Death. The biggest, most unavoidable consequence of life. I never thought that there'd be different types of death, I never realised that there'd be things worth dying for, but would I really be dead if I lived on? What precisely does it mean to die? Will I ever die in the true sense of the word? I'd never even thought of this prior to coming to Forks. I'd never expected that at eighteen years of age I would even have to consider these questions. But that's what being with Edward is like. Unpredictable, Dangerous but damned irresistable. I wouldn't change it and if it does mean my death, then so be it.

"He didn't have the strength to change you," James whispered. "He left you a weak, pathetic, vulnerable human," I bit my lip to stop from crying out. "And for that dear Bella, you will die,"

Burning, fire, stinging, grazing, agonizing flames spread out. I screamed, it seemed like a perfectly rational thing to do when a vampire bit you. I was shaking, I knew. It burned and burned, I was sure that I was dying – of that there was no question.

Then it was over. Either I was dead or I fainted.

It turned out that I had fainted.

I woke up hours later (or so I figured) in a makeshift hospital bed in the same Phoenix hotel we'd stayed in. Carlisle leaned over me, checking my eyes with a penlite torch, muttering under his breath. I wondered where everyone else was, until I answered my own question. I was covered in blood, from head to toe.

"Ouch," I muttered gingerly when he pressed at my wrist. He merely nodded at me and pointed at his mouth. I understood. He wasn't breathing. Breathing would mean smelling my blood and judging by the quantity that covered me, it would be too much for even Carlisle to bear.

After poking and prodding me in various ways, he proceeded to clean me, despite my insistance (very feeble insistance to my shame) and tend to all of my cuts.

"Is everyone okay?," A nod. "Edward?", a smile and another nod. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have believed him, I should've told someone," I said miserably flinching at the antiseptic. Carlisle frowned and shook his head.

"No one blames you," he said quietly, his head turned away. "Not even Rosalie," he turned around and handed me two small white tablets with some water. "These will help with the pain, I must talk to Edward, rest Bella," He patted my shoulder and left.

I slept.

"Edward, we must do it. Now," Carlisle's voice said in an urgent whisper. "After all she's seen, after all she's felt, we cannot let her go now."

"No," Edward's voice was firm, cold and distant.

"Think about it," Carlisle's voice raised slightly. "Do you really think she could go back to being Chief Swan's daughter? Do you think that she'd settle here in Phoenix knowing that we existed?" There was a pause. "Edward, you've tasted her blood now." Another pause. "I know that you won't have the self restraint that you did before."

"I can't," his voice sounded more horrified now. "How could I do that to her?"

"You either turn her, or she will die anyway," Emmett's voice sounded now. "We cannot leave her, knowing as much as she does. The Volturi will not allow this to happen, already I am surprised at their inaction and you know the price of disobediance – for both of you," The last few words were mocking, even though I barely understood. Edward growled softly, sounding more like a vampire than what I was used to.

"Emmett is right," Carlisle supported. "I will help you, if that's what you need."

"Doesn't Bella get a choice?" Edward asked.

"No, she has no choice," Alice spoke. "Without turning her, all of her fates lead to death," I closed my eyes. Death. Great. "The Volturi, other vampires – she has attracted the attention of many," Edward sighed and it was only then that I realised what decision he'd made. I was to become the latest addition to the Cullen family.