A Side Trip

A/N: Yet another fic where Deadward meets up with a real vampire. Only this time Bella's involved as well.

Bella and Edward strutted down the road, staring with bored expressions at the many store windows filled with Christmas decorations and the many beautiful Christmas lights. Any normal person would have found the fact that Forks went all out for the holidays fascinating, but Bella and Edward, being the vastly superior beings they believed themselves to be, were yawning, ready to return home, where they would soon start their perfect lives with a perfect wedding. They were so perfect, it was sickening.

As they were strolling down the avenue, they noticed someone standing in front of an antiques store. He was tall, with black hair slicked back and parted down the middle. He wore a dark colored suit, and had long, pale fingers. Bella and Edward immediately knew that he was a vampire. Edward was shocked to discover that he could not read the vampire's mind, and decided to approach him first to inquire as to what a strange vampire was doing in Forks when the man turned and strolled down the road, hands behind his back. Edward pouted, and Bella-well, looked as she always did. She turned to Edward, her expression never changing and her voice coming out in a low whine. "Edward, I want to see who that is! Can't we catch up to him?" She batted her eyelids at him, and being the whipped pushover that he was, he immediately agreed.

"Of course, my perfect love. I will do anything for you."

Bella smiled-or possibly passed gas, it was hard to tell with her-and they strutted after the mysterious vampire. As they passed by a dark and deserted looking alley, two pale hands topped with sharp nails shot out of the alley's mouth and grabbed Edward, yanking him inside before he had a chance to scream. The sounds of a terrific struggle followed, and Bella shrank against a garbage can, clutching her shirt and peering into the blackness. "Edward?"

There was a horrible screech, followed by a loud tearing sound, and seconds later, something flew out of the alley to land at Bella's feet. She looked down, screaming in horror at the sight of Edward's head, his mouth and eyes wide in a silent scream. "EDWARD!"

"Was that his name? Rather pathetic vampire, if I do say so myself. But, when you're as old as I am, you come to expect such things from the young ones."

Bella watched, frozen in fear as the vampire she and Edward had been trailing stepped out of the alley, a vulpine grin on his face. "But you, my dear, are human. I can smell the blood under your skin. Quite…intoxicating."

Bella's eyes suddenly lit up. "Wait! You…you're a vampire!" The vampire nodded, and Bella clutched his arm in supplication. "I want to be a vampire! I want to be young and live forever! Please, turn me!"

"It's rare that I have someone actually wish to be a vampire, but your enthusiasm, while a bit grating, is refreshing. As you wish."

Bella sighed in happiness and tilted her neck, eager for the first bite that would transform her into an immortal creature of the night. "I'm ready!"

The vampire laughed, then sank his fangs deep into her throat, and Bella gasped and moaned.

Then screamed as the vampire tore open her jugular. She collapsed, her hands trying in vain to stem the tide of blood that was gushing forth. "Why?"

The vampire laughed evilly. "Why?" He leaned forward so his face was inches away from hers. "Because I can."

It didn't take long for Bella to become a cold corpse.

Barlow stood, brushing the dirt of the alley off his suit. The Northwest was a bit too crowded, he thought. Time to find another place.

Maine, perhaps.

FINIS.

A/N 2: For time purposes, this takes place during the…ugh…remake of Salem's Lot.