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So this website has been having issues and I'm not sure how many people got a chance to read chapter 36. I only had 15 reviews, but thank you so much for trying. I know you did. :-) I didn't get any review alerts, so I apologize for not replying to anyone.
If you haven't read the last chapter yet, you may want to before moving on to this one.
Thank you for the reviews!
All characters from the Twilight Saga belong to Stephenie Meyer.
I am only having a bit of fun and do not own or profit from any of
the characters/story.
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Delivered
Chapter 37
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I dragged my blanket behind me to the couch. Irina was taking a shower and Esme had gone to fix me a snack. We were going to watch a movie, but I was hoping that Irina decided not to join us.
I got settled in the corner of the couch and wrapped the blanket around me. I was so full from dinner and ready to relax until Jasper got back. I reached out for the remote control and then waited for Esme.
After a few minutes passed I started to wonder what was taking so long. It's not like Esme needed more time than this to fix popcorn.
"Esme?" I called out. I wasn't worried, just curious if she needed help with the microwave or something.
"We'll be there in a minute." Irina called back.
I folded my arms across my chest and fell back against the couch. Damnit! I guess Irina is joining us after all.
I continued to wait and a few minutes later I realized how quiet everything had become. And that's when the hair stood up on the back of my neck and along my arms. And that's when I knew something was wrong.
I started to stand up when Esme came into the room. Only Esme was being restrained by Irina and…Oh. My. God.
Holding Esme's other arm was a person I never thought I would see again. Not really a person but a vampire. His hair was no longer greasy, and he looked a little different than before, but it was definitely him.
"What? What's going on?" I squeaked, but the moment I saw the vampire version of Jayson, the mall guy walk into the living room, I knew this was bad. How could Irina DO this? She was holding Esme's other arm just as securely as Jayson was.
Esme looked at me pleadingly but no one answered me. Behind Esme, the traitor Irina and the newly transformed and much scarier Jayson, walked another man.
And I knew immediately who he was. I'd been given a description of him before, only then it was to calm my fears after a nightmare. Now my nightmare was coming to life as my eyes fell on the man's scarred eyebrow. He had scarlet eyes and skin that wasn't quite as chalky as the others. But it was the long line of scars that told me who I was looking at now.
"Hello Reuben." I said with a shaky voice. Jayson looked pleased, Irina looked scared and Reuben looked like it was Christmas morning all over again.
"Hello Bella." He replied in a dark, raspy voice that was so similar to the one in my dream. He sounded and looked more like a demon than a vampire. "Now, I know there are a lot of questions, but you three are going to wait right here while I have a chat with Bella here."
Reuben pointed to the corner of the room and Irina and Jayson dragged Esme in that direction. My heart was pounding and I could feel sweat starting to prickle on the back of my neck.
We were all going to die. Jasper was wrong, and I wouldn't have to worry about running away with Esme because we weren't going to make it either.
"Where's Jasper? Where's everyone else?" I managed to ask, though Reuben seemed to be expecting my question.
"Some friends of mine are keeping them company for me until I finish up here." He said it so casually like we were old buddies catching up over coffee. "Now Bella, I know you have a lot of questions. I have been dying to tell you my story. Would it be alright if I start with that? I'm sure it will answer many of your concerns."
I was terrified and he knew it. I glanced at Esme and Reuben groaned in frustration. "Don't worry about them right now. This is about you…and me, Bella."
"What do I have to do with y-you?" I stammered, trying not to pass out.
Reuben grinned and patted my leg. I cringed away from his touch but he didn't seem to notice. "Like I said, Bella. My story."
He didn't wait for me to agree to the story. He simply started to pace and started to talk. I listened and knew that when he finished it would all end.
"Oh I have been looking for you for so long. No one has ever escaped me for this long, especially not a human child, so you should consider yourself very talented my dear. Either that, or very lucky. You were granted a much longer life than if I'd have found you, like I should have, when I first came across your scent.
"Ahhh, your scent, Bella. IT is the most wonderful and horrible thing I have ever come across. I had been hunting the first time it graced my senses. I followed it quickly and thought I had found it, thought I had found you. Imagine my disappointment when I realized the smell, the most luscious smell was coming from a duffle bag. A bag, Bella! Your scent was so strong to me that it lingering on a bag was enough to draw me in. Can you imagine? I was irate, but forced myself to make due with substitutes. The man wasn't very tasty at all. But Bella, the woman? The woman who I am assuming was your mother, Bella. She was almost worth it. Almost worth all the torment of trying to find you when I look back on it."
I shuddered, and finally the tears started to fall. This man, Reuben, was the one that had killed my mom and Phil. I knew before he even started talking again that this wasn't the end of the story.
"I found your home address in the man's wallet and used it to find your house. I had been assuming that you would be there…that I would find you there. Only to be disappointed again when I realized you weren't there. I searched the house and found your mother's date book. It told me what I needed to know. You were visiting your dad in Washington."
I couldn't hold back a sob and Reuben passed to pat my head. It was a strange action and it worked to make me even more terrified of him and what he'd done.
"I immediately left for Washington, but not before I took this." He pulled a worn picture out of his pocket and handed it to me. I turned it over only to see myself staring back up at me. It had been my school picture from that year. I choked on my sobs. It had always been Reuben.
He was pleased with my reaction. "I had just crossed the border into Washington when I was thwarted again. Not by you this time, but by my Goddess. Maria is her name and she needed me for a few days. I had to go to her, but I knew I would be back. As soon as I finished the task Maria had for me, I went straight to Forks.
"You probably know that when I got there, you were no longer in the area. I was so pissed off to find your dad...but no Bella. And I knew your name by this time, Bella. Oh how it has haunted me.
"I spent time looking at the picture on the Chief's desk. He obviously loved you very much, and was very sad to learn of my plans for his only daughter. What a bitter end, to take one's last breath knowing that eventually his precious daughter, his little princess, would be facing a fate even worse than his. And it will be worse than his, my dear."
He was explaining this all so casually, but with every sentence I felt my heart break a little more. I wasn't worried about my own fate, though I was sure that would come. Right now I was too lost in memories of my parents, like my life with them was flashing before my eyes – birthdays, learning to ride a bike, watching movies. They kept coming and it hurt.
"The poor, poor man. The Chief almost had a heart attack before I took my first taste. He even got off easier than most because I didn't bite him. Oh, I wanted too. But you see, after I relieved him of his gun, he came after me with a hunting knife. I thought it would be rather neighborly of me to show him the real way to use a knife.
"I still drank him though, and although he wasn't as amazing as your mother, Bella, he was delicious."
I put my hands over my ears, trying to stop it. I didn't want to hear anymore, but Reuben's words had no problem slinking through my fingers no matter how tightly I held them to my ears.
"I knew that now I had you. I was certain you would come back to Forks for a funeral for dear old dad. Humans like traditions such as these, and so I only had to wait a few more days to have you at last.
"And you did come, but I couldn't get to you." Reuben stopped talking suddenly and crouched down in front of me. He roughly grabbed my chin and turned my head slowly from side to side.
I was terrified. I was not only learning that I had been hunted for years, that the way I smell was the reason my family was killed, but also that my new family was fighting for their lives not far from here. I tried to shift my eyes away from Reuben's. I wanted to see that Esme was still alright, but he wouldn't let me move.
Reuben dropped my chin but before I could sneak a look at Esme I was shocked when he slapped me. My head jerked violently to the side and my cheek exploded in pain. I felt a small trickle from my nose and I hoped this would be enough for him to end it quickly.
If he had come for me, perhaps he would be satisfied and go.
Reuben grabbed my chin again and wrenched my head back to face him.
"Oh Bella, I can see the hope in your eyes. But this…" He took one finger and ran it from my lip to my nose, only to bring my blood to his lips. His eyes rolled back in his head and he was quiet for a moment. His other hand was still tightly clamped to my chin, preventing me from turning.
When he finally opened his eyes and looked at me, I felt more hope at seeing the hunger there. But Reuben didn't attack.
"It's better than I ever imagined, Bella. Your taste is ambrosia. But do not think that I am weak. I have been waiting for you for too long and you will hear everything before I feast. And my minions know better than to take what is mine. Now, where was I?"
He stood up and started pacing again. I quickly turned to find Esme who was staring not at me, but at Reuben. I'd never seen anything but love and acceptance in her eyes, but now I saw raw hatred. The hatred that evaporated instantly when she turned and caught my eye, and all I saw was sorrow and love.
Esme was still held between Jayson and Irina. Jayson looked like he was thoroughly enjoying this, and Irina looked almost lifeless…almost like her eyes were unfocused as she wasn't looking at anything. I was scared for Esme.
Suddenly Reuben was in front of me again, shaking me with his hands tight around my arms. "You look at me, Bella. Just at me. I am telling you a story, and you're being rude."
He let go of my arms after one final shake and watched me to ensure I kept my eyes focused on him. Again he started with his tale. The entire side of my face was alight with pain, and my arms were throbbing from Reuben's grip. I didn't dare move to rub them, so I had nothing other to do but listen to more no matter how much I hated hearing it.
"As I was saying, I couldn't get to you. Everywhere I turned you were being protected." He smirked at me. "But as I just demonstrated, there is no one to stop me from hurting you now, is there Pet?"
I didn't reply, but I was curious about what he meant. I had never been protected when I was in Forks for my dad's funeral. I'd stayed out on the Quileute Reservation with the Black family. It's true I was with them the entire time I was home, and there were some big kids on the Reservation…but protected?
"Ahh, you look confused Bella. Perhaps your protection comes as much of a surprise to you as it did to me? You see, the people that surrounded themselves around you were more than mere humans. I was caught off guard by their presence. I wasn't prepared for it and I couldn't get to you.
"But I made sure that your Protectors didn't know I was in the area. I was certain that if they knew I was hunting you that they would never allow you to leave. So I kept my distance and waited.
"I spent some time in your old house, and I kept finding references to 'Debbie'. I found her phone number and had a female member of Maria's coven call her for me."
I stiffened at this, knowing what was to come. I tried to prepare myself to hear what I already knew I would soon be told.
"Debbie told her that you weren't there, but that you would be soon. And that is when I knew my next move. If the Dogs protecting you didn't realize I was there, they wouldn't have a reason to keep you. So I left Forks, completed a few side jobs for Maria, and then found myself back in the suburbs of Phoenix a few days later.
"And then, Bella. Then you almost did me in! I was so tired of waiting to have you. I got back to Phoenix and you weren't there yet. I found Debbie but I acted too quickly. I was agitated you see, and I'm afraid I wasn't thinking clearly. Poor Debbie might not have had to die at all if she would have cooperated with me.
"Her little trip down the stairs could have been avoided if she would have told me when you were getting back. I knew you were headed to her home but she wouldn't tell me when. I lost my temper I'm afraid and was forced to look for you on my own.
"I knew you were somewhere, but I couldn't find you. You weren't in Forks, you weren't on the Reservation and you weren't in Scottsdale. How did you do that, Bella? How?"
He stomped over to me, grabbed a handful of hair at the top of my head and jerked it to the side. "How did you, a little girl, evade me for so long, Bella?"
I thought he was going to make me answer, not that I would know what to say. I never knew he was searching for me. He didn't make me answer though. As quickly as he grabbed my hair, he released me and started to pace.
"But then my time ran out. Maria needed me back with her and I had no choice but to leave without my prize. And although I couldn't spend any more time searching for you, I never gave up. I knew that one day I would find you."
Reuben was back in front of me, running a cold finger down my arm. I shivered and he smiled.
"I also knew that waiting would be hard. I knew that as you aged you wouldn't be as tender. You see, I like the lamb much better than the sheep. The older you became before I found you, the less innocent and sweet your blood would be.
"And then the blessed day came, not long ago, when I found Jayson here." He quickly motioned to Jayson. "The greasy shit waltzed into town, and because he isn't a big fan of hygiene he hadn't changed his clothes in a few days. Jayson was covered in Jasper's scent and that alone sealed Jayson's fate.
"I talked to Jayson and asked him if he knew Jasper. He told me a little of what had happened, but I knew he was holding back. I asked him if he'd like to get back at Jasper for what he'd done.
"I'm sure you know what his answer was, don't you Bella?" I nodded slowly, afraid to make him angry.
"Yes, I took Jayson that very moment. For three days he cried like the pussy he is, and Maria wasn't very pleased with me. Jayson wasn't going to be much good for fighting. He's too unstable, but to me it was worth it if he could lead me to Jasper."
I shivered again and the tears came faster. I thought I might throw up. When would this story stop? How much more could there be before he finally ended my life. What was happening to my family?
"After Jayson finished cooking, I was pleasantly surprised that he remembered our conversation. Unlike most, he wasn't disgusted or depressed by what I had made him, Jayson was thrilled."
Reuben walked over to Jayson and I watched Esme's lip curl back over her teeth as he got closer. The same way he'd slapped me, Reuben pulled back and slammed his hand against Esme's cheek.
The sound was like thunder, and I gasped. I really thought I was going to be sick. Esme quickly made eye contact with me and mouthed 'I'm fine.'. And though I knew in my heart that Reuben hitting her didn't hurt, there was something about it that was so degrading. I couldn't stand it and wrapped my arms around my stomach only to have Reuben continue.
Even though Reuben had hit her, he didn't spare Esme one word. He simply talked about Jayson.
"He told me what he remembered of Jasper and we started to plan. One thing I learned about Jayson is that he is one sick motherfucker." Reuben walked back over to me but I saw a wide smile spread across Jayson's face. "Why don't you tell her, Jay? I know you're dying too."
Jayson didn't lessen his hold on Esme as he turned to smile at me. His voice, like the rest of him was so different from what I remembered. I couldn't help but feel guilty for what had happened to him. And I couldn't help but pity him.
"Let's just say I've taken to this life amazingly well. I love it." He paused for dramatic effect. "I don't think my step-mom or sister thought it was so great though." Jayson snickered when I gasped.
"Jayson you didn't? Please tell me…"
Reuben answered instead. "Of course he did, Bella. I went with him. That's where I learned how sick Jayson really is. You should see the things he does to his female prey before feeding." Reuben pretended to shudder and then laughed.
My shudder was entirely real. I hated this man more than I realized was possible.
"Ah, but we're getting off track here aren't we. Let's see, what else should I tell you before we get on with things? Oh! I know!" Reuben's tone was excited but his gravelly voice couldn't quite pull it off. I was still shaken from learning about Lauren and her mom and was dreading what else I would learn.
"Jayson turned out to be very useful. He not only let us know where to find Jasper, but he's talented as well. When we were crossing through Montana we not only found Jasper's scent, but a few other vampires I have grudges against. And imagine my surprise when I was reunited with the scent that had haunted me for years, Bella!"
He crouched in front of me again. "I couldn't believe my luck! Finally things were going my way. I was shocked that you had been living with Peter and Charlotte, but the evidence in their house told me exactly that. It also confirmed what Jayson had told us about you being in Washington again.
"I knew it would be harder to get to you if Jasper was protecting you, and I was so afraid that he had turned you already and everything would be lost. But then dear Irina, who is an amazing lay let me tell you, was more than willing to help when she found out I was after you."
I turned and stared at Irina with horrified outrage. She didn't look at me. In fact, she still wasn't looking at anything. I couldn't believe she was the missing link to Reuben's revenge.
"And as I mentioned, Jayson is talented so that would help when we finally caught up with all of you. I know…" He shook his head, "It was a surprise to us as well. And although he is still learning how to use it, Jay here can block other's powers. Pretty helpful in a situation like this."
"Alice." I whispered to myself, realization pouring over me. It had been Jayson that was disrupting Alice's visions all along!
"Yes, sweet Alice." Reuben answered. "Jay has to have something of the other person's to make it work, but from a distance it's sketchy. So when Irina here came back for the little party she borrowed a scarf from Alice, and a few items from the others. Jayson was able to disrupt Alice's visions, but he's still learning so it wasn't perfect.
"But, now that we're here and Jayson is close? Oh it's wonderful really. You see, there doesn't seem to be a limit when we're close, and Jayson can block more than one gift at a time. It's even better that now he's improved enough that he doesn't need the items."
I sucked in a painful breath, realizing what this meant. I snuck another look at Esme and her eyes were wide as well.
"So smart, aren't you little lamb? Yes, you're right of course. Right now my army is taking on your entire family and they are completely disabled. Isn't that fantastic?" He said with glee.
I knew exactly what it would mean if none of my family's gifts were working. It would be much harder for them to win. It would be much harder for them to all walk away intact.
"NO!" I shouted and tried to jump to my feet.
I don't know if Reuben backhanded me or hit me with something else, but this time the blow threw me to the ground. I was gasping from the pain and trying to clear my head.
I could hear a constant growl that was coming from Esme, but Reuben seemed to be ignoring her now. I had one eye opened and my face was pressed to the rug as I watched Reuben take a step closer.
He simply stood above me smiling. When he smiled the line of scars that ran down his eyebrow seemed even more pronounced. Reuben kicked me in the stomach, and while I knew he was using only a fraction of his strength, it was enough to knock the breath out of me.
Reuben leaned down, grabbed my hair again and pulled me to my feet before flinging me like a ragdoll back onto the couch. I instinctively curled around my body, afraid more blows were coming and I could faintly hear Esme's growl continue. He didn't hurt me again though.
"Oh, don't worry Bella, our time will come. If you would stop being so rude with your interruptions I could get through my story." Reuben gave me a stern look like he was scolding a two year old. I knew this was a game to him, and it seemed it was a game he was going to win.
"To think I only thought I was finally going to have my revenge on Jasper. You see, I wanted him almost as much as I wanted you. That fuck made my life miserable for years. I was always better than he was, but it took him leaving, took him becoming a traitor for Maria to realize that.
"Maria. My Goddess. She will never be satisfied until she gets Jasper back, and I can't let that happen. Maria is biding her time until just the right moment to go after him and return Jasper to her side. But that won't be a problem if he's dead, now will it?"
I couldn't stop the tears now. They were flowing silently down my cheeks, mixing with the blood still trickling from my nose. It didn't matter if he got me, he would still want Jasper.
"Oh and it's true that I'm giving up some satisfaction in not being the one to kill him, but I knew I had to make a choice. Kill Jasper, or finally, after all this time, have my Bella. And the fact that you are his mate?" Reuben laughed cruelly. "HA HA HA! That makes it all so much sweeter. I feel like I should thank you for keeping yourself safe for me, Bella."
He put his hand to his chin as if in thought and the tears continued to stream down my face.
"I may not be there to tear Jasper apart, but I will be the one to light the fire. Perhaps I will whisper my thanks into Jasper's severed ear right before I drop the final match. Let him know what your final words were before I send him straight to hell."
Reuben looked over to Esme. "I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that soon your Calvary will arrive. Alas, that won't happen I'm afraid." He pulled me up from the couch and turned me so my back was pressed against his chest. Reuben was still talking to Esme.
"We outnumber your family, even with all the extras we weren't sure would be here. Irina gave us a pretty good idea of what to expect though. I understand that they are used to winning any skirmishes, but without their gifts it will be more than easy for us. My army is simply having fun and keeping them occupied until I'm ready, but it is entirely in our hands."
Reuben paused, reached down and I felt his cold hand close around mine. He brought my hand to his lips and I was expecting him to kiss my fingers. I saw Esme's eyes go wide with fury the same time I yelled out, shocked from the pain.
He had used one of his razor sharp teeth to cut open my pinky finger between the knuckles. It wasn't a long cut, but I could already feel the blood running down my elevated hand.
Reuben inhaled deeply and then latched his mouth to my finger. I could feel the strange tugging sensation as he pulled my blood into his mouth. It stung, but it wasn't horribly painful. Jayson however, looked like he was in pain from watching.
When the tugging stopped Reuben spun me around until I was facing him. He still held my hand and used the pointer finger of his other hand to slowly trace the cut he'd given me. I winced.
"You see, Bella, I want to enjoy this. As I mentioned my army isn't having any issues with keeping your family occupied, so there is no reason to rush. I intend to allow myself an appetizer or two before the main course. As long as I don't actually bite into you until I'm ready to feed, I don't have to worry about any venom entering your blood stream."
He spun me back around and pulled me tight against his chest. He released my hand and I glanced down to see that it was hardly bleeding any longer. I felt Reuben lean down behind me and then felt his cold, hard tongue slithering up the side of my neck. I shuddered and tried to pull away but he held me tight.
Again I heard Esme's growl and Reuben sighed with exasperation. "I really am getting tired of you growling at me, Mrs. Cullen. I think I've waiting long enough for my treat to not be forced to put up with the likes of you."
Reuben walked us over to the couch and sat down, pulling me onto his lap. I cringed again and tried to move.
"Mmm. Wriggle more, Bella. It is a very delightful feeling with how warm you are. I have no problem with playing a little before we get down to business, Lamb."
I froze and once more knew I was close to throwing up my dinner.
Esme was livid, and this seemed to bring Reuben to a decision. A decision I didn't want to hear, one that would possibly kill me from the inside out to watch.
"Irina, dispose of Mrs. Cullen."
"No! Please, please don't!" I scrambled around on his lap again, not caring about anything but trying to reason with him. I was trying to look in his eyes to see if there was any shred of decency left that I could build off of.
Before I could even turn sideways, Reuben stood up with me and threw me hard to the floor. He was crouched down next to me in an instant, again with my hair in his vice-grip fist.
"I do as I please Bella, and you are in no position to demand ANYTHING of me. You lie there with your mouth shut or we will have even more problems than we have now. Understand?"
Of course I understood, but I was going to die anyway and this was Esme we were talking about. I think Reuben expected me to stay down because I was able to scramble to my feet before he grabbed me again.
He slapped me hard and I felt the skin split above my eyebrow. He took my wrist and twisted my arm behind my back painfully. "You are quite defiant, aren't you little one."
I ignored him and still continued to plead.
"Please, not Esme. Please." The tears were coming so quickly that I could no longer see. I didn't care about the pain. I didn't want to watch my mother die. "Please." I begged through broken sobs.
Reuben threw me back to the ground and my back hit the hard side of the couch. It again knocked the breath out of me. Before I could move, Reuben sat down on the couch above me. He moved his legs around me so they formed a cage; a painful, restricting cage. The heels of his boots were pressed hard into my legs but I didn't care if I got more bruises. They wouldn't matter when I would be dead soon anyway.
"Now, Irina!" Came Reuben's now deadly voice. Any trace of humor was gone. He was in fighting mode now, and he was ready to take what he came for.
"But," Irina sounded scared. "But Rube! You said you were only going to take Bella! You…you promised you wouldn't hurt my family!"
Reuben laughed hollowly. "For one thing, Irina, it was ridiculous for you to ask me not to 'hurt' your family. What exactly did you think my taking Bella would do to your family? It will hurt them more than anything we do to them physically. And second my darling, as fun as you are to fuck…I lied."
I knew this was my opportunity, no matter how far fetched, so I took it.
"Irina…" I pleaded with her now, through the leg-made bars of my prison. "Please, Irina. She has been your family. Please don't. Please let her go."
Reuben's legs tightened, pushing back further against the hard couch. I knew it was a warning to be quiet, but how could I be? I was about to say more when a soft voice carried through the stone walls of my makeshift prison.
"Bella, you need to stop this now." Esme's voice was full of love and sadness. "They will do with me as they please, but never give up hope Bella. Jasper is on his way, I know he is. Never stop believing that. Never forget how much I lo…"
Jayson clamped a hand over Esme's mouth and I shrieked in fury. "LET HER GO!!" This time Reuben brought his foot forward, but before I could squeeze out from under him he kicked it back against me hard. He caught me in the kidney and I automatically crumpled into myself.
My voice was quiet and strained, and I could barely draw in enough breath to say it.
"I love you, Mom."
I squeezed my eyes shut and clamped my hands over my ears. I didn't want to hear this, and I didn't want to watch. Even if I would follow Esme moments later into the afterlife, even 10 seconds of having her death ingrained in my memory would be too much.
I waited anxiously with tears that may never stop soaking into the rug beneath my curled body. I knew that despite my hands covering my ears I would hear when it started.
And then something happened, but it wasn't the sound I was expecting. Reuben let loose a terrifying, feral snarl and stood up from the couch. He moved away from me about a foot and stopped.
I cautiously peered over the couch to find Irina running for the door. I went to look back at Esme as her closed fist smashed into Jayson's nose. He was startled by the blow and fell back into the wall. Before Reuben could move another foot, a loud keening sound filled the room.
I again covered my ears and pressed my face into the couch. The loud metal on metal sound was awful, and I could only think of one thing it could mean. How could Esme overpower a newborn like Jayson?
I was scared to the point of wondering if I might have a stroke when I cautiously peered over the couch cushion. The first thing I saw was a crouched Reuben looking livid. I looked further across the room, preparing myself for what I would find. A startled gasp came from me as I formed the word "Esme" with the little breath I had left in my lungs.
Esme, my mother, was just standing up from the ground looking more like a vampire than I had ever seen her look. Her small hand was holding a handful of Jayson's hair, and his head was no longer attached to his body.
Esme snarled back at Reuben and fell into a crouch of her own, throwing Jayson's head away from his body. "Hasn't anyone told you?" She asked a furious Reuben. I could see venom dripping from Esme's teeth. "You don't fuck with my kids and live to tell about it."
JPOV
It didn't take long for Reuben to attack. He had brought more than 35 with him, which was about double what we had on our side. His group spread out quickly, and ours tried to move themselves so there would be even coverage.
I knew that if our gifts were working, even 40 wouldn't be difficult for us to overpower. But with our gifts disabled, this would be hard. Not impossible, but it would be far from easy.
I wasn't surprised when Reuben came right for me, but I was surprised when at the last minute he split off to the side and I was suddenly attacked by 4 others. It seemed that as fast as I threw one off of me, two would pounce.
Most of them were newborns, I could tell by their sloppy tactics. They were stronger than shit, but that was all they had going for them.
I took a brief moment when I didn't have one of them jumping on me to shout to Peter.
"Pete, one of them is stopping our gifts from working. We have to move through as many as we can to try and stop it."
I turned around to make sure I was still in the clear and when I turned back I could no longer see Peter. He was at the bottom of a newborn dog pile. I ran to him quickly, seeing that several other members of my family were engaged in similar brawls.
I started a rhythm of pulling a newborn off Peter and making quick work of their head. One after the other I would yank out an unsuspecting newborn, flip it around so I could secure one arm around their shoulders. Then I would run my teeth across their neck and yank.
The body was thrown in one direction, and the head was sent flying in the other. I knew we would have to collect everything later, but we had to get to that point first.
I'd pulled a fourth newborn off Peter when he finally emerged, pulling off a head of his own. We worked quickly through the other two that were an immediate danger to us.
"Fuck!" Peter shouted and grabbed his arm. It was covered in fresh bite marks. "Fuck, fuck FUCK that stings!" He kicked the head that remained by his foot into a nearby tree.
"Get it together, Pete!" I ordered, knowing our family needed our help. He rubbed his arm once more and then jumped to my side in two strides. We quickly surveyed the damage.
"Fuuuuuck." Peter said again and I echoed the sentiment.
"How the hell are we going to do this?" They were everywhere. Every member of our family was fighting against at least one vampire and several others were dealing with more.
We were going from one to the next trying to get things under control, but they seemed to keep coming. I had just branched off to help Charlotte when Rosalie shouted out in pain.
I looked up and was horrified to see her arm dangling from her shoulder by a string. Emmett was by her side faster than I could be, so I let him deal with it and continued to help Charlotte.
"Char! Quit going at them from the front! You know better than that…come on! This is the real thing."
Charlotte flung a newborn over her head and turned to glare at me. "I. Know. What. I'm Doing!!" She said through clenched teeth.
"Then prove it! Let's get this finished!" I didn't care if I pissed her off. Anger could be the best fuel in a situation like this, and it seemed to help.
We finished the three on Charlotte just as Emmett and Peter finished dismembering the two that had attacked Rosalie.
Carlisle was building a fire, and we were finally getting to the point where we were ready to start cleaning things up. It had gone far better than I thought it would, even with the few injuries that were sustained.
"Holy shit!" Garrett shouted, grabbing my attention. "Jasper, look!"
I turned my head back to the southern forest as another group of at least 30 more vampires stepped out. The others that weren't locked in finishing their current battle looked on in disbelief.
Peter nudged me. "Did he bring Maria's entire army?"
"Looks like it." If I saw Maria walk out of those trees I was going to flip. But then I noticed something and I started to panic.
"Pete…where's Reuben?" I was looking around frantically at all the vampires that were still standing and those that were in pieces.
The new army was advancing as the last of the first wave was dismembered. Peter and I both looked, but Reuben was no where to be found. He wasn't in the new group either.
And then something happened.
"I can hear them!" Edward shouted.
I looked over in time to see Kate drop two with a simple touch.
Benjamin worked quickly and opened a miniature canyon under the rest of our enemies as they advanced. It swallowed them whole and he immediately sealed it shut.
We all looked from one to the other in mild shock.
"What happened?" Someone asked, sounding breathless.
"We must have taken out the one who could block powers." Carlisle shrugged and went to help Emmett with Rose.
"That was great, Ben." I patted his shoulder. "This won't hold them for long though. We need to work quickly."
And then I froze. I hadn't been paying much attention to the emotions I was feeling in the last minutes. But now there were things I wouldn't be able to ignore, ever.
I felt horror, terror, anger and love. I recognized the tenor of these emotions. I knew who they were coming from. I reached down and once more felt Bella's warmth in my hand.
But…then it was gone. It flickered and died like a blown out candle.
"Bella!" I yelled and turned to look at my family. "Reuben isn't here. I have to get to the house. There's something wrong."
Peter, Carlisle, Edward and I took off running and Alice was right behind. Benjamin called after us that they had a plan for the remaining vampires that were currently under the ground and for us to keep going.
I wasn't planning on stopping.
"It will work, but we have to get to Bella. NOW!" Alice was panicked. I turned to see her face. "He has her, Jasper. He has Bella and Esme."
My suspicions confirmed, I ran faster than I had in my entire existence.
BPOV
Esme and Reuben had circled each other several times. Esme was enraged, but it was clear to see that Reuben was stronger and faster.
I watched in fear, trying to stay out of the way.
"You think that you will stop me from taking what is mine? You think that I have waited this long for my lamb, just to let you take it from me?" Reuben was snarling through each word. "A mother's love may be strong enough for some, but not for me."
Esme suddenly lunged for his throat. Reuben deflected her, but was caught off guard when her teeth sunk into his shoulder. Both of them growled ferociously. Reuben snarled in pain as Esme tore a large chunk of hard, white flesh out of his neck.
I was feeling hopeful again. I thought Esme might be able to hold her own. And in that next second, my hope was smashed.
The horror I felt as I watched Reuben bite into Esme's throat was like nothing I had ever felt before. My ears were ringing and my eyes were wide. I automatically ran forward, trying to help somehow.
I was only a foot from Reuben when I saw my mother's head fall to the ground, her beautiful caramel eyes wide with shock.
I had no time to process what happened as his hand shot out and curled around my throat. The pressure choked off the sobs I didn't realize I was crying.
Reuben flung me around and he locked me inside his arms as he fell to the ground.
His hand went into my hair and tugged so hard I thought all the strands would come out in his hand. He pulled my head to the side, giving him better access to my neck.
This was it.
It was over.
All of it.
Reuben once again ran his cold tongue down my neck, stopping to suck lightly. He pulled away and sounded breathless when he spoke. I could barely hear him through my cries.
"Ahh, Bella. My Lamb. I had so hoped to take my time and really enjoy this." He ran his tongue down my neck again, and swirled it around my collarbone, making me shudder violently. He moved back up my neck dragging his teeth. It hurt, but I already hurt so badly that I barely felt it.
I could feel the blood dripping down my neck as Reuben lapped at it. Some of my blood was running down to my shirt and the collar was already getting wet from it. I was so lost in what was happening that Reuben's voice startled me.
"Yes, I wanted to take my time but it appears, my Pet, that time is up. This is good for you as I won't be able to play as much as I wanted too."
He ran his tongue down my throat once more and I could hear the low, purring growl from his chest as he gathered my spilt blood.
And then it happened.
Reuben's teeth sunk into my neck.
My scream was cut off in a strange gurgle, and I struggled fruitlessly.
This I could feel, regardless of how many other injuries I had. It hurt like hell.
I could feel the same tugging sensation I'd felt when Reuben was feeding from my finger. But this was worse. Much worse. I kept fighting against him, but he didn't seem to notice my violent twisting.
His arms were tight around me and he took pull after pull from my neck.
I started seeing stars in my vision and I felt lightheaded. Pretty soon it didn't hurt as much, and I knew the end was near. I couldn't have much left for him to take.
Just as I lost consciousness for the final time, I heard Reuben mutter against the wound in my throat.
"So worth the wait, My Lamb."
JPOV
I was running ahead of the others, but they weren't far behind. We were getting closer and the emotions were getting stronger.
Pain and loss so strong that it made me want to drop to my knees. But knowing who was feeling these things pushed me forward faster.
Edward snarled behind me. "He's hurting them."
Carlisle was quickly by my side, and I knew that like me, he was running faster than he ever had before.
"How badly is Esme hurt? What about Bella?" Carlisle growled.
Edward hesitated slightly, but his pace didn't slow. "I don't know. He's in a frenzy right now and isn't thinking of Esme any longer."
"Frenzy?" I choked on the words.
"Yes." Edward said darkly. "We have to get there now."
I didn't wait to ask questions. I flew through the air and was less than 100 yards from the house when I smelled it; Bella's blood.
I howled in murderous agony as I crashed through the door. And the sight before me stopped me in my tracks for half a second.
Bella, limp in Reuben's arms, her precious blood being stolen from me.
The silence of the room was shattered by a ear piercing growl from Carlisle. He flew past me, but I didn't take time to look where he was going. His growl had restarted my brain and I flew at Reuben.
I had to be careful. His teeth were deep in Bella's flesh. Luckily he seemed completely lost in the act and not even Carlisle's growl deterred him.
And then I felt his determination. He knew we were here, and he knew he was about to die…but he wanted to finish what he'd started. Over my undead body.
I leapt over them and clamped my hand on his forehead to steady his body. All he had to do was jerk his teeth to one side or the other, and all would be lost for my Bella. Edward and Peter pried him away from Bella and when his teeth finally left her throat, blood ran quickly from her severed vein.
My brothers knew I had to take care of Bella, and though I would have liked the honor of tearing Reuben into a thousand pieces, I had my priority. And suddenly I was blinded by all but what I had to do.
Peter and Edward yanked Reuben out of the way and I dove for Bella. I cradled her in my arms in a way that would hold her still, though she seemed to be unconscious.
Carlisle was here now, putting a restraining hand on my shoulder. I snarled at him.
"Jasper, please let me see her. It's already done, Son. Let me help."
I snarled at him again more ferociously. NO ONE was taking her from me now.
"NO!" I shouted. "Not like this!" And I clamped my mouth to the wound in Bella's neck.
"Jasper!" Carlisle yelled, trying to pull me back.
He managed to detach me from Bella long enough for me to snap at him. I growled again. "Not this way Carlisle. It isn't going to happen this way. Now BACK OFF!"
I went back to work, but Carlisle again tried to pull me off of Bella. This time Alice and Edward stopped him.
"It's okay, Carlisle." Edward tried to tell him.
"No, it's not okay." Carlisle was frantic, but I ignored him.
I was pulling the blood tainted by Reuben's venom out of Bella's system as I heard the loud keening sound of my long time enemy finally being destroyed. I pulled harder, knowing I had to be careful. He had taken a lot of blood, but there was still enough to fix this. There had to be!
"Jasper!" Carlisle shouted again. "It's not okay! You're going to kill her!"
"Carlisle, " Alice soothed, "Go stay with Esme. Jasper will stop. I know he will."
Carlisle continued to argue and I continued to pull the bitter venom from my Darlin's neck. I wasn't swallowing it though. Not one part of Reuben would be apart of either me or Bella.
I pulled hard and then turned my head to spit it onto the ground. Pull. Spit. Pull. Spit.
"He already took too much, Jasper. You can't stop her from changing now. It's too late." Carlisle was begging me to listen, but he didn't understand. "If you remove all of Reuben's venom, she won't have enough to survive. Your choice is to let her change into one of us, or let her die."
Pull. Spit.
"It's okay, Darlin. I've got you now." I whispered quickly to Bella before taking another pull.
I didn't have time to set Carlisle straight, but Edward could hear my thoughts.
"Carlisle, he isn't trying to stop her from changing. He knows it's inevitable." Edward explained for me. "He doesn't want Bella to go through eternity knowing Reuben's venom changed her."
I didn't know why Reuben had been so fascinated with Bella, but I had an idea. When I had more time to think about it I would.
The room was quiet now as I took the final pull from the wound. I couldn't taste Reuben's venom any longer and I only had seconds to save her. Bella's heart beat was faint, but strong. I knew I had to hurry.
I used the venom on my tongue to seal the bite from Reuben, turned Bella slightly and made my own bite.
I was so caught up in my goal that I never for a moment thought I would drain her. Bella's blood was sweeter than honey when I was a child, but nothing would stop me from having her by my side for eternity.
My teeth sliced threw her skin like it was nothing but the thinnest paper. I punctured her jugular with the lightest of pressure. Again her blood rushed over my tongue and down my throat, but I didn't pull. Between Reuben and me we'd taken too much already.
I filled my mouth with venom, and pushed it into her vein, fighting against the hot flow of liquid gold. It had never been so easy for me to keep the monster at bay. I pushed again, and then sealed the wound.
I moved slightly and brought Bella's arm to my mouth. I kissed her wrist, pulled more venom into my mouth and bit into her again. The veins here were smaller, but I pushed as much venom as I could into her.
I heard some movement behind me now, but nothing could stop me from this until I was done. I again sealed the bite on her wrist and brought her other arm to my mouth.
I repeat this process several times: a kiss, a bite, pushing venom, sealing wound. I bit her many places in an attempt to get as much venom into her system as I could. I moved to her ankles and even to her groin.
Finally I sealed the final wound in the crease of her right arm, and slumped back against the wall. I pulled Bella with me and cradled her in my arms. I knew it wouldn't be long before she started to feel the burning.
I was exhausted and knew it would take me at least three days to process everything that had happened.
A small hand squeezed my shoulder, and I turned to look into the fiercely loving eyes of my mother.
"Esme." I sighed.
Phew! I agree with Jasper. That was exhausting.
I so very much hope you enjoyed this chapter. I've been waiting to share it with you for a long time. The story isn't over…there is still a lot of information to come but probably less than 5 chapters now (I think).
I will have the next chapter up soon and I am also working on the Jasper one shot (woo hoo!)
I know not many people were able to review 36, but thank you for the ones that got through and thank you to the people that tried to review but couldn't. I appreciate it so much and hope you like this chapter.
Please let me know what you thought of it.
Thanks again,
-Jules