A/N – Thanks to all who were kind enough to review the last chapter! Even though I am a total fail at review response…they have been great fun and I treasure each and every one.

I would be lost without my lovely beta, changedbyedward! Thanks to LolaRose and Lazykatevamp for reading this one through – I appreciated the moral support…LOL

Everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement intended!


(Victoria's POV)

The bitch was finally within my grasp. I stood by the tree where the human was bound, watching as the Cullens came into view. I scanned the parameter of the field, pleased to see that none of my minions had disobeyed – they were all hidden in the trees, waiting for my command.

The plan was simple. Once I had Bella – my army was to swarm in, taking out the human-loving leeches first. Our bait, Angela, was to be the prize for whoever made it to the tree first after every stinking Cullen was destroyed.

Michael was out of sight, waiting for us deep in the forest. He believed that I was going to share Bella, but unfortunately for him, the thrill of finally seeing her dead would be mine alone. Only then would I be able to let go of James – my debt would be paid in full. Michael and I would be free to travel, hunt and fuck wherever and whenever we wanted.

That simple thought brought a rush of bliss to my being that I had never felt in all my time as a vampire. I pushed that sentiment back, knowing it would not help in the task that lay before me. There would be eternity to bask in it after we finished here.

As the Cullens moved towards me, I inhaled deeply, searching out the scent of the one that mattered. It was then I noticed that something was off. Although her essence was in the air, there was something obviously different about it. I listened carefully, realizing at once that the only heartbeat on the field was the one belonging to the human behind me.

At that exact moment, the Cullens fanned out and I stood yards away from my once mortal enemy – her eyes now as scarlet as mine.

"Hello Bella," I spoke softly without malice, "I see that some things have changed since last we met."

"I'm here, Victoria – that was the deal. Now let Angela go!"

"Ah, ah, ah," I scolded, "Aren't we impatient? Seeing as how dear Carlisle wasn't completely honest about your condition, I believe the rules may have to change a bit." I watched the newborn before me, her hands flexing at her sides and knew that she was fighting with every fibre of her being to remain calm and not attack. Edward moved to stand more closely behind his mate, his hands gripping her hips as he whispered calming words in her ear.

"Awww, isn't that the sweetest thing. Still protecting her even after you finally developed the balls to change her, Edward?" The flash of fury that crossed his face was the only proof I required to go in for the kill. "But you didn't change Bella, did you? Hmm, now who could it be? Whose venom pumps through her veins, Eddie? Daddy Dearest's?"

"Shut up, Victoria!" Bella spat at me, her eyes darkening in contempt. It was amusing to watch. I had always found her such a boring little human and really could not understand what the draw was. She had not only wrapped Edward and his entire family around her little finger, but my James as well. Even Laurent had been smitten with her. But now, as a vampire, I could see a hint of what they must have been drawn to. It was going to make destroying her that much sweeter.

"Oh, but Bella! I have so many questions for you! Have you tasted your first kill, yet? Have you learned how much more delicious a human is over the ridiculous diet your 'family' adheres to? I have a treat that I would be more than willing to share with you if you would like a taste?" I motioned back to where Angela was. "Better yet, have you shared with your precious Edward that no matter how hard he fucks you – no one is more important to you than your sire? That a part of you will always belong to Carlisle?"

Bulls-eye! I had finally pressed the button I had been searching for and watched in amused fascination as Bella flew out of Edward's arms and across the small patch of earth between us in a blur. Her fingers reaching around my throat in less than a heartbeat and the two of us flying together, slamming into the tree behind us. It was at that moment that chaos truly erupted.

She was strong and she was fast, like any of the newborns Michael and I had diligently trained while we hid away in that rat-infested warehouse. I fought against her vice-like grip on my throat, biding my time until she reacted to the events unfolding behind her. The instant she realized her family was in a battle for their lives behind her, she lost focus and I reacted, curling my legs up to kick her full-force in the stomach. I watched as she bounced against the grassy terrain, immediately pulling herself into a fighting stance as she glared at me.

I scanned the meadow, unable to determine who was winning the battle, but it didn't matter. My prize was right in front of me, ripe for the taking as she flew towards me again. She was second-guessing her movements, torn between her desire to kill me and defending her mate. It was all I needed. I dodged her attack, pin-wheeling over her and grabbing her neck from behind in a stranglehold.

Knowing I would rip her head off with any sudden movement, she fought against me, her snarls and growls dulled by the wind as we flew back towards the tree where Angela was. I knew this human meant something to her and wanted the delight of watching her face as I destroyed yet another person she cared about.

The tears rained down Angela's cheeks as we landed softly at her feet. I glanced back quickly, knowing we only had seconds before another vampire, be it a newborn or Cullen, followed our trail. "Angela, dear, I've brought you a friend!" Reaching up, I grasped Angela's hair, yanking her head back so her neck was exposed. "Bella would you care for a drink?"

I waited for her reaction, her eyes fixated on the pulsing vein in Angela's neck, beckoning her to take a taste.

"You evil bitch!" she snarled as she whirled her arm around and her elbow connected with my jaw, snapping my head back.

Laughing, I tightened my grip on her throat. "And here I was going to share, Bella! Oh well, your loss! You'll just have to watch me drain her!" I leaned in, my nose against Angela's throat, the scent of her blood almost making me lose focus.

"Victoria!" I whirled at the sound of my name, tightening my grip on the prize.


(Edward's POV)

Every fear I had ever had regarding Bella's safety came true as we stood in the meadow. I had never wanted Bella to experience this kind of terror again, yet here we were. And although I was overwhelmed with the horror of having her face Victoria, I knew that Bella would never be free of the nightmare unless she witnessed it first hand.

It was all I could do to stand there as Victoria baited her, her vicious remarks like shreds of glass piercing my skin. I closed my eyes for a moment, swallowing the venom and anger that consumed me, knowing Victoria was just hoping I would react and leave Bella to fight against the newborns that I knew surrounded us.

I whispered words of comfort, trying to keep Bella from reacting, but even I was not prepared for the force with which she flew out of my hold and towards Victoria. I screamed for her and moved to follow, only to be blind-sided by one of her army. Jasper had been right in his teaching, although they were strong, they relied solely on that and were fairly easy to defeat. I snapped the neck of the one who had tackled me and threw his head onto the pyre that Emmett had assembled. Dismembering the newborn quickly, I glanced around the field, looking for Bella and also to assess my family's situation.

A flash of red-hair against the far tree-line caught my eye and I moved towards the two figures. Victoria's mind was like a circus, her thoughts flying quickly as she argued with herself silently on how to proceed, all the while taunting Bella with Angela's blood. I flew towards them, knowing that Bella would never forgive herself if she gave in to what Victoria offered.

"Victoria!" Her name flew from my lips and I watched as she turned to face me, only to find myself flying sideways through the air, colliding with a large rock slab to my left. I was unsure what was more shocking, the impact of the collision or the fact that I had been blind-sided. I stood and turned, a sneer coming to my face as I recognized my attacker. He stared back at me in stony silence and I realized all too soon that Bella was no longer the only person mute to me.

"Edward, look out!" I heard Bella scream as Newton moved to run at me again and then switched direction mid-flight. A smile spread across Victoria's face as Newton approached her, erotic images of the two of them together nearly blinding me with disgust as I read her thoughts.

"Michael, you were supposed to wait for us." Victoria tightened her grip on both Bella and Angela as she spoke softly to him. I studied them for a moment, realizing almost immediately that she was not simply using this boy to get to Bella; she had genuine feelings for him.

I glanced quickly at Bella to see if she had noticed the connection between them as well. Her eyes were transfixed on Newton as he stalked towards them, her face etched with anger and frustration. She squirmed in Victoria's grasp, her newborn strength giving Victoria quite a battle, but still not enough to get free.

"Edward, we are almost finished with this mess and will be there to help you shortly." Carlisle's words were loud and clear in my mind as I watched to see what Newton was planning. Any sudden movement from me could cause Victoria to snap Bella or Angela's necks.

"Vic, baby, let them go and let's leave this place." He moved towards her, his hands reaching towards her. "You know we aren't going to get out of this otherwise." She watched him, her eyes shining with affection as the monster within snarled at his approach. I understood her feeling knowing how difficult it was to keep the monster at bay.

Unable to resist the pull of her lover's embrace, Victoria weighed her options and discarded one of her prizes, Angela falling in a heap against the tree she was still partially bound to. Newton moved to her side, his lips meeting hers in a kiss as he ran his hands up into her fiery red hair. In an instant her look of affection turned to horror, a shriek escaping from her lips and then silencing as her head detached from her body and flew towards me.

There was more shrieking now as Angela finally succumbed to everything that was happening, her screams too cut short as Newton's right leg crashed into her abdomen. I heard the shatter of bones with the impact and growled as I rounded to face him.

"Mike, noooo!" Bella screamed as she watched her friend curl into a ball beneath the tree. I rushed towards them as he grabbed Bella, pulling her to him in a twisted embrace. Immediately Bella responded with an attack, twisting and turning, trying to escape his grasp. He snarled as I reached them, turning to face me, his arm wrapped tightly around Bella's throat.

"Back off, Cullen!" He stepped back and away from the tree, dragging Bella with him as she continued to try and free herself. "I'll destroy her before I let you near her again! Bella is mine!"

"She will never be yours!" I snarled back, the venom pooling in my mouth as I fought the monster back. The smell of fresh human blood was strong in the air and my head whipped towards the smell, my eyes falling on Angela's still frame. The aroma was intoxicating, a scarlet pool soaking through the thin shirt she wore.

Loud snarls brought my attention back to Mike and Bella, still tangled together, but the darkness taking over them both as the fragrant aroma of Angela's blood reached them. Knowing how difficult it was for me to be so close, I knew it would be nearly impossible for either of them to resist. Bella would never be able to forgive herself if she gave in to the monster, but how would she ever resist?

In horror, I watched as Bella reached with her one free hand, touching Newton's face, drawing his attention to her and away from Angela. "Take me away, Mike. I don't want to be here anymore." His eyes widened at her request, his embrace tightening

"Bella!" She stared at me as I stood frozen in shock.

"Don't follow us, Edward. I want you to stay away." Her eyes locked with mine for an instant and then they were gone, not even a whisper of movement as they disappeared into the forest behind them. I dropped to my knees, unable to comprehend what had just happened. A soft moan brought me out of my trance and I looked back towards the frail human form.

Moving towards her I fought against my instinct, grabbing her hand in mine. Her fingers were already cool to the touch and I knew she would not last much longer.

"Please forgive me," I whispered as I leaned over her still frame, my jaws tightening as I bit into her neck.


End of chapter –please don't kill me!