Bella.
I couldn't decipher the inexplicable power that I felt flowing through my body. It made me feel strong, demanding and dangerous, and I liked it. A lot.
Seeing Felix detach Edward's leg from his body was excruciating. The sound of the bone being ripped from his knee; the agonizing howl of pain that he emitted as he watched his own limb being tossed around like a baseball bat. It was horrible.
It stemmed an entirely new batch of feelings. For once, I didn't automatically feel helpless and pathetic. A surge of fury and protectiveness was born, and I didn't think of anything except acting on them. For once, I was able to be the hero. And standing here now, watching amusedly as Felix continuously tried to break into the shield around Edward's injured body, I knew that I was.
When he turned his glare to meet my eyes, I didn't falter. My shield stayed strong, and I stayed angry. So much havoc had been inflicted upon my family; three lives had been lost, all because of those evil bastards. I wasn't going to let Felix win. I wasn't going to let them win.
Felix's first and last mistake was changing me. Maybe I was a weak, defenseless and spineless human before, but I was a revenge-seeking, angry and ass-kicking vampire now.
"You won't hurt him again."
I didn't recognize my own voice. It was deep, scratchy and so cold that I shivered at the sound. Felix stared for a moment, before his left eyebrow raised and he rolled his eyes before chuckling. A snarl rolled from my lips as he took a menacing step forward.
"Bella, please-" Edward rasped weakly from the ground. I didn't look at him; my eyes narrowing at Felix's tensed posture. He was anticipating attack, waiting for me to lunge or pounce, I could tell by his stance.
"Would you kill me, Isabella? I thought we were friends," he sneered, a devilish smile appearing on his lips.
"That was until I discovered you ate my Uncle," I spat viciously. He threw his head back and laughed, moving cautiously around me. We were circling each other, waiting for an attack at any time. My hands were raised out, prepared to pull, punch, push if needed.
"Details, details!"
His eyes darted to Edward, who was raising his upper body up with both arms, cringing in pain as his leg dragged across the dirt. I gulped; I wanted nothing more than to take the shield down, thrown him on my back and take him to Carlisle, but if I didn't do this now, I'd never have the chance again.
"Don't think about it. Don't even look at him. I'm going to kill you for hurting him," I seethed between clenched teeth, moving around him. He smirked, and glanced back at Edward, who was watching us with nervousness.
"A little reversed, isn't it, Cullen? Shouldn't you be the one defending her honor?"
I turned to look at Edward, who narrowed his eyes.
"I already did- in Italy," he spoke with fire, and I watched in satisfaction as Felix's eyes widened in shock. "Did you contact Aro before biting her?"
The loud silence that ensued afterwards confirmed to both of us that he definitely didn't.
"You'll burn for this, Felix," he announced, cringing in pain as he moved his hands to apply pressure to his knee. I involuntarily took a step forward, Felix becoming the last thing on my mind at the moment.
"Are you okay, Edward?" I asked helplessly.
"I'm fine. I just need Carlisle to- Bella, move!"
His voice startled me, but the heavy body that impaled into my side startled me even more. I was thrown to the grass; the surrounding trees and bushes rattling as the impact shook the ground. Once again, my anger surged, and I was on my feet within seconds.
"Bella, behind you!"
As I spun my head to look behind me, I caught a glance of Edward desperately trying to pull himself up off of the ground. The shield was still in tact, but my vision blurred with indifference. It was wavering, and I couldn't let that happen. He was took weak to fight, and I knew Felix would take advantage of that.
"Edward, stay down! Please-"
Something slammed against my lower back, and I was thrown forward again. Instead of getting up, I kept myself on the ground. It was easier to keep the shield up if I wasn't fighting. I inhaled a sharp breath, and closed my eyes. I focused on the shield; on keeping Edward safe until Jake or the Cullen's found us.
"Bella, you have to let me out of here! Open your eyes!" he pleaded desperately, his voice begging. I didn't open them. "Please, open your eyes! Look at what's he doing! Don't let him do it!"
I could hear the splash of liquid upon the dead grass that surrounded us, and when my eyelids fluttered open, I smelt it. The pure, demanding scent of gasoline. It circled me, dancing around my body threateningly.
"What a tricky decision. Bella takes Edward's shield down, I kill him. Bella keeps Edward's shield up, and I kill her. Are you going to be that selfless, Bella?"
His voice was taunting me, and despite the fury that I felt, I was succumbing to the weakness. I couldn't let Edward's shield down, but the lighter that Felix held against the gasoline dampened blades of grass sealed my fate.
"Bella!" Edward roared angrily. "Take the damn shield down! Now!"
I shook my head stubbornly, ignoring a cackling Felix as he watched the two of us possibly say our final words.
"You can't fight. You need to stay in there until Carlisle-"
"What about you? I can't sit here and watch you burn. You have to let me out-" I locked eyes with him, and he stopped his begging. I narrowed my eyes, wishing that our final words weren't witnessed by Felix. My fingers dug into the dirt below me, trying to break through the barrier inside of my own head.
I love you. Thank you for everything.
I heard his sharp gasp, and a click, before the flames flew in front of my face. They danced around me in a circle, closing in on me. I could hear Edward's pleas, before he pounded against the shield, screaming something that I wasn't coherent enough to hear at the moment. I needed a way out.
"Bella!"
The heat moved across my skin, and I cringed at the feeling. I moved to jump through a small patch of grass that hadn't been torched enough to block me, but Felix was there first. The small, white squeezable bottle that I didn't know he had was in his hands, and he was squirting it merrily upon the already blazing flames.
I was trapped.
Crawling to the ground, I felt defeated.
But at least Edward was safe. And when the Cullen's came, they'd take care of Felix and help Edward. Jake, Alice .. they'd all be safe. And in this moment, though I was incredibly sad that my new life was coming to an end as well as my time with Edward, I didn't feel regretful. I was giving up my life for the people who saved me, and that was the only thing I could do.
Edward's screams grew louder. The torn, pained tone in his voice wasn't easy to endure. On my knees, I lowered my between them, and covered my ears with the palms of my hands. In a few short moments, it would be over.
I would feel the fire once again, except this time, I wouldn't return.
"Let it go, Bella! We're here! He's safe, let it go!"
My eyes snapped open at the unforgettable sound of Alice's high pitched wail. I lifted my head marginally, and saw her and the rest of the Cullen's surrounding the circle of fire. Wolves completed the circle that they weren't large enough to fill. Felix wasn't anywhere in sight.
I tried to glance up at Edward, but the flames had my vision weak and blurry. I couldn't see for myself if he was safe enough to be let down.
"Trust us, Bella. Please! He's safe, now save yourself!"
My body began to feel heavier than it should've. I crumpled to the ground in a broken heap, trembling with unexplainable withers of pain. This was it.
I opened my eyes. I wanted to see them before I went.
They were all there. Alice, who looked as if she was desperately trying to jump into the flames if not held back by Jasper. Emmett, who was glancing back and fourth at the growing fire, possibly trying to find an entrance in to get me out. Rosalie, who looked on the verge of tears. Carlisle and Esme were wrapped in each other's embrace on the forest floor next to Edward's blocked off body. The wolves around me, though I couldn't see them, howled in unison.
And then they were there.
My body twisted in panic that they were there to avenge Felix's death, but they stood, staring at me from inside the circle of flames; the same mourning expression on their face as well. I stared at the tall one. He locked eyes with me, and everything came rushing back to me. He tipped his head forward to me, before mouthing three words.
"Let go, Bella."
And suddenly, I couldn't hold onto it any longer. I hoped that if the Volturi were here to fight, that the Cullen's were prepared to fight. I hoped that they'd have the decency to take Edward away from the scene. I just hoped they were safe.
And then I let go.
It felt as if a million pounds had been lifted off of my body, but the struggle to keep my eyes open only increased. I gasped, feeling a flame lick the shoe on my foot, and tried to kick myself away.
For what seemed like the hundredth time in my life, I braced myself for certain death.
My eyelids were heavy and closing, but I heard Alice and Esme shriek loudly at the same time, and I opened them far enough to see Edward jump through the flames unsuccessfully. I groaned in pain, and his body landed with a thud next to mine. Gasping, I rolled over to him.
"Edward?" I whispered.
He opened his eyes, and I immediately felt relieved. He tried to give me a small smile, but I could see the pain that etched his face. I craned my neck to look back, and saw the flames that engulfed his remaining leg.
I let out a whimper, and rolled closer to him.
"I love you," I sobbed tearlessly, and all I received in return was a smile.
"Edward!" one of the girls shrieked again. "Bella, now!"
As the fire touched my foot for the second time, I squeezed my eyes shut, moved closer to Edward and mustered every ounce of strength that I had left in my body- and pushed. The shield surrounded us before we were swallowed by the flames, but before I could open my eyes, I let go.
And this time, I let go of everything.
That, my friend, is the end. Well .. not really. You still have the epilogue to look forward to. I apologize for the extremely short length of the chapter, but sometimes short is better. There wasn't really anything else I wanted to include, since I'm saving the rest for the epilogue, but I wasn't going to drabble on about everything to make things longer. That's not my style, haha. Anyway, the reviews last time were awesome! Thank you so much! Let's try to do it again this time. Especially if you've never reviewed before. Since this is the last chapter before the epilogue, if you want to say something about the story, this is your last chance! Well .. technically not, since the story will be up for anybody to read in the future, but I'll stop rambling. You all know what I mean.
Secondly, I've put up my new story. It's rated M, and it's called Lunacy. If you have the time, pretty please with sugar on top go check it out and let me know what you think. I'm extremely nervous about it, since it's basically me stepping out of my comfort zone, so I need some serious input. Please & thank you?
I think that's about it. I'll try to have the Epilogue out soon, but in the meantime, review! :D
