Chapter Twenty One

Before Maria can reach me, I am thrown into a tree. I can hear the bark crack and feel it break my body. My body snaps and lurches forward in a position it was not meant to and I fall down to the forest floor.

I vaguely see Edward looking at me in horror. Was he the one to throw me? I don't blame him for trying to get me out of the way.

"Accident" I mumble. Coherent sentences must not be in my vocabulary at the moment.

"Bella, open your eyes!" I hear Jasper say.

I didn't even notice that I closed them. I must be more hurt than I realized but I open them for him. Just for him.

"Love you" I whisper.

Maria suddenly lunges for Jasper. She's faster and stronger than he is...The more wiser in fighting. She instantly tears off his right arm and he roars in agony. He grabs his shoulder where his arm is missing and looks down at it. Maria takes this as an opportunity and bites him in his neck. I listen as his screams fill the air and I clutch my torso in pain.

If only I was stronger, I could help him. If only I wasn't so weak at this very moment.

If only I wasn't human.

"Jasper!" I croak out knowing very well that he can't come to me. I sob as I look into my beloved's eyes knowing there isn't a damn thing I can do about it.

My eyes shift to Laurent who is circling Edward, but Alice gains on him from behind. She jumps on his back and rips his head off very similar to the way she ripped apart James in the ballet studio.

You'd think I would be used to this by now.

My eyes then settle onCarlisle and Esme who are also occupied with ripping Victoria to pieces… well what's left of her. She lay there already in pieces and I see a purple cloud of smoke which blurs my vision even more.

Jasper is on his own.

I look down at my body and cringe noticing all the blood and when I look up again, Victoria is gone. There is no body, only a few scattered limbs that lay below Esme and Carlisle's feet. I watch as they begin to toss more into the purple fire and I gag as the smell of vampire flesh engulfs me.

My body wants to rest, but my mind has other pans and I keep my focus on my family, mostly Jasper.

I have to at least try to do something. Nothing good comes out of it just sitting here.

"Stay there, Bella!" I hear Alice yell but I shake my head in response.

"Bella! Listen to me! Jasper will heal!"

I keep hearing her but I'm not listening. Maria needs a diversion and I am a willing participant. It would only take a moment.

"Maria!" I yell with as much force I can muster.

She snarls and we are eye to eye. She kicks Jasper in the chest and I watch him soar in the air before landing on the ground at an odd angle.

His right leg is not attatched and I wonder where it is.

Before I can even blink, Maria is on her knees in front of me.

"You're a dirty whore, sugar. You should have stuck to your own kind."

"You're the dirty whore. You took Jasper's life and conned him into thinking that was all he was ever worth. Fuck you, Maria." I spit out.

"Who is the whore now? You're so weak. Just another life I take." With one last growl and a smile meant to kill, she sinks her teeth into my neck.

I scream out in pure pain and I thrash on the ground. I keep seeing my children's faces behind my closed lids and I hope that they are safe back at home in Washington. Will I ever see them again?

I know I'm changing. I can feel the fire reach my heart and spread throughout my body. It's like a thousand knives stabbing me while I lay in a fiery pit of venom.

Maria's venom.

It takes about a year to be accustomed to human blood and I wish that more than ever I could be immune to it. I need to be with Sadie and Bryan and I know that they need me just as badly.

I can finally be Jasper's equal… physically.

Those are the only things that keep me going.

I cry out again and I feel a wave of calm engulf me.

"Bella, Bella. It's okay. You're safe now" I hear after a few moments. It's a voice filled with authority and passion. Carlisle. "You're safe now. But you are changing, Bella. I need you to understand that. Do you want this, Bella?"

"Yes" I croak out.

"Okay. Jasper, try to send her some more calming waves."

"J-j-jasper…. Are you there?" I whimper.

"Shush… yes. I'm here."

"I'm s-s-s-s-so hot-t-t." I barely whisper and I clench my fists together as another sharp pain pulls me in deeper.

"I know." His voice is pained. "I wish I could help you more."

"H-hands…o-on me."

I feel him place his hands on either sides of my cheeks but I know it's not enough.

"M-more." I whisper "A-all h-hands-s."

The fighting must have stopped because I feel everyone's hands on my body and even though it barely helps, it still helps me a tad bit.

Their ice cold skin feels amazing against mine and I sigh in contentment. Sure, the fire is still there and very painful but I am not alone and that makes it sufferable.

"Bella, we're all here for you." I hear the velvety voice speak in my ear and I know that it is Edward. I try to smile but I grimace instead. "We're all here for you."

"Oh, Bella. I'm sorry, you have to go through this, but I saw that you're going to be so beautiful!" I hear Alice exclaim.

"This is not the appropriate time, Alice" Jasper growls.

I can feel it course through my veins. The fire is un attainable and I let out another scream as I feel it spark in my toes.

The hands on my body tighten in reassurance and I let out another loud wail of displeasure.

I try to open my eyes to see their beautiful faces but I can't. All I see is red.

"I'm so sorry that I let her get to you. I should have been more careful." Jasper sighs.

I can feel him shifting his wait and I feel something ice cold on my cheek and I know he gave me a kiss.

As my body shakes violently and my eyes are squeezed shut, I wonder if I'll be able to remember the important things. Human memories fade but I want to remember my kids and to remember Charlie.

I can't think about the downsides of changing. I must think of everything that I will gain. Unlike the rest of the Cullen's, I don't see the change as a burden. I see it as a new beginning of life where I can be with the one I love forever.

I have to think positive and I will. It doesn't matter anyway.

There's no going back.

Thank you MrsRoaslieHalee for being 200th review!!!!!!

Thanks to all of you for everything. I love you guys!!!!!! You guys give me such great insight for things and I love constructive criticism. Thanks for all of the wonderful ideas!!!!!

I love how some of the reviews are so long and you give me your input. I love to know what your thinking.

Sorry, it's been a few days. I've been really busy.

Sorry this chapter is so short, but I had to in order to begin the next chapter.

And I do apologize for the typos in previous chapters. I don't mean to and sometimes I'm up at 4am typing so. I'll try to fix that. Lol.

I do know the story was getting kind of slow, but I feel every story needs a break in-between all the craziness. That's just how I roll. LOL.

Thanks again guys and I hope you like it! :)

Keep reading and reviewing!

Sapphire