My screams echoed through the meadow as his gleaming teeth sank deeper and deeper into my skin. And then my screams turned into sobs and I searched blindly for him. He could get me through this, could help to quench the heat of this fire.

He caught my hands and brought them up to his face, letting me feel what the pain prevented me to see; his clenched jaw and shaking frame. I needed to hold onto him. I was sure that If my grasp faltered even the slightest, I would slip into the darkness and lose the image of him forever.

"Please" I begged as the tendrils of flame ripped into my veins, "please help me" I couldn't remember why I had done this, had lost track of the time and place. Seconds might have passed, or days. A tearless sob shook Edward as he held me.

"It'll be over soon" he breathed "you're going to be alright" it was more of a demand than a promise.

But I didn't feel like I would be okay, I didn't think the pain was ever going to stop. I writhed and quaked in his arms, fighting against the lock he had formed. I forced my eyes to open, looking up at him to see the horror and anguish shown plainly in his eyes. Then something that would normally have sent a shiver through me, but I was too far gone to feel anything, the sight of my own blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

My next shriek echoed through the trees as a new wave of pain coursed through me. My back arched with the force of it. It had to be melting me to my very core, I was sure of it, and yet here I was, my form still held in his grasp.

"make it stop!" I pleaded.

"you have no idea how much it hurts me that I cant" his voice quivered and it would have startled me.

Death was coming. No one could feel this much pain and still live. I had long ago lost the air to scream, but somehow the sound still escaped my mouth. My throat was raw and blood ran in my mouth (I had bitten my tongue without noticing).

There was no more conscious thought, no free will, I was a slave to the flame, doomed to do its bidding. In this state I didn't know that I was causing Edward unspeakable grief, couldn't tell that the image he now saw reflected in those dark, haunting eyes would stay with him for all of eternity.

Somewhere in the distance, in another life it seemed, I heard his phone ring, could feel his pause in deliberating whether or not to answer it, when he did, his voice was strained.

"hello…yes…I don't think…I understand…we'll be there"

I was in his arms, cringing under his too cool touch, being carried away from the meadow, slower than usual. Even the slightest movement made my head feel as if it would explode and I raged against my captor.

"no, leave me, let me die!"

"Never" was his only response

Why? Why would anyone agree to such torture? My head rested on his lap as we drove, and I could feel one arm holding me to the seat as I kicked and fought.

"Bella," he said as we sped down the road, "we're going back to my house"

I couldn't tell why he bothered to say this; it didn't matter where he was taking me, if this pain continued. A spasm of fire hit me then and I dug my nails into his skin as if that would save me from what was about to come.

"shh Bella" he soothed as another ear splitting scream broke from my lungs. I clawed at this skin, still hoping that this was a dream and I would wake up in his arms, warm and content.

I couldn't remember the merits of this plan anymore, only seeing that I had condemned myself to a fate worse than death. He had stopped the car and I could hear the murmur of voices outside.

Someone gasped and I thought it was Esme, but I couldn't be certain. I heard Carlisle though, calm and confident as always.

"Get her in the house" he said, and Edward obeyed

"She's in so much pain" I heard him say, over the piercing screeches, "I don't know what to do"

"There's nothing you can do" Rosalie spoke now, her voice cold and distant, "she's made her choice, now she has to deal with it"

A snarl ripped through Edward's chest and he turned to face her

"That's enough" Esme said, guiding Edward away toward the couch where he placed me.

"it will be okay Edward" she assured him "she will be alright"

I cant let anything happen to her" he whispered through clenched teeth, "I wont"