Lunar Black: A Twilight Story

Chapter 18: Distraught

Edward's POV:

Bella closed her eyes, and she went completely limp.

"Bella? Bella! Wake up!" I pleaded.

Nothing.

In that moment, my world came crashing down. I listened to Bella's faint heartbeat slow, and I couldn't think of any purpose anymore. I was plunged into darkness again, just like when I left her.

Memories flashed through my mind. The first day she walked into the classroom. Our first kiss. Our meeting in Port Angeles. Leaving her. The darkness and depression that followed that. How I felt when I saw her again. The battles with all the vampires.

I replayed the kisses in my head. The way her lips moved with mine. The slight taste of vanilla on her lips. The warmth of her mouth. The sparks I felt every time.

While I was remembering all this, I was staring into her blank, paling face. Blood cascaded down her face, arms, and legs.

I collapsed to my knees, and set her down on the ground in front of me. I tuned out the snarling behind me, and focused on a few things.

Bella's heartbeat. I was going to miss that. Bella's scent. It'd make it so much easier for me, but at what cost? The thought of losing that was unbearable. I took in as much of her scent as possible. Bella herself. I wanted to remember her face happy, and healthy, but I had to see her now. I couldn't pry my eyes away from her.

Venom stung in my eyes, and I felt the stinging spread down my face. I was crying.

"Edward, let me see her."

Before I could control it, I leaped over Bella, turned, hunched over Bella, and snarled.

This wasn't my normal snarl. A warning snarl. This was pure hatred - I scared myself.

"Edward. Relax. Let me see her." Carlisle said, raising his hands in surrender.

I slowly shifted so Carlisle could see Bella, but I kept myself in a position where I could protect her.

I didn't pay attention to what Carlisle was doing. I even ignored the painful stings that persistently fell down my face. I just stared at Bella.

My mind filled with Bella.

Her heartbeat slowed even more.

"Carlisle!" I growled.

"I know," he said.

Then her heart stopped.

I strained my ear, praying that it was still there, I just accidentally tuned it out. I strained. And strained.

Nothing.

I screamed a long line of cuss words, jumping up and pacing. I grabbed my hair like I was pulling it out. Venom stung my face.

"Edward, please. You're not making this any easier!" Carlisle shouted in his head.

"What's the point anymore!? Why does anything matter!?" I roared, snapping a nearby tree and throwing it as far as I could.

No! He got away! I heard Jasper think. I turned just in time to see Aro coming at me. He slammed into me, and I felt the pressure slam me into a boulder on the edge of the clearing.

"Caius!" Aro yelled, flashing over to me and grabbing my head.

Caius flew over and shoved me to my knees. He grabbed onto my arms.

"Edward!" Alice screamed. Emmett tried to push Caius away, and got shoved into the forest.

Rosalie got defensive and tried to attack Caius too, and Caius kicked her into the forest in the opposite direction.