Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns the characters in this...except for one...
Firstly, let me begin by telling those of you who commented on the last chapter with something along the lines of "The Cullens wouldn't just leave her, not realistic". Yeah, I know. What have I written to lead any of you to believe otherwise? The last chapter was meant to throw you off, you didn't need to get rude about it. BOO, don't review anymore, you just annoy me, you've never said a helpful thing to ANYONE. Everyone else, your critiques are great, but before you think the Cullens were OOC, think about the next chapter having answers. If they don't "come back" then you can bring up your point with me.
I apologize about this bitch rant, I've had a rough week, and some of the reviews just got under my skin.
On to real business, this is kind of a HUGE Chapter. A certain scene in here was the FIRST scene I ever pictured writing for "Moondance". I never thought it would take me 20 chapters to get to it, but we're finally here now. ((:
On that note, this chapter is dedicated to Hollowgo.
Cheers,
Lemon
"Bella. Bella!" A frantic worried voice said my name; I shot up in bed and started sobbing. That nightmare. Oh God! Thank God! It was just a nightmare. My body shook with the power of my sobs, and the hole in my chest that the nightmare had left behind started to seal itself.
"Bella!" the bell voice said worriedly and then I was wrapped in small cold arms. The fear receded instantly, the emptiness completely gone from my body. I relaxed into the scent of chamomile and honey and I grabbed a handful of Alice's shirt and continued to sob.
"Please…don't leave me. Not again, I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt him. Just don't leave me." I begged her.
"Ssh, ssh, Bella I'm not going to leave you. Calm down, please calm down. Your heart is pounding." Alice told me in a soothing voice as she rocked me and stroked my hair. "Ssh, it's alright. It was just a nightmare. No one is leaving you. I promise." She said. I took a deep breath and when her scent filled my head my heart skipped a beat, but then started to slow down. I felt myself stop shaking and the tears lessened. After another few moments I was okay enough to pull away.
I rubbed my eyes and then looked up at Alice. The worry was evident in her eyes and her brows furrowed together. My eyes moved to her jaw, my right hand following their lead. I touched her face where I had seen the horrible cracks in my nightmare. I ran my thumb along her cheek for a moment before she reached up and steadied my hand. Not pulling it away, but holding it in place. Her other hand moved to my chin and she directed me to look at her.
"Bella, what is it?" she asked tenderly. I let my hand fall, but she held it in her own.
"Nothing…Its-I guess it was just a nightmare…" I half whispered and her eyes fell.
"You worried me. Your heart was pounding and you were telling me not to leave…what happened?" she asked. I blushed but she stroked my cheek and then wrapped my hand in both of hers. I sighed.
"You left." She smiled.
"I gathered that. Bella, you know I'd never leave you. Now tell me what happened. You seemed scared." She said and started drawing circles on the back of my hand.
"Basically…Edward made you all leave again because I-I hurt him, but he let you say goodbye." I said and she shook her head.
"Bella none of us are going anywhere, even if Edward would want us to. Which he doesn't." she told me no hint of deception in her voice.
"So…you spoke to him?" I asked feeling ashamed of what I did to her brother. She sighed.
"Kind of, I had a vision of him speaking to me. He's going to be gone for a while, he just told me to tell Esme and Carlisle, but he'll be back. He just needs time." I looked at our hands.
"You're not angry with me?" I asked quietly. She giggled and I looked up at her questioningly. She bit her lip and regained a serious face.
"Bella, why would I, or any of us for that matter, be mad at you? You did what you felt was right. It'll be better for you both in the long run. If you weren't happy with him then it's not your fault…I suppose sometimes these things happen." She said and I looked up at her, her eyes were focused past me. Then she looked at me and offered me a smile.
"We all love you. Esme will be the first to tell you that you're always going to be part of this family." I smiled feeling a bit of relief. "And I will be the first to tell you that no matter what, we will never abandon you. I promise." She said. I smiled and wrapped my arms around her neck. I relaxed when her arms wrapped around me.
"However," she began and pulled away eying me with a glare. "The situation with the clothes being torn up is a different story, and I am angry about that." She said and I blushed as she slid off my bed. "What on earth did you do?" she asked picking up a torn shirt.
"Err…I kind of let my temper get the best of me last night." I told her and that's when I felt the pain in my hand. I looked down to see the knuckle bruised and swollen. "Damn." I said and Alice looked at me, her eyes narrowing in on the bruise.
"What's that from?" she asked and flashed over cradling my hand in her cold one, the temperature helping ease the pain.
"I might have…lost a fight with the wall." I said and blushed deeper. She rolled her eyes.
"Of course you would." She said and then examined it. "Well, I don't think it's broken, can you make a fist?" she asked and let go of my hand. I made a fist, it was sore but I could do it. She nodded.
"Good, you'll be fine. You just need to ice it, and you know not hit"-
"Hit things that are harder than me. I know, I know, thanks Alice." I said finishing for her. She smiled, but I frowned.
"Bella…he'll be alright. He just needs time." She said and placed her hand on my shoulder. I nodded.
"I know…but I said something that I didn't mean to say…I just wish I could apologize."
"He'll be back when he's calmed down. You can talk to him then. Until then just don't let the guilt eat you up. Remember what that did when he was the one to leave?" she asked and I grimaced.
"Okay." I said sighing. My alarm clock went off, I hadn't noticed the time until just now. I looked at Alice and she smiled sheepishly as I got up to turn the clock off.
"Sorry, you were having a nightmare." I shrugged.
"It's alright; I probably would have woken up anyway. I'm going to take a shower." I told her, she nodded and looked around the floor; she picked up one of my flannels a pair of jeans she bought me and a non-torn v-neck and handed them to me. I smiled and thanked her heading to the bathroom.
I took a quick shower and got ready, blow drying my hair, and brushing my teeth. I walked back into my room to grab shoes when I noticed nothing was lying on the floor anymore and Alice was sitting on the bed playing with her iPod. She smiled up at me and I shook my head with a grin.
"You cleaned my room?" I asked she nodded.
"Yup, and we're going to have to go shopping again to replace the things you ruined." She told me I groaned.
"Alice. Don't you have things for me at your house?" I whined.
"I do, but that's for at my house." She said and got up. "Are you hungry?" she asked I sighed and nodded. I really wasn't hungry at all, but I said yes because I knew Alice would worry if I didn't eat. I put some shoes on and we went down to the kitchen.
"I'm just going to have some cereal, I'm not that hungry." She shrugged.
"Suit yourself." She plopped down in one of the chairs. I poured myself some cereal and sat down across from her. I was feeling more relaxed than I thought I should, I should be racked with even more guilt then I was feeling. I deserved it. I ate a little, but my stomach wasn't having more than a few bites. I sighed and pushed the bowl away.
"What's wrong?" Alice asked me. I looked at her and cocked an eyebrow.
"I shouldn't be fine when Edward's out there hurting." I said and stood up and tossed my bowl in the sink. "I mean, I know how he feels, it's not fair. I deserve to be hit by a bus." I said glaring out the window. I heard a growl, and turned around to see Alice glaring at me.
"Don't say that." She said and I heard her growl again. "It's not true and you know it. I know how hard it is. Either party in a relationship that ends feels it. Whether or not they did the breaking up. I know your guilt is eating you up, that's your way of punishing yourself. So don't you talk like that." She said firmly and I nodded. She relaxed and took a deep breath. Then her smile was back in place and I couldn't help but return it, even though it made me feel heartless.
"Well, we should get going, I ran here this morning, so you're driving." She said. I nodded and we collected our things heading for the door.
We drove to school in silence. I was grateful that Alice was giving me time to think. She didn't say anything until we pulled into the parking lot. When I stopped the car she turned to me and grabbed my hand.
"Promise me you won't let the guilt paralyze you." She said her eyes pleading.
"Alice…" I looked at her eyes again and sighed. "I'll try. That's all I can promise." She smiled.
"That's more than I thought you'd agree to." Then she hopped out of the truck and I followed suit. She was by my side in an instant handing me my bag.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome." Her eyes glazed over for a moment. "Angela wants to talk to you." She said with a smile and pulled me towards the school.
When we got under the cover of the school I spotted Angela standing near my first period class. She saw me and Alice and waved at us. Alice still dragging me by the hand led us over there.
"Hey Alice, Bella." She said looking at me. "How are you?" I sighed and ran my free hand through my hair.
"I've been better, but I've been worse…" I said. She looked at me sympathetically.
"So you did it?" she asked and the sympathy in her eyes grew as I nodded. "I'm sorry. How did he take it?" I looked at Alice.
"He'll be alright, he just needs time." She said and Angela nodded.
"I better get to class; the bell is going to ring soon." She said and hugged both Alice and I.
"Hey, Ang?" I stopped her and she turned around.
"Yeah, Bella?"
"Thank you. For last night I mean." She nodded and smiled again.
"Anytime. See you in Spanish." She turned back around and made her way to class.
"So, why did Angela know about this before me?" I heard Alice say, and when I looked at her she actually looked upset. I grimaced.
"Alice…" her face softened. "I-I wanted to talk to you, I really did, but I didn't know how you'd react to me wanting to break up with your brother." She shook her head.
"I guess I understand that. But now you know. No matter what it is, Bella, I'm going to be here for you." She said and squeezed my hand. I nodded.
"I'll remember that. Thanks Alice." I said she smiled then it grew guilty.
"I did sort of already know something was going to happen…I saw you talking to Angela, at lunch yesterday, but it was blurry because you hadn't really decided what the conversation would be about." My eyes widened.
"So he knew?" I asked shakily. She shook her head.
"No, like I said, it was vague, but I left when we got home just in case…" she said.
"Yeah… he told me…did you see-see that part?" I asked. She nodded glumly.
"I saw you telling him, yes." She paused and I looked at the ground. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to invade your privacy…It just came to me when I left with Jasper." I shook my head.
"Its fine, I know. I'm just…relieved you don't hate me." I told her quietly. She caressed my cheek with the back of her free hand.
"I could never hate you, Bella. Not ever." I smiled and then blushed at the sincerity and emotion in her words. Alice smiled and then looked around people were already disappearing into classrooms.
"I better get going, got another fun filled day of absolutely nothing. See you next period." She said and kissed my cheek before dancing off towards her first period. I sighed and went into my class.
The rest of the day passed by slowly, we did the same things as yesterday in all my classes, Edward was never far from my mind. I was hoping he was okay. After P.E. Alice asked me to drive her home, so I did as she bade. When we got there though I was a little more reluctant when she told me to turn the truck off, but as always, I couldn't deny her anything. She hopped out of the car and sped to my side opening the door.
"Esme." She said and Esme appeared beside me in a moment. She wrapped her arms around me and I could feel the love and warmth radiating of the slightly taller woman. I smiled, and hugged her back. The nightmare from last night was now nothing more than a memory of a nightmare, Esme was hugging me and she wasn't sobbing. That was, by the way, one of the most heartbreaking sights anyone would have to endure. She pulled back after a minute and rested her hands on my shoulders looking right into my eyes.
"Alice told me about your nightmare. Hear me now, and listen well, we will never ever leave you. You are as much a daughter to me as Alice or Rosalie. You are part of this family, and now you're stuck with us." She said firmly but with a smile. I felt my heart swell with love and I threw my arms around her neck.
"Thanks Esme." I heard Alice giggle.
"You're welcome, Bella. Don't worry about Edward…he'll be fine." She reassured me and we broke apart. I nodded.
"I'm trying." I said honestly. "I'm sorry."
"For what, honey?" Esme asked sweetly.
"For hurting your son." She rolled her eyes.
"Edward is a grown man, he will be fine, I know it hurt you both, and we've been through this before, but I think and hope, that it won't be the same as it was last time." I grimaced. "You both know that we are a family, and we are here for you, no matter what." I nodded.
"So, Bella are you going to come in?" Alice asked me. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.
"Actually, I think I need some time to think." I said and her face fell.
"Alice." Esme chided. "Alright, Bella, we'll see you soon. Remember if you need us, we'll be here." She leaned in and hugged me once more, I could never get enough Esme hugs, and then she disappeared inside.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Porsche?" she asked with a smile which I automatically returned.
"Sure, I'll see you in the morning. Thanks, Alice." Smiling she pecked my cheek and opened the truck door for me.
"Drive safe." She said and closed it. Then I started the car and she disappeared.
The next few days passed without much happening. Edward still wasn't back and hadn't called the Cullens. Alice had a few visions of him showing where he was, and she told me he'd done that for their benefit. I had taken all my finals and I knew I'd done well. I had ended all my classes with at least an A-, so I had that going for me. I told Charlie that and he agreed in not making me go to school Friday. Alice had encouraged me to ask him so we could have a sleep over. If she was included, my dad was all for it.
At first I'd been reluctant to go over to their house, even after what Esme had told me, I still felt bad for being the cause for Edward's departure. Again. But Alice insisted and I've never been able to say no to her for very long, if at all. I told her to get me around four, I wanted to clean the house and try my hardest to relax.
So here I was, it was another cloudy day in Forks, nearing two o'clock, my chores were done, and I was bored. I contemplated calling Alice to tell her to come get me sooner, but decided the less time around Rosalie, the better. I had just broken her brother's heart, and she already hated me. I guess I wouldn't be on her list of top ten favorite people.
I was sitting in front of the off T.V. not bothering to turn it on a pretend to watch it, knowing it wouldn't catch my attention. I scrolled through my phone and stopped at the 'J'. I sighed and turned the screen off. Then I turned it back on and hit 'send message' on Jacob's number.
I need to talk to you. I need my best friend. –Bella
I knew it would do no good, but I still hoped, and hit send anyway. I tossed my phone aside and stood up feeling restless, I just wanted something to do. I started pacing and biting my nails. On my fifth round, I noticed something from the corner of my eye, out in my back yard. I stopped and rushed to the glass door. I opened it and stepped out closing it quickly behind me.
I looked out just past the tree line, there it was; a huge reddish brown wolf.
"Jacob!" I said and ran forward. The wolf looked at me for a moment and turned around swiftly. "No! Jacob wait!" I shouted but he didn't stop. I continued to run after him.
"Please I need to talk to you!" I could no longer see him, but I kept going. I ran for a good ten minutes into the forest, hoping he'd stop. Then I caught a break, I ran to a clearing and saw Jacob at the other side with his head down.
"Jacob!" I said and he looked at me, I heard him whimper. "Please, don't go. I just need to talk to you." I walked forward and he stayed where he was. I got within about ten feet of him, and then he stepped forward and nudged me with his head. I nearly cried and I threw my arms around his huge scruffy neck.
"Oh, Jacob!" He whimpered again. "I know. I missed you too." I replied feeling like I knew what he said. He rubbed his head against me and then I released his neck. He looked at me and I could see the sadness in his eyes. Then he shook his big wolf head and started backing up. I frowned and my happiness started dissipating.
"Wait, don't go." I said and took a step forward; he shook his head again and turned around. He paused and looked back over his shoulder with another whimper he took off running.
"No! Jake, wait! I need to tell you something!" I said and ran after him.
I lost sight of him almost instantly, but I didn't stop running. I fell several times, and scraped my hands and muddied my jeans, but I didn't care. I just got back up and ran after my friend. I pushed myself until my legs and lungs burned, and then I pushed myself some more.
"Jacob!" I yelled, hoping he'd hear me. I just kept running. I don't know how long I ran, until I finally stopped and leaned against a tree to catch my breath.
"Damn it." I said as I looked around. No Jacob, and now I didn't know where I was. I decided to just head back in the direction I'd been running from and do my best to remain in a straight line. I'd eventually come out near my house. I stood there another few minutes clutching at the stitch in my side and regained my breath.
Finally when I held my hand up over my head and stretched out my side, the soreness went away, and my breathing was back to normal. I started heading the way I came. I walked for not even a minute before I heard something I never wanted to hear, let alone when I was alone. A twig snapped behind me and I froze. My heart beat picked up its' step. Then I heard it, the most terrifying thing I'd heard in a very long time. The silence around me was broken by a beautiful and horrible laugh.
"Oh, this was just too easy. I almost feel sorry for you." I turned around slowly with my eyes wide. Of course, it was Victoria. Standing as bold as brass not fifteen feet away from me. "But then I get over it." She hissed.
"V-Victoria." I stuttered. She laughed again, her wild mass of fiery curls bouncing. She truly was a frightening beauty. I took a step back.
"Yes?" she said. "Were you expecting someone else?" I continued backing up, knowing no matter how much distance I put between us now, or how fast I ran in the opposite direction, she had me. I was hers. She knew it and I knew it. Fuck. I internally cursed my own stupidity.
"Now what is a sweet thing like you doing all the way out in a place like this?" She asked gesturing around us. Then she took a few steps forward and I matched them with my own retreating ones. She put her hands up in defense and stopped.
"Oh, don't worry, I'm not going to kill you." She casually walked over to a tree and leaned against it crossing her arms and folding one leg over the other. "At least not yet anyway." I gasped and she rolled her eyes dramatically.
"You are such a coward." She hissed and my heart stepped up it's pace even more. "So much so, you know I'm not even sure I want to kill you." She said and looked at her nails.
"G-go with it." I said shakily. She held her hand out still inspecting her nails.
"Then again, I've been at it for this long, I never give up and I'm not about to start now. Plus…" she started and I heard her growl and she flashed right in front of me, her hand caressing my throat, her nails gently gliding over the skin. "You're the reason my mate is dead." I gulped, I was completely frozen in fear. What could I do anyway?
"That fool, had to finish his game! I told him it wasn't safe, that he should wait." She said and took a step back not dropping her hand, and she continued to glare at me with brilliant red eyes. "You and you're damned blood. Oh, it smells unlike anything I've ever encountered before." She said and leaned towards me taking a breath, I felt her cold hand tighten slightly around my throat.
"However…I could have given him a better way to kill you. And then you go and get Laurent killed! You little bitch! My coven!" she shrieked and picked me up throwing me back. I slammed into a tree and slid down it falling hard onto the roots, I felt pain shoot up my back as I landed funny.
I looked up and Victoria was right in front of me again. She bent down and picked me up by the throat.
"No! I'm not going to kill you yet, but I am going to make you suffer. I'm going to hurt you in ways you never dreamed possible in your worst nightmare!" She said as I choked for air clawing at her marble hand. Then she threw me into another tree. This time my head slammed into it first and then I tumbled forward landing hard on the dirt.
She was on me again lifting me up by my hair. I cringed and she slammed me back into the tree and put her hand on my chest and her fingers barely twitched, and I heard a sickening crunch, followed by a sharp pain. I cried out.
"And then when you're even weaker than you already are, when you're begging for death…" she said in terrifyingly soft voice, then grabbed me by the throat holding me off the ground so her mouth was near my ear. "Then I'm going to make you watch as I kill your precious family. I'll kill your Edward and I'll kill his silly family, and then I'll make you watch as I kill Charlie…and Renee." She hissed in my ear I felt the hot tears trickle down my face and I gasped for air as she tightened her grip. "Doesn't that sound like a wonderful treat?" She slammed me into the tree harder this time and dropped me.
She turned around and took a few steps away.
"Run. I want to catch you." She said and growled. I just looked at her and rubbed my throat coughing, feeling the throb in the broken ribs in my side. "RUN!" she yelled and flashed to me picking my up by my hair and forcing me in another direction.
I didn't hesitate, I knew it wouldn't do much good, but I ran. Even if it was part of her game I had to do something. I ran as hard and fast as I could ignoring the burn in my legs, or the throb in my side and back, I just kept going willing myself to stay upright.
"Oh, this is so much fun!" I heard from my left. I just pushed myself harder. Then I heard a sadistic laugh echo around from my right. "Keep going, dear Bella. You don't want the scary monster to get you!"
Victoria's voice was all around me and I just kept moving forward. I don't know how long she had me running but I heard another laugh from behind me and then I slammed into her out stretched arm, causing me to fall backwards onto the ground. It completely winded me and I rolled over gasping for air crawling away.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You lose." She said and she stuck her foot out hardly moving it and I was thrown backwards by the strength. She ran over to me and picked me up by the shirt. She growled as I gasped still trying to catch my breath. My heart was thrumming uncontrollably in my chest. I hoped that wherever they were the Cullen's wouldn't feel guilt for not being here. I hope Edward would forgive himself because I knew he would blame himself, even if he was mad at me. Most of all I hoped Alice wouldn't do anything stupid.
Victoria slammed me into another tree adding pressure to where her hand was pressed against my chest. I could feel my ribs starting to give under the pressure. This wouldn't kill me, even if they all snapped like the pathetic twigs they were under her strength, it would just make me wish I was dead. Just like she told me, not yet anyways. I couldn't move my chest to breathe anymore and I started panicking as I felt one rib crack. I silently begged any deity who would listen to send my love to my parents, to the Cullens, to Jacob and Angela, and keep them safe.
"Now…it's getting good. Beg for it, Bella." She said adding more pressure and I couldn't talk if I wanted to, I'd be sobbing if I had any control over my chest, but I didn't. So I did what I could, if I was going to die, I was going to do it with dignity. I looked into her frightening red eyes and glared at her. She turned her head to the side and cocked an eyebrow.
"It looks like you have something to say… Well, spit it out." she said and let up the pressure just barely enough for me to get a tiny bit of air.
"G-go…to…h-hell." I wheezed and her eyes narrowed and the pressure was back on.
"Now, that wasn't very nice. I suppose I'll have to teach you some manners." She pulled her hand back slowly like she was going to slap me across the face, and I braced myself for it, but never closed my eyes.
Suddenly with a smash of thunder Victoria was gone, the pressure let up off of my chest, and I slid down the tree and gasped for precious air, my head swirled when the oxygen was given to my neglected lungs, and my chest throbbed with the effort of breathing. I shook my head trying to clear the daze and looked around to see where Victoria went.
My eyes widened as I saw Victoria lying on the ground several yards away. She quickly stood up and an angry roar erupted from her mouth. She crouched as if she was about to attack. That's when I noticed someone, the person Victoria was fighting. I was shaking with fear that Victoria would kill this person and then come for me.
With a flash and another growl Victoria lunged for the other person. It was a vampire I knew that much at the speed it moved, but I didn't see enough of them to be able to tell which one of the Cullens it was. I was still trying to breathe right, but my eyes followed the blurs and my ears rung every time I would hear the sound of thunder.
Then Victoria was thrown into a several trees. The other vampire was a good thirty feet away from me, and then I noticed, this was no Cullen. It wasn't even a vampire I might have recognized. She was tall I could tell even though she was hunched over in a crouch. She had short messy crimson red hair and she looked lean, not overly muscular but she was fear inducing none the less. I gasped and her head snapped back towards me.
I was even more afraid now, I didn't know if she meant to kill me or not, her eyes were as black as the night. So this is what I get for hurting Edward, if Victoria didn't kill me, surely this other vampire would. I guess I deserved it. Before anything else happened though I saw Victoria charge the crimson redhead and if I hadn't been watching her face I might have missed the smirk, though I could have sworn I imagined it. She growled and spun out of the way of Victoria's attack, completing her spin with a strong kick to Victoria's back. Victoria rolled forward and was on her feet quickly.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" she hissed, the other red head just cocked her head to the side and crouched again, black eyes not leaving Victoria. Victoria snarled and was on her again.
The crimson redhead moved furiously, I barely caught any of it, she was everywhere. Victoria seemed to have a hard time trying to land a blow. But I heard rock slam on rock and saw Victoria down on the ground with the taller woman holding her by the throat. She growled and I heard the sound of cracking boulders. Victoria grabbed her by the arm that was holding her throat and flipped her over her head.
The other crimson haired vampire charged her without missing a beat and her fist slammed into Victoria's chest. Victoria flew back but landed on her feet coming back for more. They were a blur of red and white again, I could hear growls and hisses, and the sound of one landing a blow on the other every now and then.
I finally did my best to try and stand, but I couldn't and I slid back down the trunk of the tree wincing in pain as my back gave out. My ribs were screaming at me not to move so I obeyed. I felt myself getting weaker as I sat there, and I couldn't go anywhere.
One of them would lose, and if it wasn't Victoria, I was going to die. With my luck if the other one won, I was still going to die. I then caught movement from the corner of my eye and a flash and someone was standing two feet in front of me hunched over in a crouch. I froze. Then I noticed the tresses of softly curling golden hair. She looked over her shoulder at me.
"Bella, what fuck did you do to get yourself into this mess?" she hissed. I never in my life had felt so relieved to see the one Cullen who hated me.
"R-Rosalie." Her head snapped forward again and I looked around her trying to see what was happening.
"Victoria!" Rosalie snarled and took a step forward. Victoria and the other redhead had paused momentarily and were sizing each other up, obviously having missed Rosalie's arrival. Victoria's eyes shot over to Rosalie and narrowed. Then she started slowly backing away as her eyes darted between the blond and redhead.
"Damn!" She roared then her eyes fell on me. "Remember my promise." She hissed and then she was gone. Rosalie's posture didn't let up and the other redhead looked at her.
"Who the hell are you?" Rosalie hissed she stuck her hand in her pocket and I could hear her dialing. The redhead just looked at her still crouching in defense. "Alice, get the fuck over here now." I heard Rosalie say quickly then her phone landed in my lap.
"Are you going to answer me?" She snarled and took a step forward the redhead continued to ignore her.
Suddenly Alice was there beside me.
"Bella! Oh my God, Bella what the hell happened? Are you alright?" she said and rested her hand on my thigh and the other one caressed my hair. "Sweetheart talk to me, please, what happened?" she asked my eyes never left the redhead, and finally Alice's eyes shot up. She was in front of Rosalie then and she was hunched over in a crouch matching her sister's.
"Rosalie, go get the other's; they're by the creek." She hissed.
"Alice." Rose protested.
"Go!" She roared and Rosalie looked back over her shoulder at me and disappeared.
The redhead and Alice continued to stare each other down. Alice snarled and lowered in her crouch. The other vampire's black eyes met mine and then she took a step forward. I heard a deep threatening rumble resonate from Alice's chest.
"Back the fuck up! MINE!" She snarled and her voice sent a shockwave of fear through me, then I realized what she said. Did she just say "mine"? I didn't have time to think about it when the redhead took another step forward, but then she paused in her tracks cocking her head to the side. Her eyes flashed between Alice and I and then it looked like understanding flashed through her coal black eyes and she straightened up and put her hands out in front of her in defense.
"I'm not going to hurt her." She said. I heard another rumble in Alice's chest. "I swear to you, I'm not going to hurt her. I just fought off the psycho redhead didn't I?" she asked in a calm voice, her hands still out in front of her in a gesture of peace. However Alice's stance didn't relax.
Then Rosalie returned with Emmett, Carlisle, and Esme. I didn't see Jasper anywhere, but Emmett stood in front of everyone ready to protect his family. The redhead backed up a little. Esme came to my side and looked me over.
"Bella, sweetheart are you hurt?" she asked in a worried and caring voice. I looked at her and shook my head. She tried to help me up and I winced upon standing leaning into Esme's arms entirely. Alice relaxed in front of me and turned around to look at me when she heard me inhale sharply.
"Bella, what happened? You are hurt." she said but I ignored her and looked to the redhead.
"Who are you?" I asked her. She looked at me still weary of the others but she answered me.
"My name is Amara. I'm not going to hurt you." She said in a calm tone. I nodded.
"She saved my life." I told the others and Emmett looked back at me.
"Saved your life? So she's not with Victoria?" he asked.
"Who?" Amara questioned.
"The other redhead." Emmett answered. "I thought you said she was, Alice." He said looking to the smaller girl next to me. I looked at her too.
"No, I said I saw her with Victoria and Bella, I didn't say she was with Victoria. But we still can't be sure." Alice said and shot a glare at the taller woman.
"When I came she was fighting Victoria. It didn't look like they were together." Rosalie said I nodded.
"She saved my life, Alice. She fought Victoria off." I told her.
"I don't even know who that was. All I know is I saw some human getting the shit kicked out of her by some crazy vampire." Amara interjected. "I was just trying to help."
"How is it that you were so conveniently in the area?" Emmett asked and Alice nodded.
"I just came from Seattle." Amara said then Alice stood in front of me again in a crouch. Emmett following suit, Esme held me a little closer and Carlisle and Rosalie seemed to shift uncomfortably. Amara didn't back up this time, she just crossed her arms.
"Are you the one who's been murdering innocent people?" Alice hissed.
"Alice." Carlisle said. "She just saved Bella's life, we should be thanking her."
"No, I'm not the one killing innocent people in Seattle. I was only there for two days. Before I got the fuck out of that crazy house." Amara said and scoffed.
Alice froze and I realized she was getting a vision. Amara looked at her funny.
"Err…is she okay?" she asked and then Alice snapped out of it. She stood up straight.
"Oh. OH!" she said and she turned around to smile at me. I frowned. What did she see?
"Alice, what the hell?" Rosalie snapped. Alice turned to look at the rest of them and then her eyes fell back to Amara.
"She's telling the truth. We should go back to the house and talk about everything." She said.
"Huh?" I asked and the intake of air caused me to groan when the pain shot through my body. I felt hot tears spill over my eyes. "Damn it." I hissed. Alice looked at me worried. No one else moved except for Carlisle. He walked over to me and looked me over.
"Bella I need to examine you. We need to get back to the house." He said and looked between Alice and Esme they both nodded.
"Amara, please, feel free to join us. We would like to discuss some things with you if you are willing." He offered kindly. The tall vampire looked at everyone then shrugged.
"I guess I could. But, would you mind if I hunted first…being around your human isn't exactly…comfortable." She said and looked at me. I shivered.
"If you are accustomed to a more natural diet, I must ask that you do your hunting out of the Forks area. We have a home here and we would like to keep it that way." She looked at him and shook her head.
"I don't kill humans anymore." Everyone, including me, looked at her strangely. I'd never met another vegetarian vampire outside of the Cullens, and I knew of the Denali clan, but Edward had once told me they were very rare.
"Well, in that case, would you please have Emmett escort you to an area with ample hunting?" Carlisle asked "He could show you back to our home when you're finished."
"Sure." She said and started walking away. Emmett kissed Rosalie and walked after Amara.
"Follow me." He said and he took off. Amara looked back at me over her shoulder her eyes flashing between Alice and me, and then took off after Emmett. Carlisle averted his attention back to me.
"Esme, could you carry her back to the house as carefully as possible, please?" he asked his wife and she nodded.
"May I pick you up, Bella?" she asked.
"Yes." I answered and she did, I winced as my body shifted to fit in her arms and I felt the sharp pain in my ribs and the tightness in my back.
"I'll be right beside you, Bella." Alice's voice said.
They all took off towards the house, Esme being careful not to jostle me the whole way back.
Disclaimer: Hollowgo is the creator and owner of Amarina "Amara" Noel Douglas. We'll learn more about her later, those of you who have not read "Blood Solstice" or "Broken Aurora".
Check her out on my Tumblr and on the "Blood Solstice" tumblr.
First Author's Note at the end.
I had to add the disclaimer without giving it away before you all read the chapter. And you even got answers to the last chapter. The part where Amara comes and saves Bella's life from Victoria, was the FIRST vision of this story I ever had. I got it while reading "Blood Solstice" and yes, Hollow did let me use her.
Hope you enjoyed.
Cheers,
Lemon