Chapter 12 and One Half
Josius' eyes glinted, and he had a sickening smirk on his face.
In that moment, I knew exactly what he was planning on doing. Above the steady pattering of the rain, I could've sworn I heard the wheels in my mind click in realization.
Oh, God. Edward.
I looked into the frightened black orbs of the man I never got to marry. The overwhelming defeat I saw there showed that he had figured it out, too. Josius must not be exerting full control over him, wanting to draw out this sick torture.Edward looked sick.
My eyes begged Josius not to – not for my sake, but for his.
"You've been a thorn in my side from the beginning," Josius told Edward. His smirk turned further up on his face, into a sadistic grin. "Kill her, Edward."
The words were said quietly, but they filled the space with heaviness and loss.
He hadn't said them out loud to make Edward do it. He'd said those words so that I would know…the icing on this cruel, tragic cake, so to speak.
Edward stumbled backwards on the concrete till he was against the opposite arch. Hands uselessly trying to find a grip on its smooth surface, attempting to restrain himself in any way possible, he shook his head back and forth. Sobs and growls were ripping from his throat. Why, then, did I feel like the one being tortured?
Josius was going to hell for this – if I had to drag him there myself.
My feet might as well have been stapled to the floor. I was paralyzed, even as the love of my soon-to-end life took one fumbling step towards me.
"NO!" Edward cried, glancing over at Josius, "Anything but this. Please. Kill me," he moved another foot closer, "Don't make her die!" his voice cracked on the last word""God, please, no! Don't make me kill her!""
Laughter was the only vindictive reply he recieved.A strangled cry escaped his lips.
I decided that Edward wouldn't have much to do when he reached me. I was already dying.
I caught my love's gaze. On his face was the most intense expression I had ever seen him wear: ultimate love and hatred and fear, features contorted with the force of his inner struggle.
Unidentifiable words were falling from his mouth now, just dry sobs and whispers.
"Bella, I'm sorry – so sorry…" he lowered his head and repeated those words to me, in between gasps, till he was standing not a foot away.
Finally, he lifted his head. Even now, my breath caught.
Edward was beautiful, more so than the day I'd met him because of my love. Feral eyes and tasseled bronze hair made him appear otherworldly – a fallen angel.
I gave a thought or two to running away, but I wouldn't let Edward's last memories of Bella be of her cowering away from him in fear, and plus, I could never outrun him. Call this a final gift.
"I love you," I whispered, giving him a sad smile.
Edward's perfect mouth was opening and closing, his eyes squinted tightly together. The war inside him was barring speech, but when his eyes opened I knew that he loved me still. It was written in their onyx depths.
I did wish that I could hear him tell me of his love one last time, though. I supposed I'd just have to hang on to my memories – if I had memories where I was going.
Edward's hands were on my shoulders now. The cold, shakyfingers slowly traveled up till they were around my neck.
Of course.
Josius wasn't going to demand Edward to bite me. He wanted my blood all to himself. All Edward was commanded to do was kill me.
Josius, I hoped, would keep Edward under mind control to stop him from shouldering the blame for my early grave. Maybe then he wouldn't run off to Italy.
I could feel his shuddering breath on my forehead now, and his fingers squeezed the tender flesh at my throat slightly.
Savoring the feel of his body so close to mine, I looked up into his fierce orbs for the last time. My Edward was in there - somewhere.
Then, I closed my eyesand said a silent prayer to God, that if nothing else, he let me remember these last years, and then waited for my neck to snap – waited for death.