A/N: On the bright side I'm actually getting past my writer's block, on the not-so-bright side this is a short chapter and you will see why in the A/N below. I will update again soon but I am going to be relying on what you guys think so don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: I own a shiny new computer, but I don't own Twilight or Harry Potter…

Chapter 11

Reflexively, desperately, Edward did the only thing he could think to do and, ignoring her sudden and seemingly inexplicable change in Bella's appearance, bit down on her neck, the shock of her blood flooding his mouth was more than he could have ever imagined; never had he tasted such divine blood. He wanted to take it all in, to fill himself to bursting, momentarily he forgot who she was, who he was, where they were, everything. It was all drowned out by her taste.

Edward, he heard from the deep recesses of his brain that were usually filled with the thoughts of those around him. For the first time, he could hear her. The shock of that alone was enough to grab his attention. The thought that followed forced his lips away. My Edward

Disgusted with himself he forced himself away from her even as the thoughts of his family drowned out the whispered thoughts of her dying mind. Edward, what's happened? He heard Carlisle ask as he caught scent of her blood for the first time. Then she screamed. They burst through the clearing and without any further questions Carlisle rushed to her side.

He wanted so badly to go to her, to comfort her and ease her pain. His need to assure himself that she was okay was ripping him apart at the seams but instead he planted his fingers more firmly into the earth, knowing that if he allowed himself near her he wouldn't be able to hold back. His throat was burning as hot as a furnace and never had the blood of another smelled so sweet. A hundred and one questions were rolling through the minds of his family members and he used them to distract himself.

Is that Bella?-Jasper

Who's the dead guy? (Emmet, as always, was employing his superb tact.)

Oh dear, what's happened? Please let her be all right -Esme

How did I not see this? Oh, Edward –Alice

… -Rose

She's really weak Edward, and she's lost a lot of blood, but I think she's going to be okay. What happened?

"I don't really know," he whispered, the shock and disbelief he was feeling lacing his voice. "I'm almost as lost as you are."

"You won't hurt her Edward. She needs you," Alice said through her heaving sobs that never could produce the relief of tears. For once, he didn't question her. Swallowing back the venom he returned to Bella's side, taking Carlisle's place. Her screams had reduced to suppressed groans and sobs as the last tears she would ever unleash flooded her cheeks. He gently caressed her face and she instinctively drew into his soothingly cold touch.

"It burns," she sobbed openly into his chest, he pulled her even closer.

"I know. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he murmured over and over into her hair, rocking her frantically back and forth. This was his fault. That… that… whatever it was had been aimed at him. He never asked if she wanted to be a vampire. What if she hated him? "I'm so sorry."

"Edward, we need to go, it will be dawn soon and we can't risk being discovered," Carlisle cautioned, pulling his son off of his knees. He still held the writhing girl as they rushed out of the park.

"Where should we take her?" Esme asked, her voice full of concern and sadness as she looked on at the young girl that had so quickly become like one of her own.

"To Amalisa," Alice replied without hesitation, and who were they to question Alice?

The strange woman was pacing by the door by the time they arrived and opened the door without even waiting for a knock.

Oh dear, I feared as much, what will I say to Dumbledore? One of his precious students a vampire of all things! I better let them in, I need to contact the Order…

"You better come in," she said aloud, tut tutting under her breath and shaking her head. Edward found himself stunned that she knew what they were but decided not to comment yet. They could worry about that later. "I have a spare bed in the guest room. We should make her more comfortable. Well, as comfortable as could be expected."

His family was flabbergasted. Bella released a loud groan and spasmed in his arms as the pain increased. He pulled her close and whispered consolations into her ear. She seemed to calm slightly at the sound of his voice. He followed the strange woman to her spare room and gently laid Bella on the bed before shedding his shirt and climbing in with her. She immediately pressed herself as close as possible to the small relief his cold skin provided, her whole body trembling as it was assaulted by liquid flame.

"I think you had better start explaining," Amalisa demanded now that her charge was taken care of. Carlisle nodded and motioned for the rest of the family to follow her into the living room. He could have listened but he tuned them out, instead focusing in on Bella's thoughts which, though they came in scattered patches like that of a faulty reception in a radio, were the first he had ever heard from her.

Burns - pain - Ed-ard — need – Draco — and so on. He pulled her close, resigned to wait. He was curious, confused, and beyond lost but she was still here. She was still with him. And his answers would come in due time.

xXx

The pain was unbearable. Every inch of her was on fire. Molten led seemed to have replaced the blood in her veins and it took all the self-control she possessed not to scream herself hoarse. She was perfectly aware of what was happening and the last thing she wanted was to cause Edward any more pain. She was suffering in a lake of fire, but this was not hell. This was venom. Oh how she wanted to scream. She couldn't afford to be a new born right now. She needed to get to Draco. Would he ever forgive her? Would he understand? She had killed their father. She was a murderer. More tears leaked from her tightly clenched eyes.

How long had she been like this? The agony was unbearable. Her mind wanted to flee the pain like it had done so many times before under the torture of her father and yet she was fearful to release it. Would she lose it forever? Would she be like Alice if she did? The thought of losing her precious human memories was unbearable. Her friends were expecting her back home. Draco was expecting her. She forced herself to face the pain and pressed further into the cold marble that was Edward's skin.

Time passed, though how much was rather uncertain. Edward was humming something by her ear. The sound was soothing and she did her best to let it fill her mind so she didn't have to dwell so much on the pain. It sounded like a lullaby. She smiled and snuggled more closely into his side.

After what seemed like an eternity more voices seemed to echo around the room, but then the perception was rather skewed, were they in the room? Part of her seemed to suggest they were further away but that was slightly preposterous. She wouldn't be able to hear them if that were the case. She didn't get the chance to dwell on her latest development as the pain suddenly intensified beyond anything she had ever felt before, a chill creeping in to her fingers and toes as the liquid flame concentrated in her veins, intensifying as it drew in on itself in the journey to her heart. She screamed.

Every second felt like an hour as the venom crept ever inward towards her heart which was now beating a frantic revolt in her chest. Surely she would be incinerated. She would combust. Something. Instead the pain just continued to increase with each passing hour long second even though it seemed impossible for it to do so. How fast could a human's heart beat? It seemed to be doing an imitation on hummingbird wings. Perhaps it was trying to make up for the beats it would never get to make. The venom concentrated around her heart, she wanted to scream but her voice had left her long ago. It concentrated, and then was gone. Her heart no longer beat inside her chest. Only then did she realize she had heard it beating. There were so many sounds it was overwhelming. It was as if she could hear for miles. Slowly, she opened her eyes…

Well, there you have it! I finally got over my writer's block (I think). Unfortunately as it stands there are two ways I can take this story now, and since I am undecided I think I'm going to let you guys choose. Should Bella retain her magic or not? (keep in mind the Vow was tied into her magic so that when she broke it it tore apart her magical core and that was why she was dying. Can venom heal a magical core?) Let me know what you think!

-A