt your body changing in anyway or experienced any pain that you have not felt before?”

A deep, sharp, constant pain in my chest that hasn’t decreased despite the amount of time I have been away from her. I can almost feel her emotions. She knows I am gone by now. She is feeling terror, anguish, guilt and anger that I left without a word. I’m not sure how I know, I just do.

“No, everything is normal…” they would find out sooner or later. “however the last vampire I fought, I felt stronger, faster than ever before. I was able to tear its head off without biting or slashing the throat.”

That was met with the silence I expected. Now four additional scientists were standing around me as I lay on this damn table for everyone’s open inspection. It reminded me, focused me. This was what I was. There was no modesty here. Missiles aren’t given clothes to wear, nor are bullets. What did they care if I wore any clothes? This had never bothered me before. Now it did. I felt exposed and embarrassed for some reason. Was it a side effect of being away for so long? For caring about my appearance? Or perhaps I was just tired of being observed like a lab rat and hated the feeling of vulnerability I was experiencing now.

Most likely I had begun forgetting what I was while away and this medical exam was reminding me exactly what I truly was.

I was sent to the blue room where I underwent an MRI and CAT scan. More blood was taken in the red room. In the white room, my chest was cut, only an inch and not deep, to measure my regeneration speed. Judging by the expression on Winston’s face, my strength was not the only thing that had increased.

My suspicion was correct when a guard walked in with a large blade in his hand. I suspected it was not normal steel and was shortly proven correct. The blade easily went into my abdomen. I remained standing, refusing to clutch my wound, refusing to fall, despite the pain and dizziness. I would not give in. The smug look the guard had when he entered and stabbed me was giving way to one of fear as I met his eyes and refused to look away.

After 30 seconds, which felt like an hour, my wound was healed.

“Normal knife.” The good doctor ordered.

The guard reached behind his belt and pulled a standard K Bar knife. He was very hesitant to use it.

“You heard the man. Do it!” I shouted then stepped forward. My voice must have shocked him enough to defend himself since he did shove the blade towards my abdomen. It refused to enter me. We both looked at the blade poking my stomach and I smirked, backhanding him against the wall.

My mind had given over to my beast. He stood and I kicked my leg up, pinning his throat with my foot, claws poised on his jugular.

A sound behind me, someone new entering the room.

A deafening blast, the feel of a bullet hitting my shoulder, a chunk of skin burning, only a small amount, regular ammo, hardly any damage.

I sliced the guards throat with my foot and turned to the newcomer with the toy gun.

He had pulled another. This one was different and the difference was easily seen. I carried the same type of weapon and knew what it was for. At this point I wasn’t not sure if this was a test or some sort of execution but I attacked, staying low and ripping his arm off when I was in striking distance. Another swipe and his throat was ripped open, his blood spattering my face.

I turned towards Winston and my world lit up in pain. My head, I couldn’t think, more pain, electricity. I wanted to claw into my own brain and tear it out.

“Enough!”

The pain stopped immediately. I looked up and saw her, my savior.

“Mother.” I moaned.

“What the hell are you doing Winston! I ordered you to conduct a medical exam, not a series of tests! Only I approve all physical pain tests!”

I didn’t see his face, too busy looking at the floor, but I heard the panic in his voice.

“She reported increased strength. I did a small check on her healing factor and it has doubled in speed. I felt it was necessary to get a baseline in the event that she does not live past tomorrow.”

Tomorrow. Fight tomorrow.

“Increased strength, quicker healing factor, all traits I need in her to ensure she survives. Bella is special! She is my greatest child and you are conducting you own tests without my approval! Report to detention area. A guard outside will escort you.”

“But…”

“Out of my sight. The detention ward will receive orders for your stay until I release you.”

He left. Mother is Queen here. What she says, goes, even if it means other scientists are punished. I looked up from the floor and saw bodies on either side of me. Had I done that? Of course I had. I was attacked and I killed. It’s what I do.

Mother’s hands were on my shoulders, helping me stand.

I stood tall and turned towards her. Her face. The one that could fill me with so much fear and make me feel so much love. She was smiling but tears were also falling. I didn’t understand. Then she wrapped me in her arms. I burrowed my face into her long mahogany hair, enjoying its scent.

“I am so sorry, Bella. I brought you in to save lives and that bastard treated you like that. I only wanted to make sure you were okay. When I found out what he was doing… I will make sure he suffers. Come to my room with me. I have clothes for you there and you can shower. I can’t believe he left you naked. I promise Bella, he will suffer for this. He will wish he were one of these bastard guards you disposed of.”

Of course he would suffer. He hurt me without Mother’s permission. That was against the rules.

I had killed two people and had been here less than two hours. I felt no guilt over this. As mother jokingly told me when I was a child, if you mess with the cat, you get the claws.

Mother put her arm around me and we walked towards her room. Despite my feelings for this woman, the dark feelings I recently discovered, she still made me feel loved. Carlisle was wrong about that. She made us what we are, brainwashed us in a way, but she never forced me to love her as much as I hated her. Right now, in this place, she was all I had. She would likely be all I had for the rest of my life.

Hildebrand POV

Perfect. Just as lovely as ever. She was controlling her emotions well but it was natural after being in the world for so long that she would feel a bit of apprehension being back in her home. Not one of my girls had survived in the real world as long as Bella had. They were usually picked off quickly or the support team would kill them because they could not acclimate to the modern world and drew attention to themselves.

Not my Bella. She had blended in seamlessly. While I love all my girls, Bella has always been special. Nothing special to look at on the outside. She was pretty, but small, not the most physically imposing Jaguar I had. Despite this, her strength and speed were on par with any other and her viciousness was a thing of beauty. She picked up fighting and marksmanship so easily and killing was as natural as breathing. At 12 all our girls kill for the first time, usually some homeless man or woman picked off the Rio streets who wouldn’t be missed. Every girl has difficulty, either with ending the human’s life or dealing with the emotional repercussions afterward. Not my Bella. She shot her target in the chest at close range then stood over him, watching the man die. Never a hint of regret or hesitation.

That was when I first noticed she was special. It was her mind. While others somehow hung to moral beliefs they had never been taught, Bella had no boundaries. She did as she was told, no encouragement needed, relishing the kill.

I pushed her to her limits and beyond. She was my favored child and everyone knew it. I made sure she understood. I let her lie down with me at nights when she was a small child and read poems to her until she fell asleep. I held her after torture sessions, I congratulated her after victories, against other girls or wild supernatural beasts brought in for training purposes.

I also tortured her. She came to see me as the source of pain but also her salvation from it. Because of me pain no longer phased her. I made her strong and she knew it, appreciated it. I made her into everything I wanted her to be. Did part of her hate me for the tortures I inflicted? Of course, but the larger part of her loved me. I was her whole world and the only source of approval she had. She was devoted to me due to fear and the need to be loved.

Her only weakness was that damn blonde. All the girls had urges and I knew Bella’s leaned towards her own sex and Julie in particular. I never expected her to be capable of loving anyone besides me.

Rather than destroy the blonde to bring her back in line, I used Julie as another control over Bella.

When the Italian raid took place, I told myself if Bella somehow survived, she would be placed in the field to see her continued improvement. The problem was Julie. Bella would be distracted, away from her. Julie’s usefulness had come to an end.

I doubted the blonde pest would survive the Italian raid but it didn’t matter. As soon as the battle broke out a simple kill command froze Julie in place, long enough for a vampire to end her quickly.

As any good mother should do, I comforted Bella afterward and had to let her go. If I kept her, she would wallow in her loss. It was time to see how she grew without me or other like her around. I sent her to the most infected area of the world to live with a man she would despise. I was careful not to interfere. Bella would perhaps kill him along with any humanity she would have left. I gave her the best support team, as assured by the High Council, having every faith that she would continue to grow and survive. While her father still lived, she had proven my faith in her. My plans were to bring her back after her Junior year had been completed. Arrange for her father’s death, bring her in to be a control subject and perhaps breed her later if I found a suitable match.

Instead I was forced to bring her in now for a mission that could conceivably kill her and wipe out all of my 16 and 17 year old weapons, including a few promising 15 year old children. The High Council specifically asked for Bella to lead despite my protests.

One of my teams had been wiped out already, then a team of Devil Dogs were slaughtered and their support teams overran quickly. We had no idea what these creatures were or even how many there were. All we knew is they were nocturnal creatures who emerged from underground and ate every living creature in sight, including several small isolated Siberian villages. The Council agreed to Russia’s appeal and now we were here on the verge of being wiped out.

Being a woman with a positive outlook on life, there were advantages to this crisis. Bella came back to me sooner than expected and as expected she had grown stronger. Her blood tests picked up the increased vampire venom in her blood with ease. This had been a trait in the control subject before her DNA started to mutate.

I truly believe if continued to grow, Bella could become a full Jaguar and have the ability to shift back to human. Her increased combat levels were accelerating her possible mutation and this exercise would be her ultimate test. If Bella survived against these creatures, she would be able to survive against any.

This also gave me an opportunity to ensure she was still mine sooner than the summer. Human emotions outside of rage were not something I wished Bella to focus on. She was mine and bringing her back would ensure that she remembered that. A simple instruction to Winston to handle her as he always did, strip away any inhibitions or dignity she may have developed then move into a torture session under the guise of testing her. Checks to make sure she had no hesitation over killing and the effectiveness of her shock chip were a success.

Then I rescued her. Once again, I have delivered her from pain, been her savior and now she sits at my feet with her head on my knees while I stroke her hair.

“You are not dozing off on me, are you my Bella? I thought I heard a purr.” I told her, teasing a bit.

“No Mother… it feels good to be home. I missed you.”

Of course you did. Who else would you miss? The sperm donor who no doubt wants to be your father? The support team that is watching you for the slightest sign of losing yourself to the animal inside you so they can take you down?

As if I would allow that to happen. Yes, Bella would be brought in but her life was no longer as disposable as others. She had definite purpose now. She just needed the right guidance.

“I saw your medical reports before I found what Winston was doing to you. I need to be honest with you, Bella. The vampire venom count in your blood is growing. This also happened to our control subject before her DNA began mutating.”

I felt Bella stiffen as my hand ran through her hair.

“I’m going to change if I live, won’t I?”

“Yes.” I admitted. I was certain of it. “But… I believe our control subject was missing something you have. I believe she was missing discipline. I believe that she could have controlled herself. I believe she could have shifted back; I don’t think she wanted to. She wasn’t the warrior you are, Bella. She had no desire to help humanity. She was afraid of taking the next step in her evolution. I know that you are not afraid. We will bring you in this summer for a week or so to watch you closely. I believe you can stay in the field for the Spring with no worries.”

“If I survive tomorrow.” Bella pointed out.

That was a problem. It would be incredibly inconvenient if I lost Bella, because our council was concerned about impoverished Russian nomadic tribes and villagers. That was not their main concern of course. They wanted one of these creatures’ bodies, preferably all of them to study this species.

“Yes, I need to talk to you about that. You will be leading a force of close to one hundred girls. Never before have our Jaguars attacked in such numbers. Unlike previous attacks, where weapons were used as a last resort, our team will use weapons first. You are to lead from the back, coordinate, order, plan but engage only if necessary. If we lose over half our force you are to order a retreat. Choppers will move in and you will escape. Understand?”

“You want me to run and hide, Mother?” Bella asked, offended as I would expect.

“Of course not. I want you to be smart. This is not a hunting trip. This is a military campaign and you are in charge. That means you must direct. Fight when you must but remember if you fall, the others will descend into chaos and die. You must think like a leader Bella, not just a warrior.”

Bella nodded her head. I doubted she would stay out of the fight but perhaps the thought may cause her to have a bit of self-preservation.

“I hate this, Bella.” I told her. “Were it my decision you would never go on this mission. I never had the chance to have a biological daughter, dedicating my life to the greater good as you have done. I do consider you my daughter in every way that matters. I want you to survive tomorrow. I love you so much. I am proud of you but you have much more to do. Other lives are not as important as yours. Do you understand?”

“I do mother. Will you tell me about these monsters?”

“No, not tonight. I want to enjoy having you back in my life for this short time. I thought of having your old room cleared for you but wasn’t sure how you would feel sleeping there. You can sleep at the foot of my bed tonight. In the morning, you will eat, have your hair cut short so the enemy has nothing to grab hold of, prepare your weapons and then talk your soldiers. They are excited to meet you.”

“I am excited as well.” Bella told me but I heard no enthusiasm in her voice. It was what she was expected to say.

“Remember Bella, come back to me by any means necessary, even if it means letting others die. I love you. You are special to me. Haven’t I always taken care of you?”

“Yes Mother. I love you too.”

“Good. Would you rather sleep with one of the girls? You can have your pick and I assure whoever it is will be willing. Perhaps that might be better than sleeping at my feet. It has been a while, hasn’t it Bella? No humans, correct?”

“No humans, mother. I don’t want another girl. I would prefer to sleep at your feet, if that is okay with you.”

“Whatever you wish. Now prepare for bed. Night clothes are in the closet. You have had a long day. I will be back shortly. Good night, daughter.”

‘Good night, Mother.”

I walked into my room an hour later after going over Bella’s reports more thoroughly with Winston. She was definitely becoming stronger and her regeneration rates were doubled. The regular bullet that stuck her shoulder hardly did any damage and the normal knife could not penetrate her body. The other knife could have killed her, but she regenerated too quickly for her to bleed out without surgical intervention needed. I had a team on standby in the event this was not the case but Bella proved herself admirably.

She was becoming invincible, or as invincible as a Jaguar was capable of. She would always be part of human. While her human side was a weakness it was also a blessing. It gave her emotions that were easily manipulated, to keep her in line.

As I looked down on her, cuddled in a blanket at the foot of my mattress, purring of all things, I knew everything would be fine. Bella was not only my weapon but my possession. Her soul belonged to me.

“Good night my love.” I whispered and kissed her on her forehead before I prepared Bella’s breakfast for the morning.

Bella

I woke disoriented at first as to where I was. The bed was soft, the scent… Mother’s scent. I looked to the head of the bed quickly and saw she had gotten up and left already. She had allowed me to sleep in. The time was 6 AM. I knew a briefing would occur in two hours. I expected an outfitter here soon. Not knowing what else to do I stayed on the bed.

This brought back so many memories. Good memories, being one of the few allowed to sleep in her room. Every bit of pain she inflicted on me, was equal to the love she showed me.

She saved me from that bastard Winston last night. He had hit my kill switch before I could attack him. Now he was her prisoner, probably being tortured right now.

I wondered what Leah was doing. I hoped she had slept. I was able to, the pain in my chest searing me but it also made me stronger. Leah was not used to this amount of pain. She shouldn’t be used to any pain.

I wonder if Esme cooked for Charlie this morning. Were they angry at me? Did they understand why I had to do this? Rose would be furious. Alice would be furious if it were possible for Alice to become furious.

Charlie would be sad of course but according to that Vivian woman they would get him to safety if I died.

I wish I hadn’t argued with Leah. My possible last interaction with her was telling her to get out. I missed her. I missed them all.

I truly wish there was something I could do, some way to get intel and send it to Connolly before I took off but it was pointless. Vivian likely knew more about this place than I did, including the sad fact that most of us trained and prepared to fight would be dead this time tomorrow.

Perhaps if it happened Mother would leave the Organization. She could be safe when this place was blown to hell.

But why should I care? She had put me through as much pain as she saved me from. She had given me Julie though. She gave me the greatest gift I had ever received, something no other Jaguar was allowed to have.

Standing up I walked around the room, careful not to touch anything. Mother did not like snooping and she trusted me not to do so.

On her nightstand was a worn, well used book I knew well. It was a book of poems she read to me at night when I was little. The other girls were so jealous. Mother never spoiled me. When my claws came in and I battled with control she left me to suffer, forced me to eat raw meat. When my eyes became sensitive, she threw me into the jungle, kept me in an area with no tree coverage, like all the girls had to. The pain made you focus on control more sharply. She is the one who put me in the furnace to prove to me that there was nothing I couldn’t survive, even being burned alive.

I hated her. She made me what I am.

I loved her. She made me what I am.

The door opened and my handler walked in, cart in front of her.

“Good morning Bella. My name is Cynthia. Dr. Hildebrand has assigned me to prepare you for the day. Briefing at 8, meeting with your soldiers at 10, chopper to Rio after noon time feeding, then wheels up to Moscow. Tonight just after midnight Russian time, you and 96 other girls will conduct high altitude jumps over Siberia and save the lives of countless. I bet you are excited, aren’t you?”

“I do what the Organization requires me to do.” I told her. I didn’t know this woman and had no desire to make small talk.

“I’m going to cut your hair to just below your ears. Some of our girls with longer hair during the first mission had their hair ripped from their skulls. No reason to give the monsters any advantage. I think short hair will look great on you. I have a dark green suit, new material, should blend in better with the surrounding area. It also has two holsters on the hips, two on the lower legs for handguns, belt slots for grenades, new com devices in the sleeve, and makes accessing a rifle on your back much easier. I understand its going to be a warzone out there. It is bullet proof to an extent but since our girls will be using special ammo that could kill you, it is very important you all hit what you are aiming for. The material blocks fifty percent of the shots, but that is still a fifty…”

“Can we please cut my hair and allow me to dress? Time is short and I haven’t had breakfast. I am well aware of how tactical suits work and the weapons I will be using.”

The woman said nothing else. Perhaps the flash of yellow in my eyes told her I was in no mood for small talk.

Twenty minutes later I looked myself over in the mirror. If I ever saw her again, Alice will be so disappointed. My hair wasn’t long enough for braids any longer. Though she was a fan of my black suit I doubt this horrible shade of green would impress her either.

I almost allowed myself a smile at the thought but wouldn’t allow myself. That life doesn’t matter. All that matters is today. This time tomorrow I will either be dead or have the blood of many of my sisters on my hands. Thoughts of my new friends, Leah, Charlie, the Cullens, even Sam Uley and Billy Black would not get me through this crucible.

I walked into the hallway, intending to find the briefing room. Mother stopped me in the hall.

“I like your hair. Short suits you.”

“Thank you, Mother. Thank you for allowing me to sleep on your bed last night. I slept well.”

“You always have. I realize there is a briefing in fifteen minutes but I want to give you something first. You haven’t had breakfast, have you?”

I shook my head. Feeding would be at noon, raw meat in preparation for battle.

“Follow me.”

I followed her as we took the elevator four levels below in the detention block. It was empty for the most part, only used on trespassers and guards who have tried to take advantage of the younger girls. That didn’t happen often as the older girls tended to deal with those guards.

Today only one cell was in use.

Dr. Winston. He had been beaten and showed signs of electrocution burns. His eyes, though swollen, widened when he saw me. I could smell the fear radiating off him.

“I had Dr. Winston interrogated last night after you went to sleep. It appears he took it upon himself to execute you. He felt there was a high likelihood of you dying tonight and wanted to terminate you in what he considered a controlled setting to examine your body in a pristine state.”

The man was shaking his head furiously and opened his mouth but no sound came out.

“I had the bastard’s tongue cut out when I became tired of listening to his pleas.” Mother explained.

I tried to feel emotion for him but this man had tortured me and others for years. Instead of sorrow I felt slightly satisfied and pleased. Mother did this to protect me, turned on a man she had worked with for years.

“What would you have me do, Mother?”

She patted me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear.

“You know what to do. Slaughter him, do it however you wish, just make it messy. When you are done, leave his blood on your face and meet me in the briefing room. I want the girls to see the predator leading them. I want them to understand.”

“As you wish Mother.”

A predator? It felt good to be a predator again.

“And Bella? Eat as much as you wish.”