As I stared into the dark red eyes of the vampire who was about to kill me, I cursed my earlier decisions.
I'd been so frustrated by Jacob ignoring me–after a week of being sick and not returning my calls, he was suddenly out with friends–that I'd decided to go on our next planned hiking expedition myself. This by itself was a questionable choice: as the world record holder for worst hand-eye coordination, I could easily end up lost in the woods with a twisted ankle. Adding in Charlie's warnings about hikers killed by a bear recently–and I was suddenly certain it wasn't a bear at all–venturing off the trail alone was downright reckless. Then again, I was nothing if not reckless these days.
Against all odds, I'd found the meadow we had been seeking for the past few weeks: the meadow he had taken me to on that first sunny Saturday together, nearly a year ago. I'd hoped that it would have some trace of him, something to fuel my hallucinations of the love I'd lost. Instead, it was profoundly empty… until Laurent appeared.
I'd been excited to see Laurent, whose very existence was a small shred of proof that I hadn't imagined the entire previous year. He had asked about the Cullens, surprised that I wasn't with them. I'd learned about his new life in Denali, and his interest in Irina. Unfortunately, he wasn't devoted enough to that new life to follow their diet.
Before I'd even fully processed the meaning of his still-red irises, my earlier wish was granted: Edward's voice spoke clearly in my head, growling warnings, as it always did when I was in danger. Adrenaline coursed through my system.
"Tell him you're still under our protection," the velvet voice directed me. I stammered out claims that the Cullens still visited and would be back soon. I could tell Laurent wasn't buying it.
It was still a shock when he admitted out loud that he was going to kill me.
It would be quick, Laurent promised: faster than what Victoria had planned. Apparently she thought my death would be a fitting revenge for the death of her mate, James. Laurent, on the other hand, was merely hungry. This fresh horror should have been irrelevant, since I would never live to face it, but I couldn't stop myself from cringing backward at the news. Laurent drew closer, watching me with the keen eyes of a hunter waiting for his prey to make a break for it.
"Threaten him," my hallucination demanded, his voice as livid as it was beautiful.
I complied, stammering out the words. "The C-Cullens will be angry if you kill me." Laurent smiled indulgently, utterly unfazed by this threat, so I added hastily, "You remember what they did to James."
Laurent kept smiling as he advanced on me, amused by my efforts. It was a smile that showed far too much of his teeth. "They'll never know. Unlike James, I don't plan to leave a video recording for them."
I searched my memories, desperately looking for a credible threat, but my mind was blank with horror.
"Alice will see it," the voice in my head supplied, insistent.
"Alice will see it!" I blurted out. Laurent tilted his head in confusion. "You remember her visions," I raced to elaborate, tripping over my tongue a bit, "She sees things that will happen. Not every minor thing, but major things, life events of her friends, she doesn't miss those. If you kill me, she'll have seen it." I paused for breath. "And they'll come for you," I added less convincingly.
Laurent's torso shifted, no longer leaning toward me. I had finally succeeded in making him nervous. Thirst warred with caution in his maroon eyes. He wasn't certain whether the Cullens still cared about me. But would he take the risk that they did?
He stared at me for a long moment, deciding.
"I'll make you a deal, Bella," he said slowly. "I let you live. And in return... you never breathe a word of this to the Cullens. Not a single hint that I saw you here today, much less threatened you."
My knees went weak with relief. The velvet voice in my head purred in satisfaction. Upholding my end of the bargain would be easy; I never expected to speak to any of them again. I would be allowed to leave the meadow safely. I would live.
I would live... until Victoria found me.
I could run, but I would never be safe. She was immortal; she had the rest of eternity to keep hunting me. No, it was even simpler than that: she knew where Charlie lived, and she knew from James' experience that a hostage would bring me running. Even if I could convince Charlie to leave with me, she would follow my scent around Forks to find my friends. Jacob would be in danger.
No, I saw clearly, Laurent's deal would not keep me safe. It was a temporary patch on the bigger problem: my number was up. I had almost died three times since coming to Forks, and there were no good vampires to keep me safe anymore.
It would be so easy to say "yes," run away, and survive the day. Every instinct screamed at me to do it. Only the certain knowledge that I would not survive the month kept me rooted where I was.
I had always been an uncoordinated, fragile human with no ability to protect myself. But maybe I didn't have to be.
Laurent looked at me with growing incredulity as I hesitated.
My mental angel was in agreement. "Take the deal, now," he ordered. I disobeyed, my mind racing.
There was only one solution. One way that I could survive, and protect everyone I cared about, too. He hadn't been willing to do it, and his family hadn't been willing to go against him. But they weren't the only ones who could….
"Turn me into a vampire."
My mental voice hissed in outrage. "Bella, don't even think about it. Take the deal while you can. Leave." I ignored him. His reproach had not stopped me from getting on the motorcycle, and it would not dissuade me now.
Laurent merely chuckled. "I'm rather thirsty. If I sink my fangs into your succulent veins, well…." He raked his eyes over my body, enjoying the thought. "I don't think I'd be able to stop."
My skin crawled at the way he was looking at me. I took another small step backward. Maybe if my scent were further away, he'd be less likely to bite.
"Not to mention," he resumed, glancing away with the air of someone on a diet forcing himself to stop looking at chocolate cake, "if the Cullens haven't turned you, I doubt they would be pleased if I did. By your own argument, Alice would have foreknowledge of any major events that happen here. No," he concluded, "I'd really rather they never hear of this little encounter." His red eyes focused back on me, narrowing. "You'll cooperate, won't you?"
"I will!" My voice came out at a higher pitch than intended. "And… I'll owe you an extra favor if you turn me. Any time you need help, you can call it in." I didn't know what a vampire would ever need help with, but eternal life was a long time. Maybe it would mean something to Laurent.
I could see him start to shake his head. I rushed forward with my argument. "You don't have to turn me today. I'll get you a vial, and you'll fill it with venom. No biting involved," I said firmly.
"And Alice?" he was skeptical, but considering it, I realized with no small amount of surprise. "Do you really think she won't see your transformation if you do it with an injection instead of a bite?"
The same argument that had saved my life a moment earlier—Alice's visions—would be my downfall now, it seemed. I racked my brain for a solution. The growling in my head was louder now, and it was hard to ignore.
"I won't use it while you're there. I won't even decide when to use it until after you give it to me. Alice will see me turning, but all she'll see is a vial and syringe. She can't look for things that have already happened. Who gave me the venom will remain a secret." I tried to give him a reassuring smile, but the muscles in my face were still frozen in fear.
Laurent contemplated this for a long minute. The small stream still burbled in the background, and the birds still chirped; nature seemed unaware that my fate hung in the balance of this moment.
"I won't meet you again for the transfer. The temptation is too strong, and the risk of visions too high. You'll leave the vial here tomorrow—"
"I'm not a great hiker," I admitted, biting my lip. "Could I leave it at the end of the road a few miles from here? It was a challenge to get here." A hysterical giggle rose in my throat at the understatement. I fought it down.
He nodded in acceptance of the amendment, then continued, "You'll owe me a favor, any favor, with no expiration date. You won't back out if what I ask for is difficult or dangerous." The deep red eyes probed my brown ones, looking for any hesitation. I could see that, whatever favor he intended to ask for, it meant a lot to him.
"Agreed." I met his gaze. Thankfully, my voice didn't squeak.
"Go now, before I change my mind." Laurent ordered, grinning with too much tooth showing.
For once, the voice in my head was in complete agreement.
2024-08-17 A/N: Welcome to Darkest Hour! If you're enjoying it, please review.