Karma's A Witch

by JacklynnFrost

"Witchling." My vampire hissed, his black eyes narrowed in hate and hunger. "What have you done to me?" I decided the truth in this instance is best in order to survive. "I might have accidentally... bound our souls, oops." / Bella, a witch, and Edward, a vampire, find themselves bound forever. Warning: love adventure, minor character death, dark themes. AU, Smut, mates, EDITED

34. Chapter Thirty-Three

Karma's A Witch

'I really like orgasms.'

Chapter Thirty-Three

1:55 pm, Tuesday

November 11th

The bell went off and like a good sheep, I follow the crowd from the Gym lockers. Why did this class last the longest? Probably because my coordination was comparable to a baby calf trying to walk for the first time. I bite my lip, anxious to meet up with Alice before our next class starts so we can finish the conversation we started earlier today. Of course, Lauren intercepted me before I could reach my locker where Alice was waiting. I could see my tiny cousin down the hall, looking around for a moment before inspecting one of her jacket buttons.

"Why have you been giving me the cold shoulder?" For a long moment, I stared at Lauren and wonder how I could be making her shoulder cold before I figured it out. She meant ignoring her. Human terms are strange, I can't stress this enough. A few hours ago Ben asked me 'what is crackalackin?' I still have no idea what that word is. Is it a verb? An adjective? And what is the answer to the question? I sighed, there were so many bigger things going on in my world than Lauren.

"Because you're mean," I tell her, knowing the only reason I realize it is because I dove into her head. Fearing for a repeat of that, I move to back up but then change my mind. I don't want Lauren to think I'm afraid of her when I'm not. She looks properly surprised and hurt but I know her mind now.

"Did someone say something to you?" Lauren asked, acting upset and worried. She wanted to know if someone had spoken badly about her. I wanted to roll my eyes. Is that what human teenagers are worried about? Gossip? I had my virginity status to work out, Edward's siblings have been on the move lately so that wasn't much of an issue but I did need to worry about the Volturi making another attempt on my life. Lauren and I is not on my to-do list. Besides I've been actively working against her when I could. I made sure Mike knew how upset Jessica is and I even told Jessica that Mike asked about her in my biology class. She'd smiled at me sadly when I'd spoken to her. Jessica is nicer than Lauren, after my first encounter with Jessica I never would have believed it.

One thing I've realized... nothing is as it first appears.

"My cousin is waiting for me," I say, trying to step around Lauren. Mr. Green requires me to have my textbook and I don't want extra problems to do because I'm late or unprepared. 'Lauren is a bitch' is not a proper excuse either. Since she wasn't letting me through I tried a new tactic.

"What, Lauren? I don't want to be friends with you." I instantly felt bad but her jaw dropped and I skirted around her to reach Alice and my locker two minutes before the bell. I rushed, returning some books and grabbing my geometry one before Alice and I headed off toward room two-ten. Too bad Lauren is in that class with us so there is no escaping her right now.

"So according to cosmopolitan, one month is the proper time before sex is introduced into a relationship." Alice jumps right back into our previous discussion sparing no time for greetings. "Since its November, technically you two have been together for two months, almost. So the timing isn't inappropriate even though your relationship started off... well, tense." Her tiny shoulders shrug as she fixes one of her backpack straps. She's ready to leave straight from Geometry but I'd taken too long with Lauren to pack up everything.

"Yeah... tense is the word." I sigh, Edward and I started out strained all right. Edward wanted to kill me but instead settled for working with me to separate our souls but that goal just faded away as Alice predicted. I thanked the goddess every day for Edward forgiving me for trapping his soul to mine. "So am I, or ain't I? And how did you read a Cosmo during school hours, Alice?" I only knew what a Cosmo was because Alice had all kinds of magazines sent to her. She liked to keep up with what was 'in'. As she put it.

"I have my ways, Swan." Alice winks and Mr. Green has started early since the problems were already written on the board. He was nowhere to be seen so the students already present were chatting away. Alice and I followed their lead. "And... you are. If he hasn't put his naughty part in your naughty part, you still possess your V card. Why would it matter anyway?"

Good question. Mostly it mattered because if I lost my virginity to Edward than the bond would be complete, according to Emmett. Also, that would mean Edward and I's relationship has progressed to a new level. He's taken my blood before but only to save my life, or, well, we thought he was since it turns out werewolf venom doesn't do shit to mages... but still. He took my blood this time because he wanted to. He came, I came... we were at a new level in our relationship but we hadn't touched much. He'd bitten my neck, licked my neck and I've moved my hips against his but we haven't been pressed up against one another while naked. So, what level were we at in our relationship?

Where did this fall around the bases? First base was kissing... we did that once and it didn't work out. Second base was touching with hands. We haven't done that, but third base was touching naughty bits with our mouths and he made me orgasm with his teeth. This is goddess damned confusing!

We sat in our seats and I mushed over everything I knew for sure. I wanted Edward and it seemed he wanted me too. He'd been all cuddly afterward, laying me down and letting me take a nap after being woken up too early and at an unreasonable hour by Bree. Edward said normally getting bitten was painful for his... past victims, that my reaction is most strange.

I didn't like thinking about the people my vampire has killed. He said he only picked bad people but... didn't killing make him bad? Instead of thinking about that, I did what I did best and pushed it out of my head to think about other things.

"I got to hold Jaspers' hand," Alice says, leaning her hip against my desk. The teacher still hasn't returned and everyone was out of their seats too. "He had to be real still, held out his arm and I took it. He was so much colder than I expected. I mean, it's cold outside and I know he can't generate his own body he-" She looks around her having stopped so suddenly in her speech. "Well, you know. It just wasn't what I expected." Her cheeks are flushed. We did need to be careful what we said in school. I figured changing the subject would be a good thing for both of us.

"Have you given him the jacket yet?" Her sunflower eyes widen before she shakes her head negatively. "There hasn't been a good time. He refuses to let us buy clothes for him. Edward paid us back almost immediately and Jasper says since he can't do the same he doesn't want to take from us. I have a feeling if I give him the jacket too soon, he'll be offended but I'd love to clothe him. It would be so nice if he only wore the clothes I made." Her face twists up and I know I lost her. Alice was in her own fashion world with Jasper as her forever experimental mannequin.

Mr. Green comes in a second before the bell rings and everyone scurries back to their seats and instantly the room is silent. Everyone was just a bit afraid of Mr. Green. He was tucking his shirt in around his belt buckle scanning the room. His frown deepened when he noticed Laurens empty seat. Where was she? Hopefully, she didn't skip because of me. My worries were unfounded though because a moment later she came in with a scowl and too many books in her arms.

"Miss. Mallory, nice of you to join us. See me after class for your extra assignment." She nodded harshly before making her way to her empty desk and slamming her books down on the top of it. "Is there a problem?" Mr. Green asks and she shakes her head negatively once. When his back is turned toward the board again she whips her head in my direction and gives me the nastiest look I've ever been given. I lived with Rose and still, Lauren Mallory took the cake on dirty looks. Had I been that mean to her, really? I turn toward Mr. Green intent on paying attention and not looking in Laurens direction.

Halfway through his explanation on how to do system of polynomial equations a note is slid across the floor and lands against my foot. I bend down and pick it up aware that Mr. Green loves confiscating notes. The girl in front of me, I think her name is Latoya, she's had three notes taken and the last one Mr. Green read out loud because she'd been caught so many times before. Since Mr. Green didn't like me, or anyone, I didn't want to risk him taking this note and reading it out loud too.

'Are you going to help Rose again tonight?' It said, in Alice's scrawl. Do I write my answer and pass it back or can I just nod at her? I wished I was better at being normal, or at least knew what to do in normal situations. I write 'If Rose wants, yes.' Now how do I give it back without Mr. Green seeing? I can't aim worth shit so throwing it and kicking it is not going to happen. Instead, I nod at Alice two rows down. She rolls her eyes before writing something down on another half sheet of paper. I turn back to the board, lost now on how to finish the polynomial. Crap. Another note hits my boot. Seriously Alice? I grab the note as discretely as possible and unfold it over my textbook.

'You are hopeless. Well, I want you and Edward to go on a walk with us tonight. Jasper said he'd try but only if Edward agreed to stop him if he went too far.' My brow furrows and I read over her words again. What is Jasper going to try? More than holding hands? But Jasper was a bit unstable being around so many people at home. I fold the note back up again and tuck them both in my pockets.

I didn't think Jasper should try anything yet. I reach out to Edward. 'What are Jasper and Alice going to try?' I ask, writing down the complete geometry problem in my notes so I could attempt to figure it out later. Damn Alice, I was getting it before you interrupted.

'Alice wants a bite orgasm.' Even though the class was going on and Mr. Green was answering a student's question I spin around in my chair to face Alice. She's alarmed, eyes wide and I stare her down.

"No," I tell her, my finger coming up to point at her. Jasper is far too unstable. The only reason Edward and I do it is because he already did it before. Edward can handle being that close because he can't kill me. We're soul bound familiars and its impossible to be the one that directly causes the other's death. I mean, kind of. If Edward felt a fraction of what I felt then, of course, he couldn't hurt me. Just thinking about Edward not existing physically pained me, burned me, ached deep in my chest area. Alice didn't respond, her wide eyes looking past me at nothing. Edward's voice continues where he left off.

'I told Jasper it was too soon. That they should be bonded first.' I relaxed as I realized his meaning but Mr. Green made me tense up again. He was staring right at me, his eyebrow raised like I was about to get a verbal lashing.

"Is there something you wish to share Miss. Swan." Oh shit. Thankfully, the bell rang and Mr. Green hurried through reminding us about our homework and I snuck out of class before he could stop me. He could give me extra work tomorrow if he remembered my little outburst. That's twice now, once in Biology and now once in Geometry that I answered out loud in front of the whole classroom. Alice found me instantly since I was hovering around the door for her.

"No to what?" Alice asked. "The walk? We just want to hold hands for more than a few seconds, Bella. What did you think I meant?" She still didn't know I could speak with Edward in my head. I didn't want to tell anyone. Although, Jasper knew. He figured it out from the conversation that Edward didn't respond to over the phone. I flushed, feeling bad that I knew Alice asked for a teeth orgasm and hadn't told me directly about it.

"Sorry," I tell her, studying the tops of my boots. "I thought you meant something else. I'm sure Edward and I will be up for a walk tonight. Rose can chill or I can schedule her in after our walk. Nothing is due tomorrow so we have time." I pack up my backpack in front of my locker quickly.

"WITCHLING!" Emmett calls from the other end of the hall. He did not just call me that! How could he blow my cover?! Emmett's laugh could be heard just as much as his yell had been. People started to whisper on either side of me and I blush harder, walking toward him with my bag ready. "Esme's here." He tells us as I elbow his side and Alice glares. "What?" He calls after us when he realizes we aren't waiting for him. "You both need to lighten up. Ever since your boy-toys showed up you both have been serious about everything. Live a little!" His arms come up to drape over both of us, separating me and Alice successfully.

"If we were silly on our own, what would we need you for?" Alice asks, her smile back on as she grins up at Emmett. I smiled softly. I like watching them together, they were so open and fun. Although the last time they had played together Alice had been thrown in the air and traumatized for a few hours about the height she'd achieved.

"Besides, we can only handle you in small doses," I tell Emmett. He's not used to me joking back with him yet and his eyes get wide like I'm serious. I roll my own. "Don't be so serious all the time, Emmy-bear." I coo, reaching up to pinch his cheek. "I'm just kidding. Besides I might need your help pranking Edward one day." He winks down at me, his dimples back but before he can respond, Lauren beats him to it.

"You sleeping with your foster cousin now, Bella?" Her voice sneers and my hand instantly drops from Emmett's face. Alice pulls away first to attack Lauren back but Emmett scoops her up over his shoulder and guides me out by mine. Alice is calling over Emmett's shoulder how she needed to mind her own business, that she needed to go to 'charm school' which I thought was a witch thing but didn't say anything about it.

See, Alice can be vicious, given the right motivation. Vicious... yeah...

Esme is listening to Eminem when I open the back seat door, Rose and Esme are chanting the lyrics along with the rapper. Who knew? I'm frowning as I climb into the middle seat. Alice is physically placed in the seat beside me before Emmett shuts her door and climbs into the passenger seat.

"Lauren is back to her snarky self," Emmett says sideways toward Rose who stops rapping the same time as Esme and they both look at me. Esme through the rear-view mirror and Rose from beside me. Well, I have the whole cars attention now.

"What did she say?" Rose asked, but Alice interjected before I could respond.

"Lies about Bella and Emmett. Like the first rumor about Bella wasn't bad enough and her reputation isn't stellar right now." Alice throws her hands up in the air before sighing. "I'm surprised it's Lauren though. Usually, she's pretty down to earth." I almost wanted to let everyone know that she only acted like that on the outside. As seen from her behavior mere moments ago in the hallway. She took what she wanted and manipulated others to get it. She hadn't been evil in her mind, just... very... raw. Mean, she is mean on the inside.

"I'm sorry you had a bad day Bella," Esme says, pulling out of the school parking lot. "School kids can be cruel but do not emulate them. Learn from them, yes, but not these things." The car becomes silent for a moment. Yeah, I guess there are many things great about humans but one thing which isn't so great is their inability to let things go. Not that mages were that great at it either we just didn't show it as much as humans did. Mages went their separate ways when bad blood boils between them, humans ruminate and then find some way to get 'even' without considering anyone else.

Don't get me wrong, I liked humans, a lot. Just not Lauren right now, she spread rumors about me having kinky sex. Did teeth sex count as kinky? Probably. Sigh. Esme broke the silence just when I was about to ask when Rose and Esme started to bond over Eminem.

"Carlisle and I have been talking about the portals lately." Oh, so she picked us up from school today for a reason. It was quicker when picked up as we were out of town so we are dropped off last on the bus but Alice loved riding for some reason. I got the appeal, everyone talking together and being flipped around when the bus driver took a turn too quickly or a bump too fast. "We decided that with everything going on, having another exit route is for the best. We'll go over the keys and how to access the exit points." I flush.

The reason we needed to know about the portals is from the attempt on my life and the vampires roaming around looking for me... I have put the Cullen's in danger. I don't mean to, but somehow I have accumulated much baggage. She pulls into the garage and I unbuckle as Rose and Alice climb out of either side of me. Edward flits around and helps me out of the car, taking my hand and closing the door behind me. He's been gentlemanly with me since our forest rendezvous.

Two orgasms, a friendlier Edward and faded marks on my neck. It has gotten a lot better between the two of us, for sure. I smile at him and when everyone turns toward the lab door, he smiles back at me. Edward didn't like showing anyone else his expressions. I wasn't sure why.

"Later, will you try again, Bella?" Rose asked and Alice once again intercepted before I could respond.

"She's going on a walk with Jasper and me," Alice explained and the two of them started debating on who needed me more. At least Rose wasn't being cruel, she knew it wouldn't help her case since I'd just be upset with her later.

'Jasper has asked me to deny Alice's request.' Edward says, his voice soft. 'Alice is persistent and he doesn't have the heart to tell her no. He isn't ready and I am prepared to play the bad guy.' Oh. I turn from Edward to look at the back of Alice's spiky black head. Jasper didn't want to get closer to her yet. She is too fragile and Jasper doesn't want to risk hurting her. She'd hate that, but he was looking out for her.

'I didn't think it was a good idea either.' I whisper back, reaching out to take Edwards hand without thinking about it. This made my thoughts pause. Alice wasn't able to hold Jasper's hand like this. If I was denied Edward's touch I'd be pushing for it too. I could see both sides of the issue here.

"Alice," Edward calls out. His voice has an authoritarian tone to it. "We need to speak about this walk you are planning after we are finished in the basement lab." Alice turns to look at Edward with raised brows on the steps. She nods, looking at me for an answer and I shrug while blushing which probably didn't convince her that I didn't know what he wanted. I wasn't a good liar.

The rafters against the high rising ceiling caught my eye. In the side of the wall, there were cubby holes, I wondered for a moment what was kept up there but learned my lesson about curiosity. It didn't kill the cat that time, it killed the Were-boy who wanted to be better. Riley... Edward removed his hand from mine to rub my back and I looked up at him with wet eyes. I refused to let the unshed tears fall. His eyebrows furrowed together in worry. I would answer his unspoken question.

'Sometimes I think about Riley. If I listened he would be where Bree is. You were so close to curing him and... I...' I could feel my chin quivering and Edward tucked me into his side, his cold hand gently cradling the back of my head. The tears fell over my cheeks against my will. Edward's shirt caught them.

Carlisle either didn't notice or figured it would be better for me if he didn't bring attention to me. There was nothing worse than someone asking 'what is wrong?' or 'are you okay?' when trying to hold back tears. I peeked out from Edwards shirt sideways as Carlisle started to explain about each of the three doorways on the wall that lead to nothing.

"The middle one goes to La Push," Carlisle explained. "It goes both ways as does the one on the left, while this one on the right only goes out. On the right, you'll end up in Chicago where Esme and I used to live in our younger years. It's a condo, eleventh floor and has been vacant for a couple years. Eleazar and Carmen stop in there when they pass through to check on things. On the left is Isle Esme." Would these portals work for me since I'm magicless? "In an emergency use Isle Esme, there we will be safe. The password to use all the portals is 'Conundrum.' Everyone got that?"

Conundrum? Well, this isn't going to do anything for me and I didn't want to touch the portals in case I break the magic as I do with other magical things. Since I was being distracted from thoughts of Riley I pulled away from Edward and faced Carlisle as he stood and pointed to each of the door frames on the wall.

'We should put long pictures in them so others don't automatically know what the door frames are for. It seems obvious now.' I tell Edward, still keeping our fingers weaved together. Although, no one is allowed access down here and the people on this property are the ones Carlisle and Esme trust... but still.

'Perhaps we can paint the wall and use the door frames like a picture frame.' He says back and I smiled, looking down at the ground. He liked my idea! 'You are right, it does seem obvious.' My blush spread and Edward tightened his grip on my fingers fractionally. I think he liked when I felt better. This made me blush even harder.

"Conundrum can be thought as you push with both hands against the wall like you are stretching and before you know it, you are through the portal." Carlisle turns his back to his, puts both hands on the wall inside the left door frame. After a second, Carlisle passes through as if the wall was just a hologram. Esme stepped in, her own hand knocking on the concrete which sounded solid. Carlisle's head poked back through.

"Someone knocked?" He asked, smiling boyishly as Esme. "Oh, be still my heart." Carlisle said, stepping back into the lab from Isle Esme, wherever that is, and taking Esme into his arms. My own heart warmed as my Aunt and Uncle flirted with one another so naturally and openly. Esme actually flushed and shared a small secret smile with Carlisle.

"Gag!" Alice said, the only one in our group not currently paired off. The sun was still up and Jasper had to hide during the day. He should set up down here, it would be more open but its sun-tight in the basement of the lab. "I do not want to watch my parents make out." I rolled my eyes at Alice as she looked exasperated at me.

"So what about me?" I ask, a little nervous about bringing attention to myself. Honestly, they probably already thought about my little problem and had a solution, I just wanted to know what that solution is.

"You'll be attempting to come through with me," Edward tells me, using our entwined hands to pull me toward the three portals. Emmett and Rose step out of the way and Esme gives me an encouraging nod. I knew though, as Edward bent for me to get on his back, that it wasn't going to work for me. I didn't want to break the portal.

'Climb up, think 'Conundrum'.' I repeat the word in my own head, doing what Edward asked. When Edward pressed his palms against the wall, he passed through but when my arm touched the wall, while I was thinking conundrum, it was solid. I sigh, releasing Edward and stepping back as Edward goes through.

"It's solid for me." I swayed unsteadily. Woah, the location part of Edward and I's bond went a little haywire with the portal and its drastic change. My vampire is exceedingly far from me, too far, and it made me extremely uncomfortable. My inactive stomach fluttered with butterfly life and turned with anxiousness. 'Edward!' I try to contact him unsure if he can hear me from so far. Edward came back through, his face tense until he spotted me before him. Oh, perhaps his face is expressive and I just needed to learn where to look?

'Yes?' He replies and I'm relieved even at such a distance I can speak with him in our secret way. My body tries to equal out from Edward changing his distances again, so quickly, but it doesn't regulate. I sway again and this time Edward holds me up. 'I felt it too.' With Edward's arm holding me up I find my equilibrium again and look at Carlisle.

"That didn't work." Emmett says, "but who expected it too. In an escape situation, she'll have to hitch a ride with Edward. Run fast, bro." He continues, winking at Edward. I look up at him, I didn't want to put him in danger's way. If he needed to get out quick, he should. Now how could I convince him of that? Edward has been too nice lately, he's been perceptive, considerate and actually loving. He wouldn't leave me behind and that scared me far more than me not having an escape route.

"The laundry port works for you, I thought this might too," Esme says, a frown on her face. I shrug. I didn't touch the laundry shoot in Alice and I's bathroom. I threw my bundled up clothes in it. Soon after my failure of passing through the portal, Emmett and Rose went through. Then Alice. Edward stepped away to check on something at a table on the right with some vials and test tubes on it.

"Bree called earlier," Carlisle tells me, sliding to my side to nudge me with his shoulder. I didn't have my cell phone on me at school so I haven't looked at it since before we left. "Charlie is planning a picnic for everyone. He'd like Edward to attend. Call them soon, and Bree too, of course. She's a talker, that one." I wanted to laugh. Carlisle is a talker if we got him on the right topics.

'I'd like to meet your father.' Edward tells me, obviously listening to our conversation. I mean, he couldn't exactly help it.

'Yeah, that would be nice.' Then another thought came to me, one that has bothered me for a little while. 'Can you test to see if he is my biological father?' Edward stopped what he was doing, putting things back in his super quick motions before making his way toward mine a v wrinkled between his brows. Since I took on Edward's lifespan I shouldn't have to worry about my two sides of my body fighting each other to death.

"I'm going to escort this Witchling to her bedroom. I do believe you will need to collect Emmett, Rose, and Alice from Isle Esme. It's breathtaking. They may be enchanted." Esme giggles at Edward's words, gripping Carlisle's arm and resting her head on his shoulder. Yeah, those two obviously had some history there. I mean, the place was named after Esme.

Esme and Carlisle go through the portal together, Carlisle was whispering something in Esme's ear but was cut off as he walked through to the other side. I missed seeing them act this way. When I'd first arrived the two had been inseparable, giggling like school children together and I had missed it when they had cooled down. Alice may find it gross since it's her parents but I found it endearing.

"I finally have you alone," Edward says against my ear and I flush immediately. He chuckles, pulling me toward the steps but changing his mind and spinning me around so quickly that the dizzying effect of Edward flitting me didn't affect me much. I was standing in front of my bedroom door between blinks and I frown. Woah. Too many sensations in such a short time. Edward through the portal and unexpectedly being flitted around. "Why are you doubting your parentage, Witchling?" Oh, he hadn't forgotten, of course not.

"I don't, I just want to know how much of him survived in me. With Carlisle explaining that the mother's species is the predominant one in a child born from two species and the Volturi changing me to a... non-magical mage... I don't know. I just want you to do it. I don't want anyone else to know." Not that anyone knew who my true father is anyways. Edward follows me into my bedroom and I start getting undressed to sleep. Following Bree's advice, I keep my bra and pantie set on. They were blue with rainbow peace signs all over them. Maybe I should buy more adult kinds rather than the ones I find cute. Really, Alice ran with what she deemed as 'my style' and forced me to purchase a lot of these 'cute sets'... so I would wear them regardless.

'Witchling.' Edward says, a warning in his voice. I turn to him curious what he was warning me about. 'Why do you push me so.' What? My head tilts and he steps toward me slowly letting me predict his movements. When he's before me he dips his nose into the nook of my neck and I offer it to him. He can have me if he wants me.

Hard fangs brush against the flesh of my neck. His hands find my hips and his chilled flesh breeds excitement in all directions from his touch. I feel braver with his hands making the first contact so I return the touch, finding his hips with my own fingers. 'I want to do this right, why do you make it hard for me to do so?' What did that mean? But before I could comprehend I was pushed, forced, compelled over the edge of pleasure and exploded as Edward bit down in the same spot he had before. I pulled our bodies together with shaking hands and when the pleasure leveled out I pressed my pelvis to Edwards.

His orgasm made him stop drinking. He didn't think he could stop but before he had during his own release. With a satisfied sigh, I slumped against my vampire. As before, he licked my bite marks but I did not orgasm again. See, we could do this. We just needed to do it more often so he didn't get too hungry.

'I like this.' I tell him. 'I like you.'

My legs are wobbly and Edward helps me to lay down. I'm asleep before my head hits the pillow. Could life get any better than this? I really like orgasms.

'I know.' Edward whispers with a touch of laughter in his voice but I'm too far gone to respond.

10:55 pm, Tuesday

November 11th

"I think I get it!" I'm excited. The Curse was like a lock or a puzzle. I had to stay still over the circle of words with my arm freezing from the cold it automatically spread through me when I touched it. Although it seemed it was the curses automatic defense system, which is scary in itself, I still had to try for Rose. The blue wisp was out, just like when I had stopped Rose's mage balls without touching them so long ago.

Rose's breathing was heavy, her lips parted to accommodate her panting. Her eyes were pinched closed, a sign that she was probably in pain but if I stopped now she'd be angry with me. Emmett and Edward were off to the side watching us both intently. They were running interference in case something went wrong again.

"Hold on," I whispered, feeling the scales pull back as the wisp enters her in the belly button. The insides felt like a cave, the air became heavy and cold, the already dark night seemed to fade a bit more and I could see my breath and Rose's mist as if in the dead of winter. I hadn't been able to see my breath before.

My magic pushed forward, the wisp touching the edges and leaving behind smoothed walls when it had been jagged before. I didn't know what to do so let my natural instincts take over. If the wisp wanted to smooth out the walls, by all means... yet, one wouldn't smooth out, the wisp tried and when it didn't work it moved on. Wait, it can't just give up! If it needed to be smooth then why did it pass this one so easily? I felt uneasy about it.

With heavy breaths, I pulled my wisp back with my hand manually about a centimeter from her skin. That was all it took for the cold to snap around us, the wisp whipping through the small section of open air and my body flew back from the force. I grunted as a cold hard body caught me about fifteen feet from Rose. Holy shit.

If that's the force I had to take but flew back, Rose had to take the whole force in her body because she was on her back with nowhere to go. My arm was numb, limp at my side but I used my other one to touch Edward's arms around my waist. He switched our position, dipping down to pick me up bridal style and flitting me to Rose's side before putting me down.

"Curses are really hard to remove," I say, realizing a second too late that this was Alice's vision. With my good arm I reached up and sure enough, my hair was a static ball of mess. Rose still wasn't responding. "Is she okay? We need to get her to Carlisle. Thank god he isn't on call tonight."

Emmett wasn't responding, he was petting Rose's hair affectionately in a world of his own. Shit, his bond is probably reacting from the danger she had been in, I wouldn't be surprised if he just needed to feel her so he knew she was alive. Edward stepped in, whispering something to Emmett and I felt like the third wheel backing up from the situation before I realized what I was doing. I rubbed my numb hand with my okay one wondering if this was a permanent thing or something that would fade with time.

It seems Edward got through to him. He picked her up off the ground bridal style with her head lolling to one side with his movements. Emmett wasn't all the way back though, he growled and stared at her face with such intensity that I took a step away again. If he lost it, I was the one he'd go after. It was me that hurt her. I hadn't meant too, I was just trying to help.

Edward stiffens. He comes to my side and steps in front of me. Shit, is Emmett thinking about hurting me? Tears stung at my eyes. I hadn't meant to hurt Rose. I bit my lip, so sorry that I pulled my hand away from Rose's flesh. I hadn't known what that would do. I do now! It's a no-no when removing curses.

Jasper came through the trees a moment later, Alice in his arms but pushed away as soon as he was in the clearing. She looked dazed but happy. Something was wrong though and I could only focus on Alice finally touching her body against Jaspers for a second. Edward and Jasper were having a silent conversation. What was it about? Instead of waiting I push into Jasper's mind.

'-ed south. They passed by sometime last night. It was just Victoria's scent so she must have been scouting. You know she had the gift of evasion.' I snap back out of Jasper's mind feeling guilty. If I got lost in his mind, I would have much explaining to do to Edward. Alice stayed where Jasper had put her but I looked at her like she might know something. She didn't have super smelling though, so how could she?

'Witchling, stay with Emmett. Don't leave the house. I'll explain when I get back, okay?' Edward bent down, and just as I was about to say something he pressed his lips to my awkwardly positioned ones. It made me blush rather hard and Edward's lips twitched like it does when he's fighting back a smile before he disappears between my blinks.

Edward's siblings have gotten close. Were they checking up on him or planning some attack? He told me to stay with Emmett so he must be okay to be around. I go to him as Alice realizes too late that Rose is passed out in his arms. She rushes over but Emmett already started speaking to me so she couldn't ask what happened.

"Never seen her so vulnerable. Even in sleep she's grimacing. I don't like when she looks peaceful, it means something is wrong." If it wasn't such a serious situation, I would have laughed but Emmett is worried. He turns to Alice. "Tell your dad, ask him to get a bed ready down in the lab." Alice is off like a bullet toward the warehouse. "Royce did this, Bella. If he wasn't dead I'd..." He growled, his face turning slightly with his dark eye narrowing and eye's shifting upwards as bears did.

"I got her, Bella. Go to sleep." What? He started walking toward the lab. Why the hell would I sleep right now? I already slept for the day. Emmett isn't right in the head, he's confused, upset and angry. After he disappears around the house I run up the porch steps and to the front window as I watch Emmett carrying Rose to the warehouse.

Edward told me to stay in the house but surely being in the Lab is just like being in the house. I go up the stairs and instead of entering my own room, I go to Rose's pulling her blanket and pillow off the bed. I bundle it in a big ball and press it against my chest. My numb hand protested painfully but I knew Rose had taken more pain than me so I could get over this. Rose should have some comfort while passed out and I know I'd want my quilt if ever in the same situation.

Alice is wringing her hands, Esme had her healing hands over the back of Rose's head and Carlisle had a glob of blue goop on Rose's stomach with a wand going back and forth with a monitor attached. He was looking for the baby. Is it strange I didn't feel much for the baby? Its survival was secondary to me. Emmett does a double take when he sees me and instead of explaining I just push Rose's bedding into his arms. I rub my own to try and get the ache to go away.

"Good idea." Emmett mumbles, sniffing the blankets that I'm sure smelled like Rose. That boy had it bad. Everyone was hovering close to Rose, she was in a hospital bed on the main floor of the lab. I was glad they didn't put her in the basement. I stood beside Alice and when I settled there, she looped her arm through mine.

Through this, I realized the crux of the curse. I felt it moments before its defense system kicked in. Next time, if things went right, if things returned to normal, I could remove that curse for Rose. Probably, possibly... I mean, I'd have to try to be sure and not make the same mistake. I shudder.

Do I even want this power? If it meant the good of the people... but that's a big target on my head for those who can work curse magic. One thing at a time. I remind myself and focus again on Rose. I hadn't meant to hurt her. I started crying silently, waiting to hear from Esme and Carlisle that she would bounce back from this.