Chapter 5
Finding Out

"Bella, Alice and Jasper will stay here with you. You won't be alone. I promise."

Promise. I promise. What was it? What with all the broken promises, with all the hurt and betrayal I've experienced, I shouldn't be able to trust. But with Edward, I can't not trust him.

"No, Edward," I assured him, "don't make them stay behind. Just because I'm not going doesn't mean you should cut your family in half. It's a camping trip – something I don't really mind missing." We were in my bedroom, I lying on my bed, he standing at the foot, gazing at me with growingly intense concern.

"We're not going to leave you alone; it's not up for debate." His jaw was set firmly. There was no way to move him on this matter. Unless...

"It isn't up for debate; you're right. Because Alice and Jasper are going." I smiled, basking in satisfaction. "Edward, I'll be okay. You don't have to be Shakespeare's self-sacrificing gentleman."

His mood turned somber. I could almost hear the birds' chirping outside grow sad. "I'm not sure that I'm any better than Tybalt. I'm not the gallant knight, Bella." He looked at me pleadingly. "Please understand."

Before I could even begin to think of the words I was saying, I said – shyly, thank goodness – "then be my Romeo. He was no knight in shining armor, but he was no Tybalt." I flushed, looking down, hoping he wouldn't notice the sudden redness of my cheeks.

His face was stony. "You don't – can't – understand." Then he grinned. "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?" He took my hand, and an electric shock shuttered up my arm. "It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." It took me a moment before I could respond; his voice was so gentle, caressing, loving. I had to remind myself that he was acting as Romeo.

"Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" Sliding my hand from his, I placed both hands softly on the sides of his face with a burst of confidence. "Deny thy father, and refuse thy name! Or, if thou canst not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet."

With a dramatic expression of anguished love painted on his face, he took my face in his larger hands as well. We held each others gazes a moment longer, and then laughed. We truly were absurd.

"Edward!" Esme's sweet, motherly voice floated up the stairs. "Emmett is getting impatient!" Of course; the big brother always loves camping.

Edward's hands fell from my face to his lap. "We'll be back." He leaned forward, down to where I lay on my bed. He rested his hand on my forehead – so odd, so different. Yet I couldn't question him or his family. It wouldn't be right; I wouldn't feel right.

I knew they were different, and I didn't care. Now they were my family.

"Soon," I commanded, but even I could hear the weak, helpless lilt in my voice.

He smiled. "Yes. Soon."

Ж

I started awake; no lights were on in the large house. The room was illuminated by an iridescent redness, falling over the furniture of the room like a blood-red shadow. I searched for the source of the light – it came from the small alarm clock on the bedside table.

Then I heard something outside. A low, ominous growling. It was unusual – not that of a wild animal, but of something more frightening, more human. I sat up straight, looking out the window.

Nothing was out there; nothing but darkness. But as my eyes grew quickly accustomed to this nothingness, the light from the clock reflected down from the glass and onto the shadowy lawn below.

Then, red. Glowing, just like the clock. But not familiar – condensed into orbs. Eyes.

Then the thing slipped silently around the side of the mansion.

I thought wildly, frantically. There was nowhere to go, nothing to do to escape this monster at whose meeting my life would be ended.

Glass, crashing, shattering. Quick footsteps, lethal snarling. Slamming – the door had opened. I couldn't see – couldn't breathe! – but I knew it was there. They. The monsters. In perfect unison, they stepped into the light of the clock, spreading out. No chance of escape. They were as beautiful as three angels. Satan's angels.

I couldn't even scream.

In the seconds I had before my inevitable death, I was able to observe these evil creatures in some detail.

Their clothing, once clean, was torn and dirty, leaves and mud caked on the sparse material.

The third one, the one on the right, closest to the door – now dangling from its top hinge, swinging back and forth erratically like the body of a not-yet-dead hanged man, was male. Not a man; you couldn't call this thing, with its dark red eyes, formidable muscles, olive-toned skin, and tense stance a man. It was a thing, a beast, a creature, a monster. It – he – stared intently at me, his eyes glistening with anticipation. Of what? Killing me? Ripping me to shreds? Well, that shouldn't be too difficult; I am a weak little human. I was sure that they were not human. No one could end up like this. But certainly not mythical – at least, not anymore. His tall, muscular body was inclined towards me.

The second thing was a woman – a loose interpretation, but I preferred to think about her that way. It made me more comfortable with my own impending death. Her eyes, too, were a deep burgundy, quite a contrast when compared to her bright red hair that curled down her shoulders in tiny, messy ringlets. I shivered momentarily at the red, dried liquid at the corners of her mouth. I wouldn't let myself think, wouldn't let myself realize what this must mean. Her poise was catlike – ready to pounce.

Then, the one closest to me. He was neither tall nor short, more beautiful than a human but not outstanding when compared to his two companions. His hair was dark – maybe brown, black or blonde; the dirt disguised it well. His muscular body was not tensed as the others' were, but rather visibly calm and relaxed. And yet, I had a feeling that he was more ready to attack and kill me than either of the others combined. He took a long, slow step closer, and I could see his muscles beneath the old-fashioned black jeans he wore. I cowered into the sheets that surrounded me, trying to sink into oblivion rather than face these creatures. He leaned in towards me; his breath smelled of blood – salt and rust, mixed with death.

His face was within three inches of mine when he placed his pale white hand on my cheek. My eyes widened, my heart stopped. My mind made the realization, and I the connection. His eyes were coal black. His skin was pale as the moon, exuding a weak, red-tinged glow. His hand was cold as stone.

Just like Edward. Whatever this thing was, Edward was, too. His family was like these creatures, these monsters. A horrible, deadened feeling filled me.

"Hello, my sweet." His voice was deep, inconsequential, and yet so utterly unforgettable. It was the kind of voice you wouldn't think twice about believing, about following to the ends of the earth and back. But, I thought grimly, if you followed him, you wouldn't ever come back. I was astonished that he hadn't killed me yet.

"What do you want?" I ground out of my chattering teeth. "Who are you?" I did not stutter. I did not flinch at his voice. I was immovable, still as stone. I was frozen in place.

He chuckled. "I'm James. This is Victoria, and Laurent." He gestured to each of his companions respectively. "Victoria's my mate, Laurent a friend. They're part of my coven." Coven? Where had I heard that word before? "We were just recently feeding in Seattle, so you don't have to worry. We won't drink you until we're thoroughly desperate."

"Vampires."

No. No, it couldn't be. They couldn't be...but they were. All the evidence points to that.

"Yes, vampires. Hadn't this coven told you?" He looked surprised. So was I; I hadn't noticed that I had spoken aloud. I cringed inwardly – I had made my first mistake. I looked back at James. He was smirking at me. "So they're keeping you as a pet without telling you what they are?" He threw his head back and laughed. Somehow, however heartily entertaining he found this, his laugh didn't seem entertained at all. Only frightening. Very, very frightening.

"No," I whispered. "They hadn't told me." My mind was racing. They were vampires. Monsters. Creatures of the night, those who killed for pleasure. Worse than murderers – violent. They drank blood. They killed innocent humans. They were planning to kill me. Or were they? Maybe they were, as James had indicated, keeping me as a pet. Right now, what were they doing? Not camping. They were in Seattle, or another place. Portland. Hunting humans. Not camping. Killing, drinking, murdering. Laughing together about the deaths. Congratulating each other on a good catch. That's what these vampires would do – Lauren, James, Victoria. They would take pleasure in their cruelty.

Even as I thought this, my mind would not come to terms with it. Or perhaps it was my heart that refused. No, no, not the Cullens. Not Edward. Not my Alice, my Edward. My family. Family. My eyes narrowed. They were my family. What would I choose? It was an easy decision – one ruled by my heart and soul.

It did not matter that they were monsters, that my Edward, my dearest friends Alice and Edward, had killed. They had good hearts. I had experienced that, and I loved them. Looking at these creatures in front of me, I knew that the Cullens were good. Somehow, even though they drank the blood of humans, they were good. I couldn't see it any other way. They were my family.

"But I'm afraid that I don't know your name." He looked genuinely disheartened as he spoke this fact out loud.

I cleared my throat. "Isabella. Call me Bella." I chastised myself mentally – only friends should call me Bella! – but it was an automatic response. He looked at me thoughtfully, considering. Then his face broke into a broad smile – causing his eyes to sparkle with malicious intent.

"Bella." He laughed. "Bella! Oh, beautiful Bella!" Laurent and Victoria sauntered up so that they were standing directly behind him, compressing my fears. "How do you feel about becoming our pet, love? Hmm?"

I quaked in terror, because I noticed the strange glint in his eyes. There was something more to this plan, something that I didn't want to know. Something I needed to know, and desperately.

Victoria cackled, her flaming hair swinging back over her shoulder as she laughed in her delight. "Oh, she's a fine one, James! Just perfect. I simply can't wait until her coven knows!" For the first time, James took his gaze from mine, staring at her with what I could only define as being love. It sickened me that these creatures could be so cruel, so heartless, and yet have the ability to love. The Cullens weren't cruel or heartless, and yet they knew love. Rosalie and Emmett, Jasper and Alice, Esme and Carlisle, Edward…and they all loved each other. They included me.

Laurent leaned back, studying me, speculating. "Yes. She could be a good pet."

Victoria scoffed. "Pet? Is that what you think she is for?" She turned to me, her crimson lips curving into a seductive smile. She pushed past James, coming forward to sit on the edge of the bed. Leaning towards me, I noticed that the shirt she wore was thin, black, and revealed the curve of her off-white breast. Her exquisite, blood red eyes bore into mine as she murmured consolingly, "Yes, my pet, we'll take good care of you. We'll pet you and feed you and play with you." – words that did not console me at all.

Her eyes hardened. "But for now, to be sure you don't make a fuss and wake up the neighbors, it's nighty-night. Lights out." In the darkness, I saw her fingers come forward and pinch my neck – a vein. I couldn't breathe. I only vaguely thought, but there are no neighbors. Three miles of nothing in every direction…until I could think no more.

The last thing I heard was Victoria's high, silky laugh.