"He bit her." WHAT? NO! I would NOT damn her to this existence, all because of my carelessness. This was all my fault. If I hadn't been so greedy, hadn't wanted to play baseball so bad, this never would've happened. I couldn't let this happen to Bella. Ever. And now, my worst nightmare was happening.
xXx
I gasped, sinking to my knees, watching my angel writhe in what I knew was relentless pain and agony. Why Bella, I moaned over and over again as she screamed. I gently laid my fingers over her eyes.
EDWARD!!! You have to bite her again, help the transition. I know, I don't remember my own transformation, but from what I've heard, it's pretty painful. There's no other choice.
"Edward, you have to do it."Alice's voice, though her thoughts were anxious was thoroughly commanding. She stared at me pleadingly. Please Edward, put Bella out of her misery faster.
"No!" I roared, shaking the ground of the studio. Please, no, I begged with myself, this can't be happening.
"Alice," Bella mumbled softly, barely a whisper. Edward, please! You HAVE to! Is it so hard a choice, to choose to be with the one you love forever?
I growled in frustration. She didn't understand. If it was so simple a choice as taking or leaving her, I would bite her in an instant.
But it wasn't so simple; I couldn't bear to lose the humanity that made Bella, well, Bella. The little things, tripping, blushing, talking in her sleep. But most of all, I couldn't be the monster to take her soul away. My innocent, pure angel couldn't turn into a bloodthirsty demon. I wouldn't let that happen.
"There may be a chance..." Carlisle trailed off hesitantly. I looked up at Carlisle's face. A very slim one, but hopefully, it hasn't been long… It's worth a shot… I think he's strong enough…
"What?" I urged.
"See if you can suck the venom back out. The wound is fairly clean," Carlisle said, sewing her scalp again, his methodical white hands moving up and down. Like I said a slim chance. But, Edward, you can do it. I know you can.
Alice's brow was furrowed, looking at the wound skeptically. Really? I've never heard of that before. Some blood oozed out of it and immediately, Alice and I held our breaths. I could still smell the sweet scent of Bella's blood, in my memory bank forever. If only I could just taste it-
Edward! Pay attention! "Will that work?" Alice was still holding her breath, and she looked at Carlisle, then back at me.
"I don't know. But we have to hurry." He sewed quickly, his fingers flying, and then paused to glance at me. His golden eyes burned with hope, with compassion, everything that had caused me to choose this life. A choice, he had always said.
I looked back down at Bella, leaned down tentatively, and then pulled back up again. "Carlisle, I… I don't know if I can do that." I knew what would happen the second I taste that blood. The monster inside would overtake me, and I would never repay myself enough to forget this horrible crime.
A choice, Edward. There's always a choice. "It's your decision, Edward," Carlisle said. A decision in which, for your sake and Bella's sake, I hope you'll choose well. "I can't help you. I have to get this bleeding stopped here if you're going to be taking blood from her hand.
"Edward!"
"Alice, get me something to brace her leg! Edward, you must do it now, or it will be too late." A decision. No, I couldn't let Bella be a soulless monster. There was only one choice. I was stronger than that, I was.
I pressed my mouth to her wound, and began taking tainted blood from her. At first, the pain was immense. I heard her scream, but continued, tasting the sweet, delicious blood that I hadn't tasted in so many years. Had it really been that good? So rich, so fulfilling…
Bella's screams brought me back to reality. The blood flowed freely into my mouth, and I tasted a chemical. Blech; morphine. Slowly, impossible, I pulled away. A choice.
I looked at Carlisle- his seemingly tired eyes were filled with relief. Proud of you, Edward. "Edward?" I looked down at Bella- her eyes were closed, and she was drifting slowly into unconsciousness.
"He's right here, Bella."
"Stay, Edward, stay with me…" Her voice, so warm, so rich in itself, made me realize; I had made the right choice. The choice to be with Bella.
"I will."
Bella sighed, and dozed off to sleep. Carlisle walked soundlessly to the other side of the blood-stained studio, and grabbed his bag. "Is it all out?" I nodded.
"Her blood tastes clean. I can taste the morphine." You did it. I still think, perhaps, the choice to turn her would've been beneficial to our family, but you made a good choice, Edward.
My nose wrinkled. The gasoline scent from the parking lot was overpowering my sensitive senses. Going down, filthy leech! Take that! And that! I smiled. Emmett and Jasper were obviously having fun playing with James.
"Bella?"
"Mmmmm?" Her answering reply was so soft; he had to lean in to hear her.
"Is the fire gone?"
"Yes. Thank you, Edward." I smiled at her, my angel.
For Bella, I'd suck out that filthy vampire's venom anytime I had to. "I love you," I told her.
"I know." I chuckled at her weak response.
"Bella?"
"What?"
"Where is your mother?" Apparently, I'd never gotten around to telling Carlisle.
"In Florida," she muttered. "He tricked me, Edward. He watched our videos. Alice. Alice, the video- he knew you, Alice, he knew where you came from." James knew? How could he have known? I subtly shrugged to Alice's thought. "I smell gasoline."
"It's time to move her." Do you want to carry her, Edward?
I nodded. "No, I want to sleep," Bella mumbled, her head lolling from side to side on the ground.
"You can sleep, sweetheart, I'll carry you," I muttered gently in her ear, scooping her up from the ground, trying my best not to breathe in. "Sleep now, Bella."
A/N: Wow, dialogue scenes straight from the book are really hard. I decided I'll do Edward's point of view until the epilogue- I won't do the prom scene. So, what did you think about this chapter? I can only know if you review! As always, constructive criticism is appreciated. :)