3^rd Time

The Ballet

Edward stopped just outside of the dimly lit ballet studio. He’d run the entire way from the airport, not waiting for Emmet or Carlisle to catch up. He couldn’t wait—not with Bella’s life on the line. Jasper stood feet away from the door, his arm around Alice whose hand was covering her mouth and whose eyes were masked by a look of horror and pain.

“Where is she?”

He didn’t need to read their minds to know what had happened, but he did anyway. Dead.

“No.”

“Edward, I’m so sorry…” Alice choked out.

“You were supposed to watch her, Alice! I trusted you with her!”

Alice looked down at the ground guiltily, stifling on a tearless sob. Jasper pulled her tighter to him, whispering quietly in her ear.

Edward knew this was hard for her too, knew she had grown attached to Bella, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care about Alice or how she was feeling. All he could focus on was Bella and the fact that he’d be completely and wholly unable to save her life.

“How? How did this happen?” He was angry. He was beyond angry. Alice and Jasper weren’t who he should be angry with, but James wasn’t here anymore, that much he could smell, and he couldn’t keep the emotions inside of him. His heart felt like it was being shredded; he couldn’t feel anything but pure, unadulterated anguish.

“I saw her die,” Alice shook her head with a sniff. “But I couldn’t see how it got to that point—just that it happened.” She looked away from him, shutting her eyes tightly, trying not to think about what she’d seen for his sake, but failing.

Edward growled in his throat, watching James, through Alice’s vision, lean over Bella. She was terrified, and in pain. Her frail skin hadn’t stood a chance against his razor sharp teeth. His bit into her neck, and she yelled out, the painful venom coursing through her veins. He didn’t keep her alive long; just long enough for her to call out his name, a choked apology on her lips.

“Edward! Oh god. I’m s-sorry.”

James laughter tore through him like a raging fire. He was going to die. Edward was going to rip him limb from limb.