Just A Taste (Bella/Cullens)

[Josephine Pryor]

• • • • • •
Josephine had, for some unexplainable reason, found herself lingering around Forks. It might have been the scents of so many vampires mixing with the throat-searing scent of humans. It was such a small population of humans with such a large vampire population. How did they sate their thirst without raising alarms? Perhaps they had a territory, though, and hunted outside their immediate hometown to save themselves the trouble of moving. She like to roam, personally, constantly seeing new things and finding new people to feed from. But she could see how settling down might appeal to some. She'd heard of hunting territories before when she'd first met Peter and Charlotte, but she'd thought it was a Southern thing until she'd had a run-in with a four-member Canadian coven that had nearly turned fatal for her. In the end, they'd come to an understanding...mostly that if Josephine was ever spotted even close to their territory again, she would be killed then.

Even now as she crept upon the sleepy town of Forks the memory stung in her mind and she threw her head up in indignation, much as an irritated horse might toss his head. Her nostrils flared and she focused on the human scent burning its way through her esophagus, coating it in liquid hot magma. She closed her eyes briefly against the onslaught, both infuriated that she might have to hold back her thirst to keep from discovery, and reveling in the familiar pain that meant she was so close to her next meal.

Josephine's pace slowed to a walk, her brown boots stepping effortlessly through the forest without the tell-tale snapping of twigs, not that there would really be anyone awake to hear her. She emerged from the trees by the town's small high school and it was pungent with adolescent human scent. It was so silly of them to try to mask their smell with colognes and perfumes. Their fear smelled the same, their blood contained the same coppery richness that had nourished her for just over a century. She decided she had time to spare and instead of journeying past the school and on to the residences of her potential victims, she stepped towards the doors. They were, of course, locked, but that was hardly a problem for her. She could break the lock and make it look like some kind of accident or hardware malfunction.

So she did. Josephine slipped inside the high school and was instantly assaulted with the human scents that had been trapped inside, just as surely as they trapped essences of flowers inside their perfume bottles. It was a heady scent and she swayed slightly from the intensity of it, her eyes long ago closing to savor it. So delicious and so close. And yet...spikes of floral and fruity scents interrupted the cinnamon notes, unmistakably the scents of her own kind. Surely....surely they did not go to school with them?! How unnecessarily tortuous! She found her legs moving of their own accord as she sniffed the suspicious scents and investigated, wondering what the meaning of all this was.
• • • • • •

TAGS: anyone
WORDS: 520
LYRICS: All Or Nothing by Theory Of A Dead Man
OUTFIT: here
NOTES: Bored, so please excuse the weirdness. lol
CREDITS: lisathecat of CAUTION 2.0!

[Bella Cullen]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 440px; height: 600px; background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v710/LilBlackHeart/Twilight/bt.jpg); -moz-border-radius: 250px; border-radius:100px 100px 100px 100px; border: 3px solid #ffffff;] we've only just begun Bella arrived to school like any other day. Her truck's engine just as long as ever. Although it didn't bother her like it had in the beginning. Grabbing her book bag out of the bench seat, she got out of the truck and headed into the school. Honestly the only good thing about going to school was the fact that she knew Edward would be there. Well sometimes anyway. Making her way to her locker, Bella realized that a lot of students were loitering in the hallway. Checking her watch, she saw that she had a little more time than she had thought before class began. She sighed and finally made it to her locker. Once there, she opened it and dropped off the unneeded books. She could always go back to her locker in between classes and grab what she needed. Today she just didn't feel like toting all of the books from class to class. Her dreams last night were weird and it left her with the sucky feeling of being tired today. Of course she wasn't drop dead tired but still tired none the less. After shutting her locker, she rested back against it for several long moments. She watched as students passed her and some even gave her looks even though she wasn't the "new" girl anymore. After all she had been at Forks for a little while now. Finally Bella shoved off her locker, cradled her couple of books in the crook of he arm and headed off to class. She still had a couple of stray minutes before the bell would ring so she decided to actually take her time getting to that class room. Her mind wasn't exactly focused on where she was going and whom she was passing. In fact, her mind was exactly where it had pretty much been since that first day in the cafeteria. Her mind was on Edward. Just thinking about him brought a huge smile to her face and some strange looks from people who passed her. Bella didn't care though. It made her happy. there can be only one mikey! of caution 2.0

[/div][/td][/tr][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Josephine Pryor]

• • • • • •
After her night of investigating the small town's high school, Josephine had been seized with an insatiable curiosity to discover who the owners of the strange vampire scents were and how they walked so easily among the humans in such a confined space. She had some experience mingling with humans, mostly when she was hunting, though, but she had the advantage of being able to mask her appearance so she did not look so alarming to them. There were occasions where her frightening red eyes did come in handy, however. She smirked to herself as she remembered the way the man had hastily backed away from her when she'd let her eyes go back to red. He'd been so reluctant at first to give her any information regarding his boss, but that one look was more than enough to send him into a frenzy. It had been amazingly difficult to secure the documents necessary for Josephine to begin her own foray into the human world. Perhaps she was too pretty. Now THAT was a good thought.

But even more amazingly, the man she had finally found had not been as shocked by her as she had expected. He didn't shrink away from her cold handshake or stare at her alabaster skin. And though his heart rate had certainly increased when she had revealed her ruby red eyes to him as well, it did not flutter in the sheer panic she normally induced. Had he encountered others of her kind before? It was all so peculiar. She would have to be sure to visit northern Washington more often.

Josephine had known she could never hope to pose as a student at the small high school, being too old physically. Even with her beauty, she could not hope to charm her way in without raising questions. So she had instead crafted some story about doing a study on small town high schools and how growing up with the same people affected the students' relationships with one another. Of course it was all complete trash, as she had no care for anyone's relationships beyond her own, especially not of some humans who would be far better sloshing around in her stomach in the form of crimson energy. What she really wanted to find out about was the vampires she'd smelled a few weeks prior.

The woman drafted to be her tour guide was far too chatty, annoying her with her endless dialogue about the town's history and the high school's athletic record. It perhaps was information she would have needed if she actually was doing the research, but as it were, Josephine wanted to ask her for a "tour" of the surrounding area so she could just rip her throat out already. To make matters worse, the woman had insisted upon applying a horrendous amount of perfume and it stung at her sensitive nostrils and caused her further irritation. Her throat burned as she travelled through the halls, but she could not shut off her breathing or else she'd raise suspicions. And she would never find the source of those scents, though she had other ways of knowing which "children" were the vampires. She doubted any of them had her gift, so they would have to find some other way to blend in, perhaps with the use of those dreadful contacts so many of the humans used these days.

A familiar scent reached her nose, working its way into her nostrils. It was one of the scents she'd followed in the high school every night since the first, as it most closely intertwined with one of the vampires' scent. Josephine turned her blue eyes towards the source of the smell, her nearly-black hair bouncing over her shoulder with the movement. It was difficult to pinpoint the exact source with all the tantalizing scents of humans close by, but she did see a girl with a faraway look in her eyes that was a prime suspect. "Excuse me, ma'am. I would like to interview this girl if that would okay," she said politely, smiling so that the woman would be charmed easily into acquiescence. "Oh that's Chief Swan's daughter. She just moved here. I don't know how much she would be able to help your research," she said a bit uncertainly.

Josephine's smile widened slightly. "I would like to visit with her all the same. It is important to get an outsider's view on the other students' relationships. Excuse me," she said and then left the side of the woman without giving her another opportunity to speak. She approached the girl with a smooth stride, working hard to concentrate on her facade. The last thing she needed was to slip up right now..."Hello. I'm Josephine Belenki," she greeted, using the Russian surname she'd had the man put on her identification. "I am here doing some research on your high school and I'd love to ask you some questions," she continued, doing her best to be charming and friendly though her mouth was pooling with venom and she'd love to taste this girl's blood.
• • • • • •

TAGS: Bella, anyone else
WORDS: 850
LYRICS: All Or Nothing by Theory Of A Dead Man
OUTFIT: here
NOTES: Yikes, that was a really long post! I'm listening to 100 Monkeys' Liquid Zoo album so that might be why...
CREDITS: lisathecat of CAUTION 2.0!

[Bella Cullen]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 440px; height: 600px; background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v710/LilBlackHeart/Twilight/bt.jpg); -moz-border-radius: 250px; border-radius:100px 100px 100px 100px; border: 3px solid #ffffff;] we've only just begun Before actually reaching the classroom door, Bella was suddenly brought out of her daydreaming by a beautiful voice. It had the same sound quality to her ears and senses that Edward's voice had but seeing as how it was a female's, she was disappointed that it wasn't him. Shaking her head, she stirred away the fog that she had been in and looked into a pair of blue eyes. Bella smiled, a little embarrassed like but finally gained her ability to speak. "Hello."

[/color] Of course that was pretty much all she got out before the woman began speaking again, telling Bella that she'd like to interview her. That confused Bella a little but nothing too major.

Hearing the woman's last name, Bella quickly ran through names and couldn't recall anyone going to the school with the same last night and assumed she must be from a paper or station nearby somewhere. As Bella continued looking at the woman, Bella realized just how much more beautiful she was than most everyone else. It didn't really dawn on her to compare her to the Cullen family and so she didn't. Not that it would have helped anyway, considering she didn't know yet what they were either. "Oh. I see. Uh, Well...."[/color] Bella stammered around a little as she spoke, feeling a little confused all of the sudden. "I don't know how much good I'll be to you considering I pretty much just moved back here again myself."[/color] Bella finally answered her with a slight smile. She continued looking at the captivating woman in front of her. "When would you want to interview me?"[/color] Bella asked quickly. Not really thinking.[/div]

there can be only one mikey! of caution 2.0

[/center][/div][/td][/tr][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Josephine Pryor]

• • • • • •
Josephine was pleased to see that her melodic voice was having an effect on the girl, though it was possible that the embarrassed look that came over her face was due to being caught in the strange dreamy state she'd been in. She kept her smile firmly plastered on her face, cocking her head slightly to the side in a friendly way. She did her best to look a little scattered, ditzy, even, an upbeat type eager to do her "work". That would gain trust with these high schoolers and she might just be able to feed herself quite comfortably in this little town.

She was having to concentrate harder on her appearance, though, afraid that her eagerness might expose her. It wouldn't do for this girl to get all frightened now, would it? "It's good to have a fresh set of eyes," she responded quickly to Bella's initial protests. If only she knew just how useful she would be...Josephine had to control the smirk that threatened to spread across her face and she swallowed hard against the venom in her mouth. "Well, I bet you are headed to class now, but perhaps afterward we could find a quiet place so we won't be bothered. It shouldn't take long," she reassured, though there was a gleam in her eye that contradicted her friendly manner.
• • • • • •

TAGS: Bella, anyone else
WORDS: 225
LYRICS: All Or Nothing by Theory Of A Dead Man
OUTFIT: here
NOTES: here
CREDITS: lisathecat of CAUTION 2.0!

[Bella Cullen]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 440px; height: 600px; background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v710/LilBlackHeart/Twilight/bt.jpg); -moz-border-radius: 250px; border-radius:100px 100px 100px 100px; border: 3px solid #ffffff;] we've only just begun Bella's eyes never really drifted from the woman in front of her. Something about her was very familiar but she just couldn't catch it enough to put her finger on. Instinctively Bella knew that something was lurking beneath the woman's surface but with the feeling that was going on inside her right now, she just wasn't able to spot that it was a dangerous situation. As Josephine finally gave her a time for the meeting, Bella nodded her head. Maybe if she figured anything out or decided not to do the interview, she could always just duck out before class was over and miss the interview or something. So Bella nodded her head, listening to her words. "Yea. Actually I am heading there right now. If I'm not careful, I'm going to be late too and I can't afford to be late too often. Being the new girl can only get you so many tickets out."

[/color] She said with a little nervous laugh. "As is I think I already used up two of mine already. I'll talk to you later Ms. Belenki."[/color] As she said that, Bella pretty much tried squeezing past her enough to get into the class room.[/div]

there can be only one mikey! of caution 2.0

[/center][/div][/td][/tr][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Josephine Pryor]

• • • • • •
It was becoming more and more difficult every second that passed. Josephine's mouth was swimming in the venom she'd use to incapacitate the Swan girl and her throat was a tunnel of fire, both reactions to the intoxicating scent she emanated. She wasn't any more powerful in her attraction than any other prey, but Josephine wanted her blood either way. The more her body reacted to her, the harder it was to keep her concentration and if she did not take a break to regroup soon, all of this would be for naught. "Oh I wouldn't want to get you in trouble," she agreed cheerfully. If she only knew what trouble was...not that Josephine wanted her to escape. No, she was looking far too delicious for that.

Josephine held her captive for just a moment longer, finally giving way when the girl had to muscle past her in order to reach her class. "I'm looking forward to our meeting, Miss Swan!" she called after her, her skin tingling where her bookbag had grazed her arm. It was warm, but not nearly as warm as the human herself would be before she was drained of her blood. It would almost be a shame to have it over. Josephine had a feeling it would be one of her favorite flavors yet. She heard the other woman approaching behind her and her demeanor shifted slightly. She began speaking to continue their tour, but Josephine cut her off. "No, I am quite alright, thank you. I need to set up for my interview. I need an office where I won't be disturbed, preferably away from all this...noise," she said a little disdainfully. "Of course Ms. Belenki. Um, just follow me," she said, a little unnerved by Josephine's sudden displeasure.

The vampire controlled an urge to snap the irritating woman in half and feed on her right then, knowing it would be better to wait. Perhaps if things didn't go accordingly with the Swan girl, she could drink this human's blood instead. It wouldn't be an equal meal, but it would do. Until then, she needed to shut herself in this office and let herself rest so that she could resume her mask for her interview. She immediately entered the office, gave the tour guide a curt thank you and then drew the curtains shut to allow herself a moment. With that, she let her concentration go and black hair became a mousy brown and her blue eyes became a dark blood red. Just a few minutes and she would feed again.
• • • • • •

TAGS: Bella, anyone else
WORDS: 429
LYRICS: All Or Nothing by Theory Of A Dead Man
OUTFIT: here
NOTES: here
CREDITS: lisathecat of CAUTION 2.0!

[Bella Cullen]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 440px; height: 600px; background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v710/LilBlackHeart/Twilight/bt.jpg); -moz-border-radius: 250px; border-radius:100px 100px 100px 100px; border: 3px solid #ffffff;] we've only just begun To Bella's great surprise, the class seemed to drag on and on. Which was a good thing because she honestly wasn't in any big hurry to meet up with that reporter that seemed to be really anxious to talk to her. She wasn't looking forward to it at all. First off, she wasn't exactly thrilled to be in Forks. Secondly, she didn't want to have to lie face to face about liking being there either. Lastly, there was just something off about the reporter too but Bella couldn't place it at all still. Before long though the end of class bell ran out and Bella groaned. Hopefully she would get lucky and the woman will be busy and won't be outside the class room waiting for her. Bella also decided that if she wasn't out there waiting for her, that she wasn't going to willingly go in search of her either. She would just quietly go on to her next class or skip out on the rest of the day or something to avoid her. Gathering her books, Bella took her time in doing that then she followed a group of students out the door and into the hallway. Bella took a deep breath and looked around carefully to see if she could spot the woman. there can be only one mikey! of caution 2.0

[/div][/td][/tr][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Josephine Pryor]

• • • • • •
Josephine cradled her head in her hands, slowly swallowing back the steady influx of venom into her mouth. Her deft fingers massaged her temples and forehead, kneading away the tension. She needed to be fully refreshed for her hunt. Even if she managed to lure the girl away from the other students and the faculty of the school, there was no telling how long it might take to actually make her attack. She wasn't too worried about Bella having the chance to escape, as her vampire reflexes were far superior to those of the clumsy human girl. But the scent of the others of her kind was strong in the hallways and she was worried about being caught on someone else's hunting grounds. She knew she needed to stay inconspicuous or expose them all, thereby securing all of their demises at the hands of the Volturi. But the humans smelled so mouth-watering.

Time passed both fast and slow for the svelte vampire as she considered and reconsidered her plan. She'd go back to that classroom, greet the girl and be polite, enthusiastic even. She'd secure her trust or at least distract her enough with chatter that she would not notice when she led her away from the other students. They could go into the woods...no, she would notice if they went to the woods. But a classroom was too conspicuous. Where could she lure her to? Perhaps there was a maintenance shed somewhere on the grounds. It was close enough to the woods that the attack could be blamed on a wild animal, but far enough away to give her some cover to make the kill. Yes, that would do.

The bell rang then, startling Josephine from her thoughts. Lightning fast reflexes had her on her feet in an instant and she hissed out a curse as she realized she had just missed a window of opportunity. She would have to deal with the throngs of students again and she could possibly become too hasty and draw suspicion or she may even lose the girl. She grit her teeth and concentrated hard on her appearance as she left the room she'd been in, the door slamming behind her. Irritated with herself, she had to fight to maintain her disguise as she went through the hallways, narrowly avoiding collisions with students as she went. Her keen eyes spotted the girl leaving her class, but she was far ahead in the hallway and there was little chance that she'd catch up to her without relying on her super speed.
• • • • • •

TAGS: Bella, any of the Cullens
WORDS: 428
LYRICS: All Or Nothing by Theory Of A Dead Man
OUTFIT: here
NOTES: Any of the Cullens are welcome to step in so Bella doesn't become Josephine's snack. lol
CREDITS: lisathecat of CAUTION 2.0!