Hey?

Okay. So, for the last hour or so, I should have been writing up my English essay (the whole 11 pages of it) on 'Mercutio's and Tybalt's Deaths and How They Were Shown to the Audience by Shakespeare' (and yeah. That really is the stupid title for it, long eh?) in neat. However. Instead. I've written this chapter. So first of all, be grateful for it! And I'm sorry that it was rushed, this one came out a nit weird in my opinion, but rest assured, next chapter will withhold more action I think. So don't hate me if you don't like this. But please review. I felt down last chappy, but the response I got was staggering, and really cheered me up by all the fabulous reviews.

394? Wow. Close to 400! Now that's an achievement :p I'd like to dedicate this chapter to two reviewers particularly, as they seriously brightened up my tedious week. So yeah, a big thanks to: Jade Lyssy Swan and AquamarineSafire because they wrote some seriously awesome reviews! (Not that I don't appreciate every single one! No matter how small :p)

IMPOORTANT NOTE: (with regards to several questions on the subject, I just wan to make this clear!) This whole story, has been set just after New Moon, at the beginning of Eclipse. Okay? (but remember… New Moon was slightly different for Bella here. You'll find out Next Chapter. If I still have strength to write it…)

Anyway. I have to do this essay. ;( I'll be seriously depressed with the prospect of that, cheer me up like last time? Please? Review? Make my day? The more reviews, the faster I'll update!

Anyway. Without further ado: enjoy!

What Happened Last Chapter:

Yet I knew the monster was still there. Deep inside me, just like it had been with Bella. Silently illustrating I was the main thing she needed protecting from. The Volturi were an issue yes. But If I couldn't control myself then their purpose would vanish. I loathed the way it listened to her heartbeat. So pure. It shouldn't have to endure my damned presence. The presence of a monster.

And then, I could finally access her stubborn mind, the one that I hadn't been able to reach. Protected somehow, enclosed, forbidden. Suddenly it all poured out, though I could not make sense of it. There were just swirls of beautiful colour.

And I forgot all else. All sound, thought, feeling; ceased.

I just stared at her.

As I watched Lucie dream.

***

The Reality and Delusion

Edward's POV:

The colours were dim at first, forming seemingly out of nothing, her breathing steadied, and I watched her dreams in absolute wonder. Butterflies flew gracefully in the air, trailing past swirls of beautiful ambient light. I gasped as her dream continued, all else, had vanished, only Lucie mattered. Her, and her dream.

Running in the light… Laughing as she followed butterflies, soaring as she joined their flight. I watched in wonder as the colours intensified and progressed, each image dissolving into another, each filled with unmistakable joy, devoid of despair that I had feared and experienced previously. I Couldn't help but wonder as the dream unfolded, so content: did she ever dream of me? I hated myself for the thought. If she did, it would have been a nightmare anyway.

As I watched them however, half my mind gripped, the other concentrated on her weight. She was evidently asthenic, weak, from her slender build. Though I knew how she'd deny it. Determined as she was, to stay strong. And not appear anything close to weak. But still, she too light for my liking. She wasn't anorexic or anything like that, at least, not yet, but she was definitely underweight, I'd informed Esme of this, and had sighed at her abortive attempts to make her eat more. I'd laughed when I'd found out what she'd done to help. She'd made her muffins, but these wouldn't cure the issue. And now the situation held no humour. I knew the cause though; she was too stressed to eat, I could tell. Too stressed to eat, too stressed to sleep, she was seriously deprived.

Her relaxed state was peaceful; I didn't want to leave her, captivated as I was by her thoughts. Ones, which I could so rarely access, and were now flying at me. But a sound at the door had me lower her to the sofa. (Well, to be more apt, an overheard thought, had me stop looking at her.) Alice. Edward?

The moment I'd my touch had left her skin, the reality, and consequences of wasted time dawned horribly upon me, I turned to face Alice. Urgency burning through my eyes. Her thoughts were filled with questions, and I sighed at them. You can stay if you want, I just came to see if you were okay, are you? So can you see them, her dreams? What are they like? I frowned at her and raised an eyebrow. She grinned sheepishly, and I joined her at the doorway, and hated the feeling burning in me. One that I couldn't pinpoint. A mixture between anxiety, and something else…

"Well?" She huffed impatiently, I smiled, realising I hadn't answered her questions.

"I can see them. And they're…" I struggled for a word. "Entrancing." She beamed beatifically, though I didn't understand her happiness. My own soon vanishing as I remembered the issue of the Volturi. The one that kept getting overlooked in the disarray of events.

"The Volturi." They're name came through my mouth as a hiss. "When are they coming Alice?"

"Don't worry, they won't come yet, for a while… I think they've decided on a date, two weeks maybe, that's when they plan.." I didn't listen to the rest of Alice's reassurances. My mind was screaming at me. My mood from earlier had evaporated, I was suddenly irate. My anger flaring un-expectantly.

Two weeks? Was it only two more weeks in which Bella-so pure and innocent- would remain human? Only two weeks, in which she'd keep her untarnished soul. Before she became eternally damned?

No.

I couldn't contain my angst now, I didn't mean Alice to be in the thick of it, my words left my mouth hard, spoken through clenched teeth. I was doing all I could not to run to La Plush. That, was where Bella was. Visiting the werewolves. Putting herself in danger. Again.

"Think, isn't good enough Alice." Nothing was good enough. "We have to act, now."

"No."

I turned sharply; it was not Alice who had spoken. Instead, turned to see Carlisle, my father in many ways, staring at me, a consoling look in his butterscotch eyes. So different from my own at the moment. Dark, and brooding. He walked towards me slowly, as one would walk when approaching someone with a loaded gun. Like a policeman would, when approaching a murderer.

A monster.

"Edward, leaving won't help," I didn't want to listen, Jasper had already given me this lecture. Couldn't they see? It would help, I would do all it could take to shield Bella. Everything I could to protect her, hide her forever if need be. Carlisle's voice too calm for the situation at hand, sailed back to me. "You know that. We're not leaving." He walked into the kitchen and I followed him angrily, ignoring the others in the room, blocking out their curious thoughts. They didn't matter, and I despised their mood. Why so calm?

My reply left my lips bitterly, I instantly regretted it. I never usually spoke to Carlisle like this. My mood was dark; black and turbulent. I knew this, yet did not acknowledge it. I would regret it late, but for now, I only felt anger towards their lack of concern. Their constant thoughts pleading with me, each saturated with sympathy. I know how you feel. No. They didn't. They couldn't imagine.

"You don't have to," I said, my voice like ice, speaking to them all, "I'll go with her, alone." there was a silence after my callous remark, still, it wasn't long enough for me to regret voicing it.

"And what Edward," Carlisle said, his voice little above a whisper. "If Bella doesn't want to leave. She has her family here, her friends. Are you sure she's ready to give all that up? Are you ready to ask that from her?"

I couldn't say anything to that. The truth of Carlisle words was heartbreaking, he was right. What if, Bella didn't want to? I only knew, I wouldn't make her, but I would make sure she was safe. It was the least I could do, for my actions. I came to the only rational conclusion. If I couldn't hide her, I would have to face them. They would never touch her. I wouldn't allow that, ever.

"Then we have to fight them." I stated coolly, sure of my words. Only hoping they didn't look too deeply into the way they sounded, how lost I felt.

Suddenly, Emmett (who had been silent until this point) broke in to a large grin, rubbing his hands together eagerly.

"Excellent!" Rosalie beside him, smirked affectionately at his response. And even I couldn't help but smile slightly, at his enthusiasm. Anything in which Emmett could portray his strength, (fighting being the best way) got him excited. Like a child being given the prospect of a chocolate factory.

I kept the smile planted on my face, as they began discussing, only waking up from my thoughts when Alice started to pull me away from them. I knew, only she could get through to me at the moment, but her thoughts were jumbled, and I didn't try to decipher them. My head hurt enough as it was.

"Edward. You need to hunt."

"What?"

"Seriously Edward, just go, your eyes are too dark. It's dangerous. Especially for Lucie."

"Oh." I'd forgotten about her, in the midst of all the chaos. Lucie, still asleep? Her dreams untroubled? Alice was right, I hadn't hunted in three days, my eyes were evidently showing my thirst.

Well at least I had an excuse for my irrational anger now.

"Just go," Alice said calmly, "she'll be okay, I know she will." I left then, but couldn't help but wonder, whether it was Bella or Lucie who she was referring to. I didn't want to access her mind further, remembering her subtle yet cryptic thoughts.

You are so blind Edward. Oblivious to all else. I'd never really appreciated my gift. The beauty of reading minds - well beauty would be an overstatement; it would be beautiful if it were Bella's mind to read- obviously, was knowing what people were thinking. But since I could not read Bella's thoughts, not access her pure mind, I had to manage by reading her eyes. Not that they gave away much most of the time, but those deep chocolate brown pools gave me some insight. I could rely on them at least, to understand her a little better.

I moved swiftly through the rooms, planning to exit via the sitting room window (it being the quietest escape, and least prone to attracting attention.) But as I crossed the room, suddenly found my self rigid. Held in place by one sound.

A heart thudding rapidly. Lucie's heart. The one thing I'd forgotten again, as I turned, to look at her, spread eagled on the floor, evidently having fallen in her sleep, and I hadn't been able to catch her.

A thudding possibly indicating she was nervous. A thudding that only occurred when in two situations. I instantly knew the one she was experiencing.

A thudding pushing affront the monster inside, spurring my body forward, as it growled eagerly at her position. So weak. So vulnerable. The monster smelling her scent; rich and potent. Apple blossom and lilies, mixed with the thing it most desired. The monster wanting so desperately to taste Lucie and consume her blood whilst slowly hearing her thudding heartbeat fade. Until it stopped. Completely.

I found my body moving without my command. The monster taking control, thirst consuming me. Until another sound emitted from the girl. A sound that stopped me.

"No, no, don't-leave…"

I forgot my thirst, in that instant; I was suspending her again, experiencing her dream. No longer happy and free. I didn't understand. Moments before she'd been peaceful, the colours from before had ceased, leaving only darkness. The light from before, and yet now I could see a dark forest before me, her looking after a figure in the distance (still vaguely familiar), whilst she pled silently.

Was it possible? That her dream had changed, from serene to disturbed, because my presence had left. I had left her, to sleep, to rest. Yet now, she was getting the opposite. Though I as I watched, her dream transformed, her breathing lessened, and became relaxed once more, as colours swam before me again. A girl, running after trails of light emitting from the flight path of butterflies once more. It made no sense. A normal dream.

And then, slowly, her dream blurred again, became distant and jumbled. I was confused, wondering if her nightmare was about to reform, scared if her pulse rose, scared that the monster would arise. She let out a different sound. A beautiful one, so quiet, yet it didn't portray how peaceful she felt.

A small sigh. Strange, did I detect annoyance?

And then, her eyelids began to flutter open.

I only prayed the monster would not resurface.

***

Lucie's POV:

I wondered if I was experiencing twilight sleep: a state of partial consciousness in which awareness of pain is diminished or abolished. Should I be in pain? I wondered to myself; I wasn't at the moment. I couldn't remember why I felt so, or how I'd come to rest whoever I was. Reality or delusion? I couldn't remember much. Or, I just didn't want to remember, at least, not yet.

I felt oddly comfortable and relaxed for a change, as if I was floating, suspended by cool water, lying in a blissful and serene state. Safe, for once, untroubled. The remnants of a recent dream blurred before me - I tried fruitlessly to hold onto it, to remember the images that had just flown at me, wanting to relive it again. I sighed, annoyed, when they remained indistinct. Still, I didn't open my eyes, not just yet. I felt too comfortable at the moment, my eyelids were heavy, but the rest of me was, well, floating. I knew this was the exact thing which my body had been yearning for: rest. And for now, it didn't seem like such a bad thing, not at all. In fact. I was getting rather fond of it.

My skin however, felt odd. Partially warm and hot from whatever dream I'd had, yet at the same time, I felt cold. Almost as if, something (like ice) was cooling against my like skin. Something cold, something hard, and something that smelt… irresistible…

Oh no.

My eyelids fluttered feebly, but then the information I'd just proceeded, clicked, making me snap my eyes open.

Then, I blinked furiously three times, trying to clear my sleepy eyes and blurred vision, this reaction, emitted a sound, a deep throaty sound, from whoever was suspending me. A chuckle.

Once my vision was perfect, I awoke fully with a jolt, as I looked straight at him. The person who was suspending me from his marble arms. And the one who was chuckling.

Then, I did the most rational thing yet: I gasped.

"E-Edward!" I choked, in utter shock, kicking myself for not realising sooner. Man, I was stupid. He was holding me, carrying me, and his amused laughter made his entire lean frame vibrate slightly.

A dozen questions spread through me, each an everyone urgent and shocked. Why was he carrying me? Why was he laughing? What had just happened?

"Finally decided to wake up, Sleeping beauty? Hmm, I didn't even have to kiss you awake.." Edward chuckled; amused it seemed, by my flustered glare. Making me blush violently. And answering my most prominent question. The one, which I'd subconsciously known the answer to.

Oh crud. I'd fallen asleep.

"I- did I, just…"

"Collapse spectacularly; cause everyone to assume you were in need of medical attention, and were about to have an epileptic fit; interrupt Alice and I's conversation; and finally be saved by none other than myself?" I looked at him in horror. He grinned wider, "Yes. Yes, I believe you did."

If I wasn't red before, I certainly was now.

"S-sorry." I managed to stutter, but when Edward smiled casually in response, I realised the sarcasm in his previous statement. So naturally, I felt stupid. And couldn't help but notice that he was still carrying me. The question blurted out my mouth as soon as I thought it.

"Why are you carrying me?" I was annoyed, because of the smile still on his beauteous face, did he find my irritation annoying still? Yes. I knew he did. Yet the knowledge did nothing to lessen my sudden irate mood.

"Because, in your sleep, you cried out: 'Edward, carry me!' and I, being the gentleman that I am, responded to your request." I felt my face flush in humiliation, unsure this time, of sarcasm. Knowing full well, that I frequently talked in my sleep.

"Oh no, I didn't, did I?"

"No," Edward murmured, amused. "but your reaction was hilarious." I just scowled petulantly at his comment, but wasn't angry at him, only glad that Emmett wasn't present. He still hadn't put me down, I noted and I wondered whether he'd tried to distract my knowledge of that factor.

"Lucie, you're too light."

"No, I'm not." I muttered indignantly, "Besides, you can't judge, your unnecessary strength makes it impossible to even estimate, let alone judge and criticise." It was true. He couldn't judge how light I was, not with him being able to lift a ten tonne weight and still refer to it as light.

"My strength is far from unnecessary as you put it, with the danger that occurs to people like you and-" But he stopped himself, I bit my lip self consciously, knowing that he was about to say Bella. He carried on though, smoothly as ever. "and for your information, I happen to be an excellent judge of how heavy things are." He retorted coolly.

"Is that so?" I grumbled, deciding to let the unspoken person, who invariably seemed to be fixated in Edward's mind, drop. "so, would you, or would you not, be able to lift an elephant?"

He just laughed. I glared at him. "Well?" I prompted, cross that he wouldn't take this seriously, but regretting use of the word 'elephant'.

"Why, did elephants come into this?"

"Don't change the subject.." I muttered.

"It was you, I believe, who changed it in the first place."

I couldn't argue to that. I lay there, still suspended, in stony silence for a moment, trying to keep up my brooding mood, knowing it, was the only rational one to feel. Only allowed one. But as usual, it slipped through my frail grasp. Much like the dream before, only just memorable, yet indistinct.

I looked up then though, wanting to see him properly, still feeling slightly sleepy, though considerably more awake than before. I was startled when his eyes were devoid of the previous humour, and instead were staring into my own with a significant amount of fervour. His voice sounded soft and distant when he spoke, though I didn't retreat my gaze.

"Can you remember your dream?"

Not anymore. Not with your smouldering eyes looking at me like that. No, now, I've completely forgotten it. No thanks to you.

The dream, distant, that had been hanging elusively on the edge of my subconscious fell away at the sound of his velvet voice, and sight of his dark eyes.

"No, not anymore, must of um… slipped my mind." I muttered, embarrassed, and oddly self conscious. My hair was loose, but it fell behind me (as a result of my position) and therefore was unable to aid my act in trying to conceal the blush, that I knew was forming violently on my cheeks.

"Hmm, that's odd," Edward murmured softly, "don't you remember them normally? I wonder what made you forget it?"

Hmm, odd indeed. Take a guess Edward. Take a guess.

"Hang on," I muttered crossly, knowing full well that he knew the reason why I'd forgotten it (a.k.a: him) my expression showed as much. "Didn't you claim you could see my dreams earlier? Did you see… that one?" I trailed off, instantly finding that I hoped he didn't. What if I'd just dreamed of him? I sincerely hoped I didn't do that either, Edward didn't need anything else to boost his already vast ego. Not to mention, increase my embarrassment further. If I went any redder, I wouldn't be distinguishable from a tomato. (Apart from the whole thing with the hair; eyes; body; limbs, and speech… well okay, I'd just be the same colour as one.) But it was his next words, so quiet, so powerful, wordlessly illustrating their importance to him, confirmed my fears.

"I did."

I don't know what happened next. Edward lowered me then, as if he only just noticed that he'd been suspending me. Cradling me. But not before I had seen his expression. An expression, that I was sure, mirrored the one I currently had. One halfway between several emotions: confusion; incredulity, and unmistakable awe.

The moment he'd placed me on the sofa, and when his cool touch left my own (what felt like burning) skin, the oddest sensation occurred to me. Was it possible, that without his touch, I felt colder?

I felt silly on the sofa, while he was standing. I hastened to stand up too, meaning to lithely jump to my feet, preferably in an elegant way. But, being me, the opposite thing happened. In my rush, I stood up to quickly, resulting in severe head rush, which inevitably led to me swaying, only to be steadied at the elbow by Edward. But as soon as I was stable, he removed his touch as quickly as he could. Almost as if he didn't like the touch of my skin, as if it pained him.

I remembered my forgotten question. "And…?" I prompted, trying to break the silence. "What was it really about, devoid of butterflies, or elephants."

"Elephants again?" The amused tone was back, he smiled, a radiant smile, showing all his perfect white teeth. But I wasn't convinced, I knew that smile all too well, having used the exact same one, throughout most of my life. It was the smile akin to the likes of a pumpkin's one. Where you feel like your insides have been ripped from you, leaving you hollow and shallow, still smiling, like you don't care, or feel.

When inside, you're falling apart.

It was also his eyes, that gave him away; the smile false in them, portraying the real emotion, sadness, and was it …longing? Longing to see Bella again?

But that wasn't the thing that scared me. Edward's eyes were dark. Too dark.

Suddenly, it made sense why he'd put a space of two meters between us. I had no idea on how he'd controlled his apparent thirst when I was in his arms. No idea, how close he could have been to succumbing to that thirst.

However, this recent found news, regarding his thirst, how much he craved for blood. Had the least appropriate effect to my pulse. Which quickened considerably, a live target. Causing Edward's expression to contort; it was so minimal, no normal human would have noticed it. Hell, I don't think any vampire would have noticed it either, but I was watching his face very, very closely. I knew, I had to talk.

"That wasn't all, was it?" I didn't break eye contact, steeping closer to him. He mirrored the movement, taking yet another step away from me, and now, casting me a glare. I didn't flinch at his look though, determined to find out what he had seen whilst I'd been unconscious. And, not get distracted. Like I so often seemed to invariably do, in his presence.

"'The last temptation is the greatest treason: to do the right thing for the wrong reason.'"

He whispered, so softly, I was unsure whether he'd intended me to hear it or not. I scowled again, knowing my eyes were beginning to flash emerald in impatience.

"Enough with these cryptic quotes already! Honestly, quoting people seems to be one of your favourite things. It's incredibly unoriginal." I muttered, but to my surprise, his lips were turning up at the corners, as if fighting back the urge to smile. I was having the opposite effect on him, I continued furiously. "besides, I really don't need T.S Eliot's advice."

"Did you know that T.S. Eliot is an anagram of toilets?" I whirled round, shocked, to see Emmett beside me, having evidently appeared halfway through our conversation. The atmosphere in the room suddenly seemed devoid of all previous tension. Edward relaxed visibly; glad it seemed, by Emmett's presence.

Then, my mind processed Emmett's words. I raised both my eyebrows. He just retorted by only raising one, causing the scowl on my face to intensify, I knew my expression was becoming more and more petulant by the minute.

Yes. Because that wasn't random. Not at all.

"So it is." Said Edward quietly. "Quite right Emmett." He grinned in response.

"Well, you learn something every day." I muttered under my breath, though I knew they could hear.

There was a pause, then:

"Hey, you're awake Lucie!"

"You noticed?" I muttered sarcastically.

"Thought you'd never wake up…"Emmett said to himself, the grin widening. His tone implicating more. That was odd, why would he say that?

"Why?" Emmett shook his head ruefully, and then approached me, as if he was about to tell me that someone had died. His tone was ominous when he spoke. What was so serious?

"Lucie, did you know you snore?"

I should have suspected as much.

"I do not!"

"Do too!"

"Don't!"

"Do!"

"I'm going hunting." Edward stated briskly abruptly ending the trivial argument, already at the open window. Honestly, what was their aversion to using doors in this house. It seemed, at every opportunity, they constantly wanted to leap through the window. Yes, I knew they had all the power and agility to do so without getting hurt, but wouldn't a door be easier? It was just as effective, not to mention more polite. Maybe Edward was just showing off…

I cut off my thoughts then. I was rambling, this always happened when I got cross, 'making molehills out of mountains' as my dad used to say. Wait. Hang on a second, that didn't make sense, did it? Ah, he used to say: 'making mountains out of molehills.' Yeah, that was it.

God. I was seriously loosing the plot.

I put it down to sleep deprivation. But hadn't I just slept?

Time to face the facts: I was going mad.

Great. Just great.

"Me too bro!" Emmett called cheerfully, out of the window, only shouting a reply of: "See you later Luce!" Leaving me alone in the sitting room. Though the moment they left, everything came rushing back. All that time with Edward, and I had wasted it. Not once asking the important questions. Or addressing the ominous matter that lay ahead.

My stomach churned sickeningly.

The Volturi.

They were after Bella, ready to check up to see if she was soon human. Something they intended to change. Forever.

"Lucie?" I didn't move, or make any respond to the voice, not with the information plaguing my mid. The information that hadn't been addressed properly. We had to act! And soon. Now, even. Why was I standing here? Why wasn't I asking questions? Why wasn't I screaming yet?

"Lucie, please, talk to me!" I still didn't speak, but slowly, turned to face Alice, her grim expression did nothing to help my calamitous thoughts.

"Oh Alice," I whispered. "What are we going to do?" I felt like collapsing into the sofa. But didn't. Forcing myself to stay strong. She seemed at once to understand my meaning, her cool embrace was fleeting as she hugged me tightly, whispering softly in my ear.

"It's okay Lucie. They're not coming-"

"They are!" I persisted, my heart rate increasing, "I know they are Alice, and they, I th-think they want something, from… m-me."

"Shhh," Alice murmured, but her voice was frantic, not soothing me at all. "No, it's okay, they're not coming yet, we still have a few weeks. I think I saw..-"

"'They're not coming yet?' doesn't help Alice, thinking you saw doesn't either! It's my fault," My voice cracked, "my fault they're coming.. I sh-should of, told you earlier.."

"Lucie!" Alice scolded, I cringed back at her tone, "Will you stop interrupting me! And seriously, please stop blaming yourself." She frowned. It was odd how Alice had such an effect over me. The phrase: 'size doesn't matter,' was completely, and utterly true.

"Sorry." I muttered, she waved her arms in exasperation.

"For the last time: don't be!"

I smiled despite myself; Alice's frustration was quite funny.

"Blame my bad mood on Edward. He was being cryptic. Again." Alice was silent though at this, her expression suddenly shocked. "What's wrong Alice?" I whispered, my voice rising in pitch.

"Edward, was here? Just now?" She whispered, her neat eyebrows mashing together in a frown.

"Yeah… he just left, needed to hunt.."

"He should have gone earlier." Alice said quietly, I just stared shocked, was he really that thirsty? But Alice shook herself slightly, changing her expression so quickly, I wondered if I'd misread it. I looked at her confused. She smiled back though, taking me gently (but forcefully,) by the arm and into the hallway. "Come on Lucie." She muttered, I let her take me, deciding, in the least, to make her happy. It was only when we were halfway up the stairs, that my resolve faltered. I tried to say something, but Alice only shushed me impatiently; a sly smile turning up the corners of her lips; her dark eyes gleaming with something close to mischief. The whole effect, causing her face to look even more pixie-like. And making me, very suspicious.

Then, we were at the door to a room, and the awful realisation of what Alice intended to do, washed over me.

Oh no.

"Lucie, may I present, le salon pour Lucie!" Alice said ardently. I shook my head violently, trying desperately to search for an escape, finding none, I backed out of the room.

"No. Alice. No." Alice grabbed by arm, and slammed the door shut.

"Ugh! Lucie, stop being… Lucie."

Great. I had my own adjective now, did I? Just great.

"Honestly, you're just like Bella. Look, we're only going to put on some makeup and-" She carried on listing the various ways in which way she was planning to steadily kill me by ways of pampering. I sighed.

"It'll be great!" Her tone was unnaturally hyper, but she frowned when she saw she hadn't my grim expression. "Oh c'mon, please Lucie. You'll enjoy it."

Translation: please, I enjoy torturing you.

I sighed, giving in to her now puppy dog eyes.

"Hang on, did you say we're?" I muttered, recognising the plural in her previous sentence, as Alice began zooming me towards a chair. And yes, the only words to describe the way she was moving now was indeed: zooming. Honestly, if hadn't known her better, I would have thought Alice was high on something. Caffeine maybe? Normal people weren't meant to be so… enthusiastic about things like this.

Though admittedly, Alice wasn't exactly normal, was she?

"Looks like you've got me doing your hair." I froze at the voice. Seeing her ethereally beautiful face reflected in the mirror. Rosalie. I thought back the urge to gulp.

"Mhmm!" Alice hummed, grabbing various assortments of clothing and dubious looking beauty products. She was seemingly oblivious to the tense mood that had formed between Rosalie and I. "Rose is better when it comes to hair I think. But I'm definitely the pro at clothes!" Rosalie laughed. Actually laughed. And she didn't sound at all cold, but warm, and kind. Had I misheard?

"If you're sure Alice." She murmured quietly, giving me an amused friendly look. One that I could only respond to by gaping. Shocked by the abrupt sociability, not that I complained, it was just a shock.

"I am." Alice muttered darkly. Then, she turned to face me. A horribly purposeful look in her tawny eyes. A look, that I feared considerably. "Lucie, what do you normally put on?" Put on? Did she mean clothes? Rosalie laughed lightly.

"I don't think she wears any makeup Alice."

Oh, so that's what she meant.

"Ah, no, I don't." And don't intend to… I added silently.

"Well, it's time for that to change!" Alice squealed happily, but then, the door opened, Esme stood outside it. I don't think I'd ever be so pleased to see her. I willed the powers of telepathy to work, just this once, and stared meaningfully at Esme, portraying as hard as I could, to get the message across, without voicing it out loud.

Help me!

"Ah, so that's where you all are," She mused, smiling. I continue to stare at her intently, and finally she made eye contact. But to my horror, her expression only portrayed sympathy, rather than actual help. "Lucie, you okay?" she looked concerned now.

"Fine." I choked. I was now. I wouldn't be once I had to endure what Alice had planned. But Esme seemed to realise my discomfort, she suddenly said: "Oh, and Alice, Jasper wants you."

Alice's face fell.

"Oh, tell him to wait."

"I think he wants you, now." Esme said, I managed to smile slightly. Thank you Esme. Thank you.

"He'll be fine."

"I don't think he will Alice, he looks depressed…" Esme trailed off, wow, she was a good actress, unless, Jasper really did need Alice.

"Oh okay.." Alice finally succumbed indignantly, in an instant, rushing to the door. "I'll be right back Lucie, don't worry." She said quickly, in a rush to meet Jasper. Esme closed the door behind her, as she and Alice went downstairs. A felt a wave of relief, just having narrowly escaped Alice's makeover. But my relief vanished in a second, when I realised I wasn't alone.

Rosalie.

"Lucie…" Her voice had lost her previous friendliness. It wasn't cold now. Just empty. She stared at me, with cool, golden eyes. I mentally prepared for her outburst. Sure that before had only been an act. For a second, I think I'd believed she'd liked me. Though I knew I was wrong. So when she said, what she said next, I was surprised to say the least.

"I'm a bitch. Sorry."

"Wh-what?" I gasped. Did Rosalie just admit that she was a bitch? No, not admit, say, that she was.

"Don't worry," She laughed, but the sound was humourless. "I can't expect you to think any higher of me."

"I-I don't think your that Rosalie, honest." I stuttered, she smiled.

"You should do though, with how I acted." I didn't talk, sensing she wanted to say more. She sighed, and continued, her voice quiet. "I have a reason…" There was another silence. "Look. Before I say anything, I need you to answer a question."

"O-okay."

"Don't look so worried, I don't bite." I grimaced, and she grinned widely, showing all her teeth, teeth, that I knew, could slice through flesh easily as they could with butter. "Well okay, I do bite, but I won't bite you. My record is clean." The way she said it was almost with pride, I tried to smile, but my confusion must have been evident on my features. "I've never tasted human blood."

"Oh, umm, well done?" She laughed again quietly. But then turned serious once more, I remember to reply. "And I'll answer anything Rosalie, or I'll try to." I said honestly, not wanting to jeopardise Rosalie's new found attitude towards me.

"Okay, thanks," She looked at me fully in the eyes. "I know about your gift Lucie. It's powerful, Carlisle has many theories on it, but tell me: have you seen my past?" Her question had me rigid. Not the question itself, but her tone and mentioning of Carlisle's theories. Had this been discussed a lot? The way Rosalie spoke about my 'gift' made it sound powerful. They didn't understand. It wasn't. I wasn't.

"No." I whispered. "I've only seen Jasper's. His and-" Is stopped myself, should I tell her about Bella's. It was too late now, she had an eyebrow raised. "Bella's." I muttered, but instead of probing the question, she frowned at the sound of her name.

"Bella…" She murmured quietly. " I feel sorry for you Lucie."

"Why?" I asked, confused.

"Because.." but she stopped herself, much like I had done previously. "I'm getting off track," She murmured quietly, though I didn't think that was the reason for her not finishing her sentence. "I knew you hadn't seen my past. For one thing, I don't think you'd of been able to look me in the eye if you did." Her tone had suddenly become darker, more sinister. But still, curiosity masked any other emotion that came to this news.

"Why?" I asked again, hoping I didn't sound tactless.

"When I said my record was clean. I wasn't lying. I've never, ever, drank human blood. But that doesn't mean I haven't killed anyone. You don't want to see my past, I hope you never have to. I don't want you to experience it too, it's far from pleasant."

"Oh," I said softly, but I wasn't shocked. "I've seen Jasper's past. Trust me, I can deal with, err, horror." My sentence sounded silly.

"I don't think you could Lucie." Said Rosalie, quieter still. "Jasper was brought up in a war zone. He was used to killing, he did so on instinct. His actions were swift, normally with out meaning. But when I killed. I did it for a purpose. I did it because of what they did to me." She continued, her voice became animated, in a darker way. "I was beautiful Lucie, even as a human, I was beautiful. It's a curse, it made me vain, I coveted everything, and almost always gained it. So much so, that my beauty blinded what I wanted most, craved most. I wanted a child. One thing, that being a vampire, I'll never be able to truly have." She seemed to have forgotten my presence almost, as her voice became distant, reliving the memories, I knew she despised.

"I got engaged to a man called Royce. I thought it was everything I wanted. He seemed charming, rich, respectful. He made me a princess."

Her voice was actually scaring me now, my pulse raised, at her words, each spoken with such abhorrence, it was as if, with each one, she became darker.

"He and his friends did something terrible to me Lucie. I never want anyone else to experience it. My hatred towards them, turned to anger. But anger doesn't heals wounds, only deepens them. When you're hurt like that. Have something that constantly eats away in your subconscious, you can never be truly whole." She looked up though, and composed her features. Looking beautiful despite her evident sorrow. I'd misjudged Rosalie. She was not shallow, she was just trying to conceal her dark past.

To conceal her hidden pain.

"But I'm scaring you, aren't I?" She said softly, "I'm sorry. Truly, I just wanted you to understand, that if I'm ever callous, and bitchy. I'm sorry. Edward doesn't believe me, see…" She grimaced. "You know how I acted to you earlier?"

"Yeah," I mumbled, remembering her glare of ice, as she saw me with Emmett.

"Well, times that by ten…" She smiled slightly, "And you'll get what I was like to Bella." Wow. Bella had had it bad. "So Edward kinda well, hates me for that."

"Oh."

"And Lucie, please don't tell her, or Edward, or anyone really." She frowned again. "I'm sorry you had to hear it, I just needed to let you know, I'm not really that evil. Not to the core."

"I know Rosalie, and thanks."

"No problem. Now…" She looked at the pile of clothing Alice had procured earlier. "But this on," She threw a pale green, long sleeved, top to me, it felt expensive. Silk maybe. Rosalie grinned as I grabbed it.

"I just don't think red is your colour."

I smiled, but couldn't forget her words.

When you're hurt like that. Have something that constantly eats away in your subconscious, you can never be truly whole.

And I couldn't help but ask the question to myself.

Would I, ever be whole?

***

Blech. Didn't like that. Ah well, can you see that Rosalie isn't that evil now? She redeemed herself yet? Ugh. I'm sorry if this lost some of the whole urgency bit, this was going to be more drama filled, but it dragged on a bit. (That wasn't the original ending, but pffttt… It would have gone on for ages…) Hopefully, next chapter, the action will present itself! Please review.. Oh. And I have a confession.

Okay, see, that prospect of writing a Bella POV is just downright scary, sooo.. I was wondering whether she and Lucie could just have a conversation, similar to that one with Rosalie.? But different… (gah! I'm making no sense!) Anyway, what I mean is, do you mind if it's from Lucie's POV, or want a Bella's perspective for once? Please tell me! I'll try if it makes you reviewers happy!

AND… The French? Don't worry, I know it hasn't been in these last few, but it will appear… If any of you didn't receive the sneak peaks I was giving out last chapter, I'm sorry! My laptop hates me. Truly, it does. But just say in the review, and I'll send you one, okays? Oh, and I have a poll on my profile regarding the issue with Lucie staying human or not, so far, the majority want her to change into a vampire…. Eventually.. But please feel free to say what you want in the review. Oh, and someone gave the usual opinion of: 'I don't know rubber ducks!' and whilst that's very nice and all.. It's not entirely helpful.. :p

Anway. I'll stop. MUST DO ESSAY. Please review. Else I don't think I'll ever recover from it…

Lily- who is staring at the stubborn blank paper, wondering if she's got the power to make the essay write itself. She sincerely doubts it. Which sucks.