Feb 3, 2011

This is my first and probably only attempt at fanfiction. Please note there will be disturbing content and some graphic scenes. Not recommended for children.

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all.

Chapter 1 – Walk towards the light

APOV

When Edward made the decision to let fear rule his actions instead of his heart the path was set. I tried to warn him, but his mind was made up. He did not believe that in "saving" Bella from our kind, he not only destroyed her, but our family as well. Reclining back in my first class seat, I am still as a statue, trying not to breath. Not because of the ever present burn, being in such close quarters with the smell of delicious blood all around me, but because I replay the visions over and over in my head hoping that I missed something, that I was somehow wrong. Anything, that could give me a glimmer of hope that my efforts to save Edward and our family are not in vain.

Edward made it clear I was not to see Bella, but I couldn't help myself. I missed her so much. I just had to know she was alright. That's when I saw just how broken she really was. She was so thin, her bones protruded from all angles. Her beautiful pale skin was grey and no longer held any lustre. But what truly haunted me were her eyes. They were always so expressive. She could never hide what she was feeling because her eyes always gave her away. Now her eyes were rimmed with dark circles and held no light. It was like her body may have been alive but her soul was dead. I couldn't hold this revelation back from my blinded brother. He needed to see the result of his actions and bring my sister home where she belongs. As I confronted Edward I was inundated with another vision of Bella. The light in her eyes came back and there was a hint of a smile on her face. Just when I was about to rejoice, I saw her drag a razor blade across her wrists, slicing through her veins. The blood that my brother craved poured out of her tiny body as she lay back in the bathtub. Then it all went black.

I crumpled to the floor only vaguely aware of the guttural roar that escaped Edward's throat. He seized me by my shoulders and began to shake. Like I was some kind of magic eight ball and the shaking would somehow change the result. When it didn't, he threw me against the wall, leaving a sizeable hole in Esme's new den, and took off into the woods. I have never felt so helpless and alone. As I mourned the loss of my sister, my thoughts turned to my husband, or should I say former husband. I haven't seen Jasper in six months. Edward was so angry at Jasper for attacking Bella. We all knew that Jasper has struggled. After all, his life before was violent and instinctual. When you have spent close to 100 years obliging your body's most carnal desires, it is difficult to switch to life of such restraint. While Edward loathed subjecting Bella into our world, he felt that our home would at least be a safe haven for the two of them. Our home was a place where he could pretend that he was just a boy in love with a beautiful girl, not a vampire setting out to seduce his prey. Jasper's attack was a dose of reality that Edward was not yet ready to face. When he came home from safely depositing Bella after the birthday incident, the first thing he did was lunge at Jasper. Jasper could have easily thwarted Edward's blows, but instead he just took it all in. Not just the physical blows, but the emotional ones we were all emitting throughout the house. I managed to stop Edward just short of ripping Jasper's head off, but by then the damage was done. My husband looked at me with such sorrow and said "I'm sorry. I can't pretend anymore that I fit into this life. I love you Alice. Please go on without me." Then in a blink of an eye he was gone. At present, I was too deep in the loss of my sister and my husband to notice that Edward had passed the point of no return. Without Bella he had no reason to live. Not until his plane already landed in Italy did I see his plan. He was going to Volterra to end his life. I could see his skin sparkling in the sun as he stepped out from under the shadows of the clock tower. I could also see Jane, Felix, and Demetri revelling in the fulfillment of Aro's orders. I had already lost my sister and the love of my life. If I lost my brother, the Voluturi would have to take me next. I only prayed that something in our future would change between now and my arrival in Italy that could save Edward and myself from eternal damnation.

Our plane finally reaches Roma and as "humanly" possible I dart out of my seat. A man from the Porsche dealership is waiting for me as I arrive out of the terminal. He has a sign with my name on it and is holding out the keys to 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet I had just purchased with my black Amex card. I barely have time to appreciate my new purchase as I speed off in my new wheels. I arrive in Volterra in a little over two hours, mocking the GPS's instructions of a three and half hour journey. It's 11:50 a.m., just ten short minutes before Edward carries out his plan. In my trench-coat, sunglasses and headscarf, I race on foot towards the Piazza dei Priori. There is a festival going on in the square and it's teeming with tourists. As I look up at the clock tower I notice Edward huddled in the shadows, his shirt already discarded. I also see three cloaked figures waiting just below the tower on the ledge of the third level waiting to see if Edward will call their hand. Getting through the crowd while remaining inconspicuous is proving to take much longer than my anxiety can handle. Suddenly I hear the bell begin to toll and see Edward take his first step. I throw caution to the wind as leap over a tour group of thirty people towards Edward, but it's too late. I can see the light reflecting off of his granite skin and before I can call out to him I am on the ground writhing in pain, then everything goes black.