Previously on Can we start over?
"You're thinking to loud"
" all's fair in love and war"
"I'll tell them what I am ..that's all"
"I'm an enchantress .. now my history is obviously much longer than vampires or shifters or the extinct children of the moon."
"you'll do nothing .. you're just a human now as I said you better be alone or your little brother will be digging his own grave.. times a wasting Bella"
I couldn't bring myself to regret the decision,when life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it's not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end.
A sharp click sounded in the silent room, Bella removed her hand away from Rosalie's, she gripped her phone in her hand so tightly nearly crushing it. She felt cold fingers pry it out of her grip.
"Isabella" whispers Rosalie quietly, she stares at her mate in sadness .. she doesn't know what to say.
"Bella what can I do..." she asks lost, she looks to her family for any direction but they all they do is shake their heads.
Coming out of her stupor , Bella takes her phone back from Rosalie shoving it into her jeans pocket.. she still wearing the t-shirt she borrowed from Rosalie since hers had splotches of blood staining it.
"Nothing" she replies to Rosalie's question, she stares pointedly at her before exhaling a sharp breath, her eyes flickering between blue and brown before settling on a dark blue.
"This is exactly what I was afraid of happening , this a time blip Rosalie .. this is why I kept it from you" she stops herself before she says anymore. She wasn't angry at Rose she was angry at herself. Angry that for a moment she forgot about her best friend Jake .. the same friend who's pictures littered the dining room , the adventures they had when they were younger and the most recent ones. She made sure her mother and father was safe but she forgot about her blood brother.. they made a oath when they were younger and were bound by blood. That meant the world to her—even when her mother treated her like dirt he was there to cheer her up in the summer, the second time she lived.
Rosalie recoiled at the words before pushing away her own hurt at the accusation and trying to concentrate on their current issue.
"Bella .. I told you you're not alone anymore —you've got all of us and me so please don't try to do this by yourself"
"Rosalie you heard him, Victoria's watching us right now, I felt her .. she'll know if any of you help —and before you say you'll do something to lose her I'm sure that James will kill Jake if he doesn't hear from her either , so no I won't be gambling my brothers life" she said clearly. Ripping her hand away from rose she walked up the stairs in a brisk jog, trying not to alert the vampire that she was more than just a simple human.
Once she was in the hallway she sped to Rosalie's room grabbing her jacket that still had some blood on she pulled it on and grabbed her car keys. She didn't hear Rosalie come to the room nor did she notice the vampire standing off on the side with her arms folded across her chest watching her. Turning on her heel she saw the heartbroken expression on her mates face. She glanced at the room that still held the mess of last night —evidence of the lovemaking.
Pushing her phone in a front pocket with keys in hand she moves to the door and places a soft kiss to Rosalie's cheek.
Her voice was steady as she spoke her next words "Promise me you won't follow me" she said staring into the vampires eyes, the same golden eyes she loved .. that not only hours ago she declared her love for.
She needed the promise , she needed Rosalie to promise not to risk her brothers life because she was scared for Bella's.
"I can't do that" she whispered softly.
Bella face hardening at the whispered words, she hated herself for using her next words against the vampire—it was low she knew that—she wouldn't twist their love for each other but right now a life hung in the balance —not just any life either if it had been her mother she wouldn't care as much but this wasn't Renee.
"Rosalie" she said
"If you love me you won't follow me... I'm asking you to just stay out of this" she said.
"You don't know what you're asking"
"I do... I know and I wouldn't be asking you if it wasn't necessary but Jake, Rose he's my brother .. please don't make me choose between my brother and you .." she pleaded. Silence rung between the two lovers , Bella turned to leave hoping that she got through to the vampire.
She was stopped by the whispered 'why' tumbling from the vampires lips.
She didn't look back as she answered , her shoulders tensed up she knew why ... she knew why she asked Rosalie to not let her choose because the choice was obvious.
"Because ..." she breathed out her shoulders lifting up in helpless shrug " because I'll choose you... and if you make me choose .. I'll forsake Jacob for you and if he dies because you made me choose Rosalie" she trailed off walking away from the vampire. The next words were barely above a whisper but the vampire heard it as clear as day.. she sucked in a sharp breath at the amount of venom in it.
"I'll spend the rest of my life hating you for it"
And then she was gone , out of the home—leaving the entire Cullen family stunned at her parting words but none more than Rosalie who stands frozen at the edge of the hallway.
Alice who saw what would happen in a vision was first to see her sister standing frozen at her bedroom door.
"Rose .. Bella was just angry at this situation I'm sure she didn't mean it" she whispered trying to comfort her frozen sister.
Rosalie's eyes found Alice's worried ones she bit back a sob in her throat, her eyes filling with tears.
"No.. Alice she did" she whispered with a sad smile "She meant every word"
Leaving the Cullens home felt worse than she thought it would , her parting words stabbed her deep—she hated herself for meaning each one, she knew if it came down to the choice ... down to whether she needed to choose between Jacob and Rosalie —her choice would be the blonde vampire that brought so much joy to her heart—that made her feel like she was floating every time the lips met—the vampire that writhed beneath her ... begging her to love her harder. The choice was simple , the after effects was harder to deal with —she would hate Rosalie for putting her in that position in the first place but more than hating Rosalie she would hate herself. That wasn't what she told Rosalie as much as she would try hating the vampire she wouldn't be able to so she would hate the next person responsible, herself ...
Shaking away her thoughts she felt eyes on her as she left the gravel road onto the main road.
She drove to her home fast, pushing her car way above the legal limit, the chiefs daughter breaking the law oh the irony.
She arrived at her home quickly , she parked her car haphazardly. Her eyes drawn to the tire tracks in the drive way—the skid marks. It seemed fresh—that meant it happened today. She walked to the front door and door it open.
She pushes it open wider , leaving it swinging ,she cringed at the heavy creaking it gave off.
Her home looked normal enough to anyone who wasn't her but she could see the some of the frames that held pictures of her, her father and Jacob and even some with billy when they were younger. She could see they were slightly moved.
She looked to the couch a jacket with her fathers tackle box open on the small table near the couch.
Ring... ring
A piercing ring broke through the silence in the home, she jumped slightly at the unwelcome intrusion. The question was why ? Or how the hell did he get Jake when Jacob was supposed to be in school on res.
The phone ringed once again, she padded over to the wall which held the home phone.
"Hello" she says in a controlled voice.
"Bella?" Said the voice, Bella recognizes it —her father she notes the confusion in his voice.
"Yeah dad what's up"
"Aren't you supposed to be in school? "
" I didn't feel too good this morning so I decided to take a day" she lied smoothly.
"You want me to come home? I'm sure I can get out of this trip" She pushes away her guilt at lying but swallows it down quickly.
"Don't worry dad, I'm sure it'll pass soon ..you shouldn't have to cut your trip short"
Charlie sighs softly he knows his daughter likes to be strong so he agrees " alright.. did jake come by? He left a hour ago, he was supposed to get my tackle box but I guess he's late" he chuckled softly. Bella held back a sob at Jacobs name.
Clearing her throat "yeah dad, he came by we lost track of time I guess .. he's actually in the bathroom right now.. something about all that fish fry?" She joked tensely, hoping her father doesn't pick up on the false humor thankfully he doesn't and laughs along with her.
"It's fine I'll just borrow Billy's. You kids have fun but call me if you feel worse okay bells? .. and don't say I shouldn't worry because we've been though that already I'm your dad I'll always worry"
"Yeah, dad I'll give you a call if I get worse okay?" She
"I'll tell billy jakes gonna spend the day with you instead ..love you Bells"
"love you too dad" she whispers , putting her head against the cold wall, in an attempt to cool her rising temperature.
As soon as she hangs up the phone she feel her cellphone vibrate in her pocket. She shoves her hand into her pocket.
Her eyes see Jakes name lighting up the screen a trembling finger she opens the notifications, recognizing directions before she's able to reply another message comes through. This time it's an image.
Her hand covers her mouth in surprise , she sees Jacobs face, his face bruised, splotches of black and blue forming , his left eye swollen with his right eye barely open. His long black her matted to his face with blood.
A message attached to the image reads " Tick tock Bella"
She's in her car as soon as she read the message , she drives to the location , a monotonous tone guiding her to her destination, the place looks abandoned, she spots an old Chevy pick truck at one of the warehouses. They were a few minutes outside of forks. She realizes that he's planned this. He just didn't know who was going to be his hostage.
She grips the steering wheel tightly looking out the window at the wooden warehouse, from her spot she can see the roof nearly caving in on itself. No one would find this place if they weren't looking for it, 'the perfect place to play his sick game' she thinks with disgust.
she sees her phone buzzing with messages, she sees Alice's name, then Rosalie's she shuts it off throwing it in the passenger seat. She climbs out of the car locking it , shoving the keys in her pocket. She looks around the area subtly pushing her veil outward, she picks up James his body giving off the same magic as the other vampires... she feels a another source of magic .. Jacob —but it feels off but familiar at the same time—somehow it feels like hers but muddled —she recognizes more that lies dormant, she guesses it's the shifter gene.
She tries to forget the familiarity she feels from his magic. Pushing herself forward she comes to a large wooden door, she pulls it open .. the creaking sound it gives off echoes into the warehouse...unbidden memories replays in her head .. of the last time she did this—the last time felt just like yesterday she foolishly walked into a trap set by James—his lies triggering her response. Last time he didn't have a hostage but this time it was different, this time he managed to get someone important to her .
"You got me. I'm here" Her voice comes out steady as she walks deeper into the warehouse, the only light was the the only light that the sun was providing. She twirled looking around her, she sees a blob in the corner then she hears his voice.
"Bella I see you managed to join us" she hears the sick grin in his voice. Her jaw clenches.
"I'm here James so let Jacob go .. that was the deal" she says trying to reign in her anger... she couldn't attack him until Jacob was safe.
"Tsk .." she sees his face as he steps into the light, holding Jacob by the back of his neck.
"Now , now Bella darling" he admonishes her as if she was a naughty toddler , her hair on her neck rises at the pet name but she keeps her mouth shut and her eyes firmly on Jacobs bruised form. She hears his pulse it's slow but steady.. he's alive ' he's alive' her mind cheers before she hears James speak.
"I make the rules, you don't have any options" a cruel smirk curls up on his lips "I thought you would last longer... but alas I suppose I have to accept that not all my prey are smart."
Bella narrows her eyes at him ignoring the insult.
"Don't look at me like that Bella" he laughs " did you really think I would just let your little friend go? Who do you think I am? Santa Claus?" He asked rhetorically she doesn't answer instead she concentrated on pushing on her magic this is the first time she had ever attempted it .. but she knows it's the only way to get Jacob out of here alive..
"You promised me" she says trying to keep his attention off what she's doing.
"Promised? I don't recall that.. but I must say your friend smells foul maybe because of those dogs on the reservation..." he cleans his teeth in mock disappointment
"I won't be drinking his blood ... leaves a bad taste and all that" he smiles at her " instead I think I'll make you was as I squeeze the life out of him"
"No please" she begs 'almost there' she thinks she feels her magic link with the dormant gene, she pushes her magic forcefully into it, she hears Jacob groan... his chest rumbling it sounds like a growl.His eyes snapping open he sees his best friend , his sister —why did she come?
"Bella.. no" he says spitting out the blood in his mouth.
"Just in time mate, I wanted you to say your last goodbyes to your friend, after all I'm not a monster" he says jovially blissfully unaware of what Bella's was doing.
Bella's closed her eyes, controlling her breathing , she hears James's voice she ignores it in favor on pushing more and more until she feels it form.
She opens her blue eyes to look into jakes his own eyes flickering between his usual brown to gold. She gives the younger a soft smile—one she reserved only for him. Her voice comes out soft , steadier.
"Jay I need you too feel... just feel" she says to him he looks at her confused before she looks back to James.She pushes her magic outward, layering her own body with protection. Her blue eyes lit up in the dark warehouse.
James doesn't see her move neither does Jake but before the red eyed vampire knows it she in front of him removing his grip off Jacob forcefully before pushing the vampire into one of the empty crates.
Jakes body thuds onto the floor, he feels his entire body tremble, convulsing like something wanting to come out—he looks to his sister who gives him a soft smile , she kneels at his side, gently caressing his cheek like she did when they were younger, when he got the flu and she took care of him.
"Let it go Jacob... let it happen ...just feel" her words are compelling, he sees her eyes are a startling blue, but he looks past her to see the red eyed man look at his sister before coming to attack her—he lets off a growl before he knows what's happening his standing for four feet, he hears everything around him, it's loud , there's a ringing in his eyes , voices that sound faint as he fights to gain his equilibrium.
Through his dizziness he hears Bella's voice in the distance then crashing, growls and snarls.Her voice louder than the ones he hears in his head.
"Jacob go... Run" he tumbles forward unaccustomed on walking on four feet, he shakes his head, his own voice came out as a growl and whine in response he doesn't want to leave his sister with this monster.
Bella pushes James off her with a kick to his midsection. She runs over to where Jacob is trying to find his feet as a wolf. She grabs his wolffish face in her hands—his big, she hopes his bigger than Sam after all her brother was a born alpha— she feels proud of him but her mind reminds her about the situation.
"Listen to me Jacob, I need you to run —run as fast as you can... Go" he doesn't move instead he gives her wolf equivalent of puppy eyes. Her voice hardens she pushes magic into it , she forces him to realize that even though he might be a born alpha she's still stronger, the ultimate alpha.
"Jacob that was not me asking...GO .. RUN DAMNIT!!" She says loudly, she hears James coming toward her, she turns on her heel giving her brother a firm look.
"Oh this has become more fun... come now Bella don't send the pup away" said James, smiling cockily —he had to admit this was an change—he expected a human not a wolf and whatever the hell Bella was but it made his game more fun.
"I'll even play fetch with the new wolf too" he chuckled at the glare he receives from Bella which makes him smile even wider.
"You won't touch him James" she said then gives Jacob one more look "Run" the command is clear —it's not a request but an order — finally the wolf steps back, showing his neck in submission—he gives her a sad look, then he starts running.
James goes to follow but she blurs into his way and punches the vampire back hard. She sighs in relief when she hears Jacob run.
Now she can give James all her attention.
"Now where were we?" She asks as she looks back to the vampire who rubbed his jaw with a grimace.
"What are you?" He asks with a bit of anger.
She remembers the bruises on Jacobs face, the smell of his blood covering his bruised and battered body—it angers her more—she remembers the resigned look in his eyes when he woke up, the sadness at her being there —the sad look he gave her before he ran out of the warehouse. She gives him a dark look, her magic thrumming violently through her body. Her voice sounding different , —it has a slight echo as she speaks
"Your worst nightmare" she says before she moves across to punch the vampire to his jaw before he slid across the floor she catches him in another punch. She uses every combination she learned in her MMA classes. She feels her own blood on her knuckles—he skin tearing open then knitting back together each time—the pain is barely tolerable but she ignores it in favor of beating James .
The vampire crouches to attack her but she catches him in a grip, her hands squeezes his neck, she feels the porcelain crack beneath her fingers.
She tilts her head to the side as she watches the blonde vampire struggle, a slow smile curls up in her lips.
" what? Aren't you enjoying the game James?" She mocks, she squeezes tighter the sounds of his skin cracking fills up the empty silent warehouse.
She drops him to the ground, kneeling down she picks his up by his hair just like he did to her before.
"Vampire? Tracker ? Hunter ?" She questions as she pulls him up to face her "that means nothing to me" she kicks him across the floor. Watching him struggle ...delights her... finally after so long she's able to get her revenge.
She taunts him, plays with him while he struggles to get out garbled sentences. Throughout their fight he's gotten in punches and kicks, her own skin bruised and she feels a gash on her cheeks at the scratch she managed to get her with.
They're back where they started in the middle of the warehouse, she looks at the vampire kneeling on his knees before her.
She utters Ancient Greek spreading her hands out "Αγγλικά έως αρχαία" James watches one horror as they become surrounded by flames, he's healing is slowed down because of the amount of damage he's received— he knows without blood in his system he's done for, —for the first time in his vampire existence he's scared, he looks at the woman before him... he curses himself , he's need for games —his fears gnaws at him , as the heat rises.
Before his thoughts could go any further. He feels his body feel like it's tearing itself apart—burning—it feels like very holding his body together bubbling. Bella slowly walks to James , she uses the venom in his body, she control its direction. She makes him feel like his burning from the inside out , a small reminded of how he made her feel when he bit her wrist.
She grabs his neck once more "Tell me James , will you beg for Victoria to avenge you?" She mocks
"Do you want me to record your screams for her?" She asks with a smirk.
James finds himself frozen, he's neck gripped too tightly for him too answer.
She tears his left arm then his right arm, his screams fills up the burning warehouse, the flames rising , she holds his head, the scene is comical, the vampire is quite literally armless.
She walks close to the the burning flames around them.
Before she pushes her arm into the flames she brings her mouth to his ear " you have no idea how long I've waited for this"
She watches as the flames engulfs the rest of his body in flames. His dying screams echo before it dies out.
She looks to the falling building around her the fire spread further , reaching the walls of the warehouse—the rest of the roof gives in under the heat. She sees the skies open up, the clouds filled with water as it starts to pour down. She closes her eyes and thanking Zeus for his blessings, a few tears slips from her eyes.
"it's over" she whispers in relief.
In her relief she doesn't see a red headed vampire disappear when two cars pull up. She doesn't hear her name as she enjoys the rain on her skin. Her clothing torn, her shirt looked worse for wear, her jeans too, but she doesn't care the only thing she concentrated on is how amazing it feels when her clothes stick to her body as the building falls around her, the rain dousing the rest of the flames.
A hard cold body crashes into her own, she subconsciously catches the body and manages to stay on her feet.
"You're alive" says the voice.
Bella opens her eyes to gaze at the blonde before her a smile crosses her face. She drops her head to Rosalie's
"I told you didn't I? That I'd spend eternity with you"
"You did" says Rosalie she kisses her mate softly"welcome home darling"
She pulls Rosalie into her , she holds her tightly inhaling her scent, the smell of fresh roses invaded her senses, she sighs contently.
"I'm home"
Fin
A:N last chapter my friends , it's been amazing and thank you all so much for the ongoing support. I hope y'all enjoyed it as much as I did.
If you'd like a sequel holla
I'm out ️️