Hey everyone! New chapter finally! Sorry, it took a little longer to update this time since I was really busy with school. Plus...this chapter was sort of hard to write. Sometimes after all of the build up it's hard to write about an important moment when it actually comes (at least for me).

Well, Read and Review, I hope you like it!

Oh yeah, I also wanted to let you guys know that I slightly changed the way I'm writing the story, switching from past tense to present. I was writing in the past, because I imagined Bella recounting the story, but I figure it can still seem that way in the present tense. It's much easier for me to write in the present, and I believe it flows more smoothly.


"Sit down."

Hastily, I obey, shakily plopping into a dark, wooden chair. The room is nearly pitch black. A simple candle in the middle of the immense table is the only illumination. I squint, trying to make out the figure sitting across from me, enshrouded in darkness.

"Can… you turn on the lights?"

I ask, dumbly, reckless in my fear.

"No."

We sit in silence. My mind runs wild, imagining all possible scenarios.

What does he want? What if he's just waiting to drink my blood? Maybe he has a lifelong grudge against Edward, and wants to use me against him, but doesn't know that Edward abandoned me and will turn me into a vampire so we can join forces and..

"How is it…" he interjects (unknowingly), "Why do my powers have no effect on you?"

My mouth hangs open, and my eyes widen. Okay, not the question I was expecting.

"What, umm, I don't know what you mean…" I shake my head pathetically, as if trying to shake away my confusion.

"My powers." He drawls a hint of irritation creeping into his tone, "I have certain abilities as a vampire, but, somehow, they do not work on you. So I am asking, Isabella, How is this so?"

My blood runs cold at hearing my name pronounced, so calmly, on his lips.

"You." I whisper, "How do you know my name?"

"That doesn't matter right now." I catch a glimpse of one of his hands, just barely, creeping along the edges of the candle's light. The fingers are long and thin, nails finely manicured, "Answer my question. You are not in the position to be asking me anything"

I gulp. I don't get it. How am I supposed to know why his powers don't work on me? I don't know how this all fits in, it's like I've been thrown down the rabbit hole, and nothing's making sense.

He sighs, "D'accordSince you do not seem to have the mental capacity to answer such a question, I'll pose a simpler one. Was Edward ever able to read your mind?"

Bristling, I clench my teeth. What a jerk! But, what else could I expect? And, oh god, he knows about Edward. I glare at him for a few moments, knowing that he can see me perfectly in the darkness; I curtly reply, "No."

"I see…" He replies, musingly, "Were you aware of this ability prior to meeting Edward?"

"I didn't even know it is an ability. Edward… he once said it was like my mind was on A.M. and his was on F.M. or something like that."

Louis snorts derisively, "Fool. He had no idea what he was talking about."

My hands clench into fists, "Don't talk about Edward like that!" I shout angrily, standing up, "He's a better person than you'll ever be!"

Soft laughter fills the darkness. Angrily, my breath comes out in short rasps. He has no rightto insult Edward!

"Maybe so…" Louis chuckles mockingly, "But, you don't even know me. And besides, wasn't he the one who abandoned you?

I sit down again trying to calm myself, "That has nothing to do with it. Edward makes his own choices."

It would have been perfect, the perfect reply, but my sincerity is betrayed by my cracking voice, and the tears that inevitably creep into the corners of my eyes.

"Hurts, doesn't it? To be left all alone. To be tossed aside, like garbage, when your use has reached its end."

I don't respond, staring resolutely at my trembling hands. It's cold in the room. In only my simple t-shirt, I'm shivering, goosebumps rising on my skin.

"You're cold." He states, matter of factly, I simply nod my head, keeping my eyes downcast. He sighs again, and his chair creaks as he leans back, "I wish you would calm down a bit. Your heart's beating too fast, it's distracting."

"Oh, I'm so sorry" I sneer, "I should be totally relaxed, facing a vampire who bit me, abducted me, and is now interrogating me, when I can't even see his face."

"I didn't bite you." His response is too quick, almost forcefully nonchalant.

I groan, "Don't start with this. I know you did, I remember very clearly."

"You were delirious."

"Whatever." I scoff, sick of our strange dialogue, "So, are you gonna tell why the hell I'm here, or are we just going to keep chatting like this?"

He laughs again. It's different than I would expect, in comparison to his voice, warm and melodious, rippling like chimes in the breeze, but still cruel and frightening in this situation.

My vision blurs, and tears of pure frustration flow down my face. Why is he doing this to me?

Forgetting myself, I stand up and slam my hands on the table, blind with passion. "Let me go!" I yell furiously, eyes darting wildly, trying to find my tormentor in the darkness. "Who do you think you are!? What could you possibly want with me? Let me go this instant!"

I begin to sob, completely overwhelmed, dropping to my knees.

"Well, I can't say that you're not brave. Yes, I allowed myself to be sidetracked."

He stands up. I freeze, arms trembling in trepidation. This is it! Will he finally kill me?

But the vampire does not move toward me, the sound of his footsteps retreat to the back of the room.

"I think it would be better to continue this conversation, face à face, oui?"

There is a click, and the room fills with brilliant light.

"Though, I do detest the light."

Shaking with fear, my eyes rise, taking in the length of his body. From my position on the ground, once again, I am struck by the vampire's incredible height. He's at least four inches taller than Edward. He's wearing shiny leather shoes, black slacks, and a crisp white shirt with ruffles at the collar and sleeves. The clothes cling to his body, accentuating his trim waist and lithe limbs. The ruffled shirt is opened, revealing part of his chest which is smooth and marble-like, nearly as pale as the shirt itself.

For some reason I'm scared to look at his face, afraid to finally recognize my invisible tormentor. After wanting to see it for so long, I realize that perhaps it was better that way. When he was unknown, the fear was less concrete.

Finally, unable to wait any longer, I look up.

And so, for the first time, I finally see my captor, the man who tore me away from my life and… he's drop dead gorgeous.

I know, I know, I should have been expecting it. I mean, when have I ever seen an ugly vampire? But, when I see Louis's face all coherent thoughts escape me and I stare at him—hypnotized. He has the high cheekbones and full lips of a top model, perfectly symmetrical and striking in their perfection. It's almost angelic, too beautiful for such a monstrous being. Shining, wavy black hair frames his face messily at about shoulder length, tied with a simple ribbon at the nape of his neck. Overall, He gives off an aura of some… ancient aristocrat, a sophisticated man of bygone times.

"Had your fill?" Louis asks, gesturing toward himself; finely arched eyebrows raising and a strange glint in his eye.

Torn from my strange enthrallment, I scowl in return, scoffing "Please, Edward is ten times more handsome then you!"

"I'm sure." He smirks but actually sounds a little offended. He must have a big ego or something.

My scowl deepens, but I nod, standing up and taking my seat once again. He continues to stand, looking down at me; the expression in his slanting red eyes is indecipherable. Once again, dread fills me. It's sickening: this emotional rollercoaster, being constantly scared out of my mind, forgetting than being reminded that my life is in danger in his presence—this vampire's mesmerizing presence.

"I need to make use of your ability."

"What?"

"Your ability, the one we discussed before, how vampire powers have no effect on you."

"I… I don't even know how it works! How could that possibly help…"

"Stop." He interrupts, brow furrowed, "I do not care what you have to say. All I need is to harness your abilities. So you are able to… use that power on others, besides yourself."

Oh. His questions are beginning to make more sense. He doesn't want me, specifically, only my "so-called" abilities to protect himself from some other vampire. But…

"I don't even know if I can do that!"

One of his pale hands raises, forefinger and thumb pinching the bridge of his nose. "You will learn."

I frown again, still incredulous, "And, if I don't?"

He leans back against the wall, arms crossing across his broad chest, "I will give you two months. In this time, we will test the extent of your ability and try to refine it. If you don't improve enough by that time…we'll take more drastic measures."

Suddenly the room feels even colder, "Drastic measures?" I croak, "What do you mean drastic measures? And who's weAnd, why the hell should I do ANY OF THIS?" My heart thumps wildly in my chest, so loud that I can hear the beats, thundering, in my ears.

Louis's relaxed demeanor changes. His jaw clenches and his lip curls in anger. Pushing off the wall, he strides forward until our eyes are locked, only a foot away from each other.

"You will do this," he growls huskily, "Because you have no choice."

A few strands of his silken hair fall forward, and a delicious smell emanates from them. Like a mix of sandalwood and musk.

"You will do this because your life is at stake."

A muscle in my throat twitches involuntarily, as he rests a freezing hand on my neck. I can't move. I can't breath. His beauty is overwhelming, dulling my senses.

"You will do this because the lives of your family, of Charlie and Renee, are at stake."

I gasp, and his grip on my neck tightens. He inhales deeply.

"And finally, you will do this because if you are unable to… I will turn you into a vampire."

"No." I whisper, breath catching in my throat, hands shaking, "No..."

Sighing, he brushes a stray lock of hair from my eyes. His fingers run up and down my throat, coming to rest delicately on the area just below my cheek—at my pulse.

"However," he murmurs, "There may be a change in plans."

His grip becomes painful. I struggle, desperately trying to pull away, but the strong, immovable hands of a statue hold me in place.

"Because… I am moments away from draining every drop of blood from your body."


Woah, another cliff-hanger. I'm not trying to tortue you guys, I swear, it just ends up that way. (plus I was sick of writing, lol)

So Louis' pretty interesting, huh? Just a note, when I say his shirt has "ruffles" Don't think super duper frilly, or anything like that. Only a fancy, tasteful little accent, you know?

What does Louis want Bella's powers for? How can she possibly learn how to harness them? Will she even have a chance to try?!?