Chapter 38 – The Killing Field

Emmett and Garrett both had prior experience with the Apex 25 Tournament, so they agreed that the reason for my sudden change in houses, was likely because the Swans no longer had any monsters. As one of the founding houses, it was important that they were represented in the ring, despite being in shambles behind the scenes. Having me be the Swan's monster entry was also just one more form of punishment for my father. They truly were torturing him, and I had no doubt my mother was ultimately behind it. Torturing him, to torture me. It was despicable, and made me hate Renée that much more.

A few hours after they officially announced us as the twenty five fighters, it was time for the main event. We were brought back into the holding area beside the arena; this time, the stadium was full and roaring with enthusiasm and excitement. It was disgusting. They were all excited to see us fight for our lives, and as I looked at the nervous faces around me, it was clear who the real monsters were.

Being in that situation was utterly surreal. Not even a year ago, I was an ignorant, naïve, normal high school girl that was only concerned with mundane high school girl issues. It seemed like a lifetime ago - someone else's lifetime ago. I wasn't that girl anymore, and I was just now beginning to understand that I never was. Despite being forced to fight for my life, this creature that I had become is what I was truly meant to be. It was time to flex my muscles, and figure out exactly what I was fully capable of…

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you, your Apex twenty-five!"

We were once again announced by our aliases and owner's house, as we were escorted into the ring. Then we stood in a line, side by side, as the audience cheered while they had a chance to get a good look at us. The shifter, posing as Edward, seemed to be the only one reveling in the applause.

When the crowd finally quieted, we were given ten seconds to take cover amongst the labyrinth of stone walls and obstacles spread about the arena. When the ten seconds were up, a buzzer went off, signifying the beginning of the battle.

"We just have to survive for twenty-five minutes," Rosalie told me as we ducked behind a prop shaped like a boulder.

"Where did Emmett and Garrett go?" I asked her quietly, knowing one of the other fighters could be within hearing range.

"Probably trying to kill the werewolves," she reminded me.

That was the plan. All of us were going to team up against the werewolves, however, when it came to supernatural beings accustomed to fighting 'til the death, you could never be too confident that they would keep their word. Many were natural enemies, so overcoming their nature for the bigger cause was understandably difficult.

"Whoa!" I jumped as a body came flying through the wall I was leaning against.

"You know, kicking some ass can be a lot of fun," Rose said with wiggling brows.

As much as I was trying to maintain my composure, I couldn't help but smile at her.

"Let's stay close, and just throw some creatures around a bit. Put on a good show at least," she added.

I nodded. "Let's do it."

We ran out to the middle of the arena, where it was more open, and the bulk of the fighting was taking place. There was blood splattering, monsters growling, and creatures of all different species snapping at each other. It definitely looked like some big budget horror flick, but after looking a bit closer, I could see that most of the fighters really were going easy on each other. The werewolves were the only ones fighting at full force, but that was to be expected. The mangy mongrels didn't understand complex or critical thinking. Because of their lack of intellect, they would never be allowed to roam free anyway, so it was best if we sacrificed them for the greater good.

Rose and I jumped right into battle. We each took on a shifter, and I tried like hell to keep the smile off my face while doing so. Jacob was fighting me, and he kept shifting his shape from one creature to another. At one point, he even turned into a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, which had to be one of the most hilarious things I ever witnessed. I was only grateful to have use of my superhuman sense of smell, otherwise I wouldn't have been sure it was even him.

"Stop it!" I growled at him, trying to disguise my laughter.

I thought we were all doing a good job of making the fights believable, but after fifteen minutes or so, the owners became angry.

"Stop this atrocity!" one of them yelled at us.

"This isn't a fucking ballet. Fight each other!" another shouted.

We did our best to make the blows more believable, but our attentive audience wasn't convinced. The match was only supposed to last twenty five minutes, and in that time, they hoped to see a lot more carnage than what we were giving them. The clock continued to tick, and other than a few werewolves, no one was dying.

"This is your last warning," we were shouted at by one of the tournament committee members. "Fight, or there will be repercussions!"

My eyes found Arostali in the audience, and he was just as angry. We weren't following directions by killing all the creatures in the ring, and in his mind, that had to be done before he could cut the power to the cage. He had made his instructions simple – the vampires and I needed to kill all the other creatures, then he would cut the electricity, so we could break out of the arena and kill everyone else. According to him, it had to be in that order, or it wouldn't work. But what he didn't know was that we were doing it our way, and we were done listening to him.

As if in cue, suddenly the buzzing sound of the arena cutoff, and I knew, without a doubt, Arostali wasn't behind it. He wanted all the creatures dead, and he was certainly planning to take cover before we made our "escape". I looked to my left, and saw Garrett smirking with the small remote in his hands.

Jacob, who had also noticed the lack of buzzing, as well as Garrett's triumphant expression, shifted his shape back to his natural form, and reached for his ear where I noticed what looked like a small gold hoop earring.

"What's that?" I asked him quietly.

"The shifter's version of your electrified collars," he explained in a hushed rush. "It's more like a cattle tag for us; pierced through the skin so we can't lose it when we shift our shape."

Without another word, he yanked it out of his ear, and looked back up at me with an excited grin.

"The last time I attempted that it gave me the shock of my life. The electrical current is gone."

All the other creatures in the arena also stopped what they were doing, and one by one, began ripping off their collars and tags.

When the demon looking creature eyed the fence around the arena, the crowd seemed to hush as if everyone was simultaneously holding their breath. Ever so slowly, the creature reached up to the metal caging. When he didn't immediately pull his hand down from shock, the crowd erupted in hysteric panic and raced for the exits.

I reflexively turned to Emmett, who happened to be standing a few feet from me, and he mouthed the words 'Up to you.'

It was then that I looked around and realized that all the fighters were staring at me, waiting for me to make the call. It was a tough decision to be in command of others and ordering them to take people's lives, but it was my idea to get them all involved, and I needed to take responsibility for it.

I nodded once, and that was all they needed. Emmett and Jacob led the attack. They both jumped onto the cage, and immediately began tearing it down.

Despite the guards' feeble attempts at pushing them back with their taser poles, they were easily overtaken, and the fighters climbed their way into the stadium, increasing the crowd's frenzy tenfold.

There were no innocent people in that stadium, however I was slightly relieved to see the initial attack was directed squarely on the owners. Each creature focusing on their own personal vendettas, which was perfectly understandable.

In a panic, people rushed the exists, but our fighters were faster. It may have been a hypocritical thing to do, but I refrained from killing anyone, and made my way straight to my father. Even if he deserved it just as much as any other owner, I made the decision not let my father be harmed.

"Bella!" he cried when I approached him. His lips were still bound, and the word came out more like a smooshed mumble, but I understood him nevertheless.

"We need to get you out of here," I told him in a rush.

I had no idea where to take him, but he certainly couldn't stay there. I pulled him through the mass hysteria, down to the fighting arena, and back to where the remaining creatures were being kept in their cells. I secured him in the very same cage I had been locked in with the vampires, and made sure he couldn't get out, but more importantly, no one else could get in. It only took a few minutes, but I figured out how to isolate the electricity just to his cell, thus releasing everyone else from theirs so they could all join the fight.

As I followed the crowd of creatures out, I was grabbed by a cowering Arostali, who appeared to be trying to make his escape through the back since all the other main exits were be blocked by the stampede of terrified humans.

"What the hell are you doing?" he hissed at me from his crouched position behind a post. "You and the vampires were supposed to kill all the other creatures before turning on the humans, not team up with them!"

"You wanted us to kill all the ruthless owners and politicians, right?" I questioned calmly. Before he could respond, I continued. "That's exactly what we're doing."

Without any other warning, I stepped forward and reached for his neck. With very little effort, it snapped in my hands, and as his body fell limp to my feet, I felt empowered. My previous killings were done without me even realizing it, and I had been concerned that I wouldn't be able to do it when I was of sound mind. I was wrong, and my fears were unfounded. I wasn't afraid to kill, as long as it was justifiable in my own mind, and Arostali's death was definitely justified.

I continued moving towards the arena, and joined my friends in the killing field. Along the way, I just happened to stumble upon a few fumbling owners that I recognized, and I didn't even bat an eye at killing them. The entire auditorium was in shambled chaos, and the exits were all but blocked with bodies, most of which brought upon their own demise by attempting to force their way out by trampling over each other, but there were still many left to be massacred.

I happened to glance up and catch The Yankee himself, taking out the President of the United States, while a few others made quick work of his accompanying staff. Amidst the carnage, I also spotted several other world leaders being brutally slain, which for the most part, was well earned for all their misdeeds while in their respective tyrannical positions.

By the time the pre-set bell rang, signifying the end of the twenty-five minute battle, most of the human spectators were either dead, or had managed to escape the area. A couple of the creatures followed the survivors out to make sure they didn't get far, while a few others took advantage of the chaos by slipping out into the night, probably never to be seen again.

Things in the auditorium were starting to die down, literally, when suddenly a certain someone sauntered into the arena, accompanied by a small group of armed men.

"Very good," Renée said with a slow and steady clap. "You have done everything I asked of you. If I'm being honest, this is the proudest I have ever been as a mother."

One of the fighters besides me growled at her, but I put my hand up to stop him – to stop all of them. The men were too heavily armed, and even though there weren't many of them, their weapons would certainly take out some of us, and I'd rather that didn't happen if I could help it. There was only one way for us to beat them without any more unnecessary deaths, and that was to go straight for her.

"Mother," I greeted her stiffly. "We still have a long way to go before we reach world domination status."

"Of course we do. This was just the first step of many. I'm glad you were able to see it my way, and come to the understanding that your cooperation is the only way. Oh, I know what it's like to be a rebellious teen. Why, it was only a little over a hundred years ago when I began acting out and tried to break free from my family's teachings as well. It was the wrong decision, and I'm so glad I came to my senses. Now, finish off the rest of these disgusting monsters, and then command the vampires back to their cages so we can transport them back to Alaska… Is that Arostali behind you?"

"He's pretty much dead," I replied evenly.

"Shame," she said emotionlessly. "He wasn't much, but he was always loyal. I suppose you'll just have to take on his duties."

"I have a better idea. How about we cut the bullshit, and get down to business? We both know I'm never going to do anything for you, you crazy-ass bitch!"

She smirked. "Sadly, I had a feeling you would say that. So, what happens now? You attack me, while your little pathetic monster gang takes out my men? Boring! How about we handle this like ladies?"

"What do you suggest?"

She took a step closer to me, and then leaned in like she had a secret. "We let the men fight for us." After a vile wink, she stepped back, and then theatrically announced, "Pick your champion!"

I laughed once. "So, we each put up our best fighters, and the loser forfeits, allowing the other to imprison them indefinitely?"

"Or, I can just have my men open fire on the lot of you," she offered snidely.

"Or, how about you and I fight," I retorted bitterly. "I know you're super old, but in modern times, women don't need men to fight for them."

"I agree, but despite your inferior breeding and being an all around disappointment, you are still my daughter, and I may have a hard time killing you… you know, for nostalgia purposes. Plus, you bare my mate's venom in your neck. That would make it next to impossible for me to attack you."

That did it. I was seeing red, and I didn't give two flying fucks about her excuses and bullshit reasoning for her not fighting me. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to rip her to shreds.

"I'll be her champion," Emmett stepped forward and volunteered unexpectedly. As he approached us, he stopped and grabbed ahold of my shoulders to look me square in the face. "Never fight in anger if you can avoid it. You need to keep a level head."

"Perfect. Edward!" she called. The shifter posing as Edward came out from the rubble in the arena, and smiled in a very un-Edward-like way.

Emmett also smiled. "I'm going to enjoy this. Sorry pup, your granddaddy is about to meet his maker," he said to Jacob.

The Edward look-a-like glanced at Jake, but didn't let his eyes linger, and quickly refocused on my mother as he waited for her instructions.

"Make it quick," Renée told him evenly.

Everyone backed up, and Emmett and the shifter began circling each other, but it was Emmett who struck first. His quick, powerful jab to the shifter's side, left a bloody gaping wound.

"We all know you're not really Edward, so why don't you shift into a shape that doesn't require so much of your concentration to hold?" Em suggested condescendingly. Before the shifter could respond, Em jabbed him again.

Edward's perfect features morphed in a demonic way, before a deafening growl erupted from deep inside his chest. Suddenly, his nose sprouted into a snout, and just like that, his glorious beauty was replaced by a monstrous hairy beast.

Like an abused dog forced to fight, the shifter used all if his aggressive rage to lunge at Emmett. They both wrestled around for a bit, but after a few choice cuss words from Em, it wasn't long before he had the shifter in a headlock. The poor creature kept trying to shift into all different shapes as he attempted to break free from Emmett's iron grasp, but it was of no use. Emmett was just too strong, and far more determined.

"He doesn't have to die!" Emmett shouted at Renée. "If you yield, this can be over right now."

"Correction, if Bella yields this can be over right now," Renée countered.

"I can hold him like this forever, or snap his neck just as easily. He can't beat me," Em argued.

"Perhaps not, but the fight was never between you and this shifter, now was it?" she said smugly. "I called Edward to be my champion. It's not my fault you began fighting this thing. Still, I'm bored of pretending like you imbeciles have a fighting chance. You there," she pointed at one of the armed men. "It's time."

"Yes, ma'am," he said with a nod, before pressing a button on his smartwatch.

"What the hell?" Em mumbled, voicing all our confusion when four doors opened around the arena - doors, we didn't even realize were there.

Emmett quickly hit the shifter on the side of the head, rendering him unconscious, and then let his body slump to the ground as we all waited for whatever the hell was coming for us next.

There was a brief moment of nothing, but then, like a herd of buffalo, in rushed a swarm of uniformed men from each direction. They had their guns drawn, and immediately began firing. Since I had released all the creatures from their cages, we still outnumbered them, however with their weapons, they made quick work of a couple dozen of us right away. Most ran to take cover, but through the haze of smoke that their weapons created, I saw something astronomically bewildering…

"Oh, my god," I mumbled in shock, but my voice was drowned out by the ambient noise.

I looked to my left, hoping Emmett or Rose would confirm what I was seeing, but they were too focused on trying to dodge the bullets. However, the air conditioning in the auditorium must have suddenly popped on, because both of them simultaneously turned towards the newest creature in the arena.

"Edward!" Rosalie cried.

"Holy mother of all fucks!" I heard Emmett add, echoing his mate's shock.

Edward's scent finally reached my nose as well, and I immediately discovered that even without realizing it, I had always known it. He smelled like Edward…. I only wished he looked like him.

Gone was the perfect being I had always known him to be, and in his place stood a twisted and broken looking deranged monster. His skin was a purplish blue, and he had large protruding veins covering every inch of him. He was only dressed in a pair of ripped pants, and his chest and abdomen looked almost carved in, in a way I couldn't quite comprehend. His muscles were still there, but he almost looked like a plastic toy that had been stepped on. His hair was in a ratted mess that hung to his shoulders, and his nails were so overgrown that they looked more like claws.

What the hell did that bitch do to him?

Not that any of that mattered. Edward was there, and I needed to get to him.

Without thinking, I reflexively began making my way across the arena, but a bullet whizzing within inches of my head was a harsh reminder that I was in an active battlefield, and I needed to be careful.

Apparently, Rosalie had the same idea I did, because as I was forced to duck behind a low wall, I could see her closing in on him. The moment she was within arm's length of her brother, took a sigh of relief – but the moment that followed was the most shocking yet.

"Oh my god!" I screeched as Edward hit his sister so hard that she went flying across the arena.

I never saw Emmett approaching, but somehow he snuck up behind Edward, and tried to restrain him, which only seemed to anger him. Looking more like The Incredible Hulk than a vampire, Edward growled ferociously and pushed against Em's arms. There was a deafening cracking sound that echoed around the stadium, and just like that, both of Emmett's arms shattered into pieces like glass in an explosion.

Edward didn't seem to care less. He didn't even bat an eye at his best friend and mentor's excruciating pain. Even without arms, Em refused to give up. He wrapped his legs around one of Edward's ankles, hoping to at least trip him or something, but with a swift stomp from his free foot, he shattered both of Emmett's legs.

By this time Rosalie had recovered herself, and now she was enraged. She attacked him with all her strength and capabilities, but it wasn't enough. She was going to get herself hurt just as Emmett had, so I tried like hell to get to her before she could do so.

As I spun around soldiers, and jumped over bodies, my multifaceted mind replayed the first time Edward drowned. Basically, he had been a tamer version of this new creature, which made sense, since he was in the water much longer this time. But in realizing that was what his issue had to be, I knew exactly how to stop him….