I know, I know. I am late. I am so sorry. But here is PART ONE of the last chapter. Enjoy!
I was running.
I didn't know how fast I was going but knew I wanted to go faster. I pushed myself farther, harder and it was effortless. The area around me blurred like a painted canvas being drenched with water, the colors running off and fading behind me. I heard feet behind me, several pairs as they tried to keep up. They couldn't. Instead they resorted to screaming my name, pleading me to stop, pleading me to come back. I couldn't go back. Didn't they understand? I needed this… I needed it so badly. It burned and ached and was torture over and over again. I had tunnel vision – I had one purpose… One goal… My mouth filled with sweet venom, I felt it dripping down my chin as I craved warmth spilling down my throat. I could smell them… They were only a mile away – unwittingly… They had no idea predator was stalking them. I stopped, my fists clenched at my side as I turned to my right, hearing laughter erupt.
I sped off again, dodging every obstacle in my way before leaping effortlessly onto a tree, scaling to the top as I leaned over an old cabin watching as a man and woman stepped outside the doors, two children running behind them as they gathered around a fire. The children giggled as they fought over who got the biggest marshmallows, the man and woman sitting on a log just across from them as they stared adoringly at their children, having no idea that they were being watched.
I stalked them quietly.
Even from here I could see the small thumping of skin on their necks, the man's vein plump and tender as he stretched his neck, allowing me a full view. My fingers dug into the wood, my throat burned for the liquid that flowed underneath their olive toned skin.
I could hear their heartbeats. Like several drums in an orchestra.
Thump thump.
Thump thump.
Thump thump.
Thump thump.
I jumped silently to the cabin, landing on the roof as the sun set behind the green scenery, the fire cracking harder as the man set more kindling in it. I looked to the woman who gathered her children around, her wrist so clear from here, the beat of her heart causing the skin to move slightly. I felt a growl in my throat, keeping it low and steady as I was ready to pounce… Ready to savagely murder this family of four and drink them dry. I crouched, the tread of my shoes rubbing against the wood of the roof, my body ready to strike. I awaited my golden opportunity, just as the man neared the overhanging of the cabin… He was so close…
Bella…
The voice caught me off guard, forcing my body out of the position and nearly in view. I shook my head and ignored the voice as I huffed my annoyance and readily back in my stance.
Bella…
I felt a vibration inside of me. It was faint, almost non-existent. Like a tap against the shoulder but even more miniscule than that… And even in this new phase I was under, I could barely feel it. It was so weak, so frail. I almost wondered if I had been imagining it. But it happened again, this time just a little stronger… Wielding me away from my thoughts, away from the image of blood on my lips… The wind picked up, the scent of lilacs causing me to turn my body to the opposite direction of the family. If I went that way, I knew where it would lead me – to the very place I was supposed to be at this very moment and suddenly – my throat was no longer burning. My body went soft as I walked to the opposite side of the roof, jumping onto the ground effortlessly on my feet.
I felt the vibration again, so very delicate.
He must have known… Must have sensed my change, my yearning for blood… He must have known how off course I was. And even in his weakest state, he tried ever so hard to help me. Here I was, selfishly trying to relieve my own needs when the whole mission was to save him from his imprisonment. Alec warned me this would happen… And I didn't listen.
Edward was dying. And I was wasting time.
I let out a soft wail, clutching my chest as I sent it back to him, stronger. I waited a few moments, my eyes darting around me as if I would see him… But there was nothing. I felt nothing… Another sob broke through my throat, my mind clearing as I began to remember what was happening – why I was like this. I quickly turned around in one fluid motion, remembering the house in Cebu… Torn to pieces as he was pinned to the ground.
I remember the auction…
And I remember him in the cell, chained like some monster… Getting weaker by the moment.
And as if my vision had changed, my stance ready – I was off and back into the woods already miles away from the family who unbeknownst escaped death.
-tsipwr-
My eyes followed the men in the red cloaks, their matching eyes and pale faces guarding over the concrete mansion as the full yellow moon glowed down above. They stalked around the night, waiting and ready for anything, including intruders – including me. I was miles away, in the forest that stopped just short of the vineyard that traveled up to the mansion. There was no way to sneak in, no way to get around a guard without causing an alarm. I hung low on the tree, watching as more men came out, the others leaving their post as the night crew stood motionless. My resolve was breaking bit by bit as any chance of getting in the castle undetected seemed harder that planned. How was I going to get past them? How was I going to get to him?
I heard a snap behind me, but I did not falter. I smelt him before I heard him – he was no threat. In-fact, his presence was a warm welcome.
"No blood on your hands." He mentioned from the side of me, on the other branch, his long black trench coat hanging off and blowing in the wind. His comment was not of taunt, but of admiration.
"I have other things to worry about then blood." I told him honestly, though the thought of feeding wasn't far from my mind.
"You should have at least grabbed a stag." He told me as I shook my head.
"No time." I replied, never taking my eyes of the mansion. Alec sighed, the sound holding in the words he wanted to say. But he knew just as much as I did – the clock was ticking and Edward was still held captive. We had no seconds to waste. "Where is everyone else?"
"On their way."
"What are our options?" I asked, tilting my chin upward towards the castle.
"We cannot come from above, the vineyards have no protection. Our only chance is the catacombs from below. We can attack before they even know we are there." He said as I nodded, agreeing with the plan. "Below is designed as a circle underneath the mansion with four openings. They are guarded… Were guarded." Alec corrected. "Jasper has already taken them out. We will all split into two and make our way to the center."
"Bella!" A voice called out as Alec and I turned to see a golden eyed Alice smiling from below. The two of us jumped from the tree, meeting Rosalie, Emmett, Carlisle and Esme as well. Alice brought me into a tight hug before pulling away to look at me. She looked almost the same as the last time I saw her in Cebu when she nearly killed me. I let out a deep and relieved sigh as I hugged her tightly – with all the changes, all the constant movement – I knew I always had Alice. "You look good. I barely got to see you before you zoomed off."
"No heads on your plate… Yet." Emmett countered with a slight smug. I shot one back, raising a brow as I reached forward and pulled him into a tight hug. "Jesus, Bella! Lay off the protein!" He joked, though let out a soft cough as he pulled away, rubbing where I had my arms wrapped around. I smiled shyly, seeing Rosalie come out from around him.
"Rose," I sighed, grabbing her into a hug. She kissed the side of my head and patted my back just before pulling away to show me her beautiful smile, wiping her smooth fingers across my cheek.
"You look magnificent, Bella." She told me.
"It is truly remarkable," Esme said, reaching for my arm as she stroked it gently. "Never have I seen such resistance to human blood – especially a newborn."
"It's because it is unheard of. But Bella seems to defy the odds around here." Carlisle chimed in as Alice hugged me from the side.
"How long will this last, Carlisle?" I asked.
"It's hard to say. I only put enough venom in you to make the change in full effect, but not to be permanent. At least – I believe I did. This has never been attempted before." He said, looking to Alec who nodded in agreement.
"Ma biche, it could be hours… Days… Forever. But it could also be minutes." He told me, "Which is why we must act fast."
"I'm ready to kick some serious ass." Emmett growled, pounding his fist into his palm.
"We can't just storm in," Rosalie chided him. "They will be expecting that. We need to stick to the plan." She said just as a sound from the side of us caused us to turn our head. A silver and grey coat glistened in the moonlight, a familiar wolf coming out of the break as he snorted his hello. I smiled to myself, knowing exactly who it was.
"Sam…" I sighed happily, seeing two others break out from behind him. One the same size, with a dark red coat and the other smaller but with a beautiful shade of white. I looked to the group and then to Alec in confusion.
"Sam's pack has joined. I'm sure you are familiar with Emily Clearwater," He nodded to the white wolf as my eyes lit up, as I nodded at Peter's girlfriend from back in Hilo. "And Jacob Black," Alec said towards the wolf in the red coat. The wolf whined, bowing his head as I smiled, shaking my head at him. A shapeshifter – I should have known from his body temperature.
"Carlisle and Esme you will take the East side. Alice, Jasper is waiting for you in the west and Emmett and Rosalie will take the south." Alec said, turning to me. "We will take the north. It's closest to the tower and where they are keeping Edward."
"And the wolves?" Esme asked.
"Not right away. Their scent is too strong; Aro will know we are here before we even have a chance." Alec said, looking back to Sam and his pack. "It won't be long until we infiltrate the mansion and they will know quickly. Once they know, the wolves will come in. They won't be expecting them."
"There is one problem." Carlisle began, stepping towards me. "Each catacomb is home to the donors in their cages."
"We will free them," I said to him.
"That's not the issue, Isabella. The issue is that you are a newborn and you have yet to feed." Carlisle began, "As astounded as I am by you holding off so far, your instincts will kick in. You cannot fight it. No matter how much you think you can."
I stopped for a moment, looking to Alec who looked as he always did – passive, neutral. He didn't want me to know that he thought the same as Carlisle – I would falter. I would cave into my instincts, especially being so close to humans. I looked away, moving towards the clearing that exposed to mansion, dark ominous clouds rolling in from the east, threatening with its rumbles. My hands clutched together as I felt the ring on my left ring finger, the smaller version of Edward's. My chest swelled at the thought of him, I hadn't felt him for hours – he was dying. Slowly but surely. Every second was a second wasted and I would be damned if I let anything get in the way. Including myself.
"I want him back." I told them as I turned to look over my shoulder. "Nothing will stop me." I said, my tone assured and strong. Alec looked to Carlisle, bowing his head as Carlisle nodded the rest moving towards me as I looked back to the mansion.
"This will be dangerous," Esme said, reaching down for Carlisle's hand as she placed it on her lips. "Aro has several hundreds guarding him."
"We can take them." Emmett scoffed as if offended by Esme's accusation.
"What about Jane?" Alice asked as I turned to Alec.
"She has one weakness." He began, "She can only use her power one body at a time. If she is focusing on one of us – or even on Edward… Someone can come in behind her."
"What if one of us gets hurt?" Alice whispered, reaching out to grab my hand. I hadn't thought of that – my mind consumed of Edward, that the odds of someone getting hurt or even worse… The chances were likely… Could I make them go through with this? To risk their lives so Edward and I could be together?
"Edward has helped us all," Rosalie chimed in from the back, "In one form or another. We owe him."
"Rose is right," Carlisle said. "We go our designated routes and once Edward is received we stick together. We are stronger as a front."
"The storm is on our side, it will mask our scents." Alec said, turning to his right. "Go. Now. We don't have much time." Carlisle, Esme, Emmett and Rosalie were gone within milliseconds, Alice lingering for a moment to press a kiss on my check before turning into a blur, heading for the south side of the mansion. The wolves behind us moved back, hidden within the forest and waiting for their turn. I was about to leave just as Alec stopped me, grabbing my wrist and holding on tight. "Before we go, ma biche… I have something to give you."
Alec reached down, deep into his pockets as I heard something clink within his hands. Swiftly he pulled out his fist, opening it up to reveal a silver chain with a matching silver pinwheel pendant, sparkling from the moon. My mouth opened to let out soft gasp as I reached for it, holding it between my pale fingers. "My necklace." My voice nearly cracked as Alec smiled proudly down at me. It was a birthday present Edward gave me in Hilo, though it was really from Alec. It was the first time I believed Edward to be a good person – to be someone who I knew truly cared for me. But what it represented was more – my childhood with the only father figure I ever knew. I turned, moving my long chestnut hair to the side as Alec took it from my hands, pinning it around my neck. I touched the pendant, looking back to him as all I could think of is how I lost it – I wasn't wearing it when I was taken from my home in Cebu… I thought it to be gone forever.
"Before heading to Italy, I stopped briefly in Cebu. It was the only thing I could retrieve. I'm sorry I couldn't get everything else for you." He said and I shook my head.
"It was the only thing that mattered." I reached for him quickly, enveloping my arms around his waist as he brought his himself around my shoulders. I took in his scent – the leather and mint so much more clear to me now. "I love you."
"And I love you, ma biche." He said softly, kissing the top of my head as he pulled away. "Stay close to me, doe." He told me as I nodded, watching as he disappeared, but I wasn't far behind. We only traveled a few miles forward, stopping just short of a crease in the Earth. A steel door was hidden below a hole in the ground, but even with the barrier between us – I started to smell them. I let out a soft whimper as Alec moved closer, only to turn to look at me with a concerned look. I could hear them moving around their cages, some snoring in their sleep, others let out soft cries as they begged for death… I had been in that cell before… I knew the pain… But all I could think of was the symphony of heart beats the beckoned me to come closer. "Bella… Bella… Am I losing you?"
A soft vibration shuddered through my chest as I found my foot, shaking my head as I looked to Alec. "No. No. Open the door." I told him, watching as he gave me a worried look only to stop as he moved forward towards me.
"I'm going to open this door. And I want you to run. Fast. I'll be right behind you. You must get away from the humans as quickly as you can. Do you understand me?" He asked as I nodded. "Okay, are you ready?" He asked as I moved my chin in an upward motion. He gripped the circular wheel on the steel door and began to turn, the sound of metal creaking to life as he opened it quickly. I wasted no time, not stopping for anything as I darted into the catacomb, my senses urging me to stop as I passed the donors lying freely on the floor, awaiting for the one thing I could so gladly give them – death. But I didn't hesitate, didn't falter, and moved past the many cells that harbored the one thing that my instincts wanted desperately. I found my way up the spiral stairs, into the dining area as Alec was right behind me, on each of the other doors across the room, all of Cullen's staring right back at us, now including Jasper.
In the interest of time we didn't waste it to speak, guards already down and on their way as Emmett and Rosalie were first to engage into the fight. "Bella, this way!" Jasper called out to me as he dodged a guard who attempted to put him in a hold, whipping around to instantaneously grab a hold of his arms behind his back and Alice jumping onto the guard's crouched knees, only to severe his head right off his body. Alec and I followed Jasper and Alice, the rest of the family not far behind as we headed towards the tower, stopping just short of the some ten guards that guarded the door. Each glared with red eyes growling their discontent as they parted in the middle, a familiar face coming fourth and standing between us and the door. Felix clutched his fist together as Emmett and Rosalie came from behind us along side Carlisle and Esme.
"All we want is Edward." Alec stated just as Felix let out a grisly chuckle, shaking his head.
"What a demand for someone who is very outnumbered." He smirked just as more joined around him. "If you know what is best for you, you will turn around and hope that Aro will not retaliate."
"Yeah, well, if you know what is best for you, you will get the hell out of our way!" Emmett hollered, moving fourth just as Felix moved to pounce – but suddenly a crash had echoed through the room, the glass window shattering as three wolves poured into the castle, Sam instantly grabbing Felix by the head and shaking him like a rag doll until his body was torn into pieces. The others ran out from behind him, running directly toward us as we all ran fourth, clashing with the guards and fighting to the death. A man had grabbed a hold of me, bringing my arm behind my back, ready to crush it just before Alec swooped over him, pinning him on the ground just as I grabbed him by the legs, Alec grabbing him by the torso and the two split. Alec ran to the other side, holding off the guards as I ran to the door, stopped by a man with blonde hair who smacked me in the middle of the chest. I was on my feet, running towards him as I slid onto the ground, running my arm underneath his legs which caused him to fall onto his chest. Quickly jumping onto his back, I gripped my hand inside the top of his mouth, ripping his head down right in the middle.
The others fought around me, but the door was clear. I ran to it, my body turning and smashing into it as I fell in the room where I last saw Edward. I stood instantly, turning to see the chains on the ground empty. "Edward!" I yelled out, taking in a big whiff of air to catch his scent. I turned, back out the door where I had entered and passed through, seeing the wolves ripping apart the guards along side Alec and the Cullen's. But I wasted no time and zoomed past them, not even stopping when I heard a guard trailing behind me. I stopped instantly, ducking just as I sensed the man moving forward to grab me. I was now behind him, jumping onto his shoulders as I tore his head right from his neck. Throwing it to the side, I kept running, running past numerous halls as I trailed his scent, it lingering in front of me like a trail. By my side was Alice and we ran together, coming to the end of a hall with a master door.
Opening it together, it revealed the dance hall where Aro would have his parties. At the top of the grand stairs, we looked below to see Aro, turning with a goblet in his hand. He smirked to me raising a glass with a nod, the sight then sickened me to my very core.
"Dear Isabella…" He chuckled, looking to me and then to his right where within a crease of the room was a very lifeless Edward chained to the wall.
"Edward!" I cried out, moving fourth just as Alice stopped me. I looked to her, seeing her nod her head upwards as not too far above us from a window looking down, was Jane.
"Ahh, yes. My protégé. Jane has some very unique talents, wouldn't you agree, Bella?" Aro asked as I looked to Edward, shirtless and in torn pants. His physic was nearly nothing but skin and bones. His eyes were deep within the sockets, purple bruises decorating underneath as his copper hair was dull. I sent a vibration to him, willing him to look up at me. Anything – anything at all… I sent it, over and over again – he was so close. And finally, he looked up, our eyes connecting as he squinted… Almost as if he didn't believe it was me.
"Isa…" He began, but the weakness dying his throat out.
"I'm here, Edward." I called out to him, my body wielding me to move.
"One step closer, Isabella, and Jane will use her power against him… And I don't know if poor little Edward can take it much longer…" He chided, looking to Edward who squirmed slightly in his seat. "Don't bother yourself too much, Mr. Masen. Little Isabella and I have a score to finish." He said, looking to me with his glowing red eyes. "Do you know how much time you have wasted of mine, Isabella? Ever since you were a little girl?" He asked as I stayed silent, "No, of course you don't. But I do. Roughly 6,574 days. About 157,788 hours, 9,467,280 minutes and around 568,036,800 seconds. That is the duration of the time I have spent, wasted on worrying about a little girl who had been breaking down the empire I built." He said through clenched teeth. "18 years, Ms. Swan. 18 years and I have no idea why I didn't just kill you while I had the chance." He glared just as Edward groaned, attempting to gain the strength he did not have.
"For some reason, you have a draw about you. Maybe it's your blood – you sing to many. Especially to Edward… Or maybe it's your innocence… You're sweet, poor, innocence… Now tainted with the life of eternal damnation… To what? To save him? Is he worth it?" Aro asked, tilting his head.
"Yes." I grinded.
"But think of the pain he put you through. The constant moving, the hiding… The changes. The secrets. He has done nothing but lie to you." Aro asked, shaking his head as Edward began to move. Aro raised his hand towards him, halting him to stop as he still stared at me. "You ask me why I do these things… Why I only take… But look around you, Bella, without me – this world would be hell on Earth. If the rules I established were not done so, the human population would be wiped out. You see… That's the whole point of donors… To stop unnecessary feedings. I'm really doing a favor to the world…" He smiled, stepping closer as he stared up at the grand staircase where Alice and I stood. "Do you really see me as so bad?"
"You have slaves here!" I yelled out, "You are torturing them! Torturing Edward!"
"Edward deserved everything thing he got." Aro laughed, shaking his head. "Because of you!" He pointed at me accusingly. "If it weren't for you… For that doe-eyed little girl that her mother had to give up… We wouldn't be here… Edward wouldn't be here… How do you think it looks when Edward doesn't have a donor? Or Carlisle, or Alec? That they just keep you around as some… Some pet? Others have found out… Other's have wanted to follow… to rid of donors and continue to feast whenever and whoever they would like…"
"We have self control." I began,
"You know NOTHING about self-control! Nothing! You have only been one of us for what? Hours? Days? I'm sure it was a task getting here, passing all by the humans with their blood hot and boiling beneath their skin." He smirked, raising the goblet towards me. "Would you like a sip?" He asked as I sensed the blood within the gold goblet and he began stirring it with his long sharp finger tip to taunt me. "A little boy… Only 9… So pure… Are you sure you do not want just a taste?"
"Bella." Alice warned as the burning in my throat grew deeper.
"Aha… I know that look – the look of pure thirst… Edward felt that way only days ago…" He said, looking to Edward who wasn't even phased by the blood – that was how weak he was. "Isabella, the rules are in place to help… Not to break."
"He is no longer breaking any rules." I told him as Aro raised a brow. "I'm no longer human..." I began, taking a step forward. "He doesn't need to hide me anymore… He can no longer drink my blood. He will go back to a normal routine, with a normal donor… I can't be a donor if I am not human." I said as Aro stopped and thought on this, bringing his bloody finger to his lips as his long tongue wrapped around the base, sucking the blood dry. I cringed, the goblet still beckoning for me to come – but it was lessened – and the burn was more bearable.
"Don't act as if I can't see you, Isabella." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Your brown eyes are starting to come through."
I went to move towards him, to launch into attack, but soon a crash above us forced our eyes upwards as Jane screamed in the air, the white wolf, Emily, clutching her throat between her jaws just as she snapped down, her head dislocating from her body. I looked to Aro who seemed in shock – his guard no longer at his service. I jumped over the steps, landing directly in front of him as a look of pure fright washed over his face. But before I could reach out, before I could grab him, a hand caught my arm and pulled me back, a view of fiery red hair caused my eyes to widen as I looked to the person before me, allowing Aro to escape.
Victoria.'
Her red eyes made it abundantly clear that she was alive and well – and ready to kill. "Not so safe without your boyfriend to help you, are you Bella?" She whispered in my ear as guards swarmed into the dining hall, pre-occupying Alice from my aide. I quickly swooped my leg underneath her, her body faltering as she fell to the ground, my knees then digging into her stomach as I gripped her neck, pinning her down and into the marble floor.
"I don't need help from anyone to rip you to shreds." I snarled just as she moved her hips upwards, her knees moving to slip out from underneath me. I stood to my feet, the two of us in a stand off as Alec and the rest of the Cullen's came barreling in, not prepared to help as more guards filtered into the rooms. From the top of the stairs the wolves came down, grabbing at any vampire they could sink their teeth into. But Victoria and I didn't move, our stances frozen as we glared at each other, waiting for who would make the first move.
And in the moment before the battle – I felt all the rage inside of me… I felt the fear, the anger, the sorrow… Of everything that had happened… Because of her… Of being pushed around by her in Hilo, by her stealing Edward away when he had to chase her across the globe – of her pretending her death so that Edward and I could create a bubble of just the two of us, to think everything was okay – until it suddenly popped and the real world came barreling in, forcing us apart and him chained in this building, tortured over and over again until there was nothing left… No – not anymore… She would not dictate my life anymore… Tonight, Victoria was as good as dead.
I lunged first, the two of us grabbing what we could as we fought amongst the crowd. I gripped her arm, bringing her back and slamming her into the marble floor as it cracked with ease. She pushed me into the wall, slamming my head over and over again until debris began falling between us, a slab of marble hitting her shoulder, causing her to falter as I pounced, the two of us moving in a fluid motion, one on top of the other as we tried to tear the limbs from each other's body. Finally – I had her in my grasp, pinning her hands behind her as my free arm gripped under her chin, my body moving swiftly to dislocate her head from her shoulders. But she kicked out from behind her, sending me flying and into the wall. Victoria climbed the tall velvet curtains, watching from above as I moved to the opposite side, gripping onto the curtain and climbing up and turning to see her already coming at me, I moved just in time for her to hit the wall, my body flinging forward to grab her by her unruly red hair, sending us to the bottom but her beneath me. She slammed hard into the floor, making a six foot indentation as I back away, running to the corner of the room and grabbing the flag staff, the end as pointed as a needle.
But I found it to be heavier than expected – which caught me off guard. It dropped to the ground, it making a clatter sound as Alec raised his head. I looked to my arms, seeing the slight pump of blood running through my once frozen veins. No… No… Not now…
"Bella!" Alec yelled out just as I looked forward to see Victoria lunging at me, slamming my body into the marble as the floor cracked and creaked. She gripped my throat, holding it close as she slammed my head into the floor over and over again. I could feel myself black out – the blood pumping in my veins turning me human again. Victoria laughed, shaking her head as she stopped me just briefly to look into my eyes.
"You were always weak." She chided, pulling me fourth to slam me down again just before her body was lifted off the ground and to the other side of the room. Alec helped me up, ready to run towards her but I stopped him, gripping onto the flag pole I had once dropped – finding all of my strength….
"She's mine." I growled, watching as Victoria got up, shaking the dust from her body. I glowered at her, moving fourth with the pole as she jumped to the right, my hand catching her leg and swinging her back in front of me in just enough time to send the end of the flag pole right through her mouth and out the back of her head, sticking into the wall behind her. She cried out, muffled and in pain as her body moved quickly, trying to rid of the pole that I dug in deeper. I moved towards her, gripping both sides of her head and wielded her to look at me. I was to be the last thing she saw before she was killed and slowly but surely I moved her head in a circular motion, the crunching telling me it had been severed from her body as I threw it across the room, her once flailing body still as I soon felt myself fall to the ground.
I could fell blood seeping from my mouth, my eyes rolling into the back of my head as I looked around me, disorientated from the last use of strength… There were still guards everywhere, nearly out numbering us… I was going in and out, trying to find my strength to get me up… But I was slipping back into my human nature… The venom was wearing off…
I stood slowly, stopping only to catch myself from falling as more guards poured in from the door, ambushing the wolves. I watched in slow motion as one gripped Jacob by his torso, a crack echoing in the room along with a loud whine causing me to cry out for him.
"Bella!" Alec shouted to me. "You need to leave!" He said, pushing down a guard who tried to escape his grip to get to me. "GO! Now!"
Go? But I couldn't… I still didn't have Edward…
Edward…
I turned to see the crease in the room, his feet sticking out from the chains as I hurried myself to him, falling onto my knees as I began to crawl. "Edward!"
"Bella!" Alice shouted.
"Bella, no!" Alec cried out.
I had finally reached him, and I cupped his face in my hands, bringing him close to me. "Edward… Edward please wake up." I cried, watching as his eyes fluttered open and close. "That's it, baby. Open your eyes for me, please." I said, hearing him let out a soft groan. "No… No… You can't leave me. Not yet… Open your eyes, Edward! Come on, come on…" I gripped his chin in my palms, moving it so our eyes met. The blackness rolled back into his head, his body beginning to jolt as if he were having a seizure… As if he were… "Edward! Wake up!" I cried out, beginning to feel tears spread underneath my red eyes. Things began to slow down, the fight around us moving onward and fourth in rage. And then – as if a final strum of my abilities, I felt a tear slip down my pale cheeks – the change was nearly over. I tried harder to coax him awake, but my failure was becoming evident in the way he slumped to the floor nearly lifeless and still. I cried for him, stroking his cheek as a sense of desperation washed over me. There was still one more thing I could do…
It was dangerous.
But it was all I had.
Without question, without any doubt – I brought my wrist to my lips and bit down as hard as I could. The skin tore easily, warm blood coating my lips with the taste of iron. It only took a second, maybe even less, Alec's head whipped up and towards my direction as he screamed my name, stopped by a red cloak who pushed him into the wall. I ignored everyone shouting at me, bringing my arm underneath Edward's nose to bait him, but still there was nothing…
It wasn't until droplets of red sped down my now creamy arm, dripping down and onto his lips. Black eyes blinked open slowly, finally and firstly within days meeting mine. I couldn't help but break a small smile, wanting to say the words that were coated in my throat, itching to come out. But the warmth I felt inside was only short lived – Edward's nose scrunched his body becoming rigid as the monster within awoke with a snarl. My body ran cold as he came fourth, the chains attached to his wrists scratching against the concrete floor in haste and ripping out from the stone ground. His cold fingers grabbed my arm, the force breaking the bone like a twig and a loud crack echoed through out the room. I cried out in pain, my knelling position falling onto the ground as we came face to face. Everything went blurry for a moment, my sight clearing on his dark eyes and I soon realized what I had done. I thought I knew true hunger – waking from my sleep into a newborn stage… I thought I knew the agony of the burning sensation in my throat, the need to have fresh blood on my lips, in my throat – but I didn't know. Oh, how I knew very little. Because I was face to face with a monster whose instinct was to kill, to feed, and to not give in for weeks while being in captivity... All Edward's morale was gone; all there was left in him was his intuition… His nature… A killer… And I was his prey.
What have I done?
Alec was shouting my name, trying to get to me the best he could but was surrounded by Aro's men. I watched as Alice flipped over a guard, bringing his head with her as it twisted so easily from his neck. She was near me within seconds, but Edward was not going to let her through to me. He let go of my broken arm and just as Alice got close enough, a snarl ripped through his chest, his body slamming into hers as she went flying back and into the marble wall. Her name hadn't even left my lips by the time Edward was back, gripping my arm like a rag doll as I screamed out in pain.
This wasn't like that night back in Hilo, this wasn't just a few days without feeding – this was months with nothing. Nothing to sustain him… He had no power… And he wouldn't stop… He would empty me within minutes… Seconds… He would drain every ounce of blood that ran through my veins… And how would he feel? Waking from his beast, seeing what he had done to me? I felt more tears fall over as I tried to soothe him, pressing my hand onto his chest as I whispered his name. He still hadn't moved – as if something inside of him was halting him. I could see it past the onyx staring right at me – it was a small glimmer. So faint and miniscule… But it would not win.
As I compartmentalized the situation – I knew there was no chance for me. The damage was done… There was no going back.
I would do what I could to soothe him… To let him know that it will be alright.
"Edward…" I said, watching as he blinked with a twitch. His monster was stronger, outweighing him by tons. But I could see him inside… I could see the man I loved so much. And he was trying to stop, trying to overcome the inventible.. "It's okay." I told him sincerely and within that moment the words left my lips, he brought my broken arm to him, the pain causing me to cry out as his teeth sunk within my skin beginning to drain the blood from inside. My eyes began to grow heavy within a matter of milliseconds, the room spinning as there was no form of pleasure within this bite. There was no signal from him, no pulse vibrating inside of me like there was when he used to feed – when he used to be in control of it. No, this was primal… It was ferocious… It was his monster, clinging to my arm and bleeding me out dry.
"Isabella!" I heard Alec cry out, my head rolling to him to see him fighting off several others, Emmett jumping in to lend him a hand. My arm twisted in an unnatural way as Edward continued to feed; snarling at anyone who he deemed was too close to his food – to me. I turned back to look at him, seeing his eyes shifting from the onyx to the blood-red. It was faint – but it was there. Moving ever so slowly. His body began shaking, his grip lessening only slightly as I heard him whine. I turned to him, seeing his eyes were on me and within them – regret. Regret because I was dying right before him. Regret because he couldn't stop. He let out a wracking sob against my skin, but never stopped his feeding– his monster, much more larger than his morale, was slowly breaking. But it was too late, I felt my body twitching at the shock of the loss of blood, my head rolling back in just enough time to see Alec…
Alec…
My eyes fixated on him as he tried to get to me, surrounded by a group of red cloaks… One on each side… He tried to escape their grip, his eyes looking to someone to help him, but no one was there… I knew what was about to happen. "No…" I whispered, shaking my head as I tried to look for help – Emmett and Rosalie were nowhere to be found, Carlisle and Esme fighting against a group… And Alice and Jasper helping the wolves with the newly guards that entered the room. "Alec…" I cried out, trying to move away from Edward who only held on harder, growling his disapproval. "Alec!" I felt the power to scream, desperately trying to find someone to help him – seeing Jacob whimper on the floor, unable to help. I turned back to Edward and with all the power I had left inside of, the smallest part of Vampire that still lingered… My feet lifted, connecting with his chest as I pushed him away, screaming as he took a chunk of my flesh from my wrist with him.
The blood poured out as I clutched it to my shirt, moving to the men who were surrounding Alec in a circle. "Ma biche! Get out!" He shouted just as I felt my body ram into the floor, Edward pinning me down as he stomped on my right leg, breaking the bone instantly… I screamed out in sheer pain, shaking my head as I tried to fight him off.
"Edward! Stop! Stop!" I cried, looking back to Alec just as Edward's teeth sank deep into my neck causing me to cry out. "No! Please!" I screamed, the tears futile as I looked to Alec who watched me with a somber look, a look of sadness mixed in with a look of love – Alec… My father… "No… Please…" I cried out and watched as the men all at once twisted their bodies, Alec's body separating into four pieces. I let out an agonizing wail, a shattering sob wracking through the deep mansion, across the vineyards and past the trees. I tried to fight, tried to find that energy once again to help me – to help Alec… But as the seconds ticked by with an aching dull, I knew it was all futile… My cries turned into silent shutters, Edward's body latching on so tightly that the air left my lungs, my blood nearly gone.
I watched helplessly as Esme and Carlisle defeated the men who had torn Alec to shreds, my eyes blurred with tears as a faint white light began to cloud my vision. I could hear a humming in my ear, my body numbing as it fell once again into shock with the loss of blood. A part of me wanted to look at Edward, one last time… Another part of me, the bigger part of me was overcome with the weakness that I couldn't jump past.
So instead, I lifted my bloody arm to my chest, my fingers gripping at the pinwheel pendant resting peacefully against my skin. Tears fell down my temples, onto the ground below me as Edward continued his feast. My body was going into a seizure, but I tried my hardest to keep the pinwheel within my fingertips, thinking back to Alec who loved me so deeply, so securely…
Edward shuddered above me, the last of life within me hearing his wail, shouting out my name with a agonizing cry. I could hear whispers of love, whispers of adoration and regret. I wanted to hold him, to tell him it was alright. That I was okay giving myself up in order for his to live. But he was silent again, quickly gripping my nearly lifeless body as I felt another bite against my neck, this time over the mark he had so fondly used in the past but avoided in this feeding, his teeth sinking in as a shot of venom was sent into my veins. I cried out, gripping onto whatever was near me before hastily falling back into the concrete, my mind drawing black shortly after.
I always knew my life wasn't normal. Even back in Deer Isle – something was different. There was but a short period of my life that didn't involve vampires… that didn't involve me being a donor. But under rare circumstances and twists and turns, it seemed as if there was never a possibility my life would have been normal. I was born destined to be a donor – I was dying as one. But in the end – I did not regret a thing. My life was a beautiful mosaic made out of broken pieces, one that had finally put itself together by the end.
And I was drifting.