A/N: Thank you to my amazing beta-darlings: Ninmesarra and Prettyflour. They make the story better and polished. You girls rock! Thanks for all you do! :)
Disclaimer: I only wish I was Stephenie Meyer… As it is, I only get to play with her characters.
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Emmett stepped through the door, his blue eyes flashing with cold fury. He was so angry he could spit nails. How dare they touch his woman? Your woman? He questioned his own thoughts. Aye! My woman. She is mine. I love her. I will protect what is mine! He vowed silently.
His eyes swept the place, take careful note of the big, muscled man in the corner of the room. The man had an arrogant sneer marring what the lady's would call a handsome face. His hair was blonde and dirty and his eyes were black. It was fitting that the demon would have black and soul-less eyes.
There was a small table and two chairs as well as a filthy dirty mattress in opposite corners of the room. A black cook pot hung over the empty fireplace. The blankets upon the bed were so moth and rat chewed there was almost nothing left of them. It was disgusting within. No one had lived in it for the last three years, and it had been allowed to deteriorate.
The woman that he'd seen through the window turned around and he caught sight of her face. "Victoria," he breathed the name out as a curse. "I should have kenned ye were behind this."
Her red hair was riot of curls and it shook as she laughed, "Aye, ye should have. But ye dinnae." She crooked her brow at James and he swiftly unsheathed his sword and advanced on Emmett. Emmett was quick to pull his from the scabbard at his back and block the impending blow.
The women watched with wide-eyes as the men fought. Emmett forced James back a step or two and then James would retaliate and force Emmett back a step or two. Emmett knocked James' sword from his hand and threw his own down. "We are going to finish this, now, man to man!" Emmett yelled, punching James square in the jaw.
Rosalie glanced beside her, taking note of Victoria watching the fight with rapt attention. She quickly grabbed the blade in her hair, the hilt designed to look like a barrette, and pulled it from the hidden sheath. She grabbed Victoria by the arm and spun her to face her, pointing the dagger at her throat. "Dinnae move bitch, or ye'll have a hole in your neck."
Eyes wide as saucers, Victoria nodded her acceptance. She stared in horror at the knife in Rose's hand. The cold metal was actually touching her skin. If she moved an inch, it could be embedded in her body.
Emmett and James continued trading punches. They were hitting each other wherever they could land blows, stomach, face, arms; it didn't matter. James managed to knock Emmett offside the head, upsetting his balance as he tripped over a chair. He quickly picked up his sword, and turned with it raised.
The superior look on his face was quickly replaced with disbelief. He glanced down at the sharp pain in his chest and staggered backward. A small handle was protruding from his chest. Blood trickled from his lips as he dropped his sword to the ground. He glanced back at Emmett just before his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed.
Rose and Emmett stared at James' body. She in horror for what she'd done and he in pride. Both were surprised at the high pitched scream that rivaled that of a banshee. Emmett yelled out in warning. Rosalie turned quickly and punched Victoria in the jaw. The force of it, snapped her head back and caused her to drop whatever she held in her hand. Rosalie bent down quickly to grab it, seeing a small dirk, As she stood back up, Victoria kicked her in the face. Rosalie was sent flying backwards at the force of it. Grabbing a frying pan that had lain on the floor discarded, Victoria brandished her weapon. She leaned down to smack Rose with it, and Rosalie struck with the small knife. Effectively bringing it to rest in her throat. Blood poured from the wound and Victoria stumbled back, dazed. A silent tear floated quietly down her cheek as she realized she had met her end.
Emmett stood quickly and helped Rosalie up. He pulled her into his chest and held her tightly. Big, fat tears rolled down her cheeks and her slender form shook with the force of her cries. Emmett held her tighter. "Rosie, ye're safe now. I will nae let anyone else hurt ye if I can help it, lass."
Pulling away, she began to pace in the small area. Spying the bodies again she raced to the corner and retched. Emmett grabbed her arm when she was done and led her out of the cottage. He motioned to Jacob and Liam to take care of the dead within the small structure. He turned back to her and looked deep into her eyes. The depth was limitless. "Rosie Posie, tell me what is the matter? Ye're safe now."
"I ken I am safe!"" She screamed. "But it does nae matter! I am death! I killed two people Emmett! How can ye stand to e'en look at me? Dinnae ye see what I did?" She cried and screamed her fury, "I am cursed! Death follows me everywhere! I can nae do this anymore, Emmett. I can nae. I will nae put ye and the rest o' ye're clan in danger anymore. I have to leave. Someone should just kill me. I am naught but a black omen," she ended with garbled words as she sobbed again.
Emmett plucked her from her feet and carried her to his horse. After making sure she was seated well, he mounted up behind her. He cradled her close his body, fighting the urge to kiss her lips. She was asleep before they made it a hundred yards into the forest.
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A gentle brushing of fingers along her jaw caused a moan to erupt from her lips. She stretched her limbs and fluttered her lashes until she was accustomed to the bright light of the sun shining through the window. Her eyes trailed up the hand, to the muscular forearm, over the crook of his elbow, and curve of his broad shoulders, pausing at the pulse beating in his neck. They slid to rest again on pouty lips before finally raising to meet blue eyes, darkened by passion.
Her tongue darted out to wet her lips, "Emmett? How long have we been back at the keep? What did I miss?"
Bending his tall frame, he sat on the bed beside her. He took her hand in his before speaking, "Ye slept for a few hours, Rosie, nay more than that. As for what ye missed, weel…. Ye missed a battle. The Pierson's came and helped us get rid o' the MacDougald's."
"Is… is," she cleared her throat, licked her lips and tried again, "What about the MacDougald laird?"
"Ye'll ne'er have worry about that bastard again, love. I sent him straight to hell. I was nae going to leave him alive to do that again, ye ken."
"Aye," she whispered. Her eyes filled with tears and she hiccupped in her efforts to swallow the sob that wanted to escape.
"Rose, what is it? Are ye hurt?" Emmett's anxiousness spilled into his eyes as they roamed her body looking for a sign of injury.
She wiped her eyes and whispered, "I killed two people, Emmett. I did it. I am cursed. Ye must send me away afore I cause more harm to this family. I will nae be responsible for ending it. I can nae stay and let ye all be hurt."
Confusion was heavy on his features, "I dinnae understand Rose. How are ye cursed?"
Rose got up off the bed and stepped quickly to the rug by the hearth. With her back to him, she explained, "My family was murdered when I was five years old all because that arse could nae keep his grubby hands to himself. His men had seen me in the wood and told MacDougald about me. He sent them to get me. My entire clan, all o' them, were killed trying to protect me. When I finally managed to get away from him, the merchant that had pity on me and helped me escape ended up destroyed." She paused to pour herself a glass of water from the ewer on the stand in the corner of the room. Taking a big gulp, she set the cup down before continuing, "I made it to the Hales. The clan there took me and I fell in love with my late husband. He took care o' me. Dinnae care that I was nae a virgin bride. Ewan dinnae care that I was broken inside. He put me back together best he could.
"I went to the river to fetch water one day and another band of soldiers spotted me. I ran quick as I could back to the village when I should have ran the other way. I dinnae have time to scream a warning. They cut down everyone in the village. The blacksmith and shepherd, all their families. E'en the wee children were slain. I ran into my home and tried to hide my son. Ewan fought bravely but there was too many of them. They killed him easily. They ripped my baby from my arms and made me watch as they plunged a dagger into his heart. After throwing his lifeless body back in the cottage with Ewan, they set fire to most everything."
She took another drink to calm herself. Emmett was growing more and more distraught with every word she spoke. Her voice was cold and distant as if she had separated herself from her body. She continued on before he could question her, "Then, when everyone was dead, they held me down. Ripped my dress off, and used my body over and over again. All ten of them. I pretended to pass out. They thought they killed me. Left me there sure I'd be dead if I wasn't already. I dinnae ken how long I laid there afore I forced myself to get up. I searched for a new dress among the ashes of my village. My own wee home had burned with my husband and son inside.
"I kenned there was nothing I could do to change any o' it, so I walked. I ended up here. Bella had just had Esme Alice, and was nae having any luck with the feeding. Since my own son was still a wee babe, I could do what she could nae. I stayed here.
"And look at what I've done! I brought a battle to ye're door. Men were killed because of me! I can nae stay here and continue to put ye're lives at risk. I'll leave at dawn."
Emmett sat still on the bed, trying to absorb all that she'd told him. She was back in front of the hearth, staring at the ashes left from last night's fire. She swayed on her feet and he was by her side quick as a wink. He scooped her up and placed her lovingly back on the bed. "I dinnae think ye are a curse, Rosie Posie. I think that there are many evil men in the world and because ye are so beautiful, they were greedy and wanted ye. They took without asking ye first what should have been yours to give. I also ken that if ye go, I will lose a piece o' myself with ye. Dinnae ye ken? Ye are my heart."
Her eyes met his. They were shiny with unshed tears. Breaking the hold he had on her, she turned her head. "Ye would be foolish to love me, Emmett. I am nay fit to be loved. I am the blackest of omens that could darken any doorstep. I am death waiting to grab those that I love the most. Dinnae ye see? That is why must leave! I could nae stand it if anything happened to ye or Edward or Bella or Esme Alice. Ye're all my family, and so I must leave. I love ye, but I can nae stay here. I would nae survive it if ye died because of me, Emmett." She was begging, pleading for him to understand.
His brain had only registered that she loved him. "Ye love me?" he whispered into the room. He leaned down and kissed her soundly. "I love ye too, Rosie mine."
He laid down beside her, gathered her to him and slept.
Rosalie waited for his breathing to even out before she rose from the bed. She quickly filled a small satchel with a change of clothes and an extra chemise. She slipped her feet into her sturdy boots and slipped into the hall. She did her best to slink around amongst the shadows. Finding her way into the kitchen she grabbed a loaf of bread, cheese, and some dried beef before the cook noticed. She slipped them into her satchel, and grabbed a wineskin.
She quickly dashed for the door and ran into the bailey. Taking care to note that it was almost empty- those that were present were busy with chores- she slipped through the gates. She ran to the forest's sanctuary. Hidden amongst the trees, she bid her home, and heart, good-bye.
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A/N: I am dying to know what you guys think! Please leave me some love! They are better than Highlandward in his braies, wielding a heavy claidhmor! (Well…. Maybe! Lol ;) Please know that I do answer each review! See you back here next week! Thanks for reading!