I hugged the damp cold floor in desperate search for relief. My tears hit the floor at irregular intervals. What did he just do to me? The invisible flames tore through my body with each painstaking beat of my heart. Somebody could have hit me with a hammer or cut me open there and then and I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference. The pain was everywhere. I yelled and I roared. The world must have heard me. In the gaps that I drew breath I could hear a frantic dialogue playing in the background.

'are vampires… can teach you… three days if… have faith… quiet otherwise…'

Wait, did he say 'vampires'? Did he just drink my blood?

Apart from my echoing screams there was silence. The conversation had stopped. Soon thereafter I heard another cry of pain, but this one wasn't mine. I forsook clutching the cold floor and rolled over. A small distance from me I saw Edward spasm on the floor. His eyes were fixed on Carlisle, then turned to me. Every second or so, his face contracted - which I knew from personal experience - were simultaneous with his heartbeat. He refrained from screaming again, his lips were pressed together, but an occasional moan left him. I tried to follow his example, but I simply couldn't keep my mouth shut. I prayed I would pass out.

But I never did.

Carlisle picked me up and hung me over his shoulder as he had done previously. He picked Edward up too. Carlisle manoeuvred me in such a way that one of his hands was clamped over my mouth. I didn't care to feel ashamed for my screaming, I didn't care that I had no idea where he was taking me, the pain was simply too much to have such hopes or dignity.

Carlisle started running for what seemed to be an eternity. Time only flies when you have fun, it was too solid for lift off now. The tunnel was dark, it was strange that he could travel at so fast and not feel for surroundings first. The darkness and breeze made the experience illusory. Soon I heard water splash franticly, I suspected our current tunnel must be a little flooded. While I floated between intense pain and a dark world, I saw a light at the end of my dark tunnel. Silently I thanked god for my release from this world. Only to discover that Carlisle kicked off metal bars of the pipe and we escaped into Earth, and not heaven.

Carlisle never stopped running while Edward and I hovered on his shoulders. I closed my eyes and waited the thing out. Time passed.

I was being shifted. My surroundings had changed too; floral tiles covered the walls, a plastic curtain was on one side of me. I saw Edward opposite me, twisting in a white bathtub. Carlisle turned the tap and water rained down on him. He then turned to me with a worried expression and turned on the showerhead above me as well. The ice-cold water didn't stop the fire that I felt, but knowing that cold surrounded me was consoling.

'I'll come back in two days,' Carlisle said. 'Just yell if you need me.' He smiled a little. I only now noticed that the stone hand didn't clasp my mouth shut anymore. I could shout if I needed too, but I had learned to deal with the pain without the vocal expression of it.

Edward shifted so the cold water covered a larger surface of his body. Occasionally I saw his limbs jerk at those sudden bursts of pain I knew so well.

'Are you…' Edward started, his features distorted and his leg twitched. 'Are you ok, Isabella?'

To my complete surprise I laughed. 'Are you ok?' My voice was hoarse.

He smiled, or at least exposed his teeth, which I assumed to be smiling. 'Having the time of my life. Literally.'

'What happened to- ah!' It was like my spine exploded. The pain didn't fade, but when the shock of it passed, I continued, 'What happened to mom, Phil, and the other tourists?'

Edward readjusted himself again and tried to visibly control his face. 'I'm very sorry.' I felt my stomach contract, due to the pain I wasn't sure. 'But they are all dead.'

A new sort of tears burned my wet face. This reality was too harsh. I wanted to pass out or sleep desperately, but the burning wouldn't let me. I should have yelled out to mom. A small part of me was grateful to be in pain. I felt I deserved it. Edward tried to move in the bath, but he slipped and slid on his face. He jerkily got up again and using his arms only he pulled himself out of the bathtub. He landed on the floor with a thud, after a few seconds he tigered his way towards me until our arms touched. The small gesture of commiseration was great in its magnitude. I was reminded that he too, lost a friend.

The burst of pain came and… stayed. Though each new burst was a surprise to me. At one point it felt like my brain split open, I bit down on my lip not to scream out loud. I didn't want Carlisle to come up; there would be no point. But that's when I smelt it, that rusty, salty scent; a drop of blood on my lip. Great, now I would be sick too. Edward instantly turned his head around and stared at the red drop intently. Where was the nausea? Instead of feverishly wiping the blood from under my nose, I did what came natural.

I swallowed it.

It tasted, wonderful. I was shocked and petrified to say the least. I've had a sneaking, dreadful suspicion of what might be happening to me. But it had seemed too unreal and out of this world. Though the taste of my blood made me reassess.

'What is happening to us?' I breathed.

Edward who was still staring at my lip now switched to my eyes. His were completely bloodshot, and the iris itself appeared to be changing colour too.

'You have to know that the choice I had was very limited.' His eyes flickered to my bottom lip and back again. 'It was either this or death,' he said.

I sucked on my lip for that curious sensation of blood again, but the wound was gone. My skin was healed. 'Just… tell me.' It was getting difficult to breathe, as if we had used up all the oxygen.

'Isabella, we're turning into vampires.'

The air seemed even thicker than before. He should have let us die. A world without my mum, full of blood and darkness didn't seem worth it. I didn't consider myself as religious. But if there had been a small shot for heaven, I would have liked to take it.

I looked at the twisting bunch next to me. There was something about him that made him different from anyone else I had met. He seemed to want to protect me even though we had been strangers. It couldn't be denied that he was attractive and kind. Perhaps, maybe, together we could survive this hell.

If not… I'll find a way to join my mum.

'I think we're past the point of strangers, call me Bella.'

He nodded. I half expected him to say "You can call me Ed, or Eddy." Or something silly like that. But we didn't say anything for many hours, but suffered our pain and losses in silence.

I saw his skin change. The tan was fading out of existence. The features of his face seemed to sharpen to emphasise their perfection. And his irises were indeed changing; they were becoming redder by the minute. The changes were small, but I managed to notice them somehow.

Carlisle had told us he would return in two days, but he entered the bathroom regularly with kind, worried glances. At first he lifted us up and put us both in the tub, so that the cold water rained down on both of us, instead of Edward limply on the floor. Every now and then he would hold our wrists to check our slowing heartbeats. He gave reassuring comments like.

'Twenty-six more hours, you'll be fine then.' He would pause, 'I'm sorry this is happening to you.'

Or

'Don't worry, I'll be here to help you both.'

Then

'In twenty more hours you will feel a lot better.'

And so on, and so forth.

Thud, thud, thud. It might be silly, but these few words of comfort can mean the world to you in a moment like this. Just like Edward being at my side. Thud, thud, thud. My family was murdered. I was turning into a vampire. But at least I wasn't alone, thud… thud… thud… and there was someone offering help and condolence. Thud… thud… The pain was unbearable yes, but together, we managed to get through it.

Thud…

Silence.

I opened my eyes. The pain was gone. I hadn't slept for three days, but I was free from exhaustion. The air around me fashioned scents I hadn't noticed before; water, forest, flowers… The air was no longer thick, and it felt unnecessary. I heard footsteps downstairs, possibly someone pacing, and small shallow breaths and heartbeats next to me.

I turned to see Edward. But I saw him so incredibly clear, it felt as if I had zoomed in on a high resolution photograph. He had changed; he looked a lot paler, and the boyish remnants of fat on his face were gone. His face was absolutely beautiful and a little alien to me. His jaw was smooth, but it looked hard.

I extended my arm in order to dwell in my fascination. The moment I touched his jaw, the thuds stopped. It was indeed smooth, wet, and room temperature. But apart from that, it felt unreal. I had never touched a face and received so much… information through a touch. In the past if I had touched ten different surfaces lightly with my eyes closed, I would find some similar. This, however, was unforgettable. I explored his face further.

Edward took a deep breath of air. The reminder that the handsome statue was alive, shook me from my reverie. I wanted to remove my hand feeling like a fool for my odd behaviour. But my hand moved as little as half an inch before Edward's hand flew up to catch mine. He did it at a speed I thought impossible, and yet I saw it all.

'That feels amazing,' he said. His eyes were still closed. He moved my hand palm upwards under his nose and took a deep breath of air. I bit my lip and looked the other way. Alright then, at least I wasn't the only one behaving odd.

'You should look at the mirror,' he and his blood red eyes told me.

I got up and was surprised that my muscles didn't even tense while doing so. I stepped out of the bath towards the flower encrusted bathroom mirror. There was somebody beautiful staring back at me with the same shade red eyes. My brown hair shone brilliantly – it could be the fact that it was wet. My skin seemed to be even paler than before, only my lips still held a little colour. Amazing.

Another face appeared next to mine.

'I guess it could be worse,' Edward said amused.

'If the word gets out that you can look like this in only three days, Carlisle could start a business of neck biting.' I saw his reflection smile. 'Not that you ever needed it.' Oh god, me and my big mouth. I waited for it to show but… the blush never came.

Edward smiled. 'I just meant that I'm glad to know we have a reflection.'

'Oh.' Again, no blush. Perhaps there were a few advantages to this new existence.

Edward's smile extended. 'Carlisle is quite the chatterbox isn't he? He should know we can hear him now.'

The pacing downstairs stopped. What was he talking about? Nobody was talking.

'Yes,' Edward said. 'Oh, I didn't meant to-.'

I turned to scrutinise his face. Had the pain driven him into delirium?

'I will.' He said and turned to me.

'Bella, would you like some dry clothes?'

This guy was random. 'Yes please. But shouldn't you ask-'

'Just come with me.' He took my hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

'Wait,' I said. 'Let me turn off the taps.'

Immediately I heard quick and silent footsteps approach. 'Let me do that for you Bella,' Carlisle said as he entered the room. He walked past us and turned them off. 'How are you two feeling?'

'A lot better,' Edward said. 'Thank you for everything.'

Carlisle patted Edward on the shoulder. 'What about you Bella?'

'Eh,' what could I say? Glad to start a new half-existence? 'The pain stopped?' I offered. He gave me a cheerless knowing smile and was about to turn around. 'What I mean is, thank you. I know you are the reason we're not dead yet. And, I got the impression you risked a lot for us. Just… give me time to adjust. I've lived a constant life so far. I'm just trying to cope.'

Carlisle placed his hand behind my shoulder and ushered me into a long hallway, Edward followed. Our last bodily contact had been more painful in my memory.

'Thank you Isabella, I appreciate it. And don't you worry, you don't have to explain yourself. I will try to make this transition as easy for you two as possible.'

'A year?!' Edward exclaimed.

Carlisle turned around. 'I guess I'll have to get used to that,' he chuckled.

'Used to what?' I asked. 'What about a year?'

'I can hear Carlisle's thoughts,' Edward said. When he saw my expression he expanded. 'I think it's a male mind only.'

'Oh.' Thank god.

'In time you will discover what your vampire gift is Bella. As for the year, that's the amount of time I'd like you two to remain in this mansion and nearby forest, away from all people, and no where else. I'm not aiming to imprison you. But the smell of a human would be unbearable for you at this moment. You would kill him or her without a second thought. I want to protect you from that.

'I have to teach you how to resist human blood, and live on animals instead. That year will be necessary.'

We came to the end of the hall. There were two doors opposite each other. 'These will be your rooms. Now, I have another request to make,' Carlisle said. 'I would like you to imagine this manor to be made out of sand. Now, when you open a door, or turn off a tap, you have to handle it with extreme care, knowing everything could crumble at the smallest force. Edward, why don't you try to open that door?'

Edward didn't seem nerved and reached for the door handle. Once his hand touched the gold plated thing, it broke off the door and fell with such a bang that it left a large dent in the floor. His mouth was ajar while he stared at the thing.

Carlisle chuckled. 'Why don't you give it a try Bella?'

Feeling an irrational fear for the shiny gold object I touched it as lightly as I could, and opened the door. Ha! I can do it!

AN: Any comments would be appreciated.