Edward POV

Just as I took down the caribou, I smelled the best thing I've ever. The scent made my mouth pool over in venom. I quickly drained the caribou and ran towards the scent, acting purely on instinct. It had almost a floral scent…….like lavender, or freesia. When I came upon it, it came in the form of a girl. She was covered in cuts and bruises. I focused on her mind. I could only get the gist of it. How peculiar. I picked up screaming and blood in her dream. At the mention of blood, the burning picked up. It burned with the intensity of the sun and then some.

She mumbled, "Don't hurt hem Ms. Shelly." Hmm. Ms. Shelly worked at the orphanage. There were some rumors that she beat and otherwise abused the kids there, but nobody cared enough to check. I guess the rumors were true. I forced down the fire and walked over to the girl. She was pretty, and looked about 12. She was pale, near as pale as me, and had long mahogany colored hair. She was thin, and I guessed she hadn't eaten in quite a while. Or at least not eaten well. I got quite close and quit breathing. La tua cantante. Well, that explains the smell. My eyes turned a deadly black color as I walked toward the girl. I picked her up and ran. I ran back to my home. I was half a mile away, so I yelled, "Carlisle!" This woke up the girl. Her thoughts stop. Nothing. At all. I looked down at her. She had unbelievable deep, chocolate brown eyes.

Edward, what is it? Who is that? Carlisle asked silently.

"I don't know. I found her when I was hunting." The girl looked up at me with curious eyes. "Take her for a minute." He looked confused, but complied nonetheless. I ran off for a bit and filled my lungs with much needed air, because I hadn't taken a breath since I came upon her. I ran back to Carlisle. He eyed me curiously, to which I replied, "Singer."

Oh, that's why your eyes were black. I was confused before, thinking that you must have gotten some hunting done. I simply nodded. The girl cleared her throat and looked pointedly at Carlisle's arms, which were still wrapped tightly around her.

"You can put me down now." she said in a beautiful voice, like bells. It portrayed no emotion, save annoyance.

Carlisle answered her. "Not yet. We will take you to our home, then I will release you. Please close your eyes." She looked hopelessly confused, but did as he said. We ran home. Lucky for us, everyone else was hunting. Carlisle was only home because he had to work a few shifts at the hospital. Carlisle set her down. She opened her deep brown eyes. What should we do with her? I shrugged. What does she know? Again, I shrugged. Carlisle looked alarmed. What do you mean? Read her mind.

"I can't." I answered him. The girl still looked confused. As she should, for all she knows I'm a psycho with color-changing eyes who talks to himself. I turned to her after sitting at the seat furthest from her. "What's your name, sweetie?"

She answered, "Isabella, but call me Bella." I nodded and started to ask another question, but was cut off. "Who are you, who is he," gesturing to Carlisle, "and where am I?"

"I am Edward, this is Carlisle, and you are at my home, just outside of Forks."

"Forks?" She scrunched up her nose. "I've ran a long way."

I just nodded, then began, "Carlisle is a doctor. He's going to check your cuts, okay?" Bella bobbed her head up and down. "And you'll answer some questions for us, right?"

"Yes." she answered. "What do you want to know?"

Carlisle asked before I could. "Where are your parents?"

Her lower lip trembled. "They died three weeks ago." she managed to get out, though her voice broke in odd places. Then she started to cry.

I haven't the slightest idea what made me do it. Maybe it was how this sweet child shouldn't be in pain. Maybe it was the red nose and silent tears. I don't know, but I got up and hugged her, still holding my breath. I knew it was dangerous, but I did it anyway. "It's okay, Bella." I soothed. "It'll be alright."

She turned into me and began to sob. "I don't wanna go back! I can't! She'll hurt me!"

"Shh, Bella. It's okay. You're safe. No one will hurt you again." That was all my air. I took a shallow breath. Hmm. I breathed deeper. That's strange. Being closer actually lessened the burn. I'll have to talk to Carlisle about that.

As if on cue, Carlisle thought incredulously, Edward, Isn't that unbearable for you? I pointed to Bella and mouthed the words 'we'll talk later.' Okay, I'll find the others and tell them to stay a bit longer. I mouthed back a quick 'thank you' and turned back to Bella. I think you should tell her. My head shot up and Bella looked at me quizzically. Well, she'll want an answer for why our eyes change color, why Jasper won't go near her, and the speed. Also why you answer unspoken questions. Carlisle defended himself. I nodded. He left.

Bella sniffled. "Why were you mouthing and nodding your head? He never said or mouthed anything." Bella was observant. I wouldn't be able to keep anything from her for long.