After this, only one more chapter left.
Casey POV
I watched as the flames devoured the rest of Riley's body as I let my emotions out of that locked box. I collapsed to my knees as the pain and despair washed over me. It's not him. It's not him. It's not him. I repeated over and over in my head and gradually, the pain became less until it was gone. Edward tossed in the rest of Victoria's body before turning his attention back to Bella. Seth came over to me and bumped my shoulder with his muzzle.
You ok? he asked.
I nodded. "He just reminded me of someone."
Who?
"Someone who used to be my world," I said softly. I closed my eyes and stood turning my back on the fire. "I'm fine though. Everyone's fine." I smiled. No one had been hurt.
Then through Seth's mind I smelled vampire. I concentrated on that wolf's mind trying to figure out who's mind it was.
"No…NO!" I rushed off running as fast as I could to the clearing knowing that I wouldn't make it in time but hoping that I would. Why hadn't I put another tatru in the clearing to take me back? Tears stared falling down my cheeks as I ran, I was halfway there but Leah had already leaped at the vampire. "Leah, don't!"
It caught her but she just managed to wiggle out of its grip.
I pushed faster as sobs started to consume me. I wasn't going to be able to stop it.
The vamp jumped.
"NO!" the word rebounded off of the trees around me.
Jake stepped in-between.
"Selene, PLEASE!" I screamed making my throat burn.
The vamp wrapped its arms around him
"Not him!"
Pain.
My legs collapsed as Jake's pain exploded within my body. I rolled down the mountain only to be stopped by a boulder crushing my side adding even more pain to what I already felt. A scream ripped out of my throat as the searing pain registered in my brain. I curled around myself trying to heal but unable to with the intensity of the pain. I couldn't just lay here though, Jake needed me and I needed to get up. I slowly raised my torso off the ground, panting with the effort and the pain that was still ripping its way through me. I finally got to my feet and leaned against a tree as I finally managed to heal my side. I took off running again trying not to flinch as I my feet connecting with the ground sent a small shock wave to the still tender side. I broke through the tree line and raced to where Jake was on the ground.
"I'm here," I said collapsing down next to him.
"Faith," he gasped out as Carlisle shoved a bone back into place.
"I'm right here," I murmured grabbing his hand.
"I'm sorry."
I knew he was talking about the thing with Bella but I couldn't find it in myself to be mad at him. He only kissed her because he thought she was me. "Don't worry, I'll kick your ass later."
He gave a small smile that changed into a grimace at my joke.
"We need to get them out of here," Alice said.
"I'll be over as soon as I'm finished here," Carlisle said as the Pack gathered around Jake and picked him up.
"I'll be there soon, Jake," I said releasing his hand.
"Case," he started.
"I need to stay. I'll be with you soon."
The pack disappeared just as Edward and Bella arrived in the clearing. My eye scanned the clearing checking for anymore missing newborns and my eyes locked on one but she wasn't attacking Jasper who seemed to be keeping her from getting closer to us. The girl looked to be the same age as me fifteen or sixteen with long dark hair and a slim body with almost no curve to it. A quick check of her mind and I knew all that I needed to know. She didn't want to hurt any of us, she just wanted to live but she was having a very hard time resisting Bella at the moment.
"She needs to be under control," I murmured.
"Casey, don't even—" Carlisle started but I was already beside the girl pulling up my sleeve to expose the skin beneath.
"Drink," I said.
Her eyes darted to me scanning over me in a second taking everything in. She had seen me wield the fire, she was afraid of me and didn't trust me. "I won't hurt you. My blood will help with the thirst. You'll be able to think clearer."
She still resisted having amazing control for a newborn but once I increased my scent, she attached herself to my wrist. She only got a mouthful before I pushed her away. Almost instantly her eyes lightened from a glowing red to a muted red that looked more like the eyes of a vamp that had been around for a while.
"Better?"
"How did you…?"
I smirked. "I'm special." I stood and pulled her up from her position on the ground. "I'm Casey and we'll get introductions out of the way later when we make sure that you live. We'll do everything we can to keep you alive. Ok, Bree? And also, don't mention the fire."
Her eyes widened at the use of her name. I knew she wanted to know how I knew it but at that moment the Volturi entered the clearing.
"Jane," Edward said sounding calm and courteous.
Bitch, I addressed in my mind.
Jane's eyes scanned across us and lingered on Bree for a moment before addressing us.
"You forgot one."
"She surrendered," Carlisle said. "We gave her the option."
"The Volturi does not give options to those who break the rules," she said.
"The City does though," I said stepping from the back of the group.
"So the banished princess still is with you."
"Obviously," I said sending an overly sweet smile her way.
Her face twisted into a frown for a moment before restoring itself to its blank state.
"How many were there?"
"Twenty in total including the creator," Carlisle said. "Most were brand-new. Unskilled."
Jane nodded before turning her eyes to Bree. "Your name," she demanded.
Bree glared at Jane and even though I admired her guts, it was stupid thing to do. She suddenly started screaming and thrashing on the ground. I darted over to her, blocking her from Jane's sight. I felt the buzzing of Jane's power on my skin but pain did not register in my mind.
"Her name is Bree and she is under the protection of the City. You will not harm her in any way unless you want a war with the Imperial City," I said staring Jane down.
"I must question her to know that the story is true."
"You obviously do not know what it means to be under the City's protection. That means that she in considered one of our citizens and as such is protected from all law except our own. You have no power over her; she is our responsibility."
Jane sent another glare my way but then turned towards Carlisle again. "Then it seems that we are of no use here. A strange feeling indeed. Come." They turned and glided out of the clearing.
As soon as the Volturi were gone, I rushed out of the clearing, intent on getting to Jake as soon as possible. I had to be with him. It only took me ten minutes the little red house that had become my home. I rushed up the steps into the house and swung open the door, hitting one of the pack but I didn't notice or care. I needed to see him. I took several more steps and was facing the door that separated me from my soul mate. I stood there with my hand resting on the handle unable to turn it. I was so afraid to see him look weak and so unlike the strong, sunny Jake that I was in love with. Tears started gathering in my eyes as I shook trying to force my body to move. A hand settled on my shoulder, overly warm but still feminine; Leah.
I turned and stared into her eyes that were clouded with pain and guilt.
"It's not your fault," I whispered.
"Yes it is. You told me about the vision and I still went after that leech."
"The future I see can't be changed," I said.
She didn't say anything more, she only wrapped her hand around mine and turned the knob pushing the door open.
I wanted to cry at the sight in front of me. Jake's beautiful skin was covered in ugly bruises ranging from purple to a greenish yellow. The right side of his chest looked unnatural having bumps where bumps shouldn't be. He was unconscious but even in his unconscious state, his brow was knitted together in pain. I walked to his side and knelt next to his bed softly caressing his face while sending small pulses of soothing energy to help with the pain. I heard Leah start to leave but I called her over to me wanting her help.
"I'm going to try to keep him from healing," I said. "I need you to make sure I don't pass out and hurt myself."
"He wouldn't like you doing this," she said as she settled down next to me.
"It'll help save him some pain hopefully." I stopped the movement of my hand over his forehead and concentrated my energy on freezing his body's healing process. After a few minutes a sweat broke out on my skin and I could feel that my body was having trouble holding itself upright.
Leah noticed and wrapped her arm around my shoulder helping me to keep my balance.
A few minutes later Carlisle walked through the door with Edward and they silently started their work of fixing Jake. Every time they would re-break a bone, I flinched at the sound and sent a new wave of soothing energy through Jake to keep him from feeling the pain.
After what seemed like hours Carlisle stood and packed up his things pausing to set a reassuring hand on my shoulder, "He'll be fine. You should get some rest. You've had a long day. We don't want another repeat of the last time you met the Volturi."
I sighed knowing he was right and removed my hand that was shaking almost violently.
Carlisle and Edward left with Leah following a few moments later leaving me alone with Jake. His side no longer looked unnatural and the bruising was starting to fade. His face had also evened out with a combination of my energy and the morphine that Carlisle had loaded his system with. There were braces criss-crossing almost all of the right side of his body. Thankfully though, those could come off in a couple of days if everything went well.
I carefully climbed onto the tiny little bed, trying not to jostle him too much. Even in his sleep his body responded to mine being close to him. His head turned towards me and his hand turned up so that I could lace my finger through his. I leaned up brushing my lips softly against his giving him a gentle kiss that brought a small smile to his lips. I rested my head on his good shoulder and drifted to sleep.
In what seemed like only moments later I woke up to the sound of a rattling engine idle and then shut off. I tried to get my brain to function correctly but for some reason everything seemed kinda fuzzy. I got up carefully and walked to the front room which had significantly less people in it than before. Leah was still there as well as Quil and Embry, all three of whom were glaring at the door as if it had just killed somebody. I walked over to the door and opened it ready to greet whoever was outside.
Once the door was open though, I was ready to slam it back shut.
"What are doing here?" I ground out.
"I'm here to see Jacob," Bella said looking slightly scared at what I was sure was a terrifying expression on my face.
"You mean you're here to try and steal my soul mate," I said stressing the word.
She flinched slightly. "No, I don't know what came over me—I just—"
Don't try bullshitting me, Bella. I can actually read your mind, remember? You may have fooled Edward but you can't fool me." I glared at her crossing my arms, silently hoping that she would give me a reason to tear her apart. This was not the girl that I had first met back in September; this girl was a bitch. "You only want Jake because you want to know what real passion feels like. And let me tell you Bells, you wouldn't be able to handle the passion that Jake ignites," I taunted ignoring the gagging sounds coming from the shape shifters behind me.
Her face turned bright red in embarrassment at my brazen statement. "I could handle him," she said trying to sound confident but she failed when her voice broke.
"But you see, you couldn't," I said smirking as I walked closer to her. "Jake is an Alpha and that means that he likes to dominate. He's rough and dirty. Something that you couldn't handle. He also likes it when he gets dominated and to be able to do that, you have to be equal to him in strength and confidence. That isn't something that a spineless human like you could do."
Her face had somehow turned even redder.
I was sure that the three wolves were watching from the window cause they were laughing like hyenas in there.
I smiled sweetly at her, "You know it's actually kinda pathetic how you thought that you could take him from me. His imprint, his Bond, his soul mate. And what makes it even sadder is that you're the older woman, the childhood friend, the one that should be in his fantasies but you're not. I am. I'm sure you could ask any of the pack to confirm that."
More howls of laughter came from the house.
"I suggest that you leave now before you make an even bigger fool of yourself."
Her face turned red again but this time it was out of anger and faster than I thought she could move, Bella reached out her fist to hit me. To me though, the punch was moving in slow motion. I dropped down into a crouch and kicked her feet out from under her. She hit the ground hard.
"Don't ever try and do that again," I said feeling fury build up in my blood. There was no way in hell I was going to let this bitch trigger a vision. I took a couple of deep breathes cooling the fire in my veins. "The next time you do, I won't just knock you down, I'll make sure you stay there," I threatened. "Get up, you're on the wrong side of the treaty line."
I turned and marched into the house not giving her a backward glance.
Guess what chapter is next :) I think you all know.
