Unforgivable Lacerations

Chapter Thirty-Three

Rosalie's P.O.V

Speeding through the trees, my blond hair flowing beautifully behind me, I directed myself away from the family house in Manistee, Michigan. The spark plug in my M3 needed an update, it had for a long time, but I never found myself having the patience to deal with human sexism when it came to a woman and cars. Tonight, though, I needed to get out of the house and escape everyone's melancholy. It was ridiculous! 

The family's depression hadn't dimmed since we left Bella, and I had begun to become annoyed. She was a mere human, Edward's love, I knew it wouldn't end well, and I happened to be correct... but I couldn't rub it into Edward's face saying 'I told you so', as tempting as it sounded, as the facial expression he wore and his depressed manner seemed to pain me in a sisterly way. The relationship I had with Edward, before Bella, was bitter but still protective; I never wanted Edward to hurt.

Instead of just Edward hurting, the whole family was. Carlisle and Esme missed their daughter, as they had grown attached to her, Jasper was in guilt mostly, Emmett hadn't cracked one joke in the year, and Alice's hyper demeanor had evaporated, the only smile she would pull would be if Jasper was there. Edward was grieving, immensely, and I had to keep reminding myself that if Emmett was gone then I would have been the same.

Fortunately, with gratitude to Esme and Carlisle, Edward had returned to us for a brief visit of a month, as Esme had used the guilt trick of saying she couldn't bear to lose two family members, counting Bella as one of the family. Pathetic. 

Edward wasn't contactable throughout the whole of September, which concerned Esme extremely; in October and this early November he needed his family and not to be alone in those awful apartments Alice described he had lived in. Despite it being a little over a year since we left, this time two years ago, Bella had met the family formally as Edward's mate. It was humorous how time flew. 

That was why I had to leave the house on this bitter night. The family was like statues, hardly moving, and Edward was out of the house; I wouldn't be able to guess where he had disappeared to in a thousand years as he could be anywhere. Except Forks. 

It was blatantly obvious that everyone, including myself, was thinking of her. Where was she? How was she? Was she happy? Even though I had envy and a hostile feeling to her, I would still find myself wondering from time to time.

When I reached civilization, I slowed to a walk in case any human was to see me. I was currently walking in the deserted, dark and run-down part of the Grand Rapids, the nearest decent city for car parts. Smashed and boarded windows were like lookout holes for the homeless, occasional bricks on the road were their weapons, disgusting litter, vomit, cigarettes, and feces were on the path as there was an evident limitation to hygiene. I, once again, thought about one of the few benefits of being a vampire, the strength. I could hold any male who dare to touch me.

There would never be a repeat of that night. 

I was about to turn the corner when a familiar smell stopped me in my tracks. The scent was weaved with another, an abominable, vile wet dog smell. It was worse than a dog, as a dog smelled at least edible, this did not. Curious about the familiar floral scent, I followed it, going deeper into the darkness. I jogged, still trying to look human, across the road and into the alleyways.

Above the clicks of my heels on the pavement, I could hear the faint heartbeats and shallow breaths of someone, obviously in trouble. As always, I contemplated whether I should get involved, I didn't want to jeopardize my family's secret for a mortal.

"This will fucking teach you, Isabella."

Isabella? Realization exploded into my mind. Her blood, her heart, her breaths.