Chapter 6

Charlie was at work, so I had written him a note that would explain and ask him not to try and find me. I had no idea where the Cullens were going to take me, but even if I did I wouldn't have told him.

Charlie,

I'm so so sorry! I love you, but I don't think I can stay here anymore. I'll try to write, or call, I swear! Remember, this was nothing you did wrong, I just thought it was time for me to leave. Please don't try to find me, and don't tell Mom until I do. She'll flip, we both know it! I love you,

Bella

This was a very vague letter, I knew, but I couldn't think of anything better. My things were all packed and ready to leave at a seconds notice. Edward was waiting for me up in my room as I said a silent goodbye to everything I had loved.

When I got back up to my room, I knew I had to write an email to Renee. This was going to be harder. She would go crazy and get the FBI on me or anything else just as impulsive. This was the best I could come up with.

Mom,

I'm going away for a long while. I won't be able to see you anymore. I'll write you and call you, though I swear! Please don't do anything impulsive, I'm fine. Just trust me, and believe that I love you.

Bella

I almost started to cry writing this, but I couldn't let Edward see. He seemed to sense my anguish; as he wrapped his arms around me on the bed as I lay down. I don't know how long we lay there like that; I only knew that sleep did not come soon for me. Eventually though, I did fall asleep. Morning came all too soon.

I stretched and yawned. I had had the strangest dream. I told Edward.

"Edward, I had the weirdest dream last night. I dreamed that you proposed and I said 'yes,' and now I'm supposed to be changed today." I chuckled until I saw his expression. "You mean, that wasn't a dream?"

He shook his head slowly, watching my reaction carefully. I was in shock. I thought Edward was not serious when he proposed, I thought that he would never change me. But in my 'dream' he said he'd do both. I realized Edward was still watching me.

"Well, then, that changes things, doesn't it?" I tried to make light of the situation.

It worked: He laughed. "Yes, I'd imagine it does." He grew somber. "You don't have to do this, you know."

"I know. But I want to . When are you going to get that through that thick skull of yours?" I laughed again. He joined in half-heartedly.

"Well, if you're sure, we'd better leave now. Charlie's around the corner." He got up and grabbed all of my suitcases.

I stood up too. "Ok, let's go."

Back at the Cullens', everyone was waiting in the living room for us. "It's a good thing we live in such a secluded area." Carlisle said as we approached.

"Why is that?" I asked curiously.

Everyone laughed except me. "The screaming." Carlisle informed me. "It's better no one hears that or they'll investigate, so I'm sure you'll agree it is most fortunate we live here."

I nodded. I had forgotten about the pain. This thought was not a comforting one.

"Ok, are you ready for this?" Carlisle asked me. When I nodded, he turned to Edward and gestured that we should begin.

Edward turned to me. His eyes we scared and sad. "Are you sure?" He asked. I nodded, yet again. It seemed I had been doing this a lot lately. But I just couldn't find my voice.

"I just want you to remember, I love you." He choked out, and I realized that if he could, he'd be crying.

He bit my neck. At once the pain was unendurable. I screamed for all I was worth. I was sure this must be agonizing for him to watch, me screaming and all, but I couldn't help it. Then I blacked out.

"What happened!?" I could barely hear Edward's voice saying. I wanted to call out to him, but I still couldn't locate my voice.

"It's ok, Edward. She's one of the lucky ones. The pain was too much for her to take and she passed out. She'll wake up soon enough, hopefully after the change so she won't have to really feel anything." Carlisle explained calmly.

Was he joking? I could still feel something close to Hell itself. Was I going to die? I hoped so. Anything was better than this. It felt like fire coursing through my veins running through every inch of my body until I couldn't remember a time not as painful as this.

The minutes felt like hours, the hours days. I hadn't really woken up yet. I was somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness. I could still feel pain in every fiber of my being. Edward never once left my side. Never once let go of my hand. I was grateful for that. His hand holding mine told me that I had to pull through this, someone was still needing me. It made the pain a little more endurable, but not much.

"What day is it?" I heard someone ask what seemed like weeks later. But of course it was merely hours, or at the most a day.

"It should be over very soon. We are nearing the end of the second day. However, this will be the most painful part of the change. The venom will try to penetrate the heart." Carlisle was still here too? And it was only the second day? I couldn't take any more of this. Suddenly, it was like someone had turned on a very bright light. I was looking at two things that were very close to black.

I realized I was looking into Edward's eyes. I had finally regained total consciousness. I fell back down into the pillow and tried not to scream. Of course I failed. How could you not? This was HELL.

"Just kill me please!" I shouted out finally. Soon after that, however, the pain slowly started subsiding. Then abruptly it stopped. I wanted to sleep, but found that I couldn't. I assumed I was so tired I couldn't sleep. That had happened to me before.

Then I started smelling things. Unusual things. I couldn't even identify half the scents.

Oh my God. I thought. I must be a vampire! It's over! It's over!

I opened my eyes and there was Edward. I smiled at him to show that I was ok. He smiled back at me. It was a tiny smile, one that faded quickly and didn't touch his eyes.

"Well, how about those three days, huh?" I joked. "They were the best of my life. Never had more fun." I laughed, it kind of hurt.

He joined in. "I was so worried." He informed me. "I knew you couldn't die, but I still felt so nervous… and helpless. I've never felt so weak and powerless."

I touched his had on mine. "Don't." I told him softly. "It's over now, and you have nothing to be afraid of now. I'm one of you now." I smiled. "I'm a monster."

"We all are now." He said seriously, no trace of humor. "I cannot believe I put you through that. I felt so guilty. All that obvious pain you were in. It was pure torture, in my form."

"I'm glad you did." I said, and when he raised his eyebrows skeptically I added, "It was never a matter of if or when it would happen. That was already definite. There was only the matter of who did it. I'm so happy that you changed your mind, but even if you hadn't I would have let Carlisle do it. Like I said, only a matter of who."

He looked only slightly reassured. "Let's just forget this now." I said, and searched for a subject change. I said the first thing that came into my mind, "How do I look?"

"You were always beautiful, but now you're a knockout." I heard and laughed.

"Thank you, but I meant do I look like I've been to Hell and back? I certainly feel like it." I looked up from our joined hands into his puzzled eyes. "What's wrong?" I asked nervously.

"Bella, I didn't say anything. How did you know I was thinking that?" He asked me quizzically.

"You were thinking that!?" I shrieked. "But that's impossible!"

He shook his head. "No, it isn't. You forgot about why the Volturi even wanted you changed in the first place. Your future gift. Which looks as though you can read minds like me. And I'd be willing to bet it was kind of fuzzy sounding?"

I nodded. "It sounded like I was trying to tune a radio, but I could still pick up what I thought you were saying. I just thought my ears were ringing or something."

"And I'd also bet that you only 'heard' me because we're holding hands. That will soon change. In the beginning, I had to touch people to hear their thoughts. And look at me now. Can you hear my memories?"

"I don't think so. I hear nothing but your real speaking voice right now." I chuckled.

"We'll work on that later. I hope you get a combination of Aro's and my powers. My ability to hear from a distance but his to hear every thought and memory your mind ever had." He said. I shook my head in wonder.

"Well, the others should be here soon. At the turning point Carlisle went to get them. I'd expect them any" He was interrupted by a group walking through the door of his room.

Alice immediately bounded into my arms and kissed my cheek happily. "You look fantastic, Bella." She told me.

Next was Esme. Edward held an arm around my waist and smiled proudly at everyone while she hugged me as well. "Look at you." She said brightly. "You look incredible."

Emmett and Rosalie came up to me together. "Wow, sis." Emmett chuckled. I would have normally blushed at the term of endearment, but I had no blood to rush to my face. "You do look great. Looks like you've got competition, Rose." He laughed again.

"Bella's not competition." Rosalie scolded him. "She's my sister now. How are you holding up?" She asked me.

"Tired." I told her. I was still not used to her being nice to me. She seemed to be thinking along the same lines as me, as smiled tentatively. "Thank you for asking. Good to know somebody cares." I teased Edward. He held up his hands in front of himself in a proclamation of innocence.

"I knew you'd be tired, so why ask?" He asked me.

"You're terrible." But my statement was slightly marred by the fact that I was smiling. "Where's Carlisle?"

"He had to go to work. He says he's sorry to have missed out on you waking up, but he had to fill out his resignation forms again." Esme told me. I had forgotten I was the cause for their second move from Forks. Esme, sensing what I was thinking, told me seriously, "Bella, we are fine doing this. Don't blame yourself. True, if it weren't for you we wouldn't be going, but none of us would change that if we could, would we?" She asked the others.

They all shook their heads and murmured, "Nope!"

"Oh!" Edward suddenly exclaimed. "I just remembered, Bella and I have discovered her gift. Or part of it, we think." He stated proudly.

"OOOOOHHH!! Alice exclaimed. "What is it!?"

"I thought you'd be able to 'see' that Alice!" I teased. She grinned at me then turned back to Edward.

"Well!?" She yelled.

Jasper placed a hand on her shoulder and she smiled up at him.

"Bella read my mind earlier." Edward told them. "I want to test that and see if she can see memories and hear other long past thoughts as well."

"Well, there's no better teacher than you!" Emmett exclaimed. "Awesome! Now we have two mind freaks!"

"HEY!" Edward and I both yelled. Emmett and everyone else laughed.

"All right, enough fooling around!" Esme chastised fondly. "We have packing."

"Aw, Mom!" Rosalie groaned. "Can't we just leave it here and buy new stuff?"

"No! What if someone went into our house and realized we just up and left everything? How would that look? They don't know we're so rich. Most people aren't. Let's go."

Outside, I realized I was no longer in the Cullens' house. But in a barren parking lot with a smell outhouse at the end.

Since we had three cars parked in the parking lot, we split into groups. Seeing as Carlisle was at the hospital, Esme, Jasper and Alice took the black Mercedes. Emmett and Rosalie took Emmett's monster Jeep, and Edward and I took Edward's silver Volvo.

Before we departed, however, Rosalie pulled me to one side, away from everyone else. I was sure this was pointless as they could still hear us if they wanted to.

"Bella, here." She said, handing me a mirror she had just taken out of her purse. "You'll want to get a good look at yourself, believe me." She smiled and walked away.

In Edward's car I looked in the thing. I was dumbfounded. I knew that vampires were beautiful and all, but I didn't think that meant I would be too. It was the same me, you could still tell. But I was more gracefully angled and sculpted. My hair was the same dark brown, almost black and my eyes were black. This scared me to no end.

"Edward, can we go hunting?" I asked him still looking at my eyes. He seemed to know that it wasn't out of hunger that I wanted to hunt, but he still agreed.

"Sure. When we settle down somewhere else." He told me.

"And where will that be?" I asked him.

"I'm not sure." He said. "Your self-control is already amazing. You may not have realized it, but we must have passed at least five humans when we walked into the parking lot." I was shocked.

"Really!?" I exclaimed. "I thought you said humans smelled good!?"

"What do you mean?" Edward asked, looking at me now.

"Well, I only smelled something bad. It reminds me faintly of when I used to not be able to stand the smell of blood without fainting or vomiting." I said in wonder.

Now he looked shocked. "You mean, you are immune to the smell of blood!?" He yelled.

"I guess so. Maybe I just like animal blood better. We'll have to test that theory as well." I told him calmly.

He suddenly veered to an immediate left onto a barely noticeable dirt path. He called Esme and told her what we had figured out and that he was taking me hunting. He said we'd meet them later back at the house.

Outside in a clearing, I could smell and see a herd of deer. It was not as bad as the smell of those humans, but it wasn't delicious either. I looked at Edward. He was marveling at me.

"You're incredible!" He exclaimed.

"What!?" I asked, shocked.

"You hate the smell of humans from the day you are 'born,' and yet you have the perfect control around animals like a hundred-year old!!"

"I always hated the smell of blood, that only intensified with humans." I explained, or tried to. "I still don't really care for the smell care for the smell of these creatures, but I can tell they're extremely edible."

He was still gawking at me.

"We have to tell Carlisle this one." He said breathlessly.

I shrugged. "We told Esme we'd meet her though."

"You're right." He contemplated. "They should know this too."

He started the car and we left for our soon to be old home.