Disclaimer: All characters are not owned by me and are used without permission solely for the entertainment of fan-fiction readers.
Author's Note: So after reading the Twilight series, of course I had many ideas about things that were left untouched in the books. This is one of them. Enjoy.
Chapter 1: Despair
When I decided to leave Forks, my family had been shocked, but understanding. No one had fought me on it. Except for Alice . . . she had been quite difficult. So much so that she had set off for Denali with Jasper straightaway. She didn't understand.
I had to keep Bella safe. Any misery that befell me in order to accomplish that was insignificant. I would gladly suffer decades of torment if only to know that she was safe and happy . . . alive. Alice didn't understand.
We left Forks quickly. I made sure to leave no trace behind for Bella to suffer over. I knew she would not dare go to our home . . . she promised to stay out of harms way. I would hold her to it.
The next few months had been torture. It was easier at first. I had finding Victoria to distract me. But I wasn't very good at tracking and after a few weeks I had lost her trail. At least I knew she was heading south away from Forks.
I picked up on her trail again in Mexico two months later and followed it all the way to South America. I had been glad of that . . . I shuddered at the thought of spending any extended amount of time in Mexico.
Victoria led me to Brazil after weeks of crisscrossing through the Amazon. It was curious how she kept slipping through my fingers every time I came close . . . very curious. My mind was turning, but I was preoccupied with other matters. It would have to wait.
In Brazil, the trail went cold and I felt a cold fear grip me. I had contacted Alice immediately, but she had confirmed nothing in Bella's future that merited our concern. The relief had been great, but why would Victoria go after Bella? We were much more suitable targets if she was irritated that we had broken her coven.
So I remained in Brazil, waiting for any news of Victoria. It was then that I had time . . . to much time, to think. I was finally able to feel the magnitude of my separation from Bella. Never again would I be able to feel her small frame within my arms. I would not feel the warmth of her lips on mine own. Nor would I be able to watch her sleeping peacefully in the night.
The grief had stuck me without warning. It ripped at my chest, where my heart had once been. In a matter of days, I became a useless heap upon the floor. The sunny days of Rio did not allow me to leave my room, making it impossible to escape my memories of her.
I started counting the weeks, then the days, and finally the hours. It took every strength in my being not to run straight back to Forks and beg Bella's forgiveness. I craved every phone call I received from Carlisle, who was monitoring all news coming from Forks.
It was on a particularly dismal day that the small silver phone in my pocket began to buzz. I grabbed for in, hoping another call from Carlisle with an update. I hesitated for a second when I saw who it was calling me.
Rosalie.
"Hello?" I asked.
Rosalie's voice was hard, "Edward, I must speak with you".
"What do you mean Rosalie?"
"I need to see you", she said quickly.
My eyes narrowed. What could she possible say that was so important she to meet in person?
"I'm in Brazil at the moment", I answered.
"Victoria is the least of your worries right now", she said sharply.
An eyebrow rose into my hairline, "What do you mean?"
Rosalie sighed exasperatedly, "Just tell me where you are Edward".
Something in her voice told me I needed to meet with her. Something was . . . off.
I gave Rosalie precise instructions as to my whereabouts in Brazil. She said she would be here within 24 hours.
When Rosalie arrived, I knew immediately that something was terribly wrong. Not only did she have a grim look on her face, but she was hiding her thoughts from me. My mind raced as I listened to her recite the periodic table in her thoughts.
"What is it?" I croaked at her, my voice barely audible.
She looked into my eyes and suddenly I knew.
"Edward, I am afraid that Bella is . . ."
The horrific cry that escaped my lips silenced her. She looked surprised at my reaction.
Rosalie reached out for me, "She jumped off the cliffs on the beach in La Push. Alice saw her do it, she didn't come back up . . ."
Her voice trailed off as I felt the room start to spin. Bella was . . . gone? It couldn't be true! How could it be true? I recoiled from Rosalie's hand, which was gripping my shoulder.
An anguished groan came out from deep in my chest as I crumbled to the floor. I pulled at my hair as I shook my head over and over again.
"No, no, no, not Bella, please, tell me it isn't true!"
How I wish I could cry. The tears were there, trying to free themselves, but they could not. I had never loathed being a vampire more than in that moment. My breaths came out short and quick as I tried to calm myself. But I knew it was impossible.
I would never see her deep, loving eyes again. She would never murmur my name in her sleep. Bella's beautiful face filled my mind and I realized with a sharp pang that I would never see her again. It was the most unbearable pain . . . it was the end.
My thoughts cleared a bit and I thought back to when James had captured Bella. I remember I had thought of ways to end my life then, thinking of how Bella might die at his hands. Again I considered the possibilities . . . I could not . . . I would not exist without Bella.
Rosalie's voice broke my train of thought, "Edward . . ."
I do not understand. He had to have known this would end badly.
I snarled at her thoughts. Rosalie backed away from me. I turned to glare at her.
"I don't expect you to understand", I hissed.
Her face was as hard as stone as she surveyed me. I was on the ground, writhing around like I was in pain.
There is nothing to be done now. Bella is dead.
I cringed at the last word. How could she be so cruel? But it was Rosalie . . . she did not feel the same way as other about things. She was cold and calculating in her reactions.
I let my gaze fall back on her, "There is something . . ."
Her eyes questioned me and she stepped towards me. She reached down to help me up. I pushed her hand away, curling myself up in a ball on the floor.
"Edward, please", she said with a hint of concern in her voice.
Just come home. Everyone is worried about you. You can't save her anymore.
I cried out at that and shook my head. I turned my back to her, my eyes shut tight.
"Just go", I whispered.
It was hours later when I turned around again to find Rosalie gone.
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- Lady Artemis -
