AN: Sorry this chapter has taken so long, I wanted to build up the suspense. Just kidding, I lied about the suspense thing, which was just a lame excuse. I've just been really busy lately and I can never find time to type. I hope you find this chapter suitable to your liking, so enjoy and R&R please!

Chapter 5: Burning

I inhaled quickly when the raging fire shot through my system, blocking out thoughts.

"Bella, I'm so sorry you have to feel the pain. If I could make it stop I would." Edward murmured in my ear. "I want to be with you, so this will only make it easier." I was too absorbed in the pain to respond.

I the pain started in my neck and traveled fast through my drying veins. It took all I had not to scream because I knew that it would make Edward feel guiltier about his decision. I lay there on the cool stone of the roof in Edward's arms, but the cold surfaces didn't sooth the burning venom. I faltered in and out of consciousness as the pain became too much.

***

I came back to reality after what seemed like ages when I felt the flames fading from my fingertips; I felt new hope. I lay there, and I realized that Edward might still be with me. I cautiously opened my eyes and I was still in his arms. I wondered how long it had been. I looked up into the sky and saw that dawn was breaking (ha) and I wondered what day it was.

I gazed up at Edward as the fire bolted up my arms and legs and it all came up to torture my heart. It pounded as fast as helicopter blades and it was the hottest fire yet, if it was possible. I sucked in my last breath to keep from screaming in pure agony. The helicopter blades slowed to a crawl, and my unwilling heart gave a last thump that rang with finality. When Edward heard that last thump, his face broke out into a breathtaking smile and I had no choice but to smile back.

He helped me up and I felt like a new person. I looked down and my dress was still on. But the body that it was on was not mine. It was slender and curvy, with flawless white marble skin. My skin felt silky under my fingertips, and I reached out to grab Edward's hand, and I was surprised by the jolt of raw emotion that flowed through my limbs. It was like no other feeling I had ever felt, and I was sure that Edward had not mentioned the craving for his body that I would feel. I tried to push away the nagging feeling that his presence gave me, but it was useless. I was sure that I had surprised him by lurching forward and throwing my arms around his neck and attacking his lips. He cringed away from my embrace. I realized his reluctance and it took a moment for it to register, so I managed to unlock my arms out of the vise grip that I had around him.

"What's wrong?" I asked him. I knew that it was me speaking, but my voice had become velvety and bell-toned.

"Bella, I love you and all, but you have to be careful. You will be much stronger than me for a while." He explained. Oh, I never realized that I would be stronger than him, I thought.

"Oh. I'm sorry, Edward." I said. He chuckled and stepped forward to close the space that he had made between us. He leaned in slowly so I could remember to be careful, and He pressed his lips softly to mine. The blood—or should I say venom—boiled under my lips and I forgot about being careful and I practically attacked him. We crashed noisily to the concrete and I almost squished him. I leaped off of Edward, embarrassed at my behavior, and he sprang up after me. Deeply humiliated, I plopped down into a bench and sulked because I was too strong. He walked over and sat beside me. He wrapped his long arms around me and I was pulled into his lap.

It felt like there was a monster clawing at the inside of my stomach, a craving for Edward was what it felt. The monster growled when I ordered it to get control of itself. It took all of my might not to loose control again. I concentrated on breathing in and out, but Edward's delicious scent kept the monster clawing. I sucked in a deep breath and held it. He heard this intake and looked at me. I looked the other way on purpose, and I gazed at the rising sun.

The sky was a light grayish blue color streaked through with crimson. As I sat, watching the sun slowly rise above the forest by the hotel, Edward played with my hair, stroking it gently. Finally giving in to the purring monster inside me, I leaned into his arms and sighed deeply; I was very content with my position. I looked up at the sky again, and it was turning pink with cheery splotches of orange as it anticipated the light. Then suddenly, the sun broke through the trees and flooded the entire surface of the city with gold. The look reminded me of the fairytale of King Midas, because every surface the rays touched turned gold. When the rays spilled over the edge of the roof, Edward and I were bathed in light and our skin sparkled radiantly as if we were made of diamonds. I was sure Edward had not mentioned the sparkling thing as well as the craving, so I looked up at him, hopeful for an answer.

"I'm not really sure what goes on with the sparkling thing, but we can't go out side during sunlit hours with people around—we'd attract attention, apparently." He explained. I smiled at him, and I reached up to entwine my fingers in his hair and my lips met his. I tried unsuccessfully to keep my head, but my resistance crumbled to dust the moment our lips met. The monster was doing a happy dance inside my stomach and I shivered with pleasure when his hand slid down my back and he began to kiss hungrily down my jaw. Our lips moved together in synchronization, our breathing became ragged, and I untangled my hands from his hair and slid them under his shirt to feel along the smooth planes of his muscular chest. He pulled away for a moment to whisper, "I love you," into my ear and I whispered it back.

After several long minutes—or was it hours? I couldn't tell—we broke apart and I sighed blissfully, feeling completely happy. I sank into his arms and closed my eyes as the greedy monster purred happily inside me.

"Edward?" I asked dreamily some while later.

"Yes, my love?" He replied.

"Where do you live?" I was curious about where we would be staying.

"I own a cozy little cottage tucked into a green forest on the outskirts of town." He answered. I smiled at the thought of a little stone cottage, and I was glad it wasn't a huge mansion. "Would you like to go see it?" He asked, peering down at me for an answer.

"Yes, that would be nice.

We untangled ourselves from the bench and strolled to the elevator. Once we were back in the hotel room, I struggled to remember the last time I had been in here. My mind struggled to cross the dark waters that separated my new life from my human memories, and I came across one that looked right. I saw myself lounging on the bed with Edward at my side, and he was confessing him true identity... It looked like I was watching the scene through a dark screen, and I could feel it slipping away. I wandered to the bathroom to retrieve my things, and Edward followed.

When I entered the large white bathroom, I was half expecting everything to be gone because it felt like I had been in here curling my hair years ago. This reminded me.

"How long was I...unconscious?" I asked hesitantly.

"A little over a day, which is surprisingly short for a transformation. You are surprising me so much this morning." Wow, had I only woken from my slumber this morning? I thought to myself.

"How am I surprising you?" I asked curiously.

"Well for one, your emotions are very controlled. Most newborns are wild and crazy and need to be restrained. And two, you haven't complained about your thirst yet." He said. Oh, I never realized my thirst, but now that he mentioned it, my throat began to burn dryly, and I gasped at the realization. Edward looked at me in concern.

"I'm fine; I just didn't realize my thirst until now. Ouch." I said with a small chuckle.

"Oh, yes you will need to hunt soon. Let's get your stuff together—wait! Let me." He grinned slyly at the end of his sentence, and I walked back to the bed and sat cautiously on the edge.

My eyes widened in surprise as Edward dashed from the bathroom and began running around the room, collecting my things, so fast that even my newly improved vampire eyes could barely keep track of him. Five seconds later, he had my bags in one hand, and me in the other, cradled against his side.

"How are we supposed to get to the forest with all the humans around us?" I was worried that I would lose control and hurt someone. He looked down at me and smiled.

"I have a way." He said as he dashed out the door and to the elevator. I closed my eyes, not wanting to spoil the reveal to myself of what he was going to do, and a ding, as well as cool, fresh air greeted me when I opened my eyes. We were on the rooftop, and Edward was running at top speed—still carrying me and my things—and he flung himself off the side of the building, and we were falling.

Wow, that was long! That makes up for the days that I missed, though. =]