Angels and Monsters

Chapter Twenty-Four

I've got a plan for these two. A good plan. At least, I think it's a good plan. We'll see. Thanks for sticking with me on this one. Too many plot bunnies, not enough hours in the day...I tell ya! I do apologize for the sporadic updates for Angels and Monsters. Not enough time in the day and too many ideas floating around in my head. Ya know?

This is the last real chapter before the epilogue. What happened to Bella? Will she be okay? What will the Volturi say?

Chapter Twenty-Four

BPOV

Alice was vibrating with anxiety. "They're nearly here...and James is up to something. I don't know. He can't make up his mind, but he is up to something."

"Prepare for anything," I said.

Ten minutes later, we heard the lock click and the door slide open. James was on the other side, his eyes black fire and his mind completely blank. His hand grabbed Alice, who happened to be closest to the door, wrapping his fingers around her neck. I darted out, finding Edward first and then panicking about what was unfolding in front of me.

"She will not live to see the next sunrise," James growled.

Not if I have anything to do about it, I thought to Edward. Narrowing my eyes, I focused all of my power on James. My zinger was a lot like Jane's gift, but instead of the allusion of pain, I actually caused harm. James was the one who would not live to see another sunrise.

His heart was first. It imploded inside of his chest from the intensity of my zinger. He dropped Alice to claw at his chest as the pain radiated throughout his whole body. Alice sprang into Jasper's arms. The walls cracked and vibrated as I continued his punishment. When the floor buckled, I jumped at James, pushing him through the window and we fell to the ground below. His insides were burning from my attack. Edward landed smoothly behind me.

"Bella..." he whispered.

"He's dead," I snarled, my power increasing and his torso exploding from his incinerating organs. James was screaming in agony. He was shocked at what was happening to him, unsure how I was able to do it. "You ruined me. You ruined my sister. Now, I ruin you."

Blinking down, I focused my attention to his miniscule cock. It didn't take long until burst. I laughed at that, but I was not done. Clenching my hands and pulling on everything that I had inside of me, I refocused my zinger. With a scream that broke all of the windows in the brownstone, James' body was torn apart and he was no more.

Once James was gone, my body went limp and Edward caught me. The last thing I heard before I lost consciousness was Edward's frantic pleas. "Bella! Bella?! Please...stay with me! Angel!! My Angel..."

EPOV

"Bella, baby..." I sobbed, holding her to my body. Her face was free from all pain and she looked like she was sleeping. I swept her in my arms, holding her to my chest. Aro was watching me with her, his mind reeling from the massive amount of power she had just demonstrated. He wanted her, coveted her. I needed to get her away from him and rest of the Volturi. The threat of James was no longer an issue. He was now falling onto the ground in bits of ashes. My concern was for my mate. I picked her up, holding her to my body and I darted away. Aro was calling for me, but he could wait.

I turned on the speed, running as far north as I could. Bella was still unconscious. Her mind was silent and she was curled to my chest. I didn't stop until I passed into the Minnesota wilds, just north of Duluth, nearly an hour later. The sun had just risen, bathing the landscape in soft pinks. It made Bella look almost human. With her eyes closed, she looked like she was asleep. She wasn't breathing and her brain was quiet. I was worried. Very, very worried.