Chapter 16 – Level Playing Field

When I was in the fifth grade, I had a teacher, Mrs. Baker, who loved idioms. She had one for every situation – a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, taking an arm and a leg, talking out the side of your mouth. Whenever she would use one, everyone in class would roll their eyes and make faces behind her back.

As annoying as I found those sayings, some have stuck with me, and I find myself using them from time to time. It's a testament to the power of suggestion, the way that ideas can lodge in your head if they are used enough times, and they tend to stand when I hear other people use them.

After we hung up with Carlisle, Jasper dragged me outside for a crash course in hand to hand combat. Edward insisted on coming, but Rosalie claimed she needed him inside.

"To plan things out," she said, staring at him directly. "We need to be in sync."

Edward frowned, his gaze slipping back and forth between Rosalie and me.

"It'll be okay," I promised. "Go."

He stared at me for a moment, struggling with something I couldn't quite understand. We stood in the hallway, Rosalie at the far end, me at the door, and Edward, stuck in between where he wanted to be and where he should go.

With a blast of speed, he darted forward, grabbing my wrist and pulling me off balance. I crashed against him, hard. "What are you - " before I could finish, Edward tipped me backward, not overly dramatically, but just subtly enough to keep me from pulling away.

Edward smiled at me. "Sweeping you off your feet," he said.

And then he kissed me. Right there, on his own terms with Rosalie watching. It was slow and sweet and playful – a gentle nip at my lip, the passing graze of a tongue, the slightest tease of an open mouth and I wanted to sink into him. If this was new, what would it be like when he really got comfortable around me?

Rosalie chuckled behind us, but that didn't stop Edward. He kissed me once more, hard enough for me to feel it all the way down into the pit of my stomach, a ball of energy and nerves and excitement that shot electricity out to my arms and legs, where my fingers tingled and my toes instinctively curled. My breathing, which I had come to realize was more out of habit than need, came in rapid little puffs, and I was sure that, if I could blush, I would be fire engine red. Thank goodness for small favors.

"What was that for?" I asked, my voice husky.

"Because I can," he said. "I will not let them take this from me. We have things to see, you and I. Aro will not take that away from us."

Edward released me, and turned quickly to follow Rosalie. They slipped easily into talk of strategy, neither one overpowering the other.

The world as I knew it had somehow tilted on its axis, leaving me disoriented but strangely invigorated. There was too much to fight for now – I would not allow myself to think about failing.

Ω Ω Ω

"I thought we were going for the peaceful alternative?" I was bent over, hands braced on my knees, surprised at how my body could ache when there was nothing left to destroy. Apparently being slammed to the ground by a mountain of a man could still hurt, even though all of my organs were technically dead.

It was just before midnight; we'd been running through the paces for at least two hours. Jasper would not let up, continuously throwing challenges at me.

"You're giving into your emotions too easily," he said, picking up a large rock and chucking it at me. The rock whizzed at my face, and I reacted without thinking, swinging my arm up to protect myself. I began the response too slowly, and instead of covering my head, I caught the stone with my fist. It shattered on contact, like a loosely packed snowball coming in contact with a tree. Jasper immediately threw another rock, and I timed my motion better. Instead of blocking my body, I caught the stone easily, using my momentum to whip it back in Jasper in one smooth motion.

Jasper dodged the stone easily. "See! You reacted, you didn't over-think. Newborns are stronger than almost all vamps, including Chuckles…" he nodded to Emmett, "But they are impulsive, they are governed by their emotions-"

"Like an epic case of PMS." Emmett didn't move as quickly as Jasper, but he caught me off guard, his arms wrapping around my upper body like steel bands. "Getting mad won't get you free, but following your instincts will."

I struggled against Emmett's grasp, but he held me tight, pinning my arms securely to my sides, just above my elbows.

"Slow down," Jasper coached me. "Don't give into the anger. Trust your instincts and what you know."

I closed my eyes, trying to pull on the countless self-defense classes my mom had forced me to take over the years. Rotating my forearms, I reached up to grasp Emmett at the wrists and leaned forward, pulling him off his feet. His grip was too tight, and tossing him over wouldn't be enough to break that grasp. I'd have to fall too, and be prepared to adjust once we hit the ground.

Thrusting hard with my legs, I threw my hips backwards, forcing Emmett to fly forward. He didn't let go, taking me with him as he tumbled over, landing flat on his back in the gravel. The shock of the impact loosened Emmett's grip, and I scrambled free, spinning to sit on his chest with my knees pressed firmly into his shoulders, his forearms easily pinned to the ground.

"Don't move," Jasper called, walking slowly across the crossing. "Stop and look at what you are doing."

My weight was forward, my hands clamped on the top of his head and his chin like I was about to crank it to the right. Emmett didn't move, and I noticed that his impish smile was gone, his eyes serious.

"To destroy vampires, you have to tear them limb from limb, then light them on fire. The head," he leaned down to tap Emmett's dark curls, just to the left of my hand, "Is the smartest spot to attack, but the hardest to access. If you can't rip off his head, which is what you were about to do, I'd go for the arms. That way they can't fight back."

I let go of Emmett's head, and slipped quickly to the side, horrified that I'd been so close to hurting him. Emmett sat up, running his hands through his hair to knock loose small pebbles and a few leaves.

"You know…" he said, shaking his head to drop his hair back into place. "There is an old saying, keep the home fires burning. I think we should make our guests feel welcome."

"Sometimes, Curly, that homespun wisdom is worth its weight in gold," Jasper teased, offering a hand to his brother. Emmett grasped him around the wrist, and Jasper pulled him easily to his feet. They left me, sitting on the crushed stone in the giant clearing, confused and more than a little bit scared.

I had the power to take down someone as big and strong as Emmett, the ability to keep up with someone as fast as Jasper, and no one could get inside my head to influence me.

I was a fortress. But only if I could stay in control of my emotions.

If Mrs. Baker had been here, I'm sure she would have had something wise to say about not losing my head. I was glad that she was far away. I had enough going on without her commentary as well.

Ω Ω Ω

While Jasper and Emmett lugged four giant copper disks and wrought iron stands from the barn, Edward and Rosalie were busy talking inside. Not wanting to disturb them, I entered the house and climbed the stairs, retreating to the room where all of this had started to unfold less than twenty-four hours before.

In my haste to dress and re-enter the world, I'd not had much time to explore or look around. This time I was slower, more methodical, taking in every little detail of the place where I'd started my new life. The furniture was simple and elegant, reminding me of country houses. The walls had been painted a warm sunshine yellow, creating a perpetual glow that matched the soft floral of the draperies and the bed linens. There was a corner set up like a mini office, with a desk and chair, an elegant brass lamp, and a narrow shelf filled with books and photos. All around the room were glimpses of me…the things Jasper had brought back from Arizona, framed pictures of both my parents, even the phonograph from the house and the music box my father had given me.

This was my space, a place to call my own, even folded in amongst all these people. It awed me to realize that they'd done all this for a relative stranger. A cynical part of me wanted to believe that this was all part of the courtship, their attempt to woo me, but even that fell short. There was no need to make me a room and place all my belongings here unless I was wanted.

I slowly explored the room, pulling open the closet door, looking under the bed, even peeking in dresser drawers. My belongings were all here, neatly put away along with new things I didn't recognize. In the top dresser drawer, I found neatly folded stacks of white underwear and bras. There was a small note folded and tucked in the corner.

I hate pink too. Don't tell Rosalie. Alice.

It was all too much, and I sat down on the edge of the bed, trying to process emotions that threatened to pull me under. In exactly three weeks - twenty-one days, my life had been turned upside down. I went from a lonely, scared little shell of a girl who longed for more to…I didn't even know what to call it. I had a father, people who wanted me around, who cared about what I thought or what I needed. Even a man who claimed I was his future. No, the path wasn't all sunshine and roses, but for the first time in my life, I felt a purpose.

After washing my face and changing out of my dirty, blood-stained clothes, I sat down on the corner of my bed and pulled my music box into my lap. Someone had smoothed out her tutu so that it lay gracefully around her slender form, making her appear regal and not ragtag. I gently wound the mechanism, all too aware of my new, freakish strength, terrified that I would twist too hard and break the mechanism. Somehow I managed to wind it without an issue, and the Overture began to play, its tinny, mechanical notes filling my gigantic new room.

The ballerina turned slowly, her arms held aloft as she spun round, helpless to stop until the mechanism ran down. It was how I'd felt in my dreams, the perfectly molded show piece, spinning madly on while Aro cooed and taunted. Like Alice said, it was all about context, and with the clarity of knowledge, I saw facets to my dream now that I'd never understood before. I'd been so focused on the pieces happening around me that I never stopped to pay attention to the whole. Forest for the trees, sum of the parts equal to the whole…I realized that had never been just my production. There were acts and arcs, which fit together to tell a story. That's when I finally understood what it all meant, and how this macabre little drama would play out so that Alice's third vision would finally come true. I understood just exactly how I could be what everyone needed of me.

"What are you doing?"

I jumped, accidentally slamming the music box lid shut. The song ended with the grinding of tiny gears, leaving the room in silence.

"I'm sorry," Edward said, leaning against the doorway. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay, I was just thinking. Would you like to come in?"

He smiled, and stepped forward into the room. The contrast between the smaller, more feminine furnishings and this tall man dressed all in black was remarkable. Night and day, sun and moon – two halves of a whole. Oh, how Mrs. Baker would have approved.

"How are you feeling?" Edward asked, his voice soft. "You weren't hurt out there, were you?"

"No, I'm fine. It was just a little unnerving."

An awkward silence hung between us, the sounds of the house, pipes and clocks and settling beams filling the space but not the void. Edward shifted uncomfortably, his eyes dropping to the floor.

"How long until Carlisle's back?"

"He's been back about thirty minutes. He looked in on you, but apparently you were off in la la land, staring at that music box."

"Oh." I ran my hand over the top, drawing one final shot of strength from the soft wood. "I tend to space out when I think. But it was good. Do I need to go down and talk to him?"

"No," Edward said. He stood, just inside the threshold of the room, looking around like this was all new to him too. "I've never come in here before today. I was too scared, I guess."

He reached out to run his finger along the edge of the dresser, tracing the elaborate millwork. "About a year ago, Esme decided that she needed to get things ready for you. Everyone had always assumed that you'd be thrown right in with me, but she insisted that you have a space of your own. She said you deserved time to yourself, and a place where you could be alone."

"It's funny," I admitted, my gaze fixed on the wood music box. "When Renee moved to Florida, I was so excited to get my own apartment. It was my place, but it wasn't my own, if that makes sense. And then, when I got here, and I found out the house was mine, I had a place where I could be myself, and it was mine, but it still wasn't everything I'd hoped for. It wasn't until now that I put my finger on just what was missing."

"What's that?"

I scooted back on the bed, crossing my legs underneath me. It made room for Edward, who after a moment's hesitation, walked slowly across the room and sat down on the edge.

"I had a place that was mine, but I was still alone. I've been alone for too long. Whether that was of my own making or something else, I'm not sure, but I don't want to be that way anymore. I have my dad. I have all of you-"

"Does that mean you don't think we we're using you anymore?" he asked softly. "I don't blame you for that, by the way. It would be easy to see why."

"Short of the council, no, I don't think you are using me," I said, unable to raise my eyes to meet his. "You have as much to lose as I do. Probably more. You don't have much to gain from using me."

We sat quietly for a long time. I traced the patterns on the duvet, the flowers and leaves seamlessly blending together to create a small forest of images. Edward didn't move.

"I'm not sure what to do," he admitted after a while. "It's very strange knowing that someday I am going to love you so much it hurts to breathe, but right now I feel like this bumbling school boy getting to know a crush. It's surreal to bridge the two. And then…"

"And then what?"

Edward laughed, shaking his head in embarrassment. "And then there is another part of me that wants to touch you all the time. It's very difficult for me to balance."

I sucked my lower lip in between my teeth, and let I slide slowly out. It was a mannerism I'd developed as a little girl. Renee claimed it was my tell, the way to show I was deep in thought.

"Don't do that," Edward said, placing his thumb against my lips. "It's very distracting."

"You're being very seventeen," I teased him, trying not to focus on how his hand felt against my mouth. "I kind of like that."

"Like what?" he asked, confused.

I took a deep breath and glanced up at him. Edward's brow was furrowed, head cocked to the side. I'd mistaken it for thinking, but I understood now that he was listening, trying to read my thoughts. He truly was at a loss without his ability to anticipate what people wanted or needed. This was his way of reclaiming those dormant skills he credited to me, the lost human side of him coming back into play.

"Come here," I said, crooking a finger it him. I held my hand very close to my face, making it clear where 'here' was. He frowned, but followed my instructions. "Let the older woman teach you how it's done."

"Bella, I'm one hundred and nine," Edward said peevishly.

Slowly and methodically, I sucked my lip back between my teeth, releasing it slowly as I continued to beckon him forward. In a flash, I was on my back, my mouth covered by Edward's, repeating the innocent teasing and exploration from the woods and the hallway.

For just a little while, we were two kids, learning together, no hidden agendas or things happening outside of the four walls that kept us safe.

"I think I like being seventeen," Edward murmured against my neck. "I like seventeen very, very much."

Ω Ω Ω

Light broke across the morning sky a little after six. The Cullens, plus Tanya, Eleazar and Garrett, sat in the living room, waiting patiently. Outside, four large copper braziers had been set up at the corners of the clearing, giving the morning an ancient, timeless feel. Edward and I hovered on the periphery, staring out the long windows into the forest. Whether through command or respect, I'd been given a wide berth since coming downstairs, left to my own thoughts as we waited for the sun to rise and the day to begin.

"We should probably go outside," Edward announced solemnly. "They are coming."

He was right. When I focused, I could hear the faint snap of twigs, the shuffling of leaves as a large group moved across the forest.

Without a word, the entire assemblage stood and moved in a single file line towards the front door. Emmett winked at me as he passed. Jasper tapped his index finger against his temple, a subtle reminder of what I'd learned the night before.

"Are you ready?" Edward asked, his hand warm against the small of my back.

"No turning back now," I said, sounding stronger than I felt. "Don't leave me, okay?"

"Never in a million years," he promised.

"Do we have a million years?" I asked, latching on to the concept. If we made it through this, how many years would there be? One Hundred? One Thousand?

"As long as you want," Edward said with a wink. I took a deep breath, storing his promise in my heart, along with the response I would give him when this was over.

The sky was overcast as I stepped out into the morning light, Edward by my side. Rosalie stood to my left, with Emmett and Jasper in front of her, creating a defensive front that would protect both of us. Tanya, Eleazar and Garrett were to my right in a mirror formation, two flanks to ward off potential attacks. Carlisle was at the base of the steps, directly in front of me, the tip of the spear waiting for the advancing assault.

Across the clearing, a group of dark cloaks broke through the trees, moving in precise, orderly fashion. Their hoods were up, shadowing their faces, but I could make out the familiar forms from the invasion at my house. Aro. The boy, Alec. The woman Edward had called Chelsea, and the two men who'd barged in to grab me. Mirroring Alec's position to the right of Aro was a small girl with similar cherubic features. This must be Alec's twin. They were the dangerous ones, I reminded myself. They could hurt everyone but me. I would keep my attention focused on them, trusting Emmett, Jasper and Edward to deal with the others.

"Greetings, old friend," Carlisle called across the clearing. His voice was even, but I detected traces of bitterness. The information about Didyme's death at Aro's hands had colored Carlisle's perceptions, turning Aro into something much worse than a zealot.

"Greetings?" Aro countered, taking in the group on the steps. "I hardly consider this an appropriate greeting, Carlisle. Where is the rest of your family? The lovely Esme, and little Alice? Why do you meet me with a show of force?"

I glanced to my left. Jasper didn't move, nor did he manifest any outward signs of emotion. He stood erect, like a soldier ready to charge into battle, defending his family to the end. I was so incredibly grateful for these people, and I tried to project that at him. It was probably useless, but it was the least I could do given all they were risking on my behalf.

When Carlisle did not respond, Aro stepped forward, slipping his hood back from his face. The others followed suit, mechanically. I scanned their faces, noticing that Chelsea was focusing directly on Carlisle, her brow furrowed in concentration like it had been at my house. Was she sensing the division amongst the family, or something different, a rift between her master and his old friend?

"I had planned to take Alice back to Italy with me," Aro said, smiling up at me. "I'm sure Bella would enjoy having company. In addition to the boy of course. But no bother. The little one will come soon enough."

I imagined Alice whispering in my head Context, Bella, context.

Before anyone could speak, I moved forward, easily side stepping Carlisle to stand out at the front of our small group. I prayed that the others would trust me and follow my lead.

"No one will be coming with me," I said, my voice ringing across the clearing. "I come alone."

Willing myself to be strong, I took another step forward. The girl, Jane, launched forward, placing herself between Aro and me, her scarlet eyes glowing in malevolent glee. I stopped, folding my hands in front of me, waiting patiently for pain that never came.

Jane hissed, taking another menacing step forward, but Aro would have none of it.

"Peace, Jane," he said, patting her on the head like a pet. "Bella can do us no harm, my darlings. She has no offensive skills. Her value lies…elsewhere."

He moved close enough to place his hand under my chin, and even though I wanted to jerk away, I willed myself to be still, waiting for the proper opening.

Aro moved my face up into the weak morning light, studying the changes to my features. "Red suits you. Much better than that muddy brown. Eyes are the window to the soul, and now yours are a true reflection of the nobility you've become." He leaned closer and I cringed, thinking that he might kiss me. Instead he let out an ominous giggle, and released my chin.

"Do you cede to my power?" Aro asked, his palm extended for me to grasp. "You can stop this from spinning out of control, Bella. You can make the choice. It's in your power to unite the world and keep us all in peace."

From behind me, I felt a blast of power slam into my back, wrapping me in the confidence that rolled off of the Cullens. Faith, hope, love, and respect. It spurred me forward, and I accepted Aro's outstretched hand, bowing my head in an attempt to approximate the descriptions both Alice and Edward had given me of their visions. I was grateful not to have a heartbeat any longer, for it would have betrayed me had I been alive. Even so, a strange sort of energy, not unlike adrenaline, hummed through my body, every nerve ending tingling and aware. I didn't know if it was the blast, which no doubt came from Jasper, or something more, but I channeled that, locking it up inside of me until the moment I needed it most.

"I told you it was foolish to stand against me," Aro called out. "The prophecy was clear. Bella will be queen, and the libertines shall suffer their fate. You should have heeded my warning, Carlisle. I am sad that you must be destroyed, for I would have liked for us to resume our friendship, but alas…" he let the words trail off, a clear indication he'd washed his hands of any guilt or remorse.

Aro tried to pull me forward, towards the guard, but I was locked in place, a familiar arm wrapped securely around my waist.

"She doesn't leave without me," Edward insisted. "I will not let her go alone."

Aro laughed, his giddy giggles echoing across the courtyard like a selfish child who'd been given two toys instead of one. "By all means, young Edward. I believe I would most enjoy your company. You will provide an entertaining…diversion."

He glanced between Edward and me, his eyes glittering with thoughts I was sure I didn't want to know.

"This is all rubbish," Garrett hissed from behind us, his words dripping with acid. "You are cowing no one into submission. We've only begun to fight. You will not win-"

Everything unfurled in a flash, frenetic and disjointed. I heard Garrett cry out, Tanya whispering words of consolation to him as he screamed in pain. The girl, Jane, stood to Aro's right, a smile stretched across her face as she stared in Garrett's direction. This was her, I realized, making him burn. She was their strength, and she could not be allowed to act.

I moved like Jasper had instructed me, locking away emotion and acting on instinct. I broke free of both Edward and Aro and grabbed the girl by the throat. She was smaller than I was, and much easier to manhandle than Emmett. I picked Jane up and slammed her to the ground, sending small shards of stone flying in every direction at the force of the collision. Before she could jump up, I had her pinned, exactly the way I'd done to Emmett, my knees pressed against her shoulders, her golden blonde hair tumbling loose from its braids as I grasped the top of her head tightly, the palm of my other hand pressed tightly against her chin. Power tingled through me, driving me forward into an action I wouldn't have the courage to undertake in a rational state of mind.

"When he goes down, it will be because of me," I hissed, jerking her head hard to the left. I didn't stop as her neck snapped, twisting until it popped loose with a sickening snap.

Something hit me hard in the back, and I went flying, losing my grip on Jane's now limp body. The boy, her brother Alec, was all arms and legs as he tried to pin me to the ground, his teeth gnashing in fury when he realized he still couldn't immobilize me mentally. Like the others, he was impotent without his talent, and no match for someone as strong as I was. He'd lost his connection to the real world, and with it, he was impotent to stop me. They all were.

"Enough!" Aro roared. "Demetri, stop him now! Protect her!"

Alec was jerked roughly off me, his arms still flailing madly as he growled like a wild animal. A loud popping and hissing noise mixed in with his shouts as a bright light flared from behind me. I could feel the heat, searing my back but not raising any blisters. Alec's eyes went wide as an anguished shout tore from his lungs, then he collapsed in Demetri's arms.

I didn't need to look to know that Jane had just been thrown into one of the copper braziers, their presence in the clearing now making absolute sense.

"How will you explain that loss?" Carlisle called to Aro. "It's bad enough Jane's been out doing your dirty work. How many innocent people died at her hands because of your fear? Or more importantly, how many did you kill in your desperation to hold on to control?"

There was a murmur through the guard, the giant man glancing uneasily at Chelsea. Aro's hand shot out, placing it on the head of the woman who crouched behind him, her hand no longer clutching his cloak.

"Only one," Edward said. "He's too cowardly to take on more than that. And the only reason he killed her was because he couldn't let anyone else have that power over him." He hesitated, studying Aro with clear disdain. "Tell me, Aro, how did it feel to kill your own sister?"

Chelsea gasped, her hand flying up to her mouth, too late to stifle the sound.

"And more appropriately," Carlisle said, his voice smooth and gracious, "how would Marcus react, knowing that you killed his wife to keep your power?"

Aro let out an anguished cry. I expected him to crumble, but instead, he spun, dropping down on top of me, a strange silver tool clutched to my temple.

"I burnt Didyme, and I will burn you, too, if I must," he hissed. "I will burn you all!"

The clearing was absolutely silent, no one breathing, no one moving. I stared at Aro, waiting for him to move, or for the zealous light in his eye to fade. One way or another, this all had to end. If it was my sacrifice that kept them safe, so be it. This is what it meant to live the myth, to give people something to believe in. I didn't want my life to be over, but I would not sacrifice anyone else. This was my gift to give – the way to help them break free.

I fought the instinct to close my eyes, staring at Aro with as much defiance as I could muster. I would not beg or plead. I was better than that. I would not be his toy. The metal of the sliver tool dug into my temple, the cold metal uncomfortable but not painful.

"No, Aro," a woman's voice rang through the woods, clear and distinct. "The game is up. This ends now."

He looked up, releasing the pressure against my temple. I took advantage of the opening, pushing him off me and scrambling to my feet. The minute I was standing, Edward had me around the waist, dragging me back to the steps, where I was flanked by Emmett, Jasper and Garrett.

"After that display, you can beat me any time you want," Garrett mumbled, but no one replied. We were too busy watching the scene unfolding in front of us. Ruby red embracing brightest gold. It had finally come to pass.

Chelsea stood in the center of the clearing; her hands clasped with two others to create a wall that could not be breached.

"This ends, now," Renata said, with both Chelsea and Felix bobbing their heads in approval. With one swift action, Aro had lost his protection, his ability to link everyone to him, and the warrior that would lead his charge.

The gamble had paid off. Our dark horses had come through after all.