The Tale of the Brokenhearted

Chapter 29: Killing Her Softly

Edward's POV

The war began with the sunrise. Leah left me to join the others in battle. I wanted to beg her not to go but I knew that my desires would only fall on deft ears. I regrettably had to watch as she traveled down toward s the battleground. She morphed into her wolf and then almost vanished into the distance. If I had a beating heart it would've been pounding rapidly with anxiety. "Please stay safe my love," I murmured and then went to return to the campsite. I really wanted Jacob on the field with Leah. I wanted anyone that I trusted to be a good warrior out there supporting her and helping her. I wanted to be there too, but Bella wanted me here and someone had to make sure that she was safe while in hiding.

I arrived at the campsite and Jacob and Bella were just crawling out of the tent. He still seemed very somber even though he'd spent the night with his arms around Bella. I think it was just because he felt that she didn't choose him. After this was over I wanted to sit down and explain that Bella never really chose either of us. She was still wavering back and forth going to whoever gave her the most attention. He gave me his normal glare and stalked toward the fight.

"Jacob, you're not going to say goodbye?" Bella yelled after him. He stopped for a moment and looked back her.

"Does it really matter to you?" He closed his eyes and held the bridge of his nose. This isn't the time for this, he thought. "Goodbye Bella, for what it's worth I'll try to be safe." He extended his arms so that she could run into them and he held her to him of a few moments and ran off just like my Leah did. I watched as the concern and fear transformed into tears in Bella's eyes. I knew what she was feeling I was feeling it too. Personally, I thought she'd made her choice but she just couldn't admit it to herself. I wasn't sure why but the way she looked at Jacob there was love there. It was obvious, blatant, and unwavering. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, much like I would do Alice or Rose.

"He'll be okay," I empathized and before she could get comfortable in my arms a new scent entered the air. It was a new vampire the aroma was much like the one that I'd experience in Bella's room. I quickly shielded Bella and I heard as Seth's thoughts ran through my head. He was quick on the vampire's heels. He tried to pounce on the guy, Riley, from behind. Riley quickly deflated Seth's efforts with a quick flinch of his hand sending him tumbling to the ground. His attack on Seth gave me the opening I needed to attack. I quickly got Riley to the ground and we tumbled and wrestling in the snow. It wasn't the normal way that you see vampires fight. I took him down because I thought it would be easier to dismember him from the ground. The whole time we tussled the man laughed like a crazed psycho. In the background all I could hear was Bella crying and yelling my name. It wasn't helping I really wished she'd taken the time to make herself invisible. All it would take is one miss calculation on my part and he would capture her easily. She was just too close. After a few seconds I managed the rip his arm from his socket. It was the one time he'd stop laughing. The situation just became real for the male. He swung at me frantically. He was scared and that was his downfall I captured his other arm in my grasps. Seth came back onto the scene and we made quick work off finishing Riley. Seth strutted confidently and a chuckled at his antics. We'd made it through this part of the battle and Bella was still safe. As soon as we felt this moment of satisfaction it was soon drained from our spirits by the very sight of a smiling Victoria. She walked right past Bella; she didn't try to attack her. She only wanted to share with me what she'd done. She stood right in front of me with her damn evil lopsided grin. Her thoughts revealed my Leah lying naked in the forest covered with blood just like in Alice's dream. I dropped to my knees she'd done it she'd taken my reason for being.

"I told you Edward, I wanted you take your mate away from you just like you did me. Funny, how you didn't think that she was in danger, but she was who I wanted the whole time and you handed her right to me," Victoria whispered and went to kiss me on the head. She was about to kill me and part of me wanted her to. As soon as she went to attack me Seth lunged and bit her head off. Her I watched as her body wiggled around frantically for a moment and then finally collapsed. I was numb to feeling happy, anger, or relief. I stayed there on my knees. Both Bella and Seth approached me in confusion.

"Le-," I swallowed hard and tried to form the words. "Leah's dead," I whispered. Seth head shook frantically and he tried to call out to his sister in his head. I waited hoping that Victoria was wrong and there was still life in my love's body, but both Seth and I were left with nothing. Seth let out a howl of sorrow and despair the rattled the whole forest. The vibration of his cry rippled through my body and only intensive the ache I was feeling.

"I need to find her," I said as I tried to pick up her scent. I still smelled her on me and it was now I wanted the ability to cry. I couldn't focus on that feeling now. I needed to find my Leah, scoop up her body, and take her home. Her family deserved the right to say goodbye and so did I.