Whitefang: Thank you! I'm super happy you liked it. I really hope you enjoy the little twist in this chapter lol.

Edythe's pov:

I raced through the airport, walking as fast as I believably could past the litany of humans, and looking around for my beloved. But - but I couldn't spot him anywhere! I saw no flash of raven hair, no tall figure dressed in a jacket that smelled of ash… nothing.

He said he'd gone to call his father, and the torture that it had been to release him for what I'd assumed would have been a short task was almost unbearable. But I forced myself to not cling to his side, knowing that I'd already caused enough trouble for him… caused him enough suffering. I promised I wouldn't be the cause of the slightest irritation. But I was regretting it immensely now, making such a foolish vow! Where did he go!?

We're gonna be late…

Did Ted grab that…

When is she…

None of these idiotic humans have seen him! Not a single one saw the beautiful stranger who would silently glide by. I didn't stop looking through the irritating fog of human thought as I tracked his scent from the line of phones to… the exits. The exit?

Had he… had he left the building entirely?

Suddenly much more wary, I stepped delicately out onto the sidewalk, inhaling as slowly as possible. His trail flew away down the street, heading to the woods. It was scattered enough for me to know that he'd been running. Running fast enough that a human wouldn't have been able to see him. Enough that I wouldn't have a chance of catching up with him.

I realized that all with a numb horror, as I stared out at the distance.

He left… he left me? Alone here… without even getting a chance to apologize? Or to say goodbye?

But of course, he did.

I'd been selfishly clinging to him, reveling in his perfection, and feasting on the joy that he hadn't ended his own life - so much so that I'd forgotten, as temporary as it was, that he must have been in unimaginable pain.

He had gone out of his way to save a selfish beast like me and risk himself for someone who'd discarded him. It must have been at Archie's behest, but it wouldn't have surprised me if he'd done it out of the kindness of his own heart… that he had to tie himself to my presence for any measure of time must have been…

I gasped for a breath that wouldn't come, staring at the ground in horror as the humans walked past, oblivious to the girl whose world was shattering to pieces.

It felt like ice-cold claws were tearing out my evil heart through my throat. I couldn't breathe. My shoulders were hunched over as I slowly wrapped my hands around my body - my eyes closing as every single part of my being screamed in pain.

Complete and utterly deserved hell. A just punishment for what I'd done to the most precious being to ever walk the Earth.

Of course, he left - of course, he left behind the most despicable, wretched villain to have ever harmed him. What had I been thinking? That all would be so easily forgiven? That he'd be alright with… with being with me after everything I'd done.

I'd almost caused his death dozens of times when he'd been human, constantly craving the blood that still haunted my memory. I'd caused him to be hunted by a mad woman who tortured him. Again and again, I had watched him face danger, powerless to help, and utterly to blame for putting him in those positions.

In the end, I destroyed him worse than any of those sins! I shattered his heart with my lies, letting him believe he didn't deserve the love that was rightfully his!

That I, a monstrous creature of utter evil, dared to utter such horrific words was blasphemy in itself. But to leave him in that belief for an entire year—an eternity for a human—while he fell apart in agony... It made me feel sick.

And then, after all of that - after all my scheming, plotting, and torturous methods to keep him safe and happy, he still lost his life. He was turned into an immortal like me, and I left him to it. I let him die. I let him lose all mental capacity for happiness. I… I ruined him…

I'd always believed I was a monster - a villain - and now I had confirmation. If I had a soul, then it was surely damned for the sins I've committed against the angel who walked the Earth.

It was hours later that Earnest found me standing there, staring out after the boy I'd destroyed, that I was dragged back into the present. He'd come to look at me with confusion, and no small amount of concern.

"Dad," I whispered brokenly. It was the only thing I could utter, but luckily, it was the only thing I had to say. He wrapped his arms around me and held me as I sobbed. It wasn't the comfort I sought, or deserved, but it was enough to allow him to drag me back inside without resistance.

I wouldn't have been able to follow him to the empty terminal where my family waited without his arm around my shoulder, and the low murmur of comfort, telling me that everything would be okay. He sat my comatose self down in a chair, putting me between him and Carine, who swiftly wrapped her arms around me in the same way Earnest was.

At the same time, I felt Jessamine sending me a wave of calm and peace, but it was barely able to get through to me. It couldn't stop the tidal wave of sorrow rushing through me.

Their gracious kindness was wasted on a fool like me who couldn't comprehend it. I clearly didn't know kindness beyond the natural instinct of doing the opposite, and of course, receiving it from others. From my parents, my siblings… from Beau.

Remembering each tender-hearted act of love that Beau had bestowed made me whimper, and it drew Carine and Earnest's attention back to me very fast. Earnest had been whispering a quick explanation of where he'd found me, and the scent he'd picked up as well, accurately making the same deduction I had on where Beau had gone. But now, I could feel Carine as she leaned her head onto mine, but it made me shake all the harder. I hadn't earned this.

"Oh my daughter," Carine murmured into my ear, holding me tighter. "It's okay," she whispered.

We will go back to Forks and explain to him all that happened Edythe. He simply doesn't understand, her mind whispered. But it was a lie. Beau understood perfectly what I'd done to him, he knew of every horrendous sin I'd committed against him.

"N-no," I choked out, shaking my head. He wouldn't want the accursed demon that I was around him. He didn't deserve any more torment from me.

I could hear their thoughts echoing around me, each one filled with pity. Eleanor was consumed by worry, Jessamine's thoughts dripped with sympathy. Royals felt regret, while Carine and Earnest mourned for a daughter who had caused this devastation. And Archie… Archie's incredulity simmered with barely contained frustration.

This is so dumb!I heard Archie snarl in his mind. Why does no one listen to me!? I told them it was a bad idea to leave in the first place, I told them that we should have gone back, I told them so many times what would happen! We shouldn't be sitting here doing nothing! My pal needs help! She needs help! They need each other, and this time I will make them listen!

"You need to go after him!" He finally snapped, continuing his thought out loud, as he stepped forward, and stared down at me. Not that I could see it, I was still staring at the ground, wallowing in my own horridness, but I could see it through everyone else's eyes… all those angles of how broken I'd become. It was disturbing to see, and there was nothing I could do about it.

"Archie," Carine softly reprimanded, rubbing Edythe's back. She was giving him a look saying that he needed to back away, but he stood firm.

"No, listen… Edy, he doesn't know." He took another step forward, and kneeled down in front of me, looking me in the eyes. He was giving me the most authoritarian look I'd ever seen in his gaze.

"Know what?" I croaked out, only being coaxed to do so by the curiosity I had for what Beau's thoughts were. Whatever it was though, I was certain they wouldn't be sufficient enough of a reason for me to intercede into his life again. Not when it would just hurt him.

"He doesn't know that you lied! He thinks everything you said in the forest was real… that you don't love him… that you think he's some sort of… burden. He left because he didn't want to have his heart broken all over again. He thought you would leave him once you got over your guilt 'for causing his death,'" he said, rolling his eyes at the absurdity. "You know he's stupid like that."

I shook my head. No, that couldn't possibly be true. There was no way that Beau would have come for me if he didn't know that I loved him… why would he? Why would he have willingly come for me - keep me safe, and save me from myself if he didn't believe my love for him? There was no benefit for him to do so otherwise.

I believed Archie when he said that was the reason Beau left though. It was completely fair for him to run away before I could hurt him again. "That's not true. Beau wouldn't… he wouldn't have risked his life for me like that without… not after…"

Archie growled with frustration, and Jessamine quickly came forward and put a hand on his shoulder. She was trying her best to calm him, but it was barely working. Both he and I were too distraught to allow the calming effect to take hold. "You're insane if you think he wouldn't risk everything for you Edythe. Just look… I didn't show you everything that happened, we didn't have time… but look…"

I saw in his head Beau, his tortured expression as Archie tried to explain his view of things… of Beau getting angry… of him running away, trembling like a wounded animal. The depth of his sadness and pain pierced through me, hurting in a way that felt unbearable.

"No… no… why are you showing me…"

"I know it sucks, but you have to look. He was heartbroken. Completely shattered, probably worse than what he showed me. Do you know what that means Edy?" He asked pleadingly. "He loves you. He never stopped, and he never will… please just look, and see. It's all here." He kept showing me image, after image, relaying every painful moment that Beau was with him, and as much as I wanted to turn away from it, I couldn't. It was like watching a train derail; it's horrible, but you simply can't look away.

"But I hurt him so badly…" I choked out, as Beau denied Archie's words in the memory. Of his fear at me knowing that he was like me now. "How could he… how could he want someone who would…"

I see now that Archie was right; that Beau didn't understand my love for him, and that killed me. It tortured every part of me, but it was utterly fair. What else was he meant to believe? I lied so horribly to him, and then I proved the lie true by staying away for so long. He may not understand that I love him more than anything, but it doesn't mean that he would want me either way.

"Because that's how love works dearest," Earnest softly spoke, hugging me tight. I wrapped my arms around myself in a vice-like grip, trying to hold all of my pain inside as my family watched me break apart in a way that they'd never seen before.

"But I lied to him… I destroyed every single bit of trust he had…"

"He'll forgive you," Carine whispered on my other side. Both of them held me protectively, their heads pressed against mine.

"Keep watching," Archie said, his memory continuing to play the constant scenes of Beau's torment by my actions.

"How is this - this good?" I slowly sobbed "He deserves so much better."

He does… I could see it now… the girl, the child… Julie Black. A friend that Archie saw as reliable, safe, and warm in a way that I could never be. Beau would be running back to her.

Bac to someone better.

"Don't be stupid," Archie pleaded. "You just tried this. You have to give him the choice, it's the only way he's going to be happy. Let him choose if you're good enough or not."

Carine was quick to jump in, whispering in my ear, "And you are good enough Edythe, even if you made a mistake… it was just that, a mistake." She said it with such compassion that I… it was hard to speak. But Earnest made it so much worse by playing on my love for Beau - to remind me of exactly who he is.

"And Beau is just the kind of boy to see that. He's kind, isn't he? And loving?" Earnest asked.

I nodded fearfully. He was.

"Then whatever you think you deserve, whatever little trust in yourself that you have, trust him." Carine finished for Earnest, kissing my hair. "Trust him to see that good in you, when you can't."

What goodness did I have in myself?! It was clear that all I had inside my undead heart was cruelty and vain arrogance. I wasn't good for him, more than I ever realized. I'd always focused on keeping him safe and happy, focusing so hard on keeping him alive and healthy, that I never realized how horribly insufficient I was to give him the life that he deserved. The creature that I was couldn't make Beau happy. The only thing I could do was hurt him further…

"But I just keep hurting him… that's what Archie's seeing… Beau is in pain when I'm with him," I gasped out, shutting my eyes, trying to keep everything out.

"That's because of you being a moron, and leaving him in the first place. Quit ignoring the future beyond that, and look!" He ordered more firmly than ever. He screamed with his thoughts, making his memories of his visions as loud as possible.

It was like watching a fairy tale.

I saw Beau and I dancing, a glittering ring on my finger, and dressed in the finest suit and gown. I saw the love in his eyes as he led me through a slow song, and our families watched with adoration as he kissed me at the end.

The vision shifted to Beau carrying me over the threshold of an amazing-looking home, grinning like the loveable fool that he was.

I saw us hunting together, stalking prey, and having fun on a sunny day in Forks.

I saw us traveling the world, and exploring places that he'd never been; of me showing him all my favorite spots, and explaining the histories that I cherished.

Lastly, I saw myself, in a wedding dress, walking down the aisle as Beau stood there, waiting for me to take his hand. I could see the happiness in my eyes. The utter joy of having my every selfish wish come true.

"Oh Beau," I whispered with agonized love.

"You see? He's waiting at the end of the aisle for you… do you see how happy you make him? Do you see how happy you are? Please, just listen to us. You will be happier if you leave right now, and you go say sorry." Archie begged, looking at me with exasperation, his hands reaching out and taking mine. "Tell him you love him, and make him believe you because he's not gonna at first."

My lovely little dream quickly left as he told me that.

"What do you mean?" I asked. He cringed back slightly, but his grip on my hands tightened. I wasn't sure if he was bracing himself or me.

"He doesn't trust very easily anymore, Edy. You did… kinda hurt him like that. He's not gonna believe that you love him immediately… you're gonna have to convince him." He whispered.

An impossible task. That is what Archie was asking of me. How could I redeem myself after everything I'd put him through?

"How?" I asked, playing along with the ridiculous notion that I even had a chance.

"By being with him, by going and apologizing. Grovel if you have to," Archie shot off quickly. "I doubt he'll let you though." He rolled his eyes again, and I whimpered.

Of course, I would grovel, I would get on my knees and beg for forgiveness for eternity if it meant he'd have some solace and know that every poisonous word I'd said was a lie. If that's what it would take, I would.

But Archie was right, I doubt he'd even give me the chance to atone in the first place.

Archie quickly scowled at what I'd obviously been thinking, and he growled out, "No, that's not what I meant! He loves you, you dummy, he's not gonna wanna see you begging for forgiveness. You know what he's like."

I did, but whatever Beau may believe, I just knew I shouldn't be involved. Yes, I saw the visions Archie had seen, I knew what could be. But it felt like a distant dream more than a potential reality. It felt impossible to achieve.

"But… I can't… I…" I gasped out.

"Edythe," Carine whispers, pulling my focus to her. "My daughter, you are one of the strongest people I know, and that strength is matched only by the goodness within you. You've made a mistake, but that doesn't mean you are a mistake. You've hurt someone you love—it's something we all inevitably do. Now, like all of us, you must find a way to make it right. I have no doubt that your strength of character will guide you to do just that."

Her faith in me was like a double-edged sword. Carine had always been my guiding light, showing me how to be a better person, and giving me a standard to live by. Even when I'd fallen from that standard, she'd always viewed me as this moral character who could do no wrong. It's always been a relief to have her enduring strength, but now it felt like a joke. How could she not see the clear horror that I was when I'd…

I couldn't stand it anymore. All this agony inside, all these lies that my family was trying to spin for me to feel better. To make me believe that I could somehow fix all of this was a ludicrous concept, and I was just so frustrated with it.

"I didn't just hurt him though Mom! I… I destroyed him. You didn't see what I saw. He was broken into pieces, literal, burning pieces, that have tortured him, day in, and day out, for a whole year. I dealt him a blow so strong that it crippled his psyche to a degree that he couldn't function anymore. I have not lost any trust in him! I have lost trust in myself! My entire purpose for existence was to care for and love him to the best of my capabilities, and I have failed in the worst way possible… I betrayed him. I did the exact opposite, and made him feel unloved and unworthy! I don't deserve a second chance!" I yelled, causing all of them to freeze as I ranted, letting it all out in one agonized breath.

None of them said anything. They didn't need to. I could hear it all playing out in all of their heads. Carine and Earnest were thinking along the same lines of pity. Jessamine was looking at me with strategic care - she believed I would break down, and was trying to create measures to abate it. Eleanor was trying to figure out what joke she could make to ease my pain. Archie was just frustrated with me beyond measure.

And Royal, the coward that he himself was, standing at the back was thinking about me once again being an idiotic failure. She's too scared to do anything, was his main line of thinking, and it… it just infuriated me.

"I'm not a coward!" I snapped, glaring at him.

"I didn't say you were," Royal said without his usual bite.

"You thought it."

"No I didn't," he said with an uncaring softness. "I thought that you were scared. And you have every right to be." He shrugged, ignoring the little nudge from Eleanor who was glaring at him as well.

"Royal," Earnest said sternly, trying to interrupt, but Royal continued anyway.

"You're right. For once, you are completely right. Beau doesn't deserve someone who's going to run out on him the second she gets scared. If you're kind, you'll let him go." His words were slowly becoming more compassionate, and more fiery. Much like what he'd sound like whenever he had an issue with me. "But the very least you could do is explain why, instead of leaving him out there, thinking that you never loved him in the first place." He wrapped an arm around Eleanor's waist and held her close. I could hear in his mind that he was trying to be kind… that he was trying to give me a kick in the right direction, in the same way everyone else was. "And coming from the most arrogant, and emotionally inept member of our family, it should say a lot when I'm agreeing with everyone else," Royal finished, his jaw clenched now as he let out such self-deprecating words.

Oh, my wonderful boy, I heard in Earnest's head, as he looked at Royal. He, like everyone else knew what he was trying to do… but like Earnest as he looked back at me, they all started urging me to listen, all at the same time.

You got this kid! Eleanor yelled in her mind, giving me a huge grin.

Listen to Archie, Edythe,Jessamine said

Stop being dumb please, don't be like me, Royal begrudgingly thought.

Please, Earnest begged.

"The choice is yours to make Edythe; it always is, but you know how your family feels. Please listen to us," Carine says softly. I could see them all; all their trust in me, all their faith that I'd make the right choice, and all their reasoning for why I should go. It was monumentally hard to ignore, to keep my despair alive, and to convince myself to tune them all out.

I took a single breath, feeling like a fool. I knew I couldn't trust myself… so perhaps I should place my trust in them instead.

"Will it be faster to take the car, or should I run?" Edythe asks Archie, terrified out of my mind.

"Run," Archie said fast, standing back up, and returning to Jessamine's side. Carine and Earnest got up, and looked down at me - they all did. Carine held a hand out, which I took, and she guided me to my feet.

"Go be happy Edythe," she whispered, kissing my brow, and then gently pushing me towards the doors that Beau had run out of. I shakily began walking away, not looking back.

The further I got, the faster I went. The faster I moved towards Beau. The faster I ran.

Authors Note:

Hi gang,

So, first off. My bad for being a day late. I honestly just lost track of time - and I swear that last night, when I got a dm from Iaj (thank you so much for the reminder btw!) it was already midnight! Seriously, that's on me. I've been busy planning and getting ready for a move, and it's been keeping me busy. Sorry everyone!

Anyways - about the actual chapter...

I am so... I don't even know how to feel right now. I'm stupidly happy, but also just a smidge sad, because we are really, really close to the end of My Angel. Like, I think, maybe 3 - 4 chapters tops. Maybe less.

I know it's just practice - that this story is only been meant as a way for me to get better at writing, and to get warmed up for My Insanity, but gosh darn... I really fell in love with this. Even with all the mistakes, and embarrassing moments that I wish I could go back in time and make sure never saw the light of day, I really am just so happy with it.

Especially this chapter in particular. This is the very first time I've ever written from Edythe's perspective, and it was so much fun! I do want to go back and edit it a bit later to flow better, but I'm happy with what it turned out to be. Especially because I made so many mistakes, and made a lot of fun choices that I'll wanna keep later on, when doing her pov.

I hope you all have a great day!

Please do check out my profile for more of My Angel