Chapters 24- Epilogue- Britta
Characters InvolvedBella
Edward
Victoria
Riley
Jacob
Carlisle
Esme
Alice
Jasper
Rosalie
Emmett
Seth
Sam
Leah
The Wolf Pack
Bree
Jane
Billy Black
Quil
Embry
Charlie
Renee
Phil
PlacesThe Tent
The Clearing
The cliff
La Push
The Meadow
The Cullen House
Bella's House
24. Snap Decision
Bella and Edward sit in the tent as the fight begins. Bella sulks feeling the weight of Jacob's kiss, and what it will mean for her and Edward. Edward finds out about the kiss, remarking that Jacob fights dirty, but does not blame her for what happened. Edward understands that when he left her, Jacob was the one to pick up the pieces; He understands that she loves Jacob. Bella tries her hardest to deny it, highlighting that she loves Edward more. She becomes angry, wishing that Edward would stop being so self sacrificing and fight for her. Bella throws herself at Edward, and Edward calms her saying that they will try, but just not as a reaction to Jacob Black's taunts.
The fight carries on around them, and Bella listens as Edward gives commentary.
Suddenly Edward rips out of the tent, and tells Seth to run. Edward crouches in front of her defensively; Victoria is coming for Bella. Victoria leads Riley to them, before commanding him to attack. Edward tries to dissuade Riley by explaining that Victoria is simply using him. As Riley attacks, Seth jumps in to fight him. Meanwhile, Edward and Victoria fight. When Seth dismembers Riley, Victoria realizes that she is alone, and backs away to escape. Edward is far quicker than she is; he catches her, and beheads her.
25. MirrorBella watches as Edward dismembers Victoria's body. Edward seems to be avoiding Bella as he and Seth busy themselves with gathering Victoria and Riley's remains to burn them. Afterwards, Edward turns to Bella hesitantly, imploring her to drop the rock she is holding. Bella realizes that Edward thinks that she is afraid of him, and rushes forward into his embrace. Bella and Edward revel in the fact that they survived for a moment, until both Edward and Seth become wracked by a spasm. Bella screams in terror, and grasps Edward's face between her clammy hands. Edward tells her that they are going to be fine. Edward gasps: "Sam--help him!" Bella realizes that Edward is speaking of a crisis happening with the wolf pack. He lifts Bella into his arms, and orders Seth to go home. Bella wonders what's happening, and Edward alerts her that the Volturi have decided to intervene. Edward tells her that the Volturi haven't come to claim them, just to assess the situation. Bella thinks back to Seth's anguished howls, and realizes that Edward has deflected her first questions. Edward tells her that Leah found a newborn who was hiding, and engaged him alone. Bella wonders who was hurt if it wasn't Leah. Edward tells her that it was Jacob who is hurt. Unable to cope with the news, Bella faints.
Bella awakens to Edward's anxious voice. Carlisle instructs Edward to let her rest. Bella continues to worry herself over Jacob's condition, but Edward tells her that Jacob is healing and will be fine. Bella notices that there are eight vampires in the clearing. She observes a newborn curled into a ball near the flames. Jane and the other Volturi members appear, eying the newborn with confusion. Edward explains that the newborn has surrendered, and Jane informs them that 'there are no options for those who break the rules." Jane inquires how many vampires completed the 'army.' Carlisle explains that there were eighteen newborns, created by Victoria. Jane asks who dealt with Victoria, and Edward answers affirmatively. After torturing the newborn with her glare, Jane asks for her name. The newborn answers that her name is Bree, and that she never knew her creator. Bree further explains that Riley commanded them to destroy the vampires with the strange yellow eyes, and that the first person to find Bella could have her; Riley didn't help them as he promised, and Bree wanted to runaway, until Carlisle promised that they wouldn't hurt her if she stopped fighting. Jane informs her that it wasn't Carlisle's place to save her life.
Edward tells Jane that Victoria held a grudge against Bella, and Jane laughs, remarking that Bella seems to bring out strong reactions in their kind.
Jane, believing to be finished there, commands Felix to to kill Bree. Edward and Carlisle try to take responsibility for Bree, explaining that they are willing to teach her the rules. But Jane declines, reminding them that they do not give second chances. She then remarks that Caius would be interested to know that Bella is still a human. Alice alerts her that the date to turn Bella is already set, and that perhaps they would come to visit them in the next few months.
Jane commands Felix to continue with his instructions, and he dismembers Bree. Afterwards, Jane, Felix and the rest of their members leave.
26. Ethics
Bella longs to go to La Push to be with Jacob while he is ailing. Alice does everything she can to distract Bella from going to La Push, by playing dress up. Alice explains that Bella needs to do everything she can to keep Charlie in the dark for his safety, and because Charlie had gone to La push and saw Edward and Carlisle had arrived back from their trip; She suggests that Bella should go home and talk to Charlie. Before Bella leaves, Alice asks if she would like to talk, as she must be traumatized after going through everything over the last twenty-four hours.
Bella asks if she will be like Bree when she becomes a newborn. Alice says that everyone takes to it differently, but that she will react something like that. She promises that it will pass in a few years or less, but because she has never observed someone choose to become a vampire, it might be interesting to see how it affects Bella. Bella wonders how Alice is able to see her future, when no other powers seems to work against her? Alice explains that Jasper's power works on her because it affects the physical body, whereas Edward, Jane and other members of the Volturi have powers that affect the mind. Bella's is safe within her mind, and therefore no one can reach her there.
Bella decides to go home and deal with Charlie. Once home, Charlie inquires whether Bella heard about Jacob, and urges her against riding motorcycles, as he believes this is the cause of Jacob's injuries. Bella tells him that she intends to see Jacob after dinner. She asks if Jacob was awake when Charlie went to La Push. Charlie replied that Jacob was awake, and that his right leg and arm is broken, and that his entire right side was crushed because of the motorcycle accident. He also said that Jacob was well enough to tease him about Bella's choosing Edward over him. Before Bella can leave for La Push, Charlie asks a favor of her. He explains that he has this feeling that he is about to lose her, and asks if she can tell him before she does anything major so that he can hug her and say goodbye. Bella promises that she will.
Bella enters Jacob's room, and he looks at her intently for a while before changing his expression into a cocky smile. They discuss the fight for a moment, before it turns serious, and Jacob asks Bella how she is. He wonders whether Edward was mean to her after the kiss. Bella tells him that Edward wasn't mean, even though she wishes that he was, and that Edward only desires her happiness. Jacob becomes angry that Edward didn't give her an ultimatum, and believes that Edward is better at manipulating her than he thought. Bella tells him that Edward isn't manipulating her. Jacob believes that his job is accomplished because she knows now that she loves him. He understands that Bella choosing him was a long-shot. Bella wishes that he would get angry at her instead of understanding, so Jake plays into it by reprimanding her for kissing him. Bella reacts to it seriously regretting her actions. Jacob stops as he observes her tears, and tries to stand, but Bella pushes him back. He puts his hands around her waist and pulls her beside him. Jacob promises that he will be a good friend, and that though it may be a long distance friendship, he refuses to 'cut Bella in half' anymore. He continues to explain that he is right for her, and it would have been effortless for them to be together if the world contained no monsters. Bella ponders to herself that Jacob is right; she knows that they would've been happy, and that in the natural world, they were soul mates. Jacob says that Edward is like a drug to her, and that he himself would have been more healthy for her, like the sun. Bella explains that the worst part is, she has seen their whole life, and wants so badly to make him happy, but she just can't and it kills her. She always knew that she never had a choice. They discuss the wedding and how Bella will be turned afterwards. Jacob tells her that he'll always be the spare option. Bella asks id she should come back and see him, and Jacob replies that he will think it through and get back to her. They give each other their love, and Bella leaves.
27. NeedsAs Bella returns home, she becomes overwhelmed with emotion over the choice she's made. It isn't long before Alice alerts Edward of Bella's state, and he comes to her aid. She becomes angry with herself, as a smaller part of her wishes that it were Jacob's arms around her. She cries in Edward's arms for a moment before trying to muster up some strength to put on for Charlie. Bella is strong enough to go home and face Charlie and his questioning, but can hardly restrain herself as she falls apart when she gets to her bedroom. She cries in Edward's arms for the entire night, the weight of her decision, and all that she's seen overwhelming her. The next morning, Edward is grieved, and asks her if she made the right decision, because he has never seen her in so much pain. Bella replies that she has, and he wonders how that's possible if it hurts her so much. But Bella has known a worse pain, and she tells him that she cannot live without him. Bella asks Edward to give her the copy of Wuthering Heights. She explains that like Cathy's love for Heathcliff, she cannot live without Edward. Edward says that like Heathcliff, he 'cannot live without his soul." Bella explains that she knows that she has made a mess of things, but she knows what she needs to do. Bella and Edward go to see Alice.
Alice awaits them excitedly. Bella reminds Alice that she only has until August thirteenth to prepare for the wedding, and that if she goes overboard she will never speak to her again. Alice takes Bella to see the wedding dress that she had especially made for her months in advance. Alice shoos Edward out of the room, and reveals the eighteenth century themed dress to Bella. Bella agrees that it is perfect, just right for Edward. Alice is overjoyed, and rushes to find Esme to continue with her plans. Edward and Bella go to their Meadow.
Edward questions Bella about the date of their wedding, explaining that Esme is three years older than Carlisle. Bella responds that she has already made her choice and wants to start living it.
Edward grabs her to his chest and wonders why Bella would give Alice free reign. Bella explains that she wants to give Charlie, Renee and Phil the chance to say goodbye to her. She wants all of her family and friends to be apart of her decision as best as she can. Edward holds her face in his hands and stares intently before saying that the deal's off. He realizes that his ways have only hurt her, and wants to try Bella's way; He considers that if Carlisle gave Bella enough morphine, it wouldn't be so bad to try. They kiss each other for a while in the grass, before Bella stops him. Edward asks why she stopped, and tells her that he wants her. Bella says that this is very important to her, and she want's to do it right. Bella will tie herself to Edward in every human way possible before turning. The rain starts, Edward takes the ring out of his pocket, and slides it on Bella's finger.
Epilogue: ChoiceJacob has an annoying conversation with Leah. Leah tells him that he has no idea how his feelings are affecting the rest of the pack. His feelings have her grieving over Bella as if she's in love with her. She implores him to get over her and move on. Leah continues to taunt Jacob saying that Edward will probably kill Bella anyway. Jacob tries to control his reaction to her, and says that he and the rest of the pack feel the same way about how she views Sam. Angry, Leah spits at Jacob, and ran for the trees.
Jacob ponders Bella's decision, believing that she is giving up everything. But he had to believe that Bella would survive. Jacob knows that Bella will be different, her very scent taunting him to kill her. Upon returning home, Billy begins to ramble and Jacob tries to tune him out by eating dinner as fast as he can. Billy give Jacob a letter that was sent to him: an invitation to Edward and Bella's wedding. Attached is a note from Edward which states that he knows that he's breaking the rules by sending Jacob an invitation because Bella didn't want him to feel obligated. He says that if things had gone the other way, he would've wanted the choice. Edward promises to take care of Bella, and he thanks Jacob for everything. Jacob's hands clamp down on the wood of the table so hard that it threatens to break, before he removes them. Disheartened, Jacob phases into a wolf, and runs into the woods demanding that the wolf pack leave him alone. He runs until he can only hear the environment around him, and he lets his former self disappear behind him.
Quotes"When I left you, Bella, I left you bleeding. Jacob was the one to stitch you back up again...I can't blame either of you for something i made necessary. I may gain forgiveness, but that doesn't let me escape the consequences" (Edward, Chapter 24, 309).
"We don't make exceptions...and we don't give second chances. It's bad for our reputation" (Jane, Chapter 25, 334).
"I'm exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us---comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your life would have taken...If the world was the way it was supposed to be, if there were no monsters and no magic" (Jacob, Chapter 26, 346).
"I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!" (Edward, Chapter 27, 353).
"If the silence in my head lasted, I would never go back. I wouldn't be the first one to choose this form over the other. Maybe, if i ran far enough away, I would never have to hear again...I pushed my legs faster, letting Jacob Black disappear behind me" (Jacob, Epilogue, 363).
Questions
1. Did you like how Stephenie seemed to tie most of the ends in this novel?
2. Did you agree with the 'games' Edward and Jacob played to win Bella?
3. Who's side were you on?
4. Supposing the events in Breaking Dawn haven't occurred yet, How would you have believed Bella would turn? What powers would she have? How would she blend into the Cullen Family?
5. Do you agree with how Jane dealt with Bree? Should she have shown mercy?
6. Did you sympathize a bit with Victoria and her plight? Do you believe she truly loved James that much?
7. Do you believe that Edward and Bella's relationship is a healthy one, or full of flaws? Are they truly in love with one another, or just obsessed?
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