Title: The Cost of Freedom
Genre: Angsty suspense?
Rating: T
Pairing: Bella/Seth
Words: 528
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Prompt: This was a picture of a man sitting on a beach watching the fireworks over the water. Pic is on my twitter.

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The Cost of Freedom

He couldn't move—locked in the grips of the horrifying flashback. To call it a memory would be a gross understatement. It wasn't faint or hazy, or easier to swallow with its indistinctness. No, this was real. He was there.

High above him, the festive fireworks faded away, but their reflection on the water still filled his vision. The red-tainted waves turned to rivers of her blood on freshly fallen snow. The cool water lapping gently around his legs was as cold as ice against his heated skin.

He saw her eyes roll back as the monsters descended. She sacrificed herself, her very lifeblood, just to save him. He would never be able to live with that guilt. He constantly relived those horrifying moments before the end.

The fight was close. He and Edward were communicating silently, one-way at least, but he guessed she didn't understand their plan. While Seth waited for the male vamp—Riley—to come closer, he stayed on the ground appearing unconscious.

When he heard the unexpected gasp from her lips, and the harsh sound of stone cutting her pale flesh, he turned his head and looked. For the first time since he phased, Seth's eyes met Bella's in a life-changing moment that could not have come at a worse time.

Her soft chocolate eyes widened in shock and understanding, and her lips tilted up in a gentle smile as she held his gaze. She knew what happened, and she was pleased.

While his mind tried to grasp what was happening, he watched in horror as the leeches' eyes all turned a menacing black as they stalked toward her. Only Edward seemed frozen, shocked by the power of his singer's blood combined with the betrayal of the imprint. Those precious seconds cost him everything.

Seth lunged toward Riley—who was the closest threat—and tore his head off, tossing it quickly toward the fire. This action seemed to stir Edward, but it was too little, too late. Victoria had better control of her instincts, and her thirst, and Edward's distraction was enough to cost him his own head.

The bloodsucker never got the chance to celebrate her victory before Seth's powerful jaws were locked tight on her shoulder. He ripped off her arm and a large portion of her throat when he pulled back. The next bite finished her off and he quickly tossed her pieces into the fire that now blazed hot with venom. It was over. It was all over.

Cool hands on his forehead and shoulder pulled him from the vision quite abruptly. He sagged against her soft body, panting heavily as he tried to slow his racing heart.

"I'm sorry, baby. The girls wouldn't settle down. I'm here now." His wife, his imprint of just over ten years was there to soothe him with her familiar scent and gentle touch. It had been a few years since he had an episode this bad, but she was always there to pull him back.

"Thanks, Bells."

The start of their life together may have been traumatic, but she was here, and they were free, and he would never take that for granted.