A/N: Hey hey. Okay, I am aware that not many people are reading this story so far, but I'm thankful for those of you who do! I hope you like where I'm going with the storyline, and just so you know, there are quite a few surprises ahead.

Please take the time to review if you can, this is my first vampire story and it would really help me a lot. Thanks!

Special thanks to: Janna, Sherry80, Jerz babe, and kisbydog.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight.

Chapter 1: It Started With a Bite.

It all started when they left Forks.

I could say that I never saw it coming, but that would be a lie. After Jasper accidently attacked me on my birthday, I could tell that Edward was drifting away from me, little by little. He would alternate from acting completely normal to acting strange in seconds, and the time he spent with me usually involved my dad, Charlie, somehow.

One thing I could never see coming was the intensity of the pain, sharp like multiple knives going through my body, that began the moment he told me he was leaving.

He said he didn't want me. And he actually thought I would buy that. It was no coincidence that he left just days after his vampire brother tried to drink my blood. He couldn't be with me, because I was human. Human, and much too fragile.

And now, the pain had drained me until all that was left was numbness, a void that allowed me only to stare blankly while mechanically going about my day. This drove Charlie crazy. So crazy, he actually told my mother, Renee, to come to Forks.

This was very unusual. My parents were divorced, my mother was remarried, and they pretty much led their lives separately. But it would definitely be the right remedy for my condition, if it weren't for the visitation we received shortly after she came.

I had just woken up, trying my might not to scream despite my nightmares. If I woke up screaming one more time, my parents would probably have me institutionalized.

I buried my face in my hands for a moment before pulling my hair back and out of my face. I sat up.

The entire house was silent, which made sense, since my clock read 3:12am.

Still crazed by my latest nightmare, I decided to check up on my parents (or on second thought just my mom, since I could hear Charlie snoring away), and a glass of water would probably not be a bad idea either, I thought.

I went downstairs slowly, with the grace of an elephant in a china store, and dragged my tired feet all the way to the kitchen.

I took one of the clean glasses from the cupboard and poured myself some water in it. The first sip already managed to calm me down. Yes, girls all around the world should know that in case your vampire boyfriend dumps you and you're having nightmares, a drink of water should perk you right up.

Then I went to check on my mom.

You know that feeling, when you're walking around your house at night, and you've seen enough cheesy horror movies to make yourself believe that someone's there, and you start looking around suspiciously as if you're one of those bad actresses?

That happened to me all the time.

But this time was different.

I didn't imagine anyone hiding behind the curtains, or looked around suspiciously, or hear any creaks and cracks and wind knocking on the window. Everything was quiet, and maybe that should've been my warning sign.

That and the fact that the guest room's door was slightly ajar. Renee usually slept with her door closed shut, being a light sleeper. And still, I pushed the door completely open, unwary.

At first I thought it was another one of my bad dreams. I kept sleeping and only thought I had woken up, that's all.

That's why I moved forward without thinking, until my knees hit the bed and my body stopped above my mother's. Only when my hand mindlessly touched her soaked pajama shirt and I looked at my now strained with blood fingers, I realized I wasn't dreaming.

In no dream could the blood look this real, smell this real, of rusty iron. Still in shock, I gathered the courage to look at her face. The moment I did, I was sorry for it. The terrified look on her face, and the biting marks everywhere; her neck, her shoulders, her hands. Biting marks, and blood, everywhere.

No, I thought as the smell hit me with all its force, making me nauseated.

Once I snapped out of the utter astonishment I was in and started to fully panic, I gasped, and the glass dropped from my hand. I could only vaguely hear it smash onto the floor, because my throat was getting ready to scream, really scream.

But as soon as the sound left my lips, I felt a freezing cold hand over my mouth, and another cold hand closing around me from behind, and pulling me roughly out of the room, at inhuman speed.

I tried to struggle, but it was no use. It was as if I would be trying to fight Edward or Emmett.

"Hush now," an unrecognizable male voice whispered as we stood in the kitchen.

I relaxed immediately. He didn't want my screams to wake up Charlie, and neither did I. If this was how I was going to die, I wanted him to have a chance to live. Maybe the vampire would be full after he drained me, and spared Charlie.

"Good girl," he added with a hint of surprise in his voice, like he expected me to be feistier somehow. As a reward, he let go of my mouth.

The house was still completely silent. I almost sighed out in relief, before I heard the sound of a cocking gun.

Charlie's shotgun.

"Let her go now," he yelled in a threatening voice, as he entered the kitchen with his gun ready to fire.

"Charlie, no!" I yelled, knowing a gun would be of no use against the vampire.

But I was too late.

In the blink of an eye, the vampire moved forward, disarmed Charlie from his gun, and snapped his neck, smiling. The cracking sound was gut wrenching.

I knew I was screaming, but I couldn't hear myself. I could barely register being dragged out of there through the thick snow outside. The only thing I was capable of was repeating the word no in my head over and over, refusing to believe this strange reality. My parents had been… killed. Killed by a thirsty nomad passing through Forks. I supposed he had taken me as a snack for later. My death was coming soon.

The next time I woke up, I was tied to a chair in what looked like an old deserted house, wrapped in a long jacket that wasn't mine, and didn't help in vanishing the cold at all.

"Glad you decided to finally join me," a voice spoke. The same voice of the monster who took away what was left of my life.

I couldn't figure out how long it's been since, but by the light outside, I figured it must be the day after.

The day after my parents' death.

He stepped out of the shadows, until I could see him. He was tall, dark haired and unnaturally pale skinned. He looked like he was in his late 20's or early 30's, and probably handsome to those whose parents he didn't murder. The unsurprising red color of his irises looked like they were burning in the darkness.

I realized my breathing was rapid now. I didn't speak.

"I'm sorry," he laughed coldly as he approached towards me. "I forget my manners. My name is Nathaniel. And you are…"

I said nothing.

"That's not very courteous of you, Miss Bella," he said.

How the hell does he know me name?

He smiled as he saw the confusion in my eyes. There was something about his smile that gave me the creeps.

"What's that?" he said, pretending I was talking back to him. "You're wondering where I might know you from? Well, that's simple, my dear Bella.

"You see, your precious boyfriend, Edward," the name rolled on his lips with much hatred. "Killed someone very important to me. Who's that, you ask?"

He kneeled in front of me, still smiling that awful smile.

"You might've known him as James. I knew him as my brother. And your stupid little teenaged vampire ripped him apart," he said, almost whispering.

His face were inches from mine, his cold breath making me sick.

"How do I know? Is that your next question?" he said. "Well, allow me to clarify. James had a mate. Her name is Victoria – or should I say was Victoria. She told me all about it. How my brother was murdered because of one little insignificant human."

You murdered my parents, I thought.

"Bella, Bella, Bella. It was all about you, wasn't it?" he said, and then got up again, to my relief, and started pacing.

"Of course, I had to kill her. It was her job, as his mate, to protect him. And did she do that? No! Stupid bitch ran away," he said agitatedly, talking with his hands. "Actually, I never really liked her, when I think about it," he added.

"Anyway," he turned to me again with that heinous smile. "This brings us here. And we're going to stay here, until your beloved Edward comes to save you. And then… well. I don't need to tell you what happens next, do I?"

At that moment, I wished he would never come. I'd rather die alone than be the reason Edward dies, and then die as well.

Thank god he's probably never coming back.

I just wondered if this Nathaniel guy would just give up once he realized that Edward isn't coming to my rescue. Something told me, no.

"I know what you're thinking, very Lois and Clark, isn't it? You know. Help, Superman," he said, laughing at his own stupid joke. "Gotta love human television."

I still remained silent, though I realized I was shaking of cold, and of fear. Fear for my life, fear for Edward's.

"Well, aren't you a pleasant conversationalist," he said sarcastically. "Are you punishing me for killing your parents by giving me the silent treatment?" he smirked.

I'm pretty sure at that point, I growled at him.

"Aw, don't be like that. Truth is, I didn't expect more people to be in the house. I sometimes seem to forget that humans live together in groups. And your mother was quite delectable."

I was breathing frantically. I never felt more afraid in my life than in the hands of this lunatic and with, seemingly, no way out. My parents were gone, gone, and I couldn't acknowledge it yet, because of the fear I might be joining them soon.

"I can see I'm interrupting your thinking process," he said, as if he were a complete gentleman. "I'll leave you to it, and hopefully, next time we talk you'll be more chatty."

And with that, he disappeared into the darkness, or perhaps into another room, I couldn't tell.

The following days went by like a blur.

He fed me, gave me water through a straw, and even gave me bathroom breaks in a tiny, filthy bathroom, with apparently no exit. Every time he was gone, I screamed at the top of my lungs for help, trying to get someone to hear me. No one ever did.

When he was there, he kept speaking to me, although I wouldn't answer, telling me of how silly humans were, how easy they were to hunt. As he sat on a chair right in front of me, he told me about his victims and conquests, the people who served as his food.

"Of course, I haven't eaten since your mother, which was ten days ago," he said, as he always told me how many days it had been. How… courteous. And then he laid his eyes on me, scanning my face.

"Maybe," he started, and then smiled slowly. "Oh, no. You're far too useful to me alive right now. And far too lovely to kill, I should say," he said in a low voice, his fingers stroking my cheek.

I winced, moving my face away from his cold, dead hands.

"I'm sorry," he laughed. "Of course you'd move away. You must be so cold. Silly me, I always forget about you humans."

He got up and removed his own coat, and laid it on top of my shoulders, as if we were on some kind of old fashioned date.

"There we go," he said with a smile. "All set."

During the next few days, I could see that he was getting impatient. He kept pacing in front of me, telling me how excited he was for the moment that his brother's killer finally walked into his trap. He contemplated whether to kill me first and make him watch, or kill him first and then savor me slowly.

"Or maybe I should kill him, and keep you all to myself," he said, his creepy-ass smile slowly widening.

I guess his words were partly the inspiration to my plan. The deal I would offer him.

If Mr. Vampire here accepted my offer, I'd be out of here in three days exactly. All I had to do was make it believable.

I could see the sky start to clear outside though the small window at the top of the wall. In fact, the clear skies of the breaking day were all I could see through that window.

And the only thing I knew for sure was that – whether he accepted my deal or not – by the end of today, I would be dead.

After all, he hadn't eaten anyone in two whole weeks now, and his eyes were so dark they were nearly black.

"Good morning, my Bella," he said cheerfully as he walked in, removing his coat and hanging it on the door.

If I was indeed yours, I would probably shoot myself in the head.

I hoped his good mood would be beneficial to me and my plan.

"Good morning," I answered back, gaining a surprised and almost delighted look from him.

"I see someone finally decided to talk," he said, sitting down in his usual place.

"I did," I said, trying to figure out how to make my proposition to him. I only had one shot to make it sound appealing to him.

"You make me happy," he said. "I suppose I can ask you now, how are you?"

I sighed and mustered up a smile for my kidnapper, hoping he was gullible.

"I could have been better, without all these ropes. And frankly, I'm still cold."

"Now, now, Bella. You know you're supposed to stay here until Edward shows up," he said, still smiling. "But I will get you another coat, or maybe a space heater. I do want you to be comfortable in the meantime."

"No one is coming, Nathaniel," I said, purposely using his name. "Edward left me. He left me two weeks before you came here."

"Silly Bella. I'm sure he'll cut his vacation short to save his dear girlfriend."

"He's not on… vacation," I shook my head. "He left me. Dumped me. He doesn't want me anymore. I mean nothing to that bastard," I said, knowing it would turn his full attention to what I was saying.

I had to make it seem like I hated Edward.

"My, my. I thought he was the love of your life," he said, scrutinizing me.

"He was. Before he told me I was the love of his life, and then tossed me aside to travel the world or something," I said. "He said he was easily bored," I said with fake disgust.

"Did he?" he asked, still looking suspicious.

I laughed humorlessly. "I guess he got tired of waiting for me to put out," I added, and shook my head. "God, I could kill him."

He sighed. "That explains why he didn't show up for two fucking weeks. Well then… I guess this means you're not useful to me anymore. At least not when it comes to Edward Cullen," he winked.

"Actually," I said. "I have a proposition for you."

He laughed. "You are quite extraordinary, my darling," he said. "Very bold. And what is your proposition, if I might ask?"

I breathed in deeply, preparing myself. "I want to help you kill Edward."

He barked a laugh. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," I said, raising my eyebrow.

"You want to help me kill your beloved vampire?"

"The vampire who left me, got my parents killed and got me into this mess, after promising me a lifetime of happiness," I corrected him.

"And how exactly can you help me kill someone?" he said, still seemingly amused.

"I could, if you changed me," I said.

He looked at me warily for a long moment. "Go on."

"As a vampire, I could help you hunt him down. I know all the places where he wanted to travel, where he might be. And most importantly, I can help you destroy him. Newborns are known for their exceptional physical strength, aren't they?"

"You have certainly done your homework," he nodded. "But how will I know you won't turn on me, as soon as I change you? I did kill your parents."

"Because we have a similar interest. After Edward is dead, each of us goes our own way, of course. But for now, I guess my enemy's enemy is my friend," I said in the most convincing manner I could.

I hoped to god I was a good enough actress, because this time, my life depended on it.

"Well put," he said.

He got up from his chair, and seemed to be weighing the matters, while doing his favorite thing to do – pacing back and forth. Finally he halted to a stop.

"Alright, my dear," he said, eyeing me from head to toe. "I agree to your offer, mainly because this doesn't seem to be working, and I'm getting tired of feeding you. Might I say, you would make for one astonishing vampire."

I pretended to smile. "Good. So when do we do this?"

I had wanted to become a vampire. I had told that to Edward before, although he showed no interest in changing me. I'd wanted to become a vampire, so I could be with Edward. So he wouldn't have to constantly worry about me, and so I wouldn't be a liability. And mostly, because I wanted to be with him forever, and not grow old, wither and die, while he stayed forever seventeen.

But I never imagined I'd be changed by another vampire, definitely not one who wasn't a Cullen, and most definitely not one who murdered my parents.

But I needed to follow my plan.

"My, are you eager," he laughed. "I have to eat, first. Otherwise, I might end up draining you, instead. That would be a pity."

I wanted to stop him, before he could go outside and kill some innocent bystander, or worse – another person I knew. But I guess the survival instinct is even stronger than the conscience sometimes.

"I'll be waiting," I said, choosing to ignore the last part of his sentence, and my fears.

He came back the next day, and his eyes were an almost fiery shade of red.

He closed the door behind him, hung his coat, and smiled at me as he approached.

"Hello, my lovely Bella. How are you today?"

"Impatient," I admitted, and he laughed.

"Alright, alright. I assume you know how this works," he said.

"You bite me. There's three days of excruciating pain. Then I'm a vampire and we can go get our revenge," I said nervously.

"Couldn't have said it better myself," he said, and then looked around. "Maybe you should lie down on the floor for this."

I did as he said, and watched as he kneeled before me.

He leaned over me, his eyes investigating my body as he did. I felt like a virgin who was waiting to be deflowered by her boyfriend, only this was about the farthest thing I had to a boyfriend. And then it occurred to me, that I would die a virgin.

"Any last wishes?" he said with a smirk.

Please let this plan work.

"Could you bite me somewhere else? Not my neck?" I asked.

"It wouldn't be as effective," he said.

I nodded, feeling my heartbeat racing, and knowing it would be the last time that I would.

With that, he neared his face to mine, his sickening breath over me. I was fucking terrified.

"See you soon, my dear," he said.

A second later, his teeth were sunk deep into the vein of my neck, and all of the fear faded. All I could feel was fire spreading, inch by inch and limb by limb.

It was coursing through my body, as if eating me away from the inside, making me wish I was dead, and killing me at the same time. I felt as if every single cell of my body was burning in the scorching flame, until it was nothing but hard coal, that would later be turned into marble.

I alternated between consciousness and unconsciousness for what seemed like a forever of pain. Even when I was out cold, I was still aware of the pain somehow. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced, despite my tendency of getting hit by unmoving objects on a daily basis.

It was more than excruciating. It was a mind-numbing, life extracting, make you scream until your lungs collapse kind of pain.

Suddenly, I woke up.

I wasn't feeling any pain anymore. I wasn't cold, either.

I felt… different.

Sharper. More aware. Strong. Different.

As a test, I hit my fist on the floor beside me, feeling it crumble against my less than hard blow. I looked at my hands in shock.

I wanted to try getting up, wondering if I would be as fast as Edward was, but then I noticed the character of the man I smelt from all across the room. He was making his way towards me slowly.

He offered me his hand to help me up, and with a smile he said, "Welcome, my Bella."