"Bella," Edward called out from the top of the stairs. "I've chosen something for you."

He came down the stairs at what seemed to be a fairly slow pace, and gestured for me to join him.

"I'll show you to your room."

"Th-thank you," I stuttered, giving a slight nod before walking over.

"We're a little short of rooms at the moment, so I'm afraid you'll have to share one with me until we're able to put in an addition. I hope you don't mind."

"No, that's fine. As long as it doesn't put you out or anything..."

He just smirked and shook his head.

"I've cleared my things to one side of the room. We can set up everything of yours to the other. If you'd like, I can arrange for a screen of some sort to be set up in the middle, to give you your privacy."

"That's okay, really. You don't have to do that."

Edward led me up the stairs and into a huge, open room.

The entire right side was entirely filled with music.

CD's, LP's, records, cassette tapes...

There was a large stereo pushed up against the wall, with a few different types of players hooked up to it, set on a row of shelves.

On the left side of the room, there was only one thing.

A black leather couch.

There seemed to be some clothes set on one of the cushions.

Edward walked over and picked them up.

"I hope these are to your liking?" He asked, holding out a plain black short sleeved shirt and pair of jeans that, oddly enough, looked like they'd fit me perfectly.

"Um, yeah. Thank you," I nodded, smiling politely.

"I'll just... leave, so you can change," he mumbled, running in a blur out the door.

"....Bye?"


I returned to the living room a minute later, having changed into the clothes Edward had provided for me.

Him and Carlisle were there, along with five other people.

A woman with short, spikey dark hair who kept glancing anxiously between Edward and I, and a blond haired man who had an arm wrapped protectively around her, while holding on to one of her hands.

A huge, bulking man with short, dark curly hair, who had his arm wrapped around a stunningly beautiful blond woman who was glaring at me.

And a woman with carmel colored hair that was sitting beside Carlisle, seemingly indifferent to everything.

"Umm... Hi?"

Edward smirked, and began to point to each new face, naming them off.

"Alice, Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie, Esme."

He then gestured to me.

"Bella."

Everyone raised one hand, and said "hi" in unison.

I gave a slight wave.

Once everyone lost interest in me, after I remained silent, I gave a pointed look at Edward, and gestured to Rosalie. He lifted a hand slightly, and pointed at me.

I wrinkled my nose in confusion. He ducked his head down momentarily, before looking back up and mouthing the words "your clothes".

My clothes?

My clothes!

Edward must have borrowed them from Rosalie....

With the glare she's giving me, I'm guessing that means she doesn't like to share.

"Well, Bella," Carlisle sighed, clasping his hands together. Everyone turned and looked at him. "I suppose your thirst is starting to become quite unbearable, hm?"

"No. I'm okay."

Lies.

My throat burned like hell, scorching a pit into my empty stomach.

I just didn't want to think about killing people just yet.

"Maybe we should hunt," Edward suggested, gazing at me anxiously, noticing the tension.

"Actually, I'd like to prolong the slaying as long as possible, if that's alright."

Carlisle chuckled.

"That's understandable. Just let us know when you're unable to control yourself."

"You'll be the first to know."

"Is anybody going to explain who this is?" Rosalie asked through gritted teeth, still glaring right at me.

Edward hissed at her.

"This is Bella," Carlisle stated calmly. "She'll be staying with us for awhile."

"We don't have enough room."

"Edward was kind enough to clear some space out of his bedroom for her."

Rosalie's eyes darted back and forth between Edward and I, before letting out an odd little snarl.

"Rosie," Emmett started, rubbing her shoulder. She shrugged him away and stood up.

"Are you joking?" She seethed, clenching and unclenching her fists angrily. "We have to share the house with her just because she's Edward's little sex buddy?!"

"Enough!" Edward roared, darting out of his seat and tackling Rosalie to the ground.

They bit and clawed at each other furiously, as the rest of the family got up and attempted to pry them apart.

"It's not worth it, Rosie, baby," Emmett crooned, trying to lure her out.

"I won't tolerate this!" Carlisle boomed.

"I really wish the two of you could work this out in a more civilized manner," Esme chastised. "I know I've raised you better than this."

"Careful, Edward! You'll break one of her nails, and spend the next six hundred years hearing her bitch about it," Alice grinned, seemingly amused.

Jasper just watched, with a faraway look in his eyes.

Alice stood by him and held his hand, as though trying to give some comfort.

Edward was soon pulled away from Rosalie after Carlisle and Esme worked together on it.

His hair was in complete disarray, and his shirt was torn to pieces.

He let out one last warning hiss at Rosalie before shrugging away from Carlisle and Esme's grasp, and walking over to my side.

"I think I need to hunt for myself," he stated calmly, shooting a glare at Rosalie and then looking back at me with a polite smile. "Would you care to join me, Bella? I'd be happy to help."

I took one last glance at the family.

Everyone looked like hell from the outburst.

I guess it would be best if we left, to give everyone time to settle down.

"Sure. Let's go."


And so we headed outside, Edward leading the way.

"I know of a good place. Very secluded, we shouldn't encounter any unwanted guests."

"That's... nice," I nodded.

He turned and gave me an odd look.

"You're still feeling uneasy about the whole hunting thing, aren't you?"

"Very much so, yes."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it's not your fault."

He just shrugged and turned back.

After a minute of an oddly comfortable silence, I just had to say more.

I'm not about to go into this without some sort of warning of what's to come.

"How does it go?"

He stopped then, and turned back to face me.

"The hunt?"

"Yeah."

He paused and contemplated his response.

"Well... it is a bit odd, for the first time. But it really grows on you, and you soon find yourself more and more willing to continue." He scoffed. "Not as though you have much of a choice in the matter."

"But, I mean... Well, how does it go? What do you do?"

His eyes grew dark, and he stared at me for a minute, before turning back and continuing on.

"I'll let you find out for yourself. Don't worry, you catch on very quickly."

I don't like the way his whole demeanor changed at that question...

Will it really be so bad?

"I, um... I do have another question..."

"What."

"Do you feel guilty afterwards? You know... taking the life of a human and everything."

He froze.

Maybe I should have kept that one to myself...

"Bella. There's something you should know about my family."

He remained in place, only turning his head slightly to the side while speaking to me.

"We don't feed off of humans."

"You don't?"

"No. It's a long story, one that I'm sure Carlisle would prefer to tell, but..."

He sighed.

"We prefer to drink the blood of animals."

"Oh," I replied, surprised by his response.

I wasn't expecting that one.

"I suppose that would be easier to live with. It's not like I've never eaten animals before. Just not in this way."

He smiled darkly and nodded once, then continued forward.

"Hey, shouldn't we be careful? I mean, what if someone sees us..."

"Don't worry. Nobody will."

He looked back at me over his shoulder and pointed a finger at his temple.

"Built in radar."

"I don't understand..."

He sighed and looked ahead again, as if hesitating, before looking back.

"There are those of us who have special... skills. Of all kinds, really."

He shrugged.

"Mine happens to be mind reading."

"Really?"

"Yes. I have the ability to read the minds of most anyone."

Amazing...

"So you know what I'm thinking then, right now?"

He paused.

Then sighed.

"Not exactly."

Anoter pause.

"Yours is the only mind, in all the ninety-one years that I've had this ability, that I can't hear."

This time I was the one who paused.

I mean, really, how do you respond to that?

"Do you... know why?"

"No. And it's been driving me insane, quite honestly."

He chuckled darkly.

"So to answer your first question, no, nobody will see us. Because I can hear all of them. We're safe."

I just nodded as he led me out to who-knows-where, because, really, I was rendered completely speechless.


The farther we walked, the more nervous I became.

What type of animal will it be?

How will it taste?

How will I react to the taste?

Will I feel weird afterward?

There's just too many questions.

"We're here," Edward announced, holding his arms out in a 'there we have it' gesture.

"It's nice."

Except for the way it reminds me of the place of my rebirth.

"So where do we begin?"

"Wherever you'd like. Let your instincts choose the prey, and go with it."

I wrinkled my nose up in confusion.

He sighed.

"It's quite simple, really."

I continued to stare blankly at him.

He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Alright then. Let's just start with this... take a deep breath."

I did.

"Now what?"

"Well, did you catch the scent of anything appealing?"

"Not really. Just a lot of moss, and leaves, and old rain, and - "

"Try again."

"Okay..."

I took another deep breath.

And released it with a growl.

It took me a moment to actually realize it came from me.

I thought only lions and bears and things made noises like that.

Does that make me a beast?

"There it is," Edward sighed, smiling darkly. "You've found your prey."

"I feel... weird," I hissed, shutting my eyes tightly.

It was as if two people were inside of me, playing tug of war.

I wasn't sure which side I wanted to win.

"Take another breath. Let the dark side take you over."

I obeyed, taking in another deep, shaky breath.

Releasing it with a snarl this time.

My eyes flew open, focusing on a large buck off in the distance.

I could nearly taste him already.

And... I like that.

I crouched down, placing my hands on the ground, preparing to strike.

All I could hear was a little voice in the back of my head screaming

FEED ME

over and over again.

Your wish is my command.

I made a mad dash for the buck, tearing after it like a bat out of hell.

It didn't stand a chance.

All other creatures spread apart for me like the red sea as I flew at my target.

He had only just turned his head in my direction, finally noticing my presence, as I tackled him to the ground.

Everything after that was just a blur of images and colors, all ending with a bright flash as I stood up from the emptied creature.

It was over.