A/N: Another chapter for you guys! :) Hope you enjoy. And also, I really hope you guys don't think I forget about the story, I honestly try to update whenever I can! I have such little time to do it, but I make time for you guys :) Enjoy and keep the lovely feedback coming.

"I let it fall, my heart
And as it fell, you rose to claim it
It was dark and I was over
Until you kissed my lips and you saved me"
-Set Fire to the Rain by Adele

Chapter Six

Creature In The Night

The night was cool but not unpleasantly so. I wrapped my arms around myself, enjoying the stark windy breeze across my sweaty forehead as bodies pressed closer around me, swaying and rocking to the deafening music. I bobbed along to the beat, smiling broadly to the person pressed closest to me: Carlisle.

The crowd surged forward toward the stage as the singer dipped a hand precariously into the churning mass of people below, and Carlisle and I were pushed ahead unwillingly as well. He caught hold of me and steered me in front of him, grabbing both arms firmly to keep me from getting too far. I barely noticed; the bass was thumping loudly, reverberating along the ground and straight into my bones. It felt almost like the drummer was thrashing inside of my brain.

I laughed out loud, enjoying the moment and the feeling, then turned my head to face Carlisle. He grinned down at me upon seeing my smile, but there was still an uncertain stiffness in his posture. More people pressed against us as they danced, all flailing arms and flying hair. The song was reaching some sort of climax; people were bouncing on their toes, anticipating the apex, before breaking into a unanimous frenzy as the music surged impossibly louder.

I let the energy wash over me and began to bounce along with the others. Sweat poured down my back but I was immersed in the moment, melting into the crowd around me.

And all too soon, the music ended. The band struck a final, deafening chord before belting out a slurred farewell in French. The lights in the park came up, and the hazy cloud of smoke engulfing the crowd lifted. People blinked dazedly as if coming out of a reverie and wiped their hands over their faces, red and shining with sweat.

For a fleeting moment, as the crowd parted, I saw a lean, dark-haired boy watching me from the shadows and I started, but when I looked again, he was gone.

The crowd began to mill towards the park exits, speaking much too loudly, tripping over their own feet as they walked. I followed the pull of the crowd, trying to clear my head of the odd boy, before I noticed Carlisle's outstretched hand. I quickly took it and he led me to one of the park benches, weaving through the crowd expertly.

I sat down heavily, noticing the sweat marks on the green silk of the shift dress Alice had packed for me. She'd absolutely kill me if she saw the state of it now. I slipped off my sandals as Carlisle sat down beside me and dropped my legs onto his lap . Even the pale skin on my bare legs was flushed and sticky, but Carlisle's cool skin felt nice against it.

He smirked at me, as if asking what he was supposed to do with my legs.

"My feet hurt." I shrugged, knowing I was yelling.

He shook his head and laughed before beginning to rub my feet. "You were dancing quite a lot. I'd be surprised if they weren't."

I laughed again, resting my head on the cool metal of the bench. "They were good. The band, I mean. Sure, I may not have understood one word they sang, but I could get into music like that."

"You're a good dancer."

I propped my head up to see if he was joking. He was as serious as ever. "I'm not. I'm terribly clumsy, maybe. But good? No." I laughed.

"You are though," He was looking at me with wide eyes as he continued to rub my feet absently. "Watching you dance is mesmerizing, Bella, you don't give yourself enough credit."

Mesmerizing was definitely, one hundred percent, an overstatement, but when Carlisle had that painfully sincere look on his face, it was hard to argue.

"Thanks, I guess." I mumbled awkwardly.

It was his turn to shrug. His eyes drifted to the stage as the band cleared up and I took the moment to appraise him fully.

It had been two weeks since we'd talked on the roof, and from that day on, it had seemed like some weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Carlisle was walking taller, I could see it, and he carried himself much differently than I'd ever seen him do in Forks. At home, he was all business. The family patriarch, working seven days a week, counselling his kids, dealing with the burden of his and Esme's relationship. Here, there was no responsibility to contend with, and it showed. Carlisle was even dressing different, opting tonight for a light leather jacket and jeans instead of a dress shirt and tie.

If I didn't know him, I'd think he was about twenty five and maybe owned a motorcycle. The giggle forming in my throat nearly escaped at the thought of that.

He looked back at me, the park light over our heads flitting over his blonde hair. "You look hot." He said blankly.

My stomach flipped. "What?"

He stopped rubbing my feet. "I mean, you look sweaty." He reached over and pushed my hair back from my sticky face. "Are you all right? Are you sick?"

"No, no." I said, playing with the ends of my hair. It was longer than I remembered it, almost past my waist now. "I'm fine… just sweaty. All those people in the crowd, it got a little hot in there."

"Alright, then." He resumed the rubbing of my feet. "Can I get you anything though? Some food? Water?"

At the mention of water, I suddenly noticed how parched my throat was and licked my dry lips. "Actually, water sounds perfect."

"There's a vendor across the street, I'll get you a bottle." He said, standing up. Then he looked down at me worriedly, as if as a thought occurred to him. "Will you be okay here alone? It's dark out, and you're not familiar with the city… You should probably come along."

I shook my head. "My feet hurt, remember?" I said waving a foot in the air. It wasn't a lie; the thought of walking alone was painful. "I'll be fine Carlisle, please don't worry so much. You said it yourself, it's just across the street."

"Hm, alright." He said unsurely, and began to walk away. "I'll be right back."

"And I'll be right here."

I watched him as he shuffled through the remaining crowd until he was just a speck among the other people. I dropped my head back against the metal backing of the bench and closed my eyes, letting the breeze cool my sweaty skin. My feet were throbbing but not exactly painfully, it was more the feeling of wanting to get up and dance again. I'd have to ask Carlisle to take me to another concert like this soon.

Who would have thought Carlisle of all people, I thought amusingly, would like rock music?

But truthfully, it wasn't such an absurd idea, I realized, thinking of the Carlisle I'd gotten to know these past two weeks. He was relaxed, adventurous and almost carefree; a stark contrast to his old self. Since our conversation, it seemed we'd made some sort of unspoken agreement; neither of us would mention the troubles at home, but nothing between us was off-limits anymore. I could sense a new trust forming between us and I revelled in it. While this vacation was a means of keeping me safe, it was doing wonders for Carlisle. I'd never seen him smile this much before.

My own face broke out into a smile at the thought of it.

"You are a radiant creature, you are."

My eyes popped open and I glanced around, looking for the source of the voice. It was not Carlisle, that much I knew. This voice was silky, dangerous.

"Over here, darling."

I turned to the sound. There was a flash of pale white in the air in front of me, as if something had flown past me. Then, suddenly, a lithe figure appeared and sat down on the bench beside me. Somehow, my legs were in his lap and his cool fingers were running over my bare calves.

The boy had a sharp but beautiful face, all angles and planes. He was pale, much too pale to be human, and his dark, black hair coupled with nearly black eyes made his skin seem even whiter. The cold of his touch against my skin confirmed what I feared: he was a vampire. And more importantly, I realized, this was the very boy who had been watching me from the crowd.

I did the only thing I could think of in that moment: run.

Yanking my legs out of his grasp, I grabbed my sandals in my hands and sprinted from the bench. The park was almost clear now, and I could see a large tree not too far from where I'd been sitting, so I made a break for it.

I gripped the bark of the trunk as I neared it, falling against the wood. The sandals slipped from my hands and fell to ground as I heaved for breath.

But he was already there.

I didn't even have time to scream. The boy pinned me against the tree, his hands strong at my wrists, keeping me from squirming. I turned my face away as his own came closer, burying itself in my hair, breathing deeply. His body was pressed against my mine, keeping me still.

"You have a lovely smell. It's no wonder the other one keeps you so close."

His voice was not accented with heady French undertones, I realized. It was silky and whispery, and frighteningly flat. A shiver ran up my spine. If I screamed now, he'd only kill me faster.

"Who is he?" The boy whispered again, rubbing his nose against my neck. It was as if he couldn't smell me enough, that no amount of breath could take in enough to satisfy him. "Is he your mate? Odd choice for him. A human."

He'd been watching Carlisle and I for a while. If I wasn't so scared, I might have started to cry right then, but the paralysing fear inside of me blocked all emotion. He brought his face up to mine.

His eyes were as black as the sky behind him. They were filled with desperation, longing.

"Is your blood as sweet as it smells, dear one?"

I wanted to spit something vicious at him but I knew that would not be in my favor. I tried to avert my eyes from his, keeping very still.

"I know how it will taste." He purred manically. The boy's face was buried in my neck again, only this time, I felt his teeth graze my skin. "Yes, it will be heavenly. I'm afraid there won't be enough inside of you to satisfy me. You are so tiny."

I gritted my teeth. My hands were becoming numb from the pressure on my wrists. The boy began to convulse as if his desire for my blood caused him physical pain. He was muttering dementedly, odd words and half sentences.

"Will I have control? Can't cause her pain. Quick, painless death. Then I will drink. Sweet blood. Cannot cause pain, Sauvage rules."

I started at his last words. Sauvage. So he was a Sauvage vampire. This, at least, explained his deranged monologue. He couldn't cause me a painful death, not unless he wanted to suffer the consequences of betraying his coven's rules. He could take my blood quickly and leave the body; there had to be no pleasure in the kill.

His hands roamed over my body, grazing my back and sides. I felt disgusted. I tried to push against him but he was much too strong. Already, I could feel the energy leaving me. His face was still buried in my neck, and with a sick, sinking feeling, I felt the tip of his tongue against the skin of my neck.

"Get off me." I said as firmly as I could. "Get off me or I'll scream."

"She speaks." He lifted his head, his dark eyes alive with desire. "Darling, you won't even have time to scream, believe me."

"He's coming back. He'll tear you to shreds."

He seemed to know who I was talking about. The boy clicked his tongue, his hands still roaming my back. "I'm not inclined to think so. His golden eyes, they tell so much. Vegetarian." He said the word with disgust. "I've heard the legends. He is defying his nature."

I decided to keep him talking. It could buy me time until Carlisle came back. "Well what about you? Aren't Sauvage vampires supposed to value human life? Even if they feed on humans, they do it with respect. They're not supposed to enjoy the kill. And you," I said, pushing against his roaming hands, "Seem to be enjoying it very much."

He threw his head back and laughed a short, musical laugh. "A human educating me on Sauvage principles. Nicholas will never believe me." He brought his eyes back to mine with ferocity. The boy's grip hardened. "Your death will be painless, yes, but that doesn't mean I won't enjoy it."

His hands left my back and suddenly gripped the sides of my face. I squirmed, but the pressure was so intense that I could not move an inch in his grip. His eyes watched me, my expression, so intently that I knew he was waiting for the fear to show. He wanted to gain that pleasure, that dominance, of having me cower before I died. I would never give him that satisfaction.

I met his gaze, head-on, with a cool glare.

The boy smiled. His teeth were white and even, glinting in the moonlight.

"If I weren't about to kill you," He whispered, "I'd commend you for your bravery. It's not so often I meet a victim with an attitude. Quite stupid on your part, really."

"If you kill me, there is a whole coven of vampires who will hunt you down." I whispered back fiercely. "You'll be dead within a day."

"I'm already dead, sweetie." He said, rubbing a thumb along my jaw. "Your vegetarian pets are no threat to me. Humans," He laughed, "So fickle. You think they truly love you, that they will rush to avenge your death. Let me tell you one thing about vampires: they don't love. They lie. And you, it seems, have fallen for it. You, my dear, are nothing more than a food source, I promise."

I stared. "You're wrong…you don't know them. They-"

The boy smiled, again, pleased that he was unnerving me at last. "I may not know them, but I know vampires. And deep down," He leaned in, close to my ear. "They all have one thing they love most of all: blood. Nothing else."

He pulled back, pleased to see the horror in my eyes.

The Cullens did love me. Edward and Alice have told me so to my face. And Carlisle, he mustcare about me, to have come half-way across the world to protect me. To think that they all have lied to my face…

You, my dear, are nothing more than a food source, I promise.

I looked away from the boy. My face felt hot. I knew that he had won the fight. I shrunk against the tree, complacent with the fact that my death could come at any moment.

"I'm so glad to have your co-operation at last. It will make the whole thing a lot easier." I closed my eyes and felt his lips graze the side of my face, in a twisted, gentle motion that I guessed could only be a kiss. "I promise, darling, you won't feel a thing."

I rested my head against the tree, eyes closed, waiting.

Then, the boy's weight, which had been pressing against me this whole time, was suddenly gone, as if he had been lifted away. There was moonlight falling on my face, as if something that had been blocking it's path had abruptly moved. I waited for his breath to fall at my neck again, his hands to grip me, but neither came. I kept still, wondering what his plan was.

Suddenly, a deep grunt broke the silence, and the sound of something heavy falling against the earth caused me to fling my eyes open.

The boy was on the ground. Two hands circled his throat, braced to break his neck in a single gesture. The hands belonged to Carlisle, his eyes blazing more angrily than I'd ever seen.

"Bella, move." His voice was calm and slow, except for the palpable underlying tension in his words. I did as I was told and backed away from the tree, putting a sufficient amount of space between myself and the two vampires.

The boy struggled under Carlisle's grip, but then struck out, knocking him aside. In a movement too quick for my eyes, they were standing again, crouched and glaring. Carlisle launched himself at the boy, but he leaped out of the way, throwing himself towards me. I narrowly missed his outstretched hands, and Carlisle, with renewed fervor, collided with the boy, throwing him against the tree, which shook violently.

Carlisle's eyes blazed as he pinned the boys hands against the trunk. I wondered fleetingly whether that was how I had looked under the boy's grasp, only moments ago.

"State your name and coven, vampire." Carlisle requested calmly.

The boy glared, and even from a distance, I could see the impenetrable blackness of his eyes.

"If you'd rather not say," He continued rather cheerfully, despite the visible rage in his eyes, "I could just kill you now."

The boy contemplated Carlisle's offer for a moment. "Sebastian." He spat, unwillingly. "Sauvage."

The surprise in Carlisle's face was evident, and for a moment, he glanced my way. Then, he looked back at the boy, and I could see an idea dawning on him. Slowly, he turned his head back towards me and I understood his expression immediately.

Anneliese and Solenne, it was saying. This is our way of finding them.

We simply stared at each other for a moment. And then, slowly, I nodded. Carlisle looked back at Sebastian, whose gaze still held a burning rage and hunger.

"Tell you something, Sebastian. You get to live another day."

He looked at Carlisle, the rage abruptly fading away, replacing itself with a suspicious and untrusting scowl. "In return for what?"

Carlisle smiled tightly. "You will take Bella and I to Sauvage quarters. I have someone I'd like to talk to there." He stopped for a moment, wondering if he should go on, and then continued. "Are you familiar with Anneliese and Solenne?"

The boy's gaze darkened. "I'd have to be. Anneliese is the coven leader."

"Wonderful." Carlisle said, taking his hands off the boy. "Take us there straight away and your life will be spared."

Sebastian straightened up as Carlisle backed away, towards me. For a second, the boy's gaze flitted back to mine and there was such hate and acrimony in his eyes that I flinched. His expression seemed to say: We're not finished, you and I. Then, the moment broke and he looked back at Carlisle.

"As you wish."

And at that, Sebastian shot off into the darkness.

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