Chapter Seventeen: Thank You For The Venom

Despite how many times Emily called after me, I kept on going. She pulled on my arm, yelled for me to stay, but I just kept going. Saying that I didn't know what I would be against, that interfering would just put the lives of everyone in jeopardy; it should have stopped me, but it didn't.

It didn't.

Growing up with parents like I did, I was always told to stay safe. Other kids could cross the streets on their own, but I had to wait for mummy to walk me to the corner before I could go anywhere. When I was too big for training wheels, daddy made me keep them on for just a bit longer, just to stay safe; always wearing knee pads, elbow pads, and a helmet. I wasn't allowed to sleep out at other's houses until I was eleven, nor would I be allowed out on my own until that age either. My parents were always overprotective of me, it was only natural that some of those habits would be passed down.

About an three hours beforehand, I was unsure of what I wanted, or what I was going to do, but things had never seemed to clear to me than they did at this moment. I wanted Embry more than anything, he was now the biggest part of my life.

I loved him.

I would to anything to protect him.

Through the trees, bushes, and over fallen branches, I walked as though it was all apart of some set; fake walls and props keeping me from doing what I needed to do. He was in danger, and even if he was a wolf and could take care of himself, I couldn't help it. Embry meant too much to me, he always meant more to me than I realised, even before I knew it was him.

Months ago, I was on a camping trip with my mum and dad. I wondered off before dinner, exploring a bit around our campsite. The one thing I would have never expected to see looked me dead in the eyes, and I grew the greatest fondness for wolves in the split second I looked into his deep, dark eyes. Drowning in midnight water, my wolf and I became close, even for the short time we spent together. I didn't know it then, but days later our relationship was redeemed when a mysterious Quiluete boy showed up at my school.

I never knew that either of those two things would lead up to me running towards an epic battle between werewolves and vampires over some girl who I always found stuck up and spoiled, despite not even having known her back then.

"I made a mistake, Embry..."

Pushing back branches and grunting, I kept on walking. I had to get there. I didn't know just what I would do just when I got there, but I had to see him. I had to apologise, to tell him that I loved him.

"I shouldn't have left, but I'm back now..." Wincing as I walked into a tree branch, I then tripped over some log. "I just need to see you..."

I had the worst feeling in the pit of my stomach that something happened to him, or that something terrible was about to happen. I hated to think the worst, especially about people I cared about, but I couldn't help it. The boys were up against vampires. Sure, I didn't really know the Vampire-Werewolf statistic, but I always considered vampires stronger... I guess it's because I always paid them more mind, if anything of the two. If one of them sucked Embry's blood, well... I'd stake him through the heart and set him on fire.

...oh my, that sounded cruel. But they were dead anyway, so it wouldn't be like I was killing someone. Would it?

Sighing, I slowed down a bit and kept walking. In all honesty, I wasn't even sure just where I was going. Where was this battle taking place? Emily told me, but.. Well that could be anywhere.

A branch snapped behind me, my head shot around quick, hair flying out of my face. I really should have wore a hair tie. That was besides the point, off topic. Was someone there?

"Hello?"

Ellie, really? We've been over this. You don't call out to the emptiness of the forest. Sure, the last time it happened, you met Embry, but not all creatures that dwelled the woods were good like him. What if that lion was still out there?

"It's not a lion." I shook my head. "That's been established. It's a vampire."

Which is ten times more frightening than a lion if you thought about it.

"Vampire."

Shaking my head, I turned back around and walked on some more. This fight had to be going on somewhere around here, right? I guess I would have heard the crashes and yells though, these were two groups of supernatural creatures. And I was heading straight for them.

All those thoughts about me being smarter than the adverage sixteen year old girl were out the window. I was in love with a werewolf, persuing a battle bettween his kind and vampires, and I wasn't afraid for some reason. Yeah, I think I may have had some issues.

And my feet were killing me for walking so much. Maybe I should take a bre-

My eyes widened. As I looked up the little hill up ahead I saw a man standing there. He was unshaven, arms out at his side, fists balled, and glaring at me with these crimson eyes. I should have learned not to venture into the woods alone. I should have. Every time I seemed to run into something abnormal. This time it happened to be, I only assumed, a vampire.

A vampire.

...great.

We stared at each other for a moment, before he darted towards me. My speed was no match for him, because as soon as I turned to run away, I was tackled against the leaf-strewn forest carpet, groaning in pain and struggling to force the man off of me.

"Get off! Get off!" I screached, pushing, hitting; only bringing more pain upon myself. "EMBRY!"

Then, if I thought the pain of being thrown to the ground hurt, well what happened next made that seem like being brushed across the face with a feather. Teeth sunk into my skin, and I saw my life flashing through my eyes... Or so I thought that would happen. Instead, I just cried out, feeling the immense pain, feeling as though my blood was burning through my body, that this man wasn't just sucking away my life, but spreading some evil venom throughout my body.

"Embry... Embry... Aaaagh!"

Everything was fading out, I was sure I was about to die. I was going to die. I'd never see my mum or dad again, never thank them for being such amazing parents, for loving me as much as they did. I'd never see Lindsay again, my best friend in the whole wide world, the person I shared everything with, my sister. I'd never see the boys, or my other friends, but worst of all I'd never see Embry.

Ironically enough, at the moment I thought his name, the I no longer felt the life draining from me. Writhing with pain along the forest floor, I dug my fingers into the dirt, crying out. The pain was spreading throughout my body, my own wails drowing out the growling and screaming that was happening near me.

I was dying.

I was dying.

I was dying.

"Dammit! Ellie! Ellie, no!"

...darkness.

A/N: Is she dead? Did I just kill of my beloved Ellie? ...are any of you guys worried for her? I was worried when I wrote this last night. I got way too into it and was like, "OMG ELLIE NO! WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!" And I was really excited and wanted to write more. So... I know what happens next because that chapters already written~

So yeah, I know that I said I would wait a little while before updating the next chapters, but I couldn't help myself. This needed to be done, and I wanted all of you to drown in suspense before I post the next chapter... Which I might actually take a while to post, just to spite everyone lol. I'm so mean. But no, I love you guys, my loyal readers! And thanks to GASPLudwig for pushing me so hard xD She actually called me up while reading the last chapter, bless her lol.