Chapter 7: Burned Memories

*I do not own the characters. They belong to SM. I just suffer from a lackadaisical need to be descriptive and use big words.

*My beta and I do the best we can grammatical and punctuation wise. We apologize for any missed errors ahead of time.

*My beta is out of the country, so I was on my own with this one.

-*-Rosalie-*-

My concentration began to fumble as my hand slightly waned. With the last bit of energy I had, the light ceased and my hand fell to my lap, effectively stopping the hum. I gasped out as I tried to catch my breath; slumping slightly in the rocker.

"No! Leave me go," I shouted, seeing Edward move to help me. "Give me a minute."

I breathed heavily; my lungs burning with the need for air. I righted myself back into the rocker, and looked tiredly across at the two forms still firmly sitting on the bed. One, Edward, had his mouth opened, as if he was about to speak, and Bella looked as if she had seen a ghost.

"You can heal like Edward?" Bella asked, her voice the first to sound in the brief minutes of silence that preceded.

I smiled with conviction. The smile, however, did not last. I was tired, and I could barely open my mouth to answer her. I felt weighted down; as if every limb was made of concrete.

"How long, Rose? How long have you been lying to me?" Edward murmured quietly. "Have you always known?" His voice was not kind, but rough and thick.

"Only since I got burned. When you're sitting in therapy sessions or up here all day long, you kind of have time to concentrate; be alone with your own thoughts." I chuckled, but I was the only one.

"And you decided to keep it to yourself? Not to tell the one person who would understand what the hell was happening?" Edwards's voice rose slightly, gaining heat and accusations.

"What would you have done, Edward? Hmm? Please, enlighten me," I said, swinging my mangled hand in the air.

He didn't answer that, but he asked what I knew he would, eventually. He just asked it a lot sooner than I had anticipated.

"What does that have to do with the fire? I'm confused," he admitted.

"Edward…" Bella warned.

"No. It's alright, Bella. It is what I wanted to tell him, after all." I turned slightly, so that I was facing the both of them on the bed. "Edward, I can do more than heal."

"What are you talking about, Rose? More than heal?" Confusion laced his words and twisted them into unrelieved narration on my part.

"That's what I said. Bella, can you hand me that over there?" My mangled hand pointed to the night table beside her where a notebook laid. Bella looked at me for a moment, then retrieved the black, spiral-bound notebook off the table and slipped it into my damaged hand. "Thank you. And that if you please," I said, pointing to a waste can with a lid that littered the floor at her feet. She slid it to me and then looked at Edward.

"Rose, what are you doing?"

"Watch…"

With my burned hand, I held the notebook up by its one corner over the wastebasket. The binding groaned in protest as it hung limply in the air. My eyes flickered to Edward's for a moment, and then back to the black leather of the notebook. My intense gaze on the book made it sway slightly, and the pages inside rattle in brittle silence. My eyes did not blink; did not so much as water.

"Rose…what…?" Edward started.

I put up my good hand and silenced him, never breaking eye contact with the book. Suddenly, and without effort, the corner of the leather-topped book began to ignite; ashes flickered off as the corner became consumed by the heat and flicks of fire. I turned my head a little upwards, and the flames began to follow the path my head had transparently drawn. When the book at become half ash, I shook the book hard, and placed it into the waste can, slamming the lid down and starving the fire of oxygen. With the last bit of orange flickering, the fire dissolved into nothing, leaving behind only the scent of burned parchment and leather.

I slowly lifted my eyes to find Edward's staring at me. His face was quite pale, even in the deep shadows of the night. I knew that he knew what this meant. How this figured into that tragic night. I could see it in his eyes; the pain and the knowing horror shining right back into my own cold, desolate eyes.

"You start fires with your mind," he did not state this as a question, but a knowing fact.

I nodded.

"You…you started the fire that night. Why?" Edward asked solemnly, his voice changing into something I could only recognize as sadness and disappointment. "How could you, Rose?"

I looked quickly away from him and sighed. I could see why he would ask me such a thing, and I guessed, in a way, that I didn't blame him. The truth was that it was not intentional. Had I the chance to do it all again, I would do it all different, if at all.

"It wasn't intentional. I was merely testing it. I didn't know it would get out of control! I thought it would be like healing; a light or a…a hum. I had no idea how to control it then!"

"How did it start exactly?" Bella asked timidly, reaching her hand to touch Edwards. He flinched, but squeezed her hand in return.

I looked from her to Edward and cleared my throat, which was sticky and thick.

"Well?" Edward demanded, his eyes shining even in the dark.

"Edward!" Bella said reproachfully. "Let her do it in her own time!"

I sniffed. My whole body was tense and I could feel the stress building in my head. The memories would come and I knew it. Painfully, they would creep up to the front lines in my mind and make me relive them with each tortured flash.

"I snuck out to see Emmett that night," I began. I closed my eyes and let the flashes come uninterrupted. "Let me tell you what I did. What I wish I could take back."

The open window stood in the darkness; the curtains flapping as the fierce breeze swept through the room. I put my left leg onto the sash first, and then the other, launching myself inside with staggered imbalance.

"Rose, you're going to wake your parents up," Emmett said, grabbing my arm to right me. He laughed as he let his hand travel to my waist. "Want to give them another reason to ban me?"

I laughed and kissed him. "That is why the window comes in handy, Em. What they don't know won't kill them," I said, kissing him again.

I pulled him by the hand and walked over to the bed. I pushed him down onto it and sat beside him.

"You said you wanted to show me something?" Emmett asked, his face inches from my own. "And you couldn't show me this at the party?" He rolled his eyes.

"No. But I need you to promise me that whatever I show you, you won't tell anyone or get freaked out."

"Rose…"

"Promise!"

"Fine, whatever the hell you're hiding, I'm sure it will be fine. Although…if you tell me you're a dude…" He chuckled.

"Em, this proves my theory."

"What theory?"

"You are retarded," I laughed, shaking my head with vigor. "Listen, seriously, you have to trust me."

"I do," he punctuated that with a small, soft kiss on the lips, "but you're going all 'miss mystery' on me here, and I am getting excited…" He trailed off.

"You pig! Not that!" But I laughed and slapped his knee, reaching out to touch my lips to his.

"Rose, you are killing me. Just get it over with," Em said, sighing deeply.

I looked at him a moment and then turned to face forward. I put my hand up in the air and concentrated.

"You look like your constipated, Rose," Emmett laughed hard. "I'm sorry," he said getting a look at my expression, "go on."

I turned back to my dangling hand and concentrated hard on the inner most line that connected on my palm, making a small triangle. My eyes bore into the spot with constriction as my vision blurred slightly. My breathing sped up, and I was just about to lower my hand in exhaustion when the blue light began to flood from under my nails and down my fingertips. The sound of the wind rushing in through the curtained windows was no match for the gasp beside me. I smiled, expecting him to be in awe; to be in wonder of what I was doing. I turned my head, effectively breaking my concentration to look at him. The blue light faded simultaneously and my hand fell back onto my lap. What I saw when I turned to Emmett, was not what I was expecting.

Emmett's eyes were bulged out and his pupils large. He stood a little shakily, swaying as his body came of the bed.

"You're some kind of fucking witch! You—you!" he stuttered, his face losing color. "What the fuck?" His hands came up on either side of his head and grabbed a fistful of black hair.

"No, Emmett, listen! I'm not!" I assured him, standing up and walking toward him.

He backed up away from me, his hand coming out to stop my advance. "No. No! You stay far away from me!"

"Emmett! I'm not a witch! I can—,"

"You're a fucking freak!" he spat at me, turning around me in a circle so that his body was now close to the open window. "People don't have blue shit coming from their hands, Rose. People said your family was fucked up, but I had no idea it was this bad."

"Emmett, NO!" I roared as he leaped from the window and disappeared.

I ran to the window and looked down at the grass illuminated by the moon, but he was gone, the only thing of evidence was the lattice we used to climb up the high wall was lying on the ground. He must have pulled it down in haste to get away. I could feel the tears stinging my face as they fled the corners of my eyes. I turned away from the window and ran to my bed, collapsing on it and sobbing into the Lilac comforter. He was supposed to not freak out; to understand. I would have told him what I could do if he had only given me the chance! He backed away from me as if I was ill with a spreadable disease! He feared me! All I wanted to do was share what I could do with somebody other than myself! Tears gave away to anger now, as I sat up and wiped my eyes. I looked across the small, open space to my mirror where all the pictures I treasured hung.

I got up from the bed and walked across the cold, wooden floor to my mirror. With shaking hands, I plucked a picture of Emmett and me from the lake off the side and turned, walking back to my bed and sitting Indian style.

"You promised me!" I spat at the picture of his smiling face. His arm firmly around mine, I, too, was smiling.

My eyes concentrated completely on Emmett's, the intensity of my grip crinkling the picture. As my eyes became unblinking, a small, ashen hole began to spread from his face; the flames whooshing along as the lamination began to shrink and burn. I gritted my teeth together as the flames flickered and danced across. I was so angry and bent on watching his face curl up in burnt vengeance, that I didn't notice the corner of the picture and fallen off and fallen onto the covers.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the covers engulf beside me; the flames spreading rapidly across the fabric. I leapt off the bed and hastily threw the burning picture into the trashcan. I turned around to stamp out the fire that had landed on the cover, but it had engulfed the entire bed in a mere few seconds. The wood of the headboard and footboard were charring black as I bent down to the floor and picked up a dirty shirt I had discarded to try to beat the flames down.

"Shit," I muttered as I swung the shirt down over the flames.

That action did little more than spread the flames to the shirt. I threw the shirt down as the panic in my eyes reflected back through the licking flames that spread to the wall beside the bed and across the doorway, blocking the only exit besides the window, and the lattice was not going to help me twenty feet below. I backed up away from the door the flaming door and bed and settled into the crook in between my dresser and wall and watched as the flames grew higher and hotter. I hugged my knees and began to cry. Impending death would only be fair. I failed at being normal; being something somebody wanted. I could never be myself as long as I was this fucked up version of E.T. The smoke filled the room quickly, and I began to cough roughly. I pulled my shirt over my mouth and nose to try to slow the sickening choking, but it only made it worse.

As the flames licked on and my throat became restricted and sore from the smoke, I began to lose consciousness. My body swayed stiffly as I slumped over onto the floor. My body was heavy; ridged and in a fetal position. My eyes flickered open and shut as I heard a faint muffle from somewhere I could not discern.

"ROSALIE!" The voice screamed.

"Edward…" I whispered. With that, my eyes closed, my body became limp and I was surrounded in darkness; no longer in the world of reality.

"That's when I came in and turned you over," Edward told me, his eyes dark and remote. "Where are you going with this, Rose?"

"Let me finish, will you?" I replied back, shaking my head. "This is where your memory ceases to be reality, Edward."

"What do you mean? I know what happened! I was there!" he shouted at me, his finger pointing wildly to me.

"No. You don't. Your nightmares are reflections of what you think happened. What you thought you saw. But, Edward, they are just nightmares. They aren't real or based on facts."

Edward was silent now. I sighed and looked down at my mangled hand. I turned my attention to the shiny, matted skin that made up my hand. I returned my gaze to Edward and continued on.

I stirred. The blackness faded slowly as I looked around the room. The flames were close now; tossing across the floor like a wave. I shook my head and coughed. I turned my head sharply, and that is when I saw it. A black T-Shirt lies on the floor, only it was being worn and the wearer was lying face down on the burning floor.

"Edward!" I choked out, crawling on my knees. I was still weak, and it took me a little to get to his sprawled form. "Edward! Can you hear me?" I coughed again. No answer.

I reached my shaking hands to the lifeless, unmoving form of my brother and grabbed his T-Shirt. Pulling with all my might, I turned him over as much as I could. Through the thick dark smoke, through the burning flames and stinging eyes, I could see it.

It sickened me.

It overwhelmed me.

Edward lie unconscious, half of his face burned and peeling; pieces of flesh falling from his cheek and forehead. I slumped back as his gasp exhaled from his charred lips. I coughed again and reached my shaking hand out to touch the burns that were etched painfully into his skin.

Without anything in my mind to argue with, I touched my fingertips to his face and concentrated as much as a semi-conscious person could until I could see the familiar blue light descend from under my nails and down my hand until it reached my wrist. As my hand lay bare upon his face, I could feel my own face begin to feel hot; as if coals were being placed against it. The sensation was almost too much to bear as the heat intensified. I could see pieces of my flesh begin to fall and I could see through the smokiness that Edwards face began to heal; congeal back to its original form. I cried out in searing pain as my lips began to blister and crack, my eye began to blur. I gasped once more before my hand fell from his face and my body slumped onto the floor, my newly charred skin slamming against the wood, making pain shoot up my body and rendering me unconscious.

"What the hell are you saying? That my face was burned? That you healed me?" Edward yelled loudly, his shadowy form ricocheting off the bed. "You're fucking crazy!" he spat.

"It's what happened, Edward. Your nightmares have fucked up your memories of what really happened a year ago. And you know it deep inside. That's why you feel guilty, Edward. Deep down, you know I healed you, and this," I pointed to my brutalized face, "was you a year ago."

Bella stood now, and I could see, that even in the dead of night, with the shadows perching across her pale skin, that she comprehended the meaning of my words. She looked from me to Edward, who was staring at me with distaste.

"Oh. My god! Is this what you meant by 'to make on better means to make one sicker'? If you use your healing on someone, it doesn't go away! It just absorbs and reflects back and you take it on!" Her voice was no longer soft, but upset and troubled. "You lied to me!"

"I didn't lie, Bella! I didn't tell you because it's not that big of a deal," he replied, his cold, onyx eyes darting to Rosalie. "Was that story supposed to make me feel less guilty? Are you trying to replicate my pain?" he asked harshly, his voice quivering. He was losing the battle with his emotions fast.

"You always asked me, Edward, why it was I wouldn't let you heal me. I just told you. I started the fire. I regret it so much. I live with the guilt and the memory of seeing your scarred face every day; not only in my mind, but whenever I happen to glance at myself in the mirror."

"Fuck you, Rose," Edward said angrily, the tears slipping down his face shamelessly now.

I watched him run out of my room, his sobs echoing against the walls. Bella offered me a small, apologetic smile, and followed behind him, softly calling his name as she went. I shifted my face back to the window and sighed. All my guilt and remorse was gone. Freed with every single word I had spoken tonight. But in lifting my own demons, I had created more for Edward, and no doubt, Bella. I could see Edward through the thick darkness head into the trees, his pace fast, meaning he was pissed and upset; Bella followed a few steps behind.

I stood from the rocking chair and reached over, pulling down the blinds and shutting out the pain that I did not conquer, but simply passed on.

-*-Edward-*-

The cool night air hit me as I walked angrily across the grass and into the protection of the tall, shadowy cover of the trees. The tears were furiously falling from my face. I could hear Bella softly call out to me to slow down, but I couldn't. I was too angry. Rose had kept this from me, and now she was trying to erase her own guilt while adding to mine! How fucking dare she?

"Edward! Please slow down and talk to me!" Bella pleaded as we came to the familiar clearing in Eden.

I turned on her and fell apart as her arms encircled me and cradled me to her chest like a child. My head fell to the crook of her shoulder, and my hands wrapped themselves around her waist. Her fingertips found my cheek and she turned me so that she could wipe the salty water from the corners of my eyes. As I stared into her brown eyes, my need was far more apparent than ever before. If I was going to be ripped open anymore tonight, then so be it, but I wouldn't be the only one.

My lips found hers, crashing down hard as her hands slipped to my chest and rested there. It was only when my lips began to trail down her neck did she speak.

"Edward…"

"Please, Bella. I don't want to hurt anymore tonight," I whispered, bringing my lips back up to hers to silence her reply.

She mumbled against my lips, but returned the kiss with enthusiasm. I surprised her by picking her up by the waist and letting her legs wrap around my hips. I carried her over to the nearest tree and rested her upon the dark bark; my lips and hers feverishly dancing together. Supporting her weight, she reached up to remove her shirt, only breaking the kiss when she had to pull it over her head. Her bra was next. She didn't bother to unhook it; she instead pulled it over her head like the shirt and tossed it aside. When her hands found the warmth of my back, I leaned down and pulled the right bud into my mouth, sucking gently. Bella arched her back against the tree and moaned slightly as I flicked the small, pink areole with the tip of my wet tongue.

"Edward…" she breathed huskily as I brought my eyes up to meet hers.

"Bella, I can't…I don't…I won't be gentle this time. I need you too much to be careful. If I hurt you…" I trailed off, wanting my lips back on her creamy breasts again. I licked my lips and tried to think of the words to say next.

"Shhh!" she requested, bringing my lips back to her own. She pushed my face away so that she could reach down to undo her jeans. She stepped from them and kicked them aside.

I set her down and kissed her lips slowly. Her eyes twinkled and I groaned as she pulled my body closer to her own. My hands trailed downward to her butt and squeezed hard. Her gasp made my stomach clench in anticipation. I looped my fingers into the elastic of her panties and pulled down, letting them fall to the hard, broken earth.

I picked her up once more. I thrust into her hard and deep immediately. In the light of the moon, I took her. I was not gentle as I rammed into her over and over again; her back sliding roughly against the bark. Her moans and my pants filled the air until we both tightened around each other and spilled over. Tired and spent, we collapsed onto the earth floor and lie quietly.

"Are you still angry?" Bella asked after a long silence.

I kissed her shoulder and brought my lips to her ear. "Very much so, but you make it more bearable. Did I hurt you?" I asked her, my tone taking on concern. She had not said I hurt her, but I knew I was far from the gentle, easy first time we had slept together. "Tell me the truth, Eve."

I felt her turn herself so that she was facing me, her body pressed fully against mine, her exposed breasts pressing into my chest. Her lips reached mine softly.

"It wasn't you that hurt me, Edward. It was the tree," she giggled and kissed my lips again.

Knowingly, I pressed my hands to her naked back. I could feel the small scratches all down her milky back. I took my hands and pressed them firmly in the middle, and waited for the hum. The blue light extended out past her shoulders, and the hum was low and monotone. When I felt her back with my fingertips, the scratches were gone and I removed my hands, sliding them to her hipbone.

"Problem solved," I murmured, bending to nibble on her neck.

"Edward?"

"Hmm?"

"Why didn't you tell me about what happens when you heal?"

"Because it really wasn't a big deal. I would have told you in time."

"Is that…is that how you got the burns on your ribs? Did you heal somebody?" she asked her voice low and cautious.

"No," I replied. I could not meet her gaze. Instead I shifted my hips against her to produce a moan, which I hoped would make her forget about what she asked me.

She moaned slightly, but didn't deter the determination in her eyes. Her hands came to drape over me and let her fingertips dangle and feel my back.

"There are scars, Edward. They were the ones on my back," she whispered. "You didn't have to do that."

"Yes, I did. I would do anything for you, Eve." I paused then.

"What is it?"

"I have to tell you something…I…"

A voice, cold and hard, broke across me. Bella and I sat up in shock as the shadowed person came strolling up with Bella's clothing in hand.

"Get your fucking clothes on you little tramp, and leave this Orchard. If I see you in hear again, I will call the Sheriff. Oh, I know he's your father, you little bitch. Move it!"

I watched in horror as Bella grabbed her clothing and fled through the orchard, the only sound was her echoing sobs and patter of naked feet in the distance….

A/N:

Sorry it has been awhile! With Eclipse coming out, and Youtube stuff, it has been hectic! But alas, this chapter is here. Thanks for the patience!

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