A/n – The characters are once again not mine, they belong to SM. Please enjoy and review.
I had completely lost track of the days since I left Forks to save Edward from himself. I was living my life on fast forward and it seemed that things were coming to an end. The morning dawned and I awoke still in Edward's arms. We fit together perfectly; there was no need for him to have worried as much as he did with regard for my safety. Our encounter caused no injury and I was blissfully content. It felt odd to be content at that moment given everything that had happened to my family as well as Edward and me. I refused to dwell on the fact that this day was very likely to be my last day. I wanted to spend an eternity with Edward but one day might be all that we had left. Today, the first full day of our married life, would be brilliant.
The weather was cloudy so the reception and celebration were held in the early afternoon, Alice had already planned for that, and we were to leave in the evening. Four identical cars had been procured to play an intricate game with decoys that would hopefully keep Victoria from finding me or in the very least buy us some time. However, as with all plans there is always something that doesn't work to our advantage. Just before the reception, Jane and Alec disappeared. I knew that this game was now hopeless. Had it been any other two vampires who had gone off to join Victoria and Felix, then we may have had a chance. But Alec would be able to incapacitate everyone but me at once. I knew when I received the news from Carlisle that I would face my fears alone.
An image flashed in my head:
My family, all frozen except for me, surrounded me. I was utterly defenseless and there was no point in running. I didn't move or protest when Victoria took me, and Felix took Edward. Laurent had informed me that this death would be slow and painful. Victoria was going to enjoy my torment and break me more than just physically before granting me my pleas for death.
Suddenly it all made sense. About an hour before Carlisle delivered the news, Alice, Edward, and I were talking and laughing when it all cut off. Alice froze in place and her mouth dropped to the floor, Edward tensed beside me, and Alice ran from the room. I hadn't asked because I didn't want to know at the time. But after Carlisle broke the news to me it was crystal clear. There was no way for me to avoid my would-be captors. Instead of breaking down again, I threw myself into being happy and cherishing every moment of life that I had left.
It was almost full dark when Edward ushered me through a tunnel under the castle followed by three humans dressed in my clothes to disguise their scent. Aro had provided them from the Volturi staff and there was no way to refuse them. I absolutely despised the idea and argued against putting anyone else in danger but I found myself quickly overridden by Alice. She still felt that this was our best chance for saving my life. We were teamed up, one human and three vampires per car. The additional numbers were made up of guard members known to be loyal to Aro. The stone floor of the tunnel echoed under our feet as we made our way to the black armored cars. Edward informed me that he had considered purchasing this exact vehicle for me once, the Mercedes Guardian. They were apparently as indestructible and safe as a car can get, and in addition they were fast. I watched Gianna climb into the first car in line with Esme, Carlisle and Demetri; my car was second. It was decided that the best protection that could be offered would be to have Edward, Alice, and Jasper as my bodyguards for the short trip into the northern section of the country. We chose to use the mansion there because wildlife was more abundant and its position seemed to be the most easily defended.
Alice slid into the drivers seat and attempted to make me feel better with a smile. I knew that it was a pretense but I smiled back and relaxed. Jasper slid into the backseat followed by me with Edward on my other side. I knew that Rosalie and Emmett were in the next car back but I hadn't paid attention beyond that. I had no confidence in this plan actually working. As soon as the doors were closed on the last car we took off. Each car sped toward a different remote location. If we were lucky, they would go for the decoys and not my car. However, the sheer fact that I was involved in this little cat and mouse operation deemed us unlucky. I found the determination and calm that I had used just yesterday to put on a brave face for Edward. It was a moot point with Jasper in the car though. Jasper would sense my emotions and then Edward would hear them. There really were no secrets in the Cullen household and I needed to get reacquainted with that fact.
Soon we were miles away from the city, the faint lights from a village here or there dotted the black landscape. The moon shined silver and blue on the pavement and danced brilliantly over the hood. Edward held my hand drawing small circles into the back of it with his finger; I leaned my head back onto the seat and let out a sigh. Without warning he stopped cold. Alice pulled the car off onto the shoulder suddenly. The three siblings worked so well together as a team that there was hardly ever any verbal communication necessary among them.
"They're coming after our car now." Alice glanced at me through the rear view mirror; her golden eyes filled with concern. She had pulled over rather than risk having Alec knock her out at the wheel and causing an accident. We got out of the vehicle and Edward pulled me onto his back.
"Which way?" Edward glanced at her.
"They're coming from the East which means they followed Rosalie and Emmett. We'll do what we can to hold them off, run fast Edward!" The two took up a defensive position outside the car and Edward sped north into the woods.
He was flying as fast as he could while carrying me on his back. Unlike normal, there was no joy for him in this run. Trees whizzed by before I could focus on them and the wind pushed in on my face like a solid object preventing me from breathing. His course became erratic, every once in a while Edward would dodge around an unseen impediment or change direction without reason. His shoulders stiffened and our course became even more unpredictable. It occurred to me that he must be able to hear them coming after us. He dodged around the woods in a desperate attempt to sneak through the circle that they had created around us. Without warning he stopped running and set me down.
"I'm so sorry, they have us trapped. Alec is still holding Jasper and Alice but Jane, Felix, and Victoria have us surrounded." He wrapped his arms around me one last time before they arrived. He kissed me passionately and I felt the same desperate need for comfort. Then, he crouched low in front of me, prepared to defend me against three other vampires with no help in sight. It was a pointless attempt. My fate was sealed the second Jane convinced Alec to leave Volterra.
Felix came into view directly in front of us. Edward was up from his crouch and collided with him like an arrow. Felix remained unmoved. They grappled for a few moments locked in each other's arms. Edward anticipated every one of Felix's moves and countered it with such speed that I could barely tell that they were moving. It looked like a pair of young kids dancing their first slow dance.
A flash of movement to my left revealed Jane who immediately focused on Edward and set him to writhing on the forest floor. I found my shield inside my mind and pulled it around him. I knew that this could cause me grave injury but I had nothing to loose. If I could cause enough damage before hand, then perhaps Edward wouldn't have to watch my torture for as long. Edward snapped back up to his feet immediately. I could feel his presence like it was a part of my own as he and Felix circled. My head screamed in pain but if he could fight for long enough then perhaps the others would come for us and we would have a chance. I also didn't want to experience what Felix had in store for me. I barely had time to appreciate the deadly grace exhibited by the two as they began an intricate and deadly dance before my concentration was violently broken.
Jane had launched herself at me causing my connection to Edward to drop with my concentration as my body skidded across dirt and leaves and tree roots. My head finally came to rest at the base of a tree several yards away from where I started. I glanced at Edward and watched for a fraction of a second while he hovered in indecision between fighting Jane and fighting Felix. I frantically tried to concentrate on the shield to protect him but failed. He once again writhed on the forest floor. Felix kicked him hard.
"Well done." A high, feminine, almost juvenile, soprano voice tinkled from behind me. I attempted to bring myself to a seated position but found myself hauled up by a set of pale, slender arms. Jane released Edward from her torment. He jumped into a crouch before realizing that there was no tactical advantage that he could find. Both of our lives were at risk. Victoria held me up by my hair.
"Let her go." Edward demanded.
"I don't think I will." Victoria gestured to Felix who captured a suddenly subdued Edward around the arms. "We're going to have a little fun, aren't we Bella?" Something struck me and I lost consciousness.