Silence: Chapter 25 Banner

Chapter 24 Teaser

I don't remember Edward rushing out of his side of the car to mine. I don't remember him unbuckling the seatbelt I was afraid to touch. I don't remember him pulling me out of the car and settling me in his lap as he sat on the ground that I was petrified to set foot on. I don't remember yelling out hysterics as he tried to calm me. But I did remember his cinnamon scent. I did remember his rich, velvety voice of comfort. I did remember his warmth and the feel of his fingers brushing away tears I didn't know were falling.

"That's right sweetheart, calm down. Shhh...," He began to rock me softly as he laid my head against his chest. The steady beating of his heart lulled me into a place of love and safety.

"Edward," I whispered against his chest, only loud enough for him to hear. I knew I was endangering him by even parting my lips in a public place. But the look on his face when I murmured his name was enough to make me say it again and clutch his shirt tightly in my hands.

"It's alright Bella, I've got you. They won't take you back to the hospital. I won't let them take you anywhere. I will be right by your side the entire time," He looked down at me and smiled gently. "I'll even take you to the bathroom if I have to. I'll cover my eyes of course," he joked.

I could feel my lips twitch, and finally smile back at him. When I regained my bearings, Edward helped me to my feet, and together we walked into the building. Together.

Chapter 23 Teaser

Edward POV:

My head felt like it was being squeezed by a very angry UFC fighter, and my stomach was churning; the rocking of the bed was doing little to aid in my quest to keep down...what ever I ate yesterday. Was it even the next day? The last thing I remember, was throwing back a couple of shots with Bella and the others. Was I still at Bella's, or did I go home?

With the way I was feeling, I was hoping it wasn't the latter. I knew there would be no way in hell I would be capable of driving, let alone Emmett; he never knew when to call it quits when we went shot back a few.

The rocking of the bed was soon followed by tiny whimpers. I wish what ever was making those noises would stop, and stop shaking the bed while they were at it.

Wait...

Bed, Bella's house, shaking, whimpering...Bella!

My eyes darted open, regretting it quickly as the harsh light from the window assaulted my sensitive irises. I fought back the urge to close them again; I had to find Bella.

It didn't take long to spot her, and when I did I felt my heart contort at the sight of her. Bella sat near the edge of the bed with her knees to her chest; her eyes were wide and wild as tears pour from them, she seemed to be searching for something. Bella's whimpering increased an octave the moment she felt the bed move; I was afraid she would scream.

"Bella?" I asked in a timid whisper. Bella's head snapped in my direction, but she wasn't seeing me, it was like she was looking through me.

Born in Blood

Born in Blood

Silence: Chapter 22 Teaser

Bella POV:

I woke up sometime in the middle of the night, still curled up on the couch, with the calming smell of Edward still clinging to my clothes. The day's events came crashing back to me, and suddenly my throat was on fire, the flames flicking against the delicate flesh. To swallow was like swallowing sandpaper, only worse. However, that's not what caused my breathing to accelerate, and my heart to pound so loudly it almost deafened me.

I broke the silence, and the others knew about James. Even worse, they knew about Seth and the real truth behind my parent's murder. The fact that I might as well have pulled the trigger myself for letting that demon inside the house.

"I know that look Bells," I jumped and whipped my head to my right. Sitting groggily in his wheelchair, was Billy. "That's the same exact look your father would get when he thought he'd done something wrong, or hadn't done his best."

Billy extended his hand, slipping an ice cold glass of water into my shaky hand. I signed him a 'thank you', almost afraid to speak until the icy liquid could extinguish the inferno in my throat. It only dulled the flames, but it was enough for me to speak, only in the confines of this small house, where my voice would stay behind when I left.

"I don't ever remember him doing things wrong, he'd always been my hero. He was always invincible and indestructible," I smiled sadly and sipped my water again before meeting Billy's gaze, my eyes felt as dry as my throat did, but twice as puffy. "You know, I use to think he was a super hero when I was little? He would always play along with it. I remember he once told me that his uniform was his disguise, to keep the villains from knowing his true identity," my smile faltered, and my eyes cast downward. "I suppose a disguise does little when the villain is your partner."

Chapter 21 Teaser

I sat numbly on the couch with freshly bandaged hands and a broken heart. My heart was not only broken because the only woman I ever loved couldn't love me back, my heart was broken for her. I should be angry at her, I should feel used and misled, but I didn't. I could never be mad at Bella, especially now that I've opened my eyes a little wider.

It was always there, little pieces of the puzzle, but the puzzle was always incomplete. All this time I've spent, trying to take pieces that don't fit, and force them upon each other just to get the finished product, but you can't finish the puzzle if the pieces were still missing.

I've finally found a few extra pieces, now I had to connect them.

How could I have not made the connection between the fear of bedrooms, how certain things in a movie would set her off, and how a simple drop of blood could send her into a frenzy? She witnessed her parents being murdered, of course she would be afraid of blood! Of course the bedroom scene from Taken would cause her to panic. I didn't know everything about her past, but I knew enough to see the stupid moves I made along the way, how I've unintentionally caused some if not most of her panic attacks myself.

I looked over at the notebook, still laying where I had thrown it earlier. She must hate me now. All this time I've been making her reliving nightmarish memories, and I thought I had the right to be mad at her. How could I be so selfish?

But she was telling me not to love her.


You still could have handled things a little better jackass.


I know, but it hurt so badly that I bared my heart to her and all she had to say was 'I told you not to fall in love with me.'


S0 your first and logical thought was to punch a fucking mirror. You've not only managed to break your mother's favorite mirror, scare the fuck out of Bella, and mess up your hand, but you've also managed to prove that there are no limits to your stupidity. Congratulations fuckface, you are officially the dumbest fucker alive. Here have a cookie, or better yet, punch another mirror, only use your head this time, it will do less damage.

Damn, Yoda me was being a bitch, but he had a point.

Chapter 20 Teaser

My feet were killing me and my vision was blurred by my own tears. I had never seen Edward loose his cool like that before, and it killed me that I couldn't tell him I loved him too. I did love him, I loved him so much I let him go before it was too late. I knew he wouldn't understand, but he didn't leave me a choice.

When he told me he broke rule number three, it seemed all too familiar. Then he confessed that he loved me, and spoke words that I could only dream of. I knew right then and there, to save him, I had to hurt him.

It was all too much, this whole week, my mind and body couldn't take anymore. Edward's admission was only the cherry on top. No matter how grateful I was for his love, I couldn't accept it, I couldn't accept anyone's love. I didn't deserve love, of any type, from anyone, but Edward didn't know when to give up.