PREFACE: ULTIMATUM
I could still remember the sensation of sweat beading on my forehead and I imagined that, if it were possible, my heart would be breaking my ribs in its attempt to beat out of my chest. I subconsciously placed my hand over my still breast and tried not to look at who the vicious coven across from me was holding captive. I tried not to breathe and I tried to turn back my instinctive urge to massacre the weak creature held between their marble arms.
I tried.
"Bells," My father murmured, and strained against the cage of arms around him.
My silent heart ached. "Dad--" I extended my arm weakly and made the mistake of breathing. Immediately a fierceness bloomed in my chest and a feral growl built in my throat. A feeling like adrenaline threatened to burst my veins as my vision clouded and I could see only blood; the blood I would spill. The blood of my father.
"Bella?" Charlie's voice raised with dismay and I fell to my knees, grasping both sides of my head and fighting the blood lust with all the control I had. All the while, I was watched by the cloaked monsters before me, silent and judgmental.
"Choose." They ordered. "Choose."
I whimpered, struggling to clear my mind so I could fight them with the newborn strength that was both my blessing and my curse.
"Choose." Again that hollow, ringing order.
I snarled but did not spare them a glance.
But I was forced to look up when I heard the ringing sound of a blade being drawn. My dark eyes widened as I saw a pale hand press the dagger into my father's neck. My raptor vision saw the knife quiver against his pulse. "No," I gasped. "No."
One of them chuckled humorlessly. "Yes."
They pressed the blade beneath his skin and drops of ruby coursed down his unshaven neck and he whispered my name.
Edward wasn't here to drag me away to safety, he wasn't here to save me from myself, and he wasn't here to save my father from me.
The scent had me, and it was impossible to resist.