Unforgivable Lacerations

Chapter Fifty-Two

The pack was coming.

The clamp around my chest tightened, my heart smashed against it, and my lungs attempted to operate around the internal commotion as I digested that my biggest fear was coming alive. Everything was going so well here with the Cullens, and I knew it was only time before everything would crumble. 

My breaths became hollow in my panic, as I was infested with the images of malicious teeth, dark murderous eyes, and vulgar growls. They were going to arrive here, demonstrating who obtained the power. 

The power over me. 

"Then we fight!" Emmett roared, making me jerk violently as my mind revisited Forks. 

"Emmett," Esme warned quietly, scolding him for his abrupt shout as she sat on the edge of her seat, arms in her lap. 

"What exactly can you see up to that point, Alice?" Carlisle asked, closing his book then leaning forward and placing an arm around the back of the sofa where Esme sat.

I could hear the blood pump behind my ears and I tried to swallow the bile rising in my throat as I continued to listen. Perhaps Edward was right, and I shouldn't listen to what she had seen. However, no matter if I listened or not, I would be, at some point, experiencing it- maybe a warning wouldn't be too disastrous. 

"I see Bella in...the basement with me," Alice finally named the location of the 'dark shelter'. "I don't think anyone else is in the house...it's all so hazy because of the dogs."

'Basement' was all I picked up.

I could perfectly envision a trapping, terrifying, tight space, as the darkness descended on us, robbing me of my sight and putting me at the disadvantage. Alice would be there, or so she had said, but who would win in a battle or one vampire versus two boisterous wolves? 

Confined in a space, with no windows and one door, the wolves could destroy Alice, then tear me into pieces, drawing out the experience for hours on end- just how Jacob would have wanted it. I would be the cause of the Cullens'deaths. And I wasn't even worth it.

"Bella," Jasper said, interrupting the conversation as he sensed my nerves, fear, and nausea. He walked over to me from where he sat with Alice and placed a hand on my trembling arm, crouching next to me.

The intense sense of calm washed over me like being plunged into a bath and held down. The vice over my chest loosened, my heart slowed, and my lungs weren't fighting for its needed oxygen anymore. 

"Thank you," I said, awfully quiet as I was still trying to grasp the concept of what was happening.

"I'll give everything I have to protect you, Bella," Edward said against my ear.

"We need to discuss their weaknesses and possible tactics," Carlisle started with Jasper still beside me, calming me.

"There's nine of them," I stated abruptly, remembering that Jacob was dead, cutting the numbers down slightly. My voice shook but I needed to tell them as much information as I could- which was quite a lot considering I did live with one.

"Nine?" Carlisle asked sounding astonished.

"Yes, that's including the newcomers."

"Last time it was only three," Rosalie informed.

"They believe the presence of a vampire triggers the gene of the wolf, and due to how long you stayed, many had already started the transition," I said, my numb voice sounding slightly...dead as I recalled the reason I had been abused in the first place. The wolves blamed me for what they were...for how long the Cullens stayed.