The next two days go by in a blur. I can't help but to worry about the upcoming battle. The newborns will be here in two days. My family have done a few more fighting strategies with the wolves during that time. I wasn't there though. I stayed behind with Alex. My family thought it would be best for Alex to stay behind as they did not want to upset the wolves any more than they already have. I haven't seen anyone in the pack since that day. From my understanding, the wolves were still on edge from Alex's little display.
Final preparations for the battle were underway. Which made sense as I was currently standing in the field where the battle would be taking place with Jasper and Alex. Bella was currently with Edward, marking areas with her blood. I just watched as Bella started putting the blood from her cut thumb on trees and bushes. I smile as she walks over to me.
"You don't need to be doing that," argues Edward.
"I'm just being thorough."
"Well, the vamps will be absolutely ravenous," I chime in. Bella smiles as she comes to my side. I look up at Edward. "So what's the plan again?"
"Jacob and Paul will be taking the two of you up the mountain. Their stench will cover your scent. You and Bella will be camping up there with me. Jacob is going to stay on guard that night before going to join the fight."
I nod. "Ok. You're staying out of the fight?"
"Yes, I'm staying with the both of you during the battle to keep you two safe." Edward makes a face. I know how bad he wanted to be down here. I'm contemplating on telling him that he will be fighting Victoria. So he won't be on the sidelines.
"Mhm cool. Ok. So you are staying behind to protect us. Then why the hell are you fighting." I turn to glare at my boyfriend.
Alex just raises his hands in mock surrender. "Someone needs to be here helping out. Alice has been seeing the numbers growing. My power will come in handy." He gives me a crooked smile.
"You're just itching for a fight." Alex just shrugs his shoulder. "Will you at least be there the night before? I would feel comfortable seeing you before you have to leave. It will give me peace of mind."
Alex softens his gaze. "Of course I will be there with you." I nod.
"This is a nice chat and everything but the wolves are coming," interjects Jasper. I turn my head just in time to see Jacob and Paul making their way over to us.
"Hey," says Jacob. He smiles at Bella which she returns.
Paul just stares at Alex. "Hi Paul." He turns to stare at me and gives me a smirk.
"Hey."
"So what's the plan," says Jacob.
Jasper instantly stands up straighter. Looking more like a commanding officer in an army. "The newborns are looking for Bella's scent. They probably know about Sophie and are assuming they will be together. Alex and Edward can't take them up the mountain because they will be expecting that. You and Paul will take the both of them up instead. Your odor will cover them which will give us a further advantage."
Paul glowers at Jasper. "Dude, you do not want to start comparing odors right now."
I sigh. "Paul, calm down." He grumbles in reply.
"Anyway," continues Jasper. "We want the both of you to test our theory. Just to be sure. The two of you will need to go in different directions. We don't want the newborns to figure out our strategy."
"Done," Jacob immediately swings Bella into his arms. He's never going to stop trying.
Edward glares at him. "Run, fast." Jacob soon disappears into the tree line with Bella in his arms.
I turn to Paul. "Well, let's get this over," he says.
I scrunch my face in annoyance. "Shut up Paul." Paul picks me up so that I am in his arms. Alex doesn't say anything; he just glares at Paul.
Paul doesn't say anything as he rushes us into the woods. Paul take us in an unknown direction. Paul continues to be silent as he runs. Is he trying to aggravate me?
"Thanks Paul." He slows down into a walking pace.
"For what?"
"Helping us."
Paul just snorts. "I'm not doing it for your family princess. An army of newborns are coming to kill you and Bella. They are close to town and are a danger to everyone in it. We have to do something before it gets worse."
"Still, thank you."
Paul pauses. "Doesn't it bother you?"
I stare at him in confusion. "Does what bother me?"
"Being with someone with that dangerous of a power. Are you sure that you aren't under his spell?"
I sigh in exasperation. "Paul, his power doesn't work on me. Yes, it did bother me at first. It made me nervous. But, he doesn't even really use it. He use to be part of a coven that used his gift to their advantage. He was a different person back then. His gift is a reminder of who he use to be. He only uses it if necessary. The last time he used it is when we were in Ithaca." The memory from that night plays in my mind. I don't think I will ever forget that night.
"I still don't like it," grumbles Paul.
"Paul, why do you care? We are not a couple. I am not your imprint. Hell, we can barely stand each other as it is."
"I don't understand why you don't like me. I'm a ray of sunshine," retorts Paul.
I can't contain my laughter. Paul just smiles. "I don't not like you. Its more on the line that I tolerate you."
"Well that make me feel better. And to answer your question, I don't know. I view you as a pain in the ass sister that I never wanted and that I need to protect. I guess the fact that you tried to save Bella gave you brownie point in my book. I still can't comprehend that vampires adopted a human into their family. When you were a kid no less."
"You don't have to understand it Paul. They just did, and they never hurt me. They will never hurt me."
"They will when you are turned."
"That's my decision Paul."
"You do know the treaty will be broken though right? I will have no choice but to kill you." I sigh in frustration. I don't want to think about this.
"Can we not talk about this right now? We can talk about this when that day comes."
"It may come sooner Sophie. Bella wants to be turned soon. It'll be broken as soon as she becomes a vampire." I know there was truth in his words.
"Still, lets talk about something else please."
Paul huffs in annoyance. "Fine. What will happen when Bella turns?"
"What do you mean?"
"Where will you go? You can't very well stay with her as a newborn. You will still be human."
"Oh. We haven't really discussed it. I will probably go somewhere with Alex for a while. There's a house he got for us about four hours away from here. I'll be away from my family but not too far. I don't know how long we will be there. I want to experience life and me and Alex have talked about traveling."
"Where to?"
"Not sure. Probably South America and Asia. I would like to go somewhere warm and tropical." Me and Alex both agreed to stay away from Europe. The farther away from Italy would be better. It would be suicide if we were close to the Volturi. Aro wanted both of us on their guard and just the two of us won't be a fair fight. I'll also still be human and Alex would be our only line of defense. I still don't understand this power that I have. Nothing has happened since Italy and I'm not sure when it will come back.
"How long will you be away from your family?" questions Paul.
That is the tough part in this whole ordeal. "I don't know. A year, maybe two. Everyone needs to be there with Bella to make sure she doesn't go on a murder spree. I'll need to stay away until she has full control. Rosalie and Emmett said they would come visit every now and then. We haven't gone into permanent plans. It's just suggestions that have been tossed around."
"You'll need to make a decision soon though."
I nod in agreement. "Yes, we will. I think the plan is to go to the house close by and spend some time there before leaving on our extended vacation."
Paul pauses in thought. He continues to walk towards a ray of light coming through the trees. "Well, I'm glad you at least have some time left of your humanity." I don't say a word as we exit out of the tree line. Edward and Alex are both standing in the clearing, alone. Paul lets me down and I sprint towards Alex.
I'm instantly swept off my feet and into his arms. Alex breathes in and steps back with a look of disgust.
"You stink."
"Thanks for that Romeo."
"Don't worry. You'll get a shower once we get home. I can help you with that." Alex wiggles his eyebrows at me and I instantly understand his meaning. Heat rushes to my face. Edward just grumbles in reply.
"What do you mean by that?" growls Paul. Oh great. A further complication that I don't need.
"Hey. What did we miss?" Saved by the bell. Thank you Jacob Black.
"Nothing interesting," I say before Paul can get a word in. I only hear a grumble in response. Bella walks to Edward and he engulfs her into a hug.
"Well, it worked. You can't smell Bella and Sophie's scent for miles. I think this was a successful experiment," interjects Jasper as he makes his way back over to us.
"Good. When do you need us?"
"We need the both of you tomorrow around six. We want to have them up the mountain before the sun sets."
"Ok, we also plan to be there overnight." I look over at Paul.
"I thought it was only Jacob who was on guard duty.?"
Paul gives me his signature smirk. "Two look outs are better than one. Don't worry, the both of us will be gone the next morning."
I nod. "Bye, see you guys tomorrow." They just nod in response and run back into the trees.
"So, that went well," says Bella.
All of us turn to stare at her. "Define well Bella," grumbles Edward.
"Well, we will see all of you tomorrow. Me and Sophie are going to spend some time together." I look over at Alex in shock.
"We aren't going back to the house." He smiles down at me.
"No, I thought some peace and quiet before the big event would be much needed for you. We're going back to the house I bought."
"You bought a house?" Bella looks at us in confusion.
"He bought a house for us in the Snoqualmie National Forest. It's on the outskirts of Snoqualmie Falls. Somewhere that's just for the two of us."
"Oh." Bella nods in understanding.
"Wait. What about my things?" I turn to look at Alex.
"Don't worry about it. I already have a bag packed for you and waiting in the car. Alice helped me with it. She thinks it will be good for us to have a night alone together." I smile in response.
"Ok. Bye everyone. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Be careful Sophie." I turn to Edward.
"I will. Bye." With that said, I turn around and follow after Alex towards my new car.
I don't say anything on the way there. I just hold his hand and smile. This will be good to have a night away. Away from any thoughts about the newborn army and of Victoria. My mind won't be surrounded by the immanent danger because I'll be thinking about something else entirely.
The battle is coming soon. It'll probably be in the next two chapters. I'm not sure if I will be posting another chapter before New Years. It will probably be in January when I post the next chapter. Just to warn you, there will be drama coming up. Happy Holidays to all of you and I hope you have a great New Years. Until next time!