Chapter Seven- Alone (EPOV)
I decided to run, instead of drive to Bella's house. I felt the wind whip past my face, I pushed myself to run faster. I don't know if I was trying to escape the thoughts that had been torturing me for days, or if it was just because I was so eager to see Bella. My love. I couldn't get past the guilt that was threatening to choke me.
Why didn't I insist she agree with me that Jacob was too dangerous to see? Maybe if I trusted a little less she would still love me.
I could still hear the sounds of her tires squeeling and the horrible sound of Bella's terrified scream. The accident played in my head with startling detail. It was at times like this that I cursed my perfect memory.
I knew Bella was confused and scared. I would give anything to be able to help her through this.
I arrived at her house and quietly let myself in out of habit. Then as I approached the kitchen I wondered if I should have knocked first. The expression on her beautiful face would have brought tears to my eyes if I were human. Bella looked like she was being ripped apart from the inside out. I wanted to run to her side and hold her in my arms. I wanted to kiss the worry from her sweet face and remind her that I loved her. Somehow I had the feeling that would only make the situation worse. I wondered briefly if I should go back home, but Bella looked up at that moment.
Bella seemed to sense my hesitation and gave me a smile, which I noticed didn't quite meet her eyes. I ran to her side and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. Their warmth almost undid me. I felt a small trickle of venom before it ceased. I had my thirst completely under control. My desire for Bella was a whole other matter.
Almost the moment my lips touched hers, I heard her heart speed up. Her breathing became shallower and I smiled against her lips. I've always had this effect on Bella, one touch from me and her heart started racing. I was sure if I was human she would have had the same effect on me.
The spoon she had been holding clattered to the ground. I felt her arms move around my neck and her fingers twist in my hair. That was my undoing. I could feel my control slipping. I wanted her. God, how I wanted her. This moment, however would not have been the best time to lose control. I wanted Bella to be sure of her love for me first.
I tore my lips from hers, but I couldn't stop kissing her. I chuckled at the instant pouting look on Bella's face. Instead I trailed kisses down her neck, finding the spot on her neck where her pulse raced.
"I missed you today love." She shivered and I bit back a growl. I pulled away reminding myself I had a lifetime to be with Bella. I waited for Bella to open her eyes, those gorgeous chocolate brown eyes. I couldn't resist touching her one more time. My fingers moving from her temple to her jaw, lingering a moment before I dropped my hand.
"I went to see Jake today." Bella said, the words rushing out. It felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. Alice had told me she went to La Push. She said Bella had pleaded with her to let her go. I understood that Alice loved Bella as much as I did, and that it was just as hard for her to let her go, but it didn't erase the feeling of dread in my stomach.
I was losing Bella. As more time went by I watched her slowly distance herself from me mentally. Her body still had the same reaction as it always did, but with her memory gone, she no longer felt the love that she once did. To be honest that scared me more than I let anyone know. The thought that someday Bella wouldn't want me was terrifying. How would I exist in this world without her by my side. I cursed the fates, knowing that this was my punishment for being what I was. You couldn't be something out of a horror movie and still find true love. Even if you did, it was ridiculous to think it would last.
"I know. Alice explained what happened. I'm sorry my family or I overwhelmed you. I never meant to hurt you or confuse you. I know a lot has happened and it's very hard to deal with." I let my voice trail off. I was rambling, and I couldn't remember a time in all my one hundred years when I ever rambled. It was the fear that made my words tumble over one another to get out. Inside I was screaming and begging Bella not to leave me.
Before I had the chance to say anything else my phone rang. Semi-thankful for the intrusion I answered on the second ring.
"Edward, they're almost here. They're moving much faster than I originally thought. I'm sorry. Emmett's on his way over. We need you here, hurry." Alice wasted no time getting to the point. I felt anger well up, I wouldn't lose Bella.
Bella must have sensed something was wrong, I felt her warm little hands wrap around my arm. A small part of my brain sighed at the touch. She must care, even if just a little bit.
"Bella, Emmett's on his way. I won't leave until he gets here." I wanted to take her in my arms and run with her. As far away as I could go. Away from my family, away from the danger lurking. I wanted to take the time to show her how much I loved her and help her find new love for me if her memory never came back. As usual though there wasn't time. There never was.
Bella turned her eyes to the floor as if unable to handle the feeling revealed in my eyes. Before I could think about it I hooked a finger under her chin forcing her to look me in the eyes. Forcing her to see everything there. I opened myself up to her in that moment.
"Bella I promise you will be safe. No one will hurt you." I tried to keep my voice neutral.
"I know Edward." She seemed to pause and looked directly into my eyes this time, all hesitancy gone,"When this is all over and we're all safe, I need to talk to you about something important."
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask what she wanted to discuss, but Emmett stormed in at the worst moment. Or maybe the best moment if I was completely honest with myself.
"Alright big brother, let's get this done!" I couldn't help but chuckle at the wide smile on Emmett's face. I met Emmett at the door wanting to speak to him without Bellla hearing.
"Emmett if something goes wrong, Esme will call. I want you to take Bella and get away as fast as you can. Don't let anyone hurt her."
"Relax, no one's getting to Bella. Besides, Alice said there would be no fight. Everything will work out just fine. You, big brother, are paranoid."
I let that remark slide. I knew Emmett didn't mean any harm, but I was paranoid when it came to Bella. She tended to be a danger magnet; and with her memory gone I felt even more panicked at the thought of leaving her. Before I could change my mind I ran back to her side and kissed her lips as gently as I could. "I love you Bella" I whispered before I ran to meet my family.
According to Alice the best place to meet the other coven was in a park in the next town. We didn't want to risk them actually getting to Forks. Alice, Jasper, Carlisle and I would be the ones on the fore front. Esme would hang back as much as she could, ready to call Emmett at the first sign of trouble.
I raced through the forest, the wind whipping past me. Normally running comforted me, but tonight the further I ran, the more anxious I became. I wanted desperately to stay with Bella.
Carlisle met me at the clearing by the park.
"They'll be here in six minutes." Carlisle's eyes searched mine. I know you're hurting son. We're all here for you.
Carlisle's thoughts were less than comforting. I shook my head trying to let him know I didn't want to discuss it right now. I couldn't think about it, I needed all my focus for this confrontation. Although Alice was confident all would be well in the end, I couldn't shake the sinking feeling in my gut. I didn't know if it was because of my tortured sweet Bella, or that this situation with the new coven seemed a little too easy. Maybe we missed something.
It was calming to go over Alice's visions, since I saw them as clearly as she did. Never once did anything strike me as odd, or off. It bothered me that I couldn't shake the feeling of impending disaster.
What are we missing? I thought frantically.
I heard Alice gasp and cleared my mind of everyone's thoughts, hers. I saw the vision. Four vampires were running top speed at us, but instead of intimidating them with the size of our coven, it seemed to spur them on. Our size was nothing more than a challenge. The new coven had four members, two male and two female; and they were thirsty.
My eyes immediately sought Carlisle's. I was hoping for reassurance or guidance. To my utter disappointment his eyes held the same shock as I felt in my own. This was a situation we'd never been in.
We had exactly 3 minutes to prepare for a bloodthirsty battle.
"Alice, how could your first visions have been so wrong? How could you not have seen this?" I begged. I tried to keep the anger from my voice, but it was useless. I knew we relied too much on Alice's visions to be correct. I had to remind myself that the future wasn't set in stone. I watched Alice's face fall. She was devastated. I should have known she would blame herself, what kind of brother was I to only make it worse?
"I don't know what happened, why couldn't I see that they were really looking for a fight. I'm sorry"
I pinched bridge of my nose, "Alice it's not your fault. I'm sorry I blamed you."
"Why didn't I see anything about this then?" Carlisle laid a hand on his daughters shoulder. His face a careful, calm mask.
"Alice, we understand. The important thing is we stand together. Do we have time to get Emmett? Will we need him?"
I watched as Alice searched the future. Her face was sad when she met my eyes. She shook her head. It was unlike Alice to be so quiet. I started to feel the panic surging again.
Suddenly a new scent clung to the air. A bitter, evil scent. They were here. I vaguely heard Jasper's growl and Rosalie's hiss. I was searching their minds, only to find nothing.
What is this? I can't read their minds? This can't be possible, I'm supposed to help us gain the advantage, how can I do that if I can't read their minds?
I crouched down ready to attack, all my attention focused on group about to break into the clearing. I felt more than saw Carlisle crouch down, his whole body tense. If Carlisle was tense and ready for a fight, this was not a good sign.
The quartet of vampires stepped into the clearing in the next instant. I searched their faces, but I had never seen them before in all my decades of existence. There were two males and two females.
The tallest one was clearly the leader. He towered over the other three. He might even rival Emmett in size. He had blonde hair styled into careful spikes. The other male was of average height and size. His black hair a sharp contrast to his glowing red eyes. His whole body seemed to vibrate with anger.
The two females could have been sisters. They both had pale white-blonde hair. Both were small like Alice, I had to remind myself that looks could be deceiving. Those two vampires could easily rip me apart. One glance in their fire red eyes and I knew it to be true. There would be know way to convince them to try our lifestyle. They were content hunting and killing humans. Destroying families and bringing fear to every town they traveled through.
A low growl came from the dark haired male as he took the slightest step forward. The rest of the coven mirrored his action.
Jasper crouched lower and moved to stand in front of Alice. Now was not the time to remind him that his wife could take care of herself. That little pixie of a woman was not a fair fighter.
My chest felt like it was on fire, the panic pushing on my heart. I was struggling not to scream. Instead I let out a growl that even I didn't recognize. I searched again in the minds of the new coven. I had to know what they were doing here. It took all my concentration, but I found the reason why I had no answers earlier. One of them had a shield and it was strong enough to protect the entire coven. Unfortunately for them, whoever possessed the shield was weak from thirst. I managed to hear their thoughts. Weak as they were because of the shield. The Cullens had been targeted because of our size. This coven of four were trying to destroy all of the larger covens. I don't know if they were trying to do so to gain dominance over other vampires, like the Volturi. Or if they were trying to take over the area and we were in the way. Either way, it was going to be a gruesome fight.
A piercing scream filled the air as one of the blondes launched herself at Rosalie. I heard the crack as Rosalie's arm was snapped. The female took advantage of the moment of shock to throw Rosalie into the nearest tree. Both the tree and Rosalie crashed to the ground, the crack still echoing in the air.
I spun just in time to see the other female lung at Esme. I ran to my mother, glad for my speed I reached her with a second to spare. I reached my hand up and caught the female by the neck and threw her across the clearing. Dirt and mud sprayed up as she hit the ground. A howl rising up, agony evident as her body snapped in different places from the hit on the ground.
I turned to Esme, not expecting the anger in her expression.
"Are you alright Edward?"
I couldn't help but smile, even in a fight she was making sure we were okay, "I'm fine Esme" Before I could say another word I felt something knock me to the ground. The black haired male was over me, teeth snapping. I raised my arms trying to push him off. He was stronger than I'd anticipated. He easily held me to the ground. Fury replaced the panic I had been feeling earlier.
Please let me survive this! Please let my family survive this! Please let Bella be safe! I chanted over and over again as I fought to keep the vampire above me from ripping my arm from my body. Pain was radiating all over. I gritted my teeth against it. I tried desperately to tune out the sounds of my family fighting so I could concentrate on my own fight. Agony ripped through my arm as the black haired male ripped the skin from my wrist. The venom burned, making me writhe against it.
A picture of Bella flashes in my mind. Her dark hair flowing around her shoulders, those chocolate brown eyes so trusting and a delicate blush spreading across her cheeks. I had to survive this, if only to hear what she wanted to tell me. I had to know she was alright.
I reached up and took his head in both of mine and twisted. Pulling as I twisted I could hear the tendons and muscles snapping. I ripped his head from his shoulders. Repeating the same steps with the rest of his limbs, I ripped him apart.
Once I was on my feet I could once again hear the sounds of the fight. Growls and hisses were echoing off the trees. The sounds similar to wild animals in a fight to the death. Jasper and Alice were testing the big male for a weakness. Alice dancing just out of his reach, while Jasper was closing in. It would only take a second for Jasper to get the upper hand. He appeared to waiting for the perfect moment when Alice had him completely distracted.
Across the clearing Carlisle and Rose were trying to keep the the two blondes at bay. I scanned yet again trying to find Esme. But she was no where to be seen. I raced to Carlisle's side. Searching his thoughts as I approached I found him carefully plotting the two females death. Carlisle was not a fighter and I was disturbed to hear the dark nature of his thoughts. My appearance gave us the upper hand as the females paused. It was only for a second, but it was enough. Rosalie crouched, a hiss escaping, her lips curled back exposing her teeth. She threw herself and the blonde on the right. Before the pair had even reached the ground, Rose had torn the females head from her body. Rose kept ripping, until all that was left were bones. Rose had shredded the skin, throwing pieces of it as she tore them off the bones. I reached over, puling her off the dead vampire. Dry, racking sobs coming from Roses bent form. She collapsed on the ground and Carlisle and I were left to deal with the last female.
Before either of us could make a move Alice screamed in pain and we both spun to find her laying on the ground in front of a huge boulder and Jasper was hanging piggyback style from the last male. I ran towards them and into the big vampire. All three of us crashing to the ground. With one last growl I held him down as Alice and Jasper dismembered him. When that was done both of my sibling collapsed the same dry sobs shaking their bodies as Rose.
I heard Carlisle's growl of frustration. The last female was gone. Then it occurred to me that I was still unable to find Esme. Worry and panic building again I searched Carlisle's wild eyes.
Esme's gone, son. The big blonde grabbed her before I could stop him. I shuddered as Carlisle's thoughts registered. She was gone. It felt like my chest was caving in. She had been the first woman to show me love and kindness since I became a vampire. Now I understood the sobs coming from my siblings and the rage that drove them to kill so quickly. I felt the same emotion. It made me want to hunt the last female down and kill her as slowly and painfully as I could.
"Where is she?" I hadn't realized I asked until I heard my voice cut through the desperate cries. My voice sounded hoarse and low like I'd been screaming for hours. I followed my family's gazes and found her lying near the edge of the clearing. I hadn't realized I was running to her until I was one the ground next to her gathering her in my shaking arms.
Carlisle sunk to his knees next to me, agony making him looker old for the first time in his lifetime as a vampire. I let all the emotions I'd experienced over the last month well up inside me. It felt like a river of lava running through me. I could feel it welling, rising closer to the surface and without thinking I tipped my head back and let out a scream that echoed and radiated for miles.