Almost Impossible Chapter 27

Chapter 27

I knew I was about to die. I could feel it creeping up on me as the vampires grew closer. I closed my eyes tightly and braced myself for the impact, but what I heard instead, was not what I was expecting.

I must have blocked the pack out again, because I hadn't known they were that close to me. They stepped out in front of me just in time and were instantly busy with fighting off the guards. I tried to snap out of my frozen state and Sam's voice broke through and helped me.


Alice is waiting for you. Go with her to find Edward, he told me.

I wasn't sure what to do. I wanted to go find Edward and I wanted to make sure he got out of there safely, but everything inside me was telling me that I needed to stay here and help the pack. It was telling me that I couldn't leave Jake here.

Bella, go. I'll be fine, we'll all be fine. Help her find him, he said. Just as he was saying it, Alice called my name.

You're sure? I asked.

Yes.

I was still hesitant, but I threw myself forward and ran with Alice back to the factory.

Getting inside was no problem. It seemed as though mostly all the guards were out over the hill with the pack. That didn't help settle my nerves any.

We made it all the way down the stairs and just picked up a stronger scent of Edward when we were suddenly stopped.

Caius was standing in the middle of the room, blocking the door where I knew Edward was held.

"Abilities are powerless to the wolves as long as you're joined with them," Caius said as he walked slowly towards us. "That is easy enough to fix."

"Run Bella," Alice told me, but I couldn't. I couldn't get my legs to move.

I crouched down, ready to attack him. I couldn't believe the sudden strong urge I had to destroy him. I growled as I crept, just as slowly as he had, towards him. It was an icy cold hand on my back that stopped me.

"Bella, please don't do this. Please don't give into the violent urge within you. It's not who you are," Carlisle whispered.

Caius laughed somewhat hysterically and I snarled at him.

I tried to steady my focus. I needed to be careful and not block the pack out. I knew if I did that, they would die. Just as Caius wanted. But I also tried not to focus on what they were doing.

Instead, I looked at Alice and nodded my head. With the three of us, there should be no problem getting Edward out. The only problem I found was, I couldn't do it alone and I didn't want to leave Carlisle alone with Caius.

I shifted several times with confusion and irritation. I just happened to look up at Alice when she nodded back at me and I took off running.

I plowed right through the door, which led to another room. I instantly wondered just what kind of factory it had been, but then I was distracted. Edwards scent was very strong.

"Bella?" he called out and I ran in the direction of his voice.

"Bella, you're alone?" he asked.

I shook my head as I got closer to him.

"I thought they killed you. Alice couldn't-," he whispered before stopping completely.

I whimpered when it suddenly made sense why he was still there. He could have gotten out if he wanted to , I was sure of it, but he stayed because he thought I was dead. Once again giving himself over to the Volturi because of me. I was suddenly very angry at him, but that would have to wait.

His eyes were dark and he was sitting on the floor staring at nothing. The only light in the room was what had come from behind me. I was nudging him to get up, when I heard the sudden footsteps running up behind us.

Once he stood, I jerked around to face the oncoming guards. I crouched down, ready to lunge, growling at them. They walked slowly towards us.

"Be careful," Edward whispered to me.

The guards returned with their own menacing growls and one lunged at me. I met him in mid air, the sound of our collision vibrated of the walls in the dark room. He snarled as he tried to grab my neck with his hands. I was just barely faster than him, and as he reached in one more time, I slammed my head into his. He went back a few feet and I pounced on him, biting him wherever my teeth would land. He groaned in pain as I heard the tearing of his shoulder and I jumped backwards off him. My head was swarming with all the different thoughts of the pack as they were going through the same thing.

While I had a second, I glanced to see if Edward was ok, but he was fighting with the other vampire. I didn't get a chance to see how that was going, because one second was too long and the vampire was on top of me. I wiggled and jumped, trying to knock him loose, but he would let go. I ran with him still on me, to the nearest wall, slamming my side into it over and over until he lost his grip and I shook him off.

The growling started again as I stood in front of him, circling each other; I realized in that moment we were alone in the room. I stopped circling and stared at him. Studying his movements, I knew he was going to jump on me again the first chance he got. I looked up and noticed a huge empty book shelve to my right and I knew it had to be decently heavy. I ran sideways, slamming myself into and backed up. It may not have been heavy enough to stop him, but it distracted him. Just as I hoped, it fell forward, landing on the vampire before he knew which move to make.

His already wounded arm was sticking out and I moved quickly before he had a chance to knock the shelf off. I bit down on his arm as hard as I could, ripping it away and tossing it to the other side of the room. The book shelve was lifted and he stood there reaching out the good arm.

I hadn't fully planned that all through enough because once I backed up, I realized that in knocking the shelf over, I put myself into a corner. I tried to jump away, but he moved quicker than I had time to think. He had his hand at my throat and slammed my head repeatedly into the wall. I didn't know what his point was, but it sure hurt a whole hell of a lot. I leapt towards him, trying to break his grip, but I didn't have any room. All I did was help him in slamming my head once more.

My head was foggy and throbbing. The voices of the pack were fading. One voice caught me off guard as he shouted my name, at the same time the hand at my throat disappeared.

"Bella! Focus! Don't let him win!" Edward yelled. "Focus on the pack."

It took a minute to register, but luckily I hadn't lost them yet; though it was close. I shook my head while standing up. Edward was now fighting the armless vampire and he wasn't alone. Emmett was there too.

"Go back to the pack, they need you more," Emmett said. "Carlisle and Alice are with Caius. Aro is on his way. The rest are scattered fighting off the guards."

I nodded once and took off running out the door, but before I heard the vampire's last shriek. I ran all the way to the stairs noticing that Caius and Carlisle weren't where they were before. Before I could get further into thought on that subject, I heard the whimper of a wolf that echoed through the thoughts of the pack and echoed through my entire body.

I couldn't see through anyone else's eyes what was going on, I could only see red. I ran faster than I could have imagined. I knew who it was. I felt who it was. I just couldn't get to him fast enough.

I hated this. All of this. I didn't even know where to start on the list of hate for everything that had happened. Because of me, everyone was in danger. Because of me, the entire pack and the Cullen's were fighting about a quarter of the Volturi guard and I had no idea if they all would survive.

I made it away from the building and pushed myself farther until he was in sight. He wasn't moving. I focused on calming myself so I could make out the words that the voices were speaking. He was alive, barely, but unconscious. I slowed myself next to him; still panicking.

Oh my god. Jake! Wake up! Wake! Up! I shouted to him, but he didn't move.

I nudged him with my nose. He flinched very little, but as long as I got a reaction, I was a little better.

What happened? I asked Sam as he was running over.

He uh, he lost focus and was crushed. I can't tell what kind of damage is done, but he's alive.

He lost focus? How? I asked, afraid of the answer.

He thought the vampire had you. Your thoughts were fading and well… He didn't finish. He didn't have to finish. God, I was screwing everything up.

I collapsed on the ground next to him, but then I quickly remembered what else was going on as Sam ran back to help someone.

I jumped back up, but couldn't move. I didn't want to leave Jake, but I didn't want to not help either. I was torn.

Stay with him Bella. If he's alone, he's an easy target. I shuttered.

I sat back down, but watched carefully. It seemed that they were just finishing up and everything was under control. I really have always underestimated the werewolves.

Something crunched behind me and I turned quickly, snarling.

"Wow there killer," Emmett laughed.

I shook my head, but turned back around, looking at Jake. He still wasn't moving.

"Damn, is he ok?" he asked.

I did the best I could at shrugging, the best that a wolf could do anyways.

"Edward should be on his way. Looks like the wolves did better than I thought. Too bad I couldn't have gotten a better piece of action. Which by the way, you did pretty good back there." He laughed lightly. I didn't respond. "Hey uh, maybe we can carry him somewhere until Carlisle can look at him. I mean, sitting out here like that isn't the best way to stay alive."

I shook my head again.

"Bella, nothing will happen to him. Besides, he has pretty shitty luck on his own anyways. He got crushed during the newborn attack too." He wasn't trying to make a joke, but it still stung. Both times were because of me.

I had no idea what was supposed to happen. I vaguely remembered Emmett saying Aro was on his way and I had no idea if that was a good thing or a bad thing. After all, he was in on the decision to either kill me or change me and even though he apparently didn't support Caius' choice in the attack, it didn't mean he would side with me either. I just wanted it all to be over with already.

Emmett had walked away and was starting a fire to burn the parts of vampire that covered the forest ground. I stood there watching as he and the pack cleaned up the mess. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Edward enter the area. I didn't move. He walked over towards Emmett as he pointed at me. I looked down again. I was glad I couldn't talk to him.

"I'm so glad you're ok," he said, running over to me, but stopping shortly, looking down at Jake.

A tear fell from my eye. He didn't speak and I didn't look at him.

"This is all my fault," he whispered and that got my attention. I looked up at him confused and he continued. "If I never went to the Volturi in the first place, this never would have happened. None of this would have."

I never thought of it that way, and he was right. He sat down on the ground; he looked deep in thought.

"And when I say none of this, I mean I wouldn't have lost you and this definitely wouldn't be happening," he added quietly.

I stared at him as my body tensed. Jake was lying almost dead on the ground and he turned it around to be about him. What the hell is his problem.

What is he talking about? I heard the pack voices echo in unison, but I ignored them.

"If I wouldn't have left you after your birthday, we would have caught Victoria. We wouldn't of ever gone to Italy. You wouldn't have had to spend your time with wolves. There wouldn't have been the newborn fight. You and him wouldn't have imprinted on each other. There would be no danger to make you turn into one of them. I should have just changed you when you asked me too. I should have listened to you and now, now everything has changed. It's all gone to hell. The very place I was worried…"

I didn't let him finish. I didn't even think. I couldn't handle what he was saying. Not only was he turning it around on himself, he was making it look like what I had become was a bad thing. Sure I may not have chosen it on my own, not really anyways. Not that there was a way I could have, but I was happy. I was happy and once again he was trying to turn it around, blinding himself from the truth. Just like he had done after my birthday. He destroyed me then, but he wasn't going to get the chance this time.

Before I realized what I was doing, I was standing up, facing him, and growling about three inches from his face. He didn't even flinch.

What the hell is going on? I heard Leah ask.

Oh, I've got to see this, Paul said excitedly.

Bella. You need to stay calm. With Sam's order, everyone was quiet.

I tried to calm myself. I backed away, but not removing my eyes from him. Emmett walked over and pulled Edward off the ground. Edward didn't fight it, didn't even look up at me. And right then, in the pit of my stomach, I understood him again. He got the reaction he wanted out of me. He wanted me to get mad at him. He wanted me to lose control. Why was he doing all of this to me?

Emmett looked up at me. "I'll be right back to help with him," he said, pointing at Jake. I didn't take my eyes off Edward.

I was only pulled out of my haze of anger, anger I never thought I would feel towards Edward, when I felt Jake in my head.

I jerked my head in his direction and he was trying to get up. He was barely even conscious yet.

Jake wait, don't move. I told him, crouching down by him.

Bella? Are you ok? he asked.

Yes, I'm fine. Are you? You look pretty badly hurt.

It's not so bad, he said with a light laugh. And I knew he would be ok, though a confirmation from a doctor would help too.

According to Emmett all that was left was Caius. The rest of the Cullen's went back to the factory to wait for the Volturi. Alice saw that it wouldn't be long.

Caius was pretty confident that Aro would back him up in his decision, so he wasn't trying to run or anything. I still couldn't be sure. There was one this I was sure of; Aro wouldn't be too pleased with losing so many of his guard members. I doubt I could benefit from that at all though.

After some discussion and arguments, we decided to take Jake back to the factory too. It would be a while before Carlisle could get away, but with him healing so fast, I wanted to be sure there was no permanent damage. After a couple of minutes, Sam and Jake finally agreed.

It only took a minute, since that was all we had. Carlisle was sure that even without x-rays, Jake would heal just fine with some rest. He told Emmett that since he had his jeep and was going to give us a ride back to the rez, then he should run to the house to get some pain medication for him. Emmett agreed.

Most of the pack returned with us and few stayed behind to make sure things went ok.

Once we got to Jake's house, I was glad Billy was out fishing with Charlie and not at home. I would have hated to see their expression when we all walked up.

I didn't realize how sore I was until after Sam took Jake inside to rest. I sat outside relaxing while I waited for Emmett to come back with the medicine.

Every muscle in my body ached, my ribs ached and when I lifted up my shirt a little to see my stomach, there was some light bruising. It had already almost healed, but I felt horrible. I rested my head against the wall with my eyes closed and thought a little about everything that had happened. One thing that stuck in my mind was Emmett.

I wasn't sure why Emmett was helping us, and though I was grateful, I couldn't help but ask. After Jake got his meds, Emmett sat next to me on the porch. He didn't even have to think about his answer.

"Bella, you've always been like my little sister. That hasn't changed, even now that everything else has. Even after this wolfy stuff, you were still there to help our family. Even though it's because of us that this has happened."

I tried to say something, but he held his hand up for me to stop.

"Edward didn't ask before he brought you home to us and we're glad he did. And I mean it, we all are. It's his other actions that have caused this and because we're a family, that makes it all of us.

"We could have put our foot down and said no, but we didn't. We let him believe it was the right thing to do and this is what it has led to. Right now, you can't blame him for his actions, not really anyways. I know you had no choice, but he's heartbroken and even after all he's done to you before, you still risked your life to save his, again. One day he'll be ok, so don't worry about him. We won't let him do anything stupid again," he laughed.

"So, no matter what, you are still a part of our family. You're just a less fragile version of the same human Bella." We both laughed. "And, I guess that means the dog's part of the family too huh." He smiled.

I jumped up and hugged him. I couldn't help it.

"I wanted to talk to you about this before, but there was never really a chance too. So, that's your answer. Just don't expect e to get all mushy like that again," he said, still laughing and he squeezed me tighter than he normally would have.

"Oh," he said, pulling away, bringing the back of his hand to his nose. "That smell is just going to take a while to get used to." We both laughed again.

A moment later we were interrupted by Sam coming outside to tell me that Jake was awake and wanted to see me.

I said goodbye to Emmett as I walked back inside. He needed to get back over to the factory before the rest of the Volturi had gotten there and I was sure they would need him. He also told me that they would let me know when it was my turn for the questioning.

I wasn't entirely ready for it, but the sooner it was all over the better. I couldn't take the waiting anymore, but for right now I was content with knowing that Jake and I, and well everyone else for that matter, was ok. I smiled and let out a sigh as I walked into Jake's bedroom.

He was sitting up, leaning against some pillows that were against the wall with his eyes closed. The first thing I did was walk over and wrap my arms gently around him. I knew that no matter what would happen, as long as he was by my side, I could handle anything.