Chapter 21: Ok so now what?

Disclaimer: The characters and basically the story are Stephenie Meyer's just tweaked for my crazy mind. Plus my loving mind that is screaming for reviews but not to stop writing! ;p ;) ;p

~"~ ~"~ ~"~ Bella's point of view

"Don't let anyone pass. But don't cause harm or let them harm you." Those words just kept running through my mind as I watched her get up off the ground and walk back to the fire. It was heart breaking for just as she stopped before it I saw the tears.

Then just like that Jared was there. Not Jared from the pack but her Jared the one I meet that first day oh so long ago. A week ago. Where he came from or how he got passed Edward and Paul was amazing. For none of us could get past Edward earlier and now with Paul I doubted we could even move them. But there was Jared with his arms around her.

He was dressed or had been dressing when he suddenly realized Merana needed him. His shirt was open or looked open will until Merana turned to bury her face in his chest causing it to bellow around her. Thus obstructing her face from view.

"Oh Little Sea why are you crying?" that voice. It was of that strange woman that Merana had killed, the one that talked to me before bursting into flames. Moving around I suddenly saw her. Only she was standing in the fire or the fire was apart of her I wasn't too sure. She just looked ghostly but not. That voice even had Sam moving as Merana whipped around to gasp as she caught sight of her.

"I'm crying… because your finally free Lucinda." Merana choked out. Hearing that Sam paused, well actually he had only begun to move when Merana spoke up so he was still rooted in that same spot.

"OH and here I thought you wouldn't accept my demise." She, or Lucinda as Merana had called her, chirped as she smiled to Merana.

"It took a long time… and a really special person… to show me that you were already died… and that… that Issac was just using you… against me." Merana said like every word or phrase was hard to. She was still crying and Jared was just holding onto her like at any minute she might faint or something. Whoever Lucinda was, she really had meant something to Merana and Jared. He tried to hide his face but I could see the streaks his tears had left on his check.

If I could see that then so could Sam. I hope he understands that Merana sacrificed her friend for his people's safety. Plus she saved Paul from becoming a pawn like Lucinda had been.

"I am very thankful to that person. For it means you weren't alone." she smiled as she looked to Jared. "Now it is time…"

"No wait… just a little longer." Merana cried out as she reached for her but Jared had her in a bear hug that restricted her arms from raising to high. Then burying his face in her hair I just knew he was cringing from the way his body tensioned. Something was happening but... oh no Lucinda wasn't coming out of the fire... she wasn't alive anymore.

"Little Sea I have taught you everything I can and now it is time for me to leave." Lucinda sternly said. If I had to guess I would have said that Lucinda was or assisted in raising Merana. Not even Carlisle spoke like that to Merana. She was always the one in control, no that's wrong for they acted more like equals he just ceded to her.

"I know I just wanted you to know that though you are not my mother, I always looked to you as one and love you as one." At these words I really knew. Lucinda had been there when her mother hadn't. "Also that I will never be alone again and that I truly know where I belong because of you." Now these words were just ringing in my head because my attention was caught on Merana's and Jared's intertwined hands that she was raising. I couldn't see it but something was sparkling on her hand, on her left hand. Then hearing Lucinda gasp I knew it was something personal, something only Lucinda was to see.

So taking several steps back I turned my head so I couldn't see anymore.

"Yes I see that my Little Sea has grown and become the woman that her mother always said she would be. I am also so proud to have an impact, as little …" I tried to stop the tears as Lucinda spoke but I couldn't. It seemed that I was intruding on something very profound but just couldn't turn and leave. I wanted, no needed, to hear this and see this side of Merana. This soft vulnerable side of Merana that only a select few ever saw.

"Lucinda you had a bigger impact on me then anyone but that is because of my mother so thank you and please tell my mother thank you when you see her." Merana words created such stand still that I knew even Carlisle had heard them. I needed Edward but not this Edward my Edward.

Merana's mom is dead and she was sending someone to her. Someone who knew her and wanted her to look after her little girl. Looking to Sam I just knew if he didn't get it then I was going to pound it into him or get Edward to when I got him back.

"Oh Little Sea I will… now first let the poor boys go so that there are no repercussions and it is just us." Nodding her head Merana turned and motioned Edward and Paul to step closer. They did without hesitation. But unlike the first time that I saw Merana do this, whatever it was, it didn't take as long. For just as soon as they were by her they were shaking their heads.

Stepping forward I wondered if I should call to Edward instead he was by me, kissing me. It must help to clear the cobwebs for him for it's the second time in the past week that he has kissed me with such passion that I lost my breath. Though as I was catching my breath Jared was telling us to go, in which had me gasping as Edward rushed off with me.

It wasn't till we were back at the boundary was I truly able to catch my breath and that was thanks to Carlisle. While Esme yelled at Edward for being foolish. Except she didn't get far, for before anyone knew it Jared, Paul and Jake still in their wolves form, and Sam showed up though Sam was very reluctant to stay and Jared had to ask for help. So Edward and Jasper moved to assist but didn't touch Sam as he kept growling at them.

Which just added to the weirdness. Have I said how weird today has been will…

Suddenly there was a whoosh and then just heat. It was like the entire area was on fire except nothing was burning. No more then a foot from us was fire. Where it came from or what was fueling it I don't know will until Jared spoke.

"Come on M'a, you can do it!" Jared said but because of the fire it sounded more like a whisper. That's how loud the blaze was, another weird thing. Then Jared was actually screaming. "Give her strength, show her that is she strong, powerful, that nothing can stop her. Please inspire her to hold on, to conjure this."

'Uh!' I thought. Glancing from Carlisle to Esme I was just lost. It seemed no one knew who Jared was talking to but we all knew who he was worried about it just didn't make sense.

Jared just kept screaming, "Give her peace of mind that she can find calmness. Help her find her way back to me please.".

"Jared what's going on?" Jake asked as he stepped next to him and Sam.

I don't know when Jake changed form or where he got the shorts from but Edward and Jasper were happy with him stepping up. Because it meant they could back down but not move away, though I really doubted Sam was going anywhere as long as the fire was going. Paul on the other hand was whimpering and every now and then had to be pulled back by Alice. Why Alice I can't say, for Emmett was back but Rose was nursing him or something. He must have gotten hurt or something, just another thing to add to the weirdness of this day. Plus something else to ask Merana about.

"Merana has to conquer Lucinda's power or she will be destroyed." Just like that everyone froze. See up to now, though I still doubted he would go anywhere, Sam was still resisting on staying put and was trying to get past Jake, Jared, Jasper, and Edward. So here we all were just looking at Jared like he exploded into fire. Though Jared wasn't looking to us but into the fire most likely right at Merana.

"UM Jared what do you mean destroyed. What was that lady, that Lucinda?" I asked, for it didn't seem anyone else was going to. Then moving closer to him only to be stopped by Jasper I screamed, "Jared what is going on?"

"Lucinda was a Phoenix that Issac was using to destroy the pack." Jared simply stated like that was enough.

"Ok so.." noticing that I wasn't getting it he continued.

"Issac wanted Lucinda to engulf the woods and all living creatures except for a few chosen individuals on fire. You being one of them." Jared said as he gestured to the woods. "Only Merana was able to interfere not stop but interfere before Lucinda could release her inner flame. Which is what you see before you."

"Now conquering a Phoenix's power is no easy task even when you have the blessing and/or help of the Phoenix. For once a Phoenix has decided to release it's fire there is no stopping it only controlling it. Except Merana killed the Phoenix in this instant and that means there is no one controlling the fire and so it is choosing what to do."

"Meaning that it could engulf her and roast her alive!" Jake said as he looked into the fire.

Like us he was looking for any sign of Merana. Though what could he do that not one of us could do. I was worried and so was everyone else that I was sure about; everything else was up in the air. Then seeing my opportunity I stepped around Jasper and smacked Sam on the back.

Being as he didn't see it coming it had him jolting forward before he could steady himself and turn around to see that it was me that hit him. He just arched an eyebrow at me.

"That's for being an idiot and the next one will come when Merana is finished with whatever she is doing. Don't ever turn your back on my family or try to kill Edward ever again." I said as sternly as I could.

Sam didn't cower or step back but he did loosen up and nod like he understood. Really it was more like he just caved and accepted the fact that he had been in the wrong. Though to say the truth he wasn't in the wrong for he could never have imaged being in that type of situation but he could have handled it differently.

"Bella are you crazy." Jake shouted as he stepped in between Sam and I. As an answer to his question I slapped him too.

"Ok that is enough." Carlisle said seizing my hand before I could slap Jake again. For it didn't seem like the first did any good.

"Yes. YES. MERANA! Thank you thank you for being there with her." again Jared had all of us staring at him as he hollered and whooped. Then I noticed why. The fire was receding Merana had conquered the fire.

Bang! Whoosh!

Again weird. The bang though happen suddenly was more like something had landed heavy and the whoosh was that same item taking flight and taking the fire with it. But before I could say anything Jared was moving and speaking.

"Come on you all have to see this. You wont believe it unless you see it." Then before we could stop him he was running but not to the clearing but to the west, to the ocean.

Turning around I looked for Edward, then once I did I was on his back and we were off after Jared. No matter what we were going to see, for whatever it was that had Jared smiling like a Cheshire cat, I just knew it had to be Merana. It seemed the same for everyone else, even Sam was racing after Jared.

Then like before when we were racing to help the pack, the pack was back and traveling with us, only this time it was Jared leading the way and there was no threat looming over our heads. Also the pack was traveling as humans so I could hear them asking questions only no one had the answers. No one knew where we were going. Even Paul had found something to wear and was running on his two legs next to Edward and I.

After a few seconds or so I could see the trees thinning out and I think the air grew moist like we were nearing water. Then I heard it, the water and we broke free from the forest to end up in yet another clearing. Only this one had a view overseeing the Pacific ocean and a cliff side instead of surrounded by trees.

Stopping just behind Jared, Edward helped me to my feet for I just was not gaining my breath back today and probably wont for some time. Just as I was turning to ask Jared what we were to see, he pointed.

Looking out over the ocean I could see something but it was to small and far. But as I watched it grew and then I could see that it was some winged beast. No way it was a bird to big and the dimensions were off. The head was big, the tail long and spiky I think, then there were the wings that just screamed deadly and huge. Though the color of it seemed familiar. The yellow, blue, and white just seemed to be screaming at me till it was just about on top of us and then it hit me.

It was Merana but not. Just as I could make out what I was seeing she ducked down to disappear from view. Wanting to see her I ran to the edge of the cliff and looked down. BIG MISTAKE.

As soon as I looked down Merana was right there or what I believed was Merana. Her head was the size of my torso with long pointed teeth in an even longer mouth, on top of her head were the same few horns just like when she showed her Dragonian form to us. Stepping back as she flew by and straight up I just took in as much as possible. Like the fact that she was taller then my house, in fact she could rest her head on the roof and still be sitting on the ground if she chose. No it would be more like she was resting on my house and her head would just be nestled on the other side of my window as her neck was that long. Or whatever she was huge.

The color of her was mixed. It seemed the clothes she had been wearing were mixed right into her skin not just her wings. The light blue tank top and blue gym shorts, that I had used as sleeping wear for they were just to short for me, she wear underneath the other clothes was the color of her neck, torso, and legs. The yellow blouse that I didn't like but wore when I had nothing else and the white of the pants were mixed to create the color of her wings.

Now the white Capri pants that she wore had been ripped and were dangerously threatening to fall off the last I had seen them but I hadn't thought of that till now. For that white was running all over, her horns, claws, tail, and the spikes on her wings. The white even bordered the blue on her chest like it was defining each and every scale; just making them pop out at you.

But it wasn't till she flipped and I saw her back. The blue and white on her back with the yellow in her wings was just breath taking. Merana was breath taking, especially when she popped up right at the edge of the cliff. Only this time she wasn't flying by she was resting her head or trying to.

Snatching me up Edward moved us back so that Merana had room to climb up and perch herself on the cliff and somewhat in the clearing.

No one spoke or moved or that I noticed for Merana had my full attention.

"M'a take it easy." Jared said running up to her as she almost lost her footing.

Merana having look out over the ocean at something snapped back to stare at Jared. I'm not sure but the look in her eyes seemed to be fear and shock, like she didn't know what was going on. But the moment she was able to lock one of her eyes on Jared she relaxed. Jared really was her one, the single most important person in her world, the one to kept her center.

"Yeah that's right M'a just focus on me. Everything else will just come as you get use to it." Jared said as he stepped closer to her and touched her. Wanting to also feel her skin and show her that I wasn't scared I wriggled out of Edward's arms and moved closer.

Only Edward stopped me. Looking into his eyes I just pleaded. Edward caved after just a minute but walked with me. Merana noticing our advancement went to move but Jared stilled her. "Hey no one is going to hurt you or you hurt them. Just calm down. Bella and Edward just wanted to say hi."

Taking the hit I called out, being as the blood was pounding in my ears it sounded more like a whisper. "Hey Merana. Really wow. I can't… put in words how beautifully you are!"

"Merana please just listen to Jared. Bella wants to come closer." Though when Edward spoke I really wanted to hurt him, for the elbow to his stomach didn't do anything. Not that I would have really wanted to hurt him but it would have been nice to hear him intake at the sudden jolt but no nothing. He just had to be smooth and uninflected with his words, though he did cough probably more for my benefit then anything. "Ok Merana, we're coming closer!?"

'Ok but watch my claws for I don't feel stable.' Merana said or thought or whatever. For there were gasps from all around as everyone had heard. It was weird for I knew her lips didn't move but she did spoke only it sounded like it came from everywhere, inside and outside my head.

Reaching out as I had finally made it to her, I caressed her check. Jared wasn't to far from us. In fact he was standing by her nose and looking over and down. There must have been a problem for suddenly Merana shifted and I found myself, and Edward, enclosed by her front legs and wings as she stood to her tallest.

There are no words to describe what I felt for I was a tornado of feelings but even then I couldn't help but reach out and touch her, feel her breathing and the fire that was most likely coursing through her. Being that close and very much in danger really didn't scare me only enticed me.

'Bella, Edward are you ok?' came Merana's strange most alluring voice.

"We're fine Merana!" Edward answered only he sounded out of breath. Looking over my shoulder I discovered to see that he was also touching Merana and was smiling like a fool. Feeling me staring he looked down at me and that goofy smile just widen. "Ok so now what?"

;) Wink ;) wink ;) did you notice the three's. I promise I didn't mean for that to happen they just kept popping up. But besides that I hope you are enjoying my story though I don't know FOR NO ONE REVIEWS… Oh hey I am being nice by posting for I am going to be working for the next nine days and will not be able to post next Monday so enjoy and DON'T REVIEW or do for I really need help. The next two chapters are kicking my butt and I don't know what to do. ~~Mary Mab