Rosalie's POV

**

Screams of great suffering shook the walls of our home. I clung to my ray of hope, holding his hand tightly in mine.

Witnessing his body twisting in the pain of transformation was like watching Vera's Henry burn in the fires of hell. I hated myself for being so weak… wanting this man to live for my own selfishness. Unconscious when I burst through the door, the stranger had no say in the matter as I offered his bloodied body to Carlisle. My decision sealed his fate.

I entwined my fingers with his, smoothing his dark hair with my free hand. Would he ever forgive me for making him a monster? Could he forgive me for forcing on him the fate I so detested?

Unsatisfied with the progress of the stranger's condition, Carlisle paced the length of the room. "The morphine isn't helping; it didn't have enough time to take effect. The venom moved too quickly, sealing the passageways in his bloodstream," he noted sullenly, his head bowed in defeat. Esme took a step towards him, wrapping an arm around his waist, holding him closely, offering her support.

I placed a hand on the stranger's cheek, tracing the dimples in his pain stricken face with my thumb.

Carlisle was right to challenge my impulse to change this man. None of us loved this immortal existence. Speaking for myself I would give anything to be human again. But noting the desperation in my eyes, my vampire father granted my request to save this man, hoping to right the damage done when he turned me only two years past.

It pained Carlisle to see the man writhing in agony now.

To be certain, Edward was not pleased with our decision to change the dark-haired stranger. He was convinced we were damning another soul for all eternity. Indignant, I quickly denied my brother's accusations. However, I could never hide my feelings from Edward who, reading my every thought, knew me as well as I knew myself. Deep inside, I loathed myself, fearing he was correct in his assessment.

In my selfishness had I chosen to damn this man's soul?

In making this choice I considered only my loneliness and compelling feelings to protect the stranger, but what fate would he have chosen for himself? Would he rather die than live as we did?

Could this stranger forgive me for damning him for all eternity?

Reaching into a bucket I pulled out a damp cloth soaked in vinegar water and wiped dried blood from the man's unclothed form. Under the gore, his skin was smooth showing no hint of the grievous wounds only recently marking his flesh.

The soft whisper of Carlisle and Esme's feet pacing across the floor of our woodland home kept time with the frantic beating of the man's heart.

The dark-haired stranger writhed in the pain of a fire I could not see, but could remember well. I recalled the flames licking my body from within, feeling the flesh pull from bone, crackling in the heat of transformation. I hated myself for putting this precious individual through such agony.

Yet, this was the only way. The only way to save his life. For reasons still not known to me, I was compelled from deep within my soul, to protect this man. My feelings for Vera's little Henry endeared this stranger to me. I knew I must save him at all costs, but who would pay the price for my decision?

Would he ever forgive me for putting him through such pain?

The minutes dragged by slowly. Each tick of the minute hand on the clock marked an eon of painful waiting.

Tick—Tick—Tick

I never left his side. As he suffered the terrible fires of transformation, I suffered a burning fear all my own.

He would hate me for damning him to an existence he would loathe for all eternity.

**

NOTE: Stephenie Meyer owns the Twilight Series from which this story is inspired and from which the characters and basic storyline for this composition have been derived.

Reference: Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse

**

A huge thanks to Liebs! I learn so much from you with every chapter! You'll make a true writer of me yet!

If you enjoy this story, subscribing will assure that you are informed of updates as future chapters are posted online.