~.Read.&.Review.~
Narrator's POV
"There were more," Emmett hissed, angry at himself that he had misunderstood Rosalie's cry.
"A lot more," Rosalie agreed. Emmett heard the anger in her voice. Remorse washed through him, as did fear.
"I didn't know," he tried to reason, with her, with himself.
Rosalie brought her golden eyes upon her husband's guilty expression. "Now you do," she said coldly, knowing her harshness wouldn't bother him in the least. And she was right.
Emmett understood her words this time, because he was used to them. Rosalie had always been independent, strong, fearless in a way. The helpless despair in her cry before had caught him off guard, and he went rushing to save her without a second thought. He knew something was wrong, only he had misinterpreted what that something was.
This time, however, he knew what she meant. She was telling him to not bother worrying over his mistake because that wouldn't help them. What mattered now is that he focus on righting his wrong. He knew what the problem was now, and he had to focus on dealing with it.
Rosalie was always helpful to him with her advice, in a way no one could ever understand but the two of them.
The two shot out into the tiny space where Esme had been left. They spotted her on a boulder that was loosely attached to the mountain side, a soft growl vibrating up her throat. Below her two vampires were about to make their move. Emmett wouldn't give them that chance.
He launched himself toward them, intercepting the ravenous newborns from their target. His body collided with both of theirs, smashing them against the cliff face. The newborns snarled at Emmett's sudden interference, and he echoed their anger with a growl of his own.
Rosalie took in the scene before her, guarding her mate with her eyes, while evaluating Esme's condition.
Unfortunately, Esme was not unscathed. The motherly woman's right arm had been clawed at, the sleeve of her shirt dangled, torn, and two of her fingers were misshaped. Rosalie growled involuntarily at the assessment.
Esme stared down as Emmett pinned the newborns. Their teeth snapped at him furiously. He was keeping a tight hold on them, but it was obvious he was struggling.
The Cullens already knew the type of strength newborn vampires possessed, but even Emmett and his brute force was not proving to be enough for these two alone.
This worried Rosalie the most at the moment because she remembered that there were more. With her thought on that, something pounced from the bushes.
A wiry boy, lean and small, lunged himself out of the covering of the forest and onto the rocks near Esme. She turned, eyes wide and worried, body tensed and ready.
Ready for what? Rosalie thought to herself. She knew they were outnumbered, badly, and that her loving mother had to fight, no matter how much she wished she didn't have to. But could Esme do that? Could she perform an act of violence, even with her instincts? Rosalie had her doubts, not because she thought Esme weak, but because Esme was too kind, too caring, and well…she was Esme.
As Rosalie advanced forward to assist her family, one of the newborns Emmett had managed to capture slipped from under him, escaping his massive hands. It bounded toward Rosalie, who was sprinting full speed at the newborn, all her thoughts now on tearing him up.
Thunder boomed through the sky, echoed with a similar clash. From her peripheral vision, Esme caught Rosalie's body slamming into the newborn's. She whimpered quietly, in fear for her children, in fear for herself, too, but not so much when two other lives were much more precious to her right now. She had to help them, to protect them. And as a screeching sound ripped through the air, emphasized by the flash of lightning striking across the sky, indicating trouble for Rosalie, Esme knew that despite her non-violent ways and lack of any fighting skill, she would protect them, no matter what.
The dangly black-haired boy who had positioned himself on the rocks near Esme, turned his head at the high pitched scream from the gorgeous blonde down below, leaving the perfect opportunity open for Esme.
She lunged at him, straight on.
Not the best move to make on newborns, as it's the one attack they actually know how to fight against. But unfortunately Esme did not know this.
The boy's bright red eyes darted to the female flying at him, and he immediately snarled, and brought his arms out, while pushing down on his legs and lunging at her. When he and Esme made contact, he quickly wrapped his arms around her solid body, crushing her. Her wail made the young vampire grin wickedly. He growled victoriously as he increased his strength while diminishing his opponent's. Esme's bones cracked and protested against the pressure.
A few feet below them Emmett was ripping away at a newborn, a toothy smile subconsciously drawn on his face. The excitement and challenge of battle always excited him.
But although he was successful with one newborn, which to his utter joy happened to be about as burly as he was, there was no victory to be claimed yet.
Emmett didn't have time to start a fire and burn the remains of his second victim of the day, he barely had time to realize what was happening to both his wife and his adoptive mother.
Rosalie's shrill scream was fierce, vicious, almost demented as she dashed to the side quickly, dodging the grasp of the newborn battling her. Half of Rose's once perfect face had four gashes down it, from hairline to jaw. It was apparent that Rosalie was set on much more than victory, but on vengeance as well. A direct attack against her face was automatically interpreted in Rosalie's mind as an attack against her beauty, something she refused to lose.
Above, Esme was struggling to break free of her captor's grasp. Her diamond hard bones actually beginning to break against the force being pressed on them.
Esme let out a sharp breath as all the pressure suddenly vanished. It took some effort but she stood straight as she looked to see what had happened. Her relieved eyes watched the black-haired boy's head slide down the cliff side, followed by pieces of his hard flesh, and then some more distinguishable body parts such as fingers and a leg.
Looking over to where her opponent once stood was Emmett, ripping the newborn to bits with a terrifying expression plastered to his face. As he finished, dropping the rest of the body, Rosalie growled.
"Dammit!" Her voice was loud, deafening, matching the current thundering weather.
Emmett and Esme turned their heads. As they did, eight more newborns edged forward, surrounding the Cullens, trapping them against the rocks.
The newborn who had clawed Rosalie's face was limping, deformed, yet he prepared for his next attack without any hesitation, his bright deadly irises locked on Rose's infuriated, fearful ones.
It was hopeless now. All three members of the Cullen family knew how this fight would end.
Even as Esme felt her immortal body healing itself, she knew she didn't stand a chance.
Even though Emmett had yet to be harmed he knew this next battle would be a tragic one.
Even as Rosalie's tremendous amount of perseverance and tenacity pushed her forward to defend, she knew it was pointless.
Yet, although their minds were made up, sure about the outcome, Emmett and Esme jumped from their high position, spreading out slowly, flanking Rosalie but giving her a wide berth, too. They were determined to fight. They would protect their family, or at least they would try.
None of them dared to glance at each other, for fear of that being the last time to ever see the faces of their loved ones.
The newborns continued to progress forward, each one growling, baring their teeth, and ready to attack. There was a long silence. No one spoke, only watched helplessly.
Then Emmett laughed.
Not being able to help herself, Rosalie peered over at him. His eyes were on her.
"Ready to kick some vampire ass, Rose?"
She remained quiet. Her eyes saddening, dulling. She stared at him for one more long second, taking in every detail on his face, from his loving, honey eyes to his adorable dimples, before turning back to the dangerous procession before them.
"...Don't hurt yourself," Rosalie replied sarcastically, humoring her husband.
Emmett smirked, looking forward, preparing for the battle he knows will be his last. "Such a pessimist," he murmured through his grinning lips.
Suddenly, like Emmett's last words were the trigger to the war, Rosalie's already crippled enemy launched himself at her, just as she did the same.
The eight newborns reacted to the sudden action instantaneously. They flew toward the strange yellow-eyed vampires at tremendous speed, intent on persecuting those who they were warned about, and taught to hate.
Emmett charged forward - he was determined to go out in a blaze of glory, with his trademark smile glued to his face.
Esme remained where she was, dry tears pricking the corners of her eyes. Her body was already greatly hurt, and there was only so much she could do against the two newborns racing to her, both with strongly built bodies, eyes intent to kill. She readied herself, postioned her stance into a defensive one, and let her animalistic instincts take over.
Edward's POV
I hissed at Victoria, swiping at her for the hundredth time. She dodged. Another miss.
I was growing impatient. This fight has been going on for too long, longer than either of us had expected. She had misjudged my strength and skill as much as I had underestimated hers.
If it was just the two of us I could have easily taken her out. In her head she denies that thought, thinking she could have taken me on alone but she was fooling herself if she truly believed it. Why else would she wait for her newborn duo to swoop in unexpectedly to outnumber me?
Back at the cliff where Ryan and Bree, as I learned were their names, arrived to Victoria's aid I was so shocked at the fact that I let something so obvious slip past me that I couldn't think straight at first. But I quickly regained my composure, and I used my mind reading advantage to decieve them for quite some time. I had immediately, without any hesitation, provoked Victoria to want to kill me right away now that she had back-up. It was a rash move, dangerous at that, but I just could not have her running off again. I needed her to fight so I could finish her.
Victoria and I were actually both very similar in a way. Our motivation, what we were attempting to accomplish was all for our mates, our loves. Her for James, and me for Bella. From the very beginning of this year-long fight it had always been about James and Bella.
I won the first round; defeating James, which, before my family, seemed to be an impossible task.
Victoria won the second; attacking Forks and taking away Bella's life and soul by changing her into one of us, into the darkest of monsters.
Now we had come to the third and final round. Finally just between the two of us...
Almost, I thought as I remembered Bree and Ryan. This was the end. One of us would succeed, the other fail, and then, in one way or the other, this would all finally be over.
I knew it had to be me who must succeed in this fight. I had to protect Bella, to save her. Even if I defeated Victoria, and the newborns then killed me, at least Bella would no longer be plagued by the dangers that have haunted her since the moment she met me.
And as for the newborns, my family would protect her from them I'm sure. I have faith in them.
I went for Victoria again. Chasing after her while trying to keep a safe distance from her two newborns was difficult, but somehow I had managed so far. I knew my luck had to run out some time though.
I caught Bree's thoughts, her plan, but I had already launched myself at Victoria yet again. When I missed it was too late for me to move out of the way. Bree wrapped her fingers around my wrist, yanking me sideways with all her newborn strength. My body flung in the opposite direction Victoria jumped to. My wrist snapped backward, a flaring pain shot up my arm. I hissed angrily.
I managed to fling Bree over my head, sending her flying backwards, away from me, but that only provoked Ryan more, who had grown a close bond with her.
Ryan grappled me to the floor. I growled at Victoria's sickly sweet laughter as she watched me being taken down.
I struggled relentlessly, snarling, venom coating my teeth in readiness for when I sink them into my enemy's marble skin. I never got the chance however, because Bree was back, running straight into me. I howled in anger, in frustration. I could not be losing. I had to think of what I was fighting for, who I was fighting for. Bella counted on me. I had slipped up once before; leaving her had been one of the greatest mistakes of my existence. But losing to Victoria would be worse, much worse, because it would mock me for leaving Bella in the first place. Bella's been through enough. I had to protect her. I had to end her nightmares.
Memories flashed through my head; Bella's human, smiling face as I held her; a vision Alice had long ago of her and Bella, two vampires, two happy friends; a carefree baseball game interrupted; an agonizingly long trip to Phoenix; a ballet studio where James awaited my arrival; Prom night, where my date would have rather been eternally damned then forced to dance; a disastrous 18th birthday party, where a simple papercut proved lethal; the beginning of my darkest days, where I leave Forks and the girl I love with a promise to never return; a dark night in an attic, alone, where breaking news interrupts the TV show the occupants of the house were watching, and the news that sent me into a frenzy as I panicked to get back to the town that will always be considered my one true home; finding my family already there, determined to help me; running into the Volturi; and then finally, trailing Victoria's scent.
There was only one good image in all of those memories, and it was the first one, of human Bella, my Bella, smiling happily, safe in my arms. Even the second picture was acceptable in these circumstances. That was all over now though. I had unintentionally forced all that could have been away, and brought on the terrible months leading to where I am at this moment. It was my fault, all of it. And now I was battling to try and fix it all, to redeem myself.
And as I willed my body to get stronger, to escape the imprisonment of Ryan and Bree, there was that sudden feeling of instinct that told me it was over.
I had lost.
I had failed Bella.
Is he giving up? I heard Victoria think, bewildered, like the thought of me quitting was as improbable as me winning.
That's when I realized my struggling had died down immensely, my eyes were downcast, dull and defeated, and I looked tired, worn out. I then had to ask myself that same question. Had I given up?
Confusion took hold of me. The thought was wrong - I don't give up. Especially not when my family and Bella counted on me to survive. What was I doing going down without a fight? That wasn't the Cullen way.
Victoria was about to speak, about to order her newborns to finish me off, but my head snapped up, my eyes dancing with a burning passion to protect, to fight, to live. Before anyone, even me, could process what I was doing, I rammed Bree into the ground, my teeth sinking into her shoulder blade, ripping her arm from her body. As she struggled, shocked, I managed to fling Ryan off my back just enough to flee from him, to get away from his reach. I jumped backwards, landing a few feet away, crouching, ready for anything.
Anything, that is, except for what happened next.
All three vampires, now ravenous, thinking I had been trying to trick them into letting their guard down, lunged at me with full strength. I knew I would not make it out of this in one piece, some of me would be ripped apart, maybe even all of me. I shook my head. I wouldn't think negatively on this.
Ryan reached me first, but luckily I just barely managed to read his thoughts in time to know where he planned to grab me. Since one of my wrists was already injured, I only had one hand to really fight with. I swung my arm in front of me, grabbing both of Ryan's wrists in one hand, and yanked him toward me before letting him go and slamming my foot into his chest, sending him hurdling away into a row of trees a few yards away.
I was proud of that kick. But time was short, and I knew beforehand that he would be the only one I would be able to fight off without getting injured.
I braced for an impact of two fierce, feline-like vampires, when suddenly, to everyone's surprise, there was a fourth vampire with us.
Why hadn't I heard this one? I'm losing my touch, no wonder Victoria's been beating me.
Before I could gather any more information, the vampire, female by the looks of it, hissed, almost protectively, as she tackled Bree. Both of them went flying. I didn't have time to figure out what that meant because Victoria had reached me, paying little attention to her ambushed newborn.
Victoria clawed my chest, leaning in to snap my neck with her teeth, but I pushed her back just in time.
As the vicious red-head stepped back to steady herself, and ready another immediate attack, I had just enough time to quickly look for the newcomer, searching for their scent, thoughts, anything that would help me understand what was going on.
I heard Bree's screech, listening to her thoughts as her head was detatched from her body. I quickly blocked Bree's mind, not wanting to be in it through her pain. My eyes wandered to her body, being thrown to the ground by the vampire who's thoughts were nowhere to be heard, and who's scent smelled strange and new, yet familiar at the same time. Her brown hair swung passed her shoulders as she looked up, and our eyes locked.
I froze.
Everything froze.
The world around me had suddenly stopped. There was nothing running through my mind except the crimson-eyed vampire staring awe-struck at me, as I was to her, like we were both seeing something incredible, unbelievable, wonderful. And that is exactly what I was seeing.
"Bella," I whispered, not sure if my voice was even audible at all. My Bella, she was here, real, right in front of me. She was so close. There were so many things I needed to tell her, that I wanted to tell her, that I wanted to do to her.
I watched her eyes widen, fear rising in them.
Her expression confused me, and it hurt me, because I knew it was a reaction I deserved from her, but one I did not want to accept either.
It was then that her beautiful voice rang out to me, my breath hitched at the sound. But then realization struck me, and struck me hard.
"Edward!" Bella screamed, her lips pulling up as she hissed.
Something hit me in the side, catching me completely off guard. I roared ferociously as the pain hit; Victoria, who I had forgotten all about, sank her deadly teeth deep into my neck. My body, succumbing to the pain, was paralyzed for an eighth of a second. But that was too long, and I knew my head would be ripped off my shoulders, and then it would be over.