Hi All, I am so blown away with the response I have received for this story. My prologue was very short and I did not expect much feedback. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed and added Footprints to their favourite stories. To my guest reviewers who I was unable to privately respond, thank you for taking the time to leave me your thoughts. I am truly grateful! This is another short chapter but Edward will soon be taking over and the story will begin to unfold with much longer installments.


Chapter I - La Mia Bella Principessa

My Beautiful Princess

'How can you depend on others, when even your own shadow leaves you when your engulfed in darkness.'

I stood motionless, my eyes wide with fear, my breath entering my lungs in sharp, laboured gasps. I dropped to the floor, the kitchen knife gripped tightly in my bloody hand. I could still feel his strong, filthy fingers on my neck and I started to hyperventilate as I stared at his lifeless body.

I let out a strangled, anguished cry as the cell phone that laid strewn, at his feet began to ring. The shrill noise contrasting against the eerily quiet walls of my home. I moved to try and retrieve it, knowing I needed to call the police. I whimpered loudly as the movement jostled my shoulder and I dropped the knife with haste, moving to grip my arm as I tried to support the weight with my opposite hand.

My heart was pounding rapidly in my ears and I felt myself sag against the kitchen cabinet, trying to quell the dizziness that was causing my head to spin. My eyelids started to flutter closed and I couldn't help, but welcome the darkness that engulfed me ...

There was a delicate pressure on my forehead and I couldn't bring myself to tear my eyes open. I hazily tried to process what was happening, but my memory was too blurred, too cloudy.

I couldn't control the soft sigh that escaped my lips as I managed to ascertain the pressure was someone's gentle fingers, softly grazing my hairline. I had never felt so content, so protected. I shifted slightly, letting out a sharp hiss of pain as my movement disturbed my aching limbs.

"Carlisle!" The voice spoke urgently and it compelled me to try, and open my eyes. It was a difficult task though, my eyelids were extremely heavy and once I had managed to peel them open, my vision was blurred, unfocused and I felt disorientated. There was a rustling noise and then footsteps, rapidly coming closer. I started to panic, I was confused, suddenly frightened and my arms flailed subconsciously before I mewled in agony.

"Ssh Bella, you're safe here." It was the same voice, only the urgency had been replaced with concern and tenderness.

I tried to focus, I wanted to try to clear the haze ... but it was impossible. I was too dazed and as my head groggily slumped, I was sure I felt fragile lips press against my forehead before a voice whispered in my ear. "La mia bella principessa".

I was struggling to grasp what, was happening. It was a very surreal feeling and yet I couldn't fathom if this was a nightmare or a memory ...

I was holding the kitchen knife in my right hand, trying to concentrate as I forced the blade through the vegetable. My eyes were stinging and I tightly squinted them for several moments, trying to stop the inevitable tears from falling. I tried to swallow the lump which was beginning to form in my throat and I dropped the knife, holding myself with my arm.

I breathed deeply, trying to stifle the grief, but my broken ribs protested and I forced myself to take slow shallow breaths. I stood still for several moments, leaning on the countertop for support. My heart had splinted into small fragments and I felt more broken than shattered glass ...

Footsteps, heavy and staggered footsteps. My heart accelerated with anxiety as they approached, closer and closer ...

I couldn't breathe ... his fingers were tightening around my neck ... I was searching for something, my hands shaking frantically. A knife ... my hands shook ... I killed him, I killed James ... I murdered my husband!


Authors Note - Thank you all for reading. I have plans to write the next few chapters from Edward's eyes as he will be able to give more of an insight to the story at the moment and the chapters will increase vastly in length. I hope you like hearing from him as he may be taking the reigns for quite some time.

Thank you :)