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Bella's POV

"Edward!" I screamed.

In that instant everything became clear to me, more clear than it has ever been. All the questions roaming my mind these past hours were a waste of thought. There should have been no questioning my actions or my judgment. I would save him. Because despite everything I've been through after he left me heartbroken, I still loved him. I had been hiding that love away for months, afraid of it. But now there was something much worse I was frightened of, and that was losing Edward from this world forever.

I watched, horror-struck, as Victoria's venomous teeth sank into his neck. Pain dominated his face as a terrifying snarl erupted from him.

Before I even realized I had been running, I was behind Victoria, gripping her fiery hair in my hands, and yanking her head back with such force that I heard a snap. Her agonized howl pierced the air as I threw her away from me, away from Edward. I lunged for her without hesitation. I could feel the flames sparkling in my eyes, the venom dripping from my bared teeth, the eminent need for Victoria's death tingling at the tips of my claw-like fingers.

The world held nothing but her and I, and she was going to die by my hands.

Victoria landed lithely on her feet, snapping her neck back in it's proper position. She shrieked furiously at me as I collided with her. There wasn't enough time for her to stop me; I bit into her, tearing her cold flesh.

The palm of her hand rammed into my chest. I exhaled sharply at the sudden impact, but it only made me grip my enemy tighter.

A large crash broke out from next to us. I couldn't take my eyes off Victoria to see what it was, I could only hear Edward's brilliant growls competing against another's, who I guessed was the male newborn that Edward had kicked before.

Even through the snarling and thrashing, I could not help the strange feeling running through me, the feeling of…completeness.

Edward was here, with me, still in one piece, still fighting. Sure, he doesn't feel the same way I do, and I doubt he ever will, but it was so nice just to see him again, to smell his intoxicating scent, to hear his velvet voice whisper my name when he saw me…. It didn't matter that his expression showed guilt; I already knew he only came in search for me because he felt responsible. For that quick nanosecond we locked eyes I also spotted other emotions, but they weren't as clear, and I wasn't sure if I was seeing them right. I thought I saw pain in his eyes, but I could have misread it; it was probably disgust for what I had become.

Victoria lashed out at me, pinning me to the ground.

I growled. I had no time to worry over Edward's thoughts about me, our lives were still at stake.

I wriggled under her grasp until I broke free. As a newborn, I was exceptionally stronger than Victoria. I smiled at that fact.

Victoria grew more angry when seeing my smirk. She glared menacingly at me, and longingly - she has been after me for so long, she must feel delighted by the fact I came running right into her arms. She was so close to what she wanted. It's too bad I refused to let her succeed with hurting anyone this time. Innocent people would not die because of me anymore.

My natural, animal tendencies took over me. I flew toward her without a second thought.

My arms were aimed to clamp around her body, but she moved out of the way just in time. In fact, no matter how fast I was, every time I made my move I would miss her. She watched me, an expectant expression on her face. I lunged for her again, and again, only to be disappointed and frustrated by the fact that I was not getting anywhere with my attacks.

Victoria started hopping around, moving around me. I did not know what she was doing, or what her plan was. Why didn't she just attack?

I crouched low, keeping my eyes on her. I was about to spring, when she surprised me and lunged at me herself. She rammed into my side, our collision thundering through the air. I hissed incessantly at her as I tried to maneuver out of her iron grip. But she had me locked securely in her arms. I had no idea what to do to get her off me, to get free. My mind was in a panic-like mode, unsure of how to save myself.

And then, Edward was there in all his glory. Aside from his neck being tilted into his shoulder - I guessed that Victoria's bite was bothering him and he was trying to ease the pain enough to focus - he looked okay. That other newborn had no chance against Edward once it was just the two of them.

Edward forced Victoria's arms off me, and jerked her back, while pushing me forward in the opposite direction.

I swung around, my teeth still bared.

Edward's back was facing me, his arms slightly out, and his stance protective, ready as he watched Victoria. Even though I could not see his face, I noticed that he looked more civilized than me, even when fighting. He had experience, grace, and not to mention a very useful gift. I only had instinct to guide me, and I doubt I'm much of a fighter anyway.

Victoria glower at Edward. It was the first time I actually got to look at her from a distance rather than up close trying to rip her throat out. I frowned at how horrible that action sounded coming from me, even if she did deserve it.

Victoria's eyes lingered away from Edward. She threw me another longing glance as she took a step back. Was she planning to run? That would be her best bet now, but I wouldn't let her. My foot edged forward, readying to take off after her. Edward remained unmoving.

"It's over this time, Victoria," he stated gently. I heard the threat, the promise in his voice. "You know you can't run from me."

She hissed angrily at him.

For another few moments all we did was stare at each other. I was becoming impatient. I let out a low growl as I inched forward again. Victoria shot me a dangerous look, which I immediately returned. I could feel that my body was beginning to react to her hostile position, and it wanted to attack what it knew was the enemy, a very vicious enemy. I began to lean forward when Edward threw his arm out to stop me.

"Wait, Bella," he ordered calmly. Something in his voice brought my self-restraint back, and I managed to listen to him despite my instinctive drive to kill.

There was a sudden noise to the right of us. Edward did not move, but Victoria and I shifted at the sound. Stealthy footsteps. Low growling. They were getting closer, whoever they were. My head snapped in that direction impulsively. There was nothing but more forest that I could see, but in that forest there was more danger on it's way here. Did we ever get a break?

A high-pitched screech rang through the air, followed by a scream and a snarl. I jumped at the sound. Then I tensed, and my eyes went directly to Edward. But Edward was no longer there.

Frantically my eyes moved to Victoria. She was gone, too. But I knew that scream was hers.... And the snarl was definitely Edward's...

My thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a vampire behind me. I whirled around, and was suddenly face to face with someone familiar.

Riley!

I hissed at his abrupt, unwanted appearance. I had forgotten about him and his group. Behind him I could hear the rest of them advancing.

Riley wasted no time and sprung at me.

I jumped back, only to be rammed into from the side by somebody else. They locked me in their arms and ran. I snarled at whoever had me, but they kept moving, kept running at full speed. My body struggled in their strong grasp, while my mind was filled with confusion. What kind of fighting tactic were they trying to pull?

Whoever had me allowed me to turn in their arms, and as my hands were ready snag their neck, my eyes landed on their serious face. I stopped struggling instantly, and my hands relaxed as my brain processed that I wasn't in my enemy's arms, but in Edward's. Ignoring the fact that I could probably run just as fast as him, I clung to him. Edward knew what he was doing, as well as what our opposition was doing. It made sense to trust him, and luckily my instinct-driven body understood that.

Behind us Riley and that big one - the one I remembered went at it against Eric - were hot on our trail.

Edward made a sharp turn to the left, then bounded off the ground and into the trees, jumping from one to the next.

I growled at the vampires below us, their bright red eyes locked on our every move. From my peripheral vision I caught Edward glance at me when I did this. My expression automatically became a sorrowed one. He was disgusted with my behavior, with what I had become. I knew he would be, I saw it in his eyes before, but maybe a part of me wanted to believe I hadn't seen it. Denial doesn't erase the truth though. He didn't want me around forever, and now I will be. He's probably repulsed just seeing the crimson hues of my eyes, and my uncharacteristic growl made it that much worse.

But of course, Edward would still protect me, because he felt responsible for what happened. It was so like him. I could feel the sealed hole in my chest just waiting to burst open once he was gone again. Maybe it hadn't been healing afterall. Would I regret coming to help him once he leaves again? It's not likely. Even through the pain I don't think I'll regret a single decision I made today, even the one I was making now.

When he landed on the next tree branch I tried to push myself out of his arms. This startled him, making his body waver on the branch. He quickly composed his balance.

"Bella, what-"

"Put me down," I demanded harshly.

"I don't think so." He scowled, looking over his shoulder at our pursuers, who were now climbing up a couple of trees to get to us. His focus on Riley gave me the opening I needed to jump out of his arms and land next to him.

They only wanted me, not Edward. And I could save Edward, just like I came to do, and then he could leave and be safe. Edward had to stop blaming himself for everything. He'll get himself killed if he continues, and he had to go back to his family; they needed him. He could not risk his life for me just because he felt it was his doing that lead to my being turned.

I turned to face Riley. "I'm who they want," I told Edward. "You shouldn't have gotten involved. You need to-"

"No," he growled. His look was fierce, and his word was final, and I hadn't even finished what I was saying, yet I knew that he understood I was trying to get him to leave and let me handle this on my own. "I'm not going anywhere."

We stared at each other, glared at each other actually, our eyes battling for dominance. In the end, neither of us won. The branch under our feet cracked. We both looked down. At the same instant, it broke off the tree.

Edward and I fell to the ground, landing hard on our feet. I looked up. Riley and the big guy looked at each other, then hopped away from the tree trunks they were clawing their ways up.

Edward gripped my shoulder then, spinning me to face him. A shocked hiss escaped my lips without my consent. His topaz eyes stared intently at me, into me, like he was trying to see something he thought was there. His eyes flashed with acknowledgment, and I knew he found what he was looking for, whatever it was. His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed angrily.

"If you think I came for you out of guilt," he spat the word, "then you are greatly mistaken."

I opened my mouth to say something but quickly closed it when nothing came out. My thoughts were too rapid to make sense of them. And his words.... If he didn't come for me out of guilt, then why?

I heard Riley land first. Knowing he was closest to us my body wanted to react, but I was still frozen gaping at Edward, who was now facing our opponents with his top lip curled up, his teeth exposed threateningly.

Riley did not heed Edward's warning. He broke into a sprint, his buddy right behind him.

I grabbed hold of Edward's arm, but he broke free of my grasp and pushed me behind him. I was confused at the direction he turned in - because he didn't turn towards Riley - until two females launched themselves out of the bushes beside us, flying right at us. Edward snarled, irritated, fearful. And then, everything around us froze in its place.

I blinked.

Then my stomach fluttered with relief, and my un-beating heart flipped happily. I knew what had happened. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

Edward's eyes widened as he looked around at our motionless enemies. His confusion only lasted for a fraction of a second before his lips turned up into a grin as well.

Another female appeared out of the trees, the last of Riley's group. She stopped dead in her tracks when she spotted her unmoving companions. When her dark eyes landed on us, she hissed.

Edward began moving backward, forcing me to do the same since I was behind him still. I noticed his eyes weren't paying any attention to the last girl, but on the ones who were frozen. This confused me. That is, it confused me until I looked closer at the stationary four. They weren't as immobile as they once were. They were moving so slow it was nearly unnoticeable. I realized the power was slowly wearing off.

The dark haired girl advanced on us when she saw us retreating. She didn't get far though. She whimpered before letting out a wailing scream. Her hands flew up to her head, her fingers gripping her wavy hair like she was ready to pull it all out.

"Jessica," I acknowledged quietly.

"No, actually, that's Mike," someone said from above us. I looked up to see Angela and Jessica up in the trees. Angela was grinning at me, while Jessica was paying attention to the screaming girl. "He thinks he's better at it than I am," Jessica continued, rolling her eyes.

The appreciation that my friends were actually here, that they came, was overwhelming. Whatever changed their minds, I was eternally grateful.

I heard Edward sigh. When I looked at him I saw that his eyebrows were knit together, and he was grimacing. A mixture of annoyance, discomfort, and pain was evident on his face. Before I could figure out what was wrong with him, he bounded toward the thrashing newborn, who pounded her foot against the floor, and was shaking her head wildly. Edward reached her just as she stopped wailing. The girl opened her eyes, hissing when she saw Edward there. She made a move to attack, but it was too late. Edward's hand gripped the side of her head as his mouth brushed across her neck.

Three things happened simultaneously in that moment.

The first was the most obvious. In one swift movement the dark-haired girl's head was detached from her wriggling body. Once Edward had her I knew it was over.

The second thing was that Ben's ability wore out completely, bringing the four frozen newborns into the present. The two females pounced right where Edward and I once stood. They looked taken aback when their targets were no longer there. Riley and the Emmett-sized vampire continued running, but slowed slightly when they spotted the differences in the scene in front of them - which was how much farther back I was from them, and that Edward was no longer with me. They sped up though, as they realized what had happened to them again; it was the third time Ben had worked his magic on them after all.

I crouched low, readying myself for another fight.

However, my action was unnecessary, because the third thing that occurred was an eruption of snarls, followed by an ambush.

Eric and Ben pounced from out of nowhere, tackling the two bewildered females from behind. The girls snapped their teeth, and twisted around trying to find a way to break free. But Ben and Eric were already too consumed in their vampiric behavior, and were tearing the girls apart.

Jessica and Angela were suddenly next to me. Jessica was glaring at the big guy, who fell to his knees, clutching his head.

That left all of my attention for Riley, who ignored the struggling of his allies and looked determined to carry out his goal. His feet pushed off on the ground, which would have forced him to lunge at me, when he was abruptly jerked back and thrown onto the floor. Mike had taken hold of Riley's left arm, while Edward had grabbed the other. Both boys glanced briefly at each other as Riley landed; I spotted the slight amusement in Edward's eyes, and the smirk he was holding back. Mike did too apparently, because he looked away, scowling. I hoped that didn't make him regret changing his mind about helping Edward.

As Mike went at Riley for the kill, Edward's eyes locked on mine. "Start a fire," he ordered gently. I nodded.

Angela and I wasted no time gathering a few pieces of wood, as Edward went to end the torture Jessica was inflicting on the big guy. Thankfully the rain had died down just enough that a fire was actually possible. Once the flames were blazing, time seemed to slow down. Even as Angela and I headed back to where I first found Edward, to make sure that Victoria and her other two newborns were properly burned, it felt like hours had passed by the time we rejoined the others.

There were no words to describe how I felt right now. Victoria was gone, forever banned from this world. We had won. We had saved Edward and proved Alice's vision wrong. The last image I had of Alice, Carlisle, and Jasper were their fearful faces. But now Edward was safe. I could just imagine the happiness shining in their eyes when Alice tells them everything is okay, and the fight was over. There was nothing to worry about anymore.

Speaking of Alice, where was she? Where were the rest of the Cullens? Alice said they were taking a different route, but they would meet us here. Maybe they were taking their time now that there was no rush.

Angela came up and hugged me. "I'm so sorry about before, Bella," she apologized. "Please forgive us." She looked at me hopefully. Did she honestly think I wouldn't forgive them, especially when they saved our lives.

"Of course I forgive you, Angela."

She smiled gratefully.

I wanted to ask what changed their minds. I remembered Mike's reasoning for not wanting to help Edward, and he was so set on not coming. I secretly wondered if Angela "convinced" him he wanted to go.

Before I could ask anything, Edward spoke.

"Bella," he said from his spot some feet away from the rest of us. "Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?"

Mike, Ben, Eric, Jessica, and Angela all looked from Edward to me. I cringed inwardly as I thought about what was going through their heads. I remembered my words in our argument just as much as I remembered theirs, and it was all probably being played back for Edward right now. Ugh. My cheeks would have definitely been a deep crimson if I were still human. Which brought me to my other concern, and probably Edward's, too. Where does our relationship stand, intimate or not, now that I was no longer human?