AN: Thank you all for reading!
A big thank you to mauigirl60 for all her help on this chapter!
Enjoy!
Chapter 3
The woods in these parts were lush with foliage of dense greens that, in the dark, seemed blackened and all the more ominous. As the sunlight made the path clear, the night sky made the leaves seem like barriers to an impenetrable maze. When Bella stepped onto the ground, the weeds felt like they were reaching up to trap her ankles. She had one arm holding Jason tightly, while trying to pull Sarah out of the tangles of thorns that were impeding their escape.
The howls in the distance filled her with dread, a chorus of monsters. A part of her wondered if they had killed the beautiful but terrifying men. A part of her didn't give a shit if it meant she could keep her children alive.
They continued their journey, as Jason sniffed loudly and wiped his nose on Bella's shirt. She almost warned Sarah to watch out for ticks and poison ivy. That was silly, really. There was something more deadly trying to eat her children and she'd rather deal with itchy skin ailments than the alternative. Death.
"Momma! Momma! Momma!" Jason wailed into Bella's neck as his tears soaked her.
"Shush, baby," she implored, patting his back. She needed to keep moving and the little boy needed to be quiet.
Sarah dug her fingers into her mother's hand. "Quiet, Jason! Daddy's gonna eat us!"
"Sarah, stop it!" Bella kept pulling them, as Jason cried louder.
Fuckety fuck! Bella thought. The sounds from the beasts echoed like loud whining through the darkness.
The stars had started to shine through the sky, Bella noticed as she looked upward. The moon wasn't so bright. She could only hope that Jacob had missed his window of opportunity to get whatever benefit he would from hurting them, but she didn't doubt he would try to get his revenge.
They continued forward.
It could have been hours, but more likely minutes. They were all exhausted. The rush of adrenaline was fading quickly. Sarah quietly remarked, "I wish I could go to sleep, Mommy."
Bella noticed a grouping of trees, high branches caressing the sky surrounded by wispy, tall grasses that were reminiscent of pictures of her maternal grandmother's flaxen hair. She moved the children toward them and settled them onto the ground.
"Lay down for a minute," she whispered, as she situated herself between them. Jason and Sarah's heads rested on her chest. Her fingers started running through the dark hair on their heads. Their coloring was so much like their father, but they resembled the Swans. "Rest your eyes for a minute and then we'll head to Grandpa's."
Bella didn't mean to close her eyes but as she drifted off, the wolves' howls were still so very far away. It was far enough that for a minute she felt safe, as red eyes watched from a distance.
XXXXXX
"Edward, don'tcha think this is the sweetest thang you ever did see? A mama and her babies all cuddled up in the forest?" Bella rubbed her eyes and looked up to see the men from the night before staring down at her. The sun behind their heads made them look like angels with a heavenly glow surrounding them; however, they were anything but. Her heart beat rapidly; last night hadn't been a nightmare, but a terrifying reality. The blond one continued speaking with a grin. "In looks only, because only you smell sweet though, mama. Those babies reek something fierce."
Edward gave his friend a withering look. "Stop taunting her, Jasper."
"I forgot that ya hate playing with your food, brother." Jasper gave Bella a wink, as she clutched the rousing children to her. "Ed here is a tidy boy. He just dives in with a wham, bam, thank you, ma'am."
"Jasper!" Edward hissed.
He looked at Edward with a frown. "Don't get attached, because you can't hear her, boy."
Bella stood up awkwardly, pulling the sleepy children up with her. She held tightly to them. She took a deep breath and stepped in front in an attempt to shield them. Tiny hands clung to her waist.
"Just let us walk out of here, all right?" Bella looked around behind them. The daylight had revealed a meadow full of wildflowers. Little lilac buds mingled with delicate, white daisies on the ground, creating a beautiful carpet of blooms. She could almost imagine Sarah collecting them and forcing Jason into wearing daisy chains. It was too beautiful a setting for these men.
Jasper flashed his sharp canines. "I don't think so, honey."
"What the hell are you?" Bella gasped. Her eyes searched for a place to run. "Are you werewolves like Jake?"
"No. We are certainly not. Actually, we helped distract them for you to get away with your little girl's help." Edward gave her a seemingly gentle smile, which she wished she could trust and knew she shouldn't. He reached out his hand toward Bella. "Come with us."
Bella inched herself and the children toward the meadow. Could she run fast enough carrying them both? They were tall children and their size would make it awkward, but she had to try.
"I need to get to my father's house," Bella said. Their bodies were away from the trees and they were now positioned in the sun. She reached back and, with a grunt, pulled Jason into her arms.
Edward followed them into the sun and Bella's eyes widened at the sight before her. He was shimmering like the light reflecting off the lake. It was a beautiful sight and she couldn't take her eyes off him.
"Mommy, are they angels?" Sarah asked, her gaze fixated on the man before her, just like her mother.
Jasper started chuckling and followed Edward out into the bright light. "Aww sweetheart, ain't you the cutest, stinkiest li'l thang? Angels? You better start prayin' angels are actually hearin' all this."
"Jasper, stop scaring the children. I have a feeling that Mrs...what's your name, my dear?" He smiled at her again. What kind of shimmering villain was he?
"What are you?" Bella asked, angrily.
"A vampire," Edward announced, shrugging. "A vampire that wants to know your name and I suggest that you tell me. I would hate to get mad."
He flashed his knife-shaped incisors.
"Bella Bla... Bella Swan," she whispered.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph, you stupid ass!" Jasper complained. "They're just luncheon meat!"
Edward grabbed Jasper by the neck and slammed his body into a tree, which made a cracking noise as it broke into pieces. "She's different!"
The two men stared into each other's eyes in what Bella could only describe as a battle of wills. She was certain they were distracted so she started running, Sarah and Jason clutched tightly to her body. It was cumbersome, but she was a woman possessed with living to see another day.
There was a whoosh and then Bella landed face-first into the dirt. She looked up to find Jasper holding Jason by the neck of his shirt. Her little boy cried, "Momma, come get me! Momma, please!"
She jumped up onto her feet and Edward grabbed her arm. He was holding onto Sarah with his other hand.
"Aww darlin', the little cowboy wants his mama!" Jasper crooned. "Will you be a good little girl or do I snap his neck?"
"I would do as he says," Edward said, as he ran his nose against her neck.
Inspiration will strike sometimes at the most important moments - those that led to life or death. Bella's fingers grazed her pocket and felt the Phoenix from the lighter pinch her fingertips through the fabric. Gently, she pulled it out and, her eyes never leaving Jason, flicked it open.
The flame danced in its warm yellows, oranges and reds as Bella pushed it toward Edward's face. He growled like a jungle beast and pulled away. "Is this your goal, Mister? You want me to flambé your sparkly buddy?"
"Bella Swan, think about what you're doing!" Edward tried to keep her gaze.
"Fuck you! Let Sarah go!" Bella watched as Edward dropped Sarah's arm. She pointed her lighter next toward Jasper. "Your turn now!"
"I can break his delicate neck," Jasper pointed out.
Bella smiled as she watched Jasper staring at the flames. "I can make you into a bonfire to roast marshmallows."
Edward walked tentatively toward Bella, both hands up in supplication. "It seems my little lamb is actually a lioness."
"I'm none of your business." Bella motioned toward Jasper. "Let him go!"
"You don't tell me what to do, girl!" Jasper snarled.
"That's my job, husband," a tiny voice called from the limbs of an old oak tree. "Let that little cutie down and give him back to his mother."
Bella glanced up to see a lovely girl with short black hair sitting cross-legged in the branches. There was a bouncy feeling of joy that seemed to radiate off her open and kind face.
"Alice, I'm hungry and not interested in your vegetation bullshit," Jasper sneered.
"You'll come around! I'm always right!" She jumped down from the tree. "Esme!"
If so many bizarre events hadn't happened recently, Bella wouldn't have believed her eyes when a trio people just appeared in the blink of an eye. Two were strangers. A woman with golden hair resembling Aphrodite held hands with a large grizzly bear of a man, who looked gleefully all around him, followed by the stranger who'd come to Bella's assistance earlier on the beach. They, along with the buoyant girl from the tree, all had eyes the shade of the goldenrods which littered the meadow at their feet.
The chestnut waves of her hair floated lazily in the breeze, as she put her hands on her hips. The woman was frowning at the men. "Boys, I think you need to let this nice family come with us."
"Aww Mama Esme, why ruin all our fun?" Jasper asked the kind woman, as he shook Jason like a rag doll, making the child whimper. "Carl wants them gone."
"Stop it, Jazz!" yelled the dark-haired girl.
He just grinned cheekily and blew her a kiss.
"Edward, what is this all about? Where is Carlisle?" hissed the woman known as Esme.
"He wants them dead. Caius is nervous about the wolf situation. The prophecy needs to be avoided at all costs. You know this, Esme." Edward stared at Bella. Sarah clung to her mother's waist and her eyes darted nervously to her brother. "Carlisle's going to check and make sure the job is done."
"It would have been done by now if Edward hadn't coddled the snacks," Jasper complained. "Alice, baby, you've been invaluable at getting us information."
Bella watched as Alice glared at him and then at Edward. She yelled,."Get out of my head!"
"Mommy..." Sarah tugged on Bella's sleeve and pointed to Jasper. He looked over at them and took hold of Jason's neck.
"No!" Bella screamed and ran toward the monster clutching her child. She'd barely taken a few steps when Edward grabbed her by the waist.
The big man rushed toward Jasper, shouting, "Fuck this! Rose!"
He barreled into the other man causing Jason to fly into the air. The blonde woman darted toward the boy and caught him. She pulled him close and cooed, "I got you, sweetheart. Alice!"
Before anyone could get to Sarah, Alice ran over and swung the child onto her back.
The big man threw Jasper into a tree with a chuckle. "Mess with kids your own size, Yosemite Sam! Let the little lady go, Ed."
"Emmett, I'll snap her in two first," Edward growled. His grip was so very tight that it was hard for Bella to breathe.
"Dude, come on now..." The big man moved slowly toward Edward.
Edward squeezed her so hard that Bella cried out. His lips grazed her ear.
Moving slowly toward Rosalie, Alice handed Sarah to Esme and said to Jasper, "I want you to come back..."
"No!" He growled at her, licking his lips. He approached the women like a cheetah stalking a herd of gazelles on the African plains. These men were feral and by the way Edward was holding her, Bella had given up all hope.
In an instant, Alice's eyes glazed open and she smiled. "It's going to be okay, Bella. We'll take care of Sarah and Jason."
Bella's mouthed dropped open. She'd never told them their names.
Edward smirked at Alice, his hands moving slowly over Bella's stomach. "I get Bella for the children, Alice? I thought you wanted to save her?"
"You see the same things I do," she stated, pointing to Bella. "I trust you to do the right thing with her."
Bella, without a doubt, felt that this monster was unable to do the right thing.
"Edward, what the hell are ya doin'? Carl said..." Jasper was being held at bay by Emmett, but it was apparent by the way he was eyeing the children that he was trying to figure out a way to snatch them.
"What do you say, pretty one?" Edward looked down at Bella. "Want to take a walk?"
She shivered in fear and an odd flicker of desire. That small emotion filled her with hate for the man, but Bella knew what she had to do.
"Take care of them for me. Keep them safe," she pleaded. "I love you both."
The tears and cries of the children filled the meadow but, to keep them safe, she needed to get the red-eyed vampires away.
"Good choice," Edward murmured, as he picked her up and cradled her body into his. "I'll be seeing you all very soon."
"Edward, please..." Esme started to say as she comforted Sarah.
"So many options, mother of us all." He gave her a wink and with a burst of speed, rocketed into the forest, Bella firmly in his grasp. Jasper followed quickly behind.
"Mine!" Edward nuzzled his face into her hair as he ran.
Said the spider to the fly was Bella's last thought before her mind shut down from the terror.