"AAAAAAAAAA!!!!" Bella screamed so loud she thought glass should be shattering somewhere. She found herself sitting up in bed, a startled Alice right by her side, trying to hold her.

Emmett raced in, almost knocking the door off the hinges, shouting, "BELLA?!"

"It's okay, I've got her." Alice held a hand up to Emmett, assuring him all was alright, adding, "Nightmare."

"Jesus Christ." Emmett muttered, holding his chest and closing the door, saying something about "don't know how Edward does it". Obviously she had scared him. He wasn't used to caring for a human basket case 24/7 like Edward was.

"Sorry Emmett." Bella found her voice, thanking God that was a dream and not reality.

"Was it a bad one?" Alice asked, stroking down the back of her hair.

"Yes, very." Bella admitted without remorse, "Alice? What if he likes his life with Victoria better?"

"Are you insane?" Alice smirked, thinking of her brother, "This is a man who lines up his socks and folds them three times before putting them in the drawer. Do you really believe he's going to love roaming around out in the open from place to place wearing the clothes of his victims and being with that trash bag called Victoria? He can hardly stand Jessica Stanley, let alone that evil wench!"

"I know, but, human blood is better than animal blood, Edward said to me once." Bella began, "And once he tastes it again…"

"He is very strong and has a lot of control over himself, Bella." Alice reminded, "Hell, he WANTS you and holds himself back perfectly all the time. Imagine how he'll resist something he DOESN'T want."

"That's true." Bella couldn't deny that. At times, Edward was as immovable as a rock. But how long could he hold on? And he'd be suffering while he held on, too. She hated this. Part of her felt angry, too, at Alice and Emmett, Jasper, too. They were truly the ones who killed James and even though it was unreasonable to blame them, part of her did. But, she was even more angry at herself. She was the real reason James had to die in the first place. It WAS all her fault. She wanted to die.

Victoria sighed, looking at the microwave clock. 10:29pm.

"Edward darling…" she laid her head back against the wall, "I don't mind waiting while you get prettier, but we should get going."

No reply from the bedroom.

"I don't get it, you should be famished." Victoria tried to be patient again, "If I didn't eat for three weeks I'd be positively chomping at the bit."

"I'm coming." His voice was hard and tight.

The door finally began to open and she let her eyes dart to the door, hoping to see the new Edward Cullen all ready to make his debut into vampire life.

He stepped out awkwardly, making a stern face at Victoria as she drank him in with her eyes.

"You look like a rock god." She complimented, going from his black leather boots, past the black jeans with a stylish hole in the right knee, the red t shirt and the black leather jacket.

He was perfect, except for the face.

"What is this face you're making at me?" Victoria frowned as she looked into his hesitant eyes.

"I hate this outfit." Edward sulked, "I don't dress this way. It's very uncomfortable."

"I know, you like those John Boy clothes." Victoria rolled her eyes, "You look HOT! We're going to a club, you have to look the part. How else are you going to attract anyone?"

"I don't hunt that way." Edward said sternly, "I don't need to play the game of acting like I'm interested in someone – that's cruel. I usually just sneak up on the person and do it quickly, before they realize what's happening. I don't like talking to them beforehand."

"That's boring." Victoria commented, opening a drawer in the bedroom and taking a little box out, "You could have a whole night of fun with a hot girl before you have to end it. Let yourself have a good time. Stop acting so miserable."

"Please let me hunt my own way." His eyes were hard as he looked into her.

"If I did that, you'd have little animal carcasses all over the place." She smirked.

Edward sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. She was determined to make him a monster, only something he'd fought his entire existence not to become.

"I want to give you something." Victoria turned towards him, holding something golden in her hand. He readied himself for something mean but to his surprise her mind was gentle right now, no malice churning inside her.

"What?" he almost backed away as she came closer. His eyes were guarded.

"I know I've been mean to you." She said with a deep low voice, "I won't say I'm sorry because I know you need that to pull you away from the life you used to know. But I was remembering my newborn days, before I accepted this life and all it came with. I was very like you, you know, in the beginning. I used to cry all the time. I hated killing. So I do understand what you're feeling. I'm not the evil bitch you'd like to think I am. Don't tell anyone, though, it's a secret."

Edward didn't answer. He didn't want to like her and this little speech was designed to make him do just that.

"This is something a very wise vampire gave me during that time." She opened the catch to the necklace and curled her hands around his neck, clasping it together again, "It's a lion claw, encased in black marble. I know you are a stubborn, proud lion so I thought it was fitting. The vampire told me at the time that we are all animals and we should never be ashamed of that. Lions are beautiful and strong and free…and they have no guilt of what they eat to survive."

"I'm not any of those things." Edward said, sadly looking into her eyes for some hint of understanding.

"You are." She smiled a bit, "You just have to let yourself go. Don't fight it. We could live together for 20 years if you would follow me. We could have fun."

She thought back to earlier today when Edward refused her. Not forcing him, she retreated, hoping he'd come around on his own later. She would certainly never chase any man who didn't want her. Every man wanted her and pursued her…Edward would too, someday. She would wait for that. But she realized, Edward was not James. She would have to be gentle with him if she wanted him to really belong to her.

"Victoria…" Edward spoke carefully, not wanting to anger her and have Bella in her mind again. He wanted to tell her that he would never be happy with her, that he loved Bella and would always want her only. He wanted to make her understand that it was nothing personal against her, but he would never be this person she wanted him to be. But as soon as he thought of it, he knew she would react with anger and threats.

"What is it?" she looked like she was trying to read his mind.

"Nothing." He said, defeated, looking down at the floor.

"Come on, quiet one." She grabbed his hand and tugged him along after her, "I want to dance and feed."

See next chapter soon!

Love WinndSinger