A/N: This is the only chapter where Victoria is the POV. I originally thought that the whole story would be all Bella. But then Victoria's name is in the title, so I decided a little bit off of Bella. Let me know what you think if you want.
VICTORIA
That bastard is going to pay for his actions. James was my mate. I will avenge his death. That girl's blood smelled special to James, not like mine had though. I was his singer, the only one he ever had the inclination to turn into a vampire. That was ages ago, though. She was a challenge and that coven made her his greatest challenge. She got away. That wisp of a human was the second prey to get away from my James. Sure, his reaction was painful. It made me wonder if he ever really loved me. But I still love him, even if he chose to chase that girl instead of leave with me. But once he has a target, there is no distracting him. Not that I have to be annoyed about that anymore. That bastard killed him over her. So I will kill her. She is his chosen mate after all. This will be a delicious revenge.
I run all the way back to that town in the middle of dreary Washington. I have to be careful to leave no trace of my return. That coven must not have any hint about what I am planning on doing. The only way to fully get my revenge is to make sure that she is truly important to them as a vampire coven, not just for their human cover story. The weak vampires that they are, they live with humans and not feed on them. Humans are our natural diet. To feed on animals is to deny our nature. If nothing else, this research teaches me their names. Edward is the one that is to be blamed for the death of my mate. He will suffer.
Hmm, the girl's birthday is apparently an event. She doesn't seem very happy about it, but she plays along. She certainly loves him. His disregard for her dislike of parties makes me pause at her importance to him. Jasper, the one who's mate is the only other of James' prey to escape his grasp, snaps at Bella when she accidently cuts her finger on some wrapping paper. That reminds me, what do they do when she is on her period? If a paper cut causes such a commotion among vampires who pride themselves on behaving around humans. This is rich, and a little amusing.
Today is the day that I will enact my revenge. Once he gives her some time at her home without him, I will strike. They won't see it coming and they will suffer for his actions. Then something happens that I did not see coming. Edward had been acting aloof since the party incident, but this? Can't he do this in a place where she can come apart in some kind of comfort? He is breaking her heart. I understand her pain. I felt the same way about James. I can't bring myself to be angry with her, only that awful vampire who has hurts us both. The only thing more surprising than his informing her that he does not love her is my sympathy. I have to say, she is hurting and he just keeps on crushing her spirit with his words. He runs off like the ass he is. She tries to follow. But let's face it. The poor girl is slow and clumsy. She trips a lot, and still persists in trying. That is devotion, even though he just turned her world inside out. She falls to the ground and starts to sob. I let her cry herself out. It all dies down to the occasional sniffle. I land lightly on the ground.
"That was much crueler than what I was planning," I comment.
She is not moving. I scoop her up in my arms and run east. Through the rest of the day and all night she just breathes and sniffles every so often. We stop at t a hotel when the sun rises. I guess the best place to go would be my apartment in New York City. I have accumulated several residences all over the world during my life with James and later Laurent too. We liked to keep then so we could travel and not worry about finding a place to stay everywhere.
It only took one more night to get to New York City. I settle her in the room that Laurent used before he ran scared during James' last hunt. She curls into a ball and slips in and out of consciousness. I decide to call Laurent and have him meet us here. He is open to a reunion and apologizes like the boneless wonder that he is about his betrayal. I tell him to pick up some medical supplies on his way here. Bella does not look like she will be in any condition to see to her own basic needs, so someone has to do it for her. That will probably end up being me, but that does not really bother me. I had my anger and plan for vengeance to help me through my own time of broken heart. She has nothing. Edward was her whole life, and he left her. Not only that, he basically told her she was worthless and unworthy of him. If I have to nurse her back, then I will. No one should have to go through all of that alone.
Laurent has been making comments about me going soft. He just doesn't understand the pain that is felt at rejection. He is too weak to actually do anything about his statements though. I walk into Bella's room to check her IV. Laurent looms over her still form. All I see is red. He has made his last mistake. I tear him apart and burn the pieces. She stirs a bit. I sit down on the bed and brush a lock of hair off of her forehead. She turns away and tears slide down her cheeks. Poor thing, the memories must just crash down on her every time she comes out of her slumber. I clean up the ashes. Stupid Laurent, he should have known better. I have to say that I will not miss him though. His sniveling always got on my nerve.
She doesn't remember anything from the time she was in Forks. That is shit. Edward twisted her heart so much that she just can't process it. Her mind just shut off that part of her memories to save her from the pain. I think we will be good friends. She wants to change. I will change her…or bleed her dry. I have never changed anyone before. The restraint involved always stopped me from even considering it. But there is a soft spot in my heart with Bella's name on it. I hope that I can change her. She deserves to live a full life and get revenge on the vampire that hurt her. She seems more bothered that Edward solicited such a response from her mind than that he hurt her. That's a healthy attitude, I guess. She also wants to give her parents some kind of closure. I don't know why, but she does. So I suggest a letter, which she writes. We stay one more night before moving to the cabin in the middle of nowhere so she can change and not draw attention to us.