Chapter 2

I hit my target with deadly force, knocking it over with a loud slap. My hunger was driving me mad, clouding all my thoughts, pursuing me onwards towards my goal. I snapped the unfortunate's spine, bending its head back in a sickening angle so that I could sink my teeth into the vulnerable flesh concealing what I most desired: …blood.

I drank with a ravenous need, blood streaming down my chin, that luscious, irresistible scent consuming me.

When, finally, the body was completely drained of crimson, I was able to grab hold of my conscience. I pushed the body away from me, utterly disgusted with my whole being, my whole existence. Now I knew why Edward had wanted to stop doing this. Edward.

A sickening jolt shot through me. Edward! I searched the spot where he had tried to hold me back… where I had won.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. This wasn't about me. I ran in a sort of haze along the path in the dense forestry. When it seemed my heart would burst from all the clashing emotions flowing through me, I found myself staring at a pale white form lying among the pines where I had been hidden just minutes before.

He lay unmoving to the normal human eye, but my newly developed crimson red eyes saw it: a faint shiver travelling rapidly across his perfect skin. I gracefully picked him up, caressing his features, now dripping with the blood left over from my unfortunate victim.

I ran as fast as I had ever run, avoiding the tree branches only for Edward's sake. I leapt across the lake and was through the house window within mere seconds. Alice, Carlisle, and Jasper were all awaiting our return.

No blush could penetrate my carefully controlled mask, but I could feel shame running white hot through my veins at the thought of what I had done. I couldn't leave yet…not yet…soon. I had to stay with Edward, it was that simple.

A tiny part of my brain pointed out reasonably that I couldn't hide from the horror I had just havocked. But I pushed it out of my conscious brain, focussing on Edward.

Carlisle had taken him upstairs where he kept all his impressive equipment. I looked at his limp form. I did this to him. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring myself to accept that fact.

Carlisle traced Edward's wounds, calculating the damage.

Finally, after a torturous count of 50, he said morosely, 'Bella…he's not going to die--'

I held my breath, hanging on every word—

'But he's too weak. He hasn't eaten in days, weeks, even. And because of his'—not our—'special diet, he is left with no strength after that attack. He needs blood.'

Blood?

'Bella, he needs human blood.'

My face flickered with understanding. An awkward silence fell in which Jasper tried to control the mood of the room into calmness. Alice's eyes were glazed. I could only guess what was going through her mind, but I did know I would find out soon.

I looked down. I didn't want to do what I had just done. The frenzy I went into was inescapable. I couldn't. But would I do it for Edward? More accurately, could I do it for Edward? There was, in complete truth, only one way to find out.

I nodded slowly.' I have to do this,' I murmured. I did. I owed Edward. I thought that maybe if I became a vampire: faster than 2x a cheetah's top speed, strong enough to crush giant pines with one massive swipe, I could save Edward's life like he had saved mine so many times—I closed my eyes—but here I was, looking at Edward with a moon crescent scar on his hand feinting a replica of my razor sharp teeth.

Because of me.

An overwhelming blow of emotion came, making me stagger slightly. I couldn't take one more moment in this room.

I backed out, turning around and running full fledged out of the window, embracing the wind and the icy clearness that came with it.

I was Bella Cullen.

I was a vampire.

And I was going to save Edward.