Venom, Anyone?
EDWARD'S POV
I was troubled. What Bella told me about me not being able to harm her, I believed her and all, but the fact she could be bitten by another and turn the whole clan wasn't sitting well with me. The same could be said about her drinking my family's venom. My gazed drifted from the ceiling to her face. She didn't even know what would happen after she drank the venom.
When I was sure Bella was sound asleep, I got up and went downstairs. I needed to talk to someone about what felt and talking to Bella was out of the question.
"Edward, what is wrong?"Esme asked.
"Nothing and everything," I answered, pushing my left hand through my hair as I sat on the couch.
"Does this have anything to do with the visit you and Bella made to Carlisle?" Alice asked, coming down the stairs and joining the rest of us.
"Yes," I answered. Alice gave me a look that said "what's going on, Edward" before I added, "I really can't explain, Alice."
Again, the look.
"I wish I could. I don't even understand it."
"Ah, so it's you that is damping the mood," Rosalie said.
"Bro, just come out with it," Emmett said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I already said I can't explain it. It is more of a show-and-see explanation from Bella."
"But she didn't show me, Edward," Carlisle said from below as he entered the house.
"Well, yes, that's true," I said, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Come now, Ed—" Esme started and Carlisle interrupted.
"Tell them what you told me," Carlisle suggested.
I spoke quickly and revealed everything I knew. I looked toward Carlisle to continue.
"Bella and the McCullough clan need our help. It is my belief that if Bella drinks our venom, then the clan will be protected. She believes it will work," Carlisle said.
"Alice, what do you see?" Jasper asked.
ALICE'S POV
I spoke in a far off voice for the others benefit. Edward would see what I was seeing.
"We each are handing Carlisle a vial. He starts to mix them, pouring the first vial in a beaker. Bella stops him, picking up the beaker and drinking."
My eyes shot to Edward's as the vision continued and Bella collapsed, convulsing.
"What is it, Alice?" Carlisle asked. "Does something happen to Bella?"
"Bella has a seizure," Edward said.
"No wait, Bella is surrounded by a shimmering of light and is being lifted into the air. The seizure has stopped itself. There is a voice speaking, telling Carlisle to mix the other vials in the beaker and then hand it to the air," I said, shaking my head as the vision vanishes. "That's all I see."
"I don't like it," Emmett said.
"Nor did I," I admitted. "That's only one possibility of what could happen."
EDWARD'S POV
Silence filled the room, each of us lost in our own thoughts.
"If we tell Bella this, it won't stop her," I said at length. "She'll want to try."
"But do we tell her?" Esme asked. "She does have a right to know what she is getting herself into, what could happen."
"Her mind is set for the time being," Alice commented.
I ran my hands down my face. "I'll tell her and try to talk her out of doing this," I said as I got up and walked up the stairs.
I entered Bella's room and found her sitting up on the bed. "Bella," I said, going to her side.
"I'm not sure if drinking the venom is the best thing, Edward. I had the strangest dream. I had a seizure in it. The thought of that terrifies me."
I drew her to me. How had she seen what Alice saw?
"Don't do it, Bella," I whispered.
"I have to do something. I can't leave the clan defenseless."
"We'll find another way."
BELLA'S POV
"Listen to him, Isabella," Grandmother remarked. "He's afraid of losing you. The venom is only part of the equation, not all of it. You'll do yourself great harm. You might even die and then where will the clan be."
"I have to do something, Grandmother."
"Now is not the time. You need to discover more of your powers first and the rest of the equation."
I started to shake. I wasn't ready to die. I had to put myself first. The clan could be saved later.
Edward pulled me into his arms and rubbed my back. "Are you cold?"
"No, scared. I don't want to die and that's another possibility."
Edward stiffened as I spoke.
"There are pieces of the puzzle missing. Venom is only part of the answer."
He relaxed and laid me back against the pillows.
"I'm glad to hear you say that. Now sleep."
"Stay," I yawned out.
"Always."