Disclaimer: The Twilight Series and its characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. Any other characters, settings etc. are property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Last time:
Soon, my time to leave this horrendous place will arrive. With each passing day I felt more and more confident about being able to live on my own.
"I'll be ready," I told Aro and left the room swiftly.
I had to hunt, and most importantly, I had to prepare myself psychologically.
Every passing day, I despised Aro and his company more and more.
~X~
Chapter 13:
We stood in the middle of a deserted street, on the outskirts of a very underprivileged part of Amsterdam.
The night was dark and the air smelled of oil and asphalt. I could hear the insects scurrying in the darkness and the stream of sewers running under the street.
I could smell death.
Demetri had brought us to this part of town, where the group of newborns had been causing unimaginable acts of death and destruction. Overturned cars, broken windows and especially dead bodies lying on the asphalt were the very obvious signs we were at the right place.
It was sickening.
For once, I was in accord with the Volturi; this insanity needed to be stopped.
"How many?" Jane asked.
"Twenty," Demetri answered.
"Ah. We outnumbered them," Felix said, his voice full of disappointment.
In reality, they were not outnumbered; Alec, Jane, Demetri Felix and six guards formed their party, but I guessed Felix didn't feel outnumbered when the odds were two to one —in favor of the newborns.
We kept walking down the street, until we reached a park that was no more than an empty field. In silence, two of the guards moved quickly to circle the perimeter in order to block any possible line of escape.
The laughter and talk coming from behind the trees, ceased as soon as they sensed us. It took them a couple of seconds to come out into the clearing.
It was an impressive group — all men, with heights that rivaled Felix's. But in the vampire world size and muscles didn't mean much, unless they were as skilled as the Volturi's guard.
"Didn't I tell you friends, that they would come?" One of the vampires said. He advanced a few steps ahead of his group; clearly stating he was the leader.
"Were you expecting us?" Jane asked, in her melodic voice.
"Yes, we were," the man said. "I've been told that if we…misbehave, the boogie man will come and get us. Although, no one mentioned…children."
At the insult, Jane's spine got straight as an arrow, and her fists clenched in fury. "You should mind your words," Jane said in a cold tone —all sweet melody gone.
"Nah. You should mind your own business," the fool answered.
"We do, my boy, we do," Jane whispered and without further ado, she released a painful charge toward the big-mouthed vampire.
Seeing their leader twist with pain on the ground was all the rest of the group needed. They descended on the Volturi like an evil wave.
The newborn vampires lacked skills, but they used the advantage they had in numbers to attack Alec and Jane —only. It was obvious a deliberate action.
Felix and the guards realized, as well, the newborns intentions, when they swarmed toward the two small members of the Volturi in mass. The newborns probably didn't know they were also the two most powerful members of the party.
Jane, with all of her power, had the disadvantage of only be able to attack one vampire at the time. Luckily for her, Alec, who could disable many at once, was at her side. Together they were able to protect each other from the deadly blows the newborns were trying to land.
Once Felix, Demetri and the guards began fighting, everything was easier for Jane and Alec.
I stood back, just observing. It was like watching a violent movie without the gore and blood, but sickening nonetheless.
As Felix and the guards were rounding up the few survivors, I noticed the big-mouthed vampire recover from Jane's punishment, and under the commotion tried to make his escape. He was coming straight at me.
Jane was the only one who noticed, besides me. But when she saw that the vampire had to get me out of the way to find his freedom, she grinned evilly and did nothing to stop him.
In a fraction of a second, I found myself being attacked by a desperate vampire. I barely ducked out to of the way before the vampire's deadly blow separated my head from my shoulders. I countered the blow with one of my own; one that sent the vampire flying a few feet from me.
Instead of running away, the vampire growled and then charged at me, shoving me to the ground where he hit me repeatedly and then tried to bite my neck. The pain on my chest was indescribable. Newborns really, were very strong.
Luckily, I was a newborn myself. I kicked him off me, and flipped up to land on my feet. Before he could react, I charged at him feigning a blow to the head and then kicking his kneecap to unbalance him. I took advantage of his state of shock and quickly hit him in the head and chest and moved behind him pushing him, face down, against the ground. I kneeled on his shoulder blades and twisted his arms behind his back.
Felix was by my side at that moment. "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
I released the vampire, letting Felix take custody of him and glared at Jane. "I'm fine," I answered him.
I didn't want to be part of the action.
I wasn't supposed to be part of the action
I hated that Jane made me be part of it.
Felix dragged the vampire toward Jane, and to my surprise, confronted her. "Why did you that? Aro was very specific when he said he wanted Bella protected."
Jane shrugged her shoulders, unrepentant. "She is fine. Is she not?"
Felix threw the vampire to the ground where one of the guards took custody of him. "You dismissed an order," he told her.
Jane's answer to Felix criticism was a charge of power that made Felix kneel on the ground in pain.
"Stop!" I yelled, and walked toward Jane.
I wasn't fond of any member of the Volturi, but Felix had always been kind to me. Besides, I didn't like the fact that he was being punished because of me.
One of the guards moved to block my path toward the spoiled vampire. Gad, Jane was old, but she looked and acted like a child.
Jane hit Felix with another surge and now he twisted on the ground. Oh, how I wanted to choke her, but it was impossible, without having to fight the guards who conspicuously moved closer to her.
It was so frustrating to see someone torturing someone else, and not to be able to do anything about it.
I looked at Felix contorting in pain and I wished, with all my heart, that everyone one had the power to block this sadistic woman.
Suddenly, Jane ended the torture, and Felix slowly sat on the ground. He weakly tried to stand up but his shaking leg would not let him.
"Are you okay?" I asked him.
A chilling shriek coming from Jane made me turn to her. She was looking at Felix with an expression that would have killed him, if she were still attacking him. She turned to look at me with the same hateful expression. "Stop that!" she yelled at me.
I didn't know what she was talking about, and then it hit me.
Somehow, I had transferred the shield that protected me from Jane to Felix. I looked at Felix, who was looking at me with awe. I could see a barely visible bubble surrounding him.
I was stunned. I didn't even know how I did it.
I guessed it was the strong impulse to somehow be able to stop the cruel vampire.
Well, it didn't matter. I turned to look at Jane. "You are a spoiled, sadistic…bitch!"
"How dare you insult me," she said, and took a few aggressive steps toward me.
Alec placed a hand on her shoulder and stopped her. "Jane, let it go," he said, in a soothing voice.
"She insulted me," she said, but stopped advancing. "She called me that ugly name. She called me a dog."
I mentally threw my arms up in the air. I thought she was offended by the "sadistic" adjective.
"You know how I despise profanity," she added.
"I know, honey," Alec said, and looked at me in a pleading way that said not to antagonize his sister any further.
Like hell I would.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I asked Jane. "These people—" I gestured toward Felix, Demetri and the guards, "—would give their lives for you. And that's how you re-pay them?"
If looks could kill, I'd be a stain on the ground.
"We should go," Demetri, tentatively suggested.
Jane released a frustrated groan, and marched pass us —her brother right behind her.
Demetri instructed the guards to get rid of the survivors, corpses —or pieces of vampires, and then turned toward me. "Shall we go?" he said, and then smiled.
I didn't want to witness the burning of body parts. I nodded and turned toward Felix. "Can you walk?"
Felix nodded back. "Thanks," he whispered. He looked at me with gratitude and admiration.
I didn't want his gratitude.
The fact that I was able to block Jane's wrath for him was because the desire I had to stop the crazy vampire was stronger than the desire to protect him.
I didn't want to explain myself. Instead I shrugged my shoulders and said nothing.
Demetri hauled the big-mouthed vampire —the only vampire allowed to live, for now— and we started the procession back to Volterra.
~X~
What had started out as a downpour had whipped itself into a steady rain and was slowly becoming just a light drizzle.
I sat on the fallen tree trunk and simply breathed. I loved the smell of green undergrowth after it's been cleansed by rain. I loved the earthy and aromatic fragrance of nature.
I could still feel the warm blood of the elk that found its demise in my hands running through my system. I was wet but relaxed, and sated.
The sound of a breaking twig was so subtle it was barely audible. It was amazing how such a massive wolf, could make such tiny noises.
He was good, trying to sneak up on me, but he still had a lot to learn about vampires' senses.
That worried me.
I pretended I was unaware of his presence, and continued looking relaxed in my post on the fallen tree.
I knew exactly when he decided to attack. His heartbeat accelerated, his breathing became erratic with excitement and the sound of his steps became careless.
He got closer, and closer, and right when he leapt to jump me, I propelled myself straight upward as though I'd been yanked on a string and then plummeted down right on top of him, wrapping my arms around his neck. Ready for the kill.
Seth had never expected this. He skidded to a stop and froze, overwhelmed by my unexpected action.
I released my chokehold and leapt off his back, gracefully landing a few feet from him. Seth looked at me with awe and disappointment; the latter directed at himself. His brown eyes were full of uncertainty, as if somehow he had disappointed me as well.
I felt a warm feeling in my chest. I wanted to console him, to tell him how vampire abilities were incalculable, that there was no reason for him to feel bad. But I must not.
I needed to teach him how to defend himself from monsters like me.
Seth and Jake must understand how vicious, skillful, and dangerous vampires were. They needed to be prepared if they ever encountered any aggressive leeches. Hopefully, it would never happen, but one never knew.
I walked toward Seth. "You weren't expecting that, were you?" I asked the obvious.
Seth shook his massive head.
"The problem is, Seth," I said and looked straight into his eyes, "—you underestimated me. Whether you like it or not, vampires are strong, talented and vicious."
Seth let out a noise that sounded like a snort.
I ignored him. "I could teach you how to fight them," I said.
He was taken aback by my offering. I kept talking. "You have to expect the unexpected, and fight with the same viciousness they will grant you." I let him consider my words.
"Would you like me to teach you?" I asked, after a moment of silence.
He eagerly nodded repeatedly.
"Okay," I said. "First of all, you have to be able to predict my movements. Like I said before, expect the unexpected."
I walked away from him and then turned to face him. "All right, give me your best shot," I challenged him.
Seth gave me what looked like a smile and walked slowly toward me. When he was within a few yards from me he lunged. I waited, timing my action, but instead of propelling myself as I did before, I ducked as Seth leapt in the air; he was anticipating my old trick.
Wrong move.
He landed on the muddy ground and before he turned around to face me, I was already on top of him ready to detach his head from his shoulders. He froze again, instead of rolling on the ground to make me lose balance.
Another mistake on his part.
I leapt off his back and sighed. "Why didn't you drop to the ground, making sure you fell on top of me? I could have decapitated you!"
He looked aghast at my suggestion that he should have squished me like a bug. Not that it would happen; my granite skin was almost impenetrable.
I realized what the problem was; Seth refused to hurt me. And that would not do.
"Look, Seth. If you want to learn how to fight a vampire, the first thing you must do is forget it's me you are fighting. Clear your mind. Pretend you're in a life or death battle with a vicious vampire with red eyes.
"Think that this vampire would not hesitate to kill you and your family. She is a monster. She is a killer." I let the words settle in his mind, gave him time to imagine the worst foe possible.
"Don't be afraid to hurt me. I won't let you kill me. I promise," I added for good measure.
Seth nodded once and closed his eyes in concentration.
After a moment, his eyelids opened slowly and the beautiful sandy wolf was now a lethal animal with large razor-sharp teeth and fierce dark eyes.
Holy Shit!
I fought to contain the grin threatening to escape my lips and thankfully I succeeded. I needed to look vicious for Seth's sake.
I took an aggressive pose, held out a hand toward him and wiggled my finger inviting an attack, a la Neo from the Matrix. I needed to taunt him.
Determination etched his face, and he snarled with fury.
What followed happened in a split of a second. Seth lunged toward me with an unexpected speed. Jaws open, fury in his eyes, he was ready for the kill.
I instinctively wanted to dodge his attack, but instead, I set my feet firmly on the wet ground and prepared myself to meet him head on.
Seth leapt in the air and was about to collide with me, when from the corner of my eye I saw a blur, shaped like a human form, running at a bullet speed, straight to crash into Seth —who at that exact moment was vulnerable, air bound bearing towards me.
Without hesitation, I found myself in the air, blocking Edward's attack by crashing into him to prevent him from hurting Seth. The collision between Edward and me sounded like the boom of two boulders crashing against each other.
My action was not perfect, though. In the process of leaping in the air toward Edward, Seth's sharp teeth got a hold of my ankle, making a huge gash on my granite skin. The wound was deep enough it went all the way to the bone.
So much for impenetrable granite skin! Those were some sharp teeth! It hurt like hell!
The pain was excruciating but I ignored it. I needed to concentrate on containing the very aggressive vampire, who had seemed to have lost his mind, and was now rolling, on the muddy ground, in a tangle of limbs with me, across the clearing.
At last, we came to a violent stop with me on top of a squirming Edward. I straddled him and latched my hand in a choke-hold around his throat. His arms were pinned along his torso by my steely thighs.
Edward looked at me with a mixture of alarm and confusion. I wanted to slap him. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" I shouted at him.
I turned to look at Seth. He was about to attack a subdued Edward, as if I needed his help. "Seth, stop! Don't even think about it," I growled.
I didn't blame Seth for wanting to hurt Edward. Edward had almost killed him. But I was the one in charge here.
Seth stopped his advance and growled in disagreement.
"Too bad," I told him, and turned to look at Edward. He was glaring at Seth and after most likely reading Seth's mind, his expression changed from anger to horror.
"Give me a good reason why I shouldn't kill you for trying to hurt my friend," I said, through clenched teeth.
Edward swallowed loudly. I could feel his Adam apple move up and down under my hand. I slowly released the pressure to let him talk. He cleared his throat. "As much as I enjoy our current position," he said. "—Would you mind letting me up so I could explain myself?"
I glared at him and jumped off him. I quickly placed myself between him and Seth.
Edward cleared his throat and looked at Seth over my shoulder. "My apologies, Seth," he said. "I didn't know this was a training session."
I scoffed. "Couldn't you read his mind before attacking?"
Edward turned his eyes toward me. "I did! And what I saw was Seth looking at you as if you were a monster with red eyes, blood dripping from your mouth." His face became angry. "He was going for the kill, Bella. I thought he had lost his mind, succumbed to rabies or something. When he attacked you, I only reacted. I thought I was protecting you."
I should be mad at the meddling bastard, but instead of fury, his words made my heart tingle with a warm feeling. I shook it off. "Well, you were wrong. And because of your intrusive actions you almost got Seth and yourself killed."
His expression tightened with anger, but whatever he was about to say died in his lips as Jacob's scent made its presence in the clearing.
Fuck! Just what I needed I thought sarcastically.
All three of us turned to see the massive russet wolf crash into the clearing.
Trying not to limp, I now moved to stand between Jake and Edward. Edward moved to stand between Jake and me. Was he crazy?
I grabbed his arm and tried to move him behind me but it was like moving a boulder. I gave up and stood next to him.
Jacob snarled with fury.
"Jake, calm down," I said, in a soothing tone. "Nothing happened. It was all a misunderstanding. Please don't let your temper control you and do something to cause irrevocable consequences."
Jacob ran his gaze over Seth and then me, assessing for injuries. I was glad at my lack of blood loss. He missed the injury that was throbbing painfully on my leg. He then turned his gaze on Edward, regarding him with warning and loathing. Luckily he didn't attempt to attack.
Jake turned to look at me expectantly. Without breaking my eye contact with Jacob, I spoke to Edward. "Edward, I need you to leave."
"No," Edward said, simply.
"I need to talk to Jake," I said.
"Go ahead."
"Un-fucking-believable," I muttered. "Edward, you better leave. Now!"
"I am not about to leave you to confront an angry werewolf. They're very unstable animals," Edward said, without caring about aggravating with insults an already angry wolf.
I turned my gaze toward Edward and glared at him. "If you'd read his mind you'd find out what his intentions are. I'm willing to bet that his murderous thoughts are not aimed at me."
Edward's golden eyes flared, confirming my words. He opened his mouth to argue but I cut him off. "If Jacob decides to attack, Edward, I will not let you hurt him; even if you're acting in self-defense. Please, don't make me hurt you."
Edward looked hurt by my words and then angry. I felt a pang of guilt wash over me. But I needed him gone to be able to subdue a very volatile wolf.
Edward growled in frustration and his scowl darkened with fury. "If something happens to you," he grumbled, his face hard and angry and completely at odds with the concern in his voice. "I'm going to wring your neck."
He started to retreat walking backwards with a painful slowness, but couldn't leave without a last warning. "Black," he said, glaring at Jake. "You touch one hair of hers, and you'll wish I didn't listen to her concerns for your safety."
When Edward disappeared into the forest I took a step forward, toward Jake, only to lose my footing when my injured leg gave up. I dropped to the ground and inspected the wound. All aggressiveness was gone from Jake when he saw I was hurt. He and Seth ran into the forest and came out back in their human forms.
I removed my boot and sock and was amazed to see how sharp their teeth were; they had gone through my boot, sock and granite skin like they went through butter. The wound was so deep I could see my bone. I was lucky my foot was still attached to my leg.
Seth horrified gasp made me look from my wound to him. Great! I thought sarcastically.
I tried to cover the wound rolling down the hem of my jeans and downplayed my injury. "It's nothing," I said, but it was too late; they'd already seen the severity of it.
"I'm so sorry, Bella," Seth said. The pain in his voice was heartbreaking.
"It's okay," I said, at the same time that Jake sucker-punched Seth. "You did this, you dumb ass?" he asked angrily.
"Jake, stop it!" I yelled. "It wasn't his fault."
"Would somebody explain what the hell happened here?" Jake asked, still angry.
Seth opened his mouth to answer. I silenced him with a gesture. "I'll explain," I told him.
I turned to Jake. "I decided to give Seth some lessons on how to fight a vampire. He was not being aggressive enough, so I instructed him to envision me as one of the bad vampires, not as his friend. He followed my coaching to the letter and that's when Edward arrived. He read Seth's mind, and saw that Seth was looking at me with murderous thoughts. Then when Seth attacked —as per my instruction, Edward thought it was a real fight. He got involved, and in the mayhem I got hurt. It was no one's fault. It's all just an unfortunate misunderstanding."
Jake tried to reel in his anger. He took a couple of deep breaths and then shook his head. "You are both fools."
"Not really," I said. "We were doing great, until Edward showed up."
"He was only defending you," Seth murmured.
"Don't defend him!" Jake said.
I didn't want to analyze Edward's actions. "Guys, a little help here," I said, and tried to stand on my good leg. Jake was about to reach me, but Seth beat him to it. He scooped me into his arms and carried me like cradling a baby. "Thanks, Seth," I told him. "Let's go home."
Seth carried me through the woods and constantly kept apologizing for my injury.
How could I convince this very stubborn wolf that it was not his fault?
"I can't believe you bit her," Jake murmured, not helping matters.
I groaned loudly. "Both of you stop it right now," I finally snapped. "Seth did not bite me. If he would have, my foot would not be attached to my leg, now would it?"
It was the truth. In the process of 'flying' to get myself between Edward and Seth, my leg accidentally grazed Seth's canines. It was not his fault said canines were granite-cutting, razor-sharp incisive fangs. "It was an accident. Let's forget about it and move on," I concluded.
Both wolves sighed simultaneously and kept walking in silence. I did not delude myself that I had made them understand, but at least the apologies stopped.
Stubborn men!
A few yards from my house, we came to a sudden stop. They, as well as I, had caught the scent of another stubborn male. Edward was inside my house waiting for me.
"Don't even think about it," Seth said, as I was about to suggest I could just go in by myself. But I really needed to go by myself —I was in too much pain to stop another confrontation; I wanted the vampire and the wolves as far from each other as possible.
I was about to argue with them when the front door opened violently and Edward walked —no, he flashed— toward us at a vampire speed.
He had a murderous look on his face, and his gaze was fixed on Jake.
Jake braced himself for the eminent attack, and I struggled in Seth's arms to put a stop to it. Instead of setting me free, Seth hugged me closer to his chest.
I was left with the choice of arguing with Seth to let go of me, or try to talk some sense into Edward; there was only enough time to choose one. "Edward, don't!" I said, choosing the latter.
Edward stopped a few feet from us and moved his gaze from Jake to my face, and to my injured leg. If he looked angry before, he looked positively livid now. His eyes moved toward Seth, who was probably explaining to him that my injury had not happened while he left me with Jake and him.
A few tense seconds passed and then Edward nodded once; his anger was still palpable.
He moved closer to me and without a word took me from Seth's arms and into his. Seth surrendered me without a fight.
Jake did not agree with Seth's compliance. "Wait a minute, bloodsucker," he said, placing himself between us and my house.
I sighed. "Its okay, Jake," I told him. "Go home. I'll be fine." I needed to have these two as far apart as I could.
Jake crossed his massive arms across his chest. "You touch one hair of hers, and you'll wish you didn't listen to her concerns for my safety, back at the clearing," he warned, repeating Edward's earlier words. Sarcasm filled his voice.
Edward ignored him and walked around him toward the house. I looked over his shoulder and smiled at my friends. "I'll call you later," I said.
"So, sorry," Seth whispered.
I shook my head.
Stubborn
I entered the house, in Edward's arms —I didn't want to think how right I felt in them. "You can put me down," I said, and struggled in his arms.
He tightened his grip on me, and ascended the stairs, toward my bedroom, in silence.
To my surprise, instead of placing me on my bed, he walked straight to the bathroom. In a way I was glad he didn't drop me on my bed, since I was covered in mud. But being with him in a small-enclosed place was unsettling to say the least.
Edward placed me on top of the sink and ripped my jeans on one side of the leg to inspect my injury more closely. He held my foot so carefully and I was fascinated how his face would change from anger, to concern, to fury.
I was about to push him away with my good foot when he let go of me and brought his phone from his shirt pocket. Alice answered at the first ring. "How is she?" she asked. I could hear her concerned voice as clearly as if I were the one making the call.
Edward ignored her question. "Bring Carlisle, Jasper and a set of clothes," was all he said.
"I'm fine," I said to Alice before he ended the call.
Edward moved toward my bathtub, moved the shower curtain to one side, and turned the water on.
"Edward, this is not necessary," I said, as he walked toward me, but before I could stop him, he held my injured leg and finished ripping my jeans all the way to my waist. "What do you think you are doing?" I asked, shocked by his actions.
In response, he ripped the other side, freeing me of the denim, as any paramedic would do. "Have you lost your mind?" I shouted, panicking a little.
He grabbed the hem of my shirt that indisputably was about to suffer the same fate my pants had.
I slapped his hands away and at the same time pushed him with my good foot. I'll be dammed if I let him see me naked. More naked, that is.
He stumbled a little but did not tumble.
I jumped off the sink —leaving the remains of denim behind, and had just landed on my good foot when he swept me off the floor and into his arms once again. "Let go of me!" I ordered him and punched him, hard, on his shoulder.
Edward took the blows with aplomb and entered the tub, with me in his arms.
The warm water sprayed the mud off me, and him. I stopped fighting him because I realized his actions were not of the sexual context, although it was something scarier. I didn't want to think about his thoughtfulness for my well-being; from my injury to his concern on the state of my cleanliness.
Once he noticed I stopped fighting, he relaxed and held me in one arm while with the other; he grabbed my shampoo, body wash and sponge. He sank to the ground, sat on the tile and crossed his legs in what looked like a yoga position, creating a cradle between his thighs for me sit comfortably.
Now with both of his hands free, he poured shampoo and lathered my hair with a tenderness I hadn't felt since I lost my parents. I looked up at him, and he seemed to be in a trance. His eyes fixed on my head as he rubbed and massaged my skull. Instead of fighting him, I closed my eyes and lost myself in his tender ministrations.
My eyes were still closed when I felt the softness of the sponge, run gently down my arms, legs —avoiding my injury— and foot. He also avoided my torso, and the more private parts of my body. I was glad about that.
Really, I was!
We spent a few more minutes letting the water wash away the shampoo and body wash. I relaxed in his arms —legs— as he played with my hair.
Edward had still not uttered a word to me.
All too soon he extended his arm and turned the water off. He carefully disentangled himself from me and stepped out the tub. I placed my hand on the tiled wall and stood up, heavily resting on my good foot.
Edward turned to look at me. "Stay," he said.
I hmphed. "I am not disabled. I can…walk—" the rest of my words died in my lips as Edward took off his wet shirt, and bent down to untie his shoes.
Edward was a beautiful man, but half-naked Edward was obscenely gorgeous.
All that bare skin, lean muscles, slender waist and arms toned with the unnecessary bulk were simply perfect. I had the urge to place my fingers to his chest, to touch his skin. I bet it'd be soft to the touch, like velvet–covered rock.
Edward discarded his shoes and turned to look at me. He caught me ogling him. His honeyed gaze was seeing through me with perfect clarity.
How embarrassing!
I tried to cover my mortification with anger. "Have you lost your mind? Why are getting naked? And right in front of me!"
Edward smiled; the first smile since the whole incident. "I don't want to drip water all over your floor," he explained. He then grabbed my blue robe, hanging on the hook behind the door and handed it to me. "I'll get you some dry clothes."
"I don't need you to—"
He exited the bathroom, closing the door behind him, before I completed my sentence. I groaned and quickly got rid of my wet clothes and covered my naked body with the robe. I stepped out of the tub when the door opened again.
"Can't you knock?" I asked, annoyed. Being in angry mode was easier to deal with his…his…nakedness.
"My apologies," he said, and handed me a pair of silk panties and matching bra.
I realized how naked we both were —me, with only a robe, and him, with only jeans. I wondered if he wore underwear; if they were boxers or briefs. I also wondered if the fall had made me lose my mind. I snatched the items from his hand and glared at him.
He laughed. I liked the sound —I liked him too much. He exited the bathroom and at vampire speed I closed the door, put on the panties and bra, and then I covered my body with the robe and made my way out of the bathroom.
Edward was looking out the window, and turned when I entered my bedroom. He immediately started walking toward me. I held out my hand in the universal sign of stop. "I can walk," I said. "The only reason I let Seth carry me, was to appease his guilt," I explained, since he seemed to be under the misconception of me being disabled.
He stopped his advance, and I limped my way toward my bed —without assistance. It felt good to be clean, dry and in the comfort of my bed. "Thank you," I said. "You can leave, now."
Edward gave a snort, letting me know what he thought of my request. "Carlisle is on his way to take a look at your injury." His eyes became serious. "I am not leaving."
It was my time to snort. "Carlisle can probably work wonders on humans. However, I don't think there's anything he can do for vampires."
"You might be right; nevertheless I want him to inspect your wound. There might be something he can do to speed the healing process."
I looked at the wound and noticed it already had closed a little. "It's unnecessary," I said, as the front door opened and closed. Light footsteps were coming up the stairs. I closed the belt—even more, tightening the robe around me. I glared at Edward once again.
Alice was the first to enter the room, followed by Carlisle, Jasper and Emmett. She quickly joined me on the bed. "That was very irresponsible, Bella," she chastised.
I rolled my eyes.
"Hello, Bella. How are you feeling," Carlisle greeted me.
"I'm fine. All this is unnecessary. Edward shouldn't have bothered you."
"It's my pleasure," he said, and moved closer to inspect my wound.
I sighed. Stubborn wolves, stubborn vampires!
Better get this over with.
Carlisle carefully held my ankle and inspected my wound. "The depth is considerable. It cut the bone, which is already regenerating." He looked at my eyes. "Are you in a lot of pain?"
I shook my head.
"Liar," Jasper muttered and I turned to glare at him.
"It doesn't matter," I said. "There's nothing I can do but wait until it heals by itself."
"It'll heal faster if you don't overexert yourself, or do anything physical," Jasper said.
"Inevitably, it will leave a scar," he added.
My eyes, unconsciously, moved to the scars marring his otherwise perfect face. I wondered how he had gotten them. So many of them.
I realized I was being rude and turned my gaze to Edward. "There. I'll rest and let the healing take its course."
Edward turned to look at Carlisle. "Will that help?" he asked him.
Carlisle looked at me and smiled apologetically. "I was thinking that maybe a cast —a removable cast, might help. It will restrict the movement of your ankle and let the wound close undisturbed."
"Do it," Edward told Carlisle. "How long it will take to heal?" he asked Jasper.
"Two, three days," Jasper said.
All this mayhem for just a couple of days. Talk about exaggeration.
"Bella?" Emmett said, grinning at me.
I wondered why he'd come. "What?"
"I was wondering, if you'd let me play with your friends, sometime?" he asked as if he were asking to borrow a CD.
Before I answered to his idiotic request, Edward beat me to it. "Shut up! You moron, there's nothing playful about this situation."
Emmett shrugged unrepentant. "She got to play with them, why not me?"
Edward looked ready to kill Emmett. Emmett didn't seem to care.
"Really, Bella," Alice chirped in. "What possessed you to play deadly games with the wolves?"
"We were not playing. I was teaching Seth how to defend himself against vampires."
"Why would you give the enemy instructions on how to defeat you?" Jasper asked. He looked sincerely intrigued.
"First of all, they are not the enemy. And second, with all this Leco business, I believe they should be prepared for anything."
"Please tell me, after this close call, you have given up on this nonsense," Edward said.
"Of course not," I informed him."This was an unfortunate accident that will not happen again, since everyone knows Seth and I are only training."
Edward groaned and ran his fingers over his hair in a gesture of frustration.
"I'll help you train him," Emmett offered.
"I don't need help," I declined.
"There won't be any training," Edward snapped.
I narrowed my eyes on him, tight-lipped, infuriated at how he was ordering me around. I said, "And who is going to stop me?"
Before he answered, Jasper spoke. "If you want your friends to learn how to build defenses against vampires, why don't you show them instead of physically engaging them in combat? The odds of someone getting hurt will diminish."
His idea wasn't bad, but a one-man show would be ineffective. I started to shake my head when Emmett spoke, again. "I volunteer," he offered. "I could be your training body to show the wolves what a real fighter is."
I looked at his brawniness and he reminded me of Felix. As crazy as it sounded, it might be a good idea.
"No!" Edward said. "Stop putting harebrained ideas in her head," he told both Jasper and Emmett. "No one will be training. No one!"
Gad, the man infuriated me so much! "Says who?" I asked, in clenched teeth; anger dripping on each word.
"Edward," Carlisle said softly. "It's not a bad idea. After all, Bella intends to train them no matter what."
Edward looked at his maker in disbelief. "You approve of this madness?"
"I think one should choose between the lesser of two evils," Carlisle answered.
Edward looked around the room reading the mind of each member of his family, and sighed. He turned to look at me. "Very well," he said. "You will train. But only with me."
Emmett loudly protests drowned my own.
I was tired, in pain and mentally drained. "We'll see about that," I murmured, closed my eyes, and laid my head against my pillow.
This conversation was over.
For now.
A/N: Many thanks to Marijee
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