This is a story about two lovers, Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan. It begins as many stories do…with a destined meeting, this one between Edward, a fallen Vampire who lived only to kill and Isabella, a mere Mortal, wanting only to die.

-i-

"So this is hell" young Isabella thought to herself as she wound her way around a dirty street corner. The people flooding the dark corners were in the midst of kissing, groping and...other things she could not yet wrap her young mind around. How she ended up in this god forsaken place still eluded her, all she knew, was that she had awoken one morning with no idea where her mother had gone or even if she would come back. When the days had turned into weeks, and the manager of the building had come to collect rent, she had given up on waiting for anyone…especially her mother to return for her.

Being only the age of 12, her prospects of a job were beyond limited. She had no family, no friends; she truly didn't know where her life would end up now. Not that my future was looking all that bright before. She had been on her own now for well over two weeks, but only these last three days had she truly been homeless. Her belly was empty, her small body cold from the growing winter and above all she was alone. All her life she had been alone, whether her mother had been around or not, she was always alone. It was as if there was some constant turmoil inside her, she constantly felt as if she were behind in some task... as if she were in the wrong place or being remiss about being somewhere at that exact moment.

Her mother had confessed to her one day while she was high on drugs and drunk with whatever concoction she had been able to buy, that the "the strain" she was feeling was because she had been born high on drugs. Isabella had no doubt that was true...and the embarrassment she felt because of it, made her never bring up the subject again.

The strain she had felt drove her nearly mindless sometimes... during this last year, she was convinced that she was going mad. Little Isabella had made a decision at some point over the last few months, that death would be a welcome friend in her arms, that the end had better be coming to get her soon.

But here she was now, with no idea of what to do or where to go. She found herself walking the streets at night and stealing sleep in the light of the days. Right now she had managed to wander off into a side of town that looked to be housing the less than noble men of Chicago, not to mention the raunchiest of women. Just as she was about to turn and leave the way she came, a big palm wrapped itself around her forearm and yanked her into a dark corner. Before she could make the scream that had bubbled to her lips out, another big palm wrapped itself around her mouth.

Suddenly the need to scream began to ebb. She had no idea why she felt comfort...no idea why she had an overwhelming urge to accept whatever end would meet her now. This is what you wanted, don't fight, just let it be quick.The hand that had been wrapped around her forearm turned her slowly to face forward. With all the courage she could muster in her 12 year old body, she faced the owner of the hands and was surprised to see vibrant red eyes staring into her own.

She was torn between relief and fear. For the first time in as long as she could remember, the strain she had been plagued with was no longer present. It was as if a cooling balm had been placed over her heart and for the first time she could truly breath. Though she felt at ease, her brain screamed at her body to register fear. She was in a dark alley, in a dark corner, facing a man with eyes like fire. Surely the fear would kick in at any second. Surely.

It never did.

As Edward had stalked his prey from the roof tops, he spied a small figure winding down the alley with uneasy movements. He didn't pay much attention to the being, for he was still following his meal for this evening.

Each night he set out to rid the world of the worst walking these streets. It wasn't technically a bad thing if he stuck to the criminals or would be criminals. He was doing the city a justice...helping the tax payers save money on things such as D. A's, jury selection, trials and such. Besides, no one would be missing these people, they would think them lucky to not have them around anymore.

He stalked a roof closer to his unassuming male down below, he'd heard and seen enough from this man in the last ten minutes to know he had been responsible for many rapes in the city. It was an easy decision to kill the male after seeing his last victims horrified look in the mans memory just before he's ended her life.

As he tensed to kill, a face comparable only to an angel popped into his head. This face was that of a young girl...a very young girl. Edward realized then that this was the face his victim was currently assessing. Through the prey's vision he saw her walk cautiously and confused on the beaten path before her. She looked to be lost...scared...but worse...alone.

A foreign feeling crept into the vampires body as he saw the prey's mind assessing this beautiful little creature. The man wanted to hurt her...to hurt her as he had hurt the others in his mind. A rage so hot burned through the vampires body as he abandoned his position on the roof top for a dark corner that the girl was near. As soon as he could get to her, he would take her from this place. He had no idea why this was so important to him, all he knew was that he could never let harm come to her, he could never leave her unprotected.

He watched from the dark corner as she halted in her tracks, as if this were a bad mistake for her to continue. Deciding this was a good moment to get her away from there, he shot a hand over her mouth and a palm covering her arm.

Gentle! His mind screamed at him. He could easily break this girl with a mere flick of his nail. Humans were so fragile...so mortal. With all the self control he could find at that moment, he gently turned her in his arms so he could quietly inform her that he did not wish to harm her. However, when she turned to meet his eyes, a familiar feeling swept across him...

I know her...he thought to himself. Her eyes were gentle and the most loveliest shade of brown he had ever encountered. Her skin seemed to tingle his fingers, it was the first thing he had truly felt in his long existence. As he tried to understand the feelings he had coursing through him, he realized that she too was looking at him with recognition. It was then that he noticed she hadn't attempted a struggle... she gave no fight to being in this dark corner with him, and though she should be shaking with fear, her body seemed to relax as if in comfort here with him.

For whatever reason, this male with flaming red eyes seemed to be looking at her with eyes not that of a man in lust or rage...but as a man with appreciation. Isabella had never seen any person look at her like that. The scene hit her anew as if she had just realized their situation, but as her eyes carefully assessed her surrounding, she realized that the fear she had been convinced would be coming soon, still hadn't arrived.

The male spoke to her then, but his hand remained in place over her mouth. "I have no desire to hurt you..." and she believed him. Why, she still couldn't work out yet, but she knew instinctively that she could trust him.

"If I release your mouth, will you promise me not to scream?" She could only nod her head as she stared into his eyes.

When he released her, he knelt down to her level so that they were at eyes level with each other. He seemed to be taking her in, not as a man takes in his new conquests figure, but the way one would admire a treasured jewel or memento that was irreplaceable.

As Isabella watched this male, she noticed how he held his heart now, the way his features began to soften with each passing second. It was as if he was transforming from a viscous man into what one would consider devastatingly handsome. With one last appraising look over her small form, he began his introduction.

"I vow to you that I will not let harm come to you...from me or from anyone. Can you trust that?"

Isabella had wanted to answer him, truly she did, but after hearing the silk of his voice, she no longer had the ability to form words.

"Do not fear me, little one..." He thought she was afraid? That was simply not the case. Seeming to pull her self out of the stupor she was in, she finally answered him.

"I...I do not fear you."

At her words, his brows drew together. "You sound...familiar" He took his time once more looking at her face. Surely he knew this girl...but wouldn't he remember her? Even if he walked away right now an never saw her again for a thousand years, he would be able to describe her perfectly...right down to the sweet lull of her voice.

Of course you don't know her...you know only a handful of people in your life...existence...whatever its called. A thought began to arise in his mind, a recalling of a conversation he had once had with Carlisle not long after his change. "You'll find your one mate... she'll center your thoughts and make you relieved to be an immortal. It could take a millennium...but you will find her."

As Edward met eyes with her once more, realization hit him...She is mine.

No haters please.