Disclaimer: We do not own Twilight, but we've had so much fun playing with the characters.
Chapter 25
BPOV
I'm awake but I'm not—not really.
I feel as though I'm on the edge of a dream and I'm unable to decide if I want to wake up or let sleep pull me under.
If I stay alert, I'll have to acknowledge the pain.
Oh, the pain.
If I fade away, I'll be without him forever.
Edward.
He must've tried to change me in order to save me. That's the only explanation for the raging fire that's flowing through my body. I feel like a candle that's being melted from the inside, slowly collapsing until nothing's left in my veins except molten lava. Edward warned that it would hurt, but no words can adequately describe the torture I'm enduring.
"She's still not moving. What if I've done something wrong? What if I've killed her?"
Edward!
The sound of his voice feels like a cool breeze on my flaming skin, but it disappears too quickly.
"She's fine. Carlisle said you did everything right. Please, stop worrying."
Rose is here? Does that mean McCarty's okay?
"Do not tell me not to worry! You'll understand how I'm feeling when you decide to change McCarty. Until then, keep your advice to yourself."
The door slams and I hope it's only Rose who's left. I need Edward. I need his strength and courage to get through this.
"My Bella," he whispers to me. "I know the hell you're going through right now and I'm so sorry you're suffering. I'd trade places with you in a second to keep you from hurting the way you are."
Edward's voice is the soothing balm to my internal fire, but only for a fleeting moment.
"If only you could move or speak—give me some kind of signal that you're still there, that I didn't fuck this up—I'd be so relieved."
No! I can't. I'm sorry, but the pain is too much. I'm afraid the slightest movement will make my body crumble like ash.
I feel soft pressure on my forehead, cheeks, and mouth before succumbing to darkness once again.
-BD-
I have no idea how long I've been here. Hours? Days? Longer? All I know is that I've been burning for so long; my body must be ruined by now. I imagine rubbing the tips of my finger and thumb together and seeing them turn to dust before being blown away by the wind.
"Does it usually take this long?"
My ears buzz at the sound of a male's voice, but it's the wrong one.
"I believe the process can take a few days, so this is still normal."
Rose. That must be McCarty she's talking to.
If I knew for sure my charred face wouldn't crack, I'd smile. I'm so relieved he's okay.
"It's been three days. What if her body was too injured for the venom to heal?"
"Stop speaking about Bella like she's not here!"
Sweet relief washes over me knowing Edward hasn't left my side. He sounds so anguished and it breaks my heart. I wish I could wake up and end his misery.
"Will she want human blood when she wakes up?" McCarty asks.
My throat is engulfed in fire at his question but my mouth stays closed to keep the flames from escaping. Panic does nothing to quench my thirst as I wait for an answer. I don't want to kill humans; I want to drink from animals like Edward and Rosalie do, but what if I can't control myself?
"She will, but I won't allow it. Bella's thirst will be out of control, but if we start her on animal blood, she'll quickly adapt. I know she'll be devastated if she drinks from a human, so I must do everything I can to help and protect her," Edward replies.
"I'll help, too, Edward. We're all in this together," says Rosalie.
"Thank you. I still say McCarty should leave for a few days—if not longer—until her thirst is more manageable."
"I'll be leaving shortly. I just wanted to make sure Bella was going to be okay."
"Both Bella and I appreciate that, McCarty. Please, don't forget to see if anyone's noticed James being gone while you're in the city."
James.
I'd forgotten all about him. Edward must've killed him after I passed out.
I can't focus on him right now—something's happening; my body is changing again.
-BD-
Images and memories of my past take over my mind. They say your life flashes in front of your eyes right before you die, but does the same happen when you become immortal?
-BD-
"Mom! Where are you going?"
"I have to work. Somebody has to feed you, you know!"
"Where's my daddy?" I ask.
"Your 'daddy'?! Girl, you don't have a daddy! Why are you asking?"
"Lauren always talks about the fun things she does with her daddy, so I was wondering where mine is. He doesn't love us anymore?"
"No, he doesn't love us! He doesn't even know you exist! Bella, if I only teach you one thing, I want it to be this: you don't need a man. They're not good for anything but a quick lay. You'll find that out soon enough. When you grow up, you're going to be so pretty, all the men will want you and you'll be able to take care of me for a change!"
-BD-
"What can I do for you, sugar?"
"I, um, I need a job, Mr. Aro."
"Is that so? You got a rockin' body and sweet ass. I know a lot of guys who'd like to get their paws on you. Tell me what your talents are and maybe I can find you something that'll benefit us both."
-BD-
"Hi, I'm Alice! You're Bella Donna, right?"
"Yeah, that's me."
"Look, I know it's hard to trust people in our line of work, but I have a feeling we're going to be great friends! We can help each other out—you know, look out for each other. In fact, I just happen to be looking for a roommate. What do you say?"
"I don't know . . . "
"Oh, come on! It'll be fun! You can teach me some of your makeup skills and I'll share my secrets on how to make guys come ten different ways in one hour! I'll even let you borrow my vampire romance books!"
"Why not?" I answer, laughing for the first time in years.
"Yay! Okay, my number one rule is absolutely NO kissing on the mouth. Understand?"
-BD-
"Can I help you with something?" I ask.
"I hope so," he says. "I'm looking for the Four Seasons. Can you give me directions?"
"I'd be able to give you better directions from inside the car," I suggest.
He leans over and pulls the handle on the door, releasing the lock. "Get in."
-BD-
"For one hundred dollars, you can have me for an hour," I offer.
"One hundred dollars an hour? That must be some exquisite pussy to demand such a price."
"Oh, it is, Mr. Cullen. I promise you'll be quite satisfied with my pussy."
"I like your confidence, but I'll be the judge of your skills. If I'm not satisfied with only one hour, how much will I have to pay to fuck you all night?"
"Two thousand dollars."
"Done."
"You want me to stay all night?" I ask.
"Yes."
"How do you know I won't satisfy you in one hour?"
"Bella, I'm an insatiable man and I've been dying to fuck you from the moment you placed your sweet ass in that car. One hour will not be enough."
-BD-
"I'm going to have to tell Jake and Garrett that you'll be helping collect information. They may want to talk to you, too."
"That's fine, but understand this: my priority is you. I really don't care if James gets caught or not. We all have our secrets and sins. If it means a better life for you, then I'm all for it. My main concern is keeping you safe."
"So, what, you're like my own personal hero?"
"Make no mistake, Bella. I'm no hero; I'm quite the opposite."
-BD-
"What do you think?" I ask, after showing him the dress I picked out.
"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen; you are absolutely stunning."
"I'm ready, Edward," I whisper.
"For what, Isabella?"
"To scream your name."
"If you want to wear that dress tonight, you need to be the one to take it off. It won't survive if I do it."
-BD-
"Thank you for staying the week with me, Bella. It's been . . ." He pauses, as if he's thinking about what he wants to say. "It's been the best week of my existence," he continues, before walking out the door.
-BD-
"Edward! I deserve some answers! You can't bring me all this way, tell me all this crazy shit that doesn't add up, and then not explain! You promised! You promised by the end of the day that all my questions would be answered, so you better get to answering them! How in the hell can you be sixty-six years old?"
"Bella, I'm immortal. I haven't aged a day since I was thirty years old."
"Is it true? Are you a . . . a vampire?"
"Yes, Bella, I am."
"I'm not afraid of you."
"Well, you should be!"
-BD-
Something's happening—I'm changing again. Where I once felt an inferno taking over my body, I now feel as though liquid steel is coursing through me. I'm getting colder, yet stronger. I don't know how I know this, but I do.
The only part of me that remains human is my heart; it's beating so hard and fast, I worry about it exploding, killing me for good.
-BD-
"You already know that I love you and I'm not going to let you leave me brokenhearted. I'm in love with you, Edward, and that means I accept you, no matter what you are."
"When I left you in the penthouse," he explains, "I ended up in Canada with Carlisle. I was a wreck, Bella. He'd never seen me so distraught before and was worried about me. I didn't know what was wrong with me; I didn't recognize what I was feeling until Carlisle helped me understand. That's when I realized that I love you, too."
"You love me?"
"I do, but it's not that simple for me, Bella. I haven't had these feelings since I was human; I'm a bit rusty and I don't know how to make this work. As soon as I recognized my feelings for you, I rushed back to Seattle only to find your note and the newspaper. I panicked. I almost killed an innocent man because I was so enraged. My emotions and, therefore, my actions run either hot or cold, there's no middle ground. You need to fully understand what you're getting yourself into, Bella."
Giggling, I answer, "Well, if I haven't run off screaming yet, I don't think I will, Edward."
-BD-
Faster and faster my heart pumps as if it's in the race of its life, which I guess you could say it is. Part of me feels like I should grab onto it and never let go, allowing it to carry me away, but then I think of what's waiting for me when the race is over.
Edward.
Forever.
I've always assumed when your life flashes in front of you, it would start with the freshest memory and end with your first cry as an infant. That's not what happened with me, though. My memories started from when I was an unloved girl, growing up confused about love and men, to getting a job that I knew would ruin me for the rest of my life. There were good times, mostly because of Alice, and then there were even better times, all because of Edward.
I can see clearly now how every road I took led me to him. I wasn't meant to be a part of this world; I was meant to be a part of his. We both searched for something, not knowing exactly what it was until we found it in each other. This is how Bella Donna is supposed to end—by finding a new beginning with Edward.
My heart starts slowing down, no longer like a rocket ship taking off, but more like a dripping faucet; with each drip, my destiny gets closer.
.
.
.
And just like that, it's over; everything is now quiet and still. I remain immobile, allowing my newly-enhanced senses to get accustomed to my surroundings. I can hear traffic from miles away and feel every tiny thread of cotton beneath my fingertips. Even the smell of tree sap from the forest is overwhelming.
"I love you so much, Isabella. Are you ready to wake up and spend eternity with me?" His whisper washes over me, gaining the full attention of all my senses.
It's Edward. He's right beside me, waiting for me; all I have to do is open my eyes and my—no, our—forever will start.
I'm more than ready.
A/Ns:
Well, this is it, the final chapter of Bella Donna! We hope you've enjoyed the story. One thing is for sure, we've had fun telling it. This story took us out of our comfort zone and allowed us to explore some darker content than we have with our other stories. Thank you for reading along and giving us your feedback! Your support means a lot to us! We love y'all!
We'd also like to thank our beta, Mauigirl60, for keeping us on the straight and narrow!
We'll have an epilogue/futuretake for you guys next week!
XOXO,
Jiffy Kate