Moonlight in Forks
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
Jane
The young girl was trying to tear her hair out. She threw her head back and wailed shrilly. Her overwhelming thirst for blood was driving her crazy. Bella, pinned to Edward's side by his hand, watched in grim silence as Jasper growled at her viciously. The girl shrank back, her fingers leaving her hair and digging into the ground like claws.
"How can you stand it?" She groaned hoarsely as Jasper moved toward her, ready to intervene if she moved even an inch closer to Bella. "I want her." Her bright crimson irises focused on Bella like a ravenous animal, her nails ripping the hardened soil in her anguish.
"You must stand it." Carlisle said gravely, putting his hand on Jasper's shoulder to prevent him moving any further forward. "You will find the strength if you really try."
"I cannot!" The girl wailed again.
"It is possible." Carlisle tried to get through to her again. "And you must. It is the only thing that can save you now."
Meanwhile, Bella was getting a first hand look at what her future would have been like had she been turned. It made her blood run cold, seeing the young girl swaying like a rabid beast, her chin length dark hair, and alabaster pale skin twisted by rage and thirst. The feral red eyes were demonic and hard to look away from. She glared at Bella viciously, shuddering and writhing every few seconds.
"I should leave." Bella said after a moment. She felt sick to her stomach. "I'm making the poor girl's condition worse."
"I'm sorry, Bella. You cannot leave." Edward replied softly. He turned his body to shield her from the newborn's view. "We have to stay here."
Bella glared at him angrily, feeling her frustration welling up inside. As soon as he spoke, the others moved to surround them. Emmet, Rosalie, and Esme converged hastily, with Alice dead center, and Jasper and Carlisle taking up positions at the front.
Bella peeked through their shielding bodies, knowing what was coming. Dread was making her nausea worse. The wild girl was still groaning, her nails full of earth as she swayed back and forth in agony.
There was still nothing to see. Bella glanced at Edward; his eyes were locked straight ahead. She tried to follow the direction of his gaze, but her weak human eyesight was no match for a vampire's. Smoke from the fire continued to billow, entering Bella's nostrils, only adding to her sense of nausea. She just hoped she could contain it. It wouldn't do to puke at Jane's feet.
Then a familiar voice made itself heard through the gloom. "What is this?"
"Welcome Jane." Edward greeted her courteously.
Bella glanced up at him again, annoyed that he could talk so politely to one such as Jane. She was an evil little toad, who deserved no such respect. It made her frustration grow, which had the effect of chasing away her panic and fear. She straightened, broadening her shoulders, her chocolate brown eyes turning cold and piercing as she observed Jane come into view, followed by Felix and the others.
As she watched the dark shapes come closer, Bella wondered again why they wore such old-fashioned clothing. They looked like something out of an old gothic horror novel with their long, black cloaks, and the huge cowls pulled over their heads. Unlike the Cullens, they didn't even try to disguise what they were. Perhaps they loved the theatrics of it all.
Staring hard, Bella could just make out Jane's angelic features in the shade of her cowl. Felix stood by her side-his cowl had fallen back slightly so that Bella caught a glimpse of his laughing face. She noticed him shoot her a wink and smile. What a tool-she thought-if Jacob were here; he would soon wipe the infuriating smirk off the smug demon's face.
Jane's gaze remained cold and indifferent. Her head moved slowly as she took in the scene before her, until it stopped, her eyes landing on the distressed newborn girl beside the fire. The newborn had her head in her hands again, hiding her face from the newcomers.
"What is this?" Jane said tonelessly.
"She has surrendered." Carlisle explained.
Jane blinked like an owl. "Surrendered?" She questioned in disbelief. "Explain."
Felix's gaze was still trained on Bella. She met his look with her own icy stare. He was still wearing that smug smile. She had an urge to poke her tongue out at him, just to throw him off his game and show he didn't intimidate her one little bit. Her fear was truly gone.
"I gave her the option." Carlisle continued calmly.
"There are no options for those who break the rules." Jane answered flatly.
Carlisle kept his tone as polite as Edward's. "That is in your hands. As long as she was willing to halt her attack on us, I saw no need to destroy her. She was never taught."
"That is irrelevant." Jane insisted robotically.
It sickened Bella to hear the coven leader sucking up to the wretched porcelain doll. She was quite sure that Jane intended to kill the poor newborn. She suddenly found herself infused with the courage to speak, to intervene on the newborn's behalf.
"You were like her once, Jane. The girl deserves some mercy."
The stricken newborn glanced up at Bella from under her wild hair. Hope flared in her crimson eyes.
Jane's own red eyes narrowed as she looked at Bella haughtily. "Who are you to speak to me in such a manner, insignificant girl?" She sneered. "It is not for one such as you to comment on matters of state. I would keep your opinions to yourself, if I were you."
The whole Cullen clan tensed around Bella. They had not expected her to speak out like that, especially to Jane. Even Alice had been taken unawares by Bella's last-minute decision to say something. They all glanced nervously at one another.
"Bella meant no offence, Jane. She finds this all very unnerving. It is her natural human compassion for another coming to the fore. She doesn't understand the precariousness of the situation like we do." Edward tried to soothe Jane's ruffled feathers. His grip on Bella's hand tightened, stopping her retort in its tracks.
Jane seemed somewhat mollified by his response. "Of course." She actually smiled, making Bella feel sicker and more aggravated. Jane looked toward the smoke. "It appears you've done our work for us today…for the most part." Her eyes flicked back toward the young newborn. "Just out of curiosity, how many were there? They left quite a wake of destruction in Seattle."
"Eighteen, including this one." Carlisle answered.
Jane's eyes widened at this news. She looked at the fire again, then at Felix. His smug grin was missing now. "Eighteen?" She repeated, sounding startled.
"All brand new." Carlisle said dismissively. "They were unskilled."
"All?" Jane's voice was sharp. "Then who was their creator?"
"Her name was Victoria." Bella piped up again before anyone else had the chance to.
Carlisle flashed a meaningful glance in Edward's direction, clearly disquieted by Bella's constant interruptions-his expression pleading for Edward to keep her quiet.
But Bella was not going to keep quiet. She had spent enough time doing that. She was going to have her say-and blow the consequences. She found it amusing that Jane seemed so uneasy. It was clear the little wretch was taken aback at the number of newborns and the Cullens ability to dispatch them.
"Was?" Jane echoed.
"Oh, yes, old Vic is sleeping with the fishes-god rest her soul." Bella continued breezily, paraphrasing a quote from an old favorite movie of Charlie's-The Godfather. She completely ignored Edward's attempts to hush her.
Jane's eyes narrowed in Bella's direction, her lips thinning in repressed anger, before she turned her attention back onto the newborn beside the fire. "You there." She snapped, sounding animated for once. "Your name."
The newborn shot a baleful glare at Jane, not realizing what danger she was in. She refused to answer, taking her cue from the human girl, who she couldn't help but admire, no matter how much she wanted to drink her blood.
Jane smiled back angelically, her red eyes glowing triumphantly as she unleashed the full force of her powers on the unfortunate newborn. The girl's head shot back, her body arching stiffly into a distorted, unnatural position. A piercing scream escaped her lips.
Bella gazed around at the Cullens, waiting for them to intervene. Surely, they would? But all their expressions remained the same-empty, smooth, and unemotional-even Esme and Alice. Rosalie was the only one who looked slightly pained.
Bella was incensed. She couldn't believe they would let the little porcelain witch torture such an unfortunate creature as that girl. It wasn't fair and it wasn't right. And she was sure as hell was not going to stand for it. If they weren't going to do something, then she would. Jane's powers had no affect on her.
Taking Edward completely by surprise, Bella yanked her hand out of his, and ran over to the newborn. She embraced her, shielding her stricken body with her own. Immediately the girl fell limply against her.
"What do you think you are doing?" Jane demanded.
"Bella, come away!" Edward ran to her side in alarm, whilst the other Cullens exchanged nervous glances. "She has no control. She will attack you!"
"I will not!" The newborn girl gasped. "I will not!" Her crimson eyes were shining fiercely with resolve as they gazed upon Bella. "She is my savior."
Still, despite her plea, Edward pulled Bella away. She glared at him, but wasn't strong enough to resist. She had to go where he took her.
"Its okay, sweetheart." She called to the girl. "Just tell them your name. It will be okay."
The newborn nodded her assent. "Its Bree."
"Bree." Jane's voice was cold, her reddened eyes livid.
She wanted to rip Bella's hair from her head, it was only her loyalty to Aro that stopped her. Her master would be displeased if she tampered with one of his favorite's pets. He had warned her before she left not to damage Bella in any way. Aro had sensed her resentment of the girl. Only he knew how valuable that girl-and her hidden shielding power-could become once she was changed.
Jane bent closer to Bree. "Now tell me-is his story true? How many were there?"
Bree looked over at Bella to gain courage before answering. "Yes…there were nineteen, maybe twenty. I am not exactly sure."
"And this Victoria-did she create you?"
"I don't know." Bree mumbled. "Riley never said her name. I didn't see her that night….it was so dark…." She shuddered. "He didn't want us to be able to think of her. He said our thoughts weren't safe…"
Jane's eyes flicked to Edward. "Who is Riley?"
"Victoria's companion. He was changed about a year before the others. She used him to control the others and carry out her wicked deeds."
"I see." Jane's eyes became narrower. "Tell me about Riley." She wheedled. "Why did he bring you here?"
"To destroy the strange yellow-eyes here." Bree pointed toward the Cullens. "He said it would be easy. He said that the city was theirs and they were coming to get us. He said once they were gone, all the blood would be ours. He gave us – "She stopped, looking over at Bella, then fell silent.
"Continue." Jane responded impatiently.
But Bree would not co-operate. The strange loyalty that had sprung up between her and Bella in the last hour made her hold her tongue.
"I have ways to hurt you if you will not answer my questions." Jane threatened.
"Oh, shut up!" Bella cried out. "If you want to know, they were after me, okay. Riley, if that was his name, gave them my scent, that way they would know that they had the right coven. Is that how it was, little one?"
Bree nodded her confirmation.
"Go on, sweetheart. You can tell them the rest." Bella urged.
Bree nodded again in relief now that she had Bella's permission to continue. She sat up carefully. "Riley said whoever got to her first could have her. So, we split up, but the others never came. And Riley left us, and he didn't come to help like he promised. And then it was all so confusing, and everybody was in pieces." She shuddered. "I was afraid. I wanted to run away. That one- "she looked at Carlisle- "said they wouldn't hurt me if I stopped fighting."
Jane smiled cruelly. "Ah, but that wasn't his gift to offer, young one."
Bree glanced at Bella again nervously, before her gaze strayed back to Jane.
Jane looked at Carlisle. "Did you get all of them? The other half that split off?"
"Yes. We split up, too." He confirmed.
"Well, I can't deny that I am impressed." Jane said with a half-smile. Her companions murmured their agreement. Only Felix remained impassive, his eyes glinted strangely as they focused on Bella. "I've never seen a coven escape this magnitude of offensive intact. It makes me wonder if you had help? Mmmm?" Her half smile turned malicious. "Did they have help, young one?" She cooed at Bree.
Bree froze, her eyes darting to Bella, who had drawn in a sharp breath. She noted the sudden fear in her savior's expression, and knew instantly that she needed to lie. "I only saw this coven." She mumbled.
Bella wished she could escape Edward's death grip and hug this girl. She had denied any knowledge of the wolves, thus saving them from the Volturi's gaze.
Jane did not look pleased at this denial. "I find that hard to believe." She sneered.
"It's the truth." Carlisle interjected smoothly. "Lady luck was with us today."
"Luck had nothing to do with it." Jane retorted irritably. "Do you know what was behind it? It seems like extreme behavior, considering the way you live here. And why was she the key?" She glared imperiously in Bella's direction.
"Victoria held a grudge against Bella." Edward told her, his voice impassive.
Bella shot him a dark look, annoyed that he had revealed such a thing.
Jane laughed, the sound was golden, the laugh of a happy child. "Another one? You do seem to provoke strong reactions in our kind." She observed, her lips twisting into another cruel smile.
"Only evil little toads, it seems." Bella retaliated sharply. "And that does include you by the way!"
Edward stiffened by her side. All the other Cullens tensed at the same time, all waiting on tenterhooks for the little porcelain doll's reaction. Bella didn't care, Jane couldn't hurt her due to the strange glitch in her system-which had protected her the last time they had met in Volterra-was still in effect. She felt Edward's arms tighten around her like steel bands.
"You are going to regret saying that!" Jane seethed.
"Just another empty threat!" Bella retorted. "You can't hurt me!"
"Maybe not." Jane agreed with another twisted smile. "But I can hurt her!" She turned to Felix. "Take care of that, Felix." She ordered, nodding toward Bree.
"NO! NO! NO!" Bella screamed as she began to writhe in Edward's arms. "LEAVE HER ALONE. DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER! CARLISLE, DO SOMETHING! JASPER, ALICE…. ESME…ROSALIE! STOP HER!"
Carlisle's expression was pained. "I am so sorry, Bella." He apologized sadly. "It is out of my hands."
"Don't watch." Edward pulled Bella against his hard chest, his hands covering her ears to muffle the sounds.
"COWARDS!" Bella sobbed. "YOU ARE ALL COWARDS!"
Even with Edward's hands over her ears, Bella could still hear. There was a deep rumbling sound, and then a high pitched keen. That sound was cut off quickly, and then the only sound left was a sickening crunching and snapping.
When it was over, Edward slowly released Bella. Angry tears spilled down her cheeks, her eyes were wild, her brunette hair like a wild thing surrounding her face. She glared over in Jane's direction. "I make this vow." She yelled. "One day we will meet again, you cold cruel bitch, and it will be your head being ripped off of your body!"
Jane actually appeared a little disconcerted for a minute at the ferocity of Bella's threat. Then she smoothed her features, resuming her usual indifferent expression. "I suggest you control your little human pet." She warned Edward coldly. "Otherwise, I might have to."
"I'm sorry, Jane." Edward apologized hastily. "She is a little overwrought."
Jane turned to Carlisle. "I will give my master your good wishes." She said to him. "I thought Aro was exaggerating- but..." She left the rest unsaid, instead changing tack. "It was nice to meet you, Carlisle. I hope next time it will be under more pleasant circumstances."
"Me, too." Carlisle concurred deferentially.
"Well, until next time." Jane turned away, the others following closely behind, disappearing into the thick mist from where they had emerged.
Bella sagged in Edward's arms, the fight completely knocked out of her, as she mourned wretchedly for poor little Bree.
A/N-thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think!