Book 10: Everything Comes Into Focus
Song: Illuminated By: Hurts
"Time waits for no one
So do you want to waste some time,
Oh, oh, tonight?
Don't be afraid of tomorrow
Just take my hand, I'll make it feel so much better tonight.
Swing me these sorrows
And try delusion for a while
It's such a beautiful life
You've got to lose inhibition -
Romance your ego for a while
Come on, give it a try.
Suddenly my eyes are opened
Everything comes into focus, oh
We are all illuminated,
Lights are shining on our faces [blinding]
We are, we are blinded!
We are, we are blinded!"
8pm- All Hell Break's Loose
John Gilbert had just turned on the Gilbert Devise and all at once everything seemed to explode into chaos.
In the building:
"Take him down to the basement." – John Gilbert
"Whhhy.. Hoooow?"- Damon
"Now this town can finally be rid of you vampires." –John Gilbert
"Elena, she'll never fffooorrgggivee you fforr this."- Damon
"It doesn't matter, she'll be away from all of you, and so will Jeremy."- John Gilbert
Then the officers carried him downstairs.
On the road near the town square:
"Tyler are you ok?" – Matt
"Ahh, it it hurts."- Tyler
"Tyler watch out!" –Caroline
In the woods near the Salvatore Boarding House:
"Wait, they were here. I can smell their scent. It goes toward the center of town." –Alice
"Argh, what is that annoying sound?" – Edward
"Wait, maybe we should wait awhile, maybe she'll come back?"- Emmett
"No, we go now."- Edward
In the crowd:
(with Bonnie):
"Don't even think about it." –Angela
"What who are you?"- Bonnie
"It doesn't matter who I am, it just matter's that I'm not going to let you hurt my friends. You've done enough already. I sense the devise is active, you have betrayed your friends. Now you are going to have to contend with me."- Angela
"What? How do you? I have to find Elena."- Bonnie
"One of my other friends will make sure she's safe. I'm stronger then you so you would best just leave now. You've done enough damage. I only hope it's not to late to fix it."- Angela
In the Mystic Grill:
"When do you think Bree will be back?"- Jeremy
"I don't kn— ahhhh." –Anna
"Anna, Anna, what wrong?"- Jeremy
"It, it hurts.."- Anna
Just then two officers walked into the Mystic Grill seeing Jeremy talking Anna toward the bathrooms. They followed and took Anna.
"Hey, stop! Where are you taking her! Anna!"- Jeremy
Jeremy waited until the officer that was holding him back left and then ran after them following them.
(the other side of the town square):
Lexi had just approached Stefan and Elena.
"Oh My God, Isabella? How?- Stefan
Just then both Stefan and Lexi fell to the ground in pain.
"Stefan!" –Elena
"Lexi!" –Rosalie and Bella
Bree spotting them ran over.
"Bree what are you-?"- Rosalie started.
"No time, mom we need to work together before one of the officers sees, we need to block their minds from the devise." – Bree
Gradually they started to feel better and the two officers that were coming toward them stopped.
"What's happening?" –Bella
"Oh my god, it's you, but how?" –Bree
"Wait, where's Damon?"- Both Stefan and Elena asked.
Just then Jeremy ran up to them.
"They they took Anna! I think they have Damon too!"- Jeremy
"Oh God."- Lexi
"We need to find them where are they?"- Bella
"They are in the old Gilbert shop."- Jeremy
Then Stefan and Elena ran off ahead of them toward the old Gilbert shop.
"Ok, Jer, calm down, Mom I need you to focus on blocking their minds so I can help them get them out. Please mom, there's no time to argue."- Bree
"Fine, be careful. I love you."- Rosalie
"I love you too."- Bree
They ran through the crowd finally getting to the shop- Stefan and Elena getting there first.
"Elena… How?"- John Gilbert
"Let them go."- Elena
"This is for your own good Elena. Wait how Stefan ok? Officers one of them is still standing."- John Gilbert
Then before anyone could do anything one of the officers shot Stefan with a wooden bullet and grabbed him dragging him toward the building.
"No! Stefan!"- Elena started screaming being held back by John Gilbert.
In the building:
Damon had just begun to be able to move slightly seeing Anna lying next to him with a stake in her chest. It had only missed her heart my about an inch. He managed to pull it out before falling back down.
Just then the two officers through Stefan next to them (as soon as he was shot Rosalie's magic stopped working because he was in such a weak state).
The officers lit a match and started the building on fire.
(with Rosalie):
Angela having trapped Bonnie in her own house had just spotted Rosalie.
"Oh my God, Rose are you ok?" –Angela
"I'm using so much power, I have to protect them but even with what I am it's draining me so quickly."- Rosalie said weakly slumping against a tree.
"It's ok I'll help you. Don't worry. Everything will be ok."- Angela
Just then they both could sense the Cullen's nearing them and could hear Emmett yelling for Rosalie.
Outside the building:
Bree, Bella, Jeremy, and Lexi had just gotten there and with hardly any effort Bree had managed to free Elena from John's grasp and stop the officers from coming any closer.
"Where is she? Where is Anna?" –Jeremy
"She's dead or at least will be like the rest of them. It's for the best."- John Gilbert
"Oh my god, the buildings on fire!"- Bella
"Bree, Lexi you can kill them if you needed to right?" –Elena
"Yes."- Bree and Lexi said.
"You will not stop us, I don't care if you are my father, Uncle John, they both have the power to kill you, I'm getting them out of there even if it means my death. So leave now, while you still can."- Elena
Then they ran toward the building.
"Anna!" "Damon!" "Stefan" - They called down the staircase.
(Bella's thoughts) I don't know why I feel so scared or what's really going through my head right now, I just know that I have to get down there and save him.
"I'll clear a way down the staircase, just get them out, I've already used so much magic today, I'm not sure how long I can hold it."- Bree
Just then both Jeremy and Bella ran down the stairs into the fiery building.
"Isabella!"- Lexi yelled after soon following.
"Oh God, Anna!" –Jeremy said running toward her and carrying her toward the exit.
Just as they got out a shot rang out hitting Jeremy and causing both him and Anna to fall.
"No!" –Bree yelled sending the officer who just shot him flying back words.
Elena and Lexi had just got to Stefan and were leading him up the stairs.
Lexi looked back at Bella.
"Go! I'll get him!"- Bella
In the square:
The Cullen's who were trying to get information out of Rosalie and Angela stopped hearing the commotion. They then ran toward it or at least tried to.
"Bella!" –Edward yelled.
"No!" –Rosalie screamed falling to her knees from the overwhelming amount of power she was using to stop them magically.
"Angela, help her, she's using to much!" –Emmett pleaded.
"What's happening?"- Alice asked.
"I'm trying."- Angela
"Stop guys just stop! Let it be."- Emmett yelled toward his family.
"No, let me go, I need to get to Bella!" –Edward yelled just as Rosalie completely collapsed.
"Rose!" Everyone yelled except for Edward and Alice who being free now moved toward the chaos.
"Emmett, there's nothing more you all can do here. You need to take her back to the boarding house. Bree told me just in case that there's blood in the freezer downstairs. Take the rest of your family and get her there quick. She's drained to much of her energy trying to protect everyone."- Angela
"What are you going to do?"- Emmett
"I need to help the rest of them and destroy that devise." –Angela
Then they went there separate ways. The remaining Cullen's confused but more worried about Rosalie.
Back at the burning building:
Anna was holding Jeremy while Bree starting turn even more pale (if that was possible) and lean against the building.
"Oh my God Jer!"- Bree
Just then Elena and Lexi came out holding onto Stefan seeing the sight in front of them in shock.
"Jer!"- Elena
"He'll, he'll be ok. He has my blood in his system."- Anna
"The noise it stopped, Angela must of stopped it."- Lexi
Just then Bree started to fall and Lexi held her up. They all looked toward the building hoping that Bella and Damon would get out.
In the fire- Damon POV:
I was content knowing that they had managed to get Stefan out when I could hear a shot in the distance. All I could do was hope it wasn't Bree, Stefan, or Elena. Though I admit I wouldn't of minded if it was that trader of a witch Bonnie.
That's when I saw a figure stumbling around. I knew it wasn't a vampire. I could barely make out who it was through the smoke. That's when I heard her speak:
"That's right Isabella, run into the burning building! Now you're going to die in here! Come on just find him!" (Bella's talking to herself out loud- thinking she's not talking out loud)
There's no way, it can't be her. The fire somehow must be getting to me. And that's when her eyes locked with mine and I heard her scream in pain yelling my name.
I looked around and saw that one of the tomb vampires had just bit her. I couldn't even begin to understand how this all happened or how she was here, but in that instant I knew I was not going to allow her to die, not again. I didn't care how drained I was I would get her out of here.
I managed to get to her and kick the vampire away. She was barely breathing but still alive.
"Isabella? Isabella? Can you hear me? We need to get out of here."- Damon said holding her in his arms.
"Da- Damon?"- Bella almost asked as she then lost consciousness.
He picked her up just as the flames to the entrance cleared a path. He said a silent thanks to he could only guess was Bree.
Just as he came out he could see the chaos that was going on outside. Anna was over Jeremy. He could not hear a heart beat. Bree had just collapsed (still awake though) and Angela was running toward her. Elena was standing protectively in front of Stefan. Lexi was running toward me. John Gilbert was pointing a gun toward my brother. Isabella started to move so I let her stand supporting her. That was when I saw a group of cold ones coming toward us.
One of them just screamed out "Bella!" when before anyone could do anything a shot was heard.
I saw Bree use her magic to knock John back and that's when I saw Isabella. She must of seen John turn to shoot me because I saw the blood coming out of her chest. She took the wooden bullet for me.
"No, No not again." –Damon
"Damon." Was the last thing she said before I heard her heart beat stop.
I held her to me in my arms when I could hear a boy cold one scream out her name and try to come toward us.
"Get away from her!" –Edward
"Stop." – Bree
"Damon, take her to the house with Jeremy and Anna. Emmett take John back to the boarding house by force if necessary. Elena help Stefan get back. Rosalie is already there with Emmett. Bree your mom will be fine after she gets some blood. I'll help you get back. Esme you can come with us. But the rest of you Cullen's now is not the time for you to be there. I'm sorry, I know you are confused and I know Edward that you want to be with her but you can't. All I know is this needs to happen and it would of anyway. If you try to stop Damon I'll stop you. You won't come near him. If you must come to the house then fine but you are not stopping Damon from staying with Bella and you will wait at least an hour before coming there."- Angela said while concentrating her magic on the Cullen's.
"What- Bella… How? Why?"- Alice
Everyone left to go to the boarding house except Carlisle, Alice, Jasper, and Edward. Edward was growling the whole time.
Isabella POV:
Everything was black and then suddenly I was standing next to a familiar river and next to a familiar girl. Where as before I never truly realized who she was it seemed the information just started to come to me.
"Sarah?"- Bella
"Ah, Isabella. You're starting to remember."- Sarah
"Um, I guess I am."- Bella
"haha, don't worry. Everything is finally going to make sense. You've finally found your true love and you have a chance now. The timing is finally right. Though I fear that the fates might still have a little drama in store for you what with that cold one and everything." – Sarah
"I see. But aren't I dead?"- Bella
"Technically yes, but you're changing. Lexi's blood was still in you when you died. Plus Damon put some of his blood in you. When you wake up all your memories should come back to you. You'll know what to do."- Sarah
"This is the last time I'll see you isn't it?"- Bella
"Most likely. But don't worry. It will all be ok."- Sarah
"Alright."- Bella
"Isabella it's time for you to go."- Sarah
"Bye Sarah."- Bella
And then Bella opened her eyes.
"You're awake."
"Damon."
"Shh, right now you need to drink. Do you know what happened?"- Damon
"I need to drink from someone or I'll die?- Bella
"Come with me."- Damon
Damon lead me downstairs. I saw Lexi talking to Esme. Elena was with Stefan in the corner of the room. Emmett was with Rosalie and Bree who were both drinking from blood bags (they needed human blood because they were so drained). Anna was with a now alive or rather undead Jeremy who I think was a little in shock. And John Gilbert was unconscious (not dead) and tied up in the middle of the room. When we entered the room they all looked up. Lexi and Esme both happy. Rosalie, Emmett, and Bree seemed to be excepting something. Anna looked like she was still in shock just like Jeremy. And Elena and Stefan looked a little worried.
"Where's Angela?"- Bella
"She's trying to keep the Cold Ones at bay… especially Edward I think his name is."- Stefan
"I see." –I said. I think I was still in shock. I kept getting flashes of memories.
"Did you call them?"- Damon to Stefan.
"Yes, they were actually on their way."- Stefan
"Call who?"- Bella
"Don't worry about that right now, you need to drink from him or you'll die. I can't let that happen again."- Damon
"Ok." I simply replied moving toward him. I was so confused. I felt so many different emotions and I was becoming so overcome with them. All of a sudden the scent of blood hit me and I bit John Gilbert. After a minute Elena of all people stopped me.
"He might be completely evil but he's still my Uncl—I mean my father."- Elena
And so I stopped. Suddenly the Cullen's busted through the door with Angela not far behind them looking agitated suddenly I felt overcome and fainted.
I kept having so many flashes I was remembering everything.
My full lives as Juliet, as Amanda, as both Isabella's. My love with Damon. Everything. I also felt so much power coursing through me. I felt different yet the same. I knew that the Cullen's would not understand why I would be acting different but I didn't really care. I knew I needed to wake up because Edward's over protectiveness would cause him to do something to Damon and in that moment I didn't care about anyone other then him. My Damon.
I opened my eyes to find that I was upstairs in Damon's room. Someone must of brought me upstairs. I could hear yelling and things breaking downstairs so I got up and sped down the stairs with my new found speed, well rather my old speed. I could see that Rosalie and Emmett had taken a protective stance in front of Bree. Lexi and Stefan were in front of Elena and Angela. And Esme was trying to calm everyone down to no avail. I looked to the side in the large entrance way to see Edward and Damon fighting or rather Edward had just lunged forward and attacked Damon, causing Damon to fight back. In a flash I was standing in front of Damon with my face changed. Unfortunately, I had bad timing because just as Edward was going for Damon he got me instead and sent me flying into the wall breaking part of it in the process. Everyone went silent.
"Oh my God! Bella Love. I'm so sorry." –Edward said running toward me.
I quickly got up, sidestepped him and ran toward Damon only to have Edward grab me around the waist pulling me behind him.
"Bella Love, stand back. They might hurt you."- Edward said.
"The only one I see dangerous here is you. Get away from me!"- Isabella
I turned toward him giving him a good view of my face. He gasped and stepped back in shock. I took advantage of his momentary shock and pushed him against the wall my hand to his throat.
"If you ever touch him again, I will kill you myself." – Isabella
"But, Bella. Love, why are you defending him? What did he do to you to make you like this?"- Edward
I dropped him and ran over to Damon who I now saw was pulling a piece of wood out of his arm. I grabbed one of the blood bags that Rose and Bree had brought up, off of the table and gave him one and took one for myself.
"Bella! Stop this now! That's human blood! And how can you care about that that vial man? He's killed people he has a man tied up in the other room! How are you even so calm after being changed?" –Alice
"Oh God, it's another Caroline but worse." –Bree
"Bree now is not the time."- Rosalie
"Sorry Mom." –Bree
"Mom?"- Came a chorus from Alice, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme.
"Great just great."- Rosalie
"Enough! Everyone! The Cullen's with the exception of course Rosalie, Emmett, and Esme. Need to leave now! I only just changed back and am still dealing with all of this. Many of us are still weak at the moment and I refuse to deal with anymore fighting right now! Get out now!" –Isabella
Alice and Edward made a move to protest.
"Just go, she's dealing with a lot right now and you are making it hard for her. She needs time. I know you are confused, a lot of us are, but I know one thing and that is to never argue with Isa. So please don't make us force you out."- Stefan
Edward and Alice again started to make a move forward.
"No, Edward, Alice, this is not our town and not our home, we can come back when she wants us here, right now we need to leave."- Carlisle
"How can you ask Rose to stay and not me?"- Alice
Just then I couldn't control myself and I lunged at her. Luckily Jasper stopped me and held me back calming me somewhat.
"I'll have whoever I want around me to be around me! Rose has stood by me for a long time and I need to speak with her and figure things out. Damon is clearly a better person then you Alice. At least he doesn't judge someone without knowing them! Besides he is the one that carried me out of the fire if you remember? And as for the man tied up in the other room… Let's see after all the trouble and mayhem he's caused especially to the people I consider family! He's lucky I haven't killed him yet!" –Isabella
"Isa, you need to calm down. Your emotions are in hyper drive at the moment. Please just come with me upstairs. And you (pointing to the rest of the Cullen's) just leave, now!"- Damon
And after my outburst they did leave. I found out later that Lexi had Esme go and meet up with the Cullen's after telling them at least a little of what happened and why I was properly acting so crazy. That night I had fallen asleep almost instantly and when I awoke Damon was next to me just watching me.
"Yes, It's me I'm actually here."- Isabella
"Isa, I'm so confused. I keep having all these flashes of memories. How are you here? I'm I'm so sorry. I thought I killed you and—" –Damon started getting cut off by me.
"It's ok. That's the past. I'm not exactly sure how we have gotten all these chances but somehow we have. We are finally together and that's what matters. Our love, that's what matters."- Isabella
Over the next three days things among everyone started to settle down and I started to get more of a hold on my emotions. It seemed that since in one of my past lives to be a vampire at least some of that power transferred back into me. Stefan had forced John Gilbert to leave town while I finally was able to meet Bree and spend some time with her. Anna was almost glued to my side, which allowed Jeremy to learn more about our past. Rose and Emmett were just happy to have me alive and that Bree was alright. They weren't ready to go back with the Cullen's yet. I knew that sometime soon we'd have to explain everything to them. I just wasn't looking forward to it. I mean as Bella Swan I had feelings for Edward, but they couldn't even compare to my love for Damon. He was and is my Romeo and I, his Juliet. It would always be that way. And both Edward and Alice's actions were just too much to deal with at times. Finally after all this time, everything just felt right, at least almost. I needed to find my children. Nothing would be completely right until then. I know that Damon has taken care of them so I know they are safe. I just need to see them.
It was two days later that finally I warmed to the idea of talking with the Cullen's. I mean they were my family now even if I wasn't to happy about all of them. I heard that Angela had to magically stop them from coming here almost everyday because they tried. The only one she actually let through other then Esme was Jasper and that's because I wanted to speak with him. He wasn't too happy about the way Alice was acting either. We had talked and he even asked to stay here at the boarding house. He said that he had started to realize over the years that Alice was never his mate and we both couldn't figure out how she didn't see any of this coming. Looking back she almost seemed like Katerina. I had to wonder if there was a connection there. Over the few days that Jasper was here it seemed that him and Bree became almost inseparable much to Emmett and Rosalie's shock.
"I think someone found their mate." I remembered telling Rose that morning.
"At least it's Jasper. I mean I see him like a brother, I know I can trust him with her."- Rose
"Yeah, they are sweet together. I'm just more worried when Alice realizes this."- Isabella
(end flashback)
Stefan was with Elena at the hospital with her friends. Apparently Caroline was in critical condition and Damon had to go yesterday and give her some of his blood to help save her life. Bree and Jasper were in the living room on the sofa. He was explaining his time in the Civil War. Angela and Lexi said they needed to deal with Bonnie and Rose and Emmett decided to finally go and at least tell the Cullen's what they've been hiding from them. Damon and I were curled up on the other sofa just content to be together again.
"Guess who's coming to see you today?"- Damon
"Hmmm… I don't know, who?"- I asked him playfully.
"Just a two kids with the names of Jane and Alec!"- Damon
"Oh my God, I'm finally going to see them again."- I sighed out happily.
Just then Rose and Emmett came rushing into the room.
"I'm sorry Alice had a vision. Apparently the Volturi are coming and the Cullen's are insisting on protecting you. I tried to tell them it was ok. But then I think Alice lied about her vision because what she told them about the Volturi I know can't be the truth. She made them think they'll kill you and them for being a different type of vampire. As soon as I realized what she did I blocked the rest of her visions. She should be blind to anything that will happen for now."- Rosalie
"Of course they believed her and now are determined to fight them if need be."- Emmett
I got up with everyone else.
"I am going to kill her! I seriously am going to kill her! Where are they? Do you know how long we have?"- Isabella
"Not long. Follow us. They are in the forest."- Emmett
As we raced through the forest we became aware of distant voices. By the sounds of it everyone would get there at the same time. Clearly Alice planned to instigate a fight before I arrived. But the growing question was: Why? And did Edward know what she was doing the whole time? How could Alice do this to her "family"? She knows that pitting them against the Volturi as a whole is a death wish.
Just then we arrived at the edge of the clearing. The Volturi (except for the leaders) standing strong in their typical "V" formation. I could see Alec and Jane in the middle. The Cullen's stood ready to fight, which seemed to shock the Volturi. Just then Alice noticed me and told the Cullen's it was time. Her and Edward went right for Jane and Alec. But were too late. Both Damon and I had formed a barrier between them both. All of my group effectively standing with the Volturi.
"Mother!"- Jane
"How?"- Alec
"Stop her from leaving!"- I screamed seeing Alice start to attempt to run away.
To the Cullen's shock both Demetri and Heidi Volturi had immediately listened to me and grabbed Alice.
"Hey stop this! She hasn't done anything wrong! Bella why are you protecting them! They are evil! I mean they are the witch twins! They love to hurt people!"- Edward
And then both him and Alice were on the ground in pain.
"Janie, that's enough for now." I said hugging her to me.
"Edward did you know what she was doing? Could you hear her thoughts?"- Jeremy asked to everyone's surprise.
"Well no, it was like she was blocking me, actually she's done that a lot more in the last year or so but…" – Edward started.
"Shut up Edward you called my children evil and I'm not going to take to kindly to that. What are you getting at Jer?"- I asked.
"Well think about it, I mean I might not of lived through everything you did but it just seems like Alice is acting exactly like how Anna described Katherine. Maybe she blocked him and had some other plan? Or is working with Katherine since she's not in the tomb?"- Jeremy
"Jasper did you sense any dishonesty in his emotions?"- Isabella
"None from Edward but I can sense quite a lot coming from Alice."- Jasper
"Jasper what are you doing? You're my mate, don't help them condemn me!"- Alice
"Alice not even you believe yourself. You've known all along I wasn't your mate but you manipulated me. I should of known. I always sensed you were keeping something from me but I was so in love that I couldn't see past it."- Jasper
"Wait what's going on?"- Carlisle asked.
"That's what I'd like to know as well." A voice said from the other end of the clearing.
And then there she stood surprising followed by Stefan, Elena, and Lexi.
"Katerina." I said.
"Well well well, if it isn't little Alice."- Katherine said which caused Alice to begin to struggle even more.