So, I know that a few of you are wondering about where Bella and the wolf pack are in this story. The thing is…I've never really wanted to write about the wolf pack, as such…since I'm sort of basing this story around the same time as Twilight took place. By the end of this story…Bella and Edward's story is going to become a lot more evident. The thing is, I've sort of muddled it up, so it's pretty confusing.
Basically though – the sequel to this, 'Fluorescence' which I'll be posting once this is completed, will have a lot to do with the Volturi, Bella and Edward. I've not worked out all the kinks, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to pass over the whole James situation (I know, and I hate myself for it…) and sort of go for the more New Moon/Eclipse frame instead. Purely just because I hadn't planned out this story or the sequel earlier on.
But please be assured that Bella will come into the story a lot more in the next few chapters.
Enjoy, and thank you to everyone who has reviewed – it means a lot. This chapter is extra long, so please review and let me know what you think.
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER IS GRAPHIC, READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Chapter fifty one
Evangeline
There was a long few hours where I just sat, trying to figure out how my life had gotten to this point. Where along the lines did I decide to become engaged to a vampire? And where exactly had I decided that it would be a good idea for that vampire to impregnate me? Well…all my decisions seemed a little stupid now.
I kept my hands on my stomach as I sat in the dining room, it seemed to stop the demon child from kicking me in my vital organs.
"Evangeline?" Alice called from behind me as she made her way into the room.
"Hi…" I replied, looking back to catch a glimpse of her as she sat in the seat beside me.
"You shouldn't worry about any of this," She smiled that beautiful, sweet smile of hers and I couldn't help but feel a little calmer.
"Have you seen something?" I asked her bluntly.
"No…but I have a feeling, intuition. I never see anything clearly with you Evangeline…but I always know when something bad is going to happen and right now? I'm not worried," Alice laughed a little "I know it isn't much to go on but maybe as long as you know the psychic isn't scared you're going to die." I couldn't help but laughed at that, folding my hair behind my ear nervously.
"It does help…thank you, Alice."
"I always knew that you and Jasper were meant for each other," She stated suddenly, her eyes still kind, "I still remember the night I got the vision…you and Jasper were just sitting, entwined with one another. I knew then that me and Jasper were over…" There was still the slightest hint of pain in her eyes, but she diminished it almost immediately.
"You must hate me," I muttered.
"No, no I don't, Evangeline," Alice replied quickly "God…I adore you for what you've done for him. He's had a hard life, I could never repair that…I tried but he was never mine to fix. When I had the vision of you and him I knew that my destiny wasn't to find Jasper for myself but…it was to find him and lead him to you, you're his future. We all know that without you, Jasper would have no life left in him…so that's how I know nothing bad will happen from this. All of us are too willing to fight," Alice touched her hand to the side of my face lovingly; her expression instantly changing.
"Alice?" She was silent, her hand still on my cheek as she concentrated.
"Stay calm, Evangeline," Jasper entered quietly, his eyes newly golden.
"What'd I do?" I asked with a frown, "I can't injure another one of you!" I hissed quietly.
"You didn't do anything…she's having a vision, but you have to stay calm or else you could hurt her," Jasper replied calmly with a small, reassuring smile.
I did as he said and sat still trying not to be nervous or scared or anything along those lines. All of a sudden, Alice snapped out of it and glanced up at me.
"Interesting," Alice stated, a frown polluting her marble brow.
"I think I know what we have to do," Alice turned to look at Jasper.
"You have seen something?" He asked urgently.
"Yeah, but it isn't going to end well unless we do things exactly right. Evangeline, don't panic…I think I know what we have to do." Alice rushed off in that moment, Jasper glanced at me before he followed; leaving me standing, by myself.
"Vampires…" I muttered as I walked over to the sofa and sat down with great difficulty.
There was silence for a few seconds until the sound of heavy foot steps made their way down the staircase, I frowned when I saw Bella appear.
She glanced into the room, obviously not expecting to see anyone, but instead her eyes latched onto mine. There was an awkward silence for a few seconds before she spoke.
"Hey…" She smiled sympathetically.
"Hi," I replied, lifting my hand in a pathetic attempt at a wave. Bella walked cautiously into the room, leaning against the other sofa.
"Edward told me about…" Bella began.
"About the demon spawn? Bummer huh?" I scoffed.
"I know that you hate Edward," Bella began "but he's really trying to help you. He and Carlisle have been working 24/7 trying to work out this thing. He isn't very nice to you, I know, but…he cares." She finished.
"You're a nice girl," I stated with a smile, "He's lucky…don't let something like this happen to you." I replied, shaking my head.
"Thanks," Bella replied quietly, her posture awkward.
Jasper soon appeared, walking straight over to me and smiling in an effort to keep me calm.
"Alice has a plan, I'm not sure but the skin to skin contact must have allowed her to receive a vision, we're pretty sure we know what to do," He smiled, although he wasn't looking quite as relieved as he sounded.
"I'll just go…" Bella smiled, lifted her hand in a nervous wave and walked out of the room.
"Bella?" I called after her, causing Jasper to raise an eyebrow at me.
"Yeah?" She frowned, turning back to face me.
"Would you consider staying? House full of vampires…it's nice to talk to someone with a pulse for a change," I saw the sympathetic smile form on Bella's lips before she answered.
"I'm just going to see Edward quickly…but I'll stay, I'll come back downstairs in a few minutes," She clarified.
"Thanks." With that, she disappeared upstairs; I turned my attention back to Jasper who was sitting beside me.
"What was that about?" He asked, but it wasn't an offensive question, his voice actually sounded very soft…surprised, perhaps even happy.
"I've never really spoken to her properly and the one time I did speak to her I didn't like her that much," I shrugged "I wont meet another person who's situation is the same as mine…I'm disappointed that I didn't realise that a little sooner."
"You're a very difficult girl, angel…but you mean well," Jasper smiled – the most genuine expression I'd seen in a while.
"Thanks." What else was I supposed to say? Me and Jasper had had enough heart felt, emotion fuelled conversations in the past few days to keep us going for an eternity.
"So how are we getting this baby out of here?" I laughed.
"Alice has told Carlisle about her vision, he's working it out…I don't want to go into details and scare you, darlin'."
I shook my head, "I'm already scared."
"I know, I wish I could help more but…my power is pretty useless on you lately," Jasper smiled apologetically.
"We haven't even thought of names," I stated out of the blue.
"We don't even know if…" Jasper frowned, "this isn't going to be a normal infant, Evangeline…we don't know if we'll have something to name."
He was right, no one knew what was coming out of me. All we knew was it was coming, and it was coming tonight.
I sat on the floor, my back leaning against the sofa as I read through mine and Jasper's poem. I thought back to how simple things had been when he had first read the poem to me. It was crazy how much everything had changed, what our relationship had turned into. On the one hand it made me want to run…on the other it made me want to cling to Jasper and never let go.
There was a light tap on the door before it was pushed open, Bella entered cautiously and closed it behind her.
"You okay?" She asked as she hovered by the doorway.
"I'm fine…come sit," I nodded to the sofa. Bella sat beside me on the floor, her legs crossed beneath her.
"Edward hasn't told me any details but…he's told me that the birth is happening tonight." Bella stated.
"Yeah…Alice had some crazy vision, suddenly knew how to keep me alive," I laughed apathetically.
"You don't believe her?" She frowned.
"I…I don't believe much these days. If I'm still here in a week's time, then maybe I'll have some trust in Alice." I smiled.
"Can you do me a favour?" I began.
"Sure…"
"Distract me…tell me what's going on with you, what has fucked up in your life lately," I folded my hair back from my face and Bella let out an anxious laugh.
"Well…I'm pretty sure nothing will be quite as exciting as this," She started, "before you came…there was some trouble with another vampire, Edward's worried that she's about to reappear."
"I didn't know that you were all…in danger too." I let out an exasperated sigh, laughing inside about how ignorant I'd been.
"I'm not…for now I'm good. Things have been quiet but you never really know." Bella shrugged.
"Why do I get the feeling that you're underestimating your situation?"
"I'm worried, Edward's worried…I'm probably in a lot of danger but at the moment? We've all been just trying to figure out how to save you," Bella didn't say it to hurt my feelings…I could have taken it that way but honestly? It made me feel sort of comforted.
"They haven't left me to be in danger or anything," Bella smiled "I'm fine for now, safe even. You? You're…"
"Not safe yet," I finished her sentence.
"Evangeline?" Rosalie's voice sounded from the doorway as it clicked open, her eyes settled first on Bella before they quickly met mine with a warmth that hadn't been present a few seconds ago.
"Carlisle asked me to go through some things with you, if that's okay?" Rosalie asked.
"I'll just get out of the way," Bella stated, standing up.
"Thanks for letting me know about…stuff," I smiled towards her as she left.
"No problem," Bella replied before she was gone.
"What's up with that?" Rose asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No one ever said that Bella was having some vampire trouble of her own."
"You're our main priority for now," Rosalie replied sternly. A sharp pain began in my stomach and spread towards my back, I let out a low hiss at the sensation.
"Carlisle has a plan, he's going to try and do a caesarean section…he'll have to cut through the layer of skin and tissue and stuff before he gets to your uterus. Where according to Alice's vision he'll have to bite through…that's why he couldn't use an ultrasound or anything, the uterus is made of something similar to a vampire's skin."
"Sounds awesome," I replied, wide eyed. That was so not what I was expecting.
"He won't know how to go about injecting you with venom until after the birth. It means we don't even know how you'll survive…if you will. Alice's vision showed you surviving but it didn't show what choice Carlisle made for that outcome, it's stupid." Rosalie cursed, kneeling beside me.
"I hate this." She stated angrily.
"Rose…" I tried to calm her.
"I just wish I could have kept you safe from this," She shook her head "I don't know what I'll do if you-" Her voice cut off before she finished.
"Rosalie, it's okay." I soothed, moving closer to her and wrapping my arms around her shoulders, I'd never seen her so fragile.
"You are my sister," She sobbed with no tears, "my best friend."
"I'll do everything I can to survive, I promise," I laughed quietly, knowing my promise meant nothing.
"They've asked me to take you through to Carlisle's study." She replied almost silently.
"It's time?" I asked, pulling away from her. Rosalie nodded in reply, and the pain in my abdomen grew stronger.
We walked to Carlisle's office, the rest of the family were stood awkwardly – discussing between themselves. When I entered, they all turned to face me.
"Hey guys, what's shaking?" I joked weakly as Jasper rushed to my side, helping me sit down on the bed. He pressed his lips to my ear and spoke quietly.
"I love you," He murmured in the beautiful, velvety soft voice.
"I love you too," I replied in a low whisper.
"We're going to try and put you under anaesthetic, Evangeline." Carlisle stated before he continued, "I believe Rosalie has already explained what will happen after that." I nodded towards him silently.
"Who'll be here?" I asked.
"Myself , Alice and Edward," Carlisle replied before I quickly looked to Jasper.
"You won't be with me?" I frowned.
"I'm going to wait outside with Sebastian, Rosalie and Emmet, make sure that the scent of the blood isn't too…appealing." Jasper replied. "Alice will be beside you, she's going to try and keep a hold of your hand in case she has any further visions."
"I wanted you to turn me," I asked, my eyes filling with tears.
"I will…I just need to make sure I'm strong enough first."
Butterflies swarmed my stomach and my chest ached even more than the bruising that was spread over my skin.
"Let's get you prepped." Jasper smiled, trying to make me feel less nervous as he ushered me over to the bed that had been set up in the middle of the floor. Everyone exited, leaving me and Jasper alone. I changed into the hospital style gown lying on the bed and let out a nervous sigh, my hands falling onto my protruding stomach.
"So…" Jasper said, setting his hands at either side of my as I sat.
"This is it," I replied, instead of answering, Jasper just moved closer to me, his hand moving around the back of my neck as he pressed his cool lips to mine. I fell into him, relaxing immediately and feeling that beautiful rush of emotions that always filled me when we were this close. Jasper's lips left mine but he kept his forehead pressed against my own.
"I'll save you," He whispered, his voice velvety sweet "I'm going to do everything in my power to fix this." Silence fell before he spoke once again.
"They would say, "Dear child! why dream and wait for him longer? Are there not other youths as fair as Gabriel? Others who have hearts as tender and true, and spirits as loyal? Here is Baptiste Leblanc, the notary's son, who has loved thee many a tedious year; come, give him thy hand and be happy! Then would Evangeline answer, serenely but sadly, 'I cannot! Whither my heart has gone, there follows my hand, and not elsewhere. For when the heart goes before, like a lamp, and illumines the pathway,
Many things are made clear, that else lie hidden in darkness." Jasper purred, breathing heavily as he spoke.
"She searched for Gabriel for a lifetime, fought for him," I replied, tears filling my eyes, "I wish I could fight harder, for you." I sobbed, unable to hold back any longer.
"Gabriel! O my beloved!" and died away into silence. Then he beheld, in a dream, once more the home of his childhood; green Acadian meadows, with sylvan rivers among them, village, and mountain, and woodlands; and, walking under their shadow." Jasper paused, "You are my life, Evangeline. Just like in the poem. You saved me and you don't even know it."
Jasper pressed his lips once more to mine, a long, passionate embrace – a sense of urgency overcame me and I felt like all of a sudden I hadn't had enough time, I needed more time with him. But it was too late, Carlisle entered, Edward and Alice soon followed.
"I'll see you when you awake." Jasper smiled, a bittersweet expression.
"Jasper?" I called back just as he had reached the doorway.
"Yes, angel?" His face was paler and far more sad than I had ever seen it. His eyes were no longer sparkling.
"If the baby is…indeed, a baby? Love it, please." I stated, everyone seemed to stare at Jasper, waiting for his reaction.
"I shall." He replied, looking me direct in the eye before he turned and exited, the door closing behind him. I savoured his image as I lay back in the bed, Carlisle smiled at me as he prepared the anaesthetic.
"Don't worry, Evangeline." He smiled, his hand moving my hair back, "We love you and we'll see you when you wake up." Carlisle finalised, pushing the needle point into the IV still clipped onto my hand.
I fell into a haze; Jasper's face still echoing in my mind.
Edward POV
We had all fed to a ridiculous extent before the surgery began – in an effort to keep our thirst dulled. Alice was in deep concentration by the side of the bed, her hands wrapped around Evangeline's.
Carlisle nodded towards me before he began, the scalpel was held firmly in his hand as he began the incision. I watched as he struggled to get the blade to penetrate the skin, he glanced at me as he pressed down on the blade. The tiniest bit of blood seeped from the cut.
"The venom has hardened the skin and muscle," Carlisle stated, pausing for a second before he pressed the scalpel to her swollen stomach again, for a second time – the blade did nothing.
"What are we supposed to do if the blade can't even cut through the skin?" I asked, glancing quickly at Evangeline's vitals. Her heart was slow but steady.
"We may have to begin the surgery from another area of the abdomen." Carlisle clenched his eyes shut for a second before tightening his grip around the scalpel. In one swift movement, he thrust the scalpel towards Evangeline's stomach, the blade cut into the flesh and a slight trickle of blood poured from the wound. I checked her vitals, her heart rate had quickened.
"She's tachycardic, Carlisle." I stated, my hands still pressed to the top of her stomach, just as I had spoken Evangeline flinched, there was a crack before the monitor began beeping furiously.
"She's waking up, her body is burning off the anaesthetic quicker than a human…the venom must be interfering with the medication…" Carlisle babbled. "Edward administer more of the anaesthetic, triple what we used before," He demanded urgently. I did as he asked and pushed the needle into her IV.
"What was the noise?" I asked, unable to stop myself from panicking a little.
"Her pelvis breaking, possibly her spine too. It means that the baby is probably in distress, we have to do this quickly," Carlisle pulled the scalpel from Evangeline's lower abdomen and began making an incision from the top, centre of her stomach, trailing down over her belly button. It filled with blood, the sweet crimson liquid pouring down her sides in a lethal waterfall. Alice was silent, but her thoughts were constant, the smell of the blood was becoming difficult for her.
The flesh of her stomach parted and more blood gushed from the wound; I held my breath, attempting to listen to the thoughts around me. Jasper was outside, being held back by Emmet and Sebastian by the sounds of things. He didn't want her blood…he could hear her heart beat. He knew we were running out of time.
"Stop!" Alice yelled, standing from where she sat, her eyes wide and panicked. Carlisle's hands froze around the scalpel, the blood pooling around Evangeline. He looked worried and uncertain.
"If any of us go near her she'll injure us…the baby will recognise us as a threat. Jasper needs to do it...it recognises him." Alice stated sternly.
"Alice…" I began to argue just as the door crashed in.
"I'll do it…I can do it." Jasper stated, he was frantic…petrified.
"We don't have time for this!" Carlisle stated, trying to stop the bleeding from Evangeline's stomach.
"I can do it, Edward…you know I can, I've tasted her blood before and I can handle this. This is my child," Jasper pleaded. Everyone was quiet. Just four vampires and a girl, bleeding out on the table.
Carlisle nodded and stepped aside; Jasper moved towards Evangeline before baring his teeth and plunging forward. He tore through the flesh in a gruesome display – Alice left quickly, the scent becoming too much for her. The rest of the family had already abandoned the house, their thoughts had gone quiet.
The monitor by Evangeline's side beeped angrily, her heart rate becoming fast once again. She was waking up for a second time.
"Quick, Jasper!" Carlisle shouted, the panic in his voice was overwhelming.
Jasper moved from Evangeline, his face smeared with the sticky red substance as his hands clasped around something, tugging the silent being from Evangeline and holding it in his arms as if shocked by its sudden appearance.
Everything was quiet as we all stared at the bloodied bundle in Jasper's arms, the infant's wide green eyes stared up at him in silent recognition.
The silence continued as Evangeline's heart rate monitor fell quiet.
