Bonny and Clyde.
Bella liked that idea. Not the whole killing spree thing, but the part where no matter what, it would be her and Kat against the world. And honestly, she didn't know when she started thinking like that. Hell, she was a witch. Witches shouldn't feel anything for anyone but themselves. But somewhere in Bella's mind, she knew she'd crossed that line. She cared about Kat. She might never admit to it out loud, but in a way, Kat had become the sister that she never had.
The sister that she lost, but now found…
Smirking to herself, she reached out again to grab another doughnut but realized that without even thinking she'd devoured the entire box. They were absolutely one of the best things in this time. Along with condoms, dildos, and porn.
And boxed cookies!
Bella was one who never could bake so she was always in the kitchen begging their chefs or maids for goodies. She'd always had a sweet tooth and no matter how much everybody warned her about her teeth falling out, she never listened to any of them---
Oh--- Toothbrushes!
That's another she liked about this time! Personal hygiene was so much easier in this time, and she absolutely loved everything about plumping. A hot shower every morning was way better than a cold wet cloth in the morning. And every time she had her period, they had medicine that actually took away her pains.
Heaven! Absolute heaven…
"Want some jam and crackers?" Bella asked, but without waiting for an answer she stood and headed towards the cupboard that automatically opened when she headed for it.
In Bella's mind, everything – everything human/shifter-related anyway – could be cured with jam and crackers. Add in a cup of tea with honey and there was no mood it couldn't cure. And while she saw that her friend was worried about her future with her mate, Bella didn't understand why.
He was her mate.
What could possibly go wrong?
Kat's lips twitched up into a smile and a soft chuckle escaped her, while she leaned down on the table, watching her.
"That sounds amazing," she said, her voice soft and sincere. Another thing that Bella liked. Kat didn't play games. She was softhearted, kind, and always said exactly what she thought. Not in a way that Bella did – blunt and uncaring – but in a thought-out way to lessen any blow her words might cause. Even when talking to Bella, she still considered her words, despite the fact that a witch would never really care enough to get hurt by words.
Or actions for that matter…
Almost skipping to the cupboard, Bella smiled. Any excuse to get her hands on the sweety goodness. But as she searched the shelves she realized to her horror, that---
"Oh crud," she cursed, lifting the package where a single butter biscuit lay at the bottom. "We're all out of crackers!"
How had this happened?!
"I wonder why," Kat snickered, humor laced in her tone. Well, if Bella had ever---
"I do know sarcasm, I'll have you know," Bella said indignantly, not letting the jab get to her, as she slapped the cupboard door close and grabbed her purse. "I'm off to the market to get us some more. Take care of the store while I'm out?"
"I'm not going anywhere for…," she replied and held up her pendant, watching the sand trickle down to the bottom. "At least not for another 4 hours."
Bella excited her Hut and headed towards the main street. It had taken some time getting used to this new world but when she realized how much better it was – minus the poison in the air – she made sure she quickly adapted. She loved how people knew to mind their own business. That women who dedicated their time to studies and their careers weren't marked as freaks, but celebrated for their independence.
Most of the time anyway…
Well, the world wasn't perfect, but she liked the changes. A bit part of her wished she would stay here forever. Study magic and make her own way. Dress the way she wanted, say whatever she wanted and not need a man by her side to do simple, silly things like have a bank account or rent an apartment.
Oh, and let's not forget the market!
She loved how everything you needed could be bought in a store. Everything from milk, bread and eggs weren't in the hands of the rich anymore but was available to anyone who wanted it. Rich or poor anyone could now get their greens and fruits if they so desired and children didn't need to go to bed hungry or malnourished. They weren't sick by famine or lack of vitamins. They weren't denied medicine or treatment at a hospital. And no matter what kind of life they'd had or where they came from, anyone had a chance to succeed…
No, the world wasn't perfect.
But it was a step in the right direction…
Oh, and she hadn't even touched the subject of jam yet! Her mouth salivated just thinking about it. Hurrying over to pick up a trolly – and for some reason she always ended up with the one with a squeaking wheel! – she entered the store, heading straight for the racks with her favorite crackers so she could get to the jam. The selection wasn't just vast in tastes, but consistence and color and---
Her heart sank to the pit of her gut!
There, at the end of the ail, stood a mountain of a man. His eyes so dark they were almost black and his tousled hair gave her the "just rolled out of bed"-vibes. He had muscles on top of his muscles, that flexed and bounced with even the smallest movement. His black T-shirt was stretched across his broad chest and while khaki wasn't anyone's color, the way his pants molded to his ass made sinful things stir in Bella's mind.
It was the bear shifter that arrested her just 6 months prior!
They're eyes locked and air suddenly disagreed with Bella's lungs. Her heart leaped to her throat as she recognized the man from that night. A man, who had sometimes played a lead role in her dirty fantasies late at night. And the way he tilted his head slightly when he noticed her and intently studied her, it would seem that he'd recognized her as well.
Ice forming in her belly. Oh shit! If he truly recognized her, he wouldn't hesitate to haul her ass back to jail. And then what? She didn't even want to contemplate what would happened after that, if their initial treatment of her was any indication…
She quickly spun around and as if she'd joined a race, stormed down the ail in the other direction with the squeaking trolly in front of her. Glancing behind her, she couldn't see the big shifter and after walking around for a bit, she was sure she'd lost him. Relieved, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, before turning around to study the options of jam goods. She loved how many flavored there were and how easily accessible they were in this time and--- and then there was when a huge shadow suddenly loomed over her, and something hot fanned her bare skin on her neck. Startled she spun around…
He was there!
Bella jumped back, crashing into racks behind her. He was leaning so close she could see the golden irises of his bear swirl in his dark eyes, as he'd effectively caged her in. There wasn't a hint of emotions on his stoic face as he continued to glare down at her. If it wasn't for the pounding against her ribs, Bella was sure that her black soul had vacated her body. Fear, thick and deep, coiled in her chest and her gut tighten to a painful knot. The rack behind her shook from the impact and one jar was swirling on the edge, just about to fall---
Without taking his eyes off of her, the bear reached out and caught the jar. The thing looking ridiculously small in his huge hands. Never taking his eyes off hers, he placed it back and hell, he even made sure the label was facing outwards.
It would have been hilarious if Bella wasn't terrified for her life right then…
"I know you," his voice softly rumbled, while his eyes narrowed at her suspiciously. Well, of course he knew her! He'd been the rough brute who'd showed her into a cell when that twat-twit magician had held her prisoner. And while she still didn't know what her crime was – she steadily maintained her innocence in this particular case! – she knew she couldn't let the shifter take her back into custody…
"I-I don't think---," she stuttered but cut herself off, knowing that her New English accent stuck out like a sore thumb in this company. "I mean, I have no idea what you're talking about, sugar," she tried again, adopting a country accent that she'd picked up on the television – or TV, as Kat tried to remind her – and for good measures, she even tried to smile and laugh like she'd seen the woman on the screen do.
He remained unimpressed…
"I think you do," he continued and leaned impossibly closer. "And I can smell you're lying."
Well, crud!
Time for plan B!
"Is that honey on sale?" she asked, looking behind the big shifter. And by instinct – or just dumb luck! – he actually turned his head in the direction.
Not wasting a second, she ducked under his arm and with all she was worth sprinted for the exit. An angry bellow was but a split second behind her and she swore, she could hear the ground shake under her feet as he closed in on her.
*
Bjorn cured his own stupidity. He'd fallen for the oldest trick in the book! If Magnus ever found out – which he was going to do his darndest to make sure that he didn't! – he was never going to hear the end of it.
Honey on sale?
BAH!
Growling, he tried not to let his raging animal show as he chased her. She might be human – or a witch, the jury was still out on that – but damn the little devil was fast! He gained in on her outside on main street and then---
He snarled another curse when she made another sharp turn. He was too big to make the same graceful twists and turns as she did, forcing him to slow down. A neat little trick she'd apparently picked up on because she'd made a lot of those. Growling with annoyance, he dug a little into his shifter's speed and forced himself to close the distance between them. He almost had her when---
She turned sharply and a split second later, there was a red brick wall in front of Bjorn.
Fuck!
He barely managed to get his hands in front of him, when he slammed into the wall, full force. He cursed a blue streak, as the world spun and danced in front of him. Through the blacks and blue spots hovered in front of his vision, he made out the retreating form of the woman he was chasing. He would have snarled, but the tweeting birds circling his head were so damn loud, he had to brace himself for another second, before he could even think about moving.
Pushing off the wall he headed down the ally in a light jog. Fucking bitch for making him chase her! He still couldn't remember where he'd seen her before but running was always a clear indication that they were on the wrong side of the law.
Her scent however still hung in the air. He took a lungful of it--- and groaned. Fuck, that smelled good! Soft and sweet, but bitter at the same time. Like…
Honey!
His favorite treat. His bear rumbled, now even more eager to find her again. His bear had never been interested in females – not since he was rejected. Sure, he had sex but that was more of an itch to be scratched. If his animal was interested, it was because he thought it could be a potential mate…
Ha! Bjorn thought bitterly. Of course, the first female his animal showed any interest in after a decade would be a criminal.
He could never just have it easy…
Showing thoughts of mates away along with his own animal, he followed the scent into an alley--- And realized that the scent just vanished!
What the---?!
He spun around, trying to catch the scent again and followed it more closely. But it led to the same result. Growling, he looked to see if there was a door somewhere, a manhole and hell, he even checked the dumpsters. Up was a ridiculous place to look, but he did it anyway….
It was as if she'd vanished into thin air!
But people didn't do that – did they?
Which led him to ask another question entirely:
If she wasn't human, what was she?