I do not own it.
Author's note: This was the scene I always imagined before I began writing this story. Somehow, the way I pictured it and the way it ended up being written are different, but nonetheless I'm pleased with the outcome. I hope you all are too. Please leave me a review. I really want to know your thoughts to this scene!
Family Tree
Chapter 30
EPOV
I shut the phone with a snap. Alice looks at me in horror.
"Go!"
I am running. It is faster than driving and my family is trailing behind me. I move as fast as I can, to the point of actual exertion; unheard of for me. But I have to get to her. I need to find her.
I had a feeling something bad would happen; that's why I didn't want her to go. I should have stopped her!
It is like Alice's vision; only sharper around the edges. I can smell the damp forest air, the droppings of the animals, and faintly, the blood that sings only to me. I focus on the scent and allow the beast to take over; to find the prey. I'm amazingly attuned to Bella's scent. The other's probably haven't sensed it yet but we are a few miles away now.
I leap over a fallen log using another tree as leverage. It creaks in protest as I use the aged trunk to achieve lift off. I fly through the air and jump from tree to tree. There are a lot of obstacles on the ground ahead from a terrible lightning storm we had a few months ago and this route is faster.
Her scent grows richer in the air. She is closer.
An eternity later, I run out of trees. I leap into empty space and land, crouched, along the shore of a still, black lake. My eyes scan the area.
I see her, a quarter of a mile away, a wolf on top of her, holding her down under the water.
Furious, I charge forward and leap into the lake. Several sharp strokes later and I emerge from the water. Vengeance is mine.
She is submerged and not moving. Her heartbeat is faint. I charge the monstrosity holding her down and shove him as hard as I can to the side, wrenching and snapping his neck while pulling her up, out of the water at the same time.
The beast growls at me ferociously. His eyes target Bella again.
As much as I would love to tear him limb from limb I have no time for this!
In answer to my prayer I hear thrashing in the forest. From the corner of my eye I see four wolves emerge from the foliage. It takes one second, maybe two, before the large russet one engages the black one in battle. He lunges, tearing into the throat of the black one, ripping the head clean off.
I turn to Bella and fall to my knees. She is nude and deep scratches criss-cross over her body in a gruesome pattern. Her eyes; I choke back a sob. They are open; glassy and blank. Her lips are blue. Her heart has stopped.
The Universe has imploded on me. I shove through the whirling vortex of my emotions, struggling for control, for rational thought.
She can't be dead.
Not after everything we've been through.
I begin to perform CPR on her, pushing as much of the water out of her lungs as possible. I expel the water carefully, trying not to break her ribs in the process. When nothing else emerges from between her lips, I tilt her head back and while holding her nose, force as much air into her mouth as possible. Breathe, one, two, three pushes. Breathe, one, two, three pushes.
My family has arrived. Carlisle kneels next to me and takes over the pumping of her chest. I breathe frantically into her mouth.
"Edward," Carlisle tries to stop me after five minutes have passed and we haven't gotten a response.
I shove him off angrily.
"Edward- she's gone," he whispers sadly.
"No!" A cry other than my own pierces the air.
I barely spare Jacob a glance but continue to administer to Bella.
"She's not dead! Move over leech!"
Jacob shoves Carlisle out of the way.
I hear Carlisle's inner debate about whether or not to kill the werewolf.
Frankly, I don't care either way.
I blow forcefully, again and again into her mouth.
"Stop! Edward!"
I look up at Jacob's pinched face. "Bite her! It may not be too late! Change her now!"
I stare at him for a full second, contemplating what it took for him to say that.
"Do it!"
I lower my mouth to her neck, letting my teeth sink into the delicate flesh.
Ambrosia.
My fear and panic melt away to reveal divine purpose. Though the bloodstream is weak, it is the most heavenly taste in the entire universe. It fills my mouth; my senses are reeling. I'm stunned anew by the rich flavor and potency that is her. I could gladly drink of this for the rest of my existence and be perfectly at peace. Finally! Finally! She is mine! The beast within rejoices. It's been such a long, hard battle, leading to this perfection.
"Get off of her!" The wolf yells loudly, trying to shove me away.
I snarl at the reprimand but a glimmer of my true self returns, enough that I let go of the lovely pale neck and move back a few feet in horror.
I try to clear my head but I'm still dizzy, running on a high that is unreal.
He leans over her, his head to her chest.
Vaguely I realize that a circle of people surrounds us.
I look at Bella then, her body wrecked beyond repair, and now she has two tiny puncture wounds on her neck. It is a testimant to my love for her that I don't pounce now and drink every drop left in her body. Her scent is strong all around us; her blood having spilled all over the shore.
But she isn't moving.
Terror grips me then, a fear so strong that it overpowers the evil, horrible monster in my head. I am nothing without her. I cannot exist but for her.
"Bella," I croak. I reach my hand out and touch her face gently. She is so cold.
Jacob looks up at the moon and lets loose a piercing, horrible death knell that echoes through the clearing, rippling across the lake.
His anguish matches mine.
Nothing matters anymore.
"Damn you! Bella! Wake up! Wake up!" Jacob screams, slapping her face.
I want to stop him but find that I can't move. My entire being is frozen.
"Jake, brother, enough." Sam puts a hand on Jacob and he shrugs it off impatiently.
Jacob looks up and glares at me. "Bite her again. Now!"
The horror in his voice knocks me free of my bondage and I throw myself forward, sinking my teeth into her chest, right over her heart. I release and move on, biting her again and again, over her chest, beneath her breasts, her stomach.
I bite her until my venom runs dry.
Someone pulls me back and I slump to the ground, utterly spent.
I wrap my arms around my head, trying to stave off the inner explosion. It hurts so much; I feel as though acid is burning in my lungs.
Another scream pierces the air; this one noticeably higher in pitch.
I turn toward Bella, hope and fear rushing through me in equal measure.
Then, I hear the most precious sound in all of the world; her heart beats, one, two, three times.
"Did you hear that?" Alice squeals.
"Shhh," Esme murmurs.
She screams again and her heart begins to beat quicker, a rabbit's pace.
I scramble to her side, hovering over her on one side.
Jacob flanks her on the other.
Another pealing, hair raising scream from between her lips has me thanking God profusely.
"How is this happening?" Carlisle asks in wonder.
"It's a miracle," Sam whispers.
"Bella, shhh. It'll be ok. Three days is all. Three days," I promise her, kissing her temple reverently.
She whimpers and her eyes focus on me. "Hurts."
"I know. I'm so sorry."
If I could cry at all, I would be sobbing in relief. But as her eyes roll back in her head and she wails in agony, I feel the cold fingers of fear creeping into my chest.
This isn't over.