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The Fire – Chapter 1

Port Angeles, Washington 2015

"Mom, are you crazy? Don't go in there," Renesmee hollered.

But Bella was already in the building racing up the stairs. The fire raged all around her, the walls and ceiling practically melting from the heat, pieces of burning plaster dropping to the floor. The heat was so intense, Bella could almost feel her flesh cooking. Her hands and fingers started to swell and crack. Her skin turned red.

She knew this was crazy shit dangerous. Fire was the one thing that could kill a vampire. But she couldn't let the little girl die. The mother outside was screaming and crying, the firemen holding her back. As a mother herself, Bella couldn't stand by and not help.

In an effort to protect herself, Bella put up her shield. Not that she had ever made a physical shield before, but she felt so juiced, so powerful. The adrenaline flowing through her pricked her skin and vibrated through her fingertips. To her surprise, a transparent, murky bubble slowly began to materialize in front of her, encompassing her whole body. The heat became less intense. Her vision was now partially obstructed by the murky field, and sounds were muted to a dim whisper; so much so she could no longer hear the little girl's heartbeat.

Fortunately, Bella already knew where she was.

Running to the end of the hall, Bella kicked open the door and swept through the smoke-filled apartment. The little girl and the babysitter were in the bathroom. Both of them were passed out, their heads next to an open window trying to breathe. The shower was running, water overflowing the bathtub keeping the flames at bay.

Smashing away the window glass, Bella hoisted the babysitter over her shoulder and picked the toddler up in her arms. She then jumped out the five-story window. Since it was nighttime and there was so much smoke, nobody saw her land, except Renesmee who ran over.

"Mom, what were you thinking?" Renesmee berated her, patting her down, checking to see if her clothing was on fire. "I was so worried. You could have died. Are you burned?"

"No, no I'm fine. We've got to get these two to an ambulance, now. They're barely alive."

"Yeah, their heartbeats are so faint." Renesmee took the little girl and cradled her in her arms, but upon seeing Bella's face, she stopped short and her mouth fell open. "Oh my God?"

"What?" Bella snapped.

"Your eyes…they're…"

"They're what? Are they red?"

"No…it's worse…much worse." Renesmee looked over her shoulder, glancing back at the fireman and paramedics who were quickly approaching them from the street. "We'll talk later. Quick, put these on." She fished out a pair of sunglasses from her purse and put them on Bella's nose. "They can't see you like this."

Now Bella was really confused. What happened to her eyes? "I don't –"

"Never mind, just take my word for it." Renesmee whipped around to face the paramedics, handing the little girl over to them, watching as they placed an oxygen mask over the girl's face."

Bella laid the babysitter down on the stretcher and the paramedics started to work on her.

A fireman eyed Bella suspiciously. "You carried her out of the building?"

"Yes."

"You're pretty strong," he said, almost accusing her.

"Must have been the adrenaline," Renesmee explained.

"I can't believe you went in there," The fireman persisted.

"I-I just wanted to save the little girl," Bella stammered.

The fireman looked her up and down. "You must have inhaled a lot of smoke. You should have the paramedics look you over."

"That won't be necessary."

"No…really, you should have them look at you," he insisted. "The police will want to get a statement."

It was about this time that Bella knew she had to get the hell out of there. There was no way this officer was going to let this drop. "Of course…just let me get my purse. It's in my car."

The fireman nodded somewhat reluctantly, and Bella quickly walked away. Renesmee followed close behind.

When they got to the car they didn't waste any time getting out of there.

Driving down the highway, Bella pulled off the sunglasses and glanced at her eyes in the rearview mirror. They were gold, just like usual. "Why did I have to wear these? My eyes look fine," she said, handing the glasses back.

Renesmee shook her head. "They weren't a few minutes ago. They were white."

"What?"

"I'm serious. Not solid white. I mean…I could still see your irises which were kind of grayish, but everything else was white."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"I can't explain it either. All I can tell you is what I saw, and it was very creepy looking. What happened in there? Did you do something different?"

Bella considered this for a moment. "I put up a shield to protect me from the flames."

"You can do that?"

Bella laughed. "Yeah…I guess I can. I was surprised."

"Have you ever done that before?

"No, not at all. Maybe I have a new power."

"That's kind of scary."

"Scary? How so?"

"Because of your eyes. You looked like you were possessed."

"I didn't feel possessed."

"Regardless, I think Dad should know about this."

Immediately Bella became angry. Why did Renesmee always try to get them back together? "Do not tell your father. This is none of his business. I don't want to talk to him."

"Come on, Mom, you know he still cares about you."

"I don't give a crap. If he truly cared about me, he wouldn't have had an affair with Tanya."

Renesmee grimaced. "Mom, you're being ridiculous. It's been almost a year. Can't you at least talk to him?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to." Bella snapped.

Of course, she felt guilty right after she snapped at her. She didn't want to take her anger at Edward out on Renesmee.

"Look, I'm sorry, I know he's your father. I know you love him, but I don't want him around."

"All right, all right, I won't tell him."

"Good."

"I just don't understand why you won't give him another chance. Don't you still love him?"

Did she still love him?

Bella had asked herself the same question many times, and deep down she knew there would always be a special place in heart for Edward. But when he betrayed her trust, he killed a part of her love. Her feelings for him had always been so intense. She gave him everything, her heart, her soul. She was even willing to die for him. For him to just have a casual affair hurt her so bad. She felt like a fool. She felt like their love had never been real.

She could never go back.

"Ren, I do still care for Edward. I really do, but it's over."

Renesmee slumped her shoulders. "Well, you should at least talk to someone about this…maybe Carlisle."

"I'll think about it."

However, Bella didn't really want to talk to Carlisle either.

..

That next morning, Bella couldn't stop thinking about it, pacing back and forth in her one-bedroom apartment, wearing down her brand new throw rug. She tried to think of all the possible consequences of what this new power could mean.

On the one hand, it would definitely be cool to be able to make a physical shield. No more getting wet. No more worrying about being physically attacked. But she kept thinking about what Renesmee said. You looked like you were possessed.

Renesmee was now sound asleep in the other room. Bella never used her bedroom, so she gave the room to her daughter. Her place was kind of small, but it had a balcony and a beautiful view of the ocean. Carlisle had offered to put her up in a bigger place and she thanked him for it. But Bella didn't feel right taking his money. She wanted to make it on her own.

Standing by Renesmee's door, she finally made a decision. She would go talk to Eleazar. Maybe he would be able to sense something in her.

Packing a day bag, Bella dressed casually and put on her best-hiking boots. Before she left, she knocked on Renesmee's door waking her up.

"I'm going to be gone awhile."

"What? Where are you going?" Renesmee asked, wiping her eyes, pushing her thick curly hair out of her face.

"I'm going to go see Eleazar. I want to ask him about my new power."

"But he's in Alaska?"

"I know, so don't wait up for me. I may be gone a couple of days." Bella started to close the door.

"Wait, I'll go with you."

"What? You don't have to do that. I know Jacob is taking you out tomorrow to celebrate his graduation into the police academy. You don't want to miss that."

"Yeah, but I want to know about this new power of yours."

"I promise I'll tell you everything when I get back. Go back to sleep."

"Okay," Renesmee said groggily, snuggling back down into the pillow. "I guess I am kind of tired." In seconds she was asleep again.

It always surprised Bella how easily Renesmee could fall sleep. Most humans slept about eight hours a day, but Renesmee slept almost ten to twelve hours a day. It kind of worried her. Yet who could say this wasn't normal. Hybrids were a new breed. Yet there was always this little voice inside Bella that told her this wasn't right. Renesmee shouldn't be needing this much sleep.

Softly, Bella closed the door.

Outside the clouds had dispersed and the sun was coming out, so Bella put on a hat to hide her sparkly skin, propped her bag over her shoulder, and started running north toward Alaska.