L I S A

Edward had been acting weird―not that he was ever normal.

It was just that I didn't know what to expect anymore.

A vampire? Blood sucking monster? Bite marks on my parent's corpse-yeah, I remembered seeing them at the mortuary after the accident, had to inspect if they're really the Browns.

It was an awful day.

I felt a cringe forming on my face and a singe in my throat at the memory of their pale bodies lying completely drained out of life and the odor had almost made me swallow the vomit, singeing my throat.

The memories swung inside my mind choking me till I was breathless. The strangling that I'd been able to avoid was now clear as a day around my neck.

Exactly why I always avoided recalling these reminiscences! But they weren't my problem right now, he was.

How could I trust him? Did he even worth my faith? Who knew about the dirty secrets he might be keeping? But most of all, what about that paper work?

The water splashed on my face washed off the drowsiness and anxiety. I appreciated how my skin quivered at the touch of coldness the water held.

The thought of Edward's hand in mine drifted into my memories creating unrest in the region.

I didn't want his thoughts snooping into my mind just the way he'd snooped into my house.

I was mad, mad how much ease he'd furnished me. I wanted to hate him. I wanted to hate him so bad.

"Lisa!" Jenna called.

I checked myself once more in the mirror to ensure I wasn't having the same nest on my head again.

Much to my surprise, my hair was totally fine and needed no brushing.

Probably because I didn't have any sleep the night before. Well who could really fall asleep with a blood sucking creature at the next door?

I wondered how Jenna would react to this-though I had to keep this from her, for her sake.

"Lisa!" She called again, this time with a bit manly voice.

That happened when she was mad or annoyed.

I quickly made my way to downstairs without another thought holding me back.

Even though I wanted to act normal but after that encounter the night before with him and the confrontation, I didn't know how to act normal.

I was basically misunderstanding the meaning of normal. It means a human, right? A regular one who don't have fangs or super speed or the appetite to satisfy with blood? I wondered.

He seemed fine, chatting with Jenna at the table as if he'd not just threatened her only niece.

His facial expressions were tough; smiling yet warned trying to read the person before him.

And not to mention incredibly handsome―then again, he was a vampire with a predatory, inhuman beauty.

That meant dead, didn't it? Wait! Was that how it worked or there was some other way of transformation, like they showed you in movies? Oh good lord! I had questions.

"Lisa, we're talking about you." Edward distracted.

Was I gawping at them?

"Really? Surprise me." I budged my gaze to anywhere except for his awfully pale face.

Thank God he couldn't hear my reflections! Wait, could he?

"Edward's taking us to a trip." Jenna caught my attention from across the table.

My ears, like that of a dog, rose up in utter concentration and surprise. My eyes followed her as well.

"You do know I didn't mean literally, right?" They both let out a chuckle as if they'd perceived a joker riding on a bicycle behind me.

"It'll be fun." Edward smirked.

I couldn't help but notice Jenna's enjoyment in the conversation.

"Since when do you enjoy natural scenery and earthly soil, not to mention worms?" I raised a brow towards her.

Edward just rolled his eyes for unknown reason. I could tell he was somewhat really eager to make this work.

"What's in it for you?" I turned towards Edward who was by now stuffing his mouth with an apple.

He watched me closely as if trying to read my features and then shook his head in discontentment.

"Well, since your aunt has helped me so much, I thought to offer her and you a treat." He shrugged and gave an appeasing smile to Jenna.

"Why woods? I mean there are several other good and civilized cafés." I shot him a doubtful stare.

Anyone could tell he was losing patience. He twisted his head to Jenna with an expression that said 'scold her.'

The way both of them exchanged silent glances, completely ignoring my existence in the room, made them look like messed up parents having troubles disciplining their child.

"I suggest you be a little more courteous to your guests, young lady." She pointed a finger at my direction.

Just like in my head. I thought.

Her scolding me was of course yet another way of showing her care and love but that moment it felt like torture because it favored him.

"I'm just saying because we don't want unnecessary troubles or intrusion." I replied looking at Edward.

He shot me a hard glare.

"We're going and that's final." Jenna turned back without uttering another word.

I sighed deeply realizing what she'd gotten herself into. At least I got one answer to my millions of questions.

Edward couldn't be trusted.

What possibly could he gain from this trip? Why did I get a bad feeling about this?

I had no idea what happened after I felt a stinging grip around my forearm and noticed myself on the top of staircase, where I was kept hidden from Jenna's sight.

I didn't bother asking myself how I had gotten there. I had a great idea.

"What's your problem?" He asked staring down at me as his hands blocked me against the wall. The grip was firm and almost made me sob.

"I don't trust you." I hid the pain in my voice and fear . . . I didn't have any left.

"You don't have to. Do as I command and you'll not be harmed." His voice stiffened at the threat he made and his eyes blazed with anger.

"I owe you nothing."

As quickly as the words left my mouth I regretted being fearless. That was the first time I saw what real cravings of hunger looked like.

His black veins slithered downwards beneath his eye sockets as his eyes became more scarlet. The beautiful browns in them were lost and they demonstrated the malicious intents of their host.

Rage, fury and thirst were hidden in his intention but there was a blank space, something that was holding him back.

I stood stilled. My heart thumped out loud but my body didn't respond. My eyes stayed glued to his, scared of his next move but he just drew back.

I was freed from his restraints but could still feel his dangerous aura around myself. He seemed to silently curse himself before jerking away.

I tried to study what had just happened. I called his bluff and he just frightened me or more likely it was a threat to keep me in line for the near future.

How long was I supposed to endure his torture?

I walked passed by his room, heading towards mine when an interesting voice caught me and I heard him yelling at someone on the phone.

This man really had some anger issues.

Overwhelmed by curiosity, I stood at the threshold of his door and heard the words carefully uttered by him.

"Yeah . . . yes . . . mm . . . I'll bring her soon to you . . . Fine." I was processing his each syllable one after other.

'Her' ? Was he referring to . . . ? He couldn't be!

Just then the door opened and he stood with his broad shoulder firmed in front of my torso.

His eyes burned with anger and with the same black slithering veins on his cheeks; his jaws tightened together.

"You shouldn't have." He muttered with the same clenched teeth.

My heart thumped louder if it already hadn't swollen enough inside my ribcage.

The pain was sharp and overwhelming, but I kept my stare firm not letting him escape.

He gripped my wrist and hurled me closer to his chest moving inside the room and bolted the door behind him.

I was already scared but this was beyond my expectations. What was he planning to do with me? Oh how I wanted Jenna to just dive into this room!

I struggled underneath his grasp and squirmed focusing on anywhere except for his face where the creepy veins resided.

He was shaking me quietly as a cue to look up at him. I shut my eyelids, tucking the light away that made him look more monstrous.

The cold from his body was slowly catching up with me, nearing me with every mind-boggling pace of my heart.

He was leaning in at the curve of my neck, the hot blows from his nose left me shivering aligned with the perfect coldness of his hands on my body.

I was feeling woozy and weak at my wobbly knees.

What was he doing to me?

"Look at me." He murmured softly against my skin.

I let out a small moan at the exquisite sensation of his touch and breaths on my body and now his words that made me feel lost in my utopia.

This was wrong! My mind kept repeating on rewind but less did I know my mind didn't control my body anymore, he had taken that role to himself.

This was what he was born to do. Trap his prey in his grandeur and crushed it until he'd had enough.

I shouldn't fall unless I wanted to become his next victim.

My stupid head was making her own calculation when she opened my eyes.

I blinked taking his beauty into sight, there were no creepy veins or elongated fangs, the scarlet of his eyes had gone back to brown and they're staring into mine intently.

He possessed a pure beauty that I now envied. Even for a vampire he was strongly built and I was the walking corpse here.

He had nothing gruesome about his features except for that playboy smirk.

If it hadn't been for that arrogantly mocking smile, I'd have considered sharing my first kiss with him.

Wait what? How did I go that far! When?

He swiftly drew back taking me by surprise.

He coughed awkwardly as if to avoid some tension is his mind. And I couldn't help but wondered, what the heck just happened?

His posture became serious again with his jaws firmly holding together.

"Go pack your things." He demanded.

I eyed him a 'what' crossing my arms around each other in front of my chest.

What made this dude think he could boss me around?

He waited for a while studying my stubbornness.

"Fine I'll just take your aunt and feed her to the bloodthirsty monsters that will come to take you as well after draining your aunt." My eyes narrowed at his tone.

He seemed like he was telling me daily routine when he threatened to kill Jenna.

Wasn't she his friend?

I looked for a trace of dishonesty and unfortunately his eyes offered nothing but plain sincerity.

He couldn't do that, could he?

In any way, I wouldn't risk Jenna's existence because of my pigheadedness.

I shot him a hard glare as I left without so much a syllable. I hoped one of these days I could get back at him for every misery he put me through.

It'd be a sight fun to watch.