Chapter 8
Bella's POV
Victoria had set up her most elaborate trap yet, with ten newborn vampires under her command. And I fell right into it, because I was so blinded by my hate towards her, to see what a mistake I was making. After I crossed the line after Victoria, so did Jacob, Quil and Embry, how could they be so stupid to break the treaty like that. I cost them the peace of the werewolves and the Cullen's. I never meant for them to follow me, this was my vendetta, not theirs. I guess I was stupid enough to think that if I crossed the line they wouldn't follow me and therefore they would be in no danger…I didn't care if anything happened to me, I mean I have been wandering around for a hundred years for the sole purpose to destroy Victoria for what she did to my family. And this was my chance!
Victoria snickered when the other vampires revealed themselves. "What are you too afraid to face me yourself Victoria?" I called.
"Just trying to even the playing field, my dear daughter. Your gifts don't exactly make this a fair fight."
"Ha, it wasn't a fair fight when you murdered my family or me, just mere humans. What makes you deserve fairness now?!"
"Sorry my sweet Bella, but I just hate to lose. Kill her!"
With that the battle began and I threw my shield around myself. All ten vampires rushed me at once. The first couple that got close enough to my shield were thrown backwards. When the others saw this they all started clawing at my shield. I could feel the pressure of their nails and normally one vampire didn't phase me, but this time there were a lot more. Not knowing how long my shield could take such abuse, I let the anger inside of me grow and flexed my shield at the exact moment flames rolled off my body. My fireball took out two vampires before they could escape and then I heard Victoria call to some of them. To my surprise, five took off behind me, no doubt Jake, Quil and Embry had made quick work of those other three vampires and could handle more.
I battled the other three by raising and dropping my shield at the most opportune moments. Victoria seemed to be watching me quite carefully as I waged war on her precious newborns, taking note of how I fight. I killed one more vampire who got distracted by the other two, and he went up in flames. Now it was only me and two more newborns. I ran at a blinding speed around the clearing, whipping fireballs and blocking attacks. I let the newborns think they were getting the upper hand and when they came at me from the sides, I grabbed them each by the arm and let the flames spread over my entire body. With my eyes on Victoria I let the newborns burn alive at my sides. What was left of the two newborns crumbled into a pile while the fire raged on and then I stood before Victoria, one on one. I could feel the fire in my eyes as I pursued the always fleeing Victoria and yet I didn't use my fire balls when I had the chance. It wasn't good enough to just let her burn; I wanted to see the terror in her eyes when I ripped her to pieces. My strength was starting to wane because of how much fire power I was using, but I ignored it.
Just as she suddenly reversed to attack, I got an idea. I knew I could put my shield around other people to protect them but I never tried to use my shield to contain my attacker. I stopped mere inches away from her and threw my hands up as my shield shot around her. The momentum she collected from coming towards me, propelled her in the shield with a crash. Victoria never saw this coming and I knew I had her! I contracted my shield around her till it was skin tight and she couldn't move any longer, her black eyes were burning with fury. I laughed as I retracted my shield from around her head and shoulders. It was so easy now, I could taste it, but I paused. Victoria took my pause as a sign of weakness and tried to free herself. When she couldn't get free, she looked at me and said "Do you know want to know what your poor mother said to me when I killed her?"
When the words left her mouth, I couldn't contain myself to let her finish, and with the swiftest moment of my hand her head came off. I was so overcome with my emotions, I let out a fierce growl while the flames spread out from my body engulfing everything in a hundred foot radius. I let the flames have me and spread them out as each wave of fury rolled through me. I saw my mother's face, and Charlie's face and even Phil's face…they were smiling. I had done it! I destroyed Victoria with my own two hands, I made her pay. But why didn't I feel free…I still felt trapped and with that realization my fireball collapsed around me with a shock. Suddenly, it was dark and I could feel to forest floor beneath me. I closed my eyes and let sadness creep over me.
Moments later, I heard someone approach, but I didn't care to move. Then I heard a whine, as a wolf nuzzled my still body. I knew it was Jake by the sound of concern that pulsed through him, but still I didn't move. Suddenly his warm hands moved under me and I was lifted from the ground. My mind was careening out of control, with despair, suddenly I had no purpose again. I felt like I did the day Jake found me crying in the woods after I had changed and burned down Charlie's house. I couldn't see a reason to go on anymore, now that I finished what I set out to do, until I heard that voice. I opened my eyes to see Jake looking at my face and when he said hi, I said hi back, not knowing what to say. The wanted to see the person whose voice always sounded so velvet to me. And then I saw his face for just the briefest second and my mind found peace. I closed my eyes when I did not see him anymore and just pictures his face as Jake carried me away.
