Chapter 6

Bella awoke from her last sleep - ever. But she didn't yet know that. She kept her eyes closed, unaware that she wasn't in Charlie's house, in her own bed. She wasn't tired, but she stayed there, thinking about the dream she had. Bazaar & surreal, she wasn't usually this creative. There was the mysterious Cullen boy, there was the meadow, there was the searing pain... you couldn't feel pain in dreams though. What is going on? She felt vital & strong now, a polar opposite from what she felt before. Did I die? Her eyes flew open & she was in an unfamiliar place. She sat up on the couch, & realized that she heard voices - faint whispers, but clear, all the same. She listened closely.

"So it's complete?" That was Edward, his musical voice unmistakable.

"Her heart stopped - yes, she is one of us now. You should go downstairs & check on her, she should be conscious soon. She will likely be very confused, & very angry." An equally musical voice, but one she didn't recognize.

"What could I say to her, Carlisle, to make her even begin to understand?" Edward again.

"Just try & be sincere. & tell her the truth." Again, the voice, which apparently had a name - Carlisle. She followed the whispers up a long staircase, into what seemed to be a library. She was amazed that she heard the whispers from all the way downstairs.

"Bella," Edward turned at the sound of her footsteps in the doorway. "How do you feel?" Bella just shook her head, unable to process anything at all. The truth was, she felt great. But why should she say that to him - & why was he even asking? "Come with me," he said. She glanced over to the handsome young blonde who was standing with him, & he just smiled politely & nodded once. Despite what had happened the last time she followed him anywhere, she obeyed without question. He led her to a room with more CD's than she had ever seen in one place, a sophisticated looking sound system, a wall length window, & an inviting couch. He sat down & she mirrored. He couldn't be sure what she remembered - he remembered everything about being changed, while Alice remembered nothing. "Bella," he began slowly, "Do you recall me taking you to a meadow?" She nodded.

"You-you bit me," she whispered. "Why?"

"I'm a vampire. I don't generally hunt people but..." his face seemed to display a piece of his internal struggle. "I fell weak. & I am forever in debt to you. Because now... you are too." She just stared at him, eyes wide. "What normally would have happened, what I had originally intended to do, would be to drink your blood. But I couldn't. I feel terrible." She chuckled incredulously.

"A what?" She rolled her eyes, & chuckled again.

"Bella..."

"No, this is insane. This is a dream, it has to be. A vampire? This is ridiculous." She pushed herself off the couch & ran downstairs, to the front door. It didn't matter that she had no car, no idea where she was, & no idea how to get home. She ran as fast as she could, & to her immense surprise, she wasn't stumbling all over herself, & she was going fast. The trees were rushing by in a blur, & she made it to the street within seconds. She kept running, until she saw a pedestrian. A little old man. She normally would have given him no thought, but a gush of wind blew his scent toward her, & she stopped dead in her tracks. She felt the intense urge to run up to him, pin him down, & drink every once of blood from his frail, old body. She did a 180 & ran straight back to the Cullen house, & through the front door.

"A vampire." Edward just nodded.

"I am very sorry, Bella." She sat down next to him & sighed.

"Explain it to me, everything." So he sat there with her, explain everything. The speed, the strength, the affect of sunlight... & the diet.

"What you choose is none of my business. But I do feel obligated to inform you of the choices that you have. I'm assuming that you were not a murderer in your former life, am I correct?" She nodded, & he let out a soft laugh. "I didn't think so. & there's no reason that you need to be now. Assuming to were not a vegetarian...?" She nodded again. "It really doesn't need to be much different. We hunt animals, drink their blood instead of the blood of humans. It's a good way of life because of the obvious, not being killers of man, but also because we can band together, form families, & live near humans. But I won't lie to you - it is very difficult. The human blood isn't easily resisted for our kind - as you so terribly found out. The choice is yours, but you are welcome to stay here with my family & I. So think about it. Why don't you go freshen up?" She nodded & began to walk away. "One more thing, Bella..." her eyes flickered to his. "Whatever you choose... please don't give away our secret. We are happy in Forks, & we would like to continue to live here in peace, even if you choose to not stay with us. But we would very much like you too."

"Don't worry, Edward, I won't tell a soul," she promised, & she meant it.