Bellezza Swan | A Carlisle Cullen Love Story

Chapter Twenty One: Choose

          I woke up to rain hitting my face. My eyes reluctantly opened and I was on my side in some grass and mud. Where am I? I shifted and winced when my ankle throbbed. Right, I twisted it when I.. When I..

          I sat up in a panic, "Carlisle!"

          "She's awake," Victoria said.

          I looked around and saw that I was in a familiar place. When was I here? There was a wooden walkway that led to a circular wooden porch surrounded by a rail. It was too dark to see what was hanging from the trees that grew outside of the rails. Why am I here?

          "You see," Victoria hissed, grabbing a handful of my hair to forcefully drag me in the mud, "Edward would not shut up about you. He found this place to be the perfect one with you. You stupid girl."

          I whimpered and clawed at her hand, "Stop! Ow! Let me go! That hurts!"

          James chuckled as Victoria easily tossed me onto the hardwood porch, "Victoria, is that jealousy?"

          She scoffed and pressed herself on him where he was sitting on the rail, "You're my mate, aren't you? Besides, you're the one who wanted this."

          He kissed her roughly and slapped her butt, "Don't worry, babe. Just a little game. You have your job. Find out more about this little lamb."

          She reluctantly left after looking over her shoulder to look at me. Once she left, the rain had already soaked me to the bone. I began to shiver and it annoyed James.

          "Will you shut up?" he snapped.

          I sat up and held myself, "I-It's raining! Wh-Where am I?"

          He squinted at me, "Think, little lamb. That Edward fell in love with you here. Think."

          A flash of lightning lit up the area and I saw wisteria flowers hanging around us. Edward fell in love with me? These flowers, I saw them at prom. Prom? Edward fell in love with me here? Why? How? No. He's lying. This is the same vampire that claimed responsibility for my sister's death.

          I stood up and ran towards James, "Bastard!"

          His body moved in a blur with incredible speed, "A feisty lamb, are you?"

          I ran into the rail and nearly slipped off the porch, "Stop calling me a lamb! I'm a kitten!"

          He cackled with the accompaniment of thunder, "Kitten? And whose kitten are you?"

          I opened my mouth but Carlisle's voice interrupted, "She's my kitten."

          I turned around and couldn't believe he was here, "C-Carlisle!"

          James hissed and snatched me from behind, "Yours?"

          He had one arm around my stomach and was lifting me off the ground. I grunted and struggled by kicking him and using both hands to pry his arm off of me. Suddenly, his other hand grabbed my hair and yanked my head back.

          "Don't!" Carlisle screamed.

          I screamed when I felt fangs pierce my neck and searing pain burned my skin.

          "Bellezza!" Carlisle ran to catch me as James threw me at him.

          People ran behind Carlisle but I couldn't see who. Voices were yelling and the sound of thunder followed every flash of lightning. Carlisle laid me on my back and I was crying out in pain. It felt like my blood was on fire and my heart was beating irregularly. Looking at Carlisle, rain fell into my eyes but it wasn't the reason why everything was becoming blurry. Carlisle's eyes were the only things I could focus on. His mouth was moving but I couldn't make out anything he was saying. I'm so sorry, Carlisle. Bella, Charlie, I'm sorry to you, too. Edward, I didn't know you loved me, I'm sorry.

          "Belle.. Forgive me.." was whispered in my ear.

          Carlisle lifted my neck and I felt his fangs pierce deeper than James's fangs. The burning sensation and pain was beginning to stop spreading and instead went to my neck. However, when the pain was gone, the rain stopped as well. A fire erupted beside me and I saw the shadow of James get jumped by other men. James's head was ripped off and thrown into the fire. Was I dreaming?

           The scent of Carlisle began to smother me and I realized he was now feeding on me. I was getting weak. My body felt light. Tears poured from the corners of my eyes. I turned my head until my jawline touched the side of his head. Weakly, my arm reached over and I ran my hand through his hair.

          "I-I'm sorry, Carlisle.. I love you.. Forgive me.." I whispered, feeling myself get even weaker.

          He suddenly pulled away as one of my eyes was forced shut from exhaustion. I had a blurry image of him crying with my blood running down his chin. My head was so heavy. I remember him holding up my lower back as my head fell back. It was as if my hair weighed too much but my body could only go limp. I couldn't tell if I was cold from his touch, the rain, or if I truly died.