Running With Wolves

Bella couldn't believe she'd just done that. One of these days it's really going to backfire on her, but at the moment she didn't particularly care because damn did that ever feel good.

But also not really, for she was now in immense pain. Whatever, it was worth it to see the look on his face.

Edward thought he was dead, that she was dead and they'd been reunited in the afterlife. What an over dramatic moron. She didn't come all the way out to Italy to save his ass just to have him think she was an illusion. So she slapped him right in his melodramatic face, just as she had with Paul a month ago.

Bella didn't know what had gotten into her recently, but she wasn't upset about it. Actually, she found this version of herself to be infinitely more exciting than the docile creature she'd once been. Though she should probably quit while she's ahead in terms of slapping supernatural entities.

Edward could do little more than stare at her in shock. He didn't know Bella had it in her to slap someone, least of all him. Before either one of them got the chance to say anything, however, their sisters strode up to them arm in arm, the Volturi at their heels.

"Bella wouldn't blab. Do you really think she'd be so reckless as to risk so many people she cares about like that?" Charlie couldn't believe these people. The Italian vampire mafia is actually kind of pathetic. "And that's if someone actually believes her. Chances are they'll think she's lost it and throw her in the loony bin! Boom, problem solved."

The condescension rolled from the small woman in roiling waves. She'd been here for less than 5 minutes and Aro already knew he disliked her. Immensely. "And who, besides the Cullens, would Isabella be risking?" Aro raised an eyebrow at the wisp of a girl. Her eyes unsettled him, a translucent grey somehow alight with fire, though the glare she directed at him was as cold as ice.

"How about her vampire hunting sister who was bitten by a vampire, that is only in Forks because Edgar here killed her mate, less than twenty-four hours ago. Or what about said hunter's shape shifting boyfriend and the rest of the wolf pack he belongs to, including the future alpha. Who, as it happens, is also Bella's best friend."

At that the room goes silent.

The black haired one, Charlie heard them call him Aro, narrowed his milky red eyes at her. Blondie beside him stared at her in shock. "Victoria." Edward hissed. Bella sputtered, floored by her sister's words. "Boyfriend? Since when have you and Paul been more than oblivious pining idiots for one another." Charlotte grinned at her little sister, but before she could make a witty comeback or, for once in her life, answer sincerely, a stern yet commanding voice cut through the tension in the room like a knife through warm butter.

"And just who, exactly, do you think you are?" Aro leant forwards in a threatening manner, staring down the brash young woman who had a particular penchant for interrupting their conversation. The little firecracker didn't back down from the unspoken challenge. Staring back at Aro intently, she stepped forwards with purpose. Standing a mere foot from him, she stopped and spoke.

"I am Charlotte-Anne Renée Swan, eldest daughter of Charles Swan and Renée Dwyer, and two years the elder sibling of Isabella Marie Swan. A vampire hunter as well as weapons expert and have extensive hand to hand combat training, never mind my skills as an archer. I was bitten by the vampire intent on ruining my sister's life approximately twelve hours or so ago." Charlie stopped briefly as a small gasp sounded through the room.

"My boyfriend, the love of my life, my 'mate' as you would call it I guess, is a shape shifter of the native Quileute tribe in La Push, Washington. The Quileute shapeshifters turn into horse sized wolves, and the pack considers me one of their own. They too are vampire hunters, however none of us hunt outside our area of residence. Unless given a reason to do so, that is." Charlie huffed loudly and indignantly at the end of her little impromptu speech.

How dare these people question her knowledge, her authority, her right to stand before them, to interject in their discussion as she deems necessary. Do they think they're frightening, that they're threatening, sitting on their gilded thrones like lazy sacks of shit and telling people how to live their lives? Ridiculous. Milky eyed demons. Do they even catch their own meals? Charlie wouldn't be shocked to find out that they get their humans hand delivered to them. And they have the gall to believe they have the right to tell others what they should and shouldn't do. If it weren't for all the robed vampires standing behind the trifecta of thrones, Charlotte would've already kicked Aro in the teeth.

Edward's gaze dips sharply to peer at the huntress's feet, finding the same battered black combat boots she always wore. "How'd you get steel toed boots through the airport?" He whispered from behind her. Charlotte had moved back to her original position near her sister. Edward, Alice, and Charlie stood in a loose yet protective 'human' shield around Bella. "They make you take your shoes off, dumbass, how else?" Charlotte hissed under her breath. "Plus I didn't care to bring more footwear than what I had on at the time." Edward laughed outright at the thought of Charlotte Swan being too grumpy to take off her shoes, as though she was a petulant child who missed naptime.

"Can it, Eduardo." Charlie snapped, suddenly standing stock still. Edward returned to monitoring her thoughts, noting the overwhelming sense of unease quickly blocking out all other thoughts in her head. Suddenly he understood what her power was. If Bella's a magnet for danger, then Charlie's a metal detector. He and Alice close ranks around the youngest Swan instantly. "Izzy, We need to get you out of here. Someone here really wants to harm you, but we won't let them." Charlie explained in a calm tone, though one look at the girl would tell you she is far from calm. "She is perfectly capable of keeping her mouth shut. As am I, when I feel like it." Charlotte growled to the old crows as the rag-tag group made their way back into the labyrinthine hallways they'd navigated on the way in.

Charlie should've kicked them in the teeth when she had the chance.