Disclaimer: I own nothing.

(Edward POV)

The whispers were everywhere; tormenting, unrelenting. Gazing at myself in the mirror I saw the façade of perfection masking what really lay beneath; an evil, dark, twisted thing that could bring about the abomination of the world if it wasn't for the sentiment of one man.

My father, Carlisle.

He had saved me a long time ago from my old life, cut short. I had been no angel back then, and I had discovered the hard way that old habits died hard. Or rather, not at all.

I was trying so hard to be good and keep it all together…but temptation was to be found everywhere, in every corner of the universe.

Every time I walk down the street and the pounding of their blood boxes my ears and beats in my brain, I clench my fists and prey for a bout of physical pain to cure me from my premature madness.

But is it premature? I wasn't so sure anymore. I was drifting, in the abyss of eternity.

I shoved roughly at my dark thoughts until they slunk back to the unwelcome closet where my skeletons lay. I refocused on my reflection, wanting to smash it.

If only I wasn't so damn beautiful! Then my curse would not push the boundaries of my usual temperament. I fear I have already descended into madness.

I ran my hand through my bronze hair, dishevelling it. I scowled at my reflection, looking at it with such ferocity that I almost startled myself. Almost.

I wanted my soul to appear before my eyes. To smash away my layers of perfect vanity and show me that I was really real (For how could I know that I was not merely a figment of some crazy person's imagination?). To confirm there was still a morsel of me worth saving. My humanity these days was definitely worth questioning.

There was a knock on the door behind me and the tormenting whispers of my own sad existence flickered and became nothing.

I did not answer and waited quietly for the door to open. Carlisle entered the room, weariness the most dominant feature of his demeanour today.

That immediately made me curse myself into oblivion. Here was the man who had saved me from death and gifted me with an eternal existence. I was his only son, his pride and joy, and I knew I was causing him concern.

He, along with his wife Esme, were the only two people on this planet who I cared about.

Carlisle's thoughts came in loud and clear; I just wish there was a way to help him, I have to do something! I had not anticipated behaviour of this kind. I only want him to be happy…

I forced a smile for his sake, but it felt as fake as a wax mannequin. Luckily for me, Carlisle couldn't tell the difference.

He hesitated for only a moment, and then stole himself to step further into my room and start speaking. "How are you feeling today Edward?"

"Oh, you know, I'm about as good as I can be Carlisle" I hated myself for telling a lie of such extravagant proportions, but I needed him to believe it. I could not have him doubt himself over me and my worthless ways. Carlisle was a God in my eyes.

He doubted me, but didn't press me. "That's good to hear," he paused, watching me intently. I'm not sure how much time passed. For me, it either slips by smoothly, like sand from an hour-glass, or so slow that I feel as though I'm not moving at all. "Why don't you go out today? Meet a girl?"

I know he said that last part on behalf of Esme. She writhed in as much misery for my non-existent love than I did for my life in general. I only wished I could please her.

As for his suggestion of me going out, well, to put it simply, I was just too afraid, too fragile. The temptation to welcome the Devil into my consciousness was too much. Here, I could not be touched. Here, I was safe. That was why I hadn't been outside in the last eleven days.

Carlisle had brought me blood from the animals he had slain, and I thanked him profusely, but my heart was not in it anymore. Animal blood was taking first place as the biggest bane in my life. It was just not enough. It was causing my impending insanity.

When I realised that Carlisle was still awaiting a response, I mentally shook myself and replied, "I might venture out later," I had to face it sometime; I could not stay inside this house forever, "and perhaps I will indeed meet a girl"

"Ok, well, I'm going to visit some of the local towns later on, to see if they could benefit some more medical help. Esme will be staying here, so if you don't meet anyone, you'll still have a companion in her" he gave me a fatherly smile then that gave me a fleeting hope that my life could be alright again.

Then he turned away and it was gone.

(Katherine POV)

Being on the run was not as much fun after almost a century of it. It was continually one thing after another. Perhaps I wanted to settle down now?

No, I lie. That was, partially, what I was running away from. That, and a mob of extremely angry humans. I just don't know how I do it.

I would run forever if I had to.

But for now I needed to feed. I had been foolish in my decision not to stop and do it sooner, but once the rush of moving faster than the speed of sound kicks in, then I'm too far gone to be stopped.

There was a lake nearby, with a lovely forest background. There would be hikers and wilderness explorers for sure. Summer was my favourite hunting season.

I came to a halt by the lake and looked down. My reflection bored me profusely. When I am in the clutches of a high society life style then my vanity is my only constant companion. At the moment I'm a drifter. I have no destination or obligations. Not until I heard my next calling.

I made a mental note to stay away from brothers.

The memory almost made me falter in my cool demeanour, and I shut my eyes tight, for just a moment, until the pain passed, and then I was alright again.

I was about to put a foot in the water and walk through the lake; it would stop me from going all the way around, but a man caught my eye.

He was very handsome, and like I had guessed, in his outdoor attire. He seemed to be deliberating about the correct way to navigate his map- which was far too big for him to carry comfortably.

I chuckled slightly to myself and gracefully approached him. He didn't look up until I was no more than two feet from him. He did a classic double take which made me smile. Humans were so cute!

He opened his mouth but all intelligent thought seemed to have left him. Instead I took the initiative and said, "Would you care for a hand with that?"

"Yo-you know about maps?" he stuttered, leaning back from me as I stepped closer but not actually moving his feet.

"Of course silly" my laugh was the perfected sound of the charmed. I wanted him to think I was smitten. "Here" I extended my hand for the map and with shaking hands he passed it over.

I looked at it without really seeing it and turned it the right way up. "Where are you going?" I asked in a light, conversational tone, not yet looking at him.

"I've heard that there're these amazing caves somewhere in the forest. I wanted to see them for myself, but I'm, erm, not from around here, and I'm not particularly good with maps…" his tone was embarassed and it trailed away into a whisper and eventually into nothing at all as he became enraptured in my gaze. A shy grin crept across his face as he registered that, yes, it was him that I was looking at.

Amazing caves? That sounded like a lot of fun. "Oh, I know this area," in theory, "Let me show you where they are"

Now he was surprised, "Oh, really? You don't mind? I wouldn't want to inconvenience you. I mean, a girl as beautiful as you surely has much better things to be doing in much nicer places than this and-"

"Shh" I placed my finger lightly over his lips and smiled at him. I let my hand slide down from his face and take his hand. I led him into the woods, checking the map discreetly whenever he was looking the other way.

I could feel the hunger beating inside me now, in time with my own heart. It was insistent. It took all of my self restraint not to turn around there and then and tear out his throat. I could scarcely imagine how divine he would taste-

I had to stop. I felt my pupils dilate and my fangs begin to extend. Just a little longer, I told myself repeatedly. Luckily, a lot of conversation was not required form this one.

Eventually we reached the caves. We had to duck as we entered and from there the cave fell away to God only knew where. If I had the patience or the self control to look and find out I would have, but my eyes were fixed on the boys' throat and I felt myself switch into predator mode.

He didn't even know what had hit him. I sank my teeth in and immediately began to draw his life blood from his veins. I hadn't even bothered to kiss him. I couldn't decide whether to leave him alive or to just kill him.

I didn't really like to confess to myself how the repetitive cycle of burying bodies was beginning to weary me.

I had almost reached the point of no return when at the last second I retracted from him. I held him upright as he regained a sense of consciousness, and then I used compulsion on him to forget he ever saw me. The fresh surge of power and energy I got from his blood enabled it easily and made me feel invincible.

I twirled around and strode from the cave, pleased with my find.

It didn't matter that I didn't even know his name.