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Chapter 7: Alec

The dark foreboding forest seemed to glare at me with menacing eyes. The moon was the only source of light and it cast haunting shadows against the trees. I was running barefoot and stumbling over hidden roots in the dense undergrowth. My wedding dress got caught many times on the branches clawing at me; it was torn beyond repair. My arms and legs were covered in deep gashes and blood ran temptingly from my wounds. I knew it was pointless to run, but my legs continued to move. I didn’t know where I was going, but I kept running. Every now and again I heard a chilling shriek of laughter, but couldn’t tell from which direction it was coming from. I kicked my legs to go faster, but they had already reached their maximum ability. My body began to grow weary, I didn’t know how long I had been running; it felt like years. I could hear my heart hammering in my chest and knew that it would not go unnoticed to their ears.

Suddenly, I collapsed from exhaustion on the wet ground. I knew I had to get back up but I couldn’t seem to feel any part of my body. The high pitched shrill echoed throughout the forest and it sounded closer this time. I forced myself get up, but my legs went limp beneath me. I had to move. I began to crawl on my hands and knees, dirt covered my every inch of my skin. Just then, I felt an immense amount of pressure slam onto my back forcing me into the mud. I heard a sickening snap as my arms buckled beneath me and I let out scream of agony at the pain now rushing through my broken bones.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Said a woman’s voice calmly, as she lifted her heel from by back. Her voice was childlike and the words ran like honey from her mouth. “Look Demetri, she was trying to escape.” An abrupt thrust to my chest shattered my lungs and I was being thrown against a nearby tree. I tried to scream but my voice had been stolen from me; nothing but a low whimper escaped my lips. My head felt like it weighed one thousand pounds and hung to the side and hair dropped over my face.
“A pretty girl like you shouldn’t hide those beautiful features.” Said a man’s voice tauntingly. He lifted my chin with his stone hand and brushed my dirt-caked hair away from my eyes. I forced myself to look at him. He wore a long grey cloak that concealed his identity; his hood draped low over his eyes, and I could only make out the faint outline of his chalky white lips against the dim moonlight. Two other heavily cloaked figures loomed several feet away in the dark shadows of the trees, and from their stance they looked like they were in a hurry.
“Don’t be scared, Bella.” His lips twisted into an unnatural smile. “This won’t take long.”
I twitched at his piercing words, but surprisingly, they comforted me. If they were planning something unbearably painful at least it would be over soon.

He ran his icy fingers down my cheek and brushed a dead leaf from my hair.
“Stop toying with her and get it over with.” A boy’s voice commanded from behind us. Like the girl’s, his voice was juvenile. Demetri obeyed and dropped my chin, letting my head loll to the side once more. I could hear faint mummers but they were far too low and too fast for my ears to catch. Demetri returned to my side, this time not being so gentle when he lifted head. He yanked back my hair and forced my head upward, his face inches from mine.
He had removed his grey hood and revealed his frightening burgundy eyes. I averted my eyes from his, only to meet the threatening gaze of Jane and Alec.
“Let’s just get this over with. I don’t want to run the risk of her escaping.” Jane said. Both her brother and her glided towards me, their teeth barred. Demetri was still at my side uttering low growls in my ear. I could feel my heart picking up tempo, it banged loudly in my ears.

All of a sudden, I heard a chilling growl but it wasn’t from any of them. Jane’s head whipped around to face the newcomer. “What is this? A werewolf? How very intriguing.” Her voice dripped with curiosity but remained cordial. A werewolf? No. It couldn’t be. I could faintly see his russet fur from around Jane’s figure. She turned back to face us. “Demetri, would you please take care of that.” She gestured towards the wolf with her brooding eyes. Demetri let out a low sigh and reluctantly released the hold he had on my hair. This time, I did not let my head droop, but held it wearily in place. “Jacob...no...please don’t.” My voice was only a weak whisper, but I knew he would be able to hear it. His dark chocolate eyes met mine and they were smothered with agony and anger. I opened my mouth to attempt to tell him to go home and not try and be the hero, but I was a breath too late.

With a deafening crack, both vampire and werewolf were throwing themselves at each other in a merciless battle for life and death. Roaring howls came from Jacob, but they were not filled with pain. I knew he was strong but how could he defeat Demetri, he has so much more experience. I heard a sharp tearing sound and Demetri’s arm was ripped off and slung a few feet from where I was lying helpless against the tree. It was still wiggling and to my surprise dug its pallid fingers into the dirt and tried to crawl its way back to its owner. Jane’s eyebrows pulled together as if she were impressed at what had just happened. Then, another pale limb was cast aside effortlessly.

“I guess I should take care of this.” She sighed turning her back to me. Alec sauntered to her side. They began to walk over to Jacob, who had torn Demetri into unrecognizable shreds, but split up when they got nearer. Alec and Jane were on either side of him, circling him and waiting for the right moment to make their move. Just then, Jacob crumpled to the ground, letting out painful cries of agony. “No!” I managed to scream.
A twisted sadistic smile crossed Jane’s lips as her gaze became more intense. My eyes began to well up in tears. Each one stinging as they rolled off my cheeks.

“What?” Jane’s voice said abruptly; she sounded half annoyed and half surprised.
Jacob had managed to stand up on all fours, but he could not hide the excruciating pain that still pulsed through his body. He began to slowly make his way toward Jane who still had her eyes fixed intently on him. Alec let out long sigh.
“Enough of this.” His voice seethed with boredom. Jane dropped her gaze.
Jacob’s large body crouched low to the ground and leapt with great force towards Jane. His forearms outstretched revealing his sharp claws. She remained where she stood, unconcerned and unmoving. Alec waved his hand dismissively and Jacob’s body fell lifeless to the ground.

“Jacob.” I whispered shooting straight up from the bed. The sun glistened happily through the windows and illuminated the room. I struggled to catch my breath. “A dream?” I asked myself aloud. “Yes, that was all it was.” I touched my hands to my eyes; a dream it might have been but there was no doubt that the tears on my cheeks were real. After every thing I had put Jacob through, he forgave me and was still willing to fight for me, still willing to....die for me. I winced at that last thought. But again, I had to tell myself it was only in my dream that he forgave me. I couldn’t help but to think about Alec. I had only met him once in Volterra, but I had never talked to him directly. Could he really kill people, just like that? I continued to struggle with the idea that it was only a dream and surely that was not Alec’s true “talent”.

I looked around me and suddenly noticed that Edward was not by my side. The place where he was laying the night before looked untouched. The smooth cream sheets were pulled up high above the pillow, unlike my side of the bed where they were in disarray. A smile crossed my face as I picked up the little note that lay patiently on the nearby pillow. I unfolded the white piece of paper that held the elegant script I knew so well.

Good morning my love.
I didn’t have the heart to wake you.
I hope you had happy dreams.
I will be waiting for you at Carlisle and Esme’s.

P.s. Only one more day

I felt my smile grow wider and his note wiped away everything that I had been worrying about. I gave one hurried look at the clock on the polished wooden nightstand; it read 9:13. I quickly jumped out of bed – not giving a second thought to the shambles of sheets I had left behind- and did my morning routine.