Twilight (Fresh Waters)

Chapter 18

Suddenly my whole life flashes before me. Bella and I in the meadow, our wedding, everything.

"ALICE!" I demand. "HOW!? HOW IS IT TOO LATE!?"

She goes into a state of hysteria.

"Edward, Rise's shield hasn't faded that much, I can only see things about a month away. It isn't going to be a whole year or something! Edward, unless you kill Rise, there isn't anything we can do!" She cries.

My mind is freaking out. I'm freaking out. That's when I see Rise. Behind Alice. She sees my expression, and slowly her mouth curves into a sick, murderous smile. I look at her back, darkly. Too late. Whack into the wall, and I know what's coming. The disconnected feeling sweeps across my body, and as I expected, I see Rise in front of me, smiling sickly. I feel pain wash all over, and I know the full effect won't have even hit until I wake up. I wait for Rise to say something. She is breathing heavily in my face.

"You did it to Victoria" she begins, her hot breath sweeping my face. "So know I will do it to you"

Feat overcomes me, and the disturbing, demented memories come back. Victoria. Killing her. And now, and now Rise is coming here for revenge. She's Victoria's child. How, I don't know. But she's Victoria's child, down from hell, and she's come to finish off her mothers job.

Suddenly I wake, and sure enough, the pain hits. It sears, but I take notice of nothing that's happening around me, the shoutings and such, as my mind is haunted with Victoria. I see Rise at the end of the room.

"You" I whisper. "Are a devil"

She nods, and walks away, presumably to stare out of her window and ravenously watch the birds, desperate for their blood.

Suddenly everything slips into focus. Carlisle is shaking me, desperate for answers. Alice is by me, wearing a knowing look. But behind her, is Nessie. I can't say anything. Rise is Victoria's child. How? Suddenly, a picture of Rise shows in my head. I search her facial looks. She has Nessie's hair, Jacobs eye shape. How can she not be their young? But the look in her eyes, the facial expressions. Yes! How could I not have seen it before!? How could I have not compared it to Victoria's!? She's a picture of her! But, that's probably how my mind automatically thought of the daughter idea. All along, I must've seen her comparison with Victoria. How could this happen, though? The most likely thing I can think of is that Victoria had a child with James in the afterlife, and maybe, somehow in the afterlife, if you have a child you can send them down to Earth to live life. Maybe you have a choice. Maybe not. But there's one thing I know for sure- you can choose the parents your child is born to. It couldn't be a coincidence that Rise ended up in the hands of Victoria's enemies, surely. She must have picked this, and I know now. I know why. A wave of hatred for Victoria rushes through me. She did this because she knew I wouldn't be able to tell Nessie. She knew I wouldn't be able to stop it. But how does Rise remember her parents from the afterlife if no other child does. I don't have to think twice. It's because she's this crazy killing-machine species. That's probably another reason Victoria chose Nessie and Jake, because their offspring would be powerful, and murderous.
I suddenly notice that it's been a long time. I'm no longer downstairs, but on the hospital bed. The only person next to me is Alice. Her expression is solemn.

"Edward" she begins. "What did she show you?"

Where to start? The vision, or the fact that Rise is Victoria's daughter. We're on a time limit, as I read Alice's mind that everyone's out hunting, and they'll be back soon. I'll have to start with priority.

"Rise is Victoria's daughter" I splurt, although I know I'll be bombarded with questions.

Alice's expression is shocked. The most gobsmacked I've seen her. Ever. I know she's screaming 'how!?', so without being asked, I answer her.

"She said that I killed Victoria, so she's going to kill me" I say. "And I just, I just knew she was her daughter. Her facial expressions, Alice! Can't you see Victoria written all over it!?"

Shakily, Alice nods.

"I can, Edward" She says, still looking away and trembling.

"What're we going to do!?" I bombard, desperate for an answer.

Suddenly, Alice snaps back into focus.

"Edward, they're coming" she alarms. "Act like you saw nothing!"

I silently agree, and quickly pull myself together. I run my fingers through my hair a few times and force myself to stand up, although my legs are near giving way due to the anaphylactic shock. I fake a smile as they walk through the door.