Summary:
The chapter begins somewhat slowly, but the pace builds up fast!
- Edward confesses something
- Edward and Bella go hunting… for humans and they have a great catch!
- After the hunt something happens
- Beware for some foul language and violence
I hope you like it. Please, please, please R&R! Your comments are really helpful!

His True Nature (EPOV)

As I was driving, I took a quick glance over the speedometer and it informed me that I was going with over 120mph. I turned at my right to look at Bella, who had been very quiet and I saw that she was nervously playing with the zipper of her jacket.

I focused again on the road. Not because I was afraid I might crash somewhere or collide with another car. The truth is that I was very anxious now. Since my phone call with Carlisle, something seemed to have snapped in my head and now I was trying to justify to myself my arrangement to send Bella back home.

What was I thinking? Yes, I was feeling guilty, extremely guilty for doing this behind her back. For treating her like a child – as Bella puts it.

But the most disturbing thing that I felt right now was the fact that Bella and I were going to be separated in less than a few hours… at least if she didn't do something foolish to prevent my plan. I knew she wouldn't do that if I told her how much her safety, our baby's safety meant to me… but, I was starting to doubt how strong I was and if I could bare to stay away from her – knowing that I was the one responsible for the separation.

She seemed to notice my inner conflict and she put her hand on my thigh. Even as a vampire she felt warmer than usual. Maybe it was because of our baby? I smiled to myself when the vision of Bella holding our baby came to my mind. Since the past one hour this image had evaded my mind more than a trillion times, but I didn't mind! It was the closest thing I had ever experienced next to dreaming. I could see it, feel it…

'Well, whatever had you worried just seconds ago, seems to have left you alone now. Are you ok, Edward? You were so uptight and focused a moment ago.', from the corner of my eye, I could see her anxious stare and I squeezed her hand, steering the wheel with my left hand.

'I am more than alright, love. Thanks to you.'

While I spoke to her I had kept my eyes still on the road, examining every car that came from the opposite direction. I didn't want meet her gaze, because I felt the doubt written in my eyes and losing myself into these soft eyes would only worsen that.

Immediately after I had spoken, Bella took her hand from under mine, causing my hand to plop on her thigh. I could feel her apprehensiveness, just by touching her.

'Bella, what's wrong?', I asked still with my eyes on the road. The traffic boards said that it was merely 30 miles to Port Angeles.

I waited for her answer, but it didn't come. She wasn't breathing either and stood firm, glancing from her window. It pained me to know that these were going to be our last moments together and that I just wasted them like that.

'Bella, love, tell me, what did I do wrong?', I was begging her when she finally sighed and answered through her teeth. She was nowhere near human now.

'What? Edward, do you seriously don't know what's wrong? Well, I hate to disappoint, but I can't tell you… since you think it's not important to tell me… whatever it is that you were thinking about during the whole, damn trip!', while she hissed every word, her breasts were going up and down from her suppressed rage.

In about a few minutes we were going to enter Port Angeles. This meant I had no time to squander. I pulled my Vanquish on the side – luckily there was an emergency stroke and I took Bella from the passenger's seat, putting her gently on my lap. Her back was facing the steering wheel and her magnificent face was all I could see. The sound of the cars passing by diminished now and my hands began stroking her face.

By the slightest of my touch Bella shoved my hands away and looked through my window. Her glare was empty though and I knew she didn't even notice the traffic. After trying to reach her soft cheeks again, but being turned down, I rested my hands on her stomach. She writhed in my lap, but didn't push them away this time.

'Edward…', she whispered while fixing her eyes on the small door handle. This whisper was filled with torment and right then I knew that I had lost it. There was no doubt now. I knew I couldn't let her go anywhere without me at her side.

I had already done that once and it almost killed us. I wouldn't make the same mistake… again.

Still with my hands on her belly, I began rubbing them gently and at first I thought I had just imagined it, but I was sure now. The baby was kicking right where my hands had stroked seconds ago. It was much too early for it to be kicking, but the powerful kicks themselves gave away the fact that it wasn't just a normal baby… it was mine and Bella's baby, which meant it was perfect!

'Edward, why are you hiding…', but I put one finger on her lips, making her silent.

I leaned closer and put one ear on her stomach, listening to the baby's heart beat. It was just as strong as the kicks were.

When I pulled away I detected a vague smile on her face, but her eyes were demanding an explanation, an answer from me.

'Bella, I am not hiding anything from you…', she immediately wanted to disagree, so I continued fast, '…not anymore, love.'

After avoiding each other for what felt unbearably long for both of us, our eyes were now connected in the most intimate way. I knew she wouldn't deny me like before, so I enclosed my arms around her back, putting them onto the steering wheel. There wasn't even an inch between us.

'Bella, ever since your talent started showing and you had the 'accident', I planned your departure to Alaska, back home. I was soon to follow you after everything was taken care of.', her eyes were emitting fire and the red color only intensified that.

'Don't you even dare to think that I will go back alone!'

'I don't think that… anymore. But I also don't want you to go.', my calm and low voice was a huge contrast to her heated, short sentences.

'Why the sudden change of mind?! Not that I have any objections, of course.'

'Because I love you. And can't exist without you. And I need you. My heart belongs to you and what am I to do here when my heart is thousands of miles away?'

'Do you want me to answer this question, Edward?', her eyes turned the softest shade mahogany now and a smile was revealing itself on her full lips.

'I insist.', the eye contact was so tense that neither one of us even dared to blink.

She cupped my face and lowered her upper body towards my chest. Her lips sought mine and before I knew it, we were locked in a heated embrace. Her tongue was soft and whirled around mine as if she tried to melt him.

Abruptly – just as the kiss had started – she pushed her self from me, as far as the space in the car allowed her. While gasping for air, she said:

'Do you still want me to answer your question?'

'No, you made yourself perfectly clear, love.'

The lust in her eyes cleared instantly and she was serious again.

'So, you were going to put me on a plane and send me home, huh? Edward… why do you always have to take such extreme measures when it's concerning me?'

'Do you really want me to answer your question?', I laughed at her foolish inquiry. 'Bella, I think that you still, after all these years, don't get it, love. You, you are my life, my everything! How on earth am I not suppose to take hard measures?'

'By thinking rationally.', though my question was meant to be rhetorical she still answered it and I had to laugh again.

'Yes, you are right. And today, only moments ago, I did think rationally about this and I decided to let you here. With me.'

'You decided? Edward, don't forget that I am who you are! I am just as strong!'

'Oh, Bella! In the past couple of seconds you made me laugh enough, love. Don't do it again. Believe me, if I wanted you would be home by tomorrow morning. God knows that I am mad whereas you are concerned, but I'd rather be mad and have you think that I am a complete tyrant then let anything happen to you!'

'Edward, just drive to the freaking city, will you?!', her irritated tone and rapid change of topic surprised me and I had to ask:

'I thought you wanted to have some answers?'

'I've had enough answers! Now that all my suspicions are confirmed, I don't need anything in addition. Start the car, Edward! I really want to hunt now!'

'Suspicions, love?', I eyed her with one eyebrow raised.

'Oh, nothing in particular.', she answered casually.

'Do you bother to tell me?', the curiosity was eating me now.

'You're an absolute psychopath.'

I burst from the waves of laughter that were attacking me now. The more I glanced at her enraged face, the more I chuckled. When it was finally over, she had removed herself from my lap and sat on her seat – glaring with a poisonous look.

'Only when it concerns you, love.', I said, while trying to hide my smirk.

'Hmm, why oh why am I not relieved by that?', her eyebrows narrowed and she did as if she was thinking hard to find the solution to a terrible math problem.

While I drove the car back on the highway, I burst in laughter once again. All the way to Port Angeles...

--

'Edward, where are we going?', it was getting dark now and we were in the suburbs of Port Angeles, walking with such speed that the few pedestrians who were strolling, some jogging enthusiastically, didn't even notice us.

'Do you see these two buildings there? Where the end of this street is crossing with the one parallel to this one?', I pointed the two buildings without slowing our pace.

She nodded. After a few seconds Bella turned to me again and asked what I already knew was bugging her.

'Who is there, Edward?'

'Somebody that meets all of your demands, love. His thoughts are one of the most horrendous I've heard since a decade at least. Bella, even if you change your mind and don't tear this one apart, I assure you that I will do it!', hearing his thoughts again made me growl, ready to attack from here.

'What is this person doing?', her voice was trembling, but curiosity was once again getting the better of her.

I could barely hear her now, because the man's thoughts were so loud that they penetrated my mind. Right then I heard also another voice – this one was soft, begging desperately through sobs.

'What a catch this is! Tonight is definitely going to be a hell of a night. Finally watching and spying for months on this naïve girl paid off. This little freckle here has more in store than I imagined. Her breasts are bigger than the girls of her age and her back…ooh this back. I was certainly going to bend it. Tonight is going to be great… for me. I hope she doesn't keep track of time, 'cause I have many plans for her… I wonder if she is a virgin…'

The disgusting thoughts were followed by something entirely else. It was more of a cry rather then a thought.

'Why, God, why me? Please, let this be over soon… I want to be home. Where is my mother? I want my mother! Why is nobody helping me? Please, God, please! Someone… anyone help me… please. I am scared. He is horrible..'

Upon hearing this I grabbed Bella's hand and run towards the little passage between the two buildings – the source of the thoughts.

We were at a large open field, less than 5 miles from the centre of Port Angeles. There were a lot of buildings and parking lots. The two buildings were standing next to a tall 15 story parking lot, so a big shadow was isolating them from the human eye.

Even if the sun was not entirely set yet, the two buildings were in complete darkness, making the tight passage between them the perfect hideout .

'Why is this man doing this to me? He promised to drive me home, because it was raining. He said my mother sent him to pick me up, that they were friends. Somebody… please. Mom come to take me home! I promise I'll be good, just please!'

'Bella, the smell that comes from the passage is your prey's. I'll wait here, or else I'll need to feed too. Don't worry love, everything will be fine. Just hurry up.'

'Hurry up, before what?'

'Bella, they is a man there. A man that has an innocent girl with him!'

I needn't say anything more. Bella understood directly what was going on in the dark alley. The fact that she was expecting had her motherly instinct at a high pitch now. Her eyes became fixed, ready and her posture changed. She became the predator we learned so hard to restrain. And she was going to hunt down a predator himself.

'Come on, Edward!', she hissed, crawling to the passage. He tugged on my shirt, pulling me along.

'I won't go with you, Bella. I told you. I can't stand to stay so close without needing to feed too.'

'You will come with me! You said that if I was hesitating you were surely going to do it! Let's do it together. Come on, Edward, I am thirsty and the pain is really beginning to take over me. Please. For me.'

I couldn't resist her request, especially knowing who was the one we were going to feed on. I wanted him dead at any rate. I wanted to be a part of the reason he was dead. He should be dead long time ago!

Hearing both ray of thoughts, I led Bella to the passage and when we were just behind the corner, I stopped. I looked into her eyes, making sure Bella was ready.

They were black with no trace of irises and she bared her teeth when the girl screamed from fear, from knowing what was to overcome her any moment now.

I signaled to Bella to go first and she immediately complied. This had me worried a little. I'd witnessed how she had beheaded the man at the outskirts of the forest and I wondered whether she was strong enough to resist feeding on the girl as well. Yes, she had been a vampire for 20 years now, but this was different. Bella was pregnant now…

I followed her by making one step to the right and stepped next to Bella.

The man was short, maybe just over 5,4 feet, but very masculine. He was easily pushing the girl against the moistened wall of one of the buildings, now trying to take off her jeans. It looked as if he had no neck, which made him look like an evil, dimpled brat.

The girl had long, red hair and was at least 2 feet longer than her predator – very tall for her age. But she was very skinny and was no match for him. He could effortlessly break her thin bones. I estimated that she was no older than 10, 11 years maybe. And by the terrified look on her face she had never before encountered something cruel in her life.

But the naïve girl stopped existing the moment her guiltless mind processed what had happened to her. How she was naively lured into the this trap.

'Stop… right… now!', Bella hissed so deep that it brought me back to the present in an instant.

The two humans looked at us – both with totally different expressions on their faces. The man could get a heart attack any moment now and the girl was beyond relieve. She started crying. The tears were coming down her cheeks in hundreds and she detached herself from him.

She ran towards us and stopped in front of Bella. I didn't know what to do. Was Bella dangerous to her? But something seemed to have glued my feet to the wet ground and I stayed at my spot.

'Thank …you. Whoever… you… are. ', she said through tears. She was without doubt terrified at the sight of Bella, but still she waited in front of her. I wondered if she even noticed me. It wouldn't surprise me if her vision was totally impaired by the waterfalls streaming quietly down her freckled face.

'Get out of here.', Bella tried to sound as calm and human as possible, but her voice wouldn't return to her.

Her hisses made the child run, not even once second guessing herself. She was blank, her mind was blank. I stared at her trembling feet fighting to hold her up, while she run as fast as she could without turning back.

'Who are these… aliens? Must be some damn crack addicts! Look at the face of this stupid bitch here! She must be feeling higher than God right now. And this one standing next to her is not better either. And I was worried! Ha! They are just as scared as me… only one 911 call and these fucking junkies would end up in a juvenile for life. That self-centered whore here… I didn't know that drugs brought on bravery. I could teach her how to behave and not to interrupt busy people, but … I wouldn't even want to touch her right now.'

It all happened in a snap. The thoughts were my trigger and even before he had finished his revolting thoughts I had his head in my hands. There wasn't even time for the blood to start dripping.

With his headless body still shivering and moving in convulsions, Bella threw herself to the headless corpse and began feeding from his palm veins. After a mere second, she ripped his arms off the shoulders and then split the body in two.

The thirst was painfully grasping to my throat but, the rage was still present inside my chest and I let his head, with eyes wide open, fall on the ground. Just when it bounced once, I stepped on it with such force that all that was left was a big dark red stain on the greenish asphalt.

Then we fed together, sucking every drop of blood out of the body, before the body temperature could even decrease with a single degree. It was quiet for human ears, but we could both hear the blood streaming out of the veins and into our mouths. The breaking of the bones as a result from our iron grips was the most pleasant sound at the moment.

It was decades since I had fed on a human. It felt beyond amazing to be myself, the vampire, the horrific creature, that I was. Because no matter how civil I tried to be, how human and normal I tried to live – I would always be present in the human's nightmares.

It was the greatest liberation that my love knew my true nature and accepted me for who I am.

Aside from the stain I was responsible for, there was no any other smudge, anything at all that could indicate what went on tonight. Our clothes were just as clean as when we had put them on before we left. Our mouths were clean. And our eyes were red…

When we finished, Bella looked at me, her face grey.

'I am sorry if I pushed you into doing something you didn't want to do, Edward!', now that her thirst was quenched, her emotions were flooding inside her. Guilt was written all over her smooth face.

I opened my arms and she eagerly cuddled in my chest. I smiled to myself, happy that she decided to go through with the initial plan. After all, we came here to make sure that our child was well… and Bella too.

'Love, remember why we did this in the first place?'

'Yes.', she whispered into my neck. Her breath smelt even sweeter now.

'Then why are you so guilty?'

Bella was doubting, I could feel it. It was very hard for her to think of an answer. I didn't want her to regret this – I know I didn't. I would do anything for our child, and killing the sick bastard was one of the easiest ways, but because I wanted to assure her of the 'good' deed, I asked her again, this time a different question though. I knew she would answer this one immediately… I most desperately hoped so.

'Do you have any regrets for expecting a child, Bella?'

'No! Are you nuts? Why would you even ask me this question, Edward? I love our baby!'

Upon hearing this I sighed in contentment. She heard it of course and gave me a look that said 'I can't believe you doubted me!', but then hugged me tight.

'I know your point, Edward. And you're right.'

'I am always right, love. I thought you knew that.', while I said this I hugged her in return, but so firm, that the air of both our lungs flew outside – I wanted her to remember all the precious times when I was very right…

'Edward, stop that!', she moved uneasily in my hug.

'I am very sorry, love!'

'Liar!', she hissed.

'I can be whatever you want me to be. You remember that too, right?'

She suppressed a giggle and then looked at me, her scarlet eyes scorching mine.

'But you didn't answer me one question, though. I didn't push you into doing it, right? And Edward, please be honest with me, love.', losing myself into her eyes, I couldn't imagine a moment when I wouldn't be honest with her.

'It was my pleasure to assist you, love.', I answered immediately with a low growl when I thought of the filthy bastard and his thoughts towards my wife.

It was her turn to sigh now and I chuckled in the curly locks of her hair.

'Bella, why don't you go back to the Vanquish and I will… dispose of the remains of the human.

'Edward, I want to help you! It's not fair for you to clean up all this!', she looked as if she was about to stamp her feet.

'Bella, it is the task of the husband to bring home the food. And since I did exactly the opposite, it would be only fair to let me clean this up. Go, love, I'll be there in a couple of minutes. Here are the keys.'

I put the keys into her hand and after she gave me a light kiss, barely touching my lips she run to the car.

I watched her run gracefully until she was out of my sight and then I turned to the remainings of the… what should be a human, but had behaved itself as a boar.

I took each part in my hands, watching carefully not to let them make contact with my clothes. When I walked out of the alley, I noticed how dark the sky had become and wondered what time it was.

At midnight everything was about to start.

Quickly I dug a deep enough whole with my hands at the border of the field, where a high fence with barbed wire was marking the end of a yet higher parking lot.

After I made sure that everything was more than six feet under and that the whole was invisible – to humans indeed – I run back to Bella. I was there in less than thirty seconds.

The situation I found upon getting closer, surprised me however. Bella was in the driver's seat and she started the engine as soon as she spotted me running towards her. By the time I wanted to enter the car, she had already opened to door for me and when I got in, she sped into the dark street, heading for the highway directly.

Something was wrong. I knew it.

'Bella, what is going on?', the urge to know was just as painful as the thirst I had felt back in the alley.

Speeding until now, she was going with 150 mph by now.

Something was definitely wrong.

Without removing her eyes from the road, she spoke in a voice so low that was even scarier then if she had yelled.

'Alice called. It's Tanya, Edward.'

'What about her?'

Damn it! Why couldn't I read her thoughts?! I felt as if I was to explode from not knowing.

'Bella, tell me, please, what is going on? I haven't seen Tanya since your hallucinations started and I had a fight with her then – I thought she had done something to you. It must be at least 4 days since I last saw her.'

'Exactly. You hit the nail on the head.', she said ever so low, but I noticed that Bella hadn't taken a single breath since I got inside the car.