Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Protecting Maddie

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 09:

BPOV

“How it going baby?”

“5 by 5 Mom.” Maddie responded without looking at me, eyes glued to the TV. I glanced at Charlotte and Alice who also seemed to be engrossed in the TV.

Maddie had become addicted recently to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She had found it in Peter’s extensive Blu Ray collection. She had worked through Season 1 and was midway through Season 2.

“Talk about a waste of time. That show is so inaccurate.” Peter responded coming behind me in the room.

“Don’t be jealous because the guy vampires actually look cool Peter.” Maddie responded without turning around again.

We had been here a week now and I had been getting to know Peter on a more personal level. He had gone with me to Maddie’s cheer practice with me twice this week. He was really making an effort with her. I was very sore. Very, very sore. It was becoming apparent to me that if this relationship was going to have any long term viability I was going to have to turn into a vampire before Peter destroyed my pus…

“Mom what were you doing?” Maddie asked, finally turning to look at me.

“Uh, Peter was showing me how to work on cars.”

“Is that why your hair is all messed up?”

“Yes, Baby. That is why.”

“Yeah, I got your mom under the car.” Peter said grinning while I shot him an evil glare.

“Oh? So you weren’t kissing her?”

“Maddie…”

“Yes Maddie. I kissed the hell out of her.” Peter responded.

“Gross.” Maddie mumbled and turned back to the TV.

If she only knew. Thank God she didn’t know what all kissing entailed.

I began to walk to the kitchen to start lunch for her when I heard her sweet little voice in the air again.

“You okay Mommy?”

“Yes darling. I am fine.”

“Oh, cause you are walking kinda strange. Did you trip?”

I gulped. I felt my face turn red. If I turned and she saw my blush she wouldn’t let it go.

“Yeah baby, I tripped. You know how clumsy I am. Always tripping. That’s me.”

“Nice job protecting her, Peter.” Maddie said turning back to the TV.

I heard Charlotte and Alice laugh.

I cooked Maddie a grilled cheese and gave it to her with a bag of chips. Peter walked up and told me he would be leaving for a while. He held me close and then kissed my forehead, checking first to see if Maddie was looking. I still wasn’t comfortable showing outright affection in front of her and Peter respected that. I knew where he was going. He was going to join Jasper and Garrett who had not been around much. They had been scouring the area without ever going too far away to search for any signs of vampire activity. Strangely enough they have found none. I was hoping this would be done by now. I had to get back to work next week. I had bills to pay. And I had to replace the furniture in my living room. And school started in 6 weeks meaning Maddie would need new clothes.

Man it would be nice not to worry about this stuff for a while. I wish I knew why the hell a vampire would want my daughter. That is the thing that drives me craziest of all.

I lay down on the couch next to Maddie and watched TV while she explained to me her different theories for killing vampires. Thankfully Charlotte and Alice found it cute. Charlotte has been very good with her considering their rough start. I didn’t notice I had fallen asleep until I woke up and it was dark out. I reached for Maddie and she wasn’t there. I sat up only to see Alice sitting on the recliner staring at me.

“Where is she?”

“Calm down. She is with Peter.”

“Peter?”

“Yes, Peter. It is okay that she is not within your reach at all time. He will protect her.”

“Yeah I know, but she went with Peter? How the hell did he convince her to go with him?”

“Pretty easy. Peter mentioned that he was thinking of buying some horses for his ranch and was going to look at some that a man up the road had for sale.”

“Horses? Why the hell would Peter want to buy horses?”

“He may have heard Maddie talking to Charlotte about how much she always wanted a horse when she saw one on a commercial.”

“He’s buying my daughter a horse!”

“No, he’s buying himself a couple of horses. Big difference.” Alice smiled.

“You love this don’t you?”

“I don’t get involved in Peter’s business Bella.”

“You get involved in everyone’s business.”

“That’s true. So let’s talk about when you are going to turn and what we are going to do during your newborn period.”

“Excuse me?” What the fuck?

“Bella I have seen it for a long time. You know you are going to be a vampire one day. Probably sooner than later. And we need a plan.”

“Who the hell… what the hell Alice! I’m a mother! I can’t be turning into a goddamn vampire!”

“You can and you will! Whether you like it or not! I’ve seen it Bella!”

“Alice no offense, you know I love you, but you see shit all the time. They change all the time.”

“Not this one. You and… you are destined to be a…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, shut the fuck up and stop the presses.”

“You curse a lot when Maddie isn’t around, Bella”

“Don’t change the goddamn subject or you will find exactly how much I can curse. Me and who are destined to be vampires?”

“You and Maddie, Bella.”

“Fuck you Alice! You can’t say things like that.”

“It’s the truth. You want me to lie to you? Because I can. But you said you always wanted honesty from me.”

The little bitch was getting mad. So was I. This should be fun.

“You are going to turn her, aren’t you? How dare you Alice!”

“I would never!”

“Really?” I asked raising an eyebrow.

“Maybe if she asked. But Bella you know she won’t leave you. When she gets older she will want to be turned so she can stay with you forever.”

“She will get over her dependence!”

“Will you?”

“I’m not becoming a vampire!” I mean maybe I was, eventually, possibly.

“You are. And even Maddie knows it!”

“What do you mean she knows it? What the hell have you been telling her?”

“I haven’t told her anything. But she knows you hang out with vampires, she knows your boyfriend is a vampire. You don’t think she is going to figure on you becoming a vampire? Hell she asked me the other day how somebody becomes a vampire.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I told her not to worry about it. But vampires are all she has on her mind. You know Garrett saw her in the woods with a kitchen knife trying to carve a branch she found on the ground into a stake? She damn near sliced her hand!”

“Why the hell didn’t you stop her?”

“I didn’t know!”

“Bullshit!”

“You act like I walk around seeing the future all the time. Something’s I can see, something’s I can’t. You hate when I use my power unless it’s for something you want!”

“What the hell have I ever wanted from you?”

“YOU want to know if Maddie is going to fall before every competition and practice. YOU want to know if any kids at school are going to be mean to her, God forbid. I can’t wait until she is in High School so you can ask me If she is going to drink on a date or what boys she will want to have sex with her and stop her from dating them.”

“I want those things for her! Not me!”

“No, you want them for you! She can handle life. You’re the one who is too scared to let her live it.”

“Fuck you Alice!”

“Fuck you Bella!

We stared at each other for a few minutes without saying a word. Then she smiled at me. Dammit I can’t stay mad at her. She opened up her arms.

“You are such a fucking bitch.” I mumbled hugging her.

“Yes, but I’m your fucking bitch and you are mine.”

We were having a real Lifetime moment until Garrett busted into the doors with Peter holding Maddie running right behind him. He placed Maddie in my arms and ran back to the front porch.

“Alice?”

“I don’t know, Bella.”

Jasper and Charlotte came in from the back of the house. Maddie looked scared. I’m guessing they didn’t buy the horses.

“Jasper?”

“Alice can you see anything?”

Alice attempted her spaced out look but she quickly snapped out of it.

“No.”

“Dammit they have a fucking shield out there?” Garrett asked.

“What the hell is a shield?” I probably didn’t want to know.

“A shield can block powers. This one is apparently very gifted if he or she can block Alice’s.”

“Bella the basement is reinforced concrete and steel buried underground. They shouldn’t be able to smell or here ya’ll down there. Get Maddie and go.” Peter said still looking into the darkness.

“How many are there Peter? Jasper?”

“6 teams of four vampires each approaching the house in a circle. We can handle it but you have to stay downstairs.” Jasper responded.

“24 fucking vampires?!”

“Bella relax. We got this. We’ve handled more in the past. Now go!” Peter yelled. Okay he didn’t yell but he sure as hell wasn’t calm. I ran into the kitchen and opened the door disguised as a cabinet Peter had showed me when I first moved in. Running down the steps with Maddie and not falling required all my concentration. We reached the bottom and I turned the lights on. A vampire wouldn’t have a problem seeing in the dark so darkness wouldn’t hide us. Nothing would hide us. But they would have to kill me before… oh yeah, that was the idea.

I couldn’t hear anything upstairs. I didn’t know what was going on. It seemed like we were in there forever. It was probably more like ten minutes. I heard the door open at the top. Thank God, it must be over. Peter was coming to get us. Maddie and I both stared at the steps. What was taking so long? Get down here Peter!

“Hello?” Maddie whispered.

“Hello, cutey.”

Oh shit. That wasn’t Peter. She walked in front of us and smiled. Medium length red hair, huge bust. Pale skin, bright red eyes.

“Who the hell are you?” I asked.

“My name is Saffron. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you and your lovely daughter. I have to say that this has been the most difficult acquisition I have had to date. I never had a human protected by vampires before. That caused me to hire much more manpower than I would in the past. I usually handle this kind of thing myself. But don’t worry about me. I will just pass on the cost to my customers.” The bitch giggled.

“Why do you want my daughter?” I had to know. I hope she told me. I hoped I was buying time for somebody up there to save us.

“I suppose since she is your daughter I can take a few minutes to let you know what is going to happen to her. It certainly sounds like your defenders upstairs have their hands full. With luck they will kill enough vampires that my payroll expenses won’t be too bad.”

“They are going to kill them all and come for you.”

“Yes, probably. That’s why we have to hurry. Long story short Bella, I am a collector. I have a talent for recognizing power in humans and vampires and telling what it will be. There is another one like me in Alaska but he left the Volturi long ago. I am a free agent. I collect gifted children and sell them to the highest paying coven. Usually the Volturi or the Romanians but there are always some wild cards in the mix. When the children get of age they are turned and members of the Coven. The Volturi like to use Chelsea on children to make them loyal. The Romanians torture the children and brainwash them into behaving and then turn them. How they do it doesn’t matter to me. The fact is, you and your daughter are the two most powerful humans I have ever sensed. And she will bring me a pretty penny.”

“You’re a fucking bounty hunter?”

“I prefer the term collector but call me what you will. Now I have to be on my way. So I will be taking your daughter now.”

“Why can’t you take me? I will go willingly. You said I was powerful.”

“Yes but you are too old. You couldn’t be controlled or trained to obey like a child can. Unfortunately I can’t have you turning and coming after me so I have to kill you. Nothing personal. It is a great waste.”

“Mommy?”

“Maddie stay behind me…”

I saw her move briefly and I felt a blow to my chest. I heard a crack and felt myself thrown. I hit the wall. Before I blacked out I saw another vampire flashing in. It looked like…

---

We stood in front of the house. Two teams coming from behind the house, four teams from the front. How they got so close without Alice seeing them could only mean one thing. As Maddie and I were driving up discussing the horses I had just bought I saw one of them in the trees. As I was driving my ass off to get to the house and calling Jasper I saw more movement in the rear view mirror. They were starting to emerge from the trees. Pulling into the house at the top of the slight rise in front of it I saw pale shapes 400 yards out. 8 of them. Jasper made a circle of the house and came back with the news. Maddie never said a word. She just sat in the ruck and allowed me to pick her up and run her to her mother.

I looked at Jasper and Garrett and Charlotte just ran up.

“They were waiting for you to return.”

“Yep.”

“Alice?”

“Still can’t see anything. Must be a shield out there.”

“These are independent teams working together. Not one unit.”

“Five of us, six of them. One group is going to get through. We have to stay close to the house and group them all together.”

“What about the shield?” I asked looking at Jasper.

“Has to be just mental. Physical and they wouldn’t be this confident. Only a mental shield can cover this many vampires. Only Alice and I have gifts. We won’t need them. Once we find the shield I will make them all feel a little lazy. It will be easy after that.”

“Oh good. There for a minute I was beginning to think we were in trouble. That sounds like a great plan though. Find the one vampire in 24, kill that one and the rest fall.” Garrett said. He was smiling. Charlotte looked worried but confident. She was more worried about vampires getting through.

“Listen. One of us on the four corners of the house and Jasper running wild. Just like we talked about. Let’s go.” I ordered. I took the front. Char took one side, Alice took the other and Garrett took the back. Jasper jumped to the roof.

Two groups converged on Garrett in the back. Garrett was taking 8 vampires. Shouldn’t be a problem for him. Two more groups attacked the side where Alice was. She couldn’t handle 8 vampires. Char had two groups attacking her. She could handle 8 vampires. That left me with nothing. Jasper jumped down to assist Alice. I was standing there like an idiot. Charlotte had a particularly rough vampire. Fire balls were bursting form the side of the house. I ran around to see what the hell was going on and barely dodged a fireball myself. Fucking vampire was burning everything, His own vampires the grass everything while trying to hit Char who was dancing out of the way. When he tried to hit me again she jumped him. Two tried to jump her and I took them out, beheading them as I went by. They didn’t protect their necks. These guys were amateurs. Where the hell did she find these guys? Where the hell was she? I ran to the front again once it seemed Charlotte had everything under control. I turned and saw the door kicked in. Oh shit. Somebody got into the house.

“Jasper!”

“Go. Garrett got the shield. I got this. Alice is coming.”

I ran down the stairs and saw Bella hit the wall. The red headed bitch grabbed Maddie and held her in front of her body.

“Backup cowboy, or I will kill her now. We are walking out of here.”

“No you are not walking out of here.”

“Yes I am. You should probably see to your little friend there. I smell you all over her. I cracked her head and chest. She doesn’t have much time.” The bitch smiled at me. She moved towards the stairs and I blocked her way, keeping one eye on Maddie and one eye on Bella on the floor. Bella would never forgive me if I let this bitch walk out with Maddie.

“I AM NOT FUCKING AROUND! BACK UP NOW OR SHE DIES!”

Yep, she was definitely very nervous. That cool exterior was breaking down. She went through a lot of trouble to get Maddie alive. She didn’t want to kill her.

“You are not killing anyone lady. As a matter of fact I bet you don’t feel like doing much of anything. Let her go.” Jasper said walking in. Charlotte, Alice and Garrett walked in behind them. Alice ran to Bella’s side immediately.

The red head’s arm dropped off Maddie as her entire body relaxed. Maddie ran. Straight towards her mother. Garrett and Charlotte attacked and restrained the red head. Jasper ordered them to take her upstairs to the work shed. We would definitely have work to do soon.

I ran to Bella. She was out. Her skull was cracked and from the sound inside her chest, blood was going to cause her heart to stop very soon. I looked at Alice. She looked at me. We both looked at Maddie. Maddie had tears in her eyes and kept mumbling Mommy over and over again.

She looked up at us.

“What are you waiting for? Save her.” She sniffed through the tears.

“Maddie you know that means…”Alice began.

“Turn her into a vampire already! I can’t lose her Aunt Alice. Not her. No. Turn her.”

I looked at Alice and nodded.

“We do it together.”

“Yes.” She responded.

I bit Bella over the scar already on her wrist. Alice bit her on the other wrist. I moved up to her neck and bit her there as well.

“What the hell!”

“What?” I turned to Maddie.

“You bit her!”

“Yeah, I mean…”

“I told you to help her and you bit her!” Bella woke up and began screaming. Loudly.

“What the hell Peter? You were supposed to turn her! You bit her! And now she is screaming!”

“You said you wanted her turned Maddie…”

“Yeah, isn’t she supposed to drink some of your nasty blood or something? You just bit her! Why is she screaming so loud?”

“Maddie this is how someone turns into a vampire.” Alice tried to calm her down, pulling her away from her Bella and holding her.

“He bit her. That’s not right Aunt Alice.”

“I bit her too Maddie. Trust me, okay?”

“Why is she screaming? She was screaming when she was in the workshop with him the other day too. Why does he make her scream all the time?” Maddie was full on crying, nose running and everything.

I gave Alice a glare. You would think with all the damn vampires in the house, the little kid wouldn’t be able to sneak out so much.

“Peter I am going to take Maddie upstairs. You should probably take Bella to your bedroom. I need to get Maddie ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“She needs to know what will happen when her mom wakes up.”