Prologue – Change

I thought he had killed her. She lay completely still on the bloodstained sofa. From the vampire transformations I had seen, I'd expected her to be writhing around and screaming in agony. Was it the morphine? Or was her body too broken for any movement to be possible? Whatever the cause, it was eerie. And anyone who walked in and saw her would come to one conclusion: Bella Cullen could not be alive.

I could only be so grateful for Bella's transformation. Her blood, her scent would no longer exist, causing my thirst to spiral out of control. But I knew this was a last resort for Edward. He didn't want this any more than the werewolf, Jacob Black, one of the only three in the room with a heartbeat. Bella and Edward's daughter, Renesmee, sat in the granite arms of Rosalie. Renesmee was my niece, and the reason Bella was on the couch now.

My adoptive family sat around Bella's still form. Carlisle was closest to Bella, ready to care for her at the slightest notion of her pain. Esme sat quite close to Carlisle, prepared to make herself useful. Rose and Emmett dominated the loveseat, cradling Renesmee. Alice and I sat together in the recliner, her tiny body curled up against mine, my arms wrapped protectively around her. Edward was not present. His pain was potent at the scene of Bella's changing blood and body.

It was a long two days. We never relaxed out positions. Edward returned just as Bella's heartbeat began to quicken, signaling the end of the transformation.

We all surrounded her as Bella's red eyes opened anew, to the life of the vampire.