I don't own Twilight, New Moon, or Good Charlotte. But boy would it be cool if I did!

Prologue: Edward's point of view

Song: Bloody Valentine- Good Charlotte

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I didn't want to be here.

I didn't need a vacation like Carlisle suggested.

Ok, so the hospital did need the medicine I was supposed to be picking up in New York, but did I have to spend a wretched week in this horrible city? The sun wasn't bugging me, the smog in the air stopped most of it from getting through, but the streets were so busy it was hard to practice self-control. I had to tone out all the voices, so I could barley hear my own thoughts. Not that it mattered, all my thoughts were focused on getting back before Bella did something else stupid and endangered her life again.

I was so caught up on not attacking the person passing me I almost didn't see the girl in the blood red shirt flirting with a much older guy by a back ally. Almost. There was something familiar about her, she reminded me of someone. I wanted to know, but the moment I opened my mind to her thoughts millions of other people's minds started crying to me about their own pathetic problems, none of them were real problems.

She had short, light brown hair that tickled the back of her neck but didn't reach her shoulders, and she was laughing at every thing he said, but not a real laugh, she seemed in a hurry. Her eyes were black, not a deep brown, but the darkest shade of black. Her skin was very pale, like mine, or at least Bella's.

She didn't remind me of just one person now. No, it was more of a generic group of people. But who?

Her clothes looked like she was from the fifties. Her jeans were skin tight and just short enough to show the tops of her black high top converse. She seemed to want to dart away from the busy streets, but the guy was drowning on every word she uttered from her light pink lips, keeping her from making a run for it. She looked about fifteen, but this guy was obviously under the impression she was of legal age. I didn't need to read minds to know what he was thinking about.

She rested her hand on his shoulder and even though she was much younger then he was she could look him in the eyes. She gently gestured to the ally they were standing by and without another word the man followed her into the darkness.

That when it hit me; who she reminded me of. She was like Rosalie. Jasper. Alice. Emmett. Me. She was obviously a vampire, but there where so many pieces that didn't fit into the puzzle, like why hadn't I smelled her? Why did she not have the dark circles under her eyes? How could she blush like that? But most importantly, where was she taking that guy?

I darted down the ally, and since it was more secluded I opened my mind.

She was good at blocking thoughts, that was for sure. They were there, but she had locked them off, like she knew someone would be reading them. All I could tell about her from the thoughts that weren't heavily guarded was she was taking this guy to another, much more powerful vampire.

Dalton will be pleased. This wasn't the guy he wanted, but he'll work. I wonder if he can hear me yet. I can't wait for dinner, it won't be much but I need it. Maybe Dalton will send me out for more; he knows how sick I've been recently.

That raised a lot more questions. How could she be sick? Why was she working for this guy? Why would feeding from this man, who was easily the size of a tree, not be enough? Whatever she was talking about I knew one thing was clear: this Dalton character was using her. It made me furious at this guy, before I'd even met him. Not only was he feeding on humans, but he was using this girl to bring him his food.

Suddenly I felt a flash of heat and all the girl's thoughts were gone, completely. She had obviously had practice blocking people out.

"Who the hell is this!" a blonde boy said stepping out of the back allies. His thoughts were also hidden, and it was frustrating not being able to pick the mental lock.

"I couldn't bring the guy you wanted, he was spending the weekend with his kids, I just couldn't do it. I'm sorry," the girl said blushing as she backed away from the angry boy. My guess was he was Dalton

"And what made you think this guy would be okay? There is a reason I ask for the particular people," he yelled

The girl took another step back before speaking, "I know, but he's been drinking. He won't remember anything. He's close to passing out, we should feed fast so I can take him back to his house before he blacks out"

"I'm sorry to lose my temper with you, Danni, but for all you know he could be a heroine addict. I'm just trying to protect you," the boy said, struggling to get a hold of himself. He was so busy controlling his temper that his thoughts started to slip through his guard.

She doesn't realize how bad this could end. I can't believe she doesn't see how much thought I put in to protecting her. I should leave her to fend for herself and see how she fends. But I know how she would fend; I've seen her like that before. She'd be helpless. I could…he gained control of his thoughts mid sentence and then leaned into the girl named Danni. I don't think anyone noticed the alcoholic fall to the ground unconscious.

"Who is this friend you brought with you? He's a handsome fellow," Dalton said calmly turning to face me

"I didn't bring him! I'm sorry this has gone so wrong. I don't feel good. You have to understand!" Danni pleaded

"How can you use her like that?!" I demanded, getting straight to the point

"He's not…" Danni began

"Let me handle this, Danni," Dalton said

"I'm not using anyone. This is the only life she knows and she gladly conforms to it," he chuckled, "My, you have a lot of questions, but I won't answer any of them."

"You're a monster, killing people like this. It's wrong!" I yelled, fighting not to lose my temper myself. He was obviously in danger of losing it, so it would be best if one of us were sane

"We're all monsters here, but I'm not killing any one…and we aren't turning them ether. Now please leave our turf," Dalton said stepping in front of Danni who was shaking behind him

"I'm sorry," she whispered, but it went unnoticed

"I'm not leaving till you let that man free!" I yelled, so much for not losing my temper. I crouched down ready to spring. The boy matched my stance and let out a low growl. It was only now that I realized how young he looked, but I knew that his age was close to Carlisle's. Danni on the other hand seemed young and naive

"I'm not letting this man go. Danni needs to feed. I'm afraid I'll have to force you to leave," Dalton growled, springing through the air.

It happened all so fast I only realized what my temper had done after I had done it. Danni shrieked. I had 'killed' the boy named Dalton.

That was all she could take and suddenly the walls in her head came crashing down and her thoughts came spilling out. I suddenly felt so bad; I had made so many mistakes.

The boy reached out with his last strength and pulled me close to him as he began to fade, for that's what vampires do after death, the turn into smoke and fade. With his last dieing breath he whispered in my ear four very simple, little words, but when you put them together they made a powerful request, "take care of her."

Oh, how many mistakes I had made. The first and most important was that Dalton hadn't been forcing Danni to do his bidding

She wasn't his slave

She was his mate