Enough. This wasn’t helping.

But, it was hard to ignore that once again, in the most extreme of circumstances I was confronted with the facts. Facts Bella consistently avoided, facts that I was unable to forget, yet equally unable to rectify. My presence was a continued menace. One touch from me could surely have sent her body into shock, hurrying the inevitable, ruining her chances. But, at least I was here to protect her.

I looked back towards her, but I couldn't focus on her face anymore. I felt drained, over-emotional, helpless. Was I fighting fate trying to keep her alive? Even with the protection of the supernatural, the forces of nature conspired against her.

Five hours or three hundred minutes ago, I'd selfishly entertained the thought of how different things would be between us if she was changed. I would always feel disgusted with myself. Her soul for my sanity? I shrugged away the thought and gazed at her again. I felt the temperature drop once more just a little. I strained my ears in astonishment, but I didn't wait long. The wind and her shiver were just lagging a little.

“W-w-w-w-w-w-w-what t-t-t-t-time is it?”

Her stutter broke my cynical concentration. I was grateful. For once, the silence of my own thoughts was unbearable. Time? Any word but that one…woefully insufficient…

I could see her eyes, opened in expectation. She was waiting for me to answer. Maybe she was thinking what I’d thought one hour or sixty minutes ago; if we left at dawn, I could run us for one hour north to the hospital in Port Angeles…

No. She didn’t need any more supplications.

“Two.” I replied.

In the silence, my voice sounded more haggard than I would have wished. I cleared my throat out of habit. She furrowed her brow at the sound. I heard a sound outside and flinched at the words that accompanied the rustling I should have recognized.

…I am back, bloodsucker…this wind is getting worse…the temperature is still dropping, I can't believe it…

Another wild gust shook the tent and of course, Bella shivered.

Excellent. Clearly, time could not torture me sufficiently, so the occupation was contracted to Jacob Black. Who said that time was not efficient? Who better to finish me off? I scowled and looked down again at Bella. There was no need to announce his return.