Preface

I was running out of time, and I feared I wouldn’t get there in time at my slow, klutzy human speed. For what must have been the millionth time since meeting Edward – since falling in love with Edward – I wished that he had just obeyed my wishes and turned me into what I wanted to be more then anything, then I would be able to get there and be of some kind of useful help. I honestly had no idea where I was even running, just a small voice in the back of my head faintly whispering suggestions.

Still though, there had to be a way I could help. I rushed blindly through the forest, barely feeling the tree branches as they slapped against my skin and scratched me. I feverously hoped I wasn’t bleeding anywhere, what a disaster that would be. Standing around a bunch of blood thirsty vampires while bleeding wasn’t the best idea one could do. It would only create more problems by tempting them all - especially Jasper, as he was the ‘youngest’ vampire and had difficulty restraining himself.

My only real train of thought as I stumbled along as quickly as I could go through the thick forest was getting to the Cullen's before they did. I couldn’t bare it if I failed. I had to warn them somehow, even though they probably already knew what with Alice’s visions and Edward’s mind reading, and of course.

I ploughed through the willow trees that obscured my vision of the meadow. I frantically looked around and saw The Cullen’s all standing grim faced, practically in the middle of the circular meadow. It felt like ages since I had come here alone and nearly been killed by the vampire Laurent. In reality it had only been a month or so.

I heard the unmistakable angry barking and howling. They were getting closer.

“Edward!” I called out. Edward spun around, momentarily surprised. Then the anger set in around his face.

“Bella! I told you not to come!” He approached me in that graceful way he walks, and I felt my heart hammering in my chest loudly – it wasn’t from running so fast that I nearly burst a lung either.

His family stood back, as if giving us space. In reality, it didn’t matter if they were standing right beside us or if they were on the other side of the field – with their acute hearing; they would be able to hear us perfectly no matter where they stood. Not that it mattered at that moment.

“I didn’t have a choice,” I told him, gasping for breath. The tears were streaming freely down my face now, all my worries and fears coming to the surface. He pulled me close against his hard, ice cold chest. “Please say you won’t fight!” I begged, terrified of losing him.

“You know I have to,” he frowned, stroking my hair in an attempt to calm me down. His fingers felt icy against my burning scalp.

“Run away, with me,” I urged him, looking up into his topaz eyes. “Why can’t you all just run away?”

Edward shook his head, looking sad. “You know we can’t. They’ll just follow us. We have to fight.” He looked generally sorry about it too.

It was true; the Protectors wouldn’t give up – not now that the treaty was broken.

He pulled me close and kissed me as passionately as he would allow himself too. Then I felt a whoosh backwards and suddenly I was at home in my room, his kiss still lingering icily on my lips and Edward no where in sight.

“Edward!” I cried out, collapsing and frustrated that he had run me practically at the speed of light to safety. I wanted to be there, no needed to be there. I felt so helpless back at Charlie's sitting around...waiting.

There wasn’t any possible way I could get back now in time.