A/N: It's been a really rough couple of months. I have no other excuses, and I'm desperately sorry for putting my writing on hold for so long. plus, I ended on a cliffhanger, which was beyond cruel. please forgive me. I can't say when the next update will be, but I'll see how it goes. I have no right to ask, but reviews give me motivation, and sometimes, it reminds me that I have stories to write, so please do review.
Red hair and eyes looked at me, and I tensed into a defensive pose.
"Victoria." I spat, snarls ripping from my throat.
She smiled slyly, dashing off into the forest. I ran after her, but much like my time spent trying to track her, she went to the river connecting the back of the Woods behind our house all the way down to La Push. She jumped in, and I quickly lost her. Frustrated, I renturned Home.
The way back to the House, I thought of things I could say to Bella - try to mend her broken heart. Possibly for the first time ever - I came up empty-handed. So I did what I found to be second best and, upon seeing Bella fast asleep on the sofa, made my way up to Carlisle's office. "Carlisle, what can we do? What can I do? I want my Bella back..."
"I've been thinking, Edward, and..." Carlisle let the idea in his mind explain itself, and I nodded.
"It just might work." I said, flashing him a hopeful smile.
He nodded. Hopefully, that will convince her not to become one of us, or... die. He thought, partially to himself, partially to me.
When Bella awoke the next morning, I had planned out exactly what to say to the word and ran through lists of possible things she could say in return and my reactions to them. Maybe a bit overkill, okay, fine, very much overkill, especially considering Alice had already told me it wouldn't end horribly.
Either way - when Bella awoke I was ready. We went through the typical morning steps, mainly asking her to eat, and her reluctantly doing so. and then it was the moment. I held out my hand, and she silently, aprehensivly too it.
"Take a walk with me." I murmured, gently pulling her towards the door.
Bella froze, her Heart suddenly pounding. "A-alright" She said, unfalling tears welling up in her eyes. I lead her a short ways into the woods behind the house, and turned towards her. I was suprised when she beat me to the first word. "Edward, I love you, and I understand youve grown tired of me, and that im dragging you down, so its alright if you want to leave for good this time - I don't blame you."
Out of all things she could've said - I - "what?!"" She opened her mouth, but i interupted her. "Bella, I'm not leaving. When I said never again, I meant never again. I, Edward Cullen, will never leave you side, weather it be until eaternity or death." She opened her mouth but I shushed her again. "Actually, Bella, I wanted to talk about that. I... please Bella, I dont think you understand the complications with being changed intona vampire. there's no gaurentee it will help any of the pain."
Her brow furrowed. "But Rose and Esme - it helped them."
"Bella, when a Vampire meets their soul mate their world changes irreversibly. Seperation, which you and I both experienced, is painful... Esme was saved by Carlisle - her soul mate. As a vampire she met her soul mate and it changed her. Her pain from her Human life faded. A similar thing happened with Rose. After... everything, for a long time she was bitter and lashed out. While I think that may be part of who she is, it got worse when she was dealing with everything. When Emmet entered her life, things changed. She stopped lashing out and was happier, and was finally able to process what had happened to her fully." I took a measured breath, noticing her heartbeat was calm. "You, however. Bella, I believe we are soul mates. When I met you, you became tbe center of my world. you became sun at nighttime, and leaving you was like taking the sun away. I couldnt see the stars, nor the moon, blinded by what once was. I was cast into the darkness that I had previously been okay with, and hated every minture because it hurt without you. Bella, if you were to become a Vampire, I fear the worst might actually happen."
She was silent for a couple seconds, processing. "What's the worst?"
"Im afraid the pain might become permanent. The only change a vampire exleriences is meeting the soul mate. other that that their minds remain frozen in time, along with their bodies. Your mind. How you are right now. the pain youve experienced, and the pain you are experiencing, and those episodes when if feels like your soul is being ripped out? Im afriad that will become unchangeable if I were to change you into a Vampire now."
Bella looked like she might be about to cry, but I continued. I had to. This was the part that Carlisle never told me to do - the part I didn't think of saying before now. Brutal Honesty
"Bella, please. I'm begging you. Don't make me condemn you to an eternity like this. Please. I'd never be able to forgive myself, Bella." Venom pooled in my eyes, unsheding and burning. "And if I was too late... If - if you died... Bella, ive told you before, and I will tell you again- I cannot exist in a world without you, Bella. If I was too late, I'd blame myself. It would Kill me - I'd go to the Voltui and beg them to end such a miserable exsitance. Bella, please. If not for anyone else, please try for me."
Tears now streamed down her face as Bella nodded. "I'll try."
Unfortunately for me, fate has a cruel sense of humor.
The second confrontation came a couple of days later as I hunted.
Victoria stood from a distance, body as tense as mine as we circled each other. "Murdurer. a mate for a mate, right?" her mind flashed through several senerios, all of which ended in Bella dead.
"You will never get to her." I snapped, body aching to pounce on the threat. or run, but I wasn't going to do that.
She smiled. "I don't need to."
I kept my face passive and seperate from the fear coursing through my veins.
"What did you do?!" I demanded, my works turning to be more of a snarl than anything. she got the message anyways.
"I'm not doing anything..." She murmured, smile dropping into an innocent frown. She paced the area in front of her, and i realized she was playing with me. Buying for time. Bwr thoughts, however, were working several steps ahead and unaware I could hear into them.
but Laurent is. Right now he's probanly sneaking silently up the side of your house while everyone is away because - oh no, there a wolf? how unfortunate!
I could feels the other's minds buzzing in the background, but wasnt close enough to get much out of any of it.
The problem was I could hear Sam and the rest of the pack's minds aprotching, ready to ambush Victoria.
I could stay, and we could end Vicotria once and for all, or I could leave and possibly save Bella.
It all came down to one question: Was Victoria aware i could read her mind?
If she was, this was almost definitely a diversion, but if she wasn't, Bella could be in serious danger.
I almost turned right then and there and went runningnto the house, but I was stopped.
This could be my chance to end Victoria.
There might not be another chance, and as long as she lived Bella was in danger.
I could hear the Wolves minds closing in silent but deadly and fast, and i made my desicion. right as Sam pounced on Victoria, her screams ringing through the forest, I took off running full speed, faster than I think I ever had before.
I ran full speed to the house, slowly coming in tune with the other's thoughts.
wolf. get out. Thought Rosalie, and the mindset was mirrored by the rest of the family. I couldn't make out the exact words, but Jacob said something, and they relaxed. I was getting close to being in hearing range, and hoping desperately I wasn't too late.
The house came into veiw and I jumped clear up to the third floor, shattering the glass as Laurent lunged for the killing blow. I met him mid-air, slamming him partly through one of the walls. Snarls ripped from my throat as the rest of the family rushed in. Jasper and Emmet pinned Laurent down as Carlisle rushed over the check on Bella. I followed Carlisle over, holding my breaath just in case.
"Nothing seems to be wrong, but she's not moving, seems to be passed out, but her heart is too fast for that..." Mused Carlisle.
Everyone in the house came to the same realization at the same time, surprisingly.
Bella had been bitten.
I had been too late.
Edward, if I can find where the bite is, should we try and extract it? Carlisle thought, looking intently at me.
I frowned. "How isn't she whithering in pain? Is her spine fractured? Is she okay? what's going on?" Bella seemed to be holding perfectly still, aside from the slight quivering of her muscles. Something wasn't adding up.
Laurent spoke up. "I bit her, yes. The girl might make a powerful ally."
A anguished Howl lit up the night, closely followed by others, far off in La Push. So the Wolves knew.
"Where is the bite." I all but yelled. Please let there be enough time to rectify it like I did James. please.
Laurent shrugged. "I didn't want to do what Victoria said for me to. She told me to kill the girl. I bit the back of her neck." I cursed inwardly. What kind of cruel twist of fate was this!? I closed my eyes, venom trickling into my eyes uncomfortably.
I opened my eyes to face Carlisle, eyes pleading.
If it's her neck, there's nothing to be done. She still might die, even with the venom.
I nodded slightly and picked up her still body, gently placing it on the sofa inside my room. "Leave, Laurent. Before I do something I regret." I said, venom in my voice.
There was a woosh of wind and he was gone.
Now we waited for Bella to awaken.
Fate was indeed cruel.