"Fight?" A wave of panic swept over me. "How are we supposed to fight them? Edward, there are too many of them to fight! Please! We will lose!"
"I need you to trust me, please." He stared at me.
Before I could respond I saw shadows surrounding us. So he was telling the truth. This is what I had feared would come.
Samuel's army.
Everything was up in the air now. Would we die? Or would we live?
"Edward! The vampires!"
And then he did something I never would expect him to do. He smiled at me.
"Finally." Was all he whispered.
All of a sudden, he came to a stop right in the middle of the forest. The shadows went on for a bit and then came to a stop around us. This was it. Our end. But why would Edward say such a thing? Was he referring to death?
"Edward...?" I whispered quietly.
He set me down on the ground next to him and put his lips to my ear.
"Remember, Bella," he whispered. "Trust me, ok?"
I nodded slowly.
"Be strong for me, Bella. I know you can do it, but be safe. I can't afford to lose you."
I nodded again. This was really going to happen, wasn't it?
"I love you."
I looked at him, surprised at his sudden change of tone. His eyes seemed at peace. The deep green making his face as beautiful as a marble statue.
"I love you too."
A growl rose from Edward's throat and ripped into the air. The circle around us started to blur, but then all I could see was a mixture of shooting shadows all around us. There seemed to be more joining the fight, and I could hear Emmett's roars in the mass.
I gasped. I started to move, but Edward kept a strong hold on me.
"Not yet," he said.
"But-"
Another roar ripped through the air, cutting me off, but it wasn't the roar of a vampire. It was a different roar, but one I could recognize.
Werewolves.
"Jacob!" I screamed.
Edward squeezed me tighter. "Don't panic or everyone could die. Bella, you need to stay alive. Wait until the wolves and us take out some of them. Then I will come back for you. Don't move. " He was serious.
I nodded again, but I was skeptical. I could not have my family fighting without me, especially since I was a vampire now. I could fight just as well.
Edward pressed his lips to mine aggressively, held them there for a second, and then he was gone.
Everyone was fighting around me. I could hear the werewolves fighting and my family fighting the Volturi. Unfortunately, I was stuck in the middle. Powerless yet again.
But this time would be different. I was stronger now, and I could fight right alongside my family and friends. I wouldn't be left out this time.
I could see Jacob in the mix. Jacob. He didn't hate me after all. My heart swelled at the thought. He and the pack were fighting for me...again. Just like old times. I spun around, trying to find a point to jump in. It was dark outside, so it was difficult with the cloaks, but as I was turning around, my eyes fell on the one vampire that stood out.
Samuel.
He was leaning casually against a tree just outside the ring of blurs. He was staring at me with outrage plastered on his face. He looked like he could kill me with the anger on his face.
when he noticed that I was looking at him, he stepped away from the trees and then his body blurred. Suddenly, he was in front of me, his eyes blazing.
"Isabella Swan." He said in a surprisingly cool voice. "I'm not surprised that I would run into a little interruption like this. I knew it was too easy."
Then, Samuel wrapped his arm around my waist, and then we disappeared from the fight. He dragged me farther into the forest. I could still hear the roars of wolves, but I couldn't see them anymore.
"I will not fail Aro. I will get my freedom!" he shouted at me.
"I don't understand what you're saying to me."
"Bella, Aro kept me locked up for decades in that dungeon of a castle in Italy all because I almost slipped up once." He laughed like it was nothing. "I smelled the most delicious human, and just when I was about to satisfy my thirst, Aro and his guards locked me up. Now, I have the chance to regain my freedom if I complete this mission he has for me. To bring you back. Now, I will not fail. You are comming with me, and we will get you to Aro. Do you understand?" He still had a strong grip on me.
I didn't answer him. I would not let him take me. Otherwise, everything my family has done for me will be wasted.
I remembered what Edward had told me about newborns being stronger than older vampires because of some of the human blood still within the body. If that was true, then I'm sure I have a chance at fighitng Samuel. I could do it.
Without thinking about it more, I wrenched myself from Samuel's grip and made a run back toward the fight. I knew he would be right behind me, but I was faster, and so I tried to outrun him and get him to the wolves.
But I didn't expect the next thing that happened: he caught up with me.
I was thrown to the ground, and traveling at vampire speed, I hit the ground very hard. Good thing my skin was like armor now.
Samuel tried to grip me again, but I could see it comming, so I whirled around and whipped my foot across his face. He seemed to not like that. I was hoping to somehow decapitate him, but I suppose I was overestimating my strength. I would have to hit much harder.
Unfortunately, I didn't get that chance just yet. Samuel grabbed me by the neck and lifted me up in the air. I couldn't seem to loosen myself from this grip without alot of effort since I was suspended in the air. I held my breath to keep from choking.
Samuel's expression was unbelievable. I never thought I would see such a scary sight. I knew that vampires were supposed to be scary, but I never knew they could get to this level of scary. His eyes were glowing a bright red, and his teeth looked like they really did have fangs from the way he set his jaw and pulled back his lips. It seemed like his whole body was vibrating under me.
He was snarling, and he spoke through his clenched teeth.
"I think it would be wise if you did not attempt another attack, Isabella," he said, sounding out every word.
I couldn't reply back since his hand cut off all air to my lungs, so I managed a growl in my chest. He seemed to find that amusing because he laughed, but the anger never left his face.
"Now, why don't we head back to the airport, yes? I believe we missed our flight, but I'm sure we can manage another one."
I shook my head quickly. No way would I give in again.
The expression on Samuel's face didn't change. "I really don't think you have a choice."
I wouldn't let him take me again. I looked around, trying to find an out. There was one option that I could try, but it would be risky. I would have to get it right and then run, or I was dead.
Samuel was still talking. "...keeping m locked with little food for 30 years! Ha! They think they can do that to me and get away with it?"
Samuel was not allowed to kill me, so that was good. All I had to do was kick there and...
"...I will sabbotage them! I will try to play their game, but in my favor. I will use you to get my way!"
As soon as he said the last word, I swung my leg toward the crease in his elbow that held me up. I wasn't going to leave room for mistake, so I used all the power I could think of. Even some power that I never thought I had.
This seemed to work. In a second, a loud snapping sound echoed in the air, and Samuel's arm went flying backwards. I was attatched to that arm, so I went flying too. I did manage to stop myself before any damage was done, but when I stood up, Samuel's arm was still latched on to my neck, but Samuel wasn't on the other end anymore. Thank god I didn't get sick at the sight of this kind of thing since the change.
Samuel was standing at the same spot a few feet away, gaping at the spot where his arm used to be. He seemed to be frozen in place, his eyes wide with horror and his mouth hanging open.
Then, as if a light was switched on, his head snapped back to me, and he was practically roaring with anger.
"You know what? I'll do what Aro says. I'll keep you alive, but I don't think he would mind if you somehow accidentally lost a few limbs here or there, would he?"
I could see him bracing for the lunge at me, and I did the same. If I was going to go down, I would go down fighting. I was sick of all the clumsinees and fear that I had all my life. I wouldn't stand for it.
He and I jumped at the same time, but even though we were going at a speed faster than the fastest car, time seemed to move very slow. Samuel was aiming for my face, hands out in front of him. I was also aiming for his face, hands bared.
And in just a second, a giant dog was in the air, aiming for Samuel, taking him by surprise.
Jacob.
Jacob slammed into Samuel's side, tackling him to the ground. They started to fight, but at the same time, I was being slammed to the ground. How did I end up here? I looked behind me, and to my amazement, it was Edward. Edward had both his arms wrapped around me, and we were both on the ground now while Jacob and Samuel had it out.
Temporarily distracted from the horror of Jacob fighting Samuel, I felt a wave of happiness to be in Edward's arms again.
Edward was panicked, and he didn't seem to be as happy as I was.
"Edward!"
"Bella, stay here, can you do that?"
I just nodded.
"Thank you." And he was off to join Jacob and Samuel in the brawl.
Jacob had one paw on Samuel's shoulder on the ground, and he was snarling at his face, when Edward got there, he took hold of his shirt and lifted him up, and then he slammed him in a tree. Jacob then stepped in and sunk his teeth into his other arm and ripped it off in one movement. His arm went flying across the forest.
I was just sitting in the same spot, actually listening to Edward's instructions, watching them as this all happened. I was so happy to see them there, yet so scared for them. I couldn't lose any one of them. Their roars where echoing in every direction.
Edward stepped in again when Jacob backed off, and grabbed Samuel again by the neck and pinned him to the tree trunk. Through growls and snarls Edward spoke to Samuel.
"You made the biggest mistake of your existence by interfering with my family." Jacob followed that with a growl. "You will never go near her again yes?"
Samuel didn't move, but his eyes were still glowing red.
"Yes, I suppose that is a bad experience, but unfortunately that was your mistake," Edward said, answering an unspoken question. "This, however was your last mistake, and I believe there is no way to repay for such an action." And at that, Edward made a swift movement with his arm, and Samuel's head went flying towards me. It rolled until it came to a stop a couple of feet away.
The expression on Samuel's face would have been enough to knock me out for days, if that was possible. His eyes were so wide I though they would fall out of their sockets. His mouth was only slightly open, and it seemed to be twitching.
Before I could react to this awful sight, Edward's arms were around me again, and he turned my head into his chest and kissed the top of my head.
"Bella, Bella, are you alright? Did he hurt you? You don't have to see that, love, it's alright. Jacob," he called, "would you please take care of the pieces for me?"
I was surprised by Jacob's human voice. "Yea, sure. How is she? Is she hurt?"
"No, I don't think he hurt her. It would have been very hard to just hurt her without causing permanent damages. I think she's fine."
I heard him sigh in relief. "Good. Man, that was the best fight ever! It was even better that that one a long time ago. I got a good workout this time."
While Jacob was babbling about his sweet victory, Edward was whispering to me.
"Bella, you scared me so much. I thought he destroyed you. Do you have any idea what I felt? I'm so glad your safe. I heard that snapping sound and I thought for sure he'd hurt you. Jacob and I both came running for you."
He was babbling too. I quieted him by pressing my lips to his. That worked. Edward's emotions must have gotten the better of him because one kiss wasn't enough. He cupped my cheek with his hand and kissed me again, only more deeper than usual. It felt nice to be with him again. I missed these kisses.