23. The Angel

Chapter Synopsis

Bella is drifting into unconsciousness and feels a sharp pain in her hand. She believes she is dead because she hears more snarling and then the voice of an angel, speaking to her. She hears a fight going on. Then we discover it is Edward’s voice she is hearing, sobbing tearless, broken sobs. Bella is trying to tell him he shouldn’t cry and that it’s okay — but her voice does not sound. Her lips are missing or something.

She realizes she’s in a lot of pain, and then hears Carlizzle state she’s lost a lot of blood. Over all the pain, she feels the burning in her hand and tells Edward. Carlizzle the doctor finally sees that James bit her, and is appalled. Alice and Carlizzle tell Edward he has to suck the venom out of Bella, but Edward doesn’t know if he can do it without sucking her dry. 

Bella keeps calling for Edward, trying to see him through the blood in her eyes while Carlizzle plays Dr. MacGuyver and splints her leg and bandages her boo-boos. Edward sucks out the venom and Bella feels herself slipping back into unconsciousness, but is able to ask Edward to stay with her since he didn’t eat her. (Boooooooo!)

Prior to passing out, Edward aks Bella where her mom is and Bella admits that James tricked her. Then, Bella says she smells gasoline — leading us to believe they are burning James as she lays there. Edward picks her up and tells her to sleep. Bella promptly passes out.

Best Worst Lines

“Because, through the heavy water, I heard the sound of an angel calling my name, calling me to the only heaven I wanted.” (452)   (Gag us with a barbiedoll, like, kay!?)

“‘Carlisle!’ the angel called, agony in his perfect voice. ‘Bella, Bella, no, oh please, no, no!’ And the angel was sobbing, tearless, broken sobs.” (453)

“Yes, I wanted to say. Anything. But I couldn’t find my lips.” (453)

“The angel shouldn’t weep, it was wrong.” (453)

“‘Her blood tastes clean,’ Edward said quietly. ‘I can taste the morphine.’ (456)

“‘He tricked me, Edward. He watched our videos.'” (457)

“‘You can sleep, sweetheart. I’ll carry you.’ Edward soothed me.” (457)

Things That Really Irk Us

Since when is vampire venom like snake venom that you can suck out of a wound? And why, if it was going to prove too difficult for Edward to stop sucking her blood, didn’t Carlizzle (who is immune to human blood) do it?

Final Thoughts

Are we almost done yet?

Go to Chapter 24.