Certain Things || L.C.

Chapter Ten

June 16th, 2006

Leah's vision had blurred so much that she could barely see the ground in front of her. The last blow from Riley had completely taken the breath from her lungs and her whole body was aching in protest as she tried her best to bring herself back to a stand. Seconds ticked by and she wondered why he hadn't come back to finish her off when a blood curdling scream pierced the air.

Instantly, she knew who the scream had come from and dread settled itself deep in the pit of her stomach. Her head whipped in the direction of the noise and her eyes landed on his attacker. She willed her body to run to Conner's defense, ignoring the pain radiating through her bones as she was given a renewed sense of urgency. Riley crumpled under the weight of her jagged teeth burring themselves into his shoulder. The loud sounds of tearing and cracking pierced the chilled air in a haunting way as she ripped his stone body into pieces.

Once satisfied with her quick work, she whipped her head towards Conner to asses the damage that Riley had inflicted. Her heart plummeted as she took in the sight of his body, crumpled into a heap onto the blood stained snow. She rushed to his side, phasing back as she fell down to cradle his fragile body. Vaguely, she was aware of the warm tears steadily streaming down her cheeks as her eyes flickered along his frame, trying to see where the blood was coming from. Her eyes landed on his blood soaked hand, seeing a cut, the crimson liquid still flowing freely.

She grabbed his bleeding palm, putting pressure on it to stop the bleeding, her eyebrows furrowing as she made the mental note that something else must be wrong. A cut like that shouldn't have him screaming in agony the way he was still. She turned his palm over in her hand, her heart stoping as she saw the crescent shaped bite. This couldn't be happening. She had promised to keep him safe. She refused to believe it.

She panicked as the realization seeped in that there was nothing that she could do. It was too late, and she was completely useless now. She settled down at his head, brining it into her lap. His screaming had ceased, but his face was still crumpled in pain. She flinched as fabric was draped over her shoulders. Looking up, she found Edward, giving her a soft look as he let go of the blanket he had wrapped around her. She grabbed the edges of the thick fleece, bringing it closer to her bare body, vaguely thankful that he had thought of her modesty while she was so wrapped up with everything else.

"What happened?" She asked, voice shaking with emotion. She wasn't sure when the whole battle had ended, but she hoped that Edward had seen what had happened or at least could tell her from reading Conner's mind.

Edward looked down at her, sympathy written across his face. "He cut himself to stop Riley from..." He trailed off. Leah could piece the rest together. The third wife. That's what he must've thought of, only focusing on Leah's safety as he had done it. The same thing she would have done for him. Edward's frown deepened. "I'm sorry, Leah. He's lost too much blood and the venom is spreading too quickly. He either turns or he dies." He said, voice grave.

Silence strung out as she slowly realized what he was asking her. If she wanted him to die or live on a monster. What she thought he would want. Her heart thudded in her chest. Was it selfish of her to want him to stay? No matter what he was? Even if he would become her natural enemy? She knew what her answer would be, but what would he want?

She liked to hope that he would rejoice at the thought of forever with her, but she didn't actually know how he would feel. His life would be upheaved no matter the outcome would be. Was feeling all of this and everything that would follow be better than death? She wasn't sure. She choked down sobs as she spoke up. "I can't l-lose him." She said, voice cracking, as she gave into her selfishness. She only hoped that he wouldn't come to hate her for it.