●When the pain drowns you and all you can feel is despair hitting your skin. When the wind threatens to blow the broken pieces of yourself away. When the lightning strikes and burns through every ounce of protection you wrapped around your heart. When the thunder is so loud with all your thoughts filled with insecurity.

I will be the umbrella you use to walk through the storm.

♡

Alice and Jasper were at the front desk of an airport while Nova and Bella hung back. They were waiting for Edward, Carlisle and Emmett to arrive.

Nova decided to stick close to the girl after knowing how stressed she would be feeling.

"I know we aren't exactly best friends but I promise I won't let him hurt your mother."

Bella nervously nodded but she was still on complete edge. Last night she received a phone call while the vampires were busy getting ready for their trip.

She had yet to decide if she was going to do exactly what the man said or if she should tell them. She knew she also had to be careful when she did decide because it would set Alice off.

For now she needed to get rid of Nova who was hovering over her and looking around closely at everything that moved.

"Hey, I think I'm ready for breakfast now."

Nova smiled down at her and grabbed onto one of her hands sending butterflies to both of their stomachs.

"Let's go grab something then."

Bella panicked internally, "No!"

Nova looked at her with furrowed eyebrows so she corrected herself, "I mean, I still feel anxious and I don't want to be too far from Jasper. Do you mind getting it for me?"

The blonde woman looked at her carefully but then nodded at her. "Okay, I'll be right back."

Bella waited until she could no longer see her and then she bolted for the door.

She hoped the confusing layout of the crowd would make it hard for anyone to find her right away. Plus it was still daylight and she knew they wouldn't risk being seen.

It was a stupid plan, but she wanted to keep everyone safe even at the cost of her own short life.

♡

After returning with food, Nova noticed Bella was gone. She didn't panic right away and calmly strolled over to Alice and Jasper.

"Where's Bella?"

"She's not with you?"

Nova felt her heart drop and her head whipped around frantically.

"Shit. Where the hell would she go?"

Alice froze as she got another vision. It took only seconds, "The ballet studio."

"Where is it?"

Alice gave her detailed directions while also pulling her phone out.

Nova wasn't angry at anyone but herself for not being more aware.

Okay maybe she was a little mad at Bella for not being honest with her.

"We should wait, they'll be here soon."

"Wait?" Nova scoffed, "The best outcome of this is that she's already dead. If she isn't I'm sure she's wishing she was."

Jasper placed a calming hand on her lower back and she had to resist melting into him.

"Look. We have no clue where that place is and when we could be looking, you want me to wait?"

Alice frowned at her statement. "If we go now we'll be exposed in the sunlight. The sun will be gone in less than an hour and the others will be here."

"That's not an issue for me, love." It was true, Nova didn't sparkle like normal vampires. Her skin instead would gain a subtle glitter-like glow that most humans would assume to be a type of body glitter.

Alice could see there would be no convincing her to wait safely and she would feel better knowing the girl could help Bella. But her visions weren't certain and she was worried for both of their safeties.

She sighed heavily and grabbed Nova's hand while looking her in the eye, "Be careful, he isn't alone."

Nova nodded and raised their conjoined hands before placing a kiss against Alice's palm and letting go.

"I'll be safe, pixie." She then turned to Jasper who was silent as usual but she could feel his emotions clear as day. She sent him reassuring ones in hopes that it would make him worry less. The man only smiled slightly and removed his hand.

Once she pulled away from them both, she tried focusing on Bella's scent.

It was so confusing with all the people's scents clouding her nose but she found it and was off. Unfortunately, she had to move at an annoyingly slow pace due to the wandering eyes of the people around her.

As she walked the streets she was thankful she had stolen a hoodie from Jasper. She put her hands in her pocket after throwing the hood on.

To the average human, she was just a normal girl enjoying a day out. Although, to the average vampire, it was clear she was hunting. From the way her nose was flared to the dangerous look in her eyes. Her posture was a little too stiff and each step she took was with purpose.

For once she was grateful for extremely heightened senses because when Bella's trial started to die out she was able to follow the last strands of it.

She eventually got to the point where Alice's directions were useful and she was just happy to be close.

Now it was slowly getting dark and she could move as fast as she wanted to as long as she stayed within the shadows.

♡

Nova knew she found the right place as she smelled not only Bella but James strongly. It seemed that James' scent was a little heavier meaning he had been there for a while.

The smell of blood alarmed her and she hoped she wasn't too late.

♡

Her leg was broken and she was sure a few of her ribs were too. Her head was bleeding nonstop. She was in so much agony and all she wanted was for it to be over.

The moment she realized she had been tricked, she felt relief from knowing her mother was safe. But now as her attacker taunted her, all she felt was pain. It was so intense she couldn't scream. Weak gasps escaped her and she couldn't even force herself to glare at the man who had done this to her.

Blood soaked her clothes and her heart was slowing.

Yet her mind was at peace with the fact no one would have to get hurt over her.

James hated the way she looked so accepting of death. It ruined the thrill he got. Even when breaking her bones she never once begged for him to spare her. She only asked that for the people she cared about.

It pissed him off beyond belief.

The scent of her blood was too much for his thirst. He was weak for it and was ready to drain her completely.

So he grabbed her wrist hard enough to leave a bruise.

Neither he nor Bella expected a blur of colors to slam into him like a truck.

Bella tried lifting her head up to see what happened but she could barely feel her body. All she could see was a familiar silhouette standing defensively in front of her.●

{A/N}

{we finally get to be with the other cullens next chapter 😪}