Sorry for the delay... I could write a million excuses but you'd probably prefer the chapter...

Chapter 4

I saw the ceiling. I didn't just look and know a ceiling was there. I really saw it. The fine lines in the paint where the hairs of the painter's brush had carved small tracks were as clear as crystal to me. Dust floated in the air, illuminated by candlelight, in swarms of swirls. In the blink of an eye I went from laying on a bed to crouching on it. My senses were assaulted with millions of sensations. I could hear the fluttering of wings on the night air and the gentle rustle of leaves that accompanied it.

My pain was gone. The fire was gone. I didn't know what I was, what I looked like, but I felt strong. No longer weak and vulnerable, I wanted to hunt down the monsters that had done this to me. My eyes focused on the room. Dr. Cullen and Edward were there, standing in front of Mrs Cullen protectively. Like I was dangerous. The more I thought about it I realised that I did feel dangerous, and strong, and angry.

"What did you do to me?" I demanded. Then I was shocked at the sound of my voice. I had always considered my voice relatively sultry and on occasion a tad whiney but it was all smoothed out, like silk.

"Rosalie," the doctor approached me with his hands out in a mollifying gesture. "Please sit down and I'll explain it to you."

I refused to sit down. I didn't take orders from anybody, especially from someone who had been lying to me. Lying to the whole town. I looked at my hands, stretched out and extended like talons. It was ugly. Relaxing my hands, my posture entirely, they looked better. I was white. I had never been particularly tanned before, just a nice warm honey colour. Now I was whiter than a sheet. As white as a corpse.

"I died, didn't I?"

"No. Not exactly." He replied. Edward and Mrs Cullen just eyed me from across the room.

"But I was dying." It wasn't a question. I knew I had been.

"Yes."

"So you stopped me from dying. You changed me..." A word filtered through the haze of pain I suffered through. "Vampire." As soon as I said it I felt ridiculous but it also felt right. My throat was so dry, I just wanted a drink. "You changed me into a vampire."

"Yes. I couldn't let you die." Dr. Cullen's face changed. His expression was heartfelt. "It was too horrible. Too much of a waste. You're so young."

I swallowed. My throat was burning. "You need to explain it to me. I need to know."

Edward stepped forward. "We will. But you're thirsty." As soon as he said the word, the fire in my throat intensified. I swallowed again.

Visions of vampires filled my mind. Sharp fangs latched onto the neck of a helpless human struggling uselessly. This vision was from a ridiculous movie I had seen but now this implausible and ridiculous scenario was becoming my reality.

"You're not making me kill someone. I don't care." I didn't want to kill an innocent person. Guilty ones, however, were on my list.

Carlisle looked at me warmly. "With that I agree completely."

There was a dead body in my lap and I wept for it. No matter how much I cried, no tears escaped my eyes. Edward and Doctor Cullen kept their distance, watching me weep. They had pulled me out of the house and into the nearby woods with alarming speed. Mrs Cullen had stayed behind. The world was a myriad of sights and sounds. The unfamiliar and delicious scents that wafted on the breeze had tempted me to stay behind but my guardians wouldn't have that, dragging me away while I twisted with rage. In the woods, before I even realized I had done it, my body had coiled and then released, running faster than I had even imagined possible. The deer never had a chance. Now the poor creature was in my lap, drained of blood. Most of the blood had made it down my scorching throat but a portion stained my tattered dress. I had died in that dress, my own blood still stained it, and now I was reborn a monster.

I don't know how long I cried, eventually a hand touched my shoulder gently. I couldn't help it, my reaction was involuntary. I growled fiercely and jumped back as far as I could. Visions of unwanted hands over my body haunted me.

"I'm sorry." Carlisle apologized. "I didn't mean to startle you."

My reaction had scared me. I still had trouble understanding the concept that I wasn't human anymore. For all I knew I now had rotting flesh or scales on my back or even horns. Edward smirked at me.

"What?" I demanded. That boy sure knew how to annoy me.

"Are you still thirsty?" He asked politely.

"I don't want to kill any more." I didn't answer his question but he didn't push me.

"Let's get you home, I'm sure you want to get cleaned up." Carlisle offered.

"Then you'll explain everything." It wasn't a question.

"We promise." Carlisle answered.

The minute we had returned to the house Mrs Cullen ushered me into the bathroom where she had a hot bath ready. I swiftly tore off my dress with my strong hands and tossed it aside, I never wanted to see it again. I saw only the large porcelain bath tub with steaming hot water. Gingerly lifting a foot delicately over the edge I stepped into the tub and sunk into the boiling water. The water was way too hot for a human to handle but I barely noticed it. I took in a large breath and dunked my head under water. Once under the surface, I opened my eyes. I could see through the water with perfect clarity, it was unnerving. Golden strands floated into my line of sight and pulled me out of me reverie. I decided to stop thinking about what had happened and focus on the task at hand. I washed my hair and scrubbed my skin within an inch of its life, desperate to wash away the feeling of disgusting hands over my body. While I was washing I couldn't help but notice my body. It was white, smooth and solid, like marble. My body looked perfect, inhumanly so. Oddly enough, this made me feel better. Even if I was an undead monster, if I was still beautiful at least I would still be worth something. I was curious to see my face, yet at the same time dreading it. What if I had fangs or hideous scales? I reached out for the towel as I stepped out of the bath. I dragged it through my hair before wrapping it around my body. It was then I noticed the small mirror in the room. I hesitated for a moment, almost scared of what I would see, but then my curiosity won out.

I approached the foggy mirror with trepidation. I could see a blurry figure take shape. She was familiar to me. Lifting a white hand I wiped away the layer of condensation and gasped. I was beyond beautiful. The blurry figured that I had recognised was gone, the details of this face of breathtaking. When I was human I had been spectacular but now I was perfect. The freckles were gone, my skin smoothed out and cheekbones were prominent. The only part of me that scared me was the pair of crimson eyes that had stared back at me. But I could reconcile with that, I missed my forget-me-not blue eyes but I had traded them for the perfect being that was in the mirror.

My father would be so proud to see me... I pushed aside that thought before it upset me too much. I heard the light swish of feet and a gentle knock on the door.

"Rosalie, dear, are you done? I've brought you something to wear."

Esme had brought me one of her dresses to wear and I couldn't help but notice the luxurious feel of the expensive fabric on my skin. Everything the Cullens possessed was expensive and beautiful. I dried my hair with the towel once more and then I combed it with my fingers. It was a damp golden mess and it irked me. I didn't want to see the men looking like a drowned rat. But it was unavoidable. Once I was decent I entered the parlour and took the seat closest to the fire. Doctor Cullen was seated next to his wife and Edward was leaning nonchalantly on a wall.

"Explain." I ordered.

I was a vampire and immortal.

Carlisle, Esme and Edward were vampires.

Carlisle was very old.

They were vegetarians, or the vampire equivalent of that concept.

The thought of killing humans was abhorrent to them yet animal blood never truly satisfied the thirst.

I would never sleep again.

Carlisle had 'saved' me from death.

Now I had a choice to make. Did I want to stay with them or go my own way. My mind was reeling. I didn't want to be alone. I was thirsty again. I just wanted my old life back. I wanted to hurt Royce, to kill him. All those men who hurt me needed to die. But that was a short term plan, what would I do for the rest of eternity? My throat burned.

"You're thirsty again." Edward stated.

I ignored him. Surely this was a crazy dream brought on by the stress of the wedding?

"It's not a dream." He stated again.

It was almost like he could...

"Edward can hear your thoughts." Carlisle said.

"What?"

"I can read your mind, Rosalie. I hear every thought clear as a bell." He said with a sigh.

"Stop it." I demanded.

"I can't" He stared at me, his golden eyes seeing right through me. I felt naked and I didn't like it.

"You're just not trying."

"I assure you I am." He replied.

"Get out of my head, Edward." I glared at him with everything I had.

"I would if I could." He glared right back.

"Now, children," Esme started. "Calm down. Rosalie, he can't help his gift. I understand you're feeling a little overwhelmed. You don't need to make a decision right away. I'll take you to the guest room and we can have a chat." She took my arm and started to lead me from the room. I refused to look at Edward, but decided to think a phrase I had never dared to say out loud before. I was completely satisfied when I heard him take in a breath in shock.

Thanks for hanging in there... more is planned. Rosalie will get her revenge.