A/N: It's a bird ... It's a plane ... No, it's me posting on time! Yes, look out for the apocalypse because your girl here is actually posting when she said she would. And she is now promptly going to stop speaking in the third person.
I just want to say that if I could personally send each of you care packages, I would totally do it because yall rock! Thank you so much for your reviews and alerts (which have me dancing like an idiot), and just for being here in general. You make me excited to write this story as I see your enthusiasm and read your reviews.
Massive shoutout to SunflowerFran because I wouldn't be able to get this chapter out if it weren't for her. She's the cabernet to my sauvignon.
Disclaimer (since I never remember to do this): These characters, minus Lua, are not mine. I just like creating a whole bunch of suspense around them.
And lastly, here is the last chapter of Part II: Pigeon. I hope you all enjoy!
PART II: PIGEON
Due to their homing ability, speed, and altitude, pigeons were often used as military messengers during wartime.(1)
Chapter 19
The jangling of keys comes second to Lua's chirp in Bella's current list of favorite sounds. Quite clumsily, given the weight of the object, Lua deposits the keys to Bella through the feeding slot. It's only when the keys are in her hand that she realizes her dilemma. If the keyhole is on the other side of the door, as soon as the keys are out of her sight, she will lose her telekinetic hold on them.
Lua's assuring chirp reminds Bella that she's not alone in her struggle. In fact, her friend is proving to be her savior of the night in more ways than one. Bella closes her eyes and focuses on Lua, drawing on their connection to get a view of the dungeon beyond her cell. Through Lua's sight, she's able to direct the key to its hole and unlock the door.
Though she wants to spend a few moments in jubilation, Bella settles for peppering several kisses to Lua's beak before sprinting out of the dungeon door. She briefly touches her fingers to the back of the patrolling guard's neck and sends him dropping to the ground. With glee, she realizes it's the guard who had earlier knocked her unconscious. Furthermore, her dagger is sheathed at his waist, so she reclaims it and restores it to its rightful place on her calf. Unfortunately, his body thudding against the dirt floor draws the attention of the second guard located a few feet away. But spurred by determination, Bella is a force to be reckoned with. She sends the patroller flying against the opposite wall, a collision that leaves him incapacitated. The next two guards meet a similar fate as Bella makes her way through the hall to an unbarred window in the stairwell. For a second, she retracts her wings so that she can fit in its frame, and then she releases them after launching herself into the night air.
Tilting her wings, she uses the wind's current to help orient her, as well as propel her towards the main castle. As she nears, she can hear the vibrant music from the band ensemble, and the slight buzz of chatting partygoers. The more she thinks about it, tonight truly is the best night to make an attempt on the Princess's life. The royal family and their guard detail are too caught up in the festivities and influx of people to be able to keep watch over everything. Especially since Demetri is meant to be Charlotte's main source of protection when, in fact, he is her gravest danger. Bella slows as she reaches a distance where she'll be visible to any patrolling guards, and strategizes her next move.
After quick consideration, she flies north of the castle, behind the throne and ballroom –the exact place she had mistakenly flown to the night she had battled the sunchild. As Bella had predicted, Makenna is on duty, and thankfully standing guard with another lunella.
"Huilen, Makenna," Bella whispers as she lands a few feet away from them. They immediately turn with their swords unsheathed but lower their weapons once they realize who is before them.
"Essa," Makenna breathes as she rushes forward to draw Bella in a hug, "Vera and Nahuel have been pouring over ways to get you released-."
"Well, we needn't worry about that now," Bella interrupts, "Demetri is going to harm the Princess tonight. We need to remove him from the ball-."
"Demetri isn't at the ball," Huilen stops her, "After Charlotte heard what had happened to you, she refused to leave her room. She's been in her quarters all day, with Demetri guarding the door."
Bella releases a vulgar curse as she begins to take flight once more. Before Huilen and Makenna are out of earshot she calls, "Prepare the lunellas. The night is going to turn into chaos."
…
Bella is tempted to storm into Charlotte's room, but she knows she needs to approach the situation delicately. Instead, she arrives at the window and quietly lands on its sill with Lua perched on her shoulder. Silently, she enters the room to take in her surroundings and sends Lua to fly into the hall so she can see Demetri's whereabouts. Charlotte lies curled in a ball near the top corner of her bed, blankets bundled around her like a swaddled babe, no limbs visible. Despite Charlotte's position, the scene looks exactly like Alice's sketch, except in color. And while color might seem unimportant at a time like this, the blue light filtering through the yellow drapes says otherwise.
Charlotte's room has a slight, green glow.
Through Lua's view, Bella can see Demetri waiting patiently outside the bedroom door, accompanied by two other guards. She's about to wake Charlotte when a sudden rumble through the castle does the job.
The tremor is unlike anything Bella has felt before. It's as if the ground is oscillating beneath her feet, the stone beginning to crack from the movement. Several objects clatter to the ground, as screams from the ballroom enter through the window. Charlotte shoots upright in her bed and begins to get up when Bella calls to her. It's only as Charlotte opens her mouth to scream that Bella realizes she's still in her transformed state. She shakes her head rapidly as she switches into the form that Charlotte recognizes.
"Bella?" Charlotte whispers, "H-how?"
Bella's thoughts are temporarily disturbed as Lua sends her a message. The bird witnesses Demetri leaving with the other guards to inspect the quaking disturbance before he informs him that he should stay behind to take care of the Princess.
It's the perfect opportunity. He thinks he'll have Charlotte to himself.
"What is going on-," Charlotte tries again.
"Do you trust me?" Bella asks her.
"Yes. I couldn't believe what they told me about you and Edward-,"
"If you trust me, then hide beneath your bed and do not make a sound, understood?" Bella rushes.
Charlotte nods, although visibly confused, and quickly slips under the bed. Remaining in her transformed state, Bella climbs into Charlotte's bed, and hastily arranges the blankets around her in such a way that they shield her dagger. It's only as the air hits her toes that the final piece of Alice's vision falls into place.
The woman lying in Charlotte's bed is not Charlotte, but Bella.
If Bella couldn't tell her own form apart from the Princess's, she hopes that Demetri will be doubly surprised to find the wrong person on the receiving end of his attack. It's only another minute before the door to the Princess's room creaks open. Breathing as evenly as she can, Bella pretends to sleep. Demetri's footsteps, though light, can still be heard as they brush against the ground. As soon as they still near the side of Charlotte's bed, she jumps into action.
As quickly as she can, she grabs hold of his skin while invoking a powerful surge of absorption. Or, at least, she intends to. It appears Demetri is skillful enough to mute her abilities the moment her hand comes into view. He strips her of her disguise, causing her natural state to appear, and her wings to expand from her back. His laugh is wicked as he tugs Bella forward to reveal her face. Meanwhile, her hand hides beneath the sheets, clutching her dagger.
"Clever girl," Demetri chuckles as he lifts his hand to her silver curls, "Does your father know you are uprooting his plans?
"No, but make sure to tell him for me when you're both in hell," Bella spits as she whips her hand out from beneath the covers and plunges the dagger into the rivet of Demetri's armor. The blade slips between the plates and sinks deeply into the flesh of his right shoulder.
What Bella expects to happen does not transpire. Instead of Demetri's skin losing color and his mouth filling with blood, he simply grunts in pain before a devilish smirk crawls across his face. He grips the hand that had delivered the dagger and yanks her so that she's kneeling on the bed, her face only a few centimeters from his.
His spittle lands across her cheeks as he says, "You think I'm a sunchild because I'm against the Cullen monarchy?"
Sola Carmen, Sola Bree, Luna Claire, Luna Mistress Pope, Sola Seth …
The more Bella thinks about it, the more she realizes that she has never once heard Demetri's title. It makes sense that the guard protecting the Princess would not make his weakness known to the public, and the benefit of it is apparent in this instant. Her element of surprise had been stripped of her, and now Bella has to combat against a man with years of lethal training.
"If you think that this war is a divide between sunchildren and moonchildren, you are highly mistaken," he chuckles darkly, "It's a battle of power. I choose Aro's side because he is more powerful. And you, little girl, are powerless-,"
"Ce par si calme peo brucio," Bella cuts his words short as she brings her wing around and whips him across the face with a powerful flap. Taken off guard, Demetri stumbles back, clutching his eye with one hand, while he unsheathes his sword with the other. Meanwhile, the dagger is still embedded in his shoulder.
Here begins the most complicated dance that Bella has ever encountered. It's a series of quick steps and tucking limbs in order to avoid the wide arcs of Demetri's sword. While Bella can admit she feels slightly defenseless without her abilities, this is the very type of battle that Lucy had been preparing her for. She doesn't have the upper hand in strength, but she can move more agilely than Demetri. Furthermore, if she can unnerve him, she can try another fatal blow.
In a manner that Lucy or Tyler would be appalled at, Bella begins flinging any object her fingers can reach as she maneuvers around the room. First, it's the lavender perfume bottle, then a hairbrush, followed by a pair of slippers. Demetri is able to bat each of the objects out of the way with his sword, but Bella continues to send them his way. Finally, she reaches her intended destination and snatches the thick coat stand by the dressing curtain. Using both hands, and with as forceful of a swing she can muster, she wields it toward Demetri, who predictably swings his sword in defense. To Bella's glee, instead of chopping through the thick wood, the sword becomes lodged in the stand. Before he can react, she twists the beam to relieve Demetri of his sword, and then lunges for him.
She's only able to remove the dagger from his shoulder before he throws her away like a mere rag doll. She meets the stonewall with a painful collision, the contact not incapacitating, but certainly disorienting. It doesn't help that when she attempts to stand, the floor begins to shake again with violent tremors.
"Do you feel that?" Demetri yells. "In an hour's time this castle will be rubble at your feet, and it will all be thanks to you-,"
A sound that Bella is becoming much too familiar with interrupts him. It's the telltale crack and slice of a blade cutting through bone and flesh. Breathless, Demetri gasps as he looks down to see his sword protruding from his chest. Standing behind him is Charlotte, eyes wide and frantic. He falls to his knees, hands wrapped around the steel that has become one with his body, breaths rasping as he struggles for air. One look at Charlotte's face tells Bella everything she needs to know. She clears her mind as she strides to Demetri's kneeling body, and then pierces her dagger into where his moon insignia lies.
Life vacates him immediately.
"I … I killed-,"
"I killed him," Bella tells her firmly, but uses a gentle hand to direct her away from her former guard's body. "We need to get you to safety."
She pulls Charlotte toward the window and transforms once more. The events finally seeming to catch up with her, the Princess pulls away in defiance, her features revealing fear and confusion. Bella wants to comfort her, but the vibrating of the castle walls remind her that they don't have time.
"Who are you?" Charlotte asks; it sounds like both a question and an accusation to Bella's ears.
"You know me," Bella assures her, "And it is my duty to protect you. You said you trusted me before, and you can still trust me. I will answer all of your questions in due time, but for now, I need to get you to safety."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," Charlotte objects.
The time for niceties has passed. If Bella has to choose between Charlotte being placated and her living, then she'll always choose the latter. This is why, though she knows the Princess will give a fight, she tugs the younger girl into her arms before maneuvering both of them out the window.
She can't blame Charlotte for screaming; admittedly, it isn't the smoothest takeoff. Bella had clumsily thrown their bodies over the windowsill, and it had taken a few seconds to fix them upright during their fall. However, once they're ascending, Charlotte's protests continue. So Bella does the only thing she can think of … she puts her hand over Charlotte's mouth.
If we survive this, Charlotte might very well have my head, Bella cringes inwardly.
By the time they reach their destination, Charlotte is absolutely fuming. If it weren't for Bella's firm grip on her arm, she's sure the girl would have gone running into woods around them.
"Release me this instant!" Charlotte demands.
"Not until you promise me you will stay put," Bella conditions.
"You've brought me to the middle of nowhere," she huffs, "Where would I go?"
Seeing that Charlotte is telling the truth, Bella releases her hold and tries to take a calming breath. She doesn't have time to be negotiating with a fifteen-year-old spitfire.
"I am trying to protect you," Bella reminds her.
"What's going on?" Charlotte asks again, sounding increasingly distressed, "Who is attacking the castle? Why did Demetri try to kill me?"
"These are all things I will answer for you when I get back," Bella assures.
"You're going to leave me here?" Charlotte shrieks, "In the middle of the damned forest?"
Bella waves her hand to reveal the lunella hatch, and tugs a stunned Charlotte behind her. Once they reach the area where the meetings are held, Bella leads the Princess to sit on the ground at the back of the room.
"Please, take me with you," Charlotte begs, "You can't leave me here alone."
"I'm afraid I can't," Bella apologizes, "It is too dangerous at the castle, and I can't fight while looking after you."
"What if someone comes here?" Charlotte whimpers.
"Only people who are lunellas can enter here. They are those who fight for good, and are people you can trust," Bella assures. She then reaches to her holster and slips her dagger out from its confines, "I will leave this with you as well as Lua. She will attack anyone who shouldn't be near you."
Dutifully, Lua flies into the room, having not been far behind. She transforms into her cat form and lies protectively at the Princess's feet. Bella can tell Charlotte is still apprehensive, but her panther's presence provides some comfort.
Bella is about to leave when slender arms wrap around her. She's surprised to feel Charlotte's tight grip, especially after the shocking reveal of her alter identity. But from the way Charlotte trembles in Bella's embrace, she knows that the young girl is just trying to hold onto some semblance of familiarity in her rapidly changing world.
"Promise me you'll come back," she whispers.
Bella knows it's not her promise to make, but she gives it anyways, "I promise."
~pigeon~
It seems that Demetri hadn't needed to die to arrive in the underworld, for hell had found its way on earth. When Bella returns to the castle, the first thing she notices is the gradual collapsing of the middle-northern wing. Bit by bit the stones tumble from the fortress's foundation, the ground moaning as it's gradually torn apart. The destruction travels from the rooms near to Charlotte's garden and slowly creeps to the ballroom. Every now and then, she swoops down to pluck a fleeing civilian out of a deepening crevice, but she sees many who have already succumbed to their injuries. She doesn't even need to fly through the doorway to enter the ballroom. The gaping hole in its ceiling is the easier point of access.
The sight she witnesses when she lands is unreal. It's a battlefield –men and women dressed in formal attire dueling until death. The floor glistens with spilled blood and air is frequently pierced by anguished cries. Servants who had never fought a day in their lives use their abilities to deal fatal blows while guards who had been trained to thrive in chaos are merciless to falling debris. The only distinguishable people are the guards who encircle the King and Queen, unable to escort them out against the crumbling building, but slowly losing to the number of attackers. Two questions are at the forefront of Bella's mind: how were so many enemies able to invade the castle? Furthermore, what is the cause of the castle crumbling under Bella's feet?
She gets her answer to the latter question when she hears a delighted laugh. Sitting atop the Queen's throne is Mistress Pope, conducting the destruction of the castle. As soon as she waves her hand, another tremble occurs, further destabilizing the foundation. In front of her is a young man who appears to have a shielding ability, as he and Mistress Pope are safely nestled behind what looks to be an impermeable bubble.
Bella is about to head for the King and Queen when a flash to her right catches her eye. There, battling with a man who can elongate his limbs is Edward. Her breath leaves her as she watches him throw ball after ball of fire in the man's direction with relentless determination. She's only snapped out of her reverie when bricks begin to rain from the ceiling.
"No!" she screams, shooting her arms as if to catch the offending stones.
She stops them with her mind, leaving them suspended in the air above Edward. He looks at her, an expression of shock and confusion plain on his face. No doubt, he must be puzzled by her voice not matching the Bella he is familiar with. Unfortunately, his distraction renders him vulnerable to his attacker, who takes the opportunity to strike. But before the assailant can so much as touch a hair on Edward's head, Bella releases the load of bricks onto his unsuspecting person. Unconscious, he lies motionless beneath the pile of rubble.
"Bella?" Edward chokes, as he heads toward her, "W-what …"
"Now is not the time," she barks, "I'll fly your parents out of here but you need to stop Mistress Pope before she levels Cullen Isle."
Not waiting for his reply, she takes flight, weaving through the raining pebbles. She's planning a way to land without being attacked by Felix and Heidi's guard when she spots Tyler fighting amongst the throng.
"Incoming," she calls, before dipping over his head.
The King and Queen press further against the wall they've been backed against when Bella lands in front of them.
"Your Majesties," she greets quickly, "If you'll allow me, I can fly you to safety."
"Who are you?" Felix starts.
"Bella?" Heidi breathes with relief, "Where are Charlotte and Edward?"
"Edward is fighting," she tells her, "But Charlotte is away from here. She's safe. I can take you two to her if-,"
"My place is with my people," Felix says firmly, "I will not leave until I know those fighting for me have escaped."
"But, Your Majesty," Bella begins to object.
"Ni ronero," he stops her with finality, "Take the Queen and Edward to safety."
"If you think I'm going to abandon you, you're a fool," Heidi asserts, "I am by your side until death do us part."
Bella knows the moment the Queen says this that there is no changing her mind. Her heart hurts at the thought of them perishing here, but they refuse to leave their people, even if it means dying with them. Another rough tremble causes them to fall to their feet, the Queen gasping as Bella diverts a stone from landing on their heads.
"You must go," Heidi urges. "Take Edward and Charlotte, and leave Cullen Isle."
"Your Highness, please come with me," Bella begs in a last attempt. "You're their mother. They need you. They can't lose their father and their mother!"
"Do you remember the promise you made me?" Heidi asks her voice thick with emotion, "You swore to me that you would protect them."
Bella nods, "With my life."
"Then go, Bella." Heidi pleads, "Save the heirs to the throne. Save my children."
Bella imparts a final bow to her King and Queen before flying out of the circle once more. She forces back tears as she heads to where Edward is bombarding the Shielder with bright flames. She can see that the Shielder is beginning to waver under the persistent heat, but not quickly enough. Sensing that her time is nearly up, Mistress Pope unleashes another wave of quakes. The sound of the castle falling apart is thunderous. Bella can't imagine that much of it beyond this room is left. Saving the castle might not be an option now, but if Edward and Bella can stop Mistress Pope, then maybe more people can escape with their lives intact. If only, there was a way to amplify Edward's fire …
The events from earlier in the day come hurtling back to Bella's conscious. Though it almost seems like another day entirely, there's no way she could forget the agony she'd felt at having harmed Edward. However, with that mistake came a blessing in disguise. Yes, Bella had rendered Edward unconscious and had been imprisoned … but she'd also acquired his ability.
Newly determined, Bella focuses as she calls forth Edward's gift. She can feel her skin heat with the power until suddenly, her hands become engulfed in flames. She then turns her palms toward the Shielder and releases a mighty blast of fire.
The Shielder is completely taken back, unprepared for the sudden influx of assault. His shield immediately breaks, leaving both he and Mistress Pope exposed to the elements. Realizing that her protection is gone, Mistress Pope closes her eyes and summons the worst tremors she can conjure. The ground shakes with her determination, a crack opening in the middle of the room.
"I knew you were vermin," Mistress Pope screams at Bella, "You little sunchild whore!"
Not wanting to hear another word from the evil woman, Bella flies to her and yanks her by the neck from her seat on the Queen's throne. Mistress Pope wheezes as Bella's fingers clench, slowly cutting off her air supply.
"You're not going to kill me," Mistress Pope chokes out a laugh, "You're too weak."
"That's where you're wrong," Bella corrects her, anger flowing through her veins. And though she disposes of Edward's power quickly, her siphoning of Mistress Pope's energy is deliberately slow. Mistress Pope gasps with the agonizing pain of her life being gradually drawn from her body, orange glistening in her eyes like the spilled blood of innocents washed on the ballroom floor.
The extent of Bella's anger is unlike anything she's ever felt before from herself. The feeling is frighteningly intense; a fury more thunderous than the collapsing architecture around her. She feels it pump from her chest to her fingertips, bleeding through her skin until she can see it. It's burnt umber; thick, viscous liquid that inches across Mistress Pope's skin, leeching life as it travels. And when Bella can tell that she is near her end but still cognizant, she makes sure that the last sight Mistress Pope sees is of her eyes –black, wrathful, and full of the devil. With that, she drops Mistress Pope's lifeless body at the foot of the throne. Immediately the venomous feeling leaves her, but its dark effects still linger.
Once she turns around, she realizes for how long they've delayed their departure from the castle. The room around them shakes violently as brick by brick, the ceiling comes down in earnest. Time has run out. The castle is no longer gradually falling apart –total collapse has begun. She doesn't even bother to warn Edward as she dives through the air and gathers him into her arms. He yelps as she surges upward, pushing her wings so that they can make it through the falling debris, and then finally out into the night air.
"My parents!" Edward calls, "I have to go back for them! Stop!"
"I can't," Bella says, her voice cracking with emotion.
"Let me down," he struggles in her hold, "We can't just leave them. I can't leave them. Bella, please, take me back to them!"
"I'm sorry," she whispers, barely able to speak given her impending tears. All she can do is grip him as tightly as she can, and follow through with his mother's wishes.
They land in somewhat of a heap given Edward's persistent defiance and Bella's unfamiliarity with carrying people during flight. Immediately he scoots away from her, and while she expected it, her chest still hurts with a stab of dejection.
"How could you leave them?" he shouts at her.
"They refused to leave," she answers, "But I had to keep the promise I made to your mother. I swore on my life to protect you, and I've kept my word. I've done my duty."
"Your duty? What is your duty? It certainly wasn't being my friend!" Edward exclaims.
Bella ignores his painful jab, "My duty as a Guardian."
"A Guardian?" Edward crows, "You stripped me from my parents because you believe yourself to be a mythical protector of the realms?"
"It's not mythical," Bella objects, "I didn't believe it at first, but it's true, and I'm not the only one."
"Is that so?" Edward laughs, not a trace of humor present in the sounds, "Prove it then."
"Your insignia," Bella points, "It means you're a Guardian."
"Me?" Edward scoffs, "If my insignia is your proof it means that half the population are Guardians."
"What?" Now Bella is confused, "You needn't lie to me, it's okay. I have it too. It's in the center of our backs because we were chosen."
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Bella," Edward argues as he turns so that his back is to her. In a swift movement, he strips his shirt from his torso and reveals his skin to her. "My insignia is on my right shoulder, as it should be."
And while, on any other occasion, Bella would be distracted by the wide expanse of Edward's skin bore to her, this time, is not the case. She's too shocked by the fact that Edward is indeed telling the truth; his moon insignia lies on the toned muscle of his right shoulder.
This can only mean one thing:
Edward is not the Guardian.
Terminology
Ce par si calme peo brucio – Those who speak hotly burn themselves. Cullenian proverb warning against speaking rashly. [Cullenian]
Resource: 1. Wikipedia
"Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'" -Robin Williams
~CH
