Twilight: blood & brimstone

The Choice That Wasn't

Edward's fingers hovered over the demon's outstretched hand.

Power hummed in the air, thick and electric, like a storm waiting to break.

A thousand voices whispered through the Void, urging him forward. Take it. Take it. Take it.

But Edward hesitated.

Everything in him screamed against this.

He didn't trust the demon. Didn't trust any of this.

But Bella—

He saw her, even now. Saw her darkened eyes, the way her voice had curled around his name like a ghost of something that had once been real.

She's gone.

But maybe—

Maybe she didn't have to be.

Edward's jaw tightened.

If this was the only way to bring her back—

He clenched his teeth and reached forward.

The moment his fingers brushed the demon's palm, fire exploded through his veins.

Not warmth. Not light.

Fire.

It burned through him, searing into his very being, deeper than any venom.

Edward gasped, staggering, his vision fracturing.

Images—blurred, distorted, wrong—flooded his mind.

Bella, standing over him, her smile sharp and cruel.

Bella, whispering secrets to the dark.

Bella, slipping further, further, until she was nothing but his.

Edward's breath shuddered.

And then—

The fire twisted.

The power that had once promised him control suddenly coiled around him instead.

Tightening. Binding.

His arms snapped to his sides, his body locking in place as unseen forces wrapped around his limbs like iron chains.

Edward choked.

The demon's grin widened. "Ah," he mused. "I do love this part."

Edward struggled, but it was no use. His body refused to move, held fast by a force far beyond him.

"You—" Edward's voice was strained, his breath shallow. "You lied."

The demon laughed.

It was a sharp, cruel sound, echoing through the darkness.

"Oh, Edward," he purred. "Of course I lied."

Edward's stomach twisted.

"I never intended to let you have her," the demon continued, his voice smooth as silk. "Did you really think I would share?"

Edward's mind reeled.

No—

No, this couldn't be happening.

Bella was supposed to be his.

The demon took a slow step forward, his golden eyes gleaming. "I told you," he murmured. "She chose me."

Edward snarled. "She isn't yours."

The demon tilted his head. "And yet… here you are."

Edward gritted his teeth.

He had played him.

And now—

He was trapped.

The demon leaned in, his voice a whisper against Edward's ear.

"Did you really think you could take her back?" He chuckled softly. "You're not even a contender in this game, Edward. You never were."

Edward's chest heaved.

His own arrogance had led him here.

He had thought he could outmaneuver the demon. Thought he could take the power and use it against him.

But he had miscalculated.

And now, Bella was further away than ever.

The demon stepped back, looking almost bored now. "You should've known better." He waved a lazy hand, and the unseen force around Edward tightened.

Pain lanced through him, cold and sharp.

The Void trembled.

Edward gritted his teeth, his body rigid with agony.

But he refused to scream.

Wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

The demon watched him for a moment, then sighed. "Well, this has been fun." He turned away, shadows curling around his form. "But I do have better things to do."

Edward's heart pounded.

No.

No, this wasn't over.

He wouldn't let it be over.

He refused.

The demon took another step—

And Edward moved.

Or rather—

He willed himself to move.

The force that bound him was unbreakable, but Edward was nothing if not stubborn.

He pushed.

Not with strength.

With will.

And the Void… listened.

Just enough.

His fingers twitched.

Then his wrist.

Then—

The chains cracked.

It was only for a fraction of a second.

A heartbeat, if he'd still had one.

But it was enough.

Edward lunged.

The demon barely had time to react before Edward's hand snapped forward—grabbing the fabric of his cloak.

The demon turned, surprised.

Edward's golden eyes burned.

"You don't get to decide this," he growled.

And then—

He pulled.

The Void shuddered.

The demon's form flickered—just for a moment.

And in that moment—

Edward broke free.

The chains shattered, and Edward moved, twisting away before the demon could grab him again.

The demon's expression darkened.

"Well," he murmured. "That was unexpected."

Edward didn't respond.

Didn't hesitate.

Didn't think.

He ran.

The Edge of Oblivion

The Void twisted around him as he sprinted forward, the air thick with unseen hands trying to pull him back.

He ignored them.

Ignored the pain.

Ignored everything.

Except her.

Bella.

He could still feel her, somewhere beyond the dark.

He would find her.

No matter what it took.

Behind him, the demon's voice echoed.

"You can't outrun me forever, Edward."

Edward didn't stop.

Didn't look back.

He pushed forward, his body moving faster than it ever had, the edges of the Void blurring as he forced himself further, further—

And then—

Light.

Not warm. Not bright.

But different.

A way out.

Edward didn't hesitate.

He lunged.

And the moment his body hit the light—

Everything changed.