Flight of the Phoenix

Chapter 17 – Within my Grasp


I never had the urge to destroy a member of my family – until now. They risked her life and that in my eyes, in my current state of mind, meant that they were my enemies.

Her breathing slowed, her heartbeat was just a murmur of the vibrant sound I'd been accustomed to hear. How could they take her from me?

Hadn't they known I couldn't live without her?

Time passed slowly, every second her eyes remained closed was a second closer to her death. I wasn't aware of what I was doing. Just that Esme was frightened.

Not that I gave a fuck.

I felt the pressure at each of my shoulders, and I knew I was fighting against the armed restraint of my brothers. Enemies, I reminded myself.

I roared and windows shuddered, and I quickly popped my shoulder into Emmett's abdomen. Caught by surprise he released me for a millisecond.

It was just enough for me to deliver a crushing blow to Jasper's chest. Carlisle held up his hand in defense as I closed in on him swiftly. Alice suddenly had me in a chokehold, whispering nonsense in my ear.

Nothing came through, not words at least. Visions formed in our minds of Bella's body trembling violently. Suddenly, in reality, Bella gasped in Carlisle's arms. She convulsed, and her back arched in an odd angle. She was having a seizure. Carlisle ignored me as Esme handed him his medical bag.

She was dying. I knew it and so did he.

"Let me go," I whispered in a broken sob. "I just need to hold her before –" Jasper released me, sensing my surrender. I knelt beside Carlisle, the hardwood floor splintering beneath me. "Give her to me." Carlisle opened his mind already apologizing. I shook my head, refusing to listen.

"Get out."

They didn't hesitate, Alice's visions once again failing her.

Bella's trembling subsided, her heart slowing further. There wasn't enough venom in her system to start the change. If she was brain dead, and I changed her body, would she still be there?

No.

This was why she knew we had to heal her before we could attempt a transformation. For a moment, I thought that I could hear her. "I love you, Edward."

"Bella," I cried and held her closely. "Don't leave me. Without you I'm nothing."

More time passed, her heart stopped and I roared. Dry eyes stung with the desire to weep, my chest ached with crippling pain. Something I'd never felt before. She was gone.

I wasn't sure how long I lay on the floor with her in my arms; time meant little to me now. I kissed her still warm lips as dozens of images of how I'd pull off my death came to me then.

"I'll be with you soon, beloved."

I closed my eyes for a moment, the meadow from the dream we shared in the hospital filled my vision.

"Edward," I heard her sweet voice. I turned but was blinded by the light, the sun brighter here, and no shadows to be seen.

"Bella," I whispered and found her standing in the middle of the clearing, amongst the wild flowers. She smiled and held out her hand.

She tugged on my hand playfully until we tumbled in the grass with me on top of her. "I love you," I said, placing a small kiss on her lips.

"And I you."

"Where are we?

She laughed. "We're in my house." I looked at her confused. "This is just me healing. Give me some time."

I shook my head. "Your heart stopped.

She smiled. "Listen harder," she murmured. "It's only been twenty-three seconds since your family left."

I closed my eyes and I opened them to reality.

Thump.

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Thump.

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Thump.

Her heart was only beating every twenty-three and a quarter seconds. She was still alive, but barely. I cupped her face and pressed my lips against hers.

"Come back to me," I whispered. "I need you."

A small hand touched my shoulder. I looked to find the wide tawny eyes of my sister. "Take her to bed, Edward."

"What's going on?" I asked, turning my gaze from hers.

"Her body, in essence, is rebooting," my father answered from outside. "Alice didn't see it until now."

"How long?" I asked as I pulled Bella into my arms. I stood on my feet and walked toward Bella's bedroom.

Alice remained in the living room and answered.

"In about forty-three minutes."

"Good, now leave."

"We're –"

"Save it, Alice," I growled. "You're no longer welcome here."

"You still need us," she said defiantly.

"No, we don't," I said as I lay Bella down gently on the bed.

"We'll remain to patrol," she said lowly. "We love you, Edward. We did –"

"You could've warned me," I spat angrily. I carefully tucked blankets around Bella's pliant body. Her body temperature had risen another degree in the last few minutes.

"If we had, you'd never allowed it for it to happen."

"Of course I wouldn't have."

"She would've died in two weeks if we hadn't done it."

"Doesn't matter, the chances were slim for this to work."

"I know," Alice said. She walked closer to Bella's room, and I could see that she was leaning against the door, watching me. "It did though."

I snickered. "You don't know that."

"She doesn't die in two weeks," she hissed. "Do you think I liked getting visions of her dying over and over again?" I shook my head, wishing I could forget the possible visions of Bella's death. "We love her, too." I turned to see Alice take her face in her hands and sob.

I allowed the silence to linger while my trembling hands held Bella close. "Help me get her cleaned up," I said. "Her hair has blood in it."

She breathed deeply. "Her wound closed?"

"Yes."

"The blood didn't bother you?"

I shrugged. "When her life was in jeopardy, I didn't think about her blood. I didn't crave it. The bloodlust is there, and I'm sure it would always be. It wasn't the most important thing though. It was her, just her."

I heard her move around the house as I explained, knowing she could hear me.

She gathered some supplies and together we got her cleaned up. I thought that I'd have to do this again when she'd undergo the transformation.

There was no way I'd spend an eternity without her.

"You can change her now," Alice said quietly.

I shook my head. "Not until she's ready. I'm sure she'd want a chance to get things in order before I change her."

"Do you still think you can do it?"

"I have no choice, she wants me to."

"I can't see it," she said. "Not even the vision of you holding her ravished body."

"What does that even mean?" I groaned as we finished.

"That I'm completely useless," Alice grumbled. I sighed and looked to see ancient pain on her face. She wasn't used to having her visions hindered. She had depended on her gift for so long.

"I'm not ready to forgive any of you," I said firmly. "This may not have worked, and I can tell you right now, I would've stopped at nothing to destroy you and Carlisle."

"I know."

And she was gone.

Bella's breaths were still slow, matching the beat of her heart. I slid underneath the covers and pulled her warm body against me. I needed to feel her. I need to assure myself that she was still with me. I curled my unyielding body around hers, and savored the scent of her neck as I thought about how this day had started.

After everything that had occurred, I was conflicted. What she did was wrong. She should've discussed something like this with me. I withheld information from her because I knew she would've been angry that I wanted to take care of her.

She withheld information that risked her life.

If she had told me, would I have allowed this to happen? No. There was no doubt in my mind that I would've tied her up and held her hostage until she saw reason. Her life meant everything to me.

After my rebellious period, I mourned the deaths of those I destroyed. However, it was not because they deserved to live but because I took their lives without remorse. Despite the horrible memories of that point in my existence, I never had contemplated my death. I had accepted what I'd become.

Until now.

I would've killed my family for hurting Bella. That would've earned me a visit from the Volturi, namely Aro. He was very fond of Carlisle, and I had no doubt he'd do everything in his power to find Carlisle's killer.

I would've stood there and allowed them to destroy me, all so I could no longer suffer without Bella. In those short seconds where I thought she was dying, I'd seen this.

Alice had too.

Now, I had to live with the fact that my family betrayed me and so had my mate.

"Edward."


AN: beta's by Stratan, thank you. I know this is short. I'm keeping my updates short so not to overwhelm me.

Erica