A/N: Thank you all for your wonderful feedback! It really means a lot to me and gives me a drive to keep writing! It's nice to know that there are some of you that are actually into this story! I felt pretty crappy for taking nearly a month to update and I'm so thankful that some of you have come back even after all that time that I wanted to get you a long update (yesterday) and another one today. This one isn't quite as long but I wanted to make up for it somewhat! My next update will be in a few days when I figure out more of which direction I want to cover first!
Sadly, I do not own The Twilight Saga and am not affiliated with S. Meyer nor do I own any of her wonderfully created world. I *DO* however own Elizabeth Hadden and Karen Weber.
-_-_-_-_-
Ch 11 Sometimes Strengths are your Weakness
---
As I lay there shivering in Alice's arms I couldn't stop the repeated visions of my past flashing through my mind. I'm not sure how long we had been there, but the morning sun was just beginning to rise so it had obviously been all night. I buried my face deeper into her neck breathing in her soothing scent deeply.
-----
"Isabelle, are you alright? You're shaking...how can you possibly be cold?" Elizabeth wrapped her arms around me gently, hugging me close. "Come, we should get back." She sighed and I could see the unshed tears in her eyes. "Best to get this over with rather than draw it out any longer." They way she said it, so matter of fact, caused a violent shudder to rip through me. I felt sick, physically ill at what was happening.
"Is it really this easy for you? To walk away from me...from us?" I whispered, pained. The pain was so much. My insides felt as if they were on fire and my body wanted to explode. I was hot, sweating and shaking. Is this was a broken heart feels like?
"Of course not!" She cried, "how can you ask me that? It's the only choice we have; I just have to be the one to make it." She sniffed and turned my face to look at her. "We have to get you home, you aren't well. You must be coming down ill."
I pulled away when she grabbed my arm to lead me back to town, "No. You go. I'll come back when I'm ready." I turned and walked a few steps away from her, breathing deeply. I desperately wanted to just collapse and scream. Scream out my pain until I was no longer able to speak at all.
"Isabelle really you are sick. We must get back and get you seen to. What will our mothers think if I go back alone and for you to come back later sick? Now please, let's not make this any harder than it already is." She started walking towards me but paused when I held my hand up for her to stop.
"Please...I can't." I sobbed, dropping to my knees. "I don't think I can handle this...I can't go on pretending I don't love you and I can't act as if we're nothing more than friends!" I could barely breathe. The tremors were growing more and more violent as the sweat rolled down my face. I felt the need to vomit but before I could I was quickly on my feet and pulled her into my arms. "Tell me you don't love me," I screamed at her, "tell me you don't love me and I'll walk away." I grabbed onto her shoulders and pulled her into me, pressing my lips firmly against hers.
My Elizabeth melted into me right away, kissing me back. After only a few short moments I felt her stiffen and push me back, staggering back to put a mere foot of space between us. "Isabelle I can't. We can't." She looked up into my eyes, bit her lip and her broken words lied right to my face. "I don't love you anymore."
My breath was ragged, the world began to spin around me. I felt off balance as the intense heat hammered my chest, knocking the air from my lungs. I couldn't understand why I couldn't breathe but it was when I felt her hands grip my shoulders that I realized I was screaming in agony. Part of me knew she was scared, that she was trying to talk to me, to get me to come back from this horrid place in my mind but I couldn't. As I raised my eyes from her moving lips to which I heard no sound, to her eyes that were boring into mine a new scream sounded from my lips as I felt myself being split into two as I slammed my eyes shut and grit my teeth.
I heaved as I struggled to catch my breath and open my eyes. Elizabeth was lying on the soft grass, gasping violently, struggling for breath. Her eyes were wide as she looked at me, her hand locked into the thick hair on my neck. That's when I looked down, seeing her covered in blood. Five long vicious claw marks trailed down her neck, her chest and to her hip in a disgusting diagonal line. Blood seeped from the wounds, covering my paws that were on either side of her small fragile frame. Her hand trailed up further to the side of my face, holding it gently. Looking into my eyes she showed me the truth, that she did love me and opened her lips slightly, "Isabelle," she started, and then closed her eyes and her body lay still.
I rubbed my nose along her cheek, trying to rouse her though I knew it was a futile effort. Slinking back away from her body that I had destroyed I raised my head to the night sky and let out a blood curdling howl.
-----
I moaned into her neck, the violent shaking returning as I hugged her impossibly close to me. I didn't care that I was lying naked in my new loves arms...remembering the death, no, the murder of my last. I was trying to recover myself but the pain just kept coming in waves until I knew I had to relive it again, to share it with the one, the only one that could possibly help me to finally move on.
Her arms tightened around me and she placed several soft kisses along my cheek and neck. Bella...I'm here. Thank you, for sharing that with me. I know it wasn't easy. I could feel your pain, through your thoughts. I'm so sorry you had to go through that...that you're still going through it. It wasn't your fault; you didn't hurt her on purpose. You know that, and she knew that. I know you blame yourself, maybe even hate yourself for it but deep down, you love her and you never meant to hurt her.
I sighed and pulled my head out of her neck just enough to make eye contact with her. I saw the love and the worry reflected in her gorgeous gold eyes. I did love her and part of me always will. She was my first love, but you are my true love. You are my eternal soul mate. You know that, don't you? I cupped her smooth cheek in my hand, stroking gently.
Of course I do. I never expect you to forget her or to stop loving her. I had a first love. She smiled down at me softly, I know how it feels and I know that although you move on, you never stop loving them and you never forget. It's a part of what makes us who we are. She leaned down and ever so slowly pressed her cool lips to mine.
I knew she was being deliberately slow, giving me a chance to pull away if I needed to. I whimpered into her kiss and sighed at the feel of her fingers trailing down my naked side leaving a trail of goose bumps. Oh geeze that's right, I'm naked.
Alice smirked into our kiss and pulled back slightly, "Yes you are." She purred and I giggled softly. "You're beautiful Bella."
I took a small breath and smiled back, "Thank you." I swallowed, having not spoken in the last 12 hours, "But you are the rare beauty in this dark world." I lowered my eyes and played with her fingers, "The only light in my dark world," I whispered.
"Then we're a perfect match because I've never seen the sun this bright until you came along." She smiled and looked up as the sun slowly made its way above us into the sky. I heard her gasp softly before smiling down at me. "Looks like this works too."
I knew to expect the shimmer of sparkles that graced her features in the sunlight but was shocked to see that my own bare body was glistening as well. "This has never happened...I hadn't let it go so long but I always kind of wondered." I turned my hands over looking intently at them trying to find the source of each tiny diamond that seemed to be embedded into my skin.
"Absolutely gorgeous," Alice whispered and pressed her lips softly to mine once more before pulling back. It was then I noticed her eyes had a faraway look and a slight cloudy haze covered the brightness in her eyes. "We need to get back, Karen called Carlisle looking for you. She was worried when you didn't come home. They covered for you, said that we were up having a 'giggling girls night' and fell asleep watching a movie." She smiled and I mentally reminded myself to thank her family for their cover. "We should tell them what happened as well. I'm sure Jacob's quick departure was to inform the pack of your return...and we need to figure out what to do about you."
I looked at her quizzically, "What?"
She shook her head and gave me a warm smile, "I just mean that this...werewolf part of you can't be healthy Bella. I've seen the wolves phase and sure I've heard the first few times can be somewhat painful until you've gotten used to what to expect but you were in agony. I don't think the strengthening vampire part of you was too happy with the wolf that came bursting out. Our forms aren't exactly meant for shape-shifting." She pulled me up and laced her fingers with mine.
"You're right, I hadn't really thought about it like that. I haven't phased since..." I trailed off, knowing she understood without having to speak it. "But um..." I looked down and smirked, "I can't very well walk into your house looking like this."
Alice looked me up and down while purring deep in her chest. "No, I suppose you can't. Not that I'm complaining but I don't want my brothers, or Rosalie for that matter to get any ideas and try to steal you away from me."
I laughed and then laughed harder at her serious glare. "Alice, no one in this world could take me away from you."
She smiled and pulled me towards her house. "Come on, I'll leave you at the tree's edge where they can't see you and run in to grab you some clothes." We took off back towards the house and I had to shake my head. 'After the break an exclusive episode...Hybrid human, vampire, werewolf seen streaking through the woods with her vampire mate, next on Maury.'
Alice's laugh carried throughout the forest. You are so delightfully weird.
~_~_~_~
Hope you all enjoyed!!
~Nick
