Prologue

I was a monster, a killer. I had always known this to be true. This year alone, I had already killed three times. Before that, hundreds had died by my teeth, maybe even thousands. I didn't know anymore; I stopped keeping track long ago.

Yet there were other monsters than just me in this world. I was a predator who was designed to kill, but today, we were the ones being hunted, and they outnumbered me.

The plan was clear in the ferocious female's mind and a trickle of fear ran down my spine as I watched it play out: she would use her companion to distract me. Riley, the name was supplied by her when she thought of him in scorn. And while I fought him off, she'd dart around me to snap Bella's neck. She wouldn't bother drinking her right then; that would take too much time. She didn't doubt that I would kill Riley ...good riddance... but once Bella was dead and I was distracted by my grief, she would rip my head off, then my arms and legs.

The images of my death were so vivid she may as well have been watching it happen, and I felt the heat tingle in my extremities as though the fire had already been lit. One by one, she would burn my fingers and toes, then my legs and arms, slowly turning me into ashes while I watched, helpless, unable to even scream. And as I watched myself burn, she would position my head so that I could see her drink the blood of the human girl she had been aching to kill for months. Only when Bella was drained and the last bits of me were burning would she throw my head in, completing my death at long last.

"Who?" Bella's voice was full of fear, though she only spoke the one word, and I knew that she had understood at once: we were under attack.

"Victoria," I growled furiously. This was my fault! I had let her escape. Instead of focusing all of my energy on chasing the ferocious vampire, I had dallied in Phoenix when I'd known that she was connected to Bella. That I hadn't known exactly how didn't matter. I should have seen that she was a threat. I should have concentrated on tracking her. Bella had been lost to me at the time. What good had stalking the human girl's past done for me? I could have ended this long ago, but no.

"She's not alone. She crossed my scent, following the newborns in to watch – she never meant to fight with them. She made a spur-of-the-moment decision to find me, guessing that you would be wherever I was. She was right. You were right. It was always Victoria."

I heard my voice in Victoria's mind as I spoke, and felt her thrill of victory. She loved that I had known that she was coming, that I had apparently lived in fear of her, that I knew she was to be the instrument of my death. I heard Bella's heart stumble and then break into a sprint. The scent of her fear-induced adrenaline filled the air, but she didn't speak again, waiting with me in silence for the vampires to show themselves.


Author's Note

Standard disclaimer: Alas, I am not Stephenie Meyer. The Twilight Saga belongs to her and not to me. I am merely grateful to be allowed to play in the universe which she has created.

This is Eclipse, and is a continuation of Edward's story. I started with New Moon. While it's not necessary to read that one first to follow along with this story, I think you'd enjoy it more if you did. I'd also like to invite you to read my prequel Eternal Teenager which explores his transformation and rebellion as well as the development of his close relationship with Carlisle and Esme.

Breaking Dawn is my current project, and I plan to start posting in November.

Like all writers, I love feedback. Please take a moment to tell me what you think. Criticism is welcome. Unlike Edward, I won't bite ;)

Happy reading!

~L