Yup, it's been a while. Haven't even been on fanfiction for months. Been in Cuba, went to Poland, now I'm back in University for my degree. Lame excuses but hey, broadened my horizons xD!

The plot is probably very jarred, doesn't make much sense, feels out of place, all sorts of things. I'm only updating and writing this because so many people want it, even if I'm not happy about writing it or feel any passion at all for what I'm writing. I should really stop. I really don't like Twilight anymore. I liked it before, back when I was 16, but I'm 21 now and I'm too old to be reading this kind of stuff.

Before people go off on me, yes this is a successful book and yes you will like it if you're 13-18. Get any older and it's really not for you. It has a clear age range and nothing more and I'm too mature to be reading this anymore. If you still like it and you're older than 18, great, fantastic! Really! It's just not for me, a person who has studied English Literature for 8 years now.

Still, this is the newest chapter, updates won't improve I'm afraid, not until I've at least finished University, I'm on my final year now! Everything counts! I hope you still enjoy what I've written and I will eventually finish this if I deem it worthy enough, if it's popular enough. It's really the only thing keeping this going I'm afraid ^^; still, enjoy!

UPDATE 17/11/2013: Because of feedback and the fact that I have too busy a life and I ceased to enjoy Twilight in any shape or form, I am going to end updating here and I won't look back at this again. I know I promised to finish it, but because I don't feel any passion, have no longer any clue of where I'm going with it and it's taken so long to get it here that it is unbelievably disjointed and it's pissing some people off, that I'm simply going to end it here. You're welcome to take the chapter before this as the final chapter, and ignore this one entirely, if you so wish. I don't blame you, I hadn't read back to my previous work as I simply wanted to release this to please people. I've learnt that I should never do that and I never will do that again. That's a promise!

Again, if someone wishes to take this on and finish it, they are welcome to! As I had done three years ago (it's been a LOOOOONG journey xD!) I think it would benefit better rather than in my hands. I do hope you had enjoyed what I had written and I wish you all a cheerful farewell and hope you all have a good day!

~Blackie

Home Sweet Home

My first thought was but this is Canada, that never left my head. As we walked on, Masen, Cullen and Laurent, they led me to a cavern. It was strange, almost oddly stereotypical for a vampire coven to live in a cavern. Getting closer, I was sorely mistaken. If a rabbit's warren could be enlarged into a huge icy cavern in the snow and ice, then that was exactly what I was looking at. The cavern was cold, frozen solid in places, I felt like I was entering the den of a hibernating group of polar bears. The cave was so open and spacious, so much more than I had ever expected. I was grateful for that, I wasn't sure I could settle into a place that gave me constant claustrophobia. I wasn't sure I could ever settle in a place like this, given the temperature outside. There was no chance I was going to be able to live the life Edward seemed to be showing me. Not just because I wasn't used to it, but because it was entirely too cold for my human body to cope without eventually getting hypothermia or starving to death because I couldn't handle eating raw deer.

I felt angry and disappointed in myself. I didn't want to take chances where Edward was concerned. He might be a kind teddy bear now, but I wasn't going to camouflage in that happy parody. When I close my eyes, I still witness, helplessly, Edward Masen attacking, pinning Jacob down as if he were a simple dog. Edward had a temper hidden deep down, a temper that was lethal coming from a vampire. I didn't want to entice that temper.

But what was I to do? I was only human. A common, defenceless human being. That was the problem, there was no way I could survive in this area for even a week. Being the daughter of a police officer made me either much more aware of criminal activity or disturbingly paranoid. Even more so now that I had been kidnapped by a vampire. The idea of a taser doing any damage to a vampire was laughable at best. Could vampires even conduct electricity? Or were they like rocks, statues, too close to the earth for Thor or Zeus to touch them?

From the looks of the cave, or warren, most of the vampires seemed pretty used to their predicament, living in the wild. All the vampires were clothed, much to my delight, but there appeared to be bodyguards who had the top half naked. Their muscles rippled in full show, intimidating any other vampire feeling even particularly territorial. They reminded me of bouncers at rowdy nightclubs I've seen from TV shows. I was never the type to go to a nightclub, I didn't want to imagine the atmosphere of such a loud place. These vampires meant business, keeping the coven in order.

Vampires that were hiding in this coven were walking around, almost aimlessly, but with a hidden purpose and others were standing, chatting it seemed. It was almost human like, watching the tiny crowd of vampires looking around, chatting. However, as Edward, Jasper and James escorted me further inside the cave, they all turned, curious. It was more than strange, it was hard to forget they weren't human sometimes, the way their eyes glittered in curiosity and the fact they turned to investigate what was occurring. It was such a human thing to do, something I didn't expect vampires to do.

Another thing I didn't expect was to spot a small vampire, smaller than I was, come running at a human pace and launching herself at Edward. It was more than a bit of a surprise, causing me to flinch and step away.

Edward, however, didn't seem surprised in the least. If anything, he was annoyed.

He huffed, his arms out as if to avoid touching the tiny vampire, as if she were contagious. "Alice, please, I am fine and I was not awol for an unreasonable length of time."

Getting down and patting herself down, Alice glared at Masen, defiant and filled with fire I was not aware a vampire could possess. Considering that a vampire could not give birth in any way, it was surprising to see a vampire possess some sort of maternal instinct. What if vampires did want children, but because of their change, it became an impossibility? I hadn't imagined such a thing, I found it hard to view the vampires as vicious beasts, simply by witnessing Alice's actions. Were they related?

Alice crossed her arms. "Says you, I had to hear it from Jasper that you had gone off gallivanting after those mutts again. When will you learn to stop patronising them? It doesn't help us if a random village starts panicking because a vicious vampire attacked!" She stops suddenly, her face turning to confusion, as she looks at me. As if she had only just noticed I was there, she immediately tenses up. It was hard to spot, but having been used to people watching in my time, I could spot it. "Edward, what is a human doing here?"

It all happened quicker than I could follow, quicker than my human eyes could see. I blinked and suddenly Edward was in front of me, an arm blocking anyone from touching me whilst at the same time making sure to maintain contact. I wasn't sure if it was a reassurance for me, or for him. I flinched, skittish as a bunny in a fox pen. I could hear Edward growling, like a tiger, protecting what was precious to him.

Alice blinked, surprised. "Edward? Who is that?"

I wanted to answer, not liking to be talked about as if I wasn't there, but I was frozen at the spot. Edward's stance nearly terrified me, it felt like there had to be a reason for that stance, that these vampires weren't stable and would attack a human being for food. I wanted to step back, turn and run away, but I sensed more than felt Jasper close behind. I hoped that he was more worried about Edward than me.

"She is not to be touched. She is my mate and she is to be treated with the greatest of respect a fair maiden should be." That was Edward's reply that left his tense jaw. I couldn't help but flush, making it worse for the vampires as blood reached my cheeks, but I couldn't help it. I was not used to being given such compliments, I was usually the black sheep that was barely noticed by most people, suddenly getting attention was daunting for me.

Alice blinked again, silent for a while, before a blinding smile bursts on her face and she runs to hug Edward again, who is stunned, frozen as a statue. "Oh my God, Edward, I'm so happy for you!" She pulls away as soon as she feels that Edward becomes less tense. "I know you've been waiting a long, long time looking for your mate. And I know you've been feeling rather lonely and depressed, but I'm so happy for you!"

Smiling, Alice turned towards me, holding her hand out very eagerly, waiting for me to take it. Shyly, I took her hand carefully, and was surprised that Alice knew her strength and I wasn't feeling any pain. "Pleased to meet you! I'm Alice! Alice Cullen and this," She moved around me to Jasper's side, kissing him on the cheek and, for the first time, I saw Jasper smile. "This is Jasper, my mate. I saw that you knew him! Jasper wrote that book that you carried with you."

My face must have said it all, because Alice continues talking again quickly before I could reply. "Oh! Edward didn't tell you?" She giggled and taps her head. "I can see into the future, but only to a certain point. I can see the future depending on a decision you make, so when you decided to go with Edward to protect your family, I saw you coming here. I'm sorry Edward couldn't have been nicer about it. Which reminds me." I wasn't sure she took a breath in that entire sentence, until now. "I haven't told Aro what you've done and what the mutts are preparing for now. I left that for you to do, since he's much more reasonable with you, being one of his favourite pets."

Edward scowled, almost disgusted. "Please, that is a rather rude name. I just do as Aro asks of me. I did not view it unreasonable to go scouting and see what the dogs were planning. And I am glad that I have, because now I've finally found my mate." Edward puts a hand on my arm what was meant to be affectionate, but felt almost possessive. I shivered again, the cold seeping through me finally now I had calmed down and the adrenalin had escaped. Whilst I was still wrapped warmly inside a thick coat and a scarf, it wasn't enough for the Canadian snow.

Edward noticed. "Are you feeling cold?"

I looked at Edward, incredulous, then realised that vampires couldn't feel temperature. Another thing I had to feel sympathy for them, they couldn't feel the nice feeling of being toasty warm next to a fire, one of my favourite feelings. But they also didn't have to deal with cold or hot temperatures and they didn't have to suffer from the diseases that you catch as a result of being hot or cold.

"Not sure if you know, but we human beings can't survive below certain degrees without being warmed up in thick clothes or by a large fire." My teeth chattered as I spoke as if backing up my claims. I saw Edward's face grow concerned, then determined.

"Edward." Alice started, sounding serious al of a sudden. "You should let her decide, it's not fair to thrust it on her like that."

I grew tense, worried and I snapped a look at Alice. "What?" I snapped back at Edward. "Let me decide what?"

Edward sighed, not liking to have to explain, but after a deep breath, he let out the worrying words. "We don't have supplies and there is no way we can get any without a risk attack from the wolves. We vampires never required any and we have all fed not long ago. We can't risk going out for anything, we'd be too vulnerable and be killed without a doubt. But we can turn you into a vampire safely, you won't have to grow hungry, thirsty, or too cold. You could live for a very long time."

I couldn't believe I was hearing what I was hearing, though I should not have been surprised. Wasn't it pretty much agreed that I would be turned into a vampire eventually? However, my heart pounded at the thought of being turned today. I had prepared myself to be turned when I was ready, when I was prepared and learnt all I could about what to expect when being turned into a vampire. I was hoping to be taught and guided through the motions of what it means to be a vampire rather than thrown in head first.

But I couldn't help but ponder and wonder at the ideas of being a vampire. Whilst it was frightening that I may become a killer, it was hard to marvel at the possibilities and the power behind becoming a vampire. I wasn't one to normally think about power, being such a quiet girl. I couldn't help but marvel at the power I would become responsible with, I could feel like a super hero! It was such an immature thought, I knew that, but I could imagine myself stopping crime, just like my father. I always felt proud for the work my father has brought to the community, making our town a safer place. Whilst he didn't get to spend much time with Renee or I, I couldn't imagine my father doing any other job besides being chief of police. If I could be a vampire, I was sure that I could help my father in ways nobody else could.

And that stopped me short. The fact I thought of such a thing, a small part of me was excited to get the feel of being a vampire, wondered and was curious about what it would be like, to give away some parts and gain some new ones, to evolve into a completely new creature. If I was thinking of such a thing, that vampires were simply an evolution, then why was I, why was anyone, dehumanizing them? How different were they compared to us? They could not feel temperature, could barely feel touch, lost their own warm blood and sense of taste along with being able to give birth and were unable to go out into the sunlight. In losing them, they evolved a super sense of speed, immaculate eyesight in the dark (losing good eyesight in the daytime I assume), super strength and sometimes the chance at a, what I call to accept, a 'super power', such as Alice's future seeing and Edward's mind reading. They used to be human once, can they really be so far from humanity as we were truly lead to think?

"Edward, that's not fair on Isabella." Jasper made an entrance. "Not to mention we are not prepared in any way. We haven't prepared for what she will experience the moment she wakes up if she is going to turn into a vampire. I've seen it plenty of times back when I was with Maria, some of the vampires became violent and a newborn vampire is at their strongest they will ever be. How can we calm her down quick enough before the dogs of war arrive?"

Now I was confused. "Dogs of war?"

Edward turned towards me, grabbing hold of my hand gently. I wanted to pull my hand away, but something stopped me. It was such a gentle touch, even if he was as cold and still as a statue with no pulse to speak of, and I knew that he held a remarkable amount of strength in those hands. His hands were remarkably soft compared to what I was expecting. I had been expecting to be touching a rock, practically, now with him touching me softly, with care, whilst it still feels rough it was a lot softer than rock, more tender.

"Did you expect, after I managed to defend you from that dog back when I found you that the Quileutes would let us go?" Edward shook his head. "No such luck, the Quileutes want to take you back regardless of the fact I said I would leave them alone. I was telling the truth, I would get Aro to leave them alone and leave the humans alone. Apparently they don't believe me. Funny, coming from animals that attacked us first and killed one of our best."

Alice frowned, putting a hand on Edward's elbow."Edward, we all miss Carlisle, and Esme. It was unforgivable what they had done, every vampire would tell you so, even some of the dogs would say it wasn't right. I expect those dogs have left the pack or simply refuse to join in, I'm not sure, but you know Carlisle wouldn't want you to be doing what you are, Edward. He tried to protect you from becoming Aro's play toy and now you're playing into his hands. We could move, go back to England if you want."

Edward shook his head. "No, I can't let them get away with what they did. That's why I'm staying with Aro, he's the only one with proper military expertise to deal with those dogs and avenge Carlisle and Esme."

Alice sighed. "That's not going to bring back Carlisle and Esme. Revenge won't do any good if it means we're going to make the humans hate us all the more."

Apparently Edward wasn't going to be moved. From the discussion, Edward Masen seemed to be really close to the Cullens, at least Carlisle and Esme. Perhaps he was a Cullen once? It would explain the name change, a want to avenge his mother and father but needing to change a name to do it, to not null the Cullen name. It felt so much like a Hollywood show, I didn't even smile at the thought of seeing it come to fruition.

No, I rather felt that so much was happening my mind was about to implode on the amount of information my brain and eyes were taking in. Yet, apparently, life had decided that I could still deal with more and more obstacles today.

"Edward." Suddenly, there was a middle aged man standing besides Edward, a hand on his shoulder. "I feel we have much to discuss about your actions today."

Edward hadn't been startled at all by the sudden appearance of the vampire, almost teleporting in. More he seemed resigned to his fate of who appeared to be superior to him. The newcomer had that aura of authority, of confidence and wisdom. He clearly knew what he was doing and that was intimidating enough for most people.

Edward didn't seem to reply, for a few moments at least, until he nodded and grabbed hold of my hand, gently. I didn't fight, there was no point in fighting, I played a good little captive and walked with him. I wasn't sure if I would describe the walk as a walking down the aisle or walking to my execution. I wasn't sure what to expect, this vampire was clearly a higher up of vampire, higher than even Edward. And he was apparently a prince! What was higher than a prince? A king.

He walked me up the stairs towards the throne of ice where suddenly there was another female vampire standing besides the same vampire that spoke to Edward earlier, the possible leader of this band. He stood still, as still as the throne behind him, as cold as the ice surrounding him and his people, no emotion on his face that wasn't welcoming in the least.

"What is the meaning of taking this young woman, Edward?" He asked, genuinely curious rather than chastising the vampire, like a pet that had done a really bad thing.

Edward growled, not appreciating the treatment he was receiving. "Her name is Isabella, and she is my mate. She was about to be abused by a snivelling dog," this was almost hissed out, the voice dropping several degrees lower than the weather, the atmosphere dropping just as low. "I was not going to allow that to happen, and so I kidnapped her to save her. I tried to placate the dogs by giving them an option; if I were to keep Isabella Swan, as my mate, we will leave the humans in Forks alone."

The Vampire King smiled, almost amused by this story. "Oh, and from what I hear from your dear sister Alice, the 'dogs' didn't take your deal very lightly. In fact, she tells me they are marching their way here following your brother, Emmett."

Emmett was alive? After fighting with a werewolf, it wouldn't have surprised me if he weren't to survive. I had hoped he would, he seemed like the most lovable vampire I had ever met, probably will ever meet.

Edward growled, sounding almost suspiciously like a tiger. "I wasn't going to let those mutts do anything else to her. I saw the event, she did not want it, she did not want him. I saved her life, the mutt was going to attack her, I saw it! She is my mate and I will stop at nothing to keep her by my side!" My brain may or may not have turned off whilst he was announcing those things, but it was enough to worry me. Edward was like a possessive, overprotective boyfriend who refuses to have any other boy near her, keep her fresh, away from the competition so she would be reliant on him and him alone. That was a scary thought, a scary idea and a scary reality.

The Vampire King smiled, apparently undeterred by Edward's protectiveness, as if it were to be expected. "Calm yourself, Edward. I can understand why you were driven in such a way to bring her out here. But, perhaps, your lady here does not." He looked directly towards me, smiles and walks slowly towards me.

The reaction was immediate, Edward snarled, almost like a boom of thunder. He was at my side one moment, then he had been thrown back. Faster than my eyes could follow, but I had noticed that one of the Vampire King's bodyguard had moved and had their eyes pinned on Edward. Then Edward fell to the floor, stuck on his knees with his hands on his head, like he suddenly got a migraine. He twitched, like he was having a seizure, it was starting to make me worry for him despite what he had done to me. I figure this is what it's like to have Stockholm Syndrome, what a terrible situation; I have no right to give Edward any sympathy. I must be out of my mind! But I was a compassionate person, whether I liked it or not, I hated seeing anyone in pain, whether they deserved it or not.

"Stop it, please!" I didn't know how the Vampire King was hurting Edward, but I knew that he had given the order. Apparently it was a surprising request, judging by the face of the Vampire King. But he smiled, pleased by the reaction and he held a hand up. A sign of relief sounded behind me as I assumed Edward's torture had ended. Was this why the Vampire King was so feared? Was this why everyone followed and hid away towards his leadership after the wolves exposed them all as killers?

The Vampire King still smiled a parody of an apologetic smile. "My apologies, I did not mean to distress you out, my dear." He turned around and gestured to a female vampire. I hadn't noticed her earlier, she was still as a statue and her face seemed to have less emotion than one. She was beautiful, unnaturally beautiful, too beautiful to be considered human or harmless. The emotionless face that stared back towards me frightened me. I couldn't read her at all, entirely unpredictable and deadly.

"This is Jane. She stands as my personal bodyguard, for she is the most deadly vampire I have ever in all my years come across." Jane smiled at this, the first emotion to cross her face and it was a more frightening image, a more wrong picture than the stoic emotionless one. "She had sensed that Edward was to become a danger to me, she reacted purely defensively. I shan't excuse her behaviour, but I do apologise for the shock that it had given you."

The Vampire King walked up to me, slowly, carefully, as if I were a doe, and held my hand in his own rough but careful hands. "I do not believe I have introduced myself, my name is Aro. I stand as a current leader for stranded vampires with nowhere to go in the United States of America. Your canine friends have caused us an awful lot of trouble and I'm trying my best, for the both of our kinds, to live together quietly and peacefully as before." It was hard to believe him, his red eyes shining mischievous intentions.

I didn't know how to reply, wanting to pull my hand away but knowing I was more likely to break my hand off than get it out of his hands. Edward must've seen my discomfort, as he came to our sides. "Aro..." It was a warning, or closer yet, a plea.

"Calm yourself, Edward. I know how hard it is to battle our own instincts, to protect our other half to the death, whether we believe them to truly be in danger or not. I do apologise Jane had to use force against you, but it is her duty, a duty that Jane dear is more than happy to take part."

Jane nodded her head. "It was a pleasure, my master." I grew very uncomfortable after that. The idea of anyone calling somebody else 'master' always brought that on. To call someone 'master' was to lower yourself down below someone else's. I had read enough books to know that the word 'master' is often used by slaves addressing their owners. I was definitely not comfortable with the idea. It only seemed to further prove my thought that the vampires were following The Vampire King, Aro, because he was stronger, older and had a few trusty just as strong vampires to help him along.

During my turmoil, I had apparently taken the curiosity of Aro, as he was suddenly looking at me with an interested and fascinated look in his eyes. "How interesting..." he murmured, talking to himself I assumed as I had no idea what he was going on about. "You're tense, you're clearly uncomfortable about something, and yet... your mind is silent, I can hear nothing of what you are thinking. Surely, surely you are pondering, your mind running away with you?"

Before I could reply, Edward smiled at Aro, as if sharing in a joke. "I had the same trouble, her mind seems to be closed off to reading minds, yet Alice has managed somewhat to be able to tell her future. I am not entirely sure what the cause of this is."

"Hm, how very interesting. I have never met a human with such potential. I wonder..." He lets go of my hand, then waves forward as if asking Jane to move forward. She doesn't, instead she stares intently at me. If laser beams were able to be shot straight from her eyeballs, I would probably have been vaporised long ago. Luckily, I don't think such a vampire power exists or ever will exist.

I shifted uncomfortably, being stared at was never a good sign, the eyes were the windows to the soul and she was most definitely searching through mine. But, apparently, that didn't satisfy Jane. Her face suddenly went tense, confused, then angry. I had no idea what was going on, I had no idea what I was doing wrong, how was I making her angry when I was simply standing here?

Or, was that the problem?

I hadn't noticed that Edward had become tense besides me. I had no idea why, I had no idea what was going on. Then Edward snickered as if amused and left me even more confused.

"Fascinating... it does seem like a power a vampire would often have. It is almost like you are destined to become a vampire. Not even Jane's power can touch you." Ah, that explained a lot more now that I was in on the joke. "Who am I to argue with fate? My dear Isabella, the world has blessed you with the power of a vampire before you have even been reborn. You are a unique creature that has been given the gift of being able to block mental attacks and, to a certain extent, mental abilities. You appear to be immune to Jane's power, which has never happened before for her entire undead life." Jane seemed to huff, confirming the Vampire King's assumption. "Imagine what your power would be like if you were to be a vampire! Imagine!"

I know he told me to, but I found it impossible to. I was an ordinary girl, in every possible sense. There was nothing remarkable about me, besides the fact I was the daughter of the chief of police of Forks. That was something to be proud of in only Forks, nothing else. Not for a place like Canada. Or among vampires, at any rate. I was a realist at heart, trying to see the world as it is rather than hiding under false pretences.

"I see you are conflicted, you are not convinced." Aro pointed out, surprising me, bringing out my guilty blush, caught. "A touch, a mere touch of my finger and I hear all thoughts that go through your mind. All that have ever gone and all that soon will. Because of this, Edward and I can communicate without uttering a single word. It's a great joy to be able to find another that has a great gift such as I. But when I touch you, caress your hand, I hear not a sound in your head. I can hear what you say, any words you speak, but your mind appears blank. As empty as a desert. That's very interesting."

"I've always been fascinated by vampiric special powers," Aro continues, "Only a select few are ever given some special powers, the Cullen family were the biggest vampire family that has special powers. I've always wanted to find out why some have it whilst others are not born with it. Is it a genetic thing whilst they are human? Or does it depend on the vampire that turned the previous human? It's fascinating, it's something that neither us vampires nor you humans can explain. Maybe some vampires are just destined to remain and become vampires for all eternity? Perhaps God felt like we vampires deserved to have such a gift, whilst others do not receive it. Almost the whole Cullen family had powers, the children did, but the parents did not. The parents are said to have died, and that is how the Cullen family went into hiding, refusing to use their normal name. Isn't that so, Edward?"

Edward didn't answer, it didn't seem like he wanted to hear what he was hearing, preferring to be somewhere else. I didn't blame him, Aro gave me the creeps as he radiated knowledge, wisdom, and power. He was a very old vampire, one that knew what he was talking about and yet he had a thirst, a thirst for the knowledge of vampiric special powers. He had a point, who didn't want to know about why some vampires got special powers whilst others remained normal vampires? It could always be a gift from God, or any other cosmic power up in the heavens there.

"I assume you don't know the story of how Edward Cullen became Edward Masen by his reaction then, Isabella?"

I couldn't say anything, all I could do was shake my head, hoping that was an acceptable enough answer for him.

"Well, I would think you'd want to hear it from Edward himself. He can surely explain himself to you, and maybe then, you will understand why we do as we do." He touched Edward's arm as he spoke, talking to me in one conversation, and probably talking to Edward in another without making so much as a peep.

Edward nodded, answering an unspoken question. He turned towards me, "I'll explain everything, but we have to get you to another room safely. There's no question that the wolf's senses of smells will find you no matter how well we try to mask it. The faster we turn you into a vampire, the better. They won't be able to find you if you smell like every other vampire."

I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing. "What will happen if they arrive here, to take me back?"

Edward's face went grim. "They won't take you, I won't allow them to." I didn't miss the underlining threat there, either.

"Masen, what will you do to them?" I demanded to know, "They were my friends, I will never forgive you if you attack my friends." I meant it, Jacob had kept me safe for years, had known him since I was born. We were almost family, I felt like we were a family, and hence I couldn't date him. It felt too weird, having known every one of his flaws and their merits. I knew then that it wasn't worth the risk of even trying to date him, it would be easier and less damaging to refuse him straight out. That's what I had hoped, at any rate. Long term, facing all that is happening right now, that was probably the best decision I have made in my life. How much worse would it have been if Jacob and I had been dating? How angry would he have been if we had been together? If we were an item, how enraged would he have gotten? If there truly was nothing left to lose, how far would he have gotten, given the chance to win back everything he had lost? Probably as far as the universe was willing to let him go. That's a scary thought.

"I wouldn't consider it attacking if it is in self defence." That was Masen's reply. What a childish notion. "I promise, I will not outright attack your 'friends'" he hissed the word out like some hideous disease that shouldn't be spoken of again, "unless they attack me first. That's the way it's always been with my family."

"Which family, this one stuck in Canada and kidnapping me for your selfish gains?"

Edward shook his head. "No, my last one, back when we were the Cullens. We lived in Forks, did you know? A normal family, though we were all home tutored." Edward explained, walking away with a motion of his hand indicating that I should follow. Having nothing to lose and being curious enough to keep listening, I followed. "Carlisle and Esme, our step-parents, always thought we wouldn't fit in, we'd be unhappy if we remained home tutored. Esme was a lovely teacher, a fantastic mother. We were all taught well, we all enjoyed being inside, family was all that mattered. We weren't really interested in knowing people outside, what was the point when you simply died in what seems like a blink of life to us?" I couldn't help but feel insulted, whilst at the same time feeling he had a point. I had to wonder what it would be like to be unable to die of age, whilst everyone else around you seemed to grow older, change, have their own families, whilst you were stuck in time and unable to follow them. That seemed more like a curse than a gift.

"If being a vampire seems so horrible as you are making it to be, then why did you become one?" I asked as we kept walking through the linear corridors. They all seem to lead to simple rooms, rooms that were really caverns for privacy if it was needed really. Why did vampires even need privacy if they couldn't sleep? That's another thing I'll miss, sleeping. I'll never be able to dream again, in the literal sense of the word.

Edward walked into one of them, it seemed no different to any others, but it was the furthest away from other vampires and deepest down the corridor, further for the wolves to travel to find me. There was oddly enough a bed that was probably taken from a hospital of sorts and two chairs on either side of the bed. There was a blanket on top of the bed, I assumed for me to curl up inside and there was nothing better I had in mind. Nothing else consisted in the room, if I didn't know better I'd have thought an ice giant would've made his home inside these caves. It was rather fascinating, despite how cold it is in these caves, it was amazing to see how the caverns were carved out from the ice, the marks upon the wall showing how it was created and dugout.

Edward sat on one of the chairs and motioned for me to sit on the bed. I didn't argue, the bed looking so inviting and the blanket so warm and heavenly, I trotted my way quickly to the bed. I wrapped myself quickly in the blanket with difficulty because of how much I was shivering and moaned. It felt so warm! I wasn't sure how, but they had managed to get an electric blanket working to heat me up quickly. It felt like heaven had wrapped itself around me. It was a wonder that the ice around us hadn't melted, either that or I was feeling much colder than I had let myself to believe.

Edward sighed, as if what he was going to tell me was something grave or something he has kept a secret for a long time. Guess which I thought it was?

"It is a long story, I had not asked to become a vampire, believe it or not. When I was young, the Spanish influenza had been killing off whole families in America." Spanish Influenza? How long ago was that? I couldn't imagine. "My father died first, being the first to have caught the horrible disease. My mother and I were soon sent to the hospital, or what qualified as a hospital back then, but it was already too late. Carlisle told me that my mother seemed to know who and what he was, for my mother asked him to save me in any way he could. She hadn't wanted me to die when I was only seventeen. Carlisle promised her that he would, he would save me in any way he could, but it was too late for me. There was only one way of saving me, by making me immortal. It was painful, I remember that much. Beyond that, it is a blur and I can't tell you much. I was very delirious, I must've been moments from death when Carlisle realised he couldn't wait any longer before I was lost. I was the first person he had changed into a vampire, so he told me. I am now over a hundred years old, yet I have not looked a day over seventeen my whole life. I feel mentally older, my generation of seventeen is completely different to the generation who are seventeen now. I was taught with different class."

So, that was how he became a vampire. He hadn't chosen it out of some selfish desire to live forever or to become more powerful and be able to prove himself better than anybody else like most other terrible villains seem to do in Hollywood films.

Edward smiled slightly in apology, "I am sorry, I'm trying to get across of why I was acting like I was when I first found you. It is not an excuse, before you say anything." He took a deep breath and I knew it was going to be a tough one to take in. "Carlisle soon became attached to a female after he trained me to be stable enough around human life. You understand that the first few months of vampiric life we crave human blood like a drug dealer craves his own narcotics. That was Esme, Carlisle had caught her in the hospital after she had tried to kill herself. She had recently lost her children and she was unable to take life anymore, but the second Carlisle set his eyes upon her, he had to save her. That's what the bond does, only a vampire can feel it. No matter the consequences, even at the price of her hating him forever, he had to save her life, because she was the only one for him. Losing your mate is the worst thing you can ever encounter in any life."

"That's why I had to save you," Edward continued, smiling but I could swear, if he were human, there'd surely be a tear in those shining eyes of his. They were... adorable... deplorable. Absolutely deplorable. "I couldn't let half of my soul be ripped apart in front of my eyes by my biologically worst enemy. Especially the same one that killed who I consider to be my mother and father and chased us out of the comfortable homes we lived in. I couldn't let him take another thing, one of the only things, that I cared about in this world away from me ever again."

The scary thing was, was Edward said this with such sincerity in his eyes that there was no possible way that he was lying, unless he was the best liar in the world. Edward Masen, or Cullen, seemed to be many things, but lying didn't appear to be one of them. The recognition I had seen in Jacob's eyes before he had shape shifted proved enough to me that he at least told the truth that Jacob had known him before that encounter. He wasn't a random vampire that had come to steal a girl, he was a vampire that Jacob had seen before.

I didn't know what to think, apparently the family I had been staying with all my life, from Edward's story, were liars, they had accidently killed a girl, a complete freak accident, and had pinned the blame onto the vampire family. Because of the lie, they had been exposed to the public as monsters, thrown out of their homes and treated like the monsters they soon thought themselves to be. What was I to believe? The wolves were a selfish group, running on almost pure instinct alone, they were closer to their animal counterparts than the vampires so far have proven themselves to be.

I took a deep breath, there really was no choice in the matter. "What will happen when I turn? Will I still be myself?"

Edward smiled, reassuringly. "I have not changed in the last hundred years, I am the same Edward that almost succumbed to the Spanish Influenza. We are stuck in stone. You may feel wild, the need for blood will be great, but I will stop you, if that is what you wish."

Again, I had to take a deep breath, to prepare myself for this moment. I nodded. "I'd rather go willingly than have it taken from me, immortality can't be all that bad."

Edward motioned to the bed, telling me subtly to lie down. "You will struggle, there will be other vampires coming here, you will be in pain as each one of your nerves dies over and over again and transforms into something different. You are changing species, essentially, it will be painful, but I will be there every step of the way to make it more bearable, I promise you."

How sweet, but it didn't comfort me in the least, all I was glad for was that I could at least try for peace between both sides again, having seen both sides of their stories. Living forever was going to change much of my life, I didn't realise how much, but I wasn't sure I would ever be prepared for it. Lying down, stiff as a board, I went white as a sheet as Edward's fangs sunk into my neck and soon, pain was all I knew as I burst into flames with the searing heats of the sun for days on end.

Noticing that fanfiction spell check keeps going off on me. Oh yeah, I'm British therefore I spell wrong. Bloody fanfiction has worse spell checking than Word. It's nice it's here, but it's more a hindrance than a help for me. Ah well, I hope other people use it well~

Hope you enjoyed the chapter~ I may have changed the characters around or seem uncertain and it seems pieced together weirdly, you're probably right. Maybe one day I'll go back and fix it when I have the proper time and energy. Hopefully! Anyhow, hope you've enjoyed the chapter!

~Blackie