Back again! We last left Bella tied up by Paige. Will she succeed in sending Marique back? Is Marique really going to double cross Bella? Only one more chapter left after this one!
Alice's vision was cloudy but had an idea of where Bella was. Despite Jasper and Rosalie's warning, she went with them into the woods. Those clouds spelled trouble and she knew what was coming.
They ran through the forest only to stop and hide behind a tree once they spotted Marique and Korrok by the side of the steep hill. They watched as Marique was seemingly bidding farewell to her lover. Korrok disappeared into the rocks and a flash almost blinded them. He went back to his own time. During this flash no one had seen or heard Marique sneaking up behind them.
"What are you three doing?"
They jumped and turned to the barbarian, even towering over Jasper. "What did you do?" Alice raised her voice, giving Marique a shove that didn't come anywhere close to moving her.
"Is there more coming? We should have never trusted you!" Jasper snapped, showing his teeth.
Marique just rolled her eyes, "Fools, it's all part of my plan."
"I know! I saw everything!" Alice shouted.
"No, tiny vampire," Marique sighed, "You only saw my deception. Korrok will not return not as long as I get my ridiculous decedent to close the portal. I just had to butter him up a little as you say."
"What are you talking about?" Rosalie asked, irritated by this nut.
"He expects me to come back with great knowledge. I will give him something else."
The three just looked at each other, unsure whatever the woman from the past even knew what she was talking about.
Bella waited with Paige, still tied up and waiting for the party to arrive. That dagger Paige was holding was making her more intimidating by the second.
Bella thought she saw something in the distance. "Have you ever been in love, Paige?" Bella said, distracting the witch as she looked over her spellbook.
She turned to her. "Bella, look, you're a young girl, you have your whole life ahead of you. What kind of life do you think you and Marique could have?"
Bella thought about it, her mouth left hanging open for a second, "We'll figure that out."
Paige just scoffed at her ignorance. "Fuck you make me feel old. Maybe there was one time I'd believe that but I'm not nearly as young and dumb as I used to be." Alice grabbed her book, appearing as if from thin air. Paige jumped back and put the dagger close to Bella's neck, for now only gently pressing against her skin. "Stay back!"
"You're not a killer!" Alice yelled. Rosalie and Jasper came into her view, both close to her left and right.
"Yeah well...if you were in my shoes you would be singing a hell of a different tune!"
"Oh really?" Marique snuck up behind her, practically breathing down her neck. "Cowardice also does not run in my family!"
"You try anything and I slit her throat!"
"But you need her...," Marique quietly and swiftly moved around and stood beside Alice. "Now I think instead of chopping each other up we should have a civil conversation."
Paige's face dropped, "Huh?"
Marique smiled, "I know I even surprise myself."
"We don't have time! You have to willingly go back!"
"Or else what?" Marique folded her arms, heaving her chest. Everyone watched as Paige went from transparent to solid. She could feel this. She looked scared. But of course because she was about to vanish from her own timeline.
"If you stay I'm history!"
"You threaten my master...I say good riddance," she shared a quick smile with Bella.
"You moron! You'll be gone too! The longer you're here the more damage is done!" She looked up at those pulsating clouds.
This seemed to only slightly worry Marique. She shrugged, "If the world is to end because we are together it is worth a lifetime apart."
"You're crazy!"
"You should go. You'd love it there," Marique smirked.
"No! That's insane!"
"She's right! You could take her place!" Bella insisted despite her fear of moving the tiniest bit.
"That would never work!"
"Does it say in here?" Alice held up the spell book.
"...no but..." She let the dagger fall away from Bella's face. She was thinking this all over.
"We are the same blood. Should it matter to the universe?" Paige didn't answer, "That look in your eyes like you wanted me dead...that reminded me of a younger me. So much rage. So much hate. You could do a lot of things with that..." Paige looked up at the sky for answers. Marique wasn't willingly going to leave. She knew now that nothing was going to convince her to stay away from the young girl.
"...fine..." She sighed. She threw the knife away. "There's no way I'll fit in over there though!"
"We've got time we can shave your head," Bella smiled. Jasper and Rosalie helped untie her. She ran over to Marique's side.
"Maybe you'll meet your own slave one day and find happiness," Marique said as she shifted her gaze to the once captive. "Then you will discover she is as nasty as you."
Paige rolled her eyes, "No thanks."
"Suit yourself," Bella shrugged.
"You can always try and come back. We could work out a share of time."
Paige couldn't believe she was agreeing to this. "I'm going to regret this."
"Hey! The whole reason you wanted that stupid portal was to learn how to be a better witch, right?" Bella reminded her.
Paige nodded, she was scared but this might be her last chance. She pointed to the book, "Once I leave you read the page I have bookmarked! Got it?"
"Got it!" Marique replied. "Don't worry. Korrok will take good care of you."
Paige walked away from everyone and chanted something repeatedly. She started to float in midair. Her eyes closed and her arms spread far out. The group watched as she ascended. Once she was gone the sky returned to normal.
Bella nudged Marique for her attention, "You'd really want the universe to end just to see us together?" She glared at her, eyes like daggers.
"Yes," Marique grinned.
Bella couldn't fool her, she stretched a smile, "Good." They kissed open mouthed. Alice, Rosalie and Jasper watched on awkwardly as the two demonstrated their affection to one another. Everyone had something new to gasp over. Bella and Marique stopped and looked back to see someone awfully shiny standing in the sunlight. Bella unfortunately recognized the boy with good looks and big hair. "Edward?"
Marique went wide eyed with despise, "Fuck!"
One more to go!
