I didn't turn to see Julian's family's expressions, I just took flight.

I had never run that fast in my short existence as a vampire, but I felt a new strength, a new fuel that was stronger than any kind of blood: hope. It poured into my veins and put fire into my heart.

Edward was the love of my life – the love of my existence. I could not hide from that, not in the smallest, most forgotten town in Canada; not in the darkest corner of New York City. It had taken a war for me to realize that I could not replace him or his family. They would and always would be the main drive for my existence. I would live for them, die for them if need be. He said he did not want me, but what was to keep us apart now? Time would bring him back to me, and I would wait. If he wanted to be rid of me, he would have to kill me himself, because I would never be without him again. Not if he screamed, not if he yelled. No locked doors could keep me away from him anymore, only the ones in his own stubborn heart.

I got to the apartment within five minutes. Lucky jumped startled at my entrance, and then sat expectedly as I flew around the apartment.

I pulled the same blue backpack off from its place on the wall and packed it full with my clothes and the few other things I had brought with me on my trip to the city. I grabbed my wallet, the cash, and the credit card and stowed them safely in the pockets of the bag.

Lucky whimpered from his spot on the floor. I looked down at him guiltily. I kneeled down to him and he jumped in my arms.

"I don't think it's a good idea if you come with me. Remember me telling you how I'd eat you? I wasn't really joking. I have the self control, but my family may not. Alice maybe, but definitely not Emmett-" I stopped short. Alice. Of course!

I ran into the bedroom one last time and pulled a marker and binder off of the chaise. I opened it to the first blank page and stopped.

Alice had once told me that her power of seeing had become attuned to me as a human, but it worked even better with nonhumans. With the combination, I could easily send a clear message to her, telling her where to meet me.

A thought crossed my mind that made me bite my lip in inner pain. Surely she would have seen everything that had happened, everything I had been through in the past few years – yet she still hadn't tried to come and find me. I had always felt very close to Alice, almost like she was my sister, and that thought hurt down to my core.

I had to try though. Even if she didn't want me, she could at least help me find Edward.

But where could I tell her to look for me? I refused to stay in the city; I would not let them look for me here. I would not put them in that danger.

Denali! Of course. A family of vampires with the same 'vegetarian' lifestyle lived somewhere in the mountains. I would feel safe meeting her there.

I uncapped the marker and wrote in clear letters:

'PLEASE ALICE

MEET IN DENALI'

I turned the page and wrote it again, and then again and again. I stuffed the binder into the overflowing back pack. Just in case.

I picked up Lucky and walked out of the apartment, not even bothering to close the door. I had grabbed the unused leash I had bought not even a day before and attached it around his neck. I walked to the front of the apartment complex and up to the semi-familiar door. I set Lucky on the ground, gave him one last loving hug and then tied his leash to the doorknob. I knocked loudly on the door then darter around the corner. I heard the rustling of someone getting out of bed in the floor above.

"It's two in the morning," a female voice called. "Who would be knocking at this time of night?" Then I heard the soft patting of smaller feet running after her. "No, Megan. Go back to bed. Let mommy go down and get the door, you stay here." The patting of feet continued after her mother. The door opened a creak and Lucky barked.

Megan giggled and lunged herself at the dog. Lucky licked her cheeks and wagged his tail happily. Christina untied the leash from around the doorknob and knelt down.

"Where'd you come from, huh?" She said kindly, scratching the dog's ears. "I guess I can't leave you out in the street." I heard their retreating feet and the door close behind the small family.

I ran down the street quickly, trying to get out of the city as fast as possible. I ran with the same speed as I had returning to the apartment, going through busy intersections unseen by my velocity, crossing the city line and finally plummeting across the field where I had practiced with Julian's family.

My ears were already alert, so I heard them approach from the west, and before they realized what was happening I was crouched ready to attack. Julian and Katherine came to a stop in front of me, taken by surprised at my fast stance.

Julian put his hands up in front of him. "Easy, Bella. We're not here to fight."

I crouched down lower, letting out the most ferocious snarl I could muster. "Save it, Julian. If you don't get out of my way, don't think I won't act this time."

Katherine looked at Julian accusingly. "There must have been another way, Julian." She turned to me with so much remorse in her eyes; it almost made me diminish my defensive position. Almost. "Bella…there are no words…to say how sorry I feel. There's no way to make up to you what we've done." She looked at her mate pleadingly.

What was there to say? Nothing could lessen the exploitation of my position. I had been alone and desperate for a family, and they had used that for their own intentions. I wouldn't even give them the benefit of words, just the endless growl emanating from my throat. My scars along my arms and my shredded jeans exposed, they could see what they had done to me.

"I suppose it was stupid to stop you. I just didn't want you to leave thinking too harshly of us. I know that's impossible…" Katherine trailed off, perhaps leaving it open for me to correct her. When I made no attempt to lessen her guilt, she looked away sadly and stepped behind her husband.

They turned to start walking away, and then Julian yelled over his shoulder, "If ever you need a safe haven, or a reason to return, you can do so willingly. You have no hostility in New York against you." And then they took off in the trees, back to their newly claimed land that had been bought with my blood.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A/N

I really wanted Bella to come full course. She's seen a lot and done a lot. She's had options opened up to her, and above all she's still choosing Edward. I liked the way I ended with Katherine and Julian. I really can't believe that all of their humanity would be lost, you know? I can see someone like Katherine really trying to apologize, but Bella isn't having it!

Oh, and I was really considering letting her bring Lucky back to the Cullens, but it is true – Emmett would probably eat him. He's better off with his new family.

Thank you for the reviews, loves!