Misery always comes twice
'Where is Bella?' Rosalie asked.
'Outside, playing with the dogs.' Edward answered. 'She said they needed to tell her something.'
'Ugh! I wish they would leave her alone already. It is bad enough they are around her twenty for seven and now they even take up her lunchtime with us.' Rosalie complained.
Stupid mutts!
Edward laughed, not that he didn't agree.
'We have to have a talk with them too. They have to be more careful. There are several students who think they saw something move in the woods around school.' Edward said.
Since their so-called imprinting, the werewolves never let Bella alone again. They guarded her even at school. Edward was still annoyed with the whole situation, but he could stand it now. He had read their minds and so far he found that none of them had romantic feelings towards Bella. Their imprinting was a different form. They were more like an unshakable pack of bodyguards, only not very competent ones.
See not only stupid, but reckless too. If they ruin my chance to live here for a decade, I am most definitely going to kill them. Rosalie thought.
'You go talk to them, Edward.' Rosalie suggested. 'I can't stand the smell.'
He watched the clock. They had more than half an hour break left. He shrugged.
'Fine, I'll go.'
So quick to volunteer, eh Edward. Missing Bella already?
Emmett grinned at him. He wasn't completely wrong. Lunchtime was a lot less interesting without Bella, but he didn't like it when she was alone with the wolves and that was his main reason for going. Even after these months and their assurances they could never hurt Bella, he didn't trust them. He walked outside and followed Bella's scent. They were quite far into the forest, but it didn't took him long, before he could see through Jacob's mind.
Bella was sitting on the grass and around her were Jacob and Quil in human form and Jared in wolf form, who was scouting their surroundings. Bella was sitting very comfortably, leaning on her elbows and smiling.
'Really? A girl turned into a werewolf?'
'Yes, her name is Leah. It is so strange to share your thoughts with a girl and to know hers?' Jacob answered. 'We are really changing all our tribe legends. You know, with our imprinting on you and now a female werewolf, none of that has happened before.'
'Yes well, that is what you get when you involve yourselves with me.'
They all laughed. Edward ran the last distance full speed and arrived there quickly. Jared gave a warning growl, which caused Jacob and Quil to jump in front of Bella, shielding her from Edward with their bodies. They both relaxed when they saw it was Edward.
'Oh, it is just you.' Jacob said sulkily.
'Edward!' Bella yelled happy.
Her eyes gleamed and she gave him a dazzling smile. Edward returned her smile, feeling at ease the moment she was back in his sight.
She is always so excited to see him. Why can't I have that effect on her? Jacob thought grouchy.
Edward smiled a little bit smugly. Imprint or not, they could never have what he had with Bella.
'Why are you here?' Jacob asked him, a bit rude.
He repeated his warning and saw the boys scowl.
'We shall be more careful.' Quil promised. 'It is hard for us to keep our distance, every yard away from her is painful, sometimes the urge is too hard to ignore and we risk too much.'
Edward nodded.
'I also came to take Bella back with me. Are you coming?' He extended his hand to her.
She took it and it was a good thing she did. The moment she took a step towards him, he felt the muscles of her body weaken. Edward supported her with his hand and pulled her in his arms.
'Oh no.' She whispered, alarm in her voice. 'It is happening again.'
Immediately Jacob and Quil closed in on him and Bella.
'What is wrong with her?' Quil asked panicked.
'Are you alright, Bella?' Jacob asked just as anxious.
Even Jared came closer in his wolf form, his thoughts filled with worry. Edward was not used to having werewolves this close to him and he had to control his urges to step away from them defensively. Bella was more important and he checked her face. He saw her eyes droop and knew exactly what was going on. He placed one arm around her back and one arm under her knees, taking all her weight. Bella tiredly placed her head on his chest.
Jacob and Quil in front of him were losing it.
Is she sick? Is she in danger? Quil thought frantically.
'Let me check her out!' Jacob commanded him, trying to get even closer.
Edward sighed. This whole imprinting thing was tiring, to say the least. They had no idea what was going on and they had not the means to protect or help her. He and his family knew her completely and they had handled this situation so many times, it came close to perfection.
'Give us some room, Jacob! You are not helping.' Edward warned.
Jacob rebuked a little bit and his face contorted in pain.
'Please Edward, tell us what is going on. Is she alright?'
Edward was shocked for a moment, when he heard the honest plead in his voice. It proved the depth of their imprint. They would even beg to a creature they despised.
'I am alright, Jake.' Bella answered weakly, she was barely awake.
It did nothing to quell their worry.
She sounds so weak. What can we do? Jacob
She is sick?! No way I am letting her out of my sight. Quil
Paul is warned and he will track down the others. Jared
Great! Edward thought sarcastically.
That meant they were soon going to have another werewolf infestation around their house. Edward explained in a few short sentences what was going on, while running back to the parking lot. The dogs were right on his tail of course. He took out his phone and called Alice. She picked up before he heard a dial tone.
'Edward, what is going on? I can't see much with those dogs around. I only saw you were going to call me.'
Alice, although the one with the most tolerance towards the dogs besides Carlisle and Esme, was annoyed because of what their constant presence did to her ability to see the future.
'Bella is having another dream. I am taking her home right now.'
He heard her curse for a moment.
'We'll take care of it Edward and follow you home. I will send Jazz immediately.'
'Thanks Alice.'
He shut down his phone and ran to the edge of the forest.
'Stop!' He said to Jacob, Quil and Jared. 'You can't follow me to my car. You are not supposed to be on school property and someone could see you.'
'We don't care! We will follow you!' Jacob answered quickly.
Edward felt his anger rise.
'I have no time to argue with you. It is of no use to follow me. You can't help her in any way.'
Edward watched Jacob's and Quil's pained faces and remembered this was their first time of seeing Bella go through this and he could sympathize with that feeling. He felt his anger drain as quickly as it had come.
'Run next to me through the forest to the house. I promise I will let you near her after that.' He said softly.
They agreed and began to remove their clothes, ready to shift. Edward didn't wait for that, he turned around and walked towards his car. Jasper was waiting there for him and opened the passenger door, so he could place Bella on the backseat. Jasper quickly ran around and sat down next to her.
What kept you this long?
'Wolves.' He muttered.
Figures. Jasper thought annoyed. If their single goal is to protect her, they are not doing a very good job.
Edward was speeding back home and watched the rear view mirror to check on Bella. Jasper had pulled her head in his lap and carefully caressed her cheek. He was using his powers to steady her as much as he could.
She is already dreaming. We have to hurry. We might need Carlisle for this dream, Alice couldn't tell.
Edward pushed his car to the limits.
He looked in the mirror, ready to go to school. His parents had already left for work. He had grown a lot in the last year and to his relief he looked more and more like a young man than like a boy. His blond hair was a bit too long and almost touched his shoulder. His jar had become slightly more angled, which gave him the more adult look. He studied his reflection further, staring in his own eyes. He sighed, the dullness in his eyes was something he couldn't hide from the world.
He remembered when they had gleamed bright blue and made his face happy and shining. He had lost this sparkle ever since he had lost her.
Even after all these years she was never far out of his thoughts, always lingering on the surface. His only friend, the first girl he had loved. After her, nobody was good enough. He kept comparing everybody with her and no one had a chance against her. She was perfect, except that she left him.
He remembered the day she walked away from him with perfect clarity. It was the last day he had known perfect happiness. He had searched for her of course, but to no avail. She had disappeared out of his life and never meant for him to see her ever again. Walking away from him and leaving him all alone was the thing that hunted him in his nightmares, together with the face of a beautiful but intimidating woman. He suspected this woman had something to do with the death of his grandparents that unfortunate day, but he didn't remember that part.
He sighed again and tried to expel her from his mind, to concentrate on going to school and living through another day. He turned around when he heard a small noise. He gasped out of shock when he saw who stood not far behind him.
'You...' He whispered, not able to say more.
'Liam. We meet again.' She smiled to him, but he didn't feel eased.
'Who are you?' He managed to ask.
'Don't you recognize me? Maybe your grandparents would, if I left them alive.' She laughed and he shivered.
It was her and he began to tremble, feeling fear suffocate him. She came back to finish the job.
'Don't worry, boy. I am not here to kill you, yet.' Her eyes gleamed excitedly.
'Why are you here?' He stammered.
'I am here for Bella of course. You are nothing to me. The only reason you are still alive is that you have a link to her.'
Hearing her name increased his heart rate, it was even stronger than the fear for his life.
'Still in love with her, I see. Poor little Liam, she made a good choice to leave you. It would have never worked between you two. You are nothing compared to her.'
He flinched away from the insult. It hurt him more than he was willing to admit.
'Enough small talk!' She suddenly took a step closer. 'Let's get this show started.'
An evil smile played on her lips.
'Bella, I know you will see this. I didn't wish to bother your little human friend again, but none of your other friends seem to honestly know where you are hiding.'
Her smile became broader.
'I know all about your gift of the past of course and this was the only way left for me to track you down. I need to talk to you, just talk and I promise I will not harm you or kill the boy. I have some interesting information for you. It will not only be in my advantage if you come to visit me here.'
She suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand closer. Her strength was overwhelming, there was no way he could remove his hand from hers. A shiver ran through his body when he felt how cold her touch was. He realized with fear-induced clarity that this woman was not human.
'I hope for you boy that she still has a connection with you, otherwise this will be long and painful for you.' Her smile didn't touch her eyes.
He suddenly realized pain was coming and there was nothing he could do to defend himself.
'I am sorry about this, Bella, but I know this has to be an impressive event in Liam's life for you to see it. I can't make it more impressive than this.'
She grabbed one of his fingers and he braced himself. With a sickening crack he felt it break. He fell on his knees because of the pain and screamed. He had never felt anything like this. The pain spread from his finger to his arm and into his stomach. The nausea overwhelmed him and he emptied his stomach on the floor. Before he could recover, another crack preceded the second wave of pain. Tears burned in his eyes and he bit his tong to prevent himself from screaming any louder.
'Come out! Come out, wherever you are, Bella.' She said taunting.
He wondered if it was too early to beg her to kill him. Could he stand this pain any longer?
'Oh and by the way, don't even think about coming here with all your vampire friends to just kill me and be done with it. I will assure you, you will regret it and so will poor Liam here and his family. You are not the only one with "friends".'
She grabbed another one of his fingers.
'Maybe another one or two to make sure the message is sent firmly?'
Bella screamed.
Her face held more pain than Edward ever saw before. It was a different kind of pain and she was screaming and thrashing around in her bed worse than ever before. Edward realized it was the pain of torture. The Quileute boys around him were so panicked they could hardly think and Edward wasn't in a much better state. Carlisle and Jasper were trying to hold her down on her bed and calm her down with little success. Esme was sobbing and Rosalie and Alice were staring blankly at Bella, pain in their eyes. Emmett's face was frozen in a grimace and he shook his head devastated.
'Please let it end.' Emmett whispered softly, barely audible.
From her words throughout the dream, he had made the connection between Liam and Maria, although he didn't know exactly what she was seeing. Even if it was the last thing he was going to do in his life he was going to kill Maria for this. Edward closed his eyes, trying to control his overwhelming emotions of sorrow. If there was any way he could take this in her place he would have. He would have rather died than see her go through this pain. They weren't helping the situation with their excess of emotions, but this time no one had the strength to do something about it.
They were all praying for the dream to end, to end her suffering.