Chapter 3- Justice
Edward spent most of his days either working at the boat yard or caged up in his room playing spine-tingling melodies over and over which reeked of pain and sorrow.
His siblings tried and tried to coax him out from his loneliness by playing jokes on each other, having games evenings, or simply crowding around the TV to watch their favourite baseball team. Edward would reluctantly join in sometimes. But most days, he was at his happiest when he sat huddled on his bed surrounded by Bella's possessions.
His squalid nights were spent hunting and flicking through the photo albums Alice had put together over the years. The pictures had become memories starting back from the very first day he met Bella at school. It's almost as if Alice knew in years to come, these would be his only memory of the human he once fell in love with. There were pictures of them horse playing around at lunch, standing beside her beloved shitty truck, photos of her birthday and of her graduation. Their moments together were all precious to him now. Somehow he was afraid he would forget what she looked like or her overpowering scent that once drove him wild.
He smiled to himself as he closed the album of their wedding. He had sworn he thought she would throw up whilst Charlie led her down that aisle. He laughed softly, remembering how she looked petrified and physically shook in her white gown. Rising to his feet, he slipped the album neatly back into its slot on the straining bookshelf and heaved a sigh. Looking around his self-contained bubble, he strolled over to his stereo and pressed play before laying down on his bed ... their bed. It was not to sleep, but to feel close to her again. Pulling her pillow to his chest, he hugged it, inhaling the now faint scent as Claire de Lune filled the air.
It was then he closed his eyes as he felt her presence. The breeze gently blew the netted fabric of the curtain, causing him to shiver. Breathing in deeply, once more... he smelled her ...that enchanting scent.
It was all in his mind of course, but he heard her say, 'It wasn't your fault,' as she always did. 'You aren't to blame,' the voice continued. 'Let go. Take care of our daughter.'
His mind was interrupted by louder voices from elsewhere in the house and the vision faded. It was the family preparing for the evenings hunt. He suddenly felt a thirst in his throat and he couldn't remember the last time he even actually felt a desire to eat. Maybe Bella was right.
That calm voice, the stirring of his hunger … he knew he must finally let Bella die.
Her memory was still present – for that would never fade – but he knew he had to let her go.
Now he needed revenge. He needed closure. He needed to move on.
Two human weeks had passed until Edward heard from Jacob again. The Pack had tracked yet another newborn clan deep within the Trymed Forest many miles from home. But any newborns that could enter the Cullen territory were a serious threat and needed to be stopped.
The same plan was put into place and as before, and Leah stayed with Renesmee. Sam was now back to full fitness so he would lead his pack head long into battle.
On their arrival, as the Pack had reported, they were greeted by five newborns. No introductions were made as the family set about dismembering them one by one. Echoes of evil laughter, growling and bone crushing screams resounded through the trees. The Cullens wasted no time in dispatching them as the newborns were truly out numbered.
Hiding undetected in a veiled dark cove, cowered a lone female. Her submissive gait caught the eye of Esme and Carlisle. Exchanging looks they both had a feeling they hadn't felt for an awful long time. Looking about 20 human years, this newborn was different. Carlisle knew exactly what they had to do. Scooping up the young female, he dropped her safely by Esme's side.
Meanwhile, Edward caught a scent on the breeze ... it was his!
He had finally caught up with that monster.
"Esme take her away!" Carlisle hollered, pointing in the opposite direction. They both knew they needed to get this female to a safe distance and Esme knew Edward needed Carlisle's help. Without delaying, she shot away with the young scared newborn.
Alice smelt him too and yelled, "Edward! It's him!" The others crouched and all closed in around Edward. They would not let this one escape again. They had his back.
The rage spilled out of Edward in abundance. "He's MINE!" Jacob joined him up front and agreed, baring his fanged teeth with a low long growl.
This monster was quick and moved with a stealthy quietness. Edward remembered how sudden his attack had been before, but this time he had no intentions of letting him get away. This was the moment he'd prepared for. The moment he was sadistically looking forward to. The group had the newborns outnumbered and with the amount of newborn bodies strewn about the ground, Edward knew he knew it too.
"AWWW ... here's hubby! Keen to join your mate, are you?" The twisted male taunted him, eerily laughing into the night. "You have no idea how much I enjoyed tearing off her head. Pity though, she was a pretty one. I could see why you chose her. Matter of fact, I wouldn't have minded that one for myself!"
With an ear splitting growl, Edward pounced. Jacob wasn't far behind. Sam went for a leg, but again, the murderer reacted too swiftly and kicked out making contact. Sam flew through the air and came to rest with a loud yelp at the foot of a tree.
Enraged, Jacob leaped forward and bit the arm off of the perpetrator as he sailed through the air. Edward kicked out and hit the monster in the centre of his chest, causing him to stumble backwards. Alice jumped onto his back, frantically grappling for his head, but it was to no avail. As she was thrown off, Carlisle caught her just in time before she hit the ground.
Emmett swung in from above landing on the vampire's remaining arm, cracking it off like a chisel through stone. Jasper placed a boot hard down onto a leg, while Jacob bit off the other. His pained cries were now laughed upon by Edward who leaned over his now quivering torso.
"Now who looks pathetic?" he sneered.
Wasting no more time playing with him, Edward ended the battle, stomping hard down on his neck. His yell carried for miles, scaring bats from trees as they swooped through the air in search of safety. The wolves howled in celebration. All except Sam, who now in human form lay panting, with Seth by his side.
They had finally won.
They had found and killed the evil one who had caused pain upon the whole group.
.
It was only then Edward saw the female clinging to Esme as they rejoined the group. "Who is she?" he spat at Carlisle.
"She's different from them Edward, can't you feel it?" Esme answered softly, as Carlisle stepped in between him and the newborn.
"My senses are rather preoccupied right now!" Edward hissed, glaring at the frightened girl.
"She will not be harmed, do you understand me, Edward?" Carlisle told him sternly. "With our help, she can be tamed."
With another loud growl, Edward ran, as fast as his legs could carry him, north, towards home.
Renesmee ran to greet at him at the door. "It's over!" She cried enthusiastically with relief in her voice and tears in her eyes.
"Yes," he nodded with tears of his own as he pulled her near. Their embrace said a thousand unsaid words between them both.
"Glad it's over, Edward." Leah replied, joining them as she sensed his presence back from the hunt.
"Thank you for taking care of her," Edward said graciously.
"Always a pleasure," she smiled.
The cheers and whoops were now audible as the Pack and the rest of the family ran home.
"Wait? Who's with them?" Renesmee glanced around, puzzled. Leah instinctively stepped closer to Renesmee.
"It's okay, Leah," he said holding up a reassuring hand. "It's a newborn Carlisle and Esme know can be tamed. My senses were confused before, but now that I can think clearer, Renesmee is in no danger. She's safe. And the newborn will be watched, don't you worry!"
Leah tilted her head to the side with alarm. "Sam is injured! I have to go."
Leah hugged Renesmee and disappeared into the darkness.
"Come inside," Edward told his daughter, leading her through the open door. He handed her a glass of milk as the others arrived home.
Against all his knowledge and senses, he instinctively cringed and moved closer to Renesmee as the stranger's scent drifted up inside his nasal passages.
"It's all right, Dad. I sense no danger either." Renesmee tried to reassure her father, but Edward no longer took chances when his daughter was concerned. It was his job and duty to protect her at all times.
Bringing the trembling female inside, Carlisle and Esme stood close. Their intentions were to both protect the newborn and to be on guard in case she had fooled them and leapt for their granddaughter. It had happened before. When that nomad Laurent came to warn them of the evil Victoria, it was he who was set out to seek Bella while she was still human and destroy her.
"Edward … Renesmee? This is Mari; she is one of us now. Mari is willing to change her choice of blood. We will all treat her kindly while she resides in this house. Do I make myself clear?" Esme glanced around the room as everyone nodded and her stare lingered on Edward.
"Just keep it away from us!" Edward spat, fiercely holding out a protective arm towards his daughter.
"We will ensure Renesmee is kept safe at all times, Edward." Esme turned slightly towards the doorway and acknowledged Edward's concern. "Jacob has arrived to collect her now."
"Come Mari, we have some new fluids for you to feed on out back." Carlisle led her away to get her started on her transformation.
"Why is she here?" Edward scowled at his mother.
"She has no one Edward. She can be changed. She will cause no harm here." Esme tenderly placed a hand on his arm that draped by his side to reassure him.
.
"You brought that newborn here?!" Jacob's voice boomed toward Edward as he stood in the doorway.
Walking immediately to be at Jacob's side Renesmee attempted to calm him down. "Jake, she's fine, she's like us. She won't hurt us,"
"You allowed this?" Jacob shouted at Edward in disbelief, who was shaking his head side to side.
Hearing thunderous voices from the house, Carlisle returned to appease this situation once more. With a nod to Esme, she left the room to watch over Mari. He stood in between the two now in an attempt to keep them apart. "I said, she will cause no harm! Everyone needs to relax."
"It wasn't my decision!" Edward growled, ready to spring at a moment's notice.
"Please, both of you, don't fight!" Renesmee glared at them both, trying to appease the situation.
"Take her home Jacob!" Carlisle ordered.
"Further away the better!" Jacob said bitterly.
Renesmee returned to her father's side "It will be fine, Dad. I promise ... I can feel it."
"I know, I just worry too much," he said wistfully, pulling her close and placing a kiss on her forehead while his eyes bore into Jacob's.
"It's over, Dad. We can finally move on." Renesmee tenderly kissed Edward's cheek and skipped back to a waiting Jacob. It reminded Edward that she was still very much a child in some ways.
With a loud roar from Jacob's bike, they sped off and disappeared into the night...
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A/N: Hiya again! So he did it...Edward is God! All hail Edward!
A small note- I wanted to explain the pronunciation of Mari's name. It's Mar - Ree. Not Mary or Marie. I can sleep easy now. :o)
Thank you all for your reviews so far. I'm glad you are loving the story.
Onto Chapter 4 then? I'm spoiling you. xx
BIG HUGE MASSIVE SQUISHY HUGS to ThisIsReallyHappening, my wonderful BETA whom always finds time to help me out. This wouldn't be possible without you. I Love You x