Destiny

~42~

The next ten minutes, I got different pictures from the battle in my mind; the Cullens tackling some of the newborns, brutal newborns delivering some vicious hits, Jacob charging a newborn and killing it immediately, then Sam and Jacob fighting together, Emmett helping Paul and Carlisle and Esme standing in front of a newborn girl. It looked like they were talking. Then Jasper protecting Alice with getting a bite as result. After that one, I didn't get any pictures anymore.
"Is he alright?" I asked.
I didn't get an answer as Edward talked to himself while he read Seth's thoughts. Suddenly Edward stopped his talking. He blinked and shared a tense look with Seth.
"I someone hurt? Is it Jake?" I questioned scared.
"Seth, go."
Seth bolted away from the campsite fats. Edward grabbed mine and Bella's wrists and whipped us behind him against a wall while taking a defensive stance in front of us.
"What's going on?"
"She's close. I can hear her thoughts. She knew we weren't there, but she caught my scent. She knew you'd be with me."
"Victoria found us?"
"She's not alone."
My heart began to beat really fast. I heard footsteps and saw Riley stepping out of the woods. I recognized him immediately. Riley edged closer, watching Edward's every move, as they both carefully position themselves.
"Riley... Listen to me. Victoria's just using you, to distract me. But she knows I'll kill you", Edward tries.
Riley hesitated, surprised to be addressed.
"In fact, she'll be glad she doesn't have to deal with you anymore."
'Keep going Eddie.'
Just then Victoria had to emerge from the woods,
"Don't listen, Riley. I told you about their mind tricks."
"I can read her mind, so I know what she thinks of you."
"He's lying."
"She only created you and this army to avenge her true mate, James. It's the only thing she cares about. Not you."
Riley began to hesitate again, glancing at Victoria from time to time.
"There's only you. You know that."
Riley focused back on Edward, positioning himself to attack. Victoria's eyes burrowed into mine with bloodlust and revenge.
"Think about it. You're from Forks, you know the area. That's the only reason she chose you. She doesn't love you."
Riley faltered ever so slightly, doubt seeping into his mind.
'Good Job Eddie', I praised him inside my mind.
But apparently, Victoria's face was too convincingly emotional for Riley.
"Riley... Don't let him do this to us. You know I love you."
I rolled my eyes. I slowly had enough of this argumentation battle between them. Riley's expression suddenly changed.
'Oh no', I thought.
"You're dead", he said and charged towards Edward.
But said Cullen didn't move at all. Suddenly, Seth was leaping from the cliff above to land on Riley and took a chunk out of Riley's hand. The vampire roared with both fury and pain as Seth circled back for another attack. While Seth was keeping Riley on the defense, Edward started towards Victoria who backed away towards the trees. She was about to escape.
"You can escape. You always do. But you won't get another chance like this again", Edward snapped.
'He's not selling me out, is he?'
Victoria hissed at him and backed further away.
"You want her. Because I killed James. I tore him into pieces. I turned him into ash. I turned him into nothing."
Victoria finally erupted with anger and charged towards me.
'Great now you made her angry Eddie. Thanks a lot!'
But Edward never let her get close. He intercepted her and they rolled down the hill in a death grip. I watched the fight between them and forgot that Bella was behind me. Meanwhile Riley kicked Seth hard against the cliff. Sharp shards of rock fell around us. I ducked and put my arms and hands protectively over my head. Seth went down. Riley spun towards me. Edward had now two vampires to keep away from us. I so desperately wanted to help, but I didn't know how. With lightning fast speed, he bolted to Riley, kicking him back. Then he darted to Victoria, smashing into her. In the corner of my eyes, I saw Seth struggle to rise. Riley joined Victoria's fight, providing her with the tiny advantage she needed. Riley tackled Edward to his knees while Victoria grabbed him from behind. I had still forgotten that Bella was behind me. I only noticed when I suddenly felt a piercing pain in my back. I couldn't localize where exactly it was but it was to painful not to scream. I turned my head and saw Bella close behind me. She pulled something back from me and when I looked closer, I could see a sharp piece of slate with blood dripping from it. It was my blood. It was dripping down into the white snow, leaving red splotches. She rose the slate again. I tried to crawl away but she managed to plunge it in my leg making me scream again. Then she pulled it out and threw it away. I looked around and saw Riley spinning around towards me. The scent of my blood was making him wild. Victoria also caught my scent. She whipped her head towards me too.
Edward seized the moment, dead dropping to the ground while flipping Victoria over his head, across the clearing and into a tree what broke it in two. He spun on Riley who was still bedazzled by my blood. Riley screamed as Edward ripped his arm off. He tossed the arm aside and bolted back to Victoria. Seth was completely recovered and leapt up, tackling Riley and dragging him into the woods. The vampire yelled for Victoria. The poor man didn't even got a glance at him, revealing to Riley the painful truth and that Edward was right the whole time. The last thing I could see of him was his tragically betrayed expression. Edward charged at Victoria. The two clashed and began a blurred battle, till he pummeled her down and finally, maneuvered himself behind her, gelling her in a death grip. Victoria was struggling. My bleeding self was directly in her eye-line. She glared at me. I shrank back into the ground trying to not bite my tongue off because of the pain I was in. Edward bit a huge chunk from her neck and ripped her head off. I watched Victoria's body crumple to the ground. I breathed a relieved sigh. Edward looked up at me. I tried to stand up and barely managed without a hiss.
"I'll get some bandages for you."
He started for the tent but Seth let out a sharp bark. Edward turned to him, his expression filled with concern.
"Is something wrong?"
"Alice needs us to go. And now."
"Why? What's ha-..."
A few faces appeared in my mind.
"The Volturi", Edward said.
He lifted my shirt and wrapped cloths around my waist, making me hiss. Then he picked me up and sat me down on Seth's back. He wrapped the last cloth around my leg. Edward picked Bella up and raced down the mountain. Seth followed him. I clung to his fur while I tried to enjoy the wind. A massive fire burned as the other Cullens and wolves hurriedly dragged what was left of the newborns to it for the incineration. A purple-black smoke rose from it. We raced out of the trees, bee-lining for Alice and the rest of the Cullens gathered near the fire.
"How long?" Edward wanted to know.
"A few minutes. Maybe ten", Alice answered.
I scanned the field for Jacob while I carefully tried to get down from Seth's back.
"They timed their arrival well", Rosalie sassed.
"Probably hoping the newborns took a few of us out", Emmett meant.
"What's she doing here?" Bella asked, "She's one of them. Why is she alive?"
She was looking to the fire. It covered someone a bit. It was the little girl I saw earlier ago in my mind.
"Shut up you heartless monster!" I bellowed and slumped on the ground. My face was a grimace of pain. I groaned while bending over.
"Are you okay Desti?" Alice asked.
"Do I like I'm okay?"I snapped angrily, shooting a glare at Bella.
I hoped that the others would get the hint. I stood up again and slouched up to the scared looking girl and kneeled down in front of her.
"Hello there. Who are you, what is your name?"
"Bree."
"Hi Bree. I'm Destinee."
"I know your scent. Riley made us know it."
"I know. But don't worry. None of them can harm you anymore. They're all dead now. What is going to happen with her now?" she directed the last one to the Coven.
"We offered her safe haven if she stopped fighting. She took it", Esme said.
I smiled.
"The pack needs to leave", Carlisle interrupted, "the Volturi won't honor a truce with the werewolves. And they also don't know about Destinee. They will be angered if they know that we withheld her existence from them."
"Ok."
I slowly stood up and looked around.
"Where's Jacob?" I asked.
"There..." Edward pointed into one direction across the field.
Jacob emerged from the tree line. I sighed with an enormous relief. He saw me as well and started toward me. But then my eyes were locked on the woods. Me and Jacob suddenly heard a vicious snarl coming from behind him in the woods. He spun around. There was Leah cornering one last male newborn who was hiding. Leah charged at him.
"Leah, don't!" I yelled.
The male newborn maneuvered out of her way, spun around and wanted to grab her and yank her off of her paws. Jacob leapt on the newborn and tackled him. He bit a piece of him off. But I screamed as the newborn got his arms around Jake and crushed him. Jacob howled in pain and I screamed in agony.
"JACOB!"
The other wolves were instantly there and pounced on the newborn, their teeth forcing him to release Jacob who crumpled to the ground. I didn't even wait till they pulled him apart. I immediately raced to my wolf. My hair was flying behind me and my tears were not rolling down my cheeks but flying with my hair. As I reached his side, I fell to my knees, being a sobbing mess. Edward and Carlisle appeared at Jacob's side while he transformed back into a human. I didn't really care that he was naked in that moment. I didn't notice how Carlisle examined him while Edward was steadying him and holding his hand.
"Hold on, Carlisle is gonna take care of you."
"The bones on the right half of his body are shattered."
Jacob, despite being in excruciating pain, ripped his hand from Edward's and reached for my face. I got closer and he wiped the still rolling tears from my cheeks. I sat down next to his head and stroke over his hair.
"Desti..."
"I'm right here Jake. It's okay. You're gonna be okay."
Sam, Paul, Jared, Embry, Quil and Leah, all in human form now, raced up.
"Jacob, you idiot. I had it", Leah said.
"Leah", Sam scolded.
"I need to set the bones before his accelerated healing kicks in. It's already starting."
"We need to get him out of here. We're not gonna win a fight with the Volturi", Edward interrupted.
"We'll take him back to Billy's", Sam said.
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
"I'm coming with you", I said distraught.
"I want too", Bree said and clamped to my right arm.
I looked to Sam for permission.
"As long as she doesn't bite anyone."
"I fed from animals the last time", Bree meant.
"Really? You did?"
I looked closer to Bree's eyes and could see a little bit of orange which meant that she really did feed from an animal.
"Guys, bring them out of here now!"
I looked back to Jake as the pack gathered around him.
"It's okay Jake. You will be fine."
"Hang in there, Jake. We got you."
Jacob cried out in pain as the pack lifted him. I was scared for his well-being. I watched agonized as they walked to the woods. I exchanged a look with Edward before Seth came to me. He grabbed my hand and lead me into the woods after the rest of the pack. Bree was following us. I barely heard Alice say 'They're here'.

It was night when we were all gathered in front of the Blacks' house. I stood next to Billy who sat in his wheelchair on the porch, surrounded by the pack, including Emily but without Sam. Bree stood next to me and was still clamping on my arm. We all waited anxiously. My face was stained with tears and my eyes weren't glistening anymore. Maybe with tears but not with the usual likely sparkle. A truck pulled up but I didn't look up. I knew that it was Bella. She hurriedly climbed out of the truck. From the corner of my eyes, I saw her walking closer and towards the porch. Just then a loud yell of excruciating pain emanated from inside the house. I flinched and hid my face on Emily's shoulder. My sobbing was the loudest thing that was heard outside, except for Jacob's scream of pain. Bella flinched, I could feel the pain myself. The others did too, but not as intensive like I did. Emily put an arm on my back and on Billy's shoulder. She was carefully to not put any pressure on the stab wound.
"It's been going on for a while", Quil interrupted the silence, probably because Bella had a questioning look on her face.
"Doc's rebreaking his bones", Embry said.
Another scream came. This was the absolute horror for me.
"Why'd he have to butt in? I could've taken that tick..." Leah began.
"Oh, give it a rest, Leah", Paul hissed.
They all spun towards the front door as it opened. Carlisle exited with Sam, who came directly to me. He pulled me in a tight hug. I hugged back and just kept crying.
"The worst is over. He'll be alright."
Billy exhaled heavily, some tears threatening to roll. Sam put one hand on Billy's shoulder while he still had me in a hug. Emily wrapped an arm around us both.
"I gave him some morphine, but his body temperature will burn it off soon. I'll come back to set up a drip."
"Thank you."
"He's asking for you", Carlisle said.
"He didn't mean you leech lover", Paul snapped.
Sam slowly and gently pushed me away from him and in the direction of the house. Everyone looked at me. I inhaled deeply and slowly and nervously went inside. I found my way to Jake's bedroom and quietly entered to find him laying in his bed. The entire right side of his body was in a series of braces. He was sweating heavily. His eyes were barely open. I couldn't bear to see him in this way.
"Hey Jake", I mumbled.
He looked up with some effort and short breaths. But he still smiled.
"Hey. I was worried about you."
"You were worried about me? More like I was worried more about you than you about me."
Jacob snorted but immediately winced as he felt more pain.
"My poor wolf."
I sat down next to him. Then I leaned down and lightly touched his lips with mine. Jake raised his healthy arm and pulled me closer. Our lips moved slowly but still with much passion. Tears rolled down my cheeks and landed on his face.
"Desti?"
"I'm just glad that you're alive. You stupid idiot."
"Attractive stupid idiot", Jake corrected me.
I chuckled. I let my fingers lightly dance over his injured side. He flinched.
"How much does it hurt?" I asked unsure.
"It doesn't hurt at all. It only... tickles."
"It tickles", I repeated.
"Yeah-woah."
"What?"
"Your nails are glowing."
And they really were glowing. The light flowed through them and inside of his body were his bones were broken. I could almost feel how they healed in a few seconds.
"Your bones..."
"They feel like they have healed."
He punched himself were his broken bones were and then looked at me with a grin.
"They're completely healed."
They must have heard it outside because someone was cheering and hollering.
"Come here you attractive stupid idiot", I mumbled.