I like to thank my wonderful beta Dogstar13, who has kindly helps improve my writing.
Chapter 10
The air bristled around me as I mournfully looked onto the snow moors. The wind chimed like a child's laughter. The branches swayed, the bark transforming into long curling locks. I could see her gorgeous smile, so free and alive.
It had been months since I last saw my sweet angel. Her last word was still branded into my mind. Guards had long since began searching the forests nearby, but it had all been fruitless attempts. I sighed before turning away, facing the human sitting hunched on the floor, her eyes distant. Slowly, I moved across the room to her, my feet dragging lifelessly behind me. Angela did not look at me as I sat down. Her face was thin and gaunt, her thinning skin and growing ribs hidden behind a jumper. Putting an arm over her shoulders, I gently squeezed her bony shoulder. She leant her head against my upper arm. Her hair was a birds' nest, and a tear trickled silently down her face. Sniffling, she lifted a fragile hand. Her thumb flicked the droplet off.
The room was silent except for periodical hiccups and the thumping of Angela's heart.
"Do you think we will ever find her?" Angela said suddenly. Her voice cracked.
I shrugged, running my fingers through her hair. "I hope so. We have to." Angela sniffled as I mumbled this. "Have you tried to communicate with her?" She stopped snivelling and her body stiffened. Her breathing stopped. I grabbed her shoulders as I peered into her frozen eyes. Her teeth dug into her bottom lip. Sharply, she looked away, her eyes trailed on the floor.
"Edward," she whispered in a shaky voice. I squeezed her shoulders in reassurance. Angela flinched beneath my palms. "Edward…I have lied to you. I can't communicate with Bella. It is her gift. I only said that to protect her…" Her voice faded off as she looked away, her eyes scrunched together. Her head was bowed in shame.
Curling a tender finger around her smooth chin, I tilted her head back up. A face of a young girl looked back at me, worn yet youthful. Leaning forward, I breathed quietly, "I know."
Her eyes snapped open, and she stammered in shock. I held a finger up to her freezing, pale lips. Turning so that I was sitting in front of her, I stared her straight in the eye. "I've known for a long time. I had a feeling your story was flawed the first time you told me about it. I discovered it was Bella when Jasper was playing chess with her." Angela snorted, rolling her eyes. A rare small smile appeared; she had not done it since Bella had vanished. My lips strained upwards, the muscles tensing with the unfamiliar movement. I sighed, stroking her hair as I stared into her eyes. "But I don't care. I never cared. I just wish it was yours so that we could contact her." A tear welled in her eye at the thought of the missing child. She buried her head in the crook of my neck. Lifting an arm, I rubbed a hand in circles on her back, my eyes closed shut. The warmth thrummed through my bones like water in a river. Behind my eyelids, the child's smiling face gleamed as it had for the last six months, her tinkering voice trilling as she twirled in a beautiful dress. She tugged on my hand, her palm soft and smooth.
A knuckle thrummed softly against the door. Timidly, I called for them to enter, prying my eyes open. The door creaked. My father and mother peered around the door, Emmett behind them with Jasper and Rosalie. Alice's hyper figure could be seen after her hair appeared. Mother's eyes softened at the sight of us, and she floated across the room, her sigh full of elegance.
"Oh, Edward." She enveloped me in a hug. "Angela." She squeezed Angela to her chest. Angela snuggled into her as she released a sob. My mother cooed to her, her fluttery hands kissing her face while she stroked her cheek. Angela gazed at her with watery eyes, in astonishment.
Her words were no more than a whisper. "You remind me of Renee- always the comforting woman." Angela smiled a small smile at the thought of Bella's mother. She gazed up at her, the smile turning sad. "But she's dead…and-and I broke my promise to her, and-" Her voice was muffled by my mother's arm wrapped around her, her torso rocking the woman back and forth, her hands stroking her hair. Mother's eyes met mine, and they were filled with sympathy.
A hand touched my shoulder. Facing Father, I smiled sadly. He ran a caring hand through my hair. The sound of a clatter drew my eyes over his shoulder. A silver tray sparkled on the table, brimming with food and a glass each of juice and blood. I smacked my parched lips together, ignoring my repulsed stomach. A masculine hand picked some food off the tray and brought it over. Emmett handed it to Mother, who gently pushed Angela away. At the movement, Angela flinched, her eyes widening with horror. As I stared at the terrified woman, I realised I had been scared of breaking her. I never thought she was already broken and that Bella had been the comfort. The tough image was a façade. My eyebrows furrowed as I stared at the whimpering woman, her hands trembling while she brought her knees up to her chin. Her eyes were dim and dull without the fire she needed to live.
Mother turned to face her determinedly. She'd resorted to hand-feeding the human after she refused to eat for two months. Mother placed the food to her lips but Angela shook her head with lips tightened into a straight line. As my mother pleaded with her, I blocked out the sounds as I became trapped in thought. If Angela was like this, what was Bella like? The cold rim of the glass that was placed to my lips did not faze me from my thoughts. The blood slipped down my tongue. My stomach turned in anger.
I focused on Angela, at her hopeless eyes as she stared back at me. Slowly, reluctantly, she opened her mouth. My mother smiled and placed the food in. Angela chewed, her eyes staying on me. I felt something dap my mouth, I flickered a look towards my brother.
Alice floated over, handing something to my father. "I know they're depressed. I mean, we all are, but at least they could change clothes! They've been wearing these for a week," she moaned.
Mother shot her a withering glance, daring her to say another word. "Alice, you could be a little more sensitive. They were the closest to Bella. Edward has lost his mate and Angela has lost the person she based her life around. Now leave them alone." Father hummed in agreement.
Rosalie snorted, gazing out the window. "If they care about her so much, why haven't they been looking for her?" I narrowed my eyes at my sister heatedly. Jumping to my feet, I pushed my father's hand off me. My footsteps thumped heavily as I stormed over my arrogant sister. I pressed my nose against hers as I hissed at her.
"I have helped. But the pain is too much. At least I sent guards out there! And you can speak for yourself- you haven't even tried, yet you claim you have. I have been trying, you know I have!" I spat at her. My chest heaved, my hands were balled by my sides. My lips pulled back in a sneer as I glared at my sister.
Pushing off the wall, I stormed across the room to Father. "I'm going to change." I snatched my clothes out of my father's hands and raged into the closet. My family began snapping at each other in low voices.
Less than a minute later, the door banged open. Immediately, the room fell silent. My footsteps echoed. Sitting back down on the floor, I hugged Angela. My eyes closed as I counted to ten.
Alice cleared her throat. I shot a glare at her. "What?"
She raised her hands, speaking in a calm voice. "Dear brother, I can see Rosalie's point, even if it was not well said. You need to get your fire back so we can find her. If you sit back and mope it will never get you anywhere. Only Angela and you have the ability to find her because you have that bond." I breathed deeply with closed eyes, still feeling a sense of aching heartbreak in my chest. I could feel Angela shift beside me as she grasped my hand.
Prying my eyes open, I stared at the trembling human. She grimaced at me with pain and anguish. Angela slowly squeezed my hand tightly and tilted her head up to tentatively whisper in my ear. "Maybe they are right."
Her hand travelled up my arm to rest on my shoulder. "Maybe we are the only ones who can do anything." Flinching out of her grasp, I turned away from Angela. Scrunching my eyes together, I ignored her horrified face, the picture echoing in my family's thoughts. They aren't right, I sneered in my thoughts. They don't understand the pain of emptiness every time I thought I almost reached her. It's been chipping away at my hope.
Edward, listen to me! Alice's thoughts interrupted my train of mourning. You are not getting any near her sitting here on your backside like an idiot. I want you to stand up and be a good mate. Get your butt out there!
"It won't help, Alice."
"Yes it will. Angela-" My sister turned to the human, her hands on her hips. "Aren't you her mother? Okay, I get it- you promised Renee…" Alice paused for a second, a lightbulb flashing in her head. "Didn't you tell me that you swore to Renee you would protect Bella? You said that you had promised to look after her no matter what. I don't think Renee would like the look of you sitting here giving up while her daughter is somewhere out there!" she snapped, her finger pointing towards the window. Flinching, Angela peeked out from beneath her damp eyelashes at my sister before gazing away. Silence fell over the room as Angela rocked back and forth. The name of Renee stuck on repeat in her head.
"Renee," she murmured. Her fingers grazed her lips with shaking fingertips. Angela stared at me, a flicker of the old fire beginning to burn in her dark eyes, crackling against the fallen branches of her mind.
"They are right. We are the only ones who can find her." Her voice became stronger, more persistent, convincing herself. "I promised Renee that I would look after no matter what. In honour of my mark and family, I will not let her down. Now let's go and do it. No if's or but's. A little girl needs us!" Angela jumped to her feet, waving her hands around as she raged on. A familiar cloud appeared in her eyes as she glared at me. She took a deep breath. Her hand stretched towards me, her fingers curled coaxingly.
I found myself nodding. I had to get out and find her or I would forever be like this. Perpetually in anguish and pain. Placing my hand in hers, I brought myself to my feet. In that instance, a heavy weight was lifted off my shoulders. I smirked toward her. "What are we waiting for?" I declared.
After a short moment of preparation, we were weaving through the corridors. I felt my feet start to take flight. Angela scrambled to keep up with my quickening strides but I never glanced back. Instead, I approached the grand wooden doors, which I had not been through for four months.
"Are you ready?" My hand trembled as it pressed itself against the silky wood. Angela nodded. The doors squeaked open. I placed a bare foot onto the snow and shot Angela a determined look. She replied with a calculated glare, her lips drawn back in a sneer.
I faced the woods and inhaled. Energy filled my body as my feet sped towards the forest, Angela only a few feet behind me. A pack of guards trailed behind like a tail of fire.
...
It was a dark night.
Trees shook in terror, their bark dull and branches bare. The guards prowled steadily around me, their eyes focused in the dark. They walked calmly, ignoring the groans of a grieving mate occasionally escaping my lips. Silvery mist floated around the eerie woods; trees released mournful cries. I shivered and snapped a branch out of the way, eyes scanning the darkness. A branch cracked. Whirling around, I bared my teeth in a snarl. The wind howled in anger. A branch out of nowhere smacked me in the face. I spun back around. A low growl sent shivers up my spine. I leaned forward, searching the trees. Suddenly, the world was a blur. Silver smoke surrounded me. The guards growled, searching for the perpetrator. Then the silhouette of a face appeared in the smoke. The veil of blurriness fell away to reveal Angela looming over me, a grin on her face.
"Gotcha!" she sang. I shook my head before pushing her off me. I jumped to my feet and took in her form. The guards surrounded us, furiously snarling at the human guard, who was bouncing on her bare, dirty feet in front of me. Mud smeared her face, and a pair of blue eyes and a mouth hovered on it like stars and a moon in the night sky. Her cheeks were rounder, her legs more muscular. Her dress was wrapped around her waist and torso, leaving her belly button on show. She laughed aloud, and a nearby crow was startled from its perch. "You should have seen your face!" she howled.
I glared at her, my hands clenched by my sides. The guards shifted uncomfortably before looking elsewhere. "You think it's funny? It's not. If you make a noise like that, we could both die! There are dangerous creatures in this place. Creatures you don't know about!" Angela rolled her eyes. Anger ran through me. I yanked her by the arm, digging my fingernails into her skin. She released a cry that was cut off by the palm of my hand. "Sh! If you want to find Bella-or at least see the child- then you will be quiet. Unless Bella no longer matters to you?" I sneered, my eyes narrowed.
Angela's face darkened further in the dim light. Snatching her arm free, she stormed away. A few paces away, she turned back around, her finger jabbing at my soul.
"You think it's hard living without your mate? It is hard for me too! She is the only memory I have Renee and now she is gone. Of course I want to find her. I will, but all I know at this moment is that she won't be here! No living creature part from a few birds are here!" she screeched. Her hands flailed wildly, her eyes an icy fire.
A low snarl rang out.
The guards were alert, bodies tense. I vaporised by Angela's side, muffling her rants once more with my hand. The air was frosty. I scanned the night of the woods. The wind hissed. The misty river ran along. Angela shook against my hand, glaring at me in anger. I shushed her while I held up a finger on my other hand. Silence through the air. In the mist of the night, yellow eyes pressed themselves against the blanket of black. Angela tensed against me, a whimper escaped through her open lips that were muffled by my still hand. I froze. In the dim light, a muzzle appeared. My hand slipped from Angela's mouth as I stared in horror. No.
A wolf. I scrambled backwards.
"Edward!" Angela called to me, her shaky voice dragging my name. "What are they?"
The wolf edged forward to reveal its growling face. Angela took a step back, her heartbeat accelerating in her chest. A branch cracked from behind me. I spun to face another pair of yellow eyes gleaming with manic joy. A second later, dozens of stars were surrounding us, brightening the gloomy forest. My eyes flickered to Angela. The growls grew louder, multiplying. The guards inched nearer to us, herding us closer. Their backs tensed.
A howl, and the first wolf leapt into the air.
"Run!" I yelled before darting off into the forest. The air whooshed around me. I could hear the pounding of paws as the wolves hunted me. Branches cracked from above, accompanied by Angela's fearful pants. The growls grew louder as they came closer and closer. My heart leapt into my throat when a pair of teeth grazed my trousers.
"What are they?" Angela screeched in mid-jump. Her hair was wild, streaming behind her. Her eyes darted constantly back at the beasts.
"Shape shifters," I shouted back, my hands swinging out towards an incoming beast.
Angela threw a glance over her shoulder, squinting. "A what?" She leapt over a gnarled tree trunk. Her breaths became shorter.
"A shape shifter. They can take form of any creature. Just be careful!" At the sound of my cry, a wolf leapt for Angela, its muzzle morphing into a horrid beak while its fur shredded into feathers. The bird shot into the air. Angela screamed, her strides getting wider. The beast's beak snapped at her feet. Barks and howls surrounded us. A foot grazed mine. I jerked, my teeth biting into my bottom lip as I kicked the beast. The shape shifter was a vampire's number one enemy- they feasted upon vampire flesh. They liked to live in dark places and hunted in packs, herding their prey. It was rare if the latter escaped.
My speed increased, invisible sweat dripping down my brow. I was the prey. I was going to die. I was never going to see Bella again. I shot a worried glance to Angela to see her soar into the air, her toes just missing the bird's gigantic beak. She would live unless the shape shifters had developed a taste for humans, which I thought was unlikely.
I felt another burst of adrenaline pulse through me as I darted around the trees.
No, I snarled in my thoughts. I won't let these shape shifters defeat us. I had escaped for a reason.
I inhaled before stopping dead. Angela released a cry as her figure faded into the dark, a shape shifter at her heels. The rest of them surrounded me, anticipating the prospect of eating their dinner. I closed my eyes. The barking faded away, the world becoming still. My eyes flashed open. Snarling, I bared my teeth like a dog. The wolves growled and barked in response, their paws getting closer. A muzzle nudged me forward.
I made up my mind. Leaping high into the air, I landed onto a shape shifter. My fingers dug into its fur, which was shaking with the wolf's struggles. I squeezed it, and the huge head thudded lifelessly to the ground. I didn't blink as I targetted another beast, but yelled in agony as a set of teeth sunk into my shoulder. I snarled, grabbing it by its throat and flinging it away onto the sea of predators. It flattened a couple wolves under its weight. The untouched pack members howled as they lunged for me. I ducked and kicked a shape shifter in the jaw. It staggered backwards from the momentum.
Suddenly, the world tilted. A screeching chorus of howls filled the air as teeth slashed into my skin. My screams got louder.
Bella, I'm sorry.
My eyes began to shut, the light of my life being sucked into the darkness of my death. A child's giggle echoed somewhere in my brain, and I smiled sadly. I'll wait for you, Isabella. As long as you don't become a vampire...
Beneath the sharp pains of canine teeth, the shape shifter's howls turned to ones of pain. The ground shook as dead bodies fell beside me. Thump. Thump. Thump. It was endless. In the midst of the slaughter, I felt my conscience float back toward the surface to reality.
And then there was silence.
Peeling my eyelids apart, I blinked. Willowy trees hung lifelessly around me. Their leaves were headless torsos of shape shifters. They blew softly in the harsh wind. Glancing around in bewilderment, I felt the muddy dirt seep through my torn cloak and onto my back. My eyes scrunched in agony at the contact of clothes against my wounds. I tried to push up on my elbows, but nothing happened. Twisting my head, I stared at my shoulder, my eyes following the socket and freezing at the jaggered skin. Horrible screams rang off my tongue at the sight.
"Sire!" A hand gently rested on my shoulder. Screaming, I flinched away. A pair of worried red eyes peered down at me. I breathed a sigh of relief as I looked up at the guard- Benjamin, I think. His fingers flurried around before resting on my armless socket. "Are you alright?" he whispered, his fingers feeling the wound.
I nodded before groaning the words, "My arm." The guard instantly jumped to his feet.
After a few minutes of scrambling through dead bodies, an arm was placed at my socket. Benjamin gathered the rest of my missing body parts: both of my legs, a foot, a hand. As the last limb began to attach itself to my body, I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank God you're alright!" a familiar voice rang out. Dust flew in my face as Benjamin crouched in front of me, a sneer slithering out of his lips.
Lifting a hand, I grabbed his ankle. "Wait," I croaked.
Benjamin glanced down at me and reluctantly rose to his feet, his fists still tensed by his sides.
"Angela."
"Yes?" The human moved from the shade of the dead trees into the sparse sunlight. My eyebrows furrowed at the sight of her. Something wasn't right.
"Are you alright?" She took another step towards me. Benjamin stood still, fingers unclenching. Through Angela's thoughts, I saw his lips part in awe. Oh no, Angela was not going to accept this. Pushing past him, Angela fell to the floor beside me. Her hand wrapped around mine.
"Yes, he is... he's just healing," Benjamin spoke, his eyes transfixed on Angela's hand. Jealousy burned in his brain. Angela nodded, her concerned, red eyes tracing my face.
Red? I took another look at her, and felt my face pale.
Angela tilted her head, her irises narrowing into slits.
"What's wrong?" she purred. Gulping, I shook my head, my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth.
Benjamin cleared his throat. "I told you, he's healing," he repeated.
Forcing a smile, I groaned incoherently. Angela glanced up at Benjamin, false worry on her face. Waving a hand towards him, she motioned for him to crouch down. Her pale wrist lay in the light, the rays shining like a spotlight, hovering right above where a rose mark should have been.
"You're not Angela," I choked silently.
The mole squinted its eyes at me, daring me to speak aloud. Benjamin lowered himself to the ground but I barely watched him as I focused on the mole. Clearing my throat, I spoke out again. "I said, you're not Angela." I was surprised by the aggression and justice in my voice. Sharply, Benjamin pushed her away from my body, growling again. It was cut off, accompanied by a crack and a thud.
Shocked, I watched as Benjamin's headless torso collapsed on top of me as his head lolled by my hand, his lips still pulled back in a silent snarl. Breathless pants blew from my lips, my eyes still focused on my dead guard.
Benjamin...
"Poor thing, I was starting to like him." A velvet voice broke me from my grieving. Slowly, I turned towards the monster. Smirking at me, she pushed Benjamin's torso off me with ease. Her tongue darted out, and I gulped at the sight. Scrambling backwards, I gasped out, "What have you done with Angela?"
"Nothing, sire. She is still being chased by Bert, another shape shifter." A smirk played on her lips. "I was a good actor though, wasn't I? I had him fooled, but then again, I've had years of practice." Twirling a long strand of black hair between her fingers, she purred each word. Her lips sparkled with delight as she peered down at me. Pressing a hand to my chest, she lowered her head to my neck. Her cold breath bounced off my skin as she inhaled, a moan of pleasure escaping her throat. "You smell delicious. I can't wait to get my teeth into you." A lone pale finger floated down my chest and tore through my shirt. I ignored her cunning smirk and kept my eyes shut. My skin screeched against the shape shifter's nails. I couldn't give in. Angela and the other guards would rescue me. They would save me from death, and they may be able to save Benjamin.
Pain shot through my leg as something sliced into my skin. Opening my eyes, I watched as the shape shifter began tearing at my knee. Her blood-red lips turned green and scales rippled along her jaw. Her chin stretched out like a crocodile's, developing scales, and her nose turned yellow as it curved into a beak. Pieces of fabric shredded, drifting to the ground along with short black locks. Feathers appeared out of her arms as the scales travelled down her body. Her fingernails grew longer and sharper as they curved into claws. Blood dripped down its jaw. Cunningly, the beast smiled at me.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt… much." Gulping, I raised my hands above my head, almost missing a flash of black knocking the beast into the air. Blinking, I beamed up at the black silhouette.
"Benja-" My mouth dropped in horror at the sight.
His red eyes stared back in confusion. "Sire?"
My finger shook as I pointed to his shoulders. Uncertainly, he scanned his shoulders and bit back a scream. Instead of the slope of his shoulders and opening of his cloak, there was a hood and the back of his cloak. He glanced at his shoulders and then at me, his eyes repeating the routine for at least two minutes. A groan stopped the repetition, and he swept toward a pile of bodies. I watched as a beast twitched on the ground. I held my breath. Something moved out of the pile. Benjamin, even in his state, ducked into a crouch again.
A head appeared. My eyes widened in wonder. Bella?
Her brown locks fell over her face, making it hard to see her eyes. A smile graced the child's small lips.
"Sire?" Benjamin called warily and I blinked at him, my eyes still adjusting to the sight of seeing the back of his head attach to the front of his chest. I wanted to tell him to leave her alone. No, don't, my conscience whispered. It's for the best. Benjamin still waited patiently for my command.
"Eddie," she breathed, her voice raspy. Bella never sounded raspy. "Eddie, I missed you. Eddie, come to me."
My eyes caught the sight of a single green scale on the child's palm. Not hesitating, I turned to Benjamin and inhaled. I'm sorry, Bella.
"Do it."
In a blink, Benjamin leapt into air. Blurred bodies weaved around each other. My head began thumping at the sight. Black swirled with green. A tree shuddered as a figure made impact with it. Shaking himself off, Benjamin rose to his feet as he closed his eyes in concentration. The beast smirked and ran towards him. Benjamin remained still. The beast was close, its mouth opened wide. Blood dripped from its teeth. Light began to glow around Benjamin and expand with each step the beast made. Four steps. Three steps. Two steps.
The beast flew into the air, twisting in agony. Benjamin pulled his lips back in a sneer, his handsome face twisting with fire. Dirt grounded against his feet and suddenly became fascinating to me. My fingers grazed it with false fascination and I ignored the scream of terror in the breeze.
Suddenly, a hand slammed down on my shoulder. Flashing my eyes open, I turned to face the backward face of Benjamin.
"It's dead." The words were barely audible.
Nodding, I struggled onto my elbows. Benjamin shook his head and pushed me back down. "Don't move," he whispered.
Slumping in defeat, I stared at the trees above me. There, dangling from a branch, just like the rest of its pack, was the ripped and bloody body of the beast. Its dead eyes stared straight at me. A pant escaped me as I looked at the dead beast. A loud snap caused me to jump and I turned to face a headless Benjamin once more. With fascination, I watched his torn head attach itself to his neck. Its invisible fingers stretched out with loving fingertips and sewed his neck together. A few moments later, Benjamin was helping me to my feet and brushing dust off me.
"There, good as new." He rubbed his neck with one hand as he muttered, "It's good to see you with my head attached to my shoulders in the right way."
A faint voice called for me in panic in the distance. Benjamin glanced up, a smile on his face. "That must be the rest of them. We're here!" he yelled back, cupping his mouth. Cracking of branches could be heard along with the sight of trees swaying in pursuit. Benjamin wrapped an arm around me, as my body was still weak, and dragged me towards the trees. The wind whispered my name again. I closed my eyes, enjoying the sweet song of a saviour. I wish Bella would do that if I ever saw her again. Correction- I was going to see her again. Dirt flew, creating a trail as my limp feet dragged along. Benjamin huffed, and I opened my eyes. He stared ahead, listening to the string of song that was my name.
"How did you do that?" I whispered. Benjamin looked at me in confusion.
"Do what?"
"The whole fling-the-beast-into-the-air-without-touching-it thing." I waved my hands around to accentuate my point.
"Beast? Oh, the shape shifter! It's my gift." He shrugged nonchalantly. I gazed at him. He acts as if it is nothing.
"Your gif-"
Angela tumbled over a root, mud oozing down her forehead. Sweat tangled her hair in tight knots. The world tipped as Benjamin flung me to the ground, his face once again filled with awe.
"Oh my. Edward?" Angela ran towards me, shoving Benjamin out of the way. Her hands fawned over my face while she helped me to my feet. "What were you thinking?" she hissed at Benjamin, her eyes taking in mine. Tracing my cheek, her fingers slid down my neck and arm, and froze at the torn cloth of my shirt. Her pupils dilated. "Oh, Edward." Suddenly, the world was black as Angela wrapped her arms around my neck. Grinning, I soothed her hair. Benjamin coughed.
"I was hurt too," he declared loudly. Through Angela's hair, I saw hope in his eyes that he would receive the same treatment that I had. Pushing off me, Angela ignored him. Her hands fluttered around my cheeks in horror and panic. I leaned into her soft touch, silently apologising to Benjamin for what I was doing. I would hate it if my mate had ignored me and was comforting another man.
"Angela," I gasped. Eagerly, she looked at me. "I think you should tend to Benjamin."
She frowned at me before she shook her head. "Why should I? He is nothing to me."
Behind her, Benjamin released a groan of horror at her words. His eyes darkened with loss and disbelief. In his thoughts, I listened to him rambling on. He was not going to accept defeat, he had heard mating with a human was hard; they weren't always as willing. However, mating with a human guard was going to be harder. In her mind, Bella and I were the main priority, like I was in his. Angela was not going to surrender without a fight. I chuckled at the thought. Of course she wouldn't.
Angela looked at me in confusion but my soft smile caused her frown to disappear. Stroking my hair, she sighed. "What happened to you? I leave you for one second, and now look!" She indicated my form. Subconsciously, I acknowledged that the rest of the guard had joined us and were shooting glances between Benjamin, Angela and I. Struggling to my feet, I began to walk, ignoring her question. The guards split- half walked ahead of us, only a few behind.
Angela growled, "What happened?"
Benjamin shuffled near her. "He was attacked by the beast as was I..." His lips pulled up in a smirk as he stared at Angela.
Her eyes narrowed at him. "Was I talking to you?" she sneered.
The guard raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her question, and chuckled before shaking his head. "No, but I have an opinion."
Angela snorted when he said this. "Just because you do doesn't mean you need to tell everyone," Angela barked, before she turned sharply on her heels and stormed into the trees. Silently, I followed after her, Benjamin running slightly ahead so that they were nearly in line. Angela growled under her breath at the proximity of the distance between her and the vampire.
"Maybe I want to."
The guard winked at her in the dark, a smirk on his face. Even in the dense smoke and fading light, Angela laughed humourlessly, rolling her eyes. She hissed, "Whatever, big boy. Just don't come to me. I have no time for chit chat."
The guard shot me a glance before he leaned into her ear. Scanning her lips with his teasing eyes, his cold breath sent shivers down Angela's spine as he whispered in her ear in a raspy voice, "What if I don't want chit chat?"
Angela's long hurried strides stopped dead as she stared at the guard, who strode ahead of her, an edge to his step as we approached the waiting guards by the side of the road. He walked up to a bunch of colleagues, his teeth setting fire to the fog as he smiled. Angela remained frozen, her eyes traced on his form as he talked to his fellow comrades, his hand smacking one of them in the shoulder. Subtly, he shot a wink to Angela before returning back to conversation. Angela's lips wobbled in shock as she took him in.
"Did he just do that?" I nodded but did not say anything. She gazed at him for a second, her head shaking in disbelief and her eyes solemn. With one last glance, she tore her gaze away from him, eyes glazing over.
"Angela?" I leaned forward worriedly.
Angela blinked in a daze before her eyes finally rested on me. "Oh, sorry, what did you say?"
I shook my head. Angela blushed, embarrassed about being caught. "Well, shouldn't we get going?" Her eyes flinched to the direction of the guard with an obstinate glare. Before I could look into her thoughts, she forced her glare back to me. "Please?" she choked.
Nodding, I called the group together. The guards bowed slightly and surrounded me. The guard from the clearing shuffled near Angela, while the other men stayed far to my right, creating a visible gap between them. They shared a knowing look with each other before facing me.
"Men, it is time that we go. I believe that my mate is near." The flirty guard's hand twitched. I inhaled before continuing, "We have not time to lose or mess around." The guard cheered in agreement.
Bowing my head, we disappeared into the mist, leaving the bloody mess of bodies left behind us in a dark, gloomy clearing.