Bella's Point of View

Hospitals weren't my favorite place, in fact, just stepping into this jungle of beeping machines, fluorescent lighting and the harsh smell of cleaning agents had me in a state of anxiety. It was in a place like this, where I saw my father take his last breath. I could picture it, as if it had happened yesterday. My father, lying in a cot, his skin grey, a single monitor sitting at bed side. The monitor illuminated his heart rhythm, up until the end. The flat line. Death had taken him. From that day on, everything changed.

Edward squeezed my hand as we paused outside of Pete's room. The others waited behind us, watching silently. Their expressions were grim. Especially Rebecca's.

"Are you alright Bella?" Ana asked as she reached over to take my other hand. I noticed her arm was trembling slightly. The look in her eyes was difficult to read. Was this affecting her the same way?

"Yeah, let's… go in and see how he is doing." I tried to smile, but I couldn't manage. Instead, I squared my shoulders and took the first steps inside.

The room was small, but clean. Pete was sitting upright in bed, his eyes closed. A man I've never seen before was standing at his bed, speaking quietly. He dressed in religious clothing, adorned with a cross necklace. He faced the group of us with a sincere smile.

"Pete, it appears your family is here to see you." He spoke softly.

Pete's eyes opened, and as his head turned in our direction, our gaze met. The smile on his face was of pure joy. The expression caused my heart to twist in agony. I felt tears in my eyes as I moved over to him.

"Hey Pete, it's been a long time, hasn't it." I said, my lip quivering as I held more tears from falling.

"Bella, I've been wondering how you are doing. It's good to see you. I wish it was under better circumstances." Pete spoke. His voice sounded weak, his chest rose and fell much faster than normal. There was oxygen tubbing in his nose, supplying him with extra oxygen. I glanced at the machine, taking note of how many liters he was on. 4 liters. That was significant. This was how much oxygen he required, just to remain comfortable. And yet, it was clear, he still was struggling slightly to breathe.

The others moved around his bed as well, offering greetings and introductions. The pastor took his leave, after offering a few more words of prayer.

Rebecca held Pete's hand on one side, and I did the same on the other side of him. The look on her face was heartbreaking. Emmett remained at her side, keeping a comfortable silence.

Edward kept an arm around my waist, watching with not much emotion on his face. I couldn't tell what was going through his mind. But it's clear that his thoughts were elsewhere.

"So, this is Ana? It's a pleasure to meet you, dear. Your sister told me a lot about you. It's nice to put a name to a face now." Pete said, eyeing Ana with a warm smile.

Ana smiled softly. "The pleasure is all mine. I wanted to thank you for looking after Bella for me. It means the world to me, that you were there for her."

Pete's smile widened. "She was like a daughter. One of the most hardworking women I've ever seen." He now turned to me, with a bit of a firm look. "Hopefully, you've been staying away from the bar."

Even in his limited time, he was still worrying about me.

"Yes, of course. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't drink, I am pregnant after all." I said with a nervous grin.

Pete's eyes widened, tears coming to his eyes and rolling down his wrinkled face. "Really? Oh my, that's the best news I've heard in a long time. I suppose this fellow is the one responsible." He turned to Edward.

This seemed to bring Edward back into focus. He nodded his head, still not quite acting himself. "Yes sir," He responded.

"Well, do me a favor boy. You be sure to be the kind of person deserving of such blessings. Protect them. Love them. And cherish every minute. I'm counting on you." Pete said with a serious look.

Edward bowed his head respectfully. "You have my word."

Now Pete turned to Emmett, eyeing him curiously. "The same goes for you. Becca is like my daughter as well. I see that the two of you have gotten pretty close, awfully fast. Remember, you don't have to take things so quickly. You are both young and healthy. Take your time. You have a long time to get to know each other and enjoy each other."

Emmett nodded with an easy smile. "Yeah, you're right about that. I'll do my best to treat her right. You don't have anything to worry about."

Rebecca smiled sadly as well, squeezing his hand. "Thank you for everything Pete. We didn't know each other long, but I truly enjoyed our time together."

Pete began to cough a bit, letting go of both of our hands to cover his mouth. Still, he smiled looking around at all of us. Teary eyed and weak. He rested his head back a little. "It means a lot that you all came. And I hate to sound rude, but do you mind if someone calls for a nurse. I think I need some pain medication and an adjustment to the flow of oxygen."

Rebecca was the first one to respond, quickly dashing out of the room. Emmett didn't hesitate to follow after her.

"I'm going to... head out for some fresh air." Ana said, turning to me with a sad look. In a quieter voice she leaned into my side to whisper in my ear. "His condition is rapidly changing, I don't think it's going to be much longer." With those words, she walked out of the room as well. Glancing back at me only once, before disappearing along with the others.

Edward sighed, running a hand through his hair, watching me. "Are you sure you want to be here for this?" He asked quietly.

My heart fell into the pit of my stomach. Tears slid down my cheeks. I thought there would be more time. He was supposed to have a few more hours. What had changed? I turned to look at Pete. It was true. He appeared to be struggling even more than before.

His face appeared pale, lip turning a slight bluish color.

"Why is this happening?" I asked quietly, as I looked over Pete closely.

Edward moved to where Rebecca was standing and gently took the hand that she had been holding. He lifted it up, revealing the skin there had turned necrotic, dried up, black, completely dead. The damage spread from his hand up to his wrist.

"I assume, this is the cause." Edward said with a frown. "The addition of more infections and damage to this body, has shortened his time further."

I gasped, feeling my arms start to shake. "B-but how? W-why would she do something like this?"

Edward shook his hand. "She didn't even know she had done anything… until he requested for pain medications. This is an ability she has. She wasn't even aware of this. The power of decay. I've only seen one other instance of a reaper with this ability."

"Who?"

"Aro's ex-wife, Sulpicia."

"What does that mean?"

"I'm not sure just yet. It could mean anything. But with this being a possible connection with Aro. We need to be a bit more careful around Rebecca. We don't know if everything she has told us up until this point is the truth. We need to get in contact with Katlyn. Right away." Edward said with a tight look. "For now, let's not make any mention of this to the others."

I nodded with a heaviness setting in my chest. "Alright, what's our next move then?"

"It's Pete's time. I have to reap his soul." He said his frown deepening. "Then we are leaving and getting in contact with Katlyn."

My eyes watered as Edward looked away from me, approaching Pete. The atmosphere changed drastically. I turned away, not wanting to watch. I didn't want to see the moment that Pete's soul was taken out of his body. See the light fade from his eyes.

Shivers rolled down my spine, as I listened intently. I couldn't tell what was happening, I fought the urge to turn around. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I squeezed my eyes shut. I heard the monitor sitting beside Pete's bed go off. Signaling a critical change in his vital signs. No one rushed to the room. This was what Pete wanted. He didn't want to be resuscitated. He didn't want his life prolonged.

Goodbye Pete.

Edward's Point of View

Once I had a hand on Pete's soul, I felt his final wishes. His hopes for Bella and Rebecca both. The kindness of this man was unmistakable. There is no doubt in my mind that paradise awaited him. And he was ready. His soul was warm, and larger than I had anticipated. It barely fits in the palm of my hand. It was rare to see such a pure soul. It was an honor to be the one to reap him.

With a flash of light as my powers activated, I transported his soul onward. To the area of judgement. The rest would be handled by someone else. The action was swift. The soul was here, then it was gone. Right before my eyes. Pete's body was an empty shell now. Devoid of all life.

I moved quickly back to Bella's side, cradling her close to my chest as she quietly wept. This situation wasn't ideal for her. I worried about her and our babies. Surely this stress wasn't good for her. And with Rebecca in the area, I no longer felt that this was a safe place for her.

I walked her out of the room, just as the nurses came into the room. They went to work, turning off the machines and preparing the body. They muttered prayers and apologies to us as we left.

Bella's tiny frame quivered under my touch. Ana waited for us outside of the room. Her eyes were cast down at her feet. A sad look on her face as well. She clung to Bella's other side, offering her support with a tight embrace. They talked quietly to one another. But I couldn't focus on what was said. I kept scanning over the area. Watching for any sign of Rebecca. But I didn't sense her anywhere. I didn't sense Emmett either. What was she up to? Was everything an act? Was she actually working with Aro? Why else would they leave the hospital like that? I thought she cared for Pete and wanted to be at his side in his final moments? Was this all just a lie?

Quickly I ripped my phone from my pocket, pressing it to my ear. I had to get in touch with Emmett. I had to warn him. I waited. And waited. The phone rang, but no one answers. The pit of my stomach tangled. Panic swept over me.

"Edward, what is it?" Bella asked, looking up at me with concern. Her eyes were still red and puffy from crying. I could feel her emotions tumbling around aggressively inside of her. She was in distress. I wasn't helping. I had to calm myself down. Before I made things worse by worrying her.

"It's nothing. I just can't get in touch with Emmett. He and Rebecca must have left. This must have been too difficult for her." I said smoothly, letting my hand run down over her damp cheek.

"Should we go look for them?" Ana asked with a raised brow.

"No, let's just head back to the apartment." I suggested taking Bella's hand as I led her along. The three of us made our way through the hospital. We were stopped a few times by the staff. They asked questions that we didn't have answers to. Such as funeral arrangements. Organ donations. And who would be taking possession of the body. But we had nothing to offer them. Pete wasn't family to anyone here. Not by blood. His last living relative would have to make those decisions.

Eventually we made it out of the hospital, only to find the car was gone from the parking lot. This was beyond frustrating. Emmett and Rebecca just stranded us here? Took the car and left.

Thankfully, I was able to get into contact with Stenton. He was in the area and had some free time. We stood outside in the parking lot for a short amount of time, before Stenton's black SUV pulled up to us.

I opened the passenger side door, allowing Bella to sit up right. I buckled the seatbelt around her, making sure she was in place and safe. Ana and I went to the back seat. I leaned back against the leather seats, running my hand over my face. The events of tonight had me on the edge of a full meltdown. Stenton noticed and didn't bother speaking to me directly. Instead, he pointed all conversation to Bella. Which I was thankful for. I wasn't in the mood for idle chatter. I needed to speak with Katlyn, immediately.

Aro's Point of View

What a lovely night. The moon was so large and imposing. Full. It dominated the sky. I watched from the rooftop of my home. Below my feet, I could hear my family roaming around aimlessly. Squabbling children, a pouty spouse and a small group of security guards patrolling the grounds. I could sense where each and every one of them were with precision.

Edith and Elease were bickering in their room, over something as trivial as a boy. Sulpicia was sitting by the pool, flirting shamelessly with one of the security guards. And twelve other guards were stationed around our entire estate. It was a typical night. But I knew better than that. There was something in the works. Sulpicia had been slightly off as of late. More secretive. She had her own schemes. I don't know why she was keeping me out of her plans. But I could only assume she had her own reasons. If it benefitted me, I wouldn't stand in her way.

I stared up towards the sky, allowing myself to soak in the beauty of the night. My thoughts drifted to Esme, causing my heart to ignite in flames of hatred and a love so soul crushing it left me staggering for breath. Why did that woman have to root herself so deeply into my being? I did I still harbor such feelings? I would destroy her. My last and only weakness. I would snuff out these flames once and for all. And destroy everything else in the process if I must. Once I did that, I would be free of these nightmares. The unending nights of torture and anguish. Of living my life, without her. Of loving someone who will never love me the same. I'll end it all. My suffering and hers. I'm sure she could feel it too.

We were trapped in a curse. One placed by Sulpicia. A consequence of my affair. The truth has been hidden from most. Even Esme herself didn't understand the situation we were in. She didn't know that she was my eternal mark. And because of the spitefulness of Sulpicia, our marking was corrupted. Cursed to fail. My heart was twisted and poisoned. I still had the love that the mark created within me, but the curse prevented me from truly acting on it. The curse filled my heart for hatred that surpassed the amount of love I held for her. Instead, I'm eternally bound to Sulpicia. The only way to break the curse, is to kill Esme. But once I do that… it will undoubtably cause my own death. That's the price you pay, for the ultimate betrayal. Of a soul mate, killing their eternal marking partner. Death might not be so bad…

As many times as I've tried… I can't even get close. Best if I just hurt those closest to her. Until I gain the nerve to kill Esme myself. Yes. I would ruin her life. Kill all those she loves. And finally, her. It would be better this way. Maybe if I cause her enough pain, the eternal marking will fade between us. She will learn to hate me so much, there will be no taking it back. No forgiveness. I had to. I couldn't take this much longer. The agony.

My only saving grace is the fact that Esme didn't place the mark on me. Sulpicia made sure of that. Once she realized our budding feelings, she put measures in place to prevent that. But she wasn't quick enough. She couldn't prevent it from happening to me. I placed the mark by mistake. Just the briefest touch. Not even physical contact, just the slightest brush against the material of her outfit.

My heart ached painfully as I pictured Esme. That day it happened. She was so beautiful. The fierce gaze in her eyes. She was an impressive woman. Strong willed and crafty. Her family had sent her to me, as a proposition. She wasn't about to take no for an answer. I was powerless against her. Her eyes melted me. Sulpicia saw it. She knew what had happened before I did.

The curse was put in place. Hatred and love blossomed in equal amounts at first. It didn't stop me from having the affair. Not at first. I had to have her. I wanted nothing more. But the curse prevented her from sharing those intense feelings of love. Instead… she found eyes for Carlisle. That was the beginning of the end. The moment her heart was stolen away, the hatred outgrew the love.

Now, I'm here. Still suffering from my own feelings. Still cursed to hate the love of my life. And I am still willing to do anything to get rid of these conflicted emotions. If I couldn't have Esme's love. I would kill her and everyone else that has her love. Then, I could finally be free. Free of all the pain and torture. No matter the costs. Even if it meant my own death.

Whatever Sulpicia is planning, I would stay out of it. I will watch from the shadows. And wait for my time. I had a feeling all of this would be coming to an end soon. I just wonder how it's all going to go down.

Thanks for reading. I hope you are enjoying the story so far. The end is near. A few more chapters I believe.