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Isabella smiled at me as she looked out the front window. "It's covered in snow still. We're supposed to go to the Res for New Year's"

"This is the perfect excuse on why no to go to the stupid celebration." I responded watching as Isabella seemed to love the snow, but was against actually going outside to enjoy it.

Isabella turned and frowned at me. "I did want to go, I thought it would be fun. And I really wanted to see how you would interact with people."

"You worry too much." I responded, I knew Isabella was more than worried that I would end up killing someone at her school.

"My dad's already at the reservation." Isabella said with a sigh. "He won't be happy that I can't make it."

I smirked, "No, but he'll be okay knowing that you're here with me. He'll be pleased you're not alone."

"I'm sure I'm receiving some sort of lecture as soon as he gets home. Something along the lines of waiting until marriage." Isabella said with a smirk as she looked towards me for just a second before turning away. "Do you think a walk to the diner would be okay?"

"You're going to freeze." I replied watching the way she stared out the window. "But if it's something you really wish to do you'll just have to wear extra layers."

Isabella turned and grinned, "Let me get dressed, Rik."

Isabella disappeared up the stairs and I pushed Rex to follow after her. Sure enough the phone to the house ran and I answered knowing very well it was going to be Charlie calling for Bella. "Hello?"

"Henrik, son, is Bella around?" Charlie questioned.

"She's upstairs, something about needing thicker layers if she's going to have to go out to the Reservation in this snow." I replied, making my voice sound sincere. "Want me to get her for you, chief?"

"I don't think it's going to be safe enough for you and Bells to come out here." Charlie said, "Bella's truck won't make it and your car still doesn't have any snow tires. I think it'd be best if you just stayed in town, I'm going to see if I can make it back."

"No problem, Charlie. I'll just tell Bella and then I'll head home." I responded and I knew that Charlie would instantly just ask me to stay and watch over her.

"I hate to ask this of you, son, but would you mind staying at the house with Bells while I'm gone? I don't want her to be alone in this sort of storm. I can't trust that girl not to fall down the stairs in the dark." Charlie said with a sound of disappointment, he really did care about her safety.

I couldn't help but smile at his words. "I wouldn't mind sir; I'll be sure to call you if anything happens."

"Good, I'll call back once the snow plows have cleared some of the snow and I can make it back to the house." Charlie replied.

"I'll make sure to let Isabella know." I responded. Charlie said a hasty goodbye, I knew there was no way Charlie was going to make it home anytime soon. He would most likely get drunk at the reservation and not be able to make it back on time.

"My dad?" Isabella questioned coming down the stairs.

I couldn't help but laugh at the large jacket she had on and the rain boots she had on as well. "When did you get those?"

"Just yesterday, a gift from my mom. She sent some other stuff too, she seems to believe that I'm living in Alaska or something." Isabella said with a shrug. "Is it too much? You said to dress for the cold, so I did."

I shook my head more than anything amused by how she dressed. "Where's your dog?"

"Rex," Isabella called out a wide smile on her face.

I looked at the mutt as he came down the stairs and saw that he was wearing some sort of snow suit that was made for dogs. I looked at his paws to see that he was even wearing the matching shoes for his paws. "Isabella, what is the dog wearing."

Isabella smiled widely at me and bent to pet the mutt's head. "He's wearing his Christmas present. My dad got him the jacket and I bought him those boots. Newton's was having a sale and I really couldn't resist."

I held out my hand to her, "Let's get going."

Isabella at me, her eyes shining brightly as she stepped closer. She laced her finger with mine and leaned close to me as we made our way out of the house.

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I smiled as Isabella held on tightly to my hand as we made our way to Seattle. She wanted to get a few things for school and I wasn't about to let her do it alone. "Is there a reason why you're restricting the blood flow to my fingers?" I questioned her as I could tell there was something wrong.

Isabella smiled at me a soft blush staining her cheeks as she looked at our hands. "Sorry, Rik." She whispered she went to remove her hand from mine, but I tightened my fingers around hers.

"I was asking a question, not telling you to remove your hand." I responded. "What's going on in that head of yours, Isabella?"

"Edward stopped by the house the other day." She whispered to me.

I couldn't help the slight growl that erupted from my throat at the sound of her words. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner."

"Because Edward wasn't alone." She replied as she looked towards me. "He was there with Jasper. They said they had only stopped by to tell me that there was a threat against me."

"What threat." I questioned doing my best to calm my tone as I knew that I shouldn't be made at Isabella.

"Victoria. She was James's mate and it seems she's building some sort of army to go against me." Isabella whispered her voice was softer than it usually was reminding me how incredibly timid she used to be around me. "I…" She cleared her throat looking away from me something that I understood was the sign that she was about to say something important. "I'm scared, Rik. It's an entire army with the sole purpose of killing me."

It was the way that her voice sounded that reminded me of how human Isabella really was. She was so incredibly vulnerable that it made me remember that she wasn't immortal… yet. "Look at me, Isabella."

Her shoulders tensed but she turned to face me and I could see the water in her eyes telling me just how scared she was. "I can and will protect you. No matter how large her army is, I will protect you."

Isabella shook her head and looked down at her clasped hands. "It shouldn't be your responsibility to deal with all of this. I hate this, Rik. There's nothing I can do, I don't want to be the damsel in distress, but I don't feel like there's anything I can do being human in a supernatural battle."

"Until I turn you into my kind of being, I will protect you. Once your immortal you'll be more than capable of protecting yourself, for now I'll protect you against anything you can't handle." I responded bringing her hand up so that I could kiss the back of it. "I will always protect you against the things you are not able to handle on your own."

Isabella nodded, her hold tightening only slightly on my hand as she gave no response but turned to look back out the window. I looked at her every few moments to assure that she was doing fine. Once we reached Seattle her demeanor changed and she seemed more tense. "I regret coming here, Rik." She whispered looking out the window. "The chances of her seeing me are high."

I nodded my head, she was right, there was a large chance that this Victoria, would sense her in the city, but it would be better for me if she did. "Isabella, you're underestimating just how strong I am and I'm beginning to take offense."

She turned to me and a small smile was pulling on her lips. "Rik, I can understand how strong you are, but I don't want to do anything that will make this easier for her. We can go back home, and I can order what I need online."

"Isabella, this trip is only making things easier for me. If she comes after you I can get her scent making it easier for me to track her down." I got out of the car and made my way over to her door. I held it open for her and helped her out. "Try not to think of her, we're here to get what you need and that is all. She won't attempt anything this out in the open."

Isabella turned to me and took in a deep breath. "How can you be so sure she won't try anything now?"

I smirked, "Revenge is my specialty, Isabella, and you want the person you're after to suffer. Taking you now would be too easy and it won't satisfy the need for vengeance she has."

Isabella looked at me curiously before grabbing her bag and draping it over her shoulder. "So what would you do, Rik? What would be your plan if you were seeking revenge?"

I smiled slightly amused knowing that she really was curious to know this. "First, it's clear to know that she doesn't want revenge on you. She wants revenge on Edward, and because Edward believes you are his mate, she will attack you in order to get to him."

Isabella paused her walking. "She's only after me because of Edward's stupid mate claim on me?"

I nodded, I saw her face filled with anger and I swore that she was having murderous thoughts by the look on her face. I was curious to know what exactly what going on in that head of hers. "If you wish, I will be happy to kill Edward for you."

Isabella laughed a wide smile coming onto her face. "I think you want to do that for your own amusement than to help me." She reached over and took my hand in hers, she walked closely at my side. "Okay, let's continue on with what your perfect revenge plan would be."

"Despite how utterly annoying the Cullen's are, they are willing to protect you." I responded thinking back to the Cullen's. I would truly love to kill them all, but that would have to wait for another day. "That means having to go through them in order to get to you. Because Victoria is so pathetically weak, she needs all the strength she can get, and for their kind, strength comes in numbers. That is why she is building the army, they are just a distraction to get the Cullen's out of the way while she has a chance to get to you."

"She believes Edward will be with me." Isabella said in realization. "All the other Cullens are meant to fight the army while Edward is meant to protect me. She wants him to watch me die, right? That's an important part of her plan."

I smiled, she was beginning to understand this. "That is the most important part of the plan, Isabella. Edward will become destroyed when you die, and then Victoria will have him feel what she feels. The only real problem in her plan is me. If I'm right, she's not aware that Edward isn't your mate, and that is going to make me killing her so much better."

Isabella turned and smiled at me. "I find your easy acceptance of killing way too refreshing. I'm starting to think that you're corrupting my way of thought."

I chuckled at her words, I knew they were true. My influence on Isabella was clear, I had changed the way she sees not only herself but others as well, and I was glad that I had been able to help her in such a manner. "My only goal in life is to continue to corrupt you."

Isabella laughed her eyes practically lighting up as she laughed. "I'd say you're accomplishing your goals just perfectly, Rik."

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I wrapped my arms around Isabella and pressed her back into my chest. "I need you to stay inside this store until I come back. No matter what happens, I need you to stay in this store."

Isabella turned in my arms and stared up at me with a puzzled look on her face. "Is something wrong, Rik?"

"I believe I've just caught sight of your stalker outside." I responded I let Isabella go and tipped her chin upwards so she was meeting my eyes. "Don't begin to worry. Get what you're going to need, and get what I'm going to need as well."

Isabella nodded, "Should I even bother in asking you to be safe?"

I smirked, "It's unnecessary, but I appreciate the sentiment."

Isabella gave me a small smile. "I suppose I'll settle with something else." She reached up and cupped my cheek. "Try not to cause a scene, Rik. Seattle doesn't need for the murder rate to increase."

I chuckled, I wouldn't promise not to kill anyone or anything, but I would at the very least try for her sake. "I'll be back soon."

Isabella smiled, she placed her hands on my chest and balanced herself on the tips of her toes so she could kiss me. I know I should've already been outside, but kissing my Isabella was a perfect distraction.

I pulled away and smiled down at her rose tinted cheeks. "I'll be back soon. Get whatever you and I need."

Isabella smirked, "You're going to need help controlling that temper of yours, but I doubt the store has anything that is going to help you in that department."

I laughed lightly, pleased to her back to her normal playful attitude. "I like to believe that my temper is perfectly under control. If you need anything just shout." With one final look at her I exited the store. I walked across the street to where I had seen someone in the shadows.

I reached the spot being able to catch the small ginger sent that still filled the air. Using my senses, I picked up Isabella's stable heart beat before I moved to chase after her stalker. The power of the scent made it all that much easier to track. Whomever it belonged to wasn't very fast as I was able to catch up to them with ease.

This wasn't Victoria.

I rapped my red energy around his chest throwing him against a tree and holding him there. He snarled and tried hopelessly to get out of my grasps. I could see his skin burning every time he touched my energy, but he wouldn't stop still hoping he would be able to escape. Idiot.

"Can you stop that? Your struggling is only going to make you weak, and I have a few questions for you to answer." I spoke slowly letting my words seep into his head. He stopped struggling, the first smart thing he's done all day.

He bared his teeth at me and growled. "I will tell you nothing."

Just when I thought he was going to be doing things the smart way he starts acting stupid again.

"You will tell me what I want, or I kill you." I responded tightening my energy around his chest. Allowing a portion of it to travel up to his throat and began to constrict it. "I'm considering letting you live, if you give me what I seek. If not, I'll turn you into a pile of ashes before you're able to blink."

I stepped closer, being able to feel his fear as he got a good look into my eyes. "I want to know why you were following me."

"I wasn't following you." The vampire gritted out pushing past the pain in his throat. "I was following the girl."

"Why?" I questioned, I already knew he was a part of Victoria's plan, but I didn't need him to know that.

"I was hungry." He lied, such a stupid action. "I decided it was too much trouble and went to find another meal."

I shook my head and sighed. "We have a problem now, Riley." I said glancing at him and watching as he shrunk back slightly at the use of his name. His face had been all over Forks and Seattle since his disappearance, was he so stupid to think no one would recognize him? "I know you're lying, you were sent to stalk after her."

Riley took in a strangled breath, an action that was unneeded, but obviously a human habit. "I wasn't going to do anything to her. My mission was just to see what she was doing in Seattle and to note if someone was with her. I wasn't going to hurt her."

"Yet." I responded simply, because had he been given an order he would've attacker her, and that was just not something I could simply let pass. "We both know that if Victoria had given you an order you would have attacked her."

"Please," He begged, "Don't kill me."

"To late for that." I responded sincerely. "You were dead the moment you posed any sort of threat against Isabella. And you were of no real use to me, just be glad your death is not going to be as painful as your maker's, because I'm going to torture her."

With that, I let my energy loose and he combusted. I scattered the ashes and walked away, going back to Isabella. Hopefully, she hadn't gotten hurt.

As I approached the store, I could feel Isabella's increased heartrate. I walked faster entering the store and ignoring the saleswoman that greeted me. I followed my instincts and found Bella in the back of the store in the backpack section. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her entire posture told me she was greatly aggravated. I turned my gaze to the blonde boy that stood in front of her, obviously the center of here annoyance and aggravation.

"So, Ben and I were really worried you know. We thought something had happened to you and that you had fallen back into the Cullen Cult. I'm happy to see that you're not with them, so does this mean you're willing to come with us up to Ben's parent's cabin this weekend? It's supposed to be a huge party, Lauren, Angela and Jessica will be there…" He trailed off, and as I got closer the more I could smell the utter lust and hormones that were rolling off of him.

My hands twitched slightly as I began to realize he was trying, and failing, to flirt with Isabella. I grew closer and I knew Isabella sensed me as her posture relaxed slightly and she turned to me with a blinding smile.

"Mike, this is Henrik. He's a new student at our school, I've been showing him around town." Isabella said taking a step back to press herself to my chest. "I came to Seattle with him, he's never been, and we both needed some supplies."

I watched with a smirk on my face as Mike, came to realization that Bella and I were more than simply friends. "Hello, Mike." I said doing my best to tone down my anger, obviously it didn't work as he shrunk away. It was either that, or he could sense the power I had, even a human would be able to sense my strength, though they wouldn't exactly know what they were sensing.

"It's cool to meet you, man." Mike said his hand reaching up to run through his hair. "I didn't know we were going to have a new student, or that you had already met Bella." His eyes drifted to Isabella for a moment and then back to me.

Isabella as always smiled politely. "Henrik signed up the last day of school before winter break, I ran into him at the school. I've been showing him around Forks, and this weekend we're going to go down to La Push with my dad."

Mike nodded, the disappoint obvious on his face. I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. "I guess that means you won't be joining us then."

Isabella nodded, I could practically feel her happiness as she realized he was just about to leave. "No, Henrik and I have plans, but thank you for the offer. Be sure to tell the others I said Hello."

Mike nodded and shifted around nervously, "No problem. I'll just be going, it was nice to see you, Bella, and nice to meet you, Henrik."

I simply nodded and watched him leave. I moved and stood in front of Isabella, "I leave you for a few minutes, and you already have stray puppies following you around."

Isabella laughed, "I doubt Mike is any problem to you. I'm assuming everything went well with you?"

I smirked, "Not a scratch on me, Isabella, though I can't say the same for your stalker. He went up in flames easily, no useful information from him."

Isabella's face fell slightly. "So, she's still out there?"

I nodded, pushing back the hair that fell to cover her face. "Not for long. I have his scent and that will surely lead me to their hideout. I'll come back at a later time to handle the problem."

Isabella nodded a small smile pulling at her lips as she tipped her chin upwards slightly to look at me. "I know it's useless to say it, but don't do something reckless, and be safe."

"I can't promise anything on the first part, but I'm always safe, nothing can harm me." I responded my smile matching hers now. I pulled her closer and wrapped my arms around her, knowing now was one of the moments Isabella simply needed my attention. I moved back slightly resting a small kiss on her head.

"Thanks, Rik." She whispered with a warm smile. "We really should get this finished up." She said gesturing to the store. "I was just about to pick out a back pack for you when Mike appeared."

"Is it necessary to have one?" I questioned looking at the things that hung up on the wall, they were far too bright and disturbing for me to use on a daily basis.

"I'm not carrying all your things." Isabella responded with a smirk. "And you at least have to look like you're a student, so taking notes and having a few notebooks and pencils is customary." She walked away from me and started to rifle through the backpacks.

I smiled fondly as I could hear her mutterings on the backpacks, clearly she disliked them as much as me. Whatever happened to simplicity?