Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.

Rated M for a reason.

Chpt 43 First Wave

BPOV

We split up into pairs an' approach the clearin' from opposite directions, not using my shield as we want them to follow us here. All is quiet as the four us stand in the centre, reachin' out with our senses for any sign of the enemy. Nothing. Yet.

"We should build a fire." The Major orders. "A fuckin' big one."

Relieved to have something to do while we wait the four of us rip up trees from the edge of the clearin' an' chop them buildin' an impressive fire near the centre. Every time I look up from my labours Char is grinnin' at me like the Cheshire Cat. Stupid vampire hearing. I don't need Edward's gift to know what she's thinkin'. WEDDING! That's what. Growlin' I rip up another tree with unnecessary force.

All too soon the fire is ready and we wait in silence.

I am surprised at the lack of tension between us. We've done all our worryin' and regrettin'. Shared it as couples and a family. Now its time to fight. Like statues we stand in a line in the centre of the clearing. The four of holding hands, Char an' I in the centre.

It is really quite beautiful. The ground is covered in lush green grass mingled with delicate wildflowers. The sunlight is streamin' down an' the whole space sparkles with the reflected light of four vampires.

Suddenly I laugh.

"What's funny?" The Major asks.

"I've just realised I'm about to fight for my life wearin' only a bra an' a pair of skinny jeans. How very Bella of me."

Swiftly The Major removes his torn t-shirt an' lowers it over my head. I pull it on an' tie it the side, still laughin' because now I look like I'm wearin' a dress.

Grinnin' Pete removes his t-shirt too an' Char pulls it over her head, tying it over her own.

Pete has nowhere near as many scars as The Major but the two of them together are an impressive an' potentially bladder loosening sight. But Char an' I share a knowin' look, we see our mates as two beautiful blonde gods sparklin' in the sun.

Our ogling is interrupted by a loud explosion in the distance.

"Ahhh." Pete sighs with satisfaction. "I love a good bang in the mornin'."

"What's going to happen?" I ask, again.

"If I were Rutilio," The Major answers patiently "I'd send a force in first to soften us up an' then follow it up quickly with my strongest fighters."

"Why not attack all at once an' overwhelm us with numbers?"

"Too much risk." The Major shrugs. "He wants at least some of us alive an' he's not sure what gifts we have."

"But isn't there a risk we'll easily survive his first attack an' be waitin' for him when he comes?"

The Major looks down at me, his black eyes softenin' slightly. "Not really. The second attack won't be far behind. He won't willingly give us a chance to re-group."

Shit. Fuck. Bollocks. Tit Wank. I've been workin' on my cursin' but still have a way to go.

"Don't worry lil' sis." Pete says jovially. "Whatever happens we'll take as many of those fuckers out as we can."

I remember back to when Jasper asked me if I felt stronger. I am stronger now. Stronger than I have ever been, physically and mentally. And yet for all I have wished not to be the weak leak, the one that always needs protecting, it is ironic that I now discover that strength alone does not make you invincible. There is always someone in a stronger position, either physically or by circumstance or design. Always.

I lower my head closin' my eyes an' takin' a deep breath. I remember the look on Jasper's face as he was forced to his knees in the parkin' lot. I remember Joshua Caerphilly. I remember Char's stricken expression when we met up in Philadelphia. And I remember the sight of Jasper hangin' from those chains in the cave. And I am angry. As I raise my head my eyes darken, turnin' black an' empty a cold mask settling over my features.

The Major nods to me approvingly.

Pete tips his hat respectfully. "Ma'am. Welcome back."

Char starts to grin.

Almost immediately we sense vampires approachin'.

"Twelve." The Major says quietly. "They're all around us."

Slowly we move until we are standin' in a loose circle facing out.

Ambrosio emerges into the sunlight first, black pony tail absorbing the light, eleven other vampires appearing from the trees around the clearin'. Only Ambrosio looks confident, the others are varying degrees of uncomfortable an' on edge. Good.

"Major!" Ambrosio greets him happily. "It is such a pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh."

Silence.

"What can we do for you?" I ask, a little of my anger colorin' my tone.

"Beautiful Bella. So lovely to see you again." He eyes me up and down, his gaze lingering on my face and neck. "Much has changed in you and you are mated I see. Congratulations. My master will be most pleased, he has recently mated again himself."

"Your congratulations are of no interest to me." I answer calmly. "Why are you here?"

"Of course." He nods, still lookin' too happy for my likin'. "My master wishes me to reprise his offer to The Major. Will you fight?"

"No." The Major's voice is flat an' emotionless.

"That is a shame." Ambrosio muses. "You have caused a great deal of damage to my Master's assets. He was hoping we could come to an arrangement to avoid any further unpleasantness."

"I will not fight." The Major says with finality.

"My Master does not wish to use coercion." Ambrosio's smile slips slightly. "Again."

"And I do not wish to have my time wasted with your distractions." The Major responds. His trademark grin forming. "I have said no."

I whip my shield up around us just in time to protect against the wall of cripplin' fear The Major blasts out as he charges silently at Ambrosio. The shield is released quickly an' the rest of the Whitlocks lunge at the shocked an' cowerin' vampires.

The air is filled with the thunderin' sound of hard bodies crashin' together and howls of rage. I quickly rip the head off the first vampire I reach while he's still reeling from the shock of The Major's emotional attack.

Moving onto the next I feel another approachin' behind me an' flick my shield out sendin' him crashing away as I go for the vampire in front of me.

"Get his mate!" I hear Ambrosio order.

The Major roars.

With a scream of rage I leap at my target knockin' him down an' takin' his arm with me as I roll away. I swing it around into the face of another coming at me with a satisfying boom.

Bringing my shield up I pause to take in the action. Pete is battlin' with two vampires at the edge of the trees. Char has just taken the head off one as three more descend on her. Ambrosio and The Major are fightin' furiously in the centre of the clearin'. The rest of the attackers are descendin' on me with prematurely triumphant looks in their eyes.

I stay in my shield. They cannot use me against The Major if they cannot get hold of me. Concentratin' I wrap another shield around Char, timin' it just right to repel her attackers an' she throws me a smile before pouncin' on the nearest as he tries to get to his feet stunned and wonderin' what the fuck just happened.

I've never been attacked inside my shield by so many before and I'm amazed to discover it's like being inside a Zorb. A startled laugh escapes me as I rock backwards and forwards while they waste time an' energy throwing themselves at me.

To my surprise time slows down in the heat of battle, allowin' me to keep track of what is happening. I don't understand it and I won't question it.

Across from me Pete manages to tear an arm from one of his attackers, droppin' to a crouch he swings it like a club knockin' the legs out from under the other. Standin' again he reverses his swing catchin' the first vampire in the face and then leapin' forwards to tear off his other arm. With an arm in each hand he advances on the second vampire.

Char's venom curdling scream snaps my attention across the clearing. And just like that everythin' goes to shit.

Two vampires have dragged her off the one she is wrestlin' with by her arms an' in sync they pull in opposite directions neatly seperatin' them from her body eliciting another raw scream. One of them viciously kicks her to her knees an' then both of them advance on Pete.

Bellowin' in fury Pete leaps over the vampire in front of him discarding the arms he's holdin' an' takin' the vampire's head with him as he passes.

Incensed I throw another shield over Char again an' pulse mine hurlin' the vampires around me in different directions as I charge over to help Pete. In my peripheral vision I see one of them roll into The Major like a bowling ball, knockin' him to his knees an' allowin' Ambrosio to take a firm hold of his right arm an' brace a leg against his chest.

With a gut wrenchin' shriek like rending metal The Major's arm cleaves from his body an' Ambrosio drops on his ass.

Without thought I change direction hurtlin' at Ambrosio knockin' him back on his ass as he tries to regain his feet. And then I do something savage that seems to come quite naturally to an enraged vampire. I sink my razor sharp teeth into his neck an' rip his throat out with one clean jerk of my neck. Starin' down into his astonished and agonised eyes I spit the flesh in his face.

"That's for fuckin' with my family." I snarl, dartin' forwards and snatchin' another chunk from his ruined neck, spitting it too into his face. "And that's for fuckin' with my mate!"

"Shield." The Major barks behind me.

I get it up around us just in time to repel the vampires about to throw themselves on us.

"That was hot." He murmurs, takin' his arm back from Ambrosio's twitchin' hand an' holding it firmly against his shoulder as I rise to my feet.

"And that was inappropriate." I gasp, shocked. He smirks.

I lift my head my eyes scannin' the space lookin' for Pete. He's taken out the two vampires who injured Char an' satisfied that she's shielded he's headin' our way with murderous intent in his usually twinkling eyes.

"Can you fight?" I ask The Major.

"Yes." He answers springing to his feet beside me.

We share an evil grin an' I drop my shield.

Six to go, two of them already injured.

"We need to finish this quickly." The Major growls. "Rutilio will not be far behind."

I nod an' in unison we charge the four vampires between us an' Pete who swings away immediately to go after the injured. With everyone fully occupied I release Char and she crawls across the grass to retrieve her arms.

The Major projects a heavy dose of lethargy ahead of us an' we take out the four in front of us relatively easily, despite him keepin' his re-attaching arm clamped to his side.

Peace descends on the clearin' the only sound the moans of the incapacitated who still have breath.

"Pete, help Char." The Major commands. "Bella start the fire an' let's get cookin'."

As quickly as possible we start tossin' bodies into the flames ignoring the sizzlin' an' poppin' while Pete helps Char fuse her limbs.

Suddenly The Major stiffens. "They're here." He announces slingin' the body he's carrying into the fire an' turnin' to face west his arm curled protectively across his chest.