Chapter 12- From the Inside Out

...

I couldn't think of Edward...I had to focus on the battle that was to come...if only my mind would listen and do that! But no, as I paced in the living room, all that was going through my mind was Edward. His eyes, his touch, his voice...everything. I couldn't believe he hadn't known it was me. I was hurt. But I was more hurt by the fact that he was willing to just give up. It...it wasn't like him at all. Usually I was the one trying to throw the towel in and give up. But now the tables were turned, and I didn't like it one bit.

Get a grip on yourself. You have bigger and far bloodier things to worry about. Stop whining and get to work! I shouted at myself.

Didn't work.

I collapsed onto the couch, groaning. I ran a hand through my hair, mentally exhausted. My eyes fluttered closed, and when I tried to spark a flame in my palm it only wavered slightly and then faded out. I would be no use to anyone if I didn't get any rest. I'd probably just end up getting everyone killed.

I got up, leaving the library and heading into the kitchen where Flora was brewing up some potions for us to use. "Got anything for sleep?" I asked her, putting my head on the table.

She patted my back and replied, "Yes. One pillow and a large bed."

I snorted, shaking my head from side to side and rubbing my eyes. "You're hilarious."

"I do try. Now, go get some sleep. It's been a stressful couple days. I'm sure you need it."

"Alright. Have someone wake me if anything goes wrong."

"Of course."

"Night, Flora.

"Sleep well, Noleen."

I nodded my head and somehow managed to make my way up the steps, my feet dragging. Halfway up the stairs, I realized that my bedroom was also Edward's bedroom. My bed was his bed. "Oh, damn it!" I exclaimed, hitting my head against the banister. What was I going to do? I didn't want to see him, let alone give him the chance to stare at me in thought while I slept.

"Beating yourself up isn't part of the plan for tomorrow, I hope." Someone said from above me.

I looked up, rolling my eyes when I saw Laurent standing there. "Shut up, Laurent."

He chuckled, practically skipping down to where I was standing in anguish. 'What's got you down, Bells? You can talk to me."

I sighed, nodded my head. "Yeah...I don't want to sleep in my room. Does that sound stupid?"

"No, I understand. If you want, you can use mine. It's no use to me."

I licked my lips, nodding my head. "If you're sure."

"Of course. Come, I'll unlock it."

I followed him, my eyebrow arched. "You lock your bedroom door?"

"Of course. I have important objects in there that can't afford to be stolen."

I was about to ask what, but decided not to. Who knew what he considered to be important? He opened his door, allowing me to walk in first. It was a nice guest bedroom. Good enough for me to sleep in. I sat on the bed and pulled the covers tight around me, smiling up at him. "Thanks, Laurent."

"Of course. Sleep well."

I nodded and placed my head on the pillow, snuggled tight and warm in my blankets. In no time at all, I was asleep, dreaming of when my life was easier.

...

I awoke to the sound of screaming. Generally, that isn't something one wants to be woken up to. For a moment, I opened my eyes and just lay there-waiting to see if I'd been imagining it. Then, the yell pierced the air again, and I knew it hadn't been a figment of my imagination. I leapt from the bed and tore out of the room, bounding down the steps. Hope peeked out of her bedroom, her eyes wide. "Stay in there!" I instructed her. She nodded her head and closed her door. Her room was protected by magic. Anyone with evil deeds at mind couldn't walk through. Yuzria's idea.

I practically flew down the stairs, my hair flowing behind me. At the bottom, I stopped, my eyes wide. Our receptionist was lying there, bleeding out. Her throat had been torn. The smell of blood was sweet, but I pushed my desire to drink aside and knelt next to her, holding her in my arms. She was still alive, and trying to speak.

"Who did this to you?" I asked softly.

Her lips trembled, speckled crimson. She whispered something I couldn't make out. But it sounded like, "Husband."

I watched her take her final breath, and then lowered her to the floor. I was covered in her blood, but didn't care. I had more important things to attend to. Such as, why no one had come rushing down also. I was the only one around. Where was everyone?

"Mommy!" Hope shouted, sounding terrified.

"No," I whispered. I ran up the stairs and stopped, surprised to see Edward outside her bedroom door. Then I noticed his red stained clothes and crimson eyes. From his lips, a trickle of blood slid to his marble white throat. My breath faltered. He looked...menacing. "Edward?"

He laughed, shaking his head. "Edward isn't here right now."

I looked at him, my eyes wide. "What are you talking about?"

He growled and turned back to Hope's door, pounding against the invisible wall that was keeping him from entering. Hope screamed, tears streaming down her face. "Let daddy in!" He yelled.

"Daddy," she said softly. "What happen'd to you?"

He snarled and raised a hand. I swung, my foot connecting with his jaw. He flew to the opposite wall, bursting right through to the room on the other side, which was thankfully empty. "What the fuck is going on with you?" I hissed.

"I've realized what I've been missing, dear Bella." He inhaled, his lips darkening even more. "I need it," he told me, his body quivering. "I need human blood. She gave it to me and I need it."

I knelt down, pressing my nails into his throat and lifting him off the floor. "Who gave it to you?" I demanded to know.

He chuckled, and then spat a mixture of venom and blood into my face. "Fuck off," he growled.

I wiped the spittle off and threw him on the floor. He crashed, breaking the bed in two. I stepped towards him, my heel digging into his leg. He yelled as it began to pierce through the rock hard flesh. "Who gave it to you?" I asked again, softer.

"You. You did," he answered, laughing madly.

"Rosemary," I said quietly. I left him there, laughing like he'd lost his mind. Down the hallway, I strode, looking for the bitch wearing my face. I heard a laugh and whirled around, but not fast enough. I was thrown down the stairs, landing on my back next to the dead receptionist. Annebelle jumped, flying down, her arms outstretched. Right before she reached me, I flipped, knocking her onto the staircase as my boots hit her stomach.

"Give up, Noleen! You'll never win!" She yelled, straightening herself.

I threw my hair out of my face, shaking my head. "I don't think so. Now, tell me, what did Rosemary do to my husband?"

"Your husband? Are you sure about that?"

I was about to respond when I looked down, noticing my hands weren't mine. There was a mirror in the front hall. I turned to it, surprised to see I looked exactly like Rosemary. I touched my cheek, gasping. What the fuck was going on?

Annebelle walked next to me, her lips by my ear. "At the end of this, they won't even know who you are," she whispered.

She disappeared, leaving me alone...

...

"Bella! Bella, wake up!"

I jolted up, my eyes snapping open. I bit back a scream, my eyes meeting Yuzria's. I scrambled out of the bed, darting to the bathroom mirror. I touched my face, closing my eyes in relief when I saw my face staring back at me.

"Are you alright?" he asked, standing by the bathroom doorway.

I shook my head, splashing my face with ice cold water. "I won't be okay until this is done, Yuzria. I'm tired."

"It'll be alright. It was just a nightmare."

"It didn't feel like a nightmare. It was...it was horrible."

He walked in, putting a hand on my shoulder and turning me so I was facing him. "Do you need to talk?" he asked softly.

"No. I need to kill Annebelle, and make sure she stays dead. That's what I need to do."

He pressed a kiss to my forehead and squeezed my shoulder. "I have faith in you, Bella."

I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly. Then, I caught my eyes in the mirror, and I saw Edward's red irises staring back at me. What if...what if I hadn't had a nightmare? What if I'd had another vision?

"Where's Edward?" I questioned Yuzria, pulling back from him.

"I don't know. Haven't seen him."

"Shit! Yuzria, I saw something. I think they're going to...I think they're already here, Yuzria. They're getting us from the inside out, not the other way around! I need to find Edward!"

He looked at me intensely, shaking her head. "You're not making any sense, Bella."

I pushed past him, desperate to find my husband before they changed him completely.

A/N: What's this? An update? GASP! lol. I finished Nano, got some creative juice back, so yay! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed last chapter and gave me such supportive and kind words. You guys are the best fans ever. No lie. You are. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! If any of you like the show Supernatural (very good show) I have a fanfic posted up, two chapters written. That one will be updated a lot, cause I'm obsessed with the story. So, yeah. Hahah. Review and let me know what you think!
Faith