Note: There were minor changes made to the prologue, a paragraph added and some small additions, you may want to read it again.

GRAVITATION
by Yih

"Love—is anterior to Life—
Posterior—to Death—
Initial of Creation, and
The Exponent of Earth—"
- Emily Dickinson

2. The Change

London 1760

Bella POV

"What possessed you?" I heard someone say in harsh voice.

It was the only clear thing I had heard in ages. I realized then I had stopped burning. I did not feel wonderful, but it was a relief that the pain was gone. I was afraid to open my eyes, afraid to see find out where I was. For surely I must be in Hell.

"She is not more than a child!"

"I think you are mistaken. She is nearly a woman." This voice was vaguely familiar. It was musical and I had heard it before, but where?

"A girl child at most," the other man said sadly. "I thought better of you."

"I will not justify myself to you. I brought her here because it has been more than three days and she is still burning."

I did not understand what they were talking about, but when he said I had been burning for more than three days… I understood that. It was exactly what my body had been feeling in simple terms. Had I had some sort of fever?

Where was I? Who were these strange men?

"What? That's impossible from what I know of our kind from the Volturi. It only lasts three days."

"Well, today is the fourth and she has not awaken."

Had it really only been four days of torture? It felt so much longer to me. I hesitantly opened my eyes and I saw same darkly handsome man hovering above me talking to another impossibly beautiful blond man. I was rightfully dazzled by them, and although I felt better than I had in days, my throat strangely ached.

"She's awake!" the blond man exclaimed, staring down at me with his golden eyes.

"Is she?" the other, more familiar man turned to me and I noticed then that his eyes were deep, unnatural red.

Who were these men? What did they want with me? Was I in Hell or Heaven?

"I am Alistair, your creator, and he is Carlisle, a friend of mine and a doctor." Alistair gestured at the blond man. "How do you feel?"

His voice was like the bells that rang for church and it soothed me even though I didn't understand why. And what did he mean by when he said he was my creator? Why was he somehow familiar to me when I don't remember where he came from?

"Strange," I answered.

"What is your name?" Carlisle asked.

"My name?" For a moment, I couldn't recall and I almost flew into a panic before I did remember. "Isabella Swan," I said when it came to me and at the same time, I knew I knew nothing about myself.

"That is good," Carlisle said in a gentle voice, which wasn't as musically alluring as the man who called himself Alistair. "It is all right, if you do not remember much at this time. You have undergone quite an ordeal and I believe it would be best if Alistair explained."

Carlisle turned to Alistair, then said, "I think she is fine, but you both are free to stay here as long as you would like. I will take my leave now. Let me know if you need anything."

I was left alone with this man who said he was my creator, which made no sense to me if he was not God. How else could anyone create someone else? But I didn't think he was God, if anything he was a dangerously beautiful Devil.

"I do not know how to tell you the truth," Alistair said. "Do you remember anything of your prior existence?"

There were vague shadows of memories in my head, but nothing concrete. The only thing I knew was my name. I was grateful to have that much when everything else was so bizarre.

I shook my head slowly, carefully.

"Does your throat ache?" he asked.

I nodded. I had noticed it earlier.

"I suppose I should just say it bluntly."

I waited, watching him carefully, wondering if he was going to declare I was in Hell.

"Have you ever heard of vampires? Creatures that suck blood and are immortal?"

I had, so I nodded, not understanding why he should ask those questions.

"You are not human anymore, Isabella," he said slowly. "You are, as I am, a vampire."

I stared at him without any comprehension, even though I had heard his words. What did he mean I was no longer human? That I was a vampire? Such things were fantastical and only existed in books. Why didn't he just say I was dead and in Hell?

"I can see that you do not believe me, which is understandable," he remarked. "I would not believe it myself; however, that does not change the fact that what I am saying is true." He glanced away from me. "Perhaps, it would have been kinder if you had died."

"Did you save me?"

For some reason, he laughed, but it was only briefly before his expression turned serious again. "You could put it that way."

"You said you were my…" my voice trailed off because it seemed strange to say anyone that wasn't God was my Creator.

"Your Creator," Alistair finished for me. "You are still alive, although I have changed you. I will not say existing as a vampire is easy, but there are benefits. You are nearly invincible and except for pesky annoyances, like drinking blood to sustain yourself—"

"You bit me." It wasn't a question; it was a statement.

I remembered now where I had seen him before. Looking at him as we were conversing, I could see his face when he had turned me around that night when I was walking back from the park. He had said something to me, but I couldn't recall the words.

I lifted my hand to my neck where he had bent his head and sunk his teeth into me. I stared at him and wondered why I was here instead of being dead. It was obvious I had been his prey.

"You didn't save me," I said, the burn in my throat increasing exponentially. I didn't understand why it was hurting so much, but I could hear some people talking outside, the low rumble of voices. "You were going to kill me."

"And yet I did not."

One moment I was on the bed across from Alistair and the next moment I was at the window staring down at the humans across the street. They smelled wonderful and I craved to be closer, to draw them nearer, to sink my teeth into their pliable skin and to suck the life out of them… I was a monster.

"I couldn't," Alistair said, standing close behind me.

He placed his arms on my shoulders, holding me back so I didn't leap out of the window and take their lives. I struggled, though, warring with the desire to feed and not wanting to hurt them.

"I will need to take you to feed," Alistair remarked, tightening his grip on me. "I should have brought you something back. It would be easier."

I was stunned at his words. "I don't…"

He turned me around, reminding me of that night again when my life had changed. "You don't what, Isabella?"

"I don't want to hurt anyone," I whispered, looking into his crimson eyes and wanting to understand that even though I remembered next to nothing about my human life – I still didn't want to be a monster if I could help it.

"I was right to bring you here," he murmured to himself before focusing back on me. "You do look rather young," he mused.

It alarmed me a little to have him stare at me so intently and the feeling would have been worse if I wasn't so caught up by the burn in the back of my throat. I could still smell the humans. It wasn't as strong, but it was still there tempting me. The monster wanted to go and the other part of me, the human part, was saying no. Although I couldn't remember my former life, I knew enough to say that I had been a decent person and I wouldn't want to take a life.

He sighed and pulled me away from the window. "You need to feed," he explained.

"But I—"

He pressed his finger against my lips and I looked at him with uncertainty. "The blood does not necessarily need to come from a human."

My eyes widened in understanding. "So I don't have to kill anyone?"

For the first time, I saw him smile. "You two," he said, lowering his hand and shaking his head.

Again he wasn't talking to me, that much I knew, but then who was he referring to?

"Come," he said, pulling my arm as he held my hand tightly, "Carlisle will know where we can procure you something that is not human."

To be continued…

A/N: I don't really like making up new characters, so I thought Alistair would be nice change as Bella's creator/sire. I'm still wondering exactly why he changed her, but I guess I'll discover that as I write more. Hopefully, the timeline doesn't bother you. I think it's interesting to see Bella's viewpoint as a newborn vampire and to see Edward's viewpoint in the present. Eventually, the two viewpoints will converge and then you'll get to see the full aspect of their relationship.

Please keep reviewing, it keeps me going (any thoughts or suggestions or predictions would tickle me)! And thanks to everyone who added the story to favorites or alerts!

Released: 2/26/2009