Sick Little Games

EPOV

It happened the next day.

I woke up to Bella crying and shaking next to me, her hands roaming my face as she searched for me with her eyes. Tears were streaming endlessly down her face, but she didn't blink or try to wipe them away. The whole top of her shirt was wet with them. Her eyes were open wide and she was breathless with terror. I wrapped my arms around her trembling form and held her to me, her tear-soaked face against my chest. She kept shaking her head back and forth, but she didn't make a sound.

Esme's worried face appeared around the side of the door. She asked what was going on with her eyes, and I just closed mine and shook my head. I knew she would understand. She disappeared back into the hallway, closing the door behind her, probably to fill everyone else in. My guess was proven right when the door opened again, except with Carlisle coming in. The others followed in behind. Danni came in last, holding Alice's hand. She saw Bella and immediately ran over, almost forgetting to let go of Alice's hand.

What happened, Bella? She signed to her, even though Bella wasn't looking. Danni looked at me when Bella didn't respond. I patted the bed and she climbed up next to us, still waiting for an answer.

"Bella can't see anymore, Danni," I told her out loud, pointing to my eye and shaking my head so that she would understand. The small "o" her mouth made told me she did.

Why? She asked after a few seconds. I sighed and looked at Carlisle, not knowing how I should answer her. He just shrugged and jerked his head towards Danni.

Whatever I thought she could handle.

Great, thanks for the help. I sighed again and turned back towards her. She hadn't looked away the whole time. I really didn't know what she could handle, so I decided to only tell her the least that I could and still answer her question. I looked down at Bella, who had stopped trembling so much, and loosened my hold on her so that I could sign to Danni. Her only response was to push her face harder into my neck and wrap her arms around me. Her grip was tight but tolerable, if only for a short period of time.

"Danni, Bella has had trouble seeing for a while now," I started, pausing to make sure she was following along. She nodded to me, so I continued. "She could only see shapes and black, white, and grey. Her sight was getting worse yesterday, and now it's gone. She can't see anything anymore." Danni nodded slowly, thinking about what I had told her. She looked at Bella and abruptly raised her face back to me.

I can tell that you aren't saying everything, Edward. I'm not dumb, she signed, her eyes narrowed just slightly enough to make her look serious. I shot Carlisle a look and he just shrugged again.

"I'd rather you didn't have to mention us, but you can tell her what's going on," he finally said.

"Bella's story?" I asked slowly. He shrugged and nodded.

"Why not? He dragged her into this, so she might as well know what's going on. I'd rather she didn't hear such things at her age, but we don't have much of a choice." I nodded, understanding his feelings about it, and turned back to Danni.

I told her the whole story. The good, the bad, and everything in between. I didn't leave anything out and she didn't interrupt the whole time. Sympathy and anger flashed across her young face as I told her what happened to Bella with Logan, but she didn't react in any way to the secret of the Cullens or Bella. She seemed to accept what they were just as easily as if I told her the sky was blue. She just looked at me as I sat back and wrapped my arms around Bella, who had placed her hands over her ears at some point. She slowly took them away, like she was making sure I was finished. I petted her hair and kissed the top of her head.

"I'm sorry, Bella," I whispered to her. "I wasn't thinking." She just shook her head and relaxed her body against me. I kissed the top of her head again and she closed her eyes as I looked at Danni again. She seemed to be thinking through everything I had told her, and I could see a question in her eyes as she returned my gaze.

So this mean man is coming here? She asked. I nodded.

"He could already be here for all we know. All I'm sure of is that I'm sick of falling into his plans like this is some kind of game. Maybe it is to him, but I'm done playing. He's playing with Bella's emotions through us and her past, and it's going to stop."

"But how, Edward?" Alice asked. I looked at her face and saw that she really was looking for a solution.

But I didn't have one.

The only possible action we had was useless now that we had so little time. It would take three days to change me, and we only had two at the most. That still didn't help protect Danni at all. I looked at Danni's confused face and then at Esme. She seemed to know what I was thinking.

"Her and her mother weren't around this area long enough to make any relationships. Neither of them have friends in the area, and we know about their family already. I don't know what we can do with her, Edward," she finished, noticeably upset. I sighed.

"I was afraid of that. Do you think it would be safe to hide her here?" I asked, looking between Esme and Carlisle. The look they gave each other was not reassuring.

"There's no guarantee," Carlisle answered. "There's a slight chance he won't go looking for her, but he seems set on having the three of you. We won't even know when he's coming so we could hide her in time." I nodded again, knowing he was telling the truth. I turned to Alice, but she already knew what I was going to ask.

"He's staying undecided. I don't know if he know about my power, but he's leaving everything for spur-of-the-moment decisions. I can only tell you once I find out, but he's not giving us a lot of time to react," she answered in a rush.

I sighed and closed my eyes, letting my head fall back. Bella's tears were drying on my bare skin and Danni was trying to comfort her even though they couldn't talk to each other anymore. She was trying to talk to her, but everything came out as only half words or babble in her haste to tell Bella what she was thinking. Bella just smiled sadly at her, unable to find her face in the darkness before her eyes.

"Danni, slow down so we can understand," I said, unable to keep a smile off my face. She smiled back, embarrassed, and started again.

"This meanie isn't gonna hurt you anymore, Bewa," she said slowly, her words slurring only a little. "We gonna make sure he goes away and neva comes back here eva again. Edward won't let him hurt you, Bewa." Bella smiled and hugged Danni, kissing her forehead.

Thank you, Danni, Bella said, leaving out the fear and worry she was showing me in her eyes. She kept hugging Danni until she got herself under control so that Danni wouldn't see and know there was more. She finally let her go just as my head felt like it was splitting open.

I let go of Bella and grabbed my head, my eyes bulging with the pain. I ground my teeth so I wouldn't cry out, but it was no use. I groaned in pain, my body leaning to one side as all of my focus went to the pain in my head. I squeezed my eyes shut and felt someone grabbing me, trying to sit me back up, but they couldn't. Someone yelled something, but I couldn't tell what it was. Another set of hands grabbed me, first my shoulder, the middle of my back, and then their arm was across my back. Their other hand went to my opposite shoulder and pushed back. They lay me down on my back and their hands went to my face. I heard voices but everything disappeared as the pain increased even more. I cried out again and again, but it didn't stop. It didn't feel like it would ever stop.

The son of Satan is coming…and there is nothing anyone can do to stop him…The game will be over soon enough…and you will play the part given to you…

The voice roared through my head like a freight train. It even felt like my head was rattling as it went through, causing the pain to spiral even higher. I screamed as loud as I could and collapsed against the bed, dragging in my breaths like they were my last. My arms fell to my sides and I couldn't move. I didn't try.

The sounds around me slowly became understandable again, my I kept my eyes closed. Someone was wiping the sweat-soaked hair from my face, running their hands over my face like they couldn't see me. Small hands were on my chest, one of them patting me impatiently. Two fingers pressed against the side of my neck as the hands continued to rub my face and hair.

"Edward?" someone's voice said. They sounded so far away…I tried to answer in some way, but my body didn't move. Jasper must have felt my frustration.

"He seems okay, but I don't think he can answer right now, Carlisle," he said, his voice barely making it to my ears.

"You're probably right," Carlisle answered, his fingers leaving my neck. "His heartbeat is still rapid, but it's slowing. After some sleep he should be fine." I heard someone sigh in relief above me and cool lips press against my forehead. Bella pressed her forehead to mine and she sighed again, making me smile even if it was only in my head.

I really do love you, Bella…I told her in my head. There was only a faint echo left of the pain I had felt, like the ache after a fall. I heard Bella suck in a breath after I thought that and she kissed my forehead again, a smile on her lips. My mind started fading fast as I lost consciousness, but I could have sworn I heard her say the same.

BPOV

I lay next to him while he slept, moving to his other side when everyone walked out. I had to feel my way around to the other side of the bed, but I didn't care. I took his arm and put it around me as I put my head on his chest, his heart beating strongly in my ear. It was the only way I could make sure he was okay now.

Carlisle came in a while later, saying my name so that I knew who it was. I heard him walk closer, but I couldn't tell what he was doing. I guessed that he was checking on Edward. He walked over to me after a few minutes, walking slightly louder than normal now, and stopped next to me. I rolled over a little so that I was facing his general direction, but not so much that I couldn't hear Edward's heart in my ear.

"You should really go hunting, Bella. Before all of this starts," he said quietly, knowing I would protest. I started to before I remembered Edward wasn't awake to translate. I sighed in frustration.

"Bella, you need to be strong for this. He wants to believe he'll be protecting you, but the two of us know what's really going to happen," he said gently. I closed my eyes and nodded.

"I'll stay with him until you come back. There's no need to worry." I nodded and sat up, moving Edward's arm so it was across his stomach. I kissed his forehead lightly, not liking the slightly high temperature of his skin, and offered my hand to Carlisle. He placed his hand in mine and I put his palm to Edward's forehead.

"Hmm…" he said, recognizing what I was doing. "He doesn't feel feverish, but his is a little warm. I'll turn his ceiling fan on, but it doesn't seem high enough to cause us any concern. I will keep an eye on him all the same." I nodded and let him go. I heard him open the window and followed the sound, stopping when I could just barely feel the wall against the tips of my bare feet.

"If you jump out and head left, Alice is waiting out there so you don't get lost in the woods. I'm sure you could get back by yourself, but we don't want anyone leaving the house alone. You heard what that voice said, didn't you?" he asked. I nodded. It was the first time any of us had mentioned those words since Edward passed out. I knew we would discuss it once he woke up. Carlisle put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed once before he let go.

I jumped out the window and landed lightly on the grass below. I started walking towards my left, still heading away from the house, and heard approaching footsteps. I stopped and turned towards the sound, smiling at the dancing pixie steps. Alice linked her arm through mine and steered me towards where we were going.

"So, I know you don't actually kill the animals you drink from. I'm guessing you're not going to change that today?" she asked. I smiled and shook my head, still looking straight since I couldn't see her anyway. "Okay then! To the clearing we go!"

She grabbed my hand and ran tugging me along with her. She squeezed the side of my hand in the direction I had to move and we made it to the clearing without running into anything. Alice stopped and pushed me forward gently.

I counted my steps and stopped in the middle of the field. I closed my eyes and hung my head, letting my need filter through the forest surrounding me. It only took a minute or two to find the deer I needed and he immediately started making his way towards me from his herd. I kneeled down, keeping my head down, and listened to the crunching of the leaves as he approached. It got louder and louder until it suddenly stopped and he grunted in my ear. I smiled and turned slightly looking where I thought his head was. I put my hand out and he pushed the side of his face into it, making me laugh.

I can't even see you anymore, my friend, I thought to him sadly, even though he couldn't hear it.

I felt him lay down next to me and slowly turned his head until my hand brushed against his neck. I moved my hand to his neck and felt him stretch it out to give me room. I felt around for the spot I had used before so that he wouldn't be covered in scars and parted the hair growing around it. I ran my tongue over my fangs and felt them elongate in my mouth. I leaned in and pressed my lips to his neck before opening my mouth and biting him.

He only flinched a little and sat there patiently until I pulled away. I pressed my hand to the bite marks for a minute to stop the bleeding. When I was sure it had stopped, I petted the hair back into place and stood up. He stood up with me, his steps a little shaky at first. I felt the tip of his antler against my arm and felt them down to his head. They felt like they had gotten bigger and I smiled, understanding that he was bragging. I petted him between the antlers and gently pushed him back the way he had come. I heard his pace increase as he ran back to his herd and light dancer's steps come up behind me.

"I don't think I've ever seen anything like that in my life," she said, her voice exposing her shock. "It's like he understands exactly what you need." I laughed silently and nodded once.

"Really?" she asked, sounding like she didn't believe me. I nodded again and started back for the house. Alice silently grabbed my hand and we ran back, only Alice's changing pressure on my hand keeping me safe in my darkness.

Alice slowed once we broke into the clearing around the house, letting me know we were back. I could feel someone's gaze as we approached, but they didn't say anything. Alice squeezed my hand and I stopped, feeling her let go and walk to whoever it was standing there. I didn't have to wait long to find out who it was.

"Jazzy, I've never seen anyone feed like she does! It's like the animals understand what she needs! She uses her feelings and they come to help her and she just takes what she needs from them!" Alice explained hurriedly.

"Is that true, Bella?" he asked me. "They can understand your feelings?" I nodded, smiling shyly.

"That's amazing…I thought it was just us who could feel your emotions…Well, us and humans," he corrected. I just shrugged, not being able to say much more. They led me inside, Alice walking just ahead of me so that our arms brushed as we walked. I kept my fingers of my other hand slightly out so that they brushed the wall and knew when we reached the living room when it disappeared. Alice started moving towards the left, towards Edward's room, and I followed by keeping touch as we walked.

"Esme, Rose, and Emmett went hunting. Carlisle, Alice, and I are going to go as soon as they get back. We weren't going to leave Danni and Edward here with just one of us," Jasper said from a slight distance in front of me. I felt a wall next to me again and started walking faster, knowing exactly the number of steps to Edward's door.

I felt myself walk by Alice and Jasper, so they must have guessed I knew my way from there. When I knew I was past them, I put my arms out to both sides until my hands brushed the walls. I hit the door molding with my left hand just as I was thinking I went too far and turned, sticking close to that side of the door so I wouldn't run into the other side.

I heard someone stand and assumed it was Carlisle. I kept walking towards where I guessed the bed was and smiled when my knees bumped into the side. I sat down slowly and put my hand on Edward's arm. He didn't feel nearly as warm as he had when I left and I sighed in relief.

"I told you it was nothing to worry about, didn't I?" Carlisle whispered from behind me. I laughed and nodded. Edward's arm twitched suddenly in my grip and I heard the voice I had been longing to all day.

"Bella…" Edward's hoarse voice whispered. I hastily grabbed his hand and pressed his knuckles to my lips. I felt him moving around and his other hand found its way to my face. His thumb caressed my cheek and he whispered my name again.

You scared me, I signed to him, hoping his eyes were open. His chuckle told me they were.

"I think I scared myself," he said and sighed. "That hurt…"

I smiled sadly and reached my hand towards his face. My fingertips met his hair and I let them wander his face, brushing over his skin like a feather. He sighed again, my hearing almost missing the sound of the door closing. My fingers brushed against his lips and I lay down next to him. He turned his head and kissed my forehead.

"So did everyone hear?" he asked, his voice slowly improving. I closed my eyes and nodded. He wrapped his arms around me and didn't say anymore. I just tucked my head under his chin and we laid there until we heard the others come back. Carlisle came back and got us.

"I think we have something to talk about now," he said, his footsteps slowly approaching the bed. Edward nodded and started getting up, but fell back.

"Ugh…hold on a second," he said. I put my hand on his face again and felt his holding his head. "Just a little dizzy."

I smiled to myself and sat up, putting one leg under his back and bending my knee so he was sitting up a little. He took my hand with the one that wasn't holding his head and squeezed it when it was okay to sit him up more. When he as finally sitting up all the way, I put my hand on his back and helped him move forward to the edge of the bed.

"It's like when we first met all over again," Edward said, sounding surprisingly good-natured. I smiled and nodded, laughing when he quickly pressed his lips against mine.

I nodded my head towards the door and stood up next to the bed. I wrapped my arm around his waist and slowly helped him stand up, his arm draped over my shoulder. I paused once when he let out a half groan, but he stood up without much trouble after that. We walked into the living room, our arms still around each other, him steering me and me making sure he didn't fall. He sat us down on the couch and I leaned into him, not having anything better to do since I still couldn't see. I felt a little body sit on the floor in front of us and lean against our legs and smiled. I petted Danni's head as we sat there, waiting for someone to start. Carlisle, as expected, took over.

"So the message was basically self-explanatory," Carlisle's voice started. There were sounds of agreement before he continued. "Now, at least, we know who we are dealing with. The devil's son, Satan's spawn, has been playing his games again." My head shot up at this, along with a few others.

"Carlisle, what do you mean by again?" Edward asked hesitantly. I heard someone sigh and guessed it was Carlisle.

"I hate to say it, but this isn't the first time I've heard of the Reapers. The first few days after I was changed, my sire was approached by a strange vampire. They talked about mysterious powers that seemed to control the human themselves, instead of just the mind. This is the same as it was back then, only this time his target is someone he wasn't finished with. I don't think he meant to change you, Bella," Carlisle said. I nodded.

He meant to kill me, I responded, poking Edward in the ribs when he didn't translate. I knew how he felt, but this wasn't the time for that.

"I hadn't heard of another situation after that first time until now," Carlisle continued. "I can only assume that, unless he is defeated, he will keep going after humans for years to come, any time he pleases."

There was a large crash outside and I stood up, feeling Edward do the same next to me. I couldn't tell what the crash was, but I could smell dust in the air. The air current suddenly changed and the smell of dust disappeared, a breeze pulling towards where the front door was. I grabbed onto Edward's arm as my vision abruptly cleared, better than it had been since I lost it almost a year ago, revealing a large hole where the door had been and a figure I never wished to see again standing in it.

"You are exactly right, and there is nothing any of you can do to stop me." It was my worst nightmare come alive.

Logan was back.

A/N: I updated on time! WOOOOOOOOO! …Anyway…So we are finally getting to the battle. It'll definitely be in the next chapter, which I hope to update on time, but I'm going on vacation for 3 weeks. If I don't get it up before then, I'll try to get it up while I'm away or as soon as I get back. I really hope to not make you wait that long.

Just to let all of you know, I'm only seeing 2 more chapters to this story, maybe 3. The next story going up is going to be the new Infectious. I put the new summary up under New Story Ideas on my profile, so you can go check it out. The order of those summaries is the order in which the stories will be posted, but I'm not going to have more than 1 story going at a time.

The song for this chapter is Sick Little Games by All Time Low. I'd have to say the title fits well…

Please review! I'd love to hear how you think this is going to turn out and I'm open to any ideas! I pretty much know how it's going to go, but I can try to fit an idea or 2 from you guys in!