Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Atonement

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 20:

“Garrett?”

“I’m here Bella. It’s all in your head. It’s just a spell. A simple spell. It brings forth your insecurities and fears. You are stronger than that Bella.”

“It… its not supposed to work on me.” I said shakily.

“it’s a spell, not a power.”

I jerked back. The woman in the wet suit tried to touch me.

“You think you are forgiven Bella? You think you can save a few lives and it will take away the fact that you killed me?”

“No…” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

“You just couldn’t control yourself you weak little bitch. Look at us!”

I saw they had surrounded me in the darkness. I couldn’t see my surroundings but I could see them. Each one of them.

I heard Garrett speaking in the background but his voice was quieter. He was slipping away.

A spell. A spell to bring back the dead. They weren’t in my head. They were here. A hand touched my shoulder from behind. I spun around and saw my first. Tim.

“Where would you like the feed you murderous bitch?”

I could feel his cold hand. He was real. His throat was just as I left it. Half of it was gone.

“Bella?”

What the hell? Father Francis? I could hear his voice.

“Answer me Bella.”

“Father?”

“Yes. It’s me.”

“How? I can’t see you.”

“Garrett has his phone to your ear right now. Listen to me Bella. A witch cannot summon the dead. Those souls are in a better place. They are with God. These apparitions you are seeing are products of your mind. When you realize that they will go away.”

“How do you know?”

“Ask them a question they should know that you wouldn’t. Ask them Bella.”

I turned back to the woman in the wet suit.

“What is your name?”

She didn’t answer.

I saw the rock climber behind her.

“What is your name? What is your mother and father’s names?”

No answer. I felt Garrett’s hand on mine. The apparitions were fading. It was true. They were in my head.

“Bella?”

“I’m good Father. Thank you.”

Go away.

Suddenly the lights came back. I was no longer in darkness. I saw Garrett inches from my face holding a phone against my ear.

“Bella? Are you back?”

“Where did the bitch go?” I asked him, seriously pissed off.

“Upstairs. We must be careful. She may have laid traps on the stairs.”

I glanced up at the ceiling above us. Garrett saw where I was looking and smiled.

He walked over to a sofa, lifted it and tossed through the ceiling. He jumped up and I followed. We were in a library. There that bitch was.

“You cheated.” She was grinning. Garrett looked around. No one else was present. Where the fuck was Stone?

“My, my, little girl. You must not have much of a conscience if you got over my spell that quickly.”

“Garrett didn’t you say witches were basically humans who were born with a predisposition to master the dark arts?”

“Yes, Bella. I did.”

I pulled both my handguns from my shoulder holsters and emptied both twelve round clips into her chest, watching her body jerk back until she finally hit the wall of books behind her. She slumped to the ground, dead.

“Bitch.” I whispered.

“Nicely done.” Garrett told me. I reloaded with my extra clips. We both heard the scream.

“Basement.” Garrett whispered.

He jumped through the hole in the floor and I followed. Garrett ran twenty feet away and stopped to listen. He then punched through the floorboard and ripped a hole in the floor allowing us to jump down. There was Mr. Stone.

Standing over a nude girl strapped to an altar, holding a blade above her chest.

“Stop Stone.” Garrett told him loudly.

Stone turned towards the both of us. He appeared human except for the small horns protruding from the top of his skull through his dark hair.

“Garrett old boy. I am glad you could make it. I suppose judging by the fact that you are here, you managed to track down that idiot Amun and he talked. I also noticed that one of my teams in Vegas jumped the gun and was stopped by a security team waiting on them. How you learned the exact casino is a mystery to me since not even Amun knows the targets. Still though I have many plans to come. Plans not even Amun knew about. Chaos will happen Garrett. The time is ripe. It is my time.”

Garrett drew his sword.

“Are you planning on talking all day or are we going to fight?”

Stone dropped the knife he was holding over the girl and stepped back, touching a brick on the wall.

The wall slid open and he ran.

“Son of a bitch.” Garrett whispered.

“Go. I will take care of the girl and be right behind you.” I told him.

Garrett took off through the door. I needed to hurry. Running to the crying girl I began untying her. She was young. No more than 18. Tears streaked her eyes and she was hyperventilating. The entire place wreaked of brimstone.

“Listen, I’m going to take you upstairs and you need to run. Outside the gate are two people who can help you. They are in a black SUV. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Could you give me my clothes? They are on the ground.”

I turned and saw her clothes ripped to pieces on the floor. I bent down to pick them up. Standing up I saw her hop down from the altar. A bit too fast.

I dodged to the right to avoid the flaming blade going straight through my chest. Instead it buried itself in my shoulder and broke free through the other side.

Standing before me now was not the pretty, frightened teenage blonde. Instead I was faced with a demon. A six foot female demon holding a sword that had pierced my body and was burning me from the inside.

This was not good.

I jumped back, yelling as the sword pulled from my body and drew mine.

She was not large. Not as large as the last one I fought. Her body was solid black. She had talons for hands and they were wrapped around that damn burning sword they all seemed to carry.

Not much for small talk she followed up with a straight strike. I dodged and brought my katana up. Damn my shoulder hurt. I held it with both arms. The burning in my shoulder was flaring. I hope I didn’t catch on fire. That would really suck.

Fuck. She nearly got my head.

I stumbled back and actually hit the floor. The demon laughed at me.

“I can’t believe you killed Ghattacia in New York. You aren’t much of a fighter are you?”

“You got a cheap shot at the beginning bitch.” I back flipped to my feet. Time to take the offensive. I attacked, swinging my sword in short controlled movements, backing her ass up. She blocked every one. A step forward and I kicked her back.

She swung for my head and I ducked, swinging for her waist. She buried herself into the wall and pushed off, tackling me. I flipped over and she was on her feet.

She made a mistake. She telegraphed a low stroke. This would hurt. I stepped to the side but inside of her stroke. My blade raised to shoulder level and I swung, feeling her blade slice through my side as I sliced off her head.

I fell down screaming. It wasn’t a deep cut but my skin was sizzling. I could see the venom beneath my skin trying to close the wound.

A pop and I was covered in ash. Again. Damn it. I hate this crap.

Garrett POV

That motherfucker had to run. He was not faster than I was. I wonder why he did it? I had to look for traps. Who knows what he had waiting.

I hit him from behind and he fell to the ground outside causing the grass and dirt to crater a bit.

He stood up quickly and before me was a very large, very pissed off demon. At least eight foot tall. Very muscular. Red skull like face, large horns. His entire body was on fire. A sword appeared in his hand. A very large sword.

“You have no idea who you are fucking with Garrett.”

“I would say from your appearance a demon of the first class. Very powerful. But like all demons your body is physical. You can be sent back to where you came from.”

“You aren’t that skilled.”

“Then you are the one who has no idea who you are fucking with.”

He swung at the same time I did. Neither of us fell back. My sword was equal to the task. He was fast. He swung his weapon at incredible speeds. I dodged and stepped inside his guard to hit him in the face.

He dropped.

“What was that?” he asked, wiping his mouth.

“What was what? I asked him.

“You hit me!”

“Yes. Wait and I will do it again.”

“You hit me during a sword duel?” Apparently there was a rule book I didn’t read.

“Sword fight and yes I did.”

“Well as long as we are fighting dirty.” He stood up and I prepared to hit him again. Wait…

I jumped out of the way in time to avoid the fireball he threw. I didn’t know exactly what that could do to me and did not want to conduct live research.

He threw another and I rolled, picking up a large granite block he had in his garden and tossing it into his chest. He stumbled but did not fall.

Time to throw some more things. It was a risk but fuck it.

He shot another fireball at me. I jumped over it and threw my sword. It landed dead center in his chest.

The scream he let loose would wake the neighbors up if they were sleeping. Jumping on his chest I pulled it out and landed on my knees slicing through his legs. Before his body hit the ground I wrapped myself around his back with my sword to his throat.

“Edward!” I hoped he was listening.

My hopes were rewarded. Edward Cullen jumped over the stone fence and landed in front of us.

“Holy shit.” He whispered. I was confused at first then remembered this was the first demon he had actually seen.

“Yes, Ugly isn’t he? Stone, I am curious. When I cut your head off how long will it be before you are able to regenerate a body to walk this plane?”

“One thousand years.” He growled.

“What else do you have planned Stone?”

“You will kill me regardless. My death will not stop what is coming. But if you kill me I promise you my death will bring you more trouble than you can imagine. Events will be set in motion. Only I can stop them.”

“Really? So if I keep you alive you will stop the attacks?”

“No. I said it will be worse for you and those you care about. Now move your sword.”

“Edward can you see anything?”

Cullen’s face was a study in concentration. Then disappointment.

“No Garrett. Only thoughts of blood and fire. Burning bodies, you crying… over Bella?”

“What? Why would I be crying over Bella?”

“You did leave her inside with a demon, Garrett.” Stone laughed.

I pulled my sword through his neck before he had a chance to scream. Running in I heard Stone’s body explode in a cloud of ash and Edward Cullen behind me. Down in the basement was Bella. She was holding her side. I could tell she was injured. She was also covered in ash. I looked around for the demon but did not see her.

“She is in my hair if you are looking.” Bella gritted out.

“How badly are you injured?” I asked rushing to her.

“Bitch got a lucky shot when my back was turned, through my shoulder. It’s pretty much healed. She sliced my side at the same time I took her head. That one hurts a little.” She admitted, gritting her teeth and trying to stay strong. I looked at the cut. It was burned but she would heal with time. It would not be easy. The cut was deep. At least 4 inches inside her.

“Is there anything I can do?” Edward asked.

“No… yes… go through this mansion. See if you can find any evidence of anything Stone may have been up to. I need to know about this biological agent.”

“He wouldn’t talk?” Bella gasped out as her side mended.

“No. He was never going to give us anything. But he is dead. That is what matters. The rest…”

“Garrett how are we going to find…”

“We will. The FBI and Homeland Security are working on this. We have to trust others to do their job as well Bella.”

She nodded and continued to not breathe while her side slowly stitched itself together.

Edward moved to explore the mansion.

“Edward?”

“Yes Garrett?”

“Avoid the stair case. The witch is dead but some lingering spells may still be here.”

Edward nodded. Esme ran in and saw us below. I picked Bella up and took us to the first floor.

“Oh my God.” Esme whispered.

“Not quite. Think the other direction Esme. I’ll be fine. We need to get back to the field office.” Bella told her.

“Take care of her, Esme. I need to help Edward search.”

Bella POV

“I will Garrett.” I didn’t need anyone to take care of me. I needed my damn side to heal. As long as I held it together I would be fine.

“Let’s go Esme.” I whispered.

“To the SUV. Great idea.”

“No. We need to search this floor.”

“Bella you can hardly walk. You need to lie still.”

“So help me walk.”

Esme put her arm around me and we explored the sitting room. We explored the dining room. We checked the kitchen.

I had damn near given up when I heard a sweet sound. A phone buzzing. It was feint. Outside.

I tried to run and damn near fell down. Esme caught me thankfully. She retrieved the phone and I yelled for Garrett.

“Yes?” He was by my side quickly.

“Phone.” I handed him the cell and he answered.

“Yes?”

“Who is this?”

“I am Edward. Mr. Stone’s assistant. What do you want?”

Edward? I looked at him and he shrugged his shoulders.

“Where is Stone?”

Fertilizing the yard.

“Busy. What do you want?”

“The plans are set. Midnight tonight. Our people are in position.”

“Okay. Wait for him to give the go ahead. The FBI may be closing in. He doesn’t want another failure.”

“Another?”

“Yes. Vegas and New York have been stopped.”

“Should we move now?”

“No. Come see Mr. Stone. Be here in twenty minutes.”

“Mr. Stone said we were never to come to his mansion.”

“Things have changed, like I said.” Garrett told him.

“Our mission is secure. Once the virus is placed in the water supply it will be too late for the FBI to stop us.”

“Do you really want to argue with Mr. Stone?” Garrett asked him, in a challenging tone.

“N… No. I will be there.” The call ended.

“Think he bought it?” I asked.

“We can only hope.” Garrett said. I saw Esme make a call.

“Please hurry, Carlisle. It looks bad.” I heard her say from the next room.

Great.

Connolly POV

The crowd gathering was getting larger. This would be bad. Still I couldn’t let them into the stadium. Even in the open, the chances of casualties were less.

“Any potential targets?” I asked over the line.

“I have one, sir. Blue cubs sweat shirt twenty meters from gate 1. Stand by for confirmation.”

I took a look through my scope. Four blue shirts but only one was a sweat shirt. Tan, in shape. I looked at his face and recognized him instantly form the suspected terrorist list.

“It’s him.” I confirmed.

“Do we have a green light?”

Shit. If we shot him others would detonate. I was hoping we could identify at least three.

“Sir?”

“Standby thirty seconds and look hard men. We need to identify as many as possible.”

“Need a hand?”

I froze. Who the hell could have snuck up on me at the top of Wrigley Field? Vampire.

I turned slowly and was a bit surprised to see a guy smiling wearing blue jeans, boots and a Hank Williams Jr. tee shirt. He had sandy blond hair to his shoulders and was thin. He also had very red eyes. Something told me he didn’t get that from donated blood.

“Kinda busy. Can I help you?” I asked calmly. If he was going to kill me there wasn’t much I could do about it.

“No but I can help you. Name’s Peter. I’m a friend of Jasper Whitlock.”

“Who the hell is he?”

“He’s a friend of Garrett. I was in the area and he gave me a call. Said you might be needin a hand.”

“You know who the terrorists are?”

“Yep.”

“How?”

“I just know. You gonna trust me or fire on the one you got and watch the rest blow those people to hell?”

I made a decision in an instant. I literally had nothing to lose.

“Show me.”

“Good. You looked like a man who doesn’t waste time. Sweat shirt is dead on. One by the building across the street leaned up against a light pole. One on the third base side by Gate 3 B. Wearing a Phillie’s jersey. Number 8.”

“Team listen up.” I passed on the targets to my guys. “Lock but do not fire yet.”

I looked at Peter who seemed to be looking hard at the crowd. Maybe he was out of ideas.

“Yep. That’s them. Two women, first base, both wearing long white skirts and green tops. Standing right by Gate 44 A.”

“That it?”

“Ain’t is enough?’ he laughed.

I passed on the final targets.

“We locked guys?”

“Affirmative.”

“On my count. Three, two, one, fire.”

Five gunshots rang out simultaneously. Five people dropped dead from shots to the head. I braced myself for an explosion. Nothing.

“You got em all. They are dead. No detonators in hand. Better get the bomb squad down here.”

I looked down and saw the crowd scattering. Panic in the streets.

Better than dead people in the streets.

“How did you know?”

Peter shrugged his shoulders. “Sometimes I know stuff.”

“Thanks.” I told him gratefully.

“No problem. I’m out. Chicago is good. Me and the Mrs. got other things to do. If you need us again, call Garrett.”

That said he was gone.

“Utah you there?”

“Yeah. That was awesome man.”

“Glad you approve. Call in the bomb squad, block off the blast zone. We got work to do.”

TY POV

“So she’s okay?”

“Yeah Ty. We are waiting for the contact to show up here. I hope he comes. There are several water sources.”

“Yeah but they are going to go major. Maybe bust into the pipeline from the SWP?”

“Probably. But if it was me I would hit other sources as well.”

“Water based virus? That shit can’t be common.”

“I know. How are you doing?”

“I’m about to get some answers from this fucker. He should be waking up in a second.”

“Good luck Ty.”

“You too. Take care of my girl.”

I ended the call and turned to Mr. soon to be living the rest of his short life in agonizing pain. Placing the smelling salt under his nose he jerked a few times and came around. Looking around the room he knew he was fucked. Clive spoke to him first. He would be good cop.

“Hello their old boy.” Clive smashed his pinky finger.

“We have some questions. You are going to tell us everything you know and then you can go visit your forty virgins. I’m sure they will be very disappointed. Now be a good lad and tell me where the rest of your comrades are.”

The asshole said nothing. Time for bad cop.

I knelt down on front of him.

“Do you like your dick?”

That caught the fucker’s attention.

“Wh… what?”

“Do you like your dick? It’s a simple question.” I took off my glasses and let him see my eyes.

“Y… yes.”

I pulled out a small knife. He tried to jerk out of the chair but he was chained up pretty good. He wasn’t comin out of those bonds alive.

“The US… can’t torture….I have rights.”

“No you really don’t. Even if you did my butler ain’t American. He is pissed off British. You my friend are the only one he has to take out his frustrations on. I’m gonna cut your little pecker off slowly with this small knife. He is going to take a branding iron and make sure you don’t bleed to death. I’m gonna find your teams anyway. You may as well tell me what you know.”

“Ty?”

“Yes Clive?”

“I don’t have a branding iron. I will have to use the torch.”

“Whatever works for you Jeeves. I just don’t want this fucker dying to soon. Ruin my fun.”

“I can make him talk.” Johnny Reb told me.

“So why don’t you do your thing to make him talk and I’ll do mine.”

“You’re really going to torture him?” Little bit asked me.

I continued glaring at the motherfucker chained to the chair.

“Yep. And he knows I am. Don’t you boy?” I flicked the blade and reached for his pants while Clive lit an acetylene torch in front of him.

“No!” fucker screamed.

“He’ll talk.” Jasper told me.

“You sure are squeamish for a motherfucker that used to torture new vampires on a daily basis.” I told him, honestly surprised.

“That was a long time ago.”

“Yeah and this is right now. This motherfucker has information on the whereabouts of a bunch of his brothers who want to hurt my people. Their ain’t nuthin I wouldn’t do to get that information.”

“I’ll talk. I promise. I’ll talk.”

“He’s feelin real truthful right now Ty.” Cornbread said.

I shrugged. “Fine. Ruin my fun.”

“Where are your friends hiding out old boy?” Clive asked.

“The desert.” He answered. I looked at Jasper.

“Yeah. He’s bein real truthful. This whole damn place is desert.” I reached over and smashed his other pinky finger.

“AHHHH….15 miles outside the city to the North. US 93. Take a right at the Engleberry exit and go left. It’s a house 1 mile on the right. Blue house with white trim. They are all there. I swear.” He said quickly.

I looked at Jethro.

“He tellin the truth?”

“Yep.”

“Cool.”

Clive shot him in the head. Alice screamed. I turned to Clive, extremely annoyed.

“Can’t you ask the lady to leave the room first?”

“Sorry. I apologize dear. I honestly figured you would have seen that coming.”

“It… it’s fine…” she said quietly.

“Jasper take her to the hotel. Get a room. We got this. Ya’ll don’t need to be a part of this.” I told him honestly.

“No! You’re right. Let’s go get these people. Before they hurt anyone.” Fun size told me. I nodded. She was game. Time to go ice some fuckers.

Garrett POV

Carlisle arrived before the man I was waiting for. He stormed in looking quite angry and came straight to us. Bella was in my lap where she would remain.

“Let me see your wound Bella.” Dr. Cullen demanded.

“It’s fine Carlisle. Almost healed.” She told him.

“This is what you do? Get her almost killed?”

“You’re one to fucking talk.” I told him.

“Carlisle calm down.” Edward said from the corner of the room he had been standing quietly.

“Let me see Bella. Please?”

Bella took a breath and raised her shirt. It wasn’t healed completely but was well on its way.

“She needs more venom to heal quicker.” Carlisle said. Then he cracked his own finger.

“What the hell Carlisle?” I asked.

He didn’t answer me. Venom was leaking from his finger where it was cracked. He rubbed it on her wound. Bella winced as the venom entered her wound, however her pain was short lived. The wound closed completely. Not a scar on her.

“How did you know that would work?” I asked. I would have done it long ago…

“I was Volturi remember? Wounds happen quite often.” He said shortly.

“You okay Bella?” I whispered in her ear.

“Yeah. I’m good. Thanks Carlisle.”

“So your plan is to wait for this man to show up and hope he talks?” Carlisle asked me.

“He will talk. I’ve worked for the Government for two hundred years. I have ways of making people talk.”

“Yes, I’m sure you do. Can I have a word with you outside?”

“Absolutely. I feel a talk would do us both some good. Clear the air so to speak.”

I sat Bella on the couch and followed Carlisle outside.

He swung at me as soon as I stepped outside. I blocked and hit him in the jaw. We charged each other and both hit the ground. He went for my eyes and I hit him on his ear. We rolled. He was a better fighter than I gave him credit for. But he wasn’t me. I had him on the ground face first and prepared to strike the back of his skull.

“Garrett. Carlisle?” Bella’s voice rang softly across the yard.

“Yes?” We both answered.

“If you guys are finished with your male bonding, Edward has a gentleman in the living room we may want to speak with.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, I think we are done here Bella.” Carlisle said pushing me off.

I suppose it is time to speak to the man with the answers. The sooner this was over the sooner I could get Bella away from these assholes. At least this one.