Chapter 9

Alice had offered themselves up for battle duty in a desperate attempt to break through to Bella; though met with enthusiasm by Emmett the rest of the family didn't entirely share that same feeling, yet was willing to comply nevertheless. Edward was just grateful that during their short time discussing battle strategy he had gotten to spend time with Bella had she done her best to avoid them since their time together at her ball.

Not that he could blame her.

He had broken her. He deserved it. Her pain deserved to be felt by him.

Watching her fight in battle, she was like a flame, mesmerising yet deadly; he struggled to keep his eyes away from her to concentrate on what was in front of him. There was no trace of the broken girl he had left behind in the gardens just a few days before; it was like she had pieced herself back together piece by piece, wielded herself shut into what she needed to be.

His chest heaved, his throat clenching in panic watching one of the vampires pounce on his Bella. Even though her struggle barely lasted a moment as she was quickly able to bounce back to her feet his panic refused so subside. "Bella! Are you-"

"I can take care of myself Edward." She had brushed aside his concerns as expected, though he observed that even she looked shocked at how soft the words had left her mouth.

The Volturi had warned them that despite all their resources they were going in largely blind, these nomads were off the grid, they kept to themselves. Their battle strategy had varied, some were uncontrollable, chaotic and unpredictable whilst others managed to hold themselves well in a fight, even against the best of them such as Jasper. One minute he had found himself fighting against an individual who much like his 'cousin' Kate was able to control electric currents, down on his knees finding it almost impossible to stand back up despite his best interests. Similarly to how the minute had started it soon ended as in the next he felt the pressure against him lifted. Looking up hopefully he caught the young man reduced to nothing but charred ashes.

Bella.

He looked around him to see the same happen, every vampire who once stood now gone. It was Bella, she had saved them.

He couldn't help but gleam, part in relief and part in utter pride. Despite his eternal worry about the woman he loved which he was sure would never fade his admiration for her could never falter, she was so strong, so…fearless. She continued to surprise him.

But something was wrong. Since they had arrived at Volterra, since they had met Bella, it was like everything she did was crafted, a performance she had only cracked at once during his ambush at her at the ball. But now looking at her she was blank…she almost looked scared.

Why? W-what?

Something was wrong.

And then she fell.

Fall wasn't the right word. One second she was swaying and then the next- well the next it was like the life drained from her and her body crumbled under her weight. He scrambled to her side but was too slow to catch her before she hit the ground, panic raging through his body clouding his mind he cradled her motionless body into his chest. It petrified him sending chills down his back at how still she was, she looked dead.

Dead.

He felt trapped in his worst fears.

"Bella!" The words clustered passing his lips pushing a strayed strand of hair behind her ear, "Bella!" He tried again this time more desperate, shaking her body willing her to move. "Carlisle!"

"Bella, wake up honey." He begged helplessly cradling her face recoiling at how hot she was to the touch. Tearing his eyes away from her face he trailed down the rest of her body, at first unnoticed by his dazed state he noticed the stray sparks shocking in hot bursts down her arm; the only terrifying sign that she was still with them.

"Edward, what happened?" Carlisle asked, his own worried expression seeping through.

"I- I don't know Carlisle" He somehow stuttered out, "But she's really hot." Carlisle reached down and placing his hand against her forehead to check her temperature his face scrunched concerningly that did nothing to quell Edward's racing thoughts.

"Oh my god Bella!" Alice screamed joining them also, "What's wrong with her?"

Carlisle didn't answer…he didn't know. "We'll have to take her back to the castle, I can check her over properly there."

Edward nodded but yet couldn't find himself standing up. Worry crushed against his shoulders like led weight. "Edward son. Bella needs you, the sooner we can check her over the sooner we can make sure she's okay.

His words filled Edward with a sense of desperate need. Bella needed him.

Placing her bridal style in his arms relishing in the soothing contact he ran her back to safety. He would do anything for her.

"Edward," Carlisle spoke, Edward jumped up at the sound his own name, his eyes snapping to meet Carlisle, desperate for news, as he exited the room joining them in the makeshift waiting roomnow crowded with chairs. None of the guard joined them. They didn't care about her the way he did. They couldn't.

The thought made him growl.

"How is she? What's wrong with her? Is she going to be okay?" He bombarded him with questions, his mind unable to sit still. What if…the thought of her not making it made him crumble. A world without Bella was not one he wanted to live.

"She's still out of it but she's alive." Edward sighed a breath of relief he didn't know he was holding. She was okay. She was alive.

"W-what happened?"

"Bella doesn't manipulate fire, she creates it using her body's energy. Whatever she did in battle tonight drained her. She needs to recuperate, rest until her energy's back. She'll be fine Edward."

'Whatever she did in battle'

She had killed over twenty vampires at once somehow avoiding aiming her flames at anyone who had mattered. That must have been exhausting.

And she did it to save them…

"Can- can I see her?"

"Aro just left so I don't see why not. Tell me if anything with her condition changes," He noted before leaving Edward to what he so desperately needed most.

His breath hitched as he took in Bella. Lying on a bed that engulfed her small frame, her eyes closed she almost looked at peace he grimaced at how fragile she looked. With quiet steps anxious that he would disturb her he moved forwards until he was resting on the edge of the mattress taking her hand in his; in need of her touch against his to prove that she was really there.

Gliding a finger over her exposed skin he wanted to close his eyes and pretend more than anything that things were still like they were. He wanted to lay back beside her and pretend that she was sleeping peacefully. But she wasn't, she was too still.

Bella was a restless sleeper. She turned and twisted in her duvet, the memory brought a smile to his lips. The smile was melancholy, the feeling of relief only brief as the memory passed him by and he was forced to remember where they were.

"Oh Bella," He mumbled, "You'll be okay. You'll be fine." He whispered unsure to who he was trying to reassure most.