disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries or Twilight.

Edward had always assumed he had found the one he loved. Bella was everything; smart, beautiful but oh so fragile. Her blood sang to him, called to him every day. It teased him to taste, to savor the flavor just as he had in Phoenix. But every day he resisted. Every day he fought for the woman he loved. Ever since their return from Italy, he had been vigilant, making sure the threat of Victoria would be taken care of without Bella knowing.

And for a while, it worked. Victoria never showed her face, not for months. In those months, Edward had not expected Bella to be so worried about graduation. But he had to remind himself that his beloved was human. Just like the human who was bleeding out on the floor of his and Bella's meadow. The rivets of crimson bloomed from the deep cut from the boy's jugular. Bella was frantic behind him, being held back by Alice, screaming the boy's name so loudly into the clearing.

Edward stared down into blue eyes, glazed over and hollow. He remembered seeing those blue eyes from across the parking lot of the high school during his first day there. They had been curious and struck with so much wonder. His first thought had been if his hair was funny, or if he looked lame. Edward always found the boy's thoughts to be amusing, something to chuckle about to get through his day. His thoughts changed occasionally to Bella, but recently, his thoughts seemed to have gone quiet. Except for a few minutes ago, when the blade had been run across his neck.

I don't want to die. I can't! In his century of being undead, Edward had heard those words countless times. He had felt pity for the poor souls who thought them as death took them. But not this time.

This time, Edward felt a rage begin to bubble up inside him. From the moment the woman; this woman with dark curled tresses and skin as brown as cinnamon, whose blood smelt of fire, had run her knife along that fair-skinned throat, Edward could have sworn his heart had begun beating just to sink into his stomach. He had smelt the blood in the air. Heard Bella scream frantically and begin moving towards the boy, before Alice grabbed hold of her.

"Let me go, Alice! Let me go!" Bella shrieked, tears welling up in her eyes. "Let me go! Mike needs help, Alice! I need to stop the bleeding!"

Mike Newton had dropped to his knees and looked up to meet the eyes of the woman who loomed over him. "Qetisyah," he whispered, like a final prayer to a deity before the life left him. Mike fell onto the grass, dead to the world and bleeding into the earth.

"Mike!" Bella cried out, pulling away from Alice and breaking past the vampires. She made it to Edward before Jasper had grabbed her again. His hold was tighter than the pixie. He kept her close, his eyes on his brother. Edward reached out, cradling Mike's head on his lap. The blood was starting to dry around the wound and Edward closed the boy's blue eyes. Qetisyah stared at the scene before her, unnerved by the vampires. Her magic sang in her veins and singed her fingertips. She was itching to magic on him, see just what the mindreader would do.

She knew she hadn't made a mistake. Not when it came to her blood.

::::

Three Months Ago

:::

Mike wasn't in a happy mood. Jessica had not taken their break-up well, and a summer apart had only made things worse. The first few months of his senior year had been weird enough with Bella Swan in a funk and then disappearing for the weekend. The store had been quiet and given him plenty of time to think about what his life had become. His previous summer trip to visit family in Portland had ended with him coming into a whole new world.

Vampires existed in their world. He had always assumed he was living in a peaceful, if not boring, town. Forks, Washington was rainy and dreary, filled with people who couldn't leave. But vampires? Mike almost hadn't believed what he was saying if not for the centuries-old witch who was sitting in his living room. Qetsiyah, or Tessa as she preferred to be called, gave him a secret smile.

"How are you feeling Mikey? I heard you had a nasty cold." Tessa teased, her eyes sparkling with mirth. Mike frowned as if she didn't know what he had been going through. She had forced an elixir down his throat three weeks ago.

"I'm better. What brings you here, Tess?" he asked, dropping his backpack on the floor. His parents were manning the shop and he had homework that he planned on doing later.

"Any changes?" Tessa asked, standing up. She walked over to him and looked into his eyes. The magic had taken because she could see a flicker of hazel-green in his eyes. The eyes of her clan, the eyes of a Bennett. Bonnie may have been her last female descendant, but now she had another as well. He had the freckles that ran across the bridge of his nose from her daughter, rest her spirit.

"I just feel the same," Mike answered. "No magic or anything."

"You don't feel that fire under your skin? The singe of it on your fingertips?" The witch frowned and tilted her head to the side. How strange, she mused. "Perhaps if we killed you, the magic would awaken."

Mike backed away from her as if she had attempted to harm him. "You're not killing me, Tess."

Tessa snorted, "Not yet anyway. I'll give you time to adjust. Immortality is a gift Mikhail, do try to remember that. Besides, I doubt I'll be the one to kill you. That lovely family of vampires might do it. Perhaps the one with penny colored hair will do it. You do like that one, don't you?"

Mike frowned. He still couldn't wrap his head around the fact that Edward and his family were vampires. But it made sense. They were too beautiful, too perfect. Mike could admit he was a bit upset that Edward's golden eyes weren't natural, he had always envied the shading, but it didn't matter. Mike couldn't kind the proper shading for Edward's eyes even if he tried. Maybe the color of his hair, but that was it. He blinked, suddenly catching the tail-end of Tessa's quip at him.

"I do not like him."

Tessa let out another snort, this one morphing into a laugh. "Are you sure? Those thousands of sketchings and lovelorn looks tell me otherwise."

Mike felt his cheeks burn. "What in the world do you want, Qetisyah?"

"Hmm, a trick question. Silas dead and his heart in my hands would probably be my number one answer." Tessa answered, meeting his eyes. "But that can't happen until you get in touch with your magic. And don't worry, we'll find a way to unlock your powers."

She walked past him and headed out the door, bidding him farewell with a pat on the shoulder. Mike sighed and reached down to grab his backpack. He had homework to do, and he would be damned if he didn't get it done.

:::

A Month Ago

:::

Seeing Edward Cullen leaning against his car was not something Mike expected to see. But then again, Mike had not expected to share a few traits with him now, if Qetsiyah was telling the truth. He knew he could heal, the many cuts and scrapes he got from work healed up within a few minutes. He wasn't going to test out death. That woman was crazy if she thought he would be okay with killing him.

Of course, he hadn't expected her to turn him into an Immortal in the first place. She had been deciding between Bella and himself. Why he didn't even know. Tessa was a mysterious woman, although he knew she was hellbent on killing her long since dead lover—now brought back from the dead—over a lover's disagreement.

Shaking his head, the blonde made his way over his car. "Hey Edward, what brings you over?"

The bronze haired vampire looked up at him as if he was studying him. Mike looked over the vampire, taking in the boyish appearance. Edward was known for his crooked smile, of the few flaws he possessed. It was something Mike liked and could draw for hours in his sketchbook if he wanted to. Each of the Cullens was a subject in his art book, but it had been filled with sketches of Bella back when he had a crush on her. Back then it was easier to ignore his sexuality. His minuscule crush on Edward Cullen had taken a backseat when Bella came into town. And he could continue to ignore it if he wanted. Even now, as he studied his puzzled expression.

"I know we don't talk," Edward began. "But I was wondering if you'd like to go somewhere with me?"

Mike felt his heart shrink before it stopped. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Edward Cullen was not asking him out on a date. He was dating Bella — why was she with him after he up and left her? Mike would have given him the tongue lashing of a lifetime and had him fight to get back with him—and if the damn rumor mill was true, they were going to get married after high school. He needed to calm down his heartbeat and not think anything about his dead crush.

"Where to?"

"It's a small art exhibit in Port Angeles," Edward answered.

"I'd need to get my shift covered," Mike responded. His mom needed him to close up the shop.

"Bella's going to cover for you."

"I don't have much cash."

Edward chuckled. "You can't keep dodging the question."

Mike rolled his eyes. "Are you going to go away if I answer?"

"Only if the answer is yes." Edward winked at him. Mike was almost certain he had imagined that. The blonde was flustered but sighed. Edward was an idiot.

"Just because you think being cocky is cute," Mike started and poked the other boy in the shoulder. It still felt as hard as it had when he tried poking him a few years back, but he had sent the boy stumbling back a few steps. "I'm not going to answer unless you ask politely. No cockiness, no thinking just because you're dazzling I'm gonna say yes. Ask me the right way, Cullen."

Edward's eyebrows must have disappeared into his hair because he was staring at the blonde in shock. Mike had sent him back. He had heard the small crack of his bones breaking but Mike didn't even look like he was in pain. Either he was good at masking it or it didn't hurt him. He honestly hadn't wanted to send the day with Mike Newton but Alice had begged him to. The Rose had backed it up with how she was almost certain the boy was attracted to him.

It had gotten him curious. He was no stranger to the affections of the same sex. He was a century old, and he wasn't blind to the attractions of the same sex, but he always assumed his true love would be a woman. And he was happy with Bella. He loved her dearly but Mike had always intrigued him. The blonde always felt intimidated by the bronze haired boy. So if he had a crush on him, Edward was curious to see how far it ran. He could let him down gently.

But as he looked into the blue eyes, noticing the flecks of green that blazed behind the sapphire hue, saw how his bottom lip curled back and his teeth caught the skin, Edward felt something stir. He reached out and took hold of the blonde's hand and smiled at him.

"Will you go with me to this art exhibit, Mikhail?"

Mike's cheeks turned red. How did he know his full name? "I...yes." It was soft, and Mike would deny flat out that his voice cracked. "What time, Cullen?" He asked, snatching his hand away.

"I'll come to get you at 5:00," Edward answered.

"Cool." Edward smiled and left for his car, sending him a wave over his shoulder. Mike took a deep breath, counted back to ten, and whispered a curse. "Fuck."

"No offense, but that's a bad case of pining."

Mike whirled around, seeing a young woman standing there. He had to blink because he almost thought he was looking at Qetisyah; granted she had long ruler-straight dark hair, and her nose was crooked and almost button-like. She looked a bit shocked as they stared at each other. Viridian green eyes met green-blue ones.

"W-who are you?"

The girl's eyes widened. "You can see me?"

"I..."

"Mike!" Tyler cried, moving through the girl as if she was thin air, and he felt a soft shiver run down his spine. "Dude, why was Cullen talking to you? Warning you to stay away from his girl?"

Mike stared into sadden green eyes before looking at Tyler. "It's nothing dude."

When he turned back, the girl was gone.

:::

The Present

:::

Qetsiyah turned her head towards the edge of the meadow. The shifters had come, probably drawn by Bella's frantic cries. A large russet one broke through first, heading towards the group. As it drew closer, wolf morphed, the shape turning into one of a human.

"Bella!" he cried with rage in his voice. The smell of blood perfumed the air and each of the Cullen held looks of shock. He turned his gaze toward Edward and his shoulders slumped. Edward was cradling the dead boy of the boy who had accompanied Bella and him to the movies. Jake remembered him as Vomit Boy but as Bella fought and bruised herself to get to the corpse, he knew the boy's name was Mike.

"What happened here?" Sam asked; his eyes on the Cullen's patriarch. Carlisle looked horrified but cleared his throat and walked over to his son, his eldest. Edward had developed a small friendship with the boy and he knew this was hurting him.

"Let him go, son."

"You bitch," Rosalie hissed at Qetsiyah, who was wiping the blood on a piece of cloth. She ignored them and sliced open her own palm. Blood wet soaked the cloth anew, and when she removed it, her cut was healed. "What the hell is wrong with you? He was your friend!"

"He's more than that. And don't patronize me, vampire. He's fine." Qetsiyah shook her head. She raised her hand, calling Mike's body towards her with her magic. She laid him down and set up a barrier. Edward's roar was loud and he slammed into the barrier, her magic sizzling into his skin. The sickeningly sweet smell of vampire flesh burning permitted the air.

"Give him back." Edward snarled.

"Calm down and listen," Qetsiyah said, bringing him to his knees with an aneurysm. The other vampires flinched, feeling her magic while the wolves stilled. They had never seen a human take down a vampire before. She turned her head towards Mike's body. She bent down and cupped his face tenderly. "Come back to me, Mikhail."

Edward struggled against the assault on his brain. She wanted him to listen? Listen to what? Bella had ceased screaming and was now only crying. Alice looked stoic, while Jasper looked puzzled. All of their thoughts were either in shock or wonder.

And then there was that blasted thumping sound.

It was the loudest of them all. Loud and quickening, like blood rushing into a heart. The softest intake of breath stilled his movements and he stilled as Mike jolted awake, taking in deep breathes. He was speaking, but Edward couldn't understand what he was saying. The language that fell from his lips was a dead one. One that Qetsiyah knew as she spoke to him, comforting him in the swell of her breast.

"You're safe," she whispered and kissed his crown. "You're safe, Mikhail."

"I saw her again." He whispered and pulled away. "I saw her."

"Good," Qetsiyah muttered and pulled him to his feet. "How do you feel?"

"You killed me," Mike whispered, his hand moving to the cut on this throat. He frowned and looked up at her. "What did you do to me, Qetsiyah?"

Tessa snorted. "Silly child," she said and poked his chest. "I told you before. You're an Immortal. You cannot die, not truly. Every death will be a toil on your body. It may take longer than it took this one."

"And you did this why?" Rosalie snapped, wanting to know just what was going on. As far as she was concerned, this crazy woman had shown up to her home, invited her and her family out to the woods and performed a satanic ritual right in front of them.

"Mikhail, do you feel it now? The magic in your veins?" She cupped his face, ignoring the vampire. Mike frowned, he could feel a buzzing beneath his feet and the air around him felt like static. Qetsiyah smiled warmly as he nodded. "Good. We'll need it for when we bring her back. My associate should bring her soon."

Mike sighed. All of this to bring back Qetsiyah's last descendant? Just what the hell was she planning?

"Mike," he turned his head towards Bella, who was still being held by Alice. "What is going on? You-you died! She slit your throat!"

"It's a long story," Mike answered. "But it happened around the same time you went to Italy."

"We should take this back home," Carlise announced. He turned to the wolves. "I'll return to inform you all."

"I'm going." Jake pressed. He wasn't about to leave Bella alone with those vampires and now whatever the hell this strange woman was. Qetsiyah groaned.

Fools in love, all of them.

"Let's get this over with." She declared. She had days till the full moon, and she wasn't getting any younger and she wasn't going to leave Bonnie trapped on the Other Side much longer.