Chapter 2

BPOV

When I woke up that morning, Charlie was already gone even though it was only six thirty in the morning. My nightmares woke me up especially early today, so I decided to get going as soon as there was enough light. By the time, I laced up my shoes and ate a bowl of cereal there was a dim light shining in through the window. I got in my truck and headed out in the early Sunday morning. I got to the normal starting point pretty quickly and whipped out the map and compass. It was a bit cold out, but there wasn't any snow on the ground yet which was pretty surprising considering it was almost Christmas. I walked briskly through the woods trying to keep a quick pace in the hopes that it would keep me warm. Walking through the woods, all I could think about was hearing Edward's voice. I was angry with myself for needing him so badly. Edward hurt me deeper than I thought he ever could and here I am mouths later, still wishing it was all a bad dream and that I would wake up. He told me he was never coming back, why do I keep letting myself get hurt over him. I let the fury in my head rage on as I picked up pace to finish the direction of the grid I was working on. I am been probably walking for four or five hours when I saw a big section of light ahead. As I walked forward, I could feel a mix of emotions swirling around just waiting to see what I found up ahead. I took three more steps and gasp as I walked into the meadow I was so eager to find.

I stood there on the edge of the meadow while my memories flashed through my mind. I saw Edward and me lying in the grass, looking into each others eyes and feeling the warmth of the sun. It felt so real to me like he was right here, but he wasn't here. Edward didn't love me and he probably never did, it was all a joke or an experiment on human emotions. I fell for his trick and now I was paying for it, I squeezed my eyes shut as the tears ran over my face. Then the hole in my chest started to throb and I dropped down to the grass and just rocked myself back and forth. I needed to stop this, this searching for Edward…I knew he wasn't coming back and why should I expect him to… I let the anger wash threw me and told myself I would never see him again and even if I did by some freak accident, he still wouldn't want me.

I was glad Jacob wasn't here to witness this. He would never understand why I would want to come here, but I wasn't sure what I would feel until I was already here. I felt empty just like the meadow I was standing in…I was completely alone. All the time I spent looking for this place was wasted, because without Edward the meadow was like remembering a distant nightmare. As I was lying in the grass I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I sat up quickly and rubbed my eyes as the dark figure darted toward me. There was no mistaking the grace of the figure, it was a vampire…but not the one I longed for.

"Laurent?" I stated in surprise. Laurent was one of the Nomads that I had come across almost a year ago, when James decided to make a game out of killing me. He had been a member of James' coven, but abandoned the coven out of fear that the Cullen's would destroy him if he helped James and Victoria to kill me. I know I should have been afraid, but I was so shocked to see Laurent, because I know he had gone to live in Alaska with the other vegetarian family.

"Why, hello Bella" he said with ease.

"Hello" I said back not really knowing what to say. Laurent approached me with a slight grin on his face. It was after I took in his expression that I noticed his eyes, they were still a murky red, almost on the hinge of being golden but not quite. My heart suddenly took off as I realized that his eyes meant he wasn't keeping to a vegetarian diet. At that moment, Laurent looked up at me and his face told me he noticed my sudden hesitation.

"I didn't know I would find you here" he said as he took two more steps closer to me.

"Well I do live here" I told him.

"Yes, indeed you do…I just was by the Cullen house and found it empty. I figured that if they left, they would have taken you with them."

It was at that moment I heard Edward's voice in my head again. "Don't tell him you are alone" he called to me.

"Oh, well you know how it is. They are so easily distracted, but they do visit quite often. I know Carlisle would be so disappointed to find out that he missed you, but Edward gets so jealous…it might be better not to tell him." I flustered a little at the end and I hoped Laurent didn't know me well enough to take what I just told him as a lie. "What brings you here anyway?"

"Well I have been living in Denali for some time now. Their diet is relatively challenging to master, but I have to say I am quite taken with Irina.

"Ah well it's nothing to be ashamed of. It has taken the Cullen's many years to have that amount of control and I know Jasper still has some difficulty with it."

"Oh is that why they left?"

"No, not at all, Jasper is much more careful when he is at home."

"So am I" he said and with that I could feel my legs stiffen. It was taking all of my strength to keep from turning and running. I could feel the panic racing through my veins and I'm sure Laurent could hear it too. Okay, I just need to end this conversation and get back to my truck. I didn't even know what I was going to say until it left my lips.

"Have you been in contact with Victoria at all?" I regretted asking the moment I finished my question.

"I have in fact and that is sort of why I am here" he said as venom layered every word. "You see she sent me here to see how well protected you are, but I am afraid she will be quite disappointed to see they have abandoned you. As crazy as it seems, Victoria wants your life in return for her James. She thought it would make for a better revenge if it were mate for mate."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, Victoria wanted me dead, but it seems as though she won't get her chance with Laurent eyeing me. What do I do? My body kept screaming to run, but my mind already knew it was too late for me. I stood there realizing these were probably going to be my last few seconds in the world, when my internal rambling was silenced by what came out of Laurent's mouth next.

"But…I am very curious. I wonder if…hmm" Laurent said as he warred with some decision. "You see I have become quite curious about humans these days…I have grown tired of a lifelong mission to avoid humans except when feeding and your closeness with the Cullen's has intrigued me. So I offer you this, a choice per say. You may either stay here and wait for Victoria to come for you after I make her aware of your current situation… Or you may leave this place with me. I will tell Victoria that you have left with the Cullen's and you will teach me how the Cullen's can live among the humans so carefree. The choice is yours of course, however I can not guarantee that I may not kill you myself, but nonetheless I would be much kinder with your demise than she would be."

I couldn't believe it, first Laurent tells me Victoria wants to kill me and then he offers me a chance to go with him. I was so stunned I just stood there and replayed everything over in my head until I was sure I heard what I thought he said.

"Perhaps, I should give you time to consider your options. I will return in one week, make sure you have my answer by then" Laurent said with a smirk.

As I watched him go, I knelt down in the grass. Was this really happening? As far as I could tell in a week, I would either be brutally murdered by Victoria or go off with Laurent and possibly be killed in the future depending on the extent of his control. I walked back to my truck and then drove back to my house, all the while I thought I would wake up somewhere along the way and this would all just turn out to be a dream. But when I walked through my front door and up the stairs to my room, I realized this was something I was not going to wake up from. This was my life, and I should have known that I would never be able to mourn for Edward in peace. Of course, something else would happen to bring danger here, to my town, to my friends and family.

Either way I chose, it did not look good. If I stayed Victoria would surely come and kill me…and it would be soon. And if I went with Laurent, I might spare any of my friends or family that might get in Victoria's way, but Laurent told me he found the vegetarian life style difficult. In fact, he actually told me he cheats, so how long would that give me to live? Did I really want to drag out my suffering when I was bound to die no matter what I choose? One week was all I had to decide and it would have to be long enough for me to get all my affairs in order; because no matter what I chose, I would probably be dead in a few months time.

AN: What do you think Bella will do? I could still use some more input about what Laurent is capable of???? Please review. I am looking for 5 reviews, before I post again. Thanks!