Prologue..

"James..let it go." His vampire friend warned. They were standing across the street from the dark haired humans home..waiting for the Cullens to arrive from the woods.

"We can go farther North..find food elsewhere." His friend muttered..but there was a fire in James' veins he couldn't ignore, the urge to track..to hunt..to play. Suddenly, a new aroma reached his senses and all thoughts of Cullen's girl ceased to exist. Laurent noticed the change in his friend with relief..it was one thing to fight a solitary vampire..but a coven he would pass on.

James followed the scent of blood..moving as fast as the wind and finally he found the source of the smell. His hungry red eyes watched the slender figure of the girl in front of her home. Her hand had been cut open and was bleeding. He watched her quickly pick up the remaining broken glass and throw the pieces away.

He could see long dyed blue hair peeking behind a black hooded jacket to protect her from the rain.

Laurent had appeared beside him.

"This is the one you want?"

James licked his lips and felt the urge to tackle her now.

"I wish to hunt to her alone...slowly." His voice was possessive and full of hunger. Laurent respected his friends wishes but had no desire to stay in Forks with the Cullens so close by.

"Then I'm afraid this is goodbye, for now."

The vampires parted ways. Laurent to head farther North and James watched the house..listening to the girls every move..every word..every heartbeat, waiting for the right moment to make his presence known..to attack.

(Blythe)

"Shit!" I gasped and yanked my hand away from the shards of broken bottle on the sidewalk. The blood came soon after the cut itself and I quickly picked up the rest of the glass. It was a rainy night in Forks, Washington like most of the nights here and I normally loved it. I grumbled and went back inside to wash my hand off in the sink.

"Whoa, what happened?" My little brother, Todd, asked.

"Just a little accident with one of Mom's booze bottles." I wrapped my hand in gauze before turning to lean nonchalantly on the counter.

"Are you hungry?" I asked him. "I can make you anything you want."

"Blythe..," The tone in which my brother said my name had me halting from looking in the cabinets.

"What's up?"

"You don't have to put on a brave face. Everyone at school knows you and Ryan broke up today. Its okay to be upset." He shrugged. I looked at my fifteen year old brother and honestly shrugged my shoulder.

"Todd..I'm honestly not too beat up over it." Ryan and I had been growing apart for some time, this way he could focus on his football scholarships and I could figure out what I actually wanted to do with my life. My brother was always worried about me..we looked after one another.

"In that case," Todd grinned. "I'm feeling cheeseburgers and fries."

"You got it. Don't wake Mom. You know how cranky she gets after her afternoon drinking." Todd nodded and went off to watch TV. I rummaged through the freezer and realized the hamburger patties were in the extra freezer in the garage.

I put my rain boots back on and slipped out of the back door. There was the separate garage in our backyard and I stepped out into the rain to head that way. Something caught my eye before I could go to my destination..something..or someone? As soon as I looked at the figure though it seemed to disappear.

"Get it together, Blythe." I whispered and entered the dark garage, leaving the door open when I realized the light was busted and wouldn't turn on. Digging through the freezer, I grabbed the hamburgers and closed the door behind me. The pattering sounds of the rain were all around me and I looked up only to stop short again. The figure was back. This time in a different spot in the yard.. fear rushed through me and I blinked hard to get a closer look through the precipitation.

Once I could see again there was no figure..I was psyching myself out. I looked to the swing set todd and I used when we were younger. We used to see who could swing higher or Id push him when he was being lazy. No one would notice me gone for a few minutes..I held the hamburger and swing chain at the same time..just going back and forth in the rain.

Sometimes I wished I could go back to being little..

Todd came out after twenty minutes of me getting rained on and sat in the other swing.

"Mom is throwing up again..its not normal..and she won't go to the hospital." He took a deep breath. "If she dies you're all I have left."

"Uncle Reed is out there somewhere he just doesn't talk to mom..and if her stories are true then he's pretty rich."

Todd's look said he didn't believe a word of it.

We went back inside and ignored the strange chilly breeze that blew past me and into the house. Was Todd wearing cologne now? I got a little whiff as I closed the back door to keep out the chill and got to work on dinner.

About forty five minutes later I called Todd in and we ate together at the table before doing our homework. I took our mother a plate of food upstairs while Todd got his shower first.

"Mom..are you hungry?" I asked her softly..I knew she was sick and not just because of the drinking. We agreed Todd couldn't know and she didn't want chemo so I dropped it but I still had a year until eighteen when I could legally adopt Todd.

She groaned and gestured to the nightstand so I sat it down and left quickly not really wanting to stay and converse anyway.

My body was sore from the long day and I was thankful tomorrow was Friday. I flopped onto my bed and closed my eyes, breathing in the scent of my vanilla air freshener before drifting off to sleep.

CLACK!

I jerked up from my sleep and frantically looked around the room. Everything still seemed to be in place..except..the picture frame of me and Ryan had fallen to the floor. I had been meaning to get rid of it that evening after school. I rose and picked it up not even bothering to look at the obvious happy couple in the scene. Opening my window I threw it out of the second story and heard it hit the grass with another satisfying THUMP!

My phone said is was three a.m and I needed to take that shower so I could just get us out of here and to school on time. I had gym first thing in the morning and it prompted me to be a little late every now and then.

After the shower I dressed and brushed my teeth. I wanted nothing more than to sink in my bed and pass out for the next few days.

A sudden noise from inside my closet had me whirling around in the dark. With my heart in my throat I inched closer to pull it open but a knock came from my bedroom door. I gave the closet one last look before opening the door. Todd stood there in his night shirt and pajama pants.

"You left your phone downstairs. It's been ringing like crazy." He stumbled back down the stairs and I closed my door to flip open the phone. Five missed calls from Ryan..I really wasn't in the mood..

"Ow.." I was gripping the phone so hard my cut split back open and a few drops of blood seeped through. After tossing my phone on the bed I turned to get a bandage and stopped dead in my tracks.

Someone was standing in the middle of my bedroom but that's all I could tell from here in the dark. My heart was racing and the person audibly took a breath in my direction as though trying to smell me...suddenly, they pounced! I went to scream but it never came out..a strong ice cold hand was over my mouth and a venomous voice at my ear.

"Make a sound and I'll make your death that much more painful." I stilled..if only for a moment to think of what to do. The man had me pinned to my bed and I couldn't even move an inch. He removed his hand and I whispered in a shaky voice.

"Please don't hurt me. I have a little brother and he needs me..he doesn't have anyone else..please."

The strangers hand returned to my throat and I wanted to cry..that noise in the closet..and now I was going to die..

(James)

Hunt her slow? What a joke, James thought as he leaned to smell the sweetness of her life force..her blood. His veins erupted in fire suddenly and he wanted it..the instant gratification of a meal infused with fear. He could kill her now or drag it out..decisions. His strong, freezing hand turned her bleeding palm toward his mouth and his tongue flicked out to graze her cut from bottom to top, erotically.

Her next shiver was something else mixed with fear and James savored the small taste from her hand before letting her go..he let her turn to get a good look at him and a new thrill ran through his body. She was looking at his tight fitted undershirt and loose jacket. His hood had fallen off and he could hear her heart thudding erratically in her chest while she studied his face. Some thumps were in fear and others..

She looked like a little elf with dyed midnight blue hair, a silver stud in her nose and she smelled of faint blood, vanilla and..female. She hadn't screamed or called for her brother, either she was in shock or wondering what was going to happen next. James took a slow step towards her and she didnt even move.. It was enough to satisfy him..for now..seems he would return to the long hunt. By chance she would give him little tastes of her blood willingly, humans were a curious species.

He took one last good look at her and disappeared through her now open window.

(Blythe)

I couldn't move for a good five minutes afraid that he would come back. I looked down at my hand..that was now completely healed give for a single white scar line. I suddenly leaped to my window and slammed it shut , fumbling with the lock for a good minute before I got it to work. After that I just sat on my bed and breathed..until my heart slowed back down. Had he been the figure outside? His cologne smelled like the one I thought Todd was wearing.

(James)

He had to ignore wanting to go back and drain her dry. The way her large green eyes looked at him in terror..he wasn't ready to end that yet. The slow hunt..but until then..he could perfectly see three blocks down through the increasing precipitation that the young man from the girls photograph was coming his way. A snack to hold him off for now..

(Blythe)

"Why are you sleeping with scissors?" Todd asked me and I jerked awake..I tossed them in the corner of the room as though that would hide them.

"I had a nightmare." I blurted.

"Ookay. Well we're almost late. Come down so we can get to school on time."

"Right..school." I was almost convinced last night had been a nightmare until I looked down at the white scar on my palm..I could almost smell his cologne. After changing and grabbing my books and bag I flew down the stairs. Todd was scarfing down a bowl of cereal but my stomach was still unsettled so I skipped breakfast.

I was glad he was finally in 9th grade so I didn't have to drive to two different schools. As I stopped in the Forks high parking lot he stepped out and gave me a smile. I watched him trudge through the rain for the cafeteria to wait until the first bell. I stayed in the car and let the heat wash over me for some kind of comfort. My friend Angela was squinting at my car through the rain probably trying to see if I was in it or not. After sighing I turned off the car and checked my rearview..the blonde man was standing behind my car!

Whipping my head around so quick that it was actually a little painful and there was no one there..no one behind the car. I looked in the mirror again which was also empty other than my stitch doll in the back window. I was sure paranoia was completely normal for a few days after experiencing a freakshow break in.

I got out of my car and walked as fast as I could to Angela. She smiled kindly through her glasses and her hair was done in a nice glossy braid today with a sunflower sundress. Girl must have been tired of the rain.

"Thank God ,it's Friday." She said. We suddenly stopped like most of the other students when the police chief pulled into the lot. He got out with his daughter Isabella Swan..she had been eating at our lunch table since she moved back. They walked into the office.

"Did you guys see this mornings paper? Or watch the news?" Eric suddenly came running up and slapped a paper down on the table.

"Attention Forks High students. Due to the missing persons case..school is cancelled for today."

Missing persons? I looked down at the paper and gasped..it was Ryan on the cover..he was the missing person?

"Blythe Haddox please come to the front office." Was suddenly called over the intercom and I chewed my lip anxiously. Angela and Eric were both looking at me somberly I mean..the day after Ryan and I break up he goes missing? It was weird. I walked to the front office and passed Bella and Edward on the way in. I guess they were a thing now. I smiled at them and Bella smiled back but Edward looked like he had smelled something awful. I kept it moving and found the front office lady and Chief Swan both looking at me.

"I just wanted to ask you a few questions, Miss Haddox, in regards to Ryan Johnson."

I nodded not quite finding my voice..

After the slight interrogation I walked out into the parking lot on the verge of tears. Just because it wasn't working between us didn't mean I wished him any harm. Todd was waiting there looking out of place here..he was tan with sandy blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Opposite to my pale skin and silver blonde hair underneath the blue.

The lot was empty now except for the Cullens still trying to fit all of themselves in the one car I'd imagine. Todd and I got in and I immediately locked the doors behind us.. he gave me a weird look but didn't say anything about it.

"Want to go somewhere?" I asked.

"Like where? Its seven-thirty a.m?" Todd smirked.

I shrugged and grabbed my sunglasses as the first strong rays of rare sunshine broke through the clouds.

"Breakfast sounds nice."

We pulled back into the driveway with our to-go boxes and I left mom some upstairs.

I went back to my room once I was alone and finally the tears slipped out. Maybe he wasnt missing..he did try to call me last night..he was probably just upset and blowing off steam somewhere. That had to have been it and his parents were just overreacting. I snatched my phone up and called him back. It rang and rang until his voicemail beeped.

"Ryan..it's Blythe. Everyone is worried about you. Im worried about you..call me back." I hung up, hoping for a text at least.. the waiting game.

I sat on my bed and ate the rest of my leftover breakfast while staring at my four walls. My phone dinged the minute I finished. With my heart in my throat I snatched up my phone expecting Ryan's apology but it was just Angela asking if she could come pick me up to spend the day with her. I accepted her invitation and let Todd know I'd be back by dinner at the latest.

Out into my car alone..I turned down the radio and breathed for a moment. I hoped Angela didn't want to talk about Ryan. I went to back out of the long driveway and rammed on my breaks, thinking I saw a flash of blonde again..but nothing was there. I looked down at the white scar..he had moved that quickly from upstairs to vanished. Who the hell could do such a thing? I huffed my bangs out of my eyes and backed out the rest of the way before heading to Angela's.

Her house was a cute two story setup in a cul de sac with two other homes complete with a front porch swing. Her gray cat, Dusty, welcomed me at the door and I walked up the stairs to her room. Her walls were a pale peach and cream colors coordinated the rest of her space. Angela was at her laptop desk facing her window, typing.

"One sec, just finishing this paper really fast for English."

Crap..the one I didn't even start yet due in three or four days.

"Take your time." I said and let my eyes gaze around her familiar room. She finishes in a matter of seconds and then turned to me.

"How are you holding up?" Crap again. I really didn't want to talk about him.

"Just in shock..he messaged me last night so I'm assuming he's run away to blow off steam until further notice." That was all she was going to get out of me and she knew it.

"It's okay, Blythe. Are you hungry? I made-," I cut her off as politely as I could.

"No, thank you. I just finished eating with Todd and I actually just remembered I'm late to pick up my mother's prescription." I turned and left back down the stairs amd past Dusty again to the car.

Angela watched me from her window a little sadly as I drove off but I knew she would get over it soon. I had already told Todd I'd be back by dinner and now I told Angela I was going to the pharmacy so where should I really go? Not too many places in dreary Forks..I wasn't a beach kind of person so the reservation was out. I wasn't entirely against the cemetery, there was a nice gazebo away from all the tombstones off to one side. It was a nice place to sit at night.

I turned left at the corner gas station and then it was all trees and road from there..

I pulled into one of the six parking spaces and got out of the car. It was foggier up here..more ominous in the late morning. My boots crunched on the gravel walkway to the benches and I sat rather hard. My ass was already going cold and there was no way I could sit here until dinner time..maybe in the car.

After taking a few deep breaths of fresh air I was starting to finally relax. I noticed the clouds going grayer and I wasn't sure if we were due for another crackling thunderstorm like the other night. There had been so much thunder coming from the trail behind our house that it rattled our windows almost every time. Abonormal thunder that only happened here in my opinion..

A noise like a breaking twig behind me had me turning but nothing was there.. I stood, already tense and on my guard.

A strange breeze blew past me and I got a sudden whiff of that cologne..! I turned and hopped back at the sight of the blonde man sitting in my seat on the bench.

He leaned forward and his red eyes gleamed at me dangerously.

"Good morning." He said cheerfully with a big, bright white smile as though we had just stumbled upon each other for the first time.

Should I run?

"You won't get far..I can smell you for miles..and miles..and miles..," He tilted his head still with that same smile and I shivered in fear. Was I going to die up here?