Epov
"Don't...no...too strong. Run, please run! Edward...no, don't go. Please, no...No! NO!" Before she could scream out in fright, I turned her head into my chest, effectively silencing her scream. Only mere seconds later came the sobbing and the tears.
"Shh, Bella. I'm right here. I'm with you; James hasn't got me. Shh. Please, Bella, stop crying. Everything's alright." I gently rocked her body, until the tight grip she had on my shirt loosened and her breathing evened out.
This was the fifth time in three nights she had awoken like this. Only for causing her fear in her sleep, I wanted to kill James. Dark, unhealthy circles under Bella's eyes were taunting me and Charlie, who was unaware of the supernatural around him. He worried deeply for his only child. She had barely eaten these last few days.
He had called Carlisle the morning after we had brought Bella back, and asked him if something happened during baseball. Being the efficient liar he was, Carlisle made up that Bella had most likely caught the flu, which was indeed terrorising the small town of Forks. This lie was also effective for the absence of me, Alice and Emmet at Forks High School.
The three of us had been guarding Bella for the last few days. I only left for a few hours yesterday to hunt. I quickly returned, though. I trusted my family to keep Bella save, but my body was solely running on a protective instinct right now, so I couldn't bear separation for any longer than a few hours.
Luckily Charlie was convinced that Bella was just feeling sick and maybe missing her mom a bit too. Therefore Bella could stay home for a couple of days, under the excuse of bed rest. He had asked her countless of times over the last few days if he should stay home and take care of her, but she insisted that she was fine and there was nothing he could really do but wait for her to feel better.
There was still no sign of either Victoria or James. They were good at erasing their tracks. Alice had seen glimpses, glimpses in which James made a split second decision, nothing concrete, just small decisions, but still we couldn't figure out what they meant. She had seen other flashes too, visions of which I'd rather not think. Bella dead, crumbled in a pool of blood, but I was determined to never let those visions come true. They wouldn't come true, I would guard her for the rest of her life if I had to, but never would I let someone take her life.
These thoughts weren't doing any good to me, so I tucked Bella in again as she had kicked away her sheets, and slid down next to her sleeping form humming her lullaby for the remainder of the night.
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"Are you sure? It's a lot of money, dad. Won't it be inconvenient? There are only two months of school left. Aren't they moving in three weeks?" I listened in unashamedly on the conversation Bella was having with her father downstairs. I was having mixed feelings about this. Still, I had told Bella to go. She needed this.
Charlie had just mentioned to Bella that maybe she should visit her mom for a week in Phoenix. One the one hand, Bella deserved to see her mother. The threat of James reduced by far with all the sun there. On the other hand, vampires were unpredictable. It would be difficult guarding Bella. One moment of delay when Twilight fell, and the tracker would be able to...no, I shouldn't go there.
All I had to do was figure out a way to board the same plane as Bella, without Charlie noticing me. There was no chance of me letting her leave on her own, but I knew she missed her mother and it would make for an excellent distraction.
"Well, err...I kind of already bought the ticket, and I called your mom and Phil too. They were excited. They really miss you. That Phil guy really seems to dote on you." He mumbled the last part awkwardly. It was public knowledge that Charlie Swan still hadn't processed the end of his marriage with Renee. Everyone pitied him for it.
"Yeah, he does. He's a nice guy. Anyways, when am I leaving, then?" A moment of silence. "Tomorrow morning. We have to get up at five. I think the sun will do you some good." There was another moment of silence downstairs. The problem for me was as much as I hated Bella's ability to block her mind from me, the one mind I was truly interested in, the town's chief of police wasn't much better. Charlie couldn't fully block me like his daughter, but he sure came a long way. I only picked up random thoughts and images, only the ones that really stood out. Like right now, while Bella gave her dad a hug and kiss on the cheek. Even though Charlie Swan was socially awkward, his daughter was his everything, and he was touched deeply by the loving gesture she made.
"Thanks, daddy. I'll go pack some stuff then." And with that I heard footsteps bounding up the stairs and Charlie shuffling to the kitchen to grab a beer before switching on the television.
And there she was. For a moment she just stood there after she closed the door behind her. Then she smiled, for the first time in three days I saw her smile again. I opened my arms for her and she ran right into them. It felt nice. I sniffed her hair for what seemed the hundredth time today. I loved the smell of it. But of course the moment couldn't last. Alice jumped through the window with a troubled expression on her face. For a moment she looked at Bella questionably, who blushed and unwrapped herself from me. Then Alice shook her head and smiled broadly.
"Packing time!" She tiptoed around Bella's room and opened her closet door as if it was hers. Then the smile disappeared. "Ugh, Bella! You can't be serious when you say you like these clothes."
Within a few minutes Alice had packed Bella's stuff all on her own.
"Alice?" Alice turned around to face Bella, who had stood up and was now eyeing her duffle bag weirdly.
"Yes, Bella?"
"Is something wrong with you sight? I'll only be gone for a week." I barked out a laugh, which Charlie fortunately did not hear. Alice's mouth fell slightly open, but her lips soon formed a smile again, though she was slightly irked.
"That's offensive, Bella. Nothing has ever been wrong with my sight. Besides, a girl can never know what she might need when she's travelling." She defended herself.
"She does when she's a seer." Bella mumbled, sitting back down on the bed. I snorted. This little human sure was witty.
Alice suddenly sank into a vision. Not even a second later my phone began to vibrate in my chest pocket. Jasper. Go, Edward. I'll stay with Bella. Then Alice closed off her mind again.
I winked at Bella, ruffled her hair and then ran out to the surrounding forest around her house. "What is it, Jasper?" I asked my brother on the other end of the line.
"We scented James, followed him to Bella's school, but the bastard caught wind of us, so he made a run for it. Just thought you should know." Jasper was a straight to the point as he usually was when the situation was dire. It was a result from his times as a soldier.
"Thank you. I don't know what he wanted to accomplish with visiting the school, but Alice and I will pay extra attention now. Was that all for now?" I glanced around me as if James would suddenly show himself.
"No, I also wanted to tell you that we booked a seat for you, Emmet and Alice. We put you in First Class so the chief won't notice you guys. Make sure you'll be inside the plane at six thirty. Esme already packed you a bag. That's it for now. I'll let you know if anything else happens." I heard a bit of bickering on the other side of the phone, then Jasper continued speaking in a ticked off voice. "And Emmet tells me to tell you to tell Bella hi. Was that all, Emmet or did you have any other dire messages I need to pass along?" "Nah, I think that was about it, man." I heard Emmet's amiable voice say cheerfully. "Alright then, I'll see...WHAT NOW EMMET?!" "Tell Bella I'll see her tomorrow, too!" The laughter was obvious in Emmet's voice, but he quickly backed off after I heard a sound, a slap like sound.
Even in this situation I couldn't help, but be glad for my giant brother who always brought humour with him, no matter what. "I'll see you tonight, Edward. You need to hunt." With that he hung up before Emmet could further annoy him.
Bpov
"One more time." I felt my dad turn me around for the third time. I was about to hand my ticket to the flight assistant, but pulled back my hand and faced my overly concerned father. "No talking to strangers. When I get off the plane I immediately search for Phil and if he's not there yet or I can't find him I ask staff members if they have seen him, if not I wait for him inside the airport, no walking away with strangers. I am to immediately inform staff members when I see something out of the ordinary even when I'm not sure. Also, I am not to disturb anyone, and if it's the other way around, complain to a steward or someone from here. I have to eat at least one meal and stay hydrated. When staff asks me to put on my seat belt I have to do so as fast as possible, as well as listen to any other orders. I know, dad, I know. I've travelled by planes for the better part of my life." I felt like some problematic teen, which was always sneaking around causing trouble.
"You forgot something." My jaw dropped. After repeating the same set of rules for five times (two of which on the car ride to here) I was pretty sure I had it all covered. Then my dad barked out a laugh. "Just kidding, Bells. It's good to see you're still a bit naïve," He pulled something out of my hand baggage. I frowned, and then smiled as he held up a copy of a new series that I've been reading recently. The Rise of Nine from the Loriën Legacies.
"Thank you, dad." He enveloped me in a tight hug, gave me a kiss on the forehead and ruffled my hair before he sent me on my merry way.
.
"Izzy! Here, come on, kiddo! Give me a hug!" I wrapped my arms around Phil's waist, laughing at his antics. Even though everyone was staring at him, I was too happy to finally see his face again. Soon I'd also be able to look into my mothers shining eyes again.
"C'mon! Your mom is going crazy with excitement to see you, but Mrs. Lee really can't do anything without help, and her husband needed to pick up their son." He picked up my duffle bag and moved towards the exit. From the corner of my eye I saw Edward following with Alice and Emmet, people eyeing them due to their overdressed state.
.
"Mom!" I squealed happily. "Oh, Bella! Bella! You're here!" Before she even finished talking she had thrown her arms around me, spinning me around in a happy dance. Phil left us giggling in the front yard, instead choosing to bring my bag to my old room.
As expected my mother had not changed one bit, in the way of being ever-changing. She was already telling me about all the new things she had tried in the months I was gone. And we were still standing outside...
"Ladies, are you going to stand there for the rest of the day?" Phil stood in the doorway, his posture relaxed as he leaned against the doorpost, a wide smile on his face. He knew how happy the both of us were to see each other again. I felt guilty for a moment. Before my move to Forks, my mother had been my best friend, but ever since I started meeting people there I had sort of started to abandon her. I was here now, though, and I planned to make the best of it.
I went upstairs to put on a tank top; all the time I spent in Forks really had me accustomed to the cold and wet. Afterwards I spent the rest of the afternoon with Phil and my mom in the back yard, updating each other on our lives.
"Bella, you have to see some pictures of our new house in Jacksonville. It's this lovely little, white cottage. The sun shines almost all day long. You'll have your own bathroom again, and I must say it looks very nice. Oh, and there's your bedroom, which is a lot bigger than the one you have now. It's perfect, honey! And when you want to bake or cook, the kitchen is a dream I tell you!" She rattled on. Phil gave her a disapproving look and then threw me a sad smile.
"Renee, honey, I don't think Bella is going to come along with us." He interrupted her. As soon as the words left his mouth, you could see my mother's shoulders dropping and the wide smile she had worn ever since my arrival disappearing. She turned her gaze to me. It was filled with sadness, so much that I almost took back my decision. As if. I would never leave Forks, when that was the only place I could be with Edward.
"Why won't you come with us? Don't tell me you like that dreadful place." She pleaded. I was sort of angry with my mother. Why did she have to be like this? Why couldn't she just understand that I lived with Charlie now? Even if it weren't for the Cullens, I doubt I would make the move with her and Phil. For the first time, I didn't feel like a total misfit. In Forks it wasn't abnormal to be incredibly white skinned, and not be a future cheerleader or something of the sorts. I had friends my own age.
"Yes, I do like Forks. The cold and the wet aren't the only things to it. You get used to them anyways. I have a lot of friends there, and dad seems to be really happy to have me living with him. It think he was really lonely, mom." For a moment she let my words sink in, and then she nodded dejectedly. "Yeah, I think he was. You have to call me more often, though. We really missed you."
"I know. I promise I'll send you more emails, and I'll try to call you at least once a week, okay?" I was relieved my mom didn't push it to much about Jacksonville. "Deal." We locked pinkies, a habit I had picked up as a little girl.
"How about some Ben and Jerry's?" Mom and I cheered as Phil went inside to grab three cans of Cookie Dough ice cream. That was something Forks just couldn't do for you. Provide you with ice cream on a hot spring day.
.
I had been in Phoenix for a few days now, and while I can't say I haven't been distracted, James just kept coming to mind. There had been multiple occasions where I thought I could sense his presence nearby. Phil had once looked at me strangely as I jumped and whipped my head around to stare out of the window, certain that I had seen a flash of white. I shrugged it off, telling him I thought I heard a neighbourhood kid scream. He seemed to buy it.
Edward had come by last night, but he was a bit off. I decided to trust him. He would tell me if something was wrong. I had to trust him. That was the only thing I could do right now. Everything was based upon trust, right?
.
"Izz! Can you come done, for a moment?" Phil shouted from downstairs. "Sure, hang on a moment!" I yelled back. I finished the last sentence in my diary and closed the booklet.
I bounded down the stairs, almost tripping at the last three steps. Phil applauded an impressed look on his face. "That reservation girl really did a good job on your balance. Before, you would have probably tripped and broken your neck." Isn't he charming when he makes a compliment?
I childishly stuck my tongue out, and he came forward laughing and ruffling my hair when he reached me. This was why I liked Phil. He accepted the fact that he was very young, and whilst he was married to a woman with a child (back then barely) the age of twelve, he could never fully step into a father role, so he simply didn't act like one. He chose to be more of an uncle, the kind that sets all the wrong examples, like drinking milk from the carton and then putting it back in the fridge.
"What's up? Do I need to run to the store? Did you eat all of the ice cream? Again? I swear I'm gonna tell mom it was you all along." I said teasingly. Phil had been training a lot lately, so when he came home, he was starved, but instead of grabbing a banana or something of the likes, he chose to eat whole bins of ice cream, later complaining about a stomach ache, and then realizing Renee would be pissed if she found out he ate all of that on his own. So I took part of the blame and got new ice cream.
"Yeah, well, here's this funny story..." He started.
"You didn't." My jaw dropped. That was the third one. "Another funny story...I kinda did," He looked at me with eyes full of mischief and held up a five dollars and continued talking, "So be on your merry way to the story already. I'll buy you a new book tomorrow, when we go shopping. Come on... you know you want it." I looked him in the eye for a few seconds, until he started squirming. "That didn't work, did it? I only got you more unwilling to go, didn't I?" I nodded silently.
"Please?" See follow-up failed attempt at puppy dog eyes. "Fine, but that book better be good. Oh, and dad already got me The Rise of Nine." I grabbed the five dollars from his hand and made way for the door. Phil had jogged back to the couch and turned on the TV. "Thanks, Izz!" He threw over his shoulder.
I smiled. "Sure! See ya later!" "Later!"
.
I looked behind me, startled. I was certain that this time there had been a shadow next to mine. "Edward? Alice? Emmet? Is that one of you?" No reply. Maybe people should lock me up. There's no way James and Victoria would turn up here, right?
I was halfway to the small supermarket, walking past my old ballet studio. "Bella?! Bella?!" I froze. I whipped my head around, the waterfall that was my long hair shattering in a thousand directions, my eyes wide. I saw no one in the street, but that was my mother's panicked voice. I was sure I hadn't imagined that. "Hello? Mom?" I yelled frantically. Where is she? I heard her, I know I heard her!
A breeze of wind, a flash of white. A scream was ripped from my throat as someone grabbed me from behind, but I was quickly silenced by a hand. I didn't matter anymore. James had caught me. No matter how hard I struggled, there was no escaping him. I didn't know how he got around Edward, Emmet and Alice, but he did. Then it hit me. They could be dead... No, I had to trust them. Even if James managed to get around Alice's visions, there was still Edward's mindreading and Emmet's brute strengths wasn't something to mess with. No, they had to be fine.
"Tell me Isabella, do you love your mother? Do you want her to live and go back home to –what was it again? oh, yeah- Phil? Hmm? What do you say? Shall we make this experience a bit more...easy on the both of you? Of course, I could just kill her. It would only take me a second of my eternity, but I'll be a good sport if you will be too." His nose was trailing up and down my neck. I felt disgusted and nauseated. He was sniffing out my blood at the point were the scent was at its strongest.
"Bella, honey, where are you?!" My mother's voice was bordering hysterical now. I can't let mom die. Not for me. I have to save her. Edward, please keep them save when I can't anymore.
"What is your answer, Isabella? Nod yes or shake no," he waited for a moment for me to make my choice, which of course was a nod, "Good, I honestly don't want to pull your mother into this." I felt relieved for a moment. My parents, Phil, the Cullen's, Jake and all my other friends, they would be safe now. This would be the end of the hunt, the end of me.
Before I could blink we were inside, my whole body freezing. There stood Victoria, but that wasn't why my body froze, surprisingly. I was staring to the thing next to her, a TV, playing an old tape, from when I was six and I was hiding in a closet after my horrible performance on stage. My mother wasn't here, that was a relief. The not so relieving part was that I had been fooled by James and Victoria, because my mother hadn't been here either, not for the past six to seven years.
I heard James speak to Victoria in fast, harsh tones. They were arguing; probably about who would get to suck me dry. To my surprise Victoria left, but not after throwing me a nasty look. I wondered for a moment why she had gone, her fiery red hair trailing after her. I had expected her to at least watch as James killed me.
"I wanted to do this in a more personal way. Besides, your blood will be way to delicious to share, don't you think?" He moved away from me and grabbed something from the corner of the room, something I hadn't seen yet. More personal as in...No!
James had retrieved a camera, the red light in the dark room an obvious indicator that it was already recording.
"I thought your precious Edward should be able to enjoy your screams. We'll make it a theatrical performance, much like your ballet sessions. What do you think? Do you think he'll regret not tasting your blood when he could?" I felt all the blood drain from my face as his words sunk in. He didn't plan on just drinking my blood. He planned to make me suffer, torture me, making me scream out in agony. And those screams Edward would here when James delivered the tape. I knew begging James not to do this to Edward wouldn't help. After all, James interest was due to Edward's protectiveness on the field.
He smiled a sick smile. The kind you see psychopaths do on TV, when they are about to give in to their inner twisted fantasies. Only this smile wasn't faked. Neither were his bloodthirsty eyes. All the white had made room for a shade of black not unknown to me. The shade Edward's eyes had held when he first met me.
Before my trail of thoughts could lead any further I felt myself being picked up and smashed into the mirrors. Pieces of glass shattered around me, and I felt blood seeping from the back of my head. What made it worse where the screams that kept echoing in the room. I wanted whoever it was that was screaming to stop. It took me ten seconds to realize that the one screaming was me.
James was standing by the television now, the camera put in place on top of it, while he was standing there chuckling, his arms crossed in front of his chest. He was admiring his handiwork. "I like that effect. I wonder if I can make you do that again. I wonder if your precious Edward will try to avenge you."
"No! Edward don't!" I had to stop him. What if he became reckless and got himself killed? The world shouldn't be robbed of a beautiful angel like him. Another round of chuckles. Then I was flying again. I couldn't help it; I let out another bloodcurdling scream. More glass shattered around me, my blood closing in on the shards, capturing them. My mind started getting fuzzy, the rusty scent of my blood intruding my nose.
"You know," James started conversationally, "there's only ever been one person to escape me. In the full two centuries there has only been one vampire to beat me in my game. He changed her. She was a funny little thing, can't have been much more than five feet, and talented. A seer I do believe. But the old man managed to change her before I could taste her tempting life source. He got what he deserved for thwarting me. I lit up half of Biloxi, I believe, just by setting fire to his beloved asylum, and then threw him into the flames. I wondered for decades if the girl went insane with thirst. Certainly would have been fitting. I found her in a mental institute after all. And then, there she was. Behind that pathetic excuse of a coven leader and his 'son'." He stopped talking for a moment, before laughing quietly. "How cruel of me. I didn't mean for you to get your hopes up. There is no escaping me. Don't worry. I promise you that when I deliver your family of vampires this tape; I will finish what I started. Now where were we?"
He took three, slow steps in my direction, but I couldn't move away from him. My body was numb, yet my mind was running overdrive. Alice. She had been hunted by James too. And now he was going to kill her, even though it all began and stopped with her blood. Now it was about revenge, revenge for her being a smear on his reputation as an invincible hunter.
"Given up already? How disappointing... I wonder what your mate will think of that." He taunted. I looked up at his flawless, evil face. I knew Edward thought himself a demonic creature for all the lives he had taken. For giving in to temptation, but he had at least taken the lives in the name of justice. This, James way of feeding, was just plane torture. He loved this, playing with his food. He didn't just feed on blood. He fed on death, fear, hopelessness and destruction.
I couldn't, no matter what, let him see what his game and his words did to me. I couldn't let him see my fear, nor could I show it to Edward. It would make it that much harder.
This time James yanked my hair, pulling my hair back and clawing once at my neck. Streaks of red seeped through the thin shirt I was wearing. He then hit me against my ribs obviously breaking the bones there, and kicked against my leg. He really wasn't planning on leaving any part of me whole.
Tears flowed freely, mixing with the blood. Screams of agony bounced of the wall. I was pathetic. So much for saving Edward the pain of having to listen to those horrific sounds. And then it was over. Just as I thought James was about to go in for the killing bite and free me of my misery, he disappeared, my broken body falling to the floor.
There he was, in all his glory. Edward had come, but this Edward was unrecognizable. His lips were curled, revealing his set of sharp teeth. His hands had formed claws, on of which was around James' neck, forcing him against the wall. His eyes seemed to be those of a demon. But Edward could never be a demon, no he was an avenging, dark angel. My saviour. Edward's usually messy hair was in disarray even more so then normally was the case. Clearly, he had hurried on his way here. That fact caused me to realise that he was on his own. He had always been the fastest among his family. I tried to speak, tell him to just let it happen, to go and be safe, but nothing would come out of my mouth, nor could I move. It was as if I was dead already.
Growls were heard from the both of them. I saw them move at vampire speed. For a moment, Edward picked me up, and I was convinced it was over. Then James lunged at him, causing Edward to drop me. Edward crashed into the opposite wall, and James took that as his chance to bite, literally. He slid his hand under my head, as if cradling a baby, his fingers locking in my blood-caked hair, his other hand lifting my wrist to his nose. He inhaled deeply, his eyes turning even darker then they already were.
"It's a shame, Edward, to not have tasted this blood. I guess I'll just have to tell you what she tastes like." And then his teeth pierced my skin. For a total of two second James was able to enjoy the taste of my blood, before he pulled away from me once again.
"Accept that you can't win, boy. You may be fast, but you're not strong." His taunt was answered by Edward with a snarl. "I'm strong enough to kill you." They started fighting again. I tried to focus on Edward, but a sudden burning pain was starting to consume me. It started out in my wrist and began to slowly spread to my hand and arm. "It's burning..." I whispered.
"Bella, shh, shh, it's going to be okay. We're here. I'm sorry, I'm so incredibly sorry. Please, don't die, Bella!" Alice's pixie like face came into view. Her eyes were glistering with tears that would never be shed. I wanted to tell her not to feel guilty. She wasn't omniscient, but instead another scream was pulled out of me, shocking Alice.
"Alice, how's her leg?" Ah, so Carlisle was here too. "Edward! Come here! Let your brothers handle him!" I saw Carlisle set to work and then, from the corner of my eye, I saw Jasper and Emmet drag James to a dark corner, where I couldn't see them. A loud screeching sounded then, as if two cars were moving against each other. James scream tore through the room and I saw the corner light up. Had they started a fire?
Edward appeared next to me, staring at me ghastly.
"Alice, make a tourniquet from my belt, then call 911. They can't know we're here." Carlisle commanded her. Alice immediately followed up his orders. Edward still hadn't said anything and I was starting to feel a whole different kind of fright.
"It burns." I repeated, this time more urgent. He looked down upon my wrist. "Carlisle," finally he spoke up, but what he said really wasn't what I wanted to hear. "He bit her! Carlisle, he bit her! We have to get the venom out of her! Now! Hurry!" I had never heard Edward as...chaotic as right now. He was completely lost in panic and fear. The most surprising thing, though, was Carlisle. "Goddamnit! Edward, calm down! I need you to suck the venom out. I can't do it right now. I have to stabilize her other wounds. Edward was about to protest, but apparently Carlisle wasn't having any of it. "Edward, do it and do it n-"
My scream and my body convulsing cut his answer short. I was lost in my pain and willing to do anything to make it stop. So I begged. "Stop the fire! Please, stop the fire! It's burning!" My voice had reached surprisingly high pitches. But so had the pain. My body started convulsing even more. "I need someone to hold her still." Edward's voice sounded determined now.
Alice, who had gotten of the phone, immediately locked my limbs to the floor. "We have two minutes. Edward, you can do this. You have to do this. She's your everything." I loved Alice even more in that moment, because she said some of the things I had been wanting to tell him, but couldn't.
"I'm sorry, angel. It will all be over soon, I promise." Edward apologized. Then he placed his teeth over the wound James had caused and sucked. He sucked, sucked and sucked even more.
"Edward, the blood is clean now. I don't scent any venom anymore. Edward, stop! You're killing her, Edward!" I felt myself sink away under deep waters. I could still hear, but my vision was gone. I felt Edwards jaw unlock itself from my jaw.
"Has the fire been extinguished, Bella?" Carlisle asked. I had completely forgotten he was here. "Yes."
And then oblivion took over.
I am not particularly proud of this chapter, but I worked really long on this (5639 words), so be nice! I'm going to try and finish the story before my birthday in June. Please keep reading until then.
