Chapter 8

Caius had stormed out of the room the second Athenodora didn’t back down to his demands. Once he had left, Athenodora gave Bella a victorious smirk.

“He’ll be back soon; he just doesn’t like knowing he can’t boss me around.” She explained. “In reality, no matter how much he doesn’t like to admit it, we both have him wrapped around our fingers.” She said and then gave Bella an evil smirk that made Zafrina nervous, “You could likely have do whatever you wanted, regardless of what he wants if you asked just a couple times and pouted.”

Bella wasn’t sure what to think about that; it was like she was setting Bella up to argue more with Caius about… well, she wasn’t really sure what she would ask the king in the future. In all honesty, she was hoping that once she got back to Forks, since Athenodora seemed okay with them going, she would somehow magically get to stay.

With Zafrina though. While they hadn’t really had a real conversation about anything, just her presence was enough for Bella want her to stick around. Bella really liked the feeling of dangerous safety the dark woman had about her. She wasn’t really sure how the dangerous safety made sense to the average person; but the average person hadn’t met Zafrina, so of course they wouldn’t know.

“Um, sure.” She hesitantly said, not sure what else the queen was expecting.

Athenodora laughed with her head thrown back, clearly amused by the situation. The ancient vampire, the oldest alive, couldn’t believe she had a child bond. She had never thought in a million years, of which was very likely to happen if she was lucky, she and her mate would have a child bond. They were both far too savage, ruthless, sadistic and even homicidal to care for a child. Perhaps there was something better yet for them in this afterlife if they were blessed enough to have a child. Athenodora had never been happier and her child’s look of utter confusion only seemed to tip her over the edge. If the others were to hear her laugh, they would likely think her mad.

In fact, she wasn’t even sure if any of the guard had ever heard her laugh before. She wasn’t sure if she cared or not; it would certainly be entertaining to see her guards reactions and as long as it was her child, she truly wouldn’t mind a slight dent in her perfected persona.

“Do not worry, in time I’m sure you will feel the bond.” She assured her child, her connection with the human telling her how overwhelmed she was feeling. Athenodora was impressed, her child was handling so much change and bonds so well; especially for a human. She shouldn’t have expected anything less from her child. “There is much for us to discuss before we leave, I’m sure Caius is already making sure our plan will be able to leave the day after tomorrow and with the appropriate guards, but before then, there is much for us to do here.”

“Like what?”

The more they talked, or really the more Athenodora talked, Bella was feeling so much more comfortable with the queen. It was different with her than it was with Zafrina. While Zafrina made her feel safe and protected, Bella was still nervous around the Amazon. She didn’t want to put too much thought into exactly why, but Bella felt nervous around Zafrina, like the woman was going to not only judge everything she did and say but also not like what said or done, and Bella didn’t like that possibility; it made her nervous. Bella hadn’t to admit it, but it felt like talking to a crush and everything she was afraid to say or do the wrong thing and look like a fool. But Zafrina wasn’t a crush, they hadn’t even known each a week, Bella was sure crushes took longer than that to really develop.

She would just ignore the fact that she had crushed on Edward literally two days into him disappearing on her. She would also ignore the fact that she already knew she was crushing on the Amazon and was just too afraid to admit it while her life was literally exploding in her face.

Athenodora was surprising helping with the feeling of losing control though… regardless that they had just met a few hours ago. The woman was taking control of the situation and while Caius, the king, seemed to publically have more power, clearly in private or when Athenodora cared to, she had more power. Bella felt a sense of security with Athenodora, like no matter what happened or what she needed, Athenodora was going to be there. She already felt so close to the woman and a part of her felt guilty about it because she had a mom already; but there was just this connection with the ancient vampire that she couldn’t ignore.

“First off, your parents. What do you think they are doing to find you and what will happen when you show back up?” She asked, going into strategy mode. Most people tend to think her gift was strategy; she was so good at it and had lived for so long that most thought that it had to be her gift. She was find with that.

Bella took a few seconds as she thought about it; she already knew what Renee would do. That was easy, she likely would feign being worried but in reality wouldn’t actually do anything. Charlie though, he actually cared, he would do something. But without any real information about what happened, he likely wouldn’t be able to do much outside of searching the woods.

It was really the wolves they had to worry about. But with Caius threatening to kill them, Bella was going to just not mention them. She would just hope nothing bad happened to them when she was sure to introduce them.

“Um, well, my mom probably won’t do anything until I get back and then I’ll just spend a couple hours on the phone with her assuring her I’m okay.” Bella explained and was about to talk about what Charlie was likely do at the moment, but Athenodora’s growl and then Zafrina’s responding growl stopped her.

“What a crap mom.” The ancient with a growl the looked at Zafrina, “And stop growling, really Zafrina, I thought you had better control that this.” She said in a stern voice.

Zafrina seemed to struggle for just a couple seconds before she was able to talk, “I apologize.” She said in a low tone that made Bella think she was still struggling, so out of instinct she reached out to Zafrina, hoping wrapping a hand around her waist would help calm her… she just wouldn’t think about the fact that her hand didn’t make contact with any clothes but with bare skin. She was very thankful that both vampires didn’t comment on her blushing when her hand touched Zafrina’s bare skin as she hadn’t actually been expecting that. “I find my beast is a bit temperamental while my mate is in danger.” She answered thickly, not liking having to voice her worries.

“Understandable.” Athenodora said with a glare, “I do not like it either.” She then turned her attention back towards Bella, apparently done with the small reprieve with Zafrina. “You have a pathetic excuse for a blood mother; if I were in her place, I would burn the world to find you.” Bella had no doubt the woman, and Caius for that matter, would as well. “What of your father? What will he do?”

“He’ll look for me.” Bella said without hesitation. She knew Charlie loved her and would do everything he could do get her back; he really was a great father even if a bit lacking in the emotional department. “He’ll do everything he can to find me and I doubt he would ever give up. He may be from a small town, but he is Chief of Police and has friends in neighboring towns that would gladly help find me.” She wasn’t sure if she told him that as a warning or just first their information.

“Good,” Athenodora said, happy that at least one of her child’s birth parents loved her as they should. “But Caius would also burn the world to the ground to find you and to destroy whomever took you. We would make sure no threats existed towards you.”

“I know.” And Bella did know that, she knew without a doubt these two vampires would release Hell on Earth if she were to be taken. She was oddly comforted by that fact.

“Good.” The queen said with a nod of her head and as she opened her mouth to say something, Bella quickly whispered, even though the queen would easily hear it, to Zafrina.

“I know you would too.” Bella said, knowing just as well that Zafrina would do everything in her power to keep her safe; she had only said so a dozen times since meeting.

Bella didn’t see the soft smile Athenodora sent her child, happy that the bond was moving, albeit much slower than a bond between vampires, but it was moving along nicely. She would enjoy seeing their relationship evolve and her child become happier; it was a mother’s dream after all for their child to have a happy-ever-after with their love.

“So he will be looking for you as we speak.” Athenodora said and Bella didn’t even try to stop her eye roll; at least she wasn’t as annoyed with her as she seemed to get with Caius. She didn’t seem like she would like her snark very much. Not that Caius did, but Bella honestly didn’t really care that he didn’t. “So the sooner we get you back the better and if we have a guard on board that can make sure that whatever we tell him about my presence, then we won’t have to worry about what the town thinks and nothing will be posted.”

“What do you mean?” Bella asked. She knew her reappearance would likely be a news story for the small town, but what did Athenodora mean by nothing will be posted? Surely she couldn’t get humans born in the 21stcentury not post something online? Bella was sure some teenagers would actually combust if they couldn’t post something at least every half hour on the dot.

“Heidi, she can influence people with her gift.” Athenodora explained with patience she had never had before. She supposed it was true then, children certainly brought out new traits in parents. “She can quickly visit everyone in town before you make an appearance and use her gift on them to make sure nothing of me, Zafrina or our guards are talked about either online or in person; it will be the most well-kept secret the town never knew they had.. Her gift is a lot more refined than everyone has ever given her credit for. She can use it while they sleep, making it so the effects last long after we’ve left town.”

“So, it’s just you three that will be going then?” Bella asked, trying to imagine hiding three vampires in her room because she was sure at least two of them wouldn’t want to be that far away from her.

“Four.” Athenodora answered straight away, “Myself, Zafrina and Heidi of course, and Demetri will only be running patrols on the outer territory of the town to make sure that redhead doesn’t find you. Hopefully she’ll show up quickly and Zafrina and myself can put a quick end to her.” She said with an evil smirk, just the thought of putting one of Bella’s threats to permanent rest was thrilling. “That’s all we really need to discuss though for the impromptu trip that I’m sure my lovely mate will try to hold over me for centuries to come regardless of how fruitless it would be, why don’t we properly introduce you to our brothers and sisters? I’m sure Aro and Didyme are most probably being hard to contain in their excitement about a new family member.”

Bella didn’t like being referred to as a family member. She had a family; however odd they may be, her dad and the pack were all the family she really needed. But she wasn’t about to argue that while literally surrounded by them; not to mention to fact it was this connection that was keeping her alive and not killed on site for knowing about vampires.

So, with what she felt was a truly fake smile, she nodded her head and stood up with Zafrina quickly grabbing her hand to keep it in its’ place (the Amazon really liked the feel on her hot mate’s hand on her bare skin and wasn’t keep to lose the sensation anytime soon) and looked for Athenodora to lead them towards their next destination.

“Sure, I’ll follow you.” Bella said, barely keep a gulp out of her throat at the knowing smile Athenodora gave her about the nerves Bella had about meeting the royals in a new capacity.