DISCLAIMER: I, sadly, don't own Twilight. I only twist it so that it is the story that I want it to be. Edward should be arrested for his stalker-like way. Bella should be more independent. Emmett should be in more scenes. BUT THAT'S ONLY MY OPINION, sadly...

Chapter Two

You're Keeping The Kid?

I was captivated by the area that practically glowed with cheeriness before me. If I thought their house was beautiful, then I definitely was a naïve, little girl. Charlotte and Peter's house had to be the most sweet-looking building that I had ever had the honour of seeing. It stood surrounded by trees and there was not a town or village for nearly thirty miles, or that's what Peter had said. The building itself was like an oversized wooden cottage. Charlotte had slapped Peter and Garrett when they both started to gloat about how they painted the entire house in one hour.

Garrett smirked from where he stood on the porch, "By the look on your face, I would say you really loved this place already".

"How could I not?"

And it was true. With patches of brightly coloured flowers dotted around in front of the clear, white porch. To the side of the house, there was a small stable and I could hear the heavy breathing of two horses but I could also smell the blood. Horrible and disgusting. I thought I was going to choke just from the smell of it. But the stable was cute with a deep red door that contrasted with the lime green wooden walls. I could tell that Charlotte had controlled the entire decorating task.

"You should say that to the creator", Peter said. "She'd be thrilled".

"I'll go find Charlotte then, shall I?"

"Eh, no, hun", the woman herself shook her head. "I didn't decorate this 'cos if I did, everythin' would be painted a light blue. You'll meet my decorator very soon, actually".

"But I've asked them not to come for another week or so, Char", Peter shrugged. "I believe Bella should settle in first then meet our 'extended' family or she might be overwhelmed".

She scowled for a second before keeping a neutral expression, "Extended family for you, Pete", and then she danced her way in the house.

The two men glanced at each other before Garrett gave a slight shake of his head and started to make his way towards the stables. Peter, on the other hand, ran his hands down his face with a sigh then gave me a forced smile. His eyes filled with worry but then turned to follow Garrett.

"I'd get used to the area, if I were ya", he mumbled weakly, "but try to stay at least ten miles away from the surrounding humans".

I watched, utterly confused, as Peter jogged at a human pace into the barn and begun whispering to Garrett at such a pace that even I couldn't understand it. Their conversation was just a low buzz to me. They emerged slowly a few seconds later, each with the reins of a horse in their hands. My brows pulled together as I noticed the expression that was now showing on Peter's face. It didn't seem to be sadness but it was more like he was angered by something with just a hint of worry. Garrett was the complete opposite. He was still beaming and I wondered if he could actually be sad? Was it possible? Because I didn't think that that guy had the knowledge of showing a negative emotion.

With a slight shake of my head, I gracefully leapt up the porch stairs with two quick strides before slipping off my shoes just before entering. As soon as I noticed the smooth, stone flooring, I had the urge to do the slip-and-slide from one wall to the other. My eyes scanned the living room, noticing the pale green, mint walls that went well with the grass green sofa that curved around the TV that was drilled into the wall opposite the front door. Even the aroma of the house was homey. It belonged to a family. Photo frames were hung from each wall, most of them were only pictures of scenery but there were a few that held pictures of the trio. One that caught my eyes looked quite old compared to the rest. In it, Charlotte, who was beaming widely at the camera, was dressed in a simple but very elegant, white dress that fell straight down to the floor. Peter, with his arm around her and looked like he was whispering something into her ear, was dressed in a smart, black suit with a crisp, white shirt. Their left hands were intertwined together, holding the bouquet of flowers, and I noticed the golden band that each had on their ring finger. Had that been their wedding day? It was gorgeous. They were lucky to experience real love and not something so fake that no one even realised the difference between true and false. Yet, I was happy for them. I was sure that they deserved it.

"He was the first one I saw after I woke up", Charlotte's voice floated towards me. "My trust in him never faded throughout my first year so when he told me to run, I did without question. I wanted him to come with me straight away but he had to wait a little while. After that, we got married".

"You look beautiful", I smiled, "and he's very handsome".

"Yeah, just don't let him hear you say that. His ego is big enough without you inflating it up even more. But that's the reason why I want him all to myself all of the time. I'm scared he'll forget out me one day. For that reason, we had our first fight but once he came back, we sorta got it all fixed out. He had just wanted to help his 'brother' but, I must say, when that man left, I was overjoyed but I would never say that to his face", she laughed quietly. "Garrett's our brother, too, but he's different 'cos he's more carefree".

"Can he ever be serious?" I asked, genuinely curious. "It doesn't seem like he can…"

"Only if someone he cares about it in danger. He'll protect them until the attacked dies or leaves. He just likes to live to the full all of the time".

I nodded, liking the description that she gave Garrett. It made a lot of sense. I was sure that for the three of them, if one was in trouble, they would protect each other. Hopefully, one day soon, it would be the same for me. Only time would tell.

OOO

Did you know that for a vampire days pass like minutes? I had never experienced anything like time passing in such a way until I had turned from fragile to sturdy. But with each hour that went by, I was finding it more difficult to think of anything good to do. Anything that would take my mind away from processing what I had become and how my life had changed so much. Sure, with people around, it was easier but it wasn't enough to help all of the time. It was interesting, though. As more time went by, I found myself acknowledging more about my new family members.

Charlotte had a problem with keeping everything clean. She would follow you around and everything that you moved, she would be fixing it so it was back in place. In some weird way, it made me think of a very paranoid mother.

Peter would look as if he knew something that you didn't. His eyes sometimes glowed with knowledge and his face was set in a very wise expression. He never spoke of what he knew but I started to notice how much he whispered to Charlotte. They were keeping secrets.

Garrett, well, he was all fun and games until he got hungry. His humour was slightly dirty-minded but Charlotte always kept him in check. He turned into a grouch when his thirst got too much for him and that was what I was experiencing on a very early morning.

"But Petey", he whined loudly, "I'm starving and it's been ages since I've gotten a good laugh at the fear in a human's eyes".

That caused Peter to burst out laughing, venom filling his eyes but the tears didn't fall like a human's would. They had a very brotherly bond, Peter and Garrett. Throughout the three days I had been staying with them, I had noticed the way that they liked to act like children. Charlotte would scold them while I was forced into a fit of giggles at their antics. Most of the time, they would argue then end up pretend fighting in the fields or knocking over a few trees while the other was hiding in it. My thoughts were always centred on one thing, though:

They were so different from them.

"Fine, Gar, we'll go but behave, please", Charlotte rolled her eyes. "No toyin' with the food, hun, alright?"

He nodded his head wildly; excitement glistening in his eyes as he bolted into the house and was out seconds later, a leather jacket slung over his shoulders.

OOO

I was surrounded by the three of them as a precaution. They weren't taking any chances. Even though with the control that I had been showing was, supposedly, exceptional, Peter had said that it would be better to be more safe than sorry. I must say, though, I agreed with them completely. By one mistake, I could easily destroy their lives by making them known for the creatures that we were. That would be a mess.

"Hold your breath, Isa", Garrett chuckled, his hand hold mine tightly as we ran through the forest, getting closer to the town full of warm-blooded humans that would quench my thirst. "Behave, Isa".

His gaze was focused on my own orbs that I was sure would be pitch black at that second. Hunger would be thriving within my eyes, growing larger with more strength. All of the thoughts that were running through my mind were only zeroed in on one thing: Blood. The sweet liquid that was going to cool the burning sensation that was erupting within my throat with each step that brought my closer to my food source.

"Hush, Gar", Peter warned, his hand wrapping tightly around my other wrist. "Just keep your breath held, Bella, an' I'll tell ya when to breathe again".

Nodding, I sucked in one last deep breath before holding it. Nothing changed. There was no tightening of my chest or any stabbing pain in my throat. There was only burn, nothing more nothing less.

"Turn left here, Char".

They kept their conversation going as a quiet volume but I still managed to hear it. Our steps were light and there was only a slight tap of every step that sounded when my feet to hit the ground. It was then that voices that weren't our own filled the air. One sounded petrified while the others were chuckling, finding the pain of the first quite funny. There was no way to explain the rage that filled me when a scream pierced the air. It flared to life just like my throat and I had to remind myself that it was Garrett and Peter holding on to me, not someone else. I knew them. They were helping me. Heartbeats, some faint and others thudding, reached my sensitive ears. The sound itself was delicious.

"Right, Bella, count to ten then breathe".

One…

The tip of a chimney could be seen just above the tree tops, smoke puffing out of it before it drifted away in the wind.

Two…

A second scream, a different one, echoed from the direction of the chimney. The sound was full of fear and pain, making a shiver ripple through my body just from the sound.

Three…

Four…

Five…

Six…

Garrett was hopping slightly, joyful sniggers escaping his parted lips. He wasn't finding this hard. My struggle was becoming quite difficult to put up with. Of course, he was older than me with more experience but I could only feel the pull that kept yanking me towards the direction of where my thirst would be drowned out.

Seven…

Eight…

Nine…

A warehouse came into my line of sight then. The old wooden slats were falling off, showing some of the insides of the dirtied building. I couldn't resist so I took in one tiny breath, keeping my cool. Different scents clung to the warehouse's surroundings. Some smelled tainted while others were clean, practically like new blood. Speaking of blood, dried, rusty-brown splatters were stuck to the ground, trees, scattered pieces of metal and any other surfaces. My fury just grew.

Ten!

My mouth fell open when the number entered my mind and I could nearly taste all of those smells that were lingering everywhere around the area. Venom filled my mouth almost instantly. The animalistic urge to slaughter overtook me as I shook both of the guys off of me, knowing that they were letting me away. Charlotte and Peter headed in around the back of the warehouse while Garrett followed silently behind me, keeping a safe distance away from me. Lowering into a crouch, I sprinted into the building and was in the middle of a drug addicts 'little party'. They all looked a little stoned, leaning against the walls with their eyes closed slightly.

"Look! It's an angel", one woman slurred, giggling hysterically, the side of her face pressed against the dusty floor. "I wanna wish. A wish for me, please, pretty angel".

I had to hold in my laughter. If only she knew that I was closer to being a demon than an angel. For her, I would be the Angel of Death. Her blood was off but still had a certain pull to it. With a smile full of mischief, I stalked forward before kneeling down to her level. She stared at me with lazy eyes but I didn't pay full attention to her face as I dunked down and sunk my teeth into her bruised neck. There was no struggle, only a shudder before she was limp in my arms. A sigh left my mouth as a gulp of blood made its way down my throat, rolling over the flames that flickered over the flesh inside of me. With a bitter taste, I kept on swallowing, allowing myself to enjoy the feel of my thirst slowly dispersing. When I had drained her, I dropped her to the floor carelessly. My eyes scanned the room that was now filled with dead bodies. Some by our feeding, others by drug overdoses by the smell of it. None vampires were in sight by their aromas were still floating throughout the air.

"Peter! Charlotte!" Garrett's voice boomed through the building.

My legs sped forward. As soon as I entered the room where Garrett was in, I heard a quiet, weak whimper that pulled at my heart. The sound was so fragile. So childish. And that's where it came from. A child was curled up into a tight ball in the furthest corner from the door. A mop of black curls was hiding his face from my view but I knew he could be no older than five. His little arms were clenched around his legs that had been pulled up to his chest as he rocked back and forth. He was terrified. The haunted look in his eyes meant that he had seen something no child should have.

"Bella, get out, please", Charlotte said as she moved by me.

Grabbing her forearm, I yanked her back as a quick 'no' left my lips. Growls sounded from behind me but I ignored them. To be safe, I let go of Charlotte's arm and carefully made my way towards the shivering boy. The burning in my throat was dulling and even as I got closer, it didn't come back to life. That surprised me but I didn't show it. Gently, I got to my knees and shuffled forward. Bright blue eyes focused on me and his quivering increased. His bottom lip quivered violently. Just as I got a few centimetres away, the faint reek of old, dried blood that had a different tang to it reached my nostrils. There was a stained bandage that was wrapped around his thin chest that was visible through his shredded shirt. My eyes flew backwards when I heard metal banging to the ground. A knife covered in blood.

"Hey", I whispered softly to the boy, "do you want to tell me your name?"

He swallowed loudly, "Vincent".

I nodded, "Well, Vincent, I'm Bella and that's Charlotte, Garrett and Peter. Do you want to tell me what those bad people did to you?"

"Cut me up here", Vincent rubbed his chest, wincing slightly. "And didn't bring me any dinners".

"The cuts are badly infected and really deep, Isa, he won't survive", Garrett mumbled quietly.

I shook my head in disagreement, "I'm gonna help him", and with that, I scooped the boy up into my arms before darting out of the room.

From behind me, I could hear them shouting but only Garrett's shocked 'you're keeping the kid?' made me laugh humourlessly. He'd be the only one to ask such a stupid and unimportant question. Okay, maybe it was a little important…

My arms rocked him as I ran through the trees, following our scents back to the house before running into my 'bedroom' that wasn't being used for anything but storage for my new clothes. Laying Vincent down on my bed, I pushed his hair back away from his forehead. Dirt and grime covered his flesh and I could see bruises that were just beginning to fade.

"Do you want my help, Vincent?" I murmured kindly.

He shrugged his slim shoulders, not knowing how to answer.

"Go to sleep and when you wake up everything will be all better".

His eyelids drooped just as I said those words and a small, dimpled smile was twitching at his lips. My eyes scanned his face, noticing how his features reminded me so much of a man I had once known. The dimples, curly dark hair and blue eyes were all things that made me choke back a sob. He'd be a child forever. Stuck in the mindset of a kid for eternity. But he wouldn't be alone. I would always be with him.

And with that final thought, I kissed his forehead before injecting my venom into his blood stream.

I'd always be there for him…

Well another chapter up... More will be said about little Vincent and who he is...Until next time, people. Edward will be stalking you... And Emmett will still be making jokes about who has 'scored' lately... So yeah, in the next few chapters you will hopefully get a laugh but that's me hoping!