Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight. This was written as an original story and converted to a Twilight Fan fiction piece to garner interest in the story. I will release the original version at the end of each book.
Chapter 3
When I get to my room I close the door behind me and breathe a sigh of relief. None of them know how hard it is for me to keep this façade up, how I am on the verge of crumbling every time one of them gives me that look. I hate it. I will make sure they all know I am to be feared and followed, not pitied, never pitied.
I go into the bathroom and splash some water on my face; I barely recognize my reflection anymore. My friendly smile lines have been erased, my jaw has a hard set to it and my eyes are narrow and glint dangerously. I don't linger long; I have been having trouble looking in the mirror since I got back… since I killed Newt.
You didn't kill Newt, Garrett did.
Yeah sure, whatever helps me sleep at night, if only it helped, Garrett may have snapped his neck but he did so at my direction. It may make all the difference to Garrett but in my mind it is too fine a hair to split.
Garrett says your hands are still clean.
I shove the thought to the back of my brain; Garrett can just keep his opinion to himself, my hands are covered in blood. Everyone keeps saying it isn't my fault but my mother, Gracie Blue, even Alice almost paid the price for the crime of simply knowing me.
Taking a life opens a part of you that you can't put away.
Shut up brain… I'm counting on that, Garrett calls it "The Rage" and he says everyone who kills has a different name for it. Either way it amounts to the same thing, it's that part of you that you can't put away when you kill. I didn't have it quite yet but it was stirring, like the poem says "…it lies in all of us. Sleeping, waiting, and though unwanted, unbidden, it will stir … open its jaws, and howl." The poem was talking about passion but for me it was something different…. something darker, more primal.
A knock at the door shakes me out of my thoughts. When I open it the group trails in behind Edward. Garrett is with them and they all take seats around the room. They are all staring at me but it is Edward who speaks.
"Christ, Bella, what is wrong with your eyes?" He walks over and looks closer at them. "They are all red… are you okay?"
"Fine, I just need some eye drops is all." I go into the bathroom and see that my anger has indeed popped all the blood vessels in my eyes and they are bloodshot. I put some drops in and it helps to clear them a bit before going out to join the others. No one says a word; they all look to me, waiting to find out why they have been summoned.
"Thank you all for coming." I begin, "I know I have been very cagey about my intentions and my plan but I want to thank you all for your patience and your understanding. I have decided, and Special Projects has agreed, that it is in the best interests of the organization as a whole to hunt down the so called "New Management" group and eliminate them. ToS orders have been issued on all priority targets with the exception on Rose… Rosalie Hale. So far we have no leads but Special Projects has made some information available to me on the targets and I would like to see what we can come up with."
Edward hands me a file and I look at the name on the front, Emmett Whitlock. I scan it quickly and hand it to Garrett. "Edward you have read the file, can you give us the abridged version?"
"Sure." Edward stands up and starts rattling off Emmett's vital statistics, Date of birth, height, weight. Nothing important or new, then he starts talking about current habits and associations. I listen closely; there is something I can use here, I know there is. "… due to the need to establish dominance over others the subject has been spotted attending and even competing in underground fight clubs. Subject has killed fifteen men and permanently injured countless others. He is reigning house champion at over a dozen establishments that cater to fights like this. At this point he shows up only to fight challengers since no one will fight him on a whim."
"That's it!" It suddenly hits me. "That's how we draw him out. Let's build up a reputation in another fight club for one of us, and then issue a challenge. It will have to be someone he doesn't know."
"I'm out then. He'd pick me out of a crowd a mile away." Garrett stands up, "Your plan isn't bad but you forget one thing. These underground fight clubs are no joke. You think we can just drop someone in and they will become the top dog overnight? This is a long term plan where we will have to build a background and establish a cover for the person. Then they would have to train hard and win… and win a lot." He sits back down.
"If anyone has a better idea I'd be glad to hear it." I look around me "Anyone? No? Then let's continue, who can pull this off that they don't know?"
"I can." Jake stands up. "I'll start training hard and will be ready in a couple weeks…"
"Come off it man, this is serious." Edward says, "We all know I'm the best choice here…"
"You both are wrong. Demetri is the one, I am strong like bull." Demetri thumps his chest for emphasis.
"Anyone else about to overdose on the testosterone in this room?" Alice lets out an exasperated sigh. "Why don't you guys just fight it out and see who is the better fighter."
"I'm game." Edward cracks his knuckles.
"Me too." Jake grins at Alice.
"Demetri will fuck you all!" Demetri shouts, everyone goes silent and stares at him.
"Up… Demetri," Shenani giggles "Fuck them all UP."
"What is difference?" Demetri looks at us all quizzically.
"Well one has you emerging victorious and the other is the big scene is an all-male prison movie," Jake laughs and the others join in. I stare at them all. None of this is funny to me, nothing is.
I cut their laughter short. "Fine, you guys settle it; Garrett will you see to it? I trust your judgment, but I would like to be there for the final bout and all decisions must be approved by me." I meet his gaze, he looks tired and he nods his head wearily.
"Sure Bella." Garrett pinches his nose and sighs. "C'mon you guys, let's see if there is a decent fighter among the lot of you." They all start to leave and Garrett turns to me with a pleading look. "Bella…"
"How long before you can make a decision on their skills?" I cut him off, I am in no mood to deal with his need to baby and protect me right now.
He sighs, "Give me a few hours to see what I'm working with, then come down to Eleazar's dungeon. We should be able to make an informed decision by that point." He gets the hint and leaves.
I spend the next few hours going over the file on Emmett Whitlock. Nothing really new, I scan the pages and try to glean any new insight from them. Suddenly I realize that I am going about this all wrong. I am not trying to capture this maniac I am simply trying to draw him out so I can kill him. His death is the only thing I want, it will draw out Jasper and then James. I already have a plan for drawing him out so why am I wasting my time? I push the file away and go to the kitchen to get something to eat.
As I make my way through the house I notice that the various support staff and security guards that normally nod or greet me are careful to avoid my gaze. Am I that different now? Has my ordeal changed me so much that I am a stranger among my friends? I smile ruefully to myself and remember something that Demetri's father, Eleazar once said to me. When your friends betray you, the only ones you can trust are strangers. I feel alone and angry, they took everything from me and I intend to get some of it back.
I decide against food, I have lost my appetite the more I think about my plans for revenge. I would have thought it would make me feel better but it doesn't, I just feel empty inside. Alice spots me in the hall and hurries over.
"Bella, you have to come settle this, the guys are going to kill each other if you don't." She looks worried and I am curious as to what she is talking about.
"Who's killing who now?" I ask in a voice that is devoid of emotion.
"Jake and Demetri! They have been at it for over an hour and neither one will back down, you need to hurry!" Alice pulls my hand and I follow her to the sparring arena.
I must admit I am a little shocked at what I see. Demetri and Jake are in neutral corners of the ring; Jake is attended by Garrett while Eleazar is assisting his son Demetri. They appear to be getting ready for what must be round 700 of World War III.
"Jake, you need to keep moving, don't charge right at him, he is quicker than you. Make him fight your fight, don't let him goad you…" Garrett is giving good advice to Jake who has bruises and welts all over his torso and one eye swollen shut.
"Khoroshaya rabota! Teper' vy dolzhny prodolzhat' shin yego. Kogda on beret, rabotat' telo. On pokhozh na derevo... Narezat' yego vniz Demetri!"** Eleazar is yelling what I suppose is the Russian equivalent into Demetri's ear. Demetri is sporting a broken nose and a cut above his eye that is oozing blood, but he is alert and his eyes are locked dangerously on his opponent.
A crowd has gathered to watch, and people are cheering for their favorite fighter. I see Edward in the corner observing the fighters and taking it all in. A bell rings and the fighters square off again.
Jake charges and Demetri sidesteps him, he lays a solid left into Jake's exposed midsection and then retreats a step. Garrett is right, Jake may be the stronger of the two, but Demetri is fast and avoids most of the huge swings Jake throws. Demetri continues working Jake's midsection with jabs and combination body and face shots. I am about to walk out, this fight is over, it is just a matter of how much punishment Jake can take before he drops. Suddenly Demetri gets in too close and I see what Jake is doing, he drops his left and Demetri takes the bait aiming a jab at the exposed side of Jake's face.
Demetri never sees the haymaker that ends the fight. Jake's right fist connects like a wrecking ball and spins Demetri in a complete circle. He is out cold on his feet but his body just hasn't figured it out yet. Jake moves in for what looks like will be a punishing uppercut but at the last minute realizes his opponent is defenseless and simply pushes him over. Raising his fists in victory the crowd erupts in cheers and applause.
Eleazar attends to Demetri who is coming around and the crowd applauds him as well. Jake is looking around the crowd and spots Edward, he points at him and then to the ring. He seems to want his next challenge.
Edward walks to the ring and climbs in, but Garrett steps between them and addresses the crowd. "The next bout will be in one week, which will give Jake a chance to rest and heal up. Good fight you two. Edward, who will you choose to be your corner-man for the fight?"
Edward scans the crowd and spots Eleazar and Demetri. "I'd like Demetri to do it if he is alright with that. I figure it is only fair he get a front row seat to me kicking Jake's ass."
Demetri grins ruefully and waves to the crowd before being ushered to the infirmary. Seems the championship bout will have to wait. I can't help feeling a little bit like a noblewoman whose affections are being fought for by two warriors. Alice enters the ring and drapes a towel over Jake's shoulders; he wraps an arm around her and plants a kiss right on her lips in front of everyone. So much for keeping their relationship quiet, the crowd roars its approval.
I turn to leave; the laughter and celebrating are as foreign to me as the Russian language Eleazar and Demetri speak. I am uncomfortable around happiness now. I want to go back to planning my revenge so I can go back to being the way I was before. As I reach the door I see Vladamir leaning against the wall. He smiles at me like a kindly grandfather who can see exactly what is going on in my troubled mind and imparts a few words of wisdom that burn into my very soul before he turns and leaves.
"Our revenge shall be the laughter of our children."
Author's notes
**Translation - Good job! Now you must continue to tire him out. When he charges, work the body. He is like a tree... Chop him down Demetri!
