Twilight: blood & brimstone

Edward and Jasper crashed against the pavement, a blur of tangled limbs and snarling fury.

Bella froze, her breath caught in her throat, watching as the two vampires tore into each other with a savagery she had never seen before.

Edward wasn't fighting with restraint anymore.

He wasn't fighting like a man.

He was fighting like a beast.

Jasper wasn't trying to stop him—he was trying to survive him.

And that?

That terrified her.

The Battle of the Monsters

Jasper dodged Edward's wild lunge, his expression tight, calculating—years of battle instincts kicking in.

But Edward was faster.

He slammed into Jasper, driving him back into the asphalt with a force that cracked the ground beneath them.

Alice gasped, her hands tightening on Bella's shoulders, her voice urgent. "We have to go."

Bella barely heard her.

Because this—this was something else.

Edward wasn't just attacking Jasper.

He was unraveling.

And it was because of her.

Because of the moment in the car. Because of the hesitation.

Because of me.

I leaned casually against the truck, watching with mild amusement.

Jasper shoved Edward off him, his voice a warning growl. "Get yourself together, Edward."

Edward didn't hear him.

Or maybe he just didn't care.

His black eyes snapped to me.

And in that moment—

I knew.

He was going to try and kill me.

A slow grin spread across my lips.

Finally.

He moved, a blur of rage and speed—

But before he could reach me—

"EDWARD!"

Bella's scream cut through the night.

He froze.

His body went rigid, his hands trembling with unspent violence.

And slowly—so slowly—he turned to look at her.

She was staring at him, her brown eyes wide with something between fear and heartbreak.

Not love.

Not anymore.

And I could feel the moment he realized it.

His entire frame shook.

His voice came out wrecked. "Bella…"

She took a shaky step back.

And that—

That destroyed him.

The Collapse

Edward staggered back, his expression shattered, his entire body trembling like he was struggling to hold himself together.

Bella saw him now.

Not the perfect, untouchable Edward she had once loved.

Not the careful, composed vampire who had always protected her.

No.

She saw the thing inside him.

The thing that wanted to destroy me.

The thing that could destroy her if she wasn't careful.

Her lips parted, her breath unsteady. "I don't—"

Her voice broke.

Edward flinched, his hands twitching like he wanted to reach for her.

But she didn't move toward him.

Didn't let him touch her.

And that?

That was the final nail in the coffin.

His face twisted in something ugly, something raw.

Then—without another word—

He was gone.

The Aftermath

The silence left in his wake was suffocating.

Bella just stood there, her breathing shallow, her entire world collapsing in on itself.

And me?

I watched.

Waited.

Because she wasn't running after him.

She wasn't calling for him.

She was standing still.

With me.

Jasper exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face, his voice edged with exhaustion. "That was bad."

Alice swallowed hard, looking between Bella and the spot where Edward had vanished, her expression tight. "He's going to do something stupid."

Jasper's jaw clenched. "I know."

I smirked. "Good."

Jasper shot me a look, but I ignored him, my eyes fixed on her.

Because she still hadn't moved.

Still hadn't spoken.

Her mind was racing, but she didn't know what to say.

Didn't know how to fix it.

Because deep down—

Some part of her didn't want to.

I stepped closer, slow, deliberate. "Bella."

She flinched at the sound of my voice, like she'd forgotten I was even there.

She turned to me, her brown eyes haunted.

Lost.

Exactly where I wanted her.

I reached out, brushing my fingers against her wrist, light, easy.

A test.

And she let me.

Alice inhaled sharply, her eyes flickering like she was seeing something in the future she didn't like.

But it was too late.

The damage was already done.

Bella had already made her choice.

Even if she didn't know it yet.