Chapter 11
Fate
Author's Note: I made a bit of a boo-boo. In the books, Jane is described as having light-brown hair. I went with the movie description and gave her blonde hair. Hope you can forgive me for that.
(Bella's PoV)
I couldn't believe my eyes. Jane was standing before me.
How was this possible? I thought Alice would have seen her coming. Then I remembered Alice's visions. Jane was going to bring Demetri and Felix along with her. Where were they? Were they at the Cullens house? Is that why Edward wasn't here? Surely, Alice would have seen Jane coming straight to the cottage, and would have sent Edward back. He was the fastest of his family. So where was he?
I looked at the tiny figure of Jane. She was staring at me with black eyes, dark as the night. This only meant one thing. She was hungry. She had expected me to be human. She was ready to kill me. Yet she still looked pale and child-like. She looked so innocent, and so sadistic at the same time. It was very eerie.
"Hello, Jane," I said, in my best attempt at a brave voice.
I calculated my chances. If Jane wanted to attack me, she could do so easily. I was immune to her special ability: the ability to make others feel as if they were in pain. But I also knew that, as a vampire, she was faster and stronger than me. She could kill me in a flash. There was only one way out of this. I had to use my wit and words. Hopefully Edward or one of the others would get here quick enough to be able to rescue me.
"I didn't expect you so early," I said.
"You expected me?" Jane asked. "Oh, but of course. Alice. She would have seen me coming. But I wonder. If she did see me coming, then why isn't she here? Or your mate? Where is Edward, I wonder. I don't sense his presence."
My eyes went wide as I tried to deduce what Jane was thinking. Surely, Jane would have noticed that Edward was back at the house. If Demetri and Felix did come with her, she would have sent them there. She did have a sort of power over them. So something had to be going on. She didn't know where Edward was.
I decided to lie.
"He's.... near," I said, "There were some deer nearby, so he decided to grab one."
"Hmm," Jane said. "Well, no matter. I am not here for him. I am here for you. And I can see that my trip is not one of waste. I could smell the blood in your veins from miles away. You are still human."
I felt oddly brave speaking to Jane. Perhaps it was because, even though she could still kill me, I was immune to her greatest power. Perhaps that thought gave me strength.
"You came too early, Jane," I said. "Edward was just about to prepare himself for my change. That is why he went to hunt. So he would be strong enough to go through with it. It is his first time doing this, you see? Changing someone, I mean. He wanted to do it on his own."
I decided to use my earlier thoughts to my advantage.
"That is why this cottage was built," I said. "For my use. So I would be able to transform in peace, away from the innocent humans."
"Innocent," Jane said with a spat. "Right."
"I thought the Volturi admired the humans?" I asked. "Respected them?"
"They are our nourishment only," Jane said. "But, of course you would never understand that, having known the Cullens. Hmmph. They're the black sheep of the vampire family."
I bit back a retort. She was trying to get me angry. Perhaps she was hoping I'd have a little bit of fight in me. I imagine this was a little boring for her, given that she couldn't use her ability on me.
"I did not come too early," Jane said. "We gave you plenty of time to change. You and the Cullens obviously lied to us."
I closed my eyes and prepared myself for Jane's attack. She was probably always meant to be my executioner, ever since she first laid eyes on me and I had defied her sinister abilities. Was this always my fate? To fall to this child-like villain?
"It's a pity," Jane said, "Aro expected that you might have wonderful abilities if you would have become a vampire. He was hoping you'd become one of the Volturi in the future. You could have made a wonderful part of the royal family."
"You will never know the meaning of family," I growled.
If I was going out, I was not going to back down now. Jane would get a piece of my mind before she ended my life.
"You, along with every member of the Volturi," I said, "are a disgrace to the name of supernatural. To the name of vampire."
"Are we?" Jane asked, "Hmm. Tell me? In every fairy tale and story you've ever heard about vampires, when did you ever hear about a nice vampire? We're one of the most feared creatures in stories. People in the fairy tales run in sheer terror from us. We're just making the fairy tales true. But we also are doing it with respect. We have rules, so as to protect our kind from humans. If word got out that vampires actually existed, can you imagine what the world would be like?"
Jane smiled at me. It was strange watching her smile. Especially with those black eyes staring right into my soul.
"What do you think it would be like?" Jane asked, "Rainbows and butterflies? Peace among the natural and the supernatural? Wrong. Being surrounded by the Cullens and their vegetarian ways brainwashed you. What you witnessed in Volterra... that's the real world for us vampires. It's not just a long wonderful life with those you love. It's hunger. Pain. And it's an eternity of it. You thirst for blood. You wish to close your eyes and dream again, but you can't. That's the life of a vampire. So I don't think you're going to miss anything, sweetheart."
"Edward won't let you live if he comes back and finds me dead," I threatened. "He'll come after you."
"Oh, I know," Jane said, a large grin crossing her face. "That was the plan. Or should I say my plan. Aro just wanted me to make sure you were a vampire. If you were, he was fine with it. If you weren't, I was ordered to dispose of you and leave. But I can't leave. Edward and his disgrace of a family have risked our exposure one too many times. We would never have allowed them to live so out in the open like this. Among so many humans. Even allowing themselves to blend in with the humans. It's too risky for them. Their deaths will send a message to the rest of the vampire world. They'll learn not to anger the Volturi."
I closed my eyes. There was no possible bargain chip with Jane. She was on a mission. I made sure my last thoughts were of Edward. Our time together. I was happy. I was in bliss in what would probably be the last moments of my life. I could almost hear Edward's voice.
"Bella!" Edward's voice said.
I could hear his voice. The way he had said my name, it seemed as if had said it a million times before. It felt as if he was close by. But that wasn't possible. Was it?
"Aw, such a pity," Jane said, "He's looking for you, I think. Do you think he realizes I am here? Shh... let's see. Oh! Not a word now. I could easily break your neck in one move. But I'm going to let you watch this."
I tried to yell out, but my voice wouldn't come. It was like it was trying to save my last breath for extended life.
"Oh!" Jane said, grinning at me. "Here he comes."
I glanced to my left. There was a window feet from me. Could I open it easily and slip through it before she noticed? Could Edward distract her enough?
Jane looked at me and put her finger to her lips. She ducked behind the couch.
"Bella?" Edward said, opening the door, "We have to go! Alice just had a vision! She saw --"
He then stopped abruptly and closed his eyes.
"Hello, Jane," Edward said, staring right at the couch.
Jane stood up and stared at Edward.
"Edward," Jane said, "How wonderful to see you."
"You're earlier than I expected," Edward said.
"The early bird gets the worm," Jane said, smiling, then looked at me. "Or in this case, the human."
"She won't be human for long," Edward said.
"It's too late, Edward," Jane said, "You've waited too long. Aro will not be pleased if I return with this news. We don't give second chances.... I'm sure you remember that."
"I remember," Edward said.
Edward looked at me.
"Bella," he said, "Are you okay?"
I nodded, slightly. To be perfectly honest, I was about to faint right there on the floor.
"She's been very brave," Jane said, "You must be very proud of her. It will be a shame so lose someone like her."
"You will not touch her!" Edward said.
He advanced one step and then he suddenly fell to the floor. Jane was staring at him, and I knew she had used that sinister ability on him.
"Bella!" Edward said, through the pain, "Run!"
"No, Edward!" I cried, "I won't leave you!"
"Bella!" Edward repeated, pain rushing through his voice, "Go!"
For one second, he looked up at me. Then I realized he was looking past me. I knew what he meant. There was only one other way out of the house, other than the front door. The large patio through my bedroom. If I could get there, I might have a chance.
I took off through to my bedroom, and ran over to the double doors, hoping they weren't locked. I tried to open the door. It was locked. No, what was I going to do? Suddenly, I saw it. Edward had left the keys on the dresser. Perhaps it was the skeleton key to the house. I hurried for the keys, and could hear Edward struggling and trying to fight off the pain.
"No!" Jane said.
She must have realized I was gone. I ran back to the door and tried to open it, using the key. It worked! I opened and ran out onto the patio, then made my way over the porch. I ran for the trees.
"No!" Jane said again.
I turned. Jane was coming for me. She crashed through the double doors, breaking the glass on them, and then leaped over the porch fence I had so much trouble getting over.
Where was Edward? Was he still alive? Where were the others?
Suddenly, Jane leaped over me and was only feet ahead of me.
"Pitiful attempt at freedom," Jane said.
She leaped at me and I was forced against a tree. She lunged at my throat.
"Bella!" Edward yelled.
I gasped at the burning sensation. Edward was too late. Jane went for the kill, and suddenly was thrown back away from me. My vision became blurry as I slumped down to the trunk of the tree. I forced my hand to my neck to staunch the bleeding. Pain forced itself through my body.
Was this how it felt like to die? The burning sensation was running through my body. I could hear Edward and Jane fighting, but I could barely see anything through the blurriness. I knew life was slipping away from me.
Pain. Darkness. This is what it must have felt like to fade into black....
(Edward's PoV – After he left Bella in the cottage)I felt a rush of happiness surge through me. Bella, my beautiful wife, my forever, was happy in our new home. Though I knew I would have to disappoint her soon. We would have to leave Forks.
It had all been discussed with Carlisle before the wedding. It wasn't a secret that the Quileutes might wage war if we broke the treaty. Bella wouldn't let us fight Jacob or the rest of his pack, and we couldn't do it because it would only end in bloodshed. We also couldn't risk being around too many humans while Bella was a newborn vampire for a year. It would be too dangerous.
Alaska was our only decision. We'd live with the Denali Clan. They already welcomed Bella like a part of their family, and I knew they would love for us to live with them again.
I sped back to the house. I would talk to my family about our plans while I gave Bella a little time by herself. She needed to feel human for at least a little while longer... before she forgot what it was like to be human.
I could hear Alice laughing along with Esme, as I walked in through the back door.
"She loves the house, Esme!" Alice said, "It's perfect!"
"She deserves it," Esme said, "Even if it is only temporary."
"She does deserve it," I agreed, with a nod. "She surprising seems to love the walk-in closet more than I expected."
"Of course she does!" Alice said, with a giggle.
"Where is Bella?" Esme asked.
"I left her at the cottage," I said. "She needed a human moment."
"Have you and her decided on the date of her turn?" Carlisle asked.
"It will be soon," I said, nodding. "If the Volturi are coming, it has to be soon."
As much as I hated to admit it.
"I don't understand why we can't just go to Alaska now," Rosalie said. "It's not as if we have anything left to do here. We're not here for the sake of Bella's father. He thinks she's on her death bed."
It was hard not to agree with Rosalie. We could be going to Alaska now, and Bella could turn there. But there was one problem.
"Bella does not yet know we're moving to Alaska," I said.
"You haven't told her yet?" Rosalie asked, "Why?"
"I haven't gotten around to it," I said.
"Perfect," Rosalie said. "We have to wait until Edward gets the --"
"Rosalie!" Carlisle scolded. "We have all the time in the world, as you know. Besides, I love this town as much as anyone else. It pains me to have to leave it behind. We've lived here for quite some time."
"All the time in the world?" Rosalie repeated, "Do we really? Have you forgotten that we have the Volturi and the mutts breathing down our necks."
"Relax, Rose," I said. "The Quileutes won't do anything until Bella is turned, and we don't have to worry about the Volturi, because Alice --"
As soon as I said Alice's name, her eyes glazed over.
"Alice?" Jasper asked, "What's wrong? What do you see?"
"Jane," Alice whispered, her eyes darting all over the place, "I can't place her, but she's moving. She's fast. She stopped. Where is she? It looks so familiar?"
She suddenly gasped.
"Where is she?" Jasper asked.
"She's at – at the cottage," Alice whispered.
"When is this going to take place?" I asked.
Alice stared right at me, and her eyes went back to normal. She couldn't bring out the words, but I could smell the fear in her. I looked into her mind and saw the vision. Everything came together and I realized what she had seen.
Jane was at the cottage now.
"No!" I snarled.
"Edward, wait!" Alice said.
"What's going on?" Jasper asked.
Before Alice could answer, I bolted out of the house and headed for the cottage as fast as I could. I hoped Bella was away from the house. I hoped she might have, somehow, heard Jane coming and got out of there.
But I hoped, beyond hope, that I wasn't too late.
I heightened my senses ten-fold, listening for Jane's thoughts. I hoped she wouldn't be ready for me and blocked me from her thoughts. I also wondered how I was going to fight her off. I would have to be ready for her special ability. I would have to fight through it if I was going to save Bella.
As I ran toward the cottage, I tried to see if I could hear Demetri or Felix or any of the Volturi guards around. But I couldn't sense them. Had Jane come by herself. Was she that foolish?
Bella. Where was she? Was she still in the cottage? Had Jane got to her before she could escape? I couldn't sense her anywhere in the forest, so I made my way to the cottage.
It only took a few minutes to get to the cottage from the house, but it seemed like an eternity. Endless time of fear, wonder and pain. What if I was too late?
I ran to the cottage door and opened it. Bella was standing near the narrow hallway.
"Bella?" I said, rushing in, "We have to go! Alice just had a vision! She saw --"
Poor little Edward's so afraid of his mate. He doesn't even sense me here. How pitiful.I closed my eyes. Jane was already here, and I knew exactly where she was.
"Hello, Jane," I said, with a snarl.
She stood up behind the couch. Her black eyes were staring right at me, and she had a wide grin on her face.
"Edward," she said, "How wonderful to see you."
"You're earlier than I expected," Edward said.
Too early. I only hoped Alice and the others would get here in time to help me. At least Bella was alive for now.
"The early bird gets the worm," Jane said, smiling, then looked at Bella, "Or in this case, the human."
Maybe I could convince her that I would change Bella soon, and Jane could just leave us alone.
"She won't be human for long," I said.
"It's too late, Edward," Jane said, "You've waited too long. Aro will not be pleased if I return with this news. We don't give second chances.... I'm sure you remember that."
I sighed. This wasn't going my way.
"I remember," I said.
I looked at Bella, hoping to convince her that everything was going to be all right. She looked so frightened over there.
"Bella," I said, "Are you okay?"
Bella nodded. I then realized she wasn't afraid for her life... but mine.
"She's been very brave," Jane said, "You must be very proud of her. It will be a shame so lose someone like her."
"You will not touch her!" I said, fury running through my voice.
I walked one step, and knew I knew immediately that shouldn't have. Suddenly, I wasn't in control of my body. Jane was. The pain racing through my body was in control. I fell to my knees.
But I had to fight through the pain. I had to think of Bella. I had to make sure she was safe.
"Bella!" I said, through the pain, "Run!"
"No, Edward!" Bella cried out, "I won't leave you!"
"Bella!" I repeated, "Go!"
I looked up at her, and then looked past her. I knew there was only one way she could get out now. The back door through our bedroom. If she could get away, if I could distract Jane long enough, maybe she would be safe. I just had to hope Alice and the others would get here in time.
Bella nodded and ran down the hallway and disappeared into the bedroom.
"No!" Jane yelled in rage when she realized Bella was escaping.
She stared at me and another jolt of pain rushed through my body. Jane then ran toward the hallway.
"No!" Jane yelled again.
I stood up, fighting off the pain. Jane was going after Bella. I had to get to them. I ran toward the bedroom and out the door. Jane had cornered Bella into a tree. I leaped onto the wooden railing of the porch and jumped at Jane, just as she lunged for Bella. I hit Jane with an impact that sent us both rolling.
Bella was screaming in pain. I was horrified. Had Jane bit her? Was I too late? I had to get this over with! Jane sent another jolt of pain through me, but I could barely feel it. I was fighting it off, just thinking of Bella.
I looked at Bella for one split-second. Blood was running down her neck, and she looked dazed.
No.
Jane sent another jolt of pain at me, but it was brief... barely any pain. She was just amazed as I. What had stopped her?
"Edward!" a voice yelled out from the distance.
I recognized that voice. It was Jasper. He was the second fastest in the family. Then I realized what had happened. His ability had slowed Jane's powers down.
Jasper ran into both of us, and he and Jane went flying yards from me.
"I'll fight her off" he shouted at me, "Bella's in danger! Alice and the others are coming. They were right behind me!"
I nodded and raced over to Bella. Blood was coming from two piercing holes in her neck. Jane had bitten her. I was sure the venom was racing through her body.
I sighed, and closed my eyes. I knew it was time. Either I was going to have to change her right then, or I was going to lose her forever. Panic spread through my body. I had never done this before. What was I supposed to do?
"Edward!" another voice rang out.
Carlisle appeared right beside me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alice and Emmett aiding Jane. I could hear Jane yelling in pain. Blood was flowing from a stump that used to be an arm.
"Edward, it's time," Carlisle said, "You have to change her now."
"I know," I said, "But how? I never have done it before."
"Remember what I taught you," Carlisle said. "One clean bite to the neck, and make sure you concentrate."
"I-I..." I stammered, "I don't know if --"
"Edward," Carlisle said, putting an arm on my shoulder, "Son. You can do it."
I nodded. I had to do it. For Bella. I leaned into Bella's neck and pressed my teeth into her neck, letting the venom flow.
"Concentrate, Edward," Carlisle said, "Feel it rush through her. Know when it is enough. You can do it. I know you can."
Carlisle pressed his fingers onto her wrist.
"Jane's venom is almost out," he said, "Yours is settling in. It's happening. Edward, you can stop now. Edward..."
I fought against the need and lifted away from her.
"How will we know?" I asked him.
"It will take a couple of days," Carlisle said. "We''ll keep watch on her at the house."
"Not the cottage?" I asked.
"She needs thorough care," Carlisle said, "If she is going to survive."
I nodded and looked at Bella. Her body was still twitching and convulsing from my venom. It was hard to watch. I turned away and looked over at Jasper and the others. Emmett had started a fire. Jane was finished. I could see her head near the fire. Her black eyes were staring at me.
"The Volturi aren't going to be pleased," I said
"I know," Carlisle said. "We'll have to deal with it."
I sighed and turned back to Bella. I lifted her into my arms, and carried her as Carlisle escorted us to the house. Now it was a waiting game.
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Cliffhanger!
Yay! Jane's gone! Man that chapter was difficult to write. I had trouble figuring how to make the start of the transformation in my own words.
Next chapter will be in Jacob's PoV!
Feedback would be wonderful!
