Devoured Soul • Edward Cullen

[7]

They were all going to die.

Anthea knew this as soon as the head was removed from Carlisle's shoulders. They had killed the king and his army was now in a frenzy. In a frenzy for blood.

 It was like a drum in her ear, the sound of their hammering footsteps as they ran to meet the black sea that lurched forward. She was instantly restrained, biceps tightly bound by large hands, keeping her in place. Panic coursed through her as she struggled, watching as her fellow comrades began to be slowly taken down one by one. The red mist curled up and into the body behind her, sending the unnamed grey coat to the floor in pain.  

There was nothing but death and chaos around her. Bodies being torn apart and the selfish part of Anthea told her to turn tail and run because it was the end for anyone who stayed. But then her gaze met Edward's and suddenly staying was the best option.

She knew what she had to do, to make sure that he survived. 

It would kill her of course. But it should be enough for him to have enough time to escape. For Edward to live. 

The entity that crept from her palms was like nothing she had seen. A potent crimson colour that contrasted against the pearly white snow.Too many people had already died for her to not do this, to not sacrifice herself in hopes that at least some would survive this.

Like a vine, the aura wrapped around the bodies of those who were trying to hurt the ones she had strangely come to care about. Causing them to scream and instantly lose all their strength, only to be killed quickly after that. Her life poured out alongside the enigma that was currently winning them this war as it continued to take down the enemy. 

Bella's head snapped up as the guard that she was once fighting was encased by the red dust and soon was no more. Her trained gaze landed directly on the source to see an ever weakening Anthea who had a trail of crimson dripping from her nose to her mouth as she continued to exert herself. 

The brunettes made eye contact and suddenly Bella understood. She understood what Anthea wanted her to do and she set off running, the red mist following shortly behind her, destroying anyone who even attempted to waver her from her path of destruction. The fight was suddenly a fair one, Anthea overruling any disadvantages the Cullens and their friends had. 

Aro was going to die, that was certain as Bella took running in the direction of the Volturi leader. Anthea wanted to laugh, but she was too drained, knees crumbling underneath her like dust as all of her strength continued to exit from her palms and into the air on its own accord.

Edward hadn't realized that this was her doing until he noticed her standing off to the side, her once perfect complexion cracked. She looked like the dying coals of a fire and that's what she was; dying. She caught his gaze in the last few seconds; long enough for her to smile a loving smile, one that said that she was okay. That this was what she wanted. What she had always wanted. 

And just as Aro was succumbed to the flames, Anthea followed shortly after, her body shattering into a thousands particles of broken marble. 

"I won't let this be the future, if you won't."