Soft footsteps outside the tent alerted me. A snap as a twig broke underfoot. Slow, deliberate sounds that were meant for me to hear. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stiffen. She was here, and she was making sure I knew it, too.

Where's Seth? I strained my pitiful human hearing for the comforting sound of his breathing, hoping he'd escaped, but at the same time not wanting to be alone. It was selfish, but I couldn't help it. At least I could be sure Edward was safe. It had taken a lot of time, effort, and even more willpower than I'd thought I was capable of, but I had finally convinced him that helping protect his family was of the highest priority, and if Victoria was looking for me she would probably expect to find me with him. He had grudgingly agreed, only on the condition that Seth was to stay and protect me should anything go wrong (Jacob was a definite no-no), and I had assured him it wouldn't. Then he had held me close and whispered in my ear that he loved me and that if I were to die he would never forgive himself. "Edward," I'd said firmly, only slightly out of breath from his possessive kiss. "That's not going to happen." Oh, if only I had been right.

Edward, where are you?

A low growl that was unmistakably werewolf jolted me from my reminiscent thoughts and my heart leapt to my throat. Seth. He was still out there. I swallowed hard and unzipped the tent, ignoring my shaky hands.

The scene that greeted me outside was devastating. And it was all my fault.

Flaming orange hair was the first thing I saw, followed by the cat-like face and stance of Victoria, her black eyes drinking in my image hungrily, lips curling over her teeth in a terrifying smile. Somehow, she had guessed I wasn't with Edward, and had been right. Accompanying her was another, younger male vampire, blonde with the conspicuous red eyes of a newly-born vampire bright in his face. The way he angled himself in front of her, blocking her from Seth protectively, made me sure he was her "new" mate.

Seth, copying the new-born, moved his body in front of me, pressing me back me against the cliff face and let out a guttural snarl, his hackles raised. Vitoria's smile grew wider and her eyes never left mine.

"Riley, kill the dog."

The shock of her voice was completely unexpected. I had been expecting a strong, deep growl, one that would have matched her appearance, not the soprano harmony that reached my ears. Regardless, the short sentence was executed with menace, and Riley without so much as a second glance stalked towards Seth.

Tears suddenly sprang into my eyes. I couldn't do this to Seth. He was nothing more than a gangly fifteen year old kid! Biting back the fear and panic I let my hand curl around a sharp rock, squeezing it until it broke the surface of my skin. With a wince I felt the blood seep out of my palm. And that was all it took.

Completely distracted by my scent Riley instinctively propelled himself towards me, faster than my eyes could follow. But Seth, in his huge sandy wolf form, dove on him and together they tumbled deeper into the forest, a frenzy of teeth and claws.

Victoria was coming for me now, I could see it in her burning eyes. The desire to at last kill me emanated from her so forcefully it was almost a physical presence. At least it would be quick, I could be safe in the knowledge of that. Edward would be running to me now, realising Victoria wasn't with the others attacking his family. She could not afford to waste time the way James had. I would die under her hand, but Charlie and Renee would never know. They couldn't know. Maybe my body wouldn't even be recovered for the funeral. Thinking about Renee crying twisted my heart. Perhaps Charlie would, too. But none of the vampires. For them it was impossible.

Edward... He would go to the Volturi. I knew he would, despite telling him not to. Time and time again he had reminded me that life, for him, without me, was no life at all. Impossible to believe, but inescapably true - he would kill himself.

Suddenly there was a sharp sense of being airborne, and then I smashed into the rocky ground hard. Gasping I twisted around in time to see Victoria dive at me again, this time throwing me at the cliff face. My spine bent with a sickening snap over a rocky outcrop and I fell to the ground in a pathetic mess. Something warm and sticky began trickling its way through my hair and from where I had hit my back downwards was completely numb. My spine is broken, I thought with a helpless incredulity.

Victoria stood over me, victory bright in her blazing eyes. For a tiny moment I saw them flicker away from my face, hearing something I could not. It must be Edward! And then they were back on me again.

Gathering all of my remaining strength so I was sure he could hear me, I cried, "I love you Edward!" sighing as my voice cracked on his name.

There was a stab of brief, blinding white pain, and then nothing.