CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"You have to go," she giggled from her seat on his lap. He growled and captured her lips in another kiss. She braided her fingers in his copper hair.
"I don't," he mumbled from around her lips. The feeling his kiss was bringing her was almost enough to make her forget about their responsibilities.
"Mmm, we both do," she said, moving to get off his lap. He tightened his hold on her waist and she groaned as she kissed him harder. She would never get enough of him.
"Well, maybe a few more minutes," she sighed and felt his chest vibrate with victorious chuckles. Suddenly the door to their chambers was thrown open and Sir Emmett appeared in the doorway. Bella stood suddenly and blushed. Edward stood with her, angered at the interruptions.
"Sire! They're here!" he shouted with widened eyes. Bella's heart stopped for a moment.
"W-what?" Bella asked, feeling a sudden coldness in the room.
"Fuego! They've reached our borders," Emmett stated.
"Tell the captain. Have him set out the army. Make sure the pathways to the villages our blocked. Grab as many guards as you can and send them to the army. It's time, we've prepared!" Edward said suddenly.
Edward then took Bella's hand and began pulling her out the room and down the corridors of the castle.
"Where are we going?" she yelped, realizing this was not the way to get outside. She tried to pull her hand free but he wouldn't release her.
"I'm making sure your safe!" he growled. She tried to stop moving, tried to drag her feet to a stop, but he was stronger than her and his pull forced her feet to stumble along next to him.
"Edward, let's talk about this. I'm ready. I've trained for months. I'm ready and you need me. My people need me. They're earlier than we expected but we used the time wisely, we're ready," she tried to argue as he opened a door and dragged her in.
"I'm ready and I'll go out there. But I'm your prince and I need to keep you safe," Edward stated. He stared at her eyes for a moment and turn toward the exits. She grabbed his arm and stopped him from leaving. Her hand slid down and grasped his wrist in an iron vice.
"Those are my people, too. It's my kingdom. I need to protect it, too," she said stubbornly.
"I'm supposed to keep you safe!" he argued, he refused to let her out. He couldn't. So many things could go wrong.
"I'm supposed to fight! I've trained for this!" she shot back, refusing to back down. She had spent months learning spells, exhausting her mind and her body and for what? For it to go to waste. Alice had cleared her, agreed that her powers were at their prime.
"I need to be out there," he begged, trying to pull free of her grasp. He couldn't spend time arguing. He could already hear the sounds of war float toward the room. Scream, roars, and clashing of swords mingled together, sending Tiemp into a spiral of chaos and disaster. He could smell smoke and it made his stomach churn to think of what was happening to his kingdom.
"They need me too. I can do this, Edward. I'm ready," she pleaded. She had to show her worth. She had to show what she could do. If they lost this war and she did nothing to help… she could never live it down.
"I can't fight knowing you're in battle," he argued, his eyes filled with worry. He wouldn't be able to concentrate if he knew she was in danger. If he knew she might need him, too. He would put himself at danger.
"I can't just sit up here and wait. What if something happens to you?" she asked, her warm brown eyes watering.
"Then Tiemp still has their princess," he said with conviction. His eyes heating in determination as he walked away. She held him tighter. She refused to let him leave without her.
"We're in this together, Edward," she said indignantly. The look in her eyes told him she wouldn't be ignored. She would be out there with or without his consent. He closed his eyes. His gut twisted in agony, but he knew she wouldn't stay here. With a final nod, they ran out the door and headed toward the exits of the castle.
The castle was rested on a high cliff, overlooking the land and the villages. As they reached the edge they caught sight of the war. Tiemp's army was far stronger than the one Jeston had been able to pull together. But Jeston had brought Fuego's deadliest weapon.
The dragons.
The humongous beasts flew over the battle field spurting fire rapidly at the brave soldiers. They were losing men and quickly. She heard Edward curse under his breath. They trained for the dragons, but the beasts were more frightening than his men had prepared for. They were hesitating. They needed him.
"The people," Bella whispered as she watched the dragons head toward the villages.
"Bella," Edward called her and she turned. He grasped her neck and kissed her. His lips desperate and wanting as they captivated hers and sent fire throughout her body. She felt weak as his tongue gently caressed her mouth and sent a different type of feeling throughout her. The kiss was too desperate. Too needy. He was saying goodbye and she could barely stand it. She sighed as he pulled away, his eyes fierce.
"Stay safe!" he demanded. Without another word, he pulled out his sword and headed toward battle.
"You too," she whispered when he could no longer hear her. She shook her head and turned back toward the battle.
She teetered at the edge, examining the fight.
The dragons. They were the biggest threat. The army could handle itself, but the dragons were too much. There were fifteen in total. Five headed toward the villages and ten stayed on the battle field. They had to go and she was the only one able to take care of that.
With a deep breath, she took a steadying stance, making sure she was well connected with the ground and would not fall.
She summoned her magic. The energy crackling within her and releasing itself in electrical sparks around her body. The clear skies turned dark and gray. The wind whipped around her, sending her hair into a tangled mess. She brought her arms close to her chest, feeling a buzz vibrate with her.
She focused on the biggest dragon headed toward the village.
With careful aim, she pushed out; a loud crack of lighting flew out her hands and straight toward the green beast. The dragon dropped, falling straight into the middle of the mountains. She felt the slight exhaustion, but quickly took aim at two others. She lifted her hands and brought them down quick and fierce. Two lightning bolts came from the sky and struck the dragons. They fell like stones.
Three down.
The two that were headed toward the village stopped and instead located their threat. They came after her. She a ball of fire formed in her hands. She threw it toward the two and watched as it grew bigger until it consumed both dragons, turning them to ash in the air.
She turned her eyes toward the battle. Three of the dragons had fled the battle, flying toward safety. She took aim at another on the field, just as it opened its mouth to spurt fire, she filled it with a pulsing light until the beast exploded with the pressure.
She heard the cheer of her people as they gained momentum against the invading army. The army was falling back, retreating. She laughed.
Her eyes caught sight of her husband, fighting with… Jeston! She watched their quick movements, watched the swords connect over and over again. A heavy shadow encompassed them and she watched as a dragon flew behind Edward. Before it could even open its mouth, a loud bolt of lightning hit its back. The beast howled in agony, distracting Jeston enough for Edward to push his sword into Jeston's chest. Relieved he was no longer in immediate danger, she turned her focus back on the dragon, finishing it off with a quick flick of her wrist.
A loud cheer erupted from below. Tiemp's army cheered in victory as the enemy began to back away and surrender. She could no longer see the dragons. The skies cleared as she relaxed her magic and turned to find Edward in the field once more.
How had she lost him so quickly?
So distracted with the battle below, she did not notice the dark looming dragon flying straight toward her. Murder and vengeance in its eyes. When she caught the dark shadow heading toward her, she was stunned. There was no time to do anything.
She screamed and covered herself, as though it would save her. She never even got to say goodbye.
She expected the heat of the flame, but it never came. She peeked out from under her arms, to see Edward standing next to her. His sword was raised above his head, slicing the beast's underbelly and creating a deep painful gash.
The wounded dragon cried as it tried to flap away. Bella stood and sent an electrical bolt off her hand and hit the dragon, sending it in a spiral of charred flesh.
The crowd roared below them in victory. Edward grasped tightly onto her hand and rose there in twined hands in the air. The crowd cheered and she smiled, a joy so satisfying she could hardly stand it.
She turned toward her prince and he brought her in a tight embrace. His lips clashed down on hers and unlike before, there was no hint of goodbye in this kiss. This kissed was filled with victories and promises for more. She buried her fingers in his hair and giggled slightly when she heard the cheers get louder.
Nothing could ruin this for them.
Of course, until something did.
A shrill shriek pulled them apart and Edward stood in front of Bella, protecting her from the unknown threat.
Bella peeked around his shoulder. Vlasta stood in front of them, her wicked red hair flowing wildly around her face, her black eyes filled with hate.
"You killed him!" she screamed. A crackle of energy surrounding her body and making it shake. Edward could not protect her against Vlasta. A sword had no chance against her magic… magic that was much like Bella's. Bella made to move around him, but he kept his arm around her waist and her body behind his.
"Vlasta leave now and I might spare your life," Edward growled. She cackled in laughter, throwing her head back.
"Like you could possibly hurt me!" she said and Bella witnessed something dark in her eyes. Vlasta was driven crazy with grief. She had no bounds. Quickly, before Edward could even react she snuck out from behind him and stepped toward the sorceress.
"No, but I can!" Bella snapped and Vlasta turned her glassy eyes on Bella, a hint of glee lighting the black orbs.
"Oh really? A Fay for less than a few months and suddenly you think you know as much as I? How about it Edward? A lover for a lover?" Vlasta growled. She raised her arm and raised it toward Bella. Bella took a stance.
"NO!" Edward yelled and just as a dark light emitted from Vlasta's fingers he jumped ahead of Bella, taking the blow that sent him back into the grass. Bella screamed in fright and anger and turned toward the evil witch. She shot a bright light from her hand and towards Vlasta's chest.
She grunted with the unexpected force and tossed a spell toward Bella. Bella deflected it and shot another spell and another and another, until all Vlasta could do was deflect. She backed away from Bella, trying to gain the upper hand, but Bella did not give up. She continued to shoot powerful spells until Vlasta was backed to the very edge of the cliff. With one powerful push of light, Vlasta lost her footing and fell backward over the cliff, a loud scream echoing off her lips as she fell.
Bella fell to her knees trying to catch her breath and fight the exhaustion that trickled down her bones.
"Bella!" Alice's yelp gave Bella the energy to stand and make her way back to Edward, whose head was resting on Alice's lap.
Bella knelt beside him. Something was wrong. He was…translucent.
"What's going on?" Bella questioned in fear.
"I have to, Bella. I can't heal this. I have to!" Alice tried to explain, but Bella couldn't understand why Edward was suddenly disappearing before her eyes.
"Where is he going? What are you doing to him?" she screeched, took his hand but could feel it slowly fading from her grasp.
"He's going where he could be healed. He needs to be healed. If he stays he'll die," Alice said, but Bella couldn't understand any of it. She could only focus on his face.
His eyes opened and instead of the striking green eyes, she saw only a shadow of the color. A sob caught on her throat.
"Bella?" he questioned.
"I love you, I love you so much. Find your way back to me," she begged. His eyes were fuzzy with confusion.
"Always," he whispered, saying exactly what she needed to hear, even if he didn't know what was happening.
She bent to kiss him. His lips lasted for only a moment before Bella could feel nothing but air under her mouth. She curled within herself and cried. He was gone.
Alice wrapped her arms around the heartbroken princess.
"I wish I could heal the pain you feel," Alice whispered, holding her tightly.
Bella felt lost. Her world had no meaning.
Okay, so kind of left off at a sad note for both worlds. Anyway I have two chapters left before the end and I promise everything will end happily.
Thoughts?
