chapter 92

THIRD PERSON'S POV

The air in the room was heavy, thick with the weight of anticipation and worry. NJ lay still on the bed, her body unnaturally pale, her chest unmoving. Though she no longer breathed, she wasn't dead. Her transformation was nearly complete, and when she awoke, everything about her would change.

Robin sat by her side, her sapphire-pink eyes fixed on NJ's face. The girl who had once been so full of life, with dreams that shone brighter than the sun, now lay cold and silent. Robin's hand trembled slightly as she held NJ's, the warmth once there now gone. Her chest tightened as guilt clawed at her, a reminder of the consequences of her world colliding with NJ's.

Rosalie stood by the door, her golden eyes watchful and protective. She had never seen transitions before, only with stories, but even then... never one that felt this personal. Her gaze flickered to Robin, who remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line. Jatix and Nasu stood farther back, tense and ready for any danger that might come.

A sharp gasp broke the silence.

NJ's body convulsed, her back arching off the bed as her transformation reached its peak. Her eyes snapped open, a vivid, blood-red glow illuminating the dim room.

At first, NJ couldn't make sense of anything. The room seemed brighter, sharper, as if someone had wiped away a film from her vision. She blinked, overwhelmed by the clarity. Every detail—the texture of the fabric on the bed, the faint cracks in the ceiling, the shimmer of Robin's pink eyes—was impossibly vivid.

Her hearing was next. The sound of her own movements was deafening, and the whispers of the others in the room thundered in her ears like crashing waves.

And then came the scent.

It was intoxicating. Sweet, sharp, and alluring, it pulled her focus to Robin. It wasn't just the thirst clawing at her throat—it was something deeper. The person sitting beside her wasn't just anyone. Robin was her anchor, the one who had saved her, understood her, and, for all her faults, loved her.

But memories of abandonment surged forward, and anger burned hotter than the fire in her throat.

"Robin?" NJ's voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it carried the weight of years of pain.

Robin turned to her, her face gentle, her pink eyes glowing with an affection that only worsened the ache in NJ's chest.

The dam broke.

"YOU LEFT ME!" NJ screamed, her voice trembling with rage and heartbreak. She lunged, her newfound strength sending Robin crashing into the headboard. The wood splintered beneath the force, but Robin didn't resanswer

Nasu moved instantly. The cracking of his bones echoed through the room as his massive wolf form emerged. His golden eyes burned with fury, his growl reverberating through the walls.

Jatix cursed under his breath, his wings twitching against his back. He held himself back, barely, knowing his griffon form would be too large for the confined space.

Rosalie, however, didn't hesitate.

Her golden eyes darkened, her protective instincts surging as she snarled. Her mate was under attack, and she was ready to end anyone who dared harm Robin.

Robin raised a hand weakly, her fingers moving in swift, deliberate signs. Stop. Don't interfere.

Her voice, melodic and soft, carried just enough compulsion to freeze Nasu and Jatix in place. Nasu whined, pacing in frustration, his wolf form quivering as he fought the urge to protect Robin. Jatix's fists clenched so tightly his nails drew blood.

But Rosalie?

The compulsion didn't work on her.

Her mate was being attacked. Every fiber of her being screamed to act, to protect Robin at all costs. Her hands clenched into fists, her golden eyes locked on NJ, her fury barely contained.

NJ's grip on Robin's neck tightened, her red eyes blazing.

"You lied to me!" she shouted, her voice breaking. "You said you'd always be there, but you weren't! You left!"

Robin's lips parted slightly as NJ's strength pressed against her windpipe. Though she didn't need to breathe as humans did, the pressure was excruciating. Red blood beaded where NJ's nails punctured her skin, trickling down in thin rivulets.

The sight of Robin's blood sent Rosalie over the edge.

With a roar, Rosalie launched herself at NJ, tackling her with enough force to send her crashing through the wall. The impact left a gaping hole, but Rosalie didn't stop there. She drove NJ through a second wall, debris scattering like confetti, until they collided with a medieval suit of armor on display in the adjacent room.

NJ groaned, shaking off the rubble as she looked up at Rosalie. Her red eyes burned with fury and confusion. "Get away from me!" she hissed, baring her teeth.

Rosalie stood over her, her golden eyes glowing with unrelenting rage. Her hand shot out, pinning NJ against the wall by her throat. The pressure was enough to leave cracks in the plaster.

Robin's voice, soft but commanding, broke through the chaos. "Rosalie, stop!"

Rosalie froze, her hand trembling as her mate's voice pierced through her rage. Slowly, she turned to look at Robin, whose pink eyes were filled with a mixture of sorrow and gratitude.

Robin signed quickly, her hands shaking. *She's still NJ. Don't hurt her*.

Rosalie growled low in her throat, her instincts screaming at her to finish the fight. But she stepped back, her hands curling into fists as she forced herself to comply.

NJ slid to the floor, gasping for breath she didn't need. Her red eyes darted between Rosalie, Nasu, and Jatix, all of whom stood tense and ready. Finally, her gaze landed on Robin.

"You left me," NJ whispered, her voice raw with pain. "Why did you come back now? Why not when I needed you?"

Robin's lips parted, but no words came. Her throat ached, her emotions too raw to risk speaking. She stepped forward, reaching out a hand.

NJ stared at it, her red eyes narrowing. Slowly, she reached out, only to slap Robin's hand away at the last second.

"Don't touch me!" NJ spat, her voice shaking.

The room fell silent, the tension thick and suffocating.

Robin's shoulders sagged, her pink eyes dull with unspoken sorrow. She stepped back, signing to Rosalie and the others. *Give her space. Let her adjust.*

Rosalie followed Robin out of the room, her golden eyes narrowing as she cast one last glare at NJ.

Nasu shifted back into his human form, leaning against the wall with a sigh.

Jatix hesitated, his gaze lingering on NJ. "You don't hate her," he said softly. "You're just scared. And she is too."

NJ didn't respond. Her body trembled as she sat amidst the rubble, her mind a storm of emotions.

When the door finally closed, NJ buried her face in her hands. "Why does she always leave?" she whispered, her voice cracking.

But the silence gave no answers.

~~

Robin's POV

Rosalie paced the room like a lioness on the prowl, her golden eyes gleaming with barely suppressed rage. Every step she took radiated anger, and I leaned casually against the wall, silently contemplating whether now was a good time to remind her that pacing could wear out hardwood floors.

She spun to face me, her hands clenched into fists. "I should've ripped her apart," she growled, her voice low and deadly.

I raised my hands, signing calmly. *And yet, you didn't. Progress!*

Her glare could've melted steel. "This isn't the time for jokes, Robin!"

*Oh, come on*, I signed, my lips twitching into a smirk. *You launched her through two walls, Rosalie. That's more than enough. Any more, and we'd have to start billing her for renovations.*

Rosalie didn't laugh. Instead, she marched up to me, grabbing my chin with surprising gentleness considering her mood. She tilted my head to the side, her golden eyes zeroing in on my neck. "You were bleeding," she said, her voice softer now, though the tension in her shoulders hadn't eased.

*Was*, I signed, emphasizing the past tense. Keyword here. I heal fast, remember? It's one of my many charms. Along with my sparkling personality and my ability to binge-watch an entire season of The Witcher without pausing.*

She raised an eyebrow. "Robin, focus. and again, you're spouting a lot of nonsense again... Haaah"

Fine. I rolled my eyes dramatically. *If it makes you feel better, I'm officially banning NJ from neck-grabbing privileges until she learns some manners.* I smirked at her mischievously, *I'll make sure that choking is only between me and you behind closed doors or wherever you feel like it if you're feeling adventurous*

Rosalie's lips twitched, but she wasn't ready to give in yet. "You could've died."

*I could've also been crushed by a meteor today, but here we are. Honestly, between NJ and your death glare, I'd take the meteor. At least it doesn't talk.*

"Robin!" she snapped, though her frustration was starting to crack under the weight of my ridiculousness.

I leaned in, grinning. *Admit it. You're just mad because you didn't get to have the last word.*

Her eyes narrowed. "You're impossible."

*And yet*, I signed with a flourish, y*ou're still here, voluntarily putting up with my nonsense. I'd call that true love.*

Rosalie groaned, finally letting a small laugh slip. "You're lucky I love you."

*Luck has nothing to do with it*, I signed, smirking. I'm just that irresistible.

---

Third-Person POV

NJ sat on the floor, her back resting against the jagged remains of the wall she'd been thrown through. Her red eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, reflecting the storm of emotions churning within her. Anger. Longing. Confusion. And above all, the unbearable thirst that burned at the back of her throat like acid.

When Robin walked back into the room carrying a cooler, NJ stiffened. Her gaze locked onto the container, suspicion flickering across her face.

Robin set the cooler on the table and opened it, pulling out a bag of crimson liquid. She held it up, tilting her head as if to say, You know what this is.

NJ wrinkled her nose. "No way. I'm not drinking that."

Robin's hands moved in quick, fluid motions, signing with exaggerated patience. *It's animal blood. You need it.*

Rosalie, standing nearby, translated aloud. "Drink it. Unless you prefer to keep that 'throat-on-fire' feeling for eternity."

"I'll pass," NJ said stubbornly, crossing her arms. The idea of drinking blood—animal or not—made her stomach churn.

Robin raised an eyebrow and signed again. *If you don't drink it, your first meal might end up being someone you like. Like Nasu. Do you want to traumatize the poor guy? He's already got enough on his plate dealing with his 'wolf shampoo' sponsorship drama.*

Rosalie translated, adding dryly, "You don't want to be the reason Nasu ends up on an episode of True Crime Stories."

NJ's resolve faltered, but she still hesitated. "How do I know it's really animal blood?"

Robin gave her a look and signed slowly, as if explaining something to a particularly stubborn child. *It's not like I picked it up at a gas station, NJ. You think I'm running some kind of underground vampire fast food chain? 'Welcome to Blood-Mart, home of the hemoglobin Happy Meal.'*

Rosalie snorted before quickly composing herself.

NJ sighed, grabbing the bag and inspecting it like it might explode. "This is so gross."

Robin nodded, her pink eyes twinkling with amusement as she signed. *It's an acquired taste. Like kombucha. Or pineapple on pizza.*

NJ ripped the corner of the bag open and took a hesitant sip. The moment the blood hit her tongue, the burning in her throat began to ease, and a rush of energy flooded her senses. She drained the bag in seconds, her disgust forgotten.

Robin grinned, signing with mock enthusiasm. *Welcome to the club! Your complimentary cape and spooky laugh lessons will be arriving shortly.*

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous."

*Ridiculously charming*, Robin signed, winking.

NJ wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, avoiding Robin's gaze. "I still hate this," she muttered, though her voice lacked conviction.

Robin stepped closer, placing a hand on NJ's shoulder. Her pink eyes softened, radiating warmth and understanding. She signed carefully. *I know it's hard, but you'll get through this. We're here for you.*

Rosalie translated, her voice gentler now, though her golden eyes remained watchful.

NJ's shoulders sagged, the weight of her emotions briefly lifting under Robin's reassuring touch. "Thank you," she whispered.

Robin's lips quirked into a small smile as she signed. *Anytime, kid*.

Rosalie opened her mouth to translate, but NJ raised her hand, stopping her mid-breath. She turned her gaze toward Robin, a helpless smile tugging at her lips.

"Robin... are you going senile? Did you forget I know how to sign?"

Rosalie froze, her golden eyes flicking between NJ and Robin like she was witnessing an ancient vampire's execution. Robin raised a brow, her pink sapphire eyes narrowing, but there was a twitch at the corner of her mouth that threatened to betray her amusement.

*Oh, you're funny now,* Robin signed slowly, adding an exaggerated flourish to each motion. *Senile, huh? I'm not the one who tried to strangle someone two minutes after waking up.*

NJ smirked, unfazed. "Fair point. But you're the one who was ready to let Rosalie play interpreter when you know I've been fluent in sign language since little."

Rosalie stifled a snort, covering her mouth with one hand as if that would shield her from Robin's sharp gaze.

"Careful, Rosalie," NJ teased. "I think Robin's memory might be going. You might have to start writing things down for her soon."

Robin's mouth opened in mock outrage, and she signed furiously, her gestures sharp and deliberate. *First of all, I'm immortal. My memory is flawless. Second, you're grounded. Third...* Robin paused, glancing at Rosalie with a deadpan expression. *What was I saying again?*

That did it. Rosalie couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing, leaning against the wall for support.

*You're not helping!* Robin signed at Rosalie, though the twitching of her lips betrayed her attempt to stay serious.

NJ leaned back, arms crossed, looking far too pleased with herself. "You walked right into that one, Robin."

Robin sighed dramatically, shaking her head as if deeply disappointed. Then she ruffled NJ's hair with one hand and signed with the other. *Fine, you win this round, troublemaker. But don't get cocky.*

Rosalie, still recovering from her laughing fit, added, "She's not senile, NJ—just selectively oblivious. Big difference."

NJ laughed, the sound lighter and more genuine than it had been in years. For the first time since her transition, it felt like the world wasn't spinning out of control.

It wouldve been weird for others to witness this, Marilyn Monroe, a grown woman being treated and acted like a child infront of a woman who looked to be of the same age. But she was her other mother, a

NJ would always be a child to Robin.

Robin signed one last thing before turning to leave. *Glad to have you back, brat.*

And for a moment, the room was filled with warmth—the kind that only family, no matter how unconventional, could bring.

~~

A Few Days Later

The grand hall of the Volturi castle was eerily silent as the vampire stumbled in, his movements sluggish. His limbs had barely begun to regenerate, his once-pristine appearance now haggard and broken.

Aro sat on his throne, his crimson eyes gleaming with curiosity as he watched the vampire approach. "Ah, you've returned," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with false warmth. "Do tell—what news do you bring?"

The vampire bowed his head, his voice trembling. "The human—Marilyn Monroe—is deeply connected to Robin. She's... important to her."

Aro's lips curled into a sly smile. "How fascinating. And Robin herself? Did you uncover her intentions?"

The vampire hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "She... she let me live, but she made it clear that returning here would cost me everything."

Aro chuckled, the sound cold and calculated. "How delightful. It seems Robin hasn't lost her flair for theatrics."

As his laughter echoed through the hall, the vampire shivered, a sinking feeling settling in his gut. Whatever Aro was planning, it promised nothing but chaos.

~~

AN: sorry guys. As y'all must've already noticed, youre weird author aint the most stable in the head, so I had to go into an emergency mental break/vacation and just function on auto mode. So I tuned out everything including the app, no writing whatsoever. But I'm back.

Sorry for those who expected the update, and for the patrons... I'll get back to it aoon enough. Heres a double upload to make up for it.

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