A/N: We own nothing but the plot. Reviews appreciated. Happy reading.
~o0o~
~ Peter's Point of View ~
~ By Spudzmom ~
Peter awoke to the waning shadows of the early morning, his thoughts still in turmoil, especially with the dreams he'd had during the night. He couldn't seem to banish the images of the upcoming battle from his head and it was affecting him greatly. He felt anger and frustration well up at his inability to control his thoughts and mood and he knew he had to do something about that.
He laid there for a bit and glanced over at his peacefully sleeping mate. She was so still and so deeply asleep that he couldn't bring himself to disturb her so he rose from the bed as quietly as he could and dressed in some workout clothes; just some sweats and a t-shirt. If his mind and body wouldn't give him peace, then he'd work into exhaustion. That had always been an effective coping mechanism for him during his youth and he hoped it would now as well.
He crept quietly into the bathroom and took care of his morning routine, with the exception of a shower. He'd do that after his work-out. He still found that, due to his power, he didn't necessarily need showers, but he enjoyed the warmth and the feel of the water, so he indulged. Why not? There were still very few pleasures that he gleaned from his life so he took them where he could find them.
He glanced at himself in the mirror and sighed as he thought about the first time he'd seen his reflection. It'd been startling, to say the least as he'd never seen his own face before. He'd had no idea he was looking at himself until Bella, with a sympathetic laugh, had explained it to him. He'd felt like an idiot afterward, but as always, Bella had made him feel better about the whole thing while still managing to chuckle through it. The memory made him smile and he left the room quietly. It was time to tackle his demons.
He made his way to the training circle just as the first light of the sun broke over the mountains in the distance, breathing deeply of the cool morning air as he stretched.
Rolling his work-out mat onto the bare ground, he laid down on his back and began doing sit-ups; the first of hundreds. He'd beat these thoughts and regain focus through the shedding of sweat and the burn of well worked muscle. He was determined.
~o0o~
Bella awoke slowly, stretching and reaching, her eyes snapping open when she felt the empty place next to her where Peter belonged. Worry overtook her immediately at his absence. This was unusual. He'd waited for her to awake every morning since his arrival in her life and she'd adjusted to his presence so fully that it felt as though she was missing part of herself without him next to her. She flopped over on her back as she thought how ridiculous she was being. He's a grown man after all, but still… she worried.
Grumbling to herself, she rose from the bed, deciding it was time to get up and start the day. It was going to be another busy one. She scoffed at the thought. Since when wasn't it busy now? It's as though her life had gone from zero to one hundred miles per hour in a day, but she wouldn't go back for anything. This craziness brought Peter to her and that's all that mattered. She'd put up with anything for him.
Once she had showered and dressed, she made her way out to the back yard. She didn't bother with making breakfast inside anymore since she knew that it was ready to go outside. Esme, Elizabeth and Char were all excellent cooks and she didn't mind handing over that chore in the least.
She walked out and made her way to the kitchen tent amidst many good-natured greetings, to which she responded with smiles and a wave.
She grabbed a plate from the stack and looked at the food they'd made, choosing some scrambled eggs and bacon. She smiled at Charlotte when she walked in. "Hey there Char. How's it going?"
Charlotte blushed. "It's really good Bella. Better than it's ever been for me." She smiled a shy smile and Bella grinned.
"That wouldn't be because of a certain young leprechaun, now would it?"
Char grinned. "Shh! Too loud! He might hear you!"
Bella rolled her eyes as she filled a cup with juice. "Oh, and that would be terrible. You two make a wonderful couple."
Char looked down. "Thank you Bella. I'm just afraid I'll scare him away, I guess."
Bella sat down and ate quickly, finishing the last bite in her mouth before speaking. "Char…" she took a sip of juice, "…really, he likes you way too much for that to happen. Trust me."
Char looked at her with hope shining in her eyes and Bella rose from the chair. "Stop worrying so much and just enjoy each other. Believe me when I say it's worth it." Char smiled and nodded and Bella walked out feeling pretty good about the two. Now it was time to go and find her love.
She used her senses to find him sitting amidst the trees not too far from the house, but still far enough that he had his privacy. She knew that after living his whole life completely alone, the small crowd they now had here got to him at times and he had to separate himself just to relieve the tension that built inside him.
She sat next to him, keeping her silence, just letting the feeling of their connection hum through and around them. It was a comforting feeling and she knew he felt it too. She also knew that he needed the quiet, so she waited for him to speak when he was ready.
It took about ten minutes of them just being together before he finally spoke but when he did it was worth the wait. "I love you Bella."
She smiled and tucked herself under the arm he raised to place around her. "I love you too Peter. So much." Their voices were quiet, neither of them wanting to spoil the peace they found themselves in, so they sat for long moments in silence.
She finally spoke again. "You were up early this morning."
He glanced at her. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep anymore and didn't want to wake you so I came out and worked out for a bit before eating, then took a shower. You were still sleeping so I came out here just to think." He glanced down at her again. "It's all so much to take in, ya know? I wouldn't believe any of it if I wasn't experiencing it."
She chuckled. "I know exactly what you mean."
He sighed. "Yeah, maybe. Don't get me wrong. I know your life wasn't all sunshine and roses, but… damn, I was raised in a stone cage with no one and nothing… I've never known parents, never had contact with people and I yearn for all of that Bella. I want to live. And to get here, and then find out I'm here just to have to fight this battle with some ancient asshole that I've never laid eyes on, that I could die so fucking soon after gaining the first bit of freedom I've ever known…"
He pulled away from her, sitting forward, his forehead resting on his bent knees. She placed a hand on his back and was startled to feel him tremble with his emotions.
"What is it baby? How can I help?"
She gasped as he surged up from where he sat, hands balled into fists. "You can't! No one can! There's nothing to be done. I know I have to do this and after all the shit that my entire life has been, that fact pisses me off!"
She sucked in a breath when some loose branches lying on the ground burst into flames. She didn't get upset at him though because she knew that his anger wasn't against her, but at his situation and it was completely justified as far as she was concerned. She knew that he hadn't been far from a blow-up such as this, she just hadn't known when it would happen. She was grateful they were alone for it.
She stood and went to him, her hand moving slowly to rub his back as she spoke softly. "Peter, I'm here for you baby. You'll never be alone again, I vow it." She laid her head against his shoulder. "We're in this together, to the end, whatever that end may be."
He blew out a breath and pulled her into his arms, the tension slowly leaving him as he calmed. He finally nodded against her shoulder. "I'm okay now. I just needed to vent a bit."
She chuckled as she glanced pointedly at the burning branches. "I can see that, and I understand."
He smiled and leaned in, his lips brushing lightly against hers, gently, lovingly. It was reverent and she felt tears in her eyes at the sweetness of it. "You are my life Isabella." He murmured against her lips.
Emotion overcame her and she held his face in both hands, deepening their kiss, their passions flaring to life in an instant as they opened to each other, tasting, teasing, connecting.
She backed away with a sigh as Alice and Jasper broke through into their small clearing, Jasper tossing a bucket of water on the briskly burning branches. Bella looked at Alice who had turned to them, poised to speak. She held up a hand to her. "Yeah, we know, crisis averted."
Alice smiled as Jasper chuckled. "Just so my Lord and Lady. As you were." She and a smirking Jasper turned and left and Pete took Bella's hand. "Suppose it's time to get back to the others."
She squeezed his hand and they began walking back. "Yep. No flaking off for us until after the evil bastard is dead."
When they arrived back with the group, Peter called for everyone to gather in their meeting circle, which had grown to include the Navajo women who had joined them. Pete still wasn't used to their piercing stares, but he tried not to mind because they were there to aid Bella and that was enough for him, unsettling though they may be.
He sat next to Bella when all had assembled and fell silent. "Well, as you know, the full moon is tomorrow night. That also means it's the night we will all do battle to save ourselves and the world." He glanced around at the now somber group. "We've done our best to prepare in the time we've been given and now it's time to break camp here and move to the battle site. Take only the essentials. Let's get it done, shall we?" He stood with Bella and the group followed, everyone working to quickly pack up and move out.
Pete helped Bella ready the house to be empty. They had hopes to be back soon, but there were no guarantees and so they prepared it as though they'd be gone for a while.
After packing up some clothes and personal items, they were ready to go. They just had to wait on the rest of their group.
He slung their bags over his shoulder and grabbed her hand, looking around the inside of the little house that had been his first real home. He felt a pang in his chest at the thought that this could be his last time seeing it.
The all too familiar rage filled him and he straightened his spine and shoulders, cold resolve turning his vivid blue eyes into azure ice. Bella squeezed his hand, shooting him a concerned look and he nodded once, sharply. "Let's go kick this fucker's ass baby." She gave him a small smile, sadness and resolve shining in her eyes as they walked out and she locked the door after them.
They joined the group who had already sectioned themselves off into smaller groups for Alice to transport with her power, each group carrying a bundle of supplies for the camp. They wouldn't take it all, just the necessities since they wouldn't be there for long. After the battle, they'd either be victorious and free, dead, or imprisoned. With any of those eventualities, ample supplies weren't required.
Alice and Jasper were going to combine their power to transport their followers a few at a time. Pete was thankful for Alice's ability. If they didn't have her, they would have needed a bus to get them all to Meteor Crater. As it was, Alice could have them there in seconds per small group. After the last group transport had drained her of energy for an entire day afterward, Jasper had insisted on splitting them up to ease the strain on his mate and Peter had agreed. It was dangerous for her to be so depleted.
Alice walked over to them when she saw them come from the house. "I think I should transport you two first, that way you can oversee the set up and make sure it all goes smoothly. I'll transport Carlisle by himself last due to the large amount of medical supplies he's taking along with a tent. He wants to make sure he's ready for any injuries."
Pete nodded. "We're lucky to have him considering what's about to take place."
Bella leaned into him, rubbing his arm. "We're fortunate to have all of them with us. I can't see us doing this alone, that's for sure."
Alice smiled. "Well, you're not alone. We're all in this together." Bella and Pete nodded, holding each other close, neither wanting to waste a moment since their time was growing so short. Alice moved close and placed a hand on them, meeting their eyes. "You ready? Just bend your knees a bit on the landing and you should be fine."
Bella took a bracing breath. "Yep, let's go."
Turns out, Alice was right. It wasn't a bad way to travel even though it seemed to go much faster with so few beings traveling at a time.
They quickly found the spot they had chosen to set up and waited for the rest of the group to begin arriving. When they did, they worked as a well-oiled machine and the camp was set up in no time. Pete was shocked to see that even Jessica and Lauren were busy and not causing trouble. He was guessing that the seriousness of the situation had finally reached them. It had just taken a bit longer than it had for the rest of them.
Peter walked around the entire camp, making sure that everyone was settled and then went looking for Bella. He found her sitting in the shade of their tent and sat beside her, pulling her close as he reclined back against a cooler filled with bottles of water and ice. She remained quiet, holding his arms to her where they circled her waist as he nuzzled his face into her neck just below her ear, placing light kisses there. She chuckled, tilting her head to give him more room as she spoke. "Hi baby. Everything all set?"
He nodded against her, murmuring quietly between kisses. "Yep, seems to be. They're starting on dinner, you hungry?"
She turned her head and caught his lips in a kiss, just enjoying their closeness. "Yeah, I could eat." She whispered out against his lips, her eyes closed, just taking him in. She backed away enough to meet his gaze. "But then I want time alone with you. I want us to enjoy this night and each other."
His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing softly over her bottom lip as so much love and need passed between them when their eyes met again. "We will Bella. I want that too."
She leaned into his touch and smiled. "Good, then let's go get dinner out of the way."
He chuckled and rose, helping her up with him. "By all means, let's."
When they arrived at the kitchen tent, they could tell that the mood of the group had livened a bit as everyone talked and laughed as they got their food and sat down to eat. Even the Navajo women were mingling and involved in lively discussion. Peter was glad to see it. Anything was better than the somber shadow that had seemed to blanket them upon their meeting about the move here.
He and Bella had just sat down to eat when Alice approached. "My Lord, my Lady, I have to leave for a bit to retrieve a package from the Observer. I will be back in just a bit. Shouldn't take long at all, but I didn't want to leave without letting you know. Jasper will be going with me."
Pete wiped his mouth with a napkin and nodded. "Thank you for letting us know Alice. Any idea what it is you're to pick up?"
"No, I'm afraid not my Lord, although I'm certain it's vital for the battle."
Bella smiled up at her. "Thanks Alice, and be careful."
Alice flitted off with a smile, a musical sounding "Will do" drifting back to them as she joined Jasper, both disappearing with a 'pop'.
Pete glanced at Bella as they continued on with dinner, smiling as she wrinkled her nose and picked a large piece of onion out of her salad. "Don't care for onions, eh?"
She frowned at him, her upper lip curling a bit. "No, they're vile and my mother used to use them in everything she cooked. I can't count the times I was stuck at the table, refusing to eat the food on my plate while she insisted that I do. She eventually gave up and began making food specifically for me to eat while she and my father had something different. The first dinner that she did that was a shining moment in my history. I'll never forget it."
He chuckled. "And you were such a sweet looking little girl too. I never would have guessed you had such a stubborn streak."
She shook her head and took a drink from her bottled water. "Oh, I didn't. Not really. Just with things I felt strongly about, and believe me, I felt strongly about not eating food that would make me gag." She smirked at him and he laughed quietly.
"Well, I wasn't picky. I was just happy that they couldn't starve me and the food had to be fresh and good. I didn't question my one meal a day beyond that, believe me."
She looked down and he could tell she was feeling guilty again. "I bet. Your body needed every calorie it got, I'm sure, no matter what form they came in."
He set his plate aside and took her free hand. "Hey, it's all in the past and I don't want you feeling bad about it. There's nothing that can change the past and I'm okay now. I have you."
She smiled and met his eyes. "Yeah, we have each other."
"Right." He kissed her hand. "That's all that matters to me."
He took up his plate and had just begun eating again when Alice and Jasper popped back in carrying a long, heavy bundle with a note attached. "My Lord, my Lady, this is for you. I don't know what's inside it, but I can speculate. I'd rather you find out for yourselves though, so here ya go." They laid the bundle down next to Pete and backed away. "We're going to go get dinner now. We'll be around if you have any questions."
He gave a nod. "Thank you both."
He gathered their empty plates and walked over, placing them in the trash bag that hung from the side of the kitchen tent. He smiled and gave a lazy wave to the group sitting nearby. "Thank you for dinner ladies. It was excellent, as always."
Elizabeth answered, her Irish brogue bringing a smile to his lips. "It's our pleasure my Lord. We're happy to do it."
He went back to his tent and sat down, pulling the long, heavy bundle closer. "Time to open the mystery package, eh?" He looked at Bella as he unfolded the note he'd pulled from it.
"Yeah. What does the note say?"
"Well, it says that these are weapons that some of us will require. The staves are for the wood nymphs." He looked up, wide-eyed. "Jesus, just the thought of arming those two with a weapon…" He shook his head slowly in dread as Bella laughed and slapped him on the arm.
"What, did you think to have them fight bare-handed?"
"Well fuck, I kinda thought they could just talk a couple of the evil minions to death."
"Come on now, baby, they've calmed somewhat. They're not as bad as when they first arrived."
He raised one brow at her with a smirk to match and she sighed. "Okay, I see your point, but perhaps they'll be effective fighters? I mean, they must have some redeeming qualities that shone through to cause them to be chosen… right?"
He looked doubtful. "Yeah, perhaps the fact that whoever was doing the choosing never met them." He moved the staves aside and Bella nodded.
"Perhaps…" She leaned over to get a better look just as Pete pulled a long item wrapped in oilcloth from the bundle. "What's that baby?"
He hefted it and began to unwrap the cloth from it. "The note says this is for me."
Bella gasped as the cloth finally fell away, revealing a gleaming sword, the hilt marked and bedecked with gems in the same fashion of their arm-bands. "God, it's beautiful, Pete." She met his eyes. "Is it heavy?"
He stood and backed away, taking a practice swing with it and Bella marveled at the sight of him with it. He wielded it as though he'd been born to it.
"It's very balanced and feels natural to me." There was awe in his voice as he spoke. "What the fuck? I've never swung a sword in my life..."
Alice and Jasper joined them then and Jasper gave a slow nod. "Perhaps not in this life, my Lord, but you have wielded a sword, for thousands of years and in two of these such battles against the Dark One."
Pete continued practicing with the sword, moving away to a safer distance and Bella caught Jasper's attention. "How do you know this Jasper?"
"Well, I love the history of war. Always have, and so I studied everything I could get my hands on concerning it. I soon came to be bored with the wars of mortal man and took up studying what is considered mythology." He smiled a crooked smile. "You two are in lots of books on the subject, translated from ancient texts that have since been lost, and it's all considered myth, but they're surprisingly detailed."
Bella looked down at her hands, a lump in her throat when she asked the next question. "What happened, Jasper?" She met his somber eyes. "The last two times, I mean. How'd we die?"
Jasper sighed, running a hand through his hair. He'd suspected this question would come when they initiated this conversation, but he still dreaded telling her. He knew it would cause pain, but she needed to know to avoid the same mistakes in this third and final battle. "You were stripped of your arm-band Bella, while in your lioness form. Your shield around Ra dropped and the shadow demons got to him. They are the only beings that Osiris has with the ability to kill him. They do so by engulfing him with their darkness. They have no tangible bodies but somehow, they manage to drain all light and power from him and he dies. When that happened in the two previous battles, you gave up in grief and despair, and let them kill you."
A tear traced down her cheek as she absorbed his words. It was her fault. In some way, she'd always known, but now it was real to her and she felt like roaring in her pain and anger. She looked up at Jasper again and he almost gasped at the ferocity in her eyes. "I won't fail him again. I'll die protecting him if I must, but I shall not fail him."
He inclined his head in respect. "As you say, my Lady. We believe in you."
After reading the note, she handed over the rest of the bundle to Jasper. "If you would distribute these to the proper beings, I would be grateful. I've a need to be alone with him." She looked at Pete just as he finished practicing swinging the blade, his eyes alight with excitement and a sheen of sweat on his skin. He was beautiful and she needed him.
She watched as he dried himself with a towel, his t-shirt clinging to every cut muscle as they flexed and contracted with his every move. Her want of him suffused her body with heat and passion as a low purr sounded from her chest.
He looked over at her then, as if he could feel her need, his eyes lighting with an answering heat as he made his way to her.
They came together in a perfect embrace, lips meeting, taking and giving as their bodies fell to the bedding spread within their tent.
Their love was expressed in a tender manner with loving, reverent touches mapping every inch of the other with gentle hands and languid kisses.
Clothes were shed piece by piece, with slow patience prevailing, neither willing to rush through this building and simmering passion, both needing to savor… to remember, each detail.
He covered her with his body, their eyes locked as he entered her, causing tears to trace down into her hair at the beauty and perfection of their connection. This was much more than just physical; it was two souls dancing a slow sensual dance as old as time and they were overcome with the profundity of it as he pleasured her just as he took his pleasure.
Tears filled his eyes and spilled over as he cupped her face, knowing they were both at the pinnacle. "Are you ready my love?" He whispered to her.
The tightening around his length gave him his answer moments before her whispered "Yes" and they peaked together, forehead to forehead, their lips capturing each other's panted breaths before melding in a kiss as they spiraled together in their release. He moved off to the side, keeping her wrapped in his embrace, their worries and fears chased away by the peace they had made together. It was enough for both of them, at least for now and they both sighed as they slipped off into dreams of each other and the life they might have one day…if only…
They awoke the next day as the soft sunlight filtered through to them, their bodies still tangled together in a lazy sprawl, her hair spilling across his strong chest which he now ran his fingers through. "Good morning, my Goddess."
She turned her head, placing a slow kiss on his chest. "Good morning, my love."
He kept his voice low, his fingers tracing the curve of her shoulder and back. "We should get up. I think we should make sure that everyone with weapons uses the daylight to practice. I also think that we should gather and meditate in the pentagram when the sun is at its highest point as the book mentioned doing. We could use all the power we can get."
She sighed and he felt her slight nod. "You're right of course, but I don't want to move. I don't want to lose the feel of you wrapped around me."
His fingers traced back up and over her ribs. "We'll have many more mornings such as this Bella. Don't doubt it. We're going to win this time, baby, I can feel it."
Fear gripped her at the thought of one more failure; at the thought that this was it. There would be no more opportunities after this. They would spend eternity imprisoned in darkness if they failed and she clenched her eyes closed, trying to desperately stay the tears that threatened to fall. She couldn't afford to break, to crumble. She had to stay strong for him, so instead, she let cold rage fill her, breathing deeply as that rage shored up her determination. She would do this. There was no other choice.
They spent the day, just as he suggested, overseeing, along with Jasper, the practice and skill of their fighters.
At noon, they broke and made their way to the outer ring of the pentagram, spacing themselves evenly as they began to meditate, with Peter at the center, his chant a prayer of power and protection for them all. Just like all the other times they had come together, it was an awe-inspiring experience, this time only felt within, but profoundly.
They all went back to camp, surprised to see that it was time to make dinner. They had meditated for hours with the low position of the sun to attest at the lengthy duration as they surfaced from their centers.
The meal was a quiet affair as everyone realized the nearness of the looming battle. Pete stood amongst them as they finished, his voice strong and sure as he spoke. "Tonight we're faced with the greatest evil this world has ever known. It falls to us to see it destroyed and destroy it we must. There is no other option; no second or third chance for those have already been and gone. You were, each of you, chosen for a purpose. I believe you were chosen because you are the best and from what I witnessed today, I know I'm right. Take heart in that. Let it fill you, build you up and empower you. Someone wiser than I saw that prowess in each one of you too and so brought us here, to this place and time. We shall be the victors tonight my friends. The Light shall prevail, even through the darkest of nights."
He turned then with Bella in his arms and they all turned with him, watching as the sun set off in the horizon, the last rays painting the desert sky in hues of orange, pink and purple before finally, slowly fading to black.
Now they only waited on the rise of the Moon and the fight for their fate that would come with it.
As the moon began to peek over the horizon, everyone changed into comfortable, close-fitting clothes that would allow ease of movement. When they gathered back in the open space encircled by the tents, Jasper began putting them through warm-up paces. Nothing exhausting, but enough to ready them to move at their peaks with all possible speed and precision.
Pete stood quietly, still centered and focused from the earlier meditation, his sword sheathed at his side. Bella stood next to him in her white cloak, ready to transform at the first hint of their enemy's presence.
He looked up at the moon's progression and caught Jasper's attention. "I think it's time to take our places within the crater."
Jasper nodded, "Yes, my Lord." and began telling everyone to move out and take up their positions.
Pete offered Bella his arm and she took it as they trailed closely behind their group, placing themselves front and center when they formed up. They knew this order wouldn't last when the fighting began but Pete had a need to face his tormenter straight on from the outset. He had one hell of a debt to collect and he meant to do it by shedding the bastard's blood as soon as possible.
When the moon was at its peak, everyone glanced over at the Navajo women who had begun to growl and tremble. The beta from the group looked to Bella, her expression fierce. "The evil approaches my Lady. It is time for us to shift."
Bella turned to Pete as the Navajo's shimmered and shifted, placing her hand on his face, the face that was the most precious in the world to her. She leaned in closely, her cheek against his as she whispered. "I shall not fail you, my love." She kissed him then trying to convey all her love in mere moments before backing away and dropping her cloak.
He grabbed her hand as she began to shimmer, placing a fleeting kiss to it as she pulled away to shift.
She roared out at the feeling of evil that drew closer and closer, her pride following suit, and Pete pulled his sword, the blade singing from its sheath as it flared to life from his power that coursed through it.
"Osiris!" He yelled out. "Come on, you filthy slime! You will die this night by my blade, I vow it! You have but to show your cowardly self. Come and face me!"
All remained quiet with the exception of the low growls coming from the pacing pride of lions.
That was until they all discerned a high-pitched evil laugh, coming from the back of a crowd of shadowy figures that seeped toward them from the deep shadows at the rim of the crater.
"Shielding yourself with your minions I see, you cowardly piece of shit. Come out here, front and center and face me. If you're any kind of leader, you will!"
That sinister laugh sounded again. "You think I care about being an honorable leader do you, noble Ra? You're sadly mistaken, and that has always been your problem and downfall. You see, I have always used every means to beat you. I've succeeded twice now. Tonight, I will succeed again." He lifted his staff and smokey black lightning shot out, entering the rank of shadowy figures at the front which began to advance.
Pete heard Bella roar and felt the comfort of her shield wrap him as a literal hell of instant battle broke out within the bowl of the crater.
He swung his blade, slicing cleanly through the throat of what looked to be, to his horror, a werewolf. He didn't have time to dwell on it though as he was beset by another minion immediately who shrieked and screamed when his blade pierced its middle.
He glanced around the field after his latest kill and noticed the wood nymphs holding their own with their staves, impressed by their skill. Carlisle was back to back with Esme, each handling their opponents with skill, Carlisle with his hands and teeth, Esme with her leprechaun magic and a large dagger.
He took heart as he saw other's paired up and fighting; Char and Edward, Ben and Angela, Alice and Jasper… even the little pixies flitted and attacked, before flitting away again, their sharp teeth and Emmett's arrows of light taking out shadow demons one at a time, with precision. Edward Sr and Elizabeth had each other's backs too, their leprechaun magic and daggers very effective against the more human looking minions that beset them.
He looked around further, searching frantically for Osiris, wanting… no needing, to kill that bastard. The feeling consumed him even as he pierced through yet another minion.
He was swarmed by shadow demons that groaned and hovered around him. They seemed to be waiting on something, but whatever that something was, he didn't know.
He took one last look around and spotted Osiris across the chaos from him, determination filling him as he steadily made his way to his destiny. The evil fucker would die this night. He was on his way to make sure.
Bella engaged yet another Child of the Moon, the rabid beast's claws and teeth barely grazing her as she twisted and spun with lightning speed. She glanced around after ripping out the creature's throat and noticed Peter moving steadily through the chaos, swinging and slicing through the evil. He looked to have a destination in mind but she didn't have time to register just what he was after as she was attacked by two more werewolves doing their best to take her out.
She twisted to her left, concentrating her efforts on the closest werewolf as he dove, nipped and retreated, almost as if he were baiting her. This pissed her off and she roared out and charged at him, completely turning her back to the other wolf. She realized her mistake as the wolf behind her bit into her right front leg and she roared in pain and anguish, realizing, too late, that she'd just been stripped of the precious, and all too vital arm-band that rode there. Her heart sank and she loosed an anguished, high-pitched roar of distress, calling her pride to her defense. She needed to shift back and replace the band on her arm. The pride surrounded her immediately and she shimmered back to human form, searching frantically for the band, tears streaming down her face in her terror. This just couldn't happen again! It just couldn't!
She felt relief fill her as her hand closed on the gold ring and she stood, poised to slide it back into place, when the most anguished scream pierced her heart from across the way.
Her head snapped up and she saw no less than five shadow demons engulf her love, his screams of agony cutting straight through her as the demons began draining Peter of his light and life. It took no more than scant seconds to happen and she jammed the band back on her arm, trying to shield him again but realizing with despair that the demons had enshrouded him too tightly. She couldn't get between her love and the vile beings that now progressively drained him. This would have to be a physical fight and so she transformed, determined to save him or die trying.