This chapter's got some twists and turns so hold on and read on!
Chapter 14
F POV
Bella tossed and turned all night, murmuring worriedly about all of us, especially me. I knew the upcoming conflict was weighing heavily on her, feeling at fault for all of us 'risking our lives' I sighed thinking about the ridiculousness of my mate's worries. We'd be fine, she would be fine.
The sun rose, casting a dull gray light through her bedroom window. We'd stayed at Charlie's to see Tristan off to Olympia, but Bella would spend the duration of the ordeal at the cabin with Alec and Dem. I wanted her far away from the action.
It was seven thirty, Tristan and Jane would be arriving soon. With a kiss to my mate's sleeping lips, I went downstairs to make her some breakfast. I heard her shuffling about as the toaster dinged, tossing the slices of bread on a plate as I stirred the eggs, trying not to gag at their disgusting smell. If only she knew the shit I put up with. By the time she sleepily descended the staircase, I was plating her food, putting it along with her coffee at the table. She grinned blearily at me, snuggling into my stone chest before snaking out a small pale hand and grasping her liquid lifeline, gulping down some of the hot sludge-looking stuff with a look of contentment. As if remembering the upcoming events, her mood soured as she sat down, pushing the food about her plate with her fork until I accused her of disgracing my hard work. I wasn't above guilting my mate a little bit to keep her healthy.
Jane and Tristan came in as she shoveled the last bites of egg into her mouth, holding out a slice of buttered toast to Tristan who gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes before accepting the offered food and sitting down across from her, one arm coming up to wrap around his tiny mate's waist as he ate. Demetri and Alec came in, nodding to me from the front hall where I went and joined them, waiting for the Cullens' car to pull in.
"Clear on your roles?" I fired at them. They nodded sharply, knowing they had the most important job of all: protecting my mate.
I nodded back, hearing a car approaching from a few blocks away. Despite its modified near-silent engine, my advanced hearing could pick it out easily. I turned, nodding towards Jane who slumped a little. Knowing what was happening, Bella got up to join us in the hall, leaving the couple a moment alone before having to separate.
We opened the door as they pulled up to the house, Tristan exiting with a bag slung over his shoulder. We could tell they tried not to show their surprise as the young male approached their vehicle, but they were unable to hide their shock when Jane Volturi, heartless witch twin, spun the taller male around before giving him a searing, demanding kiss that left no room to question as to why he was so important to our coven. Jane turned and gave them a look that made even the blonde woman's expression pinch in fear before squeezing Tristan's hand and letting him go.
We watched as they drove away, Alec resting his hands on his sister's shoulders, Bella holding on to one of her hands as Jane looked off longingly for a moment before turning towards Dem and I.
"Okay," she said, with a nod to herself, "let's take out the trash".
"That's my girl" Alec said pridefully, bumping shoulders with her as we all walked around the back of the house towards the cabin.
I scooped up my mate and we took off. We'd wait until two, giving the Cullens time to reach Olympia before hell broke loose. We had six hours to kill. Hour one we called the Cullens and went over the plan of attack, the seer and mind reader would work together to help us pinpoint Victoria and the newborns, the emo one would be our first line of defense, sending the newborns into a frenzy of wild emotions. Demetri and I would take them out along with the Cullens. It was an easy feat in itself, especially given my enhanced abilities. The tricky part was going to be the red bitch, which is why the seer and mind reader's main jobs were not to fight, but to find a way to get Dem and Victoria close enough to each other for him to be able to track her once she tried to flee. Once he got her signature, with my speed it would be game over; I'd carry Dem on my back if I had to. I'd do anything to keep my mate safe.
The second hour Bella had a minor panic attack which Demetri was able to talk her out of. I nearly bit his head off when he said "I swear to god if you don't cut that shit out now, I'll set Alec up with one of your friends" but it somehow worked, the odd threat actually stunned her into silence which slowly morphed into giggles and then full out laughter. Alec didn't see the humor in it, but Jane did and that also helped ease her worry somewhat.
The next three hours Bella and Jane binged some stupid vampire show. I stopped paying attention the second I saw the first 'vampire' come on the screen. Alec was almost as invested as the girls, and Demetri motioned to join him outside where we played cards to pass the time.
The last hour before leaving, Bella sat nestled in my lap, unwilling to part until necessary. Jane put on two layers of Bella's clothes after taking a shower and using all her hair and body products in attempt to mask her own smell and resemble Bella's more. Shortly after, Jane left in the beast to meet the Cullens; driving would take longer than running so I stayed behind with Bella until I absolutely had to go ten minutes before 'go time'.
"It's time, gattino" I said, fingers brushing along the soft, warm skin of her cheek, thumb catching a tear that trickled down. "No need for tears, just another day, remember?" She nodded, distraught before urging me forward and pressing a long, hard kiss to my unyielding lips.
I sighed, pulling back and pressing a kiss to her temple. "Back before you know it" I winked as I pulled back, nodding once to my brothers before turning and heading off to, as Jane put it, take out the trash.
I arrived at the meeting spot with the case containing my mate's blood. Jane pulled in just as the three Cullens pulled up.
"Carlisle is on standby" the mind reader supplied, and I nodded in approval.
"Good. And the bitch?" I questioned, eyes casting towards the seer who had a faraway look.
"She's close. They're all close. I can't see them arriving, but I can see us fighting them soon."
I stared them down, "this case contains Bella's blood. Jane will wear it to distract and lure them to us. Will you have any issues?"
The emo one scoffed, "it's not like we can get the blood once Jaen's wearin' it, so don't worry"
I sneered at him before turning to the mind reader, "You. She's your singer. Will there be a problem?" I challenged him, watching as he stiffened and squared his shoulders.
"Bella never has, nor will she ever be in danger around me. I will control my thirst." He stated.
I turned to Jane who took the needle by the chamber, bringing it into the beast. She raised it over her head, then crushed it, sending my mate's blood pouring down over herself and splattering around the cab of the truck.
I sighed, "dramatics" Jane simply smirked. Throwing the truck into reverse, she angled the truck towards the short path off the road that led to a small clearing where Jane would drive, hoping to lure the incoming vampires there.
The beast lurched as she shifted it into drive, dainty stone foot pressing down on the gas to send the old truck barreling down the path. As its tires hit the clearing, I could hear the sound of their feet running towards us through the forest.
"They're coming" Alice warned.
"There," I pointed towards the opposite end of the clearing, to the left of the truck and Jane steered over in that direction, seeing my gesture in the rear-view mirror.
Seconds later, a large group of confused and angry newborns burst into the clearing. Jasper was throwing wave after wave of new emotion at them, causing discord between their group. Jane burst through the windshield of the truck, sending a a few to the ground with her gift as she advanced on them.
I flew forward and had nearly half their group beheaded before they even saw me coming. I'll admit, Jasper fought well for a Cullen, his time in the Southern Wars clearly having taught him to become a skilled fighter.
I knew the head bitch hadn't arrived, but it wasn't until Alice gasped that I turned my attention to her. Jane and Emo kept focusing on the few remaining newborns.
"Victoria, she figured us out—" she stopped, eyes shifting as she watched new decisions being made, plans forming.
"Oh god" she gasped. I wanted to badly to run to my mate, but I was torn between knowing what I was running into and trusting my coven mates to ward off the danger long enough to buy me the necessary time.
The seer kept still, locked in a vision, I turned towards the mind reader. "Translate" I growled.
He too was watching, eyes widened, lips parting, "Victoria she found a gifted vampire—oh no. Bella!"
I took off, my dead heart nearly stopping again as the seer's voice reached my travelling ears. This was not something we saw coming.
B POV
I sighed again, looking at the clock. It had been around half an hour since they left. I knew the fight would have started by now and I couldn't sit still. I'd tried reading, watching tv, writing, snacking. The last one nearly made me throw up I was so anxious, so I took to sitting on the porch chair, rocking back and forth, gazing out at the tree line as if I'd be able to see Felix before he reached me. Alec and Demetri were standing a few yards ahead, halfway between the tree line and the porch. Alec turned back towards me with a frown on his face, I already knew what he was going to say as he opened his mouth.
"B" Alec grumbled; you should really get back insi—" his body froze.
"Alec what the fuck this is seriously not the time to mess around. Are you insane?" Demi hissed, back gone ramrod straight.
"Not me." Alec mumbled, sounding confused and worried.
"Bella," Demetri barked, "inside, right the fuck now". I leaped up, scrambling inside. I didn't understand what was going on, only that two of the most skilled vampires in the world were standing outside to protect me. They were capable, cunning, skilled, and ruthless. But right now, they were also blind. The only thing I could think of was that Victoria had created a gifted vampire and that she had found me. I was screwed. I bit my lip, trying to hold back my tears as I imagined the two vampires outside who'd become family to me, defenseless against the threat closing in.
ALEC POV
I couldn't see, I couldn't see. It was a strange thing, having someone use a gift on you that you'd used on so many others countless times.
"Focus Al," Dem hissed. He was right, I didn't have my sight, but I had my other senses so there was a shot my gift could still work on our attacker. Even if others came, at least we'd have a shot if I could hold the gifted vampire captive so they couldn't effect the other when they arrived. I could hear two pairs of feet running along the forest floor, one slightly ahead of the other as they split up. I turned towards the closest one, assuming the first would be the source of our impairment.
Focus. I shifted slightly to the right, pushing out the mist that accompanied my gift, and the footsteps halted. "Nice" Dem praised, voice still tense as he tried to locate the other vampire, cursing when he heard peels of high-pitched feminine laughter. "I wouldn't move if I were you, Volturi scum" she spat.
B POV
I shut myself in the bathroom, the only room without a window. I turned the shower on hoping to muffle my frantic heart beat even though I knew it was useless. I'd barely turned it on when cold hands wrapped around my body, the air wheezing out of my lungs as her gleeful laughter filled my ears, making my blood run cold.
I blinked and we were outside, she threatened my coven mates not to move, one hand poised across my collarbone, the other tangled roughly in my hair, jerking my head to the side to expose my neck.
I closed my eyes, wanting to picture my mate and coven mates as they were since I'd met them, funny, protective, content, and brave; wanting my last impression of them to be how I would always see them: my strong and loving family.
F POV
As I approached the cabin, my enhanced eyesight could pinpoint the fucker blinding my brothers through the trees. I knew his power and maybe even Alec's would affect me as I closed in. I'd built up a slight immunity to both of the twins' powers over the years, but two vision impairing gifts at once was impossible to withstand. Pushing all my strength at the threat, I locked in on my target, memorizing his location and scent, barreling forwards even as my sight disappeared. My hands locked around his neck, ripping his head off and in two. Sensing my arrival, Alec's gift receded, and the fog pushing at my senses dissipated. I felt the mind reader approaching and nearly dropped to my knees along side him as we both spotted my mate in the arms of Victoria.
"Ugh finally" she sneered down at Cullen, "I thought you'd never show up."
She addressed us all now, "I'm not sure what your business is here, Volturi, but I can assure you that justice is about to be served. This wicked little human bitch got my precious mate killed. Now I will exact my revenge so her pathetic mate can feel what I feel." She grinned, mouth dipping towards my mate's neck torturously slow. Bella's eyes were screwed shut, no doubt awaiting her death.
NO. I thought, looking towards Cullen. Quick, distract her, I just need her to loosen her grip for a second.
He nodded, rising to his feet, "Victoria, did you want to know James's last words before we tore him apart? I know you weren't close by, weren't there to hear as he begged for his life…" he trailed off. I watched, focused on the way her fingers flexed, digging into my mates delicate flesh causing a whimper to leave her lips. She released her hold on Bella's hair for a second as she raised her head to retaliate, eyes burning with rage.
"Dem, catch" I murmured. Using my gift, Bella went soaring through the air, narrowly escaping Victoria's desperate hands as she grappled after her. But she was too late, hand risen in the air, her body rose from the ground and every so slowly I pulled her in. Her body writhed, eyes wide and wild as she realised her impending doom. I vaguely heard Alec softly mutter, "the force" just as Victoria's neck slid into the palm of my hand, nails coming up to scratch at my wrist.
I raised my other hand, and brought her in close, ignoring her feeble swipes and hissing, "my mate will spend forever with me, now justice is being served." With a sinister grin, I grasped her head with both hands, digging my fingers into her skull and tearing her entire body apart. Alec and Dem had seen me do this a couple times before, but the Cullens, who'd all arrived with Jane as I separated my mate from the she demon, cringed back as they witnessed the full extent of my gifts.
"Felix!" Demetri called out urgently, I was at his side instantly. Blood. We'd been smelling Bella's blood since Jane broke the vial, so now that my mate was bleeding for real, it took longer to identify the danger.
"The doctor?" I barked.
"Our house, he has supplies," the seer said.
I was off before she'd finished, racing as fast as I could to their house. Victoria's nails had dug into my mate's skin, tearing it when I separated them. I knew injury was a high possibility, but it was that or death. I was now cursing myself for fucking around when I could've killed her quickly and gotten Bella help sooner.
"Fix her" I demanded, laying her down gently, the cautious act the complete opposite from how frantic and muddled my mind as I warred with changing her or letting Carlisle try to save her life.
"Felix" he barked, "back away. I can't work with you in the way. It's likely you will have to turn her—"
"Not. Ready." I growled out. She wanted time, wanted to bond with her dad, grow, graduate, be human a little longer. I couldn't take that away from her, not unless she was going to be taken away from me.
I paced off to the side while Carlisle worked to save my mate's life, throwing sutures as he tried to close the wound faster than her fresh blood pumped out of it. I ran my hand through my hair, yanking on the strands as I watched him hang a blood bag to help replenish what she'd already lost. She was too pale, her lips nearly blue. Gone was the rosy color that filled her cheeks when she was flustered or happy. Her lips looked chapped and her heart was spluttering as it thundered away, pushing more blood out of her fragile body.
I couldn't lose her, and time was running out. "Tell me before it's too late." It came out cold and detached, yet somehow desperate as my gaze remained locked onto her closed eyes. I realized in that moment the last time I'd seen them open had been when I left her this morning, promising everything would be fine and today would be a normal day.
Carlisle nodded, an indication he'd heard and understood my request. He continued to work, and after an hour I heard her heart beat change, it wasn't working as hard anymore, she was no longer losing blood. She was still pale but no longer had any blueish coloring in her features.
I looked to the Cullen coven leader and he sighed, checking over her sutures.
"I managed to stop the bleeding and replenish enough of her blood to stabilize her. However due to the amount of blood she's lost I can't one hundred percent tell you what she will be like when she awakens. What's more, her impact with Demetri coupled with extensive blood loss may have an effect on her brain. If you are at all concerned about her recovery, now would be the time to change her while her body is still adjusting, still healing. The choice is yours." He sighed, leaving me alone with my wounded mate.
"She's strong," came Jane's voice from the doorway, "she's strong and she'll fight. You know she's a fighter Felix. But if you change her, she will still love you, she won't resent you, you know Bella isn't like that. Whatever you choose, she will still love you. Don't forget."
I nodded, sitting by her bed, fingers running through her hair as I listened to her heart.
"Fight, gattino, fight for us. Come back to me. I love you." I whispered, lips brushing against hers.
I could hear a commotion downstairs; the Cullens were planning on calling Charlie in the morning to tell him Bella hit a deer. It was easy enough, her blood was already in the truck thanks to Jane, and the angry scarring on her chest was similar enough to jagged cuts from glass to be passable. They'd say it happened when she was leaving their house after forgiving Edward, so they took her inside to Carlisle's makeshift surgical room instead of taking a trip to the hospital and risking more blood loss.
I transferred her small body over to the normal bed in the room across the hall, carrying along her IV stand with me, careful of her tubes and wires as I laid her down on the bed before climbing in beside her, desperate to be closer.
I laid there all night and morning. I laid there while the Cullens called Charlie to give him the news, who said he'd be here in a couple hours tops with his sirens on. When her father arrived, I forced myself back into the shadows, close enough to hear if she woke, but far enough that Charlie wouldn't detect me.
For three days Charlie barely left her side. It wasn't until the third day when he went home to change that I immediately rejoined my mate by her side. Barely an hour later I heard a light moan slip past her lips.
"There's my girl, easy now. I'll grab you some water" I murmured as her eyes started to flutter.
I was back in a second, glass of water in one hand, angling the straw towards her chapped lips when I heard her squeak. I gazed into the eyes of my mate, and for the first time since I'd met her, I saw fear in her eyes.
Her lips parted and she spoke the words that nearly broke me, "Wh—who are you? Where's Ed—Edward!?" she cried, lips trembling as she leaned away from me.
"I'm here, love." The rat responded, appearing in the doorway, looking down on my mate with adoration and relief.
I couldn't stay. Couldn't stand there and watch what I knew was about to happen. The blood loss, her rattled brain—I'd heard about amnesia before and its effects. Every case was different, sometimes memories were regained within minutes or hours, sometimes victims never recovered what they'd lost. I wasn't sure if changing her now would reverse the effects, but I knew it could change her psychological and emotional state once the transition was complete, and I didn't want to risk that, not yet.
She's strong, don't forget. Jane was right, she was my mate, she'd feel the pull. Whether or not she recovered her memory of me, she'd come to me eventually, and together, we'd make new memories. Until then, I could only hope Cullen didn't do too much damage. I'd love nothing more than to tear him apart, but if she loved him again, hurting him would ruin her, and that wasn't something I could do.
I walked outside, feeling numb. Dem clasped one hand over my shoulder. "It's going to work out. She'll remember." He sounded confident, but we both grimaced as we heard Cullen's grating voice reassuring my mate he wouldn't let her out of his sight. I could've sworn I saw a hint of a smile tugging at the seer's lips as we locked eyes; she was looking down at me from a second floor window, no doubt waiting in the wings to swoop in and go back to pushing my mate around. Something about her expression unnerved me, making me think there was something more to this, which had me questioning our bond for the first time since I'd gotten that call from Aro.
"I don't like this" Alec said, looking at me. To anyone else he appeared stoic, but I could see the unease in his expression as his gaze flickered from the Cullen house to where we stood near the tree line. Jane bit her lip, obviously hurting as we heard Alice join Bella and the mind reader by the bed, going on about how she'd missed her sister.
I knew that at the end of whatever this was, someone would be destroyed. I just didn't know yet whether or not it would be me…
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A little twist for you! Don't worry, we all know Felix doesn't fight fair (; R&R 3