I still don't own it… I wish I did though.
Peter left the next afternoon. It all suddenly became real. Victoria really was coming; I really was going to die. I knew I would, simply for lack of strength. I would not be able to maintain the shield long enough to save myself and my families, only long enough to save them, which was the important thing.
It seemed unfair at first, that I should get Edward back then be ripped from him once again, but I then I reasoned that perhaps, this was why we had found each other once again.
Suddenly, dying in the place of him didn't seem so bad. I was to save the people I loved, I could deal with hell; or wherever else I was going.
I came back to the present as I felt Edward's arms wrap around my waist, his smooth lips brushing the top of my head. I turned and smiled, bringing his face to mine.
His lips were like heaven to touch. I wished we had more time; then quickly shook off the melancholy feeling. I smiled again, "What's wrong?" I asked him.
"For once, nothing," He chuckled as he ran his hand through his hair thoughtfully, "everything is perfect. I can touch you, be near you, all without worrying I'm going to kill you. We're together-"
"That's a bonus." I smiled the words.
"Yes, he said, resting his cheek on the top of my head, "definitely a bonus."
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After three terrifying days of waiting, Peter and Zafrina returned, along with Kachiri and Senna. I ran out the door and jumped into their waiting arms, squealing with delight, glad I could see them one last time.
"Bella, dearest!" Senna's thick Amazonian accent came through as she hugged me and then moved to Matthew and Bryan. Kachiri followed suit.
I heard a small gasp from within the house, and knew that Alice was having a vision. I didn't look to see what it was though.
"Three days." She whispered. I closed my eyes. I felt Zafrina's arms encircle me again as she tried to console me.
"Darling, everything will be fine. Between you and I, nothing will go wrong." I smiled at her over-confidence. Then something struck me.
"Oh," I gasped and broke her hold; Edward was instantly by my side. "What! What is it, love, what's wrong?" he asked frantically.
"Nothing's wrong!" I smiled, "I just had an idea. A false trail! Victoria," his eyes darkened at the word, "is expecting us not to know about it. A false trail would confuse them. She would send a few of them off to find me, but, it wouldn't be me waiting at the end of the trail, it would be-"
"Me." Edward finished my sentence confidently.
"No." I objected, trying to make my tone of voice final. "Absolutely not, it's far too dangerous."
"Yes, you are needed at the real fight, Edward." Senna added. "Kachiri and I will wait, along with Bryan. We will, no doubt, be able to handle them." Kachiri smiled at the thought. "Yes, I will be looking forward to it."
"Absolutely, I want to go, it's be fun. They'll be so confused picking them off will be easy." Bryan added, grinning, and I nodded.
I was horrible. I was more willing to have my brother go and possibly die than have Edward go.
The next day, I jumped on my bike and got ready to set the trail.
"I'm coming with you." Edward said finally.
"No." I replied, just as concluding.
He looked like he was about to object. I put my hand to his face and pleased with him. "Please, Edward."
"Please, what?" his eyes narrowed.
"Please stay here. I need to be alone for a little bit, and if you come, I'll have to set it again, because whoever she sends will be alerted to the presence of more than one person. Please!" I was practically begging now, and I felt dirty.
He was starting to relent after seeing the look on my face.
"I'll be fine, I promise. Nothing will happen to me. Alice would have seen it." I touched his perfect angel's face once more, and then straddled my bike.
He leaned down and kissed me fiercely, and in the midst of the kiss, I revved the bike and raced away, crying slightly. I flipped my mp3 player over and plugged it in, blasting the music as loud as I could. I set it to the hard-rock/hip-hop music genre and let it play. First one song, then another it continued as I raced on.
I finally got to the place where I needed to be, dismounted, and walked, touching as much as I could. When I go to the end of the clearing, I rolled a bit, dicing up the earth, then went back a different way.
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The next day, it was time. Bryan, Kachiri and Senna all returned just in time, and I insisted on examining them to make sure nothing had happened. Bryan had one slight scar, but he assured me it was nothing.
All of us raced to the clearing, arriving a few hours early, according to Alice's schedule.
"Bella, perhaps it would be best if you hunt. You need as much strength as possible." Carlisle stated in a muted voice. He was holding Esme tightly, who nodded in encouragement. I nodded as well then took off. I feasted on whatever I could find within then ten-mile radius, which included a few deer. I raced back, expecting to find them dead in my absence, but thankfully, nothing had yet happened.
Edward took me in his arms, and kissed my softly. "Nothing will happen, Bella." He promised. Then he stiffened.
"They're coming." My brother and my angel whispered at the same time. I mentally prepared myself for the worst as Victoria and the small army came into sight.
"Well, well. The gang's all here," she sneered. I snarled, and everyone sunk into a crouch.
"Don't you want to know why I'm doing this?" She asked sweetly. One might think she was asking for a favor, not for permission to explain why she wanted to kill us.
"No one cares, witch!" Matthew snarled menacingly.
"Excellent, then lets get on with it!" Victoria screamed. "Go for it!" She shouted behind her. Suddenly, all my family relaxed and started congratulating each other. I was confused. Suddenly, I realized. Someone had the same gift as Zafrina.
Now I knew why everyone was simply standing there in Alice's vision. They'd had no choice.
"Stop!" I shrieked, trying desperately to buy time.
By now, every member of my family was captured, standing idly while they were held.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked as I pushed my shield around Zafrina and prepared to use her gift.
"Nearly seventy years ago, Edward killed James. Mate for a mate, doesn't that seem fair?" she sneered again as she turned to build a fire.
"I'll get to you in a moment." Then I used the power I currently possessed.
I made the army believe they were being told to kill me while I made one after another appear as myself. One by one, the young newborns fell. She turned in time to see me struggle to keep myself upright as the power took its effect. I was falling, stunned by my weakness.
"NO!" She screamed in fury, leaping towards me. I forced myself to stand again as her body collided with mine. I groaned at the pain, gasping with the effort of even that small vocal expression. Somehow, I continued on, knowing that the fate of my family rested on my shoulders. Somehow, that kept me going. I forced the newborn army to kill the vampire that was blinding my family.
The fire grew ever bigger as it was fed by the torn apart bodies of former sentient creatures.
I heard my family continue to feed the fire. I let the illusions go, entirely too weak to even remain standing, just as Victoria lifted my body and threw me into the blazing tongues of fire. Everything slowed down. I saw it in an almost third party view, as if I was looking down at myself. My icy skin hissed as it resisted the fire. I heard a sweet lullaby being played. I heard one word being screamed over and over, by many different voices, the word "No!" played again and again across the large field, to my dying ears.
"I love you all," I whispered.
I felt myself fade as I relinquished my life.
Dun, dun, dun… What will happen? Don't worry, there's another two chapters, but the only person who knows what happens is me, and I might not get the chance to write for a while. However, I will try to find time.
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