Atonement
By BetterInTexas
Chapter 15:
BPOV
I flew towards her and reached for her neck.
And found myself thrown on my ass behind her. I got to my feet quickly and saw she was laughing.
“Let’s see how important your human is to you.” She said and made a move toward Dani. I guess she underestimated my speed.
I caught her by her blonde ponytail 6 feet away from a screaming Dani and slammed her head to the ground by her hair. I swung down and she rolled. My fist momentarily caught in the roof. She helped me free by kicking me. I caught my balance in midair, flipped and landed on my feet. We both growled.
Not exactly civilized conversation, but I felt it conveyed our feelings. She glared at me. She was trying her power again. I need to make this a close in fight. She had more experience despite her lack of power.
I ran towards her and she braced. Rather than trying to tackle her I stopped a few feet in front of her and swung. She took a shot in the face but stood her ground and returned the strike. I blocked with an elbow and kicked her knee. She stepped back and I continued to swing. Garrett told me not to think. Just strike. Flow.
I was flowing. I landed three to her face and a knee to her gut. She backed up. I continued swinging. She tried two palm strikes and I dodged both and hit her with a left cross and an uppercut. She looked at me and I saw it.
Panic.
It made me move faster. I continued backing her up on the roof. Then I noticed it. She telegraphed her leg blocks. I let her kick a few times taking the blows in my legs. They hurt but I stood my ground, balance winning out.
I returned two kicks to her knees. On the third she raised her leg to kick but hesitated waiting for my strike.
I obliged. With a scream I brought my foot directly on top of her shin, just like Ty warned me. Her foot planted in the concrete roof and my foot continued going into her bone. With a sickening crunch her lower leg bent in two. I spun to the side and delivered a sidekick to the side of her other knee, snapping her knee joint. She screamed and dropped to the ground, trying to hold both her legs. I rolled on the ground behind her, locked her head in my arms and twisted. One thousand years of being on her shoulders, her neck didn’t want to come off. I wrapped my legs around her and flipped her on top of me, her back to my chest. I felt it begin to break but wouldn’t come off. Fuck it.
I bit her throat. Three bites and her head came off.
I tossed it away and stood up. She could identify me. Aro could touch her.
“Stay Dani.”
“n. problem.”
I ran towards the edge and swung down, kicking the window out of the apartment below us. No one was home. I began rifling through drawers in the living room. Nothing. The kitchen.
I found a small lighter and ran back to the window, climbing back to the roof. Jane was still there in pieces and no other Volturi were in sight. Lighting her head on fire I continued to her body. I hoped I didn’t start a fire on the building and she would burn out on her own. Either way though, I had to move. I grabbed Dani who screamed.
“Quiet. Wrap your legs around me!” I scolded her.
“A… again? Are we going to fly again? I’ll throw up.”
“I’ve been burned, shot and had a grenade blow up underneath me. Vomited on would be the most normal thing to happen to me today. Now get on.”
Dani walked up to me and slowly brought her leg to my waist. I suppose she did not understand the gravity of our situation. In a few moments I had a feeling terrorists would be a welcome problem compared to what was coming. I grabbed her butt and lifted her up to my waist. I tossed her around to my back and jumped to the ground in the alleyway. She screamed all the way down.
“Look, I can appreciate that this is a weird, frightening day for you. But please stop screaming. I need to get you hidden. I need a phone and I need a car because in a minute more people like the burned up dead bitch are going to be following my scent. I need you calm. Or at least quiet. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” She whispered. “Can I get down?”
“No. Not yet.”
I ran with her to the end of the alley nearly to the street. “Stay here. Do not move.”
I walked out on the street. A guy pulled over to the curb. Nice. I can drive a standard. Shouldn’t be much different than my truck. A nice looking young man in a very nice suit got out of the car.
“Hey?” I whispered loudly.
“Ciao.” He grinned. I backed up in the alleyway a bit and unzipped my jacket showing him my black bra and beckoned him with a finger.
He grinned and came forward. Ty was right. A woman can rule the world if she knows how to use her tits. I didn’t believe him at the time.
A tap on the driver’s head and Dani and I now had a phone and a car of some sort.
“I wonder what kind of car this is?” I murmured.
“Are you for real? You don’t know what kind of car this is?” Dani asked, finally coming out of the catonic state she had been in.
“Yellow?”
“It’s a Porsche.” She informed me.
“Huh. So that’s what one of these things look like.”
“Where are we going?” She asked.
“We are getting the fuck out of Italy. I am going to keep driving until I am out of Italy. I don’t really care where we go. So long as we are out of…”
“Italy. I get it. Are you going to tell me what you are?” she asked.
“Nope.”
“I have a right to know what the hell just happened. Especially with the grenades and the killing people and the blond kid who looked younger than me who you just did a remake of the Matrix with. Then what else? Oh yeah, you bit off her fucking head and lit her on fire!”
“Get used to disappointment.” Whoa. Déjà vu.
“Bullshit.” Dani actually crossed her arms. I suppose I should be grateful I am getting a reaction out of her.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Germany or France. Take your pick. Give me the phone. I need to find out how to get you back to the states.”
She handed me the phone. I checked my rearview mirror and saw nothing and no one behind us. I knew we were going north. Checked speed… Holy shit this thing is fast. I was at 260 and climbing. Wait. That’s kilometers. What’s the conversion factor…
“What’s the conversion factor for kilometers to miles?” I asked Dani.
“A kilometer is approximately .62 miles.” She responded. Good. Her brain was still working. I did the math in my head… Holy shit.
“So we are doing about 140 miles per hour.”
“Damn…” Dani finally seemed impressed.
I dialed Garrett’s number.
“Hello?”
“Hey babe. How is your day going?” Damn it was good to hear his voice.
“Bella. Thank God. Are you okay? Is Dani?”
“Yeah, we are good. Actually Dani is pretty uh… let’s just say she saw some things she shouldn’t have that I couldn’t avoid.”
“We will deal with that later. So long as the two of you are okay. Ty! Call the President and tell him his daughter is safe.”
“So what the hell happened?” I asked.
“Bernard Stone. He is conducting simultaneous terrorist attacks across the globe. The first act is the deaths of the children of the free world leaders.”
Oh God.
“How many died?” I asked.
“Several. A few survived. The son of the British Prime Minister survived. Germany’s Chancellors daughter. The security forces took hits but they fought them off. The bombers were killed before they could detonate. The rest weren’t so lucky.”
“Where are you?” I asked. Life would be good as soon as I had him with me.
“Coming to Italy. Connolly’s team and Ty are with me. We are across the Atlantic right now. The President is in Airforce one, heading to a secure location with the rest of the government.”
“How secure?”
“Nothing on Earth can touch them. Even I would have a difficult time getting in.”
“That’s where Dani needs to be.”
“Where are you?”
“Currently leaving Italy, heading north in a stolen car at 150 miles an hour. I don’t know when the owner will wake up so I may have to ditch the car soon. Once it is reported stolen I’m sure it will have a chip in it.”
“Can you make it to France?”
“Baby nothing could stop me at the moment.” I told him honestly.
“Stay away from Paris and Nice. The daughter of the French President was killed in Nice. We can’t be sure what enemy forces are on the ground or what else is planned for the major cities of the world. We need to get you and Dani back to the States. Head to Monoco. When you get close call me and I will tell you the coordinates of a small airfield. We will land and get the two of you.”
“Okay.” Good. We had a plan.
“Also I will arrange a car for you, no questions asked. When I get the coordinates ditch the car a few miles away. I suppose it won’t matter if Dani sees you run?”
“You suppose correctly.” I told him.
“Okay. Then keep driving.”
May as well let him know.
“Garrett? We may have another problem. The Volturi heard the explosions and gunfire and sent a vampire out to investigate. Only one but… they don’t know anything… I killed the vampire. But…”
“But what?”
“The Volturi may be angry. It was Jane.”
Silence.
“You fought Jane?”
“Yep.”
“You killed Jane?”
“Yep.”
“Bella she is a thousand years old.”
“She isn’t going to make a thousand and one.” I told him honestly.
“And no one saw you?”
“No but I’m sure if they searched for her they will have picked up my scent.”
“Fine. That’s fine. We will deal with that if the time comes. I can’t believe I let you be in a position where you had to fight…”
“Hey? I did it. I handled it.” I told him.
“You’re right. I’m so proud of you. I will show you how proud I am of you when I see you. Right now just get to me Bella. I need you.”
“What about Stone?” I asked.
“We will deal with him after Dani is safe.”
Wait.
“Garrett, we won’t have time to get Dani back to the States and then go get Stone. Who knows what he will be up too?”
“Dani. Then Stone. Ty can go after Stone while we take care of Dani.”
“Bullshit! Ty will need help.” I hated to say this but… “You two go after Stone and get me a flight to the States. I will keep her safe. I will get her where she needs to be.”
“Bella…”
“Garrett. We need to do this. It’s bigger than us, remember?”
Silence. Not a word.
“Okay. I will head to London. Try to track Amun there. Ty believes Stone to be there as to be there as well. Somewhere. They both went into a parking garage and disappeared.”
“Any idea who the men are that they hired?” I asked.
“Yes. We are getting reports from the CIA indicating al Qaeda is about to go on television across the Middle East and take credit. Supposedly this is only the first step in coordinated attacks on the US and its allies. China was not attacked nor North Korea or any Mid East State.”
“Garrett doesn’t it seem weird… never mind.”
“No, what Bella?”
“If they were in London and plan to attack the US, London could be the first target but they have to have assets in the US. Cells?”
“Yes. But we have no way of knowing where. The CIA and FBI will have to do what they do best. I am hoping I can beat the information out of Stone or Amun.”
“You are going to beat information out of Stone and Amun?” I asked. That sounded… difficult.
“Why not just go to Egypt?” I hated to do this but…
“Amun was seen in London yesterday Bella.”
“Garrett do you love me?”
“God yes.”
I was a bad person for suggesting this… but it was war.
“What would you do if someone had me? An enemy? What would you do to get me back?”
“Anything.” He answered without hesitation. Good.
“The file on Amun. He has a wife… or companion… Kebi?”
“Yes… oh. You are right. I… I… you are right.”
“If there is one thing I have learned it is there is nothing more important to a person than their loved ones.” I said honestly. I noticed Dani looked at me for the first time since the conversation began.
“He is an extremist Bella. He may not give up information even for her.” Garrett said more to himself.
“But it is a better alternative than chasing him around Europe.” He finally admitted.
“I know you don’t want to…” I started.
“No! You are right. We have been attacked. The gloves are off. I still have to see you in France. I am going to leave Connolly’s team with you to escort Dani back to the states. I will see you on the ground and then I will head to Egypt with Ty.”
“Okay. See you soon. I love you Garrett.”
“I love you and I am so proud of you.”
He ended the call before I could say anything. Proud? I only did what I was supposed to do. Protect Dave’s kid.
“You mind if I turn the radio on?” Dani asked. Before I could answer my phone rang. Who the hell beside Garrett would have this number? Of course. It must be someone the driver I stole this from knows. Probably best not to answer.
The phone stopped ringing and began ringing again immediately.
“You gonna answer that?” Dani asked.
“No. It’s rude to answer someone else’s phone… I think.”
“You knocked the guy out and stole his phone and car and you are worried about being rude?”
She had a good point.
“Fine.” I answered the phone.
“Alice Cullen speaking.” I said.
“Who? Is there a Bella Swan there?”
“Yeah. This is Bella. Alice is my… nickname.”
“This is General Mathieu, Swan. The President is on the line. Standby for a secure connection.”
I heard a buzz on the line. Finally it stopped.
“Bella?”
President Dave sounded panicked.
“Yes sir?”
“My… Ty said she was safe?”
“Right next to me sir.”
He didn’t speak. But I heard it. He was crying. I sat on the line for a few moments while he composed himself.
“Can I…”
“Here she is sir.”
I handed the phone to Dani and mouthed your Dad.
Dani broke down.
“Daddy?” Now she was in tears. I hadn’t called my parents since two days ago. I needed to take care of that on the way to the States,
I tried not to listen to the two of them talk. It was private. But with my hearing it was hard not to. Dani wasn’t sarcastic. She just wanted her Daddy. He finally asked to speak to me. I took the phone.
“Bella?”
“Yes sir?”
“I will never be able to…”
“Don’t mention it Mr. President. I just want to get her back to you. Did Garrett inform you of what’s going on?”
“Yes. You… you… Bella thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I won’t leave her side until she is with you. I swear Dave.”
He took a deep breath.
“I understand I have some explaining to do to her about… you?”
“Yes. Sorry.”
“Don’t ever apologize to me. She can handle it. She is strong.” I looked over to Dani who was smiling and staring at the quickly passing scenery.
“Yes she is, Dave. See you soon. You run the Country, I will keep her safe.”
“Goodbye Bella See you soon.”
I hung up the phone and kept driving. Dani looked over at me and I returned her glance meeting her eyes.
“Hey Bella? Thanks. I don’t know what you are but I am damn glad you are with me.”
Wow. She said something nice. I was so shocked I nearly forgot to respond. Finally I smiled at her.
“I’m not sure exactly what I am either yet. But I am damn glad I was with you too, Dani. Get some rest. We got an hour or so to go.”
I wasn’t sure what I was. Or who I was. But I was quickly figuring it out.
Garrett POV
We landed and Bella was waiting for us with Dani. I grabbed her as soon as the plane came to a stop and the door opened.
I kissed her like she would disappear if I stopped. People surrounded us and I didn’t care. I had missed her. Missed her presence. Missed her touch. Missed her eyes that not even contacts could hide.
“You wanna give a brother a chance to get some love?” Ty asked.
I reluctantly let her go and stepped back while he wrapped Bella in his long arms.
After Ty had let her go I grabbed her and walked off a bit while Connolly secured Dani in the jet. It would refuel in the air. No one wanted to stay on the ground very long.
“So what is the plan? Where are you going?” She asked. She was worried.
“Egypt. I am going to go interrogate Kebi and the rest of the coven.”
“Benjamin is powerful.”
“So am I. So is Ty. Don’t worry.”
“What about Stone? How powerful is he?” she asked.
“Not powerful enough.” I told her honestly. When I got my hands on him…
“Just come back to me. You gave me a new lease on life. Don’t take it away.” She told me.
“I won’t.” I kissed her deeply. She had come into my life like an unexpected thunderstorm and I couldn’t imagine life without her. I needed to take care of this threat. The sooner I did the sooner we can go home and I can spend weeks in bed with her. We could visit her parents. We could travel the world a bit. We could watch TV and simply hold each other. But first, my country was under attack. The first shot had been fired. On our return to the jet I found the second shot had been fired as well. But not at us. At our friends.
“Garrett, you need to head to London.” Connolly told me. I looked over at Ty. He wasn’t looking at me. He was… angry. Very angry.
“What happened?”
“Dirty bomb. Small nuclear device detonated outside Parliament. Blast zone is 4 miles in diameter. Radiation is farther out but the wind is strong so the north side is safe. The city is being evacuated but it is turning to chaos. They want to know if you and Ty can search for survivors and determine if Stone and Amun were involved.” Connolly told me, his calm belying the magnitude of what had transpired.
“How many?”
Connolly shrugged his shoulders. “Impossible to say. Eight million people in London. Definitely over one hundred thousand… if we are lucky it’s not a million. It was a rather large blast radius. Of course the radiation poisoning numbers will come later but…”
“Parliament?”
“Gone.”
“The prime minister?”
“In the air. Happened after his son survived the attack. The royals are in hiding as well.”
I nodded. I turned towards Bella and saw her eyes were watering. Her contacts had fallen out.
“Find them and kill them all Garrett.”
I nodded. Find out if Amun and Stone were involved? Of course they were involved. But where were they now?
I kissed Bella goodbye and walked to another smaller plane that was to now take us to London. I stood watching Bella take off for the States. She waved to me from the window as the plane took off.
“So we goin to London?” Ty asked.
“Yep.”
“You know they are gone. We need to go to Egypt and take his coven.”
“I know.”
“But we are going to England?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
We boarded and a couple hours later landed on a military runway outside of London. The blast cloud was still in the air. It looked like Hell. Cars were gridlocked trying to get out. People were walking away from the city no destination in mind.
“You think Clive is there?” Ty asked.
“Yep.”
“Ain’t no survivors. If they are hit they are dead Gar. We need to get the guy who planned this. Both of them.”
“I know Ty. But they may still be there. Looking over their handiwork.”
“They are not there. But if you know who did this tell me and I will find them.”
I was so engrossed in the scene before me I never heard him arrive behind me. The greatest tracker I had ever known. My one time enemy and then friend. We joined forces twice, both times against Germany in separate wars.
“Clive.” I turned and saw him. The only other vampire besides me whose government knew of his existence. Her Majesty’s vampire. He was usually smiling. Tall, thin, close cut blonde hair, shaven face. He was wearing his customary sport coat, slacks and sweater. But his suit was dirty. His hair unkept. And he was most definitely not smiling.
“Who did this to my home Garrett?”
“Amun of the Egyptian coven and a demon named Bernard Stone. They are financing al Qaeda. We were coming here to find them in London. We heard of the bombing when we landed in France. I am sorry my friend.”
“There is no time for sorrow chap. Your home may be next. The time to act is now. There are no demons, vampires or survivors in London. Only the dead, injured and those running in fear. Amun? Fine. I know where his home is. I will take his coven if it means forcing him out of hiding.”
“That was our plan as well friend.”
“Then let us go. We will find them together. We will have revenge.”
“Yes, we will. And hopefully prevent any more attacks from occurring.”
Clive ran with us back to the airport. It was time to go to Egypt. Cairo to be exact. Time to find the Egyptian coven. Time to find Amun. They would tell me what I needed to know. They would tell me or I would rip each of them apart and burn their bodies while their heads watched. I didn’t know if they were involved or were caught off guard by Amun’s actions. But it didn’t matter. They were involved now. And there was nothing I would not do to ensure what happened in London did not happen in the US or anywhere else. We boarded the jet and I gave instructions to the pilot to go to Cairo. Walking back I saw Ty trying to engage Clive in conversation but neither seemed to put forth much effort.
“Clive, I am so sorry.”
His gold eyes stared back at me.
“What is done is done. The enemy is ahead of us. We must catch up and we shall dear friend.”
I simply nodded. Clive said one more thing before closing his eyes and becoming silent. It was the same thing he said to me when we were in Poland as we both watched the German tanks roll over the landscape in 1939.
“Garrett, the game’s afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George.”
The game was indeed afoot. And the stakes were very, very high.
Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction 
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