Well, you've met the main (very familiar) characters and now things are getting interesting. This is a short chapter but one of my favorites. Hope you like it. I can get too attached to my words, so it says a lot that my beta babes (aka FicBitches) can make comments and suggestions and it's like the light going on for me. McWinn77 and HeidiTown bravely throw the switch, making everything prettier. Thanks to them both, and to my rockin' mom who corrects my spelling and counts the F-bombs.

I'm so appreciative to those of you reviewing and putting my story on alert. It makes me all the more excited to get the next chapter out. As always, this is Stephenie Meyer's world and characters, but this twisty version is mine.



The Family Business

SuzsPetals © 2010

Chapter 3I'd look good in brown (Edward)

Bella Swan writhed in pain on the floor in the tiny laundry closet.

Not some random crack whore fallen victim to some random vampire.

But Isabella Marie Swan, college coed, daughter of Forks' own Chief of Police, and permanent resident of my heart, mind and soul for the last three years.

Fuck my life, how did this happen?

I knew for a fact she had been safely down in Jacksonville, Florida as of last month, undoubtedly dating a blonde surfer dude with a normal job like UPS driver, getting her degree and moving on with her life. Her life had barely crossed paths with mine. To her knowledge, anyway.

Yet here she was, about to be obliterated by my exceptional vampire killing skills.

I looked down and choked. The razor sharp point of the stake had sliced right through her shirt and side before bouncing onto the floor. Blood was already soaking the fabric and dripping steadily on to the concrete.

Her hand remained clenched and with one look at her face I knew she didn't even feel the fresh wound. She focused on me, then squeezed her eyes shut for a second before staring wildly at me again. In spite of her obvious agony and labored breathing, Bella whispered loud enough for me to hear.

"E-edward?"

I dropped the flashlight, pitching us into complete darkness. Bowing my head in shock and denial I grabbed my hair with both hands.

Bella gasped and I got my shit together. Sinking to my knees I felt around until I found the light and switched it back on. I patted the floor with my right hand looking for the stake, but before I could locate it she clutched my hand. She squeezed it hard and I could tell she was already slightly stronger than an average 21-year-old girl should be, but she was also warm.

Bella was still warm and soft the way she felt when holding my hand three years ago. Such different circumstances, such different emotions. The survival part of my brain was warning me I had just completely lost control of a situation that could end badly for me. My survival instincts internally debated between kill or be killed.

The rest of me, my body and definitely my heart, just wanted to sweep her off the floor and hold her tight; tell her how glad I was to see her again and reassure her I would fix everything. I wanted to kiss those lips I'd thought of — memorized even — for three years and some change. And then I'd promise to never turn my back on her again.

I squeezed my eyes shut and a moan escaped from deep in my chest. I can't fix this. Not any part of it. She may still be warm and soft but I had seen her eyes. I had seen her body consumed by searing pain as the vampire venom did its deadly work. Within two days, maybe less, the girl I adored — probably even loved — would be a soulless monster with one pure objective: To consume human blood.

Keeping the light facing downward, I knelt there in the dark, half in the bathroom and half in the laundry closet while she gripped my hand and suffered. I punished myself for what I was about to do to her by allowing my mind to travel back. To remember the last time we touched and spoke; the achingly sweet memories that preceded the day I broke both our hearts and walked away. All for the sake of the family business.

– – –

A few months into my senior year at Forks High, Chief Swan's daughter came to live with him and started school as a junior. She was fresh meat and the male population went into a virtual feeding frenzy. Even Eric Yorkie was watching her and everyone knew he played for the other team. Bella, as she preferred to be called, was pretty but not stunning, friendly but reserved. I had one AP class with her and as luck would have it, she sat next to me. Most of our conversations revolved around the labs we worked on in biology and it was evident how smart she was. Her subtle humor was dry, often self-deprecating.

As each day passed I grew more intrigued by her. There seemed to be depths that no one else noticed. She never missed a thing yet seemed detached from the normal high school stratosphere. And she rarely made eye contact with me, which frustrated me to no end.

Unfortunately, I had little time or energy to solve the mystery that was Bella Swan. My graduation approached and with it, the overwhelming responsibilities being in the family business incurred. The rainfall statistics in Forks made it an irresistible draw for the undead and the Cullens were highly respected for their ability to locate and eliminate the menace. With more than a little help from the Quileute shape-shifters, of course.

The average civilian had no idea that certain regions around the world attracted the small but lethal vampire population. And where those hot spots existed, so did the hunters, often in cooperation with indigenous tribes. The hunters — like my family — had intel, technology and substantial resources at their disposal, while the Indians in North America had the supernatural ability to shape-shift into giant wolves. In that form they were the natural enemy of the bloodsuckers and the only creature with the ability to destroy a vampire of full strength.

And vamp hunting was a lucrative business. The Cullens were easily the wealthiest family in town although we were discreet about it. Most people assumed we had old money or my father's small medical practice was doing far better than it appeared. As it often is in small towns, this financial status probably contributed to my siblings' and my popularity at school.

Local prestige and relative wealth didn't mean a lot to me though. On most of the days before graduation I just fantasized about having a "real" job. Maybe one that involved a brown uniform where I could deliver packages each day to people who were unreasonably happy to see me. Sign here, ma'am. And how do you spell your last name? You have a nice day too.

But thanks to my family's occupation — legacy, really — I couldn't even follow my curiosity about a pretty teenaged girl with big brown eyes to see where it would lead. I just had to sit back and watch while the boys of Forks High waved their figurative arms in the air, trying in vain to win her selective attention. They all hoped that football skills and high school dances would entice her but even I could see her eyes were set somewhere else.

I wanted to be there, wherever that was.

And so went the rest of my senior year, being pulled grudgingly into a life I didn't really want while Bella Swan danced around the periphery of my dreams. Until the week after my graduation when she practically danced in to the path of my car.

– – –

Bella's breathing became more erratic, bringing me back from the sharp ache of my memories. She still held my hand with a ferocious strength and I thought I could sense a slight cooling of her skin. Reluctantly, I lifted the beam of light to her face. She was obviously using every bit of her reserves to keep from being consumed by the pain. If it had been any other circumstances, I would have been in awe of her strength. As it was, I felt sure the pain ripping through my heart could rival the venom killing hers.

She still stared at me feverishly, trying to catch her breath, and as our eyes locked I could see the truth of what could have been. And never would, I reminded myself. In spite of the struggle, she still managed to speak.

"Oh, God it hurts so fucking bad," she said in a strangled moan. I didn't drop the flashlight that time, but squeezed her hand tighter if it was possible.

"I know, baby. I know," I whispered back, feeling utterly ineffectual. Still, she seemed to relax perceptibly at my empty, sympathetic words so I kept talking.

"I didn't know you were back, Bella. I wish I had known. I've missed you so much and I wouldn't have made the same mistake again. I wouldn't have let you go. I'm an ass, I'm sorry. So sorry…" I rambled like that for at least fifteen minutes since it seemed to calm her slightly. As soon as I stopped for a breath, she bucked in pain and screamed "No!"

Before I could continue my monologue of pointless comfort she gritted her teeth and cried "Why...?!" I blinked once, thinking stupidly for a moment that she meant why had I wanted her. But the pain in her eyes, stretching for miles, confirmed she didn't understand — why this — this horrific thing was happening to her. If I sat here in this abandoned house for another decade I wouldn't know how to answer her. It was so beyond my comprehension.

Amazingly, she spoke again. Where she was drawing her strength from, I had no fucking idea. "Vampires…" She screamed once in agony before continuing breathlessly, "…real?"

The weight of my whole existence crashed down on me as I lowered my forehead to our clasped hands. I nodded without looking up, doubtful she was focused enough to see my silent answer. Her back arched off the floor again and I found myself hypnotized by the little gold hoop that flashed from her belly button. She panted in short controlled breaths before whispering forcefully, "Kill. Me. Please."

I jerked my head up and met her eyes. Glowing both red and brown, they bore the conviction of her words.

It's what we Cullens do. It's what I'd been raised and trained to do from a young age. It's exactly what I was prepared to do less than an hour ago, before this girl turned and looked at me. It was my only choice.

"I can't, Bella," I whispered, in spite of it all. Her screams tore through the room, shredding me in the process.

– – –

I'm not sure how long we sat there, she screaming in pain, me raging silently at any God who would allow this. If we were in a more populated neighborhood, someone would have called the authorities by now. Reason slowly returned as I realized the late model SUV in the driveway would stick out like a sore thumb. It was probably dark by now too and with a start I considered the possibility of the killer who bit Bella returning to claim her. I was definitely in no position to handle that situation by myself.

I laughed derisively to myself. Yeah, look how well you handled a harmless newborn.

At that moment my phone vibrated against my waist. I set the flashlight down carefully, never letting go of Bella's cooling hand. I glanced at the screen before turning it off. Alice. I would have to call in soon or they'd be alarmed. You couldn't be out of contact for long in our family business without the cavalry being assembled. I had to pull my shit together and figure something out, and quickly.

As though sensing the change in my demeanor, Bella's screams reduced to painful gasps and heart wrenching moans. Her eyes had rolled back in her head, just edges of the crimson irises showing. She belonged to the fire now and no longer seemed aware of my presence.

Nothing had changed in the last hour — hours? — I still couldn't destroy her. I also had no intention of involving the family, thereby forcing someone else to do it. Everyone in Forks was familiar with Bella and it wouldn't be easy for any of the Cullens to end the existence of someone we knew. But they would do it. They would understand the danger of letting a newborn vampire complete the transformation and they would reduce her to ash before allowing it to happen.

But they didn't love her.

More than that, they didn't see the humanity still blazing in her eyes before the venom consumed her. I knew Bella was still there whether her heart stopped beating and her skin turned to icy cold stone. And I'd stand between her and anyone who tried to extinguish it.


This should be tricky but I trust Edward will find a way, don't you? He really wants a different job so feel free to throw me suggestions for future chapters. The more mundane, the better. Obviously, Bella will be out of commission for a while so we'll be enjoying Edwards POV a little longer. I've revived my blog, in part to post teasers, art and musical inspiration for The Family Business. Visit it at SuzsPetals(dot)wordpress(dot)com. Thanks again for your reviews! - Suz