Chapter Twenty-Three
I stand at Emmet's side and he smiles at me a bit. Jasper is holding Manny at the backdoor and we share a small wave. Carlisle, Esme, Emmet and I take off through the forest. My lungs burn a bit from running so fastwith them since it has been so long since I had to run in my human form. Emmet keeps an eyes on me just as Jasper asked him to. I catch the scent of Jared and Sam not too far ahead. I run a little faster to lead the Cullens from the two.
"What is the matter?" Esme asks softly, as we run.
"Two wolves are guarding the border," I say. Carlisle nods and follows me, but there is a roar. I turn to see Jared jumping at me with his teeth bared and claws out. I stop to tackle him with a growl. The two of us tumble for a moment and I try to keep from phasing during the fight. Jared tries to get around me, but I grab his throat and flip him over me. Sam comes running after me and he freezes when he sees me fighting Jared.
'You dare attack one of your brothers?!' Sam growls.
"You left me with no choice!" I snap back. He shifts to come after me, with Jared at my back. I jump up into the tree above me and watch the two collide before taking off like a monkey through the trees. I spot Emmet and land on his back for a moment. "You tell Jasper and I beat you into a pulp."
"You have my word," Emmet chuckles. Sam and Jared are running after us when I look behind us.
"You three cross the border and hurry back. I will hold these three off," I say just moments before jumping off Emmet and phasing in the air. Carlisle and Esme gasp when they see my white fur and my large size. Sam slides to a stop and he looks me over.
'You have betrayed this family, Marinna. You are in a relationship with a Cullen and you ar willing to attack your own family for a selfish cause,' Sam says.
'Call off the attack on Bella and we can all sit and talk about an agreement. This child is harmless to the humans and will be able to control itself with my help and Matthew's,' I say. Sam shakes his head and he runs at me. I run right at him and the two of us snap our teeth at each other. Jard is hiding somewhere in the forest, waiting for Sam to let him attack me. Sam's big paw smacks my head and scratches my face while I take a bite out of his shoulder. Sam pushes me away and Jared tackles me to the side. I go flying and hit the side of a tree with a loud yelp. My back hurts and I am getting a bit dizzy. This is my first fight ever with anyone and I am losing. My mind goes to Manny and Jasper, as it calls out for Jacob or Leah to come. Sam and Jared stare at me as I remain on the ground for a moment. Suddenly my adrenaline rushes and I get up quickly to get a few more punches in before running back to the house. My body is beginning to tire oit as I see the lights of the house. I give a small howl and begin to ohase back to my human form. The moment I phase back, I regret it because I hurt even more and I have scars and blood everywhere on me. Plus, I am startk naked like a newborn babe.
"Jasper," I whisper before collapsing onto the ground. Footsteps are soon heard by my wars and a warm blanket covers me. I am in a pair of strong arms and rushed into the house. Bella's voice is heard and the voice of many other people. My mind searches for the voice of one person in particular. Jasper's melodic voice echoes in my ears with Manny's soft babble. I am placed on the couch with the blanket around me still. My eyes open to the sight of Jasper and Manny sitting before me. I smile and reach out to them with a shaky hand. Manny takes it and he smiles widely at me.
"Marinna, you are okay," Jasper says with fear in his eyes. My body is beginning to heal quickly as I lay on the bed and I sense Matthew's hand on my face. I look at my twin to see him smiling at me.
"Who won, you or Sam?" Matthew asks. I open my mouth to speak, but it hurts from the scars on my face, instead I make an X with my fingers to sign that it was a draw.
"I would have loved to see his face when you stood up against him," I hear Jacob say. The pack laughs, but the Cullens and Bella do not share in our small joke. I look at myself and groan at the sight of my healing naked body. It is about an hour later that i am dressed in some of Bella's old clothes and I am able to sit up on my own. The scars on the side of my face are the last ones to heal, but on scar is going to remain since it was the deepest.
"Hey, at least I will match Emily," I say slowly with a small smile. Jasper kisses my forehead and he sits next to me in his room. Manny is asleep near us in a makeshift bed on Jasper's small bed. The two of us are curled up on his fouton couch and looking out into the forest around the house. Jasper rubs my arm slowly and softly. I close my eyes and enjoy the feel of his arms around me again.
"I warned you not to go and now you are hurt," Jasper says sadly. I look up at him and kiss his cheek.
"At least I came back alive, Jazz," I say softly. He looks at me and kisses my lips gently. I kiss him back and caress the side of his face. "I came home alive and that was what you asked of me."
"I like that you called this place home, but I asked you to come back safely," Jasper says with his cute little crooked smile. I smile and kiss his nose softly.
"Still, I came home and I am alive," I say and lay my head on his chest. Moments later Matthew runs into the room and he his eyes are wide.
"Something is wrong with Bella!" Matthew exclaims. Jasper and I jump to our feet and we run downstairs to the library to see Bella is on the table and wiggling in pain.
"Get him out!" Bella screams. I run to her side and she looks at me with worry. "Is this normal?!"
"Bella, breathe and relax. Your are putting too much stress on him," I say and caress her head. My head wipes to the others with determination in my eyes. "Cut her open and get that boy out!"
"Marinna," Bella screams and grabs my hand. I coo to her and try to keep her calm as Rosalie cuts her open. Bella screams and she moves a bit. Rosalie stares at the blood on her hand and we all panic.
"Rosalie, no!" Edward says. Jacob tackles her to the ground and he and Matthew take Rosalie out. Jasper remains at my side for a moment, but he leaves with Alice when Jacob returns.
"Do something!" Jacob shouts.
"I can't not with him in there," Edward says.
"Get him out of there or I will do it myself! They are both going to die if you do not get moving!" I shout andmy mind fuzzes out to something that happened when mama was still alive. The two look at me with shock, but move to get the baby out. Bella passes out for a moment and she opens her eyes when Edward is pulling out a beautiful baby girl. We all stop to look at the little girl with small smiles on our faces. I hand Bella her daughter and smile even wider. The baby bites Bella and begins to cry. Edward takes his daughter away from Bella, but I sense Bella become still for a moment. I look at her and try not to scream out her name.
"Bella, wake up. Bella, wake up," I say softly. Jacob turns his head to Bella and he pulls me away. My mind goes to the scene of mama laying in a pool of her blood. I stare at Bella and her face shifts between her face and mama's. My hands go to my face in fear as I feel my heart begin to race. "Bella, wake the fuck up!"
"Jasper, Matthew, someone get back in here!" Edward shouts. "Jacob, take the baby!"
"Keep that thing away from!" Jacob growls. He looks at me wild eyed and beginning to hyperventilate. "Marinna, relax!"
"Mama, wake up! Please wake up! So much blood," I scream.
"Shit, Matthew! Marinna has lost it," Jacob says and he steps toward me.
"No, don't touch me! Mama!" I scream. A pair of arms grabs me and I begin to panic even more. Matthew's scent fills my nose and it is just like we are kids. He covers my eyes and slowly leads me out of the room. Rosalie comes to take the baby and we all leave. Matthew keeps a firm hold on me.
"Mama," I say. Matthew stops and we stand before the window in the living room.
"We are not there anymore. It has been many years since then. Mama is dead, but I am here with you. You have your son here and your boyfriend is here as well. Try to relax, Marinna. I am here for you, sweet girl," Matthew coos. I see Jasper and Alice staring at us in worry. I take deep breathes and try not to scream again. Matthew kisses my temple and he keeps a firm hold on me. A pair of cool hands take my hand Matthew's hands are gone suddenly. Jasper is holding my hand and then he shifts to hold my face in his hands. I begin to cry again when places his lips on my forehead.
"You are okay, sweetheart," Jasper whispers.
"Bella is..." I sob.
"It is okay, she will survive this," Jasper says. "Come, let's go sit for a moment."
"Jasper," I sniffle. He lifts my chin and he wipes the tears from my face. My hands go to his hands and I close my eyes when he leans down to kiss my eyes gently. Edward shouts for us and we all turn to the sounds of growling outside. We run outside to see Sam and his pack growling at Alice and Matthew. I growl and move to run at them, but Jasper grabs my hand to hold me still.
"You can communicate with them and try to compromise," Jasper says. He and I walk down the back steps with my hand in his. We stand together next to Edward, Alice, and Matthew and I wrap my other arm around Jasper's arm holding my hand.
"You cannot kill the baby now that is alive. This child has done nothing," I say for everyone to hear.
'No, it killed Bella and now we must kill it,' Sam says. He shifts to the house and I move in front of him.
"No! Manny is in there!" I exclaim, but Sam makes a movement to push me. I roar and move fast to tackle him to the ground. Soon a few of the pack is on my to rip me off of Sam.
'Do not hurt her!' Sam commands. Paul grabs my shoulder by biting it and he drags me away. I struggle for a bit, but the pain soon radiates through me. Jasper growls and he runs at Paul. A battle between the pack and Cullens soon breaks out.
"Jacob!" I scream. Leah and Seth run over in their wolf form and they try to get me from Paul. I am dangled before Jasper and Matthew as a toy.
"Paul, put me down!" I scream and try to hit his nose.
'No, this it what you get for siding with them. You get to watch them all die and you get to see us kill that momster,' Paul says sternly. I begin to cry again and I am unable to phase. My mind goes to Manny inside sleeping and not knowing what is going on out here. Jacob runs out and he blocks Sam's path.
"Stop! You kill her and you kill me!" Jacob announces. Sam moves Jacob into the air, but Jacob phases and walks over to Sam. I gasp when I realise what he meant. He imprinted on the child and now she is untouchable. 'Let Marinna go right now.'
'Paul, drop her,' Sam says in defeat. I am dropped and I hiss from the sudden pain. Jasper pulls me away from Paul and he carries me towards the house. Sam and his pack leaves us alone. Carlisle is there somehow and I wince when he moves to look at my wound.
"This is going to take longer to heal, even with my rapid healing," I state. Matthew stands close to me and he looks at me with wide eyes.
"She is going to need some rest, Jasper. Can you take morphine?" Carlisle says.
"No, none of that," I grumble, as I begin to drift off. Jasper is claling my name as I being to black out. Carlisle mentions about my blood loss, but I am unable to listen for much longer once I fade into the darkness.