Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its characters

You shit-talked me under the table

Talking rings and talking cradles

I wish I could un-recall

How we almost had it all

Dancing phantoms on the terrace,

Are they second-hand embarrassed?

That I can't get out of bed

Cause something counterfeit dead

It was legendary

It was momentary

It was unnecessary

Should've let it stay buried

Oh, what a valiant roar

What a bland goodbye

The coward claimed he was a lion

I'm combing through the braids of lies

"I'll never leave"

"Never mind"

Our field of dreams engulfed in fire

Your arsons match, your somber eyes

And I'll still see it until I die

You're the loss of my life

THE CRY THAT MADE THE EARTH STAND STILL

There was no pain - which was odd for she faintly remembered the sharp pain in her neck before she lost consciousness. But as she rose from the depths of the darkness and the strong smell of smoke and ash invaded her senses, she realized there was no pain.

Her body wasn't as stiff as it should've been as she pushed off the dirt. One would've thought she'd spent the night in bed rather than on the soiled ground.

She shook off the dirt and grime off her sleeping gown, her hands and face and when she looked back at the stable, she did not find it. The entire structure behind her was gone. In fact, nothing that once stood in the village remained. It all had trampled down as if it was never there in the first place, leaving nothing but a pile of ash.

She knew there must be a fire still burning somewhere. She could almost smell it, but she couldn't see beyond the white smoke.

"Wha-wha-"

The words caught in her throat when she saw the body on the ground next to her.

No, not a body.

Edward.

"Edward!"

She crawled to him, ignoring the pain of the rocks scraping her hands and knees as reached for him.

"Edward."

She tried to shake him out of his sleep, but he didn't move. His body was stiff and cold to the touch. She cupped his face in her hands. No, surely he was still unconscious. He must've hit his head hard when the creature threw him against the stable.

"Edward, wake up."

Nothing. Not a flutter of his eyelashes or a breath left him, there was nothing. It was then when she was hit with a gust of wind, the sweet and ironic smell of dried blood replaced the smell of ash in the wind. A burning sensation tickled her throat and her mouth had suddenly gone dry with thirst.

"Edward, wake up!"

She shook him again to no avail. She waited, for what felt like an eternity, watching her hand which rested on his chest and she waited for the telltale sign of a breath. She waited. And waited. And waited.

And said breath never came. In fact, she couldn't feel the familiar beat of his heart under her palm, like she'd felt it dozens of times before.

She let out a shuddering breath, panic setting in.

"No, no, no, no." She shook him, harder than before. "Edward! Wake up!"

Wake up! Wake up wake up wake up wake up! This isn't happening. This isn't happening, this cannot be happening, she cried in her heart.

But it was.

She took him in her arms, cradling him against her chest and she saw that the dried up blood she had smelt earlier came from him.

She pressed her palm to his heart again, tears streaking down her stained cheeks.

Please please please please please…

It started with a strangled sob. A part of her didn't think this was true, it had to be a dream. Surely, it had to be. She clenched her eyes shut, willing herself to wake up from this nightmare, willing herself back in her bedroom, in her bed where she should've been. She needed to wake up. She was supposed to get married. They were supposed to start the rest of their lives together in the morning, as they have wished for years. She had to wake up. She needed to wake up.

But when she opened her eyes again, she was still on her knees, holding Edward's limp body against hers and she realized that in all the time she spent with her hand over his heart, she never felt it beat. Not a beat, not a breath.

Edward was dead.

And that realization shattered Isabella's heart.

That strangled sob turned into something more. It became a guttural cry that shook the earth beneath her. It was the kind of cry that made the earth stand still.

It was unbearable. As if someone had stabbed through her and pulled her heart out, shredding it to pieces. And now she was left with nothing but a gaping hole in her chest.

They were supposed to get married today.

In her pain, in her cries, in the way she clutched his body against hers, she didn't realize the cloaked figures approaching her from behind.

"It seems we missed one," one of the men said.

Isabella's head snapped up and she swirled around, coming face to face with four cloaked figures behind her. She crawled away from them, never letting go of her grip on Edward's body. She didn't notice the ease in which she dragged him with. Edward was a tall man. She used to boast about their height difference for when she hugged him, her head was at the perfect level where she could hear his heartbeat. She would've never been able to pull him with such ease.

"She was dead," another one said, pulling off his hood, revealing a young man with dark brown hair and black eyes. "Somebody must've fed her blood before she died."

"You know what to do," the female said, also pulling off her hood. She looked young, too young. Almost childlike. Her blonde hair was pulled into a twist at the base of her neck. "Aro and the rest will be here soon, and he'll want this done."

"Too late for that, my dear Jane."

Everyone seemed startled at the sudden appearance of three additional men in red cloaks, but as soon as the shock wore off, all four figures bowed to the men. The one leading the group reached his hand out and the blonde woman - Jane - approached him, slipping her hand into his grasp. He sighed, clasping her hands with both of his as he pulled her hand against his chest and leaned his head down.

No one said a word, didn't even breathe as they watched him. He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand before releasing her.

"What about the people who made it out?"

"There weren't many who made it out, but for those who did, we have trackers on them. They won't be a problem," Jane said.

"And the bodies?"

"Burning. We were just about done before we found these two. She was dead when we found them, but now not so much."

Jane gestured to Isabella and Edward.

Isabella clutched Edward tighter, as if she could protect him from them. The man sighed deeply, his long black hair almost shielded his black eyes as he looked down at Isabella.

"Someone fed her?"

"We cannot know for sure who it was. Vladimir and Sefan made it out," one of the other men said.

The one who Isabella assumed was Aro approached her then. She flinched and Aro raised his hands, a sign that he meant her no harm. Isabella remained on edge as he kneeled in front of her, a look of sympathy in his eyes.

"What is your name?" He asked, gently.

"I-Isabella." Her voice was hoarse and speaking only made the pain in her throat intensify.

"My name is Aro." He placed a hand over his chest. "Please, allow me to apologize for the destruction my kind has brought upon your village and your… loved ones." He glanced over the body she clung to. "Do know, I will find the assailants and punish them accordingly. I simply need to know, who turned you?"

"T-turned me?"

"Who fed you the blood?"

"I don't-I… please, I don't know what-"

"She doesn't even know what happened to her," the second man in the red cloak said, a frown forming on his face. "She doesn't know what she's become."

Aro sighed once more.

"My dear Isabella, have you ever heard of a creature of the night who feeds on human blood?"

Isabella nodded slightly. She had. It was one of the many tales she and Edward were told as children to keep them from sneaking out of their rooms at night.

"Don't go lurking at night when no one is watching. For when the sun goes down, all of hell's demons are unleashed and those caught in the dark will fall prey to it."

Vampires.

Edward had called them vampires.

It came to her then. How one of them had torn into her mother's throat, how fast they moved and their strength. They weren't human. Her eyes scanned the figures before her. They looked human. But there was something in their eyes, something they lacked that made them different. Almost as if they didn't have a soul. Is that what attacked their village? A vampire?

"Y-you're v-vampires?"

"And so are you," Aro responded.

"What? No." Isabella shook her head, tears clouding her vision. "No, that's not true. I'm not."

She was dead.

Somebody must've given her blood before she died.

She was dead when we found them, but now not so much.

She was dead.

She was dead when we found them.

But now not so much.

She was dead.

"You're a vampire now, darling," Aro said.

"No," she cried, clutching a hand to her chest, waiting to feel her own heartbeat. But it wasn't there. Just as Edward's, she had no heartbeat and yet, she still breathed, yet she was still there. How? She didn't want this. She didn't want to be a vampire. She didn't want to live in a world where Edward wasn't alive. "No, no, no, I don't want this!"

"Shhh…" Aro smoothed her hair. "Don't worry. You won't stay like this. I promise."

"I won't?"

"No. It is illegal for a vampire to turn a human unless that human is their mate. The act itself is punishable by death, yours and your sire. Which is why I need to know who fed you the blood before you died, so that I might bring them to justice. The person who did this not only ended your life, but his." Aro gestured to Edward. "Tell me who did this to you and I will make them pay for what they did."

Isabella swallowed, looking down at Edward in her arms and a small wave of relief washed over her. She wouldn't stay a vampire. She wouldn't have to live an eternity without her Edward. Her life was forfeit now and she'd gladly embrace death if it meant being with Edward again, with her family.

The only problem was that she didn't remember. She couldn't remember anything after the bite.

"I don't… I can't…"

"It's okay. I can look for you," Aro said, holding out his hand. Isabella eyed it, unsure of what to do. He offered his hand once more and she slid her shaky hand in his. He clasped her hand in both of his, bringing it to his chest as he bowed her head.

Everyone present waited as he tried to rummage through her memories. His eyes snapped open suddenly and Isabella yanked her hand out of his grasp, an icy chill running down her spine as he gazed at her.

"Interesting."

"What is it, Master?" Jane asked.

"I see nothing."

He saw nothing? What did he mean he saw nothing?

The blonde man in the red cloak that arrived with him stepped forward.

"You cannot read her mind?"

Aro stood. "Jane."

Isabella looked at Jane, who nodded at Aro's silent command. Everyone around her took a step back as Jane stepped forward, her black eyes locked on Isabella and a sinister smile playing at her lips.

"This will hurt momentarily," she said with smug satisfaction. Isabella's body tensed. "Pain."

Isabella's eyes never left Jane's. She waited on baited breath for it to happen, for something to happen. The seconds ticked by and Isabella felt nothing. She glanced at the other men, expecting them to move or react, but nobody did.

Nobody, except for Aro.

Aro laughed, clapping his hands together. His laughter snapped Jane out of her daze and her smug expression was replaced with embarrassment and anger.

"Magnifica."

"She's a shield," the blonde man said, astonished.

"Renata is a shield. We couldn't get past it to get to her when she first manifested it," another said.

"That's because she's a Physical Shield. Hers is Mental," the third man in a red cloak said. "Her mind is impenetrable."

"We don't have anyone in the guard like that," the blonde man said.

"No, we don't," Aro echoed.

There was a beat of silence.

"What a waste," Jane quipped. "For such a power to be wasted on someone who's existence is forfeited. We can terminate her now-"

"No." Aro interrupted Jane, lifting his hand in the air. "We will not waste such a powerful gift."

"If she's anything like Renata, she can learn to project her shield. It wouldn't only protect her, but our entire guard," the blonde man said. "We would be indestructible against Vladimir and Stefan's forces, with Renata's shield protecting us from physical attacks and hers protecting us from their mental attacks."

"We don't know if they have anyone on their side that even possesses a gift," Jane argued.

"We'd be stupid to think they haven't turned humans for their cause," the blonde man argued back. "Or that they haven't kept offsprings hidden that could possess said gifts that could jeopardize the guard."

"Regardless, Aro, it cannot be done." Jane directed herself to Aro now, who hadn't taken his eyes off Isabella. "You are struggling to keep the alliances with the remaining covens. If they see a newborn on our lines that isn't a True Born or a mated vampire, they will know you have broken your own law to strengthen your line of defense. You will lose that support and then it will be the entire vampire race against us. What's to stop the True Borns in the guard from turning against you? Or their sires? You cannot let her live."

Isabella didn't understand what they were talking about. Shield? Covens? Were there more vampires out there? How many? And why did it matter so much if she was a shield? What did that even mean?

"Aro-"

"Enough." Aro cut Jane off. She fell back a step, her lips pursed into a tight line in irritation. "Enough."

"What are you thinking, brother?" The blonde man asked.

Aro sighed, squaring his shoulders as he turned back to the group. Everyone waited as he scanned the area, feigning nonchalance.

"That perhaps of severing their heads from their bodies, we should thank Vladimir and Stefan," Aro finally said. "For they have given us a weapon of the best kind."

"You're going to spare her life?" Jane spat out. "How will you explain-"

"While I understand the confusion, my dear Jane, I will not tolerate that tone any longer. One more word and I'll rip your tongue out."

Jane finally shut her mouth.

"How are you going to explain her existence?" The third man asked.

"I think…" Aro took a beat and let out a deep sigh. "I think it is time I find my mate."

Everyone, including Isabella, went stiff. Mate? What did he mean by mate?

"You cannot be serious."

"Oh, I am serious, Caius," Aro said. "As Jane pointed out, we cannot lose the alliances we have with the covens who are still by our side, but I will not waste such a marvelous gift. The Rite is coming up and it is there where I'll make the introduction." Aro turned back to Isabella, a smug smile on his face. "Heidi will confirm the bond and everyone will be none the wiser."

"No," Isabella finally spoke up. "N-no, I don't want that."

"I'm afraid it's not up to you, my dear."

"No! No, you said-but you said-"

"Enough," Aro hissed. "It'll be done. You ought to be grateful, you are to live in a castle, you will be filled with jewels and the finest gowns. You, my dear, will become my greatest asset in destroying Vladimir and Stefan. And I can only imagine, with a marvelous gift like yours, what kind of gifts our offspring will have. So, my dear Isabella, you ought to be grateful."

Isabella felt sick. She watched as Aro turned his back to her, back to the original group of four vampires that had found her and said, "Burn the body with the rest and take her back to Volterra. We will inform Heidi she has a new apprentice." Aro looked back at Isabella. "We need her gift now more than ever."

"What about Vladimir and Stefan?"

"After this little stunt, they'd be stupid to show their faces any time soon. Be sure to be quick. I want her in Volterra as soon as possible."

"Yes, master," all vampires said in unison.

Aro turned back to Isabella and kneeled, coming face to face with her again. Isabella recoiled back, wrapping her arms tighter around Edward. Aro huffed and gently tugged a stray hair behind her ear, then slid his cool finger under her chin, making her meet his eyes.

"Such a prize," he said almost to himself.

And in a blink of an eye, he and the other two vampires he arrived with, were gone.

"You heard him," Jane sneered, looking down at Isabella in disgust. "Take him with the other bodies and grab her."

The bigger one moved toward Isabella and Isabella clutched Edward tighter, scooting away from the approaching vampire.

"No! No!" She cried out.

Run! Screamed a voice in her head. Run!

No, no, she couldn't run. She couldn't leave Edward!

Run!

Now!

A second vampire joined and Isabella began to really panic.

"Get away! Get away from me!"

"Make this quick, Felix!" Jane shouted. "We have no time to lose."

Jane reached for the hand of the fourth vampire in the group and they disappeared into the woods, in the same direction Aro had gone.

Run! Screamed the voice in her head.

Felix grabbed her by the neck, lifting her easily off the ground and threw her against a nearby tree. The impact nearly toppled the tree over and Isabella fell, her body aching. When she looked up, she saw Felix approaching her again and the other vampire approaching Edward's body.

She wanted to run to him. She didn't want them to touch him and do whatever the hell they were planning to do, she couldn't leave him behind.

But the voice in her head was getting louder, angrier. It demanded her to run. It demanded her to fight back.

RUN!

She felt the last piece of her heart shatter as she scrambled to her feet, and with one last look at Edward's lifeless body, she ran.

Felix yelled out for Dimitri and both vampires chased after her.

Everything was a blur around her. Isabella forced herself to a stop, nearly toppling over another tree as her body slammed against it. The entire thing shook with the force of the impact. Isabella gasped, but she could still hear them coming after her. She needed to keep going.

She ran again, still hitting the occasional tree as her body wasn't used to the inhumane speed she was moving at. That was until she came to an abrupt stop at the edge of a cliff. She gasped, her body nearly falling over the edge but she fell back against the rocks.

She could hear the angry waves crashing against the rocks at the bottom of the cliff as she rose to her feet. All there was ahead of her was water. There was no way out. She couldn't backtrack, they would find her and she couldn't go forward, she didn't know how to swim. It was either let herself be caught or…

Don't, the voice in her head growled.

They were getting close, she could almost hear them.

There was only one way out.

Closing her eyes, Isabella recited her last prayer, ending it with a quiet, "Edward, I love you."

And with one final, determined breath, she jumped.

Her body folded over, water purging out of her as she hovered over the edge of the bed. She felt a hand on her back as she coughed and coughed, another one pulled her hair away from her face until she was only heaving. Her entire body ached and her throat was begging for relief from the flames.

"There you go, let it all out," a soft, female voice said as they rubbed her back. "Let it all out."

Isabella did and once the water was all out of her system, she fell back on the bed with a groan. When she opened her eyes, she came face to face with four strangers standing around her.

"Am I dead?"

I just want to make it clear once more, I only write E/B happily ever afters. But how? We'll have to see haha just a fair warning, it does get sad and a little dark at some points so be sure to have some tissues ready!

Let me know what you think! I love reading your reviews 3