Chapter 11

False Idols

Heavy pants filled the room as Edward and Bella's kissing escalated into a desperate display of passion. Not once did their lips separate as their hands explored and sought contact with the other's bare heated flesh. Goosebumps erupted across their skin as the other caressed places that ignited their desire even more. Edward's hand had just discovered the supple texture of Bella's upper thigh, albeit through the restraints of her bloomers, when a knock resounded from the front door. Groaning in frustration, Edward threw back his head. Chagrined at their impulsivity, Bella's cheeks erupted in a rosy blush. She quickly smoothed her disarrayed hair and dress, before heading to the door.

"Wait," Edward, hissed trying to hide his obvious arousal.

Catching sight of the, rather large, bulge in his trousers, made Bella redden even more. She immediately averted her gaze before saying, "I'm sure it's fine. It's probably just one of the neighbors."

Another knock made them both jerk their heads in the door's direction. Noting that his issue had resolved itself, Edward followed Bella to the door, making sure to grab the rifle on his way.

They both held their breath as Bella eased open the door. The man on the other side nearly toppled over her; such was his haste.

"Robert!" Bella exclaimed, horrified by his appearance. Dark circles rimmed his bloodshot eyes and his cheekbones jutted out prominently, giving him a skeletal look. Not only did he look fifteen pounds lighter, but also his demeanor suggested he had lost all hope. His shoulders slumped forward and his legs shook out of sheer exhaustion.

"Mrs. Cullen, Dr. Cullen," Robert panted. "Please, come right away. Elizabeth's real sick."

He swayed violently, clutching at the doorframe. Edward managed to catch him before he hit the floor.

"Mr. Mason, talk to me, what's going on?" he asked.

"Elizabeth…she hasn't been right since the birth. At first, we thought she…was just…tired, but now…she can barely move and she's feverish."

"When's the last time you slept?" Edward asked concern in his voice.

"I don't quite remember," Robert said.

"Do you think you can make it back to your house?"

"I've gone this long."

"Let me make you some coffee," Bella offered.

"No please…there's no time. Elizabeth…I'm afraid…" tears began to fall down Robert's gaunt cheeks, before he hurriedly brushed them away.

"Let's go then," Edward said.

When they reached the Mason house, it was nearly midnight. Smoke curled from the chimney and the windows glowed with light. To an outsider, the home looked cheery, perfect, but Edward had no idea what horrors awaited within the walls.

Robert had been right. Time was of the essence. Elizabeth's breathing had begun to slow, becoming more and more shallow. Her fever had reached a dangerous peak and her pulse was much too quick. It did not take long before Edward realized; that he could do nothing. She had obviously contracted an infection during her weakened state, an infection that had raged on to the point of uncontrollability.

Dread filled his stomach as he returned to the small kitchen, where the entire Mason family, William, Rebecca, Robert, baby Edward in his arms, and Bella sat around the large oak table.

They all started at his entrance, the grimace on his face revealing far too much.

"Please don't say it," Robert whispered.

Edward, almost imperceptibly, shook his head.

"I'm sorry," he mouthed, unable to create force behind his words.

As if on cue, baby Edward began to wail. Bella held out her arms, willingly accepting the tiny bundle as Robert went to be with his beloved.

For a while, the four of them just sat there. Bella busied herself with keeping the baby calm and Edward tried his best to occupy the children by telling them stories about fairies and princesses.

An hour passed before Robert returned, his face swollen from weeping.

"Elizabeth wants to talk to you, Bella."

Surprised, Bella handed the baby back to Robert, before retreating to Elizabeth's familiar bedchamber.

There, Elizabeth sat propped up, her long blonde tresses cascading down the pillows. She looked beautiful even in her fragile state. Her closed eyes fluttered open upon hearing Bella enter.

Smiling weakly, she gestured for Bella to take a seat in the chair next to the bed.

The two women did not speak for several minutes, until Elizabeth said, "I have something very important to tell you…it's about your brother."

Bella perked up, "Emmett?" she asked.

"No, Jasper."

Jasper…she had not spoken his name for a long time. Hearing it caused a levy in her brain to break, inundating her consciousness with bittersweet memories.

"What about him?" she asked, trying to shake off the sudden sadness that plagued her.

"I don't know how to begin…but I know you deserve to know the truth."

Clutching her chest, Elizabeth continued, "Your brother and I were in love at one point in our lives. We were young and impulsive, not really thinking about the ramifications of our actions. When I discovered I was pregnant, I was overjoyed. I was a naïve girl of seventeen and I believed I was going to be with Jasper for the rest of my life. However, when I told him the news, those dreams were immediately shattered. He became distant, refusing to talk to me for weeks at a time. Finally, I confronted him, my condition was becoming increasingly more difficult to hide and I had to come up with a plan. If Jasper did not marry me, my parents would surely disown me. Marriage though, was the furthest thing from his mind. He told me he was going to enlist and planned to leave that night. I was heartbroken but, fortunately, a friend of Jasper's heard about my plight and came to my rescue."

"Robert," Bella whispered, still dumbstruck by the horrific tale.

Elizabeth nodded, "He's a wonderful man. I did not love him at first. It was more a marriage of necessity than anything, but with time, I came to adore him. When he came to my aid, he already had two kids, no …Willy and Rebecca are not mine," she said noticing Bella's confused expression.

"Then…" Bella said, utilizing process-of-elimination. "…little Edward is…"

"…your nephew," Elizabeth finished.

"I can't…" Bella said, unable to fathom the complex truth.

"Bella," Elizabeth said, her voice growing weaker. "I know you love your brother and don't want to believe that he's capable of these things…but I swear to the good Lord I am telling the truth."

"I believe you," Bella whispered, tears starting to well up in her eyes.

"Here, I want you to have this," Elizabeth said, pressing a gold locket into Bella's palm. "It actually belongs to your family, anyways."

Looking down, Bella gasped. Her mother had been looking for this very same necklace the night before she fell ill. It had belonged to her grandmother, her father's mother. Before Anna Swan had died, she had given the locket to Renee, claiming she had no surviving daughters and Renee was the closest she had ever had. Tears of anger leaked down Bella's face. How Jasper could have stolen something so dear to their mother's heart and given it to a woman, he didn't even love? Taking a deep breath, so as not to take out her frustrations on a dying woman, Bella began to say, thank you, but no one heard her. Elizabeth was gone.

The look on Robert's face when she reentered the kitchen made the tears fall even heavier. He stumbled from the room, closing the bedroom door behind him. His heart wrenching wails reverberated off the walls, rendering the whole party speechless. Edward's face was a guilt-ridden mask. He had thought by saving Elizabeth's life, he would redeem himself from the sins of his past, but, once again, he had failed. Still, he could not allow himself to continue to wallow in self-pity. For the sake of his and Bella's fledgling relationship, he had to move forward.

When Robert Mason finally returned, the children had fallen asleep, including baby Edward. Looking down at his adopted son, a smile passed over his face. One could not help but smile around the pudgy-cheeked cherub. He gently stroked the baby's cheek and downy head, before turning his attention to Edward.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth?" he accused, fresh tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry?" Edward said, taken aback.

"You're fucking English! You killed my wife!"

When Edward tried to protest, Robert lunged at him, grabbing him by the collar.

"Robert, stop!" Bella cried.

Half mad with grief, Robert threw Edward back against the table, pinning him there, his iron grasp around Edward's neck unwavering. Helplessly, Edward kicked trying to aim for Robert's groin, but the elder man had far more strength. Soon Edward's face began to change hues, first red, then blue, and finally purple from the lack of oxygen.

Frantic, Bella started punching Robert in the back, futilely trying to remove his strong hands from Edward's throat.

"You're hurting him!" Bella shrieked.

The children, roused from their slumber, stared agape at the dramatic display. Baby Edward began to scream, but Robert would not relent.

Deep guttural sounds emitted from Edward's stifled trachea and his eyes began to close in defeat.

"No!" Bella cried, hurtling into Robert with as much force as she could muster.

The suddenness of the impact forced Robert to loosen his grip. Immediately taking advantage of the leeway, Edward rolled off the table, coughing and gagging, gasping for breath.

"Edward!" Bella exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him and helping him to his feet.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Bella hissed, turning to Robert, tears of relief running down her cheeks. "He only tried to help."

"He's English," Robert panted, pointing an accusatory finger at Edward.

"No he is not!" Bella said defiantly.

"Don't lie to me girl! I heard him slip; when he was talking to you!"

Edward, who's breath, had finally returned to him, said, "I am English, but I would never do anything to hurt your wife."

Bella's grip on Edward's arm tightened as Robert stepped closer. His eyes bore into Edward's, their faces not two inches apart.

"If you really love Bella, you'll go back. You will return to whatever camp you escaped from."

Turning to Bella he affirmed, "Jasper will kill him. I hope you are not naïve enough to assume otherwise."

With that, he cast them into the night, before slamming the door shut behind them.