I like this chapter much better ^_^

Music inspiration: Muse

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all of this stuff.


It was three minutes until the clock struck twelve. Three minutes until I was liberated from this agony. Three minutes until, if Carlisle was right about our kind having an afterlife, I would see Bella again.

That is all I wanted; to see her again, at least once, if indeed I am condemned to an eternity in hell. Just meeting her and putting her in so much danger probably warranted a ticket straight there, at the very least. Just BEING should do the same. Monsters like me should not exist, especially not in the same world with creatures as good as Bella.

The clock chimed, a deep, rumbling sound.

I laughed lightly with relief. Finally. I heard the sounds of child's laughter behind me. A family stood at the opposite mouth of the small alley, decked in St. Marcus day colors; deep crimson and black.

The clock tolled again.

I turned back to the sunlight at my feet. I was only just in the shadow. I wondered vaguely if it was going to hurt. It didn't really matter.

The clock tolled again.

One of the little girls had spotted me in the gloom. She was trying to bring me to her father's attention. The clock tolled again.

I grasped the shoulder of my white shirt and tore it cleanly off. Better to see the glittering skin without the obstacle. It fluttered to the stones at my feet.

The clock tolled again.

I closed my eyes and took one step toward the light, opening my palms to touch it as the clock tolled again.

I thought I heard someone calling my name. Was that my mind playing tricks on me? Or was I already dead? But the voice sounded severely out of breath and I didn't hear any thoughts accompanying it, so I disregarded it as hallucinations on my part. I didn't mind fantasies, not now.

The clock tolled again.

Bella. So close. Soon, love. Soon. Soon we would be together again at last. I imagined my arms wrapped around her warm, fragile body and smiled faintly. The screams were getting louder. Was I close? I took another stride toward the sunlight.

The clock tolled again.

"No! Edward, look at me!"

Ah. The sweet angelic voice of my beloved. Of course she would be present in my mind during my final act. I lifted my foot to take the step that would expose me to the light as the clock chimed once more. Suddenly, something warm and soft hit me head on and I automatically raised my arms to catch it. The wall of scent that slammed into me had more of an effect. It was the same smell, but for some reason it didn't make my mouth water or my throat burn like it used to. I figured that I was just too relieved to be able to smell it again at all. Then something clicked; if I could smell Bella, didn't that mean I was dead and with her? I slowly opened my eyes to make sure my assumptions were correct as the clock tolled again, sounding distant now.

It was definitely her. She was dripping wet and slightly disheveled and her eyes were frenzied; not exactly what I had in mind, but I'd take it.

"Amazing," I said, in awe. Perhaps we did have a heaven after all. Although, this was much better than any heaven. "Carlisle was right."

"Edward," she gasped, out of breath. The sound of my name on her lips gave me great joy. "You've got to get back into the shadows. You have to move!"

I wasn't listening. I was too busy observing her flawless beauty. I lifted my hand to brush it against her cheek. The heat felt amazingly real. The clock chimed again but I didn't notice.

My heart. Although it was not pumping like it once did, it felt whole. It didn't feel like a strained muscle anymore. It was not in strips anymore. I could almost feel it beating.

"I can't believe how quick it was. I didn't feel a thing – they're very good," I mused, leaning to press my lips against her hair. It was so soft and smelled SO good.

"Death, that hath sucked thy honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty," I quoted as the bell of the clock chimed one last time. I had once sympathized with Romeo and his plights.

"You smell exactly the same as always." I spoke directly to her now. "So maybe this is hell. I don't care, I'll take it." If it meant being with Bella, it wasn't hell at all.

"I'm not dead! And neither are you!" Was she trying to ruin our reunion with frivolous conversation? "Please Edward, we have to move. They can't be far away!"

Who can't be far away? I was feeling very hazy. She wasn't making any sense.

"What was that?" I asked for clarification.

"We're not dead, not yet! But we have to get out of here before the Volturi –"

Several things registered at once. One, heaven or hell, Bella would never mention the Volturi if we were in fact safe from them. Two, I could hear the minds of Felix and Demetri nearby. Three, I was still standing in an alleyway, shirtless, and clutching a wet and terrified-looking Bella. Thus, I had to conclude that I was alive, Bella was with me, and we were both in mortal peril.

In the same second I realized all of this, I grabbed Bella and pinned her against the wall, arms outstretched protectively in front of her.

"Greetings gentlemen," I said with false politeness to the two figures that unfolded themselves from the darkness. "I don't think I'll be requiring your services today. I would appreciate it very much, however, if you would send my thanks to your masters."

"Shall we take this conversation to a more appropriate venue?" Felix asked, voice hard and menacing. I could feel Bella trembling behind me.

"I don't believe that will be necessary," I said icily. "I know your instructions, Felix. I haven't broken any rules."

Demetri chimed in. "Felix merely meant to point out the proximity of the sun. Let us seek better cover." I glared at him. I had to get Bella out.

"I'll be right behind you. Bella, why don't you go back to the square and enjoy the festival?" I knew as soon as the words were out of my mouth that the fiends wouldn't permit it.

"No, bring the girl."

"I don't think so," I almost growled. I shifted forward slightly, ready to pounce.

"No," Bella whispered.

"Shh," I murmured.

"Felix, not here." Demetri had more control than Felix and for that, I was grateful. There was no way we would escape if a fight broke out. He turned to me. "Aro would simply like to speak with you again, if you have decided not to force our hand."

"Certainly," I agreed quickly. It was better to come quietly. "But the girl goes free."

"I'm afraid that's not possible. We have rules to obey." I tried to hold back a snarl.

"Then I'm afraid that I'll be unable to accept Aro's invitation, Demetri."

"That's just fine," Felix said.

"Aro will be disappointed," Demetri sighed.

"I'm sure he'll survive the letdown," I snapped. They began to advance. I held my ground. It was then I heard the familiar 'voice'. My head whipped to the alley she would come from.

Edward! Alice thought happily.

"Let's behave ourselves, shall we? There are ladies present." She said this out loud appearing in the alley. She skipped to my side as if our lives weren't in danger. I was immensely glad to see her. Felix looked annoyed that now it wasn't two against one.

"We're not alone," Alice said, referencing the family and the little girls at the mouth of the alley that had been goggling at me earlier.

"Please, Edward, let's be reasonable," Demetri said, shaking his head after glancing at the humans.

"Let's," I agreed. "And we'll leave quietly now, with no one the wiser."

"At least let's discuss this more privately." Our audience was swelling.

"No," I said through my teeth.

"Enough." It was Jane. Of course, who else would it be? I must not give her an excuse to use her 'power' on Alice or I… or worse: Bella. Felix and Demetri relaxed immediately, blending back into the shadows.

"Jane," I sighed in defeat.

"Follow me," she said simply, gliding into the deeper darkness. I wrapped my arm around Bella's waist and towed her along after Alice. Demetri and Felix shadowed us. Bella glanced up at me, her eyes filled to the brim with a fierce curiosity mixed with intense fright. I shook my head at her; this was not the time for questions from her.

"Well, Alice," I said conversationally. I was trying to distract Bella. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you here."

Of course I'd come to stop you!

"It was my mistake," Alice answered, mimicking my tone. "It was my job to set it right."

"What happened?"

"It's a long story. In summary, she did jump off a cliff, but she wasn't trying to kill herself. Bella's all about extreme sports these days."

Jumping off cliffs, hanging out with werewolves, and riding motorcycles!

"Hm," I said, my voice marred with disapproval. Of course, only Bella would look for trouble even when the greatest danger has moved on.

And I shan't forget to mention Laurent coming across her and almost killing her in your meadow!

It was then we reached the end of the alley so I had no chance to react. In the ground in front of us was a sewer hole. All of them led to the stronghold. Resigned, I dragged Bella closer to it. Alice had already slid into it.

After you. Felix thought maliciously.


Should I keep going? The problem with continuing it is: where would I stop?

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