The Rose in May

Chapter Eleven: November Chance

'And she is as fair as the rose in May.' – Geoffrey Chaucer

To our surprise, when James re-entered the yard, it wasn't with Bella's brothers trailing behind him. Instead – as even more of a shock – two vampires, a red-haired female and a dark-skinned male, sauntered in behind him, looking much too smug for my tastes. They also looked like they were ready to hunt, which set us all on edge.

Bella's eyes were comically wide as she took in the new comers. Her breathing had increased in pace, and her heartbeat was rising drastically. I pulled her into my arms and sent a look to my brother, which he understood. Being so close to my mate, I felt the effects of the wave of calm he had sent her, so I relaxed a bit, as well. To my relief, though, the emotion settled heavily on my mate, and she practically sagged into my embrace. I held her up gladly; I didn't like it when she was stressed.

I searched the minds of the trio, and gathered that the two vampires were named Victoria and Laurent. Victoria seemed interested in James, and he knew how to play it up, keeping her close but not too close, stringing her along. It was sickening, but even though she had not imprinted on him, she fell right into his game, not knowing that he was just using her for her talent and her abilities. I almost felt like bringing this information into the light, but James spoke first.

"I think you've had enough time to examine my friends now," he spoke roughly, glaring at me as I automatically tightened my hold on his 'daughter'. "I'll repeat it again, Bella, so that you can make your choice. I won't have you matching with a vampire," he hissed out, staring into Bella's eyes. I growled warningly at him, but he just smirked. His thoughts were sure that Bella would choose him – her true family – over me.

And, though I knew how she felt about me, for a moment I was scared; this was the master she had spoken so highly about, and with him came the brothers that she loved. How could I ever live up to the hype all of that put together? I was only one person compared to the enormity of her family.

I shouldn't have doubted for a moment though. A glistening tear streamed down my love's face, but she spoke calmly and surely, leaving no room for anyone to argue. "You once told me that once you meet your match, you'd give up everything to be with them. That is what I am choosing to do, master; I'll always choose Edward." Her tiny voice reached my ears quickly, transforming me in a way that not even the imprint had, because now I could truly understand the strength of the matching, just as I understood the strength of the imprint. They were much alike, these two things.

Her master didn't take these words as gladly as I had, though; instead, he let out a growling sound I hadn't deemed possible for a fairy to make before, and motioned with his fingers to his two 'friends'. I could only assume that they had planned their attack before coming here, as they moved in perfectly orchestrated movements, James launching at Emmett – who, in his mind, he saw as the greatest threat – Victoria launching towards Alice, Rosalie, and Esme all at once (the 'weak' ones, being the females), and Laurent moving towards Carlisle, the leader. At the moment they were leaving Bella, Jasper and I alone, which was perhaps their downfall, because none of them had noticed the scars that decorated my brother's skin, marking him as their true threat.

Like the predator he was, Jasper moved in for the kill quickly, reminding me in his thoughts that my only job during this was to protect my rose; like he had to remind me. I had already scooped Bella up into my arms, and heartbreakingly enough, she was actually crying quietly in my arms, refusing to watch. Not that I wanted her to watch; this would be hard for anybody.

I brushed my fingers through her hair soothingly, humming quietly in her ear as my dark eyes angrily took in the sight before me. Of course, my family had been quite prepared for the attack, and nothing had happened. James noticed Jasper quickly, but instead of moving from one of my brothers to the other, he instead focused on Alice, whom his quick eyes had already addressed as Jasper's mate.

I was watching Esme and Carlisle block Victoria from joining James when a piercing cry and a hissing sound issued from the left of them. I knew it was my sister instantly, and Bella and I snapped our heads to the scene. What I saw there surprised me, and a sinking feeling came in my stomach.

Bella's master held a sharp double-edged sword in his hand, and one edge of it had been jammed into Alice's shoulder blade; it wasn't in very deep, but it still looked painful. Before anybody had the chance to do anything, Bella was whispering in my ear, fury dripping from her words. "Burn his seed," was all she said before she launched out of my embrace and stormed towards her master. I was going to follow her, instantly worried about her, but Carlisle called me over to Alice to help him check the wound.

As was the case with most of our injuries, it healed quite quickly, but the fact that the fairies were capable of creating weapons that could harm us terrified us, and even without looking into Jasper's mind and testing the emotions of my family, I could tell we were all more wary of this species.

I looked up as I heard a strange, high-pitched growling sound, my gaze landing straight towards my mate; she was making that noise, stalking towards her master with lithe, calculating footsteps. She had already managed to disarm him, it seemed, as his dangerous sword lay on the ground some ways away from them. I vaguely registered Rosalie sprinting to grab it before he could get it back, and the relief it brought, but I couldn't turn away from the scene in front of me.

Bella began speaking in a language I couldn't interpret, and much to my frustration it caused James' mind to switch into this language, as well. Seeing as the minds of Victoria and Laurent – who were being attacked by an angry Emmett and absolutely furious Jasper – were slightly confused as they heard it as well, I figured it must be a language that only fairies knew. This idea was further cemented when their minds quickly remembered a time when James was talking to one of Bella's many brothers. They moved far too fast for even my eyes to catch, but I did get to see the outcome. My tiny, fragile-looking imprint had leaped onto him, and they were fighting. I think I had a heart attack as I watched.

It didn't take me more than a few seconds to smell the blood; it was an intense floral scent, mixed with strawberries and innocence. It was scent I could only match with Bella, and I saw red when I realized it meant he had drawn blood. I growled, getting up from my place beside my pixie-like sister – who was still lying on the ground, a little winded from her injury – and stormed my way over there. Bella looked to be fine, but I could see the blood streaming down her face from where he had managed to hit her.

I jumped onto my mate's attacker, knowing with everything I had in me that after this, I would never let anybody hurt her ever again. She was my mate and I would protect her.

Okay, so, don't kill me; this is the last actual chapter, and you'll find out the outcome of the fight in the epilogue, which will be posted tomorrow. I mentioned in yesterday's author note that I'm pretty much skimming over the drama, and hopefully you don't mind. I couldn't figure out a way to draw it out. Okay, they fought, things happen, people get hurt… how could I possibly stretch it out anymore? As I said, the outcome is in the epilogue, which will be posted tomorrow.

Anyways, right now I'm really thinking you guys should go to YouTube and listen to the song James Bond by Scouting for Girls, because it's a whirlwind of awesomeness. I'm not even kidding.

Review, please, and remember me.

'Think of the haters in your life as sandpaper; they'll scratch you up time and time again but in the end you're polished and spotless while they end up useless.' – Unknown

Day 14 = SUCCESS! (I have officially completed my deal, doves. :P)