Carlisle working a far distance from their home so that him and Esme would not move in 1930, as does Esme prior meeting of Volturi guard members, comes from Jessica314's story Tale of Years:1927 here on FF
Beta: The incredible and amazing kiwihipp
(Updated 6 June 18)
Chapter 25: Losing Bella
It was a joy that our family was able to host so many young humans in such tight quarters, not to mention the Quileutes that had joined in. Despite the tension in the air, we did have a lot to celebrate. Bella had graduated from high school; she was getting healthier, speaking up for herself, and growing up in a manner befitting her. Rosalie was changing, which was a miracle in itself, along with the rest of us. Carlisle and my marriage was healing and growing in strength. Our family was changing for the better, in my opinion. Even knowing all this, and even while enjoying my husband's skin wrapped around mine, I could not shake the sense of impending doom.
"Must we face the world?" I asked Carlisle my head buried in his chest, as I listened to the conversations and noises of our celebrators.
"No," he said into my hair. If were possible, I would say he sounded exhausted.
Smiling at his answer, I said playfully, "Well, then shall we continue to behave as teenagers and avoid things. We could even run away."
He frowned as if my words had triggered something inside of him. "Despite all our preparations and Jasper's contingencies, there is a small chance that Edward would return to find that something had happened to us. He would inevitably feel guilty and blame himself. He might even pick a fight with the wolves. We are all tied together, Esme, and now Bella is included in that. She is so fragile. Anything goes wrong, the smallest margin of error, there's a good chance she will get injured. And if we lose her …" he petered off as if he was unable to even voice the words.
Squeezing him tighter, I struggled to manage my strength, so that I didn't accidently create cracks in his skin. Internally, I tried to remind myself that we were choosing to live by faith and trust. We needed to get up off the floor, put on our clothes, and face what the future held, whether we all survived or not. Instead we kissed and reminded each other of the love that we shared.
When the clock chimed midnight, Carlisle and I decided that the time had come when we must face the world. We played the role of mean parents, and sent the human revellers home. Once all the human children were accounted for and in vehicles returning to their residences, we ran to the field, with the wolves that had been at the house travelling beside us. We practiced against one another using scenarios that Jasper had imagined could involve Victoria and Riley. It was much more challenging in terms of what to consider than pretending Emmett was a newborn. All of us ready for a break, not mention our need to make sure the human authorities went about things as usual, we dispersed a little before sunrise.
Tucking Bella into bed, I reflected on what a gift it was to have her in my life. Through my second life there had been moments when I wondered what it would have been like to watch my son grown up. Strangely, in those moments, I often thought about small inconsequential things like making him dinner or putting him into bed at night. Bella, in a small way, had given me the opportunities to do those things.
As I stood at the end of her bed watching her sleep, I felt these unfulfilled wishes and longings leave me. Without even meaning to, she had given me the chance to act out those unspoken desires. With each breath that brought her scent into me, I concluded that these wants were nothing more than a fantasy. In a way, they were an attempt to articulate my grief of what could have been. But that dream died along with my humanity, and another life was birthed in its place. I had witnessed over a hundred years pass. I had a family who loved me and who were willing to stand against an enemy together. What more could I ask for? Letting go of previous thoughts regarding how limited my chances to do these things for her were, I let out a breath, smiled at myself in gratitude, and turned and left.
When I went downstairs to listen into the latest strategies, Jasper looked up at me and smiled warmly. Smiling back, I allowed the feelings I had in Bella's room to radiate from me. He closed his eyes for a second, looking like he was basking in the sun, before opening them again to argue with Emmett about why what had just been said was a terrible idea.
Looking around the room, a deep awareness came into me. Even if Bella chose to stay human, I was blessed with the family I had. If we were to lose her, I would never be quite the same and my heart would break from the loss. Yet, just like my infant son, life would move on, and with enough years, hopefully, I would come to a place of being grateful she had been in my life, being appreciative for the gifts she gave me, and feeling blessed. Consequently, all this fear of loss that I had been holding onto wasn't serving me, and I decided to try letting it go.
The kids talked about strategies until Bella woke up.
After Bella finished breakfast, we talked about schools,each of us seeming to need to focus on the future as a form of tangible hope .
"What's wrong with Central or Western, Rosalie?" Bella asked after Rosalie had ranted, not much differently than when I had told the family what Bella had been thinking regarding colleges.
"They are state schools," she retorted haughtily.
"So, you would never consider the University of California, Berkley?" Bella questioned Rosalie.
"That's different," was Rosalie's response.
"How so?" Bella pressed while having a combination of fear and genuine curiosity on her face.
"One, sunnier. Two, it is Berkley."
"Is there not a programme at either school that you want to study?" Bella checked.
"That's not it," Rosalie retorted.
"Then what, Rosalie?" Bella asked sounding truly confused. "In ten years from now we're going to have this conversation again. I've already agreed that when that conversation happens I will not make a request and will go wherever everyone else decides. These are my last human years. In four to five years we're going to fake my death or disappearance or something. I want to spend them close enough to Charlie that I can see him once a month, maybe more.
"I like the schools in Seattle and Portland more actually, but we ruled them out because wildlife isn't as plentiful, and they contain a greater likelihood to have unfriendly visitors, which we want to avoid. Central has hunting grounds to the west of the school. It's not in a big city, but it's sunnier than Western. Western is cloudier, but hunting grounds are further away. It's a compromise. I know it's not Harvard or Dartmouth or Oxford or Yale, but it's the best we got that meets everyone's needs."
"Fine," Rosalie fumed.
"In that case, what is the vote for Western?" Carlisle asked clearly relieved that we'd moved passed the deadlock.
Bella put her hand up, as did Alice and Jasper.
"Fine, they're both as ratty as the other one anyway," Rosalie mocked.
"It's settled then," Carlisle stated before Bella could say anything, knowing this was Rosalie's way of trying to get in the last word. She hated not getting her way, but I was proud of her for allowing Bella's words to penetrate. "We'll begin looking for housing big enough for all of us. I'm thinking of staying and working at Forks Memorial. Objections?" Carlisle asked, hiding his pride in Bella standing up to Rosalie, even though I could see it in his shoulders and corners of his eyes.
"Me," I said. "I don't want our family split and you far away."
"I could find a position closer to Western, but I'm likely to meet people who already know me. The cover story is simpler if you and I stay in Forks while our children go to Western."
"Yeah, Mom, most kids go off to college without their parents. Are you a helicopter parent now?" Emmett teased.
I looked at him puzzled.
"I read it on the internet. It's a parent who always hovers nearby," he explained shrugging clearly not really understanding what he was talking about.
Bella giggled and everyone else just looked mystified.
"You would commute every night?" I asked Carlisle wanting to get back on topic.
"Most likely, unless you came to Forks and we stayed there a night or so." He grabbed my hand. "We've done this before."
Nodding, I was certain that we were both thinking of the last two years before Edward's return, where Carlisle travelled hundred of miles for work, so that we could try and stay in the house, in the hope that he would seek us out. And he had. Despite modern technology, I had to wonder if there was a part of Carlisle wanting to be in Forks in case Edward repeat that pattern and once more return to the place he had last known us to be. I couldn't object to this part of Carlisle.
Nodding in resignation and giving him a serious look I told him, "If that's what's best. It's only for a few years, anyway."
He kissed my forehead and I knew that the messages we each had been sending to the other had been received.
Bella frowned clearly deep in thought, but said nothing.
We were just about finishing up the details when I heard a truck coming up the drive.
In it was Charlie.
We all walked outside to admire the truck Rosalie and Charlie had picked out. Charlie hadn't wanted anything terribly high end, and Rosalie made sure it would handle well. Bella opened her mouth when Charlie stepped out.
"Happy graduation!" we all yelled at a human volume, Charlie included.
"No, no, no," Bella stuttered her mouth wide open in utter surprise and disbelief.
"Yes, Bella," Charlie told her sternly. "I know you love your old truck, but it won't be reliable for traveling those miles from college to here. This is better. It's got the top safety rating for a truck. It gets twenty-one miles per gallon. Anyway," Charlie began to stammer, "it's from all of us, your mom included. Happy graduation. We're proud of you."
Bella hugged Charlie her eyes watery and said nothing.
When she pulled back she looked at us all. "Hey, Rosalie, want to take her for a spin?" she asked shying clearly trying to mend things.
Rosalie tried to hold in her smile, but failed.
"Bella first," Charlie demanded.
"I'll drive it out, then I'll let Rosalie drive her back," Bella offered clearly trying to appease her Dad and Rosalie.
"Fine," Charlie muttered.
"You're going to modify it, aren't you?" Bella asked Rosalie as they began pulling down the drive.
"First chance I get," Rosalie said firmly clearly excited. "Who knows when you might want to drive faster than a vampire?" she joked.
"Couldn't hurt," Bella agreed.
"Better safe than sorry," Rosalie put in.
"With my luck, have at it," Bella agreed. "Just remember that I'm human and if I crash at 200 miles an hour the safety features built in might not protect me."
"Duly noted," Rosalie stated in a serious tone. "Do you want a different colour?" she asked after a moment's pause.
"Why?" Bella asked shocked.
"We could always re-paint it or decal it," Rosalie stated as if those things were easy. They were to her, I knew. "Up to you," she added clearly trying not to pressure Bella, which seemed to be representative of the changes in Rosalie.
"Give me some ideas," Bella agreed.
Rosalie started describing different things they could do and their voices faded too far away for my hearing.
It pleased me to no end to see them finding a way to bond.
By the time the sun rose on Thursday, we were still not ready for the impending confrontation with Victoria. We had gone out as a family and hunted after some practicing Wednesday evening. Emmett tried to break us out of our gloomy mood, but my thoughts always returned to our deadline. I knew Jasper had trained us as well as he could. Not to mention that we had contingency plans for our contingency plans. The truth was that we couldn't prepare for everything. We had to just hope that we were prepared enough, and that our love for one another would carry us through.
In one of our early family discussions calling the Denali's was suggested. Jasper, mostly, but Emmett some, argued the strategic advantage of asking them to come to our aid.
"I understand from a strategy perspective the advantage of having more of us to fight. However, for me, I don't like the idea of having them come and risk themselves for us. Also, since Alice believes there being a good chance of the Volturi showing up, it wouldn't be right to put their family in that position, presuming the Volturi found out about Bella. Eleazar might be comfortable with whomever would be sent, but I doubt the girls would ever want to see one of the guards for the rest of their existence," I had put in.
"If a contingent from the Volturi were sent, it is highly unlikely that one of the three leaders would come, which meant that the contingent would most likely follow the letter of the law," Rosalie had pointed out.
"It would not be right of us to put the Denali's at risk like that," I had argued, "especially, since it had seemed from our visit with them in September, that they are unaware of Bella, despite Laurent living with them."
"Having them come would give us an advantage," Jasper had added. "However, I have to concede Carlisle's point that with the wolves being there, adding extra vampires might increase tensions when we were just beginning to trust each other enough to fight side by side. Five additional vampires or seven mutts," he mused, "although I doubt we could keep the dogs out if we tried."
"It also exposes the Denali's to the werewolves," I had pointed out.
"We told them about the wolves long ago," Emmett had interjected.
"Yes, but they still are under the impression that the wolves died out," I had thrown in. "At the same time, I will agree to call them if their presence is truly needed rather than only convenient."
"The problem is that I can't see the outcome, even though we've decided because the wolves get in the way and Victoria is too flighty. I can see us there, and newborns look possible, but after that my visions are little help," Alice had told us all clear distraught.
There were a few moments of silence before Carlisle had spoken. "Jasper, I can agree that there would be an advantage in inviting them. However, that invitation comes with risks. We risk them finding out about the nature of our exposure to Bella and about the re-emergence of the wolves. They are trustworthy and these risks alone are not sufficient reasons to not call them. If they were in trouble, we would want to know.
"At the same time, the risk of them being hurt by the wolves or the displeasure of our choices in relation to Bella is something to consider. However, I believe that also to be a risk they should choose. I suggest we explain about Victoria and her newborns without adding more."
We had agreed with Carlisle's approach regarding the Denali's eventually, Jasper the most reluctantly, as he saw it as militarily weak, which was probably true. The issue was that we were family and not a military unit.
The part of preparations I struggled with the most was when we told Bella the plan.
"So, we all are going to the field to meet up with Riley and Victoria and you want to sedate me?" She had said the last two words through clenched teeth and her hands were in balls. She had appeared livid with Carlisle.
"It's for everyone's safety. The human body's reaction to fear increases the desire to hunt for a blood-drinker. It will make them want you even more, and we need them to have cool heads. The only way I know to bring you with us and have you completely calm is to sedate you," he had explained evenly for the third time.
"You can't give me something that would stop those responses while I stay awake?" she had asked begging him.
"If I could safely, I would have offered it," Carlisle had repeated.
"I hate this!" she had fumed.
"If there were any another option, Bella, I wouldn't be asking this of you," Carlisle had told her. "I'm sorry."
She had nodded silently and tears had dropped. "The whole thing will happen while I'm asleep."
"For our safety and well as your own, this is what we need you to do. This is how you will contribute to the family's greatest chance of survival," he had told her reemphasizing this point.
Eventually, she had reluctantly relented.
Carlisle was almost as upset about having to ask Bella as Bella was in agreeing, but after many heated discussions alongside the kids, nothing else was as likely to keep things in our favour. The blow that caused Carlisle to relent had come from Alice.
"Remember what she did in Phoenix. You know she's my best friend, but she has a tendency to be self-sacrificing. We can't afford the smallest error. Anyway, it's a moot point because the slight images from my visions that I have received suggest that every option with Bella awake doesn't end well for us. We stand a far better chance with her sedated."
It was hard on Carlisle to ask Bella to do something that he himself was struggling to accept, but that was one of the best things about Carlisle. Once he made a decision or agreed to one, the rest of the family would never see anything less than a total commitment to that end. I was the one that he allowed to see his doubts and worries and insecurities. We had no extended time during the week for us a couple after the party, but his struggles were evident in the few private moments we had shared.
"I'm just afraid, so afraid," he had confessed as we had showered.
"This time you have more than just you as a guide. We have to listen to the wisdom we've been given through others. It's not ideal, but it is what seems best right now," I had told him attempting to assure him.
He had nodded and had wrapped his arms around me as the water cascaded around us leaving too much unsaid.
The conversation with Tanya had not gone well. Evidently, despite Eleazar's acceptance of Laurent's end, Irina hadn't been so gracious, and wanted retribution on the Quileutes in exchange for their support. Carlisle had to explain gently, using all his skills as a diplomat, that we could not condone that action when the wolves had been protecting a human from dying for Laurent's thirst. Unfortunately, the conversation was left at stalemate with Tanya reluctantly admitting that as things stood we were on our own.
At three in the early morning of Friday, we stood in the living room together silently, Bella standing next to me tucked under my arm. The time had come. We could do no more. When we couldn't spare a minute longer, Carlisle looked at Bella and moved towards the medical room. She followed, dragging her feet. I had offered to go with her, but Carlisle pointed out the shot would draw blood, so I waited with everyone else. Instead, I imagined the unspoken communication that passed between them as I heard him take out the shot and the shifting of Bella's clothes. There were other noises I couldn't place before I heard him tidying up. When he brought her out, I could smell dried blood and a cleaning solution.
"I'll carry her," Carlisle insisted.
We all understood his request and so silently acquiesced.
Running to the field with Carlisle slightly ahead of us, we had arrived before them. We had planned it as such. We faced east towards Seattle Carlisle in front, Bella lay out on the grass in front of him, me on his right, Jasper and Alice on my right, and Rosalie and Emmett on Carlisle's left in a tight and slight V.
What I wouldn't have given to have Edward with us. In the midst of everything this week Alice had informed us that she believed something had changed with Edward. The fuzziness was waning. But we didn't know what that meant yet.
Reminiscent of the last time Victoria had been in their field, Carlisle and Emmett stilled and, as one, we did as well.
"Riley wasn't lying," Victoria cackled as she entered the field, stopping not far from the tree line.
Riley was on her right slightly behind her.
"We kept our word. We brought her. Are you willing to accept our terms?" Carlisle asked his voice firm.
"I leave your family," she spate the word, "alone and stop making newborns and in exchange what? Even though I had Riley repeat what you said multiple times I couldn't manage to grasp what you were actually offering except to show up here with her. Are you becoming to new Volturi now? You are going to dictate what I can and cannot do in exchange for nothing?"
"We simply wish to be left in peace," he stated.
"Then hand over your pet," Victoria sneered, "and we will leave."
"What assurances do we have that after we hand her over that we won't be waiting for your next attack, Victoria?" he asked.
"What assurances do I have that you won't track me down and kill me like you did James and Laurent?" she retorted.
"You and James came after us," he reminded her. "We defended ourselves. Laurent was about to drain a human in our territory. We had already made it clear about that. If you leave us alone, we will leave you alone."
"Hand over your pet, and we will leave the field," she demanded shrilly. "Then, I will consider the debt you owe me paid," she offered.
"How do you suggest we do that?" he queried, the slightest movement of his shoulder showing, indicating that he had concluded that his words would not get through to her.
"Riley will come out half-way, you do the same with one of your family members carrying the girl. She is handed over and we all leave," Victoria explained as if this was all very obvious.
Fortunately, this was a possibility that we had discussed and already decided how we would respond.
Carlisle looked over to Jasper and nodded.
Jasper stepped forward and at a human pace moved until he had placed himself in front of us all less than a foot from where Bella lay. He turned his back on Riley and Victoria and faced Carlisle. At the same pace that Jasper had moved, Carlisle picked up Bella and handed her to Jasper. A silent communication passed between them. Due to my proximity near Carlisle I could pick up the slightest wisp of Jasper's gift sending out assurance and comfort. Then Jasper squared his shoulders, turned facing them, and walked in a human military precession style toward the direction Victoria had indicated. He was about halfway to the exchange point when in the distance we heard two quick sharp howls. I saw the muscles in Jasper's back move with tension, but otherwise he continued as if the sound wasn't there.
Seconds later we heard the gnashing of teeth and the disturbance of the forest that could only come from newborns. Alice, Rosalie, and Emmett turned so that their backs were to Carlisle and I, closing in and the five of us making a loose circle.
"Four minimum," Alice breathed so quietly I had to wonder if she had spoken at all.
Seconds later Jasper was three-fourths of the way to the exchange point when the newborns could be heard breaking through the tree line heading our way. Victoria grinned broadly and menacingly. It reminded me of the Joker from the Batman movies the boys like.
Despite the noise, Jasper kept moving with the same precision, although I did see him stiffen slightly.
The newborns were upon us before Jasper reached his destination.
Alice moved out of the way of the first one, while Emmett moved slightly right and then took the arms off. Rosalie stepped around the one that had gone for Alice and removed an arm and then moved to help Emmett. Carlisle was circling the second one that Rosalie had removed an arm from. A third went passed Alice and I bolted after it, tackling it around the waist before getting up on my feet quickly. A fourth moved past me heading for Jasper.
Just as Jasper had taught me, I focused on the newborn in front me. We circled each other. I waited, as Jasper had drilled into me, for my opening. When it came, I took off a wrist distracting the newborn and soon after, with regret, I removed its head. I left the scattered remains and ran back to the kids.
"Two more," Alice spoke clearly.
It was only then that I noticed that Riley, Victoria, Carlisle, Jasper, and Bella were missing.
I didn't have time to ask questions before two newborns crossed the treeline heading directly towards us. One tried to pass us on the left, while the other attempted the right.
Rosalie and Emmett took the one on the right, while Alice and I took the one on the left.
I was so grateful Jasper had forced us to practice in teams like this. Neither Alice nor I were as skilled in offense, but we both knew to be patient. When an opening arose Alice had one arm off and I had the other. It took one more second to remove the head.
A part of me wanted to run away or crawl into a ball, but Jasper's words reminding me to not stop until everyone was safe, pushing me to continue on.
Rosalie and Emmett were already collecting pieces. I went to get the newborn parts that I had separated earlier. Once Alice was confident nothing was left behind, we lit a match and ran in the direction of Jasper's and Carlisle's scents.
Before long we came to a river.
"We jump," Alice insisted.
We all followed her and picked up the scents on the other side. In the midst of my arch over the river, I heard one long howl.
I had never run so hard before. My heart ached for my husband, but most of all for Bella. Our worst-case scenario had been realized.
Before Carlisle had requested Bella permission for us to sedate her, he had explained the other way he wanted her to help.
"We are fairly certain, you see Bella, that Victoria will bring newborns to distract us. What we want you to do is walk through the forest starting where we believe they are most likely to be coming from. This will insure they aren't accidently distracted and head towards Forks. It also means that your scent will lead them to the Quileutes who will be laying in wait. We estimate for there to be around ten newborns, which they expect that they can handle."
"How do I lay a trail?" she had asked.
"You walk it," he had stated.
"That's it?" she had questioned.
"That's it," he had confirmed.
Jasper, Alice, Rosalie, and Emmett had reported, when they brought her back Thursday afternoon, that she had fallen and insisted on them staying away while she used her blood to add to the trail.
"It will certainly get their attention," Jasper had stated unhappily.
Displeased or not, I was proud of his resistance to her blood and how he had handled himself, and Bella was beaming. She seemed happy that she could do this part.
Jake had an idea to set up a signalling system with Sam. Different howls would mean different things. The two short howls had meant that some had slipped by. The one long howl meant that they found no more newborns and were heading back to La Push and Forks. They would keep the rest of the humans safe, Charlie included.
That meant that the humans were safe bar Bella, which was the possibility Jasper had the least preparations for, since there were simply too many variables. We had all agreed that no matter what we needed to ensure that Victoria did not leave the field with Bella. Although I was grateful that the Forks' townspeople and Quileutes were safe, none of them mattered to me like Bella. As we came upon Jasper and Carlisle ahead, they were obviously searching for something, and my fears increased ten-fold. If they were searching, then not only did Victoria have Bella, but they had lost Victoria. So as to not succumb to my terror, I kept reminding myself that we just had to find her before her heart stopped and she couldn't be turned.
"They were in the trees, and then they just disappeared. We heard the click of metal. We think Victoria constructed a tunnel of some kind with a door. We can't find it," Carlisle informed us more flustered than I had ever heard him before.
The four of us immediately began searching alongside Carlisle and Jasper.
"Here," said Jasper seconds later as he moved piles and piles of twigs and bracken and earth.
It took Emmett and Jasper working together to open the door, and one by one we started into the tunnel.
"Stop!" Alice bellowed. "Run back!" she screamed.
Rosalie, then I, then Alice, then Emmett, then Carlisle, then Jasper ran in the direction that we had just come from. Emmett had just come out of the hole when there was an explosion and the earth collapsed. We started digging–Alice and I frantically. We found our mates, but in a poor condition.
All the hair on Jasper's back was singed, and he was covered in soot and ash and dirt. Carlisle was physically in better shape, but he had turned to stone and his eyes looked absent.
I held his face in my hands. "Carlisle? Carlisle? Talk to me, love, please." Holding him close, I whispered into his ear, "Love of my life, I need you, your family needs you. We have a daughter to save. Please come back to me." His fingers twitched inside mine. "That's right. Come back to me," I pleaded.
After a few more long minutes, he blinked.
I kissed him deeply and pulled him tightly into me.
"I have failed you," he uttered.
"It's not your fault," I assured him. "We'll get her back."
I looked over at Jasper.
"Victoria could be anywhere," he said defeated.
Alice was stone focusing with all of her strength on finding Victoria, which was a shot in the dark, given Alice's inability to see Victoria clearly.
"I'm sorry," Carlisle said sounding disgraced.
I looked at him. There was something in his eyes that I had never seen before. He was ashamed.
"What are you sorry for, Carlisle?" I asked slowly, unsure if I wanted to hear the answer.
He looked at me pleading for forgiveness.
I nodded. Whatever it was, I could forgive him. We would fix it together.
"I'm sorry," he repeated this time looking at each of us.
He had each of our attention. He looked at Alice begging for forgiveness.
"I made a last minute choice," he said slowly.
She gasped and stared at him. "You didn't," she uttered in complete shock.
"I had been considering the possibility, ever since we met with Riley, but dared not mention it, as doing so implied that I wasn't confident in our ability to keep her safe. My action betrays how we function, and how I've always tried to lead our family. I admit that I acted out of fear. I sincerely apologise to you all, but most of all I owe Bella an apology."
"What did you do?" Rosalie asked through clenched teeth, Emmett holding her in a firm grasp.
"I put a GPS tracking device into Bella's hip," he admitted, "right after I administered her shot."
We all froze in shock, except Alice who was searching the future.
"I'm sorry," he repeated once again.
I threw myself at him and began kissing him all over his face and neck. "You silly wonderful man," I muttered.
"So, how do we track it," asked Emmett eagerly.
Carlisle pulled out a device from his pocket.
"We'll talk about this later, mister," Alice shook her finger at him while Carlisle handed it over to Jasper.
"This way," Jasper ordered.
Carlisle was right. He did betray us, and most of all he betrayed Bella. How could we trust that our decisions were made corporately and everything was discussed openly if he acted rogue? Trust was betrayed, but right now I couldn't find it in me to care. I would deal with him after Bella was safe.
When we came across a cabin I immediately caught the scent of human blood.
"She's bleeding," I stated quickly and quietly.
We all stopped.
"I handled it with James, and when she laid the trail," Jasper stated. "I'll be fine."
Emmett and Alice agreed with Jasper that they too could handle things.
"I'm fine," Rosalie stated unequivocally.
"So, are we just rushing in?" I asked.
"Rosalie and Esme, you get Riley. Carlisle you get Bella. Alice and Emmett with me," Jasper barked.
No one objected. A second later we ran towards the cabin as quietly as we could.
I heard Bella moan and quietly plead, "Victoria, please stop. Don't you understand, he left me, he left his family."
"I don't care what you say, human. He is responsible for James' and Laurent's deaths. Your precious vampires are dead. I made sure that they were nothing but ash. You are responsible for James' end, and I can be patient. Eventually your precious Edward will come and I will end him too. And if you're right, then I have you as a poor concession. Months, even years I could feed off of you like this. You have forgotten your place. A cow doesn't belong in the house, it belongs in the shed were it is milked until it has no other value than to be butchered for its meat. Cry, whine, complain, yell, lie I don't care. It doesn't change facts, and the fact is you are my cow and I am going to do whatever I want with you."
I heard Victoria utter, "It couldn't be," right before we launched ourselves into the cabin through the doors and windows. Rosalie had Riley by the arm. He moved towards her while I twisted his arm off. His teeth could be heard scratching along the top of Rosalie's hand. She growled, but held on to him.
Then Rosalie moved backwards pulling Riley arm away from his body while I lunged, and with the precision Jasper had taught bit into his neck and tore his head off.
I looked up to see Victoria circled by Jasper, Alice, and Emmett with a look between fury and the terror of a wild animal caged. Every move she made they matched it. She often looked up, but I suspect that she calculated they would catch her feet before she made it out of the roof. I went over and joined the circle between Alice and Emmett.
Rosalie tended to her hand and continued to separate Riley.
The blood in the air appeared to be getting to Victoria. It looked like she had slit Bella's wrist and had been feeding some. I could only imagine that everything inside of Victoria wanted more of the blood so close, yet so far out of reach.
Carlisle tore clothing and, from the sounds, I suspected that he was wrapping Bella's wrist. "Shush, Bella, it's okay," Carlisle cooed. "We're here. We'll all fine. Victoria lied. That's okay you're tired. You've lost a lot of blood. Sleep now."
Rosalie joined the circle around Victoria. Jasper looked at each of us and we moved back leaving him and Victoria inside our circle.
She feigned right, Jasper moved slightly to the left.
She crouched as if to spring, Jasper matched her.
They danced like this, measuring each other, matching each other until without warning Jasper darted forward over her head, slit her throat with his teeth and landed on the other side of her, with her head in his hand holding it by the hair.
"Let's set the fire and get out of here," Rosalie snarled.
Walking out with Carlisle, I let the kids handle the clean up.
When they were ready, we began running back to our home.
Alice stopped suddenly, and we stopped with her.
"The Volturi are coming–four," she reported.
"Give me Bella," ordered Jasper.
Carlisle handed her over immediately his eyes begging Jasper to keep her safe. Even though the bleeding had almost stopped, it was still present. Bella grunted and her eyes flittered open, but then they closed again.
"Meet them in the field, Carlisle, next to the ashes," Alice instructed before they turned and ran in the opposite direction.
We sprinted, entered the field, and had come to stand next to the pile of ash when four clocked figures emerged from the southeast.
"What a surprise to see you here, so far from the castle. Jane. Demetri. Felix. Santiago," Carlisle greeted them each cordially with a respectful head nod. After they each nodded back he continued, "Let me introduce my family. This is my wife, Esme, my daughter Rosalie, and my son Emmett."
"The one that caused so much trouble in Seattle?" Jane asked.
Her brisk tone and no nonsense way reminded me some of Jasper.
"We were forced to destroy her, as well as those she sent after us," Carlisle explained.
"That's odd given your unusual feeding habits," Jane stated emotionlessly.
"Her mate and other coven members had attacked our family last year. She was plotting her revenge," Carlisle explained.
"And all were ended?" Jane asked in a flat uninterested tone.
"All that came towards this field," he answered. "Her name was Victoria. She was known for her flaming red hair. Her oldest creation Riley, who had been assisting her with the newborns and acquiring humans, and all the newborns that she brought with her are ash. I cannot speak for any that might remain in Seattle or those who might have run away."
"Naturally," Jane spoke.
"Only the four of you?" Demetri inquired with the smallest slight hint of disbelief. I would not have heard it if I had not met Demetri prior.
"My other son and daughter also fought with us. They left the four of us on my request that they expedite their healing. Would you like to meet them? You are welcome to join us at our home and wait for their return," invited Carlisle.
Jane looked even more disinterested.
"Thank you for your offer of hospitality, but we were sent to resolve matters in Seattle, so we best be returning there," Demetri replied cordially with a faint smile.
"Of course," Carlisle replied. He paused and looked directly at Jane. "Please convey to your master Aro my greatest appreciation in his concern in this matter and sending the best of the guard on his behalf."
"I will convey your greeting," Jane replied.
"Thank you, Jane," Carlisle stated sweetly and with a smile. "May I request that you would be so considerate of us as to refrain from hunting in our area, since we have a permanent residence. With the news that Victoria garnished in Seattle, we need to be extra precautious."
"Of course, Carlisle," Demetri replied while Jane seemed to have her grim expression chiselled into her face. "It was wonderful to see you again. You are missed at the castle."
"Thank you, Demetri. I do miss it at times, but I wouldn't trade it for the joy I've found with my family."
"Well, perhaps one day you'll do us the honour of a visit," offered Demetri.
"I appreciate the invitation," replied Carlisle diplomatically.
"We should be going, Jane," Demetri stated.
"Yes." The smallest amount of ire could be heard in her voice.
Then they turned and went back the way they came.
"Come, let us return home," Carlisle stated simply.
While he ran, we followed.
When we got home, the house looked like nothing had ever happened.
Carlisle called Billy immediately, while he and I clung to one another.
"Mr. Black would someone be willing to come over soon?" Carlisle asked without his usual greetings.
"Yes, I'll send Jake right now," he grunted out.
"Thank you."
"Carlisle?" Billy asked before Carlisle had disconnected the phone.
"Yes?" Carlisle replied tersely, while straining to remain calm.
"How is Bella?" Billy asked his concern clear.
"We don't know yet. It's a long story," Carlisle said sounding defeated.
"Fine," Billy replied irritated, "Jake can fill me in. Is she with you?"
"Yes, she and Alice and Jasper are not at the house, but Alice and Jasper are taking good care of her."
"Fine." Then he hung up.
It would seem that both sides were strained.
Carlisle ran his hands over me, starting with my head, moving his fingers through my hair, down my neck, over my shoulders, down my arms, over my hips and back, and over my legs. I was about halfway through checking him when the patter of wolves could be heard. Words were caught in my throat.
It didn't take long for Jacob to walk out of the forest in his customary pants only attire. He had Seth and Jared with him, but they were in wolf form.
Rosalie and Emmett had joined us on the porch.
We all stood looking at the Quileutes waiting for an explanation of why Jake was in our front lawn instead of Sam.
Jacob shrugged. "They were patrolling," he said as way of an explanation.
"Did any make it to Forks?" Carlisle asked sounding calmer than he had on the phone with Billy.
"No, Bella's scent trick did it. They all came right to us. There was just more than ten," Jake answered in a tone that suggested that he was excited to share the news, but trying not to show it.
"How many in total?" Carlisle asked.
"We'd guess eighteen," Jake answered frowning slightly.
Emmett whistled.
"We ended seven," Carlisle informed him.
"We didn't count heads, but eleven sounds about right," Jake reported after a moment's thought and looking over to the wolves as if to verify. They nodded their heads as if in agreement.
"Certain there are no stray parts?" Carlisle checked.
Jake's face contorted in disgust. "No, man. We checked our area and the land surrounding the field. We didn't pick up any stray scent, so we're all good. They're all ash."
Carlisle nodded and then asked, "Any injuries?"
"Yes, mostly broken ribs, which are healing, but Leah is still in pain and Paul's leg isn't healed completely. Sam is in bad shape."
"You?" Carlisle inquired.
"I had some broken ribs, but they healed within hours. Nothing major," he told us waving his hand like it was inconsequential.
"May I have permission to come and give aid to those injured? They would need to be in human form, though."
"Yes," Jacob replied looking relieved at the offer.
"You don't have to ask?" Carlisle checked.
"With Sam out, I'm acting Alpha. The elders can complain later. I want our guys healed."
"Understood, let me get my bag. Would you object if we all came?" Carlisle asked.
Jake looked uncertain. "Four vamps might be too much. Two?" he offered.
Carlisle looked unhappy. I knew he didn't want to be parted from me. "Rosalie has had medical training," he said gently, clearly giving Rosalie an out.
"She's injured, pop," Emmett whined.
Jake's mouth dropped open and his eyes bugged out.
Carlisle looked over at Rosalie.
"I'm good enough for now," she answered stiffly.
He nodded. "Let me get my bag. I'll drive my car. I assume you'll escort us in?" Carlisle asked Jacob.
"Yes," Jacob replied his tone hard. "See you at the border."
Desperately, I clung to Carlisle's hand. He squeezed mine, nodded to Jacob, released my hand, retrieved his bag, and the car. Rosalie hopped in and they drove off.
Watching them disappear down the driveway, I felt as if the centre of my world was crumbling. I needed my husband.
Emmett shook his head. "How did my Rosalie just get in the car to help Carlisle medically treat wolves?" His voice was full of surprise.
"Well, Rosalie has changed." I smiled allowing Emmett's good nature to give me strength. Carlisle hadn't left me. He went to be a doctor. He would return, and I needed to focus on what I could do. Turning to Emmett I asked him, "How are you? Any injuries?"
"No, I learned my lesson," he told me as if my question was ridiculous.
"I want to check," I told him walking inside.
He rolled his eyes, but complied allowing my hands on the outside of his clothes.
"Now me," I instructed.
He looked me once over. "Nothing that I can see and I'm not checking. You can ask your husband."
I chuckled appreciating his effort to cheer me up. "Come help me bake food for our allies," I instructed.
"Do I have to?" he whined his eyes shining in jest.
"Yes," I smirked and swiped his arm. "Some on, you. You're a big guy. You can handle some rotten smelly food."
He puffed up his chest and followed me.
We were just beginning to put the ingredients into the dishes when my phone rang.
"Edward's coming home," Alice rushed barely speaking at a human pace. "He's going to go to Bella's and then the house. He's going to be livid. I would guess he hasn't fed in a while. He won't be in his right mind."
"When will he arrive?" I asked trying to think like Carlisle or Jasper.
"Two hours," was her reply.
"How can that be?" I wondered shocked at the short timeline. Brazil was certainly more than two hours away, no matter how he would have travelled.
"It would seem that he didn't make a decision, just headed in a direction, and ended up here. Once he crossed into Washington he debated, but decided to come and observe Bella from afar. I could see flashes of him in different locations, but didn't know what they meant until he was in Washington and made a decision," she explained with a sigh.
Sighing alongside her, I felt conflicted. I was glad to have Edward home, but he couldn't have picked a worse time. His presence would have been very helpful before the battle. Now? I just felt tired and couldn't fathom what Alice meant by Edward not being in his right mind.
Putting her news aside, I inquired, "How's Bella?"
"Recovering. She needed a blood transfusion, so she smells odd, but the doctors' say her prognosis is good. I see no long-term damage, well, except maybe with things between her and Carlisle, but she's only the first in that line." She was highly upset by the end of her sentence. "We're not coming back until Edward is secured." Her tone was firm.
I sighed deeply and felt like Carlisle for a moment. "Understood."
"Why did Carlisle disappear?" Alice asked concerned.
"A few of the Quileutes are injured and Jacob agreed for them to receive medical treatment."
She sucked in a breath. "And Rosalie?"
"Went with him," I told her.
"Wonders never cease. Well, I'll let you and Emmett get back to your cooking." Then she giggled. After a short pause her tone turned serious again, "I saw Bree decide to go north with another newborn, Fred, I'd assume by how she described him."
Stopping short, I pressed her, "You mean she survived?"
"It would seem that she did, although I still don't see Diego. I suspect that my fears that he was tortured and killed was his ending. He would have told Victoria things about us, yet also giving her almost no useful information. Despite what they did to him, I never imagined that he would say anything about Bree. He would have protected her to his death," she said heavily.
"And you didn't see Bree before now?" I wondered trying to understand how Bree could be alive when just days ago Alice thought she was dead.
"I had assumed that they had smelled Diego on Bree or something and she had been killed as well. Instead, it appears that she was not making decisions, laying low, and waiting for him to return." Her voice turn grave before she added, "it would seem like she went back to her old ways. I think she just followed Fred mindlessly until the coven was meant to come here. In my vision, she would have spoken to Fred and convinced him to go north. They were travelling together last I saw."
"Maybe we'll see her again one day and get to meet Fred," I said hopeful.
"Maybe," she said softly clearly weary. After a deep breath, she said forcefully, "Don't expect a call for a while."
Understanding her hidden message, I simply replied, "Be safe, Alice, please. Whatever it takes, take care of yourselves."
"We will," she promised.
"I love you, my darling girl."
"I know, mom. I love you too."
"Alice darling, can you give me a precise time, so I'll know when to tell Carlisle to come home?" I pressed her.
The line went silent for a moment.
"Two hours and eighteen minutes is the best I can do," she let me know.
"Thank you, dear. I have faith that we'll see each other soon."
"It looks uncertain for now," she informed me.
I smiled. "That's why it's called faith. It is the reaching out and being confident in thing unseen."
"I'm not so good about that," she admitted.
"Well, now would be a great time to practice," I told her playfully.
I heard her grumble and Jasper chuckle in the background. "Fine, Mom, I'll try."
"That's my girl. Love you."
"Love you too, Mom."
Then she was gone.
Frozen I stood looking at my non-yet finished dish and then slowly coming out of my thoughts eyed Emmett. "What are we going to do?"
"Hog tie him?" Emmett offered with a menacing grin.
"With what?" I asked curious what he had in mind.
Emmett became statuesque thinking deeply.
"Lock him in the secure room?" he suggested.
"That won't last forever," I pointed out. "Anyway, he'll know our thoughts before hand."
"Maybe, but we've changed. We are trained in ways that we weren't when he left. He won't have the upper hand like he's used to."
"Perhaps," I mused considering if we had changed as much as Emmett was implying.
"How about taking off his arms or something?" Emmett proposed.
"If he hasn't hunted in a while, that would only make things worse," I pointed out. "You, go work on the basement and ideas on how to feed a half-starved Edward."
"Can't I keep cooking with you?" he pouted.
I smiled. "Nope. Go put that brain of yours to good use."
"Sure thing Mom," he said walking out of the room in thought, but clearly enjoying the challenge I had given him.
I cooked and made food for the next hour, but I can't honestly say much of my mind was focused on the food. After another forty-five minutes, I called Carlisle.
"I need you to come home now," I told him as soon as it connected.
"Of course," he replied without question.
He and Rosalie were home in fifteen minutes.
I ran through what Alice had said. Then, we all stood on the porch waiting.
The impending reunion wasn't I had hoped for, with three of my children gone. I had killed sentient creatures. My mind was in a whirl of how to process what that made me, and who I had become. Added to that, both Carlisle and I were stretched beyond our capacity than we had ever been, putting undue stress on our relationship. Nevertheless, my marriage was stronger than ever, despite Carlisle's actions. I had no idea what to expect of Edward or the future, but as I held my husband's hand and shared looks with Rosalie and Emmett I couldn't help but reflect on how much our family had changed in six months.
My husband had violated Bella's body without her permission out of fear, and yet had more faith than ever before; Rosalie had just gone to help Carlisle heal wolves; Alice had gotten better on living without using her gift and was beginning to have faith; Jasper had grown to appreciate humans as individuals worth cherishing and I suspect this war with Victoria had helped him heal some of his crimes of his past; Emmett no longer relished in a fight; Bella was healing and growing into her own; and I had come to a greater fullness in myself as a wife and a mother. Each of us had changed; our family had changed.
Whatever this new stage of life had in store for us with Edward returning, we would face it together.
"Hope, faith, and love," I reminded my family.
"Hope, faith, and love," they all said back to me.
And for today that was more than enough.
A/N: I hope this last chapter was worth the wait. As soon as I can I will get the Epilogue up.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
