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CIRCUS-ING 101, EMMIE: LEARN HOW TO SWALLOW BIG OBJECTS
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The second Edward enters the building, the most delicious smell fills his lungs, and he pauses for only a brief fraction of a second to take in the aroma before his eyes immediately fall upon the monster hovering over Bella. It is a scene of total devastation. Glass is strewn across the floor and blood glitters in the sunlight coming from the windows. His eyes are solely focused on Bella, though. Her limp body lays unmoving and broken, bleeding. His worst fears have come to life. His view is suddenly obliterated by anger as he dives into James, sending him flying across the studio. He starts snapping at him, but he holds him up around the throat, tightening his grip.
Behind him, he suddenly hears obnoxiously high-pitched, child-like giggling nearing him and the enemy. Still, he can't force himself to peel his eyes away from James to put a name on the source. A slender shadow jumps up and down behind him, laughing it's little heart out.
"Boing! Boing! Haha! Ooh! Can I play too," the shadow's owner asks, laughing loudly.
Edward recognizes that voice. Before he can mutter the person's name, James takes this moment to have the upper hand. He switches positions, forcing him up against a mirrored column and pushing his face up against the mirror. His eyes become a darker shade of red, matching it's vicious and sinister smile. He smashes his face into the mirror until his cheeks begin to form cracks. Neither of his family members notice this, all too focused on Bella's tempting blood.
Suddenly, the room explodes with gunfire. Someone approaches, sandwiching James in place. He feels James release a nasty grunt as more gunfire is heard. Something impacts the enemy, causing him to drop to the floor.
Edward opens his eyes and turns his head to find Harley Quinn behind him, holding a rifle almost as big as she is. Her black and red pogo stick lays next to her left foot. She is hovered over James, aiming the rifle to his head. "Freeze, copper," she laughs and looks up at Edward, tossing him a wink. "See? I got ya covered, Bats." She grins proudly, unaware of the strength James is regaining. Her bullets did nothing but force him back and make a slight dent on the back of his head.
Even though she had saved Edward's life, he can't help but feel as though she disrespected him for not listening and staying in the car as he ordered. "Harley, what are you doing," he growls. It's bad enough Bella's here, but now he has to protect her also.
Harley simply smirks and adjusts the rifle, placing it on her shoulder. She laughs and rounds him, now standing behind him. Her toes hold her up as she leans into his ear. "Just what you expected me to do, sucker. Because it's Thursday."
And just as they start to relax, James is up on his feet and thrusting himself towards Edward. In a swift motion, Harleen raises her weapon and shoots him, her bullet caressing Edward's left ear. This time, he isn't fazed by her shot. She realizes this, and as she goes to continue shooting, Jasper suddenly flies up behind him and grabs his arms. He rips them off of his body as Bella's gasping and groaning is heard nearby.
Edward looks away from the sinister man and at his savior, wide-eyed. He doesn't understand how, but she had saved him. Twice.
"... Thank you," he finally thanks her. He is getting used to acknowledging her, and he isn't sure he likes it. Harley narrows her eyes at him.
"Shut up," she says playfully, and he smiles slightly. She forms a smile of her own as she moves on. She isn't losing perspective.
As Harley walks away from him, Edward looks over his shoulder to see Emmett snapping out of the trance Bella's blood holds and running through the studio, his expression rapt and exultant at his new prey. His legs takes him to Bella, realizing she needs him.
He is not oblivious to Jasper's thirst, which he keeps in check as he now has a different type of prey to attend to, a crazy bitch from New York named Harleen Frances Quinzel. She is not far from him and Carlisle as she helps Alice, Jasper and Emmett kill the one creature he would love to personally torture for an eternity.
"You slimy motherfucker," she roars behind him, her finger presses tightly on the trigger of her automatic weapon. She fires away at James' chest for fun, who is being held by both Emmett and Jasper, while Alice starts a fire. Emmett looks over at her, only now asking himself how she got a hold of the rifle? How the hell did she sneak that past security?
"Harley, where the hell did you get that," he asks, holding James back, who glares at the blond with such hate and fury.
Harleen stops shooting and smirks, raising her weapon. "Circus-ing 101, Emmie: Learn how to swallow big objects!"
"Harley, come help me, please," Alice Cullen asks for her help, scared the fire might accidentally prick her. Fire is very dangerous for their kind. The venom in their skin and veins is highly flammable.
"Oh, right! You burn easy," Harleen realizes. She tosses the rifle on the floor and moves to help her set off a match.
There are distant sounds of a fight, the loud noise of a vampire being torn apart, but Edward's eyes are only able to see one thing – Bella. She is lying on the ground, crumpled, broken, while the pool of blood continues to grow wider underneath her. The red fluid, spilling, wasting, on the floor, the scent pulsing through the air. The amount is cataclysmic, as each second passes a distinctive, yet intangible, spice of the most delicious aroma leaves burning lacerations in his aching throat.
After a moment, Harley rushes to Bella's side. Bella's breathing is harsh and ragged as she takes several heavy panting breaths. "Oh, God," the blond whispers, her eyes wide with terror. She didn't understand the severity of the situation. The sight of James' body being torn apart and being set on fire isn't what shakes her to the core, this is. Her cousin spawned out on the floor, surrounded by a pool of blood is what truly terrifies her. She instantly moves herself to kneel besides Bella's head and sets it on her lap.
"It's okay. You're gonna be okay," she coos, brushing her bloody hair out of her sickly pale face. "Just hang in there, Bells."
Beside her, Alice runs over to Bella, kneeling in her blood. She doesn't even bother to hold her breath, as each flame that rips down her throat only punctuates the fact that Bella is still alive, her heart is still beating.
"Look, here's Alice," Harleen announces and points to her and Carlisle, who examines the shard of glass stuck in Bella's leg. "And look, the Doc's here, too. He'll fix you right up. Sure he will."
Carlisle looks up from her injured leg, his eyes saying it all. "We can't pull it out. It's in too deep. We will need to get it surgically removed."
Edward's hands move over Bella, but he doesn't know what to do as her body suddenly goes limp. "Oh no, Bella, no."
Harley hears him cry out as he rubs the blood from her eyes. Pain in dimensions that he has never felt before tears his body to pieces. He can feel the tearing of his heart – her heart. "Bella, please," he begs for her to return to him, to just show him a sign that she is conscious. "Bella, listen to me, please, please, Bella, please!" He pleads as heavy tearless sobs sends his body into near convulsions. "Carlisle, do something!" His voice carries a bite of impatience.
Carlisle turns back to Bella, who is lying aslant, like her body had been broken in many places. Fragments of glass are deeply imbedded into her skin and hair. He watches as dark red and gluttonous blood flow rapidly from her head and leg. He swallows his venom back and listens as her heart begins to move sluggishly, like there isn't enough blood in her body to keep it going. "Harleen, lift her head, please."
Harley inches herself closer to Bella and removes her head from her lap, levitating it with her hands. She starts putting pressure on her wound and the blood instantly stops leaking from her head. There is no hesitation in her thoughts – her mind has one mission, and that is to save her cousin. Guess she has a heart after all.
"Harley," a voice similar to Bella's mutters. It sounds distant, but she can still catch every syllable to it. Yet, no one else seems to hear it. She's the only one.
"Shh.. Don't try ta talk," she comforts her cousin, unaware that it isn't Bella who is talking but the voices in her head, the very same voices whom enjoy to play tricks on her. "It's okay.. Hey, Bellsies. When you get to heaven, you should look up my bubbe. Fran Quinzel. She's super nice. I think you two would really hit it off. You might've met her once. She's my papa's ma."
Alice, Edward and Carlisle share a look of understanding. This is her way of processing things. In sync, they look down to find Bella becoming paler and damper than normal. Her skin grows cold. The family doctor reaches for Bella's leg and applies pressure to the wound as tears seep through Bella's eyelids before they finally open wide with pain. A cry comes through her lips. Her cry is like a stimulant.
"Bella," Edward cries as relief swells in him.
Carlisle begins his inventory mentally. "She's lost some blood, but the head wound doesn't seem deep. Watch out for her right leg, it might be broken. We shouldn't have taken her with us to the field."
Harley looks up from Bella's eyes and smiles at him, a smile so innocent and child-like you wouldn't think she's capable of harming a bug. "It's okay, Doc. You did good. You did real good."
Carlisle smiles at her and continues his inventory by feeling for other broken bones. He moves over Bella's ribs. She jerks and another sob escapes her lips. Her eyes are blank, like she can't see clearly.
"Edward," Bella mumbles with an unearthly and beautiful sound.
Edward's knee is placed resolutely in the middle of the puddle, soaking him in her blood. He takes a deep breath and ignores his longing, his lust, his ravenous desire.
"Bella," he soothes her. "You're going to be fine." Unresponsive, detached. A plea enters his voice. "Can you hear me, Bella? I love you."
"Edward," she croaks, answering his silent request.
"Yes, I'm here," he declares earnestly.
Harleen watches as slow, small, and irregular quantity of tears trickle down her cheeks. "It hurts," she utters as her eyes close tightly.
He lightly brushes her hair from her face, his hand coming in contact with Harleen's for a split second. It was too fast either of them to even notice. "I know, Bella, I know." He shifts his posture to Carlisle. "Can't you do anything?"
This doesn't look good. I need you to prepare yourself for the worst. "My bag please," Carlisle reaches his hand out.
The scent... Alice's eyes are wild as she passes the bag to him.
"Hold your breath, Alice, it will help," Carlisle declares while grabbing his bag.
"Alice," Bella questions in a sustained mournful cry.
Alice continues to hold her breath, unable to answer her. Bella, she laments a sigh silently.
"She's here," Harley assures her. "She knew where to find you." She silently thanks Alice as their eyes meet for a fraction of a second.
Alice makes a slight and quick bend of her head. Her eyes are deep with sorrow.
A quick glance around the room brings the total devastation and destruction back into focus for Harleen. The mirror is cracked and shiny blood is smeared across the floor and mirrors. Yes, she's seen worse, but this isn't anything she's ever witnessed. There's is blood everywhere and her and her cousin are surrounded by vampires. If things go correctly, she promises herself to never doubt the Cullens and their intentions again. Edward seems to have caught her vow, his eyes meeting hers. They stare at one other, the world drowning out behind them.
"My hand hurts." They hear Bella mumble in an almost unintelligible extent. This brings them back from their distraction.
Edward looks away from Harleen and at the love of his life. "I know, Bella." Another scorch mark breaks down his throat as he takes in another breath to answer her.
I'm about to administer some morphine into her system. Her pain should go away fairly quick after that.
"Carlisle will give you something, it will stop."
The silence is soon cut off when a sharp and piercing cry echoes through the Ballet Studio. "My hand is burning," Bella shouts. Her eyes flutter, trying to open but are being restricted because of the blood.
This worries Harleen beyond imaginable. "Bella," she cries out, frightened. The medicine should be working.
Then, there's another loud wail. "The fire! Someone stop the fire," she screams and moans in paroxysms of grief.
The blond looks over her shoulder as Emmett and Jasper watch James go up in flames. She turns back to her, going to the source of Bella's cries. There are perfect teeth imprints on her wrist where a vampire had bit her. "Carlisle?"
She watches as his eyes look over the outline of the mark. "He bit her," Carlisle states in revulsion.
Edward growls in disgust, hoping he might have a remedy or that Harleen is wrong all together. An icy surge of terror fills his lungs. A deep breath enters his lungs as her scent ripples down his flaming throat, the horror entering his body. His view is obliterated by anger.
I can't do it. "Edward, you have to do it," Alice commands while wiping the blood out of Bella's eyes. Her stare is so intent you would think she is trying to force Bella to mend just by looking at her.
"Do what," Harleen impatiently asks from beside her.
"No," he roars, looking at Carlisle, hoping he would tell him something different.
"Wait. What aren't you doing," she asks again, confused. Edward simply looks at her, silent. His stare says it all. He has to suck the venom out. It finally dawns upon her. The shock from this is so huge it roots her to the spot for several seconds.
"Alice," Bella cries in a low, mournful sound.
Edward, if you want her to stay human... "There may be a chance," Carlisle persists.
"What," he begs, not understanding why they want him to do it.
"See if you can suck the venom back out. The wound is fairly clean," Carlisle explains as he stitches Bella's head wound.
"Will that work?" Harley's throat is obstructed by the fear of losing her cousin.
Edward assumes it will work the same as a snake bite. "I don't know," he admits.
You have to do this, Edward, Carlisle thinks. I can't do this for you.
The thought of consuming her blood, even if it is to save her life sends pleasure and pain flooding into Edward's body. To taste her would be wrong... fallacious. He feels utterly disgusted with himself, but the temptation is growing. His veins feel like they're being filled with acid as he contemplates putting her life in more danger... the liability... to place her in mortal peril, where she may never come back to him. He feels like he's choking. "Carlisle... I," he falters.
"Jesus Christ, Edward," Harleen growls in frustration and does the unexpected. In one swift motion, she removes her jester hat and wraps her slender fingers around Bella's delicate wrists, preventing her involuntary reflexes. Then, she goes for it. The desire to save Bella, a small sacrifice to pay.. This is how she can repay her for not taking James' attack serious.
Every send she bends closer to her, Edward's mind titters on the unstable line of gratitude and disbelief. His mind is traveling between three different worlds. Skepticism, discredit, wonder. She won't do it.. Will she? If she does it.. she will be saving him from doing something he might regret for the entirety of his existence. Yet, he can't help himself from thinking maybe he doesn't love Bella enough to perform the very same sacrifice Harleen is making to save her life.
Thoughts scatter across his already stressed mind as Harley bends down further. Everything is happening in a fast motion, too fast for Alice and Carlisle to sink in. Will she do it? No, she's not crazy enough.
Bella thrusts against Harleen's hold, making the prolonged pain of Edward's intense mental suffering grow exponentially. Her breathing is harsh and ragged as her wild yells fill the studio, reverberating off the mirrors and walls. And she does it. Harley's lips finally touch her skin, the fresh blood soaking into her lips. It's unimaginable, mind-boggling even. Immediately, she feels an overwhelming sensation drop in the pit of her stomach. She pulls her blood from the bite wound and it rushes into her mouth.
The blood is hot and wet in her mouth. This is not what regular blood tastes like. It's the venom of which has been laced in it that repulses her. Sensations she's never felt before tingles her tongue, sending a rush of sickness down her throat. She hates it, but she has to continue. Maybe this tiny sacrifice will put her in God's good book. Just maybe.
Bella screams and lashes, struggling to get away from Harleen's strong grip. She knows it's hurting her, but it has to be done. She holds her tighter, eager for it to be done. The venom in her blood causes her to choke up a bit, the acidity almost too much for her to handle. She quickly regains control and continues her mission, sucking down her blood in large gluttonous amounts.
The family around her watch in absolute disbelief. This is the true definition of love and insanity. None of them can believe their eyes.
Carlisle is the first to snap out of his shock. He continues to work on Bella's head, pulling a needle through her skin over and over, sewing her up. He looks at her face. "You're doing great, Harleen."
Edward sits in shock as Bella jerks a quick sharp pull of her body. Another thrust and a suddenly arrested motion as she thrashes against the bite. "Harley," she incoherently mumbles her savior's name, bringing him from his shock.
Her eyes fly open and her dark brown eyes dart around in every direction until they land on her cousin, who struggles to push down the overwhelming sensation of needing to vomit.
Watching her writhing in burning pain, pain that Edward remembers well, burns him, like he can feel it too. He could've been in Harleen's position, helping take the pain away. He could've made it all stop. He could've been her savior.
"Alice, get me something to brace her leg," Carlisle shouts as he finishes up the stitches on Bella's head. Maybe he should've let her become a vampire; it would've made things a whole lot easier. Maybe he wouldn't feel doubtful.
At his thoughts – to think of Bella as a vampire – death would be better than this life. Bella is beginning to jerk in violent spasmodic muscular movements, the abrupt motions making her leg flail limply around. Carlisle catches her leg to hold it still and flashes Harleen a look of success.
Harleen finally lets go, placing her hand down gently. Thick, slime-like blood drops from her lips as she looks up at them. She wipes her lips with the back of her lips, gagging slightly. ".. I never want to do that again," she mutters before leaning away from Bella and vomiting venom-filled blood all over the marble floor. Alice instantly rushes to her, soothing her back.
Carlisle's words of gratitude echo in Edward's ears as he begins to think again. "You did great," he praises Harleen. That looming thought continues to repeat in his head, as he questions his love for Bella. He doesn't know if he loves her enough to save her life, even if it might lead into a life of regret and sorrow. After all, Harleen had done all the work. Then, it finally dawns on him the level of insanity she carries within her. But alongside that insanity is love.. and strength.
He looks at Bella intently, waiting for a reaction with increasing desperation. She takes an unsteady breath, a small cry of pain present. His eyes flicker to Bella's savior, whom continues to projectile all over the floor. He is devoutly thankful to her.
"Stay, Edward, stay with me...," Bella barely breathes. He sighs heavily at her voice.
"I will," he promises, the stress of the situation still evident in his triumphant voice. He puts her words on repeat in his mind, realizing even though he put her in this danger and almost had her killed, she still loves him, still wants him to stay with her. He brushes his hand lightly against her cheek.
"Is it all out," Harley asks, observing Bella.
Bella's eyes flicker over to her. She'd be thanking her endlessly if it weren't for the excruciating pain. A simple sigh escapes her lips, her pain obviously dulling as her eyes closes lightly.
Edward simply stares at the question's owner. You saved her, he thinks quietly. The relief is so exquisite it's nearly pain. The ache, the anxiety, his oppression is slowly dissipating. "It seems so," he breathes a sigh of relief.
Let's make sure before we take her to the hospital. The morphine might be covering up the pain. "Bella," Carlisle calls out, bringing Bella from an almost slumber.
Bella doesn't bother to open her eyes, her body lying limp on the ground. "Mmmmm?"
"Is the fire gone?" Carlisle stares at Harleen, waiting for the answer.
Bella's voice is slow and sluggish. "Yes," she sighs, pained. "T-Thank you, Harls."
Harley smiles, feeling a profound feeling of warmth radiate from her body. "You're gonna cost me a leg, Bellsies," she laughs, affectionate towards her cousin.
"I know," she breathes once more, her words becoming incoherent with sleep.
At her words, her sarcastic words, a low chuckle escapes Edward's lips. The sound is doused in relief.
Did you see her mother? Is she dead? Carlisle's face looks grave. They listen for a moment, trying to hear a heart beat... someone breathing, but there is nothing. Edward shakes his head.
"Bella?"
Her lips twitch into a frown. "What," she mumbles.
"Where is your mother," he askes.
"In Florida," she sighs. Then her face barely distorts in anger. "He tricked me, Edward. He watched our videos."
Harleen thinks it through while Edward grits his teeth in anger, the reminder of James coming to the forefront of his mind as he looks over his shoulder at the rapidly growing flames that are licking up the walls of the studio.
"Alice." Bella's eyes flutters and fails to open. "Alice," she calls again. "The video – he knew you, Alice, he knew where you came from," her voice drifts off weakly. "I smell gasoline," she adds quietly.
"We're gonna blow up," Harley announces.
We need to leave. "It's time to move her." Carlisle looks at Edward. Can you carry her? You must be careful not to hold her too tightly. We don't want her ribs protruding into her organs.
Edward nods his head.
"I want to sleep," Bella protests.
"You can sleep, sweetheart, I'll carry you," He tries to soothe her as he brings her gently into his arms, like a delicate soap bubble. She's more fragile than a soap bubble, he laughs internally, relaxed. "Sleep now, Bella." Harley watches as he kisses her lightly on the forehead, the blood unaffecting him in this most relief filled moments.
Bella falls limp in his arms, her eyes shut lightly, like she's in a deep slumber. He emerges from the flames of the studio with Harleen tied to his hip. She won't let Bella out of her sight. The rest of his family follow him out.
"You did good, Moneybags," Harley acknowledges his actions towards her cousin casually, still not losing perspective.
Edward glances at her and smiles. He wants to thank her also, just in private. He watches as Harley walks ahead, meeting up with Alice at the car. Emmett walks beside him.
"What was she, again," he asks while pointing to her. "I mean, before she went.." He twirls his pointer finger near his temple, quiet for 'crazy.'
Edward smiles slightly. "A clinical psychiatrist."
"Figures," Emmett murmurs.
They finally reach the sidewalk, watching Alice open the car door of the Jeep for him. He slowly lays her down in the backseat and shuts the door. He looks up through the shining sunlight, where Alice is glittering like millions of tiny facets were embedded in her skin. He notices the relief on her face also.
"Where's Jasper," he wonders, catching a glimpse of Alice's rented Mercedes still parked out front.
"He's gone back to the hotel. I'm not riding with Carlisle. Emmett and I are going to meet him there. We are going to set up a... scenario." He sees in her mind the plan. They are going to break the glass wall of one of the stair wells, saying Bella had fallen down the stairs and through the window, causing her injuries.
"Will that work," he asks as Harley watches them with confusion.
"Yes," Alice states, then sprints off in the dark shadows around the buildings with Emmett.
Carlisle is already in the driver's seat, the car starting. Edward turns to Harleen and gestures her to join him. As Carlisle pulls out with Bella laid carefully in the backseat, they climb into their rented car, a blue Cadillac. If it weren't for the pints of leaking blood, he would've joined Bella in the backseat and keep her company, but he doesn't quite trust himself yet. In a way, you can say Harley's unappetizing, toxic-filled blood is coming in handy right now. Whenever he's around her, he doesn't feel the strong urge to devour Bella's euphoric blood.
He is snapped out of his thoughts by laughter, only now realizing Harley had been talking to him. He glances at her in the passenger seat. His car stands directly behind the Jeep, following after it.
"- was crazy," Harley laughs, acting as though she wasn't just sucking her cousin's blood. "Did ya see how I handled that creep? Pow! Bam! Ima eat yer heart out!" It the becomes apparent to him that she is just trying to do what she does best, lighten the mood.
He smiles, recognizing her efforts to distract him from the guilt he feels for causing harm onto Bella. He focuses back on the road, mere inches from the Jeep's behind. He listens to her and Carlisle's loud thoughts coming from the white car.
I can't believe Edward was able to stop when Bella's blood calls to him so absolutely.
"Ha! And here you thought I was just another bubble-headed blonde bimbo! Well, the joke's on you, 'cause I'm not even a real blonde," Harleen continues, unaware of Edward's focus on Carlisle's thoughts. His eyes flicker to her, smiling slightly.
"You did amazing, Harleen. Truly," he praises, truly grateful for her help. A chuckle escapes his lips, as he is unable to keep himself from feeling a sense of relief and relaxation.
Suddenly, her eyes widen with amazement. "Oh, my God," she gasps with a slight smile. "Are you laughing? Did I blow up and die? Seriously, you can tell me. Am I seeing dead people?"
He stops laughing and shoots her a look. "I know you're intelligent, Harleen. Why do you act like an idiot," he asks, blunt and straightforward.
Harley laughs. "Break the tension? It's fun? I really am an idiot?" She grins at him innocently. "Multiple choice, Batsy, choose one or choose 'em all."
Harley stares at Edward, about to say something she knows is definitely hilarious, but she decides instead to say nothing.
Edward gives her a quick smile. "Better."
FIN