Part VIII: La Diabla

As we tore through the night, I reflected on how differently I envisioned this day unfolding. Instead of a quiet party at the Cullen house, I found myself off on a clandestine meeting to watch two, shall we say, very special vampires beat the unliving shit out of each other. Hopefully, Peter will emerge victorious, as he claims he will, as I know none of us are really going to let this Gomer fellow kill him. I shook my head, amusingly. 'Ah, the life of a vampire.'

Fittingly, a full moon bathed the Texan countryside in its gentle glow on this particular night. During our journey to Peter and Charlotte's house to our current run towards Dallas, I had been clued in to the fact that Texas was predominantly farmland. I had always thought of it geographically as similar to Arizona, but now I knew better.

Upon reaching the agreed-upon meeting spot, it was about a half-hour before midnight and the end of 2034. Looking around, the flat expanse of land seemed as apt a setting as any for a fight. Standing beside Demetri, we engaged in quiet conversation, waiting for the action to start. A few minutes later, the tranquility of the desert's stillness was disrupted by the distinct sound of approaching footsteps. A few seconds later, a trio of figures materialized about 30 yards away. It seemed Charlotte's foresight had been right, and Gomer, presumably the ordinary-looking vamp in the middle, had indeed enlisted backup as he stood between two beefy-looking vampires with bulging muscles. Considering that steroids wouldn't impact a vampire post-change, it appeared his allies must have been professional bodybuilders in their former lives.

"See, Char! I told you Gomer was full of shit and couldn't be trusted. We agreed to a fair fight, asshole. What's the deal with bringing Goober and Ernest T?" Peter's angry accusations echoed loudly through the night.

I couldn't help but notice Charlotte shooting Peter a sidelong glance, a silent 'What the hell?' expression etched across her face. It seems Peter's short term memory was pretty sketchy.

"Me? Your scaredy ass brought four vamps to ambush me. You're the yellow-bellied coward that can't be trusted," Gomer yelled right back. He then looked closer at us. "Major, is that you? I didn't think you involved yourself in vampire affairs anymore. I heard you went off to live and sing 'Kumbaya' with the humans."

Jasper did not dignify Gomer with a response, but Peter, as always, had no shortage of words. "They're just here to witness me kicking your butt, and as a precaution in case your deceitful ass brought... Honestly, I'm not sure what to call those two freaks you brought along. Forget everyone else; let's go, you and me, right here, right now. No one else needs to get involved. I'm going to rip your head off and shove it where the sun don't shine. I might just leave you like that."

"Good luck with that, asshole. I'm going to enjoy ending you, and after I've finished with you, and you're a pile of ash, I'm going to offer that pretty little wife of yours the expertise of a real man. I know she's been missing out for decades, stuck with only your limp dick to disappoint her. Unless, of course, she enjoys stepping out on you to get it from a real vampire, and you've just been too clueless to notice the smile on her face every time she comes back from one of her 'shopping trips'!"

Oh shit. Gomer had really crossed a line with that insult, and Peter looked like he was about to explode into action when I saw Gomer quickly tap a button on his wristwatch. The smug grin on Gomer's face widened as we heard it: the sounds of footsteps, like a stampede converging from all directions.

Swiftly, I deployed my shield around us, without anyone being the wiser. Vampires started materializing from every direction, easily surpassing 20, leaving us completely surrounded. Jasper, Peter, Charlotte, Demetri, and I all assumed battle-ready positions, forming a tighter circle to ensure none of our backs were unprotected. I pulsed my shield around Demetri's body, signaling that we were protected. He responded with nothing more than the slightest nod of his head. We had developed many ways to communicate without uttering a word, avoiding the risk of tipping off potential adversaries.

Then we heard even more footsteps approaching, and five additional vampires appeared. Yet, they garnered a far more intense response from Jasper, Peter, and Charlotte, who all started growling angrily at the sight of the newcomers. The new group halted next to Gomer, and I discerned a petite woman, seemingly of Mexican descent, flanked by four imposing male bodyguards.

Her voice bore a distinct Mexican accent, "Ah, Gomer. Good to see you well. Judging from your signal, your trap worked? Let's see who you've brought for me today." With that, she turned towards us, striding alongside Gomer and his two goons.

As the woman approached, her attention shifted to us, and she came to a sudden halt. "Oh, Gomer, you've truly outdone yourself this time. You promised me only that vile rat Peter and perhaps his little wife, but here you've delivered the Major himself." Her grin took on an even more sinister quality, "Hello, Jasper. It's been a long time."

I had a solid inkling of who this woman was, and Jasper's confirmation came in the form of a single word, spat out as if he had a bad taste in his mouth. "Maria."

"Jasper, Jasper, Jasper," Maria purred. "You shouldn't have involved yourself in matters that didn't concern you. Of course, I had plans to come for you eventually, to inflict my revenge for your betrayal and abandonment, but I was in no rush. Now, you've made my job much easier, sparing me from sending out my newborns to collect you. You really should be grateful it worked out this way, considering I was going to let them have their way with your little wife."

Jasper's angry growls began again, yet Maria continued without pause. "Oh yes, I've kept up with the almighty Major, and I must say, what a sad sight you've become. Truthfully, I believed the longer I waited, the more self-punishment you'd inflict upon yourself. Really, Major? Animals and attending human schools? How the mighty have fallen." She shook her head in mock sadness. It was obvious she was relishing this reunion, and why wouldn't she, outnumbering us 5 to 1.

After Maria had her fun taunting Jasper, she glanced right over me as if I were invisible and fixed her gaze on Demetri. Her smile broadened even further. "Demetri... is that you? What are you doing here?" She scanned the surrounding landscape, akin to Peter, searching for our Volturi backup. Realizing there was none, her malevolent smile widened even more. "All alone, it seems. Where are your witch twins? The only true reason the Volturi still hold power. Without them to keep the vampire world under your heel, the Volturi are nothing, and you, my old friend, are beyond useless." Her words only fueled my growing anger. No one disrespects my man like that.

Maria then turned to Gomer, wearing a satisfied expression. "This little engagement you informed me about has truly surpassed anything I could have imagined. After tonight, Gomer, consider your debt completely repaid. You are a free man." I noticed the smile forming on Gomer's face. Little did he realize that his newfound freedom would be short-lived, and he would soon be dead.

As I listened to Maria's insults and barbs, I also surveyed the vampires surrounding us, keenly aware of the regret that would accompany what I had to do. They were just too feral to be allowed to leave. Many of them resembled figures straight out of a horror picture, their clothes soaked in blood and gore. Some wore attire stained with dried blood, while others were almost drenched in the stuff, still fresh and wet. Jasper had detailed the brutality of Maria's newborns' lives and their dismal treatment, but this reality surpassed even my darkest imaginings. What an awful life they had been forced to lead. I'm certain that for many of them, they would consider it a mercy when I put an end to their torment.

Maria persisted in her belittling of our group, and once again, she honed in on my husband. I worked to control my anger, patiently waiting until the time was right. I was letting her dig herself a hole so deep that she would never be able to climb her way back out.

"Oh, Demetri. It will feel good to bloody the Volturi's nose with your demise. They've hindered my conquest for far too long. Once you're gone, I'll build up my power base in secret where no one will find me. Then, when I'm ready, we'll sweep over the Volturi like locusts, eliminating everyone in my path towards ultimate power. Thank you for sticking your head out of the sand so I could lop it off."

It seemed Maria was reveling in her apparent victory a little too much and showed no signs of ending her gloating. However, I had reached the limit of my patience. Breaking ranks, I walked in front of the others, shaking my head at her with a mix of outrage and disdain.

"Holy shit, Maria. Do you ever shut up? You're the first real bad guy I've encountered, and you sound like some goddamn James Bond villain reject. I hope every evil vampire I come across doesn't do this shit; it'll get old real fast. You had us outnumbered. Why keep blabbering on and on, giving us the chance to defeat you?"

Turning to Demetri, I asked, "Has she always been like this? I imagined her to be far more ruthless and menacing."

I knew I was now delivering my own little monologue, but after enduring Maria's barrage of insults and terrible remarks about my friends and husband, I felt I had earned the right to speak my mind.

Maria's smile twisted with anger as my interruption disrupted her musings. It was the first time she truly acknowledged my presence, and with a dismissive tone, she inquired, "And who are you?"

Attempting to match her earlier malevolent smile, I conjured the most sinister one I could muster. "Well, I'm your executioner." I saw Maria scoff, but I paid her no mind. "Oh, I doubt I'll do the deed myself, but you will be dead because of me. You've lived for centuries, reveling in the killing and torturing of thousands, probably tens of thousands. And for what? To be taken out on New Year's due to a dispute between two rubes in a pissing contest. A fitting end, I think, for such a horrible woman."

Maria regarded me with disbelief. "You're outnumbered more than 5 to 1, even with the Major; you stand no chance." Her voice grew louder, almost reaching a scream. "Newborns, on my signal, kill these fools and bring me their heads."

I shook my head and spoke in a hushed tone, "No, Maria, in the end, you'll die alone." Without waiting for anyone to react or for Maria to issue her attack order, I acted swiftly. It was a simple process, twenty-eight slices, and the fight was all but over. The bodies of every newborn surrounding us and all the guards near Maria and Gomer collapsed to the ground in a heap, as if someone had cut their strings holding them up, yet their heads hovered eerily in the air. I also placed shields around Maria and Gomer, confining them in place. Behind me, I heard gasps from Peter and Charlotte. They had clearly been expecting a fight and most likely their own demise.

Observing Maria and Gomer futilely attempting to move within the confines of my shields, I felt my anger welling up. They had intended to kill my friends, they were going to kill Demetri, they were going to kill me. It was difficult, but I restrained myself from squashing Maria like a bug. Instead, I started having the heads all float towards Maria so she could see all that she had wrought. As I moved the heads, making them bob up and down like some macabre puppet show, I had them form a floating circle around Maria. Seeing this, she stopped slamming herself against the walls of my shield and, for the first time, looked at me with genuine fear.

"Now you see." I said menacingly, taking a step forward. "Your end has come." Igniting a flame in each head, I intensified the fires. The flames burned through the eye sockets first, and then fire shot out of their mouths before completely engulfing each head in flames, creating a mesmerizing spectacle around Maria's frozen form. Within a minute, all the heads had burned to ash, and the wind carried their ashes away.

Maria stood motionless, her gaze fixed on me. Finally, she whispered, "La Diabla."

My grin widened at her words. "The devil?" I let the word percolate on my tongue and in my thoughts. "I've never been called that before. An angel, yes, many times, but the devil does have a nice ring to it for rare occasions such as this." Turning my head back, I shot a smirk and a wink at Demetri.

I refocused my attention on Maria. "Anyway, before you meet your maker, I believe Peter and Gomer have some unfinished business." Glancing at Gomer, I noticed he hadn't yet grasped that his time had come and was still attempting to escape. Shaking my head, I turned to Peter, who wore a broad smile stretching from ear to ear. "I think you're up, Peter. You can try the whole head-up-the-ass thing if you want, but it probably would be a bad idea to leave him wandering through the desert like that. Us Italian fuckers might have something to say about that, you know, considering the whole secrecy thing and all."

Peter burst into laughter. "I apologize for everything I said about you. You're a-okay in my book."

"Thank you. Now, let's see you take out the trash. After that, you three can figure out who gets the honor of ending the head bitch." I walked over and joined Demetri, whose hand started to rub my back comfortably. We watched as Peter advanced, and right before he reached Gomer, I lowered the shield holding him there.

The fight didn't last that long. After about 3 minutes, a loud rending noise echoed through the desert, and Gomer's arm was sent flying, hitting the dirt where it continued to wiggle disturbingly. Soon, Peter violently ripped Gomer's head from his body. As Peter held the head in his hands, he looked at Gomer's twitching body, clearly deep in thought. After a moment, he shook his head, lifting Gomer's head to gaze into his vacant eyes, which darted around unnervingly—a sight that still creeped me out.

"This is your lucky day, Gomer. I don't really want to get anywhere near your smelly ass, so I'm just going to put you down."

Peter dropped Gomer's head onto his twitching body, while I saw Charlotte zip over to his discarded arm, tossing it onto the pile. Peter then pulled out his lighter and, after flicking it on, tossed it, setting Gomer's body ablaze. That reminded me, and I set all the fallen bodies on fire to erase any evidence of what had occurred here. Charlotte walked over to Peter, who put his arm around her while we all watched Gomer turn to ash. After he had blown away, all that was left was Maria. We all turned our heads toward her as she was still encased in my shield, standing quietly. Maybe she had been hoping we would forget about her. Glancing at Jasper and his friends, the expression "if looks could kill" did not do justice to how they stared at their former tormentor.

"Just let me know when you want me to release her." Jasper nodded at me as the Whitlocks began discussing quietly among themselves how Maria should meet her end. While they talked, I turned to Demetri and embraced him tightly. "Hey, you," I whispered, finding comfort in his arms. "Just another typical night for us, huh? Happy New Year, by the way."

Demetri held me close, his hand soothingly rubbing my back. He whispered in my ear, "Are you okay, Bella? I know you don't like to kill like that. But, as always, you were amazing. And, of course, Happy New Year."

I heaved a sigh. "I'll be okay. I know those newborns didn't choose this life, but we couldn't let them go free. And truthfully, I thought you guys should have taken out Maria a long time ago. Her time was long past due."

I continued embracing Demetri until I heard Jasper speak up. "Okay, Bella, we're ready whenever you are." I turned around as we watched Peter, Charlotte, and Jasper surrounding Maria. Once they were in position, I lowered my shield and nodded to Jasper.

Maria managed to utter one final word, "Major..." before Jasper unleashed his fury. What followed was nothing short of brutal. In under a minute, Maria lay scattered across the desert floor, reduced to small, gruesome chunks. With the three individuals who had endured her torment for years standing over her remains, they swiftly gathered all the pieces into a grisly pile, and Jasper set her alight. The trio stood solemnly around the fire, watching as the embodiment of their nightmares blew away with the wind.

After double-checking that there were no overlooked pieces of Maria anywhere, Peter spoke up, a wide grin plastered on his face. "See, I told you guys there was nothing to worry about. I probably didn't even need the backup." Charlotte lightly backhanded him in the stomach, shaking her head and eliciting laughter from all of us. Undeterred, Peter continued unabated, as if it had never happened, "Anyway, let's go back to our place and celebrate. We have a lot to be thankful for this new year. Now, come on, let's all sing 'Ding dong the bitch is dead.'" As we set off for their house, I laughed, enjoying Peter's hilarious Maria-inspired rendition of the timeless classic. I knew I'd likely be humming that tune for a good long while.

Let me know your thoughts. Did you guys like how Maria punched her ticket to the great beyond?