(Trigger Warning: Mention of suicide.)
12:30 am
Forks, Washington
Edward's POV
I was running. I made it home, with her in my arms, in about 5 minutes. I was glad I had finished hunting before I saved her, but even though I wasn't too thirsty, her scent was tempting me. I knew I needed to get her to Carlisle before I did something I would regret.
"Carlisle!" I shouted from outside, even though I knew he would hear me even if I wasn't yelling. "Carlisle, I need your help!"
I jogged up the steps to the front door. Carlisle was already there, opening the door for me.
"What happened to her?" He asked, gesturing to the girl in my arms.
"She was attacked, by another vampire." I told him. "I couldn't just ignore her scream. I had to help her."
"And what about the vampire?" He asked, taking her from me. "Was he alone?"
"I tore him apart and burned the pieces." I replied. "And I didn't see any others with him or around the area. So can you help her?"
"What did he do to her?" He questioned. "Did he bite her?"
"No, he didn't get a chance." I said. "But, he did break her leg."
Carlisle nodded. I looked again at the unconscious girl, and I hadn't noticed this about her before, because I was too busy trying to save her, but she was absolutely beautiful. I instantly felt the need to protect her from anyone or anything that tried to hurt her.
"Edward." My adoptive dad said, looking at me in concern. "I'm going to bring her to my office. It shouldn't take me too long to get what I need in order to help her, but why don't you hunt for a little while. I can tell her scent is making you thirsty."
"Okay." I said reluctantly. I didn't want to leave her, but Carlisle was right. I didn't want to risk killing her. I ran into the woods surrounding the house, deciding to take about ten minutes to hunt.
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Ten minutes later
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I finished my hunt and made my way back to the house.
I was walking up the front steps when I heard another scream, it belonged to a woman, but it didn't belong to the one I rescued. She sounded enraged.
Someone was in Carlisle's office with him and the girl. I ran in just as a female vampire threw Carlisle across the room into a table full of medical equipment. Then she turned to the young woman on the examination table, who was awake and staring at the red-eyed vampire in horror. The vampire spoke.
"The one who saved you earlier tonight killed my mate, the one who was going to kill you." She said. "I can tell he feels something for you, despite the fact that you two just met. I can sense the emotions of those nearby without even looking at them. So, a life for a life. Any last words?"
"P-Please, don't hurt me." The young human pleaded. "I'm begging you, just leave me alone."
The vampire grinned before moving behind the table, grabbing the girl by her hair, and yanking her head back. But before she could sink her teeth into her, I ran across the room and grabbed the woman by the throat. I held her above me.
"If you ever come near her or my family again, I will kill you." I said in a low voice through gritted teeth before dropping her, watching her fall to the floor. "Consider this mercy."
She glared at me as she got to her feet.
"You can't protect her forever." She said angrily. "At some point, you'll have to leave her, and I'll be watching. I'll make my move then."
And with that, she ran out of the house. I ran over to help Carlisle up.
"Are you alright?" I asked him.
"Don't worry about me." He told me. "What matters most is making sure that she's unharmed."
I looked to the girl, and Carlisle and I made our way over her. She looked at us in fear.
"Y-You're not going to try to kill me too, are you?" She asked, stuttering with tears streaming down her face.
"Of course not." Carlisle replied with a small, reassuring smile. "We just want to help you. Edward brought you to me after saving you from the vampire who attacked you earlier tonight. My name is Carlisle. Could you tell us your name?"
"M-My name is Y/N." She said, still stuttering, but seeming to relax a little. She pointed at me. "You're Edward?"
"Yes." I said with a nod.
"Thank you, for saving my life twice now." She said. "Now, I'm sorry, but I have to go home."
She tried to move her broken leg, obviously forgetting it was broken, but groaned in pain. Carlisle immediately went to her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Y/N, your leg is broken." He said calmly. "I'm sorry, but you're in no condition to be moving right now."
"No, you don't understand." She said, starting to panic. "I really have to go home."
"What's the rush?" I asked in concern. "Is everything alright?"
"M-My boyfriend will kill me if I come home late." She admitted. "And I mean that literally. He's probably looking for me right now."
Carlisle and I exchanged a look of concern.
"Y/N, is your boyfriend abusive?" He asked her.
She looked down at her lap, as if afraid to answer.
"It's alright, you can tell us." I told her. "We won't judge you."
She finally made eye contact with us. There were more tears in her eyes.
"Yes." She said at last. "He's also possessive and an alcoholic. I've tried to leave him many times, but he's threatened to make my life a living hell if I did. He already has. He's scarred me so much. Both physically and mentally."
As she spoke, she rolled up one of the sleeves on her sweater, revealing a bloody strip of gauze wrapped around her upper arm.
"He cut me before I left for work yesterday morning." She said, sobbing now. "I'm lucky he didn't hit any major arteries. But I'm to the point where I just want to end it all so I won't have to deal with him anymore."
I stood there in silence up to that point. I went to her and wrapped my arms around her gently. She wrapped her good arm around my waist. We remained in that position for about a minute, before I spoke again.
"You're not going back there alone." I said softly. "I'm coming with you when the time comes. I won't let him hurt you."
She looked up at me.
"W-Why do you care so much?" She asked, her voice just above a whisper. "I'm just a pathetic, fragile human."
"Because, I feel very protective of you." I told her. "Your life is important to me. Just know that I will not let him or anyone else hurt you ever again."
She gave me a small smile.
"Okay." She said.
Carlisle cleared his throat. I had forgotten he was there.
"I hate to interrupt, but I need to get your arm stitched up and your leg into a brace." He said. "I'm going to have you stay off of that leg for a few weeks, so I will get you some crutches once we're finished. Edward, if you want to stay, you can."
"As long as you're alright with me staying, Y/N, I will." I said, glancing at her.
She nodded.
"Yes, I'd like that." She said.
Carlisle got to work, while I continued to talk to her.
After a little while, I realized that the female vampire was right. I did feel something for her.
I might be in danger of falling in love with Y/N.