Chapter Ten

**Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Twilight characters. Stephenie Meyer is the sole owner of the Twilight series.

Edward's gaze held me in place. I wanted to run, but then that would only lead to a chase. And I really don't feel like being chased right now- even though I would most likely win that race.

At this moment, I really wish I could get inside his head. What was he thinking? Did my revenge work? Is he horrified? Did the message get to him loud and clear yet?

I licked my lips tasting the sweet blood. My hands were also covered in blood, and oh what the hell, I licked each of my fingers, too, trying to savor the mouth-watering taste.

When I looked back up, there was Edward surrounded by the rest of his family. The blonde pushed her way up to Edward and wrapped her hands around his waist in a trying-to-be-comforting way. I watched as everyone's eyes held horror and disgust…Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, Alice…

Then I returned my gaze back to Edward."See what you did to me?" I whispered, knowing without a doubt that all of them could hear me. Then Edward's face just…it...just broke.

A thought slowly began to occur to me in the few seconds that passed. Maybe they'll see me as a threat and have to kill me. Honestly, that wouldn't be too bad. I want to die. I've always wanted to die since the day he left me. Yeah, I know I wanted to get my revenge- that was just a distraction for me. That kept me extremely busy for the past few years…but now that I've got it, there isn't much left for me to do anymore. So why run? Why struggle? They might be the only ones to give me the sweet escape I've been craving for so many years.

Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper approached me cautiously while expertly avoiding all of the bodies surrounding me. I didn't move an inch…I just stood there watching. What else was I supposed to do? I felt drained of all emotions. I just wanted this to end. I'm sick of living this second life.

(( Edward P.O.V.)

Bella's gaze had me rooted to the spot. I could barely move. Her eyes used to hold so much life…now there's nothing in them except emptiness.

It's my fault. If only I didn't tell Alice to block visions about Bella then maybe I would have seen this coming. Maybe I could have saved her.

My family came out on the porch after only a few seconds…but it felt like ages. Everyone was in shock and Jasper tried controlling it, but it was tough to soothe emotions when you're feeling the same way.

Oh god, what has she done? Esme thought.

Shit. Not good at all. Emmett's thoughts continued with a string of profanities.

Alice was blaming herself for not seeing this sooner.

Jasper was struggling not only with the emotions, but with the sight of blood everywhere. It took him a lot of energy to stay composed, but he was able to do it. He's come a long way.

Rosalie was in shock. Her thoughts were crazy. Most of them were along the lines of how little Bella could do all of this.

Carlisle, of course, was strategizing a plan in his head of what to do next. Horror fled through me when he had the fleeting thought of having to kill Bella.

And Bennett…well, she was dead set on comforting me. I felt her arms wrap around my waist in a hug.

Even though she's been with us the shortest amount of time, she knew everything about my past- especially the parts about Bella. Ever since we saved her in the woods a couple of years ago, she's had her mind set on being Bella's replacement. After we heard of Bella's- fake- death, I gave up hope. I wanted to run to the Volturi…I really did. But for some reason I didn't. I had given up with pushing Bennett away- it took too much energy. This is going to sound selfish…but when I was with Bennett, I would try so hard to imagine her as Bella.

Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper began making their way over towards Bella...and I was so scared of what was going to happen. Was she going to run? What were they going to do? Carlisle had his thoughts blocked from mine…he was reciting a bunch of Latin terms used in the medical field. What was he planning?

I wanted to run to my Bella. But I couldn't. I wanted so badly to have her in my arms, and to comfort her. I wanted her to be the Bella I used to know, not this lifeless creature. I wanted to feel her head pushed up against my chest and smell her strawberry scented shampoo.

Bella probably hated me. She has to hate me for doing this. I was so stupid to leave her. I really was….because look at the monster I've created.

Alice and Bennett both tried to convince me to come inside. Esme agreed with them. They all said I needed to rest. Rest? I'm a vampire. I don't need rest. I need to be with Bella. I need to fix her. I need to get the life back into her eyes…I have to…

Reluctantly, I followed the ladies back into the house. They all know how I feel about Bella. They know how much this is killing me inside. I could hear it in their thoughts. The concern, the worry, the fear. I couldn't bear to look at Bella any longer. This isn't how I wanted to remember her…this horrifying nightmare. I felt as if I was breaking all over again…like the day I left Bella…and she believed my lie so easily…this is too much to bear…

(( Bella P.O.V. ))

"Are you going to kill me?" I asked Carlisle softly.

His eyes held so many emotions like all the others. "We might have to if you keep this up."

Emmett's strong hands clamped down on my shoulders, and Jasper was sending waves of calmness towards me. He could try all he wanted to calm me down, but that's the thing. I already am calm. I'm ready to die, and I'm the calmest person in the world right now.

"Are you going to run like last time?" Carlisle questioned. "Because we really need to talk."

Talk. "Why won't you just kill me already? Stop prolonging it and just get it over with."

"You want to die?" Jasper asked suddenly, sensing my emotions.

"Yes."

The three vampires shared a look. I didn't bother watching or listening to what they had to say. I felt like an empty shell that might collapse at any moment. Why are they taking so long to kill me? Can't they do it already?

"Bella," Carlisle sighed running a hand through his hair. "We're not going to kill you. We can't. You were like another daughter to us-"

"Another daughter you left."

Carlisle winced but chose to ignore that comment. "We're going to help you. We're going to figure out what's going on, and see if we can get things under control."

"There's nothing wrong with me."

"You just murdered a ton of people!" Emmett yelled.

I flinched at the sound of his booming voice."Yeah and you should kill me because I'm a threat, right?"

Carlisle was struggling for his words. "Well, we should but we can't. You mean too much to us."

Lie.

I looked back up to the empty porch. Edward was gone, of course. If I'm out of sight then I'm out of mind. I'm shocked he's not the one out here trying to kill me. Or he's probably too busy with his stupid girlfriend to even give a shit about me.

"I think we need to go inside and talk, Bella."

"But you were supposed to kill me."

Carlisle's eyes held pain and indecision. Why was everyone in so much shock? Is it because I killed so many people? No, it couldn't be. Of course that's the reason. All three of the Cullens in front of me seemed too shocked for words.

"Emmett, Jasper I need you to get rid of all these bodies. I think the best way is to burn them somewhere…find an abandoned building a few towns over. It's the only thing I can think of." Carlisle gaze turned back to mine. "Bella, are you willing to cooperate with me and come inside to talk?" Carlisle is always the one to take control of a horrific situation.

No. Not at all. Despite this fact though, I followed him into the house while Emmett and Jasper set to work.

Everyone was sitting in the living room with somber expressions. Well, everyone except for Bennett and Edward. They were nowhere in sight. "Oh, come on. No one of importance to you died tonight," I mumbled as I followed Carlisle up the stairs to, I'm guessing, his office.

I'm not sure who it was, but very faintly I heard someone whisper, "But the Bella we know did."

I took a seat in the chair opposite of Carlisle. "Okay," I said. "Talk."

"Look, Bella, you probably already know this but I highly disapprove of your lifestyle. You can't just go around murdering people! It could get you in a lot of trouble one day. And bringing the bodies here? What were you thinking?"

"Well at first I wanted to scare you out of this town. I wanted you to leave and then I wouldn't have to move again. But then as the night wore on, I had another idea. I figured if I did this, then you would have to kill me. I would be too much of a threat to your lifestyle. But here I am. Still a vampire and not dead."

"Why do you want to die?"

"Dying is easier than having to live all eternity alone."

Carlisle was quiet for a long moment. I could see the gears turning in that wise little head of his. "What if you stayed here with us?"

"Why would I want to do that? You were the ones who left me in the first place. There's no telling if you're going to wind up doing it again."

"I know you're not going to want to believe this, but Edward made us leave. We all love you very much. Like I said earlier, you were like another daughter to us."

"Edward really couldn't stand me that much so he made you guys leave, too?"

"No, Bella. Listen, Edward made us leave because he wanted to protect you. It was really stupid of him to do, but he had the thought in his head that if he left, you'd be safe from our kind. He loved you very much- he still loves you."

No. This was bullshit. I'm not going to believe any of this. "Oh yeah, and if he still loves me then why does he have his arm around that blonde chick?"

"Bennett," Carlisle sighed. "I honestly don't know what's going on there. Edward barely talks to any of us now. We have no idea what's going on with him…but trust me, the one thing I do know is that Edward cares about you a lot."

He shouldn't have left me. None of them should have left me. They know I'm a danger magnet. They should have known I wasn't going to be safe.

Suddenly, a fiery surge fled through my system and all my emotions came crashing down at once.

Right, if Edward really cared then that's exactly why he's got that blonde bimbo wrapped around his waist. He probably loathes the idea of me even being here…it probably drives him crazy. So what would be more fun than staying here and being able to torture him on a daily basis?

A smile broke out across my face. That's right. I'm back. No more stupid helpless Bella like I was a few minutes ago. That was a huge moment of weakness that I certainly won't allow to happen again. Just pretend it never happened and that weakness will disappear.

"Okay. I'll stay on one condition."

Carlisle raised his eyebrows. "And I have a few conditions of my own like no more mass murders."

"Deal. But I'm not converting to your diet of animals. I still get to feed on humans regularly."

Carlisle looked solemn, but he must have realized this was the only way to get me to stay. I always get what I want. "Alright. But only feed when the need arises, and someone will have to accompany you when you do this."

It's a small sacrifice I have to make. Only one human every few days compared to three or four humans a night. I can do it, because in the end all of this will be worth it. I can now torture that idiot from the inside.

This should be fun.

**I want to thank ya'll for all the reviews! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Maybe if I get eleven reviews then I'll post up chapter eleven…once again, eleven for eleven? If it's not too much to ask…? Let me know what you thought of this chapter! **