My vision was blurred, but I could see enough to watch him looming directly in front of me. His eyes were black, with red tinged around the edges. He was hungry. I knew it. He took a step toward me, gracefully, and then dove down onto me, biting into my forearm, and I screamed.
My eyes opened and I looked around the hospital room, completely panicked. The lighting was nearly the same as what it had been in the dance studio, and Edward wasn't in the chair beside my bed. He was always in the chair beside my bed.
Just as quickly as the pain in my dream had started, it faded away, but my arm was still throbbing. My breathing was erratic and then, all at once, I couldn't breath at all. I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself, but before I could even clear my mind I felt a hand settle on my shoulder and another take my hand. There was a depression beside me as a cold figure settled on the bed.
"Breath, Bella. It's okay."
It wasn't Edward's soft voice, as I had expected, nor was it Alice's high one. It was Carlisle's gentle, calm tone, and I settled after a moment, my eyes flickering open once more. He moved the hand on my shoulder to switch on the lamp over the bed and smiled apologetically when the light assaulted my eyes and I had to blink multiple times.
"Where's Edward?" I asked roughly.
"I convinced him to go hunting with the others," Carlisle replied quietly, "He hadn't left your bedside in a week, and his eyes were turning black."
I looked away guiltily, once again reminded what a mess I'd made of things when I ran at the airport. But Carlisle touched my cheek, turning my face to look at him again.
"It's not your fault, Bella." and then when I tried to look away again, "It isn't, really. I promise. Understand?"
"Who's fault is it, then?" I challenged, my voice never rising past a murmur. Carlisle shook his head slowly.
"James, Bella. James is the only one to blame."
"He couldn't help it!" I protested.
"He could Bella!" Carlisle told me, squeezing my hand in his, "If you think he couldn't help but want your..." he considered, "blood, you're wrong. His actions were completely thought-through. He did it out of spite and anger. It isn't your fault."
He let my hand go and I felt his other hand slip away from my face, but he didn't move from the bed. I felt tears running down my face and tried to push down the sob that was rising. I knew he would hear, no matter how quiet I tried to be.
I felt myself trembling and Carlisle touched my arm, gently at first, and then he lifted me easily into his arms and held me to his chest. Against my own will, my hand reached up to grip the shoulder of his shirt and I pressed my face closer to his silent heart.
"You're one of us, Bella." he said softly, "We'll always protect you, now. No matter what."
"But one day you'll have to move on again." I protested, "And then where will I be? Nowhere!"
"Bella, the future is uncertain. Especially for us. But we would never completely leave you behind."
I nodded and felt him press his lips to my hair. I began to feel tired and closed my eyes, sinking against him completely.
"Don't go." I murmured, and as I fell asleep, I heard his reply of: "I'll be here, Bella. Count on it."