Chapter Four

"BELLA!" Edward cried, as he arrived at my side almost instantly, catching me as I crumpled to the ground. Edward touched my cheek with his hand.

"Hold on Bella," he murmured, " I can save you. I can change you. Just hold on for a moment longer." As he leant down to begin the process, I raised my hand.

"Edward, no." I whispered, knowing my time was running out. "I don't want that. There isn't time."

"What then?" he said his face ashen. But even though the world seemed to be crashing down around me, I couldn't help but smile- because Edward's face had softened. He looked like the Edward that I knew and loved once more.

" I just want the truth."

I could see the indecision in his face as he took in what I had said.

"Ok." He choked out. "But while I tell you, you have to promise me you'll remember this- I love you. When I was a newborn, Victoria found me and looked after me. I depended on her for everything. And I thought… I thought it was love. She asked me to do a favour for her. She said that I had to go to Forks and stay with some of her disciples, the Cullens. She said that it had come to her attention that there was someone in Forks who could be a 'problem' for us. She wanted me to find out what they knew."
The world started spinning but I fought hard to stay awake.

"And that problem," I whispered, was me?"

"No, it was Charlie. She told me all about you, told me to get close to you so that I could keep an eye on him for her. She was worried that with all the recent killings he might put two and two together. We realised that he wasn't a threat and I was supposed to go back to her, as simply as that. But," he hesitated, " She got jealous. She thought I'd fallen in love with you. And I had."

"So you kidnapped me?" I hissed, trying to twist away from him but lacking the strength to do so.

"No I… well yes. But I thought it was only to teach me a lesson. I never thought she would hurt you! Please, Bella. You have to believe me. Bella?" I could hear the fear rising in his voice as he realised my eyes were closed. "BELLA?"

" Is the bitch dead yet?" called Victoria, slinging the hunting rifle over her shoulder. I squeezed Edward's hand gently, hoping he would know what I meant.

"Yes," he spat, "Bella is dead."

Not daring to open my eyes more than a crack, I saw Victoria smile hungrily.

"I forgive you." She announced. "Now we can be together again, my love.

Edward forced a smile and ran over to her.

"You can finally have all the love you deserve, my dear." Edward cried before leaping on Victoria and tearing her to shreds. He hurriedly set fire to the pieces before running back to me, looking like a little puppy expecting praise for his gruesome murder.

"It's ok Bella, everything's going to be fine. I'll take you to a hospital and everything will be ok. Just hang on." Edward started to lift me but I shook my head. I could feel that the end was approaching. It was already too late. As I took my final breaths Edward's voice seemed to grow further and further away. But as the last of my strength drained away, I thought I heard three words:

"Bella, you're pregnant."

And just as I let out my last breath, I thought I felt a kick.