Bella was still kneeling by Edward's side when her family suddenly looked up to the south end of the clearing. She could barely make out the figures walking just above human speed toward them.
As they came closer she recognized Jane in the front, along with Felix and another vampire she had never seen before. "Ah. What has happened here." Jane questioned with her usual apathetic tone.
Carlisle stepped forward to take his place in the front of the coven. "A newborn army was created to destroy our family. We were able to defeat them, but my son was injured while saving a life."
"How heroic." She paused, "Who created this army and why."
Carlisle grabbed Esme's hand as he responded, "Victoria. She held a grudge against Isabella and was planning to kill her."
"She is still human."
Bella stood up from Edward's side and walked to stand next to Carlisle. "The date is set," she said defiantly.
"Aro will be delighted to hear of this. Remember, the Volturi don't give second chances," she said before the red eyed vampires disappeared back into the forest.
Bella ran back towards her fiancé and fell to her knees next to him the Cullens quickly put out the fires before Carlisle had Emmett pick Edward up. Bella ran to Esme and climbed onto her back before the family ran back to their house. Because Esme was the slowest runner, Edward had already been brought outside and the rest of the family were walking back out the front door.
They all looked very worried and anxious. "Is Edward okay?!" She asked.
"Edward is healing as we speak, it is just a long painful process. Don't worry," Carlisle answered her.
"Then what's going on?" She asked warily.
"Someone or something distracted Edward from the fight," Alice said carefully.
"What are you saying?" Bella asked impatiently. She wanted to go check on Edward.
"When he was about to kill the newborn he looked over your shoulder at someone behind you. They must have thought something at him that made him pause," Alice answered.
She thought back to the aftermath of the battle before she caught on to what they were implying.
"JACOB!" She growled as she reached down to rip his wolf charm off of her bracelet. She turned to Alice with the wooden charm in the palm of her hand.
"Crush it," she growled again. Everyone looked relieved, she didn't understand, of course she was mad at Jacob!
Alice reached out and pinched the wolf between two fingers and slowly pressed them together. Bella watched, almost happily, as the russet charm crumbled before her eyes. The dust fell back into her palm and she slowly closed her hand before turning on her heel to run into the house.
She shoved the door open, for once not caring if the door slammed behind her. She ran up the stairs only tripping once before she made it to Edward's room.
She put a hand over mouth to muffle her sobs when she saw him on the bed. There was just a sheet over his lap and the lines from where his limbs were removed stood out from his deathly white skin. He was covered in mud and the dark circles under his eyes stood out more than she had ever seen. She walked closer and kneeled by his side. Bella reached out with a shaky had to gently brush her fingertips across his cheek. She inhaled sharply and ripped her hand back as he let out a pained groan. "Carlisle!" She called out. No more than five seconds later the door was open and Carlisle was walking into the room. Edward let out another groan as the door swung back into its frame. Bella watched as her fiancée's eyes moved rapidly beneath his lids.
"It's alright Isabella, he is just waking up," Carlisle assured her. Bella didn't even spare him a glance as she inched forward to take Edward's hand. His fingers slowly brushed against hers as he finally opened his eyes. "Bella?" He asked. "You're here?"
"Why wouldn't I be? Do you want me to leave?" She asked worriedly. His eyes widened in surprise and he was quick to assure her. "Of course not . . . I just didn't think you would be here." Her smile dropped before she leaned down to kiss his temple. "One second," she murmured unnecessarily, the whole family could get her no matter what. "Could everyone excuse us for an hour or two? We would like to speak alone please." The sound of video games coming from downstairs stopped as Carlisle walked out of the room. She waited a few seconds before turning back to Edward.
She kneeled down by the side of the bed before looking him in the eyes.
She opened her mouth to start speaking, but before she could make a sound Edward started talking.