A Potter Secret

Kissing a Shifter

A newborn vampire careens into the wall, cracking bricks. He falls to the ground at the feet of Riley, who spins on a second newborn. "Next one who starts a fight gets his arms ripped off!" Riley screams. Riley steps over a human man lying on the ground, barely alive. The newborn watches hungrily as another dives on the man, taking what's left of his life. There are another dozen newborns of both genders who feed, lounge, fight. What they have in common is ferocity, strength, and thirst.

Riley goes to a pretty girl, Bree, who lies in a corner, just awakening. As he squats to check on her, she suddenly jumps up, backs against the wall, disoriented and profoundly thirsty. Her hand flies to her neck where she was bitten. "What—what did you do to me?" Behind Riley the two newborn vampires start pushing each other again, the fight reigniting, irritating Riley. "I'm so- so-"

Riley smiles. "Yeah, I know. We'll find you someone to drink. The thirst will calm after a while. I've got a year under my belt and I'm ok-" Just then a newborn rips anothers head completely off. Bree screams. Riley shakes his head, exasperated. He leaves Bree in confusion and walks away.

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Bella enters, dropping her backpack, coat. "Hey. Did you eat dinner yet?" Bella asks.

"Um- No- I haven't," Charlie replies. She looks over his shoulder and sees the flier. "This kid Riley Biers, disappeared over a year ago. And his poor parents been papering Seattle with these things ever since."

"You think they should just give up?" Bella asks.

"I wouldn't. If it were you- Not ever," Charlie promises. Bella swallows her guilt. She was about to put him through that- And may still. Then he unexpectedly wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her close. After a beat, he releases her, rising to cover his emotionality. "So, one large, extra cheese?"

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"I have to figure out what to tell people-" Bella's cocooned in her bed in the dark. Edward lies next to her, her mother's quilt between them. "Why I won't be home for Christmases. Why I won't visit. Why they'll never see me again."

"After a few decades, everyone you know will be dead. Problem solved," Edward reminds.

She flinches at his brutal honesty. Then faces him. "Why are you so against me becoming like you?"

"I've told you," Edward says, trying to finish the conversation before it begins.

"Be honest with me," Bella tries. "There's more."

"I know the consequences, of this choice you're making. I've lived through it, and to let you suffer that. You believe I have a soul- I don't. But to risk yours, just for the sake of never having to lose you. It's the most selfish thing I'll ever do," Edward answers.

She rests her head on his chest. "I thought, maybe you were afraid that I'll be too different. Unlike. I won't be, you know- Warm. And won't smell the same."

He lifts her face to his. "You'll always be my Bella." And kisses her. She kisses him back. It grows more passionate. She locks her arms around his neck. Edward pulls away, both of them reining in their desire. "My Bella, just less fragile." He pulls the quilt around her. As they nestle in. Emmett and Alice are standing several paces apart, outside the window. Stone still, keeping watch, listening. They hear a sound, both springing at once– to find behind them– two wolves. Here to take over sentry duty. Slowly, Emmett and Alice back away, the wolves eying their every move. A truce but a tense one.

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Bella and Jacob walk along the sand. Jacob seems distracted, like he wants to say something but can't. Bella's too busy worrying to notice. "Gosh, it's so pretty here. So, Alice is planning a big graduation party. Which you're invited to," Bella insists. Jacob scoffs. "Yeah, I figured that. What?"

"I just wanted to do this differently. Smoother. But now, I'm out of time," Jacob replies.

"To what?"

"You need to hear the truth, Bella. Understand all your options. You need to know- That I'm in love with you. And I want you to choose me, instead of him."

Bella stares at him, momentarily speechless. Finally, "I thought you understood. I don't feel that way for you."

"I don't buy it."

"What don't you buy? That's how I feel."

"You feel something else for me, you just won't admit it. So I'm not giving up. I'm gonna fight for you. Until your heart stops beating," Jacob promises.

"Well, then you're not gonna have to fight for long."

"You're rushing into it because you're afraid you'll change your mind," Jacob redirects. This strikes a nerve which makes her angry.

"No, I'm not. I know what I want."

Jacob takes her by the arms, emotionally charged. "You wouldn't have to change for me, Bella. Or say goodbye to anybody. I can give you more than him. I mean, he probably can't even kiss you without hurting you. Feel that? Flesh and blood and warmth." Suddenly spontaneously, he kisses her. Bella pushes against him angrily, but he pulls her tighter to him. Finally Bella goes limp, drops her arms, opens her eyes, waiting for him to stop. He does; she turns away. He waits, gauging her reaction. Did she feel what he felt? But Bella spins back toward him and punches him in the mouth. There's a horrible crunch on impact. Jacob doesn't even flinch. But Bella grabs her hand in pain.

"Ow! Ow!"

Jacob sighs. "Are you alright?" he asks.

Bella backs away from him, heading to her truck. She digs around for a moment as Jacob gets into the driver's seat and starts to drive. He looks over at her for a moment, trying to speak but Bella just holds up her good hand to cut him off. "Just- just don't."

It's not long before they leave the reservation and get closer to Charlie's house. "Bring me to Carlisle, Jacob," Bella says. "My wrist hurt pretty bad."

"It just needs some ice," Jacob replies. "You'll be fine."

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