One Shot - Bella/Carmen

She ran through the forest as fast as her legs could carry her. Instead of dodging branches and bushes, she ran straight through them. She only dodged trees out of necessity to make sure she didn’t look like a cavewoman when she arrived at her destination; not that she knew where she was going. But if her destination was filled with humans then she had to be careful of her appearance. Her destination was of the upmost importance and she won’t allow anything to deter her from getting to her mate.

Being connected to a human for the last seventeen years had been exhausting; if exhaustion was possible for a vampire. Every strong emotion her human felt, Carmen felt as well. Her coven mate, Elena, explained it was very common with vampires mated to a human. Apparently, it was a defense mechanism, the mated vampire is able to feel their human’s stronger emotions to make themselves available if the human’s life is at risk. Whenever her human felt afraid, happy, alone and any other feeling strong enough, Carmen felt it. It was a nerve-wracking adventure that tested her patience.

No matter what feeling she felt coming from her mate, she had no idea where her mate. Carmen had no idea what country or even continent her mate was. It had only taken a few years for Carmen to come to the conclusion that she would have wait for her mate to grow up and then run into her in due course. Never once did Carmen think the ability to find her mate would come from something so dreadful. Carmen was listening to Elena tease Kate to Irina and Tanya’s interference when Carmen felt an overwhelming feeling of dread. If Carmen would have had blood flowing her body, her face would have completely drained from her face. The fear that raced through Carmen’s body wasn’t her own, it was definitely her mate’s and to Carmen, it felt as if her mate was facing death itself.

With a growl of anger of feeling her mate so afraid, she raced off. She hadn’t decided on a direction, instead listening to her instincts as she raced through the forest and across country borders. She heard Kate and Elena follow after her but for once, not even Kate could keep up with her and eventually she lost them. It helped that Elena theorized the reason for Carmen’s sudden departure had to do with something bad happening to her mate. They soon trailed off and trusted Carmen, who always had her phone on her for this exact reason, would contact them as soon as she could.

Carmen ran as fast as her feet could carry her, feeling for her mate through the bond they shared. The fear was no longer as intense, but it was still there. In fact, if Carmen wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of determination. In Carmen’s fear clouded mind, she believed her mate was feeling determined to stay alive. She couldn’t focus enough on the bond to realize she wasn’t afraid for her life any longer, just determined.

Carmen barely registered the Welcome to Forks sign as she ran, slowing her speed to a light jog as she entered the city proper. She mentally cursed in as many languages she knew that she had to keep at such a slow pace in order to not stand out with the humans. She was very fortunate the sun was blocked by the clouds or she would have bigger issues on her hand. She had no idea where she was going but from what she could tell from the pull she was feeling, she knew she was getting close.

About twenty minutes later at a brisk jog, Carmen arrived at a house. The house was on the border of the woods and for just a moment Carmen mentally cursed herself for her instincts not directing her through the woods that likely would have been faster if not a bit less direct. With the house in sight the first thing Carmen realized was there was a vampire’s scent surrounding the entire area of the house.

With a growl, Carmen then realized the vampire’s scent covered the scent of what Carmen knew to be her mate’s scent. Oh well, at least she was finally near her mate. It was just unfortunate there was a vampire with her; a vampire Carmen and her coven weren’t very fond of.

Carmen vaguely recalled Tanya mentioning Edward had visited them for a week because he had met his singer and was struggling to be around her in the town his family was living in. Carmen wasn’t there for that visit but if the singer turned out to be this human, Carmen would detach Edward’s head until her mate was turned. There was no trusting a vampire with a singer, the vampire would do anything they could to keep and drain the human. Carmen didn’t want to risk her mate getting caught by Edward and his easy-going coven leader likely wouldn’t do anything to prevent it.

Carmen took a quick glance at the driveway, only saw a rusted, old truck parked up front. As she got closer, she listened for heat beats and was thankful she could only hear one heart beating. What she wasn’t thankful for was Edward’s scent indicated he was there or had just left. Regardless, Carmen wouldn’t stand for such a threat to her mate. She didn’t want any other vampire, aside from her coven mates whom she trusted explicitly, to be around her mate in case they attacked.

Carmen marched down the sidewalk and then up the walkway. She could hear her human ask what was going on and heard Edward tell her not to worry about it, that he would be back. Carmen sneered and had to hold back a growl. How dare he talk to her so disrespectfully.

Edward opened the door, stepped out and closed the door before Carmen could get to it. He was blocking her path and he better watch himself if he didn’t want any harm to come to him.

Edward clearly had read her thoughts. His eyes darkened in anger at being threatened. “Hello Carmen, I don’t believe Carlisle was expecting any visitors. Are the sisters around?” He didn’t want Bella anywhere near those succubae.

“They are none of your concern.” Carmen quickly answered as she listened to where her mate was. “Get out of my way.” Carmen demanded, ignoring the growl Edward released from hearing her thoughts.

“Bella is my mate.” Edward was going to keep talking but Carmen’s rage at someone besides her claiming her mate caused the older woman to lash out.

Carmen shoved Edward back, never more thankful to be many centuries older than the boy to ensure she was stronger than he was. Edward tried to retaliate and then to get to Bella, but Carmen was faster.

Carmen raced up the stairs and barged into the room at the end of the hallway that held a single heartbeat in it. Carmen would miss hearing that sound. She wrapped her arms around her mate for the first time since she first knew her human was born and it felt like it was coming home.

She turned them around to face the angry vampire in the doorway. Carmen kept her human’s, Bella’s, face pushed into her. Her human was only fighting against her because of the unfortunate circumstances of how they are meeting. It also didn’t help that this child of a vampire had clearly lied to her and everyone else about the type of relationship the two had. Once her coven leader knows about the lies and how he stole her mate, she would seek retribution from Carlisle. It was only fair.

“Don’t do anything stupid Carmen.” Edward said through clenched teeth, doing his best to keep up with the angry woman’s thoughts. He was afraid she was going to hurt Bella and he didn’t want that.

“Don’t you dare tell me not to do anything Edward.” Carmen seethed, trying to calm her mate down who was trying to get away from her. But that was okay, her mate hadn’t been properly introduced to her and unlike a vampire who could identify their mate with smell alone, a human had to actually make eye contact for the mate bond to be solidified on their side. Carmen had moved too quickly for that to happen but her mate’s safety was more pressing than making eye contact.

“Her father is an important figure in town, he’s the chief of police, you can’t do anything to bring attention.” Edward cautioned, hoping the threat of breaking the laws of secrecy would keep Carmen in line and stop her from doing something stupid.

Carmen couldn’t stop the growl from her throat. Carmen didn’t really care who her mate’s human family was, she had a new vampire one since the day she was born; even if she hadn’t met them.

“Then you better figure something out.” Carmen said before quickly moving to break the window with her back and jump out of the house. She did her best to keep her mate safe but from the heightened sense of her mate’s delicious blood, she wasn’t successful. When she gets to her home, she will patch her human up then.

Carmen could hear Edward taking chase and it only motivated her to run faster. He may have been the fastest in his own coven, but that was compared to other vampires that were practically all the same age. He had never raced against anyone in her coven, against vampires that were over a thousand years old. Strength and speed was something that came with age, therefore, Carmen was faster. No matter how long Edward chased her, he wouldn’t be able to catch her. And if he chased her all the way to her home, he would have a fight on his hands with the rest of her coven. Plus, as he pointed out, her mate’s disappearance would be noticed and since it was his family that lived in the town not hers, he and Carlisle would need to figure something out to not get any unwanted attention on them.

Carmen could hear him foolishly follow her the entire run back to her home. Even after slowing down so her mate wouldn’t be hurt by the wind, Edward kept pacing and thankfully didn’t do anything else stupid like trying to tackle her to get her mate away from her. Carmen was never more thankful to be able to move so quickly and to be able to cross the land so quickly than she had been in that moment as she ran with her mate to get away from the lies Edward had clearly told her human.

From the pleas her mate was giving, begging for Edward to help, Carmen knew instantly the idiot vampire had told her mate that he was really her mate. And that pissed Carmen off. If it wasn’t for the alliance her coven had with the Cullen’s, Carmen would have put her mate down and just killed Edward for the transgression of stealing her mate when he had to have known they weren’t really mates. He was acting like a drug addict that was losing their drug.

The second Carmen crossed over on her coven’s land in Alaska, her coven knew she was there and was being followed. Minutes later, with the house in site, her family was running out to intervene with Edward while Carmen took her mate inside and straight into her room.

“He claimed my mate as his. My mate is his singer.” Carmen quickly explained so Tanya could decide what to do with him. If it was up to Carmen, she would just kill the younger vampire; but Tanya was more diplomatic than she was. She would probably let him live and while Carmen didn’t really want that, she understood.

Carmen placed her mate on her bed and with her hands on her mate’s shoulders, she finally made eye contact for the first time and it took Carmen’s breath away.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for you.” Carmen said, her Spanish accent leaking through her tone as her emotions went wild at finally having her mate home with her.

Her human, Bella, had looked very angry for just a moment until they made eye contact. Then, she gasped. It was like something snapping into place in her heart that Bella never knew was missing.

“Oh, hello.” Bella said, no longer nearly as made as she was literally two seconds ago. She had been so sure she was in love with Edward, at least close to being in love with him from how obsessed she had been with him; especially after he saved her from Tyler’s van.

“We have so much to talk about, but thankfully, we’ll have eternity to figure it out.” Carmen said. She leaned in, intent to just bite her mate and turn her so all her worries would be over. But Carmen knew her mate was only seventeen, still considered a child in most countries and still a few years younger than her. While Carmen wanted to turn her mate right away, she wanted to do what her mate wanted. And that would mean they needed to do a lot of talking. Especially since she had technically just kidnapped her mate with zero intentions of letting her go back.

Oh well, she had her mate now and in the end that was all that mattered to her.