Author's Note: Well, I'm putting this out a bit earlier (as per the contest that is) than I expected. However, I do plan on continuing it to finish off the Eclipse quotes no matter what. Herein, the question: Should I add Stephenie Meyer's Myspace quotes (at least the ones that I have) as well? Tell me what you think!
Part Three
Present Time
My thoughts flew back to the situation at hand.
"Do you not want to see me anymore?" I asked, changing my tactics.
Edward sighed and shook his head.
"Bella, you mean the world to me… but that's not what this is about," he said, his voice frustrated.
"So, you believe by spending less time with me you are going to increase my chances of not being injured?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips in what I hoped was an intimidating gesture.
For only the second time to my knowledge, Edward was speechless. I closed the distance between us, resting my head on his chest.
"I suppose," he said, grudgingly.
He pulled away, an odd glint in his eyes. Reaching over to pick up my worn copy of Wuthering Heights, he glanced at me with resignation.
"Besides…the more time I spend with you, the more human emotions seem comprehensible to me. I'm discovering that I can sympathize with Heathcliff in ways I didn't think possible before."
I chuckled and playfully punched him.
"I knew you'd come around!"
Edward laughed which caused me to sigh in relief. I hated arguing with him, not matter how petty our fights seemed. At least these fights weren't violent… other then other fights I had seen him in…
Two Weeks Earlier
Before I could react, Quil stepped forward, a switchblade in his hand. Then it dawned on me. They were going to provoke the vampires in order to break the treaty!
Everything happened as if in slow motion. I could see Embry grabbing my hand and Quil stabbing my hand with the blade. I heard Jacob yell angrily and I heard the snarl of an angry vampire. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw what looked like Emmett tackling Jasper to the ground. I had no doubt in my mind that he wasn't breathing. Quicker than lightening, Edward appeared in front of me, forcefully throwing Quil to the side. I watched as the switchblade fell to the ground. Diving, I grabbed it and whipped around to catch Embry in the arm with it. Everything seemed to freeze for a moment, as Embry looked at his arm stunned. It wasn't a deep wound, but it was enough to draw blood. Looking over to Jasper, I saw a confused look on his face. Emmett took this opportunity to drag him away. Edward grabbed me by the waist and we were off running.
"Where are we going?" I asked, dizzily. The world seemed to be spinning around me as blood dripped off my hand.
"To Carlisle…" I heard him answer just before I faded into darkness.
"Edward, you need to go hunting…"
"Alice, I can't just leave her like this! What if she wakes up and I'm not there?"
"I'll watch her, don't worry."
I felt groggy and I could feel a shooting pain emitting from my hand. I heard someone shuffle out of the room as I faded in and out of consciousness.
----------------------
"Bella?"
I opened my eyes slowly to see Alice leaning over me.
"Wha-" I said, still feeling woozy from the drugs.
Alice seemed to know exactly what I wanted to know.
"Jasper is fine, and the wolves have disappeared. Although…"
She wrinkled her nose distastefully as she gestured to a small bouquet of wildflowers. I leaned up just enough to read the card.
Bella, I'm so sorry about what happened. Please understand that I had no part in it. I'll even be your slave for life if you'll only forgive me. Jacob
I scowled, the events that had just happened flooding into my mind. Alice leaned over me, her expression worried.
"I'll kill him." I said angrily.
"I don't think that'll solve anything," she said wryly.
"Then I'll… I'll kill myself! This is ridiculous!" I said, flying back into the pillows. I examined my hand in disgust. Stitches again.
"Do you think either of them would give up if you died?" Alice said her voice quiet. "They'd still fight, we all would. You can't change anything, so just be good, okay?"
"So no murders or suicides?" I asked, only half joking.
Alice smirked and suddenly straightened up.
"Edward's coming back," she said, frowning. "He needs to hunt…"
"I couldn't leave without knowing how she was doing?"
I looked up as Edward entered the room, immediately coming to my bedside.
"I'll let you two talk," Alice said tactfully, standing up to leave the room. "Think about what I said, Bella."
I nodded, turning my attention to Edward. His face seemed calculating, as if there was something on my mind.
"What's wrong?" I asked, immediately concerned. I knew that he was bound to be upset at what had just occurred.
"I was just wondering why you stabbed him. Not that I object." He said, holding up his hands guiltily. "It's been on my mind since you passed out."
"Oh, you mean Embry?" I asked, guiltily. "Well… I actually had two reasons for doing it…"
"And they are?" he prompted.
"Well, first off," I said, using my good hand to help accentuate my points. "He started it. Quil and Embry were clearly in on it together and he happened to be the one I retaliated on. Secondly, it was because I knew that werewolves smell repulsive to vampires right?"
"Yes…" Edward said, clearly unsure what my reasoning was.
"Well… I figured that the smell of a werewolf's blood might be enough to block the scent of a human's blood."
Edward merely stared at me, dumbfounded. It was insulting really, that he didn't think that I was quick-witted enough to come up with something like that myself.
"That was an extremely dangerous and risky move!" he said, his voice excited. "Granted, it did work somewhat but what if it hadn't!"
"Please, Edward, not now." I begged. I was in no mood to discuss my insanity. "What happened after all of this?"
"Well… we sent Rosalie to talk to them." He said slowly. Evidently, Edward was still going over my logic in his head.
"Rosalie?" I asked, confused.
"Have you ever heard the dog—I mean the werewolves talking about the 'Cold Woman'?"
I thought back and remembered a conversation that I had once had with Billy.
"The stories say that the Cold Woman was the most beautiful thing human eyes had ever seen." He had said, "She looked like the goddess of the dawn when she entered the village that morning; the sun was shining for once, and it glittered off her white skin and lit the golden hair that flowed down to her knees. Her face was magical in its beauty, her eyes black in her white face. Some fell to their knees to worship her."
"Yeah," I said, recalling what Billy had said.
"Well… that was Rosalie… we figured she would be the best one to handle it." He said sheepishly. "She wasn't willing at first, but Emmett helped to convince her."
I nodded. It made sense that they would use an old legend to help get leverage. Edward leaned over me, causing my heart to race and all thoughts of Jacob, Embry, Quil, and Rosalie to disappear.
"Now…" he said his voice seductive. "How about we get you some sedatives for the pain…"
"What sort of sedative?" I asked, barely breathing.
Edward grinned and pressed the call button over my head.
"Yes?" came a squawky voice.
"Bella is ready for her next dose." He said, as I stuttered in frustration.
"It's a good thing you're bulletproof." I said angrily, "Because I'm about to shoot you!"
Edward merely grinned and pecked me lightly on the lips.
"I'm off to hunt!" he said, grinning at me with his heart-wrenching sexy smile.
The nurse walked in and began to fiddle with my IV.
"Can we hold off for another hour or so?" I pleaded as soon as Edward was out of earshot.
She looked at me, but shrugged.
"No need to be a hero though, dear." She said, feeling my forehead. "If it gets to painful you hit that call button, alright?"
I nodded a model of the perfect patient. The nurse walked out of the room quickly. I laid back and closed my eyes. Quiet footsteps came from the doorway and I frowned.
"Edward, I'm not taking the sedative yet. I don't care what you say—"
"It's not Cullen, Bella."
My eyes flew open as I saw Jacob standing at the foot of my bed, shuffling awkwardly.
"Get out. I don't want you here." I said angrily.
"Hey, I offered eternal servitude, remember. I'm your slave for life." He said, holding his hands up in protest. "I'll do what you want, but I won't stay away from you forever."
"Only if I forgave you, which I didn't!" I said frustrated, "So why don't you just stay away from me!"
"You mean too much to me for that…," he said, his voice cracking slightly.
"Apparently not enough." I said haughtily. "You almost killed me!"
"Yeah but…"
His words were cut off as more visitors poured into the room. Frustrated, Jacob turned on his heels and stormed out.
"Hey Bella," Mike said, Jessica, Angela, Ben, who was sporting a broken arm, and Tyler trailing in behind him.
"I feel like screaming!" Jessica said, throwing her hands up in the air. "Is everyone in the hospital? I came here to visit my aunt only to find out that Ben broke his arm and now you're in here—"
Present Time
"Bella? Bella?"
Edward was waving a hand in front of my face, his expression annoyed.
"Would you please tell me what you are thinking? Before I go mad?"
The End (technically for the contest this is where it needs to end, however I will most likely continue it after the contest so stay tuned!)
