Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [112]
Leah might be an interesting companion, maybe even a true friend-someone who would stand up for me. But she wasnt my best friend the way that Bella was. Aside from the impossible love I felt for Bella, there was also that other bond, and it ran bone deep.
Tomorrow, shed be my enemy. Or shed be my ally. And, apparently, that distinction was up to me.
I sighed.
Fine! I thought, giving up the very last thing I had to give. It made me feel hollow. Go ahead. Save her. As Ephraims heir, you have my permission, my word, that this will not violate the treaty. The others will just have to blame me. You were right-they cant deny that its my right to agree to this.
Thank you. Edwards whisper was low enough that Bella didnt hear anything. But the words were so fervent that, from the corner of my eye, I saw the other vampires turning to stare.
So, Bella asked, working to be casual. How was your day?
Great. Went for a drive. Hung out in the park.
Sounds nice.
Sure, sure.
Suddenly, she made a face. Rose? she asked.
I heard Blondie chuckle. Again?
I think Ive drunk two gallons in the last hour, Bella explained.
Edward and I both got out of the way while Rosalie came to lift Bella from the couch and take her to the bathroom.
Can I walk? Bella asked. My legs are so stiff.
Are you sure? Edward asked.
Rosell catch me if I trip over my feet. Which could happen pretty easily, since I cant see them.
Rosalie set Bella carefully on her feet, keeping her hands right at Bellas shoulders. Bella stretched her arms out in front of her, wincing a little.
That feels good, she sighed. Ugh, but Im huge.
She really was. Her stomach was its own continent.
One more day, she said, and patted her stomach.
I couldnt help the pain that shot through me in a sudden, stabbing burst, but I tried to keep it off my face. I could hide it for one more day, right?
All righty, then. Whoops-oh, no!
The cup Bella had left on the sofa tumbled to one side, the dark red blood spilling out onto the pale fabric.
Automatically, though three other hands beat her there, Bella bent over, reaching out to catch it.
There was the strangest, muffled ripping sound from the center of her body.
Oh! she gasped.
And then she went totally limp, slumping toward the floor. Rosalie caught her in the same instant, before she could fall. Edward was there, too, hands out, the mess on the sofa forgotten.
Bella? he asked, and then his eyes unfocused, and panic shot across his features.
A half second later, Bella screamed.
It was not just a scream, it was a blood- curdling shriek of agony. The horrifying sound cut off with a gurgle, and her eyes rolled back into her head. Her body twitched, arched in Rosalies arms, and then Bella vomited a fountain of blood.
* * *
18. THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR THIS.
Bellas body, streaming with red, started to twitch, jerking around in Rosalies arms like she was being electrocuted. All the while, her face was blank-unconscious. It was the wild thrashing from inside the center of her body that moved her. As she convulsed, sharp snaps and cracks kept time with the spasms.
Rosalie and Edward were frozen for the shortest half second, and then they broke. Rosalie whipped Bellas body into her arms, and, shouting so fast it was hard to separate the individual words, she and Edward shot up the staircase to the second floor.
I sprinted after them.
Morphine! Edward yelled at Rosalie.
Alice-get Carlisle on the phone! Rosalie screeched.
The room I followed them to looked like an emergency ward set up in the middle of a library. The lights were brilliant and white. Bella was on a table under the glare, skin ghostly in the spotlight. Her body flopped, a fish on the sand. Rosalie pinned Bella down, yanking and ripping her clothes out of the way, while Edward stabbed a syringe into her arm.
How many times had I imagined her naked? Now I couldnt look. I was afraid to have these memories in my head.
Whats happening, Edward?
Hes suffocating!
The placenta must have detached!
Somewhere in this,