Since the time that I joined the Cullen's, I've always lived in the cold. They couldn't be in the sun for obvious reasons. We had to live in places where the sun wasn't out very much. From Maine, to areas in Canada, to Denali and Forks. These areas were mostly gloomy and cold. Not that I would ever complain about it though. I lived with a loving family and they always made sure that I was as warm as possible. So I should be used to the cold. However, this situation is a totally different matter.
The cold wind and air shook the tent and I was beginning to wonder if the tent would fly away with us in it.
"Don't worry. The tent is firmly in place. We aren't going anywhere," answers Alex. I guess he figured out what I was thinking.
I looked at him across from the tent. Alex was sitting as far away from me as possible, as if he was afraid that his breath would freeze me to death. Another cold breeze shook the tent and I shivered along with it.
"How is it so cold? It's June for goodness sake." I was laying in a sleeping bag with my winter clothes still on. I was wearing my winter jacket and I had on a winter hat and gloves. I'm glad that Alice reminded me to bring them. I was wearing wool socks underneath my hiking boots, trying my best to keep my feet warm. I even have two thermal blankets wrapped around me inside of the sleeping bag.
Alex doesn't answer me. He just stares at me in agony.
Alice's clothes selection for me was plenty warm. I was probably feeling warmer than Bella at the moment. I was still cold though. I needed a distraction.
"When are you heading down tomorrow?" Alex looked at me before answering my question.
"Probably around nine or ten. Alice is seeing that the battle will be around noon. I need to be there before the newborns show up."
I shiver again as I nod my head. "How long will you be gone? Will you come back before the fight is over?" Alex looks at me in confusion.
"Why? Sophie, does something happen?" I look at him and sigh. I need to tell him.
"Yes."
"What happens Sophie? What happens in the book?" I look towards the entrance to the tent, as if I can see where Paul is at.
"Paul, is he close by?"
Alex shakes his head. "He's out there but not close enough to hear you. You might want to keep your voice down though."
"Ok. She finds us. She comes when all of you are fighting the newborns and figures out that Edward is with Bella. She follows his scent which brings her up here."
Alex's face is unreadable. "What happens next?"
"She's not alone. The vampire that attacked me, Riley Biers, is with her. Seth is up here and he fights Riley. Edward fights Victoria."
"Do we win?"
"Yes. It's a brutal fight but Seth kills Riley and Edward kills Victoria." Alex looks at the entrance to the tent.
"Edward, did you catch that?" The entrance to the tent immediately zips open and Edward quickly appears. He instantly zips the tent back shut.
"Every word. Sophie why didn't you say anything sooner."
"I forgot about it and I was nervous how you would react. Some of the events are becoming blurs. I don't know if it's from me being here so long, but I'm not able to remember every detail like I use to. Some I remember clearly and others I remember at the last second. I'm sorry." Edward and Alex exchange a look.
"Soph, it's ok. We'll figure this out. It's too late to talk to the wolves. They will just ask questions if we recommend someone else. We will just have to keep Seth with us," responds Edward.
"Alice is saying that the numbers are still growing. They are currently on their way here and are still turning people. I will have to go down and fight with everyone," says Alex.
I've really screwed up this time.
"Sophie, do you know exactly when she will get here," says Edward. I can tell that they are trying to keep their voices down so that Paul and Jacob won't overhear our conversation.
I shake my head. "I don't know an exact time. I don't really know how long the fight will last either. I just know that she comes up here after the fight starts."
Alex runs a hand through his blond hair. "I'll go down and fight the newborns. When the numbers get lower, I'll come straight back up here. It's only two of them, correct?"
"Yes. It's just Victoria and Riley."
Edward sighs but nods. "Alright. I'll fight her and hold her off as long as I can. You said that I'm able to kill her."
"Yes, you bite her head off." His eyes widen.
"Please don't tell me that Bella sees that." My silence answers his question. He groans. "Great."
"Don't worry about that. She doesn't care. She's actually relieved when you kill her."
"Alright. Alex you will fight with everyone and when the numbers get lower, come straight back up here. It's only two of them so me and Seth should be able to manage until you come up. Since we kill them in the book, we will be able to do it now." Edward looks in the direction of the tent that Bella is in and grimaces. "I need to go. Bella is getting worse. I need to make sure that she is ok." I nod my head.
"Ok. Edward, I'm really sorry for not bringing this up sooner."
"Don't worry about that. It will be fine. We will be fine. I'll see you in the morning." Edward stares at me for a moment but doesn't touch me. He's afraid to touch me also because of the cold weather. Edward then opens the tent and closes it after him.
A shiver overcomes my body. My teeth start to chatter. I look at Alex and he seems to be in further agony. "Alex, I'm-"
"Sophie, stop apologizing. I'm not mad. Everything will work out. I'm more worried about you at the moment. I wish I brought you a space heater."
"And risk this tent going up in flames? No thanks. I would rather freeze to death than die from a burning tent." The wind gets worse and the temperature starts to lower even further. It feels as if a glacier has moved to this location, just to torment me further.
My feet start to grow cold and my arms start to go numb. I thought that all these layers would keep me warm. Please don't let me get hyperthermia.
Alex's head bolts up and he stares at the entrance to the tent as it opens. I shiver and look over to see Paul hoping in and quickly shutting the tent.
"What are you doing in here?" demands Alex. "Get out." Paul just scoffs and gets closer to me. I start to feel the heat coming off of him. He's like my own personal space heater.
"I can hear her teeth chattering twenty feet away. She's not as bad as Bella though. Bella can't even get a word in without stammering. Since you are an ice block, I'm here to warm her up."
Paul starts to unzip the sleeping bag. "Paul," I demand as a warning. Alex's hand immediately shoots out and shoves it on Paul's shoulder. Restraining him from getting closer to me.
"Get your hand off of me leech," hisses Paul. I feel his body start to shake. I need to do something before Paul phases. I could get seriously hurt if he phases right here.
"Keep your hands off of her mongrel," answers Alex blankly.
"Both of you stop it. Now is not the time for this." I shiver again. "Paul, just get out. I'm f-f-f-fine." My voice starts to crack and my teeth start to chatter worse. Great, perfect timing.
"No, your not. You'll freeze to death at this rate. I'll keep my hands to my self but you might need your toes in the future. I run at a healthy 108 degree temperature. I'm your personal space heater."
I scoff. I don't say anything to his comment. Another shiver engulfs my body. Alex and Paul stare at each other before Alex slowly removes his hand from Paul's shoulder.
"Watch it," is the only thing that Alex says.
Paul then scoots me over and hops into the nonexistent space in the sleeping bag, forcing the zipper up behind him.
Warmth immediately engulfs me. I feel my body start to relax.
"There. Better?" I sigh in content.
"I don't like this, but yes. You feel like the sun."
"Perks of being a wolf."
I shake my head sleepily. "No. It's just a Paul thing. Your warmth goes well with your hot head."
Alex tries to contain a laugh while Paul just growls. "Your annoying," grumbles Paul.
I giggle and let out a yawn. "You love it. It just goes with my wonderful personality." My eyes start to grow heavy. Paul engulfs me further into his arms. I don't like this but I'm glad to be warm.
"Go to sleep Sophie." I don't object to him and start to feel myself drifting off. I get into a more comfortable position and relax.
I'm almost out when I hear their hush whispers.
"This has to be eating you alive," gloats Paul.
"I wish you would shut up dog. But to answer your question, yes. I wish that I could comfort her. I hate seeing her cold or hurt."
"Yet your going to hurt her. I heard that the change is excruciating."
"Yes, it is. If there was another way for her then I would. That's the part I'm not looking forward to."
"Do you want her to become like you."
"Yes and no. I want us to be together forever but I don't want her to become like me. I don't want this for her. If there was a second option in order for us to be together, then I would take it."
"How long does the change take."
"Three days," responds Alex bleakly. Paul's arms grow tighter around me but not enough to hurt me.
"I'm glad that she's waiting but once she's bitten..."
"I know," sighs Alex. "We'll probably be far away from here when it happens."
There's a pregnant pause between them. "She said that the two of you will be traveling."
"We've discussed it. Once Bella turns, Sophie can't be anywhere near her for the first year or so. It's too dangerous for her. Bella could accidentally slip."
"Where will the two of you go?"
"We have a house about four hours away from Forks. We'll start there and then travel to South America. She wants to travel before she's turned. I want her to have every human experience possible before she turns."
"How long will you stay here before traveling?"
A long pause engulfs the moment. "I haven't told her this, but I want us to move soon. Preferably after this fight. It's going to be the two of us soon so I thought we would move into the new house and then come back soon."
"Come back in time for the wedding right?"
"How do you..."
Paul snorts. "Please, anyone can see that it's going to happen. Jacob just doesn't want to accept it. Has the date been finalized?"
Another round of silence comes between the two. Alex is probably glaring at Paul. Glaring at him from the way he is holding me. "They haven't really discussed it. Probably in August though. You know Bella, the sooner the better." I can just imagine Alex rolling his eyes at his comment. Paul grumbles in response.
"So the two of you will move away after this fight and come back for the wedding?"
"Yes, hopefully. I'm going to ask her later. She's been with them almost her whole life. It's going to be difficult for her to be away from them. Not seeing her family everyday. It'll be an adjustment for her."
"Do you think she will go along with it. Moving right after this fight?"
"I think so. She wants to be with me. She wants some time away from her family so it can be just the two of us. She loves Forks, but I feel that she wants to leave. A change of scenery." The tent becomes silent yet again.
"Well. Unlike you bloodsuckers, I need my sleep." A growl echoes throughout the tent. The growl comes out of Alex.
"I would advise against that. I don't want you to sleep with her in your arms."
"I need to sleep so that I have enough energy to actually kill dead people. It's either I sleep and keep her warm or I will go sleep outside and she will probably freeze to death. Your choice." I've become so relaxed and warm since Paul came inside the tent. I snuggle further into my blankets, not opening my eyes. My eyes are glued shut from exhaustion.
I hear a sigh. "Fine. But watch it," replies Alex.
"Night Dracula," states Paul dryly. I'm so tired that I don't have the energy to bite Paul's head off for that comment.
The silence between the two helps me to give into the darkness. It soon eases me into a dreamless sleep.
So the battle will begin in the next chapter. More than likely the battle will probably last two or three chapters. Maybe four. I have big plans for it and I'm excited for you to read it. Hopefully it will be up soon. Sophie starts to show her strength in these upcoming chapters. Tell me your thoughts and thank you again for reading this little story. Until next time!