Author's Note: I own none of this. I only like to borrow Stephenie Meyer's creations and play with them. I only wish I could have the creative mind like that. Oh well…

Thank you for everyone who has 'faved' or commented on my newest story. Your words and readership mean the world to me!

Chapter 14: Scorched

BPOV

I was in so much pain. It burned my soul. It burned my life. I wanted to die. So badly. I screamed. I clawed. I tried everything to make the pain stop. The burning began at my neck and traveled quickly through my system. It was so intense; I didn't even feel the searing white hot agony that went through my chest. My broken leg and shattered ribs were nothing compared what I was feeling in my veins. They felt like soft caresses compared to that.

I was aware of Edward as he picked me up. I could hear his mental apologies and his anguish. I was in too much pain to care. My blood was searing through my veins and I just wanted it to stop. I thought my skin was going to burn off my body, I hurt so much.

I heard Edward speak to Jacob and Mike. Jacob was fucking pissed that Edward bit me. He did this to me. He caused my pain.

No, James did. He attacked you. Edward saved you.

I listened to them speak, not hearing the words. Their inane chatter was grating on my nerves. It made my ache even more cumbersome. I needed to make my presence known. I began screaming and clawing at the person holding me. "It hurts, Edward. Make it stop," I begged. I punched and kicked, trying to make the boiling agony stop.

"Go, Alice," Edward demanded. I know it hurts, my Bella. I would do anything to make the pain go away, my love. Please know that.

I almost begged for him to kill me. To end my suffering. However, my heart shattered at the thought of being without Edward. My Edward. My perfect angel. I tried to focus my thoughts on his face and the joys he gave me before I was attacked, but they didn't stop the burning sensation in my body. I screamed. I yelled. I shrieked. For how long, I'm not sure, but it was a long time. Edward kept his arms around me and hummed in my ear. He mentally told me that he loved me and that he would do anything to make my pain stop.

The next thing I knew was I being placed on a soft bed. I could smell Edward. His clean, fresh scent inundated my nostrils. I could also smell fresh earth, burnt wood and cotton. I continued to thrash and move.

Bella, I'm so sorry, my love. Please know that I love you, he cried mentally. I'm here for you. Bella, my love, my life, my wife, my mate, my everything.

Edward, I know you're there. It hurts so much. Make it stop, please, I begged.

However, it did nothing to quell the pain in my body. I gave up. I finally stopped screaming and lay down. The pain was still as intense, but I could feel my body change. I could hear my heart beat, every single breath I took, every single breath Edward took. My mind raced and I found myself focusing on the most random things. The scent of the room. Counting every random tick that was made.

I eventually felt another presence in the room. I inhaled and smelled gardenia, sandalwood and antiseptic. Carlisle was here. I heard him talk to Edward and insisted that he hunt. He mentioned something about Edward's eyes. They were red.

Why?

Oh, he drank your blood. It changed his golden eyes to be red. He did it to save you.

Edward reluctantly left my side, before pressing a kiss to my forehead. His lips felt soft and he was warm to me. I wanted to beg him to stay, but if I moved then I would spontaneously combust. Carlisle sat next to me and fussed over me. He checked my pulse and looked at my wound on my chest. He muttered something about the ferocity of the attack and he ran his fingers through my hair.

"I know that you are battling, Bella. We're here for you. We will always be here. We're your family now," Carlisle whispered. "We love you."

I love you, too, Carlisle. Everybody. I love them all!

I smelled three more people come in. One was musky and smelled of pine. That had to be Emmett. The other two were fresh and floral. Rosalie and Esme? I wasn't sure. I didn't want to open my eyes to see. If I did, I'd burn them. I'd burn myself. Shit, it hurts so much.

I lay on the bed, not moving, in fear of adding to my agonizing, searing pain. The room has a revolving door of visitors. The only constant person at my side is Carlisle while Edward is gone. His presence is comforting. He knows what I am going through. As do all of them, but I don't know why I trust Carlisle the most. Perhaps because he created Edward and Edward created me. Does that make Edward my father?

Gross….I'm married to my father.

Right, Edward and I are husband and wife. We're married. We are mates. Lovers. Friends. Companions. Equals. Partners. I can't imagine my life without him. He is my reason for existence. My fingers twitch and I feel for my engagement and wedding ring. They are not on my hand.

Where are they?

Oh right, I took them off to go to work. They're on my necklace. I shift subtly to feel if the delicate chain is still around my neck and it is. I smile in my mind and at the comfort of knowing me having my rings. The symbol of my union with Edward.

I heard the door open and I smelled Edward. There was something different about his scent. He had just hunted and I could smell his meal. My throat burned at what I inhaled. I wanted it. I wanted him. I faintly heard Rose and Esme give him shit about his appearance. I would have paid money to see what he looked like. I heard Rose remove twigs and leaves from his hair and razz him about not wearing a shirt.

My husband does look yummy topless. Damn him and his six pack. Wait, scratch that. Eight pack and that delicious 'v' on his hips.

Bella! You're burning. Stop fantasizing about your fuckhot husband. Your body is going through a radical change. You will be able to see him soon enough. I heard his quiet footsteps and he entered my room. He spoke quickly to Carlisle and Emmett, who was in the corner, watching over me like a sentry at his post. Before my changes in my hearing and body, I would not have heard what Edward was saying to Carlisle. However, I heard it all. I know you're there, Edward. I miss you. I know all of them are here. It hurts, I thought.

I know, my love. Soon. It'll be over soon, Edward mentally whispered.

Carlisle gave Edward grief over his appearance and I heard him scamper to shower. I listened intently to his movements in the bathroom, as he washed his body. I heard his hands rub across his skin and the sounds of him washing his hair. However, my imagination about Edward in the bathroom was quickly forgotten when I heard Alice skip into the bedroom. She shooed Carlisle and Emmett out of the room and began removing my ruined uniform. She unclasped my necklace and slipped my rings onto my left hand. I immediately felt better knowing they were there. I know she couldn't hear me but I mentally thanked her.

"You're welcome, Bella," she said quietly as she slipped a bra over my shoulders and clasped it behind me. I inhaled and smelled silk.

Smelled silk? What the fuck?

Alice put me in a dress. A dress! Alice, a dress? Really?

"A dress, Alice?" Edward asked his voice as smooth as velvet.

"What? She's got great legs," Alice replied.

Alice if you loved me, you would not put me into a dress. I hate skirts with a passion. I would have gotten married in sweatpants if it weren't for you and your meddling ways.

"I know she does, but think about when she wakes up. She'll be disoriented and confused. I will have to take her hunting in a dress," Edward pressed.

Thank you, Mr. Voice of Reason, I breathed.

You're welcome, my love. Looking out for you, baby.

"But, she looks so cute," Alice pouted.

"She looks beautiful," Edward said quietly. Beautiful is not the correct word, Bella. You are more than just beautiful. Words escape me. I love you. "When, Ali?"

I love you, too, Edward. I can't wait until I'm awake and with you.

Alice didn't say when I was going to wake up, but she did say that she brought more than the dress for me. She also told Edward to change me. I'd rather he did it. I was so comfortable with him. He was so tender and kind. So loving. So perfect.

He mentally laughed and laid me back on the bed, curling up next to me. I'm here, Bella. Talk to me.

It hurts, Edward, I moaned.

He gathered me in his arms and I could the differences in my body. He didn't feel freezing to me anymore. He almost felt warm. His scent permeated my senses and I inhaled deeply, relishing in the calm it gave me. He didn't feel rock hard. His skin and his waist felt soft, but still muscular. My arm was draped across his belly and I squeezed it gently. I heard Edward hiss. He gently extricated himself from my arms. He moved me from the bed and easily lifted me. He removed my dress and put me in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. Much better, thank you, Edward.

What can I do, Bella? Edward asked.

Hold me, Edward. Sing to me. Make me forget the burning I'm feeling, I whined. God that must be annoying. Note to self, apologize to Edward for my incessant whining.

Anything for you, my love, Edward replied. He laid us both back down and he held me to his chest, humming the piece of music he wrote for me. He hummed for as long as he held me. As I was nestled in his arms, the burning feeling began to subside. It started in my fingers and toes first. Instead of burning, I was met with a numbing sense of cold. It quickly traveled up my body.

I also reenacted my last moments as a human in my mind. It was so brutal, it was hard to forget. Each time the fireball hit my chest, my heart beat staggered. Edward's hold on me tightened as he also saw what was in my mind. We had several visitors. Carlisle and Alice were the most frequent. Carlisle was concerned for my well being. Alice just chattered about her wedding. She described her wedding dress and the bridesmaid dresses. I groaned and willed her away. My guess is that Edward probably gave her a look and she never returned after her last visit.

We lay for their for an immeasurable amount of time. The only thing that marked the passage of time was Edward's breaths. 5,782 breaths later, my heart took off. I began thrashing and moving in the bed. I pushed Edward off of it and he fell onto the floor with a thud.

"Carlisle?" Edward called.

My heart was beating so fast. I felt it was going to explode from my chest. I smelled Carlisle and the rest of the family enter the room. I arched off the bed and I felt it creak and moan at my movements. I vaguely heard Edward and Carlisle saying it was too fast. My change went by too quickly. I wasn't sure what that meant, but I didn't care. I was no longer burning, but my heart. Oh my heart, it was moving so rapidly. Edward! I screamed.

Heart finally sped up to the point where I couldn't discern individual heart beats. Eventually, I heard nothing. I felt nothing. I was blissfully cool but no longer in pain. Tentatively, I opened my eyes. I looked around the room and saw everything in such clarity. I saw the individual grains of wood on the paneling. I saw the tiny crack near the ceiling. I saw EVERYTHING. I inhaled and found I didn't need to breathe. However, it felt good. I smelled and tasted everything in the room. Then my hackles went up. I wasn't alone.

I know this. Edward was with you, idiot.

I jumped off the bed and darted to the corner, dropping into a defensive crouch. I was ready to strike. I looked furtively around the room and saw the worried faces of my family. However, my eyes kept drifting back to the gorgeous Adonis with bronze hair walking toward me. His hands were up in a passive manner. He moved slowly and spoke quietly. "Bella, do you know who I am?" he asked. His voice was as smooth as silk, dripped in butter. It was calming to my anxious nerves. But I couldn't help my reaction. I hissed at him and backed further into my corner. I kept moving until I felt the wall against my back.

Bella, it's Edward. Your husband, he soothed. "Please, Bella."

My mind raced. I thought back over the past few days and I caught glimpses of what happened. My wedding. My father giving me away. Making love to my husband. My husband, "Edward?" Oh, my voice sounds strange. It sounds like bells and wind chimes. I looked back at Edward. His eyes were calm and he had a small smile on his face. I looked at his left hand and saw the platinum band around his finger. "Husband."

"Yes, I'm your husband. I love you, Bella," he said in his smooth voice. I went through the memories again and finally came to the conclusion that I could trust him. He looked so beautiful. His skin was soft and pink. His hair shone with multifaceted colors. His eyes were penetrating my gaze. I darted toward him and wrapped my arms around his neck. I squeezed tightly, safe in his arms. He wheezed, "Bella. Too tight."

"Oops," I said as I loosened my grip around his neck. "I forgot."

"It's okay, love. Do you remember now?" he asked quietly. His mind filled with the events leading up to my human death. I saw the pain his memories. His sadness of taking my life. However, there was also a bit of happiness and joy at being with me forever.

"Yes, Edward," I smiled. I took his angelic face into my hands and ran my fingertips along his warm skin. "I love you."

He gave me his crooked grin and brushed his lips against mine. They no longer were cold and hard. They were soft and moved perfectly with mine. My fingers moved up his chest and took purchase in his soft hair. Edward pulled my bottom lip into his teeth and nibbled. It caused a delicious reaction from me. I purred. "You can bite me now," I mused.

"Yes, I can," he laughed. It sounded like the most perfect symphony.

"Do it again," I said, standing on my tiptoes, angling my face for another kiss. He pulled me flush against his body, no restraint in his actions. He crashed his lips against mine and plunged his tongue into my mouth. I pulled his lip between my teeth and bit down. He growled and grabbed my ass.

I heard a discreet cough and we separated. However, Edward didn't let go of me. He slipped behind me and placed his arms around my waist. "Oops."

"Bella, how are you feeling?"Carlisle asked, still maintaining his distance.

"I'm fine, Carlisle," I answered honestly. I felt strong and happy. There was a tickle in the back of my throat, but nothing too pressing. It was annoying and I brought my hand up to my neck, "My voice sounds so different." I tried to play it off as that. I didn't want to worry them.

"I think it sounds beautiful," Edward purred against my neck. I turned around and kissed him on his nose.

"Are you thirsty, Bella?" Alice asked. Her golden eyes were bright and she was bouncing on her toes.

"Now that you mention it, yeah. It's so dry," I answered. The tickle in my throat quickly morphed to a full on burn. It was uncomfortable.

Edward notice my discomfort and he grabbed my hand. "Let's hunt, my love."

My eyes widened and I took a steadying breath. Once again, I didn't need it. I was worried I couldn't do it. Edward assured me that it was instinctual. Edward caught Alice and Jasper's eyes and I could tell they were having a mental conversation. He probably wanted back up if I decided to get apeshit. I didn't blame him. I was in control, but I could feel the 'animal' tread underneath. Edward tugged on my hand and led me outside into the dampness. He inhaled and turned his body to the south. "Follow me, Bella."

He took off and I gasped. How am I supposed to keep up with him? I can't run like that. However, like a lasso, I was pulled to him. I shot off, following his scent. To my own shock and amazement, I managed to not fall and actually catch up with him. He stopped and I lithely danced up to him. He smiled and caressed my cheek. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

I wasn't sure what to do, so I asked. Edward guided me and I smelled something. Something mouthwatering. I wanted it. Turns out it was Edward. He teased me saying I could drink him.

Damn it.

I closed my eyes and tried again, ignoring the alluring aroma of Edward. I finally honed in on something. Tangy. Wet. Blood. Edward told me to listen for the heartbeats. I did. There were three of them. Edward told me to trust my instincts and I dashed to where the pumping blood was emanating from. I found three deer drinking from a stream. Surprisingly, the stream didn't hold a candle to the deliciousness of the blood from the deer. I wasn't sure what to do. Edward just told me to simply attack. I thought about and remembered that I was insanely strong, my teeth were sharp and my skin was impenetrable. Attack. I can do this.

I focused my attention to the largest of the three deer. He looked most appetizing. I jumped and wrapped my arms around the squirming animal and sank my razor sharp teeth into his hide. I sucked down all of his blood. It was warm and tangy. It cooled the burn in the back of my throat, but it was still there. Edward watched me and his eyes were black as tar. He looked even more enticing than the deer. But I was still thirsty. "So?"

"I want more," I begged.

Edward chuckled and I tried to find more prey, without his guidance. I closed my eyes and let my mind open up. I heard the breeze, felt the dampness in the air and smelled more blood. It was enticing, aromatic, and I wanted it to be mine. My throat screamed for it. I darted off and ran toward the scent. A few miles away I found a huge grizzly bear. He was rubbing his back on a tree and he looked so appetizing. I moved stealthily toward the huge bear and he finally noticed me. I smiled and jumped at the bear. His huge paws clamped around me and I felt no pain. I pushed him to the ground and flipped him over my body. That was fun. He clawed and swiped at me, but never made contact. My teeth dug into his muscles and his blood poured down my throat. It was so much better than the deer. It was sweet and hot. I drained him quickly and stood up, wiping my mouth.

I looked at my husband, who was leaning nonchalantly against a large pine tree. I moved seductively toward him and captured my eyes with his. Am I your prey now, Mrs. Cullen? He smirked.

Oh yeah, Edward, I grinned. I ran toward him and pounced. We rolled a few times and I pushed him into the underbrush. I purred and pulled his earlobe into my teeth, nibbling on it. "I want you, Edward. Right here. Right now."

Then Edward lost it. In a good way. We had the most amazing sex. No, it wasn't sex. It was fucking. A good old fashioned fucking. I thought I was going to explode at what was happening between us. He was so fucking hot and I couldn't get enough of him. Our connection reestablished itself and I felt powerful, in control and most importantly, loved. Even though we were fucking, Edward never lost his loving gaze. It was much more intense, but the love and the passion were still there. I was hopeful that my gaze was as equally as telling.

After our romp in the forest, we got dressed. I wanted Edward to bend me over several trees, but I knew we needed to head back. As we ran back to the cabin, Edward encouraged me to try my powers. I froze several birds with alarming accuracy. I blew up several huge boulders. I even mentally pushed Edward about a half a mile away. He was shocked at that one.

We were nearly back to the cabin with the most wonderful scent invaded my nostrils. I hissed and took off in the direction of the most inviting smell I had ever experienced. It smelled almost better than Edward. Almost. My mind was reeling at what it could be. Another bear? A mountain lion?

When I got closer to the scent, I finally realized what I smelled. A human.

No!

But I couldn't stop. I kept running toward the human. I wanted it so badly. I heard more footsteps around me and my hackles went up. This was my prey. Not theirs. I moved faster. I needed to reach the human before them.

But it's a human. A life. You can't take a life.

I stopped, dead in my tracks. "What am I doing?" I murmured.

Edward came up behind me and he wrapped his arms around me. "Bella," he whispered. His arms were around me lovingly, but I knew they were also restraining me from attacking.

No! I screamed. I launched Edward across the forest into a tree, causing it to crack. He fell to the ground and he looked at Emmett, who appeared in front of me. I darted to my left and Emmett countered with me. I was soon surrounded by all of the Cullen men. I hissed and frantically searched my mind for a solution. I gathered my power and pushed them away with my mind.

I took off and continued my pursuit of my prey. Edward caught up with me and grabbed my shoulders. He flipped me and I fell roughly on my back. He straddle my waist and he looked at me, his eyes begging. "Bella, stop! You don't want to do this," he said as he pushed my hands down above my head.

"Get off me," I shrieked.

He placed his hands on mine and he channeled my power and forced me to stay underneath him. "You are not moving. Do you feel that? Our connection is deeper. We can share your power. You are not leaving. You will not attack an innocent human, Bella," Edward said fervently. "That human could be a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, someone IMPORTANT to someone else. Someone loves them."

"Just like Charlie loves me," I spat.

"Bella, Charlie does love you. You will see him again. However, you need to get in control of your thirst," Edward said as he released one hand, caressing my cheek. "You can see him eventually. I promise you."

The rest of our family came and found us, Edward sitting on top of me. I wiggled and tried to release his hold on me. However, his mental control was impeccable and I couldn't move. I looked anxiously around at my new family. I then looked at my husband. His gaze was determined and his mouth was set in a firm line. I stopped my struggles and relented. Edward released my hands and his mental hold on me was gone. I was exhausted, but not tired. Edward still sat on my lap but his jaw relaxed and his gaze softened. I immediately realized what I was about to do. "Oh my god," I cried. "I'm so sorry. So sorry, Edward."

He got off my lap and gathered me in his arms. "It's called bloodlust, Bella. That's what you need to get under control before you can see Charlie," Edward said soothingly. "I'm fine. We all are fine." He stood up and helped me. He placed his arm around my waist and I looked sheepishly at my new family.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled. "I…"

"Bella. It's not a big deal," Emmett said. "It took Carlisle, Edward, Rose and Esme to hold me back when I caught my first whiff of a human. I actually ripped off one of Edward's fingers."

"Yeah, that hurt, Emmett," Edward grumbled. "It took three tries to get it to reattach. It still doesn't bend properly."

"Wait, you can reattach limbs and shit?" I squeaked.

"The only way to kill a vampire is to tear them apart and burn the pieces," Jasper explained. "If we become 'dismembered' we can fix ourselves, as long as we keep the missing part attached to our bodies. I've lost my right arm a few times. That takes about a day to reattach."

"The finger took a few hours, but it kept doing funny things. So we had to start from scratch," Edward said as he bent his left index finger. "I'm grateful you didn't feel it necessary to rip me limb from limb, Bella. Though you had that look."

My eyes widened and buried my head into his chest. Oh, Edward. You must hate me. I am so sorry. Please forgive me.

"Bella, I could never hate you. Ever. I love you with everything that I am. You are just adjusting to a HUGE change. You doing wonderfully. Please believe me when I say that," Edward said as he pulled my chin up. I gazed into his eyes and I saw his love and his forgiveness. He leaned forward and gently kissed my lips. "Are you okay, now?"

Not trusting my own voice to answer, I simply nodded. I felt horribly about how I reacted to Edward and my new family. I felt so guilty at the life I was so ready and willing to take. Was I really okay? Was I really deluding myself into feeling that I was alright with what just had happened? Edward saw my look of anguish on my face and he nodded to his family. They scattered and he picked me up. He darted to a small cabin close by that had been abandoned for some time. He opened the door and we sat down inside.

"Talk to me, Bella. Where's my spunky firecracker?" he asked.

"She's dead, Edward," I mumbled.

"No, you're not dead, Bella. You're confused. I know what you're feeling. I understand it. Everything that you know has shifted. You may not be 'alive' technically, but you are the same person," Edward said as he cupped my face.

"I feel so different," I said as I ran my hands over my skin. "Cold. Hard. Killer."

"Bella, you are not cold. You are warm. Give me your hand," he said. I didn't move and he picked up my hands and pressed it to cheek. "Do I feel cold to you? Do I feel hard?"

"No. You're soft and warm," I said as I traced his jaw. "With a masculine flare."

"She's coming back," Edward said with a twinkle in his eyes. "You are not a killer. You stopped. You allowed yourself to be stopped."

"But I could have," I said, removing my hand from his face. "I was ready."

"Bella," he said. I looked down at my fingers and wrung my hands. "Baby, you are glorious. Beautiful. Intelligent. Talented. You make me a better person. I would be nothing without you. I made a vow to you that I would never leave your side and I take that vow very seriously. I love you with everything that I am capable of giving. This might not be beat," Edward said as he placed my hand on his heart, "But if it did, it would only beat for you."

I ran my hand over his chest. I felt tears prick in my eyes, but I knew they wouldn't fall. "What did I do to deserve you, Edward," I murmured.

"The same thing I did to get you," he replied softly. "I love you my Bella."

I looked up at him and gave him a smile. His face broke into a lopsided grin. My favorite grin. "I love you, too, Edward." I crawled into his lap and he held me. We stayed in the quiet cabin until the sun went down, wrapped in each other's embrace.

A/N: And the chapter ends there…I wanted to continue it, but it made sense to not continue. I hope you are enjoying Witch Way. Please leave me reviews. They make me happy. Lots of love!