Part Three

--

"Edward." I gasped as I panicked. I didn't know what to do, should I hang up until Alice arrived or go get lost in the crowd like she'd suggested?

"Bella. I…" he trailed off, seemingly fighting to find the right words. "I made a mistake." His voice was thick with regret. "I killed someone tonight."

"Edward, where are you?" I asked him as I stood and began to pace the length of the bar. It was hard to hear with the band playing behind me.

"I am sitting in my car. Come sit with me, please. I need you."

Was it a trick, or was he in control?

"Edward, Alice will be here any moment." I told him. "She told me to stay where I am until she arrives." I was speaking too fast, the fear was evident in my voice.

"Don't be afraid Bella," He whispered. "I would never hurt you. I really need you here with me right now."

"I can't. I'm sorry. You should understand that." The tears were sliding down my face again. I was so torn…

One of overhead lights caught on my engagement ring and I held it up to my face. I couldn't tear my eyes away.

Edward was hurting and he needed me…

"Don't you love me Bella?"

His voice was pure silk, but it wasn't desire that shot through me. His words were like ice water running through my veins and I stopped dead in my tracks. I knew now that Edward was not in control. He would never ask such a thing. I flipped the phone shut and moved quickly over to the crowd of people watching the show. I made my way to the middle of the floor. I held the silver cell phone tightly in my hand, willing it to vibrate, praying Alice was already here.

I watched the band perform two songs in a daze before the phone went off.

"Bella, it's Alice. He's gone, running home through the woods. We're outside the door. Exit through the side entrance you came through earlier."

"Okay. I'll be there in a minute." I said as I slowly made my way through the crowd. When I exited the doors it was pure relief to see Alice and Jasper standing hand in hand waiting for me.

Alice quickly pulled me into a hug and Jasper began to work his calming magic. The fear and panic faded away and I no longer felt like I was going to collapse.

"Alice, he tried to get me to come to him." I told her.

"I know. Let's get to the car and we can talk on the way home."

We were in a very public place and someone had died here tonight. It took me until that moment to realize that the less anyone saw of us, the better.

Alice and Jasper led me to Edward's car. Jasper opened the back door and I slid in, Alice followed gracefully. "How did you get here?" I asked.

"We rode with Emmett and Rosalie. They are… well… destroying the evidence. To put it nicely." Alice took my hand in her stony grasp. "Bella, I'm sorry you had to see this. Edward hasn't slipped up in such a long time…" She trailed off.

"I'm just glad that you called me earlier. Otherwise, I might have gone out to meet Edward at his car." I shuddered at the thought and then felt more calm coming from Jasper. I sighed and leaned heavily back in my seat.

Suddenly, Alice leaned towards me and asked. "Bella, you aren't going to cancel the wedding, are you?"

"No! Alice, why? Did you see me canceling the wedding?" As much as I wanted to cancel the wedding before this happened, tonight's events would not sway me to change the path I had already decided to take.

"No, but I do see Edward trying to convince you to. He's going to be horrible to live with for awhile." She told me. Her voice was full of grief for her brother.

" Well, I'm not canceling the wedding." I told her. "It won't be long before I'm like you and situations like this won't happen."

Alice smiled sadly and squeezed my hand tighter.

"We aren't always perfect. We will always make mistakes and there will always be danger." Alice said, looking into my eyes.

"I know that." I told her.

It was mostly silent the rest of the ride. My mind was replaying the night over and over, from the moment Edward stiffened against me to the second I snapped my cell phone shut on his call.

As we got closer to the hidden driveway, Alice turned towards me and said "Edward is going to be in the garage when we get home. He is now in control but I still don't want to take any chances. I would take you home Bella, but I know he would show up at your window…" Alice trailed off. "Should I call Charlie and tell him you're staying here tonight? " She asked.

I shook my head. "He already knows I'm going to be out late. He's loosened up a bit since the engagement."

Too soon, but not soon enough, we were parked in the garage. I was torn in half. Part of me was happy that Edward had no harm come to him. That part of me couldn't wait to look into his golden eyes, embrace his stone cold body. The other part was nervous and frightened, and despite myself, my heart was beating right along with those feelings. I knew Alice, Jasper and Edward could hear my heart going crazy, yet Jasper did nothing to calm me, almost like he wanted Edward to hear the nights effect on me.

Edward was standing with his back to the wall, eyes closed. His appearance was impeccable, and I was so grateful their was no visible sign of his 'incident' earlier.

I left the car and slowly moved towards him, flanked by both Alice and Jasper.

I slid my hand up to cup his cheek and he put his hand over mine, eyes still closed.

"Bella, I'm so sorry."

He opened his eyes then and I gasped and took a step back. There would be no looking into his golden eyes tonight, how could I have forgotten?