Chapter 20

-Vasha-

Jake stopped in his tracks, once he was in the room. I accidentally ran into his solid back, and reeled backwards, winded.

I was about to ask Jake what happened, when I smelled it. Fear, death, decay. It was acrid and pungent, and clearly Jake had sensed it, too.

I inched around his frame, and surveyed the room. There were the Cullens, one and all, all standing next to their respective partners. Though something was strange, the group looked…divided.

"Is he here? Rose let me see him." A faint, weak voice called.

Was that Bella? Couldn't be.

Rose gave Jake a hateful look.

"What's your problem?" Jake spat at her.

"You're stink will upset Bella." Rose retorted.

Oh, hell no. I came fully into the room and walked up to Rose.

"You're starting to upset me." I said dangerously.

What was the big deal here, anyway? Bella was a vamp now. So what? The room was stuffed with them.

"Rose… I mean it. It's ok." The faint voice repeated. Edward was in the furthest corner of the big room. Like he was barely holding himself from running away.

I followed Rose with narrowed eyes as she walked away to join Emmet, then gasped as I got a good look at Bella.

"Abasi….." I whispered in the language of the deities. I couldn't even find English words to express my shock and horror.

Jake took one look at Bella, but didn't look surprised at all, only sad.

"You're gonna keep it aren't you?" He asked.

Bella nodded, weakly.

"Well, the packs are coming to kill you. You've been warned. Good luck."

All the Cullens stood up as if they expected to see wolves bounding up the stairs any second.

Jake turned and looked at me. "Lets go, V."

"Jake…?" I started to say something, but he wasn't hearing it.

"I said, let's go. It's gonna be a blood bath here, soon." Jake was almost yelling.

"Will you fight, Jake?" Bella asked standing up, and leaning heavily on Rose.

"Don't worry, I won't touch you or your monster. I'm done, here. I've given you guys a heads up, alright? My conscience is clear. The packs will come after night fall. Be ready."

"Sam is an alpha, Jake." Carlisle's said in his lullaby voice.

"If he orders you to fight, you have to. Isn't that right?"

"Wrong again, doc. I was first in line for alpha. I'm exercising my right to leave the pack as of today, but I strongly suggest you guys pack up your shit, and hop on the first flight out of here."

Jake walked to the doorway and held his hand out to me. I stared at it, then at Bella, then back at his hand.

"I'm staying." I said quietly.

Alice's mouth dropped open in a little "O" of surprise.

I moved over and stood next to the ghost of the former Bella.

"You know I won't let you, right?"

He looked like he meant it, but I was standing my ground.

"It's a baby, Jacob… Are you going to walk away and let it be murdered?"

"They'd have to get through me." Edward said quietly.

"See? Daddy bloodsucker's got it all under control." Jake said with sarcastic cheerfulness.

"This is THEIR problem, now. Not ours. Let's go."

"I can't, Jake… I won't."

He was very still for what seemed like a very long time.

Suddenly, he crossed the room in two strides and flung me over his shoulder. I struggled hard, but his big arm was like a vice.

He made for the door, but Emmet was in his face in a millisecond.

"There won't be any domestic abuse, while I'm around, Jake."

Jake turned again, and ran for the balcony.

I screamed as he leapt onto the railing, squeezing me tightly, and jumped over 30 feet to the ground. Amazingly, he landed light as a feather, and headed off straight into the forest.

He hadn't gone far when Seth and Leah appeared, looking shocked at the sight of Jake carrying me caveman style.

"What the hell are out two doing- HEY!"

In his moment of distraction, I called the roots to bind up his legs. I scrambled off his back as he lost balance and fell over.

I could literally see the heat emanating from his body as his anger took over and he phased into his wolf, tearing apart the vines.

I started to run back to the Cullen's, but he cut me off, a massive blockade of fur and huge teeth. The nearest trees bent over to push him away, but he was fast, leaping lightly, left and right, dodging the branches.

He lunged for me, lightly grabbing my foot in his enormous mouth, and literally dragged me, kicking and screaming, away from the house. I was pinging huge rocks at him, but they might as well have been pillows.

A terrifyingly beautiful gray wolf knocked Jake across the ground, freeing my foot. Leah positioned herself in front of me, growling defensively.

Jake wavered. It seemed he was unwilling to fight a girl, even if she was just as big and strong as him.

Seth was still human, and was looking fervently between Jake and Leah, listening to the telepathic conversation.

"All of us felt Jake break ties with the pack." Seth explained.

"Leah and I came here to join him, but he says he's not fighting, he's leaving."

"He really, really wants the two of you to go now, V."

I walked up to Jake and placed my hand on his head.

"Jake…. I know this makes zero sense, and that I've spent most of our relationship complaining about how much we have to help Bella… But… this is different. I have respect for her for the first time. In all likelihood, she won't even live to see this child, but she's ready to die trying. Like my mother died for me. Please try and understand. I can't leave now."

I kissed his big, wet nose and scratched Leah behind the ear, before walking back into the house.

Back inside, Bella looked at me steadily.

"I really appreciate your understanding, Vasha." She said in her ghostly whisper.

"I don't understand, Bella. I think you're insane. But very brave." I replied.

"Ohhhh. Make it stop!" Rose made a grossed out face and held her nose as Jake, Leah and Seth walked in the room.

No one even graced her with a response.

"The packs won't touch you because of the imprint law, Vasha, but it does nothing, absolutely nothing for the Cullens or for Bella. You do realize that don't you? You're not making this place any safer by being here." Jake said evenly.

"What if I just stay next to her the whole time? You know, maybe they won't attack her- cus they can't get a clean shot at her?" I reasoned.

Edward was looking at me like I was the Messiah. It made me uncomfortable.

"The wolves aren't big, bumbling beasts, Vasha." Jake continued sounding offended. "They're very precise and accurate killers. They'll easily be able to take her out without harming you. And since you're indoors, you have no power here. You can't call a big ol' monsoon to wash them all away. So, what's it gonna be?"

I was out of steam. I had no more arguments left. Jake seemed to sense my defeat.

"Gosh, Jacob, you're talking about me like I'm already dead." Bella whispered from the couch.

He gave her a look that said 'can you blame me?' and turned back to me, hand outstretched.

I sighed. "I think he's right, Bella, there isn't much I can do." I walked over and took Jake's hand. The sun was beginning to dip outside.

Bella stood up painfully. "Thanks for everything you guys. I'll be ok. I can do this." She hobbled over and gave me a weak hug, then Jake and Seth.

Leah took two big steps back, and stared at her. Bella smiled sadly, and turned to waddle back to the couch, when we heard a loud rip, followed by a sickening crack.

Twisted in a silent scream, she began to fall.