A/N: Yes, I said that I'd update next year… And that I updated a few hours ago, but I honestly wanted to give you another update for the holidays! And as one of my reviewers asked, yes, I want this to be an Andrew/Melody fic. That could change though, just so you know. The story dictates me; I don't dictate it. So, enjoy this last update before the New Year, and please, please, please review! Cookies for all who do! If I get 20 reviews by the New Year I may place all my reviewers in my story!

New Pain

I felt cool lips brush the hollow of my neck, and the feel of the lips felt heavenly in contrast to my feverish skin. I could feel myself slipping away, and I knew that I was powerless to prevent my death. That was about when the pain began. There was fire coursing its way through my veins, carving a path of pain. As enveloped as I was in pain, I couldn't feel the prick of the needle, but I was aware enough to resent the choking weight of the blackness that pressed down on me. I couldn't move; I couldn't breathe! I was losing myself in the darkness…. My thoughts swirled chaotically in the strangeness of the pain and the engulfing black of nothingness. I tried to open my mouth to scream, but I couldn't find my mouth… I couldn't find myself… What was going on? Was morphine doing this to me? Was Edward nearby? Would he hear my desperate thoughts and understand?

Would Edward help? Would he pity me or would he stand by coolly and watch as I surrendered to the dark nothingness?

Hours passed slowly, tinged with growing pain of the vampire venom. As soon as I located my mouth and the crushing blackness lifted I opened my mouth and screamed: a loud, desperate, bloodcurdling scream of terror and fear. I felt a hand rub soothing circles on the back of my hand, and the hand was as welcome as water was to a parched throat. The hand was a patch of ice amidst the burning of the fire through my veins.

My screaming soon ceased to be replaced with a rough whimpering as I slowly lost the use of my voice. "Help…" I croaked. "Kill me now!" I begged.

"Shh…" A voice always murmured. "Not long now… Only one more day…" I recognized the voice as Andrew's. But I couldn't stand one more day of agony. Was Emily going through the same pain? I listened, but I couldn't hear her screams.

Soon I didn't feel the need to whimper or beg for death. I felt different, stronger, even. I could block the pain and reflect on my human life, watch the foggy memories of my past life as I waited for the pain to end. I was tired of the pain and thirsty. I'd never been so thirsty! It was an irritating itch that wouldn't go away no matter how much I scratched at my neck.

"Five more minutes." Alice's high soprano voice announced quietly. "I'd be careful if I were you. She seems… odd…"

"Odd how?" Andrew asked.

"Odd as in extremely crazy newborn odd."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Want me to get Jasper?" Alice suggested.

"Yes, please."

I heard her light footsteps dance away and down the stairs. And then, abruptly, my heart stopped beating and the pain vanished. I was shocked. Warily, I opened my eyes and gazed around.

Everything was so clear and perfect… So different from the view from human eyes.

"Melody?" Andrew asked slowly. I tensed and twisted off the bed, a growl ripping through my throat. I inhaled deeply as I glanced around, meeting Andrew's shocked gaze briefly before the sweet, irresistible scent of human blood took over me. Unthinkingly, stupidly, I surrendered to my senses and ran at lightning speed to Esme's room. Lying on the large king sized bed was Emily, weak and frail looking even in sleep, her blonde hair a sweaty mass fanned out on the pillow. I didn't stop to think, the thought never crossed my mind that this was my sister; I didn't care about Andrew's roar of "STOP HER!" I threw off the arms that held me back from the pull of desire that was human blood and made my way to my sister's side. Sleepily, she opened her eyes. I watched as her sky blue eyes met my fevered red ones and widened in fear. "Mel… What are you doing?" She whimpered. I ignored her and bent down to drink her blood and soothe the ragged thirst.

A/N: Review! If I get the 20 reviews before Christmas, I'll be nice and update to get rid of this cliffhanger. So, review, please!