Disclaimer: Ahem…, disclaimers make me think of this song: "Nobodyyyyy knows the trouble I've seen. Noboddyyyy knows my sorrow." That is all. (don't. own. It. )
You guys know I love you. Even when you hate me, and want me to drop dead, and make superfluous death threats, I love you. Thanks for the big 555! And the 123 favorites.
Cody: err… good luck with that. Seeing as I'm invincible (!!), your threat falls useless upon my ears. 300 pounds? Pshh…that's for rookies. IIII can lift 400023432. Exactly that number. Exactly. Why didn't I comply you ask? Just to make you mad. Nah, jk, although u do threaten rather seriously scary. Good thing I'm invincible (!!). And I gave you a cliffie…again, just to make you mad. :D Thanks, and have a nice day!
Albnal33: awww…that one's the worst. Although you did talk about the chapter in a good way sort of…so I forgive you. But just barely. And since you said please….
Eliane: Because Im an evil Keebler elf. That's why! Haha. Thanks for the positivity, and got cha'. Im on it.
Tatiana: why, thank you. (blushes) Im touched. I think I was thinking of titania, the queen's name in Midsummer Night's Dream. Hmmm… too much Shakespeare than what's good for me.
Jalice: Thanks. I thought it was one of my best. Kindof disappointed by the review number, but only kindof. Nice coinage: fawesome. Mind if I use it? Lol. Keep up the fawesome reviews. Enjoy…or not. Just tell me about it.
Broken: Yep, Bella and the hags were right about the old chap. And since you put black berries. I made them black in my head, I will comply. And thank you!
Isabelladreamer: awwww( tear, blush, tear, BLOWS NOSE INTO TISSUE) That was so nice. I'm touched. Yay! You made my day. This is one happy turtle. Im dancing around in my turtly home in my turtly socks with my music (about turtles of course). THANK YOU SO MUCH. P.S. I like turtles. Can you tell?
Marikaemmie: Yepiroo…okay, I'll send over some ketchup…and some Worchester sauce (How in God's name do you pronounce that?) and some mushrooms so you can sautee them for me. Or can you do that in your mental hospital. The one Im in lets me sautee things…like mushrooms and…cotton candy. But others are different I guess. I also get to play with legos…if I pay my monthly fee of 2 bucks. Lol. Excessive rambling about imaginary situations is o so much fun. Here they come with the needles. Thanks, and adios for now!
Nobodyparticular: they are too cool…yeah! And you know what, they don't like you either! So, ha! Ha dee ha ha ha! Lol. Don't hold it for too long. When you start seeing black dots, please stop. But, you know I love your reviews specially when they talk about reactions. Call me crazy. No, it's really okay… and as always, thanks.
Angelfromhell: glad I made you laugh and err…have fun "camping". I know what you're reallyyyy doing sister. Don't act like I don't! And about the novel, I hope you finish it too. And that you get it published so I can read it. Can you settle with one chapter? THANKS! Phew…so glad I got that off my chest, the final thing that is. It's like I can breathe again or something.
Edwardsgirl111: thanks. Ahhh…I left you hanging just a day or two. Not too bad, right? You'll see jazz eventually. Don't you worry. Lol. Thanks for the good comments.
Allyq1990: hmmmm…who knows? O yes, me…I know. MWUHAHHAHA. Yea…my dad was a mechanic, so Im pretty spiffy with cars. I actually replaced the wiper fluid with Mountain Dew one time, and then ran it through to inside my car. It was like a free fountain drink to go. :D thank you.
Euphoriafalls: YAY HUGSIES! I love hugs…but especially when they have ies on the end of them. Haha. Phillip scorned your hug. Maybe you need to give him a car instead…like say, a Ferrari 330 gt 2 plus 2? For phillip! For phillip! How was pride and prejudice. Love that book, and movie…movieSSSSS. Lol. Yep, im kinda popular now. It's weird. Newho, I will fight you to the death for tyler lautner. Or well, at least Indian leg wrestle you…that seems fitting. 2 o clock in the wal mart parking lot! (thanks) 2 o clock!
Socialdistortionist: is that, slight indention deep, or core of the earth deep? There's a difference you know. But thanks for the comments. Don't cry. Have a tissue…and a mop. Ly. And thanks.
K: Of course! My long lost best friend that I didn't even know existed! My nonexistent long lost best friend! Wow. It's a small world. Well, did I update quickly enough? Are we still tight? Like this (crosses fingers together)
Marialice: Awwwww… no death threat? Im disappointed. Lol. But thanks anyways.
kaliKOMMOTION: Well, points for creativity. Definitely. That's what all the little brown stuff was on that apple pie (you can get 2 for a dollar, you know). And why my stomach feels funny, and why I did burp up a rather wet looking monkey this morning. Of course. THIS explains it. HOW DID FRED FIND ME? HOW COULD YOU? I can handle machetes, but morning breath? Good grief, youd think I wasn't on your favorite author's list. Haha. Well, thanks, cya!
laurenBTTwilightFan: Begging is futile! Lol…I mean MWUHAHHAHA! Well, glad you love it. Ly. Blah be dee blah. THANKS!
Alexa: I plan to actually. Whenever I stop obsessing over someone else's book. STEPHENIE. GET. OUT. OF. MY. HEAD! O sorry, where was I? O yes, I was at the "thank you". Lol. Seriously tho.
Tegirlfrommamestris: (looks to girl beside me as I watch you twitch on the floor) You think we should call someone? GIRL BESIDE ME: "Nah, this is a regular occurrence." Lol. Thanks though really.
Minimeyer: Well, you get the "Best Reaction Award". First Ever! It's like a grammy, but better! Lol. OMG they got the wrong david! What's wrong with America! (talking about American Idol btw) Well, in my opinion anyways. Torture IS fun, especially with Barnie music…tehehehe…and play doh. LOTS of play doh. Moving on, way to stand up to your brother! Lol. Hide that chocolate! It's like a covert operation. You should give it a name…like Operation Cuckoo For Cocoa Puffs…or something less conspicuous. Thank you, you smart cookie you.
Meepingborker: Yep, easy as that. It's either the two red wires, or the two matching ones… newer models sometimes have different casings to try to foil burglars though. And thanks.
Hibiscusqt: No. not yet, anyway. And yes, Bella hotwired a car. She's spiffy like that. The world has come to… cheese. Cheese and ham sandwiches.
Thefuturemrsedwardcullen: Pleading…breaking…through…tough…turtle…shell. Haha. Jk. Ok, so it's not funny, but still. Yeah, jeeze, about the deathmatch (steelcage?), way to ruin an author's hopes and dreams. Your rawr was very vampire like. With a pinch of Simba. From the lion king member? O and to the quote… that was the best! I have to read some of her stuff now! Haha. Hmmm…ill think on the penname thing and pm some things to you. THANKSSSSSSSSSSSS (parseltongue ;)
KobrahEdo: hmmm…you'll see! And thanks for the review.
Emberwillow: OKAY OKAY! You win the best death threat EVER INVENTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD contest. It was like a crossover fanfiction in itself. Fun to read. But…erm, now im going to have to make some serious fortifications on that bomb shelter. BTW, is maximum ride any good? Everyone talks about it, but I dunno. ONE book I haven't read…just one. And thanks…I think.
Silly ella: of course like the butler! Who else? Haha…GIVE IN TO HIS COLOR CHANGING WAYS OF dOOM!! And, omg, the horror of your death but not quite threat! (cept for the salmon. I love me some chicken of the sea :D ) The cupcake table was the worst…how could you do this to me?? How?? Thank you :D
Yan niao: Does not know the answer… wishes did. Why am talking like this? Who knows? Yep…it seems like he DIED!! What was that? Who said that? (le gasp)… k. Im on it.
Mandja: tehehehe…yes…oh yes… I can…bu thanks for reviewing.
Shinobi shinigami: hehe…ahhhh…forks. I wonder if theres a town called spoons? Haha. Well anyways, yes, hotwiring is that easy. If you try again, just connect the MATCHING wires, or the red ones. Don't die shinobi. And thanks…since it wasn't THAT BAD!! (sulks in corner) give me a minute…
Clumsy: HOLY SHISKABOBS. Im touched. WOW. That deserves a world record for sure. I sure hope you used copy and paste…otherwise I think your hands would just fall off. (thanks though :D) loved it.
Sandalswithsox: Dedications my middle name. haha. Edward could be sexy if he was 80 years old. O wait…he is. Haha thanks.
Chapter 29
Tears flowed freely down my face as I stroked Edward's. "You promised!"
"Bella…" croaked Carlisle. "It's over." He sounded so defeated.
I shook my head. "No…I can save him."
"There's nothing we can…"
"I can save him," I snapped, "and I will."
"I'm not risking your life for his!" Carlisle said. The fire was back in his eyes, and with the purple bags under them, and his lips pulled back across his teeth, he truly looked menacing. That, however, wasn't going to faze me.
"You're my daughter now, too," Carlisle continued, "He wouldn't have wanted that, Bella. It's enough that you're alive."
"I won't live without him," I threatened.
"Yes," Carlisle challenged, "you will. We'll make you."
"You can't force me to live."
"Then we'll change you."
"You wouldn't."
Carlisle sighed and hung his head again. I knew he knew I was right, and that none of them would dare change me against my will.
"I won't lose both of my children!" he cried. Desperation had replaced the calm compassion that usually dominated his temperament.
It touched me beyond words how he considered me to be part of his family now, but I had to convince him to let me try to save Edward.
"I can save us both," I told him, attempting to keep a level head. "It won't hurt me much. I don't think he needs that much blood." I was lying of course. I fully expected to die for him. "You can stop him when he gets his strength back and we'll both be just peachy." I said that knowing good and well that Carlisle probably wouldn't be able to stop Edward once he had my super blood rushing through him.
"I can't do that Bella," Carlisle said. "Edward will regret it. Do you want that?"
"He's already agreed to change me. If he can get over that, he can get over anything. Anyways, he has an eternity to get over it."
"What if his venom gets in your bloodstream? What then?"
"That is the eventual goal," I said.
Carlisle sighed, and I knew I'd won.
I walked out of the room, heading for the kitchen. "I'll be back in a second."
In the far left corner, on the countertop, I found what I was looking for – a wooden box, with thin holes bored into it. And sheathed in the holes, steak knives. I gripped the black handle of one and pulled it out, before then continuing on my mission, back up the stairs and into Edward's room.
"Where do I need to cut?" I asked him.
He'd watched me enter with curious eyes. "First," he said, "we need to sterilize it. Here." He held out a hand for me to place the knife into. I did so, and faster than my eyes could catch, Carlisle was gone from the room. I heard something rattling around in the kitchen, so I rushed down to where I'd just come from.
Carlisle had water in a pan on the stovetop, the knob turned on high.
"I always knew these would come in handy one day," he joked about the silver pot, his light tone misplaced right now. I smiled anyway, though.
Bubbles started breaking the water's smooth, transparent surface, just a few at first, but then more and more, until little streams of water leapt from the pot. They landed on the stove eye, sizzling and sending up billows of steam.
Carlisle submerged the silver part of the knife into the water and held it there for a few seconds, before he switched off the knob and walked towards me. "Let's go upstairs."
I nodded, and began walking back up the stairs yet again, possibly for the last time ever. Suddenly, everything became precious. The way this house smelled, clean with the barest hint of lemon from Esme's incessant cleaning frenzies, was precious. Each and every panel in the hallway, the wooden cross hanging on the wall, the way the railing felt smooth and polished under my palm, the view from the giant windows: they were all suddenly so incredible. If I could, I'd miss this.
I saw Edward's serene face though, and didn't care. It was all worth it. Rescuing him was worth everything.
"I'm sorry I don't have any anesthetics," Carlisle's voice broke through the reverie, "I wasn't expecting you, or anyone else who would need them for that matter."
I shook my head. "I've done worse."
He laughed. "Don't I know it."
I held out my hand for the knife.
"Bella, I think, with your propensity to injure yourself, that I should probably…" He trailed off.
"I was already planning to injure myself." Where was he going with this?
"Yes, I know, but you tend to hurt yourself even when there isn't an intention, and with the original inclination already established, any extra motivation for harm could be…superfluously dangerous."
I flushed scarlet, but acknowledged that he was correct. "Okay…"
Carlisle stepped towards me, and held the back of arm gently in his cold fingers. His eyes held the emotional detachment of a surgeon. This was just another day at the office for him.
He placed the sharp edge of the hot knife onto my skin, perpendicular to my arm, a few inches from my wrist, and pressed. I gasped, and watched the blood pool to the surface of his cut.
"That should do it," he mumbled.
I turned and dashed to bedside, but then stopped, unsure of what to do next. I held my bleeding arm close to Edward's nose, hoping that my smell could coax him out of his trance, but he remained as he was – still, peaceful, and lifeless.
"You have to drink this, Edward," I told him softly, crawling up on the mattress to sit kneel beside him.
Carlisle came and leaned over his son.
"Edward…" I called his name.
Hidden eyes moved behind closed lids, and his face turned towards my wounded limb.
"That's right," I encouraged him. "Do it."
I moved my arm to where it was near his mouth. Blood was starting to overflow the boundaries of Carlisle's incision. Edward's mouth parted slightly, his face tilting upward. I moved my arm closer…until finally his lips touched my skin. His reaction to that was instantaneous. I could see it in his throat muscles, how they contracted as he swallowed, and then another muscle twitch in his jaw as he drew even more of the red liquid from my body.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
I could feel his strength returning to him as he drank, and I wondered if he would be super strong, well stronger, after this, or if my blood would simply cure and return him to normal – as normal as a vampire can be anyway.
Eventually he lifted his head off the pillow and clamped his hands around my forearm on either side of the cut. They closed down tighter with each passing second.
A pained hiss escaped my lips.
"I'm sorry Bella," Carlisle said. "I'll stop him when he's ready."
He was sitting beside me, watching his adopted son take desperate gulps of lifeblood from my arm. It was strange seeing Edward like this.
I wasn't frightened, a smidgen bewildered, but mostly curious. I'd never witnessed Edward like this before and struggled for a word to describe the scene. He was too familiar to be animalistic, too beautiful to be monstrous, too loved to be terrifying. In this moment, while he was a slave to his thirsts, he was almost...infantile. My mind embraced that description. Infantile, like a newborn with a baby bottle.
A crash sounded throughout the room. I glanced over and saw two ruby-eyed vampires coming through the busted hole in the glass window and fast approaching. Frantically, I tried to pull my arm away from Edward.
He snarled and brought it closer to his starving lips.
Carlisle was up before I could bat an eyelash, standing between the two unwelcome guests and me.
"Gentleman," he said, "There are two ways you can leave my home – immediately or dead." His voice was upsettingly placid.
The two vampires snarled. "We haven't had blood for three days!" the red headed one said.
The one beside him, with broad shoulders and a thick mop of chestnut hair, eyed me like a thick, juicy steak. "She's just one little human."
"She's our human," Carlisle said, tone still tranquil. "Off limits. Now, there's war enough out there." He pointed out the window. "Let's not add another battle to it."
As I was watching, Edward rolled me over till he was hovering overtop me. Dots swam before my eyes, and the edges of my vision were smeared.
Too much blood loss, and no one to pull him off me.
"Why does he get to?" the red headed one exclaimed. "You broke your own rules there, doc."
"Edward?" I rasped. "Edward, stop."
He was clearly strong again. Pain kept shooting up my right arm in jolts. I brought my left hand and tugged on his hair. "Stop!"
He let more of his granite weight fall on me so that it was hard to draw breath. Carlisle was fighting the two vampires now. I could see them by way of my peripheral vision, through all the multicolored dots.
The redheaded one got a punch in, and I flinched. Carlisle pushed him back out the window.
The image of Carlisle fighting was wrong. Misplaced somehow, like a dove fighting. Even though I knew he was fully capable of it, and that he had fought Victoria's newborn army, my mind had trouble grasping the concept when it was played out before my eyes.
Freshman year, when Edward had frequently likened us to Romeo and Juliet, Carlisle had been the benevolent friar in my mind. Shakespeare didn't write the friar into a battle. The friar wasn't supposed to be in one. It was wrong.
"Edward!" I yelled, beating on him with my fist. "You're hurting me. I'm Bella, remember? Your wife!" Maybe that would reach him through the blind lust.
A low growl came from deep inside his throat. His legs held mine down, and he yanked my arm hard. Through anguished gasps, I continued pleading my husband to spare my life.
"Edward!" I screamed. "I'm going to die if you don't stop! Please! I'm your wife! You're going to kill your wife!"
The frigid hands stayed wrapped around my arm, but the lips pulled away. Thick tangles of bronze hair covered his face, so I couldn't tell what his expression held. His back rose and fell with deep breaths, and I waited.
And then, fast as lightning, I was staring into Edward's eyes. I was staring into his furious, outraged, red tinged eyes. His hands had moved to my shoulders, pinning me to the bed he now had me straddled on.
"What are you doing here?" he yelled. "I sent you away to protect you!" His hands pushed me down hard into the mattress. "I'd rather die than see you get hurt! And I just...I just..."
He looked away, ashamed of his actions. Then he wiped a small dribble of blood away from his mouth.
"Bella, I just...oh God." He pressed my shoulders down again. "Why?" he yelled.
My eyes closed and I flinched. I'd never seen him this angry with me. He'd certainly never yelled before.5
"Oh no," he said softly, fingertips gently stroking my face. "No! Please don't be afraid of me. Please? That was just so very stupid of you, Bella, so very, very stupid." His head bowed. "I apologize. You must detest me."
My voice came out in a whisper. "I wanted to save you – because I love you." I gave a hollow laugh. "I never get to save you."
"You astound me," he said. In between dots and flashes of darkness, I saw his lips twist into a lopsided grin. I smiled. How I'd missed that.
"I stole a car," I told him, wanting to take the guilt and self-hatred out of his gaze.
Edward looked taken aback. "All by yourself?"
I nodded.
He beamed and kissed my forehead. "More Cullen by the minute." His gaze turned serious. "No more federal offenses for you though, okay?"
I grinned. "It was kind of fun."
He shook his head and shifted his weight. Some of it fell on my right arm, and I cried out in black pain.
His worried eyes traveled down to my injured arm. Deep purple bruises were formed already in the shape of his hands. Crimson blood continued to pour from the wound.
His hands delicately placed themselves over the marks, fitting perfectly into the shape.
"I..." he started, voice breaking. "I...how can you forgive me? No, no," He turned his ruby-rimmed eyes to pierce my soul. "Don't forgive me. I don't deserve it." He held up his hands, stained with splotches of my own blood, to look at them. "I really am a monster now."
I died a little death to hear him sounding this broken.
He tore a piece of his shirt off, leaving a tantalizing strip of white abdomen exposed, and wrapped it gently around my arm, trying to stop the bleeding while avoiding the bruises.
"Don't do that!" I pleaded, referring to the way he cited himself as a monster, the battle around me forgotten at the moment. "I hate it when you do that!"
"You should," he murmured, tying the ends of the fabric together tightly.
I jerked his head to face mine, only succeeding because he let me.
"I love you! You're not a monster. Don't you get that?" Edward's tortured gaze remained. "I'll love you always, no matter what you do."
Rage glinted metallic in his orbs, and he pushed my injured arm towards my face. The plum marks were held two inches away on my eye level. "How can you? Look at this!" I tried to turn my face away, but he brought it back with his other hand, cupping my chin in his vice-like grip. "Look at how I hurt you!" He ground the words out through clenched teeth. "I'm always hurting you!"
I really wanted to gasp at what his actions did to my arm. Needles shot up it again, but I reigned in the hiss and tried to stay calm.
"It doesn't hurt," I lied, even though tears were welling up in my eyes. He must have noticed.
Edward looked petrified, and he let my arm drop back to the comforter. His arms pulled me to him, cradling me against his chest. He thought the tears were formed from his shouting at me. Good. It was better that he thought that.
The sounds of the fight were gone now. I checked its progress. My gaze skipped over the broken glass shards lying scattered throughout Edward's room, to Carlisle's figure. He was turned away from us, staring out the gaping hole, arms hanging down but away from his sides like he was disgusted with himself. He must have destroyed the two intruders. And so the friar killed the fair Veronans...
I winced. So much death over me.
Edward saw the swift contraction of my facial muscles. "Am I hurting you again?"
Fiercely, with a grunt, I squeezed him tighter. "Get something straight. You. Don't. Hurt. Me. Got it?"
A dark chuckle escaped his lips, but he didn't respond to my question. He said something better. "I love you." His voice was silk and velvet and wine, and it intoxicated me more than any Mexican tequila ever could. I wanted to purr at the contentment those three words brought to me.
Momentarily, I was blinded. The Sun was finally sinking back into the earth again. The edge of it had just crept under the upper windowsill. Warm, golden rays bounced around the room. Carlisle and Edward both shimmered with a new orange glow.
"I should get back," Carlisle said. His voice sounded strained.
Edward shook his head furiously. "No. Someone has to stay and watch Bella."
My head popped up at that. "Excuse me? I save your life and now you're going to rush headfirst straight back into what endangered it in the first place? Are you nuts? I'm not almost losing you again!"
"Bella," he murmured, stroking my hair. "They need me."
"I need you."
"I'll be fine."
"That's what you said last time."
His perfect lips turned into a frown. "Carlisle?" he asked.
The man Edward considered to be his father didn't speak. That was worrisome, but evidence in my case.
Edward's brows creased.
"I think we should retreat." Carlisle finally spoke. "Save all the rest."
The rest? The rest…Names will save all the rest. Those were the words the three women said. I felt selfish now for not thinking of it.
They'd been right about Edward. Maybe they were right about that, too.
"Edward?" I asked. "Do you know their names?"
He looked puzzle and cocked his head to the side. "Of the Unseely?" I nodded. "I could if I wanted to. Why?"
"I think that's the key," I said. "You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you how I knew you were in trouble. I'm not sure I quite believe it myself. But, they were right about it. And I think they're right about this, too."
"Who?" he asked. "What are you talking about?"
"These three women came up to me at a bar in Mexico, and…"
"You went to a bar?" he asked furiously, then fiercely added, "I'm going to strangle that werewolf."
"No! I ran away from Jacob."
His emotions started out looking proud and smug, but quickly transmuted into anger. "That wasn't smart."
"You wouldn't be alive if I hadn't," I reminded.
"It's lucky you're still alive, but continue."
"Well...it's just..."
I looked into Edward's expectant face. How in the world to explain this without sounding drunk and/or mentally insane...
"I just know!" There. I gave up. "I think that names have some sort of control over these things. Like... Rumplestilskein!"
The edges of his mouth turned up. Was he mocking me? All right, granted, bringing a bedtime story character into the mix probably wasn't the best idea that's happened upon me, but still, he could try to keep a straight face. These were his family's lives we were talking about!
"I'm serious, Edward! It's how I knew you were in trouble. I wouldn't have come back otherwise!" I was dying for him to believe me. "Trust me!"
I'd never begged him to trust me before, although I'd wanted to many times. Every time he kept something from me, I felt the lack of his total and complete trust in a way that made my stomach drop and my heart slow its pace a few humiliated beats.
Edward looked unsure.
"You don't, do you?" I asked.
"Trust you?" He brushed the back of his hand down the side of my face. "Of course I do."
"No," I countered, "You really don't. Not with most things, at least. You barely trust me to walk out the front door."
He looked stricken. "I simply want to protect you."
My head bowed. "I know...and I probably," I thought of the incident with Tyler's van, "wouldn't be alive right now if it weren't for it. But I can do some things. And I'm not lying. Why would I lie about this?"
Edward chuckled, then set a light kiss on my forehead, completely and unwillingly breaking my dark mood. "Of course I don't think you'd lie to me. I'm not questioning that."
"Then what are you questioning!?"
"You said you were in a bar when you were told these things, is that correct?"
Why, oh why couldn't I have kept my mouth shut. "I wasn't drunk!"
"Not even the slightest bit?"
"Well, yes, but then the three women I was telling you about, well, one of them put their hands on my shoulder and then I was..." I stopped at this point. Hearing me say that would only confirm his suspicions of my intoxication.
"Please, Edward," I tried a different approach, "at least, try it and see!"
A perfect eyebrow arched. "Now you want me to go back?"
"No! I mean... I think this is the way to win..."
"Bella," Carlisle's soft tone entreated me, "It's exceedingly more complicated than a couple names."
I sighed. I'd dug my own trap, and then fallen right into it. "You have to believe me though."
"She's right," said a familiar musical voice.
I looked at the door to see my shopaholic savior. Her dark hair was a mess atop her head, but other than that, she looked immaculate, not a single speck of dirt on her clothes. If you hadn't known, you couldn't tell she had just come back from a war.
"Alice!" I cried. "Tell them."
"Bella's right," she reiterated, "Their names are sort of like...individual mind controllers. They have to do whatever you say if you know their names. I've seen it." She tapped her temple.
Edward studied her with curious eyes. "Interesting."
He must have seen it in her head.
"Told you," I said.
He looked ashamed. "I'm sorry Bella," he said, capturing my hands and kissing them. "Next time, don't start with the phrase 'I went to a bar in Mexico'."
"Guys," Alice pulled us out of our moment. Her eyes were glossy and distant looking again. "We need to get out of here. Now!"
I checked Edward's eyes, and the panic there told me all I needed to know. The war had come to us.
The fairies weren't what bothered me much anymore. I was certain that what the hags had told me would work.
What bothered me was the small detail that I was now amid an army of starved vampires and, thanks to the evacuation, the only meal around for miles.
In the next moment, I heard the sound of a door being ripped off its hinges.
A/N: Hello. Well… to be frank, I have been working on this chapter for weeks, editing and reediting…all for you guys. So, reviews would be so much appreciated after all the (Bella's) blood, sweat, and tears (quite literally) I put into this chapter. Seriously guys, I've been working for days, blowing off my friends. I'm actually supposed to be at a party right now. Erm… so, I really feel like this is the best chapter in this story, and would be elated for reviews accordingly. This chapter was by far the most fun to write though. I finally described something even Steph herself hasn't gotten to yet: Edward drinking blood. I decided to put him in an "infantile" light, rather than a brutal one. Agree, disagree, TELLLLLL me about it! I also liked exploring Carlisle's deeper emotions. Phew, it's late, I'm tired. Till next time, ciao! Seriously people, 123 faves…review please. I worked overtime on this one, and I want to know what you think.