A/N… Please keep all hands inside the fic until it comes to a complete stop.

~oOo~

Chapter 28

BELLA

I wasn't sure what to expect at the clearing. It was basically the same as it was when Felix had attacked. All the damage from fires and thrown boulders had grown back. Memories from that fight were not helping the pain I was in, and it didn't take away the fact that I was running away from Edward instead of toward him. My instinct told me the latter was right and fighting that was so very painful.

What I also didn't expect was just how many of us there were. Aside from the members of my family who had seen us off, the rest were back. I saw Rose, Emmett, Kevin, Adrian, and Brody. The Denalis were grouped together – Eleazar, Carmen, Garrett, Kate, Irina, and Gianna. There were Mark and Megan, Peter and Charlotte, and Catherine and Brandon. Then there were faces I didn't know. A group of gorgeous, tall, dark-skinned women stood beside Emmett. Four more people were gathered around Demetri and Carina – they too had darker skin that came through their immortal change. Those two groups had to be the Amazon and Egyptian covens.

Two women and a man stood with Carlisle and Esme. I was assuming they were from Ireland. It also looked like Marcus's people were having a meeting of sorts, because Stephano, Agosto, and Elena were gathered around him.

However, Jasper met us at the far end of the field, catching me when I rushed to him with a dry, tearless sob.

"They… They have Edward."

"I know, kiddo," he soothed me, hugging me tight.

"He did this shit on purpose, Jasper," I mumbled into his shirt.

"Yeah, I kinda had a feeling he was up to something when he volunteered you guys," he said softly against the top of my head, but he pulled me back to force my gaze to his. "We'll get him back, baby girl. They need him, so they'll keep him alive." He wrapped an arm around Caroline. "We'll get them both back. Though Arch is probably the safest of all."

Caroline smirked, saying, "He's good at staying invisible. He'll guard Edward until the fight. I know he will."

Nodding, I glanced up when everyone gathered around us. Carlisle pulled me away from Jasper and into a hug.

"We'll fight for him, Bella," he whispered into my ear.

Emmett and Rose wrapped me in a hug, but everyone moved out of the way when Alice gasped and then suddenly broke into a laugh.

"Oh! So that was his plan!" she practically sang.

"What?" I asked, rushing to her. "Tell me he's okay, Alice. Please!"

"He's fine. I swear." She smirked, adding, "But Niko is…no more."

My mouth fell open, and I sagged against Emmett, who had barked a loud laugh and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"Oh, my God," I barely said aloud. "He just removed the one thing that could stop my shield."

"Fuckin'-A, he did!" Emmett cheered. "That's our boy!"

Despite the pain, I couldn't stop the huffing laugh that escaped me. My Edward had not only gotten his revenge against Niko, but he'd also taken away Caius's shield.

Even with that, Edward Cullen was still in deep shit with me for not telling me what he'd planned.

Alice snorted, raising an eyebrow my way at that decision. "We need to get ready. They're closing in."

Marcus came to my side, gazing around at all of us. The wolves shifted closer, but Jake ran up in his human form. He looked worried and way more somber than I was expecting from him when a battle was about to begin.

"We're going to need to change things without Edward here to hear us," Jake said, frowning my way. "He's okay though, right?"

I nodded, rubbing my chest. "Yeah. He's getting closer, too. We'd better figure it out soon."

Brandon stepped forward. "The last time we were on this field, Bella and I took that high point up there. We could do it the same way," he suggested with a bit of a shrug.

Marcus silently paced a little, but it was Demetri who spoke up. "This isn't like last time. Felix had collected himself a few nasty talents to work against us. Archie said that Caius only has a couple with any sort of power." He ticked them off with his fingers. "Greta, Niko – though thanks to Edward, there won't be a problem on that one. There's one who controls water—"

"Yeah, met him," Caroline piped up sarcastically. "It's impressive. It's like he pulled the rain right out of the air."

"Just water?" a guy from the Egyptian coven asked.

"Just water. Benjamin?" I asked, smiling when he smiled and bowed low.

Goodness, he was adorable, with red eyes and a wry smirk as he shook my hand. "You're Bella." When I nodded, he held up his hand, and instantly there was a small flame in the middle of his palm. "If he's just water, then I think we can counter that."

Demetri grinned, patting Benjamin's back. "You and Bella should work together."

"What can you do?" Benjamin asked me.

"You ever seen Stranger Things? The movie Carrie?" Emmett asked him. "Well, she can do all that shit with her shield."

I rolled my eyes to Demetri, who was grinning. "What, Bells? He's not really wrong." He turned to Benjamin, saying, "Bella's a shield, but she doesn't require touch. Her control over it is astounding."

Looking to Marcus, I said, "I think you and Carlisle need to stay with me. And I don't think being up high will help this time. I know Archie, so I'd be willing to bet he's invisible beside Edward. As soon as this starts, he'll snatch him. That's just how Archie thinks."

Caroline nodded. "She's right. It's what Archie would've done in Prague when we were looking for Esme and Bella, but this time, he'll make Edward disappear right under their noses. And that's with or without Greta's talent."

My family nodded in agreement, but Marcus looked to Garrett and Jasper. "My former soldiers… What's your advice?"

Jasper gazed over the field and up to the ridge where I'd been the last time.

Garrett stepped forward after doing the same, saying, "Since the wolves are the unknown weapon in this fight, I'd say tuck them away. Set them back into the woods, hide them until the last second. I'd put Bella, Benjamin, and Brandon with Marcus, Carlisle, and Eleazar. If anyone gets by them, then we've already lost this battle."

Jasper nodded. "The biggest problem we have is Edward." He held up his hand when others started to argue. "I know we'll get him back, but for a minute, he's going to read every mind here. They'll be sure to have his loyalty turned before they face us. So if we're going to keep any secrets whatsoever, we'd all better be under Bella's shield. And if he fights us…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "Brace yourself, because the only one who can stop him is her. That man is fast and smart, and if you think, then you're dead. He'll read every thought you have, and he will use it."

"Yeah, he will," I whispered, nodding a little.

Marcus faced me. "Then above all else, Bella, Edward is your secondary goal. Your primary is your shield, to cover us until the best possible moment. We'll add Alice to the front with you, Benjamin, and Brandon." He gazed to Jacob. "My brother is going to panic at the sight of you. He'll assume that you're werewolves – children of the moon, which we eradicated centuries ago. Nasty creatures."

Jake flashed a grin. "Okay, so you want us hidden and surrounding you?"

"Until he arrives, and then you can stand with us. This war he wants so badly because of diet affects you as much as us," Marcus told him.

"Got it." Jake turned to me. "We'll get him back, Bells," he whispered softly. "The pack knows what to do. We also know Archie is out there somewhere, so we'll watch for him, too."

"Thanks, Jake," I said, rubbing my chest, because the pain just about caused me to buckle.

Edward was right. It was just as harsh on this side of it. I'd bet that punch of pain to my chest was Greta using her talent on Edward.

"I know it hurts," Jake said but smirked a little. "Want something to take your mind off it for a second?"

I huffed a laugh, nodding a little. It seemed my issues with Jacob – the flashbacks and anger – paled in comparison to my worry for Edward. And the damn pain.

Jacob grinned with a chuckle but gave a sharp whistle toward a cluster of trees. A solid black wolf broke into a run toward us. Sam was mostly black, this was different – sable. This wolf was also a touch smaller.

However, it was the eyes and the head tilt when the wolf sat down in front of me that caused my mouth to fall open.

"Eddie?" I gasped, grinning when the wolf in question jumped up, spun around, and stepped to me to nuzzle my hand.

He was beautiful. And he was going to get as big as Jake, if not bigger. I knew right then I was looking at the future Alpha of the pack…and future Chief of the Quileute.

"Wow!"

"Yeah, he started spiking a fever a day or two after he saw you guys at the lodge," Jake explained, and he looked proud enough to burst. "He's not staying for the fight. He's guarding the rez and Charlie. But he wanted to see you when he heard about Edward."

I looked to Eddie. "Was it everything you thought it would be?" I teased that sweet boy.

The wolves all barked laughter and howls of amusement, but I swayed on my feet when there was a shift in my shield.

"They're close," Alice and I said at the same time.

Jasper stepped forward. "Okay, everyone in your place. Let's go."

I walked to Eddie, cupping that big furry head. "Be careful. Tell my dad that I'll…" I shook my head because I wasn't sure what I wanted to tell him. I sighed, whispering, "Just tell him I love him. Okay?"

I couldn't stop the giggle when Eddie let out a soft "Boof" in my face before he dashed off into the trees. Another, smaller wolf followed him.

"Sam's son, Harry," Jacob answered before I could ask. "My pack is now eleven strong. And the bloodline has officially gone second generation."

I smiled up at his tall form.

"Look, I know you're still a little… I'm staying with you to get Edward back. Please don't fight me on this."

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Not fighting. I just need him back or we… If they… If something happens, then neither of us survives, Jake. So… I'll take all the help I can get."

His expression darkened, and he nodded once before taking his place by my side.

"You aren't gonna…" Alice asked him, gesturing up and down his tall form.

Jacob grinned wickedly. "Nah, if this asshole is scared of werewolves, then let's scare the shit outta him by transforming on the fly."

Marcus chuckled a little. "Oh this should be an interesting meeting."

It didn't take long before the scent of Caius's people started to draw closer. We were all in place, and I was standing with Jacob, Benjamin, and Alice. My shield bloomed up and over the entire lot of us. The drizzle had slowed a little, and no one even flinched when the largest immortal army I'd ever seen stepped into the clearing to face us.

Caius stepped forward, as did Marcus. Demetri's face wasn't hiding anything as he moved with Marcus. Demetri had never said it, but it was obvious that he preferred one brother over the other.

My gaze raked over the large group of immortals, finding Edward in the middle of them all. They'd done that shit on purpose, keeping him protected. He was vacant stares and unengaged with the situation around him. But he was answering Greta next to him. And I was going to rip her apart for daring to touch him.

Alice reached over and linked our fingers. "Not yet," she whispered.

"Caius, you've brought this down upon yourself, brother," Marcus started sadly. "You could've just come home. We would've discussed things."

"There's no discussion, brother," Caius spat at him. "You're a disgrace to our history, our lineage. I'm calling for an end to this all. Your reign, that diet of disgusting animals, and covens who have grown too large. If you surrender now, then we may let you live."

Marcus smiled a little. "Times change, Caius. Just because we've always done things a certain way doesn't mean we can't adjust. We've done it throughout the millennia with humans and technology. Why can't we do the same with our own kind?"

Instead of answering the question, Caius asked one of his own. "You have a human amongst you?"

Jacob grinned, wiggling his fingers in a smart-ass wave. "Yeah, well, you're on my land, asshole, so I thought I'd better cast a fucking vote."

Demetri snorted, but we all shifted when Edward stepped forward, still blank-eyed and under Greta's control. My heart ached. My chest twisted in pain.

"That's Jacob Black, direct descendant of Ephraim Black. Chief of the Quileute tribe. He guards his people and the humans in this area against immortals," Edward said without much inflection in his voice.

I wanted to try our way of communicating without anyone knowing. So with a slight shift in my shield, I opened only my mind to him. I couldn't wrap him up, but I could let him hear me.

Edward, I love you. Don't let her power win. I know you can hear me and not anyone else. If this works, touch your hair.

For a second or two, he did nothing, even though Jacob had stepped forward.

"What can a weak human do?" Caius scoffed, dismissing Jacob without even looking his way. "That's another charge against you, Marcus – allowing humans to know what we are."

Jake laughed, glancing back to Marcus. "That animal diet is the only reason I allow you fuckers anywhere near here. Want me to show him exactly what a human can do?"

"I guess we have no choice," he answered softly. "I wish it hadn't come to this."

Before Jake could shift, Edward stepped once to his right, away from Caius, and those beautiful fingers shot to his hair.

There he is. My thoughts were filled with relief when dark eyes met mine, and my painful chest eased up completely. I love you, you crazy, brave, silly vampire! This is about to get ugly. At that thought, Edward nodded briefly just once.

Just knowing that he was back to himself made me much more focused when Jacob shifted into his wolf form in front of everyone. His tan shorts obliterated, and instead of the six-and-a-half-foot-tall human, the red wolf the size of a polar bear stood between Caius and Marcus.

"That's impossible!" Caius gasped, shaking his head. "You're consorting with werewolves."

"The Quileute are descended from wolves," Edward answered him, using the same monotone voice he had earlier. "They are not children of the moon; they're shapeshifters."

"Lies!" he yelled, pointing toward us all. "End them!"

Jacob howled, and eight more wolves stepped out of the trees and into the large clearing. Jake had positioned them so that they were surrounding Caius's people, who started to panic. They wouldn't know the legend, and they definitely wouldn't know how to fight them. As if to prove a point, Seth and Paul immediately launched themselves at their closest enemies, because they weren't under my shield.

The rest of us were, and we held steady, even when a wave of water formed over our heads, spilling down over my shield.

"Tsk," Benjamin scoffed next to me, but he glanced my way. "He does pull it from the air. Lift the shield, or at least let me out."

I looked to Marcus, who nodded. "Lift it. We need to help the pack."

Benjamin immediately took action, setting an old oak on fire. The flames bloomed up bright and orange, and the heat could be felt several yards away.

To get away from the wolves, Caius's people ran at us at top speed, and I had no choice but to stand my ground in front of Marcus, Carlisle, and Eleazar. The first few were easy – I wrapped my shield around them, twisted hard, and tossed the pieces toward the burning tree. I removed about ten that way until my chest twisted so hard that my knees gave out.

I heard my name called, and Jacob's massive paws landed by my side, but I could barely take a breath. I could feel the wet grass through my jeans, smell the potent smoke of immortals burning, and felt the rumble of the ground around us from the wolves and whatever Benjamin was doing, but I couldn't see with the pain.

Suddenly, I was tackled hard, sliding roughly through the wet grasses and mud, and the scent that made my soul complete was surrounding me, but my mate, my spouse was not mine at the moment.

"Edwa—" I started, but he was in full-blown fight mode.

I had no choice but to shield my thoughts and shove him off me. I didn't get a chance to think, much less break Greta's hold, because he dove for me one more time. I ducked, rolling beneath him to give myself space.

He didn't stop and launched himself at me again, and really, it was better that he was fighting me, because I wasn't sure anyone else could've countered his mind-reading ability. As soon as his feet left the ground, I wrapped my shield tight around him, slamming him to the wet earth.

Instantly, I was on top of him, straddling his stomach. "Edward, come back to me. Baby, please."

He squeezed his eyes closed and shook his head as if to clear it. When beautiful golden eyes opened to mine, I sagged with relief.

"Where was our first date?" I asked him.

He smirked. "The meadow. I'm okay, Bella. Let me up. I need to…"

"Bella!" I heard behind me, and I gasped when I saw that they'd somehow gotten Benjamin to turn on us.

"Jesus, I'm really going to kill that bitch." I turned to Edward, slipping off him and offering him a hand. "I've got to take her out of this fight. Benjamin could kill us all."

I spun, sending my shield out around Benjamin so tight that his hands were trapped at his sides. I didn't want to cook him with his own fire, but I needed to sever his mind from Greta's. As soon as he blinked back to himself, I searched the chaos around me for blonde hair and red eyes.

She was backing slowly away from the clearing, alone. I didn't know where Caius was, I didn't know where we stood in the big picture, but I knew for a fact that woman had to be stopped or she'd turn us all against each other.

I took off, aiming her way, and with everyone I encountered, I used my shield to tear them apart. Once she saw me coming, she bolted from the clearing and into the trees. I barely heard my name called as I left them all.

~oOo~

EDWARD

Bella's form disappeared into the woods, and before I could follow her, my name was called from multiple minds. They needed help on the battlefield more than my wife needed help catching Greta. Without Niko to stop Bella's shield, Greta didn't stand a chance.

I got her, I got her! Jacob's voice yelled my way in his mind. He finished the enemy he was fighting, jumping over several immortals, and followed Bella's scent.

My next target was Caius. I didn't care who wanted his head. I wanted it more. Several enemies aimed in my direction, because they'd been told to take me out first if my loyalty didn't stay turned. I had a target on me.

A young girl snarled, diving for me, and her thoughts were too easy, too clear, and with her first thrown punch, I dodged it, grabbing her arm and twisting. Her head was next, and I dropped the pieces just in time to catch the next one. This time, it was the immortal with the talent of controlling water, and Benjamin was right behind him.

Edward, it's good to see you again, he thought my way. Ready? We'll stop him together.

I saw in his mind what he wanted to do, and I nodded once, circling around the guy in order to keep his attention. Behind him, Benjamin balled up a fist and slammed it hard into the ground, which caused a fissure to open up beneath us almost the depth of a grave. I landed on my feet, but my enemy panicked. I tackled him quickly, removing his head and limbs and leaping out so Benjamin could light the whole pit on fire.

It was enemy after enemy, and I had no choice but to keep myself near Marcus, Carlisle, and Eleazar. Without Bella's shield, they needed to stay protected. Jasper, Emmett and I worked together. Kevin, Adrian, and Brody were facing a small group. The girls – Alice, Rose, Caroline, and Esme – had squared off with a group being led by Athenodora, Caius's mate. I had no idea where Sulpicia was. I'd also lost track of Archie in this mayhem.

Despite the numbers Caius had brought with him to this fight, he was losing. The wolves had taken the wind out of his sails and his ego. And after ending a boy who had been turned somewhat close to my age, I gave the battlefield another sweeping gaze.

I found him fighting against Senna and Zafrina from the Amazon coven, and Kate and Garrett. Kate's electric touch was making him extremely angry, but Zafrina had him frozen in some sort of crazy vision, a nightmare of post-apocalyptic proportions. There was fire and smoke; the world was burning. And Caius was alone and starving.

It was kind of terrifying to see through their thoughts, so being immersed in it had to have been ghastly.

"Caius!" Marcus called him from several yards away. "Call an end to this madness. You're condemning the innocent to death."

Caius's people really didn't want to die, especially if the cause were the jaws of the pack. Their scent, their size, and their ability to work together calmly, precisely was scaring them almost to the point of abandoning the field.

Sulpicia was one of them, and she stepped forward. "Caius, call an end to the fight. They'll kill us all. It isn't worth this much death."

Athenodora growled at her friend, launching herself at Sulpicia. Several people darted out of the way, but a few separated them. Caius was still and quiet, and he couldn't quite seem to shake the fear Zafrina's vision had given him.

However, his followers were falling apart. Infighting began, and the wolves stepped back a bit. Marcus's talent was even more entertaining. The ties to Caius started to fade, breaking like a string pulled too tight.

Jasper stepped up to my side, Emmett on my other. Both were shaking their heads at the meltdown.

I looked to Marcus. "He won't stop. I see it in his mind."

Demetri tossed his enemy into the pit that Benjamin had created, walking to Caius to bring him forward. "Time to answer for what you've done."

"I've done nothing!" Caius snapped, sneering up at Demetri.

"Actually, you've broken several of our laws, brother," Marcus pointed out.

"No! I haven't!"

"He knows he has," I said, outing Caius's thoughts. "He wanted the power to take over…by any means necessary. Even if he broke the first rule of touching another immortal's mate, or in this case, mates!" I snarled that last word, stepping closer, but Emmett's hand landed on my shoulder.

"You also created an army in Prague, which fed indiscriminately. We had issues in several countries we had to attend to," Marcus pointed out, sighing deeply. "You started a war against a diet that makes no difference; in fact, it keeps the secret of our existence better than the traditional diet. We'd never denied the animal diet before, and I never planned on stopping it. We could have discussed things, brother. You think I wanted to run Volterra alone? Did you not think I grieved you and Aro?"

I sneered Caius's way when he remembered hearing the news of Felix's betrayal. He'd planned to take over when Felix returned to the castle.

"Felix's people died on this very field. He burned on the boat he'd taken here. I tore him apart myself. You allowed things to play out, but what you didn't know was that we'd found Marcus, healed him, protected him, and fought with him. What you also didn't know was that we would've done the same for you – out of respect," I ranted his way, and I shrugged out of Emmett's grasp, stepping closer to him. "I should burn you alive for having dared to touch my mate. For threatening to send Esme back to us in pieces. We borne you no ill will, yet you starved and tortured those women. Maybe I can do the same to yours…"

I took a step toward Athenodora, and she readied herself, but before she could attack, Archie appeared on her back, teeth at her neck. Everyone froze, and I glanced Marcus's way, waiting for his command. In his mind, he felt he owed me this. He felt he owed Bella. Hell, he felt he owed us all.

Shaking my head, I was about to argue, but Bella's mind started to cut in and out. Greta couldn't shake my wife and Jake, no matter how fast she ran or how many turns she took, so she finally turned to fight Bella. But they were pushing our distance limit, and I couldn't see how this was playing out.

When Jake landed heavily next to Bella at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific, Greta panicked again, taking back off into the woods, but before she did, she set her sights on the huge wolf. Knowing my girl, she didn't even think to shield Jake from her.

"Jake, no!" Bella growled, trying to shield herself and him from Greta at the same time.

My chest completely exploded in pain as all three were in an all-out brawl, tumbling off the edge of the cliff. My knees gave out, and instantly, my family knew the issue.

"I can't see her," Alice whispered, falling next to me.

"Seth's gone after them," Sam panted, rushing up to us in his human form.

"I-I c-can't hear them…" I ground out through gritted teeth. I glanced between Marcus and Carlisle. "I have to go to her. I can't… She's shielded, but—"

"Go!" Marcus ordered. "She's more important than revenge, Edward."

I could hear Caius's thoughts, and suddenly, he knew Bella and I were connected. He wasn't sure how, but he now understood it was physical as well as a mating connection.

"I should've killed you!" he snarled my way, stepping closer. "Just to watch her suffer…"

I was on my feet and in motion before he could register movement. I had to protect the Completi l'amina from those around us. He was about to threaten that connection, because he assumed Bella and I were as connected as Marcus had been to his Didyme. We were way more than what he'd assumed.

Demetri stepped back just as I wrapped my arms around Caius's head and twisted. His people growled, shifting on their feet. His mate fell to her knees in agony, but I dropped his head at Marcus's feet without much emotion.

"My Bella has suffered enough," I told him, taking off into the woods as fast as I could to follow her scent. I needed to get closer to hear her thoughts. I needed to ease the pain, because if I was hurting, so was she.

~oOo~

A/N… The fighting isn't quite over. But Caius is no more.

No songs added to the playlist.

Okay, I'll see you guys on Tuesday for the Common Ground update and then again next Sunday. Until then… Mooches, Deb ;)