Author's Note: Hi, everybody! This is a fanfic I wrote a long time ago for a contest. I actually got last place. XD But the other entries were simply breathtaking, so I really cannot complain. Here it is. I hope you guys enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, much less Edward. If I did, I'd be doing unspeakable things with my Eddie-kins. ;)
Those were the last words I thought I'd ever hear come out of Carlisle's mouth. The last words I ever wanted to hear, truly. I had to sacrifice everything I'd ever believed in, but the risk was so much greater. I could lose my love. I could lose my everything, my reason for existence.
My Bella.
I would not do it. I refused to taste, let alone drink, her blood.
But yet…I couldn't stand seeing her lying defenseless on the wooden floor of that ballet studio. Her soft brown hair cascaded along the floor, her leg bent awkwardly to the side. Her beautiful face was covered in horrible bruises and scars. Her was skin paler than usual. She was in agony.
I turned my head against the eastern wall, but the shattered pieces of the mirror reflected the frightening image in multiple angles and ways. All were as frightening, if not more, than the original.
Carlisle was working on her injuries, and I heard her moan softly in pain. I racked my brain, trying to find a way to comfort her, but I couldn't think of anything that wouldn't involve me being in close proximity to her. Carlisle repeated the dreaded plead again.
"There's no other way." He muttered, soft enough as not to disturb Bella further.
"No." I said firmly.
"The venom will reach her bloodstream soon."
I couldn't. The urge was strong to make me want to suck her blood dry. I paced back and forth across the room and placed my finger and thumb on the bridge of my nose.
"No…I can't. What if I…" I couldn't bring myself to explain the morbid scenario. It was already replaying itself so vividly in my mind.
"You won't." Carlisle replied with such certainty, that I couldn't help but consider his words. Centuries of wisdom are bound to make you ponder the possibilities.
Suddenly, Bella began to scream. Her cries were the result of desperation and pain, of the burning sensation she must've been feeling all throughout her body. Each cry was like my chest was being pierced by a blade.
"Edward. Now." Carlisle said firmly.
Bella's cries for help were my motivation. Without thinking, I crouched down on the floor, grabbed her wrist, and pierced her milky skin with my razor sharp, venom coated teeth. She tried to thrust her hand away, but I held it firmly in place. I began to extract the venom outside of her bloodstream. Luckily, the venom's sweet taste tainted, in a way, the bit of Bella's blood I was consuming. Her blood was sweet, its taste was intoxicating. It was better than anything I'd ever tasted before. Bella's cries died out soon after I'd begun to drink. The venom had only reached so far. I didn't want to stop drinking, but once I could taste her blood purely I pulled myself away from her wrist and stepped back before I could do something I'd regret even further.
