I'm actually struggling sith pushing this story forward but it's a nice challenge. This is the third draft of the chapter and it's all Bella's POV. I find it silly that they're working so hard to fix their Mike problem and its their morals that are in the way. Anyway, enjoy.

Bella

This wasn't my room.

My room was small and cozy with lots of plants and books and various hiding spots for my weed. This room was big and spacious, with hardwood floors and a big, round picture window facing into a courtyard. The walls were black with gray wainscoting and an vintage iron chandelier hung from the ceiling..

There was a four poster king sized bed laden with black, purple and dark blue blankets. Whats more is that there was another king sized bed on the other side of the room, covered in stuffed animals. I stared at that one, something nagging at me.

"Bella."

Edward was here.

He sat on the end of the black bed, staring down at the floor as if it were the most fascinating thing ever. He was naked, his muscular shoulders slouched down.

My fingers grazed through his hair and he caught my wrist. I watched through hooded eyes as his lips grazed my vein, eyes on mine, before he bit down.

It didn't hurt.

Was it possible to be so turned on my body throbbed? I felt like I was going crazy. The vampire sucked my blood, his free hand gripping my hip and guiding me to my bed. I sat beside him.

"Does this hurt?" he broke the bite and licked the spots where his teeth had dug in, cleaning the blood from my skin. Then he kissed it before lowering my arm to rest on his thigh. He cupped my cheek, his thumb tracing my lip before he slid his digit into my mouth. I bit down, watching his eyes go pure black.

Edward removed his thumb from my mouth and stood, pulling my gown over my head. "Lay back, baby" he purred and knelt down on the floor, pushing my legs apart.

This is how I knew it was a dream. Edward would never really ever be able to bite me or go down on me because of his venom. The small indication didn't bother me, I had had some inkling this was a dream.

I was okay with it.

Edward's tongue circled my clit, teasing my entrance. His fingers worked themselves inside me and I clenched, moaning as I spread my legs further. My fingers gripped his hair, holding him down there.

"Oh, damn" I arched.

"I'm going to fuck your tight little pussy, Bella" he growled. I felt the vibrations in his chest, the near animalistic snarl. "I'm going to make you come so much, so hard, that you'll feel me for the rest of your life inside you. "

"Yes!"

Dream Edward bit my thigh, a quick nip and a lick as blood trickled from the cut. Then he was picking me up, having me straddle him, and slid himself inside me. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, my pussy clenching violently as he lifted me up and down as a ridiculous speed.

Real Edward wasn't one for dirty talk but this one was and I had to say, I was loving it.

"Does this feel good?"

"Yes, fuck, yes!"

"You're my good little slut, aren't you?" he nipped my ear. "Who does your pussy belong to?"

"You!" I whined. "Fuck, Edward!"

He chuckled, a deep and husky sound and grabbed my throat.. Not violently, just dominating. He squeezed his fingers on either side, careful not to avtually crush my windpipe. "Thats right, Bella, this is my pussy...and I don't share."

He was slammed deeper ad deeper inside me, the motion jolting me up and down. I was nearing climax, panting, when I opened my eyes.

Mike Newton was standing in the corner of the room, eating a bowl of cereal. He wiped milk off his mouth, grinning around the gob of frosted flakes. "Hey, Bella."

My eyes snapped open.

I was in my room. My current room. Rain pitter pattered against my window and I could hear thunder in the distance. Downstairs, Charlie was playing music.

What a wonderful dream...until Mike.

Would it be wrong of me to call Edward for a booty call at 8 in the morning? I fished around for my phone, my arm scraping across the bed sheets. I rolled over.

Red lay beside me, her hands tucked beneath her cheek. Her red hair was piled up over her head and this close, I saw how truly young she looked. Fifteen or sixteen. She looked sad, defeated.

'Why are you haunting me?" I asked her softly.

Red's smile was half hearted. She lifted her hand, tapping her fingertip to my nose. Then she was gone, rippling out of existence. My phone buzzed, the vibrations leading me to find it at the end of the bed by my feet.

Mrs. Webber messaged me. Angela is awake and accepting visitors if you would like to come.

I grinned and got out of bed. As I picked out my clothes, I found myself preparing to call Edward. My thumb hovered over the call button. I remembered last night, in Edward's bathroom.

How had I flip flopped so suddenly? I had told myself, even Alice, that Edward and I wouldn't go further than sex. This was starting to feel emotional.

I wanted to call someone...but I had no ones number.. Not even Renee's.

Charlie.

The Chief of Police was in the kitchen when I stumbled downstairs. Abe was perched on the kitchen table while Charlie was pouring milk in a bowl for him.

"You like that cat more than me." I moved past my dad to get to the coffee.

"False." Charlie grinned, stroking the Calico's back as the cat lapped up the milk. "I love the cat. There's just something about loving something so whole heartedly and it not even giving a shit you exist that gives me a sense of fulfillment. I think that's why I loved your mom." He had meant it as a joke and normally, I would have laughed.

When I didnt, Charlie noticed right away and became apologetic. "Bells, I'm sorry. I promised I wouldn't be that dad who shit talks your mom--"

"Hm? Oh, Renee is a bag of dicks with legs, don't worry about that." I shook my head. "No, I want to ask you something."

"Shoot." Charlie patted Abe's head and went to turn the stove on. I watched him start to make breakfast.

I knew very little about how Charlie met Renee and I had always assumed Renee got desperate when she got knocked up. It was bewildering to me that she legally married Charlie and actually left me with him when she bailed instead of her coven. To this day she won't tell me why when I do talk to her.

"How did you really feel about Renee?" I asked him.

Charlie gave me a knowing grin.. "Does this have anything to do with a certain blood drinking teenager?"

"Just answer the question." I became snippy.

"Lets see." Charlie mused, breaking up the sausage in the pan with a spatula. "I felt happy...and miserable. I was obsessed with her, perhaps a bit too much and overly paranoid. I didnt trust her, mainly because she gave me reasons not to.

I caught her cheating multiple times and each time she would do this routine of playing dumb and telling me I was in the wrong for expecting her to stay monogomous and honestly, Bella she was the most stressful fucking thing I've ever dealt with." He sighed. It was obvious him just talking about it was taking a toll on him. "Through all that, I knew I couldn't live without her."

Could I live without Edward? I was fine before, would I be fine after?

"Then you came along." Charlie looked up at me and grinned and I realized my dad had tears in his eyes. "It made Renee settle down quite a bit. Things were really good until she left. I don't know why she didn't take you..." He studied me, checking my emotions.

"I think she meant for me to stay with you." I murmured. "When I was four I saw her for the first time. She didn't know who I was. When she found out, she got really mad and picked a fight with Gran."

"I'm sorry, Bella."

"I don't want to be Renee." I decided. "I really dont. Edward doesn't deserve that."

Charlie's eyes widened. "Bells, the situation is a little different. He's a vampire. Once vampires mate, they mate."

"What?" I scoffed. "The fuck does mate mean? Like doves?"

Charlie turned the stove off. "I dont know If your vampire mated with you, or how it would be with you being human and all, but vamps typically don't date random human girls. I remember..." he trailed off, eyes distant. "The female vampires get around, though."

"Okay, you're telling me everything about your weird and creepy ass past." I picked up my coffee to return to my room. "But not now, because Angela is awake and I want to go see her."

I dressed in my room, picking something less flashy because it was raining heavily outside. I picked out high waisted black jeans and layered a black crop top beneath a dark gredn flannel shirt.

Practical practical practical I chided myself as I picked out a very impractical pair of black leather boots. I loved them because they had these cute silver heart shaped buckles on the side and the chunky heels and two inch platform added to my short height.

I ate breakfast with Charlie. I told him I was going to see Angela and blatantly lied about going to Seattle later. He didn't need to know and I didn't want to be talked out of it. Chsrlie informed me Billy and Jacob Black would be coming over later and I was welcome to bring "my vampire" with me to watch the game.

Did Edward like sports?

I had never asked.

The poor truck wasn't getting any use since I started shadow walking. It was just easier and I didn't want to drive in the rain. Charlie hadn't seemed too bothered by my newfound skill and merely waved as I vanished into thin air in front of him.

The ice cold void clung to my skin like a layer of latex, weirdly tight and conforming. Then I stepped out of the void and into Carlisle Cullen's office.

The ancient vampire who looked barley out of college was inspecting a chart at his desk. He didn't look up as I sat down across from him and propped my boots up on the desk top.

"Whats up, Doc?" I grinned.

"Bella." He set the chart down. "How can I help you today?"

"Just here to see Angela." I shrugged. "How is she?'

"Angela is doing better than expected." Carlisle smiled kindly. "Her speech is slurred a bit but no long lasting brain damage. Her biggest issue is her mobility. She'll have trouble for the rest of her life."

I nodded. "Anything I can do?"

He raised a brow. "Is...is there anything you can do? With your magic?"

"There are healing spells but one, I don't know any healing spells because mind wipe, remember? And two, I'm not powerful enough."

The DIFL Vampire nodded in understanding and decided to change the subject. "May I inquire about your relationship with Edward?"

I blanched. He wasn't going to ask about sex, was he?

"Edward is very fond of you. He's been alone a long time and your friendship with him has helped his mood. I ask that if you were to end your friendship, do it nicely please." He frowned.

Carlisle looked every bit the considered parent he seemed to be. I tried to wrack my brain and remember any instance of hearing about vampires having compassion. I knew the Cullen's were vastly different from others, made so by their diet, but it didn't occur to me that they had a true family bond between between all. I thought it had been more for aesthetic purposes to feed outsiders.

"You love him." It wasn't a question and and found myself weirdly happy for Edward.

"He was my first." Carlisle said proudly, then immediately back peddled when my face skewered into a bizarre look. "First creation!"

"What made you change him? Like, why him? How do vampires pick people to turn?" I was genuinely intrigued. "Why not let him die?"

Carlisle already had the answer, I could. tell but he didnt speak right away. He folded his hands on the desk, seemingly thoughtful. "His mother, Elizabeth, seemed to know what I was. She was sick with the Spanish Flu as well, laying next to his bed. She simply told me to--didnt ask, but told me to. I asked if she was sure and she said that she could handle her own death but not that of her son."

What do I say to that? "Was he...okay with that?"

"Oh, absolutely not." Carlisle chuckled. "He resented me for quite some time, even acting on a rebellious phase when he fed of humans for awhile."

Edward drank from people? Why did that seem so...well, so not Edward?

Also, it didn't bother me like it should have.

"Edward returned after I changed my mate, Esme. I had actually hoped Rosalie would..." he shrugged. "Edward was very lonely and isolated. Rosalie and Edward became brother and sister in the sense they despised each other and yet continued to mingle. Then Emmett and eventually Alice and Jasper came into the picture.

He has been surrounded by couples for decades, sort of doing his own thing."

I laughed. "Ha! Now he's doing me."

Carlisle gave a stiff nod, lips pursed. "I'm not trying to pry into the very active sex life of yours and Edward..."

"But you're gonna, aren't you?'

"Might I suggest waiting till marriage?" he offered.

"Marriage?" I was baffled. "Why the hell would I get married?"

The door to his office slammed open and and jumped. Edward stood in the doorway looking fine as hell in his pale blue jeans, brown Doc Martens and yet another fuckimg beige pull over. "Thank you, Carlisle, for entertaining Bella." He swept into the room, gently took both my hands and guided me out of the office.

Edward slammed the door shut behind us. "Ignore everything he said." He pleaded. "He means well."

"I think it's cute." I shrugged. "You have someone who cares so much about you they are willing to have the wait-for-marriage sex talk with their girlfriend."

Edward froze mid step, his eyes slanting to my face. "Girlfriend?"

"Not girlfriend!" I choked, panicking at my own mistake. "Girl and then friend. I am a friend who is a girl who you raw dog." I held up my hands. "Relax, Ward. I'm not going to start demanding you take me on dates and buy me flowers."

Edward relaxed visibly. "You were here to visit Angela?' He changed the subject very quickly and for that I was thankful.

"Yeah, have you seen her yet?" I looped my arm back through his and we strode through the hospital halls together.

"Shes doing remarkably well. She's a very happy, innocent minded person. It's strange, her mind is rather pleasant to listen to." He murmured. "Not that I stay in it or anything, but other...louder...voices repulse me."

I huffed. "Want me to curse them?"

"No, you being near me helps me greatly. I've never had such peace and quiet." He smiled crookedly. "Its sort of like taking a Bella pill."

"Well, swallow me whenever." I gave an awkward laugh and he laughed awkwardly, too but we both knew that it was just fucking weird and he was nice enough to not point it out.

Angela's Mom, Mrs. Webber, was sitting in her room with two twin boys. They were maybe four or five and sitting on the end of Angela's bed.

Angela's eyes were open, her glasses perched on her nose. They were new and I wondered what happened to the pink ones she wore before. "Hi..." She spoke, paused and seemed to search for something. "Bella."

"Hey!" I bounced into the room. "How do you feel?"

"Like..." Her voice was sluggish. "Like...poo."

"Angela!" Mrs. Webber gasped.

"My...hair..." Angela winced, touching the side of her head that was shaved off. Her hair hadn't been long but it had been thick. Whoever shaved it didn't do a very good job. It was a little grown out, but not enough to hide the ugly stitched up scar.

I was thrilled, however. "It looks bad ass!" I enthused. "Thats totally punk rock!"

"It...is?"

"Do you care if I copy it?" I asked her. "When you're feeling better, if it's cool with your mom, I can help you style it. I used to do my own hair all the time."

Angela's medicated eyes brightened. "Rea...lly?" she licked her dry lips. "That...that be... that would be..."

I looked to Mrs. Webber who nodded happily.

"Are you a witch?"

I jumped, my gaze landing on one of the little boys who sat by Angela's feet. He looked up at me with big, round eyes.

"Carter!" Mrs. Webber hissed.

"Its okay, I actually get that alot!" I smiled. "Why do you ask?"

"Daddy says the harlots of Satan wear black." Carter told me.

Dude, what the fuck.

Angela looked at me apologetically and Mrs. Webber had buried her face in her hands.

"Well, let's see...I am wearing black." I mused, tapping my chin. "But it's because I look so good in it." I did a twirl. "What else do we know about witches?'

"They're green!" The other twin said.

"Am I green?' I asked.

"No, you're really pale." Carter mumbled.

"So I wear black but I'm not green...what else?" I prompted the kids.

"Magic!"

"Oh, you mean like this?" I pulled out a bouquet of flowers from my sleeve. The kids gasped excitidly and even Mrs. Webber seemed impressed.

Edward chuckled from the doorway.

"Ma'am." I handed Angela the roses.

I spent an hour entertaining the twins and Angela with magic tricks. Mrs. Webber walked me out of the room, apologizing but I waved her away..

"How did you do those magic tricks?" she asked.

"Oh, I'm a witch."

She laughed. "Okay, Bella. Thanks for coming by."

Edward was still chuckling to himself as we made our way to the parking lot so he could return home. "Amazing."

"Did you want a bouquet, too?" I shoulder bumped him.

"No, but just so you know, my favorite flowers are white carnations." He teased. "Yours?"

I thought about it and shrugged. "Holly Hocks. Black Holly hocks. I think they'd make a kick ass tattoo."

"You're going to Seattle today." He stated, his arm linking through mine again.

"Yup. I'm going to try and get a memory wipe spell for Newton. Alice said he's gonna spill eventually. If he tells enough people someone is going to look into it and Charlie can only cover up so much."

Edward ran his fingers through his hair. It was raining outside, so I conjured my umbrella from home before we stepped out of the hospital doors. "Let me drive you." He said. "I want to help."

"You'll help by staying out of the way. You don't seem to understand the magical properties you're body could possess." I looked up into his face. "They could want hair or a tooth or venom or something fucking weird like your semen."

"My semen?" He looked disgusted.

"Yeah, there's a whole sub category of witches who use bodily fluids in their spells and its gross as hell." I shuddered. "Its usually black magic or necromancy."

"Ths two are different? "

"Black magic is magic with the intent of evil and so it uses things that would make a person be manipulated or harmed or killed. Necromancy is complicated and not a lot of witches do it or can do it. It's playing with the dead which is against nature." I lifted my hands to smooth out his collar. "Magic is nature and we're allowed to use it. Necromancy goes against the grain because it's reversing nature. If something dies it should stay dead."

"Like me." Edward caught my hand in his, pressing it to his cheek. "Is vampirism a form of necromancy?"

"I don't know." I admitted faintly as he sweetly kissed the palm of my hand. "I've never done it."

Edward kissed my knuckles and the moment was becoming far too intimate. I bit my lip, watching his fingers intertwin with mine. "Please be careful, Bella." He murmured and dropped my hand.

I nodded, stepping away to shade out but he caught me and led me around the corner of the hospital. He answered my questioning look with, "Cameras." But then he cupped my face in his hands and brought my face up to his, his fingers slipping through my hair as he kissed me.

My body reacted naturally and I was ready to convince him to come fool around in his car but I knew I'd never leave if we did. So mid kiss I shaded out from his arms.

I could almost feel his disappointment lingering in the air around me as I entered the void.

Seattle

Witches weren't out of the cauldron for a reason. Remember Salem? We sure as fuck do.

Nowadays, common houses for covens and even their hangout spots were typically cloaked by magic. You're only allowed in if you either carry a crest from that coven, or if you're an invited guest. So, my dilemma here was how do I get an invite?

Smoke signals, of course.

When I shaded out of Edward's arms and into the Void I was quickly calling home, I stepped out of the blackness and onto the end of a dock. It was empty. No people around for witnesses and that was fine because I didn't need someone to see, I needed someone to feel.

I sat down on the dock, crossing my legs beneath me and shaking out my hands. Time to focus. I stretched out my fingers, my arms, imaging warm water rushing over my body.

I am a beacon. I am a beacon. I am a beacon. My eyes shut, I focused, I put everything I had into pushing out. Like a peacock showing it's tail, I suppose. Bragging. Anyone within fifty miles of me would feel me and they'd either ignore me or seek me out.

I am a beacon. I am a beacon. Hear me hear me hear me...

Sweat dripped off my nose. How long have I been doing this? Twenty minutes, thirty? Too long. I was expelling power. I opened my eyes, watching the blueish mist that was my magic leak out of my body. It trickled and crawled it's away across the ground, searching for a sister to connect with.

Nothing.

I closed my eyes. Was this a test? They wanted to see what I could do, no doubt. Most witches were like that.

Hours passed and I thought I might pass out on the dock. My clothes were damp from the rain and sweat and my back ached from sitting like this for so long. I felt exhausted because I was. No one was coming.

"Bella?"

My eyes snapped open and Edward stood at the end of the dock, hands in his pockets.

"Ward?" I was surprised to see him here. I had left him hours ago. It was dark out now and the moonlight seemed to bounce off his porclien skin. "What are you doing here?" My voice was hoarse, my throat unusually raw. My muscles ached and I wanted to lay down.

"You called me." He touched his temple. "I really didn't meant to follow you, Bella but I felt you calling me so I came."

Had I done that? Subconsciously called Edward? I was looking for witches, not my sexy soft boy vampire. I relaxed my body and the mist rolled backwards, vacuuming back into my core energy. Edward watched, fascinated.

"You shouldn't be here." I groaned, rubbing my aching head now. He was suddenly beside me, helping me up. His cool fingers felt good on my warm skin as he wiped away sweat and pushed back my damp hair.

"I thought you'd need me." He murmured. "No luck with the witches?"

"They don't want to be found, I guess." I leaned into his body, wrapping my arms around his waist. "Buy me dinner and tell me I'm pretty?" I fluttered my lashes up at him.

He smiled crookedly, his arm tightening around my waist as he guided me down the dock. His Volvo was parked not far. "Of course." His lips brushed my forhead.

We didn't make it to the Volvo.

A woman appeared between us and the shiny car. My entire head began buzzing like bees were trapped inside.

Shadow walker.

Another shadow walker. So much for rarity. Here I thought I was special.

She was older than me. Not as classy, though. Skin tight leather, dog choker, bubblegum pink mullet. She didn't smile, didnt scowl. Complete resting bitch face.

"Wait." I gripped Edward harder. She only showed when an obvious vampire shows up? They were watching me all along! FUCK!

"Good of you to bring a present to Mother Circe." The Mullet spoke, her voice annoyed. "We were just gonna let you exhaust yourself and send you on your way...but a vampire? Oh, baby." Some emotion filled her voice as she fake fanned herself. Excitement.

"He's not apart of this." I pushed away from Edward, moving in front of him. "He is off limits."

"We'll see." She scoffed and then I was dragged into the Void.

I've gone into the Void of my own volition but never have I been dragged into it. I felt like someone had a leash around my neck, dragging me through this dimension. Edward's body was next to mine as we were moved through the black.

Then we weren't at the docks, but we were standing in a bar.

An almost empty bar. There didn't seem to be acrual patrons, but unmistakable witches leaning against the bar or sitting down beside it. Sixteen women, all around the same age with different styles of punk or goth.

How to tell a good witch from a bad one?

Well, not to stereotype but the ones who have fucking black magic symbols CARVED into their face tend to be the bad ones. I stared at all the women, in shock because I have royally fucked up. They stared back, some with eyes that had turned black and some with eyes that had turned reptilian. Black magic did odd things to the body.

Mullet's tattooed hand clamped on my shoulder and she pushed me forward, towards a booth in the back.

"Bella." Edward stayed with me, grabbing my arm.

"Aw, how cute." Mullet crooned. "He's a loyal boy to his mistress, isn't he?"

"Fuck off, he's not a pet!" I spat at her.

Mullet rolled her eyes. "How long have you been shadow walking?"

I didnt answer but my silence seemed to be all the answer she needed. "An experienced shadow walker wouldn't have been so easy to kidnap." She informed me.

Edward's hand was firm in my grasp and I could feel a slight turn to his body, like he was seriously considering sprinting out of here. He might make it, might not. Vampires weren't as powerful as they thought they were.

The Matriarch, Circe, sat in the booth Mullet was pushing us towards. We stood awkwardly at the end of the table while she smoked a long cigarette.

I've seen various different Matriarchs growing up. They were special and unique with their own styles and flair. What stood out from them was that thry radiated pure energy. The air around them buzzed. Power effortlessly leaking from the pores of their skin.

Circe was no different than the other Matriarchs in the sense she was dressed like the baddest bitch in there. She wore a fusia velvet top with a plunging neckline. It revealed the black magic brands, tiny ones, along her collarbone. Her hair was a mix of fire red and jet black, poofed up. She had a rather feminine, sharp jaw and full red lips. The top of her face was obscured by a pair of big oval sunglasses with reflective lenses.

"How was the dock?" She exhaled, not looking at me. She couldn't be bothered to turn her neck.

"Cold." I scowled. I wasn't going to bow to her, no way in hell. I was my Gran's successor--this bitch and I were on the same level.

Oh, who the fuck are you kidding?

"Thank you, Monica." Circe waved a manicured and branded hand at Mullet. The other Shadow Walker slunk off.

The other witches turned their backs, giving the illusion of privacy.

"Sit, little girl." Circe scowled.

I did. Edward slid into the booth with me, keeping his hand on my knee. Circe turned her mirrored gaze to him.

"I knew there were vampires in Washington but I honestly didn't think they would be domesticated." She licked her bottom lip.

"We need help." Edward spoke.

"Shut the fuck up." I snapped at him, realizing he didn't know. Hs didn't understand. How could he? He had no way of knowing I lead him to a snake pit.

Edward looked at me, hurt and bewildered by my tone and I didn't have time to play nurturing FWB maybe girlfriend I don't fucking know yet, okay?

Circe smirked. "What do you need help with...Isabella Swan?"

She knew me. My name. My name, my coven, my Gran...

"Nothing. There's been a mistake. We'll leave."

"Bella." Edward was uneasy. He gave me look that conveyed his thoughts easily. Almost too easily. We need help.

No, we don't. Not from them. Oh, you stupid, stupid sexy vampire...

"Tell me." Circe was interested.

I shook my head at Edward, eyes wide and mouth set. He seemed to understand then and looked away. "We'll take our leave."

"No, you wont." Circe snapped her fingers and the front doors to the bar slammed shut. "Tell me, little girl" she cocked her head at me. "I wanna know why Old Marie sent away her do over baby."

I scowled.

"Unless you don't know?' she leaned forward. "Unless...she sent you to live among the worthless...erasing your memories..." she reached up and took her glasses off.

I cringed at her eyes. Or lack thereof. Two big, empty sockets squinted at me. "She took my grimiore." I forced the words out though fear made my tongue heavy.

"Ah. Any particular spell?"

"I need to wipe the memory of a witness." I felt my shoulders slump. "If we don't, the witness is going to the authorities and I have the info from a seer it won't bode well for our kind."

Circe studied me...how could she? No, she had eyes. I just couldn't see them. "A seer? Interesting. We can make the witness go away."

"I don't want him dead. His death will bring more questions. It's quicker and cleaner if he just forgets." I pressed.

Circe was looking at Edward, much more interested in him. "Hows the sex?' she asked me.

"What?"

"I can see what I want to see, little girl and I see that you have fucked this vampire." She blew smoke over Edward. He was rigid in his seat next to me.

Something compelled me. My mouth was moving, not saying what I was wanting to tell it. "Like crack." The truth spilled out. "Like it's all I want to do and I'll throw an old lady in front of a bus to do it."

Circe's face split into a large, devilish grin. Edward slanted his eyes at me, frowning.

"I am a truth seeker." Circe wiggled her fingers at me. "Human lie detector test. I've spent a long time practicing my skills but I've never used it on a vampire."

"I generally don't lie." Edward said stiffly.

"Dont you?" Circe purred. "Tell you what. I'm going to ask you questions, blood drinker and you'll answer and in return I will consider letting you copy down a spell from my own personal grimiore."

I shook my head. "No."

"Does she speak for you, blood drinker?" Circe goaded Edward. "Are you her obedient little boy? Her bitch?"

Edward flinched, probably at the vulgarity. "What do you want to know?'

We're going to die tonight.

Circe reached out her hands, humming. Edward cautiously took them, allowing her to stroke her thumbs over where his pulse would be. "Your skin is very cold." She noted. "I like cold."

"Ask your questions, please."

"How many people have you killed?" She whispered.

Edward looked suddenly very dazed, very ... off. "Two hundred and forty six."

My stomach dropped. That much?

"Why so little?" Circe purred. "I can tell you're old. Why not more?"

"I feed off animals to retain what humanity I have left. That number is a few slipups from my newborn years and my rebellious phase after leaving my sire." Edward's voice was faint and he seemed to be looking faraway.

"Do you regret killing them?"

"No. They were murderes and child rapists. They deserved it." Edward's jaw clenched and his hands curled.

Circe looked at me, speculating with her empty eyes. "How do you feel about Miss Priss over here?'

"I'm in love with her."

I've been slapped in the face before. Numerous times. It was always a quick stun, a moment of shock and then fury. This is what it felt like but it wasn't fury I felt that followed.

"Is that so?" She was smiling. "I thought vampires couldn't love."

"When we love, we love forever." Edward whispered. "I mated with Bella. I'm hers."

I stared at him, big, fat ugly tears spilling down my face and over my mouth.

"That is very romantic." Circe reached for my hand. "Give me."

"No." I recoiled but she grabbed my arm anyway, intertwining our fingers.

"How do you feel about him?"

I fought against the compulsion, the feeling and the alarming desire to tell the truth. I bit my tongue, trying to push back.... and failing.

"He scares the shit out of me." I choked.

"Why?"

"Because I don't know why he likes me so much." I trembled, caught in her empty gaze. "Because he makes me feel things I don't wanna feel."

"God, this is good stuff!" She cackled. "Why?"

"Because one day, he's gonna leave, too." I was open and bare. "I dont want to care about him but I do."

Circe was laughing, mocking. She seemed giddy and I wondered if she fed off the truth. If peoples pain was what fueled her.

I used my sleeve to wipe my face. "Happy?"

"Yes. I've considered it." She released my arm and leaned back, smiling broadly. "I'll give you the spell you need on a condition."

"I told you what you wanted to know. " Edward growled.

"Oh, that was so I would consider helping you." She told us. "No, you want that spell then I want to watch you feed...on her."

Edward stood up, the growl emitting from his chest depending as his lips pulled back from his teeth like an enraged animal. For the first time, he looked like a vampire. "We're done here."

"No, we're not." Circe's smile slipped away. "Bite her."

"No. Bella, please come with me." He held out his hand and I took it. He lifted me from the booth and I wrapped my arm around his waist, readying myself to shade us out and back home.

Nothing.

"Bella?" Edward looked at me, worried.

"I cant--" I tried again, squinting my eyes. "I cant."

Monica the Mullet chuckled from behind the bar. "Trying to escape?"

"You're blocking me." I realized out loud.

She nodded.

"Why the hell do want me to bite her?" Edward seethed at Circe.

"Because," Circe lit another cigarette. "If she's dead then I can have you. That, and I've never fucked with a vampire before."

Fucking called it.

Edward swooped me into his arms and my stomach lurchd as he attempted to run away. We appeared at the door and I clung to him while he tried, in vain, to kick the front door open. All his vampire strength was no match against a magically locked door.

"No. No!" Edward kicked it again.

"Edward." I pleaded. "We're fucked."

My hair whipped around me as he ran around the bar, partially bouncing off walls, seeking an exit and finding none. The mocking laughter of the coven grew louder.

My fault my fault my fault

"They can't make me bite you." Edward held me close to his chest. "I won't turn you."

Before I could say anything, I was in the Void. A second--a single second and I screamed out as loud as I could for help before I was brutally yanked back out.

I was in a chair, across the bar and Monica was holding my shoulders down.

I shot out my hands, aiming the blast of magic at an oncoming witch in a black leather dress. She was flung back, her body cracking against the wall before she slumped to the floor.

"Get back!" I screamed, bolting to my feet.

Pain racked my body and I felt myself convulse, shaking violently as I was magically forced back into the chair. Circe had risen from her booth and was strutting closer, her heels clacking against the stone floor.

"We are going to send you back to Old Marie in pieces." She cupped my chin gently. "That'll get Renee's attention."

"Fuck you!" I screamed at her, biting at her hand as my arms were torn backwards and pinned behind me.

"Wait--dont!" Edward's voice rang out as Circe brandished the dagger.

I've never been cut before. I wasn't expecting the white hot slice over my neck--a very shallow cut. I reered back, crying out.

Circe stepped out of the way, standing beside me. She unblocked my view of Edward, who stood rigidly across the room.

His face was slack, his eyes pitch black as he sniffed the air. Hot blood rolled down my throat from the cut. His gaze tracked the movement.

"Please dont." I croaked.

My own scream shattered my ears as Edward's teeth sank into my neck.