Jericho

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, unfortunately.

It smelt like mountain lion – He ran.

Expertly weaving through trees he drew near and the smell grew stronger. He slowed as he spotted his prey and crouched down. Before one could blink, he leapt high in the air and slammed on top of the lion sinking his teeth into its fur.

The lion growled and struggled for but a moment and began to be subdued. As the vampire began to drink its blood it suddenly was brought to life and struggled away. The vampire once again knocked the weak lion to the ground, but much harder this time, and the lion stood still.

Bewildered, the vampire once again began drinking the lions blood but with a hesitant pace.

"The little kitty got away from the big, bad vampire? Why didn't you inject your venom in the lion in the first place?" Emmett approached Edward who was just finishing up.

Edward wiped his mouth and glared at Emmett.

"It did not get away, as you can see, and I did inject my venom into it." His tone was clipped because he was a bit puzzled. He turned away from his brother heading back to the direction of the car.

Emmett frowned and grabbed his brother's shoulder turning him around.

"Venom is supposed to paralyze it."

Edward rolled his eyes.

"Thanks for the lesson – let's go." He shrugged off Emmett's hand only to have it right back on his shoulder.

"I know you know that but that's not what happened!" Emmett said slightly frustrated.

"Just let it go, okay? It was a fluke – I'd expect after 100 years that that type of stuff happens." Edward was reasoning more with himself than with Emmett.

"At least talk to Carlisle about it." Emmett half pleaded.

"Fine, If you let it go, I'll talk to Carlisle. He'll just say the same thing I said anyways." Edward waved his hand flippantly.

When they got home Edward freshened up and made to leave only to be stopped by Emmett.

"Where are you going?"

"Bella's place, of course." Edward looked slightly affronted, feigning his loss of memory in regards to their earlier conversation.

Emmett wasn't fooled, "You promised, Edward."

"I didn't promise when. I'll tell Carlisle after I go see Bella."

"That'll be ages from now. Just go to Carlisle now; I think something's wrong here."

"Emmett, you either have brains or brawn. We all know which one is you. So forgive me if I would rather go see Bella than bank on something you think is wrong." Later Edward may grimace at being so nasty but he was getting increasingly annoyed with Emmett's mother-hen mentality.

Emmett returned that with a glare and slammed his fist into his palm, "Well since I don't have the brains to convince you why don't I use my 'brawn' to force you?" Emmett threatened.

It was then that Carlisle chose to enter the hallway along with Esme looking confused.

"Sorry to interrupt but what exactly is going on? I couldn't help but overhear and I'm very curious of what's got the unflappable Emmett worried?" Carlisle said looking searchingly into the two pairs of eyes.

Edward felt like stomping his foot like a petulant kid having a tantrum.

"Fine."

Emmett chose this moment to grin victoriously at winning a small battle. It was hard for Edward to tell Carlisle, no. Edward explained the whole story to Carlisle with Emmett filling in the details that Edward purposely brushed over.

Carlisle had a pensive look on his face staring at Edward as if he was a new specimen.

"That's very puzzling. And you're certain you bit it?" Carlisle asked, his brow furrowed.

Edward didn't even bother to answer and just stared blankly at Carlisle. Carlisle raised his hands in surrender.

"Fine, I believe you. I've never come across this myself." Carlisle ran his hands through his hair. He was getting slightly concerned.

"Looks like you were wrong Eddie-," Before Emmett could properly rub in that he was right; Esme lightly slapped Emmett's shoulder.

"This is not the right time to be smug, Emmett." She reproached softly and looked at Carlisle with concern.

"Is this serious? Should we be worried?" She asked rubbing Edward's back.

"I'm not sure." Carlisle said slowly, "I'll go hunting with Edward tomorrow. We'll see how it goes but for today we'll need to watch Edward closely. "

Edward sighed in exasperation.

"This can't possibly be that serious. I don't need to be smothered and I really don't need to go hunting twice in one week." He huffed.

"Edward, don't be difficult." Carlisle warned.

"I'm sorry; I don't mean to be. Carlisle, can't this wait? I haven't seen Bella all day."

"Okay, go do what you want, but first thing tomorrow morning we're going hunting."

Edward made to protest but Carlisle raised his hand.

"For my sanity, Edward, please just go along with this." He gave Edward a meaningful look.

Edward reluctantly nodded and the rest of the Cullens in the room looked appeased.

"I'm going to Bella's." He said in a low tone and turned to the open window on the second floor..

"Please be careful, dear." Esme called out to the brooding boy as he jumped out the window.

He was running a little slower – not noticeably to a common eye but too himself he noticed. He reached Bella's house and it being late in the night climbed up to her window.

Bella had her head buried deeply in a book, resting. She had just gotten her cast off and they had all summer to spend time with each other. Edward felt it was never enough time. Any moment without her was tedious. It was like a kid waiting for recess everyday but having to sit still for classes.

He entered without knocking startling her slightly. She glared at him.

"You really should get used to it, Bella." He said grinning.

"Well, if you'd knock like a normal, polite person I wouldn't have to." She placed her book aside.

He approached her bed and wrapped his hands around her leaning his head on top of hers.

"Well, there are two things wrong with that statement and should leave me completely exempt from any type of reproach." He said smoothly.

"Oh and what are those, Mr. Cullen?" He couldn't see her face but her voice was teasing.

"Well, first, no normal person jumps through windows to see their love late at night." He said softly kissing her neck.

"Second, I'm not a person; I'm a vampire, one that tends dazzles the female population." He leaned her back across his arm and kissed her gently on the lips. When he stopped – she stood there for a second and blinked owlishly as if she forgot where she was.

She pouted a little making Edward want to kiss her more. She gave up on being upset in a split-second and snuggled closer to his rock-like physique.

"It's not fair! You can get away with anything just by kissing me."

"It's not my fault that your resolve is so fragile."

She rolled her eyes but changed the subject.

"So, are we doing anything tomorrow?"

Edward sighed and she looked at his face. He made a slight grimace.

"I have to go hunting with Carlisle."

"What? I thought you went hunting today. Can't it wait?" She implored.

"Believe me I tried to post-pone it but Carlisle is intent on going."

Bella looked slightly panicked.

"What do you mean? Is there something happening?"

"Don't worry, Bella. My venom wasn't working properly and Carlisle just wants to make sure everything is okay."

"Is it normal? I mean for your venom to not work right and stuff."

"I'm sure it is." He said but a slight tinge of doubt colored his words.

"Is that what Carlisle said?" She challenged giving him a shrewd look. He sighed.

"He's never seen it, but I feel fine. Vampires don't get sick, remember? Everyone is just being cautious, annoyingly over-cautious in my opinion." He grumbled

Bella sensing his irritation leaned out across the bed. Edward adjusted along with her, holding her tightly against him. She closed her eyes.

"Sing my lullaby."

He did.

He kissed Bella on the temple when the sun began to rise. He got off the bed and wrote a note saying he would be back later this morning. He'd rather get this done as soon as possible.

When he reached home he saw Carlisle already prepped and ready to go. He smiled as Edward approached him.

When Edward arrived he looked expectantly at Carlisle.

"I'm ready, let's go."

They sped off and reached the center of the forest. Carlisle looked surprised that he arrived first and gave Edward a clinical stare.

"Are you running slower?"

Edward just waved him off.

"I'm just a little reluctant to go hunting again. I'd rather be at Bella's." He lied smoothly. Carlisle didn't look like he believed it but he didn't push it. Years of living with Edward told him when he was lying, but it also told him when to fight his battles. He mentally catalogued this for later.

Edward sensing that Carlisle knew he lied began to tune out his thoughts. He wasn't too keen to analyze Carlisle's mind today. He sniffed some deer and began to head in that direction. Carlisle followed behind.

When he reached the deer he quickly sunk his teeth into it, taking great care to put an excess amount of venom in it. The deer struggled longer than usual but it finally became paralyzed and Edward drank it. He got up quickly and looked at Carlisle with "See-Nothings-Wrong" look.

Carlisle gave him a knowing stare, "You put more venom in than required and it still struggled. Let's give it another try, but this time just insert the regular amount of venom in it."

Carlisle knew him to well, feeling slightly embarrassed at being caught, he nodded. He ran to another deer that was attempting to flee and inserted just enough venom. It worked, but just barely and drank the blood.

"I told you there was nothing wrong." He said looking up, but the look on Carlisle's face would be remembered forever. It was a look of horror with slight panic. He had never seen Carlisle so unnerved.

"What?" he stopped, feeling something warm run down his face. It felt like a tear and he touched it. He looked at his finger it was red and sticky. Blood? He sniffed it. It was the blood that he just drank from the deer and apparently it was pouring out of his eyes as if it had no place to go.

AN: Okay, please bear with me on this. I researched this as much as I could on how venom works and how vampires work in the twilight universe. I'm trying to make this "Vampire" disease as plausible as possible. So don't think I'm just some girl who thought up a disease without any research. If you want any clues just review and ask me, but it might spoil the story for you. Thanks for reading!