Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyers owns all characters. I just like messing with POVs.
This had to be hell. Bella lay on the ballet studio floor in front of me, bleeding, twisting in agony.
"The fire! Someone stop the fire!" she screamed.
"Carlisle! Her hand!"
"He bit her." Carlisle's voice and thoughts twisted with revulsion.
I sucked in my breath, enraged and horrified. How could I have let this happen?
I distantly heard the metallic screeching of James's death at the hands of my brothers. A part of me yearned to be with them, but my place was here. I could smell the waiting gasoline, the varnish from the destroyed wood laminate floor that would stoke James's pyre.
None of this mattered.
More potent than anything else was the smell of Bella's blood—my thirst and desire were as strong as they had ever been. Maybe stronger.
"Edward, you have to do it." Alice's voice came low and hard, distracting me from the scent.
"No!" I will not make Bella a monster. There has to be something we can do.
"There may be a chance," Carlisle said.
"What?" I begged him, eyes fixed on Bella.
"See if you can suck the venom back out. The wound is fairly clean."
"Carlisle, I… I don't know if I can do that," I whispered. Bella writhed in agony—I twisted with her.
"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."
"Edward!" She screamed, then—her melted chocolate eyes opened, searching for mine.
Our eyes met. I had no choice now but to try. I could not allow her to become a monster, like me… But if I were to do as Carlisle commanded now—to take Bella's blood into myself, to try and save her from eternal damnation—I could just as easily kill her.
I would not be able to stop feeding.
In the split second that I considered this, Bella's tortured eyes flickered with trust. Trust I did not deserve in this moment with her scent pooling with the venom in my mouth. I set my jaw, swallowed, and took her hand in both of mine.
"Now, Edward, or it will be too late," Carlisle whispered urgently.
I nodded once and bent my lips to Bella's hand, hesitating only a fraction of a second more.
"I'm sorry, love," I murmured. She wouldn't hear me. I closed my eyes and touched my lips to her hand.
Oh, God. The taste! Even better than I had imagined—and I had a good imagination. If I could still dream, this flavor would have surpassed them all. One small part of my mind wished I could still dream, so I could taste this morsel again after it ran dry… I would never forget the tang of this blood, its fiery urgency scorching my entire being with its heat, tailor made to quench my thirst.
I drank greedily, hands tightening reflexively against the source of my feast.
Morsel? Another part of my mind winced at this word choice for some reason that kept slipping away with every mouthful.
I could not stop.
So I tried to slow myself, to savor every drop before pulling more in. I could taste the venom and the adrenaline mixed with the ambrosia that was Bella.
Bella. Bella.
My eyes snapped open and found her face—pale, haggard, broken… still exquisite and perfect. Her eyes were closed, her breathing somehow still even but slow.
I took all of this in even as I continued to drink, hands clutching their prize.
I could not stop.
Bella. Not a morsel, you monster. This is Bella.
I closed my eyes again and took one last dangerously long swallow of my beloved. Her blood was free from venom, mixed with morphine now, and, impossibly, even more intoxicating. One more, the monster inside me insisted. One more swallow.
No!
I opened my eyes, released her and slid back immediately. I looked up at Carlisle, his golden eyes wide with a strange mixture of pride, fear, and awe.
Just in time, he thought. Well done, Edward.
"Edward?"
My eyes flashed to Bella.
"He's right here, Bella," Alice answered.
"Stay, Edward, stay with me…" Bella pleaded.
"I will." I could hear the strained triumph in my voice. "I'm sorry, love," I murmured again, too low for Bella to hear. Carlisle and Alice looked at me, sympathy in their eyes.
I wanted to move closer to Bella, to take her hand, cradle her face. I didn't dare. Not right now.
"Is it all out?" Carlisle asked me quietly.
"Her blood tastes clean. I can taste the morphine." I licked my lips and shuddered, half in pleasure, half in disgust as I thought of her flavor again.
"Thank you, Edward." Bella's weak voice distracted me.
"I love you," I replied. I must love you. I didn't kill you.
"I know," she breathed.
I couldn't stop my chuckle. Trust Bella to say something unexpected.
I realized then that I couldn't hear the snapping and screeching of James's demise anymore. Emmett and Jasper must be done.
"I smell gasoline," Bella said with surprise.
"It's time to move her," Carlisle said gently.
I nodded and knelt beside Bella.
"No, I want to sleep," she insisted.
I half-smiled, and gently cradled her in my arms before standing to join my family.
"You can sleep, sweetheart, I'll carry you." She laid her head against my chest and was silent. I could feel the rise and fall of her breathing, hear the weak but steady pulse of her heart. "Sleep now, Bella, love. You're safe." For now.
A/N: I have more material from EPOV for the hospital scene. If there is enough interest, I can continue, but I know this has been done over and over, so....
