Ch 36 - The Sun

But I cannot forget
Refuse to regret
So glad I met you
Take my breath away
Make everyday
Worth all of the pain that I have
Gone through
And mama I've been cryin'
Cause things ain't how they used to be
She said the battles almost won
And we're only several miles from the sun

“The Sun” – Maroon 5

“Bella, you should sit down. Relax. Everything’s going to be fine,” Billy said. I ignored him, continuing to pace around his tiny living room floor, doing circles around his couch.

He sighed. “You’re making me dizzy,” he said after a moment.

It had been an hour since Edward dropped me off at the treaty line. Sam immediately took me to Billy’s house, not saying a word to me. Sue’s son Seth was perched outside, in wolf form, standing guard over the property. The rest of the wolves took off shortly after I arrived, one going to Forks to stay near Charlie’s house and the others out into a clearing somewhere to join up with the Cullen’s.

I spent the last hour pacing, nearly driving myself into a panic attack. I had no idea if the fight stared yet or how everyone was faring. Alice had said around sunset and I could see the faint lightening of the sky, the sun finally making its appearance. I was nervous beyond words and apparently my anxiety was transferring to Billy.

I had no idea how far out they were, if I’d be able to hear anything. I doubted it—the Cullen’s would want to cut them off before they got too close to the area—but I strained my ears regardless, wanting a sign of something happening. Things were feeling so surreal and I felt so out of touch, I just needed a sign to tell me that I wasn’t imagining this, that this wasn’t a nightmare.

The sky was lightening significantly now… there was still a hint of gray but I could finally start making out objects outside.

I excused myself to the bathroom after a moment and heard Billy sigh in relief. I was feeling queasy, close to passing out from anxiety. I sat down on the toilet and placed my head between my legs, willing myself to feel better. I sat like that for a few minutes, trying to calm down, when a loud gasp rang out from the living room.

I dashed from the bathroom quickly, banging my knee on a table along the way and cursing loudly as the pain shot through my leg. I ran to the window Billy was glancing out of and gasped.

Far off in the distance, a puff of purple smoke filtered into the sky.

“That’s good, right?” I asked frantically. I was pretty sure it was but just needed someone to agree with me.

“I guess,” Billy said after a moment, sounding stunned. “I mean, you know more about the cold ones than I do apparently.” He looked at me questioningly.

I nodded after a moment. “Yeah, I think that’s good.”

He nodded once, turning back to gaze out the window again. We stood like that for a few minutes longer, watching the purple and gray smoke billowing into the sky. It was miles off to the north, in the dense woods.

Billy’s phone rang and he turned around, wheeling over to it. I was growing nervous again and instinctively started pacing around the living room. I overheard a bit of Billy’s conversation and gathered that he was talking to Sue—she was worried about her children.

A loud howling rang out from outside Billy’s house, causing me to jump and Billy to drop the phone, startled. He turned to look at me, his eyes wide. The howling started up again, followed by growling. I ran to the window as fast as I could and gasped.

I could make out Seth in the front yard--his fur was bristled up. He was glaring into the tree line, growling defensively. I scanned the trees quickly and froze when I saw two forms appear.

Their skin was sparkling in the faint sunlight peeking through, giving their nature away instantly—vampires. One I didn’t recognize, he looked utterly savage, growling and hunched over, wearing tattered clothing. The other was unmistakable—the red hair I’d recognize anywhere. Victoria. She stood calmly, a small smile playing on her lips.

Seth was glancing back and forth between them, obviously trying to decipher who was the biggest immediate threat. He howled again, trying to alert the others. I didn’t know much about the way the pack worked and only hoped they were close enough to hear or sense it. I was fairly sure Edward would hear the howling—I hoped he’d understand what it meant.

Billy was trembling with fear and gasped as Seth lunged forward, going immediately for the vampire that appeared more aggressive. Victoria leapt back as Seth and the vampire started tussling, both growling loudly. Her smile widened as she glanced at the house.

I realized at that moment that she did it on purpose. She intentionally brought a hostile vampire along with her to distract the wolf, who wouldn’t know any better. She knew he’d go for the aggressive one first, not knowing that she was the more dangerous of the two. I don’t know how she knew, but it was obvious she did.

I turned to Billy, panic sweeping through me. Billy looked beyond frightened. I realized he was afraid for his life, knowing it was likely the end of the line.

Billy had helped save my life. He knew of my involvement with the Cullen’s and despised them, yet one simple call from Carlisle and he had sent his only son out to the scene of my accident to rescue me. Me—the girl who had hurt him beyond words, who had practically turned her back on his friendship when he started phasing against his will in order to grasp onto the memory of his enemy, the vampire. And he opened his home to me, to shelter me from attack, and that graciousness now placed his life in danger.

“Hide,” I said quickly. Billy glanced up at me in panic. “She doesn’t want you, she wants me. Hide. She’ll come after me and hopefully before she has a chance to come back for you, the others will have arrived.”

Billy nodded but hesitated, obviously afraid for me. “Go Billy, hide somewhere!”

He turned quickly, wheeling away. I glanced back out the window and gasped. Seth nearly had the newborn vampire dismembered—he was missing an arm and chunks all over him—but Victoria was gone. I scanned the area, frantically—she was nowhere to be found.

I couldn’t just stand there in Billy’s living room. I couldn’t lead her into the house. I had to get away, keep her outside for a while longer. It was the only way Billy would survive this.

Before I could over think it, I sprinted for the front door and burst outside. I bounded off the porch and ran in the opposite direction of Seth and the vampire. I went as fast as my legs would carry me. Thankfully, because I’d taken up running in Seattle during my recovery, I had a bit of speed and wasn’t nearly as clumsy as I would’ve been.

I didn’t make it very far before I was halted abruptly by a form appearing in front of me. I screamed, startled. Fear shot through me and she smiled widely. Her lips pulled back, exposing her teeth. I started hyperventilating, my heart racing frantically, thumping so fast my chest hurt. I took two steps back instinctively, and she laughed. Her laughter was high-pitched, shrill. “Where do you think you’re going?” she asked, her voice menacing.

I took another step backwards but she was on me instantly. I felt her foot collide with my chest as she kicked me, the force sending me flying through the air. I landed hand on the ground, pain shooting through my back. My chest burned as I gasped for air. Every breath hurt, my back stinging. I could smell the blood instantly, as it seeped out onto my shirt. I’d landed on something hard, gashing my back open.

Her eyes darkened and I struggled to turn over, getting up and trying to run. I made it a few steps before collapsing, the intensity of the pain too much. I heard her shrill laughter ring out mere inches from me as I hit the ground.

I was done for—that was it for me. I brought my hands up to cover my head as I balled into fetal position, closing my eyes.

I heard snarling and winced, waiting for the final blow. I stayed frozen as loud crashes and bangs rang out, snarling and screams piercing the air. After a moment I felt cold hands grab me and I screamed.

“Shhh, it’s okay,” a voice said softly as I was lifted into the air. It was much too gentle, much too soothing, and much too familiar. My eyes popped open and I was immediately greeted with Edward’s face. I furrowed my brow in confusion. It was really him--he was really there. His eyes were black and he was fighting to retain control as he cradled me in his arms. I glanced around quickly, noting the snarling still ringing out. I gasped as my eyes fell upon Victoria in the distance, battered, in the process of being torn apart by a russet-colored wolf.

“Jacob,” I said softly, questioningly.

“Yes, that him,” Edward said. I gasped lightly and felt the tears stinging my eyes.

Jacob Black saved my life… again.