A/N: These chapters get harder and harder to write. Sorry it has taken so long.
JPOV
I could just make out the shadowed form of a red Tahoe pulled onto the shoulder of the road in front of us. The tornado was so close now the Vanquish was rocking back and forth with the wind, the blown dust making it harder to see. Edward's feral snarls became a full-throated roar as we caught sight of the two figures standing at the side of the road.
Edward locked the breaks on the Aston-Martin and slung it sideways, stopping in the middle of road, headlights bathing the horrifying tableau with ultra-violet light. Demetri had Bella wrapped in his arms, her head tilted back, his mouth poised above her neck in a sick imitation of a lover's caress, an evil smile playing across his distended lips. His teeth were actually resting on her skin.
Before the car was even stopped, Edward had barreled out, towards Demetri. Alice was screaming defiance and clawed her way out of the car through my window.
Edward was screaming Bella's name and challenging Demetri intermittently.
"BELLA!"
"FIGHT ME YOU COWARD! MAKE ME GO TO ARO BUT LEAVE HER OUT OF IT!"
"Edward, I'm so very glad to finally see you. I was wondering when you would drop in to visit your pet. You've left her alone a very long time. Aro told me that you were nigh inseparable."
Edward stalked forward toward Demetri, crouching low, bearing his teeth in a frightening grimace.
"Edward! No!" yelled Alice.
"Hmmm…would you like me to kill her? One step closer and I'll rip her throat out.."
That brought us both up short. I had begun stalking forward as well. I see what he's doing.
Edward? Edward, listen to me. He doesn't really want to kill her now, not with you here so close. He'll use her to lead you to Volterra. Don't push him though, he is not above turning her himself. I believe that he will now make a play to get you to go Italy.
Edward's head whipped back and forth in denial of my statements, his eyes never leaving Demetri's.
EPOV
I could barely make out the red taillights in front of us through the howling wind, dust, and pouring rain. I was consumed with desire to rend Demetri limb from limb for threatening her, along with the entire Volturi coven for their part in this. I thought by leaving her she would be safe, but in fact my leaving changed nothing. The Volturi still went after her. I am truly an abomination of nature. The only thing I can do now to redeem myself to her is to save her. If she lives she will hate me, if she dies, I will die.
As I sped toward the SUV I noticed there were two figures intertwined in front of the vehicle, the lightning flashes searing this image into my head. Demetri, the Volturi tracker, holding Bella to him in an iron grip. Bella's head was tilted back, her mouth gasping what I hoped would not be her last few breaths. The storm whipped her long, dark hair back from her face and I could see the abject terror in her features, but there was something else I noticed in that instant: relief.
What has made her so ready to end her life? She was bright and happy before I left her, and now she's this dark, wild thing, so willing to cease her existence. My fault. All my fault.
I slammed on the breaks of my Vanquish, sliding around sideways while turning the headlights on. My wordless grief at what I had done propelled me from the car. If I die here tonight, I prayed to a God I knew existed, but questioned on a night like this, to please let it be because I succeeded in saving Bella from this different kind of monster.
"BELLA!"
Her eyes snapped to mine in that instant and shock, disbelief, and confusion rolled across her face. Demetri yanked her head back by her hair. I snarled, sank into a fighting stance, and stalked forward yelling,
"FIGHT ME YOU COWARD. MAKE ME GO TO ARO BUT LEAVE HER OUT OF IT!"
Out of nowhere, something small and hard knocks me off course.
Alice.
"Edward, I'm so very glad to finally see you. I was wondering when you would drop in to visit your pet. You've left her alone a very long time. Aro told me that you were nigh inseparable."
I did leave her, and who has benefited?
My lips pulled back over my teeth as my rage doubled.
"Edward, no!" screamed Alice over the storm's fierce howling wind. The tornado was steadily approaching our deserted stretch of highway. Debris was beginning to rain down on us, as was hail. A large hailstone dropped, striking Jasper in the side of the head, shattering into a million glittering pieces.
"Hand her over to us now, and we will let you leave this place with your life." I snarled.
"I don't think I will, because this whole venture is totally about you, Edward. Does sweet little Bella realize that her predicament is completely because of you?" Demetri mockingly intoned.
BPOV
This conversation was very confusing, hell, this whole situation was confusing. I'm not completely sure I'm still alive. I could feel Demetri's teeth resting on my neck, then some pain as bright lights blinded me and I heard my name called by a voice that was mysteriously close to Edward's, but distorted by pain. Next thing I know is I'm staring at Edward's face not fifteen feet away from my own while Demetri held my face upside down by my hair.
Now they are arguing with each other over my freedom.
Edward roaring up to barter for my life with this merciless killing machine was the last thing I expected when the scene of my impending death was bathed in bright light.
My eyes devoured every millimeter of his face – he must grow more perfect with time, or I had changed enough to appreciate it more. His focus would shift from throwing Demtri killer glares of incandescent fury, to boring into my eyes with his, sadness, confusion, and outright fear dominating his features. I had no idea what he was so afraid of. He left me, my death might be painful to him, but nothing he should fear.
I then noticed that Edward was not alone. Alice blocked him from advancing on Demetri and Jasper supported him from behind. The tornado was only about a half-mile away and a huge chunk of hail smashed into the side of Jasper's head, throwing glittering ice crystals into the empty space between Edward and Demetri.
"Hand her over to us now, and we will let you leave this place with your life." Edward whispered, his voice at his deadliest.
"I don't think I will, because this whole venture is totally about you, Edward. Does Sweet Little Bella realize that her predicament is completely because of you?" said Demetri, stroking my face, mocking Edward. I shuddered under his casual touch, bile rising in my throat.
"Sweet Little Bella, I do not believe I made the reason I came for you clear. My master covets your Edward's gift. His ability to hear the thoughts of those around him is a formidable talent, one my master wants very much. My original intent was to capture you and my master would ransom you for Edward's compliance, but you said he left you, which changes my plan.
"Edward, did you leave Sweet Little Bella to fend for herself, all alone?" Demetri asked.
Edward's face contorted with rage, misery, and regret. He looked me in the eyes before he answered Demetri. I felt like I could look all the way into his soul for the first time in over a year and a half, and I realized that I didn't like everything I saw there.
"Yes. I left her."
"Why would you leave such a delectable creature for others to find and enjoy. She's the most delicious thing I've ever smelled."
"Aro told me you love her, I believed it would be very difficult to get to her around you, but here I found her, alone and unprotected. So now, I issue you an ultimatum.
"You can turn and leave this place, and retain your freedom. My master will have to find a new way to seduce you into joining our merry band.
"Or, you can come with me and follow Aro."
"And Bella will be released, with no harm done to her?" asked Edward.
"Of course not, if you walk away, Bella is mine. She smells too good to pass up."
Demetri pulled me closer and ran his nose along my neck, all the while keeping his eyes on Edward. I saw Demetri's eyes widen before something rock hard rammed into my side.
The air was completely knocked out of me, and I fell on a rock, bruising my head, but luckily not cutting it. Demetri leapt over me, snarling, and I rolled over to get out of the way.
Edward had launched himself at us, trying to knock Demetri away. He succeeded in getting Demetri to let go of me, but Demetri was still blocking him. I looked up and saw that the tornado was right on top of us, not a quarter of a mile away. I began edging back, towards my Tahoe. I knew that everyone in this strange group, but me, could probably walk away from being struck by an F5 tornado. With everything that had happened in the last five minutes, my mind was going hazy. I had tunnel vision and all I could see was my borrowed Tahoe, the radio still blaring tornado warnings.
The fight behind me grew fierce, I knew I should make sure Edward was okay, but my survival instinct told me get the hell out of there.
I turned around.
Demetri was fighting Jasper and Edward while Alice called out Demetri's next move to them. Demetri was at a loss for how to attack, so he was reduced to fending off the joint attacks of Edward and Jasper.
Snarls ripped through the air over the tumultuous, thundering noise of the storm. The rain and wind whipped against my face as hail bruised my body.
Suddenly, Alice was knocked sideways by a dark blur. Jasper cried out and lunged for Alice.
"NO!" Edward's shout brought me to my knees as Demetri wheeled around and barreled toward me.
Again, something, or someone, cold and hard as iron knocked me back against the Tahoe. My vision blurred out completely as I felt strong, freezing, and strange arms curl around me protectively. My head felt like it would split open, but I could not yet smell the acrid tang of my blood in the air. I knew that would be my end, that if my blood was spilt, this fight would end one way or another.
Through the haze of my possible concussion, I could hear screaming, snarling, cursing, and a strange clawing noise.
As my vision slowly returned I realized I had been moved to the middle of the gathering with the tornado right on top of us. I could not see who held me, but they were standing beside Demetri.
This is not good.
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