Carlisle appeared about twenty minutes later. "It's time," he said gently, taking a few moments to assess Bella's condition once more. Lift her carefully, Edward.
Bella was frightened; her heart pounded frantically, and she paled even more. As I slid my arms beneath her legs and behind her shoulders, her small, white fingers clutched at my shirt.
Carlisle set a blanket over her then took the IV bag from the bedpost where he had hung it. He nodded at me, and we walked across the room. His expression was calm and reassuring as he smiled down at Bella.
"How's Jasper?" she asked, her voice husky.
"He's feeling better," Carlisle said. "I think he'll make a fairly quick recovery." He winked, which elicited a tiny smile from her.
Several students peeked out of their rooms as we passed. Mr. Varner had instructed our classmates to remain quiet for the next several hours, and thus far everyone was complying. I felt slightly gratified to hear only encouraging, hopeful thoughts about Bella. Everybody wished her well.
We entered the stairwell, and I kept my steps slow and smooth. We were able to access the first aid station by coming through the kitchen, avoiding the few students remaining in the lounge and dining room.
Angela, Ben, and Tyler waited in the reception area, just at the end of the corridor. When they saw us, Angela stood, hesitating a moment before taking a few tentative steps into the hallway.
"It's all right," Carlisle said, nodding toward her. He had asked her and Tyler to wait nearby, in case a last-minute transfusion was required.
Angela hurried over to Bella and took her hand. "I know you're going to do great," she said. "I'll be right out here, sending lots of good thoughts."
"Thanks," Bella responded.
"I'll see you soon." Dear God, please let her be okay. Please let this go well…Angela managed to smile, and kept her tears at bay until she had turned away.
Mr. Varner poked his head into the first aid room as we were settling Bella on the bed. We hadn't yet closed the door.
"Are you sure there's nothing else I can do to help?" he asked anxiously.
"Just keep everyone away," Carlisle said. "If you could stay in the lobby with Angela, Ben, and Tyler and prevent anyone entering the hallway, I'd appreciate it. Sometimes teenagers' curiosity gets the better of them. I will need absolute quiet to concentrate fully on the task at hand." The look he gave Varner clearly told the man that he needed to stay away, too.
The teacher nodded. "Of course. Good luck. You'll be in my thoughts, Bella." He left, closing the door with a soft click.
We waited until we heard his footsteps in the reception area. Noiselessly, Alice glided down the hall to station herself in the shadows just outside the room. She would remain there as long as possible so that she could warn us about potential complications she might foresee.
"Jasper's outside now," she whispered. "I ran with him to the bottom of the longest ski run. He'll stay there until I come for him."
Carlisle smiled down at Bella. "Well, I think we're ready to begin." He took her arm and rubbed it with alcohol, then reached for a filled syringe. "I'm going to give you some morphine. It will make you sleep."
She swallowed nervously, her throat so dry she was barely able to croak, "All right." However, before he could administer the drug, she said, "Wait. Please."
"It's all right, love," I told her. "Everything's going to go just fine."
She reached for my hand. "I know." Her eyes moved to Carlisle. "I trust you." Then she looked back at me. "But if anything goes wrong—any more of my weird bad luck or whatever—promise me you'll change me."
"Bella, don't think like that," I began.
She pressed her warm finger weakly over my lips. "Just promise me." Her gaze shifted to my father again. "Both of you."
Carlisle did not hesitate, and I realized that he had already thought of this. "Of course," he said.
"Edward?" she questioned, her eyes pleading with me.
"Yes," I relented. "But it's not going to come to that. You're going to be fine."
She nodded, clearly relieved by my acquiescence. She held my gaze for several seconds then looked at Carlisle again. "Okay," she whispered.
He offered her a final reassuring smile then quickly delivered the injection. The tiny whiff of blood prickled against my throat. My hand shook slightly as I stroked Bella's hair back from her face. "Just relax and let it work," I told her.
"I love you, Edward," she said.
I kissed her lips gently. "I love you too, Bella, more than any words can possibly express."
Her eyelids were growing heavy as lassitude began creeping through her body. Her breathing slowed, and she sighed softly when her eyes closed.
Carlisle looked at me. I'm going to rely on you to keep a close watch on her respiration. The biggest risk with the morphine is respiratory depression, but we have oxygen if she needs it.
With the limited choices available, morphine had been his only option for anesthesia. We knew that Bella could tolerate the drug well; we had learned that in Phoenix. Again I felt the irony of that experience.
Carlisle checked her eyes. Pinpoint pupils. "She's under now. We need to undress her."
Alice slipped into the room. I glanced up at her in apprehension. However, I read nothing dire in her thoughts.
"Let me help," she said. She was anxious to do something concrete.
"Thank you, Alice," Carlisle replied, reaching for the blood pressure cuff and stethoscope.
Alice carefully removed Bella's tee shirt. I looked up at the ceiling while my sister arranged a clean, folded towel over her chest to serve as a drape. I waited until Alice had finished laying another towel low over her bare hips before my eyes moved down again.
Carlisle was wrapping the cuff around Bella's arm. "You'll need to keep an eye on her pressure, too," he reminded me unnecessarily.
He had already gone through the entire procedure a half a dozen times in his mind, including the tasks for which I would be responsible. With each run-through, however, his thoughts flickered to the scenario in which he would have to work alone. If you aren't able to remain in the room…
"I'll be here," I said firmly.
He stepped to the sink to begin scrubbing his hands. Alice watched Bella's still face, images of the three of us in caps and gowns flashing through her mind. But for once I couldn't tell if this was a vision or simply a hopeful thought. She nodded at me and offered me a tight smile.
When Carlisle had finished at the sink, I washed my hands thoroughly, too. I could smell the tang of Betadine; my father was prepping Bella's abdomen. By the time I had turned back to the bed, he was seated on the stool at her side, pulling on gloves. I did the same then waited for his instruction.
"Edward, the 10 blade, please," he requested calmly.
We had decided to use oral communication as much as possible during the procedure. Alice felt this would help her to follow along, which seemed important in obtaining accurate visions. I handed him the scalpel and watched in abject fascination as he made the incision. I could hear the razor-sharp edge cutting through Bella's tender flesh.
Unconsciously I held my breath the moment the scarlet blood began to seep from the wound. It was shockingly bright to my eyes. My lips tingled, and I clenched my teeth tightly. Now the sound of the scalpel slicing through the abdominal muscles scraped through my ears. I tried not to flinch.
Alice stood near the door. One small hand rose to press over her nose and mouth. She had ceased breathing, too.
Blood was pooling over Bella's hip, soaking into the towels beneath her. Carlisle pressed several thick squares of gauze over the crimson nectar as its perfume permeated the air within the small room.
My throat smoldered, and venom began prickling on my tongue.
To be continued...