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I focused my eyes on hers, wanting to catch the first strike that would undoubtedly occur fast. With my other senses, I paid attention to her steps. I could only hope that if- No, when I'd came out on top… Edward would forgive me.

My claws unsheathed. I blinked and found Rosalie halfway across our illusory circle. It's on.

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Chapter 14 – Blood, Sweat, and Tears

I clenched my abdomen and harshly willed the change on. My modifying legs were not yet functional to evade Rosalie's attack.

With her blinding momentum she hurled me into a tree. My back bent around it in an anatomically impossible manner. A groan wheezed out of me. Fortunately my spine was in the process of remodelling at that moment, and my bones merely shifted back into their correct position.

My paws found the floor. My eyes found Rosalie. She was standing in front of her scarlet car. I growled at the sight of her. I was fierce, and full of adrenaline.

"Didn't you know? Animals don't scare me," she said nonchalantly. "I usually eat them." And with that, the blond, black-eyed fiend, once again darted towards me.

I let my instincts guide me. This time I was ready.

I met her halfway, my teeth seeking her abdomen. Her ethereal hands blocked my attack. I fought back snapping and clawing where I could, but Rosalie was aggravatingly lithe and managed to dodge my every move. Having eternity on her hands, she must have found some time to refine her fighting technique. My teeth eventually managed to pierce her right shoulder blade. The red liquid that flowed into my mouth was a blend of several animals; I could detect elk and bear, combined with something older. The taste drove me wild. Her razor nails dug their way into my neck.

We broke apart. She was near the white mansion, me on the path that led towards it. I was breathing fast, due to the speedy sparring, and the exciting blood that danced on my tongue. Rosalie, who didn't need oxygen, was looking pissed. Apparently she assumed I would be an easier wolf to beat. For some reason she hadn't tried to use her teeth on me. True, her iron nails were effective weapons, but I had expected differently.

To my dismay, I saw the set of punctures in her shoulder heal over with fresh white skin. She rotated the attached arm and pulled a diminutive grimace. Apparently the internal wound took somewhat longer to heal. The scrapes on my neck were still trickling blood. I healed faster than humans, but not that fast.

I had to be careful.

Sunlight had vacated this lawn amongst the woods. I felt the initial streaks of white light tingle the individual hairs of my fur. Two more days and the moon would be full; the adored light was nearly palpable. Rosalie was more of a challenge than I had dared to assume. But with the moon above me, it would only be more natural to let the wolf in me take over.

After rolling her arm a second time, she smiled. Like a hawk, she flung herself in the air, her claws tracking me. I swiftly moved under her and leaped up. My teeth penetrated her torso. A horrific screech filled the air. I started tearing away, a cocktail of blood dyed my muzzle red. I experienced a searing pain on my brow; her tough nails were scratching on my skull. I fell back, yelping. I tried to pry my eyes open, I had to keep track of her. It was futile. Rosalie's blood, combined with that of my own, tainted my vision. I shook my head furiously from left to right, ignoring the pain, to shake it off. I tried to open them a second time, without prevail. Blood was seeping out of my head-wound into my eyes.

Even though I couldn't see, I was aware that Rosalie was on the ground, like me, her wound facing upwards. I quietly howled my ever gratefulness to the Moon Goddess. The blessing she bestowed upon me still allowed me to see, or rather sense, my surroundings.

My life's liquid was ebbing from my head, I felt myself growing weaker by the minute. Rosalie on the other hand, was developing some new skin on her stomach. She started to slowly struggle to her feet, and suppressed a wince.

She was now staggering towards me. I forced myself not to pay attention to my waning body, and disregard the pain. One moment of weakness could be my death. The moonlight only shone on the back of her. I was unable to see her expression, though her voice didn't leave much guess work.

"You little bitch," she snarled. "Oh, what's that? Got something in your eye?" Her menacing laugh echoed within my mind. "I'll take it out - your eye I mean." She limped closer to me, still in pain. I lay on the short grass, pretending to be too hurt to get up. Her hand swept into the moonlight, nearing my face. I disregarded my pretences, and snapped her four fingers between my vengeful teeth. Again she shrieked. But this time, I wasn't letting go. I shook my head angrily, from left to right. Satisfaction filled me at the sound of little pops and crunches of bones and joint. Her remaining hand was trying to yank my teeth apart. With one final tear, I had them. All four of them, in my mouth, disconnected from her hand.

She fell back screaming and whimpering. I chewed on the digits that were once part of that flawless hand, relishing the destruction.

I was so caught up with the taste of flesh and blood, fed by the whimpers of Rosalie, that I didn't notice something else dash towards me. Suddenly I was heaved up by the cuff, free from the ground. The hold was bruising. I sensed I was hauled to eyelevel by an intimidating, large vampire. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY WIFE?"

The bleeding of my head was reasonably minimal now. I opened my sticky eyes in order to see Emmet's. They were black, vacant of all traces of friendliness. I was so shocked, my jaw dropped, and the four chewed fingers pathetically dropped to the earth.

Whatever restraint Emmet had before, had taken flight. He used his other hand to expose my furry neck to him. I was aware of his pointed teeth nearing it. I struggled unsuccessfully. This is it. I wish I could have seen Edward one last time. I felt my fur part on my neck. But the teeth never got their chance to draw blood…

I was knocked unceremoniously from the large bruising hands. My head flopped on a boulder a few meters further.

I smelled a sweet masculine scent, before drifting off into a black haze.

Edward...

Something cool trickled down my temples. I can't. I don't have the energy to… be…

There it is again. Should I wake up? Open my eyes? No, I'm fine like this. I remember, something… Wasn't it? No. Probably not.

Cool streaks ran down my temples. Then a bruising pain in the back of my neck.

"Ouch!" I wanted to say, but I yelped instead. My eyes flung open. They fell upon Edward, who looked painfully relieved. Willing the world to stop spinning, I looked at my paws. I'm still wolf. Oh, I didn't die then. I saw a wet cloth in one of Edwards hands. There was a mixture of water and blood on it. From the smell of it, it was mostly mine. I found myself on the soft moss and pebbles of Lake Crescent.

I painstakingly looked up, desiring to see Edward again. His lips were moving. His emotions were changing from worry, to anger, and back again. But no sound could be heard.

I started to stretch into a girl again. I wanted to ask him if he could see ears on my head, or perhaps they were broken in little shards, like a china vase. I hoped I didn't step on them. I think Edward was trying to comfort me. He didn't need to. I know my mum likes gluing things back together.

When the last bones snapped pack into their rightful place, my hearing boomed back. I heard rustling of leaves, a frog, Edward, water move against pebbles, birds. The intensity was low, but it was too much, too fast, to process. Unwillingly, I found myself lost in the dark haze once again.

"Vivian," a velvet voice carefully prodded.

"Yes?" I opened my eyes to see that the shade of the night was still the same as before. I must have passed out for only a small moment the second time. "Is Rosalie ok?" I hope I didn't kill his sister, even though a prominent part of me felt she deserved it.

His face softened, touched by my question. "Yes, she'll be fine. Do you feel pain anywhere?" He looked my body over in a professional manner. Right, he went to med-school.

"Is Rosalie ok?" That wench had it coming, but I never meant to take his sister away.

Edward frowned. "She's fine. It seems like you have a concussion. You hit your head pretty hard. And you lost a serious amount of blood. Do you feel pain elsewhere?"

If my head wouldn't hurt so much, I would consider answering his question. "Eh," my hand reached to my forehead. I think Edward must have cleaned it, because the excessive blood was gone. The back of my neck felt bruised too. Oh, yes. Emmet.

"What happened to Emmet?"

He smiled sadly. "He wasn't too happy that I took you away." He indicated his right arm. He was shirtless. There were streaks of fresh flesh on his arm, and an odd purple colour that indicated bruising. "I never had to fight my brother before. But I think he was just caught up in the moment. We both know Rosalie had set this whole thing up. Carlisle was furious."

I noticed I was wearing his white shirt. One sleeve was missing, it was on the ground next to me, soaked with water and blood. I wish the world would stop turning for a bit.

I laid back, letting the moonlight bathe my appearance to see the state of me. My tawny and white hair was divided into clumps of dried blood. My forehead had four claret parallel clotted lines running across it. The fight. Fingers. Rosalie.

"Is Rosalie ok?"

"I thought you'd heal faster than this. You have a bad concussion Vivian." concern weaved into words. "You told me the moon holds healing powers for you. Is there not something you can do?"

The moon. I gazed at the near-perfect orb in appreciation. The little blood I had left responded well to the rays that fell on my skin. Perhaps it was possible to do what Edward requested. I had some of the Moon's blessing in me. But I doubted it would be enough to heal my head and other wounds. "I don't think I can."

"Please try."

"Ok," I breathed, slightly dizzy. I closed my eyes and envisioned my body on the pebbles. I focused on the white energy that lingered in my soul; festered in my bones, flowed through my veins. Now I tried to feel it. Become more and more aware of it, trying to get a hold of it, direct it.

Every time when I thought I made the energy palpable, it ebbed away again, reabsorbed in my body. Argh, it's so… hard. I tried again and again, until I could feel a slither of cool energy within my body, and willed it to my head. It's taking too long, I can't… With so much willpower it hurt, I maintained it, and mentally moved it around within my head. I can't… do this… for much longer. I could feel the haze clearing, the clotted blood on my forehead fall to the ground. Enough!

"GAAAAAH!" I cried out. The sensation was painfully overwhelming. I jumped up not knowing where to go. I was soaked in sweat, and the tears were streaming down my face. Too much. Out, I have to get out of here. Escape this.

I was about to make a run for it when Edwards' marble arms snaked around my body. "Vivian," it didn't register that he was worried. I was panting heavily and I was trying to get away. He dragged me down to the ground, hugging me in straightjacket position. "Calm down. It's ok."

My eyes darted in every direction. I was too alert. I felt so wrong, make it stop. Edward was struggling to keep me down. In small moments his face flashed before me with concern, unable to make much of it. Sobs and screeches filled the air and mingled with the rustling leaves, the frog, Edward, the water moving against pebbles, and the birds. Eternity seemed to pass in the shape of panic. Then, a velvet singing managed to puncture my brain.

"Come stop your crying, it will be all right.

Just take my hand, hold it tight.

I will protect you, from all around you.

I will be here, don't you cry."

At any other moment, I probably would have laughed at him. But right now, I clung to his words, them being the only things that were keeping me sane.

"No one could understand the way we feel.

How would they know? How can we explain?

Although we're different, deep inside us, we're not that different at all.

"Don't listen to them, 'cause what do they know?

We need each other, to have, to hold.

They'll see in time, I know."

My breathing had turned to a more desirable pace. His honey voice had soothed the distress in my head. The anxiety was largely eased. Small tremors now passed through me instead of uncontrollable jerking. Edward loosened his grip and smiled down on me.

"Feeling better now?" Affection was braided into his tone.

"Yes, thank you," I whimpered, and shivered.

"Are you cold?"

"No, it's not that. I'll be ok. But I'm never doing that again."

"Please don't," he chuckled, letting some of his own tension go.

I ripped the other sleeve of the shirt that he had put on me, and turned to hug him. I wanted to feel his cool skin against my own.

"Do you know what happened there?" Edward asked.

"No idea. I'll have to ask Aunt Persia when she comes."

I hugged him even closer, though my strength was fleeting. A lock of bloodstained hair fell into my vision. The sweat and tears didn't get a chance to dry yet. Goddess, I'm a mess. Another tremor ran down my body, though the frequency was subsiding.

"You have a nice voice," I told him. I doubted anything else could have calmed me.

"You are too kind," he said.

I carefully struggled to my feet, and meandered to the crystal clear lake. I wanted to clean myself and drink my dehydration away. I stumbled over my feet and nearly fell, if it wasn't for Edward. He took me into his arms, bridal style, and walked into the water.

I was sure the shirt was shine through in its wet state. However, it's not like Edward hadn't seen it all before. I felt his hand move though my hair, washing out the blood. I didn't have the energy to tell him I could do it myself. He hummed the ballad he had played earlier for me on the piano.

"Try to sleep a bit."

"Ok," I mumbled. Already halfway there.

AN: I hope you enjoyed this.

Edward masterly combined sections of I'll Be in Your Heart by Phill Collins, from the original, and the reprise from the Tarzan Broadway Musical.