Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.
Rated M for a reason.
Chpt 34 Consequences of Deciding
BPOV
Well this is different.
Dismemberment hurts like a motherfucker. And being able to feel my limbs a few feet away from me is just about the creepiest thing ever. I can hear them as well, struggling and twitching in the bag if I was a human I would have passed out miles back. But I must admit there isn't a lot even a thirsty newborn can do with only one arm and one leg, on opposite sides of the body.
Jasper would be in tears if he could and even The Major's having a hard time dealin' with it. Obviously I've got my shield well and truly up, no way does Jasper need to feel what I'm feeling, it'll kill him.
Chalk it up as one more crime on Rutilio's slate. I fucking hate that man.
I just want this journey to be over so I can fuse my limbs back on and feed. I've never felt so weak in my life, not even as a human. Venom loss is obviously a lot like blood loss an' I'm glad it's not my car we're in.
"Its 3am." Jasper breaks the tense silence. "Let's find somewhere to pull in so you can hunt."
A little later he pulls into the parking lot of a store on the edge of the forest, jumping out he tastes the air before fetching the duffle bag with my limbs in from the back of the truck.
Tenderly he helps me down onto the asphalt and opening the bag up sets my limbs back in place, licking around them with his tongue, helping them to fuse.
There is a brief flare of intense pain which quickly fades to a strong ache. I can't really describe the way it feels, to have your flesh, bones, sinews, muscles and nerves fuse back together. And the relief. Oh the relief.
Sighing I sit up, as weak as a kitten, flexing my arms and legs and wiggling my fingers and toes.
"Bella, darlin'." Jasper's voice is hoarse. "I wish there was another way. I am so sorry . . . . "
"Don't Jasper." I cut him off, placing my finger on his lips. "We've been through this, there was no other way."
And I know he was right. Even the scent of the humans that were here earlier in the day is enough to engulf my throat in flames.
Carefully he helps me change into fresh clothes.
"Are you ready to hunt?"
I nod and he helps me to my feet, supporting me as he leads me into the trees at the edge of the lot.
After a few minutes I am able to run and we head deeper into the forest. Finding a clearing Jasper settles me onto a rock and then flits off to catch me a meal.
As I suck down my deer greedily I can feel the ache increase as the blood helps my body heal faster.
"More." I whisper when I'm done.
"Bella." Jasper's voice is strained. "Darlin' I don't think I can do that to you again."
"I'm not lookin' forward to it Jasper but how else will we get to New Hampshire?"
"Its not far now darlin', if you don't have any more blood you should stay weak enough that I can keep you in the truck if anythin' happens."
"Are you sure?" I ask, while a voice in my mind screams at me to shut the fuck up. That is not an experience I wish to repeat in a hurry.
"I'm sure darlin'. Apparently I'm not as bad ass as I used to be."
"Okay." Determination creeps into my voice. "I can do this."
Jasper buries my deer then picks me up bridal style heading back to the truck.
"Jasper, maybe next time you could have your crisis of conscience before you rip my limbs off."
He chuckles. "I am sorry darlin' but I don't think we'd have made it this far with you in one piece."
"Humph."
He stiffens and slows.
"Someone's followin' us." He whispers. "I can feel their emotions."
"What are they feeling?"
"Triumphant." And. "Bella I need you to get up in that tree, put your shield up and stay there."
I nod.
"You understand the stay there part, right darlin'?"
I roll my eyes, pecking him on the lips and scaling the tree slowly, still weak and wondering how long I can keep my shield up for.
Beneath me The Major settles his hat over his eyes and waits.
After what feels like an age two vampires in suits creep into the clearing.
"Are you The Major?" The taller one asks.
The Major leaps forwards so fast he's even a blur to my eyes, decapitating the tall one neatly before turning on the second.
The small one backs up making a peaceable gesture with his hands.
"There are twenty of us here." He speaks quickly.
The Major grunts, stepping forwards and slamming his fist into the vampire's face, sending him flying into a tree. In the blink of an eye he's on the strange vampire, his strong hands around his throat.
"Where?" He snarls.
"All around you man, we were told not to take any chances."
Silently The Major crushes the vampire's neck turning his black eyes to mine.
We're in trouble and I'm too weak to help.
Quickly I leap out of the tree rushing into his arms, kicking the first vampire's head out of my way as I go.
"What do we do?" I whisper into his chest, so afraid my trembling legs are barely holding me up.
"I'm sorry darlin'." He murmurs into my hair. "We need to try an' run."
Taking my hand he leads us deeper into the forest, almost dragging me along in my weakened state but fear is a powerful motivator and I manage to keep up even though I can hear many sets of feet running around us.
Listening and calculating as we run he changes direction many times but each time I can still hear feet running around us. And this is familiar territory for me, surrounded by danger to people I care about and powerless to do anything about it. I don't need Jasper's empathic ability to feel his desperation. A knot of pain begins to form in my chest
Abruptly we burst into the parking lot where we left the truck, skidding to a halt on the wet asphalt.
Eight suited vampires and several SUVs are now waiting for us. The feet running behind us slow and stop.
I dare not turn around so my attention is on the vampires in front of me, one of whom I recognise as Gonzalo.
Several of them start to sag at the knees, groaning and my vampire hearing picks out the same sounds from some of those behind me. The Major is using his gift to try to incapacitate them but even I can see that there are too many. Too many.
Slowly and steadily they advance on us, those I can see and those I can hear behind me. The Major squeezes my hand and I drop my mental shield briefly, soaking up the love he is sending me and returning my own, rejecting the sorrow he's also feeling.
The Major drops my hand and steps forward, crouching in readiness. I bring up my physical shield, acutely aware that it won't last very long in my weakened state and fighting the futile urge to put it around Jasper. It'll just run out quicker and he won't be able to fight while he's in it.
There is a long and agonising pause.
And then suddenly I feel multiple impacts against my shield as a horde of vampires descend on Jasper, bouncing off me as they pass.
Screaming I drop it, wading into the melee grabbing, ripping and biting into anything I can. Almost instantly I feel two sets of strong hands grip me and tear me away, flinging me across the lot.
Immediately I bounce back up, hurling myself into the heaving, snarling mass of bodies. I scream in agony as I lose my right arm but I don't stop, my newborn instincts to rip and rend have completely taken over. I howl as teeth sink into my left shoulder, managing to flick my physical shield out briefly, slicing into my attacker.
Around me severed body parts are flying and vampires are cringing from the emotions that Jasper is throwing out but there are still too many.
Once again I am flung away from the fight, losing my left arm.
Weaker I still struggle to my feet again, stumbling forwards. My ears are filled with snarling growling and Jasper's furious roaring.
I watch in horror as the mass of vampires wrestle him to his knees.
His eyes meet mine and again I let myself feel his love and his sorrow as they rip his arms and legs from his body. The noise sounds like a nuclear explosion to me.
Screaming I stagger towards him but two vampires detach themselves from the fight and rush at me.
My shield is gone and they tear into me, removing my legs and biting into my neck.
"STOP!" A commanding voice orders.
I am dropped immediately.
"We have what we came for."
"What do we do with his bint?" Someone asks.
"Leave her." Gonzalo answers. "The master said to keep collateral damage to a minimum. Let's go."
Silently the vampires gather up their missing parts and start fusing them back.
I watch, too weak to move as they finish dismembering my mate, stuffing the pieces of his body into canvass holdalls and climbing into their stupidly shiny SUVs. No one even giving me a second glance.
And then, in a squeal of tires they are gone.
Slowly I crawl, drawn to my missing flesh. The pain is excruciating but nothing compared to the pain in my chest, Edward's ghost hole obliterated by the crater of their departure with Jasper.
Jasper, those ungh, words fail me. They have taken my mate.
But for all their plotting and scheming they've made a fatal mistake that The Major would never have. They left his mate alive.
And. I. Will. Find. Him.
The sun is beginning to rise as I sit there, useless, waiting for my limbs and flesh to fuse back onto my hopelessly weak body. The whole process desperately slow when I should already be after them. Frustration.
An elderly sedan enters the lot, the occupant a young man I would have found attractive in my former life. Spotting me lying near the truck he trots over, concern written all over his face.
"Are you alright?" He asks bending over me and scrutinizing my appearance. "Jeez, I'll call an ambulance. And the police."
Delving into his pocket he pulls out his cell.
Jasper.
"I'm sorry." I whisper as I reach up and snap his neck.