When I leave Bella with Jasper and Alice, it's with a heavy heart. She'll be OK, she has to be OK. I look at her, trying to take in every detail, capturing the soft curve of her cheekbone, the delicate wave of her hair, the warm brown of her eyes. If something happens to her, I'll never forgive myself. I can't take it anymore. This eternal life of misery, losing my one, true love over and over again.

When I lost Annabelle, I thought my life was over. I refused to feed, I shunned my family, opting for a life of solitude, choosing to spend my endless life alone. There may have been another reincarnate born between Annabelle death and Bella's birth, but I never found her.

As Alice and Jasper speed away with Bella safely buckled up in the back of their car, I think of the night Annabelle died. We didn't get chance to get her out. Not even Alice saw them coming.

Annabelle and I had the house to ourselves, most of my family were out hunting and Carlisle was working a late shift at the nearby hospital. I was watching her sleep, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, sweeping her long, auburn hair off her face. As I lightly traced the bruise on her head which she sustained when Sebastian tried to run her over, I vowed that I would never let anyone hurt her again. She looked so peaceful. I was so mesmerised by her beauty that it was some time before I heard the crackle of the fire. I opened the bedroom door to find the blaze already spreading up the stairs, the flames licking at the wrought iron spindles of the bannister, scorching the thick pile carpet. I hurried to the bed and picked Annabelle up, cradling her in my arms so we could make a quick escape. She stirred.

"Edward, what-"

"We have to get out."

I stepped towards the bedroom window and gasped as a figure crashed through the pane, sending a shower of glass over me and Annabelle. She screamed. I turned so that my shoulder took the brunt of it, the sharp shards barely scratching my hard body.

Another smash and another spray of glass, then two hulking vampires stood before me, blocking my only exit. Annabelle mentioned that the other vampires in Sebastian and James' coven were all brawn and no brains. They both wore leather jackets, their chests bare. One of them rushed towards me, kicking my legs out from underneath me. The other grabbed Annabelle and leapt through the broken window.

I ducked underneath the arm of the vampire standing in my way, he grabbed me by the back of my shirt and threw me against the wall opposite, I felt the plaster crack and I felt the heat of the fire downstairs, snaking its way towards us.

I slumped to the floor, but quickly recovered myself as the vampire threw his massive fist towards me. I tackled him around the middle, forcing him back towards the window. I kicked him in the stomach, sending him reeling. One more kick and he tumbled through the broken pane. I leapt out after him, landing on the soft, dewy grass outside. I was quickly surrounded by the two big vampires and another, smaller vampire - James. I scanned the grounds, but there was no sign of Annabelle.

James advanced, pacing around me like a lion stalking its prey. I could see him scanning me, searching for a sign of weakness, waiting for the right moment to attack. The other two vampires stayed back, but they kept casting glances at James, like they were waiting for his command.

"Where is she?"

My words were a low growl. James laughed.

"He has her. She belongs to him."

"She doesn't belong to anyone and she'll never belong to scum like your brother."

James sneered at me. He raised a hand, ready to strike. Just then I heard Emmett, his thoughts not quite as loud as his thundering steps as he raced through the woods towards our house. Jasper was on his heels. They burst into the clearing, pouncing on the two vampires who barely registered their presence until they were wrestled to the ground. Alice appeared behind them, she leapt to Jasper's aid, holding the head of the other vampire while Jasper snapped his neck. Emmett swung at his opponent, punching him in the face and snapping his head back.

I looked at James, his resolve was shaken. I rushed towards him, knocking him off his feet and slamming him into the ground. I punched him repeatedly in the face until he sunk into the soft, saturated ground. I heard a piercing scream.

"Annabelle!"

I tried to follow the direction of her yell and I searched for Sebastian's thoughts. I turned back to James, but he was already gone. I took off in the direction of the woods, sniffing at the air for a trace of her scent. As I hurried deeper into the forest, I caught the scent of something else, something sweet, something that caused a frenzy within me. Blood. I found them in the meadow. Her head was dipped towards her chest, her body limp. A rope snaked around her middle, tethering her to tree. Thin cuts trailed down her arms and her white vest was covered with blood. She was alive. I could hear the soft beat of her heart and the rattle of her breath. Sebastian stepped out from behind the tree. He grabbed her by the hair, pulling her head up. Her eyes were closed as he held the knife threateningly at her throat.

"Get away from her." I snarled.

Sebastian laughed, just liked James did. A cold, piercing laugh.

"She's beautiful isn't she?" He said.

He held his nose close to her cheek and inhaled her scent.

"She smells so good. Such a waste."

He let go of her hair and her head lolled on her chest. He held the knife out towards me and then he threw it at the ground. The point pierced the earth, the handle trembling with the force. Sebastian sped forwards, I dodged him easily and I kicked out. I caught him in the side and he crashed into a nearby tree. He jumped to his feet and then raced towards me head first. I didn't have time for this. I had to get to Annabelle. I held out my hands as Sebastian crashed into me and then I wrapped them around his neck before slamming him face down into the ground. He tried to raise his head, but I slammed him down again and again until he stopped moving. I turned towards Annabelle, but it was too late. James was there, one arm across her chest, almost pulling her from the ropes which bound her. His face was nuzzled into her neck and a thick stream of crimson poured over her collarbone. A sound escaped me, somewhere between a roar and a moan. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces and the pain ripped through me, reverberating around my body, refusing to end. I raced to the tree and James disappeared in a blur. I snapped the rope from around Annabelle's body and caught her in my arms just before she crumpled to the ground.

"Edward."

She struggled to open her eyes, I could feel her heart slow. I clamped my hand over the wound in her neck to stem the flow, trying not to breathe in the scent of her blood which rushed over my fingers. I traced the deep cuts Sebastian had made in the delicate skin of her arms, no doubt to lure me to him with her scent.

"Annabelle, wake up, please. Don't leave me."

Tears filled my eyes.

"Annabelle, don't leave me. Isabella. Not again."

There was only one thing left to try. I raised her wrist to my mouth and bit into the pale skin. Annabelle barely reacted, the only sign that she felt the sharp nip of my teeth was the furrow of her brow. I felt the weak trickle of her warm, sweet blood on my lips and I knew that it was too late. My venom wouldn't save her, her heart was too weak. I pulled her towards me, cradling her head against my chest.

"Edward," I could barely hear her voice over the rustle of the trees swaying in the wind, "Edward, I'm sorry. I…I...love you."

I sobbed into her shoulder.

"I love you too, Annabelle. Always."

She took one last rattling breath. Her heart fluttered and then stopped.