Warning: Mild lemon in this one!

CHAPTER VIII

''Are you sure?'' I asked Carlisle like a little girl.

''If that's what you need, but I trust you to take your business somewhere else?'' Carlisle arched an eyebrow as I tried not to gape; I was dumfounded he had agreed without complaints. He saw my expression and laughed. ''I can't very well forbid you anything, can I?''

''As I've already said multiple times; this is your house, and thereby your rules. If you're uncomfortable with it, I won't do it. And of course, I would go feed far away; no need to bring the wolves in just yet,'' I assured him and he nodded his approval again.

''Be careful,'' he warned before I left the room fast, fearing he would change his mind if I lingered too long. He had just accepted that I fed on humans. Directly. I could take the blood bags, but after the Denalis and Jasper, I needed to drink something stronger to actually be at full capacity.

I had managed the rest of the week without any run-ins with Jasper, but I could see Alice was nervous about it; she couldn't see past our kiss – which hadn't even happened yet – and it made her anxious about their future together. So, she tried focusing her energy on finding Liam instead. She hadn't found anything substantial yet, but with the devotion she seemed to have at finding him, I had no doubts about her.

Considering the treaty with the wolves, I had to run until I reached Port Angeles where I found a nice smell to hang on to. I followed it to a cozy little bar. ''Identification,'' said a man at the door. I looked at him, smiling and his dark expression faltered.

''No thanks,'' I charmed him, looking deep into his eyes, into his soul. He smiled back at me with cloudy eyes.

''Of course, ma'am, go ahead,'' I smiled sweetly and went inside. The smells reached my nose and I breathed in, feeling the rasp of the thirst at the back of my throat beginning to stir. I looked around, but I knew smells were all that mattered. I slowly walked around the bodies sitting around the tables, some were playing games, others were watching tv with some sport playing on it, others were just chatting around a pitcher of beer.

I sat at the nearest stool at the bar and flashed a smile at the bartender who immediately came to me. She had bright red hair and a piercing on her bottom lip. ''Hi, can I get you anything?'' she asked.

''Surprise me,'' I said, not knowing much about modern drinks and alcohol.

''Are you feeling sweet or sour?'' she asked with a devilish smile, running her tongue across her lips, playing with her piercing and bending over the counter to get closer to me. I closed in, leaving only a few inches between us.

''I'm always sweet,'' I replied, smiling. She grinned and went to make something. I have no idea what she brought back, but I liked it. As I tasted my drink, I tried to separate the smells in the room to find the one that was first appealing to me without much success. I caught a few that were fine, without more, but then I heard a small commotion outside; someone was very happy to get into the bar. I turned to look at the door as they were walking in, smelling like rain; since it didn't rain outside, I believed they were foreigners coming from a rainier place than Forks. They were three, two guys and one girl, and they looked around a bit for a place to sit. I smiled to myself when I noticed I was sitting right in the middle of three available seats and I feigned ignorance as one of the guys approached me.

''Excuse me, love, could you slide over one?'' he said. British. I smiled as I bit my lip and turned towards the one who had spoken.

''What do I get in return?'' I smiled sweetly. He smiled back and looked around a second before his attention came back at me.

''A drink?'' he asked with a raised eyebrow.

''Well if you're offering, I can't say no,'' I said with a smile and he motioned for the bartender to get us some more drinks. I moved over a seat and the other couple sat in comfortably, but the man talking to me kept his gaze on me and I smiled again, hearing his heart rate pick up. I took a sip of my drink, never taking my eyes off his and I was sure I felt some lust coming from him, or maybe it was just mine. ''I'm Bella,'' I smiled, drawing out my name more than necessary.

''Nate,'' he said as he extended his hand and I shook it, biting my lip.

''You guys are from England, right?'' I asked as I sipped on my drink, ''What are you doing here?''

''Yeah, we're musicians opening for another group, we're playing tomorrow night if you want to come see us.'' The man said as he handed me a card.

'''Destroyed hearts'?'' I read aloud as I glanced back at him. ''I take it you've had your heart broken a few times, then?'' He laughed, almost spilling his drink.

''Yeah, we were all in a bad place when we started the band, the name came with it,'' he said with a small wince.

''Why don't you change it, then?'' I smiled all teeth out, knowing his heartbeat would pick up some more, and it did as he licked his lips.

He made a gesture, brushing it off, ''It's complicated, we've got some fans, and a website, plus, the girls are all falling for the heartbroken type of guy. Thinking they can fix us,'' he said with a smile in my direction and I frowned.

''You don't think I would've wanted to fix you?'' I asked, faking offense. He pressed his temple on the palm of his hand, leaning against the counter as he looked intensely at me with a small smile playing on his lips.

''No,'' was all he said and I leaned towards him a little. He leaned in too, trying to hear what I was going to say.

''You're right,'' I whispered in his neck, feeling the blood pumping into his veins as I rested my hand on the crook of the other side of his neck. I leaned back a little so he would look into my eyes. ''Don't move. Don't scream,'' I ordered and I went back into his neck, biting into it as blood flowed into my hungry mouth. To all the others in the bar, it looked like we were getting a little bit too friendly, but his hand was clamping so hard on my thigh, his joins were white. When I felt his heartrate drop, I leaned back again, wiping my mouth discreetly as I did so. ''You won't remember what I just did,'' I said.

''What did you do?'' he asked, his eyes still a little glazed as I released my grip on his mind. I started laughing as if nothing had happened.

''I just spilled my drink all over myself! I'm sorry, I have to go clean this up. Nice to have met you!'' I called out as I directed myself towards the bathroom to keep the charade up. I was stopped on my way when I saw a group of guys circling a girl that looked quite advanced in her drinking tonight. I frowned when I heard them urge her to come back to their place and made a face as I thought of all the things they would probably use her for. I pushed through the crowd and heard her name from one of the guys.

''Amy, how about we take this to our place, huh?'' a drunk boy kept pushing his pelvis against her, groping close to her ass.

''There you are! Amy, I've been looking for you,'' I said as I finally got to her. I bent backward the arm of one boy who was touching far too close to her ass in one swift movement and he screamed in pain.

''You're crazy!'' he said, grabbing his now-broken wrist, but I had been so fast the others were wondering what he was screaming all of a sudden.

''Just concerned,'' I replied as I dragged the drunken girl named Amy to the bathroom. She could barely stand on her own so I half dragged her there. I had to fake the struggle in case people were watching, but she really wasn't heavy at all.

''Who are you?'' She mumbled out, as she tried to walk but her feet were failing her.

''No one, I just wanted to-'' I stopped in my tracks when I heard the whistles coming from the bathroom door. I turned and saw the drunken boys were back. I counted five as they spilled into the bathroom, taking so much space, I lifted Amy on the sink so she would be out of their way.

''Come on, bitch, just give us our little friend back,'' one said with a smug smile, but his slurred words were a clear evidence they were deeply intoxicated.

''I'm not going to do that,'' I answered with a thigh smile.

''She wants to be with us,'' another one chipped in. I noticed the one boy I broke the arm of wasn't amongst them.

''You lost a friend? Five against one hardly seems fair,'' I drawled too, enjoying this immensely. My movements were slow, deliberate, as I ran a hand through my hair, down my body. Their lust was getting the best of them and it became very clear they wanted me; they wanted us.

''Then maybe we can only do one on one?'' the first boy asked, again with a smug smile, cracking his knuckles.

Except now, it was my turn to smile, ''Oh, no, I meant you are short a few men,'' I laughed, ''and that is only if you wish to bruise my skin. If you want to actually rape me, there wouldn't be enough humans to overpower me,'' I said slowly, making sure every word was enunciated perfectly so they would understand all their meaning even in their advanced inhibited brain. As I spoke, I slowly turned my hair and my eyes darker, making them understand they were playing with forces beyond their understanding. I felt the fear replace the lust and salivated as I felt it, strong as it was. I reached the door and locked it before any of them could reach for it, eliciting new gasps from them.

''What? Now you're feeling bad?'' I wondered as I took a step towards them and they crowded at the end of the room. I smiled and grabbed the first one, sinking my teeth hard into his skin as his screams echoed in the bathroom, but the music was loud enough in the bar so no one would hear. When I heard his heartbeat drop, I wondered if I should stop, but remembered Carlisle and stopped myself, letting him fall on the floor, still conscious enough. I did the same to the others, one by one and stopping just before they lost consciousness; I needed them to be able to hear me later.

I grabbed the first one again, who now had enough strength back to try to reach the lock from the floor. I grabbed his hand and twisted it. A loud crack echoed and he screamed as I broke his wrist and crouched down next to him. ''Now forget all about Amy and me, and only remember you got into a brawl with one of your friends and you both broke your wrists. Also, never touch a girl without her consent again,'' I ordered and the man in front of me nodded as fear filled his glazed eyes.

I got up to reach the next one, but missed a step as the room seemed to spin around me. I frowned as I steadied myself on the wall and went towards all the others, one by one, erasing their memory of what had just happened. I left them on the floor, not caring who would find them. I grabbed a hold of Amy who had fallen asleep during the fight and she moaned when I lifted her. I unlocked the bathroom door, and let another girl enter it, but I was already far when I heard her scream.

I called a cab and as we waited for it, the scent of her blood hit me; it smelled of cinnamon and I just wanted to sink my teeth into it. I felt dizzy from the man I had drunk from, but I was still thirsty, if not more than before. I approached my mouth from her neck and bit into it. She moaned softly in pain but was too drunk to struggle. I held her close to my body so she wouldn't fall until I felt her heartbeat slow down considerably.

I took my mouth off her and licked a trail of blood that had escaped me from her neck. The cab arrived at that moment and I looked through her bag for an address, which I gave to the driver and sent her on her way. I still felt dizzy, but the smells seemed to get better the more I drank. I stumbled on my first step and laughed for a few seconds before steadying myself and walking towards the enticing new smells I had locked on.

I slowly walked through the streets, letting my senses guide me as I ended up in front of a house party. There were so many people, some of them were dancing outside on the front lawn as lights were projected everywhere, dizzying me more than I already was. I took a big whiff of the surroundings and salivated. It smelled fucking delicious and I was overwhelmed by all the smells. I slowly made my way inside, calculated, hunting. It was most likely some kind of college party as they all seemed to be young adults. I made my way through the crowd with open arms, reveling in the lust I was feeling around me, sending it back as if it was my own. I danced with a few people as I made my way up the stairs, where I could hear soft moans coming from a bedroom. I opened the door and watched a young couple being completely lost in each other. They both smelled of alcohol. The girl finally noticed me at the door and smiled at me as she buried the guy's face deeper into her neck.

''You gonna just stand there and watch or you're gonna join us?'' she asked and the guy finally took notice of me standing in the doorway. He smiled as I approached the bed slowly and bend over to push my lips against the girl's. The guy moaned at the sight and his hand went to grab my ass, squeezing it as he did so, letting out a soft moan at the feel. I straddled the girl as I pushed her lips apart and joined our tongues. I palmed her breast and reached the back of her neck to pull her closer to me. I could smell her arousal had become stronger now that I was in the room too. I could feel my teeth get more and more insistent on her skin and I slipped a hand towards the guy to drag his hand at the girl's wet center. We both pushed a finger inside her at the same time and she arched her back as a moan escaped her lips.

We both started the same movement as I kissed her neck and the boy was kissing mine. She was so wet, and I could feel her blood pumping fast in her veins as her breathing became labored. I buried my mouth in her neck and gently sucked at the skin until she climaxed, moaning loudly and I sunk my teeth into her, drinking her blood as she came hard on our fingers. She clawed at my back in ecstasy as she rode one of the most powerful orgasms she'd ever had. I was sure of it; I could hear it in her thoughts. I turned towards the boy next to us and the bulge in his pants was more than prominent. I turned to the girl. ''I think you should return the favor a little, no?'' she nodded fiercely as she tried to get on top of the man with a little difficulty considering her legs were still shaking.

She helped get rid of his pants and his member was finally sprung free from its confines, almost hitting her in the face. She laughed before engulfing as much as she could in her mouth. The man threw his head back in ecstasy and his eyes locked into mine. 'I want her to suck me too,' he thought.

''Don't worry, I will,'' I said devilishly as I pressed my hand on the back of the girl's head, making her gag on his member as the boy moaned once more.

I tapped on the inside of his thigh so he would spread a bit more of his legs and he complied. The girl shifted a little to leave me some space and I reached the inside of his thigh, placing wet open-mouth kisses all over it as he moaned in pleasure. The girl was getting wet again as I rubbed my hands on her body, all the way up to her neck where my lips kissed the outside of her ear. ''Fuck him.'' She was going to get up on him cowgirl style but it would've hindered my view. ''Turn around. Face me,'' I ordered then and she complied, turning her back to him as she was riding him. I was facing her and I could see, and feel the lust building in the room. I tried projecting some more lust and she moaned as the smell of her arousal got stronger. I crouched in front of them, right before where they were joined and saw both of the veins running inside their mutual thighs. I was dazzled as the rhythm the beating seemed to synch up with his thrusts inside her. I approached my face and licked where they were joined before sinking my teeth into the girl's thigh, drinking some more of her as she reached another orgasm. I licked the wound until it didn't bleed anymore and bit down the guy's thigh. I felt a pang of hurt and immediately replaced it with lust as he forgot all about my bite and she rode him harder.

''Bella, stop!'' called someone at the door. I turned around, fangs out, blood running down my mouth. ''You'll kill them,'' Edward defended so lowly the couple didn't hear and I was sending so much desire and lust in the room they hadn't even noticed Edward's presence, yet.

''I know what I'm doing, thanks,'' I replied and went back to my feeding for a bit more before letting him properly fuck his girl. I got up from the bed and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. As I looked at it, I lost my footing again and reached with my hand to try to steady myself. Edward was on me in a flash, steadying me.

''Are you drunk?'' he asked, shocked. I tried to focus on his face but it was blurry, and there were two of them. I stood there gaping, trying to reach for his face, trying to steady it so I could actually tell him I wasn't drunk. I noticed we were now in another room and the couple had disappeared.

''Whatareyoutalkingabout?'' was my brilliant response as I finally reached his face and my hand landed on his cheek, hard. He winced.

''Bella, vampires aren't supposed to get drunk, how are we going to parade you out of here with blood all over your shirt?''

''I loooove parades!'' I exclaimed excitedly. ''Where's the parade, Edward?!'' I looked around frantically trying to get out to see the parade but he firmly held my hand. I moaned at the contact as lust rose in me again and I bit my bottom lip, really wanting to lick up his arm. I blurrily saw Edward talking on his phone but I had forgotten to do one thing with the couple, so, I reached the door before Edward could stop me and ran back to the room where I knew they were as I could still follow the lust I had projected. I opened the door and saw them laying lazily next to each other. I went to the boy first and straddled him as I felt Edward come in behind me. Let me do this, I thought as strongly and clearly as possible. I smiled down at the boy who was looking up at me with a lazy smile and stared deep into his eyes.

''You won't remember me. You'll remember having great, rough sex with your girl and she's the one who bit you.'' I pushed my lips against his and while he was still dazed, I smiled back to the girl. ''Hi,'' I said excitedly. With the door opened, I could see she had dark blond hair and freckles on her face, she looked beautiful as she smiled back at me, reaching for my lips again. I indulged in her kiss but broke it off when I felt Edward's impatience.

''You'll only remember having great, rough sex with this man. He was so into it he couldn't stop himself and bit you. You loved it,'' I assured as I grabbed Edward's wrist and pulled him out of the room before they woke up from the trance I had put them under.

''What did you just do?'' Edward asked as I was happily dancing down the stairs, hanging onto some bodies as I went by and sending lust over them. ''Bella!'' he called out as he gently pushed away a girl trying to kiss him aggressively.

''Jasper!'' I exclaimed happily as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

''Bella,'' Jasper said with a small smile as he took in my appearance; blood was drying on my shirt and my mouth. ''Having fun?'' he noticed, and I nodded fiercely. He looked around at the writhing bodies through the house. ''Maybe a little too much, don't you think?'' he asked then as he bit his lip, and I suddenly really wanted to bite down on that lip as well. I let out a moan as I took a step towards him, but Edward firmly grabbed my arm, making me realize a little of what was going on, but as I followed Jasper's gaze through the room, I couldn't help but laugh euphorically.

Bodies were writhing against one another, rubbing themselves as they danced, hands running everywhere, grabbing everything, clothes starting to be discarded. I broke free of Edward's arm and took a step to join everybody but Jasper grabbed my arm as he pushed away a girl too close to him who tried to grab the erection he was obviously starting to have. I glanced toward Edward and saw he was in the same predicament. The sight made me send another wave and the room seemed to moan in unison.

I reveled in it as I joined their moaning, throwing my head back in ecstasy.

But Jasper and Edward didn't agree as they each took an arm and forcibly dragged me outside. They let go of me as soon as we were outside and I fell on the ground as they both tried to regain control of their bodies. I wasn't thinking straight anymore, all I could think about was lust; lust for their bodies, and lust for more human blood.

''We need to get further or I'm not going to be able to control myself anymore,'' Jasper growled lustily and that noise was very sexy, I thought as another wave left me. ''Bella. Don't you think I have enough lust for you already?'' he growled again and I wet my lips at the sound.

''Stop growling, it's not helping!'' Edward barked as he supported himself on one of the columns of the house. Jasper grounded his teeth and looked up for a while, trying to focus on anything else. I followed his gaze, always amazed by what I found there. I was looking at constellations upon constellations, each prettier and brighter than the last. I was so far off in my gazing upon the star I stretched too far and fell on my back.

''What do we do?'' Jasper asked Edward as he clearly tried not to let it turn into a growl, but his voice was still very raspy.

''I don't know, she can't go back to the house like that.'' I didn't really hear about the rest of the conversation as I noticed a human walking all by itself at the end of the street. I heard my stomach rumbling and checked to see that my guards were deep in conversation. Edward got a call as I jumped on my feet and started running towards my next meal. Jasper laughed and tried to reach for me but I pushed him and pounced on my next victim. I was on him in seconds and bit his neck, drawing blood and feeding on his life and his fear. I was unstoppable and I wanted more. I barely registered the tips of my hair becoming dark red, like a pool of blood, as I fed.

I felt a pull as soon as the human stopped fighting me. I turned to growl at the person pulling me from my food when I felt a deep numbness wash over me. I fell on the floor, unable to move. I tried to put my shield back on so Jasper's powers wouldn't reach me, but it was no use. Somehow, Jasper was still getting through. I frowned, unable to understand how he was still controlling me. Too dazed to think, I tried to focus on Edward and what he was trying to say to me.

''-the couple you fed on?'' he finished.

''What?'' I tried as I put my focus back on him.

''What did you do to the couple you were feeding on? When I tried to stop you the first time, you told them to forget,'' he explained more.

''Yess, good idea!'' I said as I tried to get up, falling back on the floor as soon as I did, but I noticed the boy was also on the floor so I just crawled to him instead. He was barely conscious, but that was all that was needed. I looked into his eyes, tried to make him focus on my mind. ''You won't remember this little encounter of ourrrsss.'' I enunciated as much as I could, stretching a bit too much on the last word and laughing at the end.

''I won't remember,'' he repeated as a smile crept on his face, mirroring mine, and I nodded, satisfied.

''Oh! And you will never wear this shirt again,'' I added, noticing for the first time the awful shade of green it was.

''I will never wear this shirt again,'' he repeated. I looked at Jasper and Edward.

''Can I go back in the house now?'' I asked like a little girl as I longingly looked towards the lights coming from the party.

''I think you've had enough fun for one night,'' Edward said sternly.

''Party pooper,'' I mumbled and I heard Jasper laugh. ''There, he looks fun, he can come with me?'' I proposed then.

''I'm not a babysitter, and I definitely can't be inside a house of lust with you in it,'' he said sourly as he bent down to pick me up. I let him do it, knowing deep inside I could've taken them both if I wasn't so drunk. Well, Jasper was very strong because of my blood so that was left to see. I turned around in Jasper's arms and found myself nestled into his neck. I smiled greedily and licked my lips, as I brought my mouth closer to it, licking and nibbling on his exposed skin. I felt him shudder. ''No! Edward, take her!'' Jasper said through gritted teeth as I felt a bigger wave of lust hit me again and moaned.

I felt myself change arms and sulked a little bit at the loss until I understood it wasn't as much a loss as I thought. I resumed my nibbling, trying to reach further up as I felt his lust increase.

''Told ya,'' Jasper laughed, but I could feel a tension in his voice, though I didn't care much for it at the moment as I was actually reaching Edward's collarbone. I was suddenly dropped on a soft surface and looked around to see we had made it into a hotel room. I heard chairs shuffle around the room and anger rose in me when I understood I was locked here. I then started to show them my true feelings as I broke a third lamp in the room.

''Well there goes our security deposit,'' Jasper said nonchalantly as he was laying gracefully on a chair settled in front of the door to make sure I wouldn't escape.

''I'm pretty sure it was done the moment she tore at the sheets,'' Edward said in the same bored tone. I rolled my eyes as I reached for another object to throw at him. Jasper's hand wrapped around my wrist in milliseconds, keeping me from throwing it, and I felt a pang of lust as his hand connected with my wrist.

''I'm done with this.'' He grabbed the object I was about to throw but laid it down so forcibly it broke anyway. ''I understand you're mad, but you'll understand when you sober up. In the meantime, if you want to hit something, hit me.'' I immediately felt Edward's discomfort as he stood straighter in his chair.

''Jasper, it that really wise at the moment?'' Edward inquired.

''I think this moment is the wisest moment to get punched by a mighty vampire,'' he replied, his eyes boring into mine in a silent challenge.

''You think you can take me when I'm drunk?'' I sniggered but Jasper only shrugged.

''I think I can take you anytime,'' he countered, growling and I heard the underlying promise in his phrase as all thoughts of Alice left my drunken mind and was replaced by nothing but lust.

''Bring it,'' I whispered huskily and he reacted so fast I barely saw it happen. He strongly grabbed my arm, pulling me into the woods behind the hotel as Edward begrudgingly followed behind. Jasper threw me to the ground and immediately crouched in a fighting position. I turned and lunged just in time to collide with him in a thunder-like sound. My head hit his and blood slowly covered my vision as he grabbed my throat and started to squeeze. I clawed at his arms for a second before pushing on his elbow crease from the inside out and grabbed his head in my hands, pushing it down to collide with my knee. He grunted in pain and took a few steps back. I wiped the blood off my face and pounced again but Edward came in between us, keeping us at arm's length.

''Stop! Someone is coming,'' he informed us as we listened for footsteps and a heartbeat. Someone was heading straight towards the cause of the noise. ''Bella, can you make him go away?'' he pleaded.

''Of course,'' I said, shrugging.

''Without biting him,'' Jasper specified lowly with a knowing smile and I groaned.

''Just a little bit!'' I begged but they both shook their head. ''You vampires are no fun at all,'' I grunted as I made my way towards the curious human. I heard them chuckle behind me and rolled my eyes as I begrudgingly approached what could've been a pretty good midnight snack, kicking at the dirt beneath my feet, almost falling as I did so. I felt the boys' amusement and sent a wave of guilt their way.

''Anyone there?'' The human called out.

''Just me,'' I spoke softly, suddenly standing directly behind him. He jumped and spun around as he put some distance between us. I felt the fear coursing in his veins and I immediately got thirsty again. I ran my tongue across my lips as my eyes bored into his pumping jugular.

''Bella,'' came a warning growl behind me. I loved that growl and he probably felt how much because when he spoke again, he was trying to keep it in check. ''Just do your thing,'' he said lazily.

''This is my thing,'' I rasped between breaths. My eyes wouldn't leave my prey as it was right in front of me, adrenaline rushing through his veins and mine and I took a step forward, my top lip shaking in need as my mouth was salivating.

Jasper growled again and in my drunken state, instincts taking over, I'd do anything to hear that growl again so I took another step as my prey slowly backed away. ''I don't want any trouble,'' he whimpered and I fed off that fear even more as Jasper was there.

''So, you just walked in the forest at this time as you heard disconcerting noises?'' I turned my head to the side as I took another step, eyes becoming darker and he noticed.

''Y-Your eyes,'' he tried to squirm out and I smiled at his fear. In an instant, Edward was behind me, locking my arms alongside my body, firmly holding me into place as Jasper did the same with the man, trying to calm him down with his gift. A plaint left my lips as I felt his fear being slowly replaced with contempt.

''Jasper!'' I whined but he just flashed me a smile.

''Just do it, Bella, please,'' Edward asked in my ear, sending shivers through my body and I rolled my eyes as I shrugged away from his grip and toward the man Jasper was firmly holding.

''It's not very advisable to go out in the middle of the night when you hear unusual noises outside. Too bad you won't remember this little excursion of yours to teach you a lesson.'' I bored my eyes into his, changing his thoughts.

''I was home,'' he wondered aloud, looking around him.

''And you'll go right back there, not remembering why you woke up in the middle of the night,'' I stated and he nodded. I nodded to Jasper in return and he let him go. The man didn't even glance at us before strutting back to his house.

''Thank you,'' Edward said behind me.

''I would've done it anyway.'' I felt the need to say.

'Jasper might have better self-control because of your blood, but I don't really feel like testing my own,' he thought and I felt a little guilt at his confession.

''Let's go back to the hotel, I need a shower,'' I said as I took in my appearance for the first time since they got me back. I had dry blood running down my chin and my shirt was tainted by some of it.

''Try a cold one,'' I heard Jasper mumble as he was struggling hard against the erection straining his pants.

As soon as we came back to the room, I took my clothes off and Edward was in charge of burning them. I went to take a long, cold shower and we sat silently until morning as the very last remnants of the alcohol disappeared from my blood. Edward gave me clothes he had stolen from the hotel's dry-cleaning service and I thanked him as I put it on.

''I apologize for my actions,'' I whispered once I didn't feel any alcohol anymore. ''I don't know what happened to me,'' I admitted.

''Bloodlust,'' Jasper stated but I shook my head.

''No, I've felt bloodlust before, this wasn't it,'' I insisted.

''It was probably the alcohol. Ever feed on drunk people before?'' Edward inquired and I thought about it.

''Most likely, yes, but none that I can remember at the moment. Maybe when I usually did, I wasn't so thirsty to begin with,'' I tried.

''Or distraught,'' Jasper thought out loud and I read in his mind he was thinking about our blood-sharing experiment in the woods. I hung my head in shame and I kept quiet for most of the ride home until we were almost there and I had to ask.

''Do they know?'' I breathed in the smallest whisper possible.

''Alice saw you in a vision. She knew you wouldn't harm anyone but Edward insisted we came to make sure. She was the one calling Edward last night,'' Jasper explained as guilt washed over me. I knew Carlisle would be disappointed in me and I had just abused the hospitality he had fought for so candidly.

'He knows you're not like us,' Edward thought.

'But will he look at me the same?' I thought back with a sinking feeling in my stomach.

''We don't need to tell them, darlin','' Jasper chimed in, connected with my emotions. I swallowed hard and shook my head.

''I do.'' I was sure of it.

As we got to their home, I went straight looking for Carlisle and found him in the library with Rosalie. She smiled when she saw me. ''Hey, feeling better?'' she asked and I tried to smile reassuringly but it didn't reach my eyes.

''Yes, thank you. Do you mind if I talk to Carlisle alone, please, Rose?'' I pleaded to her and I saw her smile falter as she tried to keep it in place.

''Of course,'' she nodded and came to kiss my cheek before she left the room. Carlisle had laid the book he was reading on the desk and sat up as he probably sensed how important this was.

''Is everything okay?'' he asked, worried.

''You are not in any danger,'' I started with, trying to ease some of his concerns. ''This is only about me.'' I breathed in as he seemed to relax some, but not completely. I took a deep breath and I knew I had to tell him. ''I did something I'm not entirely proud of.'' Before he had time to chime in, I knew I had to say it all otherwise I would probably get cold feet. ''I lost control in Port Angeles. I'm sorry, I don't know what happened, nothing would ease my thirst. Jasper and Edward came to get me out,'' I blurted it all out, hoping to get it over with as soon as possible and he stayed quiet. ''I'll leave tonight,'' I whispered sadly, ready to get up and leave.

''Did you take care of the bodies?'' Carlisle asked with a concerned frown and I turned to him, confused.

''They are no bodies,'' I answered matter-of-factly. He seemed even more confused. ''I didn't kill anybody, Carlisle, I didn't have to, I don't have any venom, remember?'' I cleared up and after a beat, he frowned at me.

''So, you didn't kill anybody and you didn't break the treaty. Why would I banish you?'' he inquired and I sat back down, confused.

''Because Edward and Jasper came to get me and I could easily have enticed them into drinking human blood. Well, Edward mostly,'' I said.

''Did you?'' he asked and I shook my head.

''No, you did a pretty good job at raising them,'' I praised, hoping I could help my case with flattery. He laughed and I sat back down, still feeling heavy. ''There's more.'' He looked at me and waited anxiously. ''I drank blood from intoxicated humans and it- well I'm not sure how it worked, but it made me intoxicated as well.'' He was about to explain something but I wasn't quite done. ''And more bloodthirsty than I ever remember being before. The more I fed, the more I wanted.'' I finished and my anxiety grew with every silent minute that passed between us.

''I've heard of vampires getting drunk from drinking intoxicated humans, that's not unheard of,'' he finally said, ''I don't believe it tapped into their bloodlust though. I think the carnage they did once they were intoxicated was just a consequence of their alcohol-filled minds. I could make a few calls, try to get some answers for you,'' he offered then but I shook my head frantically.

''No, no need to bring some unwanted attention on the subject. I just wanted you to know all the facts so if you want me out, I will understand.'' I hung my head and closed my eyes in submission, awaiting his punishment. He just laughed incredulously and I opened one eye to check if he was crazed over my confessions.

''I'm not throwing you out, Bella,'' he stated and I gaped at him, incapable to form words. ''You didn't kill anyone, you were careful not to break the treaty, you didn't cause irreversible damage to Jasper or Edward. There's nothing to throw you out for,'' he laughed a little more before becoming more serious. ''Are you sure no one could identify you?''

''No one remembers me,'' I assured him and I noticed I hadn't told him this. ''I can alter most human's minds so, I told them to forget all about me and they did,'' I explained and it was his time to gape.

''Good,'' he finally said as he took back his book with the ghost of a smile on his lips.

''Bella!'' screamed Edward from the living room and we both jumped. I looked at Carlisle before feeling the worry and the commotion downstairs. We both got up at the same time and ran as fast as we could downstairs. Alice was drawing a picture on a very large canvas that was almost taking up the entire dining room table. She was running to both sides of the table and I got closer to see what she was drawing when my vision darkened too.

Figures were walking in a field covered in snow, wearing red and black tunics. Volturi. They were aligned almost perfectly. Wolves were on the other side of the field, with many other figures standing beside them, but the Volturi certainly outnumbered them four against one, counting the wolves. Aro broke the line and stepped forward.

''Show us the girl!'' he ordered.

''The girl isn't here. She's not a danger to you,'' said the figure amongst the werewolves. I saw a flash of blond hair and knew it was Carlisle.

''I know. But she is a danger to you if you don't give her up,'' Aro continued.

''She left a long time ago. These witnesses will attest to that.'' Carlisle stepped up and collapsed in pain. I knew that look of pain. That was Jane.

The vision ended, but I wanted to see more. I needed to see more.

''Alice, tell me more!'' I demanded of her as panic washed over me.

''You saw what I saw,'' she replied, crossing her arms protectively on her chest, letting the pen she had been using fall to the table. I leaned forward to see the picture and saw the field I just witnessed. She had drawn the wolves and the Volturi's tunics perfectly. Showing everyone just how much of a danger I was to them. My heart dropped in my stomach.

''I have to leave,'' I whispered softly, the realization of what I had done dawned on me. I had put them all in danger. I had led the Volturi right at their door. I had to leave. Now. I made a move towards the door but a hand clamped firmly on my upper arm.

''You're not going anywhere,'' I turned to see Jasper firmly holding me, ''Whatever that vision was, aren't we better off if you'd stay?''

''She wasn't in the vision, Jasper,'' Alice whispered, informing him and Carlisle at the same time. ''Carlisle was swearing she had left a long time ago, but they didn't seem to believe him.''

''So, correct me if I'm wrong, but at least if you stay, we'd have a fighting chance,'' Jasper pushed, his grip on my arm relentless.

''No one is going to fight for me,'' I stated.

''Maybe we are going to have to. Not for you, but because of you,'' he spat and my heart immediately felt heavier. I saw him flinch slightly.

''Jasper,'' Carlisle reprimanded him but I held up my free hand to stop the scolding.

''He's right,'' I turned to Jasper. ''I shouldn't have come here.'' I took a breath, looking at the four of them, then, the picture Alice drew, and finally landing back on Jasper. ''But you are right. I can't run anymore.'' Knowing I couldn't compete Jasper's strength at the moment, I looked at my arm, then at him with a raised eyebrow and he let me go so I could walk to the other side of the table, trying to get a better look at the vampires standing around Carlisle. ''We're going to need support. Alice, I count more than the seven of you, do you know who the others were?''

''The Denalis were with us. All but Irina and Laurent. I recognized some other nomads Jasper and I met, but other than that, I don't know,'' she said. I nodded, thinking this whole scene looked familiar. Alice went on the other side of the table to analyze the picture on another angle and I had a feeling she would do just that. I shook my head. Alice's power must be starting to rub off on me.

''Wait.'' I looked at the picture Alice drew and something didn't fit right. Not just the fact that werewolves were willing to fight alongside us, but the timing of it all. ''How did they know I was here? They couldn't have known. How did they know I was here?'' I repeated more to myself than to get an actual answer.

''Does it matter? Alice only sees decisions that were made. Clearly, they made the decision to come here otherwise she wouldn't have seen it,'' Jasper said.

''Jasper's right,'' Alice interjected. ''But I can't help but notice that even though you said you'd be staying; my vision hasn't changed. Is it because you're lying and will actually leave as soon as you can? Or did Carlisle lie in the vision? Why would we have so many vampires willing to lie to the Volturi for us? Is it simply just because that big of a decision hasn't been made already? My head hurts,'' she finished, rubbing her temple and looking at the picture one more time.

''Next question then,'' I decided to say, maybe to release some of the pressure from her shoulders. ''How in the hell did we get werewolves to fight with us?'' The question lingered as no one could answer. Jasper sighed and headed straight towards the library, already making plans in his head. I rubbed my hands together and went up as well, helping make plans, and knowing very well they wouldn't let me leave by myself right now.

!

I was spending most of my free time holding Alice's hand in the library. The connection made our gifts more in synch and that way, we could both focus to get as many answers about the future as possible. So far, we had seen us all drop out of school, which was obvious considering the extreme circumstances; we only had one day left, just to test my powers. No matter how much I tried to stay away from Jasper, the kiss in Alice's vision didn't seem to change, but it didn't seem to bother her as much anymore. I had tried reassuring her over and over again, but I really couldn't help what the future told her.

We had a vision about Peter and Charlotte standing with us against the Volturi, and she explained to me that Jasper didn't see them as much since they were human drinkers. I could feel a shift in her emotions every time she spoke about Jasper; I could feel their pull getting weaker and I was hoping it was only as long as my blood was in Jasper's system.

We identified Alistair, two Amazonian women, and a coven looking more tanned than the other; Egyptians was my best guess. Alice and I tried to draw as many of them as we could so maybe another Cullen could identify one of them and understand the link between them, and the reason they would fight with us. I had been able to identify Zafrina and Senna, but the other faces were either not clear enough or I didn't know them. Carlisle recognized a vampire named Garrett, along with Alistair, obviously, and the coven in Egypt was led by Amun and Kebi, Benjamin and Tia were also part of it.

Alice kept trying to see a noteworthy detail about Liam and his family but all we knew about them so far was that they were living on Nordic lands, based on their thick accent. He had a wife, who seemed to be the leader of their coven, and a 16 years old vampire they called a daughter named Maggie. I was getting frustrated and I was tired, and I couldn't think about anything other than all of them being killed one by one and I couldn't live in my own brain anymore. I pushed the books and took my hand back from Alice for a moment to rub my temples as I became overwhelmed with emotions.

''Alice, please let me leave,'' I whispered as I turned my head towards her with a pleading look in my eyes.

''We don't stand a chance without you,'' she glanced at the scattered drawings of vampire around us. ''None of them do.''

''You don't stand a chance with me,'' I sighed heavily, and suddenly, I knew what to do to save them all. ''I'll leave. I'll give myself over to them, it's the only way!'' I decided as I abruptly got up from my seat, ready to leave it all behind. I had to save these people, and this was the only thing I could do to save them, even if it would be my last.

''Bella!'' Alice called out as I left for the door but I didn't get very far as I collided with someone on my way out.

''Edward, let me through,'' I said decisively. Nobody could change my mind now.

''I can hear your thoughts all the way from downstairs. Bella, don't do this. There's got to be another way,'' Edward pleaded but I was furiously shaking my head.

''There is no other way; if I'm still here when they come, they'll kill everyone to get me back, and if I'm gone, they won't believe you and they will kill everyone. The only safe way out for you is if I leave and give myself up to them. Please, Edward,'' I pleaded with tears in my eyes. ''I don't want to hurt any of you.'' I reigned in my tears and decided to push through if that's what I needed to do. ''I can overpower you,'' I stated as a last resort and I started to push when he wouldn't move.

''But you can't overpower me,'' came Jasper's voice as he stood solidly at the end of the hall and I felt Edward's relief.

''And you definitely can't take all of us down,'' Alice added as she came to Edward's side to also block my way out. I groaned.

''Don't you understand? What are you doing? What are you doing to this family? What did I do to this family?'' I was bordering on hysteria when Emmett and Rosalie came up the stairs, wondering what was going on.

''Bella?'' Rose asked and I couldn't help the tears anymore as I felt their concern and their love for me, and the fear of my departure, and the horror at giving me to the Volturi.

''Do you feel that?'' Jasper asked as he took a few steps towards me. ''Because I know I do, and I know there is no way I could ever leave people that loved me with such devotion and would do anything for me.'' From the corner of my eyes, I saw Carlisle and Esme join us and I bowed my head in shame, but still knowing deep down it was the only way.

''What's going on?'' Carlisle asked lowly.

''I think Bella's leaving,'' Rosalie choked out softly. Carlisle's eyes bored into mine and he frowned.

''I'm going to the Volturi. I'm going to offer myself up and they'll have to leave everyone here alone,'' I explained so everyone would be up to date with my plan. I felt their resistance, their anger, their repulsion. ''You can't stop me,'' I warned them. I would hurt them if need be, but at least they would be alive.

Emmett sniggered from behind Rosalie who had taken a step forward. ''If she wants to leave, let her leave. That's all she deserves,'' he spat and turned his back as he went to his room. I heard Rosalie call out to him, horrified. I wasn't horrified. I had felt his feelings of betrayal; he was hurt. They all were. I held back tears again as a lump formed in my throat. They couldn't know how much this hurt me. The Volturi would be nothing compared to the pain of leaving them.

''Then don't,'' Edward grunted as he followed my thoughts. The emotions were getting stronger, their love, their pain at seeing me leave, their desperation to keep me here, their heartbreak.

I groaned as I fell on my knees, overwhelmed. Rosalie was at my side in a flash, wiping the blood off my face I hadn't even realized was falling. She finished wiping the blood and she cupped my face in her hands, brushing the hair away from my face. ''Please, stay,'' she pleaded softly, echoing all their thoughts at the same time, making my heart break in return and a sob escaped my throat. Slowly, I nodded my head.

Rosalie took me into her arms and sobbed silently, relief flowing through her body. Alice came to join her a few seconds later. As they hugged me, I looked at Edward, then Jasper, then Esme and Carlisle, and I thought of Emmett, his anger and betrayal still strong even through the floor, and only one thought filled my mind as my eyes rested on Edward once more.

How was I going to save them all?

'We'll find a way,' Edward tried to reassure me, but he felt about as sure as I did.