Flight of the Phoenix
Chapter Eight – Powerful but Weak
Suddenly, I felt myself being flung across the hospital room, pinned against the wall. In the darkness, I still could see Bella sitting in her bed, looking at me, her hand and arm extended towards me. The scent of her blood was calling to me, thinking of ways to get what I desired and craved. I heard a sudden intrusion in my thoughts, and I realized someone was walking down the hall.
Bella's head turned towards the door of her room. Raising her other hand, a soft click was heard as the door was locked from the inside. Bella returned her attention back to me. Her arm still rose toward me, I realized then that she was keeping me pinned against the wall with invisible restraints.
"It stopped bleeding… are you okay, or should I continue to hold you there?" Bella whispered with a voice barely audible.
"Yes, I'm fine," I snapped. She may have stopped bleeding but the scent was stronger than ever. So sweet… so damn sweet.
"Liar, I can read your thoughts. You may have hesitated when you called out my name, but you're still thinking about it. I'm going to open the window and throw you out. As soon as your feet touch the ground, run," Bella instructed as I growled in response, the monster within me roaring to be set free.
I love you, Bella. A memory played through my mind from Bella's point of view, from her own thoughts. The look on my face, as I uttered those words, was of pure love and adoration.
Shame washed over me. Such a tender moment now marred by my blood lust. I could see the window slowly opening, the afternoon breeze wafting throughout the room. As soon as the window was fully opened I was thrown out the second-story window.
My feet touched the ground, and I ran. I ran until I found the first grouping of rabbits, a poor substitute for the sweet blood that called to me. Her blood called to me every time I was in the same room with her.
I loved her, but it wasn't enough… and this had proved it. I replayed the vision that Bella had had before she'd ripped the IV from her hand. It was so fast, but it was enough… she had seen me attack and kill her. She saw me unable to live with what I'd done to her… She saw me dead, burning. Then I saw her stopping me with a new gift, telekinesis.
If it wasn't for my one moment of hesitation, Bella wouldn't have had the time to act to protect herself. She was getting more powerful with every passing hour. She didn't need me. She could protect herself now. She could take care of herself. She no longer needed me to plague her life.
My phone vibrated in my pants pocket. I brought the phone to my ear.
"Edward, you can't leave her. I had another vision. If you choose to leave her, she'll die in a few months, having been attacked by James," Alice said from the other end of the line. I cringed and growled.
Is there no end to my anguish?
"After you leave, she will choose not to use any of her powers, and she won't use them against James, because she wants to die," Alice pleaded on the other end of the line.
"I understand…" I hung up the phone, so many emotions washed over me. She would rather die than live without me. I felt the same, but I knew I would go on as long as she was still part of this world.
For now, I would stay. To protect her, to love her, but I had to put up boundaries to make sure something like this never happened again. I'd been wrong to think that I could touch her or kiss her without any risks and consequences. I had to be not only careful of my actions, but also her actions.
I ran back to the hospital to stand just outside Bella's window. I was gone for over an hour and whatever had happened after I had left, there seemed to be no one but Bella and her doctor in the room. I made my way into the hospital, going just past the nurses' station, when Bella's doctor stepped out of her room.
"Edward, how long ago did you leave?" The doctor's voice was dripping with concern. I could see his mind showing scenes of while he had been making his rounds. He had wanted to check on Bella when he had found her unconscious with her IV pulled out of her vein and her equipment turned off.
"A little over an hour ago, Doctor… Is there something wrong?" I tried to read his thoughts, but he was thinking about her medical chart.
"I was making my rounds when I decided to check on her, and she was unconscious her IV and monitors and sensors removed her body. Her blood pressure and heart rate were very low," the doctor indicated, looking at Bella's chart. "It may be an infection, with all those injuries… I guess that it's possible. It's just that for all the readouts for the past few hours, she was so strong. It's like she… had just been drained of her energy." Shaking his head, he looked at her charts. "Do you know when her parents will return?"
"They will be here soon. They were planning on saying goodbye before they leave to get things in order back at work and home," I explained, listening for Bella's thoughts. I listened to her heartbeat, and it was weak.
"I'll be back in a while. Then, talk to them. Have the nurses call me if her condition changes." Bella's doctor left, still trying to understand her chart.
I walked swiftly into Bella's room and walked slowly towards her. Her breathing was slow and shallow. I brushed a fingertip across her cheek.
"Edward…" Bella said.
In a whisper, seeking my own voice I answered, "I'm here, Bella." I touched her cheek again.
Bella's eyes started to flutter, trying to open. "Bella, just sleep... I'll be right here."
Are you alright?Bella thought, and even in my mind, her voice was as quiet as a whisper.
"Bella, you need to stop using your powers. I think that's what is making you so weak," I whispered into her ear. Bella sighed and opened her eyes.
"I think so, too. Just after you left, I felt like the life had been sucked out of me," Bella whispered, her eyes looking into my own.
"That's a nice way to put it. I was thrown out remember?" I said bitterly. I wasn't angry at her. I was angry at our impossible situation. It was a situation that could only cause pain in the long run.
"Edward, you thought about it, that moment was enough to stop you. When I released you… you could have jumped right back in," Bella whispered, her eyes searching for mine. "But you didn't. You chose to run. It was my fault… I was the idiot that ripped my IV out. Please don't beat up yourself over it."
"I can't help it. I have put you in danger since the day I met you." I sighed in frustration. "Ever since you came into contact with vampires, you've been in constant danger."
"That's not true, Edward. I am accident prone and a trouble magnet. I have had so many more broken bones, cuts, scrapes and burns than most people endure in their whole lives. I've been admitted to a hospital several times. Meeting you and your family isn't the catalyst." Bella shook her head slightly and sighed, replaying a vision in her head.
"I saw what you would've done if you had killed me." Bella's eyes were brimming with tears, her tone firm. "Why would you do such a thing, Edward? You still have all your family." Bella's tone turned angry.
"You're one to talk. Alice told me what you would have done if I'd chosen to leave," I snapped right back at her. Tears fell from Bella's eyes and as she looked away. I sighed. Now I was causing her more pain.
"So, I guess you're staying because you feel guilty," Bella mumbled, wiping her tears from her cheek.
"Yes... no... My guilt is not the only reason, Bella. Yes, I feel guilty that you feel so strongly about me, that you would let yourself die, but I love you too much to just walk away. I'm a selfish creature… I need you so much… I need this so much." Leaning down, I pressed my lips lightly against hers.
"Romeo and Juliet have nothing on us," Bella chuckled as I pulled away. Shaking my head, I sat in the chair near Bella's bed.
"I'm starting to believe that too. Your parents should be here soon. Esme is supposed to bring them to say goodbye."
"I hate goodbyes," Bella complained.
"Well, suck it up, because they are on their way in." I smiled at her and she scowled at me, her eyebrows and nose scrunching adorably.
Bella composed her face and blushed. I realized then that she had heard my thoughts. That could be annoying. Now I knew how my family reallyfelt.
"I don't know how you put up with all the thoughts. I'm blocking myself for a while. Hopefully that takes less energy than using my powers."
"That's probably a good idea," I said, taking a seat in the chair closest to her bed. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, a little. The pain isn't so bad anymore." Bella smiled, trying to hide the fact she was lying.
"Bella," I warned.
"I'll wait until I see my parents before I get some more medication," she said in soft voice.
"Good, because here they come..."
"Bella, honey, we're here," Renée said, entering the room with a couple of food containers, Charlie and Esme right behind her. "I stopped and grabbed some hamburgers and some cola. I'm sure the hospital food is dreadful." I wrinkled my nose slightly. The smell from the food was dreadful. I heard Bella trying to stifle a chuckle.
Your nose scrunches really adorably too.
Bella, what happened to not using your powers? I complained, giving Bella a glare.
"Sorry," Bella whispered in a barely audible voice.
Renée started pulling out packages and straws, putting everything on a rolling table.
I passed on food, saying I wasn't hungry. I watched Bella interacting with her parents, fascinated with their relationship. Bella was more of a parent to both of them than they were to her. She didn't allow them to baby her, and she did not like them spending money.
Edward… Emmett and Rosalie took the jeep back home, your father is taking the same flight as Charlie, Esme thought, looking at Bella with a smile. Alice and Jasper took a flight to New Hampshire. They left the car. I'm going to have your car door fixed tomorrow morning.
I nodded slightly. After about an hour, Bella's parents said their goodbyes, agreeing to meet Bella when she left the hospital the following week.
Esme left with Bella's parents to pick up my father and head to the airport.
We spent the rest of the afternoon talking about some of Bella's childhood memories back in Phoenix. When I asked about past boyfriends, she said that she'd tried dating boys her age and had failed miserably as they found her intimating. Not because of her quiet demeanour, but because of her intelligence. There had been a few first dates, but never more than that. She admitted that she'd never attended a school dance. She said it wasn't her thing. There were too many chances for bad spills, crashing embarrassments and broken toes. I felt relieved that no one else had kissed her besides me. But at the same time, I felt that she was settling for me. I noticed the scowl on her face when my thoughts betrayed me, but she quickly changed the subject.
Then the subject of how old I really was came up again. She took it in stride, like it was no big deal.
Shortly after six in the evening, Bella was visited by the mayor of Chicago and Marshall Cortez.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in having my face plastered all over TV or newspapers," Bella complained. "I don't need any medal or award. I did what any other person would've done."
"Bella… what you did was above and beyond what any other person would have done. You deserve this," Marshall Cortez said, shaking his head. "We managed to keep you out of the papers since the crash, but the survivors are talking now. The media knows about you."
"I will not go out and put myself in public display when I'm looking like this. If you insist, you can release some kind of statement and a small picture of…" Bella trailed off, her eyes glazed over. She was having a vision. She snapped out of it quickly, but she was blocking it from me.
"Please, David… I don't like attention," Bella pleaded, her eyes glistening with tears and her bottom lip trembling.
"Can we agree on some kind of a small ceremony in a month, over in New Hampshire at least?" the mayor suggested, looking at Bella warily.
Bella sighed. "Yes, we can do that, but no TV cameras."
Shortly after that, the mayor and the Marshall left. I looked at Bella, who seemed lost in thought.
"Who are the Volturi?" Bella asked, looking at me. My eyes widened.
"Why, Bella?" Please tell me she didn't see them coming.
"If I had agreed to the televised award ceremony, I would've been exposed because you and your family are there," Bella whispered. "We would've had a visit from Jane, Demetri and Felix."
"Are you sure that it still won't happen?"
"Yes, I think so. Once I refused, the future changed. It just looks hazy right now."
"I take it the vision didn't end very well."
"No. Jane was hurting you," she fidgeted with her hands before continuing. "I managed to absorb her gift and gave her a taste of her own medicine, along with the other two," Bella said, clearly hiding something.
"Bella…" I whispered, my eyes pleading for her to continue. She sighed and averted her warm eyes.
"After the attack and their retreat, I died. Her gift and all the others' ruptured my aneurysm. I don't think you could save me in time."
"So, we have to keep you out of the public eye," I surmised.
"It's probably wise," Bella whispered, looking back at me.
"I'll talk to Carlisle. There might be something that he can do," I said, hoping we could prevent any involvement from the Volturi. I had never met them, but from what Carlisle had told me, I knew that it would not be good for them to know about Bella.
"Like royalty, to police the vampire community," Bella mumbled, tapping her chin, lost in her thoughts and apparently my thoughts too.
"Bella, stop using your powers," I scolded.
"You didn't answer my question. I wanted to know," Bella stated, trying to stifle a yawn.
"Bella, you are already in a weak state. You need to let yourself heal." I pressed the button on her bed for the nurse.
Bella's eyes narrowed. "I don't want to go to sleep."
"Bella, I'm going to be right here with you all night. Please, just sleep." Bella shook her head, tears falling from her eyes.
"Don't be difficult, Bella," I said sternly, just as the nurse walked in.
"Can I help you, sweetie?" the nurse asked, looking at Bella. Apparently, Bella reminded her of her granddaughter.
"She's ready for some more pain medication, so she can sleep," I said as Bella scowled, folding her arms across her chest carefully.
"Good, I'll be right back." The nurse left and returned, administering some medication into her IV.
"She'll be asleep in a little while. Visiting hours end in an hour, son," the nurse reminded me. I simply nodded as she left.
"You're not leaving, are you?" Bella looked at me, her bottom lip slightly trembling.
"No, I'll sneak right back in," I whispered, stroking her cheek.
"Promise?" Bella said, her words slurring.
"I promise. Now, sleep, my angel. I love you."
"I love you. Kiss?" On Bella's lips, a small smile appeared. I chuckled, leaning in and kissing her gently on her soft lips. Bella hummed in pleasure, earning another chuckle from me.
We spent the rest of the week without many incidents. We spent most of the time shopping on the internet for her house, much to her displeasure. We read a few books, listened to music, watched movies on her new laptop, not that she liked the fact that I had bought it for her, either. We found out that we had so many similar tastes in many things. I was finding more and more reasons to love her.
Bella refrained from using any of her powers, and it helped. She was healing faster than believed possible. Instead of ten days, it was a week.
But refraining from using her powers seemed to cause some kind of "built-up" energy or something. On more than one occasion, I had to wake her up so that she would stop levitating objects in the room while she slept.
The doctor gave us the news that Bella could leave the next morning. Alice had already foreseen this and was having Bella's parents flying in to Chicago that morning.
"Morning, Bells." Charlie gave Bella a one-armed hug while Bella sat in a wheelchair, ready to leave.
"Hey, Dad… where's Mom?" Bella asked, she seemed to be struggling to keep her face composed.
"Right here, Bella," her mother exclaimed behind a large bouquet of flowers and balloons. "Oh, Mom… you didn't have to get me anything," Bella whined as Charlie greeted me with a firm handshake.
"I wanted to, honey. Come on, let's get you in the car," Renée said, giving Bella a kiss on her forehead. I pushed the wheelchair out of the room and walked along the hall.
"I still don't like the idea of you in the car for so long," Charlie said, concerned for Bella's pain.
"Dad, I told you before… I am not flying for a while. Besides, Edward's car is here, and he needs to drive over there, anyway," Bella grumbled. "In fact, you and Mom should've just flown straight to New Hampshire."
"We are, Bells. This is just a stop." Charlie shrugged. I think he was more worried about the fact that I would be on the road with her.
"I'll be fine. I'll be with Edward and Esme," Bella said, looking at me, her brow furrowing. I was trying to hide something from her. I shook my head no, and she glared. She knew I was lying as I recited one of Jasper's civil war journals in my mind.
Bella said her goodbyes to some of the nurses, doctors and the Marshall, who had come to see her off. She hated every minute of it. We walked out to the parking lot, a light breeze blowing her hair.
What are you hiding from me, Edward? Bella thought with a firm tone. I shook my head slightly.
Esme pulled up in a brand new dark blue Audi with a large red bow on top of it. Jasper and Alice pulled up in my Volvo behind the Audi. Bella's eyes narrowed on my family as they exited the vehicles.
"Surprise, Bella!" Alice said, bouncing up to Bella, placing a kiss on her cheek.
"What is that?" Bella's tone was angry, and she was not hiding it well. Her brow furrowed, and she bit her lip.
"Umm… your father mentioned that you needed a car for school and work, so I umm… got you one." I stumbled for words, awaiting the oncoming onslaught of complaints.
"That… is not mine," Bella stated firmly.
"Of course it is. Silly Bella," Alice chimed as Jasper sent calming waves to Bella.
Charlie and Renée were looking inside the car, and Charlie let out a whistle. Bella's anger got the best of her. She flung her hand and the bow flew off.
"Whoa! That must've been one heck of a wind," Charlie said, watching the bow fly farther away. Renée and Charlie ran after the bow.
I leaned in, my lips grazing Bella's ear. "Calm down, Bella. You shouldn't be using your powers."
Bella's car doors slammed closed, and the car tires were beginning to leave the pavement. Alice's eyes widened and looked at Jasper. Jasper ran to Bella's side and placed his hand on her shoulder. Bella's eyes drooped, and the car settled back onto the ground.
Bella's parents didn't notice anything, since they were being greeted by the Marshall on the other side of the parking lot.
A sob escaped from Bella's lips. "What the hell am I?" Bella whispered, taking her face in her hands. "I'm no longer human, I'm not a vampire. Where do I fit? No one would want me if they knew about me. They'd run." Bella sobbed. "What am I… but broken?"
AN: Thanks lisa89, you are the best with all your help.
