A/N: Sorry for the long wait folks, it's pretty well inexcusable when I have the majority of the story written already. Well you see since my last update my former Beta flaked on me (not that she did a lot before anyway) and my new Beta is finishing up with finals and the school year. But since this is one of my favorite chapters I thought I'd update now in honor of Memorial Day.

I'm dedicating this chapter to Departed, my new Beta, and Allysyn, the greatest character I've created thus far; but mainly to Departed.


Chapter 14

It would be at least another two minutes before anyone else would show up. Another crack of thunder rattled the window harder in its frame. Alice should be able to handle herself right? Hell she was stronger than I was. Another boom, this one much closer than the last two, threatened to shatter the widow. I was tense. My hands were clenched at my side, my knuckles turning white with the pressure. I should be out there, it thought turning away from the window.

Bella looked at me and her window, fear flooding on to her face. Not only was she in danger, but now so was one of her best friends. I could see the it in her eyes, in her face, in her hands; hell even saw it in toenails. She didn't have to tell me.

"Stay in there!" I shouted running out of the room, "I mean it!" Flying down the stairs and I disappeared into the inky night.

The crashes of thunder were becoming much more frequent and much more intense. I chased after them occasionally stumbling over a root or a fallen log; using only the loud crashes to navigate my way through the dense forest.

The darkness closed in around and suffocated me. I hoped I had enough energy to do one last spell. I held my hand out and focused some will into the ring I always wore. It worked! A soft blue light emanated from the front of the ring casting a wide beam in front of me. It didn't do much but it allowed me to pick the pace up. I knew I was in serious trouble when it took most of my concentration to cast the flickering blue light. Coupled with the sound of thunder were the sounds of two feral growls. Breaking into a full sprint I continued the seemingly endless forest. One of the growls was weakening, one was triumphant; I wasn't going to take the chance.

I broke into the clearing where the two were fighting. At this point it wasn't much of a fight. Alice was barely able to stand, why her visions weren't giving her an edge, I don't know. "Oh this doesn't end well for you!" I shouted at the mess of red hair that was caught in my wizard's light. Victoria I presume.

"Who the fuck are you!" She said in a low guttural growl.

"Tonight I am such stuff as nightmares are made of." I finished with a small chuckle and a grand bow. See I quote Shakespeare, or well bastardize him to prove a point, but I think The Bard would appreciate it. I wasn't so much scared of taking her on by myself. But why not hedge my bets; wait for everyone else to join the party.

"What does that mean?" She spat. Whatever I was doing, it was working. She turned all her attention to me.

"How rude of me," I began as politely as I could. I paused before continuing the inane pre-fight banter, "I should have come right out and said: Hello I'm Aaron Marsdon, tonight I'm going to kill you."

She let out a horrid cackle and began pacing around me, like a shark circling its' prey. "And how are you going to do that?" She asked seductively, licking her lips. I angled myself to the so she could only see the scabbard of the sword as I slowly reached down and grasped the butt of my cannon with my left hand. I was just waiting for the right time.

"I'm going to have to think about this one." I paused until she was in front of me, "Like this!" I shouted pulling the cannon into play. I didn't have any time to aim. I just squeezed the trigger. The roar of the shot was almost as bad as the two vampires crushing. The muzzle flash illuminated the dark clearing enough for me to see that Alice had slumped down against a tree, her eyes glassed over; it's amazing what adrenaline allows you to notice. It looks like I got here just in time. Any later and she could have been dead.

My thoughts were immediately refocused on the red headed vampire. My shot had struck her in the left shoulder knocking her off balance, but not doing any real damage. I let off two more as quick as I could. One harmlessly grazed her right side, the other smashed into her forehead, knocking her on her back. For a brief moment I thought that would be the end of it. Not many things can take a bullet between the eyes and get back up, especially considering that the bullet is of the armor piercing variety.

She did. Now she was pissed. Now I was a bit scared. She shook off the three shots like I threw pebbles at her.

This was not going to end well.

I dropped the cannon to the ground; it landed with a soft metallic thud. I reached for the hilt of my sword, never getting the opportunity to draw it. She charged me fast, way too fast from my hand to react, too fast even for my eyes. I didn't get a chance to blink before I was flying back into the dark. My back slammed into the trunk of a very large, very old tree with a sickening crack. She was to me before I was able to hit the mossy ground.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you." She snarled. Had I bought myself enough time? Maybe. Would this be the time my luck would finally run out? Probably. Was I screwed either way? Definitely.

My eyes were swimming in a sea of red haze. I was vaguely aware that there was something warm and sticky running down the back of my head. I tried reaching for the silver rapier hanging from my hip.

It was useless. Before my hand and even gotten to the hilt, a vice clamped around it. Another clamped down around my throat. Victoria quickly jerked me to my feet and stared at me. She cracked an evil smile, licking her lips. This was the end; I tried to think about the mistakes I had made. If I hadn't destroyed Alice's phone she could have called minutes earlier the other vampires would be here already and would have wiped their asses with this bitch. If I had found them earlier I could have stabbed her in the heart with my sword or set her on fire. And yet I wasn't afraid; I was completely numb

I knew I would run out of time one day, but when I woke up this morning I didn't realize that today would be that day. Turns out I hadn't bought myself enough time after all.

At least I would have solace knowing that Alice was now safe, Bella would stay that way too. No innocent person would ever die by Victoria's hands again. Because I still had one card up my sleeve; I had my death curse. That innate power that was housed in all wizards, that was in essence my life force; once I used it, I would die, but at least I could take her with me.

A peaceful resolve washed over me, death stared me right in the face, and I returned an unflinching gaze. I knew what had to be done; what I had to do. A new power welled up inside of me. A power I would only feel once. I never thought about what came after death. I never really had a reason to. "Killing you wouldn't be fun." She snarled interrupting my meditations on the Afterlife. "I think turning you would be much more enjoyable."

A new emotion surged through me – fear. For the first time tonight I felt fear; pure unadulterated terror. Nothing mortified me more than living without magic. I instantly felt reenergized, normal energy this time, and not the kind that comes from the death curse. I might actually survive. Seriously I might actually survive tonight, and now joy was mixed with fear.

Unfortunately Victoria still had me by the throat; fortunately she had at some point dropped my wrist; even more fortunately I could still move my hand. Life is good.

Only a few problems still had to be worked out of my brilliant plans. If I tried to throw her off of me she would take my head with her, and I would be dead. My feet were still planted on the ground that means that lighting was out, because my ass would also be toast. That only really left one option left. Fire! The warm comforting element; that can either create or destroy; tonight I think destruction is more appropriate than creation. Unless we're talking about creating pain.

I took my right hand and gently cupped her cheek, focusing my eyes on the bridge of her nose (a trick I learned to fake direct eye contact.) I hoped it would work. "You like that idea do you?" She mused. I nodded as best I could; she loosened the grip on my throat just enough. "Now both options don't seem fun. Maybe torture, or maybe…"

I gently removed my hand from her cheek, never giving her time to finish her sentence. I held it about an inch away, before I broke into an evil smile of my own. "Fira!" I shouted, pouring as much magic and will as I could into my spell. Hot yellow fire erupted from my hand straight into her face. The fire was blinding and awesome lighting the forest around me for at least a hundred feet. I'd never been able to make fire that hot without a focus before. I turned my face away as fast as I could. I felt the heat on my face, smelled the day old stubble burning off my face, and heard the sound of sizzling flesh. She dropped me and grabbed her face with both hands. Her face completely scorched; she spun away from me. The smell of burnt flesh and hair drifted in the air. "I told you this wouldn't end well for you." The new found strength surged through me; a strength fueled by fear and anger and joy all rolled into one.

I drew my sword faster than I had ever done it in the past. The blade still sparkled in the black night. The red headed bitch was still screaming, acting like she'd never had face burns before. Her screams acted like a beacon, letting me find her with absolute ease. Knowing exactly what my sword would do to her, I sliced her Achilles tendons and watched her fall to the ground. I did the same to whatever muscles are in the shoulder. She wasn't going to run, she wasn't going to limp; hell I made sure she wasn't even able crawl; Victoria was going to lay there until someone mercifully ended her life. I limped out of the way before forming a circle of my own sealing it with the blood that still trickled from the back of my head.

I slumped to the ground with my head between my hands. My body hurt, my hands hurt, my feet hurt, my head hurt, my neck hurt, I hurt in more places than I knew existed; hell my teeth and hair hurt. I gathered a small bundle of sticks together inside my little circle. I set them on fire and hoped they would burn for at least a little while. The warmth was felt nice on my freezing skin; my hands ached with the cold. The smoke coiled up, never leaving the confines of my circle. The small flame cast light out to about ten feet. Just enough to barely make out Victoria's writhing form, the bright red burns contrasting with the dark red jellied blood running down her arms and legs.

Less than thirty seconds later I heard light footsteps approaching, fast. The cavalry had finally made it! They sure took their damn sweet time. I'm a little impressed that I heard their near silent footsteps over Victoria's pathetic screams.

The first one to step into my little pool of light was Little Miss Perfect herself, followed closely by Slabs. "Hey guys welcome to the party." I mumbled. "I got everyone a present. Sorry I didn't have time to gift wrap it." I said dryly vainly attempting to add some humor as I indicated the former red head.

The two wasted no time in pouncing on the crippled vampire, tearing her limb from limb, in sickening crunching noises. It wasn't long before the screaming stopped, and an eerie quiet to settle in. That, my friends, is how you kill a vampire. The body was nothing but a smattering of granite like flesh. What was left of the body didn't decompose nearly as fast as Jasper's. One more piece of the puzzle I suppose.

My small fire was burning out quickly. It was reduced to a pile of red embers before Carlisle and Esme, carrying Alice came into the area. The blood on the back of my head was still too fresh to break the circle. I took the chance anyway. I kicked the indentation in the dirt breaking the spell. A small flutter of magic released into the air. Everyone's attention focused exclusively on me. Everyone, but Carlisle immediately stopped breathing and faced away, the fresh blood must have been too much.

"How is she?" I asked weakly gesturing towards Alice. I couldn't help but think that this was my fault.

"She needs blood. But she'll be fine by morning. What happened?" He asked in a calmer voice than I could even try for right now.

"She had a vision of Victoria attacking. I made sure Bella was safe. Came out here, Alice wasn't doing well. I stepped in, and well." I said waving my hand around the clearing. "I need to go make sure everything's all right." I said, or well tried to. It might just have come out as "whoo." I guess the bump on my head was slightly more serious than I thought, or the adrenaline had finally worn off, but I fell and fell hard. I should have at least; before I passed out I vaguely remember a pair of cold hands breaking my fall as I plummeted to the ground.

~*~

I woke up sometime later catching Carlisle mid lie. "…like I said I don't know what happened. But near as I can tell." He paused looking in my direction. He must have noticed I was awake. I hadn't even decided to wake up all the way before that. "He must have slipped and cracked his head on a rock; it's just a minor concussion, and a small laceration. When he wakes tell him to take it easy for a day or two."

"Thank you, doctor." I heard Charlie say. He said something else but I wasn't paying any attention anymore. So that's why Carlisle didn't flinch, he could control himself to be around blood. I definitely need to make sure that I talk to him about my disease theory. If I could remember it.

I opened my eyes and blinked them a few times. Someone had laid my grey cloak on top of me like a blanket. My head spun like a helicopter, and I had to fight off an extreme urge to throw up right there. I finally managed to get a decent look around the room. My sword bag was propped up where I normally kept it, not where I tossed it to the floor before running to the kitchen, which was also picked up; I might have been seeing things but it looked like the kitchen floor sparkled. Vampires do work fast. I was wearing what I had been earlier, except for my cloak. You gotta love cloaks, especially long ones; they keep your real clothes from getting dirty.

I absently rubbed my sore throat, thankfully it wasn't bruised. Cracks to the head are a lot easier to explain than hand shaped bruises to the throat. I sat up… slowly; sitting only served intensified the urge to blow chunks. I rubbed my hand over my face and forehead a few times. Side note: I've never understood this, is it supposed to be a miracle cure?

I reached back tenderly touching the cut. I couldn't help but wince as I found it. This shouldn't have knocked me on my ass like this. I've definitely been hurt worse, without ever passing out. Much worse, I moved my hand tracing the long scar just behind my left ear. Maybe I used too much mojo earlier? That would explain why I passed out, not from whatever concussion I may or may not have. Maybe I had used some of my life energy, which would explain even more; like why I had suddenly passed out. I was still vaguely aware that Carlisle and Charlie were talking; I wasn't trying to figure out what exactly they were saying. The worry was coming back to me. Was Alice alright? Bella? I needed to find out; it was my duty after all, or at least my warped sense of duty. And as I always say: sense of duty is my insanity.

I heard a door close in the other room. Could I even come up with an accent if I needed to; damn I'm not sure that I could form a coherent word at the moment. There's some sort of a block between my brain and my mouth.

I thought about lying back down, but decided that that was too rational a move and stood up. That turned out the be the worst move. The world turned upside down on me and I damn near collapsed again. I fought it and managed to stay on my feet. I took a tentative step, then another, and another. Who said walking is hard?

I even managed to make it to the stairs which, admittedly, looked like Mt. Everest. Eventually the voice that started talking all about duty started up again. Even with a concussion it wouldn't shut up. No one was in the front room, or kitchen. Charlie must have been called in to work.

I went up the stairs as slow as I could. Stopping each time I could hear my pulse from inside my head. Anyone who has ever had a good whack on the head knows exactly the sound. About three days and nights of intense hiking and I made it to the summit. My head vigorously pounded with each heart beat.

Of course her door was closed. I knocked three times as controlled as I could manage before waiting. It felt like Christmas morning except instead of getting a puppy you get to find out if Santa killed your sister. Were mine the only Christmases that were fucked up.

She didn't answer, so I knocked again, quieter than before. If she was asleep, I didn't want to wake her. A few more seconds past and the door opened. Sparkles was standing there, fully dressed. He glared at me. I didn't have to read minds to know that he didn't like me. He made that abundantly clear.

"How is she?" I asked in a whisper, as my eyes temporarily blurred.

"Sleeping." He hissed.

"Is she okay?" I asked in a harsh whisper enunciating every syllable.

"She's cold. What were you thinking leaving her in a drafty room, soaking wet and wrapped in a towel?" He growled. Bella murmured something unintelligible in her sleep.

"Thinking went out the damn window, I went with my gut. I know how to keep people safe. It's my job. And let me remind you Victoria's dead and Bella's alive because of what I did. You weren't here, so you don't get to judge." Son of a bitch that was really arrogant. I think I managed to cram both feet in my mouth; shoes and all.

"What you did was risk her life. What if she had rushed past you, or killed you, then what?" His eyes were turning black as he angrily gestured back at Bella's sleeping form.

"I would have died before I let her escape. I almost did. And no don't think I'm trying to steal her. Don't delude yourself." It doesn't take a mind reader to hear and see his jealousy. "Fact is she's mortal, I would have thrown my life away for any mortal I was supposed to protect." I suddenly came to a realization, I may have figured out the real reason he hated me.

"What am I thinking right now?" I said thinking of something very specific.

He paused, twisting his face into a supposed mask of neutrality. I was right, if he could read me, it sure as hell wouldn't take this long. "You'd much rather be sleeping than up here talking to me."

"Not even close. I was wondering why no one had cleaned up the salt from the circle. You can't hear my thoughts can you?" I stared him down, carefully avoiding direct eye contact.

"Yes and no," he started coldly, clenching his jaw, "I can hear them, yes. But they sound like there underwater. They're garbled, muddy." Oh so mister high-and-mighty vampire can't hear mister wizard's thoughts. "If I concentrate, I can make most of them out."

"And that's never happened to you before?" I questioned. "I'm sure you can read everyone else's thoughts."

"Yes, it has happened before. I can't her Bella's at all…"

"And you're worried that there's some innate connection between us. Am I right?" I said cutting him off. He didn't seem to appreciate someone saying what he was thinking for a change. He gave a solemn nod.

"That is not now nor has it ever my intention at all. It was dumb luck that I showed up here. I could have just as easily ended up with anyone else in town." I said with a soft breathy chuckle. "Go back to bed." I said turning towards the stairs with a wry smile.

"You didn't mention your new relationship with my sister." He said sternly as I walked away.

I waved a hand back dismissively, "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. I don't have to see the future to know where that conversation leads. Besides I'm going to bed I have a concussion after all." I added matter-of-factly.

Fortunately the descent is always easier in the climb.

I made it to the couch and quickly passed into a dreamless sleep. Dreamless, but not worriless. Alice had crept into my mind. I don't think she's going anywhere soon, and that scared me a little.

End Note: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, up until the bit with Eddie, it was the most fun to write, well until one of the end chapters, but I won't go into detail here. As with all authors everywhere reviews are greatly appreciated.