I do not own Twilight or Sherry. Unfortunately.

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Chapter 12

Life is so fleeting. So fragile. Every breath could potentially to be our last.

I watch Tyler's eyes widen as I wrap the cord around his neck. The end of his life may be violent, but I imagine he will take some comfort… Peace that his death is not being drawn out any longer.

"Consider yourself lucky, Tyler. I had plans for you today, but you caught me in an unusually good mood." I lean over adding pressure to the cord and stopping his breath. "I kissed her… Isabella. I kissed Isabella and I liked it. No, I loved it. I think you were right. I do love her. It's the only explanation." I continue to ramble. "Though now, I'm wondering where I go from here? What do I have to offer her and what do I tell her about the monster within? It's only a matter of time before she see's him and then she will leave? What if I get caught and she is alone again?" I allow him to breathe. "I never want her to feel alone again." I shake my head.

I lean over him with my head bowed. "What the hell am I going to do?" Tyler doesn't respond to anything I've said, not that I need him to. I guess it's a lot easier, safer, to talk to my victims than a therapist. A therapist would certainly have me arrested or worse. Committed. "I can't stop what I do. It's who I am."

I pull on the cord around his neck. "Many people crave control in their life, whether it's to relinquish their hold on it or to control everything around them. Some use it for sex or in their work environment, but for me, it's about survival." I allow him to breathe again. "I need the control to survive, it's all I know. With Isabella, I lose all control. I lose all sense of reason." I pull the cord again. "She has become my everything in such a short amount of time." His body shakes as it struggles for oxygen. "A psychologist would tell me it's because I crave love, yearn for someone to take some of my control, for someone to care for me, but I know the truth." I allow him to breathe as I lean to whisper in his ear. "I could only allow myself to be weak for her. Isabella has bewitched me."

He's had enough I can tell. There's no fight left in him at all. I think it left him when Marcus died. I pull the cord tighter for the last time. "Thank you, Tyler." I watch his face turn red, then purple before his body goes slack. I keep pulling tighter and tighter. "Thank you for her." My arms start to shake from the strain, but I continued to pull the cord tighter and tighter. Isabella's bruised face flashes in my mind. "You never did deserve her." My teeth clench in anger and I watch the blood drip from his neck as the cord becomes more embedded.

My arms ache from the tension, but I continue to pull. My monster isn't completely satisfied with Tyler's end and the rage continues to build. My eyes are trained on the blood seeping from the wound on his neck, my hands are covered. I'm not strong enough to completely decapitate him, but It's close enough.

I drop the cord and tilt Tyler's head back. "Almost down to the bone. Impressive." I sigh. The buzz I feel when I've been with my victims has diminished to almost nothing. Tyler didn't satisfy me and it would only be a matter of time before my need for blood consumes me once again.

o0o

I take a long pull from my coffee, hoping to wake myself up. The hospital is short staffed and overcrowded today, so I'm running myself ragged trying to be everywhere. Today was supposed to be my day off. I had wanted to spend the day with Isabella but instead, I'm stuck here.

My week so far has been wholly uneventful. Isabella has joined me for the occasional lunch and dinners, but unfortunately, I have been unable to spend any quality time with her due to my excessive shifts at the hospital. I have a feeling Carlisle has something to do with my little influx of working hours.

The monster within has been rattling his cage and I can feel the noose tightening around my own neck as I try to restrain him. I have already chosen my next victims and I planned to spend the whole weekend with them. Savoring in their end. Then, hopefully Aro will be next.

The sound of the ambulance bay doors opening brings me out of my thoughts of blood and torture. I can't help but stare at the scene before me. A woman, noticeably pregnant on a stretcher with what looks to be her partner running beside her. But it's not that what gets my attention, it's the fact that both are taking short breaths, panting. Like dogs.

"Hee, hee, hee, hee... Hee, hee, hee, hee."

The man runs his hand over her head. "We're almost there; keep panting."

"I want drugs! Now!" They place the woman in a bay and Dr. Brown, one of the hospital's obstetricians starts to check her over.

"Cullen, get over here. I need your help." I look down at my coffee longingly before giving the cup to a passing nurse.

"Contractions are ninety seconds apart." Dr. Brown does not look at me as she speaks.

"Should I call O.B"

"No time, plus that's why I'm down here. We will have to deliver this baby." She turns to nurse Denali. "Ring O.B and tell them they will have two more patients to accommodate today. They need to find a bed."

Okay. I know this. I can do this.

I walk beside the woman. "You're going to be okay, just breathe." It's ironic that a minute ago I was fantasizing about ending someone's life and now I will be helping to bring a new life into this world.

Like a woman possessed she grabs my tie and pulls me to her. My head pressed against her shoulder. She's freakishly strong. "Have you ever had a baby? Do you think breathing really helps? Just give me some fucking drugs!" She releases me and I stand shocked for a moment. Pregnant woman are scary. It's one of the reasons I didn't specialize in obstetrics.

The woman continues to pant as I help Dr. Brown with the fetal monitor before she heads down south of the border. "What's your name?"

That's it Edward try to distract her.

"Lucy. Now give me the drugs." She speaks between clenched teeth and reaches for me again. I manage to step out of her reach and look over to her husband imploring him to comfort his wife. He jumps right into action, holding his wife's hand. She hits and pushes him, but drags him back to her at the same time.

Like I said. Scary.

I try to offer some comfort of my own. "Hang on, Lucy, won't be much longer now."

"No kidding. The baby's crowning." Dr. Brown speaks from between Lucy's legs. I take a look and yep, there it is.

Lucy's breathing hard, yelling, wincing in pain. Attacking her husband.

"Come on, LuLu, blow. Right through the pain." Lucy's husband was very upbeat, a huge smile on his face despite the fact that LuLu has pulled his hair twice during the last two contractions.

She growls and snaps at him. Before screaming. "Oh, my God! Shoot me, please. Somebody shoot me." Tempting. Somebody pass me a gun.

"You're going to push on the next one, okay, Lucy? You hear me?" I stand beside Dr. Brown ready to assist her.

"I can't push yet." She turns to look at her husband, pleadingly. "My music, Sam, I need my music."

"We didn't have time to grab your music sweetie." He continues to smile as she squeezes his hand.

Then she turns demonic, grabbing at him and shaking him. "It's your fault. You didn't grab it. I told you last week not to forget it."

I try to distract her. "You're doing great." The look she gives me instantly silences my encouragements. Like I said, scary.

"Okay, Lucy," Dr. Brown's voice is steady, controlled. "Let's push now. One... two... three… four." Lucy pushes. "That's right, a big push... good... good."

Lucy, still determined to get her point across turns to her husband. "I told you I wanted music. I had the CD ready and you forgot it."

I can still hear Dr. Brown over Lucy's berating of her husband. "Seven... eight... nine... ten. Come on, Lucy."

"You promised Sam. You promised that everything would be perfect." Her voice cracks as her screeching tapers off. Then she sulks. "This is not perfect."

"You're doing great." Dr. Brown is upbeat. "Just a little bit more. Another contraction. Okay, push. One... two... three... four."

Lucy starts singing as best she can, through the breathing, the pushing, the pain. "Cause all of me, Loves all of you, Love your curves and all your edges, All your perfect imperfections," She turns to her husband. "Sing Sam."

Dr. Brown completely ignores the screeching concert. "Seven... eight... nine... ten."

Sam looks apprehensive, but starts singing along with her. "Give your all to me, I'll give my all to you." Broken, half-sung phrases between pushes and panting. I'm feeling partly horrified, but mainly entertained.

The wonders of childbirth.

"Okay, Lucy, the head's coming. Don't push." Lucy keeps on singing and I can feel the migraine building. She doesn't have the best voice.

"Would you like to see?" I gesture to the mirror beside me. Some parents like to see the miracle of birth.

Lucy stops and stares at me in horror. "Oh, my God. No!" She is completely horrified, but at least she isn't singing anymore.

"Okay. The baby's head is out." Dr. Brown turns to me. "Suction Dr. Cullen." I jump into action and suctions out the baby's mouth and nose. "Push Lucy." It's not long before Dr. Brown lifts the baby all the way out and up onto his mother's chest. "Congratulations, it's a boy."

Lucy is still sweaty and breathing heavily, but now instead of crazy eyes and screeching, she now has tears and a huge smile. She turns to her husband. "I did it, Sam. I really did it." Her smile turns into a pout as she looks at her baby. "The music would have helped though." Demonic woman.

I'm no longer needed here and Isabella will be arriving for lunch any minute. "Well, congratulations Lucifer…" My voice trails off and my eyes widen. Shit, I didn't mean to say that. My lack of sleep is really hindering my ability to filter my thoughts. I freeze waiting for someone to comment, but fortunately for me both parents are too engrossed in their baby to pay any attention to me.

Then my eyes flick over to Dr. Brown. Yep, she heard me. I smile awkwardly and walk briskly to my office.

I definitely need more coffee.

o0o

"So let me get this straight. You called her Lucifer?" Isabella's laugh echoes through my office and I can't help but smile a real smile. We had been eating in here for a week now, something I am enjoying immensely. I have learned so much about her and every new thing I learn, just endears me to her more.

"To be fair her name was Lucy and she was a nightmare."

Isabella shakes her head, an indulgent smile on her lips. "She was giving birth Edward."

"She started to sing Isabella." My arms spread wide as I spoke. "Loudly." I lean forward my arms still moving around. It's something I have noticed recently. I have become more animated with Isabella. Relaxed. "Lucy whilst giving birth became Lucifer. I feel sorry for poor Sam." I shudder. "I am so happy I don't have to do that every day. Pregnant woman are scary."

Isabella belts out another loud laugh and I stop to take her in. She is so beautiful. Her eyes that are normally so lifeless spark with happiness when she's with me. It's a new development that I have noticed happening more and more often. To everyone else, she is still the strange girl with the dead eyes and the flat lifeless voice. But to me, she is the epitome of beauty. Her eyes sparkle and shine and her voice sounds harmonious when she laughs.

She's stunning.

Though only I get to see that side of her and I am both humbled and afraid. Humbled because she chose me, I am the person she chose to let in, to see this glorious side of her that no one else sees, but afraid because of what I am, who I am when the monster within appears.

What happens to her if I get caught?

I need to make a few provisions for her. I need to make sure she won't be left with nothing should anything happen to me.

I watch as Isabella eats a grape, the smile not leaving her lips. I make her happy and that is something I never thought I was capable of. I don't think I have ever brought genuine happiness to anyone's life before.

I bring darkness and unease. I make people fear me, even my family.

Yet, I make her happy and I can say without a doubt that she is the source of my happiness.

Now, I need to look after her, protect her. Make sure she is provided for should I be caught or killed. Maybe if we were married, she wouldn't have to want or be in the need of anything. What's mine would defer to her automatically in the event I'm no longer around. I wonder what she would think of that idea. Would she be willing to allow me to care for her? Or would the thought of marriage spook her away? I need to consider this a bit more. Consider all my options. Maybe get her to confess her feelings about marriage. I know she likes me, and I like her well enough, maybe it is love since I'm considering marriage.

Plus if she ever found out about the monster in me, as my wife she wouldn't be forced to testify against me.

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Thanks for the reviews.

Have a killer day.

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