AN: I don't own Twilight. If I did, this is how Breaking Dawn would have gone. In other words, a lot better than the way it was actually written. Stephanie Meyer owns.
As always, love to . I'm seriously obsessed with her story "Perturbing Ambiguity." It rocks, you should read it.
Something else major happens in this chapter, don't hate me, it all gets better.
Chapter Eight
(EPOV)
I whirled around and pounced on Demetri, tearing him away from Bella. I saw her fall to the ground, motionless. I finished off Demetri land was returning to Bella's still form. Her breathing was low and shallow. I stared into her deep chocolate eyes, full of panic. My eyes bore into hers until I was no longer looking into her eyes. I was staring into her very soul. She was dying, but what could I do? I leaned down and kissed her softly. I tried to speak, but I was choking on air. I couldn't even focus on why she was dying. What could kill an Immortal? The light was quickly fading from her eyes. I felt my soul ripping in two pieces. Every fiber of my being was aching for her to be okay. My angel was dying. She opened her mouth and managed to choke out, "I-I lo-love you." Her eyes fluttered closed, she gave one last whimper and became completely still. I knew I'd lost her. The reason for my existence was now no more. I clutched her hand in mine. I shook. I wanted to cry. I wanted to kill every vampire who had ever lived in Volterra. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I didn't care who it was. I saw Leah and Paul fighting a large vampire and I saw red.
I jumped up and tackled him to the ground. I heard Leah and Paul's thoughts asking what the hell I was doing but I ignored them. I tore the vampire limb from limb and threw him into the fire. I spun and saw Rosalie fighting with another. I ran to him and finished him off before he could even register I was there. I was out for blood trying to avenge my love's death. I turned again ready to kill, but I only found Leah and Paul carrying Embry back to my father. Emmett and Rosalie were standing behind Jacob staring at me. Jacob was on the ground next to Bella's corpse. His forehead was resting on her navel. Pan was standing on the other side of Bella, shaking. Sobbing silently. I walked to Bella's side and knelt down next to Jacob. I brushed my hand against Bella's cheek. My love was gone, I looked at Jacob, his face was soaking wet with tears. I couldn't leave Bella here.
I picked her up bridal style and carried her back to the clearing. We were the only ones who remained. Leah turned and spoke to us, "Carlisle had everyone go to La Push. There's a shelter there where he can properly treat people. We're going now." She and Paul lifted Embry again and took off towards La Push. Pan, Jacob, Emmett, Rosalie and myself all followed. We reached the shelter in La Push; I walked through the back door and placed Bella on a bed. Jacob immediately sat down on one side of her, I on the other. I realized the entire room was silent and staring in out direction.
I couldn't meet their eyes. Surprisingly, all their thoughts were silent. I opened my mouth and whispered, "Bella's dead."
I heard Alice's high pitched scream first, "NOOOO!" She raced to Bella's side and grabbed her hands. I heard her whispering thoughts. 'No. No. NO! We we're supposed to be sisters. She was supposed to be one of us. A vampire. A Cullen. This was NOT supposed to happen. Why couldn't I stop this?' Sobs racked through her entire tiny frame, crying ghost tears. Esme, Jasper and Diana were at Bella's bed now. Jasper spoke to me in his thoughts. 'Edward, how? She's and Immortal.'
I hung my head before answering. "She was fighting Demetri. I heard her scream and she fell. She died. I wasn't thinking about how then." Diana spoke up now, "A vampire's venom can be fatal to us. It takes a lot, but it will do the job." She said quietly. I examined Bella. She had faint teeth marks on her shoulder and arms. At least a dozen that I could see. "Why couldn't she stop him after the first time he bit her. Her gift couldn't stop him?" I asked.
Diana shook her head, "Once bitten, the venom stops our gift. We can't focus as well. Bella may have panicked and not been able to focus before he bit her again. Our wounds heal similar to the shape-shifters. Her wounds heal, sealing the venom in. Weakening her even more. I thought she was ready, I'm so sorry. Why couldn't I see this?"
Jacob looked at her, he was angry. "She WAS ready. She kicked vampire ass all day today, I saw her. She didn't deserve this. None of them did." His thoughts flickered back to Sam and Seth and I felt another wave of sadness. Everyone in the room looked as if they could cry. I felt even worse for Jasper; he was soaking in our emotions, despair and tragedy times almost thirty.
"Edward." Carlisle called softly. I looked up and met his eyes, full of sadness. "I know this is really hard, but the wolves still need your help." I nodded and kissed Bella's forehead and I walked over to Quil, whose leg had healed but hadn't set right. I took his leg into my hands. Quil stopped me.
"Whoa. What are you doing?" He asked, skeptical and frightened.
"Your leg is set wrong, I need to re-break it and set it right." I told him.
He looked scared. I suddenly got an image of him hopping out of the shelter on one foot with me hanging onto his good leg being dragged behind him, with Carlisle chased after us. It actually made me smile a little. "Sorry Quil, I have to." I told him. His body tensed and he grabbed a pillow and placed it over his chest holding it tightly. Repeating in his head, 'If he breaks my leg, I'll slap him. If he breaks my leg, I'll slap him. If he breaks my-AUGH!!!'
Quil's leg broke in my hands with an audible snap. The rest of the room looked a little scared, too. Quil had another image in his head of slapping me through a wall then beating me with a stone pillar, making me smile again.
"Thanks for that, Dr. Love. Don't know what I would have done if you weren't here to break my leg in two!" He all but yelled at me, sarcastically and somewhat dramatic. I heard a few laughs behind me and Quil shot them a death glare. You won't think it's so funny when Dr. Giggles comes to visit you and breaks your bones."
Quil shot me another image that showed me with a sadistic smile on my face with Quil tied up on an operating table. He was screaming as I was poking him with a scalpel, letting it heal and stabbing him again. I shook my head and walked to the next bed where a scared looking Collin was lying. He shook his head and said, "NEXT! I just have cuts and bruises, move on Dr. Pain."
I laughed and moved to the next bed, where Embry was lying. He met my eyes and thought back to when we fought the Volturi in the woods. 'I'm so sorry, Edward. I saw him killing her. I tried to help, but I couldn't move without hurting some part of me.' He showed me the scene through his eyes what happened, Demetri hitting and biting Bella. She became visibly weaker and I felt Embry trying to move but pain shot through his body.
"I understand, Embry. You did all you could. How are you feeling?" I asked, not wanting to relieve that moment ever again. He nodded, was quiet for a moment then smiled and said, "I'm fine, Dr. Pain." He winked at Quil, who smiled. "Carlisle fixed me up, so you take your itch to snap bones elsewhere." I chuckled and moved to the next bed where Brady was.
"I see you you're awake now. How are we?" He smiled and said, "Only a concussion. Sorry you don't get to break me, Dr. Giggles." I smiled at how quickly Quil's nicknames were catching on to me. I was about to walk to the next bed when I heard a cry of pain outside. I had heard just about enough of those today. Leah was talking with someone, trying to comfort whoever was screaming. I locked eyes with Jasper and he followed me outside.
AN: Trust me, this has a HAPPY ENDING! Maybe not the one you'll see coming but it will be a happy ending. Don't hate me for this chapter, it gets better, but first it gets worse.
