Prologue
A storm was blowing in off the ocean as Bella turned along the coast road out of Santa Carla. By the time she reached the deserted parking lot, thick clouds had completely blocked the afternoon sun. She hurried out along the cliff-top trail, the wind blowing sand against her skin and whipping her hair around her face as she searched for the path leading down to the shore. The first heavy drops of rain were starting to fall when she finally found it.
Rounding the headland, she spotted the cave entrance, barred by heaps of junk and rusting barbed wire. She stumbled over loose rocks and squeezed through the barrier, ignoring the sting as her leg scraped against something sharp. Inside, the cave quickly became pitch black and she half-walked, half-fell along the steeply-inclined path, trying to visualise the scene a week before, when torches had illuminated the route.
The air was cool and clammy, and in the darkness her breathing sounded unnaturally loud. Bella paused, one hand against the rock, steeling herself before she continued downwards. She had been the one to refuse to go out with Jess, knowing full well what her foolish, reckless, and irresponsible friend intended to do. She had no choice but to go through with this.
When her feet found solid, flat ground, Bella stopped, fumbling for the balustrade she remembered to the left. Three careful steps downwards, the sandy soles of her shoes crunching on smooth marble, and she could make out a faint, flickering glow from below.
He was waiting for her.
Probably sensing her fear. Probably enjoying it.
Bella knew she should despise him, not only because of what he was, but because of the despicable trap he had set for her, but even now she found herself more fascinated than disgusted. David had a sort of twisted charm that elevated him above the other members of his little gang, and although everything about him, unsurprisingly, spelled danger, Bella had been left with the impression that his outer arrogance covered an inner vulnerability with no obvious cause.
The very idea was ridiculous. Vampires were not vulnerable. Edward had never been vulnerable.
And Edward, if he cared, might even be proud of her. She had been sensible and resisted temptation. She had tried to stay away. Only split-second irritation had stopped her from persuading Jessica to do the same.
Now she was here to pay the price for that mistake. And although Bella's fear grew with every step down the ancient staircase, it was accompanied by a sort of desperate, hysterical, self-righteous satisfaction.
Because David was demanding to do what Edward had refused to even consider.
He was going to make her one of them.
