The girl was curled into a small ball beside the flames, her arms wrapped around her legs. She was very young. Younger than me--she looked maybe fifteen, dark-haired and slight. Her eyes were focused on me, and the irises were a shocking, brilliant red. They wheeled wildly out of control.
"So…you're keeping her." I said as more of a statement than a question. I sat on the couch while Rosalie sat in the plush armchair painting her nails a dark shade of red and Alice sat cross-legged on the floor.
"Yes, Bella. Carlisle told her that if she obeyed us and became 'vegan', for lack of better terms, then she could stay alive," Alice explained. She wrinkled her face. "Or at least as alive as we can get."
"Okay. So, you don't think she'll try to kill me? I mean, back there, she seemed pretty intent on sucking my blood or whatever." I shuddered, remembering the meadow. Victoria lunging at me, Edward tearing at…it was too much to think about.
"No. You'll be fine. Edward, Emmett and Jasper are out there with her while she gets used to hunting our way," Alice explained. "You're safe with us and you can still come over whenever you want. Or whenever I feel like kidnapping you." She grinned.
"Okay, if you say so," I rolled my eyes. But then, an alternative idea popped into my head and I could feel my face lift. "Or you could change me right now." I grinned my slyest smile.
"NO!" Both vampires replied in unison.
Rosalie grimaced and Alice just shook her head. "I'd rather you get married in Vegas, Bella," Alice sighed.
"Fine, maybe I will," I shot back.
"Bella!" Alice whined. "I will die if you do that," She thought about what she had just said. "Or I will provoke the Volturi."
"No you won't. You know I'm just kidding, Alice," I said then turned to Rosalie and winked. She laughed silently and shook her head.