Part VIII - The End

I didn't even make it out of la push before my truck died. It didn't sputter at all, it just stopped. Great. I was too far away to walk back to Jacob's. I picked up my phone and dialed his number. He answered on the first ring. He must have been waiting by the phone. I told him I'd call him when I got home.

"Hello?"

"Jake it's me." I answered.

"Bella!" We were past the point of having to identify ourselves on the phone. "Is everything ok?"

There was no way I could be home by now and he knew that.

"Yeah, I'm fine but my truck isn't."

"What do you mean?" he asked suspiciously. "Did it break down?" that was an understatement.

"Um I guess. It just kind of stopped." I couldn't really give him the technical mechanical answer that he was looking for. "Ok, is there any smoke?"

"No" thank goodness.

"Ok, remember that part that we fixed the other day? Can you open the hood and see if it is still attached?" I think I remembered it.

"Yeah, sure, just a second."

"You remember where it is?"

"Yeah" I got out and looked under the hood. But Jacobs's mechanical skills held true. The piece was still attached. Jacob was amazing. "No its fine - it looks like it did when you fixed it."

"Shit."

"I'm sure it will be fine it just needs a go-"Jacob cut me off.

"Bella I'm coming to get you right now!" he was serious. I could hear the engine of his rabbit start – he was already on his way. "Do me a favor get in the car and stay there until I come get you ok?"

"Yeah sure" I said

"Ok stay in the car I'm almost there. Lock the doors too. Ok promise me. Please Bella."

"Ok I promise. Oh! I see what's -"my heart stopped. A cold granite hand took my phone from my palm and snapped it shut. This wasn't funny.

"Edward what the hell?" I started. "You are supposed to stay out of la push until Victoria is taken care of. Besides, you know my feelings for you" I brushed off his hand and turned around to face him. But it was not Edwards's hand. I froze. I this cold creature had bright red hair. Hair so bright it had been burning a hole in my sanity for the past month.

She had found me.

I could feel her eyes burning holes in my skin as she stared deep into my face. They matched her hair. Her head cocked to the side as she slowly smiled at, her expression changed from one of curiosity to enjoyment. I had been here before. Twice actually. Not with Victoria -but with her mate James and with her friend Laurent. I half expected Edwards head to pop into my mind as it had when he was gone, offering me little bits of advice. To my surprise I saw Jacobs. JACOB! If I didn't get away from her I would never see him again! Threaten her Bella. He was pleading to me. His face looked pained.

I was silently thanking whoever's idea it was to not put a single stop light in la push. I mean not that they needed any and not that Jacob would stop at them right now – this must be why he was so worried, Victoria must have done this, knew that she could catch me by stopping my truck. Jacob had figured it out. His mechanical expertise wouldn't let my truck stop so something else must have happened.

"Sabotage?" I screamed at her. This was not meant to be a question. "Really?"

"It worked, right?" she reasoned.

"Not as well as you might have thought. I barely got out of la push. Jacob will be here soon" I warned her. She didn't look scared.

"I guess I don't have much time then" she laughed as she pushed me to the ground. I didn't scream. Who could hear me? I scrambled to my feet but she was behind me. She pushed me down again this time I tripped over backwards and landed on a sharp rock. The blood was coming quickly. I rolled onto my side but she thrust me back down. Again, the same rock cut my thigh, only deeper this time. I looked for a way out but she was all around me. I picked up a stick but I knew it would be no good. Wherever I tried to move she was there. I was trapped, by my worst fear. Don't give up Bella! PLEASE! Jake encouraged me don't let her win Bella

"Why are you still after me?" I questioned her.

"Thought you already knew that. Didn't you watch your little Edward with your own two eyes as he fought my mate to his death? You might have forgotten, but I didn't, and now I'm going to help you to remember." She swung her fist down right on top of my leg. The crack echoed through the forest. I didn't realize how close we were to the trees. At first I felt nothing. But then the pain came, small at first and then excruciating. It felt as though the bone in my leg had been crushed into a thousand tiny splinters, each one with is own separate wound. The blood would be too much; I knew if I looked I might get sick. So I didn't. "Feel familiar?" she asked as she laughed.

"You're wrong." I challenged her. "I didn't forget, not for a second. Edward came, and he fought James, yes. But he did not kill him. It was jasper and Alice, and Emit who killed him. So if you want to avenge his death why are you here? After me. Shouldn't you be hunting Rosalie? Or did you come after me because it was easier? Congratulations on your major accomplishment. Killing the measly weak human. It must have been so hard for you. James should be really proud."

"It was hard you little brat" she rebutted "your werewolf friends hid you well. Besides, I think of it not so much as revenge, but rather finishing what was left undone." Arguing with her was stupid. I could never reason with Victoria of all creatures. But She was too strong. I had to have faith that Jacob would come because right now it wasn't looking good for me. I had been close to death before though. Twice in fact. And it wasn't that bad. But this time it would be harder. Harder because I was leaving so much behind. Before nothing had mattered. But I wasn't done living yet. Jacob and I had so many plans. We would go to college, travel, get married, start a family, grow old together. No! I wasn't ready for this! Not now! What would Jake do? He would be heart broken. He would phase and run up north - never coming back. Would he be able to find happiness with someone else? I had to believe that he would.

Just then I heard a car approaching. Though not Jacobs rabbit – a quieter sound. I could barely make it out over the mind numbing pain that was oozing from my leg but this car I could have recognized under any condition. Edwards silver Volvo. Victoria noticed but didn't turn around. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I realized that I was safe. Edward was here and I might not die after all.

"Edward! I gasped. Help!" he turned to look at me but he didn't answer. Instead he floated over to stand behind Victoria.

"Hello Edward" she said calmly. Why was she still standing over me? Why hadn't Edward saved me? He put a hand on her shoulder. He was obviously mad although he seemed to be oblivious to the fact that I was in serious discomfort. As I drifted in and out of consciousness I heard him try to talk some reason into her.

"Stop Victoria. We talked about this." We what? I was delusional. Edward didn't really say that. But he did. "You promised me you wouldn't hurt her. We both lost our loves. But we can move on. Please." I should feel sorry for Edward. He still wanted me. but these circumstances made it a little hard.

"we both lost our loves but how cliché would it be that we found happiness together after killing each others mates"

"She isn't my mate anymore Victoria. Haven't you noticed? Jacob is her lover now. And there's nothing neither you nor I can do to change that. "he crossed the path to stand over me. 'Bella, he moaned. I am so sorry" as he said this he bent down to pick me up. I didn't trust him now. He was cold like Victoria. He couldn't help me. I didn't want him to help me. His trust in Victoria scared me. It hurt, almost more then my leg. He promised me that he would never hurt me. I was about to pass out. I felt like my leg was detached from my body. I couldn't feel anything else except stabbing knives into my flesh. The cold of Edward's body made it worse. For the first time I realized that no part of me wanted him anymore. I knew who I did want but I didn't know if I would see him again. I had trusted Edward but why would he trust Victoria? Would he let me go or would he help her? I almost screamed in pain except I heard Jacob's car in the distance. I felt a wave of relief wash over me when I realized I might be saved.

He slammed the car door. I couldn't see him, Edward was talking to Victoria she was right over me too close I could smell her too well. What did Edward see in her?

"What the HELL is going on here" Jacob screamed. His whole body was shaking. "PUT. HER. DOWN." Edward didn't let go. "NOW"

"Jake, I wont hurt her I promise" Edward said as Victoria put her arm on her waste. I started whimpering at the pain in my leg. Jacob and Edward heard me.

"Well get you to Carlisle's so Bella-"

"YOU won't be taking her anywhere" Jacob screamed as he sprinted over. "Bella honey its ok" he comforted me. Then he held out his arms. "I can take it from here LEECH . He spit the words at Edwards's feet. "She trusted you, and this is how you repay her? By SLEEPING with the enemy?" what? did Jacob know something I don't?I could feel his arms now, the strong muscular arms that I loved. I was safe now. Now that Edwards arms were no longer full Victoria put hers around his waste.

"Let's go Edward" she whispered to him. He didn't even flinch at her touch. Jacob noticed this. So did I. He was right, there was something between them.

"You TRAITOR" he was beyond mad now. "We all had our suspicions – the pack and I – when we started picking up your scent on her trail. Last time you came to see Bella I thought I smelled her on you but I told myself that wasn't true. It could just be a female vampire smell perhaps one of your family. But I guess my instincts were right. You can't be trusted."

"I'm sorry Jacob." Edward whispered. "I never meant to hurt her. I thought I convinced Victoria to give up the fight"

"Well you thought wrong" Jacob sneered. "And now look what your girlfriend did" nodding towards my leg. "You had better hope she can walk again or I will be after you I swear to god Edward." Jacob was getting so defensive. I knew this was all because of me. I really didn't deserve him. How was it that he had fallen for me and not some other beautiful girl at his high school? I began to feel dizzy as the immense pain in my leg grew more. I tried not to scream as I clutched Jacobs arm. I felt like I must be digging my nails into his arm to keep from screaming but he didn't even flinch. I felt the pain start to take over as I closed my eyes. I wanted to go home, with Jake. But Edward wasn't finished.

"Jacob you know I love her I never wanted her to get hurt. As soon as Alice saw what Victoria had decided I came as fast as I could. She could be dead by now." That part was true. Didn't they know I was here? I wanted to talk to Edward and give him a piece of my mind but I couldn't find the strength to open my eyes. Let alone my mouth.

"Let's go Edward" Victoria repeated as she tugged on his arm.

"NO! Wait." Jacob said. "Edward, we can finish this later. But just one thing: The treaty sill exists, my pack WILL be guarding the border and, if there is ANY trouble with her" gesturing to Victoria "you can be sure that I will hunt you down as fast as I can. I promise you that."

"Thank you Jacob" Edward said. Jacob nodded. "Please take care of her for me since I can't do that myself."

I didn't open my eyes until Jacob was walking me back to his car. "Jake" I said.

"Bella" he whispered back.

"I love you" I told him

"I know" he replied. "I love you too"

"I know". He lay me down on the seat. I was still not fully conscious. My leg hurt more than last time.

"I'm going to take you to the hospital' he told me "I know it hurts. I'm so sorry"

"What do you have to be sorry for?" I asked him. He had done everything right.

"If I had been smart" he said "I would have never let you out of my sight."

"But Jake it's over now" I told him. "And this is such a small price to pay"

"A price for what?"

"Breaking Edwards heart."

He buckled my seatbelt and sped out of la push. A light rain started to fall as he pushed his car to 60. The quiet hum of the rabbit's flawless engine lulled me to sleep as he sped through the streets of forks. The silence was strange. I didn't think it would end like this. As of today my fear of Victoria and my relationship with Edward were over.