Chapter 13

Wiping the blood away from the corner of my mouth Tristan placed a small kiss on my cheek. "I'm proud of you Isabella. Welcome to the family"

I stepped forward. Causing the moonlight to hit my skin. The moment the drunk man noticed the smug look on his face disappeared and I knew. I would have to make my move... soon.

The vampire.

Germany 1712

Gripping my fingers tight on the man's right shoulder, I could feel the bones give way under my strength. Digging my fingers into his flesh, adding to the already intolerable amount of pain he should be feeling.

"You thought I was like the rest of them, didn't you."

Letting go of his shoulder, the man grabbed it with his left hand. Looking up at me, his eyes showed fear and disbelieve as he tried to crawl backwards.

"Helpless.." Hissing at him as I followed him, taking one slow step each time he had managed to move backwards. Feeding on the anger and rage as I thought of everything I had lost, I continued to stalk him. Leaning over him and ignoring the guilt that tried to escape from my subconscious.

" Weak.." Leaning closer I smiled at him with the most wicked expression I could manage, letting the moonlight fall on my face. Knowing that if my strength didn't scare him enough, the strange pale color of my skin and the red glow in my eyes would.

" An easy prey..." Stroking along his cheek. I could smell he had lost control of his bowels as he trembled with fear at my touch. His breathing was becoming more and more short at each gasp.

"Well, guess what?..." Picking him up by his unharmed shoulder, I lifted him to his feet with one hand. Holding him in the air above me to display my power. The rush of being in control taking over and finally giving me the release I so desperately needed.

"You're the prey now." Smiling wickedly, I heard him whimper for help but I ignored him. Instead I pulled him close and pressed my mouth to his neck and bit, deep and hard. My razor sharp teeth easily cutting through his weak flesh.

I drank until there was no more left, closing my eyes as his last breath left his mouth. Knowing that no matter how satisfying the moment had been, the guilt would come rushing back any moment now. Hitting me with pain and regret that temporarily helped me lose the other feelings. The feelings of hurt, loneliness and disappointment. The feelings I tried so hard to forget, each day. But as the years turned into decades, and decades turned into centuries. I had learned... vampires could never forget.

Dropping the man's dead body, I stepped back and looked down. He didn't look like the predator Tristan had promised me he was. He had promised me this man was a criminal. Following young women, using them, abusing them and then killing them after he was done playing with them. Tonight however he had met a more dangerous predator.

Folding his arms across his chest first, I closed his eyes after that. Pulling up the collar of his coat. Knowing that on first glance, people would think he died of natural causes. Offcourse, that wasn't true and they would find out. I had heard the rumours and knew... very soon we needed to move. People were beginning to talk about the murders in the area.

I had even been spotted by accident once. Without thought I had carelessly intervened when a young woman had been attacked. She had run home, unharmed. The group of men had been less lucky. I had picked the group apart, leading them deeper and deeper in the forest. One of them had been lost for days before finding his way back to the village again. I didn't kill them. Kent and Ivan had done that for me, leaving only one of them to return. Serving as a warning for others. It had started tales, of a pale beauty. A demon, luring strong men into the forests. And each time we had moved, the stories would follow. They had already began in this small town, signalling it would soon be needed to find a new home.

Taking a direct route through the forest, I reached our current home. It was nothing more than an old barn. Part of a large farm that had once stood proud in a meadow, surrounded by large trees. The farmhouse had burned down, long before we came across it. Now the only thing standing was the barn, abandoned and secluded. It was perfect for us. Opening the door, I found only Tristan inside.

"Where are Kent and Ivan?" Alarmed, I closed the door behind me and rushed forward. Sitting down in front of Tristan who was sitting with his head rested in his hands.

"It was an ambush." The bitter words were snarled at me.

"What do you mean an ambush?" Confused I grabbed his arms and pulled his hands away with one swift move. Revealing his black eyes. Knowing, he did not hunt tonight.

"We set up the game, both Kent and Ivan rushed in. But I felt something was wrong and stopped, calling for them. They didn't listen, you know how they are." His words were still angry and sharp.

Nodding, I tried to let him know I was listening. Remembering how the boys would usually find great joy in the game, hunting, teasing and playing with the humans. Rushing forward when their lust overwhelmed them. It was one of the reasons I hardly ever joined them. The way they played with the humans, making them suffer for no reason at all, sometimes for hours and hours. It was a display of all things I loathed about myself.

"What happened once they lost control?" Knowing that was the best way to describe the boys once they smelled blood.

"The humans were accompanied by another group of vampires. Strong and agile. They didn't stand a chance." Burying his head in his hands once more, I finally understood what he couldn't tell me. Kent and Ivan, the sweet little boys who had become part of my family, they were gone.

"Was it... where they..?" Unable to finish the sentence, I got up. Pacing the barn angry, tightening my hands into fists and digging my own nails in the palms of my hand as a distraction.

"Yes." Whispering, Tristan admitted to my worst fear coming true. We had heard of them many times, knowing they would seek us out. Always trying to not draw to much attention to ourselves, but now they had finally caught up with us.

"We must leave now." Grabbing the few belongings I had together, I pushed them in my travel bag. Throwing Tristan's shoulder bag to him. "Collect your things."

He caught it, staring at me. Blinking in disbelieve. "They will track us."

Stopping, I couldn't help but growl at his betrayal. Walking over to him, I poked his finger with my chest. "Don't lie to me, I know.. and have known for a while. You have a gift, they may find a way to track us, but you have a way to cover our tracks and evade them."

Taking two steps I walked to the door and yanked it open with too much force, pulling it from it's hinges in the process.

"Now are you with me, or without me?" Biting my lip, I hoped the last. Knowing that without Tristan, I would stand no chance at escaping them but it could also be my rescue. A way of ending all of this. A hint of joy ignited in my cold heart at the thought of ending this life.

A smug smile formed on his face and so fast that he actually turned into a blur, even for my eyes, he collected the few things he had. Joining me at the door, he put his arm around my shoulder. Placing a quick kiss on the corner of my mouth before I could turn away.

"With you, always with you." His words sounded both teasing and affectionate. My heart and hopes dropped knowing that the small window of opportunity had come and gone.

Hiding my disappointment I just rolled my eyes and started running at a slow pace so Tristan could keep up. Soon enough he did and took the lead, heading west. For two days we ran, almost non-stop. Slowing down in crowded areas, but running at full speed during the night. Finally we reached a swampy stretch of land. In the far distance I could see lots of sand and hear the ocean.

Slowing down to a walking pace, Tristan allowed me to catch up with him. I did and walked side to side with him. Keeping my eyes on the ground, thinking about Kent and Ivan again. Remembering their happy bright smiles.

"What are you thinking about?" Taking my hand, he gently squeezed it.

"The boys. They were so full of life. So much fun to be around. I miss them. I don't understand how anyone could just destroy them." Pulling my hand free, I could feel for a moment how he tried to hold on but let go when I pulled harder. Wrapping my arms around my waist, I held myself tight. Feeling the loss of the boys, bringing back another memory of losing a beloved.

"How did you get away?" Staring at him, I could see him blink once and glance sideways for a second before answering.

"I guess it was just luck, or my gift perhaps. All I knew is when they rushed forward, something was wrong and I stopped. Turning around as the first screams filled the night. Knowing there was nothing I could do." Grabbing my hand again, he held it to his chest.

" At least we still have each other." Smiling at me, he stepped closer. I forced myself to smile back at him and turned my back to him. Leaning away with my upper body.

" What is your plan?"

Make him let go of you. My subconscious tried to persuade me.

I wanted nothing more then have my freedom, knowing that for the past centuries Kent and Ivan had stopped Tristan from pursuing a romantic interest. Now they were gone, there was nothing standing in his way anymore. Except for my memory of Edward. Just thinking of his name, I was instantly rewarded by a flash of vibrant green. Followed by a reminder of the way his blood had tasted on my lips as we kissed.

" We either find a small boat and row... or we swim to England."

Stunned I turned around.

"You always said, you wanted to return to your home country." Tristan sounded proud of his idea.

"Yes, but not like this.. not by bringing danger back to my pare..." Unable to finish the last word, I shut my mouth. To my relieve I felt Tristan let go of me and I stepped a few steps away from him. Turning my back to him as I tried to hide the pain in my eyes.

"After all these years, you still think of those people as parents." Gripping me by my hair, he pulled me back and pulled me around.

"Who kept you safe all these years... Tell me." Shaking me by shoulders, I could see how angry he was.

"You did." Looking down, I answered him.

" And tell me, have they ever invited you back home, tracked us down and welcomed you back into their loving arms." His tone was cold now, alarming me to the fact he was extremely angry at me. An anger that could snap and explode at any wrong word.

" No... but." Tristan didn't allow me to finish.

"But what." Angry he pushed me to the ground and stood over me, looking down on me.

"We never stayed in one place long enough for them to find me and even after all this time, I love them."

Wishing I could cry as I confessed my feelings, my need to feel loved flooded my heart. Remembering Esme's motherly embrace and Carlisle's proud look whenever I would discuss the latest work by a famous writer or play a strategic game with him.

"You love them? Our kind dos not love, but if you think you can. Why won't you give me a chance. If you would forget about them you could love me. "

Putting his knee between my legs, he pushed my legs apart as he lowered himself down to the ground. On top of me. Placing both his hands over my shoulders and placing one knee on my hips, pinning my body to the ground with one arm stuck under my body. One hand moved from my shoulder, down. Ripping the fabric of my dress away and revealing one breast.

Bending down he growled and bit down in the bare flesh, ripping a part of the skin away. The pain made me scream out loud. With all my force I hit him with my free hand. His cheek cracked as my hand met his face, in what seemed like a thousand small lines. His eyes turned black, enraged at being denied.

"I'll make you mine." Bending down he kissed me, violently attacking my lips. I kept my lips pressed to each other, as tight as possible. Denying him access. He growled and pushed his body closer to mine, allowing his hand to explore down, tearing more of the fabric away. Clawing at my skin, dragging his nails down and leaving a trail on my skin that burned.

His knee moved to the side and he pressed down his hips into mine. Grinding slowly as he laughed in my face. The sound made me sick. You are one of the strongest people I know. Esme's words flooded into my mind, reminding me of a conversation we had when I had just met her.

I locked my shield into place. For some reason, causing him to slow down and loosen his grip on my body.

"Stop." Yelling at him, I could see the disbelieve in his eyes.

Finding new strength I managed to free my other hand from my back and used both hands at the same time. Pushing his shoulders with all the power I had. The force caused him to fly backwards, and away from me. He tried to land on his feet, but ended up flipping backwards and falling flat on his back with a loud hiss.

Rushing to my feet, I grabbed my bag and looked over my shoulder. The ocean couldn't be more than a few miles away. Jumping past him, I started running to that direction.

Behind me, I could hear Tristan yell at me. Demanding me to stop, but I couldn't.

As I got closer to the beach, I could hear voices. Pulling the fabric of my dress up. I held my dress in place the best way I could. Clutching my bag in front of me, covering whatever spot the ripped dress couldn't.

A group of men were on the beach, pushing a small boat out to sea. A few hundred meters offshore a larger ship was waiting. I recognised it to be a freight ship, waving proud up high in it's masts was the English flag. Running towards them. I used my shield to cover my eyes, hoping it was enough to turn the crimson red of my eyes in a dull brown human color.

"Wait, please wait."

The oldest of the men, bold and with a messy grey beard, turned to face me. He dropped the rope he was holding and signalled the other 3 men to stop what they were doing. Reaching them I pretended to be out of breath.

"Are you going to that ship?" Pointing with my free hand to the larger ship.

"Why'd you want to know that little lady?" His voice was surprisingly gentle for a man his size.

"I need safe passage, please take me with you." Breathing heavy, I lowered my head and looked up at him, trying to make my eyes as scared as possible.

"Are you in trouble with the law?" Scratching his beard he looked around, checking if anyone was following me. The other man had started to push the little boat towards the water again. They now stood with their ankles in the water, waiting for the older man to join them.

"No, just scared of someone. I need to get away."

Pointing at the ship, I looked at him.

"You sail under an English flag, I have family there." It was true after all, I was born in England. And hoped that Esme and Carlisle were still there. Clutching my bag even tighter against me, I bit my lip. Waiting for him to answer.

"Is that all you have." He glanced over my shoulder one more time and then looked at my clothes and luggage.

I nodded. Hoping that was a yes.

He just shrugged."Very well, to England it is. Follow me. "

Taking big steps he joined his friends and climbed in the boat. I followed him, trying not to run and lift my skirts high enough so they wouldn't get soaking wet. When I reached the boat, two men reached out without words. Both grabbing one shoulder and dipping down, placing their other hand behind my knee. They lifted me from the ground in a sitting position and handed me over to the older man and his friend. Gently they lowered me on a small bench at the back of the boat. It took great effort to relax and allow them to touch me. But I managed to give them a small smile and nod my head at them. "Thank you." Hoping the men understood, I was both relieved to be allowed to come with them and for the help they offered me. The man just hummed and nodded at me. Grabbing the pedals and starting his way out to sea.

As I watched the beach turn into a small thin line as our little boat moved from the shore. I heard a rumbling growl sound through the evening sky. The men looked up alarmed. Staring over their shoulder at the beach. "That sounded like a really angry animal, large too. "

They couldn't see the animal in the dim light but I could. They were wrong, it wasn't an animal. Standing on the beach, Tristan watched us leave. His head raised and his hand reaching out. As I focused on what he was holding out for me to see, my hand slipped up to my neck.

He smiled, proud of himself as he saw my movement. And I knew why. I might have escaped him now, one day I had to hunt him down. There was no other option. When running away from him, he had managed to hold on to the most important part of me. Resting my hand on my chest, I felt how empty it was. Knowing that the long silver chain with my parents ring and Edwards ring, was no longer there to remind me of my humanity but was now in the hands of a monster.