Crimson Night

Malevolent Grip

We stand in silence, dust floats between us. I look around at the walls that were supposed to be our home (for our honeymoon) for at least the next couple of months. The home that Victoria built for us. The surprise that she built for me just for our honeymoon. I stood there, frozen. Trying to understand what I was seeing in front of me. The betrayal in the box in front of me. The man I once loved beheaded and his soulless eyes just staring off into the distance. Was he alive? Could he hear us talking? Does he know what happened? In my confused state, I look to see that Victoria's mouth has spread thin, curved up at both sides smirking at me as if what she had done was okay or was funny.

The echo of laughter bounces off of the jagged inner mountain walls and pierces my ears. I flinch in shock, my unnatural hearing, picking up every vibration and my fear quickly turns to rage.

"Victoria, what have you done!" I shout, my own voice filling the room and echoing into the sudden quiet as Victoria's shrill laughter fades into silence. Her crimson eyes darken and the smile fades from her face as her eyes dart between the red haired head in the box, me, and the exit.

"I... I thought you would be happy... I thought you would like knowing he couldn't hurt you ever again." Victoria stumbles over her words.

"He dumped me! People get dumped all the time! He didn't deserve to die. I already forgave him!"

"He killed people to try and get to you, he's not innocent. But hey, now you'll always have a part of him to remember. Well, until he loses his mind from hunger." A smirk played at Victoria's lips. Her statement confirming my previous curiosity.

"Don't pretend like you did this for me," I point at Edward's head as I shout "you did this for yourself to finally avenge James. You said you were over your grudge. You agreed that James manipulated you, and used you. Edward did you a favor by killing him!"

The smirk fell from Victoria's face, anger twisting her stunning features into a menacing angelic monster. My anger had brought my shield up without my knowledge. I quickly remembered that my shield gives me the ability to mimic anyone's power within it. I listen to Edward's thoughts and he listens to Victoria's. She can't decide if she'd like to fight or flee. I quickly dart towards the only exit, blocking her path.

"After all this time, you still side with him?" Victoria's high-pitched voice deepens with anger.

"You used me to get your revenge. It was all a lie."

"Don't forget that you had him read my thoughts before, you know that I love you."

"That doesn't make what you did okay! You lie, you manipulate, and you kill for sport!" I shout.

"I kill for you!" She shouts back.

"I never asked you to! The only thing I ever wanted from you was you." Sadness fills my voice now.

Victoria's angry features softens now but before she can respond a memory of Victoria's flashes through Edward's mind. We are fighting the Volturi and Victoria is charging at Marcus but before she can strike, he says "Your relationship with the girl will never last. She has emotional ties toward you, but you are incapable of change. She'll see you for the monster that you are and she'll leave. You think what you have for her is love, but really you just don't want to be alone." The memory fades as Victoria strikes Marcus down.

That was Marcus. He is gifted like you and I. His ability can sense the emotional bonds between people. Edward's thoughts drift through my mind.

My eyes snap to Victoria.

"Are your memories true? Did you really kill Marcus because he knew our relationship wouldn't last?"

"I told you that he insulted us." Victoria responds sheepishly.