Chapter 14

Once Jake dropped me off at home I immediately started working. I knew Victoria was gonna try something with a snap decision. I need to protect Bella as soon as possible. I went over to the closet and wrenched the clothes to the side. I grabbed the key from my back pocket and inserted it in the slot. I wrenched open the metal that guarded the back room. I had this room put in before we moved in, no one knows about it but me. It was simple. It was sort of small. In the middle was the Wicca star drawn in chalk. There were millions of candles lit around the room. I had a picture of my goddess on the wall in front. I locked the door behind me. The walls were a dark red and the floor looked ancient with the rotting wood, but truth be told everything was brand new. I had my grandmother's old coin on the wall, though. I went over to the south wall and grabbed the engraved dagger. The handle was silver and has a dragon. I also grabbed the matches and lit the end candle, and then suddenly the whole room was lit with a warm glow. I walked back over to the floor where the pentagram was drawn and sat down. I mentally laughed as this exact thing looked like a witches stereotype. I ignored the thought and started working. I held the dagger to the my palm and sliced through. I winced in pain but recovered quickly as I started using my blood as led from a pencil and traced the pentagram. I closed my eyes.

"Full moons day

New moons night

The hour of time

The devil of light

The goodness of dark

The shinning of stars

I call upon my ancient goddess

Protector of all that is good

To protect the one who needs it most

To cast your blessings on her soul

And protect my only survival

She lay asleep in sound of the night

But an evil lurks her paths

I cry to you my goddess

I cry to your ancient goodness and ancient dark that brings light

Please protect my salvation

My choice of living

My task

My life

Blessed be,

Bella."

I felt my mind go numb as I felt the presence of spirit leave my body and soul and travel to the more needed person. I felt dizzy and tired, as I had used all of my energy on that blessing. I opened my eyes steadily and saw my hand was now drenched in blood and my head was spinning. I noticed how the pentagram had the thick layer of red on it's white original design. My eyes started to droop closed again as I lost massive amounts of blood. I felt my shoulders slump and my head spin. I started to fall back and my head landed with a loud thud as my vision went blurry and I let the blackness envelope me.

I looked around at the area around me, and sighed. I was at the river. My hand was still covered in blood. I looked around at my surroundings. I quickly went to the river and dipped my hand in. I let out a strangled hiss as the cold water stung my hand. I looked around.

"You did good my daughter." I heard someone's voice behind me.

"Yes, very well my granddaughter." I heard my grandmother's familiar voice. I looked around frantically and gasped when I saw my goddess and my grandma. I held my breath at the beauty of them. My grandma had her familiar black curly short hair and her glasses, but she looked stunning. She looked at least 30 years younger and her eyes shown with the happiness she was feeling. I looked at my goddess and gasped. She was amazingly beautiful and I couldn't even find words to describe her. She looked like a true goddess.

"Where am I? How did I get here?" I asked shakily. I felt my head start to spin and I hastily removed my hand from the river.

"You are at your favorite place, the river. We brought you here, daughter. We have never been so proud." My goddess said happily. I looked at them both. I wished for some way that they could come back to consciousness with me. I knew form the beginning that I am not alive, or I am not awake.

"But I failed, Victoria is still out there, and I still haven't found her. I can't protect Bella from her." I said with a silent tear. All I wanted was to keep her safe. I wanted Bella to have the dream life with Edward.

"Mia, you haven't even begun the battle yet, you need to be careful. Bella may be in danger, but she can hold her own. You will be great when you protect her. You will, just give it time." My grandmother said easily. I looked over at her, sad that she didn't make it.

"How are you here, grandma? I thought you died." I asked seriously. She died at a very old age, but she hadn't been given the gift of immortality, she was just a good soul. She had aged slower, even though it seemed impossible. I hated the thought of seeing her in her casket when I knew I had seen her in all of my dreams, alive.

"My soul was taken from my human body. I lived 100 years granddaughter, my time was up. My soul was given to our goddess. I am her third in command. My soul travels this whole earth looking for our followers. So, in a way I did die, but only my body. My mind and spirit are with you." She answered with honesty and love. I could feel her warmth even though it is just a vision. She was always so selfless.

"You are my most gifted daughter, Mia. I have given you everything that you have needed, and will continue to. You have shown your loyalty to your grandmother and me. I have listened to every silent prayer you have sent me, and tried to make you happy. You overcame everything you needed to, and now I have given you a major challenge." My goddess went completely off subject. I could see she was trying to get me back on topic, on the reason she was here.

"But I am nothing special, I killed someone, I have killed many someones. I don't deserve your love. I can't even protect the people close to me." I cried. "I am going to die before Bella even turns 25 and I won't be able to protect her." I said sadly. I knew everything I said was true. I was on the verge of death, only years from it, although my aging has been slow. I still haven't changed, if I ever will.

"Shh, shh, daughter. That someone was someone I couldn't save, her soul was given to evil. You needed to protect your loved ones. That was merely a test of your self-sacrifice. And you proved yourself." Nyx answered. She didn't seem to care that I had killed her, although I could tell every death took a toll on her, good or evil.

"I could have handled it better, I could have offered her a choice." I said sadly. I know I could have made her want to be good, I could have shown Darcy the good of being good, of being the light and the dark together, not completely evil. I hated the thought of seeing what I did again, of seeing me drenched in her blood, being completely covered in guilt. I could see her face in my mind.

"You did and she didn't accept it." My grandma said. I could see they were trying to comfort me by telling me the stuff I wanted to hear. But I didn't want to hear that. I wanted them to yell and scream and feel worse. I don't want them to be accepting of me killing someone I was so close to and I felt I could never kill, but I did. I had destroyed her, just because she said stuff about Jake. Although I will never take that back.

"I should have saved her. I could have saved her." I muttered sadly. I noticed how my goddess and my grandmother's figures were fading. Their light was bright but it was getting dimmer and dimmer and I could see they weren't going to be able to stay. I knew once they left I would wake up. "Don't leave! Please!"

"We must, daughter. Just remember that evil is close and you must watch your enemies. Pain is close and you must keep your friends close and save your soul. I will leave you with that." My goddess whispered.

"Friends are changing and leaving, you must save them. Light is not always good, darkness doesn't equal bad." Were my grandmother's last words.

I felt myself jolt up when I heard someone slam my bedroom door. I noticed how most of the candles were already out and I am still in my room in the closet. I looked at my still open wounded hand and sighed. I grabbed a rag from the side of the room and wrapped it around it. I noticed how my clothes were covered in blood and my hair was sticky with the dried extra. I listened at the metal guard until I finally heard my door slam shut again and I opened the metal lock hesitantly. I immediately shut it behind me and moved from my closet to my nearby bathroom. I wrenched the door open and started the shower. I noticed how the sun was still a little below the horizon. I stripped down quickly and jumped in. I let the warm water was the blood away. I looked at my hurt hand that was still covered in the towel. I sighed. I thought of trying to heal it, but then my night's work might have been for nothing. I can't call back spirit without it staying. I thought of my goddess's words. Pain is close and you must keep your friends close and save your soul. I silently prayed to my goddess that I can figure it out. I quickly shut off the water and wrapped a towel around myself. I yanked open the bathroom door and gasped.

"Sorry to see you like this, but-." Edward's words were but off when he saw my bloody hand that I still felt blood running from. I could see the panic on his face and the fear in his eyes. He knew it was me who hurt myself, to do the spell I needed to. "Who did this to you?"

"It's nothing." I said quickly as I ran over to the dressed and grabbed random clothes and walked into the closet. I quickly yanked on the new clothes and walked out of the closet silently.

"This is not nothing." He said as his eyes turned slightly black from the sight. I could see it wasn't from the blood, it was from anger. He as angry someone hurt me. I had never been that close with Edward but he was here trying to protect me, to avenge me. I could see the thoughts of killing the person who hurt me running through his head.

"I know what I am doing." I said seriously. I grabbed another towel and wrapped it around my hand. I tried to think of some way to heal it without using spirit, which is with Bella. My Bella. The girl I need to protect. My task. I liked that thought. I have a task. My goddess trusts Bella's fate with me, she thinks I can protect her, and I will.

"Jacob won't like that." Edward said seriously. I screamed in my head if he told Jacob I would burn him to pieces. Jacob will not find out, ever. He would think I am loony and forbid me from doing spells forever. He flinched form the intensity of my thoughts.

"I needed to do it…for Bella." That shut him up. I could see he wasn't happy, but he understood my spells were extreme and I needed to do it to protect my Bella. I couldn't leave her defenseless now. "Edward, I think I came up with a plan…to stop Victoria, or at least keep watch."

"Let's hear it." He said quickly. I could see he wanted to change the subject, he didn't want to think about what I had done to myself, even if it were for Bella. He did care, which made me want to cry.

"I can teleport my body and soul to another place, maybe I could see where she is." I answered. He nodded to himself before he turned his head back to me. I hoped he would let me, although I would do it anyway since I didn't need his approval.

"No." He said firmly. I starred at him like he had three heads. This could help Bella, it could save Bella. I could kill Victoria and save all those newborns, he won't need worry anymore and neither will Bella.

"This could save Bella." I said seriously. I saw the pain of wanting to protect Bella, but the pain of protecting me. Probably because Jake would kill him if he let me do this without anyone to help. Jake was an over protective fool. I smiled subconsciously.

"But you could get hurt." He answered calmly. I could see I wasn't budging him on this, but I needed to do it, I just didn't want to go against him or go behind his back for it. I wanted everyone to be okay with the extreme measures I was going to to protect everyone.

"I don't care." I said just as calmly. I looked him straight in the eyes and showed him I didn't care what happened to me as long as Bella is safe, since I won't be alive if Bella is hurt.

"I do." He said seriously.

"I'm doing it whether you like it or not." I answered. I looked back at the window as I heard the birds chirping loudly as a storm approached. I could smell the rain in the air, for the one day it isn't raining already.

"Mia…"He groaned.

"That's final, now go watch Bella, she isn't safe alone." I said quickly. Before I could blink he was gone. I just sighed. I grabbed my jacket and walked down the balcony stairs. I ran quickly into the forest and went to the river. I felt power flow through me. I know what I have to do. I focused on the picture of Victoria from Edward's mind and thought of only that. I felt the wind wipe through my hair and my stomach twist. I felt the amazing feeling like always. I felt like I was in waves. All to soon it ended. I found myself in a forest. I smelt tons of blood around me. I looked and saw about a dozen humans on the ground withering in pain. I looked frantically around for Victoria. I heard a loud growl and turned silently. I saw her, right in front of me. I was face to face with the evil she demon that ruined Bella's life. She made it a living hell for Bella and I instantly felt anger, no rage. I felt my eyes turn completely black and my hands rose. I thought of fire, just fire. I thought of Victoria completely falling to ash at my feet. I felt my soul leave my body and the bloodthirsty demon that came with my old ways take over my body. I watched as a smile appeared on her lips and she laughed amusingly.

"Well, I get dinner too." She laughed as she stalked forward. I held up my arms palm out and thought of her shrieking in pain. I heard a loud scream as I closed my eyes and focused, but as soon as I opened them Victoria was looking herself over for injuries. I felt immediate rage and fury that the remains of my true evil soul thought to decrease now. I saw how the fire temporarily hurt her, but it was as helpful as an illusion. I saw her smile and motion with her hands. I saw newborns come at me. I shrieked a shriek that would sure to scare any vampire or supernatural creature.

I felt a sharp pain in my arm and I looked at the young girl that was about to bite my arm. The face seemed so familiar; and I couldn't even place who it reminded me of, I just knew she was gonna kill me. She was maybe 12, or 13, and she had deep blazing fiery red hair. I shrieked and tried to shy away from her. I felt the tickly feeling in my gut and I felt my hair whip around me.

I landed on a hard floor as I continued to shriek. I waited for the pain and torture to start but I felt nothing but someone shaking me. I looked around and saw Edward sitting next to me. I stopped screaming and immediately shrunk back. I found myself in my room in the closet with Edward where he was before. I looked over at the door I know I locked and saw the metal all crushed.

"I'm not gonna hurt you." Edward said quietly as he moved closer to me with his hands up in surrender. I just kept moving back as far as I could. I whimpered.

"Get away, get away from me!" I shrieked. I don't really know what is wrong with me, but I just couldn't be near him right now, everything in my body was screaming to run away. I know he is the good guy but I couldn't help but be scared as to the prior event. "Why are you in here?"

"I saw the metal door when I was looking for you, I came in to check and you just popped out of no where." He tried explaining. I heard my name being shouted but Edward stayed where he was. I couldn't think hard enough to find the voice; I just stayed against the wall and grabbed the nearest thing. I looked down and sighed. It was the dagger. I still held it up and warned him to stay back.

"Mia?" I finally heard Jakes' voice shout. I saw a large figure come through the tiny whole in which to enter my room. "What in the worl- Mia! What did you do to her?" Jake shouted as he tried to come closer to me. I just whimpered and shrinked back and held the dagger out.

"No one come near me." I whimpered again. My better judgment was screaming to get a grip and let Jake come over, to just stop overreacting, but something was still different about me. I knew it! My eyes! I could still only just tell that my eyes were my sickly black color and my dark soul wasn't leaving. I felt my head start pounding. "It isn't safe."

"What the hell are you talking about, Mia? You are being insane, now just put the knife-." Jake started saying. Jake thought I was crazy as he saw the tons of blood over the room, the smell of it was revolting but I knew in a couple of hours it would be gone. Edward cut him off.

"Jacob, she's right." Edward said evenly. I could see he saw what was wrong. I couldn't see very well though through the sickly black liquid in my eyes. I could feel it sting as I blinked.

"Like hell she is righ-."

"Look at her eyes Jacob, they are pitch black. That only happens when she is using her powers. Something must be wrong, something must have happened." Edward observed. I couldn't really see any details, just everything was dark. I didn't like this.

"Mia, honey, just put down the dagger. You know you don't want to do that. Come on honey, what would Bella think?" Jake said as he came closer. I felt my eyes change back when he said Bella. My better sense was coming back and my thinking was clear. I looked at the bloody dagger in my hands and tossed it to my left. I looked up at Jake and sighed. I stayed where I was, not even moving to breath. "Mia." He said as he rushed over and pulled me into his arms.

"Jake, I'm so sorry, I didn't know what I was doing, I was trying to protect Bella but they all came at me and I just-." I sobbed.

"Who came at you, Mia? What happened?" Edward asked as he came forward. I looked over shouting sorry in my mind.

"I found Victoria-."

"What?" Jake shouted.

"I found her and she had newborns, I got angry when I saw them…there were kids on the floor…in pain. My anger got the best of me and I just snapped. It wasn't me anymore, it was what I used to be. I was…evil, for good reason. I tried to burn her, but I having practiced in so long and my soul wasn't used to It." I rambled.

"Yeah, that reminds me what is this room…I mean the blood on the floor?" Edward asked. I could see he wanted to know what kind of spell would cause me to do something so drastic to myself.

"When my kind needs more power we sacrifice fresh blood to gain energy. I used an ancient protection power to help Bella. I needed to cut my palm and trace my symbol in my fresh blood. That's what this is, for good not evil. I really wanted to save her." I said quietly. I really did want to protect Bella. I don't, no I can't have her hurt.

"This place is kind of cool." Jake whispered.

"More importantly, where is Victoria now?" Edward asked.

"I think in Canada, she was in the woods." I answered as I held Jake closer to me. I needed him right now. He drew circles on my palm and held me close. He muttered soothing words and I felt his hand run over my back, up and down in an attempt to calm me.

"I told you not to go after her." Edward whispered. He looked at me seriously but I wouldn't look up. I knew it was stupid to do alone, but I had to. If one of those things got their hands on my family, no I wouldn't think of it.

"I needed to try." I whispered back. I felt my voice thicken as tears came to my eyes. I hated the thought of being useless of being this vulnerable. I let that thing touch me, I let it hurt me. I didn't hurt Victoria, what happened to my powers?

"It's okay. You won't do it again." Jake said firmly as he held me closer. I held him tightly and I let the tears slowly fall from my eyes. Victoria is playing with me. Someone from my family was there, he was a newborn, but whom?

"What do we do know? Do we wait or track her?" Edward asked as he starred me dead in the eye. I knew he wanted my answer, because Bella is my task and I make the decisions with her.

"We wait, and when she gets here, we kill." I said seriously. "I won't stop until it is Victoria's head in my hand when I burn it to bits."

"I will be right there with you." Edward said evenly as Jake agreed. I could see we all cared about Bella deeply, but in all different ways.

"I think I should go, Bella is a handful." Edward laughed. I just nodded and I grabbed his hand before he ran. I needed to tell him before he left, and I didn't need him fighting with fate, and I didn't need Jake finding out.

The future is set in stone, don't fight it. More than one person will have a vampire's fate. I said in my mind. He just looked gravely at me and nodded. He left before my eyes. Jake just sighed and picked me up carefully as he slipped out of the whole in the wall where my metal cover was supposed to be and carried my easily to my bed. He put me down gently and sat next to me. He put his head over my heart and sighed. I ran my fingers through his hair. I liked this, staying with him. Just having him comfort me.

"This will be one hell of a fight won't it?" He asked seriously. I couldn't tell if he was scared or excited. This was the packs chance to kill a bunch of vampires without guilt. Although these vampires, they didn't mean to be the way they are. Victoria changed them. She changed such young children it sickened me.

"Yeah, but it will end well. I can just feel it." I said normally. I heard a loud howl in the distance and Jake jumped up. He looked over at me and sighed. I just nodded sadly and motioned him to follow it. He smiled and ran for the balcony. I sighed. I walked back into my room in the closet and walked to the middle. I threw a blanket on the door and it covered with ease. I didn't like the feeling that people could watch me. I sat on the edge of the bloody star. "Why did I leave? I could have killed her."

"Your life was not going to be ended there." I heard someone whisper. I opened my eyes and gasped. My goddess was sitting before me as if she was a normal person. I looked lovingly at her, my mother, my destined mother. The one person who understood me, and who cared for me even though I am what I am. I knew my family loved me, but they are sickened by me.

"I could have killed her." I said evenly. I knew if I tried, she would have beend dead. I am strong enough to end her completely. But then fate would be screwed up, because the battle must take place. I have seen it a hundred and one times and nothing has changed, but it's been so long since I have had a vison.

"That was not fate, you would have had your life ended and even I can't repair a dead soul." She said evenly. I just sighed. "Daughter, since you were first conceived you have messed with fate, and it wasn't even your own." She laughed. Her laugh was so carefree and light I almost fainted. It was the best thing I had ever heard and I felt like it wrapped around me like a fuzzy blanket.

"What do you mean?" I asked. I couldn't tell what she was trying to conclude with that. Who's fate did I screw up this time? Jacob? My family? The Cullens? The pack? Who is it this time that I ruined?

"If you were not conceived, your loved one would have a different fate. Jacob was destined with the little angel your task and her mate will conceive soon enough. She was almost a perfect match for a soul mate to him. But you…you were his real adanata unaligohi. I bent the world to find another soul mate for her and it turns out another lucky soul will soon find comfort in her embrace." My goddess' words left me with hope and sorrow.

"Does that mean Jake would have had another soul mate? I changed that?" I asked. I could feel my heart break itno a million little pieces, and I didn't know if it could be repaired. My Jake? He isn't mine?

"Yes, daughter, but if you were not born it would have been that way. You are here now, you will seek comfort in him like you always did." I couldn't think of that as a good thing. I changed Jake's fate. He might have been happier if he had the baby. He might have had a different life, I should have stayed dead.

"Wait, does that mean I am not destined for him?" I ignored her other words. I couldn't but shake the feeling of shame. He could have been happy without me. He wouldn't have a killer as his girlfriend.

"No, of course not, you are. He is your adanata unaligohi and you are his in return, the world was not bent on purpose, but it received a new life." My goddess said sadly.

"So, I ruined his life then." I said sadly as I hung my head in shame. I ruined it. He could have been happy with someone absolutely beautiful in and out. He could have had a good life, a happy life without me.

"Of course not! It was just changed, daughter. I told you, you are his destined one. His soul was designed for your arrival in the world. He will always be yours as you will always be his. Even I can't change fate. He was your soul mate, but Renesmee was his replacement, her soul mate was found closer than we thought." My goddess said evenly. I could hear the honesty in her words.

"Renesmee? They name her Renesmee?" I asked with a smirk, it is beautiful. Simply beautiful. Bella would come up with something so beautiful that was it heart breaking. I was just dying to see how she would look. I hope she looks just like her mom.

"Yes, it is quite amazing, young one. Your Bella has made quite a life for herself. I am proud of you, too. You have not either chose a bad path." My goddess's sweet words rang through my head. She is proud of me. Of Bella.

"She isn't mine, she is Edward's." I stated. I didn't know why I didn't like that thought. I love Edward, I do. He is like a brother. But Bella chose him, not me. Although that was sick and weird, since I was saying I wanted her to be mine, I wanted her to choose me that was what tasking is. I am sadly glad she chose Edward though, I get Jake.

"No, she is very much yours, as much as she is Edward's. A task is what you protect…and love. You are the only case in the world that has not made a life with their task. You made another choice, as well as she did too." Nyx explained.

"So, she is my soul mate?" I asked with a laugh. So what I told the Cullens and the wolves was right. I am Bella's soul mate, and she is mine, just not romantically. She is Edward's love, but my soul mate.

"In a way, yes. You were destined together, as friends. The very best of friends. Almost sisters." She laughed. I thought it over, she is right. Best friends, that isfriends that are what we are. I didn't have feelings for her like that. Of course except for the ones Tasks always have for each other.

"My great goddess, why has she gotten in so much trouble? How did such a kind soul deserve this?" I asked seriously.

"She has her protector. She is your little danger magnet. She can't help but be in trouble. I have asked you many times to accept it, and you have as I have seen." She said seriously. I just nodded my head.

"What is my destiny goddess? Do I die in battle? Will I grow old with Jake, as he stays young? Will I stop aging and be a vampire too? Or will I just live as my present person, as immortal?" I asked seriously.

"The future is already in set, you will figure it out." She said as her voice got weak and her figure started to fade. I felt apart of my soul die, I want my goddess with me, I want my mom with me, here.

"NO!" I yelled. "I have so many more questions."

"You will figure it out, daughter." She said easily. I watched in horror as her figure faded and soon I was alone again. I didn't like this, I didn't like feeling alone. It made me feel horrible. I wish I could have someone help me figure this all out. I just need someone else too. I drew a deep breath and put my head in my hands.

"Mia?" I heard a familiar voice shout. I ran out of the little room and jumped into the arms of my best friend.

"Paul." I sighed. I contained a sob as I thought of everything. The weight of a ton of people's lives are on my shoulders. I just want to tell someone, get someone's help, but I know I can't do that. I have to do what makes everyone safe, and that isn't it. I gave my best friend a hug before stepping back and looking straight at him.

"What's wrong? You look awful. And why are your hands bloody?" He asked as he took my hands in his. I yanked them back and sighed. The dagger.

"I wasn't careful with cutting the onions downstairs and I cut my hand open." I lied. He just nodded. I wiped my hands on my pants and sighed. This is gonna be tough.