I stared at the carnage that was once my best friend. I stared at the wreck of blood and scattered parts. I stared at the fires that enveloped his body. I wasn't wrecked with sobs like Alice. I wasn't turning away like Esme and Rosalie. I wasn't burying my head in someone's hair like Edward and Emmett. I wasn't cradling someone like Carlisle. I watched him burn. I watched the flames lick his body with morbid fascination.
The only person who had no ulterior motives, the only one who just loved me for being me, was burning away into nothing. I couldn't fight; I couldn't save him even if I wanted to. I was chained and bound. I was the next to burn.
This is what happens when you face the Volturi. This is what happens when you become too powerful to compete with them. I didn't look up to see the joy on Caius's face or the sorrow on Aro's. I didn't look up to see Marcus's indifferent face. I didn't care what they thought. I didn't feel like throwing myself onto the flames, I didn't feel like avenging him. I just watched him burn with no emotions. There was going to be compassion for me. Compassion was letting me burn.
We had offered ourselves up, Jasper and I. As long as no one else was hurt we would burn with no qualms. We would not fight. We would have won – but at what price? We were devastating Alice and Edward, I felt him reach out to me once more but I ignored his hand. I was bound and chained and being pulled towards the executioners block.
At least we die while still in the good light of there eyes. We were martyrs. We were the tragic heroes. Not the traitorous fiends we really were.
We were never just friends. I love Edward. Edward could have been someone I was eternally happy with. If Jasper wasn't in the picture. We burned together, dead on the same stone like a Romeo and Juliet of the fabled world. Is it not disgusting how things are when you scratch the surface? Would Alice be weeping her heart out for a man who cheated on her with her best friend? Would Edward be reaching for me if he knew I found more pleasure in another man? Would our family be crying our names if they really knew what we were?
Somehow I doubt it.
I stepped up to the block of stone where I knew I was going to meet my fate. I looked one last time at the charred remains of my lover and friend. And I never looked back.
I was instructed to lie down. And so I did. I felt a throbbing pain in my neck as the blade crashed down. I heard a strangled scream of pain from Edward. I made no noise. Pain floated in and out of my body, with what was left of my strength I grabbed what was left of his hand. And then the fire's ignited. It burned slowly, punishingly. I didn't make a noise but thought of my afterlife.
I awoke in soft, warm arms. There were familiar and comforting. They were my lovers arms. I turned and kissed him, recognizing the soft, full lips that connected with mine.
And here we were happy.