I do not own Twilight. I just enjoy writing stories about them.

Previously

Another man, or vampire from the speed he had, rushed over and pulled the vampire off Brice. He was just lying there, I could tell he was in pain. But he couldn't move, he had lost too much blood.

Finally I was released crawling over to him on my hands and knees, as I pulled his head into my lap smoothing the hair from his face, "You can't leave me Brice. I can't do this without you."

He grabbed my hand gripping it tightly, "You need to be brave little sister. I couldn't just let him feed on you now could I?"

Pulling his hand to my lips kissing it, "I love you big brother."

He gave me a small smile before closing his eyes for the final time whispering back, "love you too….."

Everything was blurred when I felt someone pick me up and start heading out of the camp. Brice's body still lying dead in the sand.

Chapter 11

Arriving at their hill top village as they drove the bus into the city stopping only when they arrived in the center of the city.

Aro and Carlisle standing in wait as Felix and Jasper came out first letting them know how many had been saved.

Aro nodded as he watched the people exit the bus slowly.

Carlisle looked around, "Jasper? Where is Charlie?"

Jasper looked at the van, "He is helping his daughter off. She was one of the worst…."

Carlisle just stared at Jasper, "His daughter?"

Felix nodded, "Yes, Jasper said you had searched for her after the initial fall out. He found her in one of Maria's… cells."

Jasper swallowed, "She'd been there a while it looked, quite a few injuries inflicted from where they forcefully withdrew blood. The ones that had already been through the process are considerably weak and need time to gain their strength back."

Carlisle nodded as he looked at Aro, "Well they don't need to comply with anything until they are well enough to decide if they are staying."

Aro looked as if he was going to reply when Charlie stepped out of the bus holding a small slip of a girl upright. Jasper and Felix both stepped forward helping Charlie down until they were on the flat ground.

Carlisle walked over slowly putting his hand on her wrist to check her pulse, however everyone stilled as the previously still girl flinched her hand away as her head shot up. Fear and the need to survive prominent in her darkened eyes.

Shaking her head as she gripped onto Charlie's jacket, "No. no. no. His skin is like their… no too cold. Don't…don't touch me!"

She was starting to shake uncontrollably as her eyes darted to all the men surrounding her like a trapped wild animal.

Charlie gripped her arms, "They won't hurt you… You are safe here. I promise."

She wasn't having any of it though as she kept trying to push away from the man with white blond hair.

Finally Charlie wrapped his arms around her tighter walking backwards, "I am taking her home. We can discuss more of what happened later."

Jasper and Felix parted ways behind Charlie as he slowly coaxed the girl towards his home right off the main court.

Once inside he shut the door he looked up the stairs, "Jolene? Are you here?"

Hearing a door shut followed by light footsteps coming down the stairs, "Charlie?"

Jolene stalled at the bottom of the stairs seeing Charlie holding up what looked like a small girl. Her eyes widened seeing her state as she pulled out a chair so Charlie could set her down.

Charlie knelt down pushing the girls limp hair off her gaunt face, "Isabella I am here for you. You are safe here. I don't know what happened to you, but I am so sorry it did. I am going to take care of you."

-ITE-

Isa POV – 5 days later

Sitting on my small bed in the room I shared with another girl that my father had taken in, Jolene.

She seemed nice although she was rarely around unless she was babysitting, apparently she had a boyfriend on top of her 'job'. My father had gone to a few meetings and had made sure Jolene had been here to sit with me. Otherwise he had apparently been given a break to watch over me.

I hadn't spoken since my first day here, I liked the quiet. My mind couldn't stop turning over and over. It was already loud enough.

Sighing as I looked out the window wishing Brice was still with me, he had been my protection since I was 13. I glanced over at the small calendar in the room. April. Resting my chin on my knees as I shot my eyes out the window realizing I would be 17 in 5 months.

But this time Brice wouldn't be here.

Stilling as I heard the door open downstairs, halting my breathing listening as the softly came up the stairs. The sound of the footprints even and sure of their footing. At least I know it wasn't a walker. Vampire either, since those bastards you never could hear coming until they were right on you.

The door opened slowly as Jolene popped her head in the room, "Hi there."

Walking in sitting on her bed as she stared at me. The girl was pretty and she had been as kind as she could to me given my situation. She was probably afraid I was going to crack.

Glancing out the window seeing the guards walking around in the daylight, their exposed skin shining in the sunlight.

I was always on edge just waiting for them to storm in my room to drag me away for my blood. They were all the same.

Closing my eyes and then look back over at Jolene only to be startled seeing a guy sitting on her bed watching her pulling out a new shirt and pair of shorts. "I am just going to go and change I'll be right back. Oh and this is Edward Isabella. He helps me out working at the hospital."

Glancing back at him seeing his yellow eyes I pushed myself against the wall. Swallowing deeply as he gave me a small smile causing my heart to slam against my ribs, my terror rising throughout my body.

Leaning forward as leaned his elbows on his knees, "I am not going to hurt you Isabella. None of us will hurt you."

Shaking my head not being able to stop the tears as I heard my father's footsteps coming up the stairs. "Jolene did I hear you come in?"

Pausing in the door as he looked at me and then to Edward sitting across from my on Jolene's bed. "What is going on? Isabella are you alright?"

He took two steps across the room and sat on my bed as I launched my arms around him.

I heard the other bed shift slightly, "I was just waiting for Jolene, she is changing in the other room. I didn't think your daughter was still this scared."

I felt Charlie running his hand up and down my back trying to calm me down, "It is alright Edward. But maybe you shouldn't get so close to Isabella until she is ready."

I felt Charlie trying to lift my gaze to his so I complied seeing his sad smile, "Isabella, "I know I say it daily. However, there really won't hurt you. We have spoken to some of the others and…. We think we have an idea of what happened to you at Maria's camp. They are not going to force anything on you here."

I couldn't help the bombardment of questions that boomed around in my head, "The… the blond man said I would have to comply…. That is what they said."

I could see the realization in my father's eyes when he realized what I meant. Shaking his head, "Isabella look at me. Yes there are rules here, and they are very different then what we had before. Yes, we do give blood to help the vampires feed, however no one is hurt, tortured or killed in the process. It was a compromise we made for protection. And you are only 16, it doesn't take effect until you are 18. There…. There are other things as well. However we can talk about those later."

Glancing over noticing Jolene was now in the room as well before she spoke, "No one is going to expect you to give blood right now. And even if you were of age, it is one bag. We don't drain people to the brink of death, far, far from it."

The male nodded, "You don't need to worry about me anyways. I haven't drank from a human in over 50 years."

Looking back at my father, "What about the walkers? They come at night…."

His face smiled brighter, "One of the upsides to being with vampires is that they don't sleep and have great night vision. You can sleep soundly here."

Closing my eyes before opening them, "I hate sleeping. Either something tries to kill you or the nightmares come."

He sighed pulling me closer wrapping his arms around me and I heard Jolene leave the room before I sat back noticing we were now alone. Looking back up, "The man who pulled me from Brice…. He was a vampire wasn't he? I fought to go back… but it was no use."

Seeing Charlie sigh as he nodded, "I am not sure who it was though, but I was the only human on that mission. From what is sounds like, he knew Brice was gone. It would have been pointless to let you go. With the storm we were in….talking you through it wasn't an option."

Nodding my head, "I just…. Don't let them touch me. Please?"

He smiled taking my hand in his, "Will you at least come outside? Maybe meet them? I will tell them you do not wish to me touched. They are good people for the most part."

Swallowing as I nodded. He stood up holding his hand out to me as I took it. Following him down the stairs and out the front door for the first time in a week. It did feel good to be outside, even if the sunshine was burning my eyes.

Suddenly three men walked over as I ducked behind my father. He just patted my arm nodded to the men. "Jasper, Felix, and Demetri good to see you all. What can I do for you?"

They all looked at me for a moment before the large man in the center spoke, "I see you are doing better."

I wasn't really sure how to respond so I decided honesty was the bed route, "I am trying not to run back in the house right now."

The tall thin man next to him grinned and shook his head, his blond lock bouncing slightly with the movement, "We won't hurt you. But honesty is a good thing. Your still scared, but it is diminishing…."

Furrowing my brows at him, "What do you mean?"

They all chuckled, including my father causing a bubble of anger to appear in my gut. Before I could say anything the man spoke again, "All in good nature, no need to get angry. I am what you call an empath. I can feel your emotions among other things."

Glancing at him, "Well then you know I am curious about your last statement then…."

He smiled, "I can manipulate your emotions if I wanted too, but I don't." He stepped forward slightly. "I am Jasper." Pointing to the man next to him that spoke earlier, "This is Felix and the short angry man next to him is Demetri."

Biting into my bottom lip to prevent the smirk threatening to appear seeing the 'short man' growl before walking off.

Felix and Jasper walked around with my father and I for a while showing me around the town.

Stepping through a stone archway I noticed the fields surrounding the city as Felix stepped up beside me, "Every human takes turns tending to the fields, we vampires tend to help if needed. However we mostly stand guard for the occasional… walker, is the term I believe you used."

Looking up at him I nodded, "Yes. After the fall out Brice and I landed with a group of people for a while. That is what they called them and it kind of stuck."

He nodded, "Where they the group we found you with?"

Shaking my head softly, "No, there was an attack and we all ended up going separate ways. Brice and I were alone for a while. Then we met up with a few others….. but they are all dead now. Brice….. he… he was trying to help me get to Washington."

Looking up at Felix I noticed the confused look in his eyes, "What?"

He simply shook his head, "You father lived in Washington correct?"

I just nodded and he continued, "We found you in Texas… you were trying to walk from Texas to Washington?"

I couldn't help the smile, "No, I was walking to Washington from Florida…..and made it to Texas before…. Before we were finally caught."

He just stared out, "You're a strong woman Isabella Swan. You were a mere child when you set out."

Frowning at him, "13… I was 13. I was old enough to learn how to fire a bow, run from walkers, drive a car and fire a gun. I hardly call that a child."

He just stared at me, "Yes, but you should have been a child." Then he turned and walked away without another word.

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