𝘊𝘏𝘈𝘗𝘛𝘌𝘙 𝘛𝘞𝘌𝘕𝘛𝘠-𝘍𝘖𝘜𝘙

(the cursed witch, act one)

AS NINA DRIFTED, SHE DREAMED.

Where she floated, under the dark water, she heard the happiest sound her mind could conjure up — as beautiful, as uplifting, as it was ghastly. It was another snarl; a deeper, wilder roar that rang with fury.

She was brought back, almost to the surface, by a sharp pain slashing her upraised hand, but she couldn't find her way back far enough to open her eyes.

And then Nina knew she was dead. Because, through the heavy water, she heard the sound of an angel calling her name, calling her to the only heaven she wanted.

"Oh no, Nina, no!" The angel's voice cried in horror.

Behind that longed-for sound was another noise — an awful tumult that her mind shied away from. A vicious bass growling, a shocking snapping sound, and a high keening, suddenly breaking off...

She tried to concentrate on the angel's voice instead. "Nina, please! Nina, listen to me, please, please, Nina, please!" He begged.

Yes, she wanted to say. Anything. But she couldn't find her lips.

"Carlisle!" The angel called, agony in his perfect voice. "Nina, darling, no, oh please, no, no!" And the angel was sobbing tearless, broken sobs.

The angel shouldn't weep, it was wrong. Nina tried to find him, to tell him everything was fine, but the water was so deep, it was pressing on her, and she couldn't breathe.

There was a point of pressure against her head. It hurt. Then, as that pain broke through the darkness to her, other pains came, stronger pains. She cried out, gasping, breaking through the dark pool.

"Nina!" The angel cried.

"She's lost some blood, but the head wound isn't deep," A calm voice informed her.

"Watch out for her leg, it's broken."

A howl of rage strangled on the angel's lips.

Nina felt a sharp stab in her side and took in a deep intake of air. This couldn't be heaven, could it? There was too much pain for that.

"Some ribs, too, I think," The methodical voice continued. But the sharp pains were fading. There was a new pain, a scalding pain in her hand that was overshadowing everything else.

Someone was burning her.

"Edward." She tried to tell him, but her voice was so heavy and slow. She couldn't even understand herself.

"Nina, you're going to be fine. Can you hear me, Nina? I love you."

"Edward," She tried again. Her voice was a little clearer.

She felt something cold run across her face. "Yes, I'm here."

"It hurts," She whimpered.

"I know, darling, I know" — And then, away from her, anguished — "can't you do anything?"

"My bag, please... Hold your breath, Alice, it will help," Carlisle promised.

Nina forced her eyes open only to see blurred silhouettes. "Alice?" She groaned.

"She's here, she knew where to find you."

"My hand hurts," She tried to tell him, staring up at his blurred face.

"I know, Nina. Carlisle will give you something, it will stop."

"My hand is burning!" She screamed suddenly, finally breaking through the last of the darkness, her eyes flying wide open.

She couldn't see his face anymore, something dark and warm was clouding her eyes. Why couldn't they see the fire and put it out?

His voice was frightened. "Nina?"

"The fire! Someone stop the fire!" She screamed as it burned her.

"Carlisle! Her hand!"

"He bit her." Carlisle's voice was no longer calm, it was appalled.

Nina could hear Edward catch his breath in horror.

"Edward, you have to do it." It was Alice's voice, close by Nina's head. Cool fingers brushed at the wetness in her eyes.

"No!" He bellowed.

"Alice," The witch moaned, she could feel her blood pooling around her.

"There may be a chance," Carlisle said.

"What?" Edward begged.

"See if you can suck the venom back out. The wound is fairly clean."

"Will that work?" Alice's voice was strained.

"I don't know," Carlisle said. "But we have to hurry."

"Carlisle, I..." Edward hesitated. "I don't know if I can do that. I can't lose her." There was agony in his beautiful voice again.

"It's your decision, Edward, either way. I can't help you. I have to get this bleeding stopped here if you're going to be taking blood from her hand."

Nina writhed in the grip of the fiery torture, the movement making the pain in her leg flare sickeningly.

"Edward!" She screamed. She realized her eyes were closed again. She opened them, desperate to find his face. And she found him. Finally, she could see his perfect face, staring at her, twisted into a mask of indecision and pain.

"Alice, get me something to brace her leg!" Carlisle was bent over her, working on her head and neck. "Edward, you must do it now, or it will be too late."

"Please," Nina begged him, thick tears falling down her temples as she stared at him.

His face was no longer drawn. She watched his eyes as the doubt was suddenly replaced with a blazing determination. His jaw tightened. She felt his cool, strong fingers on her burning hand, locking it in place. Then his head bent over it, and his cold lips pressed against her skin.

At first the pain was worse. She screamed and thrashed against the cool hands that held her back. She heard Alice's voice, trying to calm her but it sounded like she was miles away. Something heavy held her leg to the floor, and Carlisle had her head locked in the vise of his stone arms.

Then, slowly, her writhing calmed as her hand grew more and more numb. The fire was dulling, focusing into an ever-smaller point.

She felt her consciousness slipping as the pain subsided. She was afraid to fall into the black waters again, afraid she would lose him in the darkness.

"Edward," She tried to say, but she couldn't hear her voice. They could hear her.

"He's right here, Nina."

"Stay, Edward, stay with me... Don't let me die alone..."

"You're not dying. I won't let you." His voice was strained, but somehow triumphant.

She sighed contentedly. The fire was gone, the other pains dulled by a sleepiness seeping through her body.

"Is it all out?" Carlisle asked from somewhere far away.

"Her blood tastes clean," Edward said quietly. "I can taste the morphine."

"Nina, honey?" Carlisle called to her.

Nina's eyes wandered to his, her lids drooping slightly as she looked at him. She hummed, unable to find words.

"Is the fire gone?"

"Yes," She sighed. "Thank you, Edward."

"I love you," He answered.

Nina smiled, her head lulling to the side but it was quickly caught by his cold hand before it could hit the floor.

"I'd hope you fucking do," She breathed out.

She heard her favorite sound in the world: Edward's quiet laugh, weak with relief.

"Nina?" Carlisle asked again.

She frowned; she wanted to sleep. "What?"

"Where is your mother?"

"In Forks," Her words were slurred into one. "He tricked me, Edward. He watched our videos." The outrage in her voice was pitifully frail.

But that reminded her.

"Alice." She tried to open her eyes. "Alice, the video — he knew you, Alice, he knew where you came from." She meant to speak urgently, but her voice was feeble. Through the flickering of her eyes, she could see the fire. "Did I do that?" Her eyes moved back to Carlisle. "I'm sorry for stealing your car. I hit like six road signs and I almost crashed into someone's grandma."

"It's time to move her," Carlisle said.

"No, I want to sleep," Nina complained.

"You can sleep, darling, I'll carry you," Edward soothed her. And she was in his arms, cradled against his chest — floating, all the pain gone.

"Sleep now, my darling Nina" were the last words she heard.