A/N

Mrs Meyer owns all the Twilight stuff. I wonder if she owns one of the Edward dolls. And if she's taken his pants off yet. Cuz let's face it, it's fun when his pants are off...isn't it?

I've built a small shrine to the supreme lovelyness that is lambcullen, as she pink pens my demon, and is prob one of the bestest besties I've ever had.

Must also thank Snshyne for pre-reading, commenting, and all around awesomeness. She is a gem.

Music, of course:
Ace of Spades: Motorhead
Slither: Velvet Revolver
Dracula's Bride: Ours
Sweet Sacrifice: Evanesence
Cover Me: Candlebox

'To anyone looking at me this must seem appalling; I myself don't understand what is happening within my soul.'
From Ivanov, by A Chekhov

EPOV

"I believe we had an arrangement wherein I allowed you to remain breathing, in exchange for your complete distance from me and Ms. Swan. It would appear that arrangement has now come to an end."

His throat flexed as he swallowed, and his heart pumped quickly in his chest. The smell of adrenaline and fear oozed from him, and I licked my teeth, smiling.

The venom in my mouth was ready, I would kill him, this was now an inevitability. The sound of his hand hitting her cheek had signed his death warrant.

Black's mind reeled with the look in my crimson eyes, he wondered if he was really seeing things as they were.

"I can assure you, Black, that this is a reality you only have minutes left to enjoy."

His head was a disgusting place. He held mental images of all the things he wished to inflict on Bella: tying her up, torturing her, listening to her cry in pain as he physically dominated her. The anger in his mind was fascinating.

No matter. His mortal flesh was held beneath my fingers. Gravity may have held him to this earth physically, but his soul would soon find the judgment it deserved.

I flicked my wrist, and watched as he flew across the parking lot. Distantly, I heard Bella's gasp, and between one of her heartbeats and the next, I was beside him, pinning him. His mind reeled, he was stunned, but he finally recognized a dominant force.

"What the fuck are you?"

"Everything that you are not."

Lifting his arm, I examined him, and he begged in his mind that I leave his arm alone. It was his career, his livelihood.

I started with his fingers. He struggled against me, trying to stop me. I laughed quietly to myself, as I pondered over his appendage. It would have been easy to break his fingers initially, like a child snapping a twig.

But that was too quick and I am too old for fleeting fancies.

So I dislocated each finger first. And delighted in each grunt of pain, each tiny snap as the joints separated.

He cried out, and the beast howled with glee at his pain. Black's other hand came up, catching my arm, trying to stop me.

It was a mistake.

I caught his hand, and watched his mind spin like a kaleidoscope as agony etched into every cavity. I crumpled his fist like a piece of paper, and the bones clicked and popped as they broke.

He did not cry out, but he did not need to. His mind told me everything I needed to know, "Perhaps, if I let you live, you will think about this moment, for the rest of your life, and remember the time you hit a woman, and how much it cost you."

I watched his thoughts flicker to Bella. I leaned down until we were nose to nose.

"She. Is. Mine."

I bared my teeth to him, the hiss quickly turning to a snarl as terror made his chest contract.

"Edward! No!"

If this were another universe, another time, another world, she may have been able to stop me.

I did pause. I took stock of what I was about to do.

Did I really wish to feed from him? The smell of his blood was repugnant, and I did not want any of it inside of me.

I reached for my knife, the blade glinting in the moonlight.

I held my breath, trying not to concentrate on smells as I placed the knife to his throat. My hands were graceful, confident. The knife nicked into the skin just beneath his chin when a flash of another thought caught my attention.

Yet, it was too late to react.

Pain as I'd never felt before racked through my body, a fire so deep, I feared I had somehow combusted, and I was dying. I felt my body rise in agony, and I fell backward. Jacob struggled away from me.

It stopped abruptly, and the same apathetic stream of thoughts filtered into my mind.

I know you can hear me, Cullen. Stay where you lie.

Small footsteps crunched over gravel, and I picked out Bella's heart beat from the noises around me. I opened my eyes to find a vampire I had only ever seen in other's memories.

Jane.

Her red eyes seemed odd in her otherwise angelic face. She had blond hair and the same red crimson eyes as myself. She was turned quite young, barely sixteen, and if it weren't for the cold boredom on her face as she regarded me, she would have looked young and innocent.

She was the handmaiden of Aro, her formidable ability to make others feel pain instantly, with just a look, made her a powerful asset to the Volturi's house.

We heard the commotion just as we were departing this place. Surely Caius taught you better.

There was another set of footsteps nearby, I was on my feet and in front of Bella while I assessed the parking lot.

Taking his place next to Jane was another servant of the Volturi, Demetri. His mind was quiet as he observed my protective stance next to Bella.

Jacob, dazed, had staggered to his feet, his arm dangling useless at his side. He did not notice there was more than Bella and I in the parking lot. Stupidly, he tried to make threats.

"You're fuckin' crazy," he pointed at me, and staggered across the road. He had decided to drive himself to the hospital, and his vehicle was parked not too far away.

I heard it coming before he did, my hearing more acute, and not dulled by pain or alcohol.

He did not, however. He turned around in the middle of the road to shout something else, and I pulled Bella against me, shielding her eyes. Quietly, we melted into the shadows against the building of the hotel.

The two ton truck was going too fast to stop, and the smack of human flesh hitting the truck, the metal crunching, brakes squealing, and horn blaring caused quite a commotion. The smell of blood, of broken bones filled the air, and I stopped breathing to keep the stench out of my nostrils.

Bella's whole body was tense, and she trembled from the sounds I could not keep from her ears.

Jane, undisturbed from the accident behind her, spoke.

"We will continue this another time, Edward."

They disappeared into the night, a whisper of sound as they moved too quickly for human eyes.

She tried to free herself from my arms, but I tightened them around her, "Don't look."

The truck driver was on his radio, shouting for help.

I looked down at Bella's dark head, her face was tucked against my neck, her warm shallow breaths hitting my cool skin. She was shaking still, and I knew I had to get her inside.

"You have a room here."

Her voice was barely a whisper against me, "Yes."

"Give me the key to your room."

She moved her arm between us and reached into her denim pocket and pulled out of the plastic card. She handed it to me and I moved us towards the side door. It was quiet inside of the hotel, we met no one in the hallway.

"What room?"

"Three hundred -seven," she murmured.

I moved towards the elevators and depressed the button. The doors clanged open, and I pulled Bella in with me. The ride up was short and I moved with her, I monitored her breathing, her heart. Her pulse was flying, her lungs filling and exhaling at an almost alarming rate.

I slid the card inside the lock, and the door clicked open. Bella stumbled forward into the room. I caught her before she hit the ground and carried her in, as the door shut behind us.

The lights were off, and I left the room dark. Sirens wailed outside, and blue and red lights of the emergency vehicles flashed into the hotel room.

I placed Bella on the bed and closed the curtains.

Her eyes remained open in the darkness, but she was staring at nothing. Her mind was working and she had withdrawn internally. How frustrating again, to not hear what was inside her head.

"Bella?"

Her voice was hoarse when she answered me, "He's dead, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"Oh God." Her voice trembled, and a fist came up to her mouth, "I don't know how to feel about that. I really don't. Is that wrong?"

"No," I responded. If she was querying emotional responses, I could relate maybe more than she knew. I was learning from her.

She sat up, and I was beside her.

"You should rest."

She shook her head, trying to move past me, "I'm gonna be sick."

Sick?

She ran awkwardly into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her. The click of the toilet seat lifting and knocking into the tank could be heard and the sound of her retching was next.

I stood, and looked outside. The paramedics were zipping the top of a black body bag on a stretcher. The truck driver was speaking to uniformed police officers, and red flares burned in the middle of the road leading up to the accident scene.

Bella panted in the toilet, and I turned my head, listening to the sounds coming from the bathroom. I heard the shower start and the rustle of clothing.

I turned back to the accident, giving Bella some time to herself.

My mind turned back to Jane's sudden arrival.

She had been careful with her thoughts, not revealing too much as to the reason of her visit. I can only assume they have finally come to investigate the death of Jasper. If it is more than that, if it is Bella as well, I will have no further choice.

I will either have to kill her or change her.

A whisper of memory flitted through my mind.

They are cattle, Edward.

I turned from the window, replacing the curtains so that no light from the outside could leak through them.

Water pounded inside the bathroom, I could hear it hitting her skin. I opened the door and steam billowed into the room. I paused, watching the glow of the bathroom light seep through it.

I was drawn in, and shut the door quietly behind me. The bathroom mirror was fogged, and I had an urge to wipe away the moisture.

My hand dragged across the silvered surface, revealing my face, my red crimson eyes. The monster.

Could I do the same to Bella? Could I take from her?

I swallowed venom back, as the smell of her wet skin permeated the steam around me.

I raised the long sleeved t-shirt I was wearing over my head and worked quickly to divest myself of the rest of my clothing. I stood naked in front of the billowing shower curtain, listening to water, to her blood running thick and wet through her veins.

She sighed then, long, and deep. I imagined water dripping from her breasts, trickling over her nipples. Her chest expanding and contracting, oxygen enriching her blood, the hot water running into her hair, down her back, over her backside.

I wanted to bite her there. Not to drink. Just to feel the soft flesh between my teeth, and listen to her gasp of surprise.

I moved the shower curtain back and she jumped, her hand flying to her throat, and then to her breasts, covering herself. She moved one leg across the other, crossing them, and attempted to angle her body away from me. She had the water turned on to a higher heat, the punishing temperature bringing blood to the closer surface of her skin. She was flushed, ripe, and I wanted more than a taste.

"Y-you scared me." The make-up from her eyes ran down her face like black tears.

"I want you."

Something flickered across her face, as she continued to hide her breasts from my view.

She shook her head, "Not right now, Edward. I can't."

My eyes widened in response. Before I could say anything else, she shook her head at me and continued, "I just can't. Please try to understand. That's a big part of my life that just ended out there, and I don't know how to process it."

She was begging, her pale face drawn. One of her hands reached out, providing me with a brief glance of more skin before her other hand covered where its sister had been.

She moved to slowly pull the curtain back over, concealing herself from me.

I could feel my jaw tick as I clenched my teeth.

Weeks of contemplating her demise, and mine, as well as battling the natural side of my unnatural nature culminated into the action that I took next.

My arm raised, and I grabbed the shower curtain. I pulled at it violently, and the sound of the tiny plastic rings popping echoed in the bathroom. The plastic sheet fell away onto the floor. Hard water sprayed from the harsh shower head, escaping from the previously confined area.

She yelped in fear, and the sound of it combined with the smell of it excited me. After being denied my kill earlier, I needed to replace the instinct with other stimulus.

She was talking, but I wasn't listening. I shut her out, only isolating the sounds I needed, her accelerating heart beat, her short breaths. Water continued to spray, and I felt my cock leap at the sight of her slick skin, and I wanted nothing more than to gouge a hole in the tiles with my fists as I fucked her senseless.

Vaguely, her voice penetrated the roar of lust in my ears.

"Edward, please."

"Please what?" I asked, as I stepped into the tub with her. Water that should be scalding caressed my skin and I pulled her against me. I hissed, as her skin met mine, inhaling her scent, and swallowed the gathering venom in my mouth.

She was panting now, her nostrils flared, trying to scent me as well. My hard length caressed her stomach as I moved closer. My body pressed her into the tiles of the shower, as I laid my hands on either side of her head. Her nipples peaked, flushing rose, and as I watched them, I felt my hands crumble the cheap porcelain behind her.

She licked her lips as water fell into her hair, her face. She blinked, her wet black lashes fluttering, "Edward-I-"

Before she could say more, I cupped her face and held her in place while my lips dominated hers. She whimpered, fought me at first, but gave in, her hands sliding up my wet skin and into my hair. I pressed her back against the wall, forgetting to be gentle, and her head hit the tiles. She gasped into my mouth and pulled my hair. My hands reached down for her ass, as I punished her mouth with mine.

She bit my lower lip.I growled, moving my hips against her, needing. My cock slid between our bodies, and she hissed. Our mouths broke apart briefly, and her breathing was harsh, loud.
She tasted of Bella.

It was violently intoxicating.

Real tears streamed down her cheek, mingling with the dark make up.

"I feel so numb, Edward."

Her lips brushed against mine, as her hips pushed against me, pleading, "Fuck me."

Before she could blink, before she could move, I lifted her hips, and she spread her legs, wrapping them around my waist.

I grunted loudly as I thrust deep inside of her, and she matched with a high pitched gasp.

"Hard, Edward." She moved her hips, grinding.

Knowing if I was not careful, I could shatter her, I slid my hands to her ass, and withdrew, then in again, deeper.

"Oh fuck," she moaned. I moved my hips faster, needing her this way as much as she needed it.

Her flesh was searing hot, and the friction of her body grasping mine, her muscles tight around me as her thighs squeezed my hips. She urged me on, the sounds she was making were wild, primitive and matched my own.

I moved deeper, pressing her further, her skin sliding against mine and I sucked at the skin of her neck without drinking. Her breathing broke and then sped up, her heart skipped a beat and her muscles seized. Her fingernails scratched futilely at my back. Once I felt her start, I wasn't far behind her, thrusting deep as I released inside her.

I smelled more than sex, more than her, and realized tears were streaming down her face again.

She had sobbed through her orgasm.

She patted my shoulder, "Set me down, please."

I gritted my teeth, and slowly put her down. I withdrew and her breath hitched. She reached down to turn the water off, as she continued to huff intermittently. The smell of our sex surrounded us, but I was perplexed by her behavior.

I tilted my head, studying her, "You are hurt?" I could smell no blood, but perhaps I was too rough.

She shook her head, "No."

I moved aside so could step out of the tub, but grabbed for her when she almost fell. I was by her side, holding her naked form to me.

"You are not alright."

She sniffled, "I am. I really am. I just need to lay down, I think."

Her eyes would not meet mine, and I brought her chin up with my hand to look into her eyes.

"You are sure you are unhurt?"

Her mouth tightened slightly, but she told the truth when she nodded her head, so I let it go.

We dried off in silence, and Bella walked out of the bathroom ahead of me, with her towel wrapped around her. I pulled my jeans on and followed her out. She had collapsed on the bed, still in her towel, still naked underneath.

I pulled the blankets up on the other side of the bed, and put them around her. She stared unseeing at the wall opposite her.

I took my place on the other side of the bed, and stared at the ceiling. She sighed deeply, but her chest caught on a hiccup.

Eventually, the minutes ticked by into hours, and Bella's breathing evened into a fitful sleep. She rolled towards me in sleep, her warm hands stroking my chest while she dreamed.

I mulled over Jane's appearance, and what this meant for me, and for the human sleeping restlessly beside me. It would appear time was running out, if an envoy had been sent to make sure I was behaving myself.

When it was early morning, she stirred, yawned, and opened her eyes. Her eyes were confused at first, as her hand ran over my skin, warmed by her body heat. She seemed not sure where she was, and then her face almost crumbled when she remembered.

"Oh God. All that really happened, didn't it?"

"Yes."

She sat up, a hand on my chest to steady herself. I growled lowly at the shadow of a bruise on her face.

"What is it?"

Trying to control myself, I murmured lowly, "He left a mark on your face."

Her hand went to her cheek, her fingers tracing over what must be a tender spot.

She was quiet, and the room was still dark from the curtains that were pulled over the window. Light seeped from underneath them, creating a serrated edge of dull gray on the cheap carpet. The spatter of morning rain could be heard against the windows.

She took a deep breath, and attempted to extricate herself from the cocoon she was wrapped in. She emerged with difficulty, but eventually found her way out, arms, then torso and finally long legs. Her nudity was beautiful to me, her scent no longer muffled by polyester and wool, it hit me full force, and my throat burned.

She sat on the edge of the bed, the perfect curve of her back, her skin flawless and milky in the darkness. Her hair fell like a rolling black cloud down her back. Her hands reached for the pack of cigarettes on the nightstand and pulled one out. The smell of tobacco burning filled the air, and a ring of smoke gathered above her head, as she exhaled smoke from her lungs.

She bent down, and pulled a small duffel bag up from the floor, placing it on the bed. She riffled through it, pulling out a change of clothes, then went to the bathroom to change, closing the door quietly behind her.

Later on found us downstairs in the shabby hotel restaurant, with Bella pushing her eggs around her plate. She had covered the bruise with make-up, but I could still see it. Her eyes met mine several times as if she was going to speak and then changed her mind.

I shifted in my chair, the glass of orange juice in front of me untouched.

"You are driving me close to madness, Bella. Say what you need to say."

She swallowed and looked up, her brown eyes darting to mine. I was wearing blue tinted glasses to hide the worst of the crimson in my irises.

"There's just so much to take in. Now that he's…gone, and I still don't know how to feel about it, I just don't know how to deal with all this."

I leaned forward, folding my hands in my lap, "I suppose death," she flinched at the word, "is something I feel unaffected by."

She pressed her lips together, and closed her eyes for a moment.

Clearing her throat, she changed the topic, "I'm going to see my dad, and then I'm going back to Seattle. Are you-do you want to come with me?"

"It would be prudent for me to stay close to you at this juncture. You seem to attract unwanted attention everywhere you go."

She blinked at me, and then her brows drew together, "What do you mean?"

I raised an eyebrow at her, "If you do not remember, nothing would be served by reminding you."

"But-"

I tipped my glasses down so she could see my eyes, "Leave it, Bella."

"Do not talk to me like I'm a child, Edward. I've been there, done that," she hissed.

"Very well. But this is not a conversation I wish to have in the middle of a dingy hotel."

She pursed her lips in further protest, but did not say another word.

Eventually she finished pushing her food around, and I escorted her through the check out. The woman behind the desk kept sneaking sly glances at me. I stepped forward once Bella had handed over the keys, and was presented with a receipt. Placing a roll of hundred dollar bills on the counter I leaned forward, giving the receptionist my full attention.

Her eyes dulled slightly and her mouth hung open as she regarded me.

"I believe there may be some repairs that are in order for the room. I trust this should cover it, and your complete discretion?"

She nodded.

"Wonderful. I'm glad we could reach an agreement," I stroked her face and she closed her eyes.

I turned to Bella, "Let's go."

As we walked outside, I felt Bella shudder, her eyes went to a dark spot on the road, and the burned out ash of where the police had left the remnants of their flares.

Once inside the car, she lit a cigarette and then pulled out of the parking lot. We arrived shortly at the hospital, and Bella stubbed her cigarette under her boot heel.

As soon as she walked in, she was hailed by a woman behind the main desk, "Bella. Oh Bella have you heard, honey?"

"About what?"

"Oh honey, about Jake? He was hit by a Mack truck last night." The woman was not interested in telling Bella, more about spreading the gossip of the hometown hero and seeing Bella's reaction.

Bella nodded, "I know. It was right outside of my hotel."

"Oh my God, you saw the whole thing, then? What happened? Leave nothing out, you poor dear."

Bella cleared her throat, "Actually, I'm just hear to see Charlie, if that's OK?"

The woman's eyes were disappointed, and her mind shouted what her drawn lips withheld.

Silly little bitch. You never knew what was good for you.

The woman nodded, and I followed Bella down several corridors. The acrid smell of cleanser filled my nostrils, as well as transfused blood, various liquid medication, and the general smell of malade.

I picked various strains of thoughts and shut them out. I hated hospitals, hated the smell, sights, and sounds. It was all so heavy, especially to my heightened senses.

I was trying to focus solely on Bella, when a scent I knew very well hit me.

Carlisle.

Surely he has not come back to this place after so many years. I must be wrong. I had to be.

Bella stopped outside of a door marked Swan and underneath it, the name Cullen.

By Christ, he is back in this town. Would he have anything to do with Jane's presence? Perhaps they were not here for me? Carlisle was much closer to the Volturi than I.

"You go in, Bella. I'll meet you in the waiting room we passed." She nodded, and disappeared behind the door.

I walked back the way we came, his scent was everywhere now that I was looking for it. He must be working as a doctor again. I rolled my eyes behind the lenses of my glasses.

Carlisle, the modern day Saint Vampire. I wondered if he helped himself to the stocked blood supply.

I could hear his thoughts, he was close by. He was worrying over some patient, and I realized it was Bella's father.

The tests confirm what I could detect by smell. Treatment will be difficult as the location is delicate. He may require surgery if the meds are unsuccessful…

He rounded the corner I was waiting behind. I grabbed him by the collar, and found an empty room. Shutting the door behind us, his eyes took me in, his thoughts loud with surprise.

"Edward!"

I removed my glasses, and folded them, before placing them in the inside pocket of my leather jacket.

"Carlisle. I had forgotten what a small place Forks is."

"You are here with Isabella Swan?"

"That is none of your business."

"I know she is in town for her father. Did you know her ex-husband was killed last night? Ran over by a truck."

"I am aware."

His eyes narrowed, "How aware?"

I assumed a casual pose against the wall, "Aware enough to know it is time to leave town."

I knew it, his thoughts screamed.

I quirked a brow at him, "Judge and jury now, are we? What you don't know is that everyone's hero was a piece of scum who ground his ex-wife underneath his football studs, until she was nearly broken. There is a faint bruise on her cheek this morning, because he didn't know how to keep his hands to himself."

Carlisle crossed his arms, holding the clipboard he had in his hands to his chest. His golden eyes assessed me, "It sounds as if Ms. Swan is more than what she seems to be."

Unspoken, his thoughts mocked me, Perhaps I should meet her.

I growled lowly, "You will stay away from her."

"As you wish, Edward." Carlisle moved to the door and opened it. His eyes flickered, and his mind rested on Alice and her slowly decomposing state.

"If you should see Alice, please try to help her, Edward. She is not…well." He stepped into the hallway, and I followed him.

"I have tried with Alice. She will come out of this when she is ready."

"It is your fault."

I took a step towards him, "The fault is not with me. Jasper knew what he was doing, knew what he was heading for."

"Do you know why Jane and Demetri are in town?" I waited for his mind to process, and he did. I watched the brief discussion they had on behest of Aro yesterday.

It would appear Aro is looking to recruit Alice to his army and offered a place for her.

He broke the silence, "It is a good opportunity for her."

I neither agreed nor disagreed. Alice was the only one who knew what was good for her.

It was quiet between us, and his thoughts shifted to the way the coven used to be. Blind sheep following a crooked shepherd.

"You should come by sometime, Edward. You've held onto this grudge for a long time, it's time to move past it."

"It's not a grudge," I growled, "It's so much more than that."

I heard a door open down the hallway, and recognized Bella's heartbeat, the unique rhythms pumping steadily.

I heard her sniffle, and the smell of her tears carried across the corridor to me.

"It was good to see you, Edward. We miss you."

We, as in him and his mate, Esme, who considered herself a surrogate mother. I held no ill will for Esme, her capacity to love unconditionally was endless. He had made her as well, and in doing so, made sure she was damned with him.

I took a step towards him, until we were nose to nose. I didn't care if anyone saw us, let him make any explanations that were necessary.

I could hear Bella's footsteps as she walked towards us.

Come by sometime, Edward. It's never too late.

"I'll see you in hell first." I pulled my glasses back on and turned my head to regard Bella, who had stopped just short of us.

"You are ready?"

She nodded, and moved forward, and I put a protective arm at her back. As she passed Carlisle, her eyes opened wide and she gasped under her breath.

Carlisle's thoughts echoed across to me, Edward! She knows?

I paused mid stride, and Bella stopped beside me.

"Yes, she knows."

That sort of knowledge is very dangerous.

I chose not to acknowledge him further, "Come, Bella."

She followed mutely beside me, her tears still streaming down her face. She reached up and wiped them away from her face, as we moved through and finally out of the hospital. She fumbled for the keys to the car in her pocket, and nearly dropped them in a puddle. Before she could reach down for them, I retrieved them from the mire.

"I'll drive."

She sniffed. "Ok."

She stood there, still, tears tracing over the established wet tracks over her face, smudging the make up cover her bruise, revealing the shadow.

There was something inside of me, something that told me I should be doing something, but I wasn't sure what it was.

Bella closed the distance between us, and I watched as she laid her cheek against my chest, her warmth slowly seeping through. She made a fist in the leather, and her other hand was around to my back. I felt her warm hand find its way underneath my jacket, underneath my shirt, to my cold skin. Her fingers moved over me, and I shuddered at her touch.

"Is this ok?" she whispered.

I nodded, and the burn of her scent was a dull ache in my throat, once again. I swallowed, "Yes."

"Would you-never mind." She angled her face down, but still pressed it against my chest.

"Would I what?" I asked.

"It's ok. Nevermind."

"Bella."

I heard her take a breath, "Would you put your arms around me?" She muttered against my jacket.

I lifted my arms, and placed them around her.

"Tighter."

I squeezed her, and she exhaled against me. We stood like that, in the parking lot, and I remembered that humans needed this, needed reassurance through touch.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"You're welcome."

She moved to step back, and I released her.

She looked up at me, and then her eyes darted away, "I can drive if you want."

I shook my head, "No. I'll drive."

"OK," she acquiesced.

We got into the car, and I started the Mustang. It was a lovely specimen, and the engine purred as I pulled out of the hospital, and headed out of town.

I placed my tinted glasses in the console as Bella shifted in her seat, pulling her cigarettes out.

She turned to me as she cracked the window, "Do you mind if I smoke?"

My ruby eyes met her mortal brown.

"I don't think it will kill me," I smirked at her.

Her lips lifted in an answering smile at me and she lit the cigarette. She was quietly contemplative, and her silence was driving me to distraction.

"Your father, he is all right?"

She sniffed, "As all right as Charlie ever is. I-" she faltered, "I told him about Jake. He took it really bad. He told me to get out of his room, and to not come back."

There was a pause where she took several drags, and flicked cigarette ash out of the window.

She broke the silence, "Who was that you were speaking to in the hospital?"

"No one who matters."

She flicked her cigarette out of the window and rolled the glass up.

"Is he a vampire?" She said the last in a whisper.

I glanced at her face, "Yes."

"Why aren't his eyes red?"

My eyes went back to the road, "He does not feed on human blood. He denies what he is, and hunts animals instead."

"Why do you-"

I looked back at her, and perhaps too sharply I said to her, "You may ask me anything. Just be sure you are prepared for the answers you may receive, and the price you may pay for having such knowledge."

She shrunk into her seat, and I pushed the pedal down, giving the Mustang more gas, driving us further forwards.

A/N

Thanks for reading. ::waving:: at new readers and ::winking:: at the usual crowd. There were a lot of you last post, and I always appreciate your thoughts.

Ok. Some of you have very kindly nominated IA for The Vampies. We are up for, and srsly, these are the best categories ever:

Bloody Brilliant & Fangbanged (oh man, I want that on a t-shirt: I was nominated for best fangbang!)

There is a link on my profile if you would like to vote. Stiff competition, but it was very cool to be nominated. And pssst, the gorgeous lambcullen was nom'd for Best DarkVamp for Dark Possession. You must read if you like it dark and thirsty. Unf!