Place of the Lost

A/N: We're back to Edward. Let's see what he does with the bad news. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Twilight and all of its Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

Chapter 21: The Premonition

EPOV:

The valley had been excruciatingly boring since Jake left. I spent most of my time tracking, hunting, and satiating my thirst. It was a primal way of life, but it could be satisfying. I missed having someone to talk to, but I didn't want to go to the widow. She probably knew that I hadn't stopped communicating with Jake, and I didn't want to be lectured. She could be a nice lady, but I couldn't stand having that boney little finger wagged in my face.

I had been to the general store for the past three days, but hadn't received anything yet. Jessica probably thought I was making up an excuse to see her, but that was far from the truth.

Twilight was settling over the valley as I made my way to the store for the fourth time. For some reason I was feeling optimistic. My boots kicked up a cloud of dust on the wooden porch of the little cabin. I put my pale icy hand on the screen door and it creaked as I pushed it open. There she was, in her usual spot, lusty smile dancing on her red painted lips. Her thoughts were racing; it was if they had a color. I could almost see them. They were blazing reds, yellows and oranges, fiery like the setting sun. She wanted me. I couldn't help but chuckle at her thoughts. Of course she interpreted that as flirting.

Jessica licked her lips, and pulled down on the waist of her dress, revealing a deep V of cleavage. I put my head in my hands. That was embarrassing. I kept my gaze very high. "Something came for you today." She said.

My eyes lit up. "From Jacob."

"Yeah, come and get it." Her voice was deep and breathy. She motioned with her finger for me to come closer.

I snorted and walked towards her; she handed me a white envelope. I tucked it in my back pocket and quickly turned to leave. "See ya later Vlad" She winked.

I waved casually and tried to stifle my laughter. I couldn't hardly wait to read the letter. A strange mixture of relief and fear coursed through my veins. I couldn't hold back; I broke out into a sprint. Trees whooshed by in a green blur. When I made it to the edge of the forest, I ripped the envelope open and threw it to the ground. My eyes scanned the page quickly, while my lifeless heart sank.

Edward, He wrote. I met Bella today. She's a beautiful and kind girl. I can see why you care for her so much. I'm sorry to tell you this, but she's happy, really happy. She's moved on and met someone else. He's good for her. They're a great couple, and he loves her very much. I know this is going to be hard for you, but I have to ask you to think about what's best for Bella. She can have a normal life this way. She can have children and grow old with someone, the way things are supposed to be. I won't be home for a while still. I think you should go back to Chicago, and see the doctor. He'll help you start a new life. Move on Edward, it's for the best. Sincerely, Your Friend Jake.

The letter fell from my grip. My chest felt tight, like I couldn't breathe, but I didn't need to breathe. Anxiety weighed heavy on my shoulders. It was as if my whole world had crashed and was burning around me. The last hope I had, lay at my feet in broken pieces. I had wondered if a dead heart could be broken, but now I had no doubt. I wanted to be angry, but I couldn't be. If Bella was happy, that was all that mattered. But that didn't take away the crippling sadness. I had never felt so weak in my life. It was as if my legs gave way underneath me. I fell to the earth, digging my fingers into the dirt.

A thousand thoughts rushed through my mind: holding Bella as the sun set in the park, seeing the doctors take my mother's body away, destroying the janitor's closet in the hospital basement, writing the letter to Bella, running away, Jacob, the widow, my plan to go back to her, to let her choose. That all seemed so distant now, so pointless. Now that Bella was gone, I had no reason to live and no way to die. The frustration was overwhelming.

I pushed myself over, letting my body roll into the river. My head crashed against rocks on the bank, but there was no pain. I needed the physical pain, anything to take my mind off the agony that tortured my psyche. My soul was being ripped in two, and there was nothing I could do to hold it together. I fell into the water; it wasn't cold. I wanted the cold, I wanted a shock, anything to bring me back to life, rip me out of the black hole I was falling into. I lay like a rock at the bottom of the river. The deafening sound of rushing water filled my ears.

I needed a new plan, if only a way to kill myself. There was only one person I could go to, one person who knew my situation… the widow. I dug my hands into the silt covered river bottom, pushing my granite body to the surface. The night air almost felt cool to my wet skin. I walked slowly towards the widow's cabin, all of my excitement and exuberance gone. My wet boots squeaked as I walked through the grass. When I reached her house, a light was still burning in the front window. I knocked impatiently. It took nearly a minute for her to reach the door.

Her breathing was heavy, as if she had been hurrying. "Edward!" She exclaimed. "I'm so glad you're here. I've been looking for you for days now." She paused and looked me over. "Good heavens, are you all right? You're soaking wet!" I nodded. She walked towards me stretching her arms out. Ignoring the wet clothes, she wrapped me in a warm embrace. She smelled like baby powder and old blood. But the fire in my throat barely reacted. My sadness overwhelmed even my most primal sense, thirst. "Come in child, have a seat at the table." I followed her directions and made my way into her dim dining room. She sat down across from me. I placed my hands on the wooden table, but they were trembling. I quickly put them in my lap. She didn't need to see how troubled I was.

Her wrinkles looked deeper than usual, her features contorted in a worried grimace. "Is something wrong?" I asked.

"I should ask you the same thing." She whispered. "I've never seen you so edgy. But that'll have to wait. I've got something important to tell you."

"No." I interrupted. "I need your advice." My voice shook with anxiety. "Something terrible has happened."

"Edward, please just wait." Her tone was unwavering.

"But.."

"It's about Bella." She whispered. I stopped interrupting. "I had a vision in the mist several days ago. It was the clearest divination I've ever had in my entire life. The valley is coursing with supernatural energy. I attribute that to your presence and probably that of the Wolf Clan. Anyway, I saw Jacob Black with a brown haired girl."

"Bella!" I exclaimed.

"I didn't know who she was at first, but he called her by name. Then I remembered our conversation, and I realized it must be your Bella. He was holding her in his arms, Edward, kissing her."

"That son of a bitch! He betrayed me! How could he?" My voice was filled with venom. "I thought we were friends."

"There is no friendship between your kind and the wolves. I told you that, but that's beside the point now. Bella pushed him away. She doesn't want him the way he wants her. She refused his advances, and I could tell that it wasn't the first time. Frustration grew inside him, anger raged in his eyes. And then it just happened. He changed, just like that. It was only a matter of seconds."

I furrowed my brows in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"He became a wolf." her voice was just a whisper.

I stopped breathing. "Oh God, he hurt her." I cried.

Her expression was solemn. "No Edward…he didn't." She hesitated, taking a deep breath. "He killed her." I didn't want to believe her, but her distressed black thoughts only confirmed what she was saying.

The words hit me like a knife in the back. "No!" I screamed, banging my fists onto the table.

"Calm down." She said. "It was just a premonition. The future is a fickle thing. Now if we're going to stop it, you have tell me how it could happen in the first place."

I sighed deeply. "I'm sorry. I didn't listen to you. I should have. I'm so sorry. I didn't think it would happen like this. I didn't think anyone would get hurt. I was trying to keep her safe."

"Edward!" She shouted. "Stop blathering, and just tell me what happened."

I closed my eyes and tried to gather my thoughts. "I kept talking to Jacob, even after you told me to stop." I confessed. "I wanted to tell Bella that I was alive, because I didn't want her to worry anymore. I felt bad for lying to her. So I asked him to mail a letter for me, but he said he wanted to travel. He offered to deliver the letter himself, and explain things to Bella, in a way I couldn't in the letter."

She interrupted, "Let me get this straight. You sent a teen shape shifter to comfort your girlfriend. Edward, his hormones are raging ten times that of a normal boy. He's practically out of control."

I suddenly felt so terrible, so stupid. I tired so hard to keep Bella safe, and not lose her. Now I had failed at both. I hated Jacob with a flaming passion, but I hated myself more. This wasn't his fault, it was mine. How could I be so naïve? I continued you on with my confession. "I got a letter today. That's what I wanted to tell you about. It was from Jacob. He said Bella had found someone else, and that I should move on. He said they loved each other. But I guess that was all a lie."

"She didn't find someone else. Someone else found her. He betrayed you like I knew he would. But I didn't expect it to happen quite like this." She rubbed her temples anxiously.

Alice's words echoed in my head, "Be careful who trust." She had said. That seemed like years ago. Why didn't I listen to that girl? I desperately hoped that she wasn't falling for him. I didn't want it to be harder than it was already going to be to get them apart. "So you don't think Bella is happy then? She doesn't want to be with him?"

"He's lying about everything Edward! She doesn't love him. Not that that matters because he's going to hurt her."

"I have to stop him." I said in a stern voice. "What do I do?"

"You get off your ass and save her!" An unexpected chuckle escaped my lips; I had never heard her curse before. "You have to stop letting other people fight your battles. You're a man now Edward, and I know you won't hurt her. I see it in your eyes. You love her. She's much safer with you than with him."

"So what? I leave for Chicago tonight?" I asked.

"No, my vision wasn't in the city. Everything was green, I could see the river and the mist. They may already be gone. You can't risk missing them. The slightest flaw in your timing could mean disaster." The graveness of her tone was unsettling.

I was so confused. "What? So you think she's coming to the valley? Why would she be coming here?"

"I don't know. But when she does, you need to act quickly. She thinks you're dead, so you have to handle this situation delicately."

"I know, I know. I need a plan." I ran my fingers nervously through my hair.

"I think you should watch them, wait until their alone. Then confront them both. Tell her about all of Jacob's lies. Then come clean about what happened to you, just spit it out. Honestly, you have nothing to lose."

"I have everything to lose!" I shouted.

"No Edward, it's already lost. You've quite literally sent a wolf to watch over your lamb. We're just trying to salvage things now." I hung my head. "Stop it." She said. "You've made a real mess of things, but don't worry, we're going to clean it up. The worst thing you can do is sulk. You have to be strong now Edward. For Bella."

"What now? We just wait?" I replied in a defeated tone.

"What else is there to do?" She replied.

I sighed. "I don't know. If I have to wait days for her to arrive, I'll probably go insane."

"Well, I apologize Edward. No one was holding up a calendar in my divination. But I have been trying something."

"What?" I asked in a curious voice.

"Are you familiar with channeling?"

I hated when she answered a question with a question. "No." I replied.

"Well, most of the time it's a parlor trick used by phony clairvoyants. The psychic claims they can contact the spirit of a deceased person and relay messages between them and whoever they wish to speak to. But I've been trying it with Bella."

"How?" I protested. "She isn't dead."

"I know." She sighed, the wrinkles in her face deepening with her worried expression. "That's why I'm not sure if it's working. I'm trying my best to send her memorable images of you and Jacob together, a sort of warning you know. But I have no idea what he's told her, so I'm not sure what kind of effect those images would have."

My interest was peaked. "Can anyone channel?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure it even works on the dead, let alone the living."

"Do you think I could do it?" I asked earnestly. I knew it was ridiculous, but if I could exist then maybe this could too.

"Well you Edward, like the mystical arts are things of legend. So if anyone can do it, I would imagine you could."

"Will you help me?" I pleaded. "I need to contact her if I can."

"I'll do my best." She replied, as she turned her head to look out the kitchen window. The faint glow of dusk had faded into darkness. "Good, it's nightfall. These things seem to work better during the dark hours. Are you ready?" she asked. I nodded. "Let's go to the river."

"The river? Why?"

"Haven't you figured it out by now? The energy that's been drawing your kind here since the day Jocassee died, comes from that river. Her spirit dwells there, it's mesmerizing. It attracts the mythical like a magnet." She grabbed a match and an oil lamp, lighting it as she pushed me out the door.

We walked slowly, the sound of rushing water growing louder with every step. She found a rock on the bank and sat the lamp down. It cast an eerie glow on the white water. Faint hoots of owls echoed in the distance. I hadn't been scared in the forest since the night I killed my first mountain lion, but this, this was terrifying. Standing by a witch, or at least the closest thing I had ever seen to one, at the riverside, in the dead of night, trying to channel spirits.

"Do you have a personal effect?" She asked. "Something that belongs to her?"

I thought about my old clothes back at the campsite, but even they didn't have anything of hers. Then it came to me. I always carried something of Bella's. "Only my heart." I replied.

A wide grin spread across her wrinkled face. "Edward, you are truly a romantic. You remind me so much of my Tyler. But I won't bore you with my incessant nostalgia. Kneel down by the river, and place your hand over your heart." I did as I was told. "Come on child, close your eyes." She took a long pause, and I could hear her labored breathing. "Now think Edward. Imagine Bella, every tiny detail: the color of her eyes, her skin tone, the way her face wrinkles when she smiles, the way her hair falls onto her shoulders, the way her lips feel against your's, the sound of her laugh, every curve of her body. Do you have the picture Edward?"

"Yes." I replied. "She's beautiful."

"Very good. Now, think her name, her full name. Shout it in your head; call out to her; imagine her coming towards you. Now reach for her Edward, reach for her with your mind." This was strange, but I was desperate, anything to help Bella. I imagined myself pulling her towards me.

"All right." She continued. "You're free to give her your message, but it must be significant. You probably dominate her thoughts anyway. She can't interpret this as something of her own mind's creation. You have to keep it concise, these things are easily lost in translation. I would use only a few phrases at the most. Think very carefully about what she needs to know." She paused for several minutes, giving my mind time to work. "Do you know what you want to tell her?"

"Yes, I know exactly what I want to say."

She nodded. "Imagine yourself writing the words you want her to know. Scribbling them, in thick black lines, tracing them over and over again." When her voice stopped, a perfect tranquil silence fell over me. The sounds of the night forest faded into oblivion, and I thought of nothing but Bella. I began to speak to her in my mind.

A/N: I didn't expect things to take such a mystical turn, but I kind of like where it's headed. Thanks for reading! Please review!