Chapter 3:

I tried to stay calm. If it was James they'd have got me out of there right away. I looked around the parking lot though, just to make sure he wasn't near. But it was too late. I was looking at Edward and Alice when it happened. Suddenly I was in the air. Stone cold arms were wrapped round my waist. One second I was standing with my crutches by Edward's car, the next I was flying through the forest. I heard a growl and a snarl and I looked at my captor. And my eyes widened in fear.

"James?" I asked horrified. It couldn't be, they would've known if… it's just not… this had to be a horrible nightmare.

He laughed full of pure evil. I looked around. Another man was running behind us. It wasn't Laurentt, the man who was with him last time. It defiantly wasn't Victoria. Who was it?

"Steve, head back… make sure they don't follow. Block the trail if you can," the man nodded and turned back. James kept running, me in his arms. I had one crutch with me. I had dropped the other when he picked me up. We ran for ever. I finally got the courage to try and struggle, but it was no use. He was too strong. He snarled at me and told me to stop or everything would be worse.

This had happened before to me with James. Sure I was alone that time too… but I only went because I thought my mother was in danger. If I hadn't thought he had my mother, I never would've gone.

Finally we stopped in a cave. I had no idea how long he ran for, or if we were even in Forks, let alone Washington anymore.

"Ah, it's good to see you again Bella," James said smiling wickedly at me.

"What do you want?"

"We'll get to that later," he said smirking, "First, I just wondered why aren't you one of us at this moment?"

"That is none of your business,"

"That's where you're wrong. You see, I was the one who bit you, therefore it is my business to know why you weren't changed," I kept quiet; I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.

"Come now Bella, you really think I'm going to hurt you?" I didn't say anything; I knew the answer to it. Yes, he would.

"Is the only way to get you to speak is to tell you why you are here?" He asked, sounding annoyed. I smiled to myself, but then it disappeared. Maybe an annoyed James was a very bad thing.

"Bella, I can fulfill your dreams," He whispered, "I can make you one of us," My heart sped up a bit. That was what I wanted. I dreamed about being with Edward forever… and even though I didn't want James to be the one to change me… if he would… then maybe I really could be with Edward.

I knew he heard my heart rate go up. He thought it was in fear… but it was a mixture of fear and excitement.

"It won't hurt for long," he promised, "A few days… and then the pain will be gone forever." I still hadn't said a word. I wasn't sure what to say.

"Just tell me what happened to stop the venom flow," The sound of his voice was like music to my ears. I couldn't explain how or why, but his voice and his breath convinced me to speak.

"Edward sucked the venom out,"

"He was able to stop after all the venom was gone?" James sounded surprised.

"It wasn't until… Well, I think it was after you got away that the others arrived. If it wasn't for Carlisle, he never would've been able to stop." I couldn't explain why I had told him that. Surely, it couldn't have been a good idea.

"Edward cares very much about you… why wouldn't he want you as a vampire," Once again his breath was so close to my face, my mind was fogged and I became slightly dizzy. Then I began to speak.

"He doesn't want me to become a monster like he is. He thinks I should live the way I'm meant to live… a human life. But I don't want it. I want to be with him forever,"

"Would it be so terrible if you couldn't have him forever… but someone else?"

"What are you talking about?" Before he could speak the man, Steve, entered the cave.

"Well?" James asked.

"I've covered the track as best I could. There's no need to worry. He won't find you,"

"I'm surprised he didn't see me coming… well at least why Alice didn't. I can't understand how he didn't read me coming,"

"Did I not tell you? I'm a shield… I can block all powers, mind and body wise. And those around me. They haven't been able to read our thoughts or see us."

"You never thought to mention this?" James asked outraged. That explains why Alice couldn't see him and why Edward hadn't heard him before he attacked.

"I thought I mentioned it,"

"Did the mortals see us?"

"Us, never," he laughed humorlessly, "However, they heard that Edward. Did you hear that mouth of his? Someone needs to learn to control his anger."

"What are they doing?" James asked turning his attention away from me. I took the time to grab my phone, the one my dad bought me because of what happened before, but it was useless. James caught the action and snatched the phone away from me and crushed it in one hand.

"Now, now, Bella, no need to call for help," James said dropping the pieces. "Everything's going to be just fine," He then turned to Steve. "Well, status report on the Cullen's!"

"As far as I heard, they are regrouping at the house and are going to talk things over with Carlisle… I take it he's the leader of this family?"

"Yea," grunted James, "He created most of them,"

"Well, they're planning everything with him."

"Of course they are… they do nothing without running it by him. How long do we have?"

"Not very… you did a good job at distracting the scent however. Very hard to track you… that is until I remembered the cave you said your mate hid in,"

"She's not my mate anymore…" James said, "Soon enough…she'll be."

"What about my part of the bargain?"

"Take as many as you like,"

"No!" I shrieked out, remembering Charlie, alone at home, "Please… anywhere but Forks!"

James laughed coldly at the statement, "Anywhere but Forks," he said, "Why would that be?" He pretended to ponder and I could tell he was trying to tick me off. "Oh, that's right," he said in mock surprise, "You're father lives there doesn't he?"

I glare at him, as if he could not know that.

"Oh, but Bella, you won't be needing your father soon enough," He smiled slightly, showing me his sharp teeth and my breath catches again. Would I want James to be the one to change me? Would I really be happy as a vampire if James was the reason I was one in the first place? I didn't know what to think.

"Come now Bella, if you make me a promise, I can promise you your friends and family will be left alone," I stare at him. My dad… Charlie… safe, my friends like Angelia, Jess, Mike all of them… but I can only imagine what his deal is.

"Depends on the promise," I gulp out. He smiled cruelly.

"All I want is your promise to let me change you… to join us," Could I do it? Would I accept his offer? I open my mouth and tell him what I think.