Boilerplate: The Twilight universe belongs to Stephenie Meyer – I'm just playing in it. I don't own anything except my laptop computer.

Chapter 10!!! Thank you for sticking with me!

I know Bella was kind of obnoxious in the early chapters but that's how I saw her in "Eclipse." Her transition to decent human being is more meaningful, I think, if she begins at the rock bottom self-centeredness Stephenie Meyer keeps her at post-"New Moon."

I hope I'm still keeping you on the edge of your seats! There is still much more excitement and adventure on the way!

Note: The poem recited is Lord Byron's "Translation of a Romaic Love Song".

***

Red eyes watched me from deep within a cave. If I moved, startled it, it would kill me. I needed to stay still—perfectly still.

Knock, knock, knock.

I moved to see who it was.

My eyes slowly opened; it was still dark and I was alone in Jacob's bed, asleep on top of the covers. I closed my eyes again.

I was in front of the cave in the woods.

Knock, knock, knock.

The noise sounded again and the door opened a crack, letting in the light from the hallway.

"Bella, you need to get up," said Billy. "Your father is here."

"Okay," I replied, sleepily, and sat up. Billy flipped on the overhead light and shut the door. I covered my eyes with my arm and blinked in the sudden light.

Five minutes later, I shuffled into the kitchen bag in hand. Charlie was standing there with a cup of General Store coffee talking grimly to Billy. "—and there was another one last night. I just don't know, Billy. Things have gone from bad to worse the last year or two. Poachers killing mountain lions and bears in the reserve and now people—" he stopped when he caught sight of me. "Bells, sweetheart, are you feeling better?"

A glimmer of an idea formed in the back of my mind.

"Where's Jake?" I asked, my voice still thick with sleep.

"He's on the couch, Bella," said Billy looking at me sternly. I wondered if he knew where Jake had spent most of the night.

"Can I just say bye before we go?" I asked Charlie. He and Billy looked at each other.

"Well, I guess that's alright," said Charlie, "I'll meet you in the cruiser." He reached over and took my bag and patted me on the shoulder.

I walked as quietly as I could into the living room. Jacob was sprawled out on the couch, on his back, shirtless, mouth open, snoring softly. His long arms and legs dangled over the edge of the couch, making him look like a giant puppy. I tiptoed over and crouched down to gently shake him awake but before I could touch him, a long arm snaked around me and pulled me in. I lost my balance and fell forwards on top of Jacob, who brought his other arm up over my mouth to muffle my squeak of surprise.

He opened his eyes and grinned at me. I tried to wiggle free but his grip was too strong. "You just can't get enough of me, can you?" he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

I could feel my face getting red with embarrassment. I didn't have time for games this morning, so using the only tool at my disposal I stuck my tongue out and licked his hand. Jacob scrunched up his nose and took his hand off my mouth, shaking it. I wiggled myself free of his grip and off the couch. Jacob sat up, pulling a pillow into his lap.

"So, did you come in here to torment me with your spit or did you need something?" he said, still a bit smug.

"Actually, I had a favor to ask you," I said, carefully staying out of arms reach. My face was still flushed.

"And that is—?"

I lowered my voice, my heart beating nervously. "How do you feel about skipping school today?"

Jacob leaned forward. "Is Bella Swan encouraging delinquency? This must be serious."

"It's not delinquency, really, just a little truancy. I'm going to stay home sick today. Can you meet me there after Charlie leaves for the station? Emily told me something last night and—"

"WELL, BYE, BELLA, I hope you FEEL BETTER," Jacob interrupted me, loudly, and then mouthed, "Billy."

"Thanks, Jake," I said in what I hoped was a normal tone. "Will I see you later?"

"Yeah," he said, "I'll try to stop by and check in on you." And then he winked at me and smiled.

I smiled back in relief and walked out to the cruiser and Charlie.

The drive back to Forks was quiet. According to the clock on the dashboard, it was only 5:45am. The roads were empty but my mind was racing—Emily, Jared, Angela, Alice, Edward, Jacob, and Victoria. All the threads were tangled up but I didn't know where to begin pulling the knot to loosen them. I leaned my head against the window. Charlie's radio squawked bits of chatter—a pick-up truck abandoned up by the lake; Mrs. Edelstein's dog had run away again; Raven Spirit picked up drunk outside Mill Creek. I closed my eyes and drifted off into a doze.

Charlie pulled off into our driveway and turned the car off. It was enough to shake me out of my half-asleep state. I yawned. My mouth tasted horrible. I hadn't brushed my teeth last night or this morning.

"Bells," said Charlie tentatively, not looking at me. "Is there something going on? You can talk to me. I know I'm not cool like your mom but—"

"No—I mean, yes but it's nothing. I'm just trying to figure things out, you know? But I'm going to figure them out here. This is my home now." And as I said it, I realized it was true.

He nodded thoughtfully and turned to look at me. "Well, okay then." He paused. "Bells, I know things are tough right now with the disappearances but as soon as we solve this, maybe you and I could do something together."

"Together?" I said, confusedly. "Like what?"

"Well, we could drive up to Port Townsend—walk around and look at stuff. They have that old lighthouse and some nice old building or if you don't like that maybe just to the movies or something." My heart melted a little more.

"Sure, sure," I said, giving him a little smile. "That sounds fun."

Charlie gave a little smile back. "Well, now, go on and get changed and I'll drop you off at school."

"Actually—I'm still not feeling well. Is it okay if I stay home and rest today?"

He looked at me, concerned. "Do you need to go to the doctor?"

"No, I think it's just one of those 24 hour bugs," I said, quickly and unbuckled my seatbelt. "I just need rest and fluids."

Charlie reached over and put his hand on my forehead. "You do feel a little warm—I'll call the school secretary from the station."

"Thanks, dad," I said. I pulled my bag out of the back of the car and waved bye to Charlie as he drove off.

I unlocked the door and walked inside the house. It felt like I hadn't been home in ages but it had only been a day – just 24 hours ago I was going to school. Well, being driven to school by Edward, who had removed the spark plug from my truck in order to make sure I couldn't escape.

My heart started to beat a little faster. The house suddenly felt too big and every corner ominous. I raced up the stairs as quickly as I could and dashed into my room and slammed the door shut. Safe, I thought. I flung my bag down on the bed and started getting undressed. I needed a nice hot shower to wash away the dirt and grime and sorrow of yesterday.

I stripped off Jacob's oversized sweatshirt and was starting to pull up my tank top when a discreet cough sounded from behind me. I whipped around and standing in front my bed was Edward Cullen.

"What are you doing here?" I said, a little too loudly.

Edward's face showed concern. "I was worried," he said. "Alice didn't see you at school today and after last night—with the newborn—I needed to make sure you were safe."

"I'm fine, Edward," I said, even though my heart had begun to pound faster and my breathing grew shallow.

"But you almost—" he turned his face away in pain "—you could have died, Bella. New vampires are very unstable and with Victoria already coming after you, I have no choice. I really have no choice."

"No choice about what—" I took a step back and then another. My hand was on the doorknob. "No choice about WHAT, Edward?"

He just stood there with his head down. I turned the doorknob and pulled the door open behind me. Before I could step through, Edward was standing over me—one hand resting on the doorframe and the other cradling my chin. I forced myself to look up into his unnatural, amber eyes.

"You used to like when I protected you, Bella," he said, softly. "You always wanted me in your room." He began to stroke the side of my face with his ice-cold hands. "You liked me to watch you sleep. Now—I have to sneak around when I should be able to have what's mine." The feel of his frigid flesh made me shiver. He was like a marble statue.

"Edward, you're scaring me," I managed to choke out. "Please—"

"Please? Please let you get killed? Please let you get pawed by a wolf? Do you think I can't smell him all over you, Bella?"

"It's not what you think! I didn't do anything!" His sweet scent was overpowering but I fought the urge to lean into his touch.

"Do you really think those animals can protect you—and Charlie—when they couldn't even save one of their own?" He spit the last words out at me in a hiss and dropped his hand.

I was running for the stairs as soon as his icy fingers left my cheek but Edward was faster. He was in front of me.

"You have become so wild, Bella, and unladylike. I know it's his bad influence." And his hand was on my wrist. "Come. I'll make you a nice cup of tea to settle your nerves."

And I had no choice. The pressure on my wrist was too great and the familiar, sweet scent of Edward too overpowering. I let him lead me downstairs into the kitchen and sat docilely at the table while he prepared me a cup of tea. Maybe if I cooperated he would leave before Jacob arrived—that fight was something I did not want to see.

Edward placed the mug of tea before me. He had taken the liberty of adding milk and—I took a sip—sugar, lots of sugar.

"There now," said Edward. "That will help you calm down." He smiled at me, looking for all the world like one of the paintings of the Archangel Gabriel we had seen in Italy.

I took another sip of the sweet, milky tea and yawned, suddenly feeling drowsy.

"Bella, you promised to protect your humanity, your virtue and yet you continue to tempt danger."

"I don't do it on purpose! Besides, they are only after me because of you! Why don't you just go and leave town again—maybe this time all the bad guys will follow you!" My anger burned through the drowsiness.

Edward just looked at me with cold eyes. "I recognize my role in these troubles, Bella. That is why I must do everything I can to keep you safe. You are my duty."

I finished my tea and slammed the mug down on the table. "I'm not a duty—I'm a person!" My knees buckled slightly and I felt the blood rush from my head. I put my hands on the table to steady myself. "What's happening to me?"

Edward sighed. "I didn't want to do this, Bella, but you left me no choice. You wouldn't come quietly." He moved around to help me stand up but I gathered every ounce of stamina I had left and ran for the kitchen door. I slammed it behind me and ran out the front door, down the stairs. I tripped and wiped out in the driveway, ripping my jeans and scraping my knees and my bare arms. I stood up and turned around to look behind me—Edward was standing on the porch, watching.

Knees and forearms bleeding, I ran for the truck and got in. I didn't have my keys and my final thought before the drugs overtook my system was the keys didn't matter because the missing spark plug was still in the front pocket of my book bag.

***

I was cold.

Icy hands shook me awake and had me sit up. A glass of water was held up to my lips and I swallowed it greedily before drifting back off to sleep.

I had no dreams.

***

It was dark when I woke up again. I was in an unfamiliar bed, the sheets were silky smooth but only a thin blanket covered them. I was cold.

Light. I needed light.

I stuck my hand out to my left and it hit a bedside table. On the table was a lamp. I fumbled with the switch but managed to turn it on.

I was in Edward's room.

I got up on shaky legs and saw that at some point I had been dressed in a white linen nightgown. I walked over to the door—it opened. Alice was waiting outside.

"I've been waiting for you to wake up," she said, giving me a cold hug. Goosebumps raised on my arms. She smiled at me. "Edward thinks you'll be mad at him, so he sent me up first."

"Alice, I need to go home. Charlie will be worried."

"Don't worry, silly, I called and told him you were staying with us. I mean, we are going to be sisters, anyways, right?" She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "Now, what do you need – food, water?"

"I want to GO HOME!" I yelled.

"You are home," she said, firmly. "Edward can protect you here and we'll have so much fun together. You'll see. You just need time to get used to the idea. Of course—I could always change you and then you could protect yourself." She put a cold hand on my arm. "You like that idea, don't you?"

I tried to push past her but she was in front of me every way I turned.

"Bella, I can't just let you go. Victoria is out there and the Volturi and the newborn and those wolves. You are safe here. Come now, don't make me carry you back to bed."

Tears of frustration filled my eyes as I turned and went back in the room. Alice stood in the doorway. "I'll send Edward up with some human food for you. You can't be mad at him forever, he's only doing what's best."

She closed the door and locked it and I was alone again in Edward's bedroom. My backpack was resting against the foot of the bed and a pile of my clothes was beside it. The glow of the bedside lamp made the large windows act like mirrors as the light reflected back inwards and I saw two versions of myself stamp the floor in frustration and kick the bed.

The stinging pain in my toes helped calm me down a little bit and I began taking a good look around the room. There was an old-fashioned clock sitting on Edward's writing desk and I limped over to take a closer look—4:32. I had slept through the entire day.

Piled neatly on the desk were stacks of paper. Curious, I flipped through them. Some had musical notation on them and others contained snatches of dark and brooding poems.

Pour me the poison ; fear not thou !

Thou canst not murder more than now :

I've lived to curse my natal day,

And Love, that thus can lingering slay.

I threw the papers back down, my stomach clenched in fear. How had I been so blind before? Romeo and Juliet were romantic on paper but I didn't want to die. I had been so in love with the idea of Edward that it hadn't clicked before. But now that he was back I could see it all. This wasn't love; it was obsession. Edward wanted to own me. I was just a toy to him—a beloved doll, perhaps, but a toy all the same.

And if I became a vampire, if I was transformed—like Emily? I had friends, family, people who cared about me. Charlie and I were going to go to Port Townsend and look at the lighthouse! And my new, growing friendship with Angela? And the wolves who had taken me in as one of their own, asking nothing in return? Could I really go through with the transformation that would have me see them all as food—or worse, enemies?

I ran to the windows and flung them wide open. A cool breeze hit my face. It was raining. I leaned out as far as I could and let the drops hit my face, washing away my tears. I had to get out of here. The drop was too far to jump. I would break a leg or my neck if I attempted it.

The bag! My phone was in there! Leaving the windows open, I found my bag and started digging through it. The phone was gone but something else was still there. Edward's broken phone—the one he had left under the bed in my room. He either hadn't seen it or assumed it was worthless.

With shaking hands, I pulled it out and pressed the button to turn it on. The screen was cracked but that didn't mean the phone itself wouldn't work.

Just then I heard the lock jingle and the door began to open. A beam of sunlight streamed through the open window and illuminated the opening. The light grew brighter and wider as the door swung open to reveal a Goddess.

The entire room was bathed in buttery yellow sunlight as she walked in and shut the door behind her. Her golden hair glistened and her pale, white skin sparkled. Kind, amber eyes met mine.

She walked towards me, with her arms outstretched, each footstep leaving a trail of flower petals. Her dress was white and long and flowing. She had a garland of flowers in her hair. I trusted her.

I walked towards her open arms and she hugged me tight. "I want to go home," I said. "I don't want to become a vampire."

The sunlight disappeared and it was Rosalie who held me.

"I have a plan, Bella."

***