E D W A R D

I just finished cleaning the mess Lisa had created last night.

I should've known she'd snoop on me. I'd compelled her to forget everything she saw but the odds of being it successful was quite low.

I never wanted to force her; I didn't want her to remember me like that.

What? Since when did I care what she thought about me? I was here for my mother―nonetheless that witch was diverting me from my aim.

It was like she'd put a spell on me and it was stronger than my compulsion, my ability to get what I wanted effortlessly.

She had honestly bewitched me.

I knew it wasn't part of the job to get close to her but there was no harm in letting her be fond of me for a little more.

Eventually of course, when the beans were spilled, she'd rather want to see me dead―if she already hadn't wished for that.

I wished this morning would go smoothly, drained of any unnecessary drama.

With that thought I got downstairs in my usual attire and a straight face.

Anyone who hadn't seen me before would tell I had the attitudes of a Lord. My mother used to say that and she was always against my will to defy my loyalty to the throne.

She wished me to be like my father and I wouldn't blame her.

In the kitchen Lisa was already at the table helping Jenna with breakfast and ignoring me―I didn't know accidently or purposely.

She stood with her back in my front, stirring something in the pan with a spoon.

The window in front of her was flapping with the gales. One of them brought her appetizing aroma to my nostrils and I shivered.

I gasped to hide the trauma on my face and realized how edible she was.

Blood circulation on her beautifully shaped neckline made me feel a little drunk.

I shook my thoughts from time to time to feel somewhat sober again but I was nowhere near to reach my abstemious mind.

This was the second last stage of bloodlust, most of us break after this but I held myself.

I wanted nothing more than to have just a mere drop but knowing myself, I had no self control.

The last thing she'd feel was her head on the floor with her body in my clasp if I lost myself.

I hurried to get out of this mirage and walked outside but my feeble attempts of escaping came to an end as I heard myself being paged.

Her chocolate sweet angelic voice erased the anxiety came along with my bloodlust and I vanquished to her serene tone.

Her gorgeous face glorified by blonde curls and a beautiful pair of pale brown eyes stared in mine.

The skin she possessed hadn't been any less than a vampire's, deadly pale with rosy cheeks although with dark bags beneath her eyes.

And all suited so much to her black one shoulder frock that she wore. She was just perfect.

She called me once again and the sweetness in her voice forced me to believe that she wasn't aware of the fact of me being a vampire and compelling her last night to forget everything she'd seen.

I couldn't doubt her for even a smidgen.

I dawdled closer beside her with the thoughts of grabbing her into my arms occupying my consciousness and my hands clenched into fists.

She perceived them but decided to ignore it instead. That was quite an eccentric behavior especially if considered someone who possessed an inborn skeptical nature.

I wished I could read her mind.

"So what was the business you're taking care of last night?" She asked without sharing a glimpse.

"It was a meeting with some of my colleagues." I endeavored to stalk her sight but she avoided eye contact.

Out of options I tried a weak attempt and pursued her hand but drew back almost immediately after a touch.

She still acted like nothing happened. Wasn't my cold skin bothering her anymore? Had she begun to like it?

I couldn't bear the birth of another doubt in my head as the hairs at my nape began to rise.

It was my sixth sense telling me something was wrong, my instincts became alive when I witnessed Lisa was about to get her hand singed.

I rushed ensuring I wouldn't reveal my heightened speed and grasped her hand before she held the tray in the oven.

I was gasping.

"Edward!" She groaned.

I understood I failed to conceal my super strength at the squeal that tore out of her throat.

"I'm sorry." I accidentally yelled withdrawing my hand back from her wrists that were now bruised with purple lines.

She was better than to perform such a stupidity. She was smarter than this unless maybe she was distracted by her thoughts.

"Are you an idiot? You're not supposed to hold a hot tray with bare hands." I snarled.

I regretted hurting her after realizing the intensity of the bruises on her sensitive wrists.

I reached out to help her and held her hand again with much delicacy this time nevertheless she struggled to rescue herself.

"Just let go of me." She growled still facing away and looked at Jenna for help.

"Let me help you." I demanded but she wasn't the one to give in easily. She was annoyingly tough.

"I don't need your help. You've done enough!" She protested with every ounce of strength inside of her.

I had to let her go before she could start sobbing. She relaxed and avoiding another glance scampered upstairs without wasting another second.

I had no idea what was going on and if Lisa was really compelled. How was it even possible? Maybe Mason would know the answer, he always did.

I shook my head as anger crowded before my eyes and my vision went red. I didn't realize how hungry I was until now.

I stole a glimpse from the brunette in front of me. My eyes saw nothing but the vein that was running up her neck.

I gulped down the lump in my throat and with a stroke of my finger tucked away the few strands wandering on her neck.

I wanted that flawless place all for my fangs.

I leaned in holding myself in place and putting restrictions on my itching hands. I didn't trust them, not now.

I leaned further in until my mouth was brushing on her skin and my tongue came out to wander the space.

The tip of my tongue sketched circles on her skin before my fangs grew impatient and pierced into the same neck.

She shrieked and instantly bit her tongue to stifle her sobs. My hands wrapped around her waist and drew her closer.

I kept draining her until I felt full.

I hauled myself up and licked the superfluous blood on my lips. Her eyes were blinking and her head was going dizzy but I couldn't care any less.

I had to make a phone call.

Leaving her there like that I went to my room. I unbolted the door and picked up my phone lying on the mattress.

I didn't pack it along with my other stuff. I opened contact and dialed the number. He specifically warned me to not save his number with caller ID.

"I told you to call me when it's urgent." He groaned showing his negligence in the conversation.

"It's urgent." I growled in the same tone. "Is there any possibility that she could resist my compulsion?" I asked.

"I told you she's special. She possesses powers we'd never witnessed." He explained. "Get her here soon." He ended.

"I've to go." I hanged up ignoring the threat in his voice.

So I was right. She did resist my compulsion and that could explain her weird behavior and distractions.

Now what should I do next? Should I use force? I wished I'd known what they wanted to do with her.

Why was she so special to an extent that the oldest society of vampires was after her?

* * *

She was resting on her bed with her face bathed in the moonlight.

I peeked into her room and saw an angel sleeping with heavy breaths, the heavy rise and fall of her chest ensured me she was asleep until I heard her heart beat raising high.

I didn't scold her act. I just watched and observed her, she was slim and the bones in her body were approaching on her skin.

She looked like a vampire who had been starved in a coffin for years; if it wasn't for her breathing I'd have thought she was one of us.

Luckily she wasn't, she was a pure soul.

She was aware of my presence though scared to look up.

I perceived her hand with slight motion, moving beneath the quilt, taking out something but I was heeding to her serene face which was blacked out from any emotion.

I knew she was smarter but fear could make humans do disgusting things.

She took her hand out in an instance along with a wooden stake. I stayed stunned for a while, processing what she just did.

She opened her naive eyes and met with my furious ones. That didn't stop her from crossing the line.

She tried to dagger me, hauling it up near enough to my chest. She went for my heart but I was faster and stronger and grasped her hand.

She dropped the stake groaning and shot her eyes wide open.

I was sitting next to her, my mouth over her face and I wanted to bury my fangs into her skin and I was mad enough to do it.

She better have a good explanation!

Her eyes couldn't let me torture her but I didn't let them manipulate me into leaving her. She started squirming beneath me but I was mad and I wanted her to suffer.

"Why?" I mumbled softly against her lips, my voice laced with pain.

Yes I expected her to hate me, to yell at me, to slap me but . . . kill me? Never had I expected that.

She kept looking at me as I smelt her astonishing breath breaking on my face.

"You're going to kill me." She stated.

I found my grip involuntarily tightening on her wrists. She moaned freeing a tear on her cheek and I swiftly alleviated my clutch, gaining my conscience.

"You really think that low of me?" I perceived my face leaned down on hers, making me an addict to her scent.

I elevated myself up allowing her to sit down.

"You're a vampire. What else should I think about you?" She replied placing some pillows behind her back and rushing to hold the stake.

I slid it with my hand and hurled it outside the window, annoyed.

"Would you listen to me for once?" I exclaimed.

"Do I have another choice?" She asked giving me an infuriated look.

"Not really. I am stronger and you're easily destructible." I gazed into her eyes threatening them to behave. She was driving me nuts!

"I've no intention of hurting you." She laughed scornfully.

"Yeah then why are you here at all?" She groaned. "I witnessed my file in your bag. It wasn't a birth certificate or any school certificate but an assignment!" She stopped for gasping some air into her lungs.

She cupped her face with her hands and looked away, unable to make some meaning out of it.

"You're not my assignment but . . ." I dazed, blinking for almost ten times as my words poured out. Yes indeed she was. What else did she mean to me?

"What am I then?" Her eyes were still not facing mine.

A little pearly drop slithered down on her cheek, somehow looked too valuable to get wasted.

My thumb brushed across her skin and the drop dried out on my palm.

"Why are you here?" She whispered peeking down at my hand.

"I'm here to save someone I care for." I breathed out.

She just stared at me, bewildering at my words and didn't ask anything further.

Helping myself on my feet, I let myself out the door. Giving her a last glimpse I bolted the door behind my back.

Her face was stuck in my mind, her damp eyes that held so much gravity. Once you got a sight of it, you couldn't escape.

One my way, I kept asking myself what she was to me. I never wanted to hurt her, I'd liked her.

She was a nice person but sadly only God knew what Mason wanted with her.

Why was she so special and in possibly what ways? What did he want with her? What was she?

All these quizzes overwhelmed my heart and I couldn't find a single answer. There wasn't any way out.

I unfastened the lock on my door that I now remembered to keep it there every time I left the room.

I heard a beep as I walked into my room. I wasn't really flabbergasted after perceiving the number and matching it with the one in my memory.

Who else would call me at midnight except for the Satan?

"Plans changed. You got two days now." His cruel voice was as usual ordering but what he said pierced my ears.

"Wait what? I can't―" I tried to continue.

"You've got forty eight hours, starting now." He didn't listen and hanged up.

Could the day have any worse greeting? How was I supposed to finish my task in forty eight hours? That wasn't the deal Mason!