Chapter 12
EPOV
I have not seen Bella in two days. Every time I go to see her she says she is busy. I know it shouldn't really bother me, maybe she just needs a little time to herself, but I still can't help thinking that she might not want to see me again. Maybe she finally realized that I am dangerous. I also noticed that she didn't come to school either. She can't be avoiding me by not going to school. I am beginning to get very worried about her. What is something happened to her? What if she is in danger? I want to call her, but she told me not to call her or try to see her. I wonder why. I am sitting here in my room with my cell phone in my hand trying to decide if I should call her or not. I guess I should ask Alice if she can see Bella's future. Bella allowed Alice to see her future. Maybe Alice could tell me if Bella was alright.
"Edward! Do you need me?" Alice asked as she came in through the door in my room. I guess I shouldn't be surprised she probably saw my decision before I even made it.
"Alice, can you see into Bella's' future?" I asked and watched as Alice's face turned blank. Alice closed her eyes for a few seconds trying to see through the darkness in her vision. I guess I already knew she wasn't going to see anything. Bella probably knew I would ask Alice to tell me Bella's future and I would find out this way.
"I think Bella probably blocked you again"
"Why? Edward. What's going on with Bella? I haven't seen her in two days. Why didn't she come to school? Is she sick? She can't be, because she can just heal herself"
"I don't know Alice. She told me not to call her, go to her house, or try to see her in any way. She didn't come to school either. Alice, I am really worried about her. What if she is hurt? What if the person who talked to me from behind the door was not Bella, but that dangerous witch she told us about disguised as Bella? Alice, what if—"
"Edward, calm down. I do not know what is going on, or why Bella doesn't want to see you. This is too much for her. She might have some extra powers, but she is still human. So much has happened in the past few days; maybe she just needs sometime to herself to sort things out on her own. Wait just another day or two and if we do not hear anything from her you can go and see what's wrong with her. Now get up and stop wallowing. Go do something… wait… here, read this book" Alice threw a book at me from my bookshelf. It was my favorite book.
"Thanks Alice!"
"You are very welcome Edward" Alice said as she left the room. I opened the book and began reading. Although since I am a vampire, I was done reading in few minutes and had nothing else to do. I decided to go hunting. I am not really thirsty, just one mountain lion should be enough for me. I jumped out the window and ran away.
I was in the middle of a forest. I could smell the mountain lion's' blood. There were three, less than a mile away. I also smelled something different. I smelled lilac, but I knew it wasn't a flower. I followed the scent. At first I couldn't see anything, but then I noticed that about a mile away a girl was standing behind a tree. I walked closer and tried to make some noise with me feet so that I wouldn't startle her. The girl was facing the other direction and I could see her long brown hair. For some reason the girl reminded me of Bella, but I knew it couldn't be Bella, what would Bella be doing in the middle of nowhere. Still, what would a human girl be doing alone in the forest? I knew she wasn't a vampire or a werewolf; she couldn't have walked all that way. There was nothing for miles but trees. Maybe the girl is a witch. That might explain why she is here. Her blood smelled different, but Bella told me that witches can change the smell of their blood so that it wouldn't be appealing for vampires and they wouldn't attack a witch. The girl slowly turned her face towards me. When I saw her face, I gasped. The girl standing in front of me was Bella. For a second I wondered why Bella smelled different. My concern for Bella made me forget that thought.
"Bella, what are you doing here? Are you alright?" I asked her, I couldn't help smiling though. I was happy to see her.
"Edward?" Bella asked as if she was unsure. I didn't understand her hesitation but I answered anyway.
"Yes Bella?"
"What are you doing here, Edward?"
"I was hunting. You haven't answered me. What are you doing here?"
"Listen Edward, things have changed. I am not who I used to be. I have changed. I don't feel the same way about you anymore. I mean, I am a witch, you are a vampire. It is impossible for the two to have any kind of relationship. We are like two different species.A lion could never be friends with a lamb"
"Bella, what do you mean? Bella, I love you. It doesn't matter to me what you are." I said hoping she didn't mean what she said, or maybe she was joking even though the look on her face said she wasn't.
"No Edward. I am busy now and we would both be better off if we forgot about each other. I have to leave Edward. You being with me is constantly putting me in danger. My grandmother wouldn't like it if she found out about me being friends with a vampire. Don't worry though, I will leave and I won't bother you again. Goodbye Edward. It will be as if I never existed." I was shocked/ I couldn't believe that I was actually hearing those words. If I didn't know that I was a vampire I would have thought that I was dreaming. I watched as Bella flew away and then it was as if time stood still.
It will be as if I never existed…
It will be as if I never existed…
It will be as if I never existed…
I kept hearing Bella's words in my head. It will be as I never existed. How could I believe that? Bella did exist. She existed in my dead heart. She existed in my memories. I could still remember her beautiful smell. How could I forget her? Bella did exist. She is my life. Without her I have no life. I couldn't believe that I just watched my life fly away.
I don't know how long I sat here. I was so numb. I didn't even hear Emmett calling my name until he stood in front of me.
"Edward, what are you doing here? Did the mountain lion say something mean to you?" Emmett asked. I knew I should answer but I couldn't say anything. No words came out.
"What happened Edward? Are you alright?" Emmett asked with concern in his voice. I heard Carlisle and Jasper coming, but I still couldn't move or answer them.
What was the point anyway? What was the point of living forever if I was going to be living alone in this pain? I would probably make their lives worst, because I know I wouldn't be able to hide this pain from them, especially not Jasper. He would be feeling my pain as if it were his own. I hope they would just kill me and get it over with.
"Why is Edward sitting like that?" Carlisle asked when he saw me. I still remember the first time I saw her in the lunchroom. I remember her beautiful brown eyes.
"Edward answer me" Emmett shouted in my face. I knew I shouldn't ignore them any longer. They would not leave until I answered them. I tried to find my voice so I could talk to them.
"Bella...gone" I said. I knew I was probably not making much sense to them but I didn't care at that moment. I remember the first time I touched her soft, warm skin. I remember the first time kissed her beautiful, full, red lips.
"Edward, what do you mean Bella's gone?" Jasper asked. I could hear the pain in his voice and instantly I felt bad, because I was causing him this pain. It wouldn't be fair to let him suffer with me.
"Come on Edward, let's talk at home." Carlisle said and I decided to follow them.
As we ran home, I couldn't stop thinking about Bella. I guess I should have known that she would not really love me. It never made any sense for a beautiful angel like Bella to fall in love with a devil like me. She couldn't possibly have loved me. Still, I remember looking into her beautiful brown eyes and seeing the love I felt for her reflected in them. What if Bella did love me? What if she didn't have a choice but to tell me those words? What if she was forced to do it? Or worse, what if this wasn't Bella but a different witch disguised as Bella? I remember Bella once telling me about some witches who were able to shape lift. She said it is possible, but only a very powerful witch could do that. What if the dangerous witch that Bella's grandmother said would come and kill Bella came and tried to hurt Bella?
We were soon home. Alice, Esme, and Rosalie were all standing at the door looking concerned.
"What's wrong with Edward?"
"Edward, are you okay?" Alice probably saw my decision to kill myself.
It took me a while to tell my family all that happened today. I felt numb; I don't know how the words sounded to them. I could hear in their thoughts their concern for me. I didn't want that. I don't want them to fell pity for me, but there is nothing I could do about it anymore.
"I don't believe Bella did this" Alice said.
"Why not? It is not like she actually cared. I knew she was not good." Rosalie said.
"Bella would never do something like that. There has to be a reason she did this. I know she is in love with you Edward. I could feel her love for you whenever she was near Edward. I know she is in love with Edward." Jasper said.
"What if it wasn't Bella at all who did that? What if it was another witch" Esme asked.
"Edward, you can't give up on her like that. I think you have to find her and understand why she did that. Bella could be in danger. We know she is in danger. We were there when her grandmother came to talk to her. We already know that a very powerful witch was coming after Bella. Wouldn't it be a great way to get rid of anyone who would help Bella before going after Bella? Bella might say that she is not very powerful, but I don't believe that. I think that witch is afraid of Bella. The witch might be able to kill Bella, but defiantly not when Bella has people to help her." Carlisle said.
"I think Carlisle is right. I just don't believe Bella would do that." Alice said.
I could feel myself coming back to life. Carlisle could be right. I can't just sit here and cry. I can't even cry… I am a vampire. I know I have to do something, but what? How do I know which one is the real Bella? I hadn't realized that I asked that question out loud until Carlisle said, "We know what her blood smells like"
"Yes, the one I met in the forest, her blood smelled like lilac. Bella's blood smells like freesia" I told them. I believe Carlisle is right. The person I met in the forest wasn't Bella.
"I remember when I first saw her in the forest she asked me if I was Edward. Bella would know if I was Edward or not. At first, I thought she was just about to ask me a question and was addressing me first. I guess I didn't realize that she didn't know who I was. She probably guessed because I was a vampire." I knew I was right. That had to be it. I love Bella. I know her eyes couldn't be lying to me.