April 19, 2009
8:12 pm
Somewhere north of the Cullen family home in the Olympia National Park, Washington
High above, soft white light filtered down through sparse breaks in the treetops. Gauzy, translucent beams splintered off the microscopic droplets of water suspended in the light fog, creating a luminescent lavender glow. Spiraling upward, following the light, swarms of gray-white moths and dragonflies fluttered and floated. The hum of their buzzing wings overhead and the light rustle of small paws at his feet sounded loud, almost deafening in the stillness of the forest. It was almost too quiet; the only other sound was that of the air whipping past his ears.
But all of it was secondary, only picked up by his peripheral senses, the running catalogue of sights and sounds that his vampire mind detected without his conscious direction. His true focus was purely on the two scents in front of him.
It was difficult to maintain his speed. Being the fastest, Edward's first inclination was to race ahead as swiftly as his legs would carry him. He knew, however, that would be a foolish mistake, an error made only by an irrational, emotional being. Something told him that James hoped for just that, that he would be so angered and hot that his judgment would lapse. Edward knew that there was far too much at stake to allow his rage to overcome his logic. At least, that was what he reminded himself. Inside, he was blistering.
During their brief meeting, James and his mate had been careful in hiding their thoughts. James was just experienced enough with Edward's talent to know how to mask, albeit only for short interludes. His mind centered solely on the words that he spoke, and during periods of silence, his thoughts seemed almost blank.
Victoria, of course, did not possess James's knowledge or practice, but most likely at his direction, had busied her mind by recreating long and intricately woven series of number theory proofs and scenarios. She'd been so focused and had been processing the numbers so quickly that all Edward had been able to glean from her was that there was something else was at play. There was a tone to her thoughts, a note of expectancy and anticipation. He immediately surmised that a trap or ambush of some sort was waiting, especially considering that James's coven was only three. Surely, he thought. James would realize that I would not come alone this time and that my family would outnumber his coven. But there was little he could do, other than to proceed cautiously and be prepared for the worst.
Immediately on his heels was Jasper, followed by Emmett and Carlisle running in parallel. Barely touching the forest floor, they raced between the trees, darting and weaving at blinding speed, just four streaks of dark colors mixed with light.
Their minds were tight and focused, concentrating on the task ahead. They were angered, not just for Bella but for the entire town. In Edward's world, in the world of his family, what James had threatened was unconscionable and could not be tolerated, even if it meant them running blindly ahead. It was one thing to attack a coven; it was something altogether different to bring innocents, who had no hope of self-defense, into the fray.
As they ran, he could hear Jasper poring through the memories of hundreds of previous battles and skirmishes, some dating back to his earliest years. In his mind, he vividly re-created scenes, play-by-play, noting areas to look for weakness, where to strike, where to defend. He focused on hand positioning, angles of attack, feinting, and dodging. He remembered all the ways he'd taken his enemies down. The vibrancy of his memories, full of sounds and smells and gore was startling. Edward had never seen these thoughts before; they'd been repressed, shoved deep down in the blackest part of his mind.
Are you watching, Edward? he abruptly intoned.
Then it dawned on him that Jasper was instructing him in what few moments remained. He was sharing all the tricks and hints he'd learned over the course of his less than gentle existence, sharing with him his dark past, hoping that his memories could provide some measure of advantage.
This isn't going to be easy, even though we're up one man, Jasper continued tensely. James is… impressive. And the two he has with him are easily on par with you or me. His mate is quick and that big one, Laurent, knows what he's doing.
Emmett's strong but he doesn't have the background. And Carlisle… I don't want to think about that.
And there is still more going on. This doesn't feel right at all. But we didn't really have much of a choice, other than bringing in Alice and Rose – and I wouldn't have allowed that. And Carlisle would have never allowed us to leave the area, even if James's threat was only that – a threat.
"I know, Jasper," Edward said quietly under his breath, his simple answer addressing all of his points.
They were getting closer; James's scent was stronger. From the criss-crossed paths marked by fainter, older scents, Edward could tell that James had been in this area earlier. As Edward expected, he knew the terrain and had prepared. He'd known all along that neither Edward nor his family would allow him to make good on his threat against the town. James never took on risk without insurance.
Mere yards ahead, an acres-large clearing awaited, the remnants of decades prior clear-cutting. It was a familiar place to Edward, a wide, open lawn where they'd come often as a family. Tucked away deep in the woods at the foot of Mt. Ellis, it was just far enough away from town that they could wrestle and even play Emmett's favorite, football, without fear of discovery. There were no homes or camps nearby, no worries that the thunder of vampire bodies colliding would reach mortal ears.
Edward heard them moments before crossing the tree line. From across the field, more than half a mile away, Laurent's familiar mental voice, laced with just a tinge of an almost-lost French accent, was quietly and calmly appraising their speed. Victoria's, haughty and over-confident, was focusing on their approach and on James. Like Laurent, she was gauging their path and timing.
The next voice that touched Edward's awareness was new. It was not James; instead it was that of a girl, barely more than a teenager. She was excited and bloodthirsty. And then from their left, a fourth voice rang in his ears, that of a boy. Unlike the girl, he was nearly trembling in trepidation, anxious for what he feared would be his death.
They were five, not three. This was James's insurance, his way of evening out the playing field. They had discussed this very possibility before they'd left; it fit with James's typical mode of operation. It fit with his tendency to tilt the odds. James's words from before repeated in his mind.
Fair? What exactly does 'fair' have to do with anything? 'Fair' is an archaic, idealistic notion concocted by those who do not possess the means to take what they want.
"Stop! There are five of them!" Edward hissed, slowing to a crawl as they broke into the open field.
Behind him, he heard the voices of his brothers and father. Their thoughts were a mixture of fear and anger and frustration. Emmett spat out a string of curses and was preparing to barrel across the open space, despite Edward's words. Jasper, in contrast, was deathly quiet, filled with a cool, calculating anger. He recognized their danger and apparent disadvantage, and he'd already planned for it. With neither anger nor fear, Carlisle grimly acknowledged their potential fate.
Above, the clouds had parted and the field was illuminated with the pale, white light of the waxing moon. Everything appeared gray and colorless, washed out in the moonlight. With the slight breeze, the tall grass swayed and leaned. Mixed with the natural smells surrounding them, vampire scents finally reached them: rich sandalwood, mint, young oak, spring cherry blossoms, and then the slight hint of Victoria's weak scent of citrus.
Back-to-back, in a loose square, they stood waiting for the imminent attack. Out in the open, they would at least be granted some measure of warning. But it felt more like they were exposed, like sitting ducks.
Ah, there you are, Edward! James called silently, taunting in tone, as he appeared from within the forest opposite them. So wonderful of you to finally join us. I'd almost given up hope for you.
A dark smile stretched across his lips, and his scarlet eyes danced with amusement. I hope you don't mind, but as you can see, my coven has grown! You should have brought a few more, perhaps our little Alice. Or gentle Esme.
Or maybe if you'd been man enough and turned that little human of yours, you could have let her in on our fun. It's a touch disconcerting how vulnerable you left her. She hasn't really a chance, now has she? I can't wait to taste her once I've dispatched you.
At the mention of Bella, the feral demon inside sprung to life with ripping snarls and growls. The rage was hot and fiery, threatening to overcome his sanity. His fingers curled into talons as he imagined wrapping his hands around James's throat.
But deep down, Edward knew he was being baited. Desperately, he fought to calm himself, to regain coherency. He thought of Bella's perfect face and form, her quiet murmurs in the night, how her fingers traced along his jaw. With every rational fiber in his being, he quelled the beast, knowing that he would have his chance in short order. He had to remain calm; otherwise he would make mistakes.
Spread out widely across the arced boundary of the field, James's coven members appeared, two to the left flank and two to the right. With a subtle nod from James, they slowly advanced. As they crossed the space, Edward felt the buzz of his phone at his hip. But with their approach, he couldn't dare to risk answering.
Edward could see their strategy; they had already divvied out targets, much in the way that he and his family had. Through Laurent's own thoughts, Edward watched him center and gravitate toward Jasper, his thick tendons already twisting in anticipation. Theirs would be a difficult and hard-won fight, two lean and fast vampires, both with ample knowledge of combat. The two new vampires, the slight, dark-headed girl and the pale-haired boy, stalked toward Emmett, one to each side.
To Edward's terror, he watched Victoria's lethal gaze train on Carlisle. Her sadistic thoughts were already running through her motions of attack, wanting to inflict as much pain as possible. In their strategizing, Emmett and Carlisle were supposed to take Victoria together.
And James, of course, was focused on him.
Edward quickly glanced around, meeting his family's eyes for a split second, a silent, fleeting moment of understanding and encouragement.
Don't worry, Edward, I've got those two young ones. And once I'm done with them, I'll help Carlisle with that minx, Emmett said with a wink. But his surety was only on the surface; Edward knew that inside he was apprehensive, worried about what would happen to Rose were he to fail.
Watch the red-haired one, Edward, Jasper warned. I can take Laurent. I'll deal with him as quickly as I can and then go after Victoria. You need to focus on James and James only. But like Emmett, beneath his cool exterior, a part of him was contemplating failure.
Carlisle's thoughts were gentle and soft, and unlike his brothers, not focused on the battle itself. Son, no matter what happens here, make sure that Bella is safe. Make sure that all of them are safe.
"I will, Carlisle," he whispered under his breath.
For what seemed like an eternity, they faced off, each step drawing them closer. With each second, their scents became stronger, mingled and sharp, and the crunch of footfalls crushing the stiff prairie grass echoed.
Edward dropped low, crouching and curling his fists, preparing for attack. James mimicked his movements; his spine bent and his muscles rippled beneath the fabric of his shirt. His lips curled back, exposing his teeth, and a livid sneer colored his face.
"I've been waiting for this, Cullen," he spat.
Out of his periphery, a sudden motion of dark hair and white skin caught Edward's attention. A half of a second later, he heard two bodies crash. Emmett's growling roar split the air and the ground suddenly shook as the second young vampire – Riley – tackled the tangled bodies of his brother and the girl.
In that moment, it seemed as though hell broke lose in a dizzying whir of vampire velocity and strength. Seconds felt like hours as bodies moved in graceful, deadly dances at unfathomable speed.
Suddenly, bodies raced across open grass, leaping and colliding in a series of thunderous explosions. Wild howls and feral snarls erupted all around, as bodies tumbled and fell.
In a blinding rush, James sprinted forward just as Edward darted sideways. As he flew past, missing him by mere inches, Edward grabbed his shoulders and jerked him around. Following Jasper's earlier direction, Edward's fists pummeled James's abdomen and torso, shattering his ribs and sternum with loud, snapping pops. For a moment, James was staggered and caught off guard. Finding his opening, Edward's teeth locked down on James's upper arm, ripping away a thick, white chunk of flesh.
Baying in pain, James grappled and latched on to Edward's forearms. With a twist of his body, he lifted Edward and slung him overhead, slamming his back onto the ground. Lithely and without delay, Edward jumped back to his feet, ignoring the pain, and charged toward James again, fists outstretched. As his left hand crossed and rammed into James's jaw, Edward simultaneously felt the sharp crack and break of his hip against James's boot. At contact, his steps faltered, but his fingers wrapped around James's neck and held on.
To his left, he heard Jasper's low, seductive purr coaxing Laurent into position. In his mind, Edward could see that Laurent had already sustained severe damage to his left side and chest from their first engagement. But Jasper wasn't unscathed either. His arm hung limply and unnaturally at his side, likely broken in multiple locations and nearly torn from its socket.
To Edward's right, Emmett was rolling on the ground with the blond-haired young one, his teeth digging into the boy's throat. A large, gaping wound in the boy's back told Edward that Emmett was ahead in their fight.
Behind him, Carlisle and Victoria were squaring off for a second attack. The first had left them both injured, but still capable. Long, jagged gashes littered Carlisle's arms and upper back, and his face was taut with pain. As they circled, Victoria stalked forward with a marked limp. But unlike Carlisle, Edward could see that her features were still curled up into an excited smile. She'd yet to unleash her true strength; she was playing.
James's grating voice, breathless and roughened by Edward's hold on his throat, interrupted his assessment. "Impressive, Cullen, but not good enough!" he roared, as his elbow suddenly smashed into Edward's chin and knocked his hold loose.
James spun again, twisting and curling his body, just dodging Edward's quick arms. Not wasting a breath, he charged a third time, this time diving at Edward's knees and sending him to the ground. In a jumble of tangled and thrashing limbs, they tumbled head over heels down the field, kicking up a spray of damp grass and dirt. As they rolled, James's razor sharp nails cut into Edward's flesh, and his teeth slashed at his face and throat. As they lurched to a halt, in swift defense, again mimicking Jasper's instructions, Edward's arms raised, and with all his strength, he shoved James upward and away.
In a streaking blur, James hurtled through the air, flying more than one hundred yards down field from the force Edward had exerted. As he skidded across the ground, the muddy earth broke open and rolled up behind him from the weight and speed of his body making contact.
Just as James landed, Edward heard the piercing metallic shriek of vampire flesh being torn.
He watched as Laurent's body flew through the air and crashed into a distant tree trunk. With a low growl, Jasper raced across width of the field, flinging himself at Laurent's mangled body.
Concurrently, another wrenching screech came from behind him. Jerking around toward the sound, Edward watched from across the field as Carlisle desperately threw himself at Victoria, only to graze her arm. Her soprano voice distorted into a raw, gurgling snarl. Just as he sped past, her booted foot came around and planted into his back. As she stepped, she reached out and grabbed his right arm, pulling it from its juncture. Carlisle's cry of pain reverberated against the trees.
"Jasper! Stop Edward!" a loud, female voice screamed. "Stop him!"
Stunned, Edward's eyes ripped away from Carlisle toward the direction of Alice's voice. She was still a half a mile away, flying as fast as her legs would carry her through the trees. Her thoughts came unbidden, loud and focused and tense with terror.
Without thinking, Edward rapidly scanned through her thoughts, and in a fraction of a second, he saw the vision that had sent her running. It was clear and bright and horrifying in its implications.
Victoria tearing Carlisle limb from limb. Long, yawning wounds littering his flesh and meaty chunks missing from his torso. Black circles around his golden eyes. Blue splotches pooling and spreading across his white flesh.
Edward intervening, yanking Victoria off of Carlisle. Slinging her across the field, her body crashing through the trees. Victoria, running, darting and flitting through the forest. Him chasing her down, slamming her into a tall outcropping of rock. Him slicing his teeth across her neck, her head rolling across the rocky ground.
Black-purple smoke unfurling and rising. The stench of burning vampire flesh.
In the distance, James speeding through the trees, racing toward the house.
Edward following… but too far away. Too late…
In the house, Bella's face, contorted and twisted. Her voice screaming in pain and agony. James biting into her throat. Her blood, bright red and thick, pouring down her neck and chest.
He didn't know what to make of Alice's vision, what he should do. For a brief moment, Edward hesitated, frozen and unsure. For that fraction of a second, it was as if time had ceased to move forward, as if he were caught in a never-ending loop. No matter his decision, he would lose.
All of the sudden, Edward felt a body slam into his back, and slender arms wrapped around his waist, dragging him to the ground. The girl – Bree – had abandoned her mate to fight Emmett alone. The boy's screams rattled in Edward's ears; Emmett was likely ending him in short order.
He rolled them, shaking the girl off his back. In a blur of motion, he pinned her to the ground and attacked her with his hands. She was vicious in her thrashing limbs, but she was no match for both his fury and skill. His teeth sought her neck, shredding and tearing her flesh. Her high-pitched voice wailed in pain, but as soon as his teeth cut through, her screams silenced.
Rapidly he looked up and around, his eyes searching for Victoria just as his mind searched for James. But James was nowhere to be found; his thoughts were missing from the chaos of thoughts in the field. Victoria, he found at the far edge of the field.
Edward's eyes widened in realization just as he watched Victoria's hands clamp on either side of Carlisle's head.
"Edward! Go after James! He's doubling back!" Alice shouted, just as she reached the left edge of the field, perpendicular to both him and Carlisle. Her voice sounded hollow, as if she were shouting in an empty barrel.
"No!" he roared. "Carlisle!"
Somewhere, he heard the voices of Jasper and Emmett echoing his protest.
Almost as if in slow motion, his eyes met his creator's. Even in the distance, Edward could see that in that moment, they were warm and liquid gold. While Carlisle's features were distorted from the pain of his wounds, his eyes were at peace, just as they always were.
Cutting through the chaos, Carlisle's voice softly called, No, Edward. You promised me. No matter what happens, make sure that all of them are safe. Take care of Esme and tell her I love her. You must save them.
And then, time lurched, springing as if in fast-forward. Victoria sneered and growled in triumph, and there was a resounding snap of a vampire's neck twisting and cleaving. The sound struck Edward in his gut, knocking him to his knees as surely as any attack of James's. His fingers dug into the muddy earth as he watched a tiny spark of yellow-red light launch up into the night sky and arc through the air. Instantly, the tiny spark exploded into a ball of brilliant fire, and curling wisps of purple-black smoke streamed upward.
In a deafening, animalistic bellow, Edward screamed his rage and sorrow. His head lolled back and he stared up into the night. His eyes turned to black specks of coal, and all-consuming fury filled his body, saturating him to the bone. He could feel it coursing through his long dead veins, a molten and burning sulfurous madness. His fists curled and pummeled the ground in a fury of blows. The demon's head reared back, and this time, he did nothing to contain it.
Unbidden, Carlisle's words rang out and resounded in his ears, jerking him up.
In an unthinking flash, he was on his feet and racing as swiftly as his body ever had toward their home and, more importantly, toward Bella. As he ran, his mind was numbed by the unbridled wrath he'd dampened before. No longer able to fight it, he allowed the rage to completely overtake and consume him, allowed it to direct his feet and direct his mind. He didn't think of that to which he'd just borne witness; he didn't process that he'd just seen the death of his father and creator. He knew that that pain would come and would have its time. For now, curtains of blood-red vengeance blanketed his vision and awareness.
Only vaguely was he conscious of the thoughts of his brothers and of Alice rapidly fading behind him. Just as he was leaving earshot, he heard the shrill resonance of rending metal and saw through his family's enraged vision the destruction of their opponents. And then, through Alice's thoughts, he watched as she violently tackled Victoria to the ground in a fury of teeth and curled limbs.
April 19, 2009
9:18 pm
The Cullen family home, eight miles north of Forks, Washington
"What do we do?" Rosalie asked quietly. "Do we wait for Alice to return?"
Her voice was low and carefully controlled, but Bella sensed Rosalie's anxiety. Despite her best efforts, the tension oozed and radiated out from around her, evidenced in her every move and word. Rosalie's shoulders were taut and stiff, and her amber eyes were wary and fearful. She feared for them all: for the three women remaining at the house, but more so for her mate, brothers, and creator.
Edward had told Bella days prior that neither Esme nor Rosalie were fighters, neither ever having been trained. For the entirety of their existences, they'd lived the quiet, pacifist lifestyle of their creator and family. In fact, Rosalie rivaled Carlisle in that she'd never tasted human blood, having resisted since the very beginning. And according to Edward, Esme had only slipped once, and that had been in the first days of her vampire life. While they possessed the vampire strength, speed, and unparalleled senses, they would pose little risk to a seasoned fighter, even if he were alone.
Bella glanced over to the doorway as Esme emerged from the closet. Keys jingling in hand, she eyed Rosalie and replied softly, "We leave. Right now, no more waiting. They'll catch up and meet us."
"But what about Alice?" Bella returned, unable to hide her trepidation.
Esme's golden eyes warmed, offering what reassurance she could. "I understand your fears, Bella, but we must leave. We can't delay further. It's just not safe.
"Alice will find us, too, just like the boys. Have no fear for her; she can take care of herself. She'll find Jasper, and everything will be okay."
Bella implicitly understood the need to depart. Staying at the Cullen house, where James knew them to be, was an unwise decision. They needed to leave the area completely, for their safety as well as that of the town. Even if something were to happen – something that Bella could not bring herself to acknowledge – then James would come for her without question. By default, that would place Rosalie and Esme in danger.
And too, the further away from the town they could draw James, the safer it would be for innocents that had no place in this war. She wanted no more blood, neither in the literal human sense nor in the figurative vampire sense, spilled. Escape was the best option available.
Quickly nodding, she rose from her place on the sofa by Rose and followed Esme to the garage. On her heels, she heard Rosalie's muffled footsteps.
Inside the cavernous garage, a large, menacing-looking black SUV, outfitted with over-sized knobby tires and spotlights, was waiting and facing nose outward. With a reach and a jump, she found herself sliding along cool, shiny black leather. Within moments, the fire of the vehicle's big-block engine roared to life, reverberating in the empty space of the garage. Like a shot from a canon, they sped out of the building and down the Cullens' drive.
Where Rosalie lacked in fighting skills, Bella noted she did not lack in driving skills. With almost nauseating acceleration, they whipped around the sharp, narrow curves of the drive, blowing clouds of gravel in their wake. It took them only a minute to reach the hard pavement of the county road, less than a third of the time it would have taken at normal speed.
Through the window, black outlines of trees and posts whizzed past, framed by white moonlight and the violet beams of their spotlights. At their speed, the shining reflectors embedded in the center lane separator glowed a brilliant sunset yellow, appearing as a long, blurry line instead of individual reflections.
Inside the vehicle's cabin, it was cool and dry. The scents of leather and plastic commingled with the soft, sweet scents Bella had come to associate with Esme and Rose.
From her backseat station, she watched them carefully, looking for any sign of distress or warning. Rose's eyes were glued tightly to the road ahead, focusing on maintaining their speed and course. Her perfectly arched brows were angled down and her lips were pursed into a hard, straight line. In the orange light of the instrument panel, her concentration was evident and clear.
In the passenger seat, Esme sat straight and upright. In obvious apprehension, her head sharply whipped back and forth as her narrowed eyes scoured their surroundings for any hint of their family. More likely for James, Bella corrected.
They'd traveled for five minutes with no sign of chase. Maybe, just maybe, James is already dead, Bella wished. But approximately one mile from the county road intersection, Bella heard an abrupt intake of breath followed by a rushed and panicked exclamation that turned her blood cold.
"Right, Rose! Turn! Faster!" Esme yelled, her voice high and trembling.
Esme's body had spun around, her gaze targeted to something behind them. Bella twisted in her seat, trying to locate what Esme was staring at, but all she saw was the pavement whizzing by, gleaming red from their taillights.
But Esme's expression told her everything she needed to know. In apparent dread, her lips were slacked and dropped open and her eyes were wide. Esme's normally soft and round features were hard and tight, her fear readily seen.
Bella's stomach rolled and dropped, and she could taste the sour hint of bile rising on her tongue. Her heart pounded in her chest and her breathing caught, painfully swelling her chest. Sharp, prickling needles of fear colored her every thought, and she shivered as the blood drained from her face.
When she felt the SUV swing wildly to the right, Bella gripped the door handle and clawed at the flat leather covering the open seat beside her. The vehicle fishtailed, swaying from left to right, the tires skidding and screeching across the asphalt. But before the vehicle corrected its path, however, she felt it.
Bella had been in car accidents before; she knew what it felt like when another automobile failed to stop and rammed into the backend of another. She'd felt the whiplash and heard the shuddering crash of metal on metal. She'd felt the momentary weightlessness and subsequent slam of a vehicle moving through the air and crashing into the earth.
That was precisely what it felt like.
She felt their vehicle lift off the ground and begin to barrel roll off the side of the road. They rolled over and over, and in that moment, it didn't seem like they would ever stop. Ahead of them, through the glass, Bella watched the earth tilt and rotate counter-clockwise in rapid spinning cartwheels.
Four? Five? Six rolls? she vaguely processed. Her seat belt held her securely in place, but her head bobbled around, jerking and wrenching her neck. Inside the cabin, she heard her own terrorized screams mixed with Esme's and Rosalie's softer, surprised gasps and cries.
They landed in an abrupt crash of glass and metal. Tree branches jutted through the broken windows and Bella realized that they'd somehow landed on their side in the woods, or at least at the edge. As the engine died, the lights of the SUV sputtered out, and the smell of gasoline and motor oil flooded her nostrils. Blood rushed to her head, and everything went black.
But thankfully, a few seconds later, Bella's consciousness returned. Everything felt angled and skewed. Her frame of reference was off, rotated ninety degrees. And the straps of her belt dug into her abdomen, holding her suspended in the air.
With fumbling fingers, she groped for her belt release, trying to free herself from her bindings. As the straps retracted, she felt herself slide and fall along the leather until the opposite door caught her descent. The sudden stop jarred her mind and brought with it some sense of cognizance.
She barely noticed that somehow, by some miracle, she wasn't bleeding. At least not that Bella could tell; she couldn't smell the coppery tinge of blood, and when she felt her arms and legs, nothing felt sticky or wet. She did hurt all over, but the seatbelt had performed its purpose.
She moved sluggishly, still dazed and numb from the sudden motion and impact. Her vision was cloudy and blurry, and the fact that it was nearly pitch black outside made it impossible for her to see what was going on. Somewhere in the background, she heard the crunches of feet moving across grass and leaves and then, all of a sudden, what could only be described as deafening explosions.
Glancing around, Bella hazily realized that she was alone in the vehicle, and she realized that she needed to get out as quickly as possible. Scrambling to her knees, she felt around the dark cabin until she understood her orientation, apprehending that she would have to climb up and out.
With all the strength she had remaining, Bella climbed up the tipped seat and worked her way out through the broken side window. As she pulled herself out through the window, she scanned the nearby area, trying to locate Rosalie or Esme.
But everything was still so dark. With only the moonlight to illuminate her surroundings, all she could see was the outline of their SUV and the leaning branches of the trees.
Her haze was cleared by the sound of an abrupt roar to her right and then what sounded like rumbling peals of thunder. Cracking and splintering tree trunks pierced through the thunder, and defensive feminine snarls and growls responded.
Loud booms rang out and more roars and snaps followed. In the distant dark, Bella heard cries of pain and fear. Their pain cut through her like a knife.
They were losing.
Where is Edward? How did James get past? Is Edward…? No, impossible!
If it was due to shock or something else – Bella didn't know – she realized that she was remarkably calm. Her heartbeat settled into an almost normal rhythm and the dread in the pit of her stomach dissipated. This was the fate she'd feared all along, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
Except... No more had to die. She could do something.
Ungracefully, she hastily stumbled across the uneven ground until she found pavement. She balled her fists and wrapped her arms around her sides. In a wheezy and raspy voice, she yelled out angrily.
"Stop it, James! Right now, damn you, you son of a bitch, stop it!
"Take me, and leave them alone! I'm the one you want. Come get me. If you can."
Quiet stillness ensued. And then a soft, dark laugh echoed in the forest. Before she could blink, she felt more than saw a black and white whir dart from the trees.
Startled by the sudden appearance, she jumped at his cool breath washing across the back of her neck. Behind her, she felt him lean down and whisper in her ear.
"My dearest Isabella. How kind of you to offer yourself. I may just take you up that, but not here. I want to relish your taste. Not on some seedy human roadside. This will take time…
"Edward will be delighted that you came so willingly. That I didn't have to… persuade you.
"Shall we go?" he purred seductively.
A sudden blow to her temple dazed her and nearly sent her unconscious. Groggy and disoriented, partly from the wreck and partly from the blow, she felt iron-gripped arms grapple around her shoulders and waist, pinning her arms to her ribcage. She felt his cool body, hard and lean, so very similar yet so different from Edward's, lifting her up just before sprinting through the trees. As they sped through the night, she felt cool droplets of fog smacking her in the face.
"He's going to kill you," she murmured before blacking out. "I swear to it."
"I doubt that, my pet," James chuckled. "Although I do hope he survives long enough to try."