Chapter 20

Prophecy

"Oh…finally you're awake, my Bella…"

His cold voice filled my ears as my eyes slowly fluttered open. My head was pulsing from the blow I'd received. I didn't understand what he wanted from me…why he wanted to kill me…

"Oh Bella, whoever said I wanted to kill you sweetie?" Edward smiled as he sat in a chair across from me. He was reading my mind…how?

We were in a dark room, lit only by a small lamp in a corner. I was lying on a cot-like metal bed inside this small…room. It smelt faintly of blood. I hated the smell and wanted to gag even more from the grungy condition of the room. There were papers and clothes scattered everywhere.

I didn't think I had the courage to say anything else, fearing what else he would do to me. But I really needed answers. I was confused and aching. I needed to figure out what was happening to me. Where was Jacob? Was he dead?

"Not yet…" Edward replied to my thoughts.

"I thought I would spare him some time…you know, just so I could be with you first."

His eyes glared into mine, seductively. I had to say something.

"Wh—why me? What are you? What do you want? Where is Jacob?"

The words were all a jumbled mess. I could taste the blood in my mouth from my bloody gums and teeth. He had hit me so hard back in the forest, I'd been knocked out. I could feel the blood in my hair. The broken ankle.

"Do you normally ask this many questions, beautiful?"

I wished he'd stop calling me that. I was furious, but completely defenseless.

Edward inhaled deeply as he closed his eyes with satisfaction.

"You smell so…tantalizing. You smell good Bella."

He quickly got up out of the chair in a fluid motion and was beside me in less than a second, picking up a few bloody strands of my hair and putting them to his nose. He then slowly ran a finger down the blood dripping from my forehead and placed it in his mouth to taste.

Closing his eyes once more as he sucked on his finger, he sighed. Then continued, looking into my eyes,

"My name is Edward Cullen. Just in case you have forgotten. I've been waiting for you Bella. I've been waiting for this moment all of my life."

"What the hell are you talking about? You keep saying that." The words escaped my mouth before I had the chance to think about what I was doing.

"Bella, you still don't get it? Ah…I didn't want to go into too much detail before I…well, never mind. Bella, sweetie, don't you find it quite irritatingly strange that you can't remember anything about your childhood best friend?"

I didn't answer. I was the one who needed the answers…

He continued, staring into my eyes,

"I contributed to that. You see, when I heard that you were finally coming back to Forks to fulfill the prophecy, I knew I had to take actions, quick. I made you forget major pieces of your childhood with Jacob so that you would want to be with him more and want to pay your dues as a 'best friend.' It was a distraction. I used him as bait…to catch you."

"I—I don't understand. What…prophecy?" I whispered slowly, not taking my gaze off of him.

"Centuries ago, my kind was created. I joined six others and we formed a cult, or clan. There is a prophecy that has been around ever since the beginning of our creation. It says, in order for us to live in peace, we must sacrifice a human. But just not any human, the right human. Our human. The prophecy says that you are my human Bella."

Nothing could describe my feelings right now. Pain, terror, confusion.

Slowly, I replied,

"What..is your kind?"

"We're immortals. Vampires. We wait until our human is of age, 17. And then, scope them out for sacrifice. You see Bella, I have been watching you this whole time. Ever since you were born here 17 years ago, I lurked in the forest, behind your house, disguised in your school, watching your every move, waiting for this day Bella. When finally, you'd be mine, and I'd finally be at peace. When you'd left to live with your mom in Arizona, I waited here. Waited for that day you'd come home to your Charlie and fall in love with your best friend. The perfect distractions to keep you here, just long enough for me to go in for the attack."

He smiled his evil smile and my blood ran cold. I couldn't believe this was happening. I was speechless.

"Oh, it's okay. You don't have to say anything. It doesn't matter either way." Edward replied. "Our kind isn't at peace when all we have to eat is regular humans Bella. Once we find the right one, we can ultimately go on months, years even, without a sufficient meal. It's like when you eat a small meal, compared to a large one. A large meal keeps you full, satisfied longer. Whereas a small one doesn't and you need to eat them more frequently. You are just right for me Bella. Your blood will satisfy me."

He inched closer to my face, inhaling my scent. It sent shivers down my spine. What could I do? I couldn't believe any of this was happening. It couldn't be happening. It had to be a dream. Yes, that was it. Just another dream. I'd wake up and everything would be fine. Just a dream.

Edward laughed, slyly. "Hahaa, it's no dream my Bella. Those dreams you had before were just your brain sort of… foreshadowing you of what was to happen. But, looks like it's happening now, huh Bella?"

His cold, dirty hand was on my cheek now, and his face was inches from mine.

"Anything you'd like to say….before you die, my love?"

I turned my head from his grasp so that my face was opposite his. I wouldn't give up. I knew this couldn't be the end. Not now.

This angered him. In an instant, he grabbed my face with both hands and twisted my head back to its old position. A heard my neck crack loudly and I let out a cry.

"You THINK you can fight me? I have been training for this day for centuries. You WON'T be leaving here alive, stupid bitch."

It was like a blink of an eye when I noticed his cold, hard lips crushed into mine as he forced a kiss upon us. His fingers grasped my face, almost piercing my skin with his sharp fingernails and his breath tasted of putrid, old blood. With his eyes closed at the moment, I tried to think fast. I wouldn't kiss him back or struggle too much , for I knew he would only torture me some more, but my hands were free so I looked around for something I could use to get him off of me. I wasn't going to give up. I would find Jacob and we would get out of this place. Get help.

A pair of scissors lay not too far from the cot on a side table. I stretched my arm just enough so that my fingertips barely touched the silver blades. In that moment, Edward's eyes flashed open whilst he kept the kiss. He grabbed my fingers and used the same death grip that broke my ankle. I heard the POP, POP, and CRACK of my fingers as he pulled them back to my side on the cot.

I wanted to bite his tongue, force him off me, and do anything to prevent him from killing me like this. But then I remembered. He could read my mind.

The kiss stopped. His black eyes were furious as he uttered,

"You don't get it, do you?" He laughed, continuing, "There's NOTHING you can do. Don't worry so much. You won't feel a thing after the first bite, I promise."

He smiled and trailed his nose down my face and to my neck, sniffing in my scent.

I guess this was it. I wished I could just see Jake again. Charlie and Renee. Just once.

I closed my eyes and anticipated my last breath, when suddenly, I didn't feel Edward's presence anymore. Was he still there? Was I dead already?

I opened my eyes slowly, one by one to see Edward still hunched over me, but looking out the window of his small room. His gaze was intense and serious, almost frightened. He growled,

"No way…this wasn't in the prophecy."

Author's Note: Like the twist? Told you all I'd be back with another chapter! Only I decided to make this one a lot faster! My faithful readers deserve it. =] Thanks all for reading. Would love the reviews, just so I can hear what you all think of it. More chapters sooner than you'd think!