Chapter 25:
The next morning everyone sat in a circle on the living room couches. I sat next to Edward and Jasper. Alice told us that they would be coming in less than five minutes now. Carlisle was giving directions.
"I don't want anyone to get hurt so we will all separate. In the game of basketball, every man is covering someone. We need to all cover someone."
"I will take Jacob," Edward volunteered to quickly.
"I will take Sam. He is the biggest right?" asked Emmett.
"I believe so," assured Carlisle.
"I want to take Leah," joined Alice.
"I will cover Quil," said Jasper. I remembered how badly he had gotten hurt in the last battle. He wanted to protect Alice. I wondered if Edward would try something like that. I hoped not.
"I will take, uh," I paused. How could I take? Who had done anything to me? "Paul."
Paul was the only one to attack me, he always hated me, and he was the one who was involved in the fight against Emmett when he stepped into no-man's-land. He was the only one who I had anything against.
Edward looked at me like I was crazy. He was smaller than the other's, and he would be easy enough for me.
"All right, I'll take Embry," said Rosalie.
"All that's left is Jared, Seth, and Brady. At least the ones we know of."
"There are exactly twenty."
"Okay, I will take Seth," said Tanya.
"Brady," Irina said.
"Jared," added Kate.
"Eleazar, Carmen, Esme, and myself will take the other four."
"Hold on," I stopped. "There are more of them than there are of us."
"Yes, that is true," noted Carlisle, "Some will have to take two."
"I will," replied Emmett too quickly.
"I will too," said Edward. I looked up at his face to see if he was joking. Nope. He was looking down at me with eyes that begged me not to say anything. I closed my mouth and looked away.
"Still five left." Said Carlisle.
"I will," said Irina. I knew why as she said it.
"Me too," said Eleazar.
"I will," said Carlisle.
Jasper and Rosalie both agreed to take two more.
I knew then that they were there. The same burning sensation had returned to my nose. I was afraid a little. I didn't want anyone to get hurt. I didn't want them to want me. I hated Jacob for doing this to my family and my friends.
"Everyone get into positions."
I knew exactly which was Paul. I remembered back to that day I first met him when he lost control and I watched a boy of sixteen turn into a frightening dark silver shape. I pushed the memory out of my head.
The sight before us was truly frightening. A huge half moon circle formed, coming out of the trees that surrounded our back yard. I wanted to scream. Tell them to stop at least.
"Ready?" asked Carlisle and we all nodded in agreement.
"Oh yeah," agreed Emmett.
"Let's get in on with."
Everyone filed out the back door. We took positions in front of the person we were meant to "cover."
"This doesn't have to be a fight Carlisle," said Jacob's voice. He sounded like he was trying to make his voice like Edward. It didn't work. "You could end this now. Just give us Bella."
"No," growled Edward.
"Well I'm sure Tanya would agree? We would get Bella, wouldn't you like that?"
"You will not take another vampire from either coven," spat Irina.
"Well you brought all these wolves here against their better judgment. Say, didn't Sam used to be the alpha?" asked Edward, his voice filled with humor. Sam growled a low throaty growl.
"He decided to take his place," he snapped.
Alice decided to join in the pre-fight taunting. "Hey, um, Jacob, didn't Bella turn you down? What makes you think attacking her family would help that case?"
"Enough!" growled Jacob.
"It's not your fault Jake, Edward was just a little better," joined Emmett. "He is better looking."
"That could be based on being a vampire," suggested Rosalie.
"It that doesn't mean anything. I could beat Jacob at anything. Without the vampire qualities," joined Edward.
"THAT'S IT!" Jacob snapped.
Jacob lunged forward. I couldn't focus at first, but what would have been a blur, had I been human, was now a crystal clear death-match. I wasn't paying attention to what I had to do because I was watching Edward.
The huge dark silver shape was lunged at me. I ducked down and swung my leg in the air hitting him square in the chest. He must have shot a mile into the sky before crashing down. Before he ever hit the ground I was up and I kicked his body, which was in mid-air, into the forest hitting a tree and snapping it in half.
Edward had previously done the same and Jacob was coming back while Edward was facing someone else.
I ran smack into him striking him to the ground. I got up and he was smiling.
"Wow, Bells, you got stronger."
I pulled my foot up and it came crashing down on Jacob's leg.
Jacob now incapacitated, I turned around to face the now quickly approaching Paul. I thought about possible attack motions. He was standing on his hind legs. One leg lifted a little two slowly and I dropped to the ground and swung my leg, hard, at the leg on the ground. He fell heavily on the ground. I did the same I did to Jacob only I smashed both his legs at once. He grabbed my leg and tripped me up. I fell on top of him face-to-face. I pushed myself up from his chest and punched his face. His face was bleeding from more than just his nose.
I looked over to see how Edward was fairing. Both of the ones is were down to cover, were literally covering him. Edward was pinned to the ground. I ran over and smashed one of them off of him. It wasn't Jacob. He had a golden color fur and he was very fast. I punched him in the stomach and he hunched over. I kicked up toward his throat and I was positive he wasn't getting air.
He made a movement to get up and I rushed behind him and made one crushing kick to his back. I heard his spine split and he went sailing into a nearby tree.
I turned and Edward had Jacob pinned down flat. These would be Jacob's last words.
"Bella, what I did was wrong. I am so sorry. What can I do o fix this? Please."
This caught me off guard. I didn't know what to think. Edward paused to waiting for me to forgive him again. How many times would I allow myself to forgive him? How many ways can my heart be broken and still feel sorry for him, with all the little pieces?
"No, Jacob. You are out of chances. How many times? When will you stop?"
"I love you Bella." This wasn't a statement. He didn't say this because he loved me. He was begging. 'I love you' is not a pleading line. It's not supposed to be.
"I am done Jacob."
I nodded to Edward. He looked at me to see if I meant it. I could feel my face begging for this.
Then Edward finished him. Once, and for all.
Everything stopped. Everyone stopped.
Thank you everyone so much for your support. I don't think I could have gone this far without your reviews, pleading to go on. Thank you.