Part 2

I began to think of all the memories that we'd shared. The first time I'd set my eyes upon her beautiful face. The first run. The first date, if it could be called that. The first time I went to her house, to watch her sleep.

Then I began to think of all the reasons that had made me leave her. The moment that the tracker had caught her scent. The moment I'd caught her scent. Seeing her unconscious on a gurney in the hospital in Phoenix. Jasper attacking her that night that we'd celebrated Bella's birth day. My wretched reaction to her blood.

I didn't know or care how long I'd been sitting here, when I heard some one come into the room.

"Edward?" he said in a, slightly, timid voice; though it was the first time I'd heard him any bit scared.

I straightened up. "What do you want, Alec?" I wondered idly if he was going to give me oblivion before they burned the pieces of me. I didn't care. Maybe it was my fault that she'd jumped; I wanted to burn for that. I wanted to feel pain for hurting Bella in any possible way.

"I was just…. never mind," I knew that he'd wanted to know how I was coping; apparently he'd been one whom Aro had confided in the reason to my despair. But the instant that he'd seen my face he decided not to ask.

Aro came into the room then. I didn't care to listen to anyone's thoughts. I just focused on the words that were being spoken.

"Edward, I can't do this to your family; Carlisle especially." I stared at Aro. I saw my desolate expression change in his mind. I felt angry; no more than that. I was furious. Bella. I thought again, and my fury was contained, for that moment it was replaced by sorrow.

"Edward, please," Aro implored, "listen to me. I can't do this to a friend, and Carlisle is a very good friend; as are you."

"I. Don't. Care." I spat at him. "Please, Aro, I can't go on like this."

Aro still didn't get it; I needed to die. It was most likely my fault that Bella jumped off that stupid cliff. She must have been so depressed that it had made her suicidal. My eyes felt slightly clouded; as if I was about to shed the tears that had been building up in me for the past 24 hours. I barely heard him continue trying to persuade me to live.

"Look………maybe if you live you may be able to save Carlisle and Esme the heart ache of loosing you." as he said this another knife slipped into my chest as I thought of my parents. But he continued as if he hadn't just hurt me in another way; though this was a less sharp pain than the one I felt for Bella.

"Maybe if you were to join—" but I didn't let him finish these words, because as he spoke them I heard him think of others. It would be wasteful to loose a talent as useful as his. Maybe I can convince him to stay with us. I don't see how he could be so in love though? And what would Carlisle say?

As I heard this I let out a long, low hiss. "No!" I spoke in a tone that reminded me of what could possibly have belonged to the cruel leaders of ancient countries.

I ran out of the room; out into the empty hall. I streaked out the doors that lead to the street; lit only by the tiniest glimpse of sun. I started to determine how to get them to do it. Hmm. A thousand thoughts ran through my head. I focused on one in particular. I decided to go hunting.

I sped towards the town center as I thought through this plan. I was ashamed that I'd come up with such a plan. I'd promised myself that I would never taste the blood of another human again. I heard Rosalie's words in my head over and over again, along with the image they conjured up.

She's dead, Edward.

As I heard Rosalie's voice in my head; I thought of Carlisle, and the diet of animal blood that he'd stuck to with such persistence. I'd reached the town square by now and as I'd contemplated my plan the sun had started to come up; hitting my feet. Although my feet were covered, and no light reached my skin, it gave me an idea. I sped towards the alley behind the clock tower. I'd decided to wait for the largest audience to my plan. I realized, suddenly, that it was the nineteenth, in other words saint Marcus day. I smiled at this; it would mean an even bigger audience than I'd expected. They would act quicker.