52 Weeks
by Wizardtho
Chapter 15:
Corin POV
God, I can’t wait until that little whore is away from my Caius. I come back from my mission, which was to suss out new leads on Mistress Didyme’s whereabouts, thinking that maybe my absence would allow him to see how perfectly matched we are. Instead, I come back to find the Cullens have gotten into a bit of trouble, and their little human pet is now fucking my Caius! Not only that, but she also seems to have bewitched everyone into believing my Caius is her mate!
Ultimately, that’s why I agreed to this mess to begin with. Basically, all I have to do is allow my co-conspirator access to the little bitch in private, and make sure the unused hidden passageways are cleared. He will take care of the rest of the plan, which not only will get the annoying Lady Isabella out of my silky hair, but also leave my Caius free from her nasty claws.
I hurry silently along the corridors, knowing time is of the essence. Making sure my power is directed at the little witch with all the force I can muster, I know that if she isn’t already alone, she will be alone momentarily. I never was able to find out why I can’t erase my Caius from her mind -or her from his- but I know it gives her one hell of a headache.
I flip my phone open when the time draws near, whispering quickly when he picks up, “Now. I’m moving into position. She’s alone in my Caius’ suite. Hurry, because you won’t have much time. Use the secret passages.”
I make my way through the last two corridors at nearly human pace to give him time to move into position, then round the corner to the Royal Hall as if I’m in a hurry. I reach Demetri, offering only, “Master Caius is requesting you. Whatever it is sounded important.”
He furrows his brow, so I shrug, “I just do what I’m told, Demetri. All I know is that Jasper left the study no more than ten minutes before he asked me to take your place and send you to him.”
His eyes clear, then he nods, “Alright… but she’s not to be disturbed.”
He winces slightly, just like every other time the whore has gotten a headache from my power. I fight to keep the smirk from my face as I ask in mock concern, “Oh, no… another headache?”
He nods, so I pat his shoulder, “I’ll see she’s not disturbed. Go, you don’t want to make Master upset by wasting time.”
He gives me a serious look, then rushes off in the direction I came from.
It’s barely a minute later that I hear faint footsteps inside the suite. I know the plan is in action, and just need to bide my time. It won’t be long before Caius is finally free of Isabella Swan, allowing me to step into my rightful place.
BPOV
I finally give up on my bath, knowing only sleep will help with this damnable headache. After drying and wrapping my short robe around my body, I move to draw the drapes in the bedroom closed. It’s warm in the room, so I pull just the light throw over my legs, then close my eyes and pray for sleep.
I’m somewhere in that in-between place -where I’m not yet asleep, but not fully awake- when the hair on the back of my neck raises in alarm. My body’s warning jolts me into awareness, though I dare not let my body physically move, in case there is danger. I keep my eyes closed and breathing even, trying to figure out what’s wrong.
Just then, I feel a cool hand trace the side of my jaw, a voice I could never forget whispering surely, “My Bella… you will be free of that beast’s clutches very soon. I’ll make sure to erase every bit of his foul scent from your beautiful skin, then we can be together again.”
Oh, shit. Edward! No, he can’t be here. Jesus, what is he thinking! I thought I made myself clear that I didn’t love him anymore… that I wanted nothing to do with him. He’s seriously deluded if he thinks I’m ever going to be with him.
Think, Bella… damn it, think! Headache… think around the pain like Jasper taught you. That’s it. My headache is worse than ever, so that means Demetri must not be my guard right now. Corin, that bitch, must have somehow let Edward into my room!
Stall… find a way to stall him long enough for Caius to come. He’ll come, I know he will. Now would be a really great time for my physical shield to come out… anytime now, please. Danger, get it!? Come on, fucking work!
Thinking quickly, I flutter my eyes open with a groan, then gasp sleepily, “Edward? What…?”
He places his finger to my lips, “Shh… we must be quiet. I’m here to rescue you, Love. We must be very quiet if I’m to get you away from the castle without anyone suspecting.”
He moves to swoop me up into his arms bridal-style while continuing, “Come, we need to leave now.”
I struggle slightly before he has me fully in his arms, whispering heatedly, all while trying to make my damn shield work, “Wait, Edward. No. You aren’t supposed to be here. You know what will happen if they catch you. I told you I was staying here. You need to leave!”
He shakes his head with a smirk, then lifts me into his arms, “I know that was just them blackmailing you into staying, Love. I know you still love me as much as I love you. We’re mates, no matter what anyone else says.”
Just then, Edward stills, then growls as he rushes us toward the gilded mirror in the sitting room, “That… that bastard actually raped you?? Stole your precious virginity? Isabella, I swear to you he will pay for this… for everything he has made you endure.”
Before I can even form words to contradict his crazy assumptions, he pulls on the edge of the mirror like a door, and we are stepping through an actual opening into a dark stone passageway.
Things become a blur around me as Edward runs, growling under his breath about Aro’s thoughts of my intimate time with Caius. Edward seems positive that I was forced, even though I know the only memories Caius could have revealed to his brother, were ones of mutual pleasure.
We seem to wind through many of these abandoned halls, and I can feel my chest becoming heavy as the distance between Caius and I becomes greater. Edward’s hold on me never relents, though, until we finally come to a heavy stone door. He lets me down long enough to open the door, but as soon as he grabs my hand to guide me through, I take my chance.
I just hope we are still within castle grounds as I say in a normal volume, “Edward, listen to me. You need to stop this. I am not being blackmailed, and we aren’t mates.”
He growls as he yanks me back into his arms, but I realize we are outside, not 100 yards away from a castle gate, overgrown with vines from not being used in many years.
Edward hisses while holding me tightly in his arms, “Lies, Isabella. Lies that they have brainwashed you into believing. You. Are. Mine.”
I shake my head sadly, “No, Edward, I’m not. Let me down for just a second so we can talk about this rationally. I’ll prove to you that I’m not being held against my will. Please, your hold on me is starting to hurt my ribs.”
He huffs, but lets me down for a second before facing me, “Alright, but quickly. I know we are meant for each other, Love, so nothing you say will prove otherwise.”
I shake my head, thinking quickly, “I am Caius’s mate, Edward, not yours. Look at my mate mark… the one I received the night I first made love to him. He has never once forced me, never raped me. I don’t know what you saw in Aro’s thoughts concerning my intimate time with Caius, but rape will NEVER be one of them.”
Just as I show him my mate mark, Edward’s eyes go flat black with rage. His eyes dart in several different directions, then I’m suddenly in a crushing hold against his chest. His eyes bore into mine, his voice nothing more than a primal growl, “They will never have you, Love. I’ll make sure of it. If they won’t let us love each other without interference, there’s only one way we can be together.”
It suddenly dawns on me what he plans to do, so I scream with all my might as I shove against his chest, “NO, Edward! I’m not yours! I don’t love y-”
My struggling has no effect, of course, and I’m horrified to feel his teeth slicing into the shoulder opposite of my mate mark. I let out a wail of pain, kicking and fighting against his hold, but it only makes the pain in my shoulder worse.
In a moment of sheer will, I stop fighting, to truly think about what’s happening. I picture Edward draining me, and Caius having to see my crumpled dead body on the ground. I picture the pain I’m in, as well as the pain Caius will be in when I die. I push on my physical shield with all my might, then just as I start to feel faint, I feel the last of my energy being forced out of me in a blast wave.
My vision tints red before blackness descends, my scream fading into the abyss of my pain. The last thing I hear is the roar of pain from my mate, then there is only nothingness.
CPOV
I have had Jasper teaching our guards pointers over the last few days, as Isabella needs a bit of rest. She is being plagued with horrendous headaches as of late, which are worrisome in the least. They are not natural, so my brothers and I have come to the mutual assumption that these headaches are related to her pushing her power training too far. Hence, the order for her to take a few days off to rest.
My awareness of my mate trembles in my chest for a brief moment, causing me to scowl unintentionally at Jasper, who is just getting ready to leave the study. He pauses mid-stride, turning quickly to ask me, “What was that?”
I shake my head, focusing on the bond I share with Isabella, but all seems well. “I… I do not honestly know, Jasper.”
I wave him on, “Go for your nightly run. I will inform you of any danger, as you well know.”
Jasper nods, parting with a final soft comment, “Not just to Bella. I’ve become quite attached to bein’ around your grumpy ass these last couple o’ months, Caius. Plus, any family to that li’l brunette mate of yours, is family to me… whether ya like that fact or not.”
He catches my eyes, so I send him a bit of understanding and gratitude before he disappears out the door.
I try to bring my concentration back to the new leads we have gathered on Didyme’s whereabouts, but something does not seem quite right. Aro keeps looking at me with a slight worry in his eyes, but he remains silent as he concentrates back on his bit of paperwork.
It’s only about ten minutes later that the bond flares in my chest as Demetri rushes into the room. My eyes widen as he moves to speak, knowing immediately that something is very wrong. He should be with Isabella. He can see the change in my demeanor instantly as we both let out a whoosh of, “Oh, God…”
I continue with, “Isabella!” as I stand in a rush with my hand clutching my chest, not caring that files are now strung all over the floor.
Before Demetri can move, I grab him by the collar of his shirt, “Tell me, now!”
He rushes out with fear tinting his tone, his eyes never leaving my own, “Corin… she showed up and said you needed me. She didn’t say why, though. I wasn’t going to leave, but she told me Jasper just left, so I figured it was something to do with Lady Isabella’s training. I didn’t… oh, God. Master, we need to go now!”
The three of us are out the door in a flash, Renatta following quickly behind as Aro fills her in. I pull my phone from my pocket, making only one call. “She’s in trouble, Major. Inform the guards to be at code red status.”
He responds without a pause, “I’m already on my way. I knew somethin’ felt off tonight. I’ll meet ya at your suite. Peter’s informin’ the guards now.”
When we reach my suite door only minutes later, Jasper is growling menacingly while holding Corin to the wall by her throat, “I’ve not gotten a name from her, but Peter confirmed he smelled Edward’s scent in your suite.”
He shakes Corin roughly by the throat, making her yelp as he says surely, “This one’s been manipulated somehow into gettin’ him access to the castle.”
Peter calls from inside the suite, “Rip the bitch’s head off and leave her for Char, Major. Punkin’s in some serious shit right about now. He took her through the hidden passages. Show me the quickest route away from the castle, so we can get to Punkin before the fucker hurts her!”
Jasper quickly squeezes his hand around Corin’s throat, causing her to cry out before a metal screeching fills the air. So fast that my eyes barely have the time to see it, he detaches Corin’s head single-handedly before tossing both head and body to Charlotte. She nods, then promises, “The cells, and separate ones, at that. Her head will not have the chance to reattach.”
I growl my agreement before the rest of us are shooting down the hidden passages toward my mate.
Just as we come to the final tunnel leading out to the castle yard, near an old unused gate, I hear my mate let out a piercing scream of pain and my chest flares in agony. The roar from my chest is more beastly than I have felt in many years, knowing that my mate is in life-threatening danger.
I barrel through the few vampires in my path, intent on getting to my mate, only to be confronted with a terrifying sight upon reaching the grass just outside the tunnel entrance.
Isabella is being held in Edward’s crushing grip, the right shoulder of her small robe completely covered in dark red as the boy drains my mate of her precious life-giving blood. With another, more menacing roar, I hear Isabella cry out one more time, and I’m running as fast as I can to reach her.
Then, impossibly, Edward is thrown away from my mate. He lands in a heap, but Jasper is on him before he can gather his bearings. Aro is first to my mate, but he is shot away by what looks to be an almost invisible bubble.
My mate is lying covered in blood on the grass, more blood seeping quickly from the open wound, and she looks to be passed out. I choke as I finally realize what the bubble is; her physical shield has finally come forward to protect her. I do not even consider the possibility of being thrown back by it as I rush to my mate’s side, “Oh, God, Isabella. I need to stop the blood. Hold on, My Love.”
Miraculously, I make it through the shield as if it is not there, then quickly drop to her side. Isabella’s heartbeat is faint, her skin a deathly pale. I can hear Jasper behind me telling me to do it quickly.
Without a thought, I proceed to sink my teeth into Edward’s wound, pushing venom into my mate at a rapid pace. I seal the wound, then quickly make several more bites, pushing venom into each before sealing them. Wrists, ankles, then a final one over her heart. Its beats are slow and erratic, so I position myself after sealing the last wound, to keep the muscle beating until the venom has spread enough to keep it beating without help.
I tune everything else out, choosing to speak to my mate as I perform CPR on her fragile body. “Isabella, listen to me. You must fight to stay with me. I love you so completely and will die without you. Please, Darling, fight to keep your heart beating, for just a while longer… fight for us… for our love. Fight to stay with me. I need you, Isabella. Come on, damn it! Where’s all that feistiness I love so much?”
My voice is a broken sob as the words come out, but I could care less what I sound like as I continue to feel my mate’s weak, uneven heartbeats under my palms. “Please, Isabella… please do not leave me. I can not exist without you… you are everything to me, including the air I breathe.”
A crowd gathers as I continue to force my mate’s heart to beat a steady rhythm, but nothing aside from her matters for over an hour before I feel a hand on my shoulder. I instinctively growl as I turn my head, not ceasing the pumping motion of my hands, only to find Jasper kneeling next to me. “Listen, Caius. Listen closely. Ya did it. Your venom is doin’ its job now. Ya should get her inside where she’ll be more comfortable… where ya can tend to her in private.”
I do not stop my hands, hesitant to hope he is correct, only to end up losing her.
Then, something in his eyes causes the hope to bloom in my chest, just long enough for my hands to pause for a fraction of a second. In that brief amount of time, Isabella’s heart beats on its own, a strong and vibrant beat. I let out a cry of relief, clutching my fragile mate to my chest, then nod gratefully in Jasper’s direction.
It’s only now that I realize how cool and damp the ground is, as well as that Isabella’s shield has dissipated completely. One fact rings through my entire being as I lift Isabella’s tiny form in my arms.
My mate is safe now… alive and changing. She will no longer be fragile when she wakes. Our life together will truly begin in three days’ time.
Corin POV
God, I can’t wait until that little whore is away from my Caius. I come back from my mission, which was to suss out new leads on Mistress Didyme’s whereabouts, thinking that maybe my absence would allow him to see how perfectly matched we are. Instead, I come back to find the Cullens have gotten into a bit of trouble, and their little human pet is now fucking my Caius! Not only that, but she also seems to have bewitched everyone into believing my Caius is her mate!
Ultimately, that’s why I agreed to this mess to begin with. Basically, all I have to do is allow my co-conspirator access to the little bitch in private, and make sure the unused hidden passageways are cleared. He will take care of the rest of the plan, which not only will get the annoying Lady Isabella out of my silky hair, but also leave my Caius free from her nasty claws.
I hurry silently along the corridors, knowing time is of the essence. Making sure my power is directed at the little witch with all the force I can muster, I know that if she isn’t already alone, she will be alone momentarily. I never was able to find out why I can’t erase my Caius from her mind -or her from his- but I know it gives her one hell of a headache.
I flip my phone open when the time draws near, whispering quickly when he picks up, “Now. I’m moving into position. She’s alone in my Caius’ suite. Hurry, because you won’t have much time. Use the secret passages.”
I make my way through the last two corridors at nearly human pace to give him time to move into position, then round the corner to the Royal Hall as if I’m in a hurry. I reach Demetri, offering only, “Master Caius is requesting you. Whatever it is sounded important.”
He furrows his brow, so I shrug, “I just do what I’m told, Demetri. All I know is that Jasper left the study no more than ten minutes before he asked me to take your place and send you to him.”
His eyes clear, then he nods, “Alright… but she’s not to be disturbed.”
He winces slightly, just like every other time the whore has gotten a headache from my power. I fight to keep the smirk from my face as I ask in mock concern, “Oh, no… another headache?”
He nods, so I pat his shoulder, “I’ll see she’s not disturbed. Go, you don’t want to make Master upset by wasting time.”
He gives me a serious look, then rushes off in the direction I came from.
It’s barely a minute later that I hear faint footsteps inside the suite. I know the plan is in action, and just need to bide my time. It won’t be long before Caius is finally free of Isabella Swan, allowing me to step into my rightful place.
BPOV
I finally give up on my bath, knowing only sleep will help with this damnable headache. After drying and wrapping my short robe around my body, I move to draw the drapes in the bedroom closed. It’s warm in the room, so I pull just the light throw over my legs, then close my eyes and pray for sleep.
I’m somewhere in that in-between place -where I’m not yet asleep, but not fully awake- when the hair on the back of my neck raises in alarm. My body’s warning jolts me into awareness, though I dare not let my body physically move, in case there is danger. I keep my eyes closed and breathing even, trying to figure out what’s wrong.
Just then, I feel a cool hand trace the side of my jaw, a voice I could never forget whispering surely, “My Bella… you will be free of that beast’s clutches very soon. I’ll make sure to erase every bit of his foul scent from your beautiful skin, then we can be together again.”
Oh, shit. Edward! No, he can’t be here. Jesus, what is he thinking! I thought I made myself clear that I didn’t love him anymore… that I wanted nothing to do with him. He’s seriously deluded if he thinks I’m ever going to be with him.
Think, Bella… damn it, think! Headache… think around the pain like Jasper taught you. That’s it. My headache is worse than ever, so that means Demetri must not be my guard right now. Corin, that bitch, must have somehow let Edward into my room!
Stall… find a way to stall him long enough for Caius to come. He’ll come, I know he will. Now would be a really great time for my physical shield to come out… anytime now, please. Danger, get it!? Come on, fucking work!
Thinking quickly, I flutter my eyes open with a groan, then gasp sleepily, “Edward? What…?”
He places his finger to my lips, “Shh… we must be quiet. I’m here to rescue you, Love. We must be very quiet if I’m to get you away from the castle without anyone suspecting.”
He moves to swoop me up into his arms bridal-style while continuing, “Come, we need to leave now.”
I struggle slightly before he has me fully in his arms, whispering heatedly, all while trying to make my damn shield work, “Wait, Edward. No. You aren’t supposed to be here. You know what will happen if they catch you. I told you I was staying here. You need to leave!”
He shakes his head with a smirk, then lifts me into his arms, “I know that was just them blackmailing you into staying, Love. I know you still love me as much as I love you. We’re mates, no matter what anyone else says.”
Just then, Edward stills, then growls as he rushes us toward the gilded mirror in the sitting room, “That… that bastard actually raped you?? Stole your precious virginity? Isabella, I swear to you he will pay for this… for everything he has made you endure.”
Before I can even form words to contradict his crazy assumptions, he pulls on the edge of the mirror like a door, and we are stepping through an actual opening into a dark stone passageway.
Things become a blur around me as Edward runs, growling under his breath about Aro’s thoughts of my intimate time with Caius. Edward seems positive that I was forced, even though I know the only memories Caius could have revealed to his brother, were ones of mutual pleasure.
We seem to wind through many of these abandoned halls, and I can feel my chest becoming heavy as the distance between Caius and I becomes greater. Edward’s hold on me never relents, though, until we finally come to a heavy stone door. He lets me down long enough to open the door, but as soon as he grabs my hand to guide me through, I take my chance.
I just hope we are still within castle grounds as I say in a normal volume, “Edward, listen to me. You need to stop this. I am not being blackmailed, and we aren’t mates.”
He growls as he yanks me back into his arms, but I realize we are outside, not 100 yards away from a castle gate, overgrown with vines from not being used in many years.
Edward hisses while holding me tightly in his arms, “Lies, Isabella. Lies that they have brainwashed you into believing. You. Are. Mine.”
I shake my head sadly, “No, Edward, I’m not. Let me down for just a second so we can talk about this rationally. I’ll prove to you that I’m not being held against my will. Please, your hold on me is starting to hurt my ribs.”
He huffs, but lets me down for a second before facing me, “Alright, but quickly. I know we are meant for each other, Love, so nothing you say will prove otherwise.”
I shake my head, thinking quickly, “I am Caius’s mate, Edward, not yours. Look at my mate mark… the one I received the night I first made love to him. He has never once forced me, never raped me. I don’t know what you saw in Aro’s thoughts concerning my intimate time with Caius, but rape will NEVER be one of them.”
Just as I show him my mate mark, Edward’s eyes go flat black with rage. His eyes dart in several different directions, then I’m suddenly in a crushing hold against his chest. His eyes bore into mine, his voice nothing more than a primal growl, “They will never have you, Love. I’ll make sure of it. If they won’t let us love each other without interference, there’s only one way we can be together.”
It suddenly dawns on me what he plans to do, so I scream with all my might as I shove against his chest, “NO, Edward! I’m not yours! I don’t love y-”
My struggling has no effect, of course, and I’m horrified to feel his teeth slicing into the shoulder opposite of my mate mark. I let out a wail of pain, kicking and fighting against his hold, but it only makes the pain in my shoulder worse.
In a moment of sheer will, I stop fighting, to truly think about what’s happening. I picture Edward draining me, and Caius having to see my crumpled dead body on the ground. I picture the pain I’m in, as well as the pain Caius will be in when I die. I push on my physical shield with all my might, then just as I start to feel faint, I feel the last of my energy being forced out of me in a blast wave.
My vision tints red before blackness descends, my scream fading into the abyss of my pain. The last thing I hear is the roar of pain from my mate, then there is only nothingness.
CPOV
I have had Jasper teaching our guards pointers over the last few days, as Isabella needs a bit of rest. She is being plagued with horrendous headaches as of late, which are worrisome in the least. They are not natural, so my brothers and I have come to the mutual assumption that these headaches are related to her pushing her power training too far. Hence, the order for her to take a few days off to rest.
My awareness of my mate trembles in my chest for a brief moment, causing me to scowl unintentionally at Jasper, who is just getting ready to leave the study. He pauses mid-stride, turning quickly to ask me, “What was that?”
I shake my head, focusing on the bond I share with Isabella, but all seems well. “I… I do not honestly know, Jasper.”
I wave him on, “Go for your nightly run. I will inform you of any danger, as you well know.”
Jasper nods, parting with a final soft comment, “Not just to Bella. I’ve become quite attached to bein’ around your grumpy ass these last couple o’ months, Caius. Plus, any family to that li’l brunette mate of yours, is family to me… whether ya like that fact or not.”
He catches my eyes, so I send him a bit of understanding and gratitude before he disappears out the door.
I try to bring my concentration back to the new leads we have gathered on Didyme’s whereabouts, but something does not seem quite right. Aro keeps looking at me with a slight worry in his eyes, but he remains silent as he concentrates back on his bit of paperwork.
It’s only about ten minutes later that the bond flares in my chest as Demetri rushes into the room. My eyes widen as he moves to speak, knowing immediately that something is very wrong. He should be with Isabella. He can see the change in my demeanor instantly as we both let out a whoosh of, “Oh, God…”
I continue with, “Isabella!” as I stand in a rush with my hand clutching my chest, not caring that files are now strung all over the floor.
Before Demetri can move, I grab him by the collar of his shirt, “Tell me, now!”
He rushes out with fear tinting his tone, his eyes never leaving my own, “Corin… she showed up and said you needed me. She didn’t say why, though. I wasn’t going to leave, but she told me Jasper just left, so I figured it was something to do with Lady Isabella’s training. I didn’t… oh, God. Master, we need to go now!”
The three of us are out the door in a flash, Renatta following quickly behind as Aro fills her in. I pull my phone from my pocket, making only one call. “She’s in trouble, Major. Inform the guards to be at code red status.”
He responds without a pause, “I’m already on my way. I knew somethin’ felt off tonight. I’ll meet ya at your suite. Peter’s informin’ the guards now.”
When we reach my suite door only minutes later, Jasper is growling menacingly while holding Corin to the wall by her throat, “I’ve not gotten a name from her, but Peter confirmed he smelled Edward’s scent in your suite.”
He shakes Corin roughly by the throat, making her yelp as he says surely, “This one’s been manipulated somehow into gettin’ him access to the castle.”
Peter calls from inside the suite, “Rip the bitch’s head off and leave her for Char, Major. Punkin’s in some serious shit right about now. He took her through the hidden passages. Show me the quickest route away from the castle, so we can get to Punkin before the fucker hurts her!”
Jasper quickly squeezes his hand around Corin’s throat, causing her to cry out before a metal screeching fills the air. So fast that my eyes barely have the time to see it, he detaches Corin’s head single-handedly before tossing both head and body to Charlotte. She nods, then promises, “The cells, and separate ones, at that. Her head will not have the chance to reattach.”
I growl my agreement before the rest of us are shooting down the hidden passages toward my mate.
Just as we come to the final tunnel leading out to the castle yard, near an old unused gate, I hear my mate let out a piercing scream of pain and my chest flares in agony. The roar from my chest is more beastly than I have felt in many years, knowing that my mate is in life-threatening danger.
I barrel through the few vampires in my path, intent on getting to my mate, only to be confronted with a terrifying sight upon reaching the grass just outside the tunnel entrance.
Isabella is being held in Edward’s crushing grip, the right shoulder of her small robe completely covered in dark red as the boy drains my mate of her precious life-giving blood. With another, more menacing roar, I hear Isabella cry out one more time, and I’m running as fast as I can to reach her.
Then, impossibly, Edward is thrown away from my mate. He lands in a heap, but Jasper is on him before he can gather his bearings. Aro is first to my mate, but he is shot away by what looks to be an almost invisible bubble.
My mate is lying covered in blood on the grass, more blood seeping quickly from the open wound, and she looks to be passed out. I choke as I finally realize what the bubble is; her physical shield has finally come forward to protect her. I do not even consider the possibility of being thrown back by it as I rush to my mate’s side, “Oh, God, Isabella. I need to stop the blood. Hold on, My Love.”
Miraculously, I make it through the shield as if it is not there, then quickly drop to her side. Isabella’s heartbeat is faint, her skin a deathly pale. I can hear Jasper behind me telling me to do it quickly.
Without a thought, I proceed to sink my teeth into Edward’s wound, pushing venom into my mate at a rapid pace. I seal the wound, then quickly make several more bites, pushing venom into each before sealing them. Wrists, ankles, then a final one over her heart. Its beats are slow and erratic, so I position myself after sealing the last wound, to keep the muscle beating until the venom has spread enough to keep it beating without help.
I tune everything else out, choosing to speak to my mate as I perform CPR on her fragile body. “Isabella, listen to me. You must fight to stay with me. I love you so completely and will die without you. Please, Darling, fight to keep your heart beating, for just a while longer… fight for us… for our love. Fight to stay with me. I need you, Isabella. Come on, damn it! Where’s all that feistiness I love so much?”
My voice is a broken sob as the words come out, but I could care less what I sound like as I continue to feel my mate’s weak, uneven heartbeats under my palms. “Please, Isabella… please do not leave me. I can not exist without you… you are everything to me, including the air I breathe.”
A crowd gathers as I continue to force my mate’s heart to beat a steady rhythm, but nothing aside from her matters for over an hour before I feel a hand on my shoulder. I instinctively growl as I turn my head, not ceasing the pumping motion of my hands, only to find Jasper kneeling next to me. “Listen, Caius. Listen closely. Ya did it. Your venom is doin’ its job now. Ya should get her inside where she’ll be more comfortable… where ya can tend to her in private.”
I do not stop my hands, hesitant to hope he is correct, only to end up losing her.
Then, something in his eyes causes the hope to bloom in my chest, just long enough for my hands to pause for a fraction of a second. In that brief amount of time, Isabella’s heart beats on its own, a strong and vibrant beat. I let out a cry of relief, clutching my fragile mate to my chest, then nod gratefully in Jasper’s direction.
It’s only now that I realize how cool and damp the ground is, as well as that Isabella’s shield has dissipated completely. One fact rings through my entire being as I lift Isabella’s tiny form in my arms.
My mate is safe now… alive and changing. She will no longer be fragile when she wakes. Our life together will truly begin in three days’ time.