Edward's POV:
I threw the last piece of Rachael's lifeless, stone body to the side. She had put up a valient struggle and I wished that it didn't have to come to this, but I had to kill her. I lifted my head and listened for any sign of Bella. I hoped she had made it to safety or maybe back to the coven's lair where she might be protected by one of the loyal members. I double checked Rachael's body for any sign of movement. It was strewn about the black tunnel in several pieces and I knew she was dead, but I would have to come back and burn the pieces after I found Bella.
I tried harder to hear anything... a thought, a whisper, a foot step perhaps. But I heard nothing but a faint drip of stagnant water somewhere. Beginning to panic, I took off at a run through the catacombs, trying to pick up Bella's scent. I caught a whiff of her strawberry shampoo and followed, blind to everything else in the dimly lit world. I tried to keep an ear out for any sign of the coven, or maybe even Daphne, but I heard no one. I rounded many corners and found myself in new corridors. My chase led me to a large cavern with a deep pool of cold, black water. Cliffs and rocks jutted out from the walls at dangerous angles and bones of those who were buried here were tossed carelessly about, their skulls smashed in. To my utter horror, I smelled the overwhelming sweet scent I had become to most attuned to in this world. Bella's all too fragrant blood.
"Bella?" I asked into the darkness. I knew from the lack of a heartbeat or and scent of breath, she wasn't here, but still felt the innate need to call for her by name. I saw the plastic flashlight we had brought into the tunnels, it's flame long extinguished, laying on the floor. Blood was smeared on the handle in a haphazard way. More puddles were scattered about the rocky floor and there was even a hand print on one of the walls. I bent down and touched a small pool with the tip of my finger to taste. It was definitely Bella. Whatever happened there, Bella put up a fight, but she had still lost a lot of blood, more than any human can safely live without. I caught the faint lilac scent of Daphne and knew I was too late.
Oh, god, why did I... how could I place her in this kind of mortal danger? She can't be gone... She can't be. How could I have allowed my Bella to innocently run right into Daphne's evil grasp? I had severely underestimated Daphne's supreme hated and malice towards Bella and now she was gone. I told Bella to run to safety and she trusted and followed my orders blindly. Now she could be hurt, scared, lost... maybe even... dead... dead. An animalistic growl emitted from deep in my chest and I fell to my knees, tearing at my hair.
"Edward? Edward?" Emma ran into the cave and noted my distressed look. In my anguish I hadn't even heard her coming. "Edward, where's Rachael?"
"Tore her. Didn't burn the pieces... Bella..."
"Bella? Where is Bella?" She asked firmly.
"Gone. Daphne took her! I knew they were both here. Oh, Emma, look at the blood!"
"Oh, no." She pulled me up to a standing position and began dragging me towards the exit. My legs just couldn't seem to move themselves. "We need to go to the coven. There may be hope yet."
"But look at all the blood." I moaned.
"Stop it, Edward. We need to go look for her. She could still be out there. Let's go."
I ran after her as she took off in a sprint, my mind racing faster than my legs. I tried to keep hold of that small sliver of hope that she was still alive. Maybe sitting now in a comfortable arm chair in the coven's lair, warm to the core thanks to one of the massive fireplaces. Blind hope. I never thought myself a stupid man, but that night I knew I had made a huge mistake by allowing Bella to leave my side. All I wanted was to keep her safe. I never knew... I never thought that Daphne would do something so terrible to this magnitude.
Emma opened the once secret portrait door and bright light flooded the tunnel. I saw several of the coven were already there. Nicolette, Gaspard, and Louise were sorting through the paintings that had been tossed carelessly around the lair. Rachael or Daphne had obviously been there and tore the place apart. Adeline was perched on the fireplace's large, stone mantle and Phillipe looked up at me, his thoughts those of faint sympathy. Lydia was sitting alone near the door, but shot me a small smile. They apparently knew something. I couldn't stand to even look at them. I knew that I couldn't blame them for Bella's disappearance, but how could two vampires get passed a whole coven unnoticed?
"I need to leave. I need to find Bella." I said urgently to Emma.
"Just wait." She picked up a priceless Renoir and passed it to Louise. "Gerard was following Daphne. He may know something."
"I can't just sit here and do nothing!"
"I know, but right now you must."
"No. I need-" I paused. Gerard was back. I heard her sharp footsteps on the stone floor.
He came in, his usually immaculate clothes torn. His wife Louise gave a small, audible sigh of relief. "Edward, I got her." I listened to his mind and knew, instantly the whole story. Gerard caught Daphne's scent and ran after her through the city and into an abandoned church. He soon got a hold of her and after a brief struggle, Daphne found she was no match for the strong, young vampire. However, Bella was nowhere in sight.
"So she's really gone, now?" Adeline asked from her lofty perch.
Gerard nodded. "I burned the pieces. What about Rachael."
"Edward destroyed her."Emma pulled a lighter from her pocket. "I'm going now to burn everything."
"I need to go find Bella." I insisted, turning towards the door.
"Edward... I smelled Bella's blood on Daphne's clothes... I don't know what you'll find." Gerard whispered, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder.
My dead heart dropped to the floor and I ran. Ignoring Emma's please to stay, I left the coven and took to the brightening streets. A light rain was falling, soaking my shirt and washing away Daphne's scent. I couldn't bear to think about what I might find. When the trail ended I found myself at a broken down church in the darker, outskirts of Paris. There were scarcely any houses around and the streets were silent. Stones were missing from the vine-covered church walls and the graveyard was overgrown with thousands of weeds. The large, wooden door was smashed in, obviously the work of struggling vampires. A faint, warm glow was coming from inside.
Amidst the crumbling pews and debris of time, the was a lightly smoldering fire. I looked away, knowing at once that it was what was left of Daphne. Although I felt that she had ultimately gotten what she deserved, I knew then that I could never find out what had happened to my Bella without her. As I turned away, something glittering caught my eye from the heart of the dying flames. I quickly plucked it from the embers and brushed away the sicking ashes to take a closer look. It was Bella's engagement ring.
The world stopped spinning. Everything ceased to exist as I held that fragile piece of jewelry in my hand. There was no way that Daphne could have Bella's ring unless she really had... no, I couldn't think of it. Those toxic thoughts couldn't be allowed to pollute my mind and consume me. I must only immerse myself in a single potent though; find Bella.
ok, guys, what happened to all those awesome comments? =( just take a second and tell me what you think and i'll post the next chapter (maybe the last?) very soon! =) thanks for readinggg