Chapter II

Dear Diary,

Alice was right. I did like the dress she bought me. It was simple, just how I like it. Dark blue, oasis dress, sleeveless, with lace all over. It was very feminine and elegant. I decide to put the killer heels on from the prom and that's it.

Edward mentioned Volturi. He said that he would go to them if I he didn't make it in time. I just don't get what Volturi would do to him. I don't know anything about them besides that they were the ones that wanted witches on their side. Because of power that's all.

Anyway, I need to get myself dressed for celebrating my 18 birthday at Cullen's house.

Mia

Mia stood in front of a picture on a wall in Cullen's house. It was a picture of Volturi, from 17 or 18 century. Three men stood on the balcony, overlooking the people dancing and having fun underneath them. They seem too high in their pride.

"The Volturi are a very old, very powerful family." Edward said. "I guess they're the closest thing to royalty my world has." Mia stared at the picture, noticing someone familiar in the corner behind them.

"Is that…" Mia got a better look. "Carlisle?"

"Yeah." Edward confirmed it. "He lived with them for a few decades. Described them as very refined. No respect for human life, of course, but a respect for the arts and the sciences, at least. And the law. Above all, the law."

"How many laws do vampires have?" Mia wondered.

"Not very many." Edward answered. "And only one that's regularly enforced."

"What is it?"

"That we keep the existence of our kind a secret. We don't make spectacles of ourselves, and we don't kill conspicuously." Edward answered. "Unless, of course, you want to die."

"They burn you to death?"

"No…" Edward answered. "They kill you by dismembering your limbs."

"Okay." Mia spoke, closing her eyes briefly. "I don't want to know anything anymore about them. Just a thought of you going there to kill yourself,…" Mia shakes her head. "I can't imagine it."

"Mia, the only think that can kill me is you." Edward said and Mia looked at him. "And I don't have anything else to be afraid of."

"There is still Victoria." Mia murmured.

"She'll come for me one day." Edward said. "Alice will see what she decides, and we'll be ready."

"How do you know she will come for you and not for me?" Mia wondered.

"She knows a light witch such as you wouldn't be able to kill him." Edward said and Mia nod.

"You know I can protect you." Mia said and Edward smiled to her and brought her close to him.

"I know you can. But I can't let you kill again if your life hangs on a line." Edward said. He's right. If I kill again I might go dark.

"You're right." Mia nod and Edward smiled to her.

"You're my only reason to stay alive, if that's what I am. And it's my job to protect you." He's right. I may protect myself to some limit, but if it gets too much, I might lose control and kill again. And I don't want that. "From everyone except my sister." Yep, neither can I protect myself from her.

"Mia." Alice sang her voice as she skipped into the room. "It's time! It's time! It's time!"

God help me. Alice pulled her by her hand towards the stairs. They stopped for a second. All the Cullens stood on the floor beneath her and Alice, looking at her with a silent music in the background. Mia couldn't help but to smile.

Alice again lightly pulled her, but slowly since it wasn't like she was wearing converses. What was I thinking putting on killer heels? Mia stepped on the last step of stairs and looked at Carlisle and Esme stepping closer to her.

"Sorry about all this." Carlisle said. "We tried to rein Alice in."

"As if that were even possible." Esme added before she gave her a tight hug. "Happy birthday, Mia."

"Thank you." Mia said with a smile and a flash went off as they pulled away, making Mia turn around to see Alice with her new camera in her hands.

"I found it in your bag." Alice said, referring to the camera. "You mind?"

"No, feel free to use." Mia said, while Alice walked away, picked a present and walked to Rosalie.

"You first, Rosalie." Alice said and Rosalie immediately extended the small present towards Mia.

"It's a necklace." Rosalie said and Mia takes it. "Alice picked it out." At least she's trying to be nice.

"Thanks." Mia kindly said. Oh, look, I'm being nice to her too.

Alice dragged Edward towards Mia, pushing them together while she backed away and took a picture off them. Alice gave them a small smile before the walked towards the table and takes another present, much bigger one, and hand it to Mia.

"This one's from Emmett." Mia shakes the box next to her ear, but didn't hear anything.

"Already installed it in your car." Emmett said, proudly. "Finally a decent sound system for that piece of—"

"Whoa." Mia exclaimed. "Chill. The car has feelings too." Mia joked, making him chuckle. Ah, Emmett understands my sufferings with that car.

"Open Esme and Carlisle's." Alice said, handing Mia a small box.

"Just a little something to brighten your day." Carlisle said, making Mia widely smile as she looked at them.

"Yes, you've been looking kind of pale lately." True. True.

She started to take the wrap off. But it seemed difficult since it was wrapped tightly. Vampires and their strength. Suddenly, a pair of dark blue eyes flashed in front of her, making her gasp and then felt a sharp sting on her index finger making her hiss and look at her index finger. Blood.

"Paper cut." Mia murmured, a small drop of blood falling of the cut.

In one moment, a very quick one. Mia looked up, seeing Jasper running towards her. She felt herself being pushed by Edward, who unconsciously placed too much strength into his hand, making Mia fly across the room and land into flowers in glass on the table.

They crushed behind her and she landed on the ground, pain going through her arm. She looked up, seeing Jasper in the air as he was pushed by Edward. He landed onto the black piano, breaking it, but it didn't stop him from coming at Mia again. For her blood.

Emmett and Carlisle tried to stop him. Somehow, thanks to Emmett who grabbed a hold of him and then Carlisle grabbed a hold of his other arm. Mia watched in horror, not believing that it came to this. Those dark eyes…

"Jaz! Jaz! Ssh! Ssh!" Alice spoke as she walked in front of Jasper, trying to calm him down. "It's okay. It's just a little…" More blood could be smelled in the air. "…blood." Alice finished her eyes wide.

She turned to look at her. Mia's eyes, however, were only placed on Edward. Emotionless, but beyond that she saw disappointment in himself. Mia covered her wound with her hand, unconsciously. Why did it have to come to this?

"Get Jasper out of here." Carlisle said.

He suddenly appeared next to Mia, who gasped immediately after he touched her arm. He raised his hand up, with Mia's blood on it, gesturing for them to go away. Emmett was first that walked away, dragging Jasper firmly with him.

"I-I'm sorry, I can't." Alice spoke before even she walked away, followed by Rosalie and Esme.

"I'll have to stitch this up in my office." Carlisle said, but noticed that Mia's eyes were nowhere else but still looking at Edward who continued standing there. "Check on Jasper." Carlisle said to Edward. "I'm sure he's very upset with himself and I doubt he'll listen to anyone but you right now." Carlisle said, but Edward didn't move. "Edward." This time, he turned around and walked away.

Mia stood in Carlisle office. Leaning on the table while Carlisle took out the glass in her wound close to her right shoulder. She felt so guilty. First James, now this and even Victoria on her revenge. And all because Mia arrived to their lives. Never thought I was only trouble.

"I'm sorry." Mia spoke. "It's all my fault."

"It's not your fault." Carlisle consoled her. "Jasper hasn't been away from human blood as long as the rest of us."

"You are very good at it." Mia said. "Working as a doctor, always around human blood… How do you endure it?"

"Years and years of practice." Carlisle answered, stitching the wound, making Mia close her eyes for brief moment from small pain.

"Do you enjoy doing want your do?" Mia asked. "Helping people?"

"Yes." Carlisle answered. "Brings me happiness. Even if I am damned regardless."

"You are not damned." Mia said, seriously. "Vampire or not. We all have our devils. But they don't control us if we don't want them to."

"Wise words for a young witch." Carlisle said, stitching her wound entirely.

"All based on experience." Mia said her tone sad and low.

Carlisle finished stitching her wound and set fire on the alcohol that was in a bowl with Mia's blood, pieces of glass and bloody gauze. Mia didn't say anything else to him while he wrapped the bandage around her stitched wound.

Later on, Edward went to drive her home with her car. They were both silent, no one spoke a word. Mia wanted to say something, but what was she supposed to say. Sorry won't cover it. It was her fault. If she watched what she was doing, it would have never come to this.

She glanced at Edward. His face emotionless. It felt like he was in silent pain, silent hurt, silent guilt. But Mia couldn't understand what he was feeling. Probably guilt, he was the one that pushed her too hard, but that didn't make Mia less guilty.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" Mia asked, finally breaking the silence.

"What do you want me to say?" Edward asked back.

"That it's my fault." Mia said.

Edward stayed silent. Mia just stared at him for a few seconds before looking away. She watched the trees as Edward droved fast through the dead of the night. They soon arrived to Mia's house and came to stop, but neither one of them went out of the car.

"I'll see you tomorrow, right?" Mia asked, looking at Edward, but no receiving an answer. "Are you just going to ignore me?"

"You should go inside." Edward said, making Mia scoff.

"Seriously?" Mia exclaimed. "Just because Jasper attacked me, you'll going to ignore me."

"I hurt you." Edward said.

"That was nothing." Mia said back. "You don't have to feel guilty, because I was expecting things like this to happen."

"Almost being killed, is that what you were expecting with me?" Mia gulped.

What was she supposed to say? Yes? Because neither one of them wasn't normal. She was a witch and he was a vampire. There is nothing normal to be expected. Edward stared at her, but he never received an answer. He opened the door and appeared in front of the passenger door. Mia stepped outside to face him once he opened the door and close them behind her

"Do you not understand how much I care for you, Mia?" Edward asked.

"I understand." Mia answered. "And I don't want you to misunderstand my feelings for you. Because being with you makes me feel alive." Mia placed her hand on his cheek. "I love you, Edward. Unconditionally."

Mia stared at his golden eyes for a few moments and he stared back at hers. He didn't say anything else to her. Mia leaned in to kiss him, rising on her tip toes, even though she was wearing heels she was still smaller then Edward.

Her pink lips pressed gently against his. She felt him return the kiss, pulling her into a tight hold against him. She felt his hands holding her so tightly that it was almost painful. They both gasped at the same time, as they lips parted and their foreheads remained against each other.

"I'm going to go inside."

Mia pulled away from him. She smiled to him briefly before she turned around and walked away towards her house. She stepped on the porch and turned around. Edward wasn't there anymore. Mia frowns before she turned around and walked inside the house.