CHAPTER TWELVE

THE BATTLE

Edward's gaze flickered to Seth's momentarily, "Jacob just got there – he's good."

I sighed in relief and gave Edward a thankful smile.

Edward's face was ever changing and I couldn't imagine what he must be seeing in the others minds. It was unfair of Bella to ask him to sit out with us.

"Don't let them protect each other -" Edward was murmuring to himself, "good, go around-" Suddenly he stopped, and looked somewhat disoriented. He looked to Seth, tense, "Seth, go."

"Someone's hurt..." Bella was about to ask.

"Is it Jacob?" I asked worriedly.

Edward suddenly whipped Bella behind him, "She's close – I can heard her thoughts. She saw we weren't there but she caught my scent. She knew I'd be with you, knew Alice would be too busy to see her decide-"

"She found us," Bella whispered fearfully.

I felt my hands shaking.

"And she's not alone," Edward added. Just add to the fear, why don't you?

A male vampire appeared right on cue. I recognized him as the missing man, Riley Biers. I was shocked to say the least. Was this the guy who was in our house? Was he the one making all the decisions while Victoria hid behind him?

"Riley," Edward started. Riley slowly edged closer. "Listen to me. Victoria's using you – to distract me. But she knows I'll kill you."

It was too late that I realized people would die today. My family would be ending lives. But it was to save the entire town. To save us. To save me.

Riley hesitated, surprised that Edward addressed him directly. "Actually, she's glad she won't have to deal with you anymore."

Victoria suddenly emerged from the woods. She perched on my side. She snarled at me. "Don't listen to them, Riley. I told you about their mind tricks."

"Yes," Edward said, "I can read her mind. That's how I know what she thinks of you. How I know she doesn't love you."

"He's lying-" Victoria tried.

"No, he's not," I snapped.

Riley's eyes darted to me briefly. "I recognize your scent."

"I smell good, don't I?" I smirked. "But you should listen to Edward. He knows what he's talking about. Trust me."

Riley's eyes darted to Edward again as he spoke, "Her sole purpose for creating you and this army was to avenge her true mate, James. That's all she cares about. Not you."

Riley was beginning to hesitate. I could see it in his face. He glanced at Victoria. She looked at him, "There's only you. You know that."

Riley zeroed in on Edward again, crouching slightly. Victoria's eyes burned on my face, but I knew she'd go for Bella first. And then she'd pick off Jacob. Just to cause me pain before she finally kills me.

"Think about it," Edward encouraged, "You're from Forks, you know the area. That's why she picked you. She's using you like she's using the rest of them-"

Riley faltered slightly. I saw the doubt in his eyes.

So I stepped forward, "Riley. That's your name, right?" He looked at me suspiciously, nodding. "I'm Callie."

I took a breath, "She doesn't love you, Riley. I'm sorry but it's as simple as that. She's using you. A year ago... James came after Bella. Edward killed him. So she wants to kill Bella. And I pretended to be Bella and she wasted time chasing after me when she could have been saving James. She blames me and Edward for his death. So she wants revenge on us. She did... all of this... to kill us."

I could see his resistance to us waning. But I had to do more, "I know that this new life... must have been so confusing to you when it started. And all you had was Victoria to tell you what to do. But she only gave you one option. Follow her. But there's other ways. You don't have to feed off humans. You don't have to kill us. We would never harm you without you attacking first. And you haven't."

"Don't listen to her Riley. She's a threat." Victoria tried.

I snorted and lifted my arms, gesturing to myself, "Look at me Riley. I'm human. What kind of threat am I? When you think about it... does it really make sense for you to kill me? What did I do?"

Riley looked at me blankly, "What could I feed off of... if not humans?"

"Animals," I answered, happy I was starting to get through to him, "The Cullens feed off animals. That's why their eyes are gold, not red. They can teach you. They can help you. You can have a family here, Riley. I swear."

I stepped closer to him, about to put my hand on his shoulder. But he sniffed and thirst overtook him. He suddenly grabbed me and spun me around. My arm was behind my back, pressed between me and him, and he had an arm around my neck.

"Callie!" I heard Bella yell. I locked eyes with her for a moment and saw pure fear in them.

But he was trying to hold back. I could tell...

"You don't have to do this Riley. You don't have to let it control you. Just calm yourself," I whispered.

Victoria smirked and jumped down from her perch, "Keep hold on her, Riley." But I know she saw that Seth had arrived. She knew that if Riley made one move to hurt me, both Edward and Seth would attack. And they'd kill him in a second.

She quietly backed towards the trees.

But Edward stopped her, "You can escape. You always do. But you'll never get another chance like this."

Victoria hissed at him, back away further.

"Don't you want them?" Edward goaded, "Don't you want me to feel the pain you felt when I killed James? When I tore him to pieces and turned him into ashes... into nothing."

Victoria finally let out a furious, pain-filled yell and charged for Bella.

But Edward didn't let her get close. He grabbed her and rolled down the hill in a death grip.

Riley's grip tightened on me somewhat, "Please, Riley. You don't want to do this."

Seth slammed Victoria into a tree. Edward whipped over to slam the tree down. She jumped off before it fell. She smacked Seth with impressive force and he flew into a tree. I heard him whine and struggle to get back up.

Victoria gained the upper hand and forced Edward to his knees. She had a head lock on him and was ready to rip.

Bella grabbed a rock shard and plunged it into her arm. I yelled out, scared of what the vampire's would do. Bright red blood dripped down onto the white floor.

Riley froze, his group loosening on me. Victoria whipped to look at Bella. Seth seized the moment. Seth latched his teeth onto Riley's shoulder and I fell down from the impact. "Victoria!" Riley called out for help.

But she didn't even glance at him, revealing the plain truth to him. He gave her a tragic look.

And I couldn't care to see the painful misplaced love caused for him. I could let him miss out of what life he could have. I ran to where Seth-wolf had Riley in a grip and was dragging him off. I yelled out, "Seth! Wait!"

Seth stilled but kept a tight hold on Riley. Riley had a shocked look on his face at my actions of defending him.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Edward charge Victoria. They clashed and blurred in battle.

Seth looked at me expectantly and I begged, "Don't kill him. Victoria tricked him. It isn't his fault. Please Seth. Please."

Seth hesitated. And I knew he was conversing with the other guys with their mind link.

I saw Edward's lips at Victoria's neck, and he bit a huge chunk from it, ripping her head off.

"Look Seth, Riley. It's over. She's gone. But you don't have to kill him. Please, Seth, I'm begging you. Don't kill him. No one else has to die today."

Seth seemed conflicted. I gave him a pleading look. He wolf-sighed and slowly let go of Riley. Riley blurred at least five feet away. I turned my attention to him, "Riley, please don't make me regret saving you. Just take a breath and calm down."

It was quiet. Riley slowly walked towards me slowly and I stilled completely. He whispered, "Help me..."

I smiled, "Of course."

We all walked over to the camp site until I saw Edward freeze. Seth let out a bark. "What is it?" I asked.

"Alice wants us to come," Edward revealed, "Now."

"Why?" Bella asks scared.

The first battle is over and Callie saved Riley! Yay Callie!

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