War's Where Love Begins

Chapter Three

Edward's POV

Victoria has been tracking my every move, since I moved from Forks. She wants to kill me, then she plans on going after Bella; the human I loved, even though she wasn't my mate. I never wanted harm to come to Bella, so I decided to lead Victoria to South America. My family was in Canada with the Denali coven, while I was far away in Argentina. 

Suddenly Victoria landed in front of me and threw me backwards, but I managed to land on my feet. She snarled out, "You killed my mate. After I end your pathetic little life, I'm going after yours." I yelled at her, "She's not even my mate." She tilted her head to the side and said, "That doesn't matter, I'm going to end hers. She's the reason he's dead." I said, "Please, don't hurt her. It's my fault, I had him killed. She didn't have anything to do with this. Just let her live a normal life without me, she doesn't deserve this." 

She slowly stepped towards me, then asked, "Are you offering your life in her place? Are you willing to die for her?" I sighed and said, "Yes, I am." Then I told her, "We made his death real quick, he didn't feel a thing." She snarled out, "Don't say that." Victoria moved to grab my head, then I was overwhelmed with darkness. 

Bella's POV

It's a week after thanksgiving, I still missed Edward with all my heart. I thought I saw Jasper, but I thought he would be in California and knew it had been my own imagination.The mall in Seattle was very busy, I guess people were already doing their Christmas shopping. When I was going to walk by this military recruit table I stopped, I don't know what came over me because I signed up; I filled out the form, then the guy in uniform told me there would be a bus that would pick me up for training the day after Christmas at the city hall in forks. I guess I just wanted a fresh start far away from Forks....from the memories of Edward.

When I got home Charlie just came back from the reservation, he had been fishing with Billy today. Charlie asked, "What did you do today?" I replied, "I went to the mall in Seattle, also I signed up for the army." Then I winced as I realized my mistake, when Charlie asked in shock, "You did what?" He stared at me dumbfounded as he asked, "Are you trying to get yourself killed, Bells?" I looked away from him and said, "It's my decision. There's no going back now, after Christmas I'll be gone because my training will begin after the holiday. "

He quickly asked, "This doesn't have anything to do with Edward Cullen, does it?" I replied, "No, I really don't know why I did it. It just felt right." He told me, "You better call your mother, she'll want to spend Christmas with you before you leave for training." I just nodded my head in understanding, then I went into the kitchen and dialed my mother's cellphone number. There's a part of me that hoped she would take the news well, but I would soon find out how she would react. 

My mother picked up the phone on the third ring, she said, "Hello?" I replied, "Hi mom." She answered, "How are you doing sweetheart?" I responded, "I'm good, mom. I have something to tell you, please don't overreact." She asked a little alarmed, "What is it, Bella?" I told her, "Well, I signed up for the army. I'll be leaving for training the day after Christmas." Then she asked, "This doesn't have anything to do with your breakup, does it?" After I sighing I said, "No mom, it doesn't." Then my mother replied, "Well, I'm happy for you. Can we spend Christmas together? I'll come down there with Phil, I just want to see you one more time." I responded, "Of Course mom, that's why Charlie had me call you." 

After a few seconds my mother asked, "How did Charlie take the news?" I answered, "Well, he was shocked and a little mad." She told me, "He'll come around eventually." I laughed and said, "I hope you're right, mom. Well, I guess I'll see you soon." She said, "It'll come sooner than you think." I smirked and said, "I know. Bye mom, I love you." My mother said, "I love you too," before she hung up.

Jasper's POV

When I got back from the mall in Seattle, I found Alice pacing back and forth; from her emotions I could tell she was extremely nervous. She turned to me and said, "Edward's dead, but this isn't why I'm nervous." I asked, "Did Victoria kill him?" She responded, "Yes, he sacrificed his own life for Bella's." Then she handed me a bunch of papers, so I asked, "What is this?" She told me in a shaky voice, "Divorce papers." Then I questioned, "Why? I love you." Alice said, "No, you don't understand. I lied to you when we first met, we're not mates. You're going to meet her soon, you'll see." 

Suddenly I couldn't contain the rage inside me, "Why did you do this to me?! You used me all these years!" She hung her head in shame and said, "I'm so sorry. Please, just sign the papers and you'll never see me again." I hastily signed the papers and shoved them into her hands, before I stormed out of the house. Within a split of a second I made a major decision that I knew would change my life, I was going to join the army.

It took me an hour to get back to the mall, I remembered I saw an army recruiter there. Once I made it inside there I stopped at the table, then said, "I would like to join, but there is something you must know about me." The recruiter asked, "What may that be?" I told him in a serious tone, "I'm a vampire. I would make a great asset." The recruiter spoke, "Well, how would we accommodate your kind?" I replied, "I'm not the usual kind, I don't drink human blood." Then he asked, "What do you drink then?" I replied, "Animal blood." He handed me the form, then I quickly filled it out. He stared at me in shock, before saying, "We'll be expecting you the day after Christmas." I nodded my head and said, "I'll be there." 

A second later I turned around and left, I planned on checking on Bella before heading back to Alaska. When I entered the woods I took off running as fast as I could, I felt if I saw her the pain in my heart would lessen. It would just take a matter of a few minutes before I would come upon Bella's location. 

Within three minutes I came upon the house, it was about six o'clock and Bella was cooking supper. I inhale in her scent and couldn't help but smile, she was the only human I never got blood-lust for. It was difficult for me to stay away from her, I just wanted to be in her presence constantly that it killed me so much on the inside. There was just this gravitational pull towards her I couldn't explain, I wouldn't know how to explain it at all. 

  Suddenly I heard her gasp and saw her staring straight at me, then she whispered my name in shock. I didn't know what to do, so I just stood there staring at a shocked Bella. When her father came into the kitchen she turned away, so I quickly hid in the woods. She told him, "Nothing dad, I'm just seeing things again."....

Bella looked so peaceful sleeping, I just wanted to stay and watch her until dawn but couldn't. I slowly sat down on the bed as I watched her, I just hoped she wouldn't feel the bed move and wake up. Edward had loved this human enough to sacrifice his life for hers, but I would've fought Victoria because I believed she would come after Bella anyways. Victoria wouldn't have been a match for me, since I'm a well trained fighter who fought in the Southern wars over hunting territory. 

She suddenly stirred in her sleep, I could tell Bella was having a bad dream. I softly began humming the lullaby Edward had written for her earlier this year, she quickly relaxed and let out a long sigh. Then I took one last look at her, before I stood up and left through her window. The wolves followed me as I began running towards the Canadian border, but they stopped as I crossed the border and turned back around. It took me an hour before I reached the Denali's place. Alice was already gone, which I was grateful for. 

Carlisle asked, "Where have you been?" I replied, "I needed some time to be alone, after everything I found out today...." Emmett said, "I can smell Bella's scent on you." Esme asked alarmed, "What did you do to her?" I replied, "Nothing, I just checked up on her. She spotted me too, but she thought she had been seeing things." Carlisle asked, "How close did you get to her?" I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously as I said, " About a foot." Esme questioned me, "And she thought she had been seeing things?" I responded, "Well, she wasn't awake." Carlisle asked concerned, "Why were you watching her?" 

Without thinking I said, "I don't have to explain myself to you, but I'm going do it anyways. When I'm away from her I'm in pain. I don't need to worry about me feeding from her, since her blood never appealed to me in the first place." Esme said, "Oh my god." I just ignored her reaction and continued, "I joined the army, so I'll be leaving around Christmas. I have to be there for train the day after Christmas, I'll probably check on Bella again before I leave." They were completely stunned by my news, but I had this feeling deep down inside that I was doing the right thing for my future.