Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Venom

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 43:

Bella POV

Some days are so perfect, it is hard to believe it is possible. Some days can turn into nightmares so quickly you half way convince yourself that you must have fallen asleep and you will wake up any second and continue your perfect day. I was having one of those days. I had a group of parents, wolves, friends, family all looking at me and Jake for answers. Directions. A plan. Hope that everything would be okay.

The problem was, it wouldn’t be. At least there were no guarantees.

I woke up this morning, realizing the babies had slept all night. They slept between Jake and I. I lay on my belly, cracking my eyes open to see Serena staring at me. She was blowing small bubbles out of her mouth and looked so adorable. Her beautiful brown eyes and hair as black as Jacobs surrounding her sweet face. Just past her Chris was trying to move his arm, managing to slap Jake’s still sleeping face gently. When Chris’s small hand worked its tiny fingers into Jake’s nostrils, Jake finally woke up.

The babies stayed silent while Jake and I changed them and fed them. Chris peed while being changed and Jake caught the majority of the urine in his face. The remainder covered his chest. I didn’t bother holding in my laughter. It would have been impossible.

Once Jake was clean I curled up next to him on the love seat and we watched the morning news while I held Chris while Serena continued her mission to wrap Jake around her finger. He was cooing at her. I cooed better.

Around 10 AM we saw the clouds had lifted and the sun was genuinely shining in La Push. We took the twins for a walk after spending twenty minutes making sure that absolutely no wind touched their faces and their temperature would remain perfect. Finding the perfect layer of clothing is not easy. Jake held Serena in one arm and had another wrapped around me as we walked them down the beach.

We didn’t talk much. Jake and I never needed to. It was enough that we were together. A perfect morning.

When we arrived home perfection ended. My first clue were the faces of Dad, Billy and Old Quil, standing on our porch. I turned my back to them hoping to hold off whatever bad news awaited me.

When I turned I saw the Pack walking my way. Kim and Emily were moving slowly but determinedly towards us.

“Bella?”

I turned to my right and saw Theresa. She looked… sad? Worried.

“Yeah?” I barely rasped out.

“Can I speak to you before you go inside?”

“No.” I told her.

I walked past Dad and Billy into my house, Jake following. Turning on the TV, I stepped back two steps before it was turned off. I swung around glaring, only to find Dad with the remote in his hand.

“You need to hear what is on the News before you see it Bella. Give Serena to someone to hold.”

“No.” I told him simply.

“Bella you may react… badly. You don’t want to accidentally…”

“Talk. Tell me what is going on. It’s her right? Irkalla? What did she do?” I asked him, holding Serena closer to me.

“Sit Bella and I will tell you.”

“Tell me now Quil.”

“Sit Bella.”

I looked in his eyes. I knew how tired he had been. He looked…

I handed Serena to Rachel who was now inside and sat. Jake sat beside me. I noticed he no longer had Chris in his arms.

It was Charlie who spoke.

“Graham called me while you two were out. A CNN Los Angeles affiliate station has been taken over by vampires.”

“Okay…”

“A vampire, not Irkalla, she has your mother on TV.”

“She’s alive?” I asked hopefully. Maybe I could get her back…

“Bella she doesn’t look good. She is alive. No obvious injuries but her eyes… she appears catatonic Bella.”

“Turn on the TV.” I ordered.

Jake took the remote from Charlie and there she was. A vampire had an arm around her throat but Dad was right. She didn’t appear to be there. Her clothes were new. She had make up on. Almost as if she was a dress up doll.

I looked at the vampire in front of my mother. She appeared young and beautiful like most vampires. She had a European accent. The News anchor sitting at the desk looked to be terrified and spoke in a shaky voice.

“Once again to recap, this studio has been taken over by vampires under the rule of the vampire named Irkalla. The same vampire responsible for the destruction of small towns and villages in Europe and the US. She will once again state her demands and continue to state her demands every thirty minutes through her servant Elizabeth Bathory. It has not been determined if this is the Elizabeth Bathory we know from history.”

The young female vampire smiled at the camera and spoke.

“The witch Isabella Swan is to be at this studio within the next four hours. Irkalla knows you are not far away. You will come alone. You will remove your bracelet before you enter this building. If you do not comply in the next four hours your mother will be destroyed before the nation followed by one of the thirty six humans being held in this building. There will be no negotiations. Come alone and you have the word of the Goddess Irkalla that these humans and your mother will be spared.”

The camera stayed on the vampires but she said nothing else. The studio was silent until the anchorman spoke once again.

“I counted 22 vampires in the building! They are…”

Bella screamed a bit inside when the anchor’s head was completely twisted around. Emily screamed aloud.

“Something’s not right.” Jasper said, suddenly appearing.

“You think?” Bella snapped, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Jasper noticed.

“They are freaked out enough. Just listen Bella. We know Irkalla is a showboat. A diva. Why would she send someone else to carry her message?”

Why indeed?

“She is setting a trap obviously.” I answered. Those in the room thought I was speaking to them. They nodded.

“Yes or a distraction.” Jasper said quietly.

“A distraction?”

“That’s very possible Bells.” Jake agreed, still believing me to be speaking to him. I suppose I should.

“Four hours.” Charlie mumbled.

“What Dad?”

“Four hours. Why four hours? She probably figures you are in La Push. She doesn’t know about portals. If you left now you would get there in time, maybe. At the very least you would be on a plan…” Charlie continued pondering…

“A distraction. She wants you on a plane. Why?” Jasper added in. I wish the others could hear him. Of course that might freak them out a bit. A distraction for what? Then it hit me.

“She is making a move. In the next couple hours. I am betting it isn’t anywhere near Los Angeles.”

“So where?” Jake asked.

“We have to watch Jake.” I told him quietly.

“And your Mom?”

“I can get her and get out quickly. We have a few hours. I won’t rush into this Jake. I expected something like this. I prepared for this all week. I knew they were going to use her against me. I won’t let them.”

That brought silence to the house.

My phone rang. Levoi.

“Yeah Graham?”

“Bella you having a… good day?”

“I’ve seen the news Graham.”

“Shit. You are not giving yourself to that bitch Bella.”

“I know.”

“I don’t care… you know?”

“Yes. We think it’s a distraction. Where are our vampires?”

“Jane, Alec and Demetri are all in DC right now with me. Peter, Charlotte and Garrett are in Las Vegas.”

“Graham do me a favor, Ask Demetri if he can see in his special way the vampires in Los Angeles. I think the one speaking may be the other who was involved in Missouri.”

“Yeah, hold on.”

A few minutes went by before Graham returned.

“Yeah, he can see them. Feel them at least.”

“Didn’t you say Demetri’s powers don’t work around Irkalla?”

“Yeah…”

“She isn’t there Graham. Send Peter and his crew including the three with you to Los Angeles. Do it now. Get our vampires out of Washington. Get them in the air to the place we know she isn’t going to be.

“What… what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to wait for her to make her move. Then I will be there. Where ever there is.” I told him honestly. I looked at Jasper who nodded and disappeared. Guess this was my show now.

No one left our house. Jake and I held our children and everyone else grabbed chairs or brought chairs and sat around our television.

I stared at my mother. The longer I looked at her on camera, the more obvious it became. She wasn’t there. She was gone.

I am so sorry I failed you Mom.

After an hour and a half Sam and Jared ran into our house, looks of horror on their faces.

“What?” Jake asked, not bothering to pretend nothing was wrong.

“We were patrolling. Leah phased in. Irkalla is attacking the Whitehouse. Her Embry and Seth got Dani out the back but the building is taken along with the rest of the people in it.”

Jake looked at me and knew. This was it. Her move. The one we had been waiting for. We thought she would come after us. Instead she went after the seat of American power. She went after Dave. I would imagine she wanted Dani to as leverage to get Dave to do what she wanted.

“Are they safe?” I asked immediately.

“Yes. The three and Dani are in a fall back site that had been set up by Secret Service for situations where the White House is under attack.” Sam explained calmly, not hiding the panic in his eyes. But Bella, she had the President.

“She didn’t expect there for be wolves in the Whitehouse.” I said, looking at Jacob.

“Pack meeting, outside now.” Jake ordered.

Jake POV

As the Pack filed out I held Bella back.

“Should we go after your Mom?” I didn’t want her to resent me or worse hate herself.

“No… she… damn it Jake I don’t know. But… no, I do know. We have family under attack. Dave, Leah, Embry, Seth and Dani. They are our family. We take care of our own Jake. She left. If I can save her after Irkalla is gone…”

“Are you going to be okay with that Bella?”

She gave this some thought. I could normally read the expressions on her face like a book. Not today.

“No. But I can live with it. The vampires will do what they can. Irkalla is ours. We need to move.”

I followed her outside to see everyone waiting for us in the rain. Emily and Kim at least had umbrellas. Everyone else except Rachel stood in the rain. Rachel must have had my children inside her house.

“The time has come. Three of our Pack are in Washington DC right now. Irkalla has attacked the Whitehouse. Our imprint is safe. We go to assist our Pack. All of us but two. Go and prepare. Say goodbye to your families. Quil, prepare the box. Bella will be in to get it in a second. We leave in ten minutes”

The group broke up.

“Sam? Jared? Could you stay please?”

They both tuned on me with looks of fury, already knowing what was coming.

“Bullshit Jake.” Sam gritted between his teeth.

“Sam, La Push has to be protected. You both have kids on the way…”

“You have children already here! You stay! Let the kids stay! I fight!”

“Sam?” Bella’s small voice whispered in the wind causing the look of fury on Sam’s face to turn to one of defeat.

“Yeah Bella?”

“If we die, someone will have to evacuate the Rez. Someone will have to take them to the place Charlie has prepared. Someone will have to lead our people Sam. Someone will have to guide my children. If we die, our children are the only hope the world has. It’s important that they are safe and happy and that you train them for the challenges that will come. Jake and I have talked about this. There is no one we would rather have do this than you and Jared Sam.”

“So this has nothing to do with Emily and Kim being pregnant?” Jared asked.

“Yes, it does. Some children need to have their parents Jared. You are not sitting out. You are protecting our tribe.” I explained.

“Ricky and Eric…”

“Are kids.” I finished for Sam. “Sam, I need you to stay. Take care of our people. Take care of Claire, take care of our families. I am your Alpha and this is the mission I am giving you. Can you accomplish this mission?”

I knew his pride would be hurt. Each of us, every one, could not stand the thought of our Pack going into battle without us there. But too much was at stake.

“Sam, Jared…”

“Okay Jake. Okay.” Sam said surrendering. “Just make sure you come back to us so it isn’t necessary. We just got people home. I don’t want to have to uproot them again.”

“Thank you Sam. Jared. I feel better knowing my children are under your protection.” I told him honestly.

“Me too Sam.” Bella concurred.

We all hugged and I followed Bella to the stable. Thunder was anxious. She was trotting back and forth, kicking up dust. Racing to the gate when Bella walked up, she calmed at her touch.

“Shhhh. Calm down girl. Listen to me. You can’t go on this ride. I’m going alone.”

Thunder snorted and stepped back.

“I know Thunder. You have been a good friend to me. But I need you to be there for Serena now. Be her partner like you have always been mine. She is going to need you to take her into those muddy creeks where we can’t see the bottom. She is going to need you to race Chris when he phases. Please stay with her and protect her. Protect them both. Please?”

Thunder stepped up to the gate and lowered her head to Bella’s shoulder. It always amazed me the bond Bella had to this animal. No words or thoughts were used but they understood each other. Bella wrapped her arms around Thunders head and I could swear I saw tears falling from the horses eyes. Probably my imagination. Bells whispered something I didn’t understand into Thunder’s ear and we turned hand in hand and walked towards Rachel’s. Paul was outside waiting for us. We passed him and went straight inside to Rachel’s room. She was watching the babies lying on the bed. Seeing us, she walked out, leaving Bella and I alone with our children.

“Today we come back with Irkalla dead or we do not come back. If we don’t, there is nothing stopping her from causing humanity to fall beneath her feet. It will be up to you to try to free humanity when you are older. If we fail I am truly sorry. Your mother and I never wanted this for you. We love you. Live up to your destiny.”

Bella simply whispered I love you to both and kissed them, her tears falling on their chubby cheeks.

I pulled her away and we found the Pack waiting for us outside.

“Everyone phase except Old Quil. No way we can hide this on Pennsylvania Avenue with the eyes of the world watching. Stay phased the entire time we are in Washington. We attack until Bella has Irkalla in pieces. Then Old Quil moves in with the box and we circle and protect. Understand?”

Everyone nodded. A flash of light and Bella was covered in silver armor from head to toe. Even her hair had streaks of silver. Her face was covered by a helmet that resembled a knight’s helmet. She was ready.

We all were. This was our destiny. I had always assumed our destiny would play out in La Push. It appears we were meant for a bigger stage. I hoped we were ready.

Washington DC

Alex Morrow was new to this side of the camera. Having spent most of his career as a production assistant he finally had his chance. The Washington beat. It wasn’t the Whitehouse but as fate would have it, the Whitehouse crew was either dead or captured. Now through luck or misfortune he was covering the biggest story in history. The Whitehouse taken over by vampires.

The media had set up dangerously close to the Whitehouse fence on Pennsylvania Avenue. Standing on the expansive North Lawn with the large fountain behind her, was the vampire calling herself Irkalla. She looked hideous. Ashen grey skin with cracks running through her face. Blood red eyes. Hair that appeared dead. Not a typical vampire from what Alex had seen so far in his life. This vampire actually looked frightening.

A podium was in front of Irkalla and the President of the United States stood behind her. The media would get no closer and had to rely on reporters for a blow by blow of events.

“I am Irkalla! I am calling all vampires in the world, to join me here, and take your place as rulers of humanity! The government has no weapons. It has been a hoax. The humans cannot stop us. Join me now and take your place at the table!”

She repeated this same sentence every few minutes. His station manager was calling for an update. He had nothing new to give him but went live in any case.

“Yes Blake. It appears this hideous appearing vampire has twenty vampires on the North Lawn surrounding her and the President. She is repeating a message to vampires of the world to join her. She has made no comment as to what she plans to do with the President who is standing behind her, obviously against his will.

She has also made statements in regards to the weapon the United States has claimed to have over the past year. She has claimed these weapons don’t exist.”

“What about the vampires who have claimed allegiance to the United States?” Blake asked from the safety of his studio.

“Rumor has it they are enroute to Los Angeles to deal with the situation there. They are not here. That is all that is known at this time… wait a minute. Something is happening. There appears to be a light on top of the Whitehouse. I’m not sure if this is a weapon or… Holy…”

“What happened?!”

“A… bird. A big silver bir… no it’s a person. Something swooped down from the top of the Whitehouse and grabbed the President and has flown off with him. It’s flying over us now… it’s gone. I swear it looked like a knight! A knight with wings!”

“Could it be a drone Alex?”

“No. Not with arms. No it looked like… okay the vampire is screaming now! She is not happy… Holy shit! What are those?!”

Alex stepped back while the cameraman pointed the camera down Pennsylvania Avenue at the line, two by two, of wolves walking towards the Whitehouse. Not normal wolves.

“Blake we are seeing what look to be wild wolves marching in formation towards the Whitehouse. They are walking among the news vans but… these wolves are the size of horses Blake. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“What… where did they come from Alex?”

“I don’t know. We were all watching whatever that was steal the President away and now… wait. The silver creature just landed in front of the wolves and is walking beside them. It’s not a drone, it’s a person. A small person. I swear it’s a girl. A girl with a claw.”

“Alex can you make any sense of what is going on down there?” Blake asked from the studio.

Alex looked at the wolves and the woman in some sort of silver armor with wings seeming to melt into her back.

“Blake I have no idea what is going on. The President is not here any longer, at least on the Yard. And these wolves and this… girl are moving onto the North Lawn. The girl is carrying some sort of box and an old Indian is walking behind the line of wolves. We are going to keep the cameras rolling.”

Irkalla knew exactly what was happening. Her hostage taken. The witch learned to fly. And somehow she brought her wolf pack across country quickly. She did not fall for the distraction in Los Angeles. Just as well. It was time to settle this age old vendetta with the world watching.

So be it. She motioned for her vampires to line up beside her on either side. The wolves spread out and the witch stepped forward.

She continued forward. Thirty feet away from Irkalla she set an object on the ground that sent a chill through Irkalla’a body.

“Where did you get that!?” Irkalla hissed.

Bella POV

My 13 wolves and Old Quil stood in line against her twenty vampires. I was thankful she didn’t bring more. Perhaps she didn’t have time. Perhaps she thought she would get more recruits here.

“Stay at a distance Bella. Cut and dodge.” Jasper whispered in my ear. If only I could.

“That’s plan A.” I whispered back honestly.

I stepped in front of the box and addressed Irkalla.

“What the hell do you think are you doing?”

“You are the one who brought vampires into the open. I just thought I would take the next logical step witch. By the way, your mother would say hi but she hasn’t spoken in a month.”

That hurt. Don’t let her see it Bella.

“You look great. The evil swamp creature look you have going on is going to be great for recruitment.” I quipped.

“Yes, your work. My beauty is gone. Yours is about to be as well along with your pets. Your mother will be gutted. Your friends have been massacred. You have made a mess of things, haven’t you witch? Or do you prefer Isabella?”

“I prefer Bella and as long as we are talking about messes let’s do a head count. Your boyfriend, cut in pieces. Your first army destroyed, your errand boy burnt. You blew into tiny pieces and apparently not put back together very well. You haven’t exactly been having great success either.”

“And yet here I am, as strong as ever. Stronger. Care to find out?”

“I didn’t come all the way here to just say trade beauty secrets.”

“Of course not. You came to put me in a box. It’s not going to happen child. Attack!”

Shit. All the vampires are moving. My Pack is outnumbered. I fired an energy blast at one blowing him apart and cut two females heads off as they got near. Should even the odds a bit more.

Irkalla had not moved so I took to the skies, wings immediately spreading. I had dropped Dave off at the nearest Secret Service contingent I could find not in view of this place. Hopefully he was where Dani was by now. Because this was going to get messy.

Irkalla threw a vampire at me and I evaporated him in air. I looked down and saw the Pack attacking. I sung low to the ground and threw my grappling hook. Irkalla used her forearm to block it. My rope wrapped around her elbow and I turned the end to a blade. A jerk and her arm was free.

Yes!

Black venom shot from her upper arm towards her lower arm on the ground, dragging it back and reattaching in less than a second.

No!

“As you can see witch, I have learned a few new tricks myself. Now are you going to come to the ground so I can kill you or should I go after one of your dogs?”

She moved towards Jake who had one leech bit in half in his jaws and wasn’t looking behind him.

I emitted an energy blast that would have disintegrated a normal vampire. She brushed it off and continue towards him.

“Don’t do it Bella.” Jasper whispered in my ear.

“Sorry Jasper. Ripping her apart and burning the pieces just isn’t going to cut it this time.”

“ Bella what are you talking about?” Jake’s thoughts intruded in my head.

“ Keep fighting baby. I got this. I’m going to have to cut you off from my thoughts. Protect Old Quil”

“ What?!”

I tackled Irkalla from the sky before she reached Jake. We landed within feet of the box. Now to do my part.

Irkalla grabbed me by the throat.

“There you are.” She began to squeeze. Apparently Jasper wasn’t the only one who spent time wondering how to kill me.

My head was twisting.

Don’t fight it Bella. Calm yourself.

I thought of my children’s faces. Jake working on a car. Walking on First Beach. Shoveling hay in the stalls in Wyoming. The peace of the desert of Arizona.

Her other arm was twisting my neck. Don’t fight it Bella.

I felt it. I had her. Her soul was black but it was there.

Please.

Narrator POV

Jacob watched Bella become locked in Irkalla’s death grip while he was holding back two leeches. He saw Irkalla try to twist Bella’s metal covered head and neck. The he saw both drop.

Irkalla and Bella fell.

Old Quil ran into the fray, He dodged two vampires and Seth took out another one, causing the leech to lose a leg.

“ Circle Bella and Old Quil now!” Jacob ordered.

While news helicopters circled overhead and news reporters inched closer to the North Lawn of the Whitehouse, the Pack circled their two most vulnerable members at this time. Jacob’s mind was frantic to wake Bella up. Still he heard her heartbeat. He heard her breathing. She was passed out. Irkalla was… how did she do it?

Old Quil began chanting and Jake took a second to look behind him. Bella and Irkalla on the ground and the magician… the cave.

How did she do it? How did she have that much calm and focus?

Old Quil took half a second to relax once Irkalla passed out. It worked. Bella did her part. She managed to drag Irkalla into the spirit world. Now it was Quil’s job to make sure that evil bitch had no body to come back to.

He began chanting the ancient spell he hoped he had translated correctly.. His fourth time through he felt the spell catch hold.

Shadows began pouring out of Irkalla’a eyes and mouth. Now her ears. Soon a human shaped black shadow stood before him over her body.

Quil continued to chant. The venom inched closer to his face. He stood strong and straight. Lifting his staff he called on Tahi Aka for strength and continued to chant, hoping he got the translation correct. The venom began fading towards the box. Quil chanted louder.

The venom began pouring into the box. After the last bit was in, Old Quil slammed the end of his staff onto the box. A shockwave erupted knocking both wolf, leech and the humans in the street to the ground. Old Quil lifted himself up and saw Irkalla’a body next to Bella’s. It was even more hideous than before. Quil walked slowly over to Irkalla’s body and kicked it. As he suspected it crumbled. Her entire body turned to dust. Without the venom it was simply an ancient shell.

Now it was time for Bella to place the bitch where she belonged. He phased and joined the circle of wolves protecting the angel of La Push.

In Los Angeles, Garrett, Peter and Charlotte decided against waiting for Demetri, Jane and Alec and attacking before Bathory’s deadline.

So far the first three floors had been simple. Untrained vampires, not new, just unskilled. The three went through the vampires as if they were paper. Now the fourth floor. The news desk. Already one anchor was dead. Left alive was at least one cameraman and Bella Swan’s mother.

Opening the door, they were faced with dead bodies. Three vampires surrounded Bella Swan’s mother, one of whom attempted to turn twenty children into immortal children. The female.

“Elizabeth Bathory? My name is Peter Whitlock. You are under arrest for being a sorry fucking whore who needs to die slowly.”

“I expected the witch.”

“Sorry to disappoint you. She is quite busy killing Irkalla at the moment.” Garrett informed her.

“Irkalla cannot die.” Lizzie argued quickly.

“Check the news out sometimes.” Peter pointed out. “Looks like the bitch is dust in the wind. Or in a box as he case may be.”

Bathory said nothing. Instead she lifted Renee Dwyer and tossed her into a wall. The sound of her skull cracking reverberated across the room.

The two vampires on either side of her attempted to fight. She ran through a wall and fell four stories down.

“I got her.” Charlotte whispered and was gone before Peter could argue.

Peter and Garrett made quick work of the two vampires who remained. That left Renee.

The two men strolled over to Renee as Charlotte entered the hole in the wall carrying Elizabeth Bathory’s head.

“What do we do? She is still alive. She appears alert somewhat.” Garrett mentioned.

“Call an ambulance I suppose.” Peter pondered aloud.

“No. She won’t make it. We need to change her.”

“Are you out of your damn mind Charlotte? Change Bella Swan’s mother? The witch would slaughter us all.” Garrett pointed out.

“We could keep her hidden. Train her to feed from animals. Bella… she just had kids. You want her to never see her mother again? We kept her disappearance from her for over 7 months. Dave said there was a falling out. If she is one of us then maybe one day…”

Garrett and Peter were silent.

“No. This is a bad idea…” Peter concluded.

Charlotte however made her move. Her mouth was on Renee’s neck before Peter finished his sentence.

Renee didn’t flinch. Garrett pulled Charlotte off of Renee.

“Did you not inject her with your venom?” Garrett asked.

“Yeah. I thought I did. I’ve never changed anyone but…”

“Maybe she is too catatonic to respond?” Garrett suggested.

“No. The original venom is in the box. We saw it on the coverage. Venom is no longer transferrable. No new vampires will be made while it is trapped.”

“How do you know darlin?” Charlotte asked.

Peter shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know. One of those things I just know. Just like I know our little killer witch isn’t out of the woods yet.”

The three said nothing but stared at Renee for a few moments watching her ragged breath. After three minutes she breathed her last. Renee Dwyer was gone.

Bella POV

We were standing in the desert. It was familiar to me. I saw it at night time not long ago. Ancient Sumeria, outside the cave that stored the venom and the bracelet.

“What have you done?” Irkalla asked, worried. She was beautiful in this realm. She should have been happy.

“I brought us to the spirit world.”

“I want to go back.” Irkalla no longer seemed cocky and confident. She appeared to be very scared, taking in her surroundings very quickly.

I noted the difference in her soul. It was subtle but there.

Irkalla was dead. Old Quil had succeeded.

“You can’t go back. You are dead. The venom is back where it belongs. Your body is no more.”

I walked slowly up to Irkalla and grabbed her neck.

“Now it is time for you to go to hell.”

Irkalla tried to break my grip. But in this realm there was no question. I was the stronger of the two of us.

She struggled in the grip of my left hand and I used my right to open up a portal to hell.

It wasn’t there.

“Looking for something witch?”

Oh fuck. I turned and looked for the second time in my life at the eyes of the devil himself.

Be brave Bella.

“I have a delivery for you.”

“I don’t want her.”

Wait.

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t want her. I am going to let her haunt the Earth for a while. Perhaps say hi to cute little Claire. Hang out with her and Lane. Maybe see your daughter one day. You know your daughter may not have a bracelet on her arm but she has it running through her heart. She will speak to the dead. I wonder if Irkalla can drive her as insane as she drove your mother.”

With that comment I saw him, really saw him, without his glamour. The evil vile slimy creature he was.

“You will take her! It is your job as guardian of the lower realm!”

“You do not tell me what to do! But I can be reasonable witch. There is the portal to Hell. All you have to do is shove her through. Or should I say over?”

A wall of darkness rose behind him and he stepped aside. The portal to Hell. I could feel the cold from this distance.

“No!” Irkalla screamed as I grabbed her hair and pulled her to the wall of darkness. The closer I got I realized it was a pit.

“No. Let me go!” Irkalla screamed. She was frightened. Very, very frightened. Good. She can feel how all her victims felt.

“Be careful Witch. Anything that goes in the pit is not allowed to come out. Including you.” Satan whispered in my ear.

I dragged Irkalla to the edge and tried not to look down. I didn’t want to see. I could feel the evil in that pit from here. The hopelessness. The despair. James, Victoria, Laurent. They were waiting for me. There they would be stronger.

I moved to the edge and looked Irkalla in her eyes.

“Our war is over.”

That said I tossed her by the hair into the pit of darkness.

I had no time to feel joy, or relief or savage victory.

Because the bitch caught my foot.

I fell, hanging on to the edge of the cliff feeling the power of Hell drawing me down. I was losing my grip. Only my right hand held on, my left slipping. It was like a void, sucking everything in sight. I looked down and kicked Irkalla in the face, watching her fall.

I was panicking.

Visions of my children standing over my soulless body, still alive through the bracelet, never aging, while I was trapped in hell. I wanted to see my children! My Jake!

My grip was slipping. The rock crumbled under my glove and I heard Satan laugh.

I fell a foot before a leather glove was wrapped around my large metal glove.

I was being pulled up.

“Help me girl. You ain’t that light!”

Oh my God. I grabbed ahold of his forearm with my left hand and began pulling myself up. He backed up quickly and I fell on top of…

“Chris?!”

He was smiling. It was his smile. It was him.

“Yep. Now what do you say we get away from the edge of this pit?”