Full Summary - Bella dumped Edward because he was too obsessive and paranoid and in which return he slaughtered Charlie. Bella moves away from Forks and moves to Mystic Falls with her cousins Elena and Jeremy. She meets a mysterious man with raven hair called Damon and she seems to be the only one who can resist his charm. When he tries to compel her he cannot because Elena had given her a vervain necklace. Can Damon lure her into his grasp or will she remain forever a challenge?

Chapter One

No Pain No Gain

I expected pain after Charlies death, the type that feels like theres a hole gaping in your chest but all I felt was numbness. Even after I saw Edward sink his teeth into his neck right before my eyes. Even after I watched those small drops of blood drip from Edwards mouth. Even after I watched him fall onto the floor. I was just numb and frozen. Like all my blood had left my system. I felt no fear when I looked into his crazed crimson eyes. I simply fled from him and straight to a new town called 'Mystic Falls' I have no idea what drove me here because I wasn't afraid, I felt nothing at all but complete emptiness. Just something pulled me towards this strange place where my cousins lived.

Elena. I hadn't seen her since I was the young age of eleven. When I think about her all I remember is a small girl with rich auburn locks and striking blue eyes. I couldn't remember much about Jeremy except that he acted like a protective older brother for me. I always wanted a brother but my parents split up didn't help the matter.

And that brings me to where I am now. Standing outside of Elenas house, on her door step, hoping she allow me in.

I gently tapped my knuckles on the door and waited a minute before someone came. I heard a small click of the door opening and looked up to greet Elena.

However it wasn't Elena. It was quite an attractive man with emerald green eyes and a broad chin. Funnily,his hair was gelled forward into a James-Dean style similar to Edwards. His eyes looked wary and his eyebrows scrunched up creating a perfect brooding look.

"Who are you?" He asked me in a strained voice that sounded all too familiar. Ugh. Damn Edward to the deepest pits of hell!

"I'm Bella Swan. Elenas cousin? Does she still live here?" I said with a bit of worry that she'd moved while looking around at the inside of the house through the door. The house hadn't changed a bit. It looked so much more homey that Charlies house or the Cullens.

His eyes softened a bit before he said "Yeah, come on in"

He lead me to the living room and told me to wait there while he went and got Elena. I nodded and sat down on the comfy sofa. Slowly, I closed my eyes for a moment reliving Charlies memory in my mind...His wide grin when I had came home... The twitch of his mustache when he'd first met Edward... The pity in his eyes when I broke up with Edward... The life draining from his horror struck eyes as Edward sucked it away like it was nothing...

I shook my head from the horrible memories just in time as Elena came down the stairs.

She looked practically the same since I had last saw her. Her hair was the same but straighter and her eyes had more of a vibrant glow to them. Her face had lost all the roundness of being a child and obviously she was much taller.

Elenas eyes widened in shock, "Bella?" she whispered, her hand covering her mouth.

"Elena" I grinned at her before standing up and opening my arms wide. All of a sudden the numbness was gone. I was alive again...

She smiled before ran straight into my arms and began to sob against my form. Her whole frame was shaking from the violent sobs that left her mouth.

"Did you hear the news about Charlie..." I trailed off once the words had left my mouth as a small pain pulsed against my chest.

"I'm so sorry Bella" Elenas cracked voice whispered against my arm.

After we had settled down and Stefan introduced himself I decided that Elena needed to know what happened. So I spilled. Literally everything. Minus the supernatural bits of course.

"Wow. Edward Cullen sounds like a right ass.." Elena said after I explained what had happened and how Edward was so possessive. She rolled her eyes at how silly but true her statement was.

She began to rub her eyes from the obvious sting, her eyes were still puffy and red from her break down earlier.

"How did Charlie die if you don't mind me asking?" Stefan spoke up after a few minutes of silence with true interest. He hadn't spoken much, he just watched and listened.

Wait...What do I tell them?...Shit...

I looked at their curious faces debating what to tell them.

"Uh..His body...was...uh...Found drained of blood..." I stuttered out.

Stefans eyebrows shot up to his hairline in shock while Elena just looked around in bewilderment.

Did they know? I thought to myself.

Stefan flinched before he carried on, "How did he die?"

"Um..." What should I say? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to spread some more truth on it..."Edward killed him"

Elenas eyes were suddenly frantic as they shot to Stefans in question, to which he replied with a small, confused shrug. They seemed to be having a silent conversation.

Eventually my stomach growled from hunger catching Elena and Stefans attention.

"Want to grab something to eat at the grill?" Stefan suggested.

"Wait" Elena held up a finger before she rushed into the kitchen. A few minutes later she came back with a silver necklace.

"Promise me you'll always wear this" she smiled gently as she clamped the chain around my neck.

"I promise" I vowed to her.

I looked at the necklace and my fingers traced the swirls on it, "Its beautiful" I murmured.

I looked up from the necklace to see Stefan looking nervously at me.

"What?" I asked him.

"My brother...hes a bit of a...how should I put this..."

"A manipulator? A womanizer? A cheater?" Elena cut him off.

"Uh...Exactly.." Stefan mumbled quietly, "He'll be at the grill.."

"Don't worry. I'm not as weak as I once were. I'm sure I can resist him" I winked at them with a smirk playing at my lips.

Stefan and Elena seemed to visibly relax. Must be charming then...

"Oh Elena? Before we go can I stay here until I get somewhere else to live?" I suddenly asked her.

"You don't even need to ask silly!" Elena exclaimed. "Ready?"

"Lets go"