Bittersweet

Chapter 2

Alfons POV

I watched from the front door as Edward launched himself into yet another battle that had nothing to do with him. He came out fairly unscathed, but the way that beast was looking at him unnerved me. It's almost as if it were more than a mere animal. Some recognition flashed in it's large, purple eyes that shouldn't have been there when it looked up and locked eyes with Edward. My Edward.

Gulping down the hint of blood that had crept up my throat during my coughing fit, the evidence of my sickness, I hurried over to Edward once the men he fought scattered.

"Hurry, Alfons! Help me untie it. We need to stop the bleeding!" Edward seemed panic-stricken. At the time, I didn't understand why. I'm not convinced he did, either.

"O-okay." I reluctantly began untying the ropes that bound the unconscious reptile. No one else helped, they only stared in wonder and disbelief. It was just Edward and I, trying to save the life of a green monster.

Edward pulled his shirt off and stuffed it into the gaping wound on the monster's neck. Blood soaked it immediately, doing little good.

"Damnit!" Edward swore. "How are we supposed to move it?"

"We can't. It's too heavy." I sighed, feebly trying to push against the heavy scales with my hands. They felt weak, like they had no power behind them. I was trying to hide it, but I really didn't feel well that day. I felt clammy and feverish, and there was a constant itch at the back of my throat like I wanted to cough. Then there was the metallic taste that always lingered in my mouth.

Edward looked frustrated; maybe even downright furious. He began to yell. "Why won't you people fucking help me? Can't you see it's dying?"

The crowd seemed nervous, and even fearful of Ed at this point. Likely most of them were just as happy if the beast died, rather than possibly wrecking havoc on the already stricken town.

A few brave individuals actually stepped forward though, and began to shove at the giant creature. It was made even more difficult by the fact it was nothing but dead weight, being unconscious like that. It made sense to at least get the thing out of the middle of the street, I suppose.

Between all of us, we finally got the creature off to the side and around the side of the place where Edward and I lived. It was mildly sheltered with a short fence and a tree overhanging, but it didn't exactly keep the serpent out of sight entirely.

I was nervous about this, and didn't like the idea of trying to hide it from the authorities. We already had enough to hide. What was Edward thinking, and why did he have such a drive to save it? Uncomfortable knots formed in my already upset stomach as I felt Edward was beginning to slip further and further away from me.

Edward POV

We finally got it mostly out of sight, and I suddenly felt fatigued from the physical strain it took to move such a massive creature. I ran into the house to find anything I could to stop the bleeding. Sheets, blankets, I didn't care. My only goal was to save its life.

I wrapped a bed sheet around its neck, attempting to tourniquet off the bleeding. It didn't work as well as I had anticipated, as it is seemingly more difficult to achieve on a creature that is covered in large, thick scales.

"Ed... I don't think we can save it by ourselves." Alfons said in a small voice.

"We have to. I need to find out—" I cut myself off, unsure of exactly how to finish that sentence. Alfons already thought I was a little nuts, and telling him what I was feeling would likely not help his opinion of my mental state.