Previously:

As Edward stepped outside, he retrieved his pocket watch from his shirt pocket, noting it was only 11:30 at night. He pondered his next destination. At this late hour, few establishments remained open, most of them being places of ill repute, and he had just departed from one. Contemplating whether to continue his hunt for food, he already knew where he wanted to go. With a smile, he set off for Wrigley Field, hopeful for the chance to spend some time with Mindy.

Chapter 7: Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Herald and Gertrude Addams stared into each other's eyes. What might have been a special moment between the happily married couple was, in fact, a horror story, as they both lay lifeless on the floor, dead in their own home. As Alec looked at them longingly, he tried not to let his frustration show that once again his needs had been glossed over.

Earlier that morning, as daylight approached, Demetri had gestured toward the farmhouse in the rural Ohio community they were running through. The man, whom Alec now knew was named Herald from his mail, opened the door, only for Felix to forcefully push past both of them and begin draining the startled man before he could utter a word. As a scream of horror pierced the air from inside the house, Demetri flashed Alec a grin and darted through the front door to sate his own thirst.

Assholes! Alec had been having to take shit like this for close to a thousand years. And if all went as planned, it would be him who actually had to do all the work for this assignment, and considering he hadn't fed since the day before they left Volterra, he was getting quite parched. Alec glanced over at Demetri and Felix, who were sitting casually at the dining room table, engrossed in a game of chess. If only Jane had come…

He made his way to the living room and peered out of the curtain. The bright noonday sun reflected off his hand, creating patterns of thousands of sparkling diamonds on the wallpaper and ceiling throughout the room. Outside, he could see some farm animals next to a large red barn, but that was about it. Turning away from the window, he spotted a small shelf of books and went over to see if there were any that looked interesting, which might help pass the time until nightfall.

Twilight had finally arrived, granting Demetri, Felix, and Alec the freedom to depart the farmhouse they had 'borrowed.' As they sped off into the night, wisps of smoke began to emerge from the windows, as the multiple fires set within would soon engulf the house, covering up the homeowners' untimely demise. On the move once again, Demetri honed his ability, instantly discerning the location of their quarry and leading his fellow guard members as they closed in on their target.

Demetri knew he should give Felix and Alec a breakdown of what was going to happen before they reached Cullen. He had relayed to them just the basics of his conversation with Aro, and he didn't want any mistakes. "Alright, he's currently in Chicago," he began in a firm tone. "Aro is very interested in this one and made it clear that he didn't want him damaged if at all possible. Got that, Felix?" He glanced at Felix while they ran, making sure he was listening. "When we get close, Alec, you do your thing, and once we have him we'll run him back to New York, then board a ship bound for Italy." He hoped his instructions were clear. He'd seen Felix rip more than a few vampires in half in the past as a means to pacify them.

Felix, who always preferred a fight, spoke up. "What if he's not alone?"

"Some collateral damage is fine, and, in fact, preferred, as Aro wants him brought up on charges. The usual frame job," Demetri reiterated, recalling the strict instructions from Aro. No complications were to be tolerated. It brought to mind the debacle with Amun's coven mate when they attempted a similar operation with disastrous results. That shit show 50 years ago had left a real mark on his nearly spotless record. Five guards, including Chelsea, had died when Benjamin fought back before he and Felix managed to rip him to pieces. Since then, they had added several new members to the main coven, some of whom had proven to be quite valuable to the cause, though the loss of Chelsea had been a significant blow.

"We just need to get him back to Volterra. After Aro reads him, he'll know how best to proceed to ensure Cullen falls in line," Demetri affirmed, noticing the frown on Felix's face, which elicited a grin from him. "Hey, if Cullen is as pitiful as I remember him being, maybe Aro will have second thoughts and let you do your thing. I know Caius will certainly agree. He's had it out for Carlisle for centuries, and I'm certain anyone associated with him would share in his disdain."

Felix nodded. He hoped somehow Edward would prove to be a more cunning adversary than they expected as he needed a good fight after such a long journey, but that rarely happened when Alec tagged along.

Demetri contemplated their approach. "I'm not sure what Cullen's range is with his mind reading, so when we're about 5 miles out, I'll give the signal. Let's focus on controlling our thoughts and keeping our minds as blank as possible."

"That shouldn't be too different from your usual, huh," Felix remarked, grinning. Demetri elbowed him hard in the stomach, causing Felix to lose a few steps before catching back up with the others.

By the middle of the night, they had arrived in Chicago, and Demetri's senses guided him effortlessly to their destination. It had been decades since he last traversed this city, and the urban landscape had transformed significantly. Rows of brick and stone buildings stretched out before them, while the downtown area held some impressive structures that rose prominently above the skyline. Everywhere was still cloaked in the silence of the early morning hour.

He signaled the others to prepare, their nods affirming their readiness. Using his ability, he pinpointed their path and led the way, confident in their mission's success.

Reflecting on his brief encounter with Edward eight years prior, he hadn't thought much of the morose young vampire. Hopefully, Edward's attitude had toughened up over the years, as the guard wouldn't tolerate any of that whiny shit. It was promising that he had broken away from Carlisle.

Hopefully, Edward was feeding properly now; he too would have sunk into despair if restricted to animal blood alone. Demetri shuddered at the mere thought. In Edward's place, he would have torn Carlisle to shreds without hesitation if his maker dared dictate his dietary choices.

As they drew closer to their target, Demetri quieted his own thoughts, focusing solely on the mission ahead. The mission was everything. Cullen wouldn't stand a chance against the might of the Volturi.

Mindy Taylor was a waitress whom Edward had encountered by chance one rainy night last month when he entered the 24-hour diner where she worked the night shift. The Cubs Park Cafe, located across from Wrigley Field, was considered the official team diner and was filled with numerous pictures of the team's past triumphs. Edward's favorite was a wide shot of the ballpark during Game 2 of the 1908 World Series. Each time he glanced at it, he wondered which two specks in the stands were him and his father. Turning the corner and glimpsing the diner's bright lights far down the street, Edward pushed aside his lingering thoughts about Capone. As he made his way toward the diner, he couldn't help but question again whether he was doing the right thing by inserting himself into Mindy's life.

Edward couldn't deny his attraction to her. She possessed one of the most pleasant dispositions he had ever encountered. Even when faced with a rude customer, Mindy never uttered a cross word back, not even in her thoughts. That had to be one of the nicest qualities about her; her thoughts always matched what she said aloud. He couldn't stand people who spoke differently than they thought. Moreover, he liked who he was around her, and that smile, brightening her face whenever she saw him... well, he couldn't quite describe how that made him feel.

Even though Edward had been a vampire for over a decade, he still had little to no experience with women. If he had any when he was still human, he had since forgotten. So far, his 'gift,' as Carlisle liked to call it, had not helped him with members of the fairer sex. The thoughts of others had always made him shy away from getting close with others, but with Mindy, he didn't mind her thoughts. She was 19 and had been working at the diner for the past year after moving to Chicago from a small town in Georgia. She had told him that she shared a small apartment with two other girls who also worked as waitresses in the city.

As Mindy worked the night shift at the diner, the number of patrons was always sparse. So, often when he frequented the cafe, he was able to talk with her for long periods of time uninterrupted. He always tried to respect her privacy when they spoke, but unfortunately, it just wasn't possible. He knew that she found him attractive and that she wished he would ask to court her. While he desired to do all that, he warred internally with himself if it was the right thing to do.

When Edward had awoken as a vampire in 1918, he had hated his life. The combination of losing his parents while at the same time becoming what he considered, at the time, to be a monster had made him quite depressed in those early years. Those feelings hadn't even taken into account how he had to contend with the constant streams of thoughts bombarding his mind from all sides. Everything at the time had just been too much for him.

His feelings, though, had started to change since he set off on his own. While this was not the life he would have chosen, he was starting to see the positive side of being a vampire more and more. He was enjoying what he was doing in helping others, and that realization that he could do good in this world had improved his outlook tremendously. Even though he was still committing murder, the individuals he hunted were true monsters in body and mind. Though murder remained a grave sin, he firmly believed that eliminating figures like Al Capone from society had to be helping the world. After hearing Capone's thoughts earlier that night... and then leaving him to continue hurting so many, well, that seemed like an even graver sin.

But he was conflicted when it came to his budding friendship with Mindy. He couldn't tell her what he was; the law forbade it, and revealing his secret would mean both their deaths if it were ever discovered. But if he pursued her and it led to something, what would he do? Could he change her? Would she even want that? These questions were so new to him, and he had no real answers other than knowing he wanted to be near her, and therein lay his predicament.

As Edward pushed open the door to the diner, the bell above jingled, announcing his entrance. Mindy glanced up from behind the counter, her usual smile brightening her face. Her cheerful expression mirrored her thoughts, and Edward's worries and doubts melted away as he saw her standing there. He made his way over to her, returning her smile.

"Hello, Mindy. How have you been?" he inquired, his tone warm and friendly.

"I'm doing peachy, Edward. What can I get for you?" she said in her southern twang, wiping down the countertop in front of where Edward sat.

"Oh, the usual, please," he replied, though he hated the food. It was worth enduring just to spend more time with her. He hardly ate anything, only doing so during long conversations when he noticed in her thoughts that she observed he wasn't eating.

"Coming right up," Mindy said before turning around to collect his order. Edward studied her closely. Standing at around 5'5", she was thin with long brunette hair tied up in a bun. Her sparkling brown eyes captivated Edward, and he found himself drawn to them. She had commented, of course, on why his eyes were red. He had brushed it off, attributing it to a childhood illness. This excuse usually sufficed, as most humans accepted his words at face value unless they were in the medical profession.

"Here you go, sweetie," Mindy said, placing a blueberry muffin and a black coffee in front of Edward.

"Thanks," Edward replied, smiling as he lifted the coffee to his lips, pretending to take a small sip.

Glancing around the large diner, Edward noticed only five other customers. The place was massive for the crowds before and after the games, but at this hour, they would be lucky to have a dozen patrons. He smiled, knowing it meant more time to chat with Mindy. "So, how have you been?" he asked, setting down his coffee to give her his undivided attention.

They spoke for hours. Every now and then, Mindy had to tend to a new customer, but for the most part, she was able to engage with him. As they conversed, Edward deliberated on his next move, and as Mindy's shift drew to a close, he had reached a decision.

"Mindy, I have some tickets for the Cubs game Wednesday night, and I was hoping you would join me. Don't worry, I checked, and the game should be well over before your shift starts." Edward gazed at her with anticipation, awaiting her response.

"I'd love to go to the game with you. That sounds really fun," Mindy replied, her excitement evident in her thoughts. She was literally jumping up and down in her head. Edward couldn't help but smile at her enthusiastic response. It was just a simple first date; he didn't have to make any life-altering decisions anytime soon. There was nothing wrong with two young adults who liked each other going out and spending some time together.

"Great. I'm sure we'll have a blast," Edward replied with a smile. They continued chatting about the game and their hopes for it, both being avid Cubs fans. Soon, Mindy's shift ended at 4 am, and Edward knew he had to head home soon too, with sunrise approaching at 6 am. It didn't really get dicey for him until 7 am, but why take the risk?

As he watched Mindy remove her apron, hang it up, and slip into her coat, he cast a glance out of the diner window. The darkness outside was pierced only by sporadic streetlights. While he typically followed her home from a distance to ensure she got home safely, he considered suggesting they walk together this time.

"Would you like me to escort you back to your apartment? I'd feel better knowing you weren't walking alone in the middle of the night."

"I'd like that. Thank you, Edward," Mindy replied with a grateful smile, and when she was ready, Edward held the door open for her.

Mindy's apartment was about a 10-minute walk away, and they chatted as they strolled through the quiet city streets. Edward always found this time of night the most pleasant, as so few were awake, allowing him to more easily focus on what Mindy was saying.

"So, I think the Cubs are going to win it all this year. I've heard from customers how good they are. What do you think?" Mindy asked, smiling up at Edward.

Edward sensed the disappointment in Mindy's thoughts that she lived so close. She wished their conversation wouldn't be ending so soon, as it was such a beautiful night. He couldn't agree with her more and felt relieved hearing how much she was looking forward to their date.

"I think you might be right. I've actually heard the same things," Edward responded, his smile widening. Truthfully, everything he had gleaned from people's minds suggested that this was indeed the Cubs' year. "I can't believe it's been over 20 years since they won the World Series. I remember... my father telling me about it. He said he actually went to game 2 of the series." Edward smiled, catching himself just in time. That game was one of the few clear memories he had of himself with his father. It had been a thrilling game, with the Cubs pulling it out in the 8th inning.

Mindy looked up at Edward, her expression thoughtful. "Wow, that must have been amazing for your father to see." she remarked, her voice soft with curiosity. She felt a strong desire to get to know Edward better, but it was evident that he found it difficult to talk about himself. She sensed that he wanted to share, but something seemed to be holding him back. Nonetheless, he had finally asked her out, and she was glad. "I've never heard you talk about your family before. Are you still close with your parents?"

"Well, actually…" Edward was right about to tell her how his parents had passed away when suddenly everything went dark. Confusion and panic gripped him as he struggled to comprehend what was happening. His vision, hearing... all his senses were just gone. He didn't even know if he was still standing or had fallen over. As his panic escalated, he realized one sense was still working: his mind reading. He could hear Mindy. Thank God. She was thinking about him, and her growing concern for him mirrored his own, as it appeared he had stopped moving and was just standing still, dead to the world. Edward had to agree with her. He had never heard of anything like this or what could cause such a phenomenon, especially to a vampire. Whatever had happened to him, it couldn't be good. What if people started to examine him while he was in this state?

Amid Edward's growing panic, he caught something from Mindy's thoughts, prompting him to refocus on her rather than dwelling on his own condition. Initially relieved at the sight of three individuals approaching her, she was now beginning to feel scared. What was happening? Desperately, Edward tried to snap out of his ailment to assist her.

In that moment, he heard it—a fleeting snippet of a thought, but enough to push his mind to the brink. Nooooo! Edward's mental scream reverberated within him as he fought against whatever force was seizing control of his body. Trapped and helpless, he realized the truth: one, if not all, of the approaching individuals were vampires. The thought had been brief, but it was enough to ignite a sense of dread within him. Oh God, Mindy.

Edward desperately wanted to block out the unfolding horror, but it was inescapable. Mindy's agonized screams and pleas for help reverberated in his mind, a chilling echo of her terror. Simultaneously, the vile thoughts emanating from the vampire assaulted his consciousness, igniting his rage. As Mindy's cries grew weaker and more distant, despair engulfed Edward. How could he just stand there, mere feet away, unable to come to her aid as she faced her demise? Gradually, her distress calls faded into silence, marking the tragic and inevitable end of her life.

Demetri savored the final pull from the woman's throat, relishing the taste as he indulged in one long, leisurely lick up her neck to catch the few remaining droplets he saw. With a satisfied smile, he regarded the lifeless woman in his arms, her once vibrant presence now reduced to nothing more than an empty vessel. She had been walking with Cullen. Perhaps Edward had been leading her away, intending to feast on her himself. Well, if that was the case, it was Edward's own fault for dallying. Now, Cullen would have to go without for the trip back to Italy. Dispassionately, he tossed her aside, her body landing with a dull thud, sprawled on her back, half on the sidewalk, half on the street.

Demetri surveyed the scene before him with a sardonic smile. "Well, would you look at that? Cullen's been a naughty boy, leaving his kills out in the open like that. I believe we'll have to take him back to Volterra for a trial," he remarked casually. He noticed Felix snickering beside him, while Alec appeared somewhat affronted for some reason.

"Alright, Felix, grab him. Let's get out of here," Demetri instructed, gesturing towards Edward's frozen body. He watched as Felix effortlessly hoisted Edward up onto his shoulder.

Turning to Alec, he added, "If, for any reason, you can't keep him under control, let us know. Aro won't be pleased, but we'll just have to rip his head off for the journey and put him back together when we arrive in Italy."

"Don't worry about me. I'm more than capable of keeping him under," Alec replied. He truly detested Demetri. Despite mentioning his hunger earlier, the greedy bastard had taken the girl while he was busy establishing his control over Edward. Demetri probably hadn't even been hungry. Alec was acutely aware of how many in the coven looked down on him and his sister due to their ages. He made an effort to remain composed, knowing from past experience that picking a fight with Demetri never ended well for him. "When we get to New York, I'll need a meal before we board for the long trip home. After that, I should be good for the whole ride over the Atlantic."

"Of course, Alec," Demetri nodded, grinning. He shot a glance at Felix, who smirked behind the young vampire, and they swiftly departed, leaving Chicago and Mindy's lifeless body behind.

As the 1927 Packard coupe careened around the corner at an excessive speed, it narrowly avoided colliding with an oncoming car, prompting a forceful honk from the other vehicle's horn.

Hearing the noise, Art jerked the steering wheel hard to the right, struggling to refocus on the road rather than his wife's affections. "Oh god, honey, hold your horses. We're almost home," Art said, as Rebecca continued to kiss his neck and rub her body wantonly against him. Both of them had been drinking heavily and having a great night at their favorite speakeasy, leaving Art now struggling to think clearly. Feeling Rebecca's mouth on his neck, he almost wanted to pull over, but with only ten minutes until they reached home, he pressed down on the accelerator again, consumed by his desperate need for her.

Rebecca's voice was a husky moan as she slurred, "Hurry up. I need you." Reaching down towards her husband's crotch, she cupped him, a playful smile dancing on her lips as she felt his hardness. He was more than ready for her, she thought dreamily, but couldn't help but laugh when Art yelled in surprise and attempted to disentangle her hand from where it belonged.

Amidst the commotion, their Packard lurched suddenly, its right side wheels lifting up twice in rapid succession as it drove over something substantial, generating an awful racket inside the vehicle.

"What was that?" Art asked, glancing back up towards the road as he struggled to dislodge his wife's hand, which seemed determined to distract him further. "Honey, please, you can't do that while I'm driving, especially not in my current state," he urged, his voice tinged with concern. He didn't want to risk an accident, especially given his wife's current mood and the awareness of what awaited him.

"What was wh..." Rebecca's words slurred, and as Art glanced over at his wife, he noticed her head had fallen back, accompanied by loud snoring emanating from her mouth. Art silently cursed; while he didn't desire her affections at the moment, he had been anticipating them upon their arrival home. Now, it seemed their night would end rather disappointingly.

"Honey... Honey?" Art spoke, hoping Rebecca would stir, but she continued snoring. He cast a longing glance at her thin silk dress, which clung loosely to her body, accentuating her beautiful assets. He felt himself getting hard again.

"God damn it," Art cursed as he refocused on the road.

As the sun began to rise over the horizon, the police vehicle pulled up to the scene of the accident. Officer Simon switched off the engine and stepped out of the vehicle. Before him, he noticed a blanket covering the body and a small crowd of onlookers gathered on the sidewalk, curious about what had occurred.

Simon approached the beat cop standing beside the victim. "What's the situation, Patrolman?"

The patrolman quickly responded, "Sir, the deceased woman's identification shows her to be a Mindy Taylor. It appears she tripped into oncoming traffic and was run over."

Simon nodded, bending down to briefly lift the blanket before quickly lowering it again. "Tripped, you say? Did the vehicle that did this stop? Any signs of foul play?"

"No, sir. It looks like a hit and run. A civilian spotted the body on his way to work, and I was first on the scene. I saw no signs of foul play, but I'm still a rookie, sir."

Simon acknowledged the patrolman's observations with a weary nod. After a long night, he was eager to head home and finally get some sleep. "No, no. Good work, patrolman. Call it in to the morgue so they can come collect the body, and we can get this scene cleaned up, especially before the morning traffic and pedestrians come out in full. Nobody needs to witness this."

"Right away, sir. I'll run to the Call Box and relay your requests immediately," the patrolman affirmed before swiftly turning and hurrying off. He felt a sense of pride that the officer had acknowledged and supported his observations. Still, he was a little rattled after seeing a dead body; it was the first one he had ever seen. Thoughts of that poor girl lingered in his mind; she hadn't deserved such a fate. Hopefully, it had been quick, and she hadn't seen the end coming.

Boy, those Volturi sure are the worst, especially that asshole Demetri :) Don't worry, while this might be darker than my other stories, I assure you the story is truly uplifting and positive. Edward's early chapters are really his rock bottom, but won't it be nice to see him rise up eventually with Bella by his side. Reviews are welcome and appreciated.