Okay, so I was thinking that if I posted another chapter, I could get a LITTLE more resonse out of you guys! C'mon, how hard is it to press the little blue button and type a few words? RomanGirl, my on and only reviewer, YOU ROCK! Now, on with the story.
Oh, wait...DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything that has to do with Twilight, New Moon, or Eclipse (oh, if wishes were hot vampire guys...). Nor do I own the song Innocence Maintained by Jewel.

Chapter 2: Innocence Maintained

Ophelia drowned in the water crushed by her own weight

And Hitler love little blue-eyed boys and it drove him to hate

Birds always grow silent before the night descends

'Cause nature has a funny way of breaking what does not bend

We've made houses for hatred

It's time we made a place where people's souls may be seen and be saved

Be careful with each other, these fragile flames

For innocence can be lost

It needs to be maintained

Laurent was still speaking, the bored tone back. "I suppose she'll be angry, all the same."

"Then why not wait for her?" I wanted to die, but at the same time I clung to life desperately.

He grinned indulgently. "Well, you've caught me at a bad time, Bella," he swept his arm, gesturing around the meadow. "I didn't come to this place on Victoria's mission—I was hunting. I'm quite thirsty, and you do smell…simply mouthwatering."

"Threaten him." Edward's voice was so real I had to stop myself from looking around for my angel and savior.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather all me courage. "He'll know it was you. You won't get away with this." I winced inwardly, knowing quite well how pathetic I sounded threatening a powerful vampire thousands of times stronger than I.

"And why not?" Laurent's smile grew even wider, showing his razor-sharp canine teeth. "The scent will wash away with the next rain. No one will find your body—you'll simply disappear like so, so many other humans. There's on reason for Edward to think of me, if he cares enough to investigate." Another blow; I stumbled back. Laurent's smile turned softer. "This is nothing personal, let me assure you, Bella. Just thirst."

"Beg." The voice was distorted with pain. Maybe, just maybe if he was still in my head, he did care. Please let him care.

"Please," I was surprised at how even my voice sounded. Edward gave me strength.

"Look at it this way, Bella," Laurent said, shaking his head. "You're very lucky I was the one to find you."

He followed me as I stumbled another small step backwards. "Am I?" My courage evaporated, the words made absolutely no sound.

But he, of course, still heard me. "Yes. I'll be very quick. You won't feel a thing, I promise. Oh, I'll lie to Victoria about it later, just to placate her. But if you knew what she had planned for you, Bella," He shook he dark head again, his black hair falling seductively over his crimson eyes. "I swear you'd be thanking me for this."

A slight breeze blew past me towards him. He lifted his chin and sniffed the air. "Mouthwatering."

I was frozen and all of the sudden desperate to live. After all, if I died, there was no chance whatsoever of me seeing Edward again. "Please don't."

Laurent smiled piteously but sauntered right up to me. His marble face angled towards my neck and his hard, frigid hands pulled me to him by my shoulders. "Like I said, Bella. You'll be thanking me that it was I that found you here and not her." Knowing that fighting would only make it worse, I stayed limp in his arms. I could feel his sharp teeth on my neck as he smiled again. "Then again, you won't. Because you'll be dead."

Edward, I love you. Edward, I'm sorry. I love you.

As I felt the monster's fangs sink deeper ad deeper into my flesh, I clung on to all of my memories of him. My Edward. My one and only true love. It didn't matter anymore that he didn't want me. I wondered briefly how he would take the news of my death.

"I don't believe it…" I heard a short gasp. I felt my cheek hit the ground, but nothing more. No pain. I was numb, broken, my mind dismembered from my body. A dull, yet deafening thumping filled by ears. Was that my heart? A very slight, very evident burning crept up my neck. Like the feeling when you suddenly move a limb that's fallen asleep.

The thumping grew louder. It sounded like…footsteps. Very heavy footsteps. They thundered to a crescendo, then started to get quieter.

Something wet touched my cheek. I didn't move, staying as still as possible. The fire slowly edged through my body, branching out from my neck.

Voices were coming from somewhere. They were husky and muffled, but one sounded familiar. I racked my brain for that voice but found that the fire reached there, too. I gasped and lashed my hands out over my eyes. Just make it leave!

The recognizable voice was speaking again. I could just barely make out what it said.

"But isn't there something we can do?"

The other voice was a bit calmer, but harder. "She's one of them now. We can't do anything. Let's go."

"NO! I'm not leaving her. Bella, Bella, do you hear me?"

Yes, yes, I wanted to say. But when I opened my mouth to comfort him, I screamed instead. The pain, the fire! Oh, Jake. Thank you for caring. I do love you. I'm sorry I couldn't give you the love you wanted, though. Oh, Edward. Edward.

The voices faded. I could still hear Jake yelling at the other man.

I was alone. More alone than I have ever been. Because now no one would ever find me.

I writhed with the numb burning all throughout me. Oh, Edward, I love you. So much. I'm sorry I couldn't be better for you. I hope you're happy. I really do. Because I will always love you.

How long was I there? Time ceased to mean anything. The only thing in my mind was the pain and Edward. Maybe Carlisle was right and if somehow something did happen to Edward he would go to heaven. I hoped that's where I was going. I was good, right? Religion was never a very big part of my life, but at that moment, I prayed. Please, God, I know you're there! Please take away the fire. Just be done with me now. Please let me someday see Edward again. Please…

After a horrendously long time, I felt my body slowing down. My heart would be silent than out of nowhere have a sporadic jumble of beats that left me out of breath. Finally, it just stopped all together. That's when I realized what had happened. I wasn't dying.

Alice was right after all.