A/N From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all of you that have hung in there as I work through writer's block and RL bull crap, to bring this tale to an end. Your support means the world to me!

Hugs and kisses to my pre-reader, SazzleDazzled and my beta, EdwardsFirstKiss. They are AMAZING!

Disclaimer: SM owns everything Twilight but this Devil is all mine!


The Devil's Plan

Chapter 40

If Edward had control over his body, it would be shaking with anger. The very being that had been perpetuating the destruction of Bella's bloodline for centuries was sitting on her bed, calmly telling her that yes; the Devil had destroyed her ancestral line and was indeed coming for her. The bastard was admitting to his crimes and instead of screaming and running away; she was clinging to his arms.

Edward could feel Satan's obvious pleasure at the turn of events. His satisfaction radiated brightly in Edward's dark prison. He could feel it wrap around him as if it were a boa constrictor suffocating its next meal. If he had control of them, his shoulders would sag at his present predicament. How was he to save Bella now? His brief triumph over discovering that he could force the demon to the background, faded as he watched his Bella snuggle Satan on her bed. He couldn't even take pleasure in the feel of her body so close to his knowing that this was all his fault. Everyone he'd ever touched would have been better off if he'd never been born. His parents would still be living their lives in Seattle, both working at their dream jobs and socializing with their many friends. Instead, they were stuck in a small town with no social circle to speak of and barely hanging onto their marriage. Emmett would no doubt be debating over several athletic scholarships and spending his senior year with his best friend. Thanks to Edward, his brother's name had faded from the recruiting lists of the top college programs in the country and he'd fallen for a Hell dwelling demi-goddess. Alec's family would still be intact and his mother alive. And Bella would still be the independent, openhearted, humorous girl who had pulled him out of the pity spiral he'd been drowning in when he'd arrived in Forks.

Look at what I've done to her, to all of them, he thought. He felt himself fade further as he decided his loved ones were better off without him. How could he possibly fight the Devil for his Bella when she'd willingly run into the beast's arms?

"Oh, Edward. I didn't know what I was going to do. Charlie thinks I'm rebelling against my mom's abandonment. He won't listen to me when I try to tell him that I don't believe she left willingly. Even after he learned what was in Father Ignatius's journal, he wouldn't change his mind." Devilward bristled at the mention of the journal.

"Where is the journal?" Satan asked. Bella lifted her head from his shoulder and rubbed her eyes.

"It's still in the church. Father Accosta wouldn't let me take it."

Devilward sighed and inwardly made a note to deal with the bible toting busybody. He disliked loose ends and the journal, along with the Priest, were loose ends that practically flapped in the wind. He eyed his Swan. She looked a mess. Red and puffy eyes, snot dripping from her nose despite her attempts to clear its passages. He wanted to push her away in revulsion but forced himself to allow her to continue clinging to his torso.

"Perhaps if you asked him again, demand that he give it to you."

"Edward," Bella sighed, lifting a bit from his chest to look into his eyes. "I can't demand it. It's not mine. I was lucky he found it and allowed me to read it."

"Allowed? It's about your history. You have every right to all of the information it possesses. That white collar wearing minion is the one with no rights to it. I-you need to have all resources available in order to make the right decisions moving forward. "

Bella considered his words. Perhaps he was right. All of the information contained in the journal did pertain to her family and she was now dealing with the new threats. She would need to have all of the information she could get in order to arm herself for the fight to come.

"Maybe you're right. I'll write him a letter and explain to him-"Satan saw her wavering and pounced.

"-No. We should go there and demand it. A letter will take too long. You have no idea how soon a threat could arrive." Bella nodded slowly.

"I knew you would see my wisdom in this. You must learn to trust me in all things." Normally Bella's independent spirit would have chafed at his words, but she found herself comforted by his dominance.

When Charlie arrived home, Devilward had been told in no uncertain terms that it was time to go home. Edward had waited impatiently as Bella thanked the Devil for being so understanding. Edward's spirit furiously paced his cage as the deceived girl he loved, embraced the expelled angel. When the two kissed, Edward's temper threatened to explode.

In the car, his fury grew only grew. More than once on the drive home, Edward considered trying to cause an accident and ending the total charade. But the fear of yet again, hurting an innocent in the mess he'd created had him holding off. He waited until Satan turned onto the long solitary woodsy road that led to the Cullen driveway. His car would be no match for the rows of mature trees lining the road. His death would bring an end to the suffering of so many. Twice he was able to exert enough control to cause the car to veer sharply, but the Devil managed to correct the momentum. After the second attempt, Satan concentrated on his driving and was able to easily thwart Edward's plans. Luckily, Satan had been so preoccupied with thoughts of his afternoon, he never realized that it was Edward that had forced the jerking of his hands on the wheel.

Devilward arrived back at the Cullen home, where he ignored Esme's calls of greeting to her son, glared at the growling, Kodi, and rushed up the stairs to Edward's room. Satan, unceremoniously, threw off his clothes and climbed into the shower. Apparently there was no such thing in Hell, and the Devil had become quite partial to long, hot showers.

Edward, forced himself to calm as Satan sampled all of the expensive shower gels he'd had Rose buy him. The water's constant cascade aided Edward's cause as it calmed the beast. Soon he was able to once again control his hands with no interference by his unwelcomed guest. Fully in control, Edward cautiously left the bathroom, entering his room and quickly dressing before leaving to find his brother.

"Emmett," he called out as he knocked on the closed door. He nervously glanced down the hallway towards the stairs where noises indicating his mother's movements were echoing up the stairwell. His emotions threatened to crush him when he heard his mother talking to Kodi, her constant companion, about her fears for her youngest son and mourning the family she used to have. In that moment, Edward wanted nothing more than to fly down the stairs and seek comfort in his mother's arms. He wanted to promise her that he was going to fix things and ask her to keep fighting for him. But he feared that freeing that kind of emotion would quickly result in Satan regaining control. So, he stood outside his brother's bedroom willing himself to ignore her.

"What?" Emmett demanded, glaring at whomever it was knocking on his door.

"Em, we need to talk." After a moment of severe scrutiny, perhaps trying to ascertain who exactly was standing before him, Emmett moved aside and allowed Edward into the room. He walked cautiously to the other side of the room as Edward sat down on his unmade bed.

"How much has Rose told you about what's going on?"

"Not nearly enough," Emmett said, crossing his arms over his wide chest. "And it's really pissing me the fuck off." Edward sighed, and looked around the room as he tried to decide if he should enlighten his brother or wait for Rose and Jasper.

"Look. I know how much you hate me. I understand that after all of the heartache I've caused our family, and others, "Edward added as he pushed down as the shame he felt for all he'd done, threatened to spill out. "But I can't make things right without your help."

"You know, for someone who feels all of this guilt, you sure have a knack for making things worse."

"I know." Edward agreed sadly.

Emmett sighed and leaned heavily back into his desk chair. "This past year has been hell on Earth for us, and while I blamed you for bringing this down on us, I…Rose said that you were on the brink of killing yourself when this happened. Is that true?" Edward was surprised at the concern in his brother's voice.

Edward lowered his head and looked at the floor. He hadn't spoken to anyone about the darkness that he'd nearly allowed to consume him that night. He hadn't succeeded in his original goal, no. He'd done something far worse.

"Spill." Emmett commanded.

"After Tanya did…what she did and Alec came over, I thought that everything would be better if I disappeared. You, mom, and dad could go back to your lives and I wouldn't be around to mess things up anymore."

"You selfish shit!" Emmett exclaimed, jumping out of his chair and storming over to tower over Edward.

"You thought that killing yourself would allow us to 'go back to our lives'? Are you fucking serious? Mom is holding it together by a thread and dad, well he's pretty much phoning it in, but you thought that on top of everything else, you would throw in a dead son? What Tanya did was fucking messed up. Look at what it did to Alec! After everything else, now he has no mom. They would have eventually gotten over the affair. He missed her so much. He would constantly tell me that being angry at her wasn't worth the hurt of not having his mom in his life. He felt terrible about taking his dad's side and not giving her a chance to explain. He'd already decided to go visit her this summer." Emmett rubbed his eyes in frustration, taking a step back from his brother. "He was going to forgive her and try to get to a place where they could be a family again. Now he'll never get the chance to… say he was sorry for the way he'd acted. The hurtful words he'd said and for turning his back on her like that." Emmett's voice lowered, as the fight left his body.

Emmett's head jerked up and he looked into his younger brother's eyes. "Edward, I'm sorry. I should have never blamed you. Tanya used you. It could have just as easily have been me." Edward opened his mouth in surprise. Emmett had never, in any way, given Edward a moments sympathy or understanding about the affair.

"I was wrong. You don't deserve my anger and you certainly don't deserve this…" Emmett waived his hand towards Edward's body. "Whatever this is, you have to fight it. And I'm going to help. But you can't fucking give up. Promise me. We…I can't lose you too." Edward's heart pumped furiously in his chest at Emmett's declaration. He'd wished for so long to hear his brother offer any kind of understanding or sympathy towards him, that now he found himself almost unable to accept it without becoming overly emotional.

"Emmett, I have to stay calm, it's the only way I can keep control over…him. But thank you." Emmett nodded in understanding. Rose had explained the tenuous hold Edward was able to exert over the abomination sharing his body. He backed up and sat down. He rubbed his hands on his pant legs and cracked his knuckles. "Okay," he finally said, looking into Edward's eyes. "What do you need me to do?"

Edward took a deep breath and told Emmett everything he knew of the Devil's plan.

Emmett's eyes grew wide and his mouth fell open slightly as he absorbed his brother's tale. "Are you serious? All of that really happened to Bella's family? He's been killing them off just to get to her, all these years later?" Edward nodded. Emmett shook his head He rose to his feet and began pacing his room. "And now he wants to use her to bring about the end of the world? How can Bella believe his lies?"

"Because she thinks it's me telling them." Edward stated softly. Emmett clenched his fist in silence at the reminder that his brother was playing host to Satan.

"What specifically is his plan?" Emmett asked.

"I don't know-"

"We do."

Rose and Jasper entered the room, closing the door firmly behind them.

Rose immediately went to stand by Emmett, she held out her hand, holding her breath as she waited for him to take it. Since Emmett had been told of the situation, their relationship had been weakened. To her delight, he immediately reached out to hold her hand.

Jasper smiled at his partner, although their relationship had started much differently, he now viewed Astarte as a sibling. He wished for her to have happiness. And hoped that both of them would live through the coming battle to enjoy lives with their chosen mates.

"Tell us." Edward's demand brought Jasper back to the moment.

"May I?" He indicated the spot next to Edward on the bed. Edward nodded impatiently as Jasper sat next to him.

"First, you must understand that Astarte and I come from a world vastly different that yours. We were gods among the humans. If it were not for violations of our kind's code, we would have continued in that respect until the end of our existence. But our father-"

"You're really brother and sister?" Emmett asked clearly dismayed at the thought. Jasper and Rose shared a quick glance.

"No." Rose quickly interjected. "We don't share a parent, at least not in the way you and Edward do."

"We were created not born. Are you aware of Greek mythology?" Edward and Emmett both nodded.

"Then you understand the term 'Demi-god.' That's the best representation of what we are, or were. We were originally gods to the Canaanites, but have ties with the Greeks as well. We were sent to dwell in Satan's kingdom after violating our 'father's' rules. We both were arrogant in our words and actions. We were punished for thinking ourselves above our creator. Hell is…it's worse than you humans realize." Jasper visually shuddered at the memory of his time 'below', before sharing a glance with Rose, who swallowed thickly and tightened her hold on Emmett's hand.

"What is your real name?" Rose, turned her gaze to Emmett. She knew his question would be coming.

"Astarte, I was the goddess of war, fertility and love." She added quietly.

"I guess that makes sense." Emmett commented with an ironic quirk of his mouth, throwing off her hand. "You always wanted me to fight with Edward." Rose lowered her head.

"Yes, it was part of his plan."

Emmett shook his head, huffing out a small laugh. "What about the rest?"

"The rest?" Rose asked, her blue eyes searching Emmett's face for understanding.

"You know, was the Goddess of Love tasked with putting the big, and stupid brother under her spell so she could get at his little brother?" Emmett's voice grew hard and angry.

"You're not stupid." She insisted through tight lips.

"You're not answering the question." Emmett forced out between clenched teeth.

Rose looked to Jasper. Her eyes pleading for help. But there was nothing he could do. They had nothing left to give but the truth.

"Emmett, you don't understand, I had no choice-"

"No choice?" Emmett echoed, pushing up from his chair and stalking away from the tearful blonde. "There's always a choice, Rose. Or should I call you Astarte?"

"Please don't. He calls me Astarte." Her lips quivered with the admission.

"Fine. Rose it is. I mean it really doesn't matter what I call you. You're nothing but a giant whore!"

Rose gasped loudly at the insult as Jasper shot up from the bed and pushed Emmett against the wall.

"Do not ever refer to her like that again!" He ordered. "You have no fucking idea what we've been through."

"What you've been through?" Emmett yelled, pushing the dethroned demigod off of him. "Who gives a shit about what you manipulative assholes have been through? You're nothing but a bunch of Hell's bottom feeders!"

Emmett and Jasper faced each other, their postures indicating a readiness to fight.

Rose stood where Emmett had left her, her shoulders hunched and her eyes brimming with tears.

"We were tasked with discovering a way in which Satan could fulfill his plan to effectively erase mankind. We didn't volunteer, we were told to do it or…our skin would be flayed and tacked to the wall on a daily basis." Rose's voice quaked with emotions, fear being the loudest.

"It's one of his favorite types of tortures." Jasper added, his posture relaxing slightly.

"They're all his favorite." Rose whispered, clearly distressed at the vivid memory of witnessing the torture that was routinely carried out in Hell.

Emmett lifted his eyes to meet Rose's. "That's fucked up. But it doesn't excuse you using me like that, renewing my anger at Edward every time I was ready to move forward. It doesn't excuse the hurt I've caused him, my dad…my mom," Emmett stated, his shoulders hunched in pain as they mirrored Rose's posture. "It doesn't excuse you making me believe you loved me and ripping my heart out." Emmett declared, crumpling to the floor. He cradled his head in his hands as his shoulders rocked in agony.

Rose ran to Emmett, falling to her knees in front of him. She grabbed at his hands, trying to uncover his tearstained face. "I do love you. I know it was fake at first, but not anymore. Not for a long time. Please, Emmett. Please believe me." She begged as her own tears fell unchecked down her pale cheeks.

Despite everything that has transpired between him and his brother, it pained Edward greatly to see Emmett in so much pain.

"Emmett, he'll kill us if he finds out we're helping you. Yet, we're doing it. Ask yourself why." Jasper's words coated the room like a fresh layer of paint.

"We're doing it because we can't bear to help bring about the destruction of our loved ones. If he discovers our deception, he'll destroy us," Rose answered him, her words tumbled out in chunks through her sobbing.

"He'll kill you?" Emmett asked in a hoarse whisper.

"Death would be welcomed. Instead we'll be tortured for eternity." Rose replied solemnly.

Their eyes met, both red rimmed with emotion.

"I, I don't want you to die, be tortured or whatever." Emmett, took Rose's hand in his.

"And I don't want to leave you." Rose answered, raking a shanking hand through Emmett's sweat dampened hair.

Emmett and Rose embraced.

Both Edward and Jasper lowered their heads, hiding their eyes. As if to give the broken couple on the floor a moment's privacy.

"Um, I don't want to be a jerk, but I honestly don't know how much longer I can maintain my hold." Edward uttered with a frown. "I'm sorry, but can we please finish our discussion?"

With a nod, Emmett and Rose pulled apart. Emmett sat in his earlier discarded chair, planting Rose firmly on his lap.

Edward turned to Jasper. "Please continue." Jasper sighed, perhaps thinking of his own reason for plotting against the Devil and courting his own demise, before continuing his tale.

"I guess I should also reveal my real name. My name is Ba'al. I'm- I was the god of thunder, I looked over the crops and livestock of my followers. I was also quite a warrior and like Rose, also fertility. My pride and arrogance led me to believe and act as if I were above our God and was punished for my conceit. Rose and I had spent centuries in Hell before we were given the task to find a way for him to enact his plan."

"You found a way." Jasper nodded at Edward's whispered statement.

"Yes, we did." Jasper guiltily admitted. "He's made several prior attempts at exerting power over this world and destroy it. But was ultimately thwarted. We found a better way for him to put a person in place to execute his plan."

"What do you mean? Are you talking about the antichrist? I always thought Satan was the antichrist."" Emmett asked, his eyes searching Rose's for answers.

Jasper turned towards Emmett. "I think you might need to understand what that term really means, as it pertains to what he's done in the past. In simple terms from your Christian bible, the term 'antichrist' means a deceiver, anyone who represents themselves as God or denies the father and son. Do you remember Caligula, or Nero?" Edward nodded at the mention of the immoral Roman emperors.

"They were both men of great power, wealth and political power who used it in various ways to benefit themselves over the people they were entrusted to govern. Both gained their power through various devious and murderous means. In that time there was no shortage of men willing to sell their souls for power or wealth."

"Or in this time." Emmett offered.

"Yes, well, gaining and obtaining wealth and power seems to be two desires that sit deeply within mankind's hearts, regardless of the era or level of civilization. Caligula and Nero are just two examples of men that under Satan's influence, sought the destruction of all around them. In fact, Nero is credited with the fall of the Roman Empire. There's no telling how far his sickness would have spread if he hadn't killed himself and ended Satan's influence. "

"There have been others?" Emmett asked.

"Hitler." Edward uttered quietly.

"Yes, Hitler was perhaps his best chance at destroying you. That madman killed 6 million Jews and was responsible for killing hundreds of thousands more he deemed 'incurable' or unworthy."

"But he did it in the name of God, right? I mean he never denied God, he said he was doing it for God. Why wouldn't Satan take that credit?" Emmett questioned.

"Contrary to popular belief, Satan can't make you do anything that you weren't already predisposed to doing. He can't physically affect anything himself. Hitler was as close to having Satan on Earth as you have ever had, but Hitler and his minions were evil all on their own. They needed almost no prodding from Hell. Hitler's suicide cut off Satan's conduit to that avenue of horror. He was forced to return his attention to his current plan."

"What do you mean he can't make anything happen? Look at everything he's done throughout history not to mention what he's done to Bella's family. Look at what he's doing now! He's interacting with my Bella!"

"Smoke and mirrors." Jasper quipped. "Merely suggestions and slight manipulations of surroundings. Except for anything to do with animals. He can become an animal on this plane. He prefers snakes and large predators. As to his physical interactions with Bella, well that is only happening because he's using you as a host."

Edward could feel the reins of control begin to slip. If he believed what Jasper was saying…This was all his fault.

"Almost everything he's done throughout history has been through suggestion," Jasper continued. "You'd be surprised at how easily it is to get people to do bad things to others with just a few suggestions. Especially when the want to hurt is already present. Satan can put those that he commands in the way, to create certain situations that are conducive to his goal, but he can't make you do anything. Satan can't remove your free will. " Edward shook his head in disbelief at Jasper's words.

"Edward, think back to that night," Jasper, said. Not needing to clarify to anyone which night he was referencing. "What did he ask you? You had to give him permission to come inside. Otherwise…"

Edward began rocking back and forth on the bed. He cradled his head in his hands as he moved. "No, no, no…" He repeated.

All eyes focused on him. Worry clouded all three sets of eyes. If Edward lost control…well, no one wanted to think about that happening.

"Edward, please calm yourself. I know how you feel. But you need to remain calm." Jasper implored the increasingly agitated young man.

Rose jumped up from Emmett's lap and fell to her knees in front of Edward. "Edward, look at me," she commanded, putting her hands on his cheeks, halting his rocking. Rose recognized that he was barely holding on and quickly sought to bring him back. "It was going to happen anyway. If not you, then someone else. When a soul cries out, the call isn't only heard in Heaven. Your cry was heard and you were the most convenient tool for him to use."

"But if I hadn't had the affair…"

"Stop! We don't have time for you to fall into a pity spiral. How we got here isn't important anymore. How we stop him has to be our focus." Rose implored.

Edward closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. Emmett, Rose and Jasper held their breath as they waited to see who would be with them when Edward opened his eyes.

When Edward opened his eyes, they let out a collective breath to see his eyes were still bright, a sign they had come to recognize as evidence that it was Edward and not the Devil in residence. Edward removed Rose's hands, offering a weak smile of thanks.

He looked directly at Jasper and said, "He has to be stopped. Tell me exactly what he wants with my Bella."

"He plans to use her to birth his son."


So, um, yeah. That should answer a few questions.

I've started to post my Babies at the Border entry, A Year in the Life of HOA President, Bella Swan. You can find it on my profile. If you care to give it a try. It's pre-written and will be updated weekly.

Until next time,

~ruinedbyrob