Chapter Fifty Two
Charlotte
Rose and I held the bags up watching the liquid drip into Bella's veins and hoping against hope there would be a miracle. Jasper continued to pump her heart and breath into her.
"Jasper, you need to let one of us take over. Your thirst is getting worse. You need to hunt."
He shook his head vehemently.
"Hey" it was Peter at the door. "Your daughter has blood running in her veins. You want to be responsible for draining her? Get out there and fucking hunt. I'll take over. I was a prick but I'm straightened out now." Jasper looked over at him then sighed. "You keep her going Peter"
"Yeah Go, Go"
He left and shortly after I heard Emmett shout. There was a cry and then silence.
Charlotte
I handed my bag to Rose and went to find what was happening. Jasper passed me, he just couldn't stay away and Peter followed me down going outside to find Alice. In the kitchen stood Esme, the baby in one arm and a determined look on her face.
"Step aside Charlotte".
I did so as she put a hand over the baby's throat. "Where are the others?"
"Upstairs in the bedroom."
"Who went outside?"
"Only Peter."
"You move or call the others and I'll kill the baby"
Carlisle
I was amazed to see Esme in the doorway. "What are you doing here Esme?"
I saw she had the baby on her arm, the other hand around its throat.
"Step away from Bella Jasper."
Jasper just ignored her.
"I said step away from the bed or I'll kill the baby". Jasper looked round,
"Can't do that Esme"."
She tightened her grip and the baby whimpered,
"Esme please, this isn't right. That baby is innocent you can't threaten it" I coaxed her.
"Oh can't I? He killed my son and now he is going to pay for it".
"Please Esme give me the baby back" said Rose gently. "She's an innocent little baby Esme, you couldn't hurt a baby could you? Remember the pain when you lost your own, what it drove you to?"
"Yes Rose I remember so I know what Jasper will feel when he loses his wife and child. Now step away from Bella".
Jasper
She tightened her grip on the baby who started to struggle. Rose looked at me and I nodded. What else could I do?
As she moved back I saw Bella's chest move very slightly. Could it be that she was breathing for herself? I turned and opened my arms.
"Give me the baby".
She shook her head, "I don't think so" and I saw her muscles tense.
At the same time a figure leaped on her back from the window, pulling her arms back and my daughter fell. I caught her and held her close as Esme struggled to break free of Peter. They stumbled backwards out of the window to the ground below with an earth-shaking crash. Handing my daughter back to Rose I went over to Bella. As I watched her chest moved again and I saw her skin was paler than before. Reaching out I touched her face, it was the same temperature as me.
"Carlisle" I shouted and he was at my side. "Look" I pointed to her chest and we both heard the most wonderful sound, Bella's heart was beating frantically. She was pushing the venom around her body by herself and I felt the burn begin,
"Its happening Carlisle I can feel it. The venom is working".
Peter
None of us saw Esme until she ran in and grabbed the baby from Charlotte's arms and fled upstairs with it. I knew she was fucking crazy and thought she was going to try some mental stunt on the Major. I'd let him down once, I wouldn't let that happen again. I climbed the tree by the bedroom window and peered in cautiously. The fucking bitch had Bella's daughter by the throat and was threatening to kill her. I aimed directly at her back, hoping I could grab her arms before she did something to the baby. In the event it worked and I pulled her back out of the window with me. Praying that someone would catch the baby as it fell from her arms. We landed on the dirt, Esme scratching and biting my arm wrapped around her face as we hit. She took a couple of huge chunks from my forearm before Emmett appeared to help. She fought like a madwoman and it took the two of us to hold her down.
"Now what?" Shouted Emmett over her screams.
"Fucked if I know, down to me I'd rip her head right off and burn it".
We heard Jaspers cry to Carlisle.
"I hope that's good news" I said as Esme's efforts to free herself doubled.
"Shit I've had enough of this" I said and put my arm across her throat and jerked.
Her head came loose and I threw it aside.
"Got a lighter Em?"
He nodded and pulled it out of his pocket. I dropped the still struggling body on top of the head and lit the whole heap. As the flames licked skyward I smiled.
"I've wanted to do that for a long time. Goodbye Esme Cullen, may you burn in hell".
I knew Carlisle would want to talk to me so I hung around long after the smoke had dissipated and the ash blown away. I didn't have to justify myself when he appeared though. He took my hand and thanked me for doing what he should have done a long while ago.
"I knew she was unstable, that she didn't love me any longer. All her love was given to Edward and when he died she lost it all. I made a mistake changing her. She had tried to commit suicide over the loss of a baby and I hoped I could fill the void in her life as she filled a void in mine but she just couldn't get past the loss of a child. I gave her Emmett and Rose too but they never meant as much as Edward. She was a soul in torment Peter and I thank you for stopping her pain. Now I have to see if I can mend fences with my other children. If I can't then I fear my life will be an empty one, for I would never curse another woman with our life".
In turn I thanked him for his acceptance.
"Charlotte goes through phases when she wishes she were human so she could have the life that was denied her but she always tells me that it is only me who gives her the strength to work through the regret. I think some women are just stronger than others and Bella the strongest of all. She pulled us all along on her adventure and even now she's not done with us. Like you Carlisle I have fences to mend but unlike you I'm pretty sure I won't succeed".
I looked up to the bedroom window.
"Peter we all have moments of weakness. Give him time".
"He can have all the time he needs but I'm not sure eternity will be long enough. I gave up on Bella but he was right you know, he'd never have given up on us.
