A/n: To CW – Aww, it's okay that you hate me for it. If I was a reader, I'd hate me too. XD

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I was burning.

It happened so quickly.

Aro's name barely escaped my lips. He had looked at me; and I was certain he would leave me to bleed out. Or, at least, leave me for Carlisle to deal with.

But Aro snapped from his amazement, pushing the infant into Dr. Cullen's arms. He was at my side in an instant, smoothing my hair away from my neck.

"I love you, dearest Ashleigh."

I had screamed when his teeth sunk into my skin, the flames quickly consuming me.

At this point, I had no idea how long ago that was. Where I was now. I was lying somewhere soft, curled in on myself as tightly as possible. Several times, who I assumed to be Aro, would wrap around me. He would pet my hair, place his cold skin against the back of my neck, whisper words of encouragement. But I had also spent much time all alone. I would try to distract myself from the unbearable pain by thinking. My glimpse of my child had been brief and limited. Though I did see his face, I had no idea what he looked like. If he was healthy.

I thought of Aro. Would he be caring for the baby properly? Of course he would. This infant meant more to him than most anything else. He would treat his offspring like the royalty they, more or less, were. But then my mind curved down, recalling everything the man had put me through. He had violated me. Manipulated me. Played mind games. All the broken promises. But, he had finally kept one. He'd promised he wouldn't let anything happen to me, and here I was.

But right now I wasn't sure if it was a blessing or a curse.

My heart rate had steadily increased since being bitten, and now it pumped so hard I thought it would burst. I whimpered, which was met with a cold, delicate hand on my forehead. I was gently shushed. It's almost over, I had thought I heard a voice say. Right now I couldn't know if it was real or imagined.

Finally, the flames began to recede, curling inward, as my heart slowed. It thud sluggishly against my breast bone, gathering all the fire into itself. I hugged myself tighter.

Now, my mind raced, images flashing before me.

My first day of school. Making my first best friend, Alisha. Being devastated when she moved away. My mother's miscarriage, and my parent's subsequent divorce. My dad had moved to the East coast and I rarely saw him. The only party I'd gone to in high school. How drunk I had gotten. Being accepted into art school. Aro. His hand wrapped around my throat, body pushing me against the wall. The first time he kissed me. Made love to me. The two pink lines.

I wanted for this nightmare to be over. Though there were happy times scattered throughout, a nightmare was all it could be considered. And the source was the man who had asked to be my husband. Forcing himself on me, breaking my arm. Lying to me over and over again. Keeping things from me. Impregnating me under false pretenses. Making me become what I was. One of his kind. It wasn't something I had wanted, and a part of me thought I'd always hate myself to some extent. Every time I sunk my teeth into someone's throat, hearing their strangled scream, I would hate what I was. And I would hate him for creating me. For giving me no choice. Had he been honest from the start, this wouldn't be happening right now.

Thump….thump….thump…...thump….

The fire was nearly gone, having all retreated into my chest. My heart beat painfully slow, and I knew this was it. This was when I would die.

My heart gave a very uncomfortable final squeeze.

I'd half expected to cease existing. That's what was supposed to happen when you died. Instead, I was very aware of my surroundings. Now that the roaring of the flames had left my ears, though no one spoke, I could hear movement. Ever so slight, someone wringing their hands anxiously. I realized I hadn't taken a breath since my heart had stopped, yet my lungs didn't ache for air. The silk sheets beneath me felt as though I was snuggled into a cloud, how they gently caressed my skin.

And then, I heard his voice.

"Dearest Ashleigh."