"Bella, what the hell?" I managed out and then there was Edward. He had appeared out of nowhere and his arms were wrapped around Bella, her arms pinned to her side.

"Bella, no." He said harshly as her breathing got deeper...almost growling through her nose.

I was completely frozen in place, I could feel something warm running down my face and I instinctively put my hand to it. The red I saw on my fingers told me it was blood and Bella tried to lunge toward me again.

I jumped back, trying to stand up hastily until a pair of unnaturally firm hands steadied me. I looked over my shoulder in a panic to see Mr. Cullen who was supporting me but staring at Edward, giving him a curt nod.

"Annabelle, are you alright?" He asked but I couldn't focus on answering. Instead I watched as Edward fought with Bella and forced her into the car.

"What the hell was that?" I asked, my voice trembling and my stomach in knots. "Why was Bella doing that?"

"Annabelle. I am a doctor and I am going to take you to my house and take care of your head. Nothing too bad happened so I can treat it easily. But I need you to calm down, alright?" His voice was the most soothing thing I had ever heard but I couldn't get Bella out of my head.

"Did you see her eyes? What is going on?" I asked in a panic. I could feel tears start to fill my eyes as Mr. Cullen practically picked me up to my feet with an alarming lack of effort.

"My wife is pulling in now to take us to my house." He explained, ignoring my question about Bella.

Moments later a car pulled up making me jump. "It's just my wife. Let's get you in." And with that i was in the backseat of a car that was going much too fast for the ice and snow.

"What on Earth happened?" The woman who must have been Mr. Cullen's wife asked. Her voice was almost as soft and kind as his. It was filled with concern which i found odd since she didn't know me from Adam.

"A student slid in the snow in the parking lot and hit Edward and Bella's friend." Carlisle explained, his voice very serious.

"Where is Bella?" his wife asked, sounding alarmed.

"I sent Edward on a drive with her. They'll be gone for a few hours. He won't stop until he's sure she has settled."

I couldn't understand. What was wrong with Bella? Why did Edward have to 'make sure she was settled?'

"Aro is going to be furious." Mr. Cullen said seemingly half to himself. "Annabelle, when we get inside, please don't say anything until I get you patched up and we talk for a bit. I know that is unfair of me to ask, but I would like to anyway."

I nodded, feeling weight in my chest. Why would his friend be angry? What on Earth was going on? I stayed silent, not wanting to cause any more trouble than I already had. I could feel my heart speed up as a saw Bella in my mind again looking like she was going to kill me on the spot. She didn't even look like herself. She looked like an animal. And yet I felt for her. Something in her looked absolutely torn up when Edward was forcing her away. There was something else going on. I looked in the front seat where Mr. and Mrs. Cullen were sitting, both looking like they were on a mission.

"What do we tell him?" Mrs. Cullen asked as she pulled the car onto a long driveway.

"He's going to know the truth one way or another, there is no avoiding it." Mr. Cullen said, sounding almost defeated but yet firm. "I will get her upstairs, don't speak to him or let him in arms reach of you I will handle him after I get her fixed up." With that final instruction, his wife nodded and pulled the car to a stop.

Mr. Cullen's demeanor changed again as he half turned around looking over his shoulder at me, his face soft and caring once more.

"Annabelle, I am going to pick you up and carry you. Please please don't say anything until I have you upstairs, alright." I nodded but couldn't help but think his plan sounded a bit off. I was 5'9" and roughly 150 pounds , how that man was going to pick me up I hadn't the slightest clue.

Not even five seconds after I doubted him, I was swept up in his arms like a baby. It wasn't even a struggle; he walked quickly, with long strides, his wife beside us as I got moved around like a helpless doll.

"Carlisle, what did your family do now?" I heard a terrifying and rushed half whisper, causing me to snap my head and see Aro, striking as ever and absolutely frightening, anger etched on his perfect face.

Mr. Cullen however did not break stride and continued up the hardwood stairs "I will explain everything once I have her patched up." He answered in a way that seemed to be so casual it infuriated his friend

Mr. Cullen sat me in a large red leather chair and immediately walked across the room grabbing a canvas bag which he opened and began taking out medical supplies. Mrs. Cullen stood you the side of the room, against a bookshelf which was absolutely filled with what I could only assume were medical journals and texts.

The room itself was comically messy, papers and books spread all about. At least something about this family was normal. "Mr. Cullen, I'm really sorry I-"

But I didn't get to finish as the man shook his head at me "No, no." He said, looking at my head which I realized was still bleeding. "Call me Carlisle please and my wife's name is Esme. This was not your fault. I'm just sorry you're dragged into all of this now." He sighed, beginning to clean the cut on my head making me wince.

"Dragged into what? What's going on? What the heck is wrong with Bella? What the hell is wrong with all of you?" I was getting more panicked and louder with every question. The last one though was what made Carlisle pause. It was only for a moment but it was a pause.

"What do you mean?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.

"You know what I mean. You're all impossibly healthy and gorgeous...and strong. You all have matching eyes I've never seen before except for your friend down there who has fucking red eyes." I felt bad for cursing but I was becoming more and more overwhelemed "You're abnormally strong and you're all FREEZING. And there is something wrong with Bella and I'm guessing based on how everyone is acting it's not just her. So cut the crap and tell me what's going on."

Carlisle continues to patch up my wound sending small waves of pain down the left side of my face as he did so. Finally he moved away, taking the bloody gauze and tissue, lighting it on fire at the end of a metal rod. "What if I told you nothing was going on?" He asked, his eyes almost begging me to drop the issue. But I couldn't...I was confused and lost and frankly terrified

"I would figure it out. I'm smart. I do research all the time." I told him, half talking to myself "It isn't something naturally occurring either. You're not...human...are you?" I asked to which Carlisle looked at me both impressed and sad.

"No." he answered.

Carlisle took a breath and looked over my head. I followed his stare and locked eyes with Aro who was leaning against the doorway, his eyes practically on fire with rage.