Chapter twenty-five
One would think that spending the last five years surrounded by various degrees of danger would have made me somehow used to it – for lack of a better word.
But no.
Even though I had faced danger before, fought in two battles, been turned to stone by an ancient monster and even seen Lord Voldemort with my own eyes, I'd never been more terrified than now.
Maybe it was because I'd never had enough time to really think about the danger before. Neither had I been the primary target, like I was now.
The worst thing about all this was, that I wasn't allowed to do anything this time. I was supposed to stay in safety and let others fight for me. A little over a month ago, I was barely aware that the Cullens even existed – I had only known about them as one of the animal eating vampire covens and I didn't even know their name – and now they were ready to fight for my life.
I didn't even want to imagine what I would do, if any of them was hurt or worst. The idea that it could be tiny Alice or even Edward made me sick.
Emmett decided to stay with me at home the next two days and practice my Shield Charm. Esme didn't agree at first but he convinced her eventually, saying that everyone can be sick once in a while.
So on Thursday morning, after my usual hour of meditation, we walked together to the clearing behind their house. Esme sat down on the stairs, that lead from the back door, to watch us. Carlisle had gone to the hospital, arranging an extra shift so he could have a day off on Friday.
Emmett took our practice seriously for once, even encouraging me to fend him off. I managed once in every few attempts but never twice in a row. Without Jasper or Edward here to help me calm down, I grew more and more frustrated. After an hour or so, I nearly threw my wand away in frustration and went to sit on the stairs, previously occupied by Esme who had dissappeared somewhere in the house about ten minutes ago.
„I need a break," I announced, sitting down. Emmett sat beside me, leaning against the door.
„What's wrong, Little Witch?" he asked after a minute of silence, gently nudging my shoulder with his huge one, so he nearly knocked me down. I shot him a glare, massaging my shoulder. He grinned. „Sorry."
„What do you mean ´what's wrong?´" I asked incredulously. „I'm about to be attacked by three human eating vampires. Is it not enough?"
„Relax, Bella," he boomed, rolling his eyes. „No one is going to attack you. We'll stop them."
„How can you be so sure? All of you? Are you not worried at all?"
„Well," he said with a shrug, „Even without Rosie and Esme, there are still five of us and only three of them. And I count for at least two normal vampires so that makes six against three." He winked at me. „And we have our three freaks with us so it will be piece of cake."
„Don't call them freaks," I said, frowning at him. He let out a booming laugh and carefully put his arm around my shoulder.
„You worry about him," he said and it wasn't a question.
„And Alice," I said and then felt the need to explain it to him. „Alice is so small and Edward doesn't really seem like the fighting type. Even with their abilities I'm just afraid that it wouldn't be enough."
He stared at me for a few seconds and then burst into laughter. He threw his head back so it smashed the glass in the back door.
„Emmett!" I heard Esme shout from somewhere inside the house but Emmett didn't seemed to care.
„Why are you laughing at me?" I growled, annoyed, feeling anger grow inside me. I also felt my face growing hot. At that moment Esme opened the door causing Emmett to fall back on the floor, still laughing.
„Pull yourself together, Emmett," Esme chastisted him. „And you're going to replace that glass." Then she glanced at me. „Don't you dare help him, Bella."
„I won't." Then I looked back at Emmett, who'd finally lifted himself back into sitting position, still giggling. „Now, would you please tell me what's so funny about me worrying about Edward and Alice?"
„Oh Bella," said Esme and sat down on my other side, putting her hand on my shoulder. „Although I don't agree with Emmett's reaction, it was rude and inappropriate, I think you underestimate Edward's and Alice's fighting skills."
„Yeah," chuckled Emmett. „I really hate to admit it, but those two are our best fighters." I gaped at him. „Though it is mostly thanks to his mind reading, but in all those years I've known Edward, I still haven't been able to beat him. Jasper got the closest a few times, with his mad fighting skills, but it still was a draw. And Alice is the same." He laughed again, when he saw the disbelief on my face. „We can show you when they get back. We often fight for fun." He added with a shrug.
„But Jasper wanted Alice to stay here," I reminded him.
„Jasper is a little overprotective when it comes to Alice," said Emmett, rolling his eyes. „But he knows she can take care of herself."
„Thanks, Emmett," I said, feeling a little calmer.
He just grinned widely and then shocked me by throwing me over his shoulder and dropping me in the middle of the clearing, ready to resume our practice.
After lunch, which Esme had prepared on her own for the first time, I asked for a little time for myself. I went to Edward's room, where I did some reading on non-verbal magic, just to try and think of something else.
I lost track of time so I didn't notice that the others had come back from school already, until I saw someone sit beside me on the couch from the corner of my eye. Edward put an arm around my shoulders and kissed my temple.
„So you worry about me," he said in an amused voice and I sighed, closing the Transfiguration book I had been reading.
„It's not funny," I mumbled, avoiding his eyes.
„Come on, we'll show you something," he said with a slight smile, taking my hand and gently pulling me to my feet.
He led me back into the clearing behind the house, where Emmett was already stretching his arms and talking to Jasper. The rest of the family was there too, so I stayed with Alice and Esme, while Edward continued toward the boys. Rosalie was sitting on the ground not far from us but her eyes were firmly fixed on Emmett.
First Edward fought with Emmett. It started with a huge bang as the two of them crashed into each other. It might have been interesting but all my poor human eyes could see was two big blurs and occasionally a limb or two in the air. After what seemed to be just a minute they suddenly stopped. Emmett was lying on the ground with Edward on top of him, holding Emmett's head between his hands. Edward jumped swiftly back to his feet, reaching his hand to help Emmett, who clearly didn't need it but accepted it all the same.
His fight with Jasper took longer and it was clearly more even than it had been with Emmett. They circled each other for a long time, both waiting for the other to attack first. Then they both suddenly struck at the same time and again it was only a blur with limbs I could see. It took ages but finally they stopped. Edward stood behind Jasper with his hands on both sides of Jasper's head. They stepped from each other and grinned. Jasper punched Edward's shoulder and they both laughed at something one of them said but I didn't hear what it was.
I finally let out a breath I didn't even realize I had been holding.
„My turn now!" squealed Alice, jumping to her feet. She joined the boys in a flash, pointing at Emmett first.
It took about as long as Emmett's fight with Edward, ending with Alice perched on Emmett's shoulders with her ready to rip his head off. Emmett rolled his eyes and shook her off his back. „Cheaters, both of you," he grumbled and stalked off to sit with Rosalie.
Alice's fight with Jasper took even longer than his fight with Edward but still Alice won. She then looked at Edward and they grinned at each other. „Draw," they said at the same time and shook hands. I laughed, the tension finally easing a little.
„Feeling better now?" asked Edward, now standing right in front of me.
„A little," I said, putting my arms around his waist. He embraced me and kissed the top of my head. „You still better be careful," I mumbled into his chest and felt him smiling into my hair.
„I will."
Friday was spent the same way as the day before. In the morning I practiced with Emmett and I was finally able to fend him off not just twice, but three times in a row. Normally I would have jumped with joy but today I merely smiled, though I did feel relieved that I'd finally done it. Emmett didn't even try to cheer me up this time, he just rolled his eyes and told me to take a break.
The tension was back full force and except for the Shield practice, I couldn't concentrate on anything. Edward literally saved me from going crazy when he arrived from school. Esme then ordered us to go and spend some time with Charlie before tonight and, for some reason, not come back before seven o'clock. I frowned when I saw her exchange a conspiratorial look with Edward but after that Edward ushered me toward the fireplace without giving me an explanation.
It was his first time travelling by the Floo Network and although he looked confident, I could tell he was nervous. Nevertheless he made it with grace and emerged from the fireplace in Charlie's living room with a grin and clothes covered with ash.
Dinner with Charlie was pretty quiet. He asked Edward for some details of the plan for tonight but other than that he ate in silence.
Shortly after dinner, we said goodbye to my dad who had to be at work at six. It was quite emotional because both of us realized that if something went wrong tonight, we might not see each other again.
After Charlie left, I headed to my room to pack some things for tonight. Edward followed and sat down on my bed.
„So, why are we not allowed to your house before seven?" I asked, stuffing my pyjamas into my backpack.
„You'll see," he said with a mysterious smile.
„You better not buy me anything again," I warned him, narrowing my eyes at him.
He just smiled, opening his arms for me. I sighed and walked to him, stopping right in front of the spot where he was sitting. He pulled me down on his lap and pecked my nose.
„You better get used to it," he murmured, burying his face into my hair. I heard him inhaling my scent so I stayed still, afraid that the slightest move would make it worse for him. He then kissed my throat, which made my heart race, and I felt his smile against my skin.
„So you're not going to tell me," I concluded with a frown.
He lifted his head and grinned. „No."
I gave up trying to persuade him to tell me his little secret and instead I got up to finish my packing.
When we returned to the Cullens, the others were gathered in the living room, talking softly. I raised my eyebrows at Edward.
„They're just going through our strategy for tonight again," he explained.
„And what strategy is that exactly?" They never really told me.
Before Edward could answer, Jasper looked at him from his seat in the armchair, apparently telling Edward something in his thoughts. Edward just nodded slightly and led me to the couch, where Esme moved to make some space for us. We sat down, holding our hands, and I looked at Jasper curiously.
„Bella, I know you're staying here with Esme and Rosalie, but you still have to take precautions." I nodded and he went on. „Rosalie and Esme won't let you out of their sight for one second. You're not allowed out of the house. You will have your phone and your wand with you all the time and if something happens and they get here, you must leave by the fireplace immediately." He paused, exchanging looks with Edward. Edward shortly shook his head and Jasper looked back at me. „Emmett told me you managed to fend him off more than once?" I nodded again. „That's good. You may be able to protect yourself long enough to get to the fireplace, if needed."
„Where should I go?"
„To Toby's. We already asked him and he agreed."
Apparently I'd been left out of the planning more than I realized. I frowned. „Why don't I go to Toby's right now?"
„We thought about it and for some reason I see the vampires follow you there," said Alice sadly.
„Yes," said Carlisle. „We think that one of them must have some Gift for tracking."
„Oh."
Since they didn't have anything else to tell me, Edward excused us and went with me upstairs to take my backpack to his room. When we were inside, my eyes grew wide and I stopped dead barely a few steps in.
„What is that?" I asked, staring at the king-sized bed in the middle of his room, that definitely hadn't been there this afternoon.
Edward passed me like nothing happened and placed my bag at the foot of the bed.
„Edward?" I crossed my arms, not moving.
„It's a bed, Bella. People sleep in it." He turned to face me, wearing an amused smirk on his face.
„You don't sleep."
„But you do."
„I would have been fine on the couch for one night." I was suddenly furious. It was too much. „It really wasn't necessary."
He sighed, taking a few steps to me and putting his hands on my shoulders, making me look in his eyes. „Bella, you didn't really think I would let you sleep on the couch, did you?" I frowned at him. „Besides…" He lifted one corner of his lips. „… I hoped you would sleep here more often."
„Well, I saw a bed in Alice's room. I'm sure she wouldn't have minded if I slept there." I said stubbornly, not ready to give up that easily. Edward's eyes narrowed and his lips pressed into an angry line.
„I want you to be comfortable. And you're not sleeping in Alice's room."
„You can't buy me a bed, Edward!" I raised my voice, putting my hands on his to remove them off my shoulders. He let me do it and I angrily stomped to the couch and plopped down on it.
„But it's my bed. In my room. I really don't understand why you're so upset." He shook his head and sat down next to me, taking my hand in his huge one and bringing it to his lips. I sighed, closing my eyes, and leaned back into the backrest.
„I… it's just too much. Everything that's going on here… it's just…" I trailed off, unable to express what I was really feeling.
„I know," he said quietly, putting his arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his chest. I nuzzled against the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent and letting it calm me. „I promise it's going to be alright. We're going to leave after you fall asleep and before you wake up, we'll be back."
I wanted to believe him so I just nodded and for once didn't argue. „I'm sorry I yelled at you," I mumbled into his neck.
„It's alright," he whispered, kissing me right under my ear.
I thought it would be impossible to fall asleep tonight but Edward stayed with me, humming softly, so I drifted to sleep before I knew it.
I woke with a start in the middle of the night, looking widly around. The bed was empty and it meant only one thing. They had already left. I recognized Rosalie's tall figure, standing by the window, looking out into the darkness outside. Esme was nowhere to be seen.
Rosalie didn't move, even though I was sure she knew I was awake. Edward had once told me that he knew when I was asleep thanks to my breathing and heart rate.
„What's the time?" I asked Rosalie timidly, sitting up and pulling my legs up so I could wrap my arms around them.
No answer.
„Where is Esme?" I tried again, this time a little more loudly.
Silence.
I knew that Esme was somewhere in the house so she'd probably heard me but on the other hand, this was a chance to finally talk to Rosalie. Also I desperately needed to avoid thinking about what Edward and the others might be doing right now, so I took a deep breath and scrambled out of bed. I walked around the bed, stopping by the window a few feet from Rosalie.
She stiffened but otherwise didn't acknowledge my presence.
„I know you hate me, Rosalie," I said quietly, keeping my eyes on the dark silhouettes of trees outside, „but I want you to know that I never intended to bring any danger on your family. I'm sorry about that."
At first she was quiet so I thought about going downstairs to find Esme, but before I could turn from the window, she started to speak.
„What do you plan to do after all this is over?" she asked with a hard edge in her voice, still not looking at me. „And I mean the whole situation in Britain."
„Um…" I hesitated, not sure where she was going with it. „I never really thought that far, actually," I admitted truthfully. „It's hard to think about my future when I don't know if the danger ever will be over. Right now I find it hard thinking about tomorrow," I added quietly.
She just nodded like I confirmed what she'd been thinking.
„You came here all of sudden, turning our lives upside down," she hissed, finally turning to look at me. „Edward would do anything for you. I don't know what you feel for him… if you feel anything for him…" I opened my mouth to protest but she didn't let me. „But if you leave him, you break him and we will have to pick up the pieces."
I stared at her. „So it is about Edward?"
„Not just him. Everyone is crazy about you. Carlisle and Esme already consider you their daughter, Alice and my Emmett think of you as their sister. Jasper gets all overprotective over you even when he has hard time being near you. When you leave, this family will end up in ruins and I will lose even the little good that comes with this half-life."
I opened my mouth and closed it again, not knowing what to say, replaying everything she'd said in my head. Then it dawned on me. „It's about you."
„What?" she snapped at me.
„It's about you," I repeated calmly, surprised by my sudden boldness. „You don't care that Edward may be finally happy. You don't care that Alice has finally a friend. You're actually jealous because suddenly you're not the center of attention. But I tell you something, Rosalie. I didn't ask for it. To be honest, I have no idea why Edward chose to be with me but I can assure you that I will do everything in my power to make him happy."
Rosalie had seemed taken aback by my outburst but by the time I finished, she collected herself and growled at me. „Happy? By going off to a fucking battle and getting yourself killed?"
My eyes grew wide at her use of language but right then Esme entered the room.
„That's enough, Rosalie," she cut in sternly, her face looking angry in the moonlight that was streaking through the window. „I won't allow you to talk to Bella like that."
„It's okay, Esme," I muttered, my eyes fixed on Rosalie. „I know you are loyal to this family, Rosalie, because you have no one else. And I know I owe you all a lot and if there was ever something I could do for you, I would do it without hesitation. But I do have other friends and I feel loyal to them too. I have to help them however I can."
Rosalie looked at me for a long while. „I wish I could hate you, Bella, but it would make me a bitch for hating you for your selflessness." My eyes nearly bugged out of my sockets. „I'm not being fair to you, I know that. I just wish you'd never stepped into our lives."
I heard Esme gasp but before she could say anything, I put up my hand to stop her. My eyes stayed on Rosalie. „Well, I'm sorry but I don't regret it since I'd have been dead by now if Edward hadn't saved me from the van. Or raped if he hadn't saved me that night in Port Angeles." She visibly winced at that, her eyes grew wide for a second.
Then she shocked me by mumbling, „I'm sorry," and walked out of the room. I stared after her until Esme gently tugged my arm.
„I suppose you don't feel like sleeping, am I right?" I nodded and she took my wand from the bedside table and led me out of the door. „Let's make you a cup of hot chocolate then."
„Did you hear from them?" I asked Esme, looking at her over the steaming mug of hot chocolate in my hands. We were sitting in the living room, after I'd assured her that cleaning the potential stains off her white couch or carpet would take about two seconds. Rosalie was standing by the window with her back on us again, but this time her silence was calm, not angry like before.
„No," she said, shaking her head, but she didn't look worried. „They can't be distracted now. They will only call if something is wrong."
„You really think they will be okay?"
„Yes." She smiled at me but at that moment her phone beeped on the table. We looked at each other with wide eyes and Rosalie turned to us, raising her eyebrow. Esme reached for the phone and I leaned over to read with her.
Get Bella out of there. Now! – Alice –
„Rose!" Esme cried out, standing up and pulling me up with her at the same time. „The fireplace, now!" The mug fell out of my hands but I bearly noticed. I somehow managed to grab my wand from the couch before Esme took a hold of both of my arms and jumped with me over the couch, pushing me toward the fireplace.
Before I could reach for the bowl with the floo powder, there was a crash and the ear-splitting sound of shattering glass. Both Esme and Rosalie threw themselves in front of me in defensive crouches and a low growl came out of Rosalie's throat. I was still several steps from the fireplace, so I reacted the only way I could – I conjured a Shield around all three of us. Then I peeked in between them to see what happened.
A woman with wild fiery red hair was standing in the middle of the room. First I noticed her clothes, that were torn in places and she wore no shoes. My eyes then went up to her face. Her bright red eyes were shining in surprise by what she was seeing but then her lips broke into an evil smile.
„So it's because of you!" she exclaimed in high, girly voice and then she launched at us.
A/N: Next chapter will be in Edward's POV. We do need some action here, don't we? :)