I felt a gentle tug at my hands, which were pushed against my ears trying to block all sounds. I slowly, with hesitation began to open my eyes and allowed my hands to be pulled away. I knew everyone had gone inside except Edward, and I could actually sense where they were in the house. It was an odd feeling.

As Edwards's strong arms enveloped my arms around me under his, I gained awareness of all the events that had unfolded since I awoke. I can't believe I kicked Carlisle! I felt horrible and absolutely mortified. And I can't believe I could move things with my mind, and I threw everyone around the room. That was completely absurd! And the dead animals and all that blood…how utterly horrid!

I began dry heaving, wanting to get rid of everything I had just sucked in, but I knew it was pointless. The blood that I had fed on did not go to my stomach. So, I just wept with no release of tears.

I realized I was shaking uncontrollably and I had closed my eyes again. I felt Edward strengthen his grip on me. His skin felt different and his scent swarmed all around me. It was just as delicious of a smell as before, but so much more powerful and masculine. His skin was no longer cold and rock hard, but it wasn't soft or warm either – it just felt normal against mine. He was humming his lullaby oh so softly into my ear trying to soothe me, rocking me back and forth - like a child. He gently stood up, still holding me and swiftly walked into our cottage.

Edward sat me down on the couch and pulled me to his chest. We sat there an immeasurable amount of time, and as my trembling calmed, I noticed the looming sky growing darker by the minute. I took in my surroundings, looking at my home for the first time with new eyes. My sight felt so much more enhanced and when I focused on a specific point I could see intricate details, such as the paint strokes on the walls or the folds of thread on fabric.

After a full assessment of my surroundings, I met his eyes. I was held in a trance staring at the liquid topaz that seemed to be seeping into my soul.

"Are you okay Bella?" His lilting voice was like wind whispering in my ear. And it was thick with concern.

At first I could not speak. I could not find my voice. Then I stuttered. "I …I … I don't know." I took in a deep gasp as the words flowed out of my mouth. My voice was so different. It sounded like silk.

"What? What is it?" Edward questioned my gasp.

"My voice - it feels so different. Smooth like glass." I was in awe.

Edward chuckled to himself, and it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard.

"Yes, it does sound a bit different. Not that your voice was not lovely before, but if I had a beating heart, it would surely stop it." He mused and brushed his lips to my forehead.

"Is everyone mad at me?" I asked in a low voice with my head down.

Edward lifted my chin with his fingers and looked deep into my eyes, swimming through me.

"No, Bella, of course no one is mad at you. Concerned maybe, but not mad. Remember what we have been preparing you for… remember all our stories we shared. Heck, you were nothing compared to Emmett!" He laughed softly lost in his memory.

I couldn't help but believe every word Edward said. It was so weird, but I had complete and utter understanding and trust in him. I couldn't name the feeling, but it was as if he would know what to do no matter what. I felt apart of him now.

"Why don't you take a nice hot shower that will ease your spirit and help you clean up?" He suggested with a sincere smile.

I looked down at myself and was appalled. I was filled with blood, animal hair, and dirt. I was so embarrassed, I just leaned down and put my head in my hands.

Edward knelt in front of me and grabbed me by the shoulders.

"You look absolutely breathtaking to me." He leaned forward and kissed me. This kiss was unlike any of our others. Electricity flowed through us and an aura of lust. He clutched me into him wrapping his arms tight around me and through my hair, as I used to do to him when I was human.

As he slowly pulled away, my eyes remained closed and I breathed in his heady scent. He smelled absolutely tempting. My body tingled in a way I had never felt before.

"Look at me Bella" Edward commanded in a deep voice, husky voice.

I slowly opened my eyes, and immediately drowned into his. "Wow!" I breathed.

"Now that's an understatement." We both laughed at the sheer irony of the situation compared to when we had our first kiss.

"I guess I should go shower now." I stood up and headed towards our bathroom.

As I reached in to turn on the shower, Edward pulled on my arm. "Let me." He said with a crooked grin. I couldn't help but smile widely back.

"I will be right out here if you need me. Just say my name." He instructed.

He turned the knob on the shower to steaming, gave me a kiss on the cheek, and disappeared.

I stripped out of my soiled clothes and threw them on the floor. As I turned to look in the mirror, I gasped at the site in front of me. My body looked so different. My muscles were defined and I had developed a curvaceous figure. I would have been impressed if not for the caked on blood and mud. As I continued my assessment, I noticed my hair was longer and fuller. Then my eyes met my eyes in the mirror and I screamed in horror.

Edward came rushing in, and realizing what I'd done, I immediately ran into the closet to hide.

How embarrassing! Oh, I just wanted to crawl in a hole and die. I don't know why I screamed, I know my eyes would be red, but it was just so freaky. They made me look like a monster. Then Edward ran in seeing me fully exposed.

"Are you okay Bella?" He asked anxiously.

"Get out of here" I screeched.

"It's okay Bella, I didn't see anything. You ran so quick into the closet, you were a blur. Please don't be embarrassed." I could hear him fighting a smile. "What happened."

I grabbed a towel from a nearby shelf, and wrapped it around me. Then I meekly stepped out of the closet.

"It was my eyes. Edward, I look like a killer, a monster!" I was on the verge of hysterics.

"Shhh….shhhh…." He pulled me into a tight hug that made me feel like I was swimming in comfort. "You are not a monster. You are absolutely lovely. Look for yourself."

He tried to turn me towards the mirror, but I stubbornly refused.

"Come on Bella, look again. I promise it will be okay." He urged.

I allowed him to turn me around and he wrapped his arms around my waist, just under my breasts. Hugging me so close to his body felt so nice, so right.

At first my I kept my eyes sealed shut. Then with some coaxing from Edward, I gradually opened them again. But this time, I didn't see a monster. I saw two of the most beautiful creatures. I finally could match Edward's beauty. The thought brought a smile to my face and my teeth glimmered in the mirror.

I don't know how long I was in the shower, but the hot water felt so good dripping down my body. As I got out, I felt one hundred times better. I quickly got dressed, eager to see Edward and discuss the many questions that were floating in my mind.

I sat down on the couch, my hair still dripping wet.

"Well, you look like you feel much better." Edward grinned and their seemed to be some relief in his voice.

"Actually, I feel horrible about kicking Carlisle, and fighting against you. It was a weird feeling, but as I was doing it, I knew it was wrong. Like something in me was telling me not to fight you or Carlisle. But, I didn't really think about Emmett or Jasper."

"That was your instinct telling you not to go against your elders. Since I changed you, you feel a desire to follow my instruction and not go against me - my venom has flowed through you and is embedded now in your venom, creating an unbreakable bond. But, you also have that bond with the one who created me, as part of his venom was in mine. The feeling to not disobey is stronger with Carlisle because he is a part of me, therefore making him higher in rank than myself and having a more powerful influence on you."

Uhhh … what! I was not expecting him to say that.

"Uh, that is an interesting bit of information you could have shared with me earlier. I had no idea there were ranks." I scowled. I don't know why this made me angry; I was more embarrassed than anything.

"That is one reason why the Volturri have so much power. It didn't seem necessary at the time to tell you. It really is not a big deal. It is just predatory instincts for our type. It would be like not wanting to disobey your mother or father, or the chief of a tribe." He spoke low and gentle, as if not wanting to awake the monster within me.

"So you are like my father!" I didn't mean for it to come out as loud as it did. I really needed to get used to controlling my voice.

Edward let out a low, quiet laughter and brought his hand to my cheek. "I guess you could kind of look at it like that. But I don't Bella. I will never use that to control you. You have my word. You are my partner, my mate, my soul mate – always and foremost."

"So, how much control can you have over someone you've changed?" I asked curiously.

"Well, as you can see, you can fight it like you did. It is more of a feeling of not wanting to disobey. Not feeling right about it. The older the vampire, the stronger the call is. So, older vampires, such as the Volturri, can use it as an advantage because the one's they create almost always become their servants."

I shuddered at the thought.

"Enough talk about that. How are you really feeling Bella?"

"Different. A bit edgy and nervous. And I have a constant burning in the back of my throat." I reached up and put my hand around my throat as if the touch would soothe the ache.

"That is normal. We should hunt soon again then to try to ease your discomfort -" He stopped when he saw the expression on my face. I did not want to kill an animal again, and I had just gotten all cleaned up.

"It is better than killing a human Bella, and it gets easier, I promise. Besides, if we wait too long, then bloodlust will consume you again – and we don't want that to happen without control of your power first."

My power! "Edward, honestly, I have no idea how I did that. It just happened. I-I am so sorry I threw you against a wall."

"I must say we were all taken back. It is such a strong power, but we always knew you were something special." He grinned slyly.

"I don't think I could do it again if I tried. It was probably a fluke" I tried focusing on picking up the coffee table with my mind and it didn't budge.

"Well, usually powers such as those only come out at first when the host is in danger. You were confused, wanted to feed, and we were holding you down. Your body naturally reacted. Within time and training, you will be able to gain control of these powers and use them at your own free will."

"Why was I blindfolded?"

"Carlisle figured out that you have to make eye contact with something to move it."

"I don't want to feed again. What if I lost control again? Who knows who I would hurt?"

"Don't worry we will take precautions. So, do you think you are up to saying hi to everyone? They are about to jump through the roof with excitement over at the house. If it is too soon, that is completely understandable as well. The decision is yours. What would you like to do?"

I was really nervous to see everyone. And I was embarrassed by my previous behavior. I stared at my knees fidgeting with my wet hair, unable to answer.

"Bella, no one is judging you. The way you behaved is normal. Like I said before, you have nothing to be ashamed of - especially after hearing all our stories." His voice was like velvet and it comforted me.

"Okay, if you think it is really okay." I said reluctantly in the smallest of whispers.

"I think it will be wonderful."

We stood up to go greet our family together for the first time.