Chapter Eighteen

Two days passed, and there was still no word about Charlie. Every time I asked Jasper, he said he didn’t have time or clearance to the dungeons; working for Maria was taking up all his time. I didn’t think he was doing it on purpose. For a vampire, he was looking pretty beat up recently.

I thought Edward would pick up the slack, but his method was just as fruitless. He went through most of the underground reading minds, but it was as if Charlie didn’t exist. Even with every depressing “no,” I refused to think the worst. Aro wouldn’t kill him. Charlie was his bargaining chip.

I had yet to find either Jessica or Lauren, despite searching the halls and getting lost numerous times. Edward had found her once, using my description as he hunted minds. He passed her in the hall and said she looked intoxicated, drunk off her ass as she clung to a guard’s arm. It was her owner, Demetri. From the way Edward spat his name, it was obvious they had some bad blood between them. Well, at least we had one thing in common.

I hadn’t been allowed to do much besides stay in the room—“for security reasons,” Jasper said—but he should have known I wouldn’t listen. Why would I let the vampires have all the fun? I wanted to find Charlie myself, but if Edward was turning every stone and finding nothing, what could I do? I, begrudgingly, tried to ignore the situation and let the vamps do their part while I went to find the Renfield room.

I tried to retrace my steps to get back to the Renfield room, but I took a wrong turn somewhere and smacked into James and some woman. The hall was kind of dark, but I knew it was him thanks to the shine of blond hair and eye patch. I thought she was just his bloodwhore. Turned out she—Victoria—was his lover, and it wasn’t the smartest idea to insult two vampires alone.

I quickly learned that Victoria doesn’t appreciate rude humans, and if Edward hadn’t been within range, I might have gotten more than a few scratches and bruised neck. I couldn’t draw my pistol fast enough—stupid of me to only wear my pistol in the first place. She nearly suffocated me; I was light-headed, my vision was running in streamers of black and white.

Edward didn’t appreciate my near-death experience. He called it reckless, idiotic and a few words in a different language that I didn’t catch. Ultimately, I was put on lock-down for a day and a half.

So here I was, sprawled on the chaise in my room, pouting and miserable. I’d already tried to read the books in the den, but they were all about philosophy, and that wasn’t interesting one bit. There was no TV or computer in the room. Just a lot of empty space for me to wallow.

Why did I let a vamp order me around anyway? He wasn’t even here! Edward told me to stay like I was some kind of dog, walked out the door without any indication where he was going, and I hadn’t seen him since. Was he out there looking for Charlie again? No, it didn’t matter where Edward was. What mattered was that he wasn’t here to reinforce my sentence; he wouldn’t even know I left unless I got in trouble again. It was a very big possibility, but I was a gambling kind of girl. That’s how I got stuck down here to begin with.

I jumped off the chaise and went for the door. I had to get back to the Renfields’ room. I didn’t really want to go—I didn’t want to see the fear on that guy’s face again, if he was still in the room—but something Ben said had me curious. Were there videos and books of the Cullens down here? Were they spilling their life stories? If so, I wanted to know more, especially about Carlisle and Edward. They were the two giving me a headache.

I peeked outside the door; the stairwell was empty. What about the hallway beyond? Jasper had said Aro went through once, and that was to go down to his room. He had yet to come out, so he was still down there. I shut the door, going back through the room to grab my shotgun; I was going prepared this time. I left the FAMAS in the bag, but slung the Striker over my shoulder. Between that, the sword, the pistol, and a few knives, I knew I was as protected as I could be.

I left the suite and hurried down the uneven staircase, racing down the hall before Aro could even think to grab me. If he was lurking around, I didn’t want to know.

I came out in the main room with its sparkling floor and domed ceiling. Was this where I had gone wrong before? No, Edward had taken me through the pillars on the left, so that’s where I went now. I followed the hall until it turned, and then there was the staircase we climbed. I might have gone wrong around here. This hall was wider than others and full of connecting hallways, but I thought it was the fourth on the right. It didn’t help that I had been glaring at Edward the whole time we were walking.

Faces passed as I stood in the middle of the hall, debating on which way to try. Most of the bodies pushed past me, arms full of papers and books. Others couldn’t help staring. Yes, I’m Bella Swan! What’s it to you? I wanted to scream at them. Was it just the weapons, or did they know something I didn’t?

A broad shoulder hit mine from behind. I stumbled, but he caught me, turning me around while apologizing continuously as he set me upright. Then he got a good look at me. Damn it, not another one.

“Hey, you’re that Swan girl,” he said cheerfully. Looking up at him, he seemed kind of familiar. It might have been his skin, but all Native Americans have that natural tan, not just Quileute’s. He was tall and lanky, but he was broad through the shoulders so it made him look kind of awkward. “I was hoping to run into you. You’re looking for your dad, right? Did’ja find him yet?”

I tried to control the surprise on my face as I glanced around; bodies rushed by as if he didn’t say anything. I bit my lip, trying to keep my face neutral. I didn’t think Charlie’s capture was entirely public knowledge, and suddenly someone asks about him? Did someone further up the ladder know Edward was looking? If so, that meant I had to cover up his tracks. Fuck.

“E-excuse me?” I stuttered, relying on some weak acting. Ben might have known about my terrible acting skills, but this guy didn’t. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Come on, don’t play dumb. I know it’s you, and I know what you’re looking for. You are the talk of the inner circles right now. I mean, who else walks around with this much firepower?” He reached out to touch my shoulder holster. I immediately stepped back, bumping into someone, but I didn’t turn around to apologize.

No one touches the guns.

I turned my surprise into good, old fashioned anger and quickly dropped the acting. “What do you want?” I asked quietly, glaring up at him.

He smiled, but not in an intimidating way. “I want to help you.”

“Yeah, not buying that for a second. Who put you up to this? Just tell me what they want.”

“As far as I know, nobody is after you. What have you done in the past twenty minutes to ask that question?”

“Never mind,” I sighed. Maybe he wasn’t in Victoria’s vein of information; that was good to know. “Now, honestly, what do you want?”

“I told you, I want to help you. I know you and your Fangless are looking for Charlie, and I have an idea where he is.”

Who was this guy exactly? He wasn’t a vampire—he didn’t have the eyes—but there was definitely something fishy about him. If Edward had searched every mind and declared Charlie nonexistent, how did Smiley know about him? This was obviously some kind of trap, but I’d bite.

“You know where he is?” I asked.

He shook his head and touched his necklace. It was the same symbol I had seen on Jasper’s arm back in Forks. “I’m just a dog. I don’t know anything outside of my job, but I have an idea where he is. Unfortunately, people like me don’t have a voice in court. The vampires do whatever they want, not even caring who they hurt. It’s disgusting,” he growled. Growled, like an animal. “What Aro did was terrible, and I want to fix this. It was a huge mistake.”

“Mistake?”

He glanced over his shoulder then pulled me off to the side of the hall. He dropped his voice and answered, “I shouldn’t tell you this, but screw it. I’m tired of taking orders. There was a group of vampires on their way to Forks during the time of your attack, but someone tapped into our systems and took over, sending them over to Port Angeles with orders to capture your dad. It wasn’t anyone in Seattle, I know that for certain.”

“What are you talking about?” An outside source couldn’t really control their systems. These vamps were technologically advanced; they knew how to use this stuff. It had to be an inside job.

“We didn’t get the intruder out quick enough, and the vampires originally going to Forks changed direction. They went after your dad because of a mistake!”

“Who were they really after?” I asked.

“Absolutely no one. The orders were they show up in Forks, scan for any survivors to bring back, and that was it. They weren’t supposed to attack or capture anyone.”

I shuddered as his words sunk in. It was all a huge mistake. Someone on their side fucked up. The restraint I used not to scream showed in my voice as I asked, “How do you know all this? And why should I believe you?”

He shrugged. “You have no reason to believe me, but I know because it’s my job. I had to clean up the mess.”

I clenched my fists. “So it’s your fault he’s down here, probably near death in some dank cell!”

He shook his head wildly. “No, no, no!” His voice was dripping with strong assertion. “I didn’t start it; I couldn’t stop it, but I had to clean it up. That’s why I want to help you. Charlie is here for no reason, so I can at least drop a few hints here and there to help, can’t I?” He looked out over the hall, and I couldn’t help following his gaze. Our quiet conversation was starting to attract a crowd. I really hoped none of them had enhanced hearing. “Listen, I can’t stand around here and chat all day. If I were you, I’d check Isolation. They wouldn’t keep someone like Charlie in the usual cell.”

Someone like him. Did he know Charlie personally? “Where is Isolation?” I asked quietly.

“You’re here with some Fangless, right? One of them should remember. Everyone has spent time there at some point.”

I looked up to his big dark eyes, unable to find anything that seemed like betrayal. He really wanted to fix this. But didn’t he say it was Aro’s fault Charlie was captured? I couldn’t resist asking, “You’re not setting me up, are you?”

“I swear I’m not!” he said in a harsh whisper. “I told you, I’m not happy about what Aro did or what happened. I want that vampire dead, just like you do. I want to help you.”

I couldn’t stop the sarcastic grin from appearing on my face. “You have a lot of nerve, trying to stab your precious vampires in the back.”

“I wouldn’t call it back-stabbing, but it’s good enough. Besides, they don’t suspect a dog when things go wrong; they look to the food. When they’re intoxicated, they can’t keep their mouths shut. I just sit and beg at my mistress’s feet.” He sighed with a weak chuckle, and the seriousness left his eyes. Apparently our conversation was over with; I knew a mask when I saw one. Even he was tired of dealing with vampires. How long had he been down here?

He moved away from the wall, and I caught his arm before he could leave. I wanted to get his name, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t tell me. He said way too much that I could easily get him in trouble if I had been a real Renfield. But, in telling me about Charlie, he was also saying he knew I wasn’t truly a Renfield. He could get me in trouble too.

Either I was over-thinking the situation, or this guy was trying to give me a headache. It made me wonder if he was a vampire in disguise.

So instead of a name, I asked for something a little more useful, trying to quell the uneasiness circling my stomach. If this was a trap set for me, I’d have Edward check it out. I finally had a lead on Charlie. “Hey, can you tell me where the Renfield room is? It has all the books and tapes and stuff.”

I thought I was making no sense, but he knew exactly what I was talking about. “Oh, you mean the Athenaeum? From here, it’s the third hall on the right. Follow that hall, take another left, and you’re there. Anyway, I’ve got work to do, so I’ll see you around, Bella.”

I released his arm, and he continued down the hall as if our conversation never happened. I ignored questioning eyes as I followed Smiley’s directions, and in no time, I was in the dark, deserted hallway.

The door was just as impossible to find by myself, but I finally found it. After running face-first into the smooth wood, of course. Pulling the door open, it was a little brighter in the room; more people working today out here. Nettie wasn’t at her desk, which made me wonder where she could be lurking. I almost hoped it was her lunch break, but that meant some poor human was getting munched on. Still, I hoped I wouldn’t run into her.

Fighting with the curtain led to much cursing from me and a few giggles from the room. With the help of a disembodied voice, I found the split and stepped through, shielding my eyes from the bright other half of the room. When I opened my eyes, I saw the room was mostly empty compared to earlier, when Ben showed me around. Speaking of Ben, I didn’t see him anywhere.

Walking through the rows of bookshelves, I wondered how they sorted their collection. At first it seemed to go by language, but then I started to find others mixed in with English titles. Did the computers have a catalogue? It might have been smarter to check, but I kept searching through the shelves until I found a C, and carefully followed the line. When I found the Cullen books, I was supplied with a whole list; except one was missing. I figured Edward came by and stole Carlisle’s book, keeping more answers from me.

Seeing the thick book labeled Rosalie Lillian Hale Cullen, I pulled it from the shelf. I still wondered about Rosalie’s anti-human comment. It seemed a little odd that the rest of Carlisle’s coven was tame compared to Rosalie. Maybe it was related to her human life?

I thought it might be like a diary, but instead I was met with a standard biography. She was born in New York way back in 1915, had a normal childhood, nice family, and good friends. She was engaged to a banker’s son, Royce King II, before she was turned into a vampire. The book supplied a quote at the beginning of each new chapter. One quote caught my eye.

“I don’t see my creator as my killer. Royce took care of that long before a vampire caught me. I’m just glad to be alive now; I’m making the most of the life provided for me. I thank her every day for saving me.”

Her? But Carlisle was Rosalie’s master. I saw his power over her in action; then again, Carlisle bragged about never tasting human blood. I almost continued reading, but I wanted to know more about peppy little Alice. Rosalie’s answers could wait for another day.

Mary Alice Brandon Cullen had a thinner book. There wasn’t much information of her human life; she was born in 1901, she could name her family members, but that was all. Where Rosalie had several chapters dedicated to her childhood, Alice had none. Her parents placed her in an asylum when she was little because she claimed to have visions.

I flipped through the pages until I found a chapter titled “Vampire Life.” She was stolen from the asylum by a vampire and taken to Volterra, Italy, the Volturi’s original location. She was kept as a human slave until a few years later when James turned her, against her will, into a vampire. When James and Alice were on their way to the Seattle location, she escaped. There was a quote at the beginning of the next chapter.

“I saw visions of a man with golden eyes, and I knew he was important. Sometimes he looked lonely and upset, and other times he was happy and composed. Through my visions I saw his way of life, how he hunted animals; it was almost the same as feeding on humans. I used my talent to find him and steer clear of James’ attempt to call me back. When he tried, I found wildlife to prey off of, and gave myself to the thrill of the hunt. I thought of nothing but food, blind and deaf to whatever trick he pulled. Eventually, he gave up.”

It went on to explain how she met Carlisle, and then got back into the Volturi’s lair. The book declared she went back to kill James, but found Jasper and “put her plans on hold.” At least I finally got an explanation to her freak-out in Portland when I declared Carlisle killed her. Judging from the book, Carlisle saved her. It was her visions of him that kept her from becoming one of these vamps.

I set the book back on the shelf and was about to pull another, when I spotted a wall of tapes. I left the books, intrigued with the idea of seeing the Cullens from years before. I scanned the cases, and once again there was a line of Cullens, but no Carlisle. There was no way they had the entire coven except the master. I wondered why Edward was stealing everything about Carlisle. How bad would it be for me to know?

I grabbed a VHS labeled Ed.A.M Cullen from the shelf and went to the back rooms, finding one completely empty. I wasn’t sure if there was some kind of protocol to using the room, but no one had stopped me yet.

Wireless headphones lay on the table, so I turned on the wall-mounted TV and slipped the tape into the VCR. It started up with some static—they had flat screen TVs and computers, but couldn’t afford some DVDs?—but it smoothed away to reveal Edward’s stoic face. He had startling red eyes, and it looked like he hadn’t showered for days. I sat at the table and put the headphones on just before he opened his mouth.

“My name is Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, I was turned in 1918, and Carlisle Cullen is my master,” he said with a hint of malice. “I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois until the Spanish Influenza hit, and then I was snatched away from my dying parents by a monster masquerading as a doctor. I was content to die human, but then this happened. I tried to kill myself as this abomination, but Carlisle said nothing would work. And I tried everything from self-mutilation, to asphyxiation, to jumping from incredible heights. I finally had the answer—fire—but Carlisle stopped me with a pathetic plea for company. I stayed with him only to stop his whining. In 1928, he finally understood how unhappy I was and let me go, let me out of his demented lifestyle. Then I realized all the fun I could have.”

“So what did you do?” asked someone off camera. The interviewer had a thick accent, and I wondered if this was recorded in Italy.

Edward reclined on the stiff chair with an evil smile. I shuddered from the sight of it. “I killed. I terrorized the northeast as only a true monster could. I thought Carlisle might change his mind, find me and beg me for companionship again, but I never heard a word from him. I was his first fledgling; he saw me as a failure.

“It didn’t bother me at all that he ignored me. I was building an empire and legacy while he pretended to care about humans. I thought what he was doing was sickening. Saving humans? Feeding on animals? He was a lunatic—still is. It’s repulsive.”

“Tell me about your legacy,” the voice prompted.

“Do you know the story of the incubus, a demon that feeds on sexual energy? I started those myths in America. They spread quickly, leaving housewives quivering in their aprons with fear and lust. I liked a little spice with my food; I played with them. From the beginning, when I had enough control over my bloodlust, I noticed women were naturally drawn to me. So I seduced them fully. It was so easy, and the rush I got was unbelievable. You have never fed until you fucked someone to death.” He chuckled cruelly.

“And your empire?”

“I went back to Chicago and started making a name for myself. By 1934 I ran the city. I had a penthouse, whores, fledglings, and all the money in the world. I was content; I was complete.”

There was a bit of silence. “That’s very impressive for a sixteen year old vampire,” the interviewer said. “How did you ever find the strength to do all that?”

Edward shrugged, starting to look bored with the interview, as if it was below him. “I guess it came from my master,” he replied. “Carlisle was always patient and disciplined. When you think of it like that, owning a city at sixteen isn’t so surprising. I had the ambition, and I had ideas the public was interested in. Minds are amazing things.” He tapped his temple, like we needed a reminder about his power.

“And how did you lose this empire?”

Edward sat up, getting angry again. “Carlisle had visited the Volturi and gained some insight to controlling fledglings. He came to Chicago around 1940 and made me destroy my life. He watched happily as he ordered me to kill my fledglings, release the women, and burn everything I owned. He would have made me step into the flames if I didn’t agree to go with him back to Seattle. He needed me for some demented plan, and he was building a coven, an army, to make sure it happened.”

A throat cleared beside me, and I jumped out of the chair, the headphones clattering to the floor, as I turned off the TV. Edward was half-sitting on the table, his arms crossed over his chest. His black eyes gave me a hard, angry glare. Oh, he was not happy I went poking through his past. I almost felt the need to explain myself, but I wasn’t sorry. Edward knew I wanted answers, he should have known I’d find some way to get them. And damn, did I get some. It reminded me that even if Edward acted like a gentleman, he was capable of being a sadistic killer worse than any normal vampire. He was no better than the vamps under Aro’s control.

“I thought I told you to stay in the room,” he said sternly. “It’s very hard to track you down when I can’t read your mind.”

I took a deep breath and slowly released it, calming my racing pulse. I hated that I let him sneak up on me. “Next time I’ll leave a note, if you promise to wear a bell,” I snapped. Maybe the lame joke would help ease the tension?

Not even a twitch of his lips.

I bit my lip briefly. “How long have you been there?”

“A matter of seconds, but long enough.” He picked up the VHS case, eyeing the label. “I see you’re taking advantage of all these resources.”

I ejected the tape and he let me have the case so I could put it away. My voice was almost nonchalant as I replied. “I found some interesting stuff, too. Rosalie was a New Yorker, Alice was put in a nuthouse . . . oh yeah, and you are some kind of sadistic bastard that feeds on sex.”

He sighed, the anger dispelled. Now he just looked tired. He tugged at his hair as he answered, “Bella, I don’t know who that is. It was recorded in 1943! I was young and arrogant, still upset about my losses. I exaggerated most of the details. What Carlisle did—forcing me to destroy everything—was a lesson long overdue. I don’t hate him for it. I know now I needed to be stopped.”

“You really think I’m going to believe that?” I snapped.

“It’s the truth.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure it is. And which one is the real you? This docile monster, or the rapist?”

Edward flinched as if I slapped him. He pushed off the table and towered over me in a flash. I nearly stepped back from the raw hatred in his black eyes, but I was stronger than that. I clenched the tape to resist pulling my gun and matched his glare.

“Yes, I started the incubus myth in America. Because of the endorphin rush, I could go days without feeding; it was like drinking raw sex,” he said in a dark whisper. It caused me to shiver, and not in a good way. “It was addicting and awful of me to kill all those women the way I did. But I never—never—resorted to rape.”

“They didn’t know what they were getting into,” I argued. “You forced them.”

“They came to me out of lust and intrigue. I warned them of the outcome, but they didn’t care.”

I had to step back, shaking my head. “That’s disgusting!”

He sighed heavily, the rage going with it. He sounded tired but adamant as he continued, “No, it’s atrocious. I had no remorse back then. I only warned them because it scared them; the way their blood pounded made them more desirable. But now . . . now every face, every name, every last fearful gasp or scream haunts me. I was a monster, completely out of control . . . yet that’s not me anymore, Bella,” he said harshly.

I glanced at his eyes and saw him vulnerable, years of pain reflected right on his face. I wasn’t sympathizing with a vampire. He seduced innocent women into giving up their lives just so he could get a fuck and a fix. How psychotic could one vamp get?

“Whatever,” I muttered. I didn’t want to hear anymore. The subject had to change, and fast. “What have you been munching on recently to turn your eyes black?”

Edward groaned and ran a hand through his hair, causing it to nearly stand on end. “You’re still angry. Why? I told you the truth. You know that isn’t me.” He gestured to the tape in my hands. “You were the one who couldn’t sit still, who couldn’t leave the past alone. All vampires—no, everyone; all humans and vampires—have something they’re not proud of. Don’t hold this against me. I didn’t tell you to come here and watch this.”

I poked his chest with the tape, standing on tip-toe to get in his face, but trying not to look into his eyes. I wasn’t in the mood for another mind-fucking, especially now that I understood his charm. “Maybe if you would just give me some answers, I wouldn’t have to resort to this!”

His jaw flexed again, and he snatched the tape. “You think I want to spread this? Not even my family knows the full details of my past. If I thought they couldn’t handle this, why would I tell you?”

“Why do you care so much what I think of you?” I challenged.

That got him. He frowned, clearly confused, and stepped back, closing his eyes. It took him a few seconds before he answered. “I don’t know,” he said softly. “I just don’t want you to think of me as that creature. Because of him, his actions and his thoughts, I swore off human blood. I’m different; I know better now. I am not him.”

The unspoken words hung thickly in the air. I’m scared of becoming that monster again.

He was afraid of who had been; he wanted someone to tell him it was okay, that he was strong enough to control himself. God, it was as obvious as Fork’s weather, and I completely ignored it.

I wasn’t sure what Edward felt he had to prove to me, but it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself. I stepped back, the air around us becoming uncomfortable, stifling. If he was going to break down, I was leaving. I’d had enough of emotional crashes to last a lifetime; I had no idea how to deal with a vampire’s emotions.

“So why are your eyes black?” I asked, desperately trying to change the subject once again. I was almost suffocating on the awkward atmosphere. I really wanted to ask about Carlisle’s army and why he would need one, but I doubted Edward would answer it.

“I haven’t fed for a while,” he answered quietly, opening his eyes. “When we fast, our eyes get dark no matter what our diet is. It relates to how much blood we have in our system. The brighter your eyes, the more recently you’ve fed.”

“Why don’t you go eat?”

“Aro isn’t transporting animals down here. I’d have to go to the surface, outside of Seattle’s boundaries to hunt, which means you would be unprotected.” He held up his hand to stop my protests before I could even think them. “Yes, you have your guns and Jasper, if he can find you in time, but I know how you like to cause trouble.”

He wasn’t going to let that go, was he? I crossed my arms over my chest, my fingers discreetly touching my pistol for comfort. “I can take care of myself,” I huffed. “It was one time. I got here by myself, not a scratch on me. Just let it go.”

The metaphorical rain cloud disappeared, and Edward smiled crookedly, shaking his head in exasperation. “You are truly something else, Bella Swan. Come on, we need to get back to the suite. We have preparations to make.”

Preparations? After the bomb he dropped on me, my mind was running a bit slow. It took me a second to actually comprehend his words. “You found Charlie?” I asked, nearly screaming with excitement. “We’re finally getting out of here?”

“No,” he answered with that crooked grin, “we’re going to dinner.”

Chapter Seventeen

I tried to burn a hole in the back of Edward’s head with my gaze. He was expertly ignoring me with friendly smiles and small conversations with passing humans and vamps in the halls. What the hell? Was I missing something here? Down here, exactly how well off was Edward? I had a feeling it had something to do with him renouncing his place in Carlisle’s coven.

It was almost scary to watch Edward in action. By the time he was done with them, they were beaming. Girls walked by giggling like children. Mind-reading sure had its advantages, I guess. Actually, judging by human reactions, I had to wonder if it was classic vampiric thrall. From what I knew, only really old vamps could capture someone with their gaze. Just how old was Edward?

We left the brightly lit, bustling halls to venture toward still, dark waters. If this was where the Renfields worked, why was it so dark? Oh, right. Heightened senses. The further we went, the darker it became. There was barely enough light to help my night vision, so I finally had to suck it up and find a wall to hold onto. I heard Edward chuckle when my hand touched the stone. I was tempted to tell him to shut up, but we weren’t talking after what had happened in the room, and I wasn’t going to be the first to break the silence.

The stone was smooth under my fingers, and thankfully, without pillars I could trip over. I was lucky this hall was deserted—that I knew of, anyway. I didn’t hear any other footsteps besides mine and Edward’s, but vampires are sneaky bastards. I couldn’t let myself forget that, especially not after what Edward had done in the suite. Just because no one tried to kill me yet didn’t mean they weren’t going to try sometime. If more vamps like James showed up with old grudges, no doubt they’d try to go through me. If killing a vampire could hurt others connected to it, did the same apply if it was the Renfield who was killed? I didn’t even want to think about it. I wasn’t really Jasper’s Renfield.

A warm glow came from the end of the hall. It was Edward, holding a door open like a gentleman. Gee, nice to know you have some manners. Not.

I let go of the wall, able to see thanks to the light, and brushed past Edward. I crossed through the doorway into the dim, nearly empty room. It was like a smaller antechamber, but still large from what I could see.

Desks lined the walls, some lamps illuminating faces hard at work. It was bare besides the round wooden desk in the center of the room. Edward prodded me forward, and I tried not to slap at his hands. We were in the public eye again. How did a Renfield act around here? He was supposed to be giving me answers, not confusing me further.

We stopped at the round desk where a woman was busily tapping away on a computer. Did they even get an internet connection down here? She was beautiful with a typical model profile; her curly brown hair matched her tan skin, but not her red eyes. She looked up with a friendly smile that quickly became a leer.

“Isn’t this the Swan girl?” she asked haughtily. Her voice took points away from her appeal; she sounded like a bitch. “Doesn’t she belong to Jasper? Why are you bringing her down here?”

“I brought her down here by Jasper’s request,” Edward answered stiffly. It was another recited answer. “He hasn’t decided if she’ll work here, but he wanted her familiar with the facility.”

Her eyes turned wide, innocent, as a delicate hand came up to touch her throat. “Oh my, I thought Edward was the great renegade. When did you start listening to orders?” she purred, rising from her chair. She was shorter than me and looked like some kind of Spanish doll, like she was completely harmless. It would be convincing to most people, but I knew better. She could tear steel like paper with those small hands.

“It was a favor, not an order, Nettie. Can’t you tell the difference?” he asked with a snide smile.

She grimaced and said something in Spanish; it sounded like an insult or curse. “I don’t see how Master could let Carlisle’s dog run without a leash. If Master Caius were here, he would not be so lenient. You’re lucky he was sent away before you arrived.”

Edward chuckled humorlessly and leaned his forearms on the desk, getting close to her. If I were him, I’d use my height to intimidate her, but he seemed to enjoy a personal touch. I saw him work in the halls; if he was going to try to bewitch another vampire, more power to him. But I really didn’t want to see what happened when it back fired.

Nettie didn’t move, her face still curled with a sneer, but when he looked up at her through his lashes, she moved in, her face softened. Apparently she liked the personal touch.

“You wouldn’t let anyone hurt these eyes, would you?” he asked softly.

“Never,” she breathed. “They are so vibrant, so exotic. But I wish I could have them for my collection. Oh, they would look so lovely next to James’ once sea-green eye.” She ran a dark hand against his pale cheek, her thumbnail brushing his lower eyelashes. I had to give him credit, he didn’t flinch, didn’t blink. She wasn’t even talking to me but my insides were crawling. An eye collection? Not the healthiest fetish.

“Before Aro kills me, I’ll make sure he leaves you something to harvest. Now how about a tour?”

“You think I want to play with a corpse? I’d rather hear you scream.” Nettie bit her lip and gave a small pleasured whimper. “Master would wait to kill you and let me pry one of these golden orbs from your pretty face. He would let me do it, you know.” She sighed, running her fingers down over his lips before sitting back in her chair. “But I guess I can let you go . . . for now. Maria’s pet would be happy to lend you his services.”

There was a flash of light from behind her desk, the darkness rippling like fabric. Oh, there was a curtain separating the room. A man stepped into the light, and at first my eyes scanned right over him, but there was something familiar about that shy smile that made me do a double-take.

“Ben?” I gasped. I ran to him out of habit, before my mind could even begin to process if he was dangerous. I stopped before I got too close. There was no way it was really him. He died. Everyone saw the wreckage; a semi crushed the car, no one could survive that. Unless. . . . “Is it really you?” He did look paler than usual, but that could have been from lack of sun.

When I last saw Ben, he had a baby face with neatly trimmed hair and thick glasses. This Ben was nearly the opposite. He had a mature face, no glasses, and shaggy unkempt hair. Strangely, it was a good look for him.

“I lose the glasses, fill out a little, and suddenly I’m a different person? Your hair is longer. Does that mean you’re a different person?” He laughed the same awkward guffaw I was used to. “I’m still me, Bella.”

“But you died. The accident—your car was flattened.” I stared into his eyes, trying to see the tell-tale red, but his eyes had always been dark, and the room was too gloomy to tell.

“It’s a long story,” he replied. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”

He motioned me forward, toward the curtain. I looked over my shoulder to Edward, who was leaning against Nettie’s desk. I wanted to ask what he saw in Ben’s mind, but he quickly told me to run along like a good little human. I resisted the urge to stomp my foot like a child, or punch him. It wouldn’t look good in front of so many eyes if a Renfield punched a vampire, right? That, and I would have a broken hand afterward. Not worth it.

Why did I even bother? Like he would ever give me a few hints about something so simple. With a quiet, frustrated sigh, I followed Ben. If he didn’t want to talk, fine. I already knew once Jasper got a tight fist around my emotions again, it would be like nothing ever happened. But I was going to remember Edward broke the silence first.

Entering the new room, I blinked furiously and rubbed my eyes, letting them adjust to the sudden light. When I could see without spots, I took in the bright, busy room. It was like a library, one side full of huge metal bookshelves in neat rows, and the other side full of computers. I tried to glance at some screens as we passed, but most were all in different languages. There was one man at a station, white hair standing on end, staring at a screen with bold text proclaiming, “They’re here.” He was mumbling to himself as he touched the keyboard, continually typing the words over and over. Ben tugged me along, shaking his head as I followed him.

He led me into the sea of books until we were lost, and before I could ask what was wrong with the man, Ben wrapped me in a hug. His hold was awkward because of the guns, but he managed. He used to be kind of short, particularly compared to Angela’s tall, svelte form, but now my head just nearly passed his shoulder. He looked so different, but I guess he finally filled in; at nineteen, it was only right.

I gently pushed him away, marveling at the muscles beneath my palms. This was the same kid that flinched when I playfully punched him? What happened to him?

Ben grinned at me, relief in his eyes. Now that we were in the light, I could see they were the same dark brown. For now. He opened his mouth to speak, but I quickly interrupted.

“What’s wrong with that guy?” I asked, nodding toward the computers, even if we couldn’t see them.

Ben scratched his neck in a familiar gesture; it was one of the signs he was uncomfortable. “It’s a side effect. He had a hard life and a bad master, but we’re getting him help,” he answered quietly. “He’s gotten better; it’s just that sometimes he relapses. Nothing to worry about.” He smiled again. “But look at you! For a dead girl, you look great.”

“Dead?” I asked. What kind of rumors were running around down here?

“It’s just a joke, lighten up Bella. When the news broke you fell off that cliff, I thought you were dead. There were rumors you were still alive, but no one knew for sure until you came back to Forks.”

I blinked with surprise, my heart picking up pace. “How do you know about that?”

“It’s my job to know. I belong to Maria, one of the highest ranking vampires around here. When the other ancients are gone, Maria acts as Aro’s second-in-command. I need to know many things to keep my mistress safe.”

“When Nettie said ‘pet,’ she didn’t mean bloodwhore, did she?”

“Bloodwhore?” he asked with a confused frown. I shouldn’t have been surprised; he wasn’t as immersed in the resistance. He didn’t believe vampires existed, even when they were knocking our doors. All his attention went into his studies and Angela. I guess his parents didn’t use the lingo around him, or he didn’t remember.

“Food?” I suggested.

“Oh. No, I’m her Renfield,” Ben answered proudly. It wasn’t the dreamy sigh Jessica took on when talking about her master, but it was damn close. “She has willing donators for blood. She needs me in top form at all times, so she never bites me. See? No fang marks.” He held out his arms with a grin.

I slapped his hands away. “Duh there are no marks; they don’t have fangs.”

He shook his head. “You were with Edward Cullen, right? It’s no wonder. You don’t . . . belong to him or anything, right?”

I bit my lip, and watched him raise an eyebrow. I knew his signs, but he also knew mine. I never thought that might be dangerous until now. “No, I belong to Jasper,” I replied uneasily. It took more self control than I had to tell him, “I’m his Renfield.”

Why did I feel so dirty admitting it out loud?

Ben sighed. “That explains Maria’s good mood. Jasper was her favorite fledgling. She talked about him all the time, and told me about his new lifestyle. The Cullens’ are different from other vampires, Bella. They’re not . . . right. When vampires convert to Carlisle’s way of life, something happens to them. It’s like they go through a different type of transformation, and they even lose their fangs. I don’t know if they willingly pull them out or what, but we call Carlisle and his disciples the Fangless.” He paused to give me accusing eyes. “Hold on, how did you get mixed up with the crazy Cullens?”

Crap, what was the cover story? I didn’t listen when Edward was blabbering about their brilliant plan, but I remembered something about being attacked. Or was Jasper attacked? Shit. Change the subject!

“It’s a long story,” I paraphrased his earlier words. Playfully slapping his arm, I asked, “What about you? A letter or something would’ve been nice. Your parents miss you; Angela’s still grieving. Why didn’t you say something?”

He frowned. “Angela?”

How good were Maria’s brainwashing skills? “You remember her, don’t you? She was your girlfriend for three years. You have to remember her,” I pleaded.

“Yeah, of course I remember her,” Ben answered softly. “I’ve worried about her since I first woke up, but Maria never let me near Forks, especially after a bunch of civilians went missing a few weeks ago. When we lost contact the other day, I was afraid something happened to Angela. She’s okay, right? I told them to protect her.”

How much did Ben know exactly? He knew I fell, that I was running with the Cullens, and that I was in Forks recently. He said it was his job to know things, yet he seemed completely oblivious to the breakout and the death of the Forks vampiric population. Was this one Renfield withholding information from another? Was this a test? Ben knew I was part of the resistance; he could have told Maria, and she could have ordered him to find out where my loyalty was.

How did Renfields even act around each other? I wanted to tell Ben everything that happened—it was so good to see a coherent friendly face down here—but he mentioned the vampires as if he was one of them. So Renfields considered themselves vampires, or was it only from Maria’s power? Whatever Edward thought this would do to help, he was an idiot. I wasn’t getting answers about Renfields at all.

“She’s fine,” I replied softly, “but she misses you. Just get out of here and go back to your parents, to Angela.”

Ben groaned miserably, leaning against the books. “It’s complicated, Bella. I wish I could go, but I’m—no, all Renfields are only allowed to enter the human world with their master’s order. If Maria doesn’t want me to go, I won’t.”

Fisting my hands at my side, I resisted the urge to shake him. “You are human, Ben! You don’t belong down here.”

Someone came down our aisle and gave us an odd look before placing a book back on its shelf. She informed us that we shouldn’t be standing around chatting, but halfway through something clicked, and she quickly dropped the conversation. She opened her mouth again, but I gave her a sharp glare until she nearly ran out of the aisle. Ben shifted nervously, standing upright.

“What was that about?” I asked, trying to push down my anger.

“Some people are uncomfortable around guns,” Ben answered, motioning to my very visible weaponry. He was used to it; outside of school hours, I had been armed since I was nine years old. “And everyone down here knows who you are. Just try to ignore the stares. Anyway, let’s start that tour. Your Fangless is probably tired of waiting. We shouldn’t take too long. I’ll show you the essentials.”

He started down the long row of shelves, his fingers running over the spines lovingly. “Most of the books you’ll find here are histories of certain vampires who wouldn’t agree to video or audio recording. I’m sure you could find a few of the Fangless here; I haven’t seen their stuff myself, so maybe you can figure out what happens to their fangs. Further on, we have a mixed history of vampires written by humans. All the myths they believe are around there, too. If you’re looking for fiction, it’s marked in the back of the room.”

I followed Ben through the room, not exactly paying attention, but I could hear the love for his job in his voice. I blocked it out as I watched the faces we passed. Some of them looked up before quickly returning to their work; their eyes grew wide and they lost color in their face, as if they had seen a ghost. But I wasn’t concerned with them. I wanted to find Jessica and Lauren quickly. Maybe they were less crazy when they were around their masters? Ben was perfectly lucid. It was strange compared to the one-sided conversations I had with Jessica. I’d have to ask Ben if he knew where they were, and why they acted so differently.

Toward the back of the room were windows cut to reveal rooms with several tables. There were four rooms, two of them taken by people with headphones, watching videos on a small TV or listening to a cassette player. We stopped in front of one of the windows, watching as they wrote on the notepads beside them.

“Those are old tapes of vampires sharing their stories,” Ben explained. “We’ve been working tirelessly to translate them, get transcripts. There are a lot of them that are in Latin or some other dead language. We have to figure out what language it is, then find a translator amongst the humans. We’d ask a vampire, but the last couple times we tried, they said this work is below them. Bunch of stuck-up prudes, if you ask me.” He chuckled and continued on.

I swallowed thickly. We, that’s all I heard. He honestly thought he was one of them. There was still hope for Ben, he wanted to see Angela, but Maria really did a number on his mind. As long as he was human, I wasn’t giving up hope. I could rescue three of my old friends if I hurried. Hopefully Jasper found some time to look for Charlie. Would Ben know anything about the dungeon?

Ben took me through the entire room, pointing out all kinds of different jobs as we passed. This one typed up paperwork for allies; that one worked as an ambassador for Europe, this one filed papers. I knew vamps loved politics, but all the paperwork was a little much. Like any self-respecting vampire would honor a piece of paper. Yeah, right.

At the end of the tour, we ended up in front of the windows. He was ready to send me back to Edward, but that was the last place I wanted to be. I wanted a few more refreshing minutes away from that jerk. I touched Ben’s arm, nodding to one of the empty rooms.

“Can we talk a bit longer?” I asked.

He looked out over my head, scanning for something. “That Fangless won’t mind?”

“He really doesn’t care what I do, and I don’t care even if he cares. I’m a big girl.”

He grinned. “You really haven’t changed a bit. Sure, we can talk.”

We entered a room, but the doors didn’t have locks, and the windows didn’t have shutters. This place was completely exposed. I chose to sit at the table in the back corner, my chair looking towards the glass. I could watch for interruptions this way. Ben sat across from me with a friendly smile. He always was eager to help; that’s how he and Angela met. She needed help with homework, and he jumped at the chance. Now I was hoping that helpfulness would get me some answers. It was terrible he was down here acting as Maria’s servant. Why were nice guys so gullible to evil ways?

I leaned back in the chair, the Striker comfortable in my lap. I didn’t think I was in danger, it was just habit. I had no idea if Ben gained power from his mistress, but I wasn’t going to take the chance.

“So how’s Forks?” he started. “I haven’t been there for what feels like eons. I can’t believe it’s only been a year. The day I finally had the chance, weeks ago, Maria said it turned into a battlefield. I wanted to see Angela, my parents, even if I had to stay out of sight. Jessica was there recently. She said some people just disappeared, and the same goes for Port Angeles. You were in Forks just the other day. What happened?”

A test, it had to be a test. How would a Renfield answer this question? “I don’t really know; I was just passing through with Jasper and Edward.”

“But you stayed in the Yorkie’s house, right?”

I felt the blood rush from my face. He was toying with me. He kept the friendly smile, but something changed in his voice. I knew the sound of a predator. It wasn’t a vampire trick, but it made me grip the Striker tighter.

I struggled to think of a response. I didn’t know the proper cover story. “I don’t think so,” I said, holding my head with my free hand. Put on an act, maybe he won’t notice. “I think I stayed there once. Weren’t you with me then? I think it was Eric’s ninth birthday party.”

“There were Quileutes’ with you.”

Shit, shit, shit! “Wasn’t one of them invited?”

“Bella, don’t play dumb,” he sighed. “I just want to know what happened. It ruined my plans, took my people. You obviously know something. You always sucked at lying.”

I sighed and dropped my hand to pet the shotgun. I had to relax. I panicked when I was put on the spot, and if I had to lie, well, I couldn’t blame him for seeing through me. “Yeah, I know something, but I won’t tell you.”

He frowned. “Why not?”

“Because you’ll tell Maria, and it will be used against Jasper.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, because I knew that much was true. Everything said today would get back to Maria’s ears. “He said I couldn’t tell anyone, but if you give me some answers, I might know a workaround to some questions. So start talking, like how you got here, and what really happened the night of the accident.”

Ben held up his hands in mock surrender; little did he know I was pointing the shotgun at him under the table. “That’s fair. I’d like to say I went willingly, but honestly it was a big mistake. My car wasn’t exactly flattened, but I did ram into a semi on the highway; I hit him, not the other way around. The front end was trashed, and I think the steering wheel might have broken a rib or two. The airbag failed. The semi didn’t notice the damage, and it was one of those rare quiet nights so no one was around to help. I blacked out, and I don’t remember much after that, just that I woke up down here and was never allowed to go home again.”

“She’s keeping you hostage,” I deadpanned.

“No, it’s not like that. I mean, not anymore. I wouldn’t listen to her, so she used to threaten me, manipulate me, and I couldn’t take the mind games anymore. I learned it was easier to obey her. I even liked it. She rewards me, and Angela stays safe. Now tell me about Forks.”

“Well I’m not sure how our timelines match up, but I’m willing to bet that Maria canceled your trip because we broke out.”

His eyes bulged. “Out? You ran? Where?”

“That’s classified, but yeah, most of us humans finally got out of Forks. Your parents stayed to watch over things, give us updates. They’re fighting because they believe vampires killed you.” Which, in a sense, was true.

“Why would they think that?” he asked, leaning forward in his chair.

“You always gave long rants about vamps being myth,” I replied. “Remember that day in Port Angeles? You got in a vamp’s face and denied his existence; you called him a wanna-be until he snapped that pole like a twig. It was my first kill, but his buddy got away, probably spread the news. Your parents thought the vamps made an example of you. Anyone who defies vampires dies.”

Ben sighed. “Right, I forgot about that. God, Bella, I’m so sorry I made you do that. I didn’t mean for you to kill him. He wasn’t really gonna hurt us; he was grandstanding, proving his ability. I mean, I didn’t think it would get me in trouble, but it just seemed impossible that vampires actually existed. Seriously, say it out loud. Blood-sucking demons that run around in the night? It sounded cool in a book, but in real life it was just ridiculous. I don’t know how I was so stupid.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, Ben. I thought Cha—Dad was trying to scare me when he first told me. But it’s not like they’re human. I don’t mind killing them; it keeps everyone else safe. And Jasper stays safe from potential threats,” I added, offhand. Truth was, I hated the day I made my first kill. For all the vampires I fought, and the tough act I put on, I only had two kills. And both times I threw up after watching a head explode or blood spray from a neck. That last one gave me a lifelong fear of blood.

“Well what happened after you got out? How did you come back? We had the state line patrolled on every side.”

There was another we. He wasn’t really a vampire, was he? No, he’d have the eyes. Still, I didn’t like his terms one bit. I hoped it was only a side effect from Maria. “Classified, but us humans beat the sentries and took out the Port Angeles and Forks vampiric population. All of them,” I stressed. “Angela and I were on the front lines, you know, before Jasper showed up. I’m surprised with Angela; she’s a real sharp shooter.” Okay, so that was a lie, but I hoped it would ruffle his feathers.

He ignored the important part and with surprised eyes sputtered, “H-h-how did you do it?”

“For Jasper’s safety, I can’t tell you. And he didn’t have anything to do with the breakout, just so you know. It’s a long, complicated story. Maybe if you were human I’d tell you, but since you’re not human anymore, it’s none of your damn business.”

Ben jumped up and slammed his hands on the table. I tightened my grip on the Striker, flipped the safety off, and prepared to bring it up. His eyes flashed red—red. I saw it.

“None of my business?” he yelled. “You intentionally put Angela in danger and wiped out half of our population! Those men were stationed there for a reason.”

“Well they did a fine job at watching her,” I snapped. “You didn’t even know she also got out of the state with us, did you?”

That knocked the air out of him. He sat back down, deflated. “She what?”

“Yup, snuck right out under your nose. If they couldn’t do their job, or if they were lying to you, didn’t they deserve to die?”

He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly while shaking his head. “They didn’t have to die like that, but I wouldn’t have gone easy on them either. If they were lying, well, there are severe consequences for lying; they weren’t brave enough to try that. But I would probably get rid of them anyway. Maria doesn’t appreciate, or reward, slackers. I have to keep Angela safe, Bella. She’s the only thing I’m living for; I finally have the strength to protect her. After the flak she got about our relationship, I had to do something, but I was too weak. I’m not weak now. I have a whole army at my back!”

“The only flak Angela got was from her parents,” I said. “Everyone at school, even around town, thought you two were adorable.”

“Maybe that’s what they told you, but it’s not what they told me.” He waved his hands around his head like swatting at flies. “Anyway, your Fangless is probably getting anxious. I should get you back. You can always come back, you know. Nettie might have work for you.”

Ben stood up, and I quickly turned on the safety, letting go of the Striker. I followed him back through the room. Looking around, I wasn’t working here if I could help it. Edward had strategically left that option up to me or at least until Jasper sent them a memo to send me to work.

Ben pulled the curtain aside to show the claustrophobic black room. I stepped through, and the curtain fell behind me, Ben on the opposite side. Guess he felt he did his duty, but I wasn’t even sure Edward was still in the room. I only spotted him once I was closer to Nettie’s desk. They were speaking in hushed tones, and when I was close enough to hear, it all became incoherent babble; they were talking too fast for me to follow.

Edward cut the conversation short and turned to me with a smile. “Did you get the answers you were looking for?” he asked sweetly.

He knew Ben was here. That’s why he looked so excited; he wanted to see my reaction. I shook my head, going towards the door. The dark wood was barely visible since it was outside of the lights, but I knew it was on the far wall somewhere. Edward followed, just like I knew he would, as he politely thanked Nettie for me.

He got to the door first and held it open, and I stepped into the obscured hallway. The door slammed shut just as Edward wrapped my arm around his, confidently leading me down the hall. There was a light from another hallway around the corner in the distance, but it still wasn’t enough to see comfortably. Why did they make the humans walk through the dark?

“How was your reunion?” Edward asked. “I hope your friend wasn’t too different.”

“How did you even know Ben was my friend, or that he was here?” I asked, concentrating on the flat floor. I wanted to hiss at him, but I was feeling drained after my talk with Ben.

“It was a split-second find while I was talking to Nettie. Not even Jasper knows Ben is Maria’s Renfield or about your relationship.”

“It was nice seeing Ben after so long,” I replied softly. “I just wish there was a little more of him in there. He seemed normal, but he really believes he’s part of this place. He says he has an army to control, and that he has to protect Angela. But from what? If he controls the vampires. . . .”

“From Maria,” he answered. “It was a one-sided conversation on my end, but he was within range that I could read his thoughts. He wants to get back to Angela, but he’s devoted to Maria through blood and fear. It was one of the tricks she used to control him. If he doesn’t listen, Angela will die.”

“Maria wouldn’t really do that, would she? He’s completely loyal to her now.”

“I can’t tell you. Trying to read Maria is like talking to a brick wall. She’s been around Aro too long; she can hide her thoughts too.”

“That figures. I know she has to die, but I’m not sure what will happen to Ben when we kill her. Because of him, I almost don’t want to kill her,” I admitted.

“Not so loud,” he warned, “but you know there’s no other way. What if he defends her? Would you be able to shoot him?”

I considered it for a short second. He was my friend, I knew his parents and girlfriend very well—I even remembered what he liked on pizza. But he wasn’t completely human anymore. Seeing his eyes change like that, it was a warning there wasn’t much of the Ben I knew inside. But could I shoot him?

I shook my head. “I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “Right now I don’t want to think about it. I’m here to save as many people as I can, but if they die because of blood ties, I can’t help it. I just know that it’s my top priority to get Charlie out of here alive, and to kill everyone standing in my way.”

We turned the corner, finally back to the bright hallways. Edward let me go once we could see the bustling bodies walking ahead. “Foolproof,” he murmured sarcastically.

Jasper was in the sitting area when we returned. He had exchanged his tuxedo for jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. He seemed perfectly at home, his bare feet propped up on the table between the two chairs and the sofa. His eyes were closed, and he looked like he was asleep, but everyone knew vampires never slept. He came to life with a languid stretch as Edward plopped down on the sofa, and it was then I noticed the large gash across Jasper’s cheek.

“What happened to you? Did you find Charlie yet?” I asked, leaning against the back of the sofa. I wasn’t sitting; I wanted to go to my room and sleep.

Jasper touched his cheek absently. “No, I haven’t had the chance to look for him yet. This is my mistress’s welcoming gift. It’ll be gone in a few minutes, but each one is a reminder for the days she was without me. And no, you don’t want to see the rest.”

Nothing about Charlie yet? We had to get him out of here soon. They knew he led the resistance; they wouldn’t go easy on them. “She attacked you, didn’t she?”

“Bella, I left without telling anyone. She tried to call me back, but when I was blood-oathed to Carlisle, she lost her control.”

I moved around the sofa to sit on the far end, away from Edward. My nap could be put off a few seconds for answers. “Blood oath. Didn’t Aro mention that? I never heard of it before then. What does it mean?”

“I won’t bore you with the gory details, but basically, a vampire pledges loyalty to a new master. The old master loses whatever power they had over their fledgling, and they are bound to their new master through blood,” Jasper said. “It happens with alliances; one master will send another a powerful fledgling and let them be blood-oathed as a show of trust and agreement. And before you ask, no, I wasn’t blood-oathed into Maria’s line again. If it will happen, Aro will do it himself.”

“So what Aro meant,” interrupted Edward, “was that if I chose to stay here, I would have to permanently relinquish Carlisle’s hold and let Aro be my master.”

“Speaking of which, why didn’t you drink the blood pack?” Jasper asked him. “We were both supposed to come with red eyes.”

Edward sighed, kicking off his shoes and also putting them up on the table. “There was a slight change of plans. Carlisle called and said that Aro would be suspicious if I came down with red eyes. He wouldn’t buy it because I’m referenced as ‘Carlisle’s beast’ or ‘Carlisle’s dog.’ You heard it, Bella.”

I looked over at his distressed face. “Yeah, I was wondering about that,” I said.

“I’ll explain some other time. Right now, the human needs her rest. You never know when Aro will call on you, but he would never interrupt your sleep.”

“What time is it, anyway?”

“One in the afternoon,” Jasper answered.

I glanced around the room, but there was no clock the first time I looked around, and there certainly wasn’t one now. “How do you know that? Where are all the clocks?”

“I would say it’s thanks to this worthless watch I’m wearing”—he pushed up his sleeve to reveal said watch—“but all vampires know where the sun is at all times, no matter where they are. It’s just a feeling we get in our bones. You won’t find a single clock in the whole underground, but you can use my watch if you want.”

No time? That actually sounded kind of nice. “Nah, I’ll live. Oh, I have a weird question. You guys don’t have fangs, right?” Their faces immediately looked uncomfortable, but they nodded. “But the other vamps do, right? And what’s the deal with them not calling you ‘vampires’ but just referring to you as ‘Fangless?’”

“It’s a sick nickname Aro gave us,” Edward answered with disgust. “Apparently we’re not real vampires unless we have fangs, so throughout the underground anyone with a vegetarian lifestyle is called a ‘wimpy Fangless.’ Not that they would say it to our faces, of course. We are stronger with human blood, but we’re far from weak.”

“Yes, you might get teased by other Renfields,” Jasper added. “You are the Renfield of a former Fangless, that won’t get you much respect, but if they give you trouble make sure you mention my name. They’ll respect that.” He grinned.

“Must be nice to be the big dog on campus,” I said, trying to stifle my yawn.

“Only when I’m not being attacked,” he replied casually, “but a few death threats always makes things interesting.”

I stood and made my way toward my room, throwing over my shoulder, “Sure, but just make sure those death threats end with you. I don’t want vampires coming after me.”

“It will never happen, Bella,” he said. “Oh, while you were gone, I unpacked the rest of the suitcases that Alice gave you. You’ll find the armoire and closet much fuller now, and sleepwear is in the second drawer.”

I turned back to the sprawled vamps with a glare. “The rest?”

Edward smiled. “I told you there were more. You honestly thought Alice would let you enter this place without a good wardrobe? It’s nearly semi-formal every day, Bella. You’re acting the part very well, so you have to dress the part.”

I groaned and went to my room, turning on the light. Throwing the closet door open, sure enough, there were more clothes. It was a short walk-in closet, and in the back was a long gown. Not a dress, a gown. A floor-length evening gown. What would I need that for? I cursed Alice for her little fashionista ways. There was no way I was wearing a gown.

The armoire was where the jeans and T-shirts disappeared to, but I wasn’t impressed with the sleepwear. Short nightgowns, tank tops with matching bottoms, cotton hot pants? Where were the sweats? With a growl, I changed into a tank and its pants, and pushed the mound of throw pillows off the bed. I pulled the thick blankets back and fell face-first onto a real bed, and immediately sank. Heaven. Yeah, the bed was definitely worth the awful trip.