Halcyon
PART IV
Chapter 11
I walk into the den, seeing Bella laying on the couch. She looks worse - skinny, frail, sickly. I sigh and take a seat next to her seeing her staring at the ceiling. She suddenly gasps out in pain and I hear a sick cracking. Going on alarm, my instincts take over and I get into a defensive crouch as Rosalie goes to help my sister.
"Carlisle!" Rose calls and I turn towards Bella, seeing tears leak out of her eyes. Carlisle and Edward appear by Bella's side in an instant as she cries out in pain. I wince as she clutches her side, crying. Edward gently scoops her up and takes her to Carlisle's office. I follow them upstairs, needing to be there my sister.
"Her rib has cracked, but they're no splinters. It hasn't punctured anything." Carlisle tells us as I sit by my sister, holding her hand. He did an x-ray on her, ribs where she was saying was painful.
"Yet." Edward says and I turn my eyes to glare at him.
"Edward." Carlisle warns his son.
"It's breaking her bones now." Edward says before turning to Bella. "It's crushing you from the inside out. Carlisle, tell her what you told me. Tell both of them." Bella looks over to me, squeezing my hand and I nod.
"Carlisle, tell us. It's alright." Bella says.
"The fetus is incompatible with your body. It's too strong, it won't allow you to get the nutrition you need. It's starving you by the hour, I can't stop it and I can't slow it down. At this rate your heart will give out before you can deliver." Carlisle says and I squeeze my sister's hand.
"Then I'll hold on as long as I can and..." she starts.
"Bella, there are some conditions that even venom can't overcome. You understand? I'm sorry." Carlisle gently tells her before leaving the room. I look over at my sister and see her face full of hope, she's not going to give up. I'm not going to give up on her.
"Lily, could you give us a moment?" Edward asks me and I narrow my gaze to him, not fully trusting him with her.
"It's okay, Lils." Bella assures me and I sigh, placing a kiss on her forehead before walking out of the room to leave them some privacy. I walk out of the office and downstairs, my mood falling. Bella might die. It might be too late to change her. I don't blame the little one - not at all. I don't understand how Edward can blame the baby. His baby. That's his child in there, and he's acting like it's some kind of murderer.
My thoughts are interrupted by my phone ringing, pulling it out of my pocket, I see that it's my dad calling.
"Hey, dad!" I put on a "happy" voice.
"Hey, kiddo. How's Italy?" he asks me and I focus on keeping my voice even.
"Oh, it's great. I love Jasper's family." I quickly lie, trying to keep up the story.
"Well, that's good. When are you coming home?" he asks, urgently and I wince.
"Uhm...I don't really know. We're having such a great time out here and Jasper was saying that we might take a trip to Milan." I lie and see Jasper approaching me.
" Milan? Lily, wai-" Dad starts, but I cut him off.
"Dad, I gotta go, I'll talk to you soon."
"No, no, come h-" he starts.
"I love you, dad. Bye." I say, hanging up the phone and closing my eyes. I feel Jasper walk behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"Are you okay?" he asks and I shrug.
"How did everything go from perfect, to catastrophe so fast?" I ask him and he moves my hair out of the way, placing a kiss on my neck.
"Sometimes, it happens. But, we're sticking together to deal with it. Everything is going to be okay."
"Is it?" I ask, turning around to face him. "Carlisle just told us that the little one is crushing Bella from the inside out. Edward hates him. Jake hates him, his former pack is coming to kill us. Not to mention, we have the Volturi riding our asses, just waiting for us to slip up. When is it going to end?"
"I know that it looks like the bad stuff isn't going to end, but it will. Those mutts will not touch you, or anyone in this family. The Volturi have always been on our asses. I'm telling you, everything is going to work out." he leans forward and places a kiss on my forehead.
"I hope you're right." I say, laying my head against his chest.
"Lily?" I turn my head to see Rosalie standing there. "I was about to run Bella a bath."
"I'll help you." I tell her, placing my lips against Jasper's cheek before walking over to the couch where Bella is sitting, looking discouraged. "Hey, how does a bath sound?" I ask and she smiles.
"Sounds perfect." she replies and I smile back at her.
"Here, I'll carry you." I say, putting Bella's arm around my shoulder and scooping my arm under her knees. I lift her up and walk up the stairs and into the bathroom. I set Bella on her feet and gently help her take off her clothes. I see how skinny she's gotten, her arms and legs look like twigs. There's bruising all around her belly from the little one kicking. Bella looks at herself in the mirror, seeing how she looks and then turns around. Edward is standing there, looking horrified at seeing what has happened to her body.
I walk over to the door and close it, not wanting him to make her feel any worse. Bella just sits down at the edge of the tub, her face distraught. Rose and I help Bella clean off and dress her, carrying her down the stairs and placing her back on the couch. Jake comes inside and sits down next to my sister, immediately having a calming effect on her.
"Don't do that." Jake tells Bella. I'm sitting on the other couch as Rose is still standing guard.
"What?" Bella asks, still smiling at him.
"Smile like I'm your favorite person in the world." Jake explains and Bella smiles, grabbing his large hand in her small, frail one.
"You're one of them. It feels complete when you're here, Jake." she tells him and I smile at seeing my sister so happy. Jake leaves to go stand on watch outside while Rosalie and I stay with my sister.
The next day, Bella is laying down on the couch with the IV hooked up. Jake is sitting on the couch near her while I'm sitting on Jasper's lap in one of the chairs. Esme and Carlisle are sitting near each other while Emmett has his arms around Rosalie. Riley and Alice are standing near the book-case, watching her with concern. Bella suddenly moves to the side of the couch, Edward bringing the bowl to her as she gets sick and vomits. I shoot up to go over to her, rubbing her back, soothingly.
"We need to find a way to get some food into her system." Esme says.
"If I could only see the fetus..." Alice starts, before Rosalie interrupts her.
"The baby." she says, her eyes narrowing.
"...maybe I could figure out what it wants." Alice says and I sigh, brushing some hair out of my sister's face.
"I think you might be right. Jacob just had an idea." Edward says, his eyes on Jake. I turn my head to Jake who's smiling, mirthless.
"It wasn't an idea. It was a snide comment." Jake says and Carlisle furrows his brow, interested.
"What were you thinking?"
"That it's probably just looking for someone to sink its teeth into." Jake says and my eyes widen.
"That's a good idea." I say, looking to my sister.
"What are you talking about? I was joking." Jake says.
"He's thirsty." Bella says to Edward.
"I know the feeling." Emmett says and Rosalie narrows her eyes at him.
"If it's craving, it's not gonna want animal blood." Edward says.
"I have some O negative laid aside for Bella." Carlisle says, exiting the room. He returns a couple of moments later, pouring some blood in a cup. My eyes widen when I see it and venom starts to salivate. Blood. I feel myself shaking as the lust is banging at my door, begging me to let it out. No, settle down. I can't be here. The burn is starting in my throat and I bite my lip, clenching my fists.
Alice takes Riley out of the room and I close my eyes, trying to control myself. You can do this, come on. It's just a little...blood.
"Wait! Wait! Wait! You're gonna make her drink that?" Jake starts to protest.
"Lily?" Esme calls my name, but I just shake my head.
"I need to..." I get up and walk out of the room, putting as much distance as I can between me and that tempting juice. Damn it, I can't even control myself for my sister. I walk outside on the deck, breathing in the fresh air, closing my eyes.
"Angel?" I hear Jasper's voice and turn around, feeling like a failure. I should have been able to control myself. I should be in there with my sister. Helping her. Being there for her. Guilt is rolling over me like a tidal wave, until it's calmed. "Hey, none of that."
"I almost lost control. The blood..." I trail off, still shaking.
"Shh. You didn't lose control. You're still a newborn, Lil. I can't even stay in there with the blood. What's important is you got out of there before you could lose control. Not many vampires could do that." Jasper assures me and I take a deep breath, closing my eyes. The fresh air and Jasper is definitely helping control my thirst.
The wind carries a scent that makes my nose scrunch up. The wolves. I can feel them here, and I can smell them, but I can't see them. We're surrounded in our own house, not able to hunt. Everyone's eyes are black, thirsty, craving. Why does this have to happen? Why did Jake have to tell Sam about the little one. This could have been avoided. I'm gracious that he warned us, but he should have minded his business in the first place.
"Are you ready to go back inside?" Jasper asks me and I nod, a yawn eliciting from me. I haven't been able to sleep much, constantly staying with my sister, but tonight, I should try to sleep, especially if she's going to be drinking the blood. Jasper and I walk upstairs into our room as I quickly change out of my clothes, pulling on a pair of black yoga pants and a white tank top. I crawl into bed as Jasper takes off his boots, getting in next to me. Laying my arm across his stomach, I pull him closet to me. Bella said Jake being there feels complete, this feels complete. My sister being home, laying in bed with Jasper. It feels complete. "Go to sleep, angel."
And I do. Falling into the comfortable blackness of sleep, feeling content as Jasper runs his hands through my hair.
"What is that?" Jake asks and I feel tears rolling down my cheeks. Edward has a syringe in his hands, brining it to Bella's heart. There's blood everywhere, but I'm not reacting to it.
"It's my venom." he injects it, but she doesn't react. Edward frowns, and starts CPR. "It supposed to be working. Come on. Come on."
"I won't kill you. That would be too easy. You deserve to live with this." Jake snaps at Edward, walking out of the room with tears in his eyes.
"Jake!" I call out, but he ignores me. Edward continues to give Bella CPR.
"Come back to me, please! Please! Bella! Bella! Please!" Edward pleads.
"Bella, wake up! Please wake up." I beg of my sister. "Why isn't it working?"
I snap my eyes open from the dream, still shaking. I need to prevent this from happening. I need to do something.
Jasper and I are sitting in the kitchen, while Bella is on the phone with my dad. She's telling him that she's going to a medical center in Switzerland. It feels bad lying to him, but that's what we've all been doing. Lying to my dad.
I'm sitting on one of the counters, while Jasper stands between my legs. I'm feeling thirsty, the burn in my throat is killing me right now. I didn't eat any human food because I've been saving it all for Bella. She needs it more than I do, but I realize that it's been taking a toll on me. I feel like a human who hasn't eaten in weeks.
"I wish that we weren't trapped in this house." I mumble into Jasper's shoulder. He wraps his arms tighter around me, kissing my temple. "That blood in there is killing me." I tell him, burying my face into his neck to block out the delicious scent, while I focus on Jasper's. "But, I'll stick it out. We're all thirsty."
"It's only for a little while longer." he assures me and I nod, wrapping my arms around his neck. "What was your dream about, darlin?"
"Bella's labor. She dies, but Edward injects her with venom. I don't know if it works." I tell him and he sighs.
"Bella's strong. She'll make it through this." he says and I smile, feeling the hope roll off of him.
"Thank you." I whisper and Jasper leans forward, placing his lips to mine. Jasper walks back up to his study and I decide to go see how my sister is doing. When I walk into the living room, I see Bella holding her stomach with tears in her eyes. Edward has his hand to her stomach, smiling. Well, this is a change.
"What's going on?" I ask and they both turn to look at me, Bella looking incredible happy. Edward turns back to the stomach, before smiling.
"He likes your voice. He recognizes you." Edward says and my eyes widen.
"What?" I gasp out, walking over to Bella.
"Edward can hear his thoughts." Bella tells me and I look at her stomach.
"He wants you to say something else." Edward tells me and I place my hand on her stomach.
"Hello, little one." I say and receive a light kick to my hand. I widen my eyes in shock and then laugh, looking up to Bella who's smiling at me. I turn back to her belly, talking to the little one. "I'm aunt Lily. I love you."
"He loves you." Edward says and tears roll down my cheeks.
"Oh my God." I breathe out and Bella wraps her arms around my neck as I sob into her shoulder. I love that little one in there. I'm going to protect him, no matter what. I'll always be there, and take care of him. He's going to have one overprotective aunt. I look over and see Jake standing there, watching us. His eyes display a flash of envy, but he quietly turns away, walking out of the room. I stand up, giving my sister and Edward some privacy, walking after Jake.
I find him in the kitchen, Carlisle taking out the rest of the bags of blood for Bella. I hold my breath and walk over to them.
"So that's the last of it?" Jake asks Carlisle who nods.
"Bella could deliver as early as tomorrow. If she's going to have any chance at all she'll need more blood."
"And you need to feed. You have to be at your strongest for her. We need to go tonight."
"Carlisle, you're the enemy now. Sam won't hesitate, you will be slaughtered."
"Emmett will come with us."
"Do you need me to come?" I ask them and Esme shakes her head. I'm not for the idea of leaving Bella, but my family needs me for protection. I could help out.
"Bella needs you here, sweetheart." she says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"That won't be enough."
"We have no choice, Jacob. If there's anything we can do to save her, we have to try."
"You'd risk your lives for her?"
"Of course we would! Just like we'd do for Lily or anyone else in this family." Esme says and Jake nods.
"Yeah, I can see that. This really is a family. As strong as the one I was born into. I know what I have to do." Jake says, before turning around and leaving. I stay with Carlisle and Esme, needing to tell them about my dream.
"Carlisle, I had a dream last night." I tell him and he frowns, Esme looks at me, rubbing soothing circles on my back. "Is your office sound proof?" I ask, as quietly as I can and he nods. Esme, Carlisle, and I walk into his office, hoping that no one will hear this. "You weren't there in my vision. Bella dies and Edward injects her with the venom. I don't know if it works. You need to stay here, you can't leave."
"Lily, we do need to hunt or else, I could lose it tomorrow." he tells me and I frown, getting an idea.
"What if I went hunting? I could bring back some animals for you? Would that be okay?" I ask him and he frowns.
"You heard what Jake said, honey. The wolves are dangerous." Esme tells me and I shake my head.
"Sam thinks he owes me a debt. I'm confident that he won't kill me, or command anyone else to." At their hesitant looks, I appeal to them. "I need to try, at least. This is for my family." I tell them and the couple shares a look.
"What if you took someone with you?" Carlisle suggest and I shake my head.
"No, I'm not endangering anyone in this family. I'll get a big animal for you, a couple if I can. A bear or a mountain lion. I'll be quick, barely gone. Please." I beg and Carlisle frowns, looking over at Esme. He turns his gaze back to me, defeated.
"You are an incredibly brave woman, Lily." Carlisle comments and I shake my head.
"You would do the same thing." I say and Carlisle sighs. "Just...don't tell Jasper that I'm leaving. I'll deal with it when I get back." I tell them and the both nod, knowing that he's going to be pissed that I left.
"Good luck, sweetheart." Esme says, pulling me in for a loving hug and kissing my forehead.
"Don't be too long. It will destroy Jasper if you get hurt. One hour, Liliana. Not a minute more." I nod, letting Carlisle pull me in for a fatherly hug.
"I will. One hour, at the most." I tell them and the watch as I open the window, jumping down and landing on the ground. Looking around, I don't see the wolves, but I feel them. I'm all alone out here and if they wanted to kill me, they could. But, I won't let them. I need to do this for my sister. For my family.
I take off in a run, trying to quickly smell if there are any bears. If I have to, I'll head higher to try to find a mountain lion, and if I'm desperate enough, I'll look for a herd of deer. I keep running, not going near the reservation. My senses are completely open, trying to find something to feed my family. I find see a squirrel, I'm so thirsty and I quickly grab it and snap its neck, drinking it's blood. The taste is not as satisfying as a bear or elk, but it's something. I throw the carcass away, wiping away the blood from my mouth and keep running. The wind carries a scent to me and I turn left, following it. I keep running until I see an elk. It's big, and it would be good for Carlisle. I stalk it and wait a couple of seconds, the elk completely unaware of my presence.
I take off and tackle it to the ground, rolling with it. I want to leave it alive so the blood will be warm when Carlisle drinks it. To incapacitate the animal, I break its legs and grab it, hoisting it up, and carrying it back to home. It's really awkward to hold since I'm smaller than it, but I need to get home. I run as fast as I can, desperate to get this elk back to Carlisle. I keep my pace as fast as I can, the Cullens house. I run even faster when I catch scent of the wolves, praying that it's Jake, Seth, or Leah. I realize that this is the only animal I'll be able to get, but it's better than nothing. I see the lights to the Cullens house and feel relief, until a wolf jumps in front of me. No! I get in a defensive crouch, snarling until I notice that it's sandy colored. Seth.
"Seth, you scared me." I say and the wolf dips his head, whimpering. I smile and scratch his head as Jake walks over to me.
"Lily, what are you doing?" he hisses looking at the elk behind me.
"Carlisle needs to feed so he doesn't lose control during Bella's labor. I got an elk for him." I explain.
"You could have gotten killed."
"We have more important things to worry about, like Bella's labor." I growl at him and then see Carlisle and Esme walking out of the house, followed by a very pissed looking fiancé of mine. Oh, no.
Hey guys!
So, how did you like this chapter?
To everyone who reviewed, added Halcyon to your favorites, and added Halcyon to your story alerts, thank you so much. I really appreciate it and I'm happy that you are liking my story.
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Thank You!
-Jalen-
