Chapter 16:
There were so many newborns running into the clearing I couldn't be sure where they came from. I was only somewhat aware that Jake had phased and he was attacking not even 10 feet behind me. I crouched low and jumped at one newborn that came at me. I started with her head, ripping it off and throwing it into the burning fire. I pulled at the limbs, ripping it into a bunch of little pieces and throwing them in. I had 4 newborns down before Emmett, who was not that far away, had one killed. I smiled to myself as I worked on another.
I shot a fire ball to the other end of the clearing so everyone would have more room to throw the pieces in. I didn't want to ruin everyone's fun, so I kept the fire to a minimum and fought the old fashioned way. Everything was hazy as I saw another one coming for me. I whipped behind me and had him dismantled before he could blink. But when I felt breathing down my back, I turned and saw the little girl from the other night, the one who almost bit me. I gasped and stepped back. The girl was so small and fragile, yet as a vampire, she was like marble. She was so young barely 13, maybe 12.
She had glowing red eyes and fiery red hair that reminded me of Victoria. That's why she seemed so familiar. But for Victoria to change such a young child, it sickened me. I could see she was suddenly scared and not ready for the death I was forcing her to get. I scowled and forced her behind me as I continued to attack, making sure to keep her safe. I could through her mind that it confused her, but she welcomed the protection. I put a quick shield around her and continued to look around for any more newborns attacking. I felt someone coming behind me and I whipped back and took off its head and threw it into the burning ash to the right of me.
They were coming faster and faster and I attacked evenly, while checking occasionally for the girl in the shield to be still alive. Three newborns suddenly came at me. I whipped around and grabbed ones throat and I kicked up and took off another's head. The one in my hand tried to scratch and bite me. I clenched and I felt his head fall right off. I laughed at the poor attempted at a fight. I threw the head in the fire and continued to take off his limbs. This fight was so easy it's sad. I could hear Jake and Emmett enjoying them.
It did make me mad that they enjoyed killing these well children. They didn't ask to be changed by Victoria, they just were. It made me sickened at Victoria, which made me think of her. It sent a fire in my viens and I hated all these newborns. I want her dead. But where is she? I felt someone behind me and I whipped back and took of its head, and chucked it to the burning pile already huge with ash. I had his body disassembled in seconds and I went for another 3.
I made my subconscious focus on Seth and I could see them. Edward was sitting by Seth with Bella behind him. I could hear her asking rushed question, asking if I was still alive. I let out a giggly laugh and Edward immediately knew how to respond to her for me. I thought over Tell her thanks mom, but I am fine. Stop worrying. I heard him laugh, even from the large distance and tell her what I said. She stuck out her tongue, knowing I could see. I laughed suddenly. I dismantled 3 more as I ran around trying to help everyone. Esme and Alice especially.
Bella had made me promise that I would make sure they come out without a scratch. I of course told her not to worry and I would protect everyone, but as I fought, my thoughts were on Jacob. I turned to make sure he was still alive and I could see him watching me out of the corner of his eye. I smiled and I heard Edward shout 'watch out' from Seth's mind. A newborn wrapped its fingers around my throat and I felt him dig into my skin. I let out a cough and I tried to breath. My leg flew from under me and I sent a fireball in mid air. I felt something hit me in the rib and it felt like something had stabbed me.
It hurt so much and I strained to breath. Everything turned hazy and I let out a shriek. I could see everyone hesitate as I fell on the ground. I hadn't seen this. But I refused to let it affect me. I stood up slowly and took off in the direction of the campsite. I knew what was gonna happen. I thought to everyone that I had to save Bella and I left the fun to the others. I knew the young girl who looked like Victoria was following me, thank god. We ran like the wind as I found the campsite easily.
And as I walked in, so did Victoria. I forced Edward to watch Bella and I watched as Victoria stalked in, with the person I never would have thought. Riley, my older brother that had been missing for a year, came in looking completely different, but I knew it is he. I let out a loud gasp and I felt strangled tears fall from my eyes. My brother sat there, completely in shock as he saw me.
"Riley." I chocked out. He was whom Victoria had taken from me. The vision was something Darcy knew I would see, so she could make it more horrible when I found it was my older brother, not some girl from my family. My brother, the one person who was close to changing who had the witch gene. A boy with the witch gene. He was no more than a boy. Right now, he would be 20, almost 21. My brother sat in front of me, looking at the girl who threatens to take away the reason for my existence.
"Mia?" He gasped, as he looked me over. My clothes are torn, I held my stomach, which I knew had to have some internal bleeding and broken rib from the hit in the clearing. I could smell the blood rushing and I could already feel a bruise forming, but I knew in hours, it could be gone. As I stood in the clearing, everyone stood in stock with me. Edward looked anger I knew him.
"Riley, it's me. Your little sister. Riley, you have to run, Victoria is trying to kill my- our family. Remember? John? He just started college in fall. Will? He just finished high school. Remember Lizzie? She is pregnant. A beautiful baby boy, John's going to be a father. You are going to be an uncle. Mom and Dad miss you so much. They want you back so much, no matter what you are. The goddess will always welcome you back with open arms. She misses you greatly, too. Come on Ri, come back home. Where you belong." I begged almost physically. All the while, I was walking closer and closer. I could feel Victoria watching Bella, but I need to protect my brother.
"Victoria?" He turned to look at her, for almost permission. I growled and forced him to look at me. I can't believe Victoria took my brother away from me. The one person who was going through what I was. The one person who understood me. Who understood my whole family. He was our rock, and now she killed him. But I refuse to let him go a second time.
"No, Riley. Think for yourself. She is using you, Ri. I'm your sister, I wouldn't lie to you. I never could. We all want you back, especially me. She took you from me, from your family, from your life. She's using you Riley. She doesn't care about you. You were a pawn to her, she wouldn't care if you died right here. She took you because she knew I can't kill you. She knew you were my brother. She knew I was going to be with Bella. Yea, Ri. Bella is my task. My life long task. I will protect her, but I won't kill you, you gotta come home. She doesn't care about you. She is trying to avenge her real mate, James." Victoria snarled at that.
"The Cullens killed him, he was after Bella. He was gonna kill her. If they didn't, and he killed Bella, I would be dead right now. Ri, come on I wouldn't lie to you. She doesn't care about you. She wants to get revenge for her lost love. You are only a pawn. I don't wanna loose you twice, Ri. Come on." I tried desperately to get him to see. I could see the little flickers in his eyes. He knew I wouldn't lie to him, my big brother.
"Don't listen to her, Riley. You know I only love you. They are just jealous. She's in love with a dog. He got her pregnant, I can smell him in her, she doesn't care one ounce about you. She only cares about herself and her precious Bella. I would never hurt you, Riley. You know I love you." Victoria said in her child like high soprano voice. I could see he hated that she would talk about me like that, and looked over at me with hope. I smiled.
"Come home, Riley. It will be like you never left. You're family, come home, please, Ri." I said with a single tear falling from my eye. I could see it, he believed me. He starred at Victoria with sadness as he walked over to me and gave me a hug. Suddenly, she went for Bella, and I attacked. I lunged for her throat first and I got a piece off of it. Seth had started a small fire and I threw the body pieces in it.
We circled each other, she was looking for any opportunity to get Bella. And I could see she saw she had no chance as she saw Riley and Edward protecting Bella. She went to leave but I grabbed her hair and pulled out a large chunk. I threw it in the fire quickly. She grabbed my arms and I felt blood gush from the long deep gash she made. I could see Edward hold the girl in place, Riley was frozen in shock.
"You. Won't. Touch. Her! Ever." I said through clenched teeth. I felt my hands heat up and she screeched in pain as the fire burned her. I went for her throat and I bit down deep on her skin, my teeth were sharp, so they sunk in neatly. I bit off a huge chunk and the venom added a weird after taste. I chucked the piece of her throat to the fire and continued to work. We fought effortlessly, our movement fast and high tempo, like two dancers.
Somehow, I had pinned her to the ground and I grabbed her right arm and used all my strength to rip it off. She shrieked in pain as I grabbed one of her legs and ripped it off quickly. She jumped up on one leg and her hand gripped my waist. I felt the blood run quickly and I felt light headed. I growled and it boomed through the whole forest. I was sure the people in the clearing heard.
I managed a couple of more pieces before I got her other arm. She fell to the ground and I ripped everything I could and threw it all in the fire. I saved her head for last as I starred at it. I didn't throw it in the fire, I let it slowly burn in my palms. It crumpled to ash and I felt all the long gashes on my body, I had one of my waist on my forehead, on my neck, on my thigh, and on my back.
"She won't bother us anymore." I said as I limped slowly over to them. They stood frozen, but I didn't focus on anyone but Bella. I looked at her and pulled her from behind Edward. She clung to me like her life depended on it and she cried into my shoulder. Despite me being 3 years younger than her, I was her height and I looked her age now. I patted her back and Edward still stood frozen.
"Never scare me like that again!" She shouted at me. I hissed when her hand hit my waist somehow. She pulled up my shirt, which now revealed large deep purple colored bruise that covered from my breast to my lower stomach. I gasped when I saw it and Riley swept my into his arms. I jumped out of them easily. And I slumped on one side, probably because of the broken rib.
"I won't Bells, don't worry. But we have to get back to the clearing, we have visitors." I muttered as I walked weakly to the forest below to go to the clearing. I could hear them all behind me, even the unknown named girl. That made me stop short and growl at Riley. I slapped him across the face and I felt my whole being crave more fighting, more violence. He starred at me like I was a freak. "Why would you ever let that she-demon hurt someone so young?"
"I didn't know that she changed her until she brought the little girl down." He said honestly. I sighed sadly and nodded, accepting his answer but looking sternly at him. We kept walking down to the clearing, Bella was scooped onto Edward's back and we all ran there. The clearing had a very large fire burning in the center and immediately I saught out Jasper. I had seen this so many times I already knew of the young newborn sitting in the clearing. I forced Riley to watch the young girl.
We walked into the clearing and I looked for Jacob quickly. I could see him in wolf form, wrestling the last newborn. The thing was thrown into the fire and I could see they were glad it was over. But it wasn't it. I could smell another one, just like in my visions. I watched in horror as Jake pushed Leah aside and he got in the way. I heard him scream in and I ran over. I grabbed the newborns head and I snapped it off and forced him to burn slowly. Till he was just a body of ash on the ground. I ran over to Jacob and checked him over.
"Sam, get him back to La Push, we will be over soon." Carlisle yelled as the wolves quickly forced him back to human form. He lay there in their arms, naked and I hated it. I ran over and I grabbed the shorts from his ankle and shimmied them on carefully. He smiled up at me, but that just made him grimace in pain. I felt tears running from my eyes as I starred at the one person who had ever held my heart. I kissed him gently before the boys ran off with him. I forced Bella over to the middle of the little logs set up and Riley, Jasper and Rosalie, stood behind her, making sure no harm came to her.
I walked over to the newborn on the ground and I hoisted her up into a sitting position. I saw the little one who I still hadn't found the name of sitting with Carlisle and Esme.
"Amy. Her name is Amy. And the other one there is Bree." I starred at Riley as he almost read my thoughts. I smiled sadly at him and I felt Carlisle standing behind me. I knew at once Bella had told him of my injuries. He forced me to lay on the ground as he looked me over. I was let in just my tank top, which was pulled halfway up, and he probed my stomach. I hissed in pain as he hit the tender stop where I knew the rib had broken off.
"You have a lot of internal bleeding and your rib is broken. We need to address the wounds quickly." I shook my head and stood up. Right now, in about 30 seconds I knew the Volturi will arrive straight ahead. I felt myself turn to stone almost as I waited for them. I stood in front of the girl and I made sure the mental shield on all of my family was secured. I stood like a stone as I watched the Volturi stalk into the clearing. There were four; Jane, Felix, Demetri, and Alec. I couldn't help but resent them for 2 things. One, putting Bella in danger. And two, prolonging my chance at seeing my Jacob.
"Hmm," Jane murmured from the head of the small formation they had created at they stood in front of us. I could hear Bella's breath hitch as she looked at their familiar faces. I monitored her thoughts the whole time. As I watched the 4 in front of me, I almost felt like attacking. They walked with grace and poise as if they could rule the world.
"Welcome." Edward's tone was polite, but I could see he wanted them to leave as much as I did. In my thoughts I begged him to keep Bella in check. I could see in Jane's mind that she noticed me as a human. I held back a laugh. I could kill her with one thought and yet they view me as human! I saw Edward chuckle a little at my thoughts. I just smiled. They had insulted me and he thinks its funny. I could think of a hundred different ways of killing all the Volturi slowly.
Jane was in front, showing she was defiantly in charge. Her cloak was the darkest, midnight black. The others were lighter, some gray and some just normal light black. The biggest was Felix. His hood fell back a little and he winked and smiled at Bella. I growled a little, and he starred at me for a second and then moved back to Bella, syncing our relationship. I could see Edward wanted to kill him himself. Jane's gaze looked at all the Cullens and stopped at me. I growled.
"I don't understand." Jane's voice was toneless, but there was more interest than before. I could see she was still working up to asking about me. But now her gaze flickered to the 3 newborns that were still alive. I didn't have the heart to kill Amy, and Riley won't get killed for the she-demon's mistakes. Carlisle looked uneasy as he answered.
"She has surrendered, and the other two were close to the family, and we have spared them. We take full responsibility for them." Carlisle explained as Jane looked them all over. I had realized that Riley was standing only inches away from me on the left, where I was the farthest right.
"There are no options for those who broke the rules." Jane said flatly. I broke into a growl. I won't let them touch Riley. If they even try I will kill them. I saw how Riley pulled Bree into his arms and Jasper stood in front of Amy. I stood in front of them all, and Jane turned to me with disgust. I could see her thinking of me as human and I almost laughed.
"You have told another human? Since we had seen your plans of changing Bella, we overlooked it, but another one won't do." Jane looked disappointed and I saw as she took a step closer to me. I felt something hit my mental shield as she watched me with a blank expression, but nothing happened, and I wasn't surprised when Jasper was holding a calming hand on my shoulder, knowing my emotions were getting on the high.
"I am far from human, Jane." I said honestly. I looked over at Bella as she just muttered understatement in her head. I let out a little chuckle and she shrugged. Jane moved closer to me, and I saw Bella grip Edward's hand with all her strength. She tried to get a look from every angle, but Jasper growled a little and she moved back.
"Then what are you?" Jane asked with a smirk on her lips. In her head, I saw her trying to burn me, as if I am one of her. I just laughed and looked over at the fire. I thought of it growing, touching the sky, if it wanted to. As if I had snapped my finger, the flames grew and soon they were touching the sky. They had already burned the newborns to ash, and I saw all the vampires flinch as the fire threatened to burn them all.
"I am the most powerful being to walk the earth, and I am to protect Bella with my life." I smiled as they watched me with doubt. As if they needed more proof, without looking, I sent fire to the woods around. The trees were sent into a frenzy as it burns, and as fast as it was a lit, it was gone. I could see fear in their eyes now.
"Well, it seems you have done our work for us, for the most part." She said evenly as she looked over me and the people standing behind me. I let out a little growl and I crossed my arms over my chest. I won't let them hurt my family, and they won't take Riley from me when I just got him back. "Just out of professional curiosity, how many were there? They left quite a wake of destruction in Seattle."
"Thirty-six, including these." Carlisle answered.
Jane's eyes widened and she looked over at the fire, guessing to see the real size of it as it filled with bodies. I watched behind her as the sun went down and they looked over with a more looming presence.
"Thirty six?" She repeated, sounding unsure. I could see her going to see Victoria, discussing killing my family. I snarled a little, and Carlisle looked confused as he saw Jasper holding me back. I wanted to kill them. How dare she want to kill my family. Jane smirked as she looked at me and she screamed at me from her thoughts. I flinched back.
"All brand new." Carlisle said easily, and I could see he was trying to find some excuse for them being so young and dying so early. But I could see he expected Jane to kill them. I let out a growl and he apologized in his thoughts. I looked over at Edward and he knew what I was thinking. As soon as they went to kill the newborns, I would kill them. Burn them to the ground, to never walk the earth again.
"All?" Jane's voice turned sharp. I could see what she was going to ask and I almost killed her then. Victoria will be a distant memory, something Bella will never have to encounter again. I had already had a vengeance for killing my brother, for turning him into something we both loathed since we knew about witchcraft and our goddess. "Then who was their creator?"
"Her name was Victoria." I answered, my voice sharp with anger and fury. Jasper sent me calming waves and I turned to growl at him. He put his hand up in surrender and laughed a little. Jane watched me with awe as she saw how tough I was with him. I almost smiled.
"Was?" Jane asked seriously. She seemed surprised at how surely I answered and how angry I was with the subject. I hated the thought of Victoria, but yet, as I sat here, I knew this wasn't the danger that Bella was in. I was sure it was the child, or maybe the Volturi, the whole Volturi, coming in only a couple of short months. I knew I had blocked my thoughts since Edward made no move.
I turned to look at where the smoke from Victoria's burning body was now. Jane's eyes snapped to where the smoke was billowing in the air and I could still smell it from here. I almost wanted to laugh out loud. Bella closed her eyes tightly and took deep breaths.
"Was Victoria an addition to the 36?" Jane asked as she looked at the big pile of smoke. I looked away, and I saw Riley looking a little sad. I just frowned and grabbed his hand, his now ice cold hand. I sighed.
"Yes, she had Riley with her. He's no older than a year. He is Mia's brother. Victoria had changed him out of vengeance of Mia and Bella. She knew they would become close somehow."
"Who dealt with the creator?" She asked as she looked over at Edward, expecting to answer. I just laughed and raised my proud hand.
"Me." I answered, proud that I had kept my Bella Safe. I smiled to myself, if anything Bella is mine not Edward's. She is my task, but I would give him his fun. He can marry her, make her happy, and pop out a kid while he is at it. But if he hurts her I will kill him. I won't hesitate, I love the Cullens, but he would be dead.
"Riley, is his story true?" Jane asked as she turned to my brother. I growled, feeling my protective side double and she just glared. Riley nodded and sighed, I could see the memories going through his head and I could see it caused him pain. He never would have been one to hurt someone, but Victoria had changed my brother. He isn't Riley, but he is still my brother.
"Yes, but we never told the newborns of her name. She told me their thoughts weren't safe. She told me to tell them anything we could to keep them safe and hidden. She wanted to kill the golden eyes for hurting her. She never said what they did, though. She just said they needed to pay. I didn't know that my sister was so close with them, and the person she wanted dead was the one person my sister cares about the most." Riley said sadly. "Bree what happened during the fight, to everyone?"
"I don't know what happened. We split up, but the others never came, and you left us, and you didn't come back to help like you promised. And then it was so confusing, and everybody was in pieces." She shuddered. "I was afraid. I wanted to run away. That one said they wouldn't hurt me if I stopped fighting."
"Ah, but that wasn't his gift to offer, young one." Jane muttered, her voice gentle. But I growled. She won't kill the girl so young, she's only my age. Goddess, she won't kill her! "Broken rules demand a consequence."
"I can't deny that I am impressed. I've never seen a coven escape this magnitude of offensive intact. Do you know what was behind it? It seems like extreme behavior, considering the way you live here. And why was the girl the key?" Her eyes landed on Bella and I always attacked. Bella flinched and I wanted to run over and protect her.
"Victoria held a grudge against Bella," Edward told her. A grudge was an understatement. She had an obsessive crazy murderous muse with Bella and she knew that she couldn't live without killing her.
"This one seems to bring out bizarrely strong reactions in our kind," She observed, smiling at Bella as she took a deep breath and smelled her scent. "Well it seems there is nothing much left for us to do. Odd, it would have been entertaining to watch. It's too bad we are rendered unnecessary. Caius will be so interested to hear that you are still human, Bella. Perhaps he'll decide to visit. Aro will also be delighted to see the new one you have found."
I let out a murderous growl and I dropped into a crouch. I let a physical shield come around Bella, forcing Edward back before his arm was chopped off. Bella seemed surprised at first. "And you tell him, if he comes within 100 miles of her, he'll never exist another day. And I will personally make sure that the Volturi get a big surprise from me if she is harmed."
"Isn't it so cute that the human is threatening us?" Jane mused as she stepped closer to me and looked me over. I let out a loud growl and I couldn't feel my body anymore. My eyes were black and my body was glowing scarlet. Suddenly, Jane let out a deafening shriek all the vampires in the clearing gasps their heads in agony from the high-pitched shriek. I ran over and I had my hand around her throat.
"Don't think I won't hesitate to kill the whole Volturi clan with one thought. I have no pity for your type of vampire, especially the Volturi. Now, call me human ever again, and you will feel how much pain I can inflict, and if you ever think of hurting Bella again, then I won't just hurt, I will kill you." I said as my eyes started glowing from my fury, which had never happened.
"I am not afraid of you." She said, but her voice broke. And in her thoughts she was screaming for anyone to help her. I could see she was normally never afraid of anything, but yet here she was mentally crying in pain and fear from a simple witch. No, I am not a simple witch, I am the worst creature to ever walk the earth. I am the world's best predator.
"Oh, I know you are. You have never been afraid of anything, you are always top dog. But with me here, you are opposite. You know I am not joking when I said I would kill you. Because you know I will kill you. I hold no pity, no sympathy, and no praise for you Volturi. Believe me, you can't lie to me, at least your mind can't." I laughed as I tapped my head. The others gasped as I felt my body suddenly glow white as I had grown wings. "Now, leave, all of you. Before I kill you all for threatening my family."
"We will be back. Felix, take care of that." Jane said as I released her throat and she ran out of the clearing. Felix moved forward, but I growled and he suddenly scrambled out and took off with the others. God, this was defiantly one long day. Before I could blink, Carlisle was at my side with a medical bag. I tried to fight him off, but he put some white liquid in my arm and I felt really tired.