I have to take a moment to say something…wow…I never thought that these many countries looked up stories. More importantly that they looked at mine.

So Thank you—I feel humbled—to UK, Canada, Norway, Germany, Mexico, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Greece, Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Bulgaria, Finland, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Netherlands, Estonia, and Argentina.

I don't care that these people barely glanced at my story, it's nice enough to see that it interested them for as short or as long a time.

Of course, I didn't forget the US.

Thanks to all of you—even if you don't leave me reviews—I see that my story has some appeal.

So now back to the story…

The next day came and went. On the following Monday, Bella wasn't going with her uncle. She was going with Jasmine to help her finish off her exhibit. Of course, Bella had tried to convince them otherwise but it was to no avail. She had to get her fill of culture or at least something besides the hospital and the school.

She entered a Mediterranean styled villa at the western edge of town. It was supposed to be the museum. It was dark and air was humid and muggy.

She blindly followed Jasmine to the back. The lights were turned on and they continued to another section. It was closed off. Inside there were no lights. Just dim lamps set up around the individual exhibits. Inside there were mannequins dressed as mythical monsters. The legends were of witches who turned to monkeys, the demonic white dog and its angelic black counterpart, the fabled Devil's Rose, the bride, the innocent child, the Indian princess and at the far back the legend of the Cold Ones.

The mannequin was dressed in an 18th century European garb. Its skin was paled, to an extreme, while the eyes were a deep crimson. Bella gasped as she remembered the same set of eyes in Forks and here. A deep mysterious hum of music filled the background. It added the right amount of menace.

"Do you like it?" Jasmine asked from behind causing Bella to jump.

"What's the story behind this legend?" Bella couldn't help but be curious.

"Oh, well it's said that during the time of colonization, Natives first encounter with pale faces. These pale faces were like no other, their eyes were red and they had superpowers. The natives considered them Gods and built temples and had sacrifices to appease these deadly Gods. They wouldn't stay but would come periodically. They always came around twilight, avoiding the sun.

"Everything was fine while the sacrifices were made but one day a new God appeared and killed the purest and most beautiful princess the tribe had. The sight was frightening; the God seduced the princess to willingly go to him. In an instant the thing just lunged on the unsuspecting princess and her blood spilled over his lips. She didn't scream, she just smiled as her life was slipping.

"The chief was angered by the loss that they tried to kill the God. Only three people survived. They spread the story of the demise of the town and since then it has been rumored that these Cold ones, these Gods walk the earth alongside us." Jasmine's mysterious voice added to the effect. It caused Bella's blood to cool and her body trembled.

"Why are they called the 'Cold ones'?"

"The ancient natives said it was because their skin was ice pale and because they were ice cold. Even in the humid and searing heat of the tropical jungle these Gods never tanned and their temperature never warmed."

Another shiver ran down Bella's back as she remembered the uncharacteristic coolness of Edward.

"How was it that the tribe died? I mean it was what, a hundred people against one?"

Jasmine laughed an ominous laugh. "Because these Gods were super strong and super fast. They were faster and better than their best warriors. That is why they did the sacrifices, because they would rather one or two die instead of the whole tribe."

She shook her head in disapproval. "What a crazy legend huh?" it was a rhetorical question yet Bella couldn't help but think about it. Super strength—just like when Edward saved her from the van. Super speed—like the one it took to travel two blocks in less than a second. And more than anything how he struggled when he was anywhere near her. Does her blood tempt him? She had never thought about it.

"Did they all have red eyes?"

"Umm…" Jasmine tapped her chin with her index finger as she thought. "You know…I think I remember something about the good Gods, they had different eyes. I can't remember exactly but it seemed that they didn't drink human blood. They were the ones that hunted the Jaguar and Panther. They were considered the benevolent ones. I can't remember what their eyes would have been though."

She started mumbling to herself as she thought of the answer. It was several minutes later and the menacing music started grating against Bella's composure, slowly increasing the fear.

"The sun Gods, that's it!" Jasmine's triumphant exclamation made Bella jump. "Yes, they were the good Gods; they had the same colored eyes as the sun. They came much later, about two hundred years after the colonization of this area. It was just one, at first, but every time they came back they multiplied. They liked to live in the foggy area of the mountains and they walked during the day."

Jasmine spoke like she had gotten the daily double, an all-or-nothing question in Jeopardy.

"That's…interesting." Bella answered.

For the rest of the day she went through the motions but her mind was trying to process the information. It was all just too conveniently similar. But could they really be? They had to be something; of this she was absolutely certain.

They reached home and while Jasmine prepared a meal Bella wandered aimlessly through the backyard.

In her thinking, she was absolutely certain of three things.

Edward Cullen was not a human—even if she didn't know what it was, that for some reason she was in danger, and that she was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

She ended up in her room and as she stared at the ceiling her mind swirled at the speed of light. She fell asleep silently.

She dreamed of Edward and of everything she wished she could do. She wished to be able to travel the world with Edward by her side, to love him forever, every single day and second of forever. That they could see the beautiful sunrise as their lives together began. She saw herself happy, that was more than anything she could wish for.

"Bella! Bella wake up. Your uncle called and we're going to meet up together in town. So no dinner cooked tonight. Let's go." Jasmine spoke through the door.

Bella got up and went outside. She went inside the car and was feeling for once in control of her life.

"You look much better." Jasmine commented.

"yeah, I guess I still needed more sleep."

The reached town as the sun was beginning to lower itself on the horizon.

They ate at the small restaurant at the edge of the square. Jaime was there so Bella kept her talking and interacting to a bare minimum. She didn't eat; she couldn't, so she just looked around as if expecting him to drop by.

"I'm going to go take a walk around the park. I'll be back soon." She announced as she got up.

"Do you want someone to go with you?" Lenny asked seriously.

"As sweet as that is, I think I can find my way back." She shrugged.

She walked far away from them. She walked aimlessly staring at the houses and the night activities around the town. As she turned a corner she realized that she was being followed.

Panic was starting to get the best of her. She couldn't run it wouldn't help at all. She could scream but as she looked everywhere she realized that she was at the edge of town and there was no one nearby.

She quickened her walk and made a wrong turn. She ended up facing a wall in a solitary alley. There was a small ray of light that came in from the main street.

The man closed in on her. She turned around to face him getting ready to fight him off with all her strength.

She took in a deep breath and the man made his way closer and closer. Laughing with evident satisfaction.

"Aren't you a sweet little thing?" the voice and the words stopped her intended scream short.

"Jaime?" she asked incredulous. She squinted her eyes hoping that it would let her see him better.

A low, dark, menacing chuckle echoed through the empty alley. Bella tried to regain some composure but she still felt in danger.

"Aren't you supposed to be with my uncle? He won't like it if he sees that both of us are gone."

"Don't worry about him. After tonight there will be nothing for you to worry about."

Bella took several steps back aware of his hidden threat. She tripped on a loose stone and fell down. She tried to scramble up. By the time she was standing he had closed the gap. He grabbed her arms with brutal force and his mouth forcefully kissed her neck and face. She tried to squirm free.

"No, please" she begged. He used one hand to yank the top of her shirt, it ripped in two. He pulled on the strap of her bra and the small hooks dug deep into her back. Her breathing became ragged and tears began to fall as the pain and fear combined. She continued to fight but it was to no use.

"Please, Jaime. Don't do this. My uncle will be angry and he'll kill you." Her threats were inconsequential. In Jaime's mind, he had already resolved to take his fill of the beautiful Bella and to make sure she never spoke to anyone about it again.

As Bella scratched his face he pulled her away by the hair. He punched her, causing her lip to bleed and yanked her to the ground. She was too terrified to function. Her mind was starting to pull away from reality, to save her from the torture.

"John should be the last of his worries." Both Bella and Jaime stopped as they recognized the voice. The beautiful, enigmatic voice that held so much anger and menace within it.

"Edward" Bella breathed. Her instant relief was more than enough. She didn't know what would happen but she was going to be okay because he was there. Jaime let go of Bella's hair and faced Edward ready to gut him with the knife he had behind his back.

"No… Edward… Don't." Bella begged.

"I'm not sure I can anymore Bella." His voice was strained, he spoke through his teeth.

"What are you going to do pretty boy?" Jaime taunted. "What? Do you want a piece too? I'll let you have seconds."

A guttural snarl echoed and Jaime faltered. He took a step back suddenly afraid.

"You…you're one of them." Jaime managed to mumble before Edward cut the distance between them in less than a second. With one hand, Edward had Jaime two feet off the air.

Bella couldn't speak. She stared wide-eyed at the sight in front of her.

Jaime shook as the air supply to his lungs was being strangled off. In another swift move Edward lowered him and bit into his neck. The blood flowed freely and willingly.

It took Edward a couple of seconds to fully drink Jaime dry. He threw the still body with ease. His reddening eyes stared at Bella; he focused on the red trail of blood that came out of her mouth and trickled down her neck. The quickened pulse made her blood even more enticing.

His body was rigid, ramrod straight. But his wild eyes didn't stop looking at Bella. Appraising her as the next—and the most delicious—meal. But he didn't move. His was mind warring with his instincts. He had done the most unthinkable act, he had exposed himself. And he had placed Bella in mortal danger.

She tried to clean the blood off, guessing that it was making it hard on him.

She stood, covering her chest as best she could, and stared at Edward. They stood still for what seemed an eternity. She didn't run, she didn't scream, she stayed her ground. It was this way or no way. She was certain that no matter what would happen to her, she would be with Edward. Even if by doing so she was sealing her death.

The energy around once again flickered with the same intense electricity of the last time they were together.

After what seemed another eternity, Edward started loosening up. Bella managed to take a staggered breath. It was all she could do. She started losing her bearings and her body was failing to respond. Finally the shock was catching up to her as the adrenaline ebbed from her system. Edward was there catching her before she hit the ground.

"Bella." It was his last breath, his only breath. He held her close to him. She awoke shortly after and tears started falling as she leaned closer into his chest.

He braced his muscles for the onslaught of scent he was about to take in. He simply had to talk to her. He sucked in a quick breath. Once again his throat burned with the same intensity of the first day.

"It's okay. You're safe." He had to take another breath. "You won't be harmed."

Her crying didn't stop. "Bella, please don't fear me, I promise that I won't do anything to you. You're safe. I'll leave you as soon as you can calm down. I won't bother you ever again." His voice was pained. The mere thought of leaving her was causing a chasm to form inside him.

"No, you can't leave." She cried frantically as she processed his words.

He pulled her away to examine her face. He held her far enough to just see her face. She looked at him with the same pleading eyes. She didn't want him to go away.

"I'm not afraid of you Edward. I feel safer when you're near me." She mumbled.

The shock that crossed his face was unmistakable. "Bella…" he uttered. "You can't mean that." The pain in his voice transferred to her face.

She was pained at the realization that he was right. How can she mean that? In what world would that even make sense? It couldn't be, they couldn't be.

She stubbornly held to her belief. "Well it's true Edward. I do feel safer with you."

He lengthened the distance between them, holding her at arms length. "Do you understand what you are saying? I'm a monster Bella. I just took the life of another sentient being in front of you and you say that you're safe with me?" the anger slowly seeped into his voice.

"Have you no sense of self-preservation? I could just as easily kill you? Do you want that?"

Even in the present fury Bella couldn't help but admire the divine beauty that stood within her grasp. Even angry he looked like a Greek God. Maybe the legends are true? Maybe they are Gods.

He let go of her and took several steps away.

It was then that she remembered that she was half naked. She felt the breeze that followed his quick movement. She covered her chest once again. He absentmindedly turned his back, doing what any gentleman would do, respecting the female form. But in that fraction of a second that he caught the pale beauty of her body the fire flared up inside him, the yearning to be close to her increased. These were all new and unexpected feelings.

It was then that Alice appeared. Edward walked away leaving them alone.

Alice walked with her fluid speed to Bella. Just as quickly she had the shirt on her. Bella was stupefied.

Alice giggled. "Oh come now Bella, you didn't think that he was the only one did you?"

Bella hadn't thought about that, she had only thought of Edward.

"Alice…what happened just now?" Bella asked in a hushed whisper, completely oblivious that even though Edward was more than four blocks away he could still hear.

Edward, come and deal with this or I will. And trust me when I say that you won't like half of the things I'll say to her.

Edward was back in an instant giving Alice a low snarl as a warning. She returned his snarl with a guttural roar and a mental threat. For once Edward quit being so stubborn.

Bella just stared at the wordless interaction between the two.

Alice turned to look at her and smiled. "There now you're set. Don't worry, Bella. Everything will be okay. Now run along with Edward."

I'll take care of the body she amended in her head.

"Thank you." Edward responded as he and Bella walked away from her. In the brighter light Bella noticed that Edward's usually butterscotch eyes were now a vivid crimson, almost identical to the mannequin.

"Edward…your eyes?…their different." She whispered.

He closed his eyes and pressed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. Another complication, he was going to have to wait at least another week to have the animal blood dilute and change the color.

He stopped walking when they got to the huge tree whose low branches made the perfect shadow. He left Bella by the light and he hid under the branches.

She looked around confused by his actions. "What are you doing?"

His dark chuckle came from the high branches of the tree. "Remaining inconspicuous."

She took several steps back trying to figure out where the voice came from.

"Edward" she whispered. "What are you exactly? The legends here say you're a God, it is true?"

He didn't answer; he was taken aback by her knowledge of the local folklore. How easily she had connected the dots.

With silent ease he was behind her. "It depends on who you ask. I used to see myself in that light. I was completely indestructible, handing out justice as I went and for all that I never thought that I could be so vulnerable." His voice was distant, it sounded aged.

"What do you mean?" She asked as she tried to understand.

She took a step closer to the ruby red eyes, they were just as enigmatic as that first time.

"Edward? Have we met before?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. She was remembering that night under this same tree, the voice, the eyes. It had been Edward.

His jaw clenched and his muscles tightened as the breeze blew her scent his way. The moment was an exact replica, a déjà vu.

"We have. I'm sorry about that. I was not in full control of myself." He spoke through his clenched teeth. His voice changed suddenly, "I really am sorry for everything, Bella. Your uncle is coming, keep yourself safe. Please." The urgent pleading brought a sense of loss with it.

It sounded just like a goodbye, a sour, bitter goodbye. "Edward, How do you know..?" she whispered as the wind jostled her hair, she looked around to find him nowhere in sight. He was gone.

"Bella? Oh honey, are you okay? I was getting worried there. You haven't seen Jaime have you?" John came and gave her a quick hug.

Bella's eyes widened as she remembered what had happened to her. "No uncle, I haven't seen him, recently." In the last ten minutes. She amended in her head.

"Oh, I guess he went home then. Come on it's time for us to go too."

They got to the center of town and as the streetlight lit the sidewalk John was able to see Bella's swollen lip.

"What happened?" His alarm was immediate, he started checking her over and as he ran his hand on her back she winced silently. The wind moved and brought an almost inaudible growl. Bella looked around as John turned to see her back. She couldn't see anyone, she couldn't see him but she was certain that he was close. "Nothing, I fell." She lied. It was a relief that the lies were coming with more and more ease.

"Oh." He was relieved. "Bella I worry about you every day. How in the world have you lived so long?" he joked.

"Well, I guess I must have some guardian angel watching me." She smiled.

"I guess so."

Night came and with it, the silent forest. She lay awake in her bed.

Wow, just when I think I can't make a chapter more intense, I go and prove myself wrong. Next chapter is going to be good. I think, at least it is to me.

I loved the chapter where they get to know each other in the cafeteria. Of course, she took 20+ pages to get that out of the way, I will have to make it in two of ours (fanfiction chapters).