My Mate Saga (Twilight Fan Fiction)

Chapter Twelve

  Over the last century, Edward had been forced to make a great number of difficult decisions.

The decision to leave his family during his wild adolescent years nearly undid him.

The decision to go back and beg his father's forgiveness after months of feasting on the blood of humans had been a lesson in humility.

But this, the necessary decision to go into the dangerous human city and leave his beloved mate behind—this was agony.

Edward and his Bella had been with their new vampire companions for two weeks and had enjoyed the good company and guaranteed safety.

But Edward was growing restless.

He was hopeful that Bella would be with child soon, if she wasn't already, and he was anxious to start the journey home so that his love would be able to relax in comfort during the most trying months of her pregnancy.

His mother would be able to help them birth their first baby and his large family would be able to adequately protect his little one and his or her lovely mother.

He was grateful for all that Ben and Angela had done for them but their way of living was extremely primitive. Their cave was quaint but rather crude and they utilized very few modern comforts.

Not a place he wanted to bring his precious child into the world.

His father Carlisle's fascination and extreme respect for human life meant that Edward's home was filled with luxuries few vampire covens dared to use. Fluff mattresses and blankets were drastically more comfortable than the leaves and foliage most vampires used for bedding. Carlisle had books and countless other human oddities. Perhaps Bella would like to learn to read human? It could keep her safe if she ever ended up in their territory.

Edward growled at the thought.

It wasn't so long ago that humans were nothing more than mindless livestock, ripe for the picking. Now the little lambs had identified their silent predators and were finding ways to strike back. It was an interesting, if not slightly terrifying, turn of events and Edward was eager to get his father's take on all this.

His family probably thought of him dead. His poor mourning mother would be delighted when her missing son returned with the most beautiful mate in existence.

But none of that would happen without risk.

Frankly Edward didn't have a clue on how to get home from where ever it was they were and the only way to find out would be to procure a human map. If he didn't they'd be going into the journey completely blind.

He was going to have to venture into the city and there was no way he was going to let Bella go with him.

He was torn from his inner turmoil when he was suddenly tackled to the ground by his particularly playful mate.

He landed softly on his back, her beautiful little body crouching with false hostility over him. She was employing every ounce of her modest strength to pin him down fiercely. He loved her so he lay there 'helplessly', humoring her made her happy and when she was happy he was ecstatic.

"Please don't hurt me, ma'am. I have a beautiful mate and we're expecting a baby. They need me," he pleads with thinly veiled amusement.

Bella growled menacingly, baring her perfect teeth and running them softly across his throat. "Beautiful?" she purred.

He bit back a desire induced groan for the sake of her game. "Devastatingly beautiful. No one comes close," he gasped as she nuzzled her little nose into his neck and pressed her lips under the clean line of his jaw. He felt her smile against his skin.

"Do you love her?"

He put a gentle hand under her chin and turned her face to look into her eyes. She was breathtaking. "Very much. She means more to me than my own life," he told her sincerely, gold eyes burning.

He laughed when Bella broke character and beamed gleefully at him.

She kissed him long and hard and for the first time he allowed her mouth to dominate his. He was leaving her tonight and wanted her to feel powerful and safe, even when he wasn't there to protect her.

They flooded their kiss with all the adoration they held for each other before pulling away and relaxing into each another's arms.

Bella ran her small fingers through Edward's thick hair. "She loves you too," she whispered, lifting herself up on her elbows to study his face, her sweet smile quickly morphing into a frown. "You're upset," Bella accused. Edward should have known she would sense his fear and uncertainty. She was his other half and when he hurt she hurt too.

"I can't be upset, not when I'm holding you in my arms like this," he deflected, pulling her tightly against him and pressing kisses into her soft hair.

But Bella was extremely intelligent, she wasn't so easily appeased. She wiggled out of his embrace and sat in front of him, her tiny features etched with worry. "Then what ever is upsetting you must be threatening to take me from your side," she deduced.

Edward sighed and sat up. She was too perceptive for her own good...and his.

He trapped her in his arms and pulled her into his lap. If they were going to have to have this conversation he needed to have her close to calm him.

"We need to leave soon. Head towards my family in Washington before you're heavy with my child. I'm going to need to travel into the city and gather some information in order to get us there," he told her softly, cautiously. Her little body turned immediately rigid with fright.

"When?" she whispered quietly.

"Tonight, my love. I've waited as long as I can."

"I'm scared. What if they get us again? What if we are pregnant and they take my baby?" she asked manically, her panicked voice steadily gaining volume.

He growled and tightened his arms almost painfully. She had obviously misunderstood. "I'd never let them take you. Ever. They'd have to kill me before they separated me from you or our child," he promised with conviction. "You're going to stay here tonight, my angel, with Ben and Angela. I'm going alone. I won't risk you."

Bella blinked at him for a moment, processing his words. He jumped when she suddenly let out a sorrowful dry sob and crumbled against his chest. This was what he had been afraid of.

"Oh baby, no. Please don't cry, my love," he cooed. "There's no reason to cry. I'll keep you both safe. I promise. You're my world."

She looked up at him, her face predictably tearless but distorted in a way that displayed every bit of her pain and trepidation. Edward's still heart broke in his chest. "What if something happens? I can't live without you..." she breathed.

"Nothing will happen. You'll never have to." He kissed her quivering lips. "I'll be back before morning. I'll always come back to you, Bella. We can get some rest then and start on our way home when the sun goes down tomorrow night."

Bella nodded, looking entirely unconvinced, before dissolving once again into tearless sobs. Edwards groaned but decided it best to end the argument. She was aware he knew what was best for them. He was her mate and it was his life's purpose to keep her safe and happy. He held her close and waited patiently for her to cry herself into acceptance.

Ben and Angela heard Bella's cries and approached them cautiously, hoping to help sooth her and find out what was causing her outburst.

Ben gave Edward a questioning stare and the bronze haired vampire smiled sheepishly, silently apologizing for his mate's behavior. "I think it best if we start the trek home as soon as possible. I've just told Bella that I'll be making a trip into the city tonight in order to gather supplies. She's... concerned," he explained, patting his mate's tiny shaking frame with soothing tenderness. Her sobs slowly began to quiet down, her cheeks flushed from embarrassment.

"I'm sorry," she murmured into Edward's shirt.

Angela looked more disappointed that her new friend would be leaving her than concerned about the dangers of traveling to the city. She and Bella had become quite close.

Ben looked at Bella perplexed. Neither one of them really understood the danger like Edward and Bella did, neither had been torn from their families to be poked and prodded and tested on. And even though they had been warned of this possible outcome they still saw the risk as an improbability. Humans were still humorously weak in comparison.

"What could you possibly get from the humans that would help you get home?" Ben questioned.

"A map. I'm not familiar with the surrounding area."

Ben laughed, "And you're planning on burning them for smoke signals and hoping your family sees them from Washington?" he teased lightly, speculating as to what a vampire could do with a useless piece of paper.

Edward rolled his eyes and kissed the top of Bella's head absentmindedly. "I plan on reading it and following it home, obviously."

Ben and Angela gaped at him disbelievingly.

"You can read!" they simultaneously inquired.

Edward nodded. "And write. My father thought it would be a useful tool. Apparently he was correct. I never imagined I'd be spending so much time with the vermin."

"I didn't know it was possible," Ben confessed.

"It wasn't easy but it's not impossible. We are of superior intellect than humans but lack the vocal capabilities to communicate the same way. Carlisle seems to think its nature's way of evening the playing field," Edward smirked conspiratorially.

"We are a predator that looks exactly like them, a gift that makes them easy to trick, but the moment we open our mouths the truth is clear. To them we snarl and growl like the most devious of monsters."

"Well unfortunately for them if they're close enough to hear our growl it's probably far too late to do anything to save themselves," Angela giggled.

Ben looked thoughtful and intrigued before shrugging his shoulders and turning to his mate. "Ang, gather Bella and take her inside to calm down. Edward and I don't have long if we plan of making it back before daybreak."

Edward looked up, startled. Even Bella lifted her little head to stare and the male vampire.

"No. I'm going alone. I can't let you risk yourself for us. I only ask that you watch over my Bella while I'm gone."

'And protect her if I don't make it back', he thought morbidly.

Ben snickered, "Nonsense, I've been to the city many times, I know the lay out like the back of my hand. Angela and Bella will be safe in the den until we return. While I see the merit behind this animal hunting you, can't expect me to miss out if there's an opportunity to catch something tastier, can you?" He grinned broadly.

Edward was briefly conflicted. Although Ben seemed genuine in his confidence, Edward knew it was only out of ignorance. He really shouldn't allow him to risk himself blindly for them. But Bella felt so little and fragile in his strong arms, her safety was all the mattered to him and if something happened to him at the hands of the humans and he was unable to return to her, she would be in grave danger.

The world was not a secure place for an unmated female. Another male could easily come and take her from him, Ben and Angela would be able to do little to stop it. He knew Bella would be safe if left alone while they journeyed into the city, according to Ben no humans or vampires had ventured into the area in ages. Having Ben to guide him in the city would give him a better chance at coming back to her.

It was with a guilt ridden selfishness that Edward nodded to Ben in agreement, accepting his company.

Bella reluctantly left Edward to follow Angela into the den, but not before giving him one last kiss.

"Promise me you'll come back," she demanded, holding onto his neck tightly.

Edward gave her a brilliant smile, "Locked in my heart, sealed with a kiss," Edward gently laid a kiss upon her quivering lip.

"Never apart," Bella whispered.

"I will keep my promise."

Ben gave him a sympathetic smile as the two made their way out of the dense forest. "Don't worry about them. They'll be safe and Bella will be so happy to see you when you get back," he grinned.

It was one or two hours past midnight when the two vampires reached the out skirts of an impressively sized city. Both males had their separate missions, one needed a way home, and the other a meal, but they agreed that splitting up was an unwise move. They resolved to work together. Ben's kill first, Edward's map second.

Edward stopped before they passed the first ring of buildings and put a hand on Ben's shoulder to get his full attention.

"Whatever happens, don't let them get the collar around your neck. If we are accosted don't try to stand and fight. Run. They aren't nearly fast enough to catch you," he warned seriously. Ben nodded but Edward saw him roll his eyes.

They traveled through the surprisingly empty streets like shadows, with calculated, quick movements. The ominous dark was useless against their capable eyes.

"Which way?" Edward questioned, hoping his companion had a plan.

"The young human's gather at this time of night. There are several different places to find an easy meal. The blood tastes a bit funny but they're unusually simple to lure...." Ben said with clear excitement, leading them purposefully through an alleyway.

Edward couldn't help but laugh. "I believe you're referring to a 'bar'. When I was young, I left my family to hunt humans. I also found their fondness for those particular establishments helpful. The alcohol makes the blood slightly bitter but their minds and actions are extremely impaired after they consume it," he explained knowledgeably. "It completely cancels out their natural tendency to avoid danger."

"Their females taste better," Ben pointed out.

Edward smirked. "Apparently they tend to prefer the more pleasant sweet and fruity drinks," he mused, almost missing his old hunting days.

He had never truly felt remorseful for his human meals, he restrained mainly out of respect for his father and love of his family. However his previous indifference had been replaced with a heavy resentment, some a kin to hatred, after what they had done to his Bella. The crimes against him he could easily forgive, but the pain his little mate had endured at the hands of the pests was unforgivable.

He had briefly considered joining his friend in his hunt but quickly decided against it. With any luck he was going to see his family soon and showing up in his father's territory with crimson eyes would be a disgrace he would not subject them to.

They heard the beat of heavy music long before they had a visual on their destination. The enticing smell of human blood was thick in the air and Edward felt a familiar pooling of venom in the back of his throat.

They stopped on a rooftop across the street that assesses the situation. The building seemed to be packed with the humans but at this time of night, very few of them loitered outside the bar. They had all been let in or had found somewhere else to go. Only an unusually large male human stood outside to guard the door.

"Don't eat that one. He'll be missed right away," Edward advised.

Ben nodded. "Do we just wait for one to come out?"

Edward squirmed uncomfortably. He didn't like the idea of dwelling out in the open for some undetermined amount of time. He wanted to make this quick.

He looked down at his clothing. He was still wearing the nondescript black jeans and t-shirt he had escaped the humans in. Vampire skin didn't sweat or shed like human skin and after decades of refining his hunting skills he had managed to keep his outfit relatively clean over the last few weeks.

Edward was confident none of the humans in the bar carried the capability or technology to take down a vampire, even if they did manage to spot him for what he was.

"I'll go in and lure one out," he offered. "I've done it many times in the past, they're a predictable species. Especially their females."

Ben shook his head and put his hand out to stop Edward from darting across the street and into the building.

"I can't make you do all the work. I can go," he said nervously. He wasn't so sure about that method of hunting; it required more interaction with humans than his typical stalk and ambush. Edward waved him away dismissively. "I'm not sure if it is just the human government that is aware of our existence or if they have made their discovery public, either way if this group is enlightened they are much less likely to have been exposed to animal drinkers and they won't be suspicious of my gold eyes. Your eyes are still red. I'll go and be out in a minute. Meet me in the alley behind the building."

Ben sighed hesitantly but agreed. He shot off to wait for Edward's delivery services.

The bronze haired vampire strutted casually into the street like he belonged there. The bar's bouncer stared at him as he walked inside the hot crowded room. "Damn, he's tall," the bouncer muttered but kept his station.

It was almost exactly how he remembered it, even after several decades of lapsed time. The music had an unpleasant thumping beat that was never there before but the humans still behaved in the same unusual manor.

The females attracted the males with tiny outfits that hardly covered the most intimate areas of their bodies. Humans took many mates and were hardly ever committed or faithful to their lovers. Males even fathered offspring with multiple females. Edward found it appalling. He could never touch a female that wasn't his Bella, he was born to love her and her alone.

He bypassed the packed dance floor all together and walked across the room to lean casually against the bar, assuming a human position. He towered over every human, but he knew by their drunken state, they couldn't give much reason to care. He wasn't worried about the bartender trying to serve him; the sweaty man behind the bar was already tending to a slew of impatient patrons.

The conditions were supreme; Edward smiled smugly and glanced around the room. Nearly all of the females were already watching him hopefully, he was a god among men and they were too full of drink to find that suspicious. The air was thick with human arousal, he swallowed back mouthful after mouthful of unneeded venom.

He evaluated his many options.

The red head shooting him seductive eyes from a corner table was too intoxicated...

The female in a black, jeweled shirt that was smiling coyly at him was too thin...

The small brunette beaming at him invitingly reminded him too much of his Bella for him to lead her to her death...

He grinned crookedly when his golden eyes landed on an attractive blonde. She was perfect. She had been drinking but she was still moving gracefully against a male on the dance floor, grinding her body on her partner while locking her pale blue lust-filled eyes purposefully with Edward's.

He dropped his gaze slowly down her body; it was a false show of sexual interest. In actuality he was appreciating the way her sexy, tight jeans and frilly blouse would look on Bella.

Waste not, want not.

She smiled smugly, having apparently caught the attention of the guy every female in the club was lusting after. She rudely left her dance partner standing confused and alone on the dance floor and strutted smoothly towards him. She was a beautiful human specimen, one of the finest he'd seen, but she was still laughable in comparison to his immaculate mate.

The blonde had five inch heels, making her already tall frame taller. It was defiantly a major turn off for vampire males, considering male love small females. She put a possessive hand on his hard chest when she reached him, giving the other women in the bar a gloating grin.

"Hey tiger," she purred into his ear, looking up at his super tall figure. It wasn't a real purr, just the silly human equivalent. He could smell the wetness pool between her legs already but it didn't hold a candle to the sweetness of her blood.

He didn't understand her words but knew that his verbal response wasn't necessary. Human females were vain and often didn't even realize they were the only ones talking.

He put his hands softly around her narrow waist and she moaned at the contact. He bites back a laugh. She melted into him and whimpered as he bends down and brushed his lips against her neck. It was a human form of affection but he was just enjoying the perfume of her blood.

"Mmmmm... baby. Maybe we can take this back to my place?" She whispered into his ear seductively, her hands stroking his soft locks. Once again he didn't understand the words but the way she gestured towards the front entrance with a flip of her hair told him exactly what she wanted.

He gave her a sly smirk and an approving nod of his head. This was almost too easy.

The eager blonde pulled him through the room with surprising strength.

So impatient for death, Edward mused.

Ben made it quick. The girl's neck was broken seconds after Edward led her into the dark alley.

"Try to be clean please," he implored, "I'd like that outfit for Bella and I don't think she'd wear it if it was stained with blood." Ben nodded compliantly and bit into the girl's flesh.

Edward jumped lithely onto the building's roof to scout out the area while Ben fed. He didn't exactly know where he could find an accurate map of the country but he figured some sort of sporting store would be a good place to start. The city was surrounded by forest so it was easy to assume there would be a shop that catered to hikers.

He dropped down next to his fully sated friend and helped him strip the lifeless body. They left her in her under garments and hide her in a dark corner behind the building. Not so long ago they would have buried or burned their kills in order to avoid the human officials questioning a body that had been bitten and completely drained of blood, but since the humans had discovered their existence they saved themselves some time and hid her somewhere she'd be found in a few days.

"I think we need to go further into the city. Near their main square, I have to find a specific store that will carry what I need."

Ben shrugged nonchalantly and started leading their way through the streets. He had never ventured so far into human territory but it wasn't a problem. He was perfectly at ease in the city since Angela wasn't with him but Edward's obvious anxiety was starting to worry him.

They were jumping from rooftop to rooftop when Edward went rigid as stone and let out a deep growl. Ben lowered himself into a defensive crouch and searched around for the danger but saw none. He looked at Edward questioningly.

"Don't you smell that?" Edward hissed, "Vampires."

Ben's eyes widened and he stiffed the air. "Females?"

Edward nodded. "I know these sisters. They're an ally coven from the north. Three unmated females. I smell all of them here. I haven't a clue why they would be in this area. They make their home in Alaska."

Ben cocked his head in confusion. That many unmated females were extremely rare.

Edward understood his silent question. "Succubi," he muttered as way of explanation.

Ben choked back a laugh. Succubi were vampire females of questionable character. They offered their bodies to both human and vampire males but never took an actual mate. And while their vampire lovers survived the experience, their human lovers did not. As some of the most beautiful and devious creatures they were sin in its physical manifestation. They help many male vampires pass the time before they find their true mates.

"I see... friends of yours?" he joked, raising a suggestive eyebrow.

Edward growled. "Absolutely not! But not for lack of trying on their part. The strawberry blonde is insufferable. It would make sense to find them in the city. They enjoy taking human lovers. If we run into them keep on your toes. They couldn't care less whether or not you have a mate." Ben through his head back and laughed, Edward looked disgruntled.

"Maybe they could help you find your way home," he suggested.

Edward perked up, he hadn't thought of that. The females were much older than him and well traveled. "They're very near. Let's see if we can find them," he decided.

When the two males followed the scent trail they stumbled across a nightmare. Edward and Ben looked up at the image if the three Denali sisters.

Their picture advertised on a huge feature board outside the City University.

Ben didn't understand but Edward let out an agonized moan.

"I don't get it."

"They've captured them. All three of them."

"The humans!"

Edward nodded solemnly and read the writing off the large sign aloud. "'Captive Vampire exhibit open for public viewing. One night event only this December 25th 8pm till 4am. Just $20 dollars allows you the experience of a lifetime...Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

"They're displaying them like animals?" Ben hissed furiously.

Edward nodded again.

This was horrible. The sister's mother and father were close friends and allies of Edward's family and all three of them had gotten themselves captured. Displayed like zoo animals.

Edward's first impulse was to run. Race back to his mate and rush her as far from this place as he could possibly get her. Make her and their baby safe.

"What do we do?" Ben asked nervously, he had the same urge to flee.

Edward looked up at the billboard sized poster. The females staring back at him looked fierce to the human eye; blood red irises, sharp bared teeth, but another vampire could read their posture for what it really was...fear.

He wasn't overly fond of Tanya, Irina, or Kate but could he really leave them to face the containment that had nearly broken Bella's spirit? Would his family forgive him for leaving the sisters to endure that kind of existence?

"I- I don't know," he stuttered.

"Could we help them? Release them somehow?" Ben asked.

"Fuck, I don't know! It's not safe, I promised Bella I would come back to her. I promised I wouldn't let them capture me," he mumbled, running his hands through his terrorized hair.

"Then we don't get caught right?" Ben reasoned. "We go in, we kill the guards and we leave. Would they be expecting something like that? Would they be able to stop us?"

Edward thought carefully. "Bella and I escaped with the help of other vampires. Surely they have learned to put more security around the perimeter."

Ben smiled. "Prefect, more humans to snack on. Let's do this!"

He suddenly looked pumped. It reminded Edward of his brother Emmett. This wasn't at all comforting; Emmett was an idiot.

Edward decided to act quickly before he changed his mind. He tried not to think about his mate whom was home waiting anxiously for him, or the tiny child he prayed was growing safely inside her, he definitely didn't think about the chance that he might never return to them because he was about to risk himself in order to free a small coven of harlots.

If he thought about all that he would surely never consider doing what he was about to do.

He looked up at the massive building. "They have to be keeping them in there. It reeks of them."

"Should we try breaking through the front?"

"No. I bet they have all the human staff inside right now. They know we're mainly nocturnal. They observe us during our most active periods and generally leave us alone during the day. If we set off an alarm there will be plenty of people to hear it," Edward reasoned.

"We run the perimeter and look for an easier way in?" Ben suggested hopefully.

Edward nodded. He didn't exactly anticipate the humans being stupid enough to leave an entrance open but it was better than storming the lab and losing the element of surprise.

They set off around the side and nearly cheered with glee at their luck. A chunky security guard was dozing soundly in a small security office on the south side of the science building.

"I hope their scientists are as good at pulling a night shift as their security staff," Edward muttered.

Ben snickered as they padded quietly towards the office's glass door. He bounded through without Edward's consent and drained the sleeping man dry within moments. Smiling lightly when Edward growled in annoyance.

They looked around the room. It was ideal. All of the building's cameras were broadcasting onto a ton of tiny screens. Every hallway, every lab, every small office in the structure was under the care of the now-dead security guard. Edward smirked broadly; it was evident that human trespassers were the only thing this facility was prepared to defend itself from. They must have not heard about what happened to his place.

They looked at the tiny screens and Edward counted little white coats. "There are 10 humans in the building right now," he concluded.

"We kill them all?" Ben didn't look nearly as upset by the idea as Edward was.

"I think we have too," he sighed. "The longer it takes for someone to discover they're gone the better. If we leave witnesses we'll have only minutes before they alert the police. I don't believe they'd be capable of catching us but I'd prefer not to risk it."

Ben grabbed a lanyard with a key card from around the dead man's beefy neck. "Right. That's it? We go in now?"

Edward shook his head. "I need to figure out how to disable these cameras and this alarm system. We don't need to leave a videotaped play by play for the police to watch later," he said absently, studying the intricate panel of buttons and flashing lights.

Ben shrugged. He stepped forward casually and slammed his stone fist into the panel Edward had been examining, the entire machine crumbled effortlessly. It sparked and flicked before the entire thing turned black.

He smiled triumphantly. "Well that was easy," he mused, turning to waltz out of the room while spinning the key card joyfully around his finger.

Edward followed him with an irritated snarl. "Will you stop acting so recklessly? You're going to get us killed!"

Ben rolled his eyes but was clearly amused. "Your way takes too long, Ed. Plus they obviously won't kill us. They'll just throw us into an enclosure with three lonely Succubi," he chuckled.

Edward grunted. "A fate worse than death."

They chose one of the many side doors, sliding the stolen card through and immediately gaining access. They entered a long white hallway.

"This doesn't feel safe," Edward whispered, "These halls are all so bright an open, nowhere to hide."

Ben laughed. "It's not like we'll run into anything capable of harming us. By the time they see us they'll be breathing their last breath."

Edward envied his confidence as they traveled cautiously down the hall but he remembered the sting of the control collar and the frustrating paralyzing power of the darts.

They slowed when they reached a pair of heavily steel doors and listened closely for the sounds coming from the next room. Ten heart beats. It would take them two or three seconds to end each one.

"When I open this door you go left and I'll go right. Kill as quickly as possible. We don't have time for a snack," Edward instructed.

Ben patted his stomach contentedly. "I'm good. That last guy was a mouth full." Edward scowled and Ben held his hands up in surrender. "Sorry! I'm done. I heard you, I go right."

"Left!"

"Right!"

Edward hissed. "You go 'left', you idiot."

He placed the key card through the slot. They slammed the door open and forced themselves into the massive laboratory.

They zoomed off into their respective directions, exerting every ounce of their inhuman speed.

Edward raced towards the sound of the first pulse, snapping the neck of his victim faster than the humans could even process the danger.

He moved onto the next one before the first body hit the ground.

He registered the same sickening crunches coming from Ben's size of the large white room.

By the time he started for the next heartbeat the remaining humans had caught on. He heard the screams, both male and female.

He lunged for the next kill, his mind set on efficiency and self preservation.

The third neck snapped loudly, a large older man, the dense human had managed to pull out a dart gun but hadn't been quick enough to save his own life.

Edward charged on to the source of another set of male screams. This man stupidly tried to run. The vampire overtook him in a beat of his racing heart.

One more, Edward reminded himself.

The fifth human on his side of the room had managed to hide. Edward smiled menacingly. If she had spent so much time terrorizing captive vampires then she should have known well that hiding was futile. Edward could hear a racing heart beat like a siren's call, could smell the adrenaline and fear race through her veins.

Could smell... He froze.

This wasn't a new smell. This was a sent he had experienced before. One that comforted him deeply.

He took slow and deliberate steps toward the desk that the woman had hid beneath as he heard the last of Ben's targets drop to the ground.

The room was now completely silent with the exception of Jackie's muffled sobs.

Ben frowned. "Why are you stopping? There's still one left!" he hissed at Edward and took a step forward to finish the job himself.

Edward suddenly crouched in his path and growled dangerously, his expression feral.

"Don't touch her," he warned, "This human is kind... She can help us."

Ben blanched. "She's one of them! She's treating us like animals!"

"She protected me and my mate, made my life in captivity worth living. I'm not letting her die," he stressed adamantly.

He didn't wait for Ben to argue, there was no time for that, and he just turned and walked towards the crying desk. Her tears didn't wound him like Bella's did but they still made his stomach twist in an uncomfortable way. Only a few short weeks ago he had considered this human a friend.

He padded slowly to the desk and bent down to peek under it. The old female human was kneeling down, her eyes clenched tightly but the tears were still streaming from them. Edward felt a painful stab of remorse. She had just watched as her colleagues were brutally murdered.

The room echoed with her blood curdling scream when Edward pressed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Both male vampires shot back in like startled house cats.

She gazed up at Edward in horror and even when her eyes filled with recognition she didn't appear less fearful.

"Edward," she whispered.

He nodded eagerly. He recognized his name and was delighted she remembered him.

"Oh god... Please—Please don't kill me! I'm sorry! I-I'm s-so sorry!" She wailed, her shaking getting so intense that her teeth chattered roughly. "I'm losing my home, Edward. I'm just trying to make a living. I, I... please!"

"What the hell is she babbling about?" Ben sneered.

Edward sighed in frustration. "I haven't got a clue. She knows I can't understand her. It sounds like she pleading. I think she's just scared," he explained softly. He looked around for a pad of paper and found one sitting on a nearby table.

He quickly scratched out a message.

We won't hurt you. You have my word. We came for the sisters.

He smiled down at the message, proud of himself, and handed it tentatively to Jackie.

She took several moments to read it, having to constantly wipe the tears from her eyes, but Edward heard her strangled sigh of relief.

Had she really thought he would harm her? He grimaced.

She took the pen and started to write a response. Her hands were still trembling so hard that her normally tidy scrawl was nearly illegible.

"Jeez, you write human better than she does," Ben muttered impatiently.

Edward shot him a glare. "Be nice."

Ben smiled innocently at Jackie and cooed in a voice one would use affectionately with an infant. "It's not like the stupid little snack can understand me. Can you?"

She gave him back a timid, watery smile, clearly fooled by his falsely sweet tone and handed the notepad back to Edward.

You need a code to unlock their habitat. I can take you to them. Can you follow me?

Edward nodded eagerly and offered her a hand to help her out from under the desk. She didn't trust him like she used to. It was clear she was just helping him to keep herself safe. That saddened him but he could easily understand. The two of them had just killed all 9 of the people she had just been working with. Plus the men who were killed the day Edward and Bella had escaped.

Ben looked at them nervously. "What's going on? Why is she getting up?"

"She has to open the gate for us. If we had killed her we wouldn't have had the code to get in. Consider us lucky."

They followed the clearly frazzled female to the back the expansive room where there was another pair of heavy steel doors. She pulled out another key card, one that obviously carried more exclusive access than the one they had taken from the guard. Edward realized how lucky they were that Jackie had ended up at this facility. She must have been moved since the other one was destroyed. They probably wouldn't have gotten too much further into the vampire proof habitat without staff assistance.

Jackie fumbled to open three more security barriers. Edward tried to give her a reassuring pat on the back to calm her but the contact seemed to only add to her anxiety.

"This is it," she whispered. She gestured firmly towards a final, sturdy looking pair of doors in order to convey the message to Edward.

He smiled kindly and silently willed her to open it. He was ready to get the sisters out and get back to his mate.

Jackie opened the doors and Edward peered into the huge habitat. Neither he nor Ben were stupid enough to step past the doors. Getting themselves locked in with Tanya and her sisters wouldn't help anyone.

They couldn't see any of the girls from where they were standing. "Tanya! Irina! Kate! Get your asses over here, we don't have much time!" Edward yelled into the enclosure.

All three very confused sisters scurried into view within seconds. Edward heard Ben gasp behind him and he knew his friend hadn't taken his warning about the sister's overwhelming beauty as seriously as he should have.

Kate walked up to them hesitantly, her perfectly angular features etched with horror. "Oh no, Edward! They caught you too?" she moaned.

Tanya perked up. She didn't look at all distressed by that possibility.

Edward laughed "Hardly," he scoffed as if he hadn't gotten himself captured just months before. "We're springing you. I don't have time to explain. We need to acquire some distance before the humans realize you're gone."

The sisters all turned their gazes on Jackie. "And what does the new human that brings us our food has to do with this?" Irina snarled hungrily. "A snack for the road?"

Jackie took a calculated step behind Edward.

"She is helping us. We've killed all the others. If you even consider harming her I'll lock you back in there and we'll leave you here. Understand?" he warned curtly.

The girls looked put out but all nodded in agreement.

Edward turned to Jackie as Ben started to lead the Denali sisters back out the way they came. He pulled out the pad of paper.

We need time.

Jackie read and nodded.

I can only wait an hour before calling this in. You killed everyone, Edward. She wrote nervously, tears still blurring her eyes. She looked devastated.

Edward gave her a guilty shrug. They kidnapped my family and frightened my mate, he scribbled simply.They have to realize that holding us against our will is a crime that has repercussions. We aren't animals. We will fight back. Maybe they'll realize that now.

Jackie nodded sadly. You have to go. Now. I can only wait an hour.

Edward sighed. Jackie squeaked when he gave her a gentle hug on the way out the door.

They both hoped inwardly they'd never have to see each other again.

The small groups of escapees were waiting for Edward restlessly outside the building.

Edward huffed when Tanya hit him like a freight train. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, pressing kisses rapidly across his face.

He snarled and threw the female off him forcefully. "What the fuck, Tanya!"

She twirled her hair around her finger and smiled coyly as Ben laughed at Edward's reaction.

"I'm just trying to thank you properly, Eddie! I knew you'd save me!" she thrilled in a bell like voice.

"Yeah well I have a pregnant mate waiting for me. You can thank her when we get back. She's the one I put at risk to save you girls because you got caught fucking your food," he spat dryly.

Tanya's beautiful smile melted off her face. "Y-you mated?" she winced as though she couldn't stand the sound of it.

Irina and Kate gasped.

Edward smiled smugly but didn't dignify them with further details about Bella.

"Come on, we don't have time to waste. I'll talk while we run."

The group darted through the dark city as quickly as flashing lights. They had passed the last of the human homes and business in under twenty minutes. Edward felt his trepidation fade with every passing mile. By the end of Jackie's promised hour he would have Bella back in his arms.