A/N: Thanks for the reviews I really appreciate them. This is Eleanor's POV and it will probably be hers for a while…at least that's the plan. Oh yes I had to change Ella's Birthday to May it didn't work the other way.

Chapter One

I watched Edward carefully examining his every expression as he began the dance. The small, petite young woman in his arms seemed blissfully happy, but Edward's face never changed. He still wore that frustrating, polite gentleman face.

I sighed, disappointed. She was his fifth dance partner and still he held no interest in any of them. I glanced around and saw many other young women watching Edward with hope planted in their eyes. I sighed again, and then caught my mother's eye, she to was also watching Edward. With a sad frown on her beautiful face, she shook her head disappointed as well.

Edward was so caught up in the war—that it frightened me. He had just turned seventeen—only another year until he was old enough for the draft. I hoped that maybe he would find someone so his thoughts weren't so center focused on the war. That he would have at least one reason to try to stay out of it, but no such luck.

Then out of nowhere, as if my night could get any worse, Marcus Renter appeared—weaving through the dancing partners his eyes glued to my face. He was the son of my father's partner in the law firm and the soon to be husband—if my father had anything to say about it. I took step back; I wasn't in the mood to deal with him or his pride. I glanced over my shoulder pretending that someone had called me and I began to walk swiftly away.

I knew he would pursue and I gritted my teeth in frustration. I had no easy escape. Then Edward caught my eye on a turn, and glanced a few spaces behind me—where no doubt Marcus was— and then back at me a smirk evident on his face.

"Eleanor!" A low commanding voice called my name. I suppressed a sigh and stopped my futile escape. I would get scolded by my mother if I continued to avoid him. With great effort, I placed an unwilling smile on my face as I turned to face him.

"Why, hello Marcus. I didn't see you," I said in false pleasantly. He wasn't at all handsome he still had baby roundness to his face. His greasy brown hair was slicked back, as his dull brown eyes sized me up like I was some prized horse.

"Well, I have been calling you." He said eyeing my face suspiciously. I made sure the sly smile, that wanted to appear, was pushed back to be used later when I was alone.

"I'm sorry. I have horrible hearing and it doesn't help with all this music." I lied, using my right hand to gesture at the small orchestra in the corner of the room. Of course, I had perfect hearing.

"Yes, well," I sucked in a breath, I knew what was coming and I dreaded it. "I would like to--"

"Ella, would you honor me with a dance?" I blinked, shocked, at the familiar voice. Out of nowhere Edward was right beside me with his hand outstretched—his palm turned toward the ceiling.

I glanced at his hand, to the dance floor–everyone stood in place clapping the now ended song—, and then at Marcus's stunned face that was quickly turning into a poorly disguised scowl. I looked back at Edward, his eyes wickedly amused—no doubt he had planned it.

"Yes, I will." I smiled gratefully as I placed my hand in his. We walked toward the center of the dance floor—as far away from Marcus as we could get—and began to dance to slow soothing song. "Thank you." I said with meaning.

"No problem," He said with a crooked smile which turned into a scowl. "If he knows what's good for him he has better stay away from you."

I was confused at the hard edge in his voice. "What are you talking about, Edward?"

"It's the way he looks at you," He muttered under his breath, his eyes suddenly fierce. "It's as if he…" He shook his head angrily.

"Have you seen the way Miss Sally Hedge is watching you." I said mostly trying to distract him. He groaned softly, looking down at me. His green eyes where disgusted.

"No I haven't noticed, Eleanor." He said sharply, I knew—when he called me by my full name—that he was irritated with me. Maybe I should just drop it. It seemed to make him more miserable than he already was.

"I'm sorry, I just…" I trailed off looking down at our moving feet.

"Yes?" He pressed. I could feel his piercing eyes on my face.

"I would think that you wouldn't want to waist your time dancing with your younger sister." I lied. It was farther from the truth. He laughed quietly and spun me before I had the chance to think of anything else to say. The song that we had been dancing to ended and another started up. Edward didn't release me; he began to dance to the faster paced song that started to play. I giggled as I acknowledged what he was doing.

"Mother won't like this," I said breathlessly. Edward only chuckled, amused. We both ignored the staring eyes of our parents and the death stares of our pursuers and just let the music take us away.

That was how most the night went and I somehow avoided a dance with Marcus Renter from the clever stylings of Edward. We got home surpriseingly early. We were at our front door when I felt strange for a second; it was like someone's eyes were boring into my back. When I did glance over my shoulder nothing was there.

"What's wrong Ella?" Edwards asked, glancing behind him as well.

"It's nothing." I said with a impressively reassuring smile as he focused back on me, but by the goose bumps running up my arms told me it wasn't nothing.

MIDNIGHT (four hours later)

I tightened the knot once more, testing it—to make sure it was durable. Then I stepped back admiring my handiwork there was about nine sheets tied together on top of my bed. I smiled at myself pleased. With the goose bumps— that disappeared as soon as I stepped into my house, I was feeling oddly buoyant. I had a feeling tonight was going to be different, but I said that every night on this night. This very night, nine years ago, is when I first met him.

I barely remembered him—except for the coldness of his arms and his menacing, yet gorgeous burgundy eyes. I knew it was foolish… he hadn't come the other nights. Why would he now?

I shook my head frustrated; the problem was I could not go. My whole body craved for his ice cold arms—I blushed, embarrassed at the thought. The practical side of my mind told me he was just a dream—no normal human had red eyes.

"Still it make's no difference I'm going," I whispered to myself, grabbing the sheets off my bed. I tied one end, to the brass bars of my headboard and walked briskly to the opened window.

I threw them out, with a quick glance behind me, and descended down my home- made robe, carefully. When I was close enough to the ground I let go, landing on my feet unsteadily.

I steadied my self against the side of the house. The dark forest that was placed around my house used to scare me as a child. Now, it gave me a thrill. I gathered the hem of the skirt in my hands and began to walk defiantly toward it.

I stepped into the shadows of the forest without a backward glance to the house. The full moon lit up a natural path. I followed it just as I had done nine years ago.

I was almost to the small clearing—where I had first met him. When something caught my attention, something white was waving through the trees at a blurrily speed— about a hundred yards away from me. I noticed, with a sudden fear, it was coming right toward me.

I froze, terrified. Then, suddenly, a woman—looking about twenty—stood a few feet from me. She was beyond beautiful with smooth chestnut waves slipping over her shoulder, with perfect white features, and misty red eyes. She studied me with critical eyes.

"Hmm, I suppose you will do," She said simply, and her beautiful feature were turned suddenly ghastly. Her lips pulled back over her teeth and she crouched slightly. "Nothing personal, young one, but I am quite thirsty."

I stepped back and she smiled threateningly. My mind screamed at me to run but my body wouldn't move an inch—I was frozen in her blood thirsty eyes.