A/N: kay, this may be confusing, but i'm trying to explain everything... so this goes back to before edward met bella's family :)
Chapter 11: Destruction
BPOV
I couldn't believe that Edward had agreed to come meet my family. And he wasn't even nervous. I mean, he was about to go walking right into the living quarters of seven vampires. He really didn't have any idea what self-preservation was, did he?
Still, I couldn't help but be overjoyed as I drove Edward and myself to my home.
"Bella, honestly, how hard is it to press down on that pedal?" Edward complained. I rolled my eyes. Honestly, was it my fault that his idea of driving was going twice the speed limit?
"I'm doing this for your own good," I said quickly. The truth was, my family complained about my driving, too, which is why I went to school in my own car. I couldn't help it, though. I wasn't exactly the embodiment of grace in my human years, and I was prone to accidents. Naturally, cautious was the way to go back then. I guess old habits die hard.
I snuck a glance over at Edward as he sighed heavily and slumped down in his seat, obviously putting on a show for me. I laughed too quietly for him to hear.
Soon we had made it to my home—though I could tell Edward was a little bit past annoyed at my driving by now. I smiled at him as I drove his Volvo toward our garage and parked it; letting myself out before he could act all gentle-manly.
I grabbed Edward by the wrist and half-dragged him toward the front door; my excitement obvious on my pale face.
Once we were inside, I have Edward a few moments to digest the scenery.
"It's very open in here," he observed.
Way to state the obvious, I thought to myself. I shrugged, "This is the only place where we can be ourselves," I said simply.
The introductions with my family were quick and painless, and I soon found myself sitting next to Edward on the piano bench, listening to his music flow softly through the room. It was amazing—I had never heard anything like it before. I loved every inch of it almost as much as I loved Edward.
Soon I was showing Edward around the house, finally bringing him up to the third floor, and into my room. He was walking inside in awe when I heard it—a light knock on the door, followed by the sound of shuffling feet and the smell of our kind—of vampires. Three of them. I froze. Oh, God, how could this be happening? Why now? I listened intently to the conversation between Carlisle and the nomads.
"I'm Carlisle, and this is Esme and Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett," Carlisle said musically, hurriedly. It was clear he was trying to get them to leave.
"I am Laurent," a strange voice said. "And this is James and Victoria. We had heard that a coven of vampires had a permanent residence here, and we were intrigued as to find out who it could be, and how," he said kindly. There was genuine curiosity in his voice, as well as judgment.
"Well, we don't hunt humans," Carlisle said politely, "although we would prefer it if you didn't hunt within our territory. We are trying to stay inconspicuous; to stay here a while longer." The small talk had lead to hunting; not a good sign. The nomads' eyes were probably a nice shade of black.
"Don't worry," Laurent said, "we won't hunt within your region."
Suddenly, I felt a warm hand grasp my hand. It felt terribly wonderful—I never wanted that hand to let go. I realized that Edward had been talking to me, and I broke down.
"I'm so sorry, Edward," I murmured as I embraced his warmth. "I'm so, so, sorry…" I was barely speaking; I didn't know if he could even hear me.
"What is it Bell—" Edward began; then he tensed as well.
There was a sharp intake of breath, and I heard something I wished I hadn't.
"You brought a snack..?" the other male voice said, obviously confused by Edward's scent. My breath caught in my throat, I couldn't move.
"The human is not food, he is family," Carlisle defended. More shuffling sounds floated from the first floor. Obviously Carlisle was trying to get them out.
I heard a loud hiss—knew Edward heard it, too, by the way his eyes widened in horror—coming from the second male, James. He was interested in Edward's blood…
My family hissed in return, obviously ganging up on the three nomads.
"I think it would be best if you and your coven left now," Carlisle said menacingly.
"There are other vampires here?" Edward asked me nervously. I was relieved, though—I thought he had gone into shock.
I still didn't move, though—I couldn't. I was frozen. I knew my face was a mask of horror, but I couldn't change it. I stayed frozen where I was, Edward in my arms.
After the vampires had left, I was able to relax enough to walk Edward down to the first floor.
I felt my shield rip away from me, all my thoughts flooding toward Edward with nothing to stop them. James was a hunter. Edward was his prey. This had just become his most interesting game.
* * *
The house was in chaos. My family ran around, hissing ideas at each other, trying to figure out how to keep Edward alive.
I took no part. I couldn't function anymore. My whole existence was being unraveled at the seams.
"We should fight him head on!" Emmett shouted triumphantly. I growled at him angrily, vetoing the notion immediately.
Other than that, however, I had no input whatsoever. I floated by Edward's side, daring anyone to come near him.
Soon we had taken our seats at our once-unused dining table; the family discussing various methods to keep my love's life. A majority of ideas involved vacating Edward as soon as possible.
I held my head in my hands, wishing that I had never fallen for Edward. Such an amazing person—how he had changed my life so completely… but for what cost? Because of me his life was being ripped away from him.
Suddenly, Edward sighed, and held is own head in his hands. I looked over at him sadly, only to see the resolve forming slowly in his eyes.
He looked up at my family, before saying, "I think it would be best if I…" he had difficulty getting the words out; almost as if he didn't want to say them. But I would accept anything that would keep him safe. My poor, poor, Edward…
Edward's chair scraped noisily across the floor as he stood up. I started to get up with him, but the look in his eyes told me to sit down again. I complied, confusion flowing through me.
"…It would be best for everyone if I left," he concluded sadly. I froze. He was leaving me?
Edward walked slowly out of the house, closing the door quietly behind himself.
Edward left. He left me. He was leaving me behind because I had done this to him. I was so selfish. Selfish, selfish, selfish. And now I had lost everything.
It was only seconds before I broke down.
I cried tears that would never fall. I stared blankly at the front door where I had last seen the love of my existence. And then I fell. I fell forever, until I hit the bottom. Rock bottom, I think they called it. I was empty, empty like never before. I felt a hole where my dead heart had been ripped out of my body. I clenched my fist over my invisible wound; trying desperately to hold myself together. Edward was gone.
* * *
Hours had gone by, and I had not moved once. No one tried to disturb me either, which I mentally thanked them for.
I heard them talk about me, talk about Edward; but I couldn't make out the words. I couldn't feel around the empty pain inside of me. So I lay there on the floor, staring at nothing.
Finally, after several minutes of torture, Carlisle shook me from my daze. He pulled me to himself, held me on his lap as I sobbed into his shoulder.
"Hush, Bella," he soothed, stroking my hair gently. I could almost hear Edward again." Two hours of this passed, and I could never thank Carlisle enough.
Out of nowhere, there was a sharp intake of breath. I heard Esme whispering to someone, then a gasp. Immediately everyone was by me, dragging me to my feet.
"It's Edward," Esme said. Her horrified voice woke me up completely. Edward? What had happened to him?! "Alice saw him," hate filled her beautiful voice. "He has Edward…"
So that was it. He wanted a fight. I felt my energy return to me as I disengaged from my family and ran out the door. I knew they understood; they all had those they loved like nothing else. Edward was my soulmate; there was no getting around it. I heard them all following behind me. Normally, they would have easily kept up with me. But normally, I wouldn't be running to save the reason for my existence.
* * *
I arrived in Seattle in no time flat. I could smell Edward. I followed his scent to an old Opera house. On normal occasions, I would have taken the time to marvel at its beauty. But, of course, now was not the time.
I dashed inside, and froze. I saw Edward lying on the floor, saw James pull his head back to expose his throat. I growled angrily. What was he doing to my Edward? Then I saw the syringe. It was silver as it glinted in the fluorescent lighting. I gasped when I realized what it was. Venom.
I watched in horror as James stabbed Edward's throat with the syringe. My anger exploded; I sprinted toward James, ignoring my family behind me.
Before James could get too much venom into Edward's system, I tackled him—making sure to take the syringe with me.
I bared my teeth at him, growling fiercely as I pummeled his face.
"Bella!" Carlisle shouted from beside Edward. "Bella, you have to be with Edward now, he needs you. The others can take care of James." His soothing voice coaxed me toward my dying love.
"Fine," I growled, "but I get to finish him."
I crouched down next to Edward, and gasped as I took in his appearance. His clothes were torn; his throat was bruised and bleeding, and blood was beginning to pool underneath him.
I framed Edward's burning face with my hands.
I saw some of his sanity begin to return; his eyes became slightly less glazed.
"Edward," I cried, "please, Edward, it's okay, it's going to be okay…" I couldn't let him die. I loved him too much. He was my existence now.
He was crying—probably didn't even know the tears were falling out of his eyes. I stroked them away with my thumb, reveling in his warm skin. I couldn't lose him, not now, not when he had changed me so completely. "Don't leave me, Edward," I choked out between sobs.
Edward lifted his right hand slowly and placed it on my cheek. "Bella," he groaned painfully. His voice made my dead heart ache. "I love you…" he let his hand fall back down to the floor.
Despite my sadness, I found myself smiling. "I love you too, Edward," it had never been truer than it was in this instant.
Edward laughed painfully. It sounded like he was choking, but I understood. He was happy…
I leaned down toward his face, stroking his cheek lovingly with cool fingers. I kissed him tenderly; praying to every God I knew that this wouldn't be the last time.
"Bella, I love you," he choked out again. I knew this was it.
His deathly slow heartbeat became even slower.
We stared at each other for another minute; and then his heartbeat faded away into the oblivion.
I screamed out in agony. With Edward, my life disappeared. I turned around to face the fire that was now James. He wasn't dead yet… no, they were torturing him. I smiled wickedly; knew my eyes were black with the desire to kill him.
I dashed over to James, biting his neck furiously; ripping him to shreds. Too soon it was over.
I broke down again; I fell to my knees, sobbed silently on the floor. My family stayed near me; knew I needed them, but unsure what to do.
Alice was the one who came to me. She hugged me gently; let me cry once more into her tiny shoulder.
The fire danced around us, mocked us.
Slowly, slowly, I walked toward Edward's corpse. I picked him up, cradling his cold figure against myself.
My family followed me out of the opera house, toward home. I ran as fast as I could—I wanted to get away.
Soon we were home, Edward's body still in my arms. I fell to my knees outside of our home, hugging him closer to me still. I couldn't believe myself. I couldn't comprehend how my entire life was now gone.
Carlisle coaxed me into our home, brought me to our couch.
This was it, this was the end. Everything was over. I didn't know what I'd do now… I'd go to Italy, but I know Edward wouldn't like it.
I had finally given up when it happened.
It was slow, and wet. It sounded unnatural, but I knew immediately what it was. I could pick this sound out no matter how quiet it was.
Edward's dead heart beat again, as slow and wet as the first time.
A/N: ahh, so i'm not completely heartless.
so, you people obviously didn't want edward to die o.0 i was surprised, in 10 minutes i got 12 emails lol.
anywho, i gotta go to work, i'll fix typoes and crap later. be glad i took time to write this before i left (you're welcome)
before i post another chapter, i want 10 more reviews (yes, i'm being greedy)
~Vicki
A/NN: k, i fixed the whole james phonecall part, since it was weird. reread that if yuou want, idc XDD
also, 'i love this story etc.', i knew it was you. you're too spazzy not to recognize XD let me bask in my happiness, though. let's all pretend you gave me only ONE review per chapter :)
