L I S A

"You did kill her." I heard Edward declaring as he took a few steps away from Christophe. He surely looked like someone who'd just lost his favorite puppy in spite of his predatory aura leaving me in awe.

However, I was startled at every word he said, completely dazed. My head was already spinning with so much confusion and my body seemed to be preparing itself for another shock.

Vomit was reaching up to my throat, and singed the way it'd used to climb. I barely kept my head straight and my eyes opened although I had the will to pass out, I held myself knowing my body wouldn't be able to take the aftereffects.

Now I had to face the bigger problem.

He killed me! But how could I not know it? How could I be alive then?-and so more impossible doubts poked their way into my brain.

I'd always felt like a piece of that day was missing from my memories and based on his argument, there was probably a scene hidden before I'd met my ultimatum. I'd probably passed out because of panic and never got to know what happened next.

But if I died then why on the earth was I still alive? Why was I walking? Why was I breathing? What was I-a living ghost?

This Mason person, five years ago he'd demanded me to die and now he suddenly wanted me in his palace like I was some sort of precious trophy? What on earth was going on?

As I was flipping through each question in my mind, abruptly Edward's gaze fell on me averted from Christophe's side and caught me frozen behind a tree taller than my height. His considerate eyes were damp with pity and empathy towards me.

If I had to guess it'd be the fact that he had used some twisting supernatural ability to read Christophe's mind because the whole act didn't sell anything else.

"Lisa." He murmured and all of a sudden I was the centre of attention.

I felt myself shrinking more and more backwards as they kept gawking at me and my arms, by instincts, folded around me, perhaps to protect myself.

I thought I was sinking back into an unknown place-possibly escaping like a little kid who's caught eavesdropping into a matter he shouldn't have gotten involved in-before an arm wrapped around my wrist and brought me closer.

It was Edward.

He pulled me close against his chest and ran a finger on my blushing cheek. I kept my gaze low.

Why did he have to have such a strong impact on me?

"How is she alive then if you'd killed her?" Malcolm asked facing towards Christophe who was now getting up on his feet again. I'd like to know the exact same thing.

Edward kept distracting me with his sweet gesture as if he didn't want me to hear any of that.

"I could swear I heard her heart stop beating." Christophe answered.

"I'd always felt like there was a piece missing out of my memory of that night. I could never recall what happened once you motioned towards the car." I blurted and a depressed look masked my face. Edward slowly let go of me, letting me handle myself like a big girl.

"Trust me it's nothing pleasant you'd want to remember." Christophe answered quietly almost as if he'd meant it for himself.

"Why did you do it?" I asked stepping out of Edward's embrace.

I didn't know why I asked something as stupid as that-perhaps I just wanted to confirm something.

After Jenna, my parents and what happened to me, I still had hope-even buried really deep down but I had hope for Edward. I wanted him to be different and I thought Christophe's answer might change my stupid mind and save me a painful heartbreak.

My eyes fixated on his as I motioned towards him. I wasn't sure what I'd actually expected but I just wanted him to be honest about it.

He waited for a while as if not understanding what I'd just asked. And then like a lightening in the sky reality hit him and took all his courage in coming up with the right words.

"My life depended on it." He replied with a hint of guilt.

I did nothing just shook my head in denial. I wouldn't have ever taken the life of an eleven year old for my own sake.

"Did it worth it?" I questioned now holding back a sob and letting some escape from my mouth.

"I am sorry about what I did and there isn't a day goes by when I don't regret my actions," his voice cracked as he looked down at his hands as if he were imagining them laced in blood, my blood. "And then, there's the reality that I cannot undo them."

He looked me in the eye and showed me just how mad he was with himself.

No doubt he must feel the pain in his nightmares that took the shape of that night and would remind him of a ghost that could have been alive if only he wasn't a coward. He must torture himself everyday merely by recalling the paled terrified face of that pure little life that didn't even get to live.

But as he said, there was the reality that he couldn't undo his actions. And I could sure as hell not take his apology for his sins!

I was now just inches away from him, my face dangerously close to his chin but that didn't stop me from bursting out.

"Your sorry will not bring back the last five years of joy I could've had." I stopped to catch a breath.

Suddenly I recalled of Jenna and how she died because of me. My parents died, Jenna died!

"Gosh! I was already in mourning and now my parents." At this moment I had my hands covering my face as I twisted back.

Not again! I couldn't cry! Not right in front of them at that time. But I couldn't stop either. Tears kept flowing down my cheeks; I could only imagine how hideous I might be looking at the moment.

I felt betrayed as loud sobs escaped my lips but there was more. Apart from the grief overwhelming my heart, I felt a sudden rage of disgust rising in my chest. The adrenaline rushed in my veins as I got more empowered by my anguish.

"And for God's sake tell me who this Mason is!" I burst out but without any mourning tears, without any damp eyes but rage flashing on my face.

I looked at every one of them who now stared at me in awe as if not expecting my raging outburst but none of them tried to speak still in bafflement until at last someone did.

"He's the Lord of vampires who believe he's their liberator." I raised my ears in full attention.

"There is a whole colony of them more like a city or even an empire. There are vampires who follow in his footsteps, who are trained to kill."

Malcolm cleared his throat as if not comfortable with what he was going to say next, "We were one of them" I almost gaped, "until we got our senses." He swiftly added.

My heart stopped the rapid pounding and was returning to its old stage. I gained a bit relief but my doubts were still unanswered. There was so much I wanted to know, needed to know.

"What does he want with me?" I murmured ever so lightly that it must've sounded like begging.

"He used Ed as pawn to get to you but why we don't know." He murmured almost matching my tone.

"Wait, used you as a pawn. How?" I turned towards Edward, now feeling a bit scared. "I thought you didn't work for him."

He opened his mouth to say something but closed it again. It left me in puzzlement so I looked over at Malcolm for an explanation.

"He doesn't want to but . . ." and there was a long pause, "he's obligated to run Mason's errands for a while." Malcolm explained and I could see his and Edward's discomfort.

"Obligated?" I asked Edward, "Do you owe him or something?"

There was nothing. No word left his mouth and he just kept himself shut. His silence filled me with an annoyance I couldn't clarify.

"If I'm to be sacrificed then you can at least tell me the cause." I retorted, "I deserve that, don't I?" My tone got softer as he began to talk in whispers.

"He's my mother."

Numerous growls were heard behind me and I knew I wasn't the only one without information standing here. They were just as taken by Edward's words as I was. The news was upsetting and no one could relate to that more than I could but this news just inflamed my anger towards him.

"You know well enough the loss of a parent." I murmured with tears threatening to spill down my eyes, "yet you let them kill Jenna!" He was taken by my outburst again and so was I but I couldn't hold it in me any longer. "How could you not stop them?" I cried.

"Them?" Malcolm whispered, confused. It took me a while to realize that that question was meant for me.

"The vampires sent by Mason." I answered in midst of tears. "I hope they're dead by now." I cursed only for myself to listen but forgot that they had heightened hearing.

"Mason didn't trust me enough so he sent Joseph and his friends to get the work done." Edward elucidated to the others as I pulled myself together.

"Why do you think they'd be dead by now?" Malcolm questioned, wrapping his arms in front of his chest in a rather intimidating manner.

"We're attacked by the hunters in the woods. They're a lot of them; I'd be surprised if the vampires made their escape." My voice didn't tremble no more.

"Hunters?" Malcolm raised a questioning brow towards Edward, in anger I supposed.

"We're attacked by the hunters on our way here and that was how she got wounded." Edward rolled his eyes a couple of times, probably too tired because of conversing and explaining.

"Hunters don't hurt humans." Jacob―if that was his name―involved in the matter.

"Apparently they do when they find out how much prominent that human is to some vampires." Edward let out a long sigh.

I was getting both bored, overwhelmed, tired and my feet were shaking, probably because of cold. Martha must not have known that we humans did feel cold.

"The vampires ended the hunters' bloodline centuries ago!" Malcolm whispered this time keeping his tone only enough for Edward.

"They weren't pure-blooded hunters. They didn't possess that special spell." Edward muttered slightly jumping on him.

"But they're hunters." A fragile yet voice laced with dominance spoke out.

We all were cautioned and finding the direction it had come from. It was a girl's and a beautiful one but with a sense of disgust and almost no human emotion masking her face.

She stepped towards us in pride and not making eye contact with anyone or rather the boys had their sight searching their feet on the ground as she motioned towards us. She had this disturbing aura around her and they all respected that.

I was both glad and frightened at once for not averting my sight.

I could see she bore the impeccable resemblance of beauty-one that could make the girls around her feel insecure in a single glimpse. Her figure, body and skin screamed submission whilst the very muscles in her body that helped her move demonstrated a haughty dominance.

I didn't register that I was gawking until she stood right there in front of me searching the depth of my eyes with hers. It should've scared me but I stood my ground without trembling, I would welcome anything she had to furnish me with open arms.

I was tired even after a healthy sleep and I needed sometime to clear my brain and process the new information. So whatever you have in store for me, you better make it quick. I wished.

I believed I swallowed a deep breath as she held up her hand to . . .