EPOV

I'm waiting for everyone to get back from the hunt, my thoughts wandering to my mate and Bella. How am I going to do this? I had been wanting Bella to marry me before I agreed to turn her. I thought that this was the more righteous way to go about it. Also an option that wouldn't have the Volturi's breathing down my back.

They had heard from Carlisle that I had taken a human mate and they were beyond intrigued to learn that I couldn't read her mind. They knew I wanted to marry her also, a part of me only wanted that to delay changing her. I didn't want her to lose her soul to become like me.

After discovering Victoria's my true mate...well…let's say I don't have to worry about Bella and her soul anymore. The only problem is getting around Alice so that my Bella feed farm plan will come true. That stupid sister of mine sees everything before I can even think maliciously.

I'm in the midst of my planning when they return. Emmett and Rosalie announce that they're going to take a couple's vacation to destress from whatever just happened with James. Figured that Rosalie would bounce, she didn't care much for Bella and all this "James" drama is sure to add to her fuel. Poor Emmett, got such a demanding mate. Carlisle and Esme are distraught because so many of their children are leaving and are worried how we'll keep Bella safe without 3 members of our family.

I have to refrain from snickering, they have to protect her from little old me. This gives me an idea. Since everyone's leaving, I can make an excuse to take Bella away so that "Victoria" won't be around. This is perfect. I should...I should tell them when we're there that I'm planning on changing her and then she had complications and died. Yes. That would be way more believable than dying from natural causes. Who was I kidding, she was weak, but she was still 18 and young.

I'm so glad that the empath is no longer here. I can feel my emotions with my whole being and won't have to worry about getting found out. I almost squeal in excitement from my epiphany, I gotta fill in Victoria immediately.

I say goodbye to Rosalie and Emmett and tell them to have a safe trip, like I care. I make up an excuse to go keep watch over Bella as I make my way out of the house towards Port Angeles.

I'm bounding into the warehouse into Victoria's waiting arms as I fill her in on my new plan. "Hey Vic, I'm going to tell my family tomorrow night that I plan to take Bella away to keep her safe from you. We're going to go to Isle Esme and you'll meet us there and set everything up for us. After that, you and I can have some fun on the island. How does that sound?"

"I love it," she purrs, "Where are we going to keep our new pet?"

"Doesn't matter sweetheart, the whole island is owned by my family. She'll have no place to run or hide from us," I grin back and answer with confidence.

"Ooh, I like the sound of that. It'll be nice to play cat and mouse with her on the island. The fear gripping her as we chase her through the beach. It's almost no fun that she's a weak little human," she answers with glee.

"Didn't your mother tell you not to play with your food," I chastise her before bringing her in for a kiss.

"She always said I was a naughty child," she moans out before capturing my lips in another kiss.

We're making out like teenagers and ripping each other's clothes off. Is this what I've been missing out on?

Unbeknownst to Edward and Victoria, there were red eyes watching their every moment, lurking in the shadows.

BPOV

I woke with a start, my sheets sticking to my body. I had dreamed of James last night, and I hope to God that I didn't scream in my sleep and wake Charlie. He's still on edge from when I had my nightmares when Edward first left. I do my routine to calm myself down and slowly look around the room, ensuring that it was all a dream and what I'm experiencing is real now.

I jump back startled as I see a pair of honey eyes staring at me. It's just Edward as I take his appearance in. "God! You scared me! I told you to not be so quiet," I huff in annoyance.

"Sorry love," he grins like a cheshire cat looking at a mouse, "You're too delightful to not surprise."

This is the side of Edward I hated. He loved basking in my humanness, the things that made significantly a weaker being compared to him. I'm about to think of more things that Edward does that annoys me, but he interrupts my thought process as always. "Bella, pack your bags. We're leaving," he says. "And this time I'm not leaving you."

My heart swells at the last part but also saddens me. It's bringing up memories of how he made his family desert me. "What do you mean we're leaving? Leaving where? We have school today," I reply back, getting up from my bed to start to get ready for school.

"There are things that are more important than school, Bella. Your life is more important. Think of your classmates Bella, Victoria would not hesitate to barge into a classroom and kill you. Who knows who else she'll harm in the process," he persists. He's shuffling around the room, throwing sets of clothes into a duffel bag.

I'm so disoriented from just waking up, I just watch him as he packs my things. It looks like he's packing for a year-long trip. "Edward, where are we going? I can't just leave. What will I tell Charlie?"

"Just tell him...tell him that you and I got a last minute chance to tour the Ivy League colleges this week. We got off the waitlist for tours and there won't be another opening until months later," he replies calculatingly, like he's been planning this exact response.

"I guess that'll work. But will that be enough time to deal with Victoria," I ask. I see him visibly stiffen by the mention of her name. I guess he's nervous for my sake.

"It should be more than enough time for my family to dispose of her," he replies, wincing as they leave his mouth. What's up with him? Is he feeling remorseful for killing James too?

I don't want to upset him anymore or call him out on his weird behavior so I start writing down my note to Charlie. I walk downstairs and leave it on the kitchen table, sure that he would see it when he comes home from his shift.

I've never done anything like this, it's kind of thrilling. I am a little worried about disappearing on Charlie without saying goodbye or giving him a heads-up. I wonder why Alice isn't here to help me pack, she'd usually have to be held down from coming to help me with a packing trip.

I duck into Edward's Volvo after everything is sorted out and we head to the airport. "So...where are we really going?"

"Remember that island that I told you Carlisle bought for Esme? We're going there. It's remote and no one will come to the island. We'll definitely know if there are people coming and we'll be prepared for defense," he replies. "Alice will meet us there," he manages to cough out before looking back to the road.

"Hmm...okay. Why isn't she coming with us now," I ask.

"...I don't know. Maybe something to do with Jasper," he replies.

"But Jasper left for Texas and she has Laurent now," I replied confused.

"Right. Right. I meant Laurent. Sorry Bella a lot to think about. Do you mind if I focus on getting to the airport, we'll discuss more when we're airborne," he replies hastily.

I nod and nestle further into my seat, as the airport looms in the horizon.

We get to our destination in 10 minutes with Edward's driving. I suppose he's in a haste to get me away from possible danger. We board the plane without having to go through customs. It's the private Cullen jet, Carlisle gifted it to the family a couple years ago. It was meant to be used for the honeymoons and all the shopping trips Alice always went on. Having a private jet when you were a vampire was really an asset.

Edward fixes me a plate of food and hands me an orange juice that he retrieved from the back area. I'm not much of a breakfast person, but he insists I should at least have something in me.

We meet in the middle, and I settle for having the orange juice.

The flight takes off and a couple hours later, I'm feeling lethargic. I must be so drained from the attack and the dream about James. Edward carries me to the bedroom and lays me down, pulling off my shoes before pulling the comforter over my body. I'm half conscious as he's tucking me in.

He pulls out his phone and answers a call, "Yes, I have her. Are you there yet? Make sure it's all set up. I can't wait, love you too." I wonder if that's Alice he's talking to. It sounded more domineering than how he usually was with Alice. The 'love you too' at the end also wasn't an exchange that those two did. Before I can ask him who was on the phone with him, I drift off into sleep.

I wake up as I'm being set down on the couch. I glance around at my surroundings, still groggy from my heavy sleep, and realize that we're in the Cullen villa on the island. That's weird, I mused to myself, how did I manage to sleep through the entire flight and boat ride coming here. I'm about to get up before a flash whips past me in my peripheral. It must be Edward finally showing off his abilities now that we're alone. I'm about to call out to him when a hand clamps down on my mouth, and an unknown voice whispers into my ear, "I've been waiting for you Bella."