Chapter Five

Unlucky Number Thirteen

Bella Swan

March 2005

Blending in proved to be extremely difficult.

When the group at large became aware that Sequoia and I were no longer friends, I became the newest and easiest target. The sudden hostility I experienced from people I had never interacted with left me wondering if Sequoia was behind my latest torment. The anxiety she had branded me with was still strong as well. Every time someone came at me I felt crushed before I could even begin to fight.

I had been under her thumb for the first two months of my new existence, and therefore no one had been allowed to mess with me. After our disagreement, any protection I had previously was completely void. In the month that I had been on my own after the fall out, I had experienced exponentially more fighting. I had to learn to navigate the personalities of the crowd of soldiers around me on my own and under overwhelming levels of anxiety. I had to learn the best way to fight each person individually. And, most importantly, I had to learn how to win a fight against each of them.

Milo, one of Roland's trusted brutes, interrupted another one of my daydreaming sessions with a sudden and hard kick to my ribs.

I shifted against the wall, pressing my back tighter against it and felt the near overwhelming wave of anxiety I was used to course through me. Still, despite the discomfort, I tucked my leg under myself incase I was forced to propel myself upwards to attack. Although I was well prepared for a fight, I tried to look as indifferent as possible as I ignored him. I hoped, for his sake, that he'd lose interest and walk away.

"Oh, still acting shy huh? Come on runt, fight back." Milo kicked at my leg. He was really doing his best to lure me into another fight.

"I don't think you want to test me today." I warned him and glared up at him with my best "go to hell" look.

Although, at this point, I was fairly sure this was hell and there was nowhere worse we could be.

I had been daydreaming a lovely scene, one where I was sprawled out on an old quilt in my fathers backyard in Forks. On an unusual sunny day that had drawn me into the outdoors. I felt completely free and unburdened as I read an old novel in the dimming early evening sunlight. I was extremely irritated to have been interrupted from such a peaceful dream. I also slightly wondered if I was losing my mind by daydreaming so much.

Milo scoffed in disgust, "you act so tough, runt. You only got lucky the last time. Come on, fight me fairly."

"No, I-"

My refusal was cut short by Milo reaching down and grabbing me by my leg. He drug me out into the middle of the basement floor and our fellow soldiers began to encourage him to rough me up.

"One last chance." I warned him darkly, laid out on the concrete, my feet ready to spring at him in a moments notice.

"Shut up you little bitch, you can't-"

I rolled and used my momentum to catch him by his arm and swing myself up onto his back. With my legs locked around his midsection, I tilted his head to the side to the extreme point it could reach without snapping off and scratched my teeth down his neck. I was sure to leak plenty of venom into my teeth marks to leave some thick scarring before I wrenched his arm away from his body.

"I submit!" He screamed as I jumped off of his back and kicked him to the ground.

I knew well enough by now what would happen next. I was fully prepared mentally and physically when Roland, Dean, and Abbie tried to jump me in retaliation for beating Milo.

I hit the ground and rolled away from their grasping arms. As soon as I was clear of their reach, I darted for the staircase and used the high ground to my advantage. After waiting until Roland and Dean were nearly at the staircase, I launched myself upwards and grabbed the piping that ran along the exposed ceiling. Swinging a few feet into the room gave me the perfect position to drop down onto Abbie. A swift kick to her neck and she was down and out of the fight.

Dean shifted and rushed towards me, and I used Abbie's body as a battering ram when I threw her at Deans torso, effectively toppling him to the ground. He still hadn't learned to adjust for his low center of gravity.

That left Roland, who easily towered over me and had more muscle content than a grizzly bear. He favored his right side for attacks, however, and so as soon as he reached for me, I swung a hard kick to his left side. I was getting ready to counter his next attack when Archer threw open the basement door.

"Up against the wall! Now!" He ordered sternly, and Roland dropped his hand mid swing before mindlessly joining the others in their stance along the long wall.

I paused for a moment. I was trying to collect myself and my emotions after such a tough encounter, and as I turned to head towards the wall, I made eye contact with Archer.

He looked from me, to Roland and his crew, and then back to me. His eyes were practically unreadable. I thought I saw a hint of pride, or maybe it was fear, when he realized I'd come out from our fight completely unharmed.

I went to move towards my place along the wall, but Archer held up a hand to stop me.

"Bella, why don't you and I spar first? Since you seem to think you're so clever in a fight." Archer grinned and several of the others cheered their approval of his challenge.

I froze, but not out of fear like everyone probably thought of me. I realized that I had finally achieved a level of skill that gave me an advantage over Archer. He was extremely vulnerable without his gift, and frankly not anywhere close to being as talented as he claimed, but I had been forced to grow into a great fighter after the incident with Sequoia. And, he couldn't control me with his gift. I had some huge advantages over him.

I also realized that I had the opportunity to be very strategic in this fight. On one hand, I could take Archer down and show the others that I am not someone to mess with. I'd probably impress Maria and maybe gain some favor in the fighting department. But, Archer might make it his mission to stomp me down and would probably orchestrate some form of revenge.

On the other hand, I could choose to make a strong show of power but then ultimately lose to Archer. He'd count me out as someone ever capable of fighting him off. He might even think that I'm not a true flight risk if he thought he could catch me and beat me before I could even think to escape. Then, when I did have a chance to escape, I could take it in full confidence that I could defend myself.

"Bella? Scared?" Archer taunted.

I forced myself to stand taller, "No. Let's do it."

Archer looked a little apprehensive as he motioned me forwards and as we both got into position. I had made my choice of strategy.

He swung suddenly, directing a punch to my ribcage, but I dodged it and dived under his arm. I was about to move behind him to grab him, but he turned and caught me by my leg. He threw me to the floor with a hard thunk that caused several people to cheer. I landed a solid kick to his stomach that doubled him over. That was my moment, I could've very easily jumped up and caught him by the neck in order to put my teeth against his throat.

Instead, I rolled onto my stomach and acted like I was attempting to crawl away from him. I was extremely slow about it purposefully, and soon enough Archers hands landed on my shoulders. He pulled me up on to my feet quickly and I felt a new sense of confidence in his movements. His hand twisted around my body to grab my throat and his teeth pressed against the crook of my neck.

"I submit." I growled out.

I hated that I had chosen to lose, but I felt as if it were the right choice ultimately. I only hoped it would prove to be the right choice in the long run.

Archer threw me to the floor again as the others cheered and praised him. I clenched my teeth and stood to my feet slowly before moving to my spot along the wall. Several of the others, Roland specifically, looked at me with gleaming eyes. I was somewhat regretful of my loss even more and couldn't help but worry what new target it had left on my back.

I was told to sit out for training, always unlucky number thirteen, and watched the terrible session with apathy. It's like they weren't even trying to learn.

Finally, we were all granted a small mercy. Archer ended the training session a little early and informed us that there would be no training for the next several days. He had to run an errand for Maria. I worried what such a long errand might mean for us, but a brief reprieve from Archer sounded wonderful.

I internally celebrated the break from the fighting as I moved to hide back in my corner. But, as the morning came and went and the night dragged on, I found myself in several more fights throughout my free time. I was just as unhappy as I'd ever been, more riddled with anxiety than ever, and maybe even more depressed than usual.

By the following day, I was feeling extremely anxious and could hardly keep still. I watched people look at me with contemplative stares and knew they were considering picking yet another fight. My thirst was becoming less and less ignorable. Several new scars decorating my skin after near non-stop fighting burned and ached as they healed. My skin crawled with worries about Archers task from Maria and what it could mean in terms of my grand escape.

I tried to ignore it all as I attempted to daydream, but I couldn't find any relief from the anxiety. I couldn't tear my mind away from the worry over the next impending horror. Damn Sequoia and her iron hot brand of emotional warfare she'd inflicted on me. No person should be subjected to such extreme levels of anxiety for such a long period of time. It was maddening.

I shifted my weight to huddle against the wall, trying to settle my nerves while not drawing attention to myself, and I noticed that Sequoia was watching me with narrowed eyes. She was usually across the room in the corner beside the stairs with Dakota. Very rarely she sometimes sat with a few of the others. I guessed she sat with them when trying to get into their brains. I wondered why she was venturing from her usual area to sit a few feet away from me of all people.

"Everything bothers you, doesn't it? You must be sick and tired of the anxiety, the fighting, the pain. So just give it a rest already." She sneered. "If you'd just say you were sorry and promised not to cause anymore problems, then I'd be glad to help you again."

"I don't want your disgusting help," I retorted. "I will never apologize to someone like you. You have no remorse for your actions. Keep hurling all the anxiety and fear, as much as you'd like, at me if that makes you feel so powerful. Continue making my life hell, keep sending these demons to try to fight me, but I am never apologizing to you."

"Oh, I see." Sequoia grinned maliciously. "You're so much better than all of us, truly. You were such a perfect little human with a perfect life. You never did a single thing wrong in your entire pathetic existence." She fluttered her eyelashes like a perfect angel before a sneer contorted her face again. "Your holy attitude, your calculating eyes, and your stupid way of clinging to any scrap of humanity you get the chance of having is just so worthless! You're not special, you're not any different than anyone else in this room, and you're just another bloodthirsty soldier doomed to repeat the vicious cycle. Young, stupid, and replaceable. Feed, fight, and die."

I stood and stepped out from behind the old tank. Done with the bullshit, the lies, and the unfairness of this whole situation. I was suddenly determined to do something to change the power dynamics, however stupid my choice might be in the long run. I was done planning every last breath and I was going to change something, right then.

"Sequoia's talent is brainwashing every one of you into feeling however she wants you to feel!" I blurted out to the room at large. Well, at least those who had paused their conversations to watch me with curious eyes. The room went quiet and still after my outburst, and I knew now was my only chance to take some control.

"What the hell did you just say?" Farrah hissed as she stood from her seat at the base of the stairs.

"Sequoia can influence people's emotions, she makes them feel whatever she wants them to feel, and she does it constantly to everyone in this room. Even me." I spoke confidently. "Maria and Archer have her manipulating you all into being the perfect bloodthirsty solider they want you to be. She is causing you all to fight each other, to fight in battles, and to be so ruthless all the time."

Roland's angry eyes turned from me to Sequoia, "is any of this true?"

"What? You can't be serious, Roland! She'll say anything to try to seem perfect." Sequoia scoffed and I could tell that everyone was looking very doubtful of my claim. I realized I was up against someone who was making the entire room untrusting of me to try to save herself.

"Dakota," my eyes met his nearby and I took his hand in mine, "think about it. You're her closest friend. You spend the most time being near her than anyone else here. If you really think about it, have you ever noticed that you were feeling one way and it suddenly changed to a different feeling? A feeling that made more sense with being a fighter? A feeling that would never seem like you?"

Dakota stared at me for a long moment and I recognized the internal turmoil in his eyes. I was surprised that he hadn't pulled his hand away. Hell, I was shocked he was even listening to me and not letting Sequoia warp his brain again. Once he had taken his time, the room still quiet as he reviewed his entire newborn existence, he simply nodded his head at me in confirmation.

That was enough, it seemed, for people to immediately descend on Sequoia. They were demanding answers from her as several people began to shove her around. I shifted away from the group in favor of pressing myself to the far wall by the stairs, taking Dakota with me. I didn't want to somehow get any blame placed on myself or Dakota for this situation.

"Bella." Dakota startled me when he turned towards me. He clearly did not want to go help Sequoia. "I...I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance to defend yourself during our fallout. I realize now that she was keeping you quiet. I was supposed to be your friend and I wasn't."

"Dakota, no, I don't need any apologies from you. I promise, we're okay. I'm sorry I didn't say something sooner."

"You couldn't have." He shook his head. "She wouldn't have let you. I think she only let you now because you caught her off guard while she's so thirsty. It's her fault for targeting you so heavily."

"Thank you." I tried to sound as grateful as I felt. "You might want to hurry over there to get your say in the conversation before you miss your chance."

"Right, well, see you later, Bella." Dakota smiled before moving towards the rowdy group across the room.

This was the perfect moment. I realized it with a jolt of enthusiasm. Archer was gone. I'd beaten Sequoia at her own game. It wouldn't take much for me to escape. I probably wouldn't even have to fight anyone if they'd stay mad enough at Sequoia long enough to forget about their task to keep me here. If I ran right now-

Of course, that was the exact moment that I heard Archers heavy boots behind the door to the basement.

Damn.

"Shape up everyone." Archer ordered as he descended the stairs.

As he reached the bottom he seemed to realize the energy of the room. Archer slowed his steps and looked around the quieter than usual room with a look of unease. When he realized people's eyes kept darting to me, then he turned to me with a questioning look on his face.

"It's not me this time." I spoke quickly. "Everyone found out that Sequoia has been manipulating their emotions the entire time she's been here."

"Hmm, I see." Archer frowned at everyone. "Put those thoughts out of your minds." He ordered. "There's a coven encroaching on our territory. They've claimed the valley just at our southern border and plan to move north in increments. They are small, just three vampires, but they plan to bring more to challenge us soon."

"We can take them!" Farrah growled.

Her anger seemed to be quickly routed away from Sequoia and to this new perceived enemy. I was left wondering if anyone would even remember Sequoia's manipulation after we conquered this coven. I would be in so much trouble after this battle if that were the case. Sequoia would manipulate the whole situation and send the entire group after me. I probably wouldn't survive the encounter.

"I know we can defeat them." Archer agreed as my mind scrambled. "Maria is waiting nearby to meet us for our battle. She and I have been carefully studying them. We will conquer this coven that has dared to move on our land, and we will send a message that we are powerful. We will gain control and expand our reach over this region with this win tonight."

As soon as he'd given us our tasks, Archer ushered us out of the house. He moved us towards a route that led deep into the south of our claimed territory. I could tell as we drew closer that there were many different scents of vampires in the air. I thought that was an odd thing if there were only three vampires to deal with tonight. We approached the valley and tried to utilize the higher ground.

Maria joined us suddenly, and as confident as she seemed in our victory, she was always looking to show off our numbers in an effort to appear even more formidable.

"Our enemies sit there," Maria spoke in a hush, her voice barely audible as she pointed towards the low point of the valley. "I will draw their attention. Wait for my signal to proceed. Here," she beckoned to us, "come and see our foes."

We crept forward to the edge of the valley's cliffside. I peered down into the valley and did a double-take.

There were fires, several of them, already lit and casting the valley in an orange glow. Three vampires stood in front of the flames, the number that Archer had described to us back in the basement. But, behind them stood ten vampires. They each had blazing red eyes and the build of professional football players. I counted three more behind the second line, huddled in a tight circle, their bodies facing outward, entirely prepared for an attack.

I looked towards Maria, stunned that she would lead us all to a terrible death, but she was grinning with her usual smug glee.

"You see? Just three! An easy victory. We will all feed well tonight in celebration."

The others smiled in excitement, but all I could do was stand frozen in fear. I couldn't understand. Didn't they all see what I saw? Didn't they know the danger we were in? Our group of thirteen trained newborns and two matured vampires surely couldn't challenge a coven of sixteen vampires of varying ages and survive. Especially not with the obvious muscle and brawn they had on their side of the fight.

"You there!" Maria called, before I could shake myself out of my stupor to question her sanity, and she stepped closer to the edge the valley. "What are your intentions in this region?"

"We're traveling to the north. Do you claim this land?" One of the three figures in the first line, a tiny woman, asked in a high-pitched voice.

"I do," Maria sneered.

"We apologize," a second woman spoke up. "We didn't know this area belonged to a coven. We mean no offense, of course."

My eyes narrowed. This group was obviously prepared to fight. The showing of their numbers and prepared fires were a clear warning sign. Why were they lying? Why did Maria not retreat?

"I don't show mercy," Maria threatened them.

She raised her right arm into the air. That was our agreed signal to move forward, but not to attack. We emerged from the shadows of the high ground and fell into formation beside Maria. The three vampires in front of the flames seemed to marvel at the sight of us. The large number of vampires behind them, however, crouched into positions I knew all too well. I looked around to see if anyone else was as worried as I was, but all of my fellow soldiers seemed just as oblivious as Maria and Archer were. They seemed even more eager for battle than they were after Archer or Maria promised them fresh blood.

Nothing around me made any sense. This small coven of three looking to encroach on our territory we were told of did not exist. This battle was against an extreme showing of numbers, a clearly powerful army, and I wondered if they were all invisible to anyone but me. This was a battle that we could never win and keep our full rank.

The realization hit me suddenly.

"It's a trap," I whispered, horror-stricken, and boldly grabbed Maria's arm.

Maria's head snapped towards me, her eyes incredulous and viscous, before she turned to look back at the army just beneath us.

Her eyes widened, the first true look of fear I'd ever seen on her face, and I knew she saw what I did then.

"It's a trap!" I repeated desperately.