The Cullens

"I'm getting tired of this town," Rosalie said, picking at her fingernails.

"Me too, babe," Emmett agreed.

They all turned their attention onto Alice Brandon, their coven leader.

"Soon," she said, tapping her head, "things are about to heat up, then we can go."

"Small towns suck," Edward groaned, sitting down, "everyone here tastes the same, boring, bland. We need variety."

"We're leaving soon," Alice tightened her voice. "Can't you just trust me for fucking once?"

"If you explained the situation to us, maybe we'd be more willing," Rosalie said.

"Fine, but no overreacting."

Everyone nodded their heads.

"You know Chief Swan?"

"Fuck him," Emmett hissed.

"If you're not going to listen," Alice said, "then I'm not going to explain."

"Oh, please," Rosalie said, "you're dying to tell us, I can see it in your eyes."

"Why are you staying silent?" Emmett asked Edward. "Is her idea really that fucking bad?"

Edward raised his eyebrows, but continued to stay silent.

"Are you listening?" Alice started again and Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Chief Swan has a daughter."

"Is she hot?" Emmett asked and Rosalie slapped him across the chest. "What?" he asked.

"She's plain," Alice said dismissively, "nothing special about her."

"Then why the fuck would we want anything to do with her?" Emmett asked.

"She's Edward's singer," Alice explained, "which means, her blood is rich. I say we grab her and keep her as our pet."

"That's your plan?" Rosalie asked before turning to Edward. "You're willing to share your singer, you're not going to kill her?"

"Of course not," Edward smiled, "then I can't toy with her and drink from her whenever I want."

"Do we get to toy with her too?" Emmett asked and Rosalie hit him again. "Don't be all fucking prissy, babe," he said, "I want you there as well."

"When is she coming?" Edward was getting bored with the whole conversation.

"I don't know," Alice said, "it keeps changing, but within the week."

"This is going to be the best fucking thing ever," Emmett beamed.

Bella Swan

"You don't have to do this," Renée said.

"Yeah, I do, Mom." Bella made sure she had packed the last of her stuff.

"But Forks?" Renée shuddered. "That place blows."

"I'm not going for the scenery, I'm going for Dad."

"I didn't think you and Charlie were that close."

"I don't think you understand, Mom, you and Phil are in your honeymoon stage and these walls are thin, too thin."

Renée smiled. "You should be happy that I'm happy, Bella. Are you sure you have to go?"

"Yes." Bella zipped up her bag. She knew her mother was only complaining because she was losing so much, Bella did practically everything for her. Bella was actually looking forward to the break, though she doubted living with Charlie would be much better.

"And I can't convince you to stay?" Renée asked.

"Mom," Bella groaned, "just stop. I'm going and I'm not changing my mind."

"Sheesh, fine," Renée said, leaving her daughter alone.

Bella sat on her bed and stared out the window.

"I need to do this," Bella whispered to herself. "I need to get away, I need some time. Please. It won't be forever, just-"

Bella was cut off by a lone figure sliding in through her window. She gasped, their red eyes drilling into hers.

"You're scared of me," they stated.

"Y-yes," Bella tried not to cower back.

"You want space?"

"Yes." Bella was more confident this time, but her voice still wavered.

"How much time do you need away from me?"

"Are you immortal?" she asked and the vampire grunted in agreement. "Then an eternity."

"I don't understand why you're doing this. I haven't hurt you. I've been good to you."

"Please, I need a break. You're too obsessive."

"Can I at least hold you in my arms one last time?"

Bella tensed up. "Why are you asking me? You never have before. You always take what you want from me."

"I never do anything that you don't want and I'm asking because I want you to say yes. I don't want to piss you off, you know I don't like it when you're angry at me."

"Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"Answer my question," he snarled and this time Bella cowered back.

"My Mom's here, she was just in here, she'll hear you and come running."

"Mommy dearest fell asleep, you're all alone, and helpless… Stop this. Can I hold you or not?"

Bella tried to figure out what she wanted, but she only knew one thing for sure, she always gave into him and she hated that she had zero restraint.

"I'll let you go," he said, "I won't come for you."

"Can I trust your word?" Bella asked, her interest piquing.

"I've never lied to you."

"Okay."

"Finally." He smiled.

He didn't wait for Bella to lay down, he just pulled her down onto the bed with him. Her back against his front. He let out a small purr of contentment and Bella loved that sound above all else.

"Will you keep your word?" she asked, feeling safe in his arms.

"Hush now, I like it better when you don't talk."

Bella huffed. "I need to know that you're serious about this. I need time to myself."

"I know," he breathed out, "just shut the fuck up and let me enjoy this."

Bella smiled to herself and turned around so she could rest her head against his cold chest. She tried to find his heart, but like always, it wasn't beating, it was dead.

"Can you tell me your name now?" she asked.

"I swear to fucking god," he said, "shut the fuck up already."

"Answer my question and I will."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you're leaving me. Now, shut up."

Jasper Whitlock

I had been a vampire for a long time, how long, I wasn't sure. I was changed for war and spent my life fighting a fight which wasn't mine. Maria owned me and I thought I loved her. Even to this day I struggle with what she put me through, how she manipulated me, how she fooled me. I would never be so weak again, and that's why my current predicament confused me so much.

She was a human girl. I was going through Phoenix one night, searching for someone to kill when her scent overtook me. This had happened to me many times, but this time, it didn't make my mouth water, it made my chest ache. It made me curious. I needed to get closer, so that's what I did. I slid into her bedroom and she awoke immediately. She held no fear, she probably thought it was a dream.

From then on, I couldn't leave her alone. I was the Bringer of Darkness, I killed everything in my path, but not her. I visited her every night. She felt connected to me too, I could feel it. I wasn't sure what it was, but human life was so fleeting, so I decided to do right by myself and I wanted her. I joined her in her bed, not to have sex, just to be close to her. She was conflicted too, and her emotions were muted. She fascinated me.

It had been two weeks now and I had been here every night. I knew it couldn't last, but I didn't care. I liked being alone in this world, I was a nomad, but when she was with me, things felt better. It made no sense. She was a human, she meant nothing to me, yet here I was, night-after-night, spending my time with her. I had never willingly stayed in one spot for so long.

I always waited for her to be almost asleep before I joined her. She could be feisty when she wanted and she wasn't afraid to bite back. I didn't like to be challenged, no one who knew me was ever foolish enough to go against me, but she didn't know me, and I liked watching her try. She was so weak compared to me, I could end her life in less than a second, but I wouldn't.

Tonight was no different. I had slid in through her window, which she had left unlocked for me. She could fight all she wanted but her actions and emotions didn't lie. She liked spending time with me too. She was laying against my chest tonight, facing me, which was a first. I liked it. I held her to me tighter, not wanting to let her go.

"You can't keep doing this," she mumbled, half-asleep. "I don't even know your name."

And she never would. It wasn't important information. I knew her name though, Isabella Marie Swan, she preferred Bella. Sometimes, before she went to bed, I would hear her fighting with her mother. They had a strained relationship and her mother's new boyfriend wasn't making things any easier. Bella didn't like it here, but from what I could gather, she was stuck. When she was with me, when I was holding her close like this, some of those feelings drifted away. She felt a sense of peace in my arms.

None of it made sense, she should fear me not find peace with me. She should be running and screaming and telling her mother about the monster in her room, yet she never did. She could run, I would let her, but she never did. She stayed with me, night-after-night. My only hope was that she'd want to stay with me forever, but she crushed that dream tonight. I held her to me tighter.

"Please," she mumbled in her sleep.

I had no idea what she was pleading for, but it didn't matter because she was leaving me. I knew this was coming. I tried to deny it, but I couldn't any longer. Bella had been feeling resentment towards me for a few days now, she felt overwhelmed and trapped. I had hoped it would go away, I had hoped the positives would outweigh the negatives, but they hadn't. Tomorrow she would leave, she needed space and I was foolishly going to give it to her.