"Bella, I can't believe this."

I looked at Edward and grinned sheepishly. "It's me, Edward. Yes you can."

During a rather routine load of washing, I had slipped on the tiles in the laundry and twisted her ankle. So, my vampire fiancé, Edward Cullen, and I were at the hospital, again, and I was being examined by Carlisle, again.

Carlisle Cullen seemed very amused. "Isabella, you never cease to amaze me." He said.

I glared at him.

Suddenly, Carlisle stopped and turned. Edward also turned. A nurse ran to the door. "Doctor Cullen! Emergency!"

"What? What is it?"

Edward, of course, already knew. I could tell by his steely gaze.

"Teenage girl, hit by a truck."

"I'll be right there." Carlisle looked to me. "Will you be alright?"

"Fine." I replied.

He nodded and left.

I looked at Edward. "What is it?" I asked.

He sat down by the bed. "A friend of ours. And no, she isn't one of us."

"You have friends that aren't like you? Apart from me?"

"Bella, you're hardly different from us anymore." He said, rolling his eyes. "But yes. Her situation is quite like Jacob Black's, but in her case...Well, you'll see."

We sat, waiting, for a little while, Edward's icy hand holding mine tightly, before he started. "Bella, come meet our friend."

I sighed, watching him get a wheelchair. "Edward, is that really necessary?"

"While you're human, you're going to have to just let Alice and I have our fun." He replied. He kissed me and lifted me into the chair. He wheeled me out of the room and into the hallway.

If Edward Cullen were a normal human being, and not a vampire, I would have questioned how he knew where he was going. But he wasn't, and he was, so I let him wheel me away. I would let Edward wheel me to the depths of hell if he so desired.

He stopped in a room, from which people were now filing out. Carlisle was standing by the bed, clicking his tongue. "Kitoura, you are worse than –"

The girl cut him off. She looked over at me. "Hello, Bella Swan." She said, her accent English.

I couldn't help but noticed her inhuman beauty. She had black hair down to her legs, skin that was like marble, just like the vampires, and wide green eyes that glowed like an animal in the night. Her lips were solid black, like make-up but far too flawless. Her creepy eyes were encircled in the same black markings. She smiled at me, and I could see fangs. One of them was missing, however, most likely from being hit by a truck. The other obvious traits of her accident were a braced broken leg and shoulder. She was covered in cuts and bruises, but no stitches.

"Edward, be a dear, shut the door behind you."

He did as she requested. The blinds on the room were also closed.

Carlisle looked nervous. "Is having Bella and Kitoura in the same room a wise decision?" he asked.

The girl Kitoura continued to smile. "Don't worry, dearest Carlisle. I'm heavily sedated. Not even the sweetest of human flesh can tempt me tonight."

I froze up. She couldn't be a vampire. If she were a vampire, she would have gold eyes, right?

Edward did not seem tense, as he normally would be if there were any possibility that I was in danger. In fact, he was smiling back. "It is good to see you again, even under such circumstances." He said. "Jeez, you look a mess."

"Oh, ouch! That was harsh." Kitoura whimpered – as in, she literally whimpered – then laughed. "So, apart from meeting the girl of your dreams, leaving, almost killing yourself, coming back, getting engaged, fighting against an army of newborns with and not against the werewolves, letting Alice plan your wedding, remaining a virgin, telling your father-in-law to be your were getting married and having your fiancée slip over in the laundry, twist her ankle and end up in the hospital the same day as me, what has happened since we last spoke?"

Edward blinked. "That's about it, really...But who told you about the virginity battle?"

Carlisle looked surprised. "Dare I ask?"

"I think it is best saved for another time, love." Kitoura replied. She looked at Edward, grinning. "Humans. Vampires. Werewolves. All the same. You can't close your eyes and listen to the world. Well, except for you, I guess, Edward. You close your eyes, you hear the thoughts and dreams of them all."

"Very funny. Who told you?" he demanded. He left my side and went to stand over her.

"A little bird told me. She fluttered onto my fingers and whispered it in my ear." She held out her long, thin fingers. Her black claw-like nails were rather frightening.

Edward growled. He was getting angry.

"Edward, calm down. She's just a kid." I said. She could only have been sixteen or seventeen

"Why don't you change back, Kitoura? Show Bells what you really look like?" He almost shouted at her.

"Edward, that's not necessary." Carlisle warned him.

Kitoura swung her legs out of the bed. "Carlisle, may I stay with your family for a little while? It's either you or those human-wolf mongrels down at the reserve."

Edward went to decline, but Carlisle beat him to it. "Well, Kitoura, since things are tense between the werewolves right now, I suppose I cannot say no. But you have to rest, girl."

Kitoura smiled softly. She held out a hand to me. "You must be Isabella Swan, the future Mrs. Edward Cullen. Edward, wheel her here for me, please."

"No, I can –" But before I could finish, Edward had pushed me there.

She held out a gentle hand. "I know, vampires can be irritating. I am Kitoura Scarblood. It is a pleasure to meet you, Bella." She took my hand and rested her fingers in the gaps between mine. Instinctively, I curled mine down. She smiled. "Congratulations. You just shook hands with the most feared monster in history."

"...What?" I asked, suddenly scared.

She laughed. "What can you tell me about Jack the Ripper? That was the work of my elder brother. I dirtied my hands quite well in Seattle, trying to kill those newborns. Those bastards got me good, though they were no match for a wolf on a rampage."

"Language, Kitoura. This is a hospital." Carlisle said, filling out forms.

Kitoura rolled her eyes. "Don't deny a wolf her use of creative and colourful vocabulary now, Carlisle."

"You're a werewolf?!" I asked. Now I was panicking.

She looked at me. "Oh, I'm offended."

"She's not a werewolf, Bella. She's the wolf princess. She's a shapeshifter, and if her human-like form frightens you, you're lucky you didn't have to see her normal one."

Kitoura rolled her eyes. "Edward, you're going to give the ninjen nightmares."

He glared at her. "Don't call her that."

"What would you rather I call her then? Shawmot? Schweinhund? Stop me if I'm right!" She looked at me. "Nothing personal. Just...I don't get along with humans very well."

"You will call her Bella, you worthless mongrel!" Edward roared.

Kitoura bared her fangs at him and growled. "You know, Edward, you were always so considerate towards me. Then there were times when the things you say made me want to cast myself off a cliff."

This hit a nerve with Edward. "We will see you at home, Kitoura. Carlisle." And with that he wheeled me out. I waited in my wheelchair while he checked me out, and he drove us back to his place.