The Bonds Between Us • E.Cullen x Fem oc x B. Swan

Chapter 74

"How many times do I have to say I don't love him?" Bella asked the red head as they moved through out the dense forest. Cori still hadn't looked at the brunette and it was weighing heavily on her. "Until you believe it yourself." Cori said as she spun around on a dime, catching Bella's hand as the arrival of Cori's face had spooked her, nearly falling backwards.

"You don't see the way you look at him, the way he looks at you. It's different, especially for him. Even when it broke his heart to send you away the other day, it was there. You looked like he was taking away your whole world. I'm supposed to be that for you Bella! You're my chosen one! I protect you, and you love me! That's how it's supposed to be!" Cori said, her voice rising towards the end until her cheeks were stained pink, her voice breaking, and tears slid down unwillingly.

Bella was left speachless as she watched Cori fall apart in front of her, from her own doing nonetheless. 'It was never supposed to get this far' Bella thought to herself as she watched Cori's blue eyes turn slightly more grey due to her emotions and the overcast of the trees.

"I don't think it was me who wasn't ready Bella. I think you didn't know where your heart lied. I know we just made this official again, but I think it was too soon. I'm being the reason again. We need to figure out what we both want, what we need. I want you Bella. I need you, crave you, but you need something else. You need Jacob, and you want Edward. That's something I can't give you." Cori told her and it was now Bella's turn to cry. "I need you! Lia, please." Bella cried as her large doe eyes tearfully looked up at Cori.

"And I'll be there, but from a distance. Until you know what you want. I'll still protect you, I'll still be your best friend, but I think it needs to stay that way. For now at least." Cori told her. Bella cried but nodded. She understood that this was a boundary Cori was setting.

Looking down at her feet, Cori cleared her throat lightly. "Okay, uh, it's right through here." She said as she moved a few limbs out of her way, her eyes set on the barely there trail, until it opened up into the wide open space.

Bella gasped as she took a step out into the meadow. It's once green grass and beautiful pops of colorful flowers were dead and brown as they lay limply on the cold ground. Taking a few steps out into what used to be picturesque, Bella's frame collapsed as she sobbed.

Cori stood off to the side, just at the entrance of the tree line, keeping true to her word that she wouldn't step foot into the meadow. That was until her advanced hearing picked up on a crack of a branch.

Cori's eyes snapped up to the other side of the meadow to see the familiar silhouette of Laurent, his eyes sickly red. Her blue ones narrowed, all memories made at the meadow were forgotten as the threat had his eyes locked in on Bella's weeping form.

Bella of course didn't hear him, only noticed he was there when she felt the slight rush of wind that accompanied his arrival in front of her. At her gasp, Bella looked around frantically, though Cori was no where to be seen.

Bella's heart raced a mile a minute as she stared into his blood colored eyes. "Laurent." She finally spoke, her eyes scanning around again for any sign of the redhead.

"I didn't expect to find you here." He told her as he too looked around. "Alone." He finished as his gaze lingered on her face again. "I went to visit the Cullen's, but the house is empty. I'm surprised they left you behind. Or should I say you and Cordelia. That's the little redheads name, right? You both were a sort of pet of their's weren't you?" He asked, the corners of his mouth raising in a sly smirk.

"Yeah, you could say that." Bella replied, again looking around for any sign of Cori, or for an exit.

"Talking of her, where is Cordelia?" He asked with a raise of his brow. "I'm not sure." She told him, which wasn't a lie. "Do the Cullen's visit often?" Laurent asked the brunette and she gasped softly before answering. "Yeah, absolutely, all the time." Bella said as she stayed looking just to the left of the vampire.

Cori was still watching from the sidelines. She could feel her powers working, how she wanted to absolutely tear apart the vampire that stood in front of Bella, but she couldn't give up her position. Her head tilted at the gasp that Bella let out, then at the lie that came from her mouth. Anyone could tell she was lying and it seemed as if she knew that as a different answer came from her.

"I'll tell them that you stopped by. But I probably shouldn't tell, Ed-Edward. Cause he's pretty protective." Bella said, barely getting out his name. "What about Cordelia, I've heard she has a protectiveness to her too." Laurent taunted, and Bella paled. "Do you know something I don't?" Bella pressed, now asking him questions. "I guess not." He chuckled, before speaking again. "But he's far away isn't he?"

"Why are you here?" Bella asked him, evading the question, which in its self gave an answer. "I came as a favor to Victoria." He told the girl, and from the tree's Cori's eyes narrowed into slits.

"Victoria?" Bella asked. "She asked me to see if you and Cordelia were under the protection of the Cullens. With her human still is Seattle she hasn't had a chance to come see for herself. She feels it's only fair to kill Edwards mate, either of them, given he killed hers. An eye for an eye."

"Edward would know who did it, and he'd come after you." Bella threatened him and yet Laurent just smiled.

"I don't think he will. After all, how much could you mean to him if he left you here unprotected?" Laurent sighed as he stepped closer, Bella taking one back.

"Victoria won't be happy about my killing you, but I can't help myself. You're so mouth watering." Laurent said as he again stepped forward.

"Please, don't. I mean, you helped us." Bella tried to reason with the vampire but the hunger was there, enough to where she could see it.

Inhumanly fast, Laurent was before the brunette, his hand barely caressing her face. "No,no,no. Don't be afraid. I'm doing you a kindness. Victoria plans on killing you slowly, painfully, whereas I'll make it quick. I promise. You will feel nothing." He told her as he spoke softly, taking in her scent, his mouth watering at the aroma.

Drawing back his hand, Laurent went to strike as Bella muttered what she thought to be her last words as he eyes closed. "Edward, Lia, I love you."

Instead a feral growl was heard along with what sounded like shattering granite. Snapping back open, Bella saw Cori in front of her, Laurent picking himself off the ground a few hundred feet away, as a certain gleam came to his face. "So you were here all along little one. I thought I smelt something." Laurent spoke as he neared the two again, but stopped in his tracks as Cordelia's blue eyes turned their supernatural purple. "Leave us alone." Cori growled at him, her voice not even sounding human. "I just want a taste." He hissed. "Then you'll have to get through me first." Cori threatened.

"Bella, go." Cori told her, but the brunette was frozen as a new noise was heard. The huffs and snorts of the wolves as they made themselves known. "I don't believe it." Laurent said as his eyes showed fear for the first time since his encounter with Edward.

As the wolves came closer, Cordelia stalked closer, almost joining in with the pack. "Lia!" Bella called out, frightened, but Cori never looked back.

As Bella ran, taking Cori's advice, the hunt was on as another power seemed to be added. She was keeping up with the wolves, as they were running. Speed.

As soon as Sam had gotten to Laurent, the vampire was ready for him and with one arm had thrown the wolf the distance of the meadow.

Thinking he was going to get away, Cori planted her feet, cupping her hands as she directed her voice towards the retreating figure. Letting out a scream that shook the very earth they were standing on, Laurent let out a cry of pain as his body collapsed, multiple fractures and cracks marring his usual pristine skin.

With that the wolves attacked, ripping the vampire apart. Cori's eyes still dangerously purple, unannounced to the wolves, they would stay that way as she could sense something they couldn't.

DEATH

A/N: Let me know what you thought about this chapter! I do listen to your feed back, and made some adjustments!