Bella woke up the next morning, well late morning with The Hangover from Hell and she had never felt happier. Every movement caused her to hold her head and groan but it also made her want to sing.
"I am ALIVE!" she shouted then immediately regretted it as the elephant tap dancing in her skull was joined by a hippo. Or so it felt.
"Not a good idea." She groaned as she dragged herself out of bed and staggered to the kitchen for coffee and paracetamol, lots of paracetamol.
She found it hard to believe she was walking let alone thinking about coffee. She had been convinced that the vampire she met last night was going to eat her. Her memory of the events of last night were, as always a little hazy but she was certain there had been a vampire, one who had made her panties melt.
"Fuck!" she suddenly thought almost spitting her coffee across the room. "You didn't kill me. Who did you kill?" She quickly fired off a text to all the friends that had been out with her last night to check they got home ok. Then sat down with her coffee to anxiously wait for the replies. Or god forbid, lack of replies.
By lunch she had got rid of her hangover, showered and heard from all her friends that were out last night. They were all home, safe. Bella breathed a sigh of relief. She knew there would be a missing person reported in the near future but she just hoped it wasn't someone she knew. Feeling restless and despondent she decided to go for a walk. Usually her walks took her down along the river but that didn't feel right so today she headed in the opposite direction up the street toward the Cathedral.
It was an incredible building that Bella had loved almost on sight. It was a large, impressive building with huge columns and bright stained glass windows. Close to a thousand years old it made her feel small yet safe. She loved just walking around soaking up the feeling of the place. She went there when she needed to get her thoughts straight, or when her Dad was heavy in her thoughts. Today it was both. The close encounter with the vampire, Alistair, she finally remembered his name, had shaken her up. She had hoped to remain vampire free, seeing them around was not the same as speaking to one and she had her only own drunken stupidity to blame. So now not only had she made contact with one but he knew she'd had previous contact with vampires. She could only hope and pray that she never saw him again. She desperately wished that he had believed that she'd had no idea what it was that had bitten her. Knowing what she did of vampires and their world even Bella had to admit that was very unlikely. All she could hope for truthfully was that she had not peaked his interest and that he had hunted then moved on.
All of this inevitably turned her thoughts back to the Cullen's and more specifically Edward. Over the last three years she had thought about him a lot, more than perhaps she had wanted to. It was now clear to Bella that Edward didn't really know what love was. He couldn't help when he was born and brought up. But he seemed to think that love meant controlling and manipulating your partner, doing exactly what you wanted despite their reservations and basically acting like a king in his own little kingdom. Perhaps it was due to his gift, maybe it was more of hindrance than a help. Bella suspected that it had turned Edward into something of a know it all who believed he could never possibly be wrong. This meant that inevitably he was often wrong. With a chuckle she admitted that hindsight was a wonderful thing. At the time they were together she would have sworn on the bible that Edward was absolutely perfect and could do no wrong. What a naïve, little girl she had been. She was fairly sure Edward had arranged her acceptance to Dartmouth, he had told her she should go there often enough, even after he left he was still trying to control her. Did he hope they would meet up there? If he did he would have got quite a shock when she didn't turn up. That thought made her smile and she wondered half-heartedly what he would make of her now.
In all honesty Bella didn't care what he or anyone else thought of her. She was happy in her own skin, she liked how she looked and the person she had become. She felt that her Dad would be proud of her and that was the only other approval Bella cared for. Smiling wryly Bella admitted that Edward would be shocked by her 'loose morals' and immodest behaviour and clothing. He would say her language was unladylike and her attitude disgraceful. He was a product of his upbringing after all. For her part Bella didn't give a flying fuck that he would be disappointed in her, in some ways she hoped for that. Because if they ever did meet again she would not hesitate to tell him how disappointed she was in him and his family before asking them politely to "Fuck Off."
Hearing the wind picking up outside and realising it was starting to get dark Bella moved to head out of the Cathedral and home. Just as she was leaving the building a movement to her left caught her attention. There standing in the shadows watching her was Alistair. He was smirking at her. He looked smug. Had he followed her? Had he been there the whole time? Was he hunting her? It was the only explanation for his presence that her suddenly, panic stricken mind could come up with. Her heart began to race with fear as she quickly left the Cathedral and practically ran back to her flat.
Leaning against the flat door once she got inside Bella slid to the floor and tried to get her breathing under control so she could think rationally. Just because he was there didn't mean he was following her, right. He could have just been looking around and it was a pure coincidence. Berating herself for having run away, she now realised it would have given him the impression she knew what he was. Something Bella knew was not a good idea. But it was done now and she couldn't take it back. Whatever the consequences of her actions she would have to face them. Worrying would not help matters. Forcing herself to calm down she got off the floor and headed to her kitchen. That room always made her feel better. She made a light meal and settled down with her course work determined to put today's events out of her mind.
Alistair had been shocked to find himself heading to Isabella's flat again so soon. He was curious about her and that scar and he just had to know how she got it and if she knew what he was. He had caught her scent as he approached her flat and followed it. She was walking aimlessly around the cathedral apparently deep in thought. He got close enough to touch her on a couple of occasions before pulling back to watch her. She hadn't noticed him at all so he was able to observe her naturally.
She was beautiful, he decided he would admit that. She had a natural, unconscious charm and ease which was very attractive. He never liked those women who put on airs and pretended to be something they weren't. She was smiling wryly at some thought and then he noticed she looked sad. He felt a strong need to wipe that frown away and make her smile as she had last night. That thought made him frown. Why should he care if she was happy or not? Stupid human, he should just kill her and be done with it. And yet the very thought of killing her left him cold. What was going on with him?
Alistair watched her get up to leave and decided to get her attention. Moving ahead of her he stepped out of the shadows just enough for her to notice him. Straight away he heard her heart take off in fear, the colour drained from her face and she practically ran home. Sauntering after her he took in this new development. She was afraid of him when sober. Why? She must know what he was. If that was the case how had she survived being bitten? If she was attached to a vampire why weren't they with her now? He had picked up no other scents for some time. Unless it was simply the natural fear humans felt for vampires? He cursed himself for being curious. Why should it bother him? She was of no importance, nothing, a distraction. He forced himself to move away from her flat. He headed out of town. He would not come back.
ooOOoo
Over the next week Bella managed to pull herself together. They guy who had been reported missing a week ago was apparently known as a drug dealer, no one she knew so she was relieved. Bella knew vampires didn't hunt in the same town too often as it could draw the wrong kind of attention so she hoped that she had seen the last of Alistair. As the days passed she slowly began to relax. Had she dodged the bullet? She began to allow herself the hope that she had. Her course work was piling up so it gave her an adequate distraction. Things went swiftly back to normal.
However as she was walking back to her flat in the dark the following Monday night after getting some groceries, she had the feeling she was being followed. Speeding up slightly she turned a corner and looked over her shoulder. She could see no one there but the feeling did not diminish. She felt in her pocket for her pepper spray. She always carried it in deference to her father. She reached her flat safely and locked the door. As Bella closed the living room curtains she noticed a dark shape in the shadow across from her flat. She couldn't make out any distinguishing characteristics before it melted away slowly, so she had been followed. Leaning against the wall Bella tried desperately to control her ragged breathing and racing heart. She was terrified. There had been a couple of girls attacked lately by a human man, Bella just prayed she wasn't next. Being unable to settle she thought about calling Becky and asking her to come over. She didn't want to be alone but didn't want Becky walking to her place if there was a crazy rapist out there. Bella knew she would have to just tough it out. The thought that it might be Alistair did occur to her as well. In which case she definitely didn't want someone else mixed up in this.
Alistair had been shocked when his gift had led him back to Durham just a week later. He was drawn to the place and the knowledge that Isabella was more than likely the draw did not improve his mood. He had been in a bad mood since leaving Durham a week ago. Following her scent from her flat to the university then back to a supermarket he caught up with her as she was walking home. He knew exactly when she realised he was there and the sound of her heart taking off again in fear made him smile a smile do sinister that it would freeze the blood of anyone who saw it. He liked her fear, he liked that she ran. He wanted to court her fear, to make her run. He found that this time he liked the chase. That must be why he was back, he decided. He had never been one to play with his food but now he couldn't help it, still unable to bring himself to kill her, Alistair decided he would taunt her for a while until he could. After all, she was food, nothing more. Seeing her look straight at him out of her window, seeing her eyes widen in terror, he smiled again and turned away. He knew he would be back.
ooOOoo
Over the next several weeks Bella became certain she had a stalker. She was truly afraid. She now knew that it was Alistair and not a human rapist. That knowledge did not bring her any comfort. Every few days she would catch a glimpse of him. One night he even stood in the light so she could see him. The smile on his face chilled her to the bone. He seemed to take great delight in her terror, like it was entertaining. It was just a game to him, he was just playing with her, like a cat with a mouse. Letting it go, think it was free, then snatching it back up again. She remembered Jasper had once said that fear made the blood taste sweeter. Was that what Alistair was doing, sweetening her up? Upon realising this Bella began to assess her options. She could pack up and go home to the safety of the pack, tail between her legs, a failure. She could beg Jake or one of the others to visit in the hope that they could chase him away and not die or reveal themselves in the process. Or she could take control and show him she wasn't going to play his game anymore. Either way she had to do something, she was a nervous wreck, hardly sleeping, barely eating. Something had to change.
After deliberating for a few more days she was no nearer a decision. He wasn't here just now but going off the previous weeks she guessed he would be back tomorrow or the next night, however she could not really be sure. He seemed to be enjoying her fear and discomfort as far as she could tell. The anticipation of what might happen was driving Bella mad. It had to stop. Passing a clothes shop with a sale on Bella made a snap decision and went into the shop.
Two days later walking back from the library Bella felt she was being followed. Glancing in a window she saw a shadow duck into a doorway. Bella smiled to herself.
"Game on." She thought. Perhaps her plan was stupid, perhaps it would end in her death but it was her plan, her idea and that thought gave her some comfort. She was taking back control, at least some of it. Heading back to her flat at a leisurely pace, Bella couldn't help the thrill of excitement that ran through her. She was nervous but also filled with anticipation. Whatever was going to happen next would be on her terms.
Alistair couldn't understand the change in his quarry when he started to follow her again. Her heart sped up slightly but not the gallop of terror he was looking forward to hearing. She didn't speed up her pace, in fact she took the time to window shop. He growled quietly to himself. It appeared they were playing a different game today. One whose rules he had yet to learn. Perhaps this was the signal he was waiting for, the one which told him the chase was over and to just kill her and end his torment.
And he was tormented. He could not get the girl out of his mind. He had even found himself stalking a young brunette that resembled her in Wales. He had killed that girl in the hope it would free him but it didn't, he had panicked for a moment when he came down from the feeding induced haze he had allowed to overtake him. He had thought for a split second he had killed her, Isabella, and it had been painful. He didn't understand what she was doing to him.
Bella took a deep breath. She had got back to her flat with Alistair following her all the way. She had managed to keep calm the whole time. She had forced herself to eat something and set the things out for her plan. She needed to take her time, she needed to feel in control. As the evening wore on she poured herself a glass of wine, unlocked the front door and opened the living room window. She could see him in the shadows opposite. A dark shape, not moving, the chill of terror she usually felt was replaced with a relief in the knowledge that no matter what happened next, one way or another, the nightmare of the last few weeks was over. Without raising her voice she spoke down to the shadows.
"You do realise stalking is a crime. If you really must insist on hanging around you may as well come in. The front door is unlocked and you are making the place look untidy standing there." With that she closed the window, drew the curtains and took a deep breath. She heard the front door open and close again softly, then the lock clicked into place.
"This is it" she thought to herself as he walked slowly into the room.