Title: You Found Me

Full Summary: Edward Masen has lived the life of a nomadic vampire, travelling with James and Victoria since he awoke as an immortal. His ability to read minds has had the unusual side effect of making him a vampire with a conscience. Despite the ridicule from his coven mates, he's confident he's making the best of his existence and doing what's morally right... until he stumbles upon a brown-eyed girl reading in a meadow in Forks. As he attempts to befriend her and learns more about the sleepy town of Forks, Edward finds there's a lot more to being a vampire than he ever thought possible.

Pairings: Canon

Rating: M, for language and future sexing.

Chapter: Fourteen; Frantic

POV: Edward

AN: A short chapter, but an important one in many ways. This is another of the chapters I've been picturing since this story started beating down the doors of my brain. Hope it's what I imagined it would be. Thank you, as always, to everyone who has helped or offered encouragement and stuck with this story along the way :) We're finally into the heart of it.

xx

"Shit!"

"Why hello, Edward. It's so nice to see you, too. Someone's touchy tonight," a gleeful voice sing-songed.

I should have known better than to expect I could sneak past a pair of vampires unnoticed.

I looked up to find James leaning against the kitchen counter, nonchalantly. The doorknob I was still clutching behind my back twisted beneath the crush of my fingers. I did not want to have to deal with his fucked up questioning tonight.

Every night of the last week, since my hunting fiasco, I'd spent my nights in Bella's bedroom, hovering at her bedside, watching her sleep. Each night I told myself to stay away, aware of the danger my mounting thirst posed to her, but each and every night I found myself kneeling beside her bed like a man reciting his nightly prayers.

Though I'd changed my clothes after my most recent visit, I hadn't showered, so there was a chance he'd smell Bella on me. I hoped my own scent would distort it enough that James wouldn't take notice.

Thankfully, he seemed more intent on annoying me tonight than being as observant as he was capable of being.

"What do you want, James?"

He widened his eyes innocently. A gesture that was comical given his history. Innocent was the last word in the English language anyone would willingly choose to describe him.

"Nothing. I just happened to be passing by the kitchen and heard you about to enter through the back door like some kind of common criminal. I thought you were a thief. I was preparing for breakfast." He held up a knife and fork, playfully. "You know I don't deal with intrusions on my personal space very well. I guess we have something in common."

"James, there's a huge fucking glass panel in the door. Either you knew it was me or you're legally blind. Know any good vampire eye doctors?" I stated, sarcasm seeping into my tone.

James shook his head in disappointment at my antics, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He loved stringing me along with his stupid games. I scowled, a growl rumbling in my chest.

"Okay I saw you," he admitted. "I was waiting for you."

"So much for you valuing personal space," I mumbled.

He ignored my insolent comment. "You're never fucking here anymore and I have something important to tell you."

"I'm listening."

"Victoria and I have decided that we want to stay in Forks a little longer than originally planned. Vicky's really enjoying the taste of the locals. We know you're probably eager to leave so we're willing to let you move ahead. We'll follow in a few weeks."

I shifted uncomfortably. "Actually… I've been enjoying the Seattle area. I don't mind staying as long as you and Victoria would like."

His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You are? Then how come you've stopped hunting? You haven't come home smelling like blood in almost two weeks. Your eyes are almost black."

"I'm biding my time. There are only so many people worth hunting," I lied, "I like to save the ones who smell the best for when I can really savour them."

The truth was, in the past, I probably had hunted weekly or very close to it. Since my botched attempt at hunting in the alleys of Seattle last week, I simply hadn't had the same urge to taste blood. I was vaguely aware of the constant burn in my throat, but it seemed dulled compared to how it usually felt after a dozen days without fresh blood. Simply hearing the words "blood" or "hunting" acted as appetite suppressants. I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep down any nutrition, even if I forced myself to hunt. The thought of slowly withering due to malnutrition was equally unappealing. I knew I'd have to get over my aversion sooner rather than later.

"Yeah, whatever. You look starved, dude. Who the fuck cares if they'll taste better when you're thirstier? You're fucking thirsty now."

"I wouldn't expect you to understand. Are we done now?" I didn't wait for him to answer; I was already making a beeline for the bathroom, intent on showering away any remnants of Bella's scent.

"I am," he called after me. "Vic wants to talk to you, though. I wouldn't keep her waiting too long. You know how she gets…"

I mumbled in acknowledgement, shutting the door behind me. A huge weight felt as if it had been lifted off my chest when I heard James puttering around in the next room like nothing had happened. It was a minor miracle he'd not yet discovered my attachment to Bella considering my sloppiness.

I made a note to travel to my rented room in Seattle to shower before coming home from now on, even if it meant an hour long detour. It wasn't like I was desperate to enjoy James' company each night. Spending time with him and Victoria in order to ward off their suspicions was important but it was a lower priority than keeping Bella's scent away from them. I despised the balancing act of trying to compartmentalize my life but it was necessary.

I took my time washing myself, using copious amounts of the strawberry scented shower gel I'd stocked up on for the sole purpose of masking Bella's scent. It was synthetic and not nearly as appealing as Bella's sweet, fresh smell but it served its function. The nauseatingly artificial scent of it gave me something to focus on aside from my constantly growing hunger.

By the time I stepped out of the shower and dressed, Victoria was sitting in the family room of our cabin waiting for me, the toe of one of her monstrously tall stiletto heels tapping rhythmically against the hardwood.

"Edward, sweetheart, come have a seat," she intoned smoothly, her high voice falsely deepened; probably a tactic to put me at ease for whatever she had planned.

I wasn't stupid, I knew Victoria was every bit as manipulative as James, she was just more subtle in her methods. I had an inkling that she actually did care for me on some level but that didn't stop the manipulation. I sighed internally. I was hungry and tired and not in the mood for trying to figure out her mind games.

I sat down on the opposite end of the sofa, mentally bracing myself.

"I care about you, and view you as a meaningful part of our coven. You know that, don't you?"

I nodded silently. There was nothing else for me to add.

"You think that James and I have been fair to you, don't you? We've treated you well and served as dutiful coven mates should, haven't we?"

There was no short answer to this question, so I answered with what she wanted to hear. "Of course."

She patted my chest affectionately, her long nails scraping at my sweater. "Okay, good. It's come to my attention that there are other vampires in the area. What with you being gone so much and your new affinity for… scented bath products…" She wrinkled her nose at the artificial strawberry scent I carried from my recent shower. "I wondered if you weren't trying to… hide something from me or James."

I shook my head, a cold shot of adrenaline pulsing through my body. All this time I'd been worried about James' tracking abilities. I'd never considered Victoria had her own talents. With her talent from self-preservation came a knack for being extremely perceptive. I wasn't going to reveal anything significant until she did so first.

"That's ridiculous, Victoria," I countered airily, more than slightly relieved that she was stirring up a fuss over loyalty and was still in the dark in regards to my dalliances with Bella. "I've not met any other vampires during our time in Forks. I've come across an unknown vampire scent or two in the woods, but I figured it was left by other nomads. I assure you that my loyalties lie with you and James, as they always have."

She continued, not acknowledging my words. "James is more naïve than I am. He thinks you owe us a debt because we've allowed you to travel with us. He doesn't recognize that your gift makes you a valuable asset to any coven. You might not know very much about the west coast covens, since we've spent most of your life further east but they're very competitive. Not unlike the southern covens, they covet talented vampires. I don't want to see you get caught up in another coven looking to steal you away for your gift."

"Victoria, I read thoughts. I know sincerity when I see it. I assure you that I have no plans to leave at the present time, nor have any offers been extended to me. That is not a decision I would take lightly. You know our species is not so susceptible to change that we are moved by the mere power of suggestion."

"Now don't be foolish, Edward," she scolded. "Your gift is extraordinary, but you can't let it be your sole judge of character. It's not a lie detector. One's mind does not always reveal his or her true intentions if he or she is a capable liar."

I smiled tightly. "I appreciate your concern. I assure you that I can fend for myself."

"I know you can," she soothed, her tone soft and slippery like silk. "It's the others I don't trust."

xx

I sat amongst the branches of a thick maple, bored.

I had taken it upon myself to be Bella's guardian for the day. She had informed me yesterday afternoon that she would be spending the day with the La Push boys. While I held no personal vendetta against them, they were a bunch of pseudo-werewolves. There was no way in hell I was going to let Bella walk amongst the pack of them without someone to watch over the mutts on her behalf.

From what I had gathered, they respected human life and were old enough to have mastered controlling their wolf impulses. Embry had shown remarkable restraint when faced with me in the bookstore, even if it was partly due to the influence of his alpha. Restraint aside, they still had animalistic inclinations. That meant there was no way in hell they were to be trusted around my brown-eyed girl unsupervised.

Aside from the occasional burst of guilt, I'd made my peace with my stalking tendencies when it came to Bella.

I had followed her truck at a safe distance, trailing her vehicle like a puppy trails the postman. Halfway between the reservation and Forks, Bella pulled to the side of the road, parking next to a rusted Corolla. The wolfmobile, I supposed. I smugly noted my car was more impressive. Not that that was much of an accomplishment.

Jacob came bursting off of a concealed pathway; a "backend" entrance to a grouping of nature trails. The official entrance was located on the reservation, his thoughts revealed. We were half a mile off of the government-sanctioned grounds of the reservation but still in territory that the Quiluetes had effectively taken charge of, since it housed a few items of historical importance to them. The boys had agreed to meet Bella here, halfway between Forks and the Quileute reservation because it required the least walking to get to the caves they planned to visit.

I was glad to not be infringing upon their official territory. I had no desire to cause a confrontation with the wolves over something as unimportant as territory. I just wanted to ensure Bella's safety. I kept downwind of the pack at a safe distance.

Wolf-sitting turned out to be a lot less exciting than I'd expected. In their human forms, the Quiluete boys were just like any other teenage boys; crude and boisterous. Bella seemed to enjoy their company so I allowed their often crass commentary.

If I'd been capable of it, I might have nodded off, safely away tucked away in my leafy outpost.

The only thing that prevented me from falling victim to my boredom completely was Bella.

I couldn't hear her thoughts but I could hear those of the boys surrounding her. Each of them adored Bella in his own way. They regarded her as one of their own despite her non-Quileute heritage.

It had always been interesting to me to see how humans viewed one another. They were extremely opinionated. It didn't matter who or what they were regarding, humans always had a unique perception and an equally unique opinion. No two were ever the same, either.

It was especially fascinating for me to watch how others saw Bella. I'd never cared to watch a single human before, other than for hunting purposes.

Seeing her through the eyes of the four Quileute boys was like seeing four different Bellas, from four different angles, each with different qualities highlighted.

Paul watched her with a sense of camaraderie. He enjoyed her often humourous outlook on life and the way she was always willing to help him rag on Jacob.

Jared saw her as a kindred spirit. He thought of her as a peacemaker like himself, loyal to a fault and always ready with an air of calm when things got too tense.

Embry viewed her as another old soul. She was also an only child, having grown up in single-parent household where she'd never really had a chance to be a child like others her age.

Of all the boys, Jacob's thoughts were the most interesting.

Though he was always careful to prevent his thoughts from wandering too deeply – almost as if he was denying the truth of his own thoughts – there was always a hint of something other than friendship lingering at the edges of his mind.

Unlike the other cubs, he saw Bella in a very physical way. He noticed the pale pinkness of her skin against his own dark bronze and the flow of her hair in the wind. It confused him. He didn't understand why he was noticing these things about his best friend, someone he had known since childhood; someone who was most certainly not his imprint.

He didn't allow himself to delve into the meaning behind his thoughts, telling himself he was content with things the way they were. Defense colouring his thoughts, he would nonsensically repeat two names in his head like a mantra: Sam and Leah.

His obvious feelings for Bella would have been infuriating, had she not been so oblivious.

None of the boys saw Bella the way I did. Each of them was only privy to small nuanced parts of her that they deemed worthy of noticing. Through their eyes and dozens of others, I saw everything. I still didn't know enough. I was certain I'd never be able to learn all there was to know, even given all the time in the world. Truthfully, I didn't want to.

Whether she was aware of it yet or not (and I was starting to believe she was) she was meant to be mine. Just as I was already hers. Imprinting might not have been a part of my existence but change didn't come easy to my kind. She'd changed me, linked my soul to hers, simply by being a part of my world. Jacob, try as he might, without the destiny of an imprint to guide him, would not be able compete with the dedication I could offer her. His only gift to offer her would be humanity.

I prayed devotion was enough.

xx

When I saw her warm, broken body lying haphazardly on the dirt and stone, it took all my efforts not to confront the wolf pack and draw and quarter each and every fucking one of the dogs for abandoning her.

The sight of the precious red fluid seeping from Bella's arm made me see red of a different kind. I had no doubt that my rage at seeing my mate lying bleeding would give me the upper hand, despite the four on one fight.

Fucking mutts.

What kind of men allow a woman to hike a kilometre through the forest without a guide? Surely one of the other mutts could have escorted her back to her truck after her fight with Jacob to ensure she arrived safely?

I had watched her zone out, her mind numb to the world, as she stumbled down the path lost in thought. On a good day Bella was less than coordinated. On a day when she wasn't paying attention, she was a catastrophe waiting to happen.

I couldn't offer her directions or a guiding hand. Not without revealing myself and making the situation worse than it already was. I could only watch from the safe distance of the trees overhead, wincing as she trod back down the uneven path, praying no harm would come to her.

Of course, prayers are rarely answered.

I didn't care what she, the mutts, or anyone else would think. I was at her side in seconds, my breath stagnant in my lungs. Holding my breath was unnecessary anyway; I couldn't breathe until I knew she was okay.

I forced myself not to be alarmed that she had passed out, reassuring myself it was likely fear or an aversion to blood that had caused the reaction. Her head seemed uninjured.

I wasn't an expert on the human anatomy but I'd read more than a few books out of curiosity. I knew enough to assess that she'd broken her arm and that I shouldn't move her until I could distinguish if she had broken any other bones. I felt along her neck and the ridges of her ribs, feeling for a contusion. Her skin was smooth and supple, no spots of tenderness to indicate internal injuries or further broken bones.

Hastily ripping the sleeves off of my shirt, I was able to fashion a makeshift sling to hold her arm in place while I ran. I knew jostling her injured arm couldn't be comfortable for her and I didn't want to cause her any more pain than necessary.

Carefully placing one of my cold arms over her warm one, hoping to numb the ache of her broken bone, I cradled her in my arms. The moment she was settled, her pale cheek pressed against my chest, I took off at a sprint. Unable to look at the pallid colour of her usually rosy cheeks, I focused intently on the back of her eyelids, silently pleading with them to open.

The forest whizzed by at breakneck speed. Branches that so much as threatened to brush Bella's skin were brutally hacked off.

It wasn't until I was halfway to Forks' hospital that I recognized where my feet were carrying me. Logically, I knew Bella needed treatment from a human doctor. Treatment I couldn't offer.

I'd been avoiding the area quite purposefully, in a half-hearted attempt to avoid dealing with Carlisle Cullen. As a vampire, I had all the time in the world and no desire to deal with the unknown. Later was as good a time as any when time was limitless.

I wondered, off-handedly if this was fate's cruel way of punishing me for my cowardice. I'd been avoiding my fate, so Lady Destiny took it upon herself to hurt the only person who had the power to make me step foot in such a place. It was unfair that Bella had to be punished because of me. All I wanted for her was to be healthy and happy.

"Edward," Bella mumbled sleepily, her hazy eyes focused on mine. My throat clenched in relief at the sight of the familiar shade of warm brown.

I cursed myself for being so lost in my musings I hadn't noticed her eyes open. They were still fluttering at half-mast. I wanted to tell her to rest, to save her energy but I knew Bella would refuse on principle alone, stubborn as she was.

"You're safe," I murmured in promise instead, stroking her hair soothingly. A minute nod and her eyes drooped closed again.

The burn in the back of my throat roared nosily, begging for her spilled blood. It was painful, but my relief that she'd gained consciousness, albeit briefly, outshone the stinging pain. I still couldn't stomach the though of killing for blood. It was worse knowing that it was Bella's life that was on the line. She would live, if I could get her to a hospital. She wouldn't, if I drank from her. That thought was enough to beat down all remaining temptation her scent offered.

My legs pumped more desperately. I could see the hospital looming in the distance.

"Edward!" a high, feminine voice called.

I halted, terror pulsing through me at the sound of my own name. I spun around searching for the source but could find nothing out of the ordinary.

My first thought was of Victoria and that there was no way in fucking hell that she was coming within a ten foot radius of Bella, promises of loyalty be damned. I had new loyalties.

I curled myself into a defensive position, shifting Bella slightly so my body was curled around hers.

A flash of dark hair and pale skin sprung out of a tree, landing a few feet from me.

Mumbling silent apologies to Bella for my necessary abruptness, I launched us into a tree, growling territorially at the unknown interferer.

"Edward, I'm sorry!" An elfin face peered up at me apologetically. "I didn't mean to scare you, but you're fucking fast. I had to get close enough that you wouldn't run. You can't go to the hospital."

"Mary Alice?" I growled, irate, once recognition set in. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Hello Edward. I go by Alice, now."