Unforgivable Lacerations

Chapter Forty

For the first part of this chapter, it skips back to two chapters ago! 

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Emmett's P.O.V

"He hurt her," Edward murmured repeatedly from upstairs. Earlier, Edward had been told that Bella was raped, and while everyone in the house felt the powerful emotions of protection and anger, Edward's emotions were too much for even Jasper to handle.

But I couldn't watch my brother go through such torment alone.

Even if he did want me to 'get out!'

Remembering how I felt when my Rosie told me about her experience, I ran upstairs to my little sister's room. Not bothering to knock, I creaked the door open to find a sobbing Edward holding Bella's fragile hand. His sobs were controlled, careful not to wake my sister as she rested beside him. 

"No, Emmett, I want to be alone," Edward mumbled as he watched sleeping Bella like a hawk. 'Hawk' actually sounded to predatory, no, Edward watched her as if she was his light in an alleyway of darkness. 

No. You just don't want anyone to see you like this, I thought, knowing his position all too well. Perhaps not to this extent, though, as Rosalie was never physically recovering and in risk of dying. 

Edward didn't look up at me but lowered his head to confirm my statement.

"How could he hurt her? How could he lay a finger on her with his intentions?!" He kept his voice too low for any human to hear- trying not to wake Bella- however, the fury and agony were recognizable still. 

"She's gone through too much alone. And. It's. All. My. Fault. How can she love me, still? To hear her say those words, it lit up my heart, just three words." He looked up to my standing form, eyes full of vulnerability. "I don't know how I will make it up to her, there's nothing I can do that will solve this and turn back time."

"But you can be there for her," I said seriously as I thought of the way my sister acted around males.

"I hate him, I have never felt a sense of animosity to this extent before that wolf," Edward's muscles tensed, showing how his words were true.

"Careful, Edward," I warned, looking at his hand around Bella's. Rage could blind vampires.

"I would never hurt her!" Edward spat. I walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, a brotherly gesture in support.

"I know you wouldn't, but she doesn't. She probably still thinks you'll leave her, you need to prove to her that you're here to stay. As those three words of 'I love you' didn't keep you last time. Actions speak louder than words, brother." With a pat on his shoulder, I left him alone to think about my words.

Whatever path he would choose, I knew that I would stick by my little human sister for as long as she lived; and personally, I knew that would be forever. It would all work out eventually.

I hoped.

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Bella's P.O.V

Over the course of the next three days, I had stayed in a mangled routine. Sleep was mostly on the agenda, next, Edward talking to me, eating, vomiting and then the mortifying experience of being sponge bathed.

But it was better than the bath.

However, I had held in my possession the guilt of being the way I was. I didn't know that I would feel guilty when I felt my love for Edward shine through. My mind was newly programmed to think all males were evil and here on this Earth to only steal the little dignity I had left. Just thinking about a male, I instantly thought the worst about them. I felt like it was wrong for me to trust the male Cullens, and love Edward. I felt sick to the core with all of these thoughts.