I am so, so sorry that it took me so long to update! I have been swamped lately. I can understand if you are not reading this story anymore, it took me so long to update. But I have a lot going on right now. My school had a strike earlier in the year, so school is going all through June, and finals are coming soon. I have also joined a rock band and we are doing performances all through the summer. And then my friends and I are making our own Twilight movie, which has kept us extremely occupied. We have the whole school involved and I am the lead camera person, so I have a lot of responsibility. I am also playing Janein the second one, lol! Ugh, but besides that, I will try to update more often. I am just sorry it took so long. I will try to get better, I promise. Anyway, leave reviews. I hope this chapter makes up for my absense, sorry again. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters!
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I was awoken yet again by the strangling pain in my body. It was now spreading throughout me, no longer in just my abdomen. It now had spread to my throat, my chest, and starting to spread through to my limbs. I was no longer able to scream or cry. My energy had all been used up in the first wave of attacks. The most my body allowed me to do was whimper in pain every time the attacks hit.
Edward was always there. Always holding me in his arms, always pressing his body close to mine, always there to kiss me when small tears would leak from my eyes, whispering encouragement when I felt ready to give up.
The skin on my stomach was starting to turn a sickly green where the infection had set in. And although I hated to think about it, this ailing bulge had started to grow in my stomach where the tissue was swelling and dying.
"How much longer?" I whispered when the stinging had passed again. Although my voice was very weak, Edward could still hear me.
"A few more hours. Once we make it to New York, we can finally get you some proper medicine," he said in a tender tone. He had begun speaking in a low monotone after the infection had started a day ago. But after he realized how much his voice had scared me like that, he was always sure to gently remind me that he was there with me. It broke my heart when an especially brutal bout would hit me that he would hold me close and sob deeply onto my shoulder, whispering 'I'm so sorry' over and over.
Charlie and Renee were thankfully kept outside of the room. Carlisle would say that I was still recovering from losing Edward and that I just needed time alone. I was happy that I would be able to spend time with Edward and Edward only. But the sooner we reached New York, the better.
I looked out of the tiny port window to the side of the room as Edward's fingers gently combed through my hair. It was starting to get dark again. Before I knew it, I was asleep again.
I was being shaken by a gentle hand. I slowly opened my eyes and was met by Edward's angel face above me. He smiled gently and caressed my cheek in one of his ice cold hands. I smiled back before I flinched in pain at the ever present pang in my body.
"We need to leave," Edward whispered. Then before I could respond, I was lifted into his arms. He cradled me like a small child. He quickly pulled a coat around me and then wrapped me up n a large wool blanket. I couldn't help myself, the sudden jostle had triggered another seizure of pain to rush through me and I cried out.
Edward's movements ceased immediately. He kissed my forehead over and over again, "I'm sorry," he whispered. I bit my lip to hold back the rest of my screams as the pain slowly ebbed away once more. Edward held me tight to his body, and making sure that the blanket was wrapped tightly and covering every inch of me but my face, he proceeded to walk out of the room.
I clung tightly to his shirt and held back my whimpers, although Edward was walking with barely any movement. "Where are we going?" I managed to choke out.
"We're almost to New York. We need to get you some medicine as soon as possible," he assured me as he walked down the hallway. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead and I squeezed my eyes shut to help stop the sudden wave of nausea.
I heard the sound of a door opening and my eyes opened once more. Edward was shouldering his way out of the door and onto the deck of the ship. It was pouring down rain and everyone around us was soaked. I tilted my head upward and saw Esme, carefully holding a large umbrella over the three of us as we went to stand by the large crowd of people.
I looked around me before I remembered the people who were missing. "Carlisle?" I asked, "Charlie? Renee?"
Esme placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, "Carlisle will be along shortly. He needs to make sure to stall your parents long enough for us to get you somewhere safe first." I nodded in understanding. I closed my eyes and leaned into Edward's chest. I listened to the crowd shoving their way through others. I was starting to relax when a sudden surge of pain hit me again. I gasped in shock and clutched tightly to Edward's shirt.
"Bella?" Edward asked anxiously and I felt his cold hand gently wipe the beads of sweat from my forehead.
"I'm alright," I choked out. But my grip didn't lessen and my teeth were clenched tight against the soreness. Edward pressed his cool lips into my hair. "I love you so much," he whispered consolingly, "you're so brave. Just wait a little bit longer, Bella, you're going to be alright."
After it had passed, I found enough strength to open my eyes. I was met by a small yellow glow. I looked up and saw the Statue of Liberty. The crown and torch glowed yellow in the night, like a large beacon. I stared as we slowly drifted by. This was the first time I had seen it in thirteen years. It was still as beautiful as I remembered. That was the last I remembered before I blacked out again.
I felt a cool hand caress my cheek, the thumb gently stroking over my lips. My lips parted and an involuntary smile slowly appeared on my face. "Bella…" I heard a soft whisper above me. My eyes opened into slits. I could not open them all the way, it hurt my sore eyes.
Edward was bending over me, his arms on either side of me. I could tell by the way his elbows supported him that he was laying on the bed with me. Edward didn't smile like I did, but his eyes were soft and full of all the gentle love he held or me. I smiled up at him.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"We're at the hospital, love. We were finally able to get you some medicine," despite the reassurance, he didn't look very relieved. His body was tense and careful over me. I didn't need to be a genius to tell that something was wrong. And somehow I knew. It was too late.
Edward wouldn't look away from my eyes, he looked straight through me. One of his hands came up slowly and pulled a strand of hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear. He smiled ever so slightly, but it was melancholy. He rested his forehead on mine, closing his eyes and inhaling my scent. I reached my hands up and caressed both of his cheeks with the palms of my hands, stroking his closed eyelids with my thumbs.
"I love you," I whispered. I meant for it to sound comforting, but it sounded more like closure. His eyes opened slowly and looked down into my eyes again. He kissed me gently, "I love you, too." But I could hear the despair in his voice, the immensity of his sadness. My fears were confirmed, I wouldn't survive. And although I was depressed by the idea, a gentle smile spread across my face. It didn't matter what happened to me, my love was with me and that was enough to make me happy. The only thing I would regret was that I was leaving him alone.
Edward reached his hand up again. His fingertips gently stroked my cheek. "It's going to be okay," he whispered, though I think it was more to reassure himself than me. I took his hand and pressed his palm against my cheek, kissing it and inhaling his scent.
"Bella…" he sighed. My eyes closed and I relaxed under his touch. "Please, love, look at me," he said softly, but desperately. My eyes slowly opened. His sad expression was replaced with one more contemplating. I waited, not speaking.
He swallowed hard. There was some kind of internal struggle in his eyes; that I could tell. His eyes averted away from mine. He didn't want me to see what he was struggling with. He shifted so that his head came to rest on my chest, listening to my heartbeat. His hands found mine and he held them tightly. He brought each of my hands to his lips to kiss them with his butterfly touch.
"Bella…" he tried again, but it seemed he couldn't bring himself to say the words. I didn't push him. I detached my hands from his and ran them through his messy hair. His hands slipped behind me to rest against my back and hold me to him. He closed his eyes and kissed my warm skin a few times, slowly and lovingly.
"There… might be a way. To save you, I mean," he said carefully. I immediately tensed but stayed silent. "Our kind," he paused for a moment to collect himself, "is immortal, like I told you. We can't get sick. We… don't die," he forced himself to say. He buried his face into my chest, as though just the thought caused him physical pain.
I already knew what he was trying to say. He was afraid to ask, he was afraid of what I would say. Vampires did not die. If I were one, I could be saved. I would be with him forever. I would be saved, in more ways than one.
But what about Charlie and Renee? I couldn't just leave them. Could I? But I was going to die anyway; there was no way around that. My human life? There was no life anymore. Edward was all I had left, my future, the only one I could ever want, ever love. It would only be right. My love for him was true, this was right.
I brought Edward's face up to mine. I felt small tears leak down and over my cheeks, but my voice was strong. I smiled at him, "Yes." I answered his unspoken question.
He stared at me, biting his lip to swallow his shock. He had expected me to say no. His eyes bored into mine. Then a look of incredulity crossed his face, "Bella. Do you really want this? You would be giving up everything, everyone you love. You will have to live with the lust for blood for the rest of eternity. You will be a… monster. I should never have suggested anything." He cast his head down to hide the despair in his eyes.
I sniffled as I brought his face back up, "I love you," I said with a gentle laugh, "that is all I need. You are all I need. I know what it is like, I am not naïve. As long as I have you by my side for all of eternity, I will be forever happy."
His eyes clouded over with what could only be love. I could tell that he would be crying if he could, but he was still hesitant. He bent his head down and started to kiss all up and down my neck. On each side and over my throat. "It will hurt," he reminded me. His words brought me back, to when he made gentle, but passionately love to me back on the ship; which was now at the bottom of the ocean. I kissed the top of his head.
"I know," I whispered, "and I don't care. I'm not afraid."
Edward's face shot up and he kissed me with immense passion. I gasped into his mouth as his hands roamed my body, caressing and touching the sensitive places.
His lips moved to my neck as he continued his exploration. He inhaled my scent between kisses. It wasn't until I felt the sharp prick of his teeth slicing through my skin that I realized that he had been distracting me.
His hands moved under my dress, stroking me gently. The pleasure was intense. He was trying to distract me from the pain his teeth caused, I knew that. His gentle movements started to become rougher and I cried out softly as my body climbed higher.
I barely noticed the pain in my throat anymore. I clutched at his shoulders as I writhed underneath him. It was a strange sensation, the way my body reacted. His stroking was enough distraction, but at the same time there was the feel of him sucking my blood from my throat, replacing it with venom. My blood tried to rush between my legs, but was instead being drunk by him. Somehow, this only seemed to heighten my pleasure.
I cried out as I finally came, Edward released his mouth from my throat and kissed me to keep me quiet. I could taste my blood on his lips. I was panting into his mouth as I came down from my high. Edward's hands were now soothing as they ran tenderly over my sides and stomach. Then, the pain started.
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Well, there you have it. Please review!