A/N: THNAK YOU! For your AWESOME reviews! Seriously, they're awesome. And you're all AWESOME! Here is another chapter. Enjoy! And PLEASE keep reviewing. Tell what you think about the story... so far! Yup, I still have a lot to go! :)) Ok, Enjoy!
Chapter 23
Annalise's POV
I look at Richard's savage, remorseless, heartless, cruel, cold-blooded eyes as he grips my neck. "Why do you make me do this? Why?! I wanted to be a father to you." He tightens the grip.
"You" I gasp. "Will," I try opening his hold but it's useless. "Never be my…" Looking at him straight in the eye. "...father-" I gasp feeling my face hot. My body cold. I claw at his face, hands but the numb feeling stops me.
"Die," He says gritting his teeth. "You have betrayed me and now you must die as your punishment,"
"Richard," I gasp again. Dots have clouded my vision. I yank on his sleeve anything for him to loosen up the grip but he only tightens it. Looking at the side, with immense strength against Richard's hold, I move my wrist in the opposite direction of the wind to dissolve the funnel. I need to see them… If I die I want them to be the last thing I see….
Nine hours before…
Jacob's POV
I stand in there cottage after I called them to return. "How long?" Edward paces the floor. If he keeps going he will make a dent on it. His cold eyes turn to me. "How long?!"
"A week," I say. I know he's pissed but I had my reasons.
"Why tell us until now?!" I wouldn't want to know how Emmett would've reacted if I told him.
"Edward, let me." Bella sighs. "Jacob you are part of this family. You knew how we were all suffering. Why didn't you say anything?!" She shouts louder. I prefer Edward to yell at me than Bella.
"Because of what happened last time," I confess.
"Last time?" Bella looks confused. "Jake, you need to be a little bit more specific," she says in duh tone.
"The Volturi!" I shout without meaning too. I rub my face desperate. I sigh. "They are always looking for a way to start a war with all of you. I couldn't bare seeing Nessie scared. After they left she had nightmares. If you fought with us then they'll probably hear the word and come again. I couldn't take that risk!" I slump on my chair. "I can't take the risk. I need Nessie happy…Always," I whisper.
Bells sits next to me, at least her stench doesn't bother me anymore. Her cold hands find mine. "And I'm glad you want to keep my baby girl happy but she isn't," I look at her fast trying to see what she means. "She misses Annie, we all do. We need her back. If us going with you brings her back, then count us in."
"I still worry… those filthy blood suckers," I mumble. Bella squints her eyes angrily. "Sorry," I chuckle.
"Jacob," I look at Edward. "If it's the Volturi you worry about, you shouldn't. After all we are the largest coven in the world." I frown. "The Wolves are also part of our little family. They'll be greatly outnumbered." He smirks.
"And Emmett? It is his daughter," Bella asks. "He's suffered more than us, not to mention Rosalie."
Edward stays silent. "We're going to have to tell them," We both nod.
Seth and Paul stand by the door. They're large figure stepping inside. My eyes widen when I see Embry stepping in behind them. "Jake, I need to go," he pleads.
I walk to him placing my hand on his shoulder, "My beta needs to be at my side," I smile.
"Jake what do we do?" Paul asks. I look at Edward and Bella who nod.
Looking at my three pack members. "Assemble the pack,"
Edward's POV
The house has been silent, lifeless. A hole in our family. I stand silently in the entryway of the living room watching Emmett and Rosalie live without their daughter.
I miss my baby so much, Rosalie thinks. The pain they both feel is so much that Jasper can't bare being in the same room as them.
I need my family together. I need my wife better and my baby back, Emmett cries on the inside.
"Emmett, why?" Rosalie painfully asks.
"I'll get her back to us Rose," He kisses the top of her head. "I'll get her back," He whispers. I need to… He sobs inside.
"Emmett," I softly say. His sad filled eyes look at me in a swift movement. With my solely expression I hint him that I need to speak with him.
"Babe, I will be right back," he softly says.
She turns fast towards him. Fisting his shirt in a tight grip. "Promise that you-" She sobs tearlessly. "-you will be back," Shaking his shirt once. "Promise," She whisper.
He puts his giant hands over her small ones. "Rose I promise, the way I promised to love you every day of my life," He hugs her in a tight embrace. Her shoulders gently shaking.
I look away feeling I'm intruding in their moment. I hear they softly kiss before I feel Emmett next to me. I look at his pained filled face. His empty eyes. "I need to speak with you," I say bellow a whisper. I look at Rose then back at him. He nods his understanding and we both run in full speed out the house.
Deep in the forest the sun is hidden behind the thick tree branches. I cannot imagine the pain they must be in. The pain of an Uncle does not compare to that of a parent. I stop when I see Emmett running towards a tree. He growls as he unroots it from the ground. He screams. "WHY?!"
"Emmett," I calmly say.
"My baby is gone!" He looks at me with his black eyes. When our search came back unsuccessful he refused to feed. "My Wife is also gone. She will never be the same." He takes the trunk in his hands and slits in half.
"Emmett," I try again.
"AHHHHH!" He begins disfiguring the trunk until it's unrecognizable. Like the Vampire standing before me. He throws the piece of wood aimlessly in agony.
"We found her," I say at once.
He stops, still staring away from me. He turns slowly to face me. His dark eyes look at mine. "What did you say?" He whispers.
"We found her," I repeat. My voice uneven, cracking with emotion.
"Found…" He can't finish. His hands let go of the wood that was still in them.
"Emmett, Annie is in Canada." I walk with caution in my steps towards him.
"We checked… all of Canada," His voice deep with emotion. Anger filled. "What did we miss?"
"There is a Vampire that can repel; sometimes confuse our path not knowing where we're going." I explain.
His chest begins moving up and down. He runs his hands over his head. "I was close all this time and couldn't do anything about it?"
"We've all been fooled. Even me, as a mind reader I could've have read something but failed." I look at the ground. "I failed you,"
I hear him run towards me in a second then I feel his large hand in my shoulder. "Brother, I don't blame you." He takes a strong intake of breath. "But the one who took her," He grits his teeth.
We turn when we hear hard footsteps crushing wooden sticks in the ground. The Wolves emerge from behind the trees. In between them comes Jacob in his human form. The wolves move to the side to let their Alpha pass through. Walking towards us Emmett takes a step forward. Looking straight in the eyes they stand before each other. Jacob rises his arm as if he is about to arm wrestle. Emmett joins his hand, holding it strong. "We'll get her back." Jacob says with a strong promise in his voice.
Isabella's POV
"My shield isn't strong enough," I play with my hands.
Edward's loving hands cup my face. His eyes ever so gentle. "Love, you are strong." He takes my hand in his and leads me to the bedroom mirror. My pale skin and topaz eyes look back at me. I look at the Greek god behind me. He points to the mirror as he wraps the other arm around my waist. "It's time to see what I see every day," He whispers. I smile and turn taking his lips in mine. What would I do without him? He moves away looking at the side.
I focus on the outside noise. I look back at my husband. "Renesmee," I say.
Edward frowns. "She's not alone,"
We both run to the door. He swings it open and in a swift movement has her in his arms. "Nahuel, what a surprise to have you so close to my daughter," Edward says in a blank tone. He told me that Nahuel had a thing for Renesmee form the last time he visited. Edward is just being the over protective dad as always.
"Daddy I'm alright," I know we have her in a short leash but she understands were we come from. I would die without my baby girl.
I see someone behind him. "Edward, peace is what I come with." He steps to the side to reveal a beautiful dark skinned girl around Nessie's age. Her hair almost camouflaging with her caramel color skin. "I arrived yesterday as a friendly visit. As I ran in the forest I came across you and one of your brothers."
"Snooping," Jake snorts forcing his way inside. Nessie immediately leaves her dad's arms and walks into Jake's. He wraps his giant arms around her in a possessive way. I know he's marking his territory in presence of Nahuel.
Nahuel only nods his understanding. "I did, accidently, without meaning to hear your words. A monster took a loved one?" We nod. I look Edward to see if his expression is telling me not to trust him but he seems to be concentrating hard looking between him and the pretty girl. "A Repel has made your attempts futile-"
"-Can you get on with it. We are you getting at?" Jake says angrily.
"That I happen to know that Mrs. Cullen-" He signals me. "-Is a shield that can go against the repel, any repel."
I step forward. "I don't know if mine will be strong enough." I say in shame.
"It is," he says making me frown. "Or don't you know how you were willing to shield everyone against the Volturi?" His brows crease in surprise. "Anger…that was the key on unlocking your power's potential." He looks at the young women. "This is my sister Ayla, a shield," he looks at me. "Like yourself,"
"My brother has told me about the potential of yours," She says in her small sweet voice. "It seems yours is powerful, more so than mine. I can only block one at a time. You need to feel a strong emotion and will be able to shield a whole city if you put your mind to,"
"We can help," Nahuel look as at us all with seriousness. "I want us to be allies. Someone to trust,"
Ayla looks at me. She steps in slowly walking towards me. "Together we can make the shield unstoppable,"
I look at Edward and Jake. They both nod. Renesmee smiles at me, tears quietly rolling down her ivory flesh. Looking back at Ayla I smile. "Thank you,"
Two hours before…
Jacob's POV
We run through the thick forest crossing the border. Growling with violent anger. My skin sensing the anticipation of the change of weather. My fur moving with the wind as I carry on in speed. Embry on my side as it suppose to be. Our huge strong bodies running like our ancestor warriors preparing for battle; war.
No-one says anything. Our minds quite. Listening to the wind howl stronger by the passing second. Bella and Edward running beside each other with a determine look.
We stop abruptly when a lighting strike shakes the ground a few miles away. "Annie," Emmett whispers.
Embry howls in happiness. Knowing our mark from last time we don't venture forward. The shield won't let us either way. "The shield," Bella says in wonder. Her eyes move up to impossible height then down to the ground.
"You can see it?" Edward questions.
"Yes. Vampires with shield powers can see other shields. Even if it is invisible." Ayla explains. Bella and Ayla step forward. Staring at the shield that only they can see they hold hands. Closing their eyes they concentrate. With their free extended palm they begin pushing the invisible wall.
Bella turns to us. "It's down." The wolves howl and we run faster then ever.
The ground shaking under us as we get near the house. I see him staring. I look in the eyes of the vampire who didn't let us pass the other time. He smiles. "She's ready," I howl in triumph.
Annalise's POV
I hit my closed fist in anger on the ground making it shake violently. I feel some bones in my hand crush from the impact. "YOU WILL PAY!" a gust of cold snow falls inside. The wind blowing it as it were a blizzard.
"What are you doing?!" Heaven pushes me. "Have you lost your mind?" I look outside and with a lighting strike I hit her favorite plants. "You little bitch." She sneers.
"I am not scared of you," The ground shakes but we don't move a muscle challenging each other with our eyes.
She begins laughing. "Cut the little brave act. We all know you're still that girl they brought. The scared little girl crying for her mommy," She takes my arm. "Grow up,"
I push her away with strong wind. "This isn't an act." I smile. "I will kill you," I growl.
She takes a step back. "Yeah, well, you can't,"
I laugh. That was actually pretty funny. "Want to bet?"
Heaven begins running to me as I raise my arms. I drop them and in the same moment and lighting hits her sending her flying hitting the wall. Her body falls shattering in million pieces. "I win the bet," I spit in her shattered pieces.
"AHHHH!" I look back at Jessie.
Running to him. "It's ok," I coo him. "It's ok. Before you know it the pain will be gone" I wipe the sweat from his for head.
He looks at me. I can see his agony in them. "Behind," He breathes out. "You," he squeezes his eyes shut in pain. He breathes hard trying not to scream.
"What?" I frown.
"He said behind you. Guessing he was referring to me." I stand and step away. Richard steps away from the shadows. He looks at Heavens remains. He only shakes his head.
"Aren't you sad that she's dead?"
"No," He simply says. "She couldn't defend herself. Her fault," He shrugs.
"Monster," I says in disgust.
He rolls his eyes. "Yes, heard that one before. Now be a good girl and let's go-"A howl interrupts him.
"Embry," I whisper with my heart beating fast. I would know that howl anywhere.
Richard sighs. "I wanted to take you out like a civilized person,"
I chuckle. "You? Civilized? Never."
"Yes, well, come on," he motions for me to walk out.
"You killed my brother," I growl standing in my place.
"Let's go Scarlett," He grits his teeth.
"Fuck you," I've never said anything like this to him but it felt surprisingly good.
"How dare you speak to me like that?" he runs to me. He rushes to me hitting me in all different places.
"STOP!" I shout. As his hand touches me again the wall explodes from the strong wind emanating from both of us sending us flying in different directions.
My body aches but I ignore it. My hair covering my face as I try to stand. Removing my hair I see a giant wall of wind separating the entire house and the forest. Some trees fly away from the strength of it. Squinting my eyes I walk towards it. I hear howling, people shouting. The ringing in my ears complicate matters. "Annie!" I begin crying as I recognize Daddy's voice.
"DADDY! I shout crying.
"ANNIE!" He shouts back desperate to pass the wall of wind.
I bring my palms up to try and disperse it. "I have years, centuries of practice. Do you honestly think you can dissolve it little girl?"
I ignore him and I keep trying. Richard stands next to me and begins moving the top layer of the wall in thin horizontal funnels. They observe the fire from the trees.
"Master, what do you need us to do?" Nakoma asks.
Another person holds my arms behind me. "Release the wolves," Richard calmly says.
"The wolves?" I ask. In mere seconds I see men in chains at their ankles and wrist that look huge and tortured.
Richard turns to them. "Kill them and gain your freedom and your family's freedom," It surprises me more to see what kind of demon he really is. Another of his slaves release the chains and the ten men begin changing. There bones cracking as they grunt in pain. Their faces changing hideously. Their backs deformed. Their growls violent, saliva dripping to the floor. Richard moves his hands. The wall dissolves. He points. "Kill," And they run. Nakoma and the other five with him become large unrealistic Imperial eagles and fly into the sky going toward my love ones.
My family standing before me and some hideous wolves running their way. It's a complete nightmare. "RUN!" I cry. "RUN!" I fall to my knees as some wolves clash against each other while the others run toward my Daddy, Uncle Edward, and Aunt Bella.
"ANNIE!" Daddy screams.
"DADDY!" I shout back yanking on the cold grass covered in ice.
Richard begins laughing. "I'm your father. Your real father."
"He will be more of a father then you'll ever be," I sneer.
Richard says nothing and steps forward. Taking this time I begin running but a very strong gust of wind sends me to the ground pinning me in place. Richard makes a horizontal funnel and sucks in the fire form the tree creating a wall of fire. "Only I can tell them to stop the attack on them," He chuckles. "Did you really think after all this years I didn't take precautions? Those wolves are older than me and have been tortured all these centuries. They will fight to death for their freedom."
I look back at them witnessing all of the Denali Clan, friends of grandpa emerge from the trees. "My family can take care of themselves," I shrug showing him that I'm not afraid. They have more numbers; more chances. I smile.
He growls. I know he can see his chances thinning out. "Then so be it. I will bring you with me even if you're dead. Like your brother,"
I stand him a death glare when I feel the wind stop. Silence falls. The fighting stops. They look at me. "AH!" And a huge tornado rises.
Richard runs to me dogging the lighting strikes. I continue with my strong weather, lighting hitting the ground missing their target, Richard. But he makes it to me punching me as a lighting hits him. We both fly off the ground in a hard thud.
I open my eyes to witness disaster. The cold wind blowing. A sheet of ice covering the ground. The red flames in the background. My eyes wide. I hear the rushing of my blood flow through me; heart beat frantic. My legs feel heavy. My feet seem to need hard work to unglue from the floor. My breathing erratic. My bones hurting with every step. My wounds aching, telling me to stop.
I stand and see the ones who I love try to rush towards me but I need them safe. Forgetting that they're in danger as well. Embry fights his way to me. Their eyes wide, scared as they move through the fire wall. Thunder clouds covering our heads. Tears roll down my face as I look at them. "I love you," I whisper looking at them all.
"No!" They scream.
They run faster. I look at the sky and close my eyes moving my arms upward and in a circular motion. My arms faster by each passing second. The wind picking up in more speed around me. My hair flying aimlessly. I crate a bigger tornado covering their way to me.
I turn around to clapping. "Great job Scarlett. It took me years to learn how to make a real life tornado and seems that you've made one out of the blue," Richard walks to me like a lion ready to pounce on its prey. He stops and rubs his chin. "But you seem to forget that I also control the wind," He stands back. His eyes a deep color red. He flares his nostrils. The veins in his neck swell. He shakes. "AND I DO IT BETTER!" He screams. His voice thick, raw, deep. He closes his eyes with his face raised to the sky.
He expands his arms and the funnel grows larger. The winds impossibly fast. I dig in my heels into the ground to fight it as it's trying to push me out. "It's just you and me Richard,"
He laughs. He shakes his head. "It's only me," We run towards each other and we clash like thunder.
Some bones in my body shatter. A feeling I should be used to. "I'm sorry brother. I fought. But I wasn't strong enough," I whisper. Wherever he is I hope he hears me.
The Present…
I feel the hand grip me in the too familiar hold. I look at Richard's savage, remorseless, heartless, cruel, cold-blooded eyes as he grips my neck. "Why do you make me do this? Why?! I wanted to be a father to you." He tightens the grip.
"You" I gasp. "Will," I try opening his hold but it's useless. "Never be my…" Looking at him straight in the eye. "...father-" I gasp feeling my face hot. My body cold. I claw at his face, hands but the numb feeling enables me.
"Die," He says gritting his teeth. "You have betrayed me and now you must die as your punishment,"
"Richard," I gasp again. Dots have clouded my vision. I yank on his sleeve anything for him to loosen up the grip but he only tightens it. Looking at the side, with immense strength against Richard's hold, I move my wrist in the opposite direction of the wind to dissolve the funnel. I need to see them… If I die I want them to be the last thing I see….
"NO!" Daddy scream fighting off the monstrous wolves to get to me. A tear rolls down as I feel the life escape my body.
Then I feel someone knock Richard off of me. The air slowly returning to me as I lay there. I look at the weather I created stop. I no longer have strength in me. I turn to look at Richard. "You should've known better then to paralyze me again. I always come back." Axel sneers as he yanks at Richard.
"Axel?" I whisper. More tears roll down.
"How does it feel? To know pain and not being able to do anything about it?!" Axel screams. You can hear Richard's head separating from his shoulders. "I hope you go straight to hell!" and he yanks Richard's head clean off. I follow him in my line of vision as he runs to the disfigured wolves. "Stop!" He shouts. "You are free. The demon that made me call father is dead. You are no longer slaves. Be gone and leave them in peace," He says with authority. The disfigured wolves howl and run away.
I close my eyes. I can die now. It's finally over. I feel the cold, loving hand that I thought I never feel again. "Annie, baby, everything is going to be ok." He begins sobbing. His voice thick with emotion. I try to open my eyes but can't, my eyelids feel heavy. "Daddy's got you,"
"Daddy," I whisper and let go…