The plane started its descent into the Phoenix airport. Bella is inside those walls, waiting by the plane's gate. Only a few more minutes and we would be together again, never to be parted, if she'd take me after what I put her through. I had done this; I put her through more danger than a person should be put through in an entire lifetime. The nightmares that were made of my kind now became her reality.
Edward, it was Carlisle's "voice." He continued when I raised my chin slightly in response. Edward, try and relax. I was confused by his suggestion, I thought I was doing well in hiding my emotions, I looked at him perplexed. Your hands, Edward. All my anxiety, impatience, and all the other emotions running through my mind were being forced onto the armrests. I had completely dismembered the head of the rest. Quickly, far too fast for human eyes to notice, I ripped the hand rests on both sides completely off, as though they were never there to begin with.
The plane jerked as the wheels made contact with the runway. I was getting more and more anxious by the second now. I searched for the thoughts of Alice and Jasper. I was confused once I found Alice's, she was reciting Hammurabi's Code, in what seemed to be...Latin?...if I wasn't mistaken. Why was she trying to keep me out or her thoughts? Jasper wasn't as practiced as Alice was at this sort of thing; I quickly skimmed through the minds until I reached the familiar "voice" of Jasper's thoughts. He was trying also, without much success. He, unlike Alice, wasn't so creative when it came to blocking my powers. Jasper had just repeated the national anthem over and over again. I smiled amused, but it quickly vanished as I grew frustrated as to why they were being so secretive with their thoughts. I kept tabs on Jasper as the airplane attendants helped the passengers retrieve their items from the cabinets above the seats. Then what I was waiting for happened--Jasper slipped up. But it was far from what I wanted to hear.
What are we going to do? How will he react? We lost her; he's going to rip us apart personally, himself.
I hissed under my breath, but it was very much audible to the people around me. I stood up quickly, ignoring the thoughts around myself of irritated and shocked passengers, and pushed my way out of the plane. I could hear Carlisle apologizing to all the people I rudely shoved aside in my haste to get to my siblings. Edward! Carlisle warned me from behind, but I was beyond any reasoning. They lost her, they lost my Bella. How do two vampires, one of whom can see the future, lose a human? Particularly a human such as Bella? She can't lie to save her life, I laughed without humor at the irony, she had lied now to end it. Why? Why would she do that? And how? How did Alice surpass this? I could see them now, Jasper looking as guilty as ever, his expression was pained and filled with sorrow. Edward I'm so sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Jasper's thoughts were apologizing without avail. "Save it." I hissed, not loud enough for human ears, but Jasper heard it. I looked over to Alice, she was rubbing her temples, trying to see; she was reprimanding herself for not seeing Bella's plan.
"How did you lose her?" I roared.
"Edward, I-. " I cut her off.
"Where is she?"
"The room with all the mirrors, I know where it is now."
"Well? Where?!" I was furious; I very rarely used this tone with my favorite sister, but I had no time to apologize. Bella, my Bella was in danger.
"Edward, she told me to give this to her mom, I presume now, she wrote it to you." Alice held up a folded piece of hotel stationery paper. Like lightening, I grabbed the paper and looked it over, it was addressed to me as Alice predicted. It read:
Edward,
I love you. I am so sorry. He has my mom, and I have to try. I know it may not work. I am so very, very sorry.
Don't be angry with Alice and Jasper. If I get away from them it will be a miracle. Tell them thank you for me. Alice especially, please.
And please, please don't come after him. That's what he wants, I think. I can't bear it if anyone has to be hurt because of me, especially you. Please, this is the only thing I can ask you now. For me.
I love you. Forgive me.
Bella
I crumpled the note in my hand. Bella; how could I let this happen? I should have gone with her. I shouldn't have stayed in Forks. I should have been with her; I would have protected her better if she was by my side. It was my fault she is risking her life to protect me, to protect all of us; vampires. I scoffed, she was the one needing the protection, my accident prone, fragile human Bella--she could make pillows dangerous. But instead of letting us protect her, she felt she needed to protect us. How absurd! But she was gone; she was already on her way to meet the most dangerous creature she could encounter in her life. My kind, but yet not the same, my family was different, but we were all monsters all the same.
I had to find her. I could not let her face James, and worse; death.
"Where is she?" I demanded again, my voice seething with frustration, anger, and to my dislike; fear. Fear of losing her, losing the meaning of my worthless existence.
"She is in the mirror-the ballet studio, Cactus Street, it's in Scottsdale." Alice replied, despair thick in her voice, but I didn't have time to deal with the emotions of my family. Bella was in danger, her life, her existence, and her time on this earth diminishing with every passing moment.
Moving at an inhuman speed, I raced out of the airport, ignoring the questioning thoughts and skeptical glares of the security guards. Outside, I scanned the lot of cars outstretched around me. A Ferrari was parked two-hundred yards away; I was there in less than a second, inside in less than a sixty-fourth of a second and hot wiring the car in less than a one-hundredth of one.
The sports car couldn't go fast enough, even when speeding through stop lights, and swerving in between cars. What if I'm too late? What if when I get there, James had already finished her off? Bella, there, but not truly there, her lifeless body drained of her deliciously scented blood--no, Bella would not be dead, I'll get there before he lays one cold finger on her. The mere thought of Bella, defenseless against such a dangerous creature as James, how she would look as James would saunter toward her, his eyes black and cold; the touch of his frozen hand on her warm body, her beautiful deep brown eyes, wide with terror. If I were to be late, how would I go on with my life? Knowing the reason why I go through this monotone existence is dead, cold...lifeless? I grimaced at the thought.
But I wouldn't, I wouldn't be able to move on. I would rather die than--and that's it. I would die if Bella was no longer on this earth, I can't live in a world were she doesn't exist. Em and Jazz would never help me, they'd break Esme's heart if they did, and I did not want to think about what I'd do to her. Carlisle would be disappointed, and upset. I was his first "son" in our coven we call a family. Alice, Alice already knows what will happen; hopefully she can cope with my absence, and help everyone else through it. Rosalie will probably be grateful for my death--one less Vampire to compete for attention with, and with Bella's death, she can no longer be jealous of her, for she was the one who won my affections and not her. But how could I do it? I would need another vampire to help me...I could provoke the Italian Coven, The Volturi, and you don't mess with them unless you want a death wish, which is exactly what I have.
I was now on Cactus, screeching as I slowed very little around the turn. I could see the studio now, and smell Bella in the air outside. As I got closer a scream-that would have stopped my heart if it had not been dormant for ninety years-rang in my ears, an ear splitting growl rumbled in my chest, escaping through my bared teeth. I was out of the car before it fully stopped. I could smell James' scent in the air, but I concentrated on Bella's. I crashed through the front doors, not bothering to even open them, I could smell Bella more strongly than ever; she was bleeding. James had touched her, he hurt her. The growling stopped altogether and turned into a snarl, an enraged snarl. If I wasn't so concentrated on saving the reason for my life, my existence, I would have been surprised at the intensity of it. And then it grew louder and stronger as I saw James standing over Bella, her blood caked into her clothing, his eyes wild with thirst. I sprang at him before my brain fully digested the scene. James' thirst was too overpowering that he didn't realize my presence in the room. My body slammed into his, easily throwing him into the mirrors across the room. The mirror glass shattered under the strength of the blow I delivered.
He snarled at the fact he was caught off guard. I replied with a snarl of my own, I sank into a crouch, only to leap at James milliseconds later. I caught him before he could move out of my line of flight. I ripped off his arm with a deafening crunch. He cried out in pain, and snapped at my throat. At this time I heard the thoughts of Emmett and Jasper outside of the studio's doors, they were quickly approaching. Emmett was excited for the fight, but as Jasper was too, he was also worried for Bella's life. They were at my side in a second reaching for James' half dismembered body.
I let them have James, completely tuning them out. Bella was the only thing on my mind. She was lifeless, he leg was bent in an unpleasant direction, there was a pool of blood around her head, matting her hair, and staining her white blouse. I heard Carlisle and the rest of my family entering the building.
Bella's breathing grew shallow, and her heart beat was growing fainter with the passing time. She was dying.
"Oh no, Bella, no!" I ran to her side, not sure of what to do. I'd never felt so helpless, so weak. She was fading quicklly, her breathing in shallow gasps now.
"Bella, please! Bella, listen to me, please, please, Bella, please!" Tearless sobs convulsed my body. My Bella, my love, she was dying before my eyes.
"Carlisle!" I shouted, desperate for her pain to go away. Her heartbeat grew even shallower, "Bella, Bella, no, oh please, no, no!" I longed for her loud erratic heartbeat to fill my ears with its delicious reverberation. I longed for her cheeks to blush scarlet, for her curious brown eyes to stare back up at me. Her voice, her lovely voice, to tell me she loved me, to hear her say my name. Carlisle began attending Bella's broken body; I watched my Bella, hoping, praying that she would make it through this. She shouldn't have to pay for my mistakes. Suddenly Bella cried out, gasping.
"Bella!" I cried, oh thank god. She was coming around.
"She's lost some blood, but the head wound isn't deep," Carlisle explained. My poor Bella. How could this have happened to her? I hissed internally at myself, you happened to her. Carlisle spoke once again, "Watch out for her leg, it's broken." I howled with rage, I was beginning to regret not taking care of James myself, imagining how I would destroy the worthless, pathetic, monster he was. Then Carlisle lightly nudged her ribs, and gave another diagnosis, "some ribs, too, I think." My sobs were quieter than before. How could I let this happen? Bella's silent raspy voice broke through my conscience as she spoke my name.
"Bella, you're going to be fine. Can you hear me, Bella? I love you." Could she believe that I do? Even through all that I put her through? That I still loved her?
"Edward," She spoke once again, I sighed at the weakness of it.
"Yes, I'm here."
"It hurts," she whimpered, I felt a stab at my unbeating heart.
"I know, Bella, I know,"-I turned to Carlisle, agonized,--"can't you do anything?" He nodded at me, he turned to Alice; I didn't realize her presence until now. "My bag, please...hold your breath, Alice, it will help." Alice obeyed immediately. My angel's voice spoke out again, groaning, "Alice?"
"She's here, she knew where to find you." I could see she was struggling for her words, another stab at my dead heart.
"My hand hurts," she spoke.
"I know, Bella. Carlisle will give you something, it will stop." I promised.
"My hand is burning!" she shrieked. Her voice just above a whisper now was at a high pitched shrill, I was completely frazzled...burning? Why would she be burning? "Bella?" I asked; I was terrified.
She shrieked again, "The fire! Someone stop the fire!" I looked down at the hand that was her complaint. There was an odd shaped gash on it. I froze with realization...they were bite marks.
"Carlisle, her hand!"
"He bit her." Carlisle's calm mask broke, he was shocked. I knew this, but hearing it out loud made me catch a sharp intake of breath.
"Edward, you have to do it." It was Alice. What was she saying?
"No!" I bellowed.
My Bella's voice was weak again, "Alice," she moaned.
"There may be a chance," Carlisle spoke, his calm mask back.
"What?" I was desperate; I would not take her soul.
But his suggestion was far worse, "See if you can suck the venom back out. The wound is fairly clean." I knew I couldn't. I wasn't strong enough, I'd kill her. I would suck her dry.
Alice spoke up again, "Will that work?"
"I don't know," Carlisle said, and added, "but we have to hurry."
"Carlisle, I ..." I hesitated, I could't do it. The monster in me was rejoicing at the thought of my cold lips around her fresh wound, my teeth cutting through her skin, like butter. I shied away from the monster's joy.
Carlisle interrupted my monster's thoughts, "It's your decision, Edward, either way. I can't help you. I have to get this bleeding stopped here if you're going to be taking blood from her hand."
Bella writhed in agony beside me, she screamed out my name.
"Alice, get something to brace her leg!" Carlisle ordered, bent over Bella, trying to stop the blood spilling from her head. "Edward, you must do it now, or it will be too late."
I looked down at my Bella; she was looking up at me, her deep chocolate brown eyes filled with fear, and agony. I made my decision, I could do this, I would never harm her, and I promised her I never would. My jaw tightened, I held her hand, locking it in place, lowering my cool lips onto her skin.
My teeth, filling the same marks James had left, cut through her skin with out effort. The monster inside me was thrilled and rejoiced at the taste of Bella's blood. But it tasted wrong mixed in with James' venom. I was slowly losing control, the monster within me slowly taking over my body. I started to taste the morphine Carlisle injected her with. I tried to pull away then, but I couldn't, the monster's joyous voice grew more prominent. Bella, I screamed internally, this is my Bella. I forced myself to think of her cold lifeless body. I was repulsed by it. The monster was now faded into the farthest corner of my mind. Triumphantly, I pulled back from Bella's hand. I had to keep focus to keep the monster from returning. I stared down at my fragile Bella, concentrating hard.
"Edward," Bella's voice was barely audible.
"He's right here, Bella." I didn't know who said it. I was still looking down at Bella's feeble body.
"Stay, Edward, stay with me..." she whispered.
"I will." My voice was strained but still triumphant.
She sighed; she was dulling, sleepiness taking over her body.
"Is it all out?" Carlisle asked me.
I spoke, not looking away from Bella, "Her blood tastes clean," I spoke quietly, "I can taste the morphine."
"Bella?" Carlisle called to her.
"Mmmmm?" She tried to speak.
"Is the fire gone?"
"Yes," she sighed. "Thank you, Edward."
I smiled down at her. "I love you," I said.
"I know," she breathed, she was tired.
I laughed quietly, it was weak, but I was relieved, she would live.
"Bella?" Carlisle asked again.
Bella's mouth turned into a frown, "What?"
"Where is your mother?"
"In Florida," she sighed. "He tricked me, Edward. He watched our videos." She tried to sound outraged, but she was too weak to make it sound strong.
"Alice." She tried to open her eyes. "Alice, the video-he knew you, Alice, he knew where you came from." I looked at her confused, James knew Alice? Is this why she was implicated? I looked over to Alice, her face mirrored mine. Bella spoke again, this time surprised. "I smell gasoline."
"It's time to move her," Carlisle said.
"No, I want to sleep," Bella complained.
"You can sleep, sweetheart, I'll carry you." I said soothingly. I gently slid my arms under her frail body, avoiding any unneeded pressure to her broken leg.
"Sleep now, Bella." I whispered into her ear, she slowly faded into unconsciousness.
