Two sets of hands were on me, one on either side, as Alice and Rosalie herded me towards the couch. I slumped down with a hiss of pain as the sudden jolt caused pain to lance through my head.

"Tell us what happened." Rosalie demanded, her tone authoritative but still gentle.

"There was a vampire… he attacked me." I spoke slowly as I tried to form the words clearly and precisely.

"Where?" Alice asked worryingly.

"In an alleyway." I replied distractedly. It was clear I was still recovering from a pretty serious head injury, and I was becoming increasingly hungry. I hadn't had anything to eat since lunch, and after managing a partial transformation with my brain almost falling out the back of my skull, I was famished.

"Okay, Bella. But where?" Rosalie urged with stoic kindness, her amber eyes blazed as she looked me over once again, carefully cataloguing every facet of my appearance.

I followed her graze dreamily, staring down at myself. My jeans were done for, the left leg of them was completely torn off near the crotch and the right was in shredded tatters, it hung loosely in straps of denim, like bizarre ribbons. My shirt wasn't much better, both sleeves completely torn off and the front of my shirt was riddled with holes and covered in my blood and a stranger's venom. My exposed arms were covered in cracked and drying blood, and dark purple scars raked their way down my forearms to my elbows.

"Did anyone see you like this?" Rosalie gestured vaguely to my appearance.

"No – or uh, I don't think so." I babbled, "I came in the back, used the service elevator."

"Good. That's good." Rosalie nodded seriously, and then put a kind hand on my cheek to bring my face up to look at hers, "You did well, Bella."

"Did you burn the body?" Alice asked,

"No… no I uh – I hit my head pretty bad and I couldn't think and – and." Panic shot through me, causing my heart to flutter and my head to pound. All I could think of after the vampire's head had rolled away with a grotesque squelch was going to get help.

"Relax, it's alright." Rosalie cooed gently, the hand on my cheek went to stroke my hair. I could feel Rosalie not so subtly check the back of my head for any open wounds, her cool fingers gently scraping against my scalp felt heavenly and I leaned back into the touch.

"Can you take us there? Can you take us to the body, Bella?" Alice asked,

"Yeah – yes, I think so." I stood up and Rosalie's hands shot out to steady me. "I'm alright." I tried my best to assure her.

"Here, Bella. Put this on, a bath would be better but we don't have time." Alice held out a long fluffy white hotel bathrobe out and I obediently pulled it on over my ruined clothes. I pulled it closed around me and tied the sash tightly.

I diligently led the pair down the hotel corridors and down the service elevator, before I started to retrace my steps. Working on hazy memories and following my own scent, we quickly arrived at the scene of my crime.

French fries sat in pools of blood, slowly soaking up the red liquid. A lone head was a few feet away near some loose trash, and nearby was a slightly twitching corpse. With clear eyes I studied the tableau, a macabre scene fresh out of a horror story. A pile of scattered human teeth in a pool of blood, chunks of vampire flesh littered about a headless corpse. I looked up to where I had been thrown against the brick wall. There was a large dent in the brick, cracks splintered out from it like a spider's web, and in the crater that had been created by my head was a large splattering of blood. I stepped closer to the wall to inspect it further, and I noticed bits of hair, bone and what I really hoped wasn't brain matter but was more than likely brain matter stuck to the rough surface.

"We're lucky no one has stumbled in here." Rosalie commented.

Alice nodded her agreement, "He must be young," She remarked casually.

"How can you tell?" I turned from studying the wall to look at Alice.

"If he were older, he would have already put himself back together by now. As it is, he's barely moving." She explained as she nudged the corpse with the toe of her shoe.

Rosalie strutted over to the severed head and held it up by the hair, "I don't recognise him." She mused. She fished her cellphone out of her pocket and took a quick photo, the flash illuminated the alleyway briefly before she dropped the head unceremoniously and started to type furiously on her phone. The second Rosalie stopped typing, the phone started to ring loudly. She answered it swiftly but before she could say anything I heard Carlisle's distressed and chastising voice on the other end of the line.

"Rosalie Hale, what in the world is going on!? You can't just text me an image of a severed head with the message 'do you know who this is?'! Context, Rosalie. Now!" By the end, Carlisle's voice had risen to a shout.

"Bella was attacked, none of us recognised him, so I figured I'd sent you a picture to see if you did." Rosalie answered calmly as she studied her nails casually. She was completely nonchalant as if everything was perfectly fine and this was a totally normal situation.

The entire thing was starting to make me feel dizzy, or maybe it was hunger, or maybe it was because I was still staring at small chunks of my own grey matter stuck to the wall. I lowered myself to the ground, crossing my legs and bracing my elbows on my knees so I could bury my face in my hands.

I could hear a cacophony of noise on the other side of the phone call before I heard Edward's worried voice. "Is Bella okay?" He demanded, his voice hoarse, "Where is she?"

Rosalie sighed and rolled her eyes as if Edward was being overly dramatic, maybe he was. Surely my faculties were still somewhat disabled due to hunger and a fucking traumatic brain injury, so if Rosalie thought Edward was overreacting I felt like I should defer to her judgement on the matter. I heard her footsteps come closer to me and I looked up at her as she held out the cell phone for me. I reached out and took it silently, "I'm fine, Edward." I couldn't get out another word before Edward interrupted.

"What happened!?" He yelled and I hissed in pain and pulled the phone away from my ear.

"Shhh." I hissed down the line, "Not so loud, would ya?" I grumbled quietly. "The bastard threw me into a brick wall, I hit my head pretty hard. So please, no yelling."

"I'm sorry," Edward murmured, "Please, love. Tell me what happened."

I looked over at Alice and Rosalie who were now inspecting the headless body. Well, Alice was inspecting it, Rosalie was just scowling down at it and nudging it with the toe of her boot when it twitched too violently. "I went out for some food, and on the way back a vampire threw me into an alley. I hit my head really hard." I decided to leave out the fact that my brains were still splattered on the wall in front of me. No need to make him worry unnecessarily. I was fine now, almost back to 100%. "I managed to fight him off… take his head off. But I was really disorientated, so I just sorta stumbled back to the hotel." I decided that it was also best to leave out the unseemly threats the vampire had made before I had managed to relieve him of his head.

There was a moment of silence before he chuckled ruefully, "Do you go looking for trouble? Or does it just have the habit of finding you?"

"The vampire, he acted like he had heard of me before." When I said that Alice and Rosalie looked over at me.

"You didn't mention that before." Rosalie accused.

"Blame the brain damage." I snarked sarcastically and Rosalie snorted a laugh, she seemed relieved to hear me joking around, taking it as a sign that I was feeling more like myself.

I then regretted my choice of words when Edward roared down the phone. "Brain damage!?"

I threw the phone away from me as the noise hurt my ear and caused my head to throb. Rosalie caught it swiftly, "Keep it down, moron." She hissed. Rosalie looked at me, "What did the vampire say to you?" she asked gently.

"He said something about not understanding what the big deal is, like I didn't meet his expectations or something." I shrugged.

"Carlisle doesn't recognise him." Edward said after a moment's deliberation. "Now tell me, what's this about brain damage? Rosalie, does Bella have brain damage?" He demanded gravely.

Rosalie's shrewd eyes studied me for a moment and I stared back at her, pleading with her silently to please not say anything to upset Edward any more than he already was. "Not anymore she doesn't." She sniffed.

I groaned as I lowered my head back into my hands as I listened to Edward's freak out on the other line.

"Edward, she's fine." Rosalie interrupted, "She was in a bit of a daze when she came back to the hotel room, her gait was uneven and she was speaking slowly, but not slurred." Rosalie's heals clicked loudly against the concrete as she approached me, she crouched down next to me and a manicured finger was tucked under my chin. Rosalie coaxed my head up to look at her. "I am looking at her right now," Rosalie declared, "Her pupils are even and responsive. Bella is fine." Rosalie stressed the word before she gracefully stood up. "Honestly, your werewolf girlfriend is tougher than you give her credit for." Rosalie winked at me affectionately.

"I want her back here in Forks immediately." Edward demanded.

"Oh hell no." I mumbled and held my hand out in a silent demand for the cellphone, Rosalie handed it over. "I want to shower, eat, and sleep. In that order. We will come home in the morning."

"Bella-" Edward began,

"I am covered in blood and venom and I haven't had dinner. I am exhausted and starving, I doubt that you really want to argue with me right now." I droned blandly, my tone left no room for argument.

There was a brief silence and I heard Edward sigh softly, "Yes, dear. I'll see you in the morning, I love you." He replied obediently.

"I love you too." I replied softly. I hung up the phone and tossed it back to Rosalie.

Rosalie smirked at me knowingly before turning to Alice. "Can you take Bella back to the hotel, help her clean up and get her some food. I'll deal with… this." Rosalie said waving her hands about the bloody scene.

"Sure thing," Alice chirped before she danced over to me, "Come on, Bella. Up you get." Alice stooped to put a hand on my forearm to help me haul myself to my feet. She kept a steadying hand on my arm as she walked me to the end of the alleyway.

I turned around, pulling the ridiculously fluffy bathrobe tighter around me. "Thanks, Rosalie. For… ya know." I eyed the grisly scene I had left behind.

Rosalie shrugged, "We're family, Bella." The words were spoken honestly with no hint of Rosalie's usual snark or sarcasm. She acts as if the words are explanation enough, and maybe they are.

XxXx

I woke up clear-headed and alert with long cold fingers brushing gingerly against my cheek. I reacted instinctively, a growl rumbled in my chest as my hand shot up to snatch at the wrist of whoever was touching me.

"Bella?" I heard Edward's voice ask, his voice was calm if not a little bit worried.

I blink my eyes open to see that I am holding Edward's wrist in a death grip, twisting his arm at what must have been a painful angle. I yanked my hand back as if he had shocked me. "S-sorry." I mumbled as I pulled myself up on the obscenely large king sized bed. "You startled me." I explained weakly, in my half asleep daze it hadn't registered that it was Edward who was touching me, just that I was being touched.

"It's alright," Edward hummed lovingly, "How are you feeling?" Edward's soft eyes studied me carefully.

"Good," I answered quickly, and then looked him over in turn. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"I had to come see you, to make sure you were alright." Edward's brow furrowed lightly and I smiled softly at him.

"You're a worry wort. You know that, right?" I teased.

Edward frowned at me, "You are okay then? Truly?" He implored.

"Yes. A little confused about who attacked me and why, but other than that I am right as rain." I assured him.

"About that, Carlisle sent the picture Rosalie took to your father." Edward began, his voice wary.

I snorted, "Charlie would have loved that, did he know anything?"

"He recognised the vampire." Edward announced.

"Okay… and…?" I hedged. Honestly, getting information out of Edward felt like pulling teeth.

"He was one of the missing persons. His name was Riley Biers, he was one of the first to go missing almost a year ago." Edward stared at me, cautiously judging my reaction. I felt something painful snap in my chest. I wasn't sure why, but this felt worse than when I had killed James. This vampire still had family alive, a mother and a father waiting for him to come home, and I had insured that he never would. "Whatever you're thinking, stop it." Edward groused,

"I killed him, and now his parents will never know what happened to their son." I whispered, not trusting my voice.

Edward growled in annoyance, "You are too honourable for your own good." He muttered as he shifted closer to me on the bed, I let him draw me in close and I took comfort by burying my face in his chest. "He attacked you, viciously. I saw Alice and Rosalie's memories, it was… horrific." Edward's voice broke slightly and he cleared his throat before continuing. "His parents never would have known what became of their son, regardless of what happened last night. That much was assured the moment he was turned. I wish you wouldn't make yourself sick with guilt over a creature as loathsome as him." I felt Edward's nose against the top of my head for a moment, he then shifted and pressed a loving kiss to my hair.

"You're right." I nodded against his chest, "I'm sorry."

"Oh, sweet Bella. Never apologise for your gentle soul," His voice rumbled against my ear, his hand traced comforting circles on my arm, brushing against the almost completely healed scars. He was trying to comfort me, trying to bring me some sense of peace after a difficult night. I appreciated his efforts but it wasn't enough, it wasn't what I wanted.

I pulled back just enough so I could capture his lips with my own. Edward kissed me back gently, and I pressed forward to coax a reaction from him. I felt his hands flutter down to my waist, just the lightest of touches as if he were unsure he was allowed to touch me at all. I continued to push forward, hands tangled in his hair as my lips moved hungrily against his. I waited for Edward to push back, to give something in return, some indication of his desire. Instead, Edward was malleable under my touch, and as I pressed forward he leaned back. Not enough to draw his lips away from mine, but just enough so that we fell together onto the plush bed.

I shifted my body, swinging a leg around so that I could straddle him and I felt Edward's fingers tighten on my waist. I smirked against his mouth, pleased about finally getting a response. I deepened the kiss, swiping my tongue against his lips before delving into his mouth. Edward pulled his head back with a breathy groan. "Bella," Edward warned, his hands holding my waist tightened again, keeping me very still.

I smiled and ducked my head into the crook of his neck, "Hmm, Edward." I hummed happily, breathing deeply, his scent surrounded me and calmed me instantly. I pressed wet kisses to the column of his throat.

"Enough," He barked out. I couldn't help the little shocked squeal I gave as he suddenly lifted me off him and deposited me on the other side of the bed. "You will be the death of me, I swear it." He grumbled as he ran a hand through his hair.

I huffed impudently, annoyed that he had cut our little make-out session short. As he always did. "You're no fun." I muttered.

"I'll be a lot less fun if your father dismembers me for debauching his daughter in a hotel room the morning after she was viciously attacked." Edward retorted. He stood up and straightened his clothes, "Come on, I ordered you room service for breakfast. Eat, and then we will go home." He said as he offered me a hand.

"Alright, alright." I whined. I took his hand and followed him into the main room of the suite. I tried to focus on my breakfast, and not on the fact that I had been attacked by a newborn vampire. Or what that could mean for me and the future of my new family.

A/N: By popular demand, here is more of Charlie's back story. We shall pick up where we left off at the end of the last fic.

Dawn broke on an entirely new world. I trudged quietly behind my brother, obedient and silent as we marched through the forest. I could hear my young cousins sniffling behind me, trying their best to cope with the atrocities they had witnessed. Nora was doing her best to comfort them, to quiet them and help them through, but she was just a child herself. She had never seen battle or dealt with the horrors that accompanied war, and was wholly unequipped to deal with the fallout. I, myself, had only been on a number of small skirmishes years before, and even I was struggling with the emotional aftermath.

I clenched my jaw and quickened my step, coming up to walk beside my brother. "Where are we going, brother?"

"Annalise married into the Rathburn pack last spring, they will offer us sanctuary." Frederick replied stoically.

I frowned. It would take us more than a day to get there on foot. Nora and the younger ones could not shift on demand yet, and the full moon was still many weeks away. Frederick was correct, however, our sister's new pack was our best hope at getting help. "We should let the children rest," I suggested, glancing back at the younglings who had fallen behind slightly, Nora at the head of the group, gently urging them forward.

"They are not children." Frederick muttered bitterly.

I bit my lip to stop myself from arguing. He was correct, technically. They were all older than twelve years of age, no longer children, but they weren't yet adults either. The twins, Liam and Carter where barely fourteen, and poor little Vanessa had only turned twelve a fortnight ago. "We have been walking all night. They are exhausted." I implored.

Frederick stopped walking and turned to stare at me abruptly, he eyed the three of them carefully. "Alright, not for long though." He cautioned.

I smiled fondly at him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "It's all going to be okay, Fredrick. You'll see." I said optimistically. It was the pure optimism of a child, of a fool who had yet to experience the true nature of the world.

Frederick grunted in response, "I'm going to scout ahead," He turned and stalked away, disappearing into the woods.

I sighed wearily and turned around, "Lets stop here for a little while." Three groans of relief sounded out, and Vanessa bit back a tiny sob. My frowned deepened and my eyes stung with tears as I watched Nora settle the trio down on the leaf littered ground.

"How are you?" Nora murmured to me as I sat down next to her. She had slung a rough hessian sack off her back, and was prying open the draw strings as she spoke.

"I am well." I replied evenly. I watched quietly as Nora produced a roll of bread which she started to break up into pieces and hand out to each of the three children. She offered me a piece as well but I shook my head. "I am not hungry." I lied as I pushed her hand away.

Nora huffed angrily, "Don't be absurd, Charles." She chastised me mulishly, "You need your strength." She grabbed my hand and pressed the offering into my palm.

I huffed a humourless laugh as I bit into the bread. "I suppose I should listen to you," I relented, "You were wise enough to think to bring along provisions, I can't say the same for myself." I was ashamed to admit, I had been so consumed by the battle around me that I hadn't paused to collect any food.

Nora shrugged shyly, "It's not much, some bread and dried meats and fruits. Enough for a couple of days at least."

Vanessa had finished her bread but I could see her staring longingly at the remainder of my ration, I smiled warmly at her and handed it over. "Here," She rewarded me with a beaming smile and I chuckled.

I could hear footsteps approaching and I jumped up in time to see Frederick making his way towards us. "Come on, we need to keep moving." He ordered.

We walked until the sun set below the horizon. We tried our best to mask our trails, to hide the evidence of our footsteps, however not much could be done for our scents. We made sure to walk across creeks, walking with our feet in the water for a long while before emerging out the other side in an attempt to throw off any pursuers. I had never experienced such exhaustion, the sort of weariness that sunk deep into my bones until it felt as if every ounce of my being was aching. Before, during the massacre, I had been running on a few hours of sleep and the adrenaline coursing through my veins, and as dawn had broken I had forced myself forward out of duty and a sense of responsibility for my younger sister and cousins. As the sun cast it's dying hues across a cloudless sky, I felt as if death itself would consume me.

Vanessa clung to my back, her small feet and little legs had given up on her hours before and I couldn't deny her plea for help. Frederick still ploughed ahead, and I wondered if my brother felt the same way I did, and if he did, how he could pretend so well to the contrary. "Brother," I rasped out, "We need to stop, rest for the night." I pleaded.

Frederick stopped and turned to stare at me, his eyes flickered from my hunched form to little Vanessa on my back, and our cousins and sister behind me. "It's dangerous." He murmured roughly.

"What is more dangerous is collapsing from exhaustion!" I snapped angrily, a feral growl rumbled in my chest.

Frederick stormed towards me, branches snapping underfoot. "Do not speak to me in that tone." He snarled, an answering growl thundered in his chest. "I am pack leader, and I will have respect." He glowered down at me.

"Pack?" I scoffed, "What pack!?" I sneered, fighting to keep my voice down in case we were heard. "It is just us, brother! Or have you forgotten?" I spat as I shoved him backward, the jostling motion caused Vanessa to whimper weakly on my back. "Everyone else is dead, our family slaughtered and you are leading us through the woods for what? To go beg our sister for aid?"

"Watch your tongue or I will cut it out." Frederick quietly raged, eyes blazing, he was so close I could feel his hot breath on my face as he panted in anger.

"Stop it! Both of you!" Nora cried in a hushed whisper. We both turned to stare at her, the twin boys behind her watching us with wide watery eyes. "We are all exhausted, half-starved and grieving. We have lost our home and you both are bickering like a pair of old maids! Shame!" She scolded, her voice wavering slightly as tears streaked down her ash stained face.

I looked back to my brother and stepped back, hanging my head in disgrace. "I am sorry, brother." I murmured.

"You are forgiven," He grumbled back, "And you are right," he conceded, "We must rest if we are to continue."

I nodded and crouched down so Vanessa could slide off my back. We settled down in a small group and Nora handed out strips of dried meat and the remainder of the loaf of bread.

"Eat, then rest. I will take first watch." Frederick commanded.

I fell asleep quickly and was awoken too soon by my brother's stern hand. "Wake up, Charles. It's your watch." He grumbled. I murmured my assent as I stood up off the harsh ground. "Wake me at dawn." He muttered as he took my vacated spot, he lay on his back with his hands behind his head.

I diligently sat watch until the first light of dawn appeared. The night had been quiet, save for the sounds of owls and forest creatures. I woke up my siblings and cousins, and after a scarce breakfast of dried fruits we continued our march. I knew we would be able to reach Rathburn estate today, and I couldn't help the surge of hope and relief that the thought brought me.

A soft bed and a warm drink, a full meal and a welcoming smile. All of it would be such a comfort after such an arduous experience. As we approached the crest of the hill that would reveal the Rathburn estate, all that hope turned to ash in my mouth.

The stone walls had been breached, and the buildings of the estate were in ruin. Nothing more than crumbling stone and smouldering ash. "No," I gasped out and shot off at a sprint towards the estate.

"Charles! Wait!" Frederick thundered behind me.

I raced through the thinning woodlands and across the plains of grass, heart thundering in my ears as dread clenched it's fetid fist around my soul. I stumbled to a halt as I came to the broken and splintered gates of the estate. There on a shining silver spike was a large wolf's head. Dark brown fur matted with blood, ears tinged with darker black fur, large jaws open slack, white teeth still glistening with blood and venom.

Tears streaked down my face as sobs wracked my body, "Annalise." I sobbed. I fell to the ground, grief stricken and hopeless I was no longer able to stay upright. "Annalise." I cried out her name, clawing hopelessly at the ashy ground. I heard hurried footsteps behind me, and a pained wail as Nora saw what I had seen. Our sister's head on a pike.

A/N: Thanks for reading, and thank you so much for the amazing response to the first chapter! I hope you guys liked this chapter just as much.