It was nighttime and Bella was in a car across from the Hamby's. Or at least, she was assuming it was Jessica Hamby's house.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" Bella stared down at my fingernails as the sound of shuffling feet and Sookie's apologies met her ears.

"When exactly did it feel like a good idea to bring a newly formed vampie back to her over-protective, Christian parents?" Bella wanted to gain some clarity on this.

"I know," she whimpered, turned around fully into her seat to stare at the busted in door of the Hamby house. "I just - All I could think about was Gran." Her eyes met mine, deep and desolate. "All we have are these memories and - and it's nothing. Gran isn't anything but a memory and we're just - just here. Just here without her. But Jessica - Jessica still has her mom and her dad. They're still here and why - why would I tell her that she can't see them?"

"It was stupid," Bella finally whispered. "But I understand. I - I don't know if I would have been able to do anything else."

"GET IN!" The door beside her slammed open suddenly to admit a hiccuping, frazzled Jessica. Curdled blood tracked down her cheeks, fangs peeking out from her lips every time she let out a bellowing wail.

Briefly, her crystal blue eyes met Bella's before she was curling into the corner of old yellow. Bella was more inclined to do that as well as the whole car shivered as Bill got into the front seat. Even unable to see his face, I could tell from the way that Sookie recoiled into the seat that his face was thunderous.

Bella had never particularly favored being the audience to a full-blown couples fight.

They turned a corner sharply, picking up to near-suicidal speed in our rickety car. Old yellow wasn't a race car. She wasn't even really an average car of average construction. That was on full demonstration as the trunk was making a disturbing rattling.

"Um, Bill honey," Bella started sweetly, trying not to wince at the resulting snarl that I got. "Could you maybe go down to like 80 - 70?"

The whine that old yellow gave as they sped up was enough to send her fumbling for a seat belt. It was making her nauseous. And right now she was feeling that at full blast as they bumped onto one of the many dirt roads that would lead them past Shreveport and deeper into the bayou.

"Bill, slow down!" Sookie had never had the same problems as Bella but from the wobble in her voice, she could gather her uneasiness. Bella gagged a little as the gravel road got rougher and the car bounced mercilessly. "Bella's turning green!"

"Please!" Hysteria was evident in Sookie's voice but Bella couldn't look anymore. If I saw the trees and road blurring around them any more than she was going to lose all the content of her stomach. "You're scaring me."

Ah, yes. Only the threat of Sookie's fear would be enough to get her to stop. Bella yanked open the door as they slammed to a stop, not getting farther than a step outside of the car before everything in her stomach was in the dirt. Bella's nose and eyes stung as she gagged, coughing a few more times. Softly, she heard her sister's voice trying to soothe Bill into a more comfortable state.

"She is a vampire!" Bill was snarling to Sookie. Lamely, Bella wobbled back to the open car, slouching down into the back seat as her head gave a swirl of relief. At least one part of her body was content. "She has no family."

Bella shook my head, taking a bottle of water. Jessica was yelling by now, her words halting since she was still sobbing a little.

"I HATE YOU SO FUCKING MUCH!" She screamed, her teeth bared as she stared down the back of Bill's head.

"Be quiet." Something about Bill's soft tone made Bella more nervous than when he was full on yelling.

"EAT SHIT!" She screamed petulantly, leaning forward more, her shoulders tensing.

Bill whipped around, his eyes cold and hard. "I SAID BE QUIET!"

A small huff forced its way from Jessica before she was curling back into the back corner with me, her eyes water and red from unshed tears. Those same eyes blinked over at Bella now and for a moment, they shared an exhausted stare.

"You undermined my authority as her maker. You risked those peoples safety and your own." His voice was rough with anger and with each word my sister tightened up where she sat, her throat working. "If I had not glamoured them within an inch of their sanity, all of our lives would have been shattered."

"I know! I'm sorry!" Bella winced. A lot of times when we were growing up our Gran would have us only apologize and not explain. Explanations made her even more enraged. If there was an explanation then she made it seem like it undermined the apology. Right now, in the heat of the moment, it only infuriated Bill.

"You KEEP SAYING THAT." Bella winced at the ferocity in Bill's face as he stared at Sookie. At that moment, she could see all of his years on this earth. "And I am expected to WHAT? Forget this ever happened?"

"What else do you want me to say?" There was a pleading tone to Sookie's voice that made me think that she wanted to honestly know. I took another swig of my water, slouching down in the car even more and turning my gaze to the woods beyond. Honestly, there was no reason why I should be here. If it wasn't for that stupid shopping trip for- "I knew when she asked me to take her I should say no but all I could think about was Gran and what I'd give to see her again."

"That does not give you license to behave like an irresponsible CHILD!" Bella was able to plainly see how much that name hurt her by the way that she reeled back. Sookie hadn't been a child since she was born. "She is a loaded gun, Sookie. Not a doll for you dress up and play with!"

Sookie's door slammed open suddenly and she was out within the second. Bella bit my lip, taking another gulp of water.

"What are you doing?!" Bill yelled after her, his face deeply lined with irritation as Sookie stomped away. "Don't be ridiculous! Bon Temp is nearly 20 miles away."

"I'd rather walk all night than spend another second in that car with you!" With that, Sookie whirled away, not caring if Bill followed her or if she was leaving Bella in the back like a forgotten purse.

One moment ticked after another, making her stomach turn with more anxiety the more time passed.

"Listen," Bella sighed, leaning forward. "I'll - um - go and get her. She probably just needs to... fume a little."

The only response she got was a stiff nod from Bill and an open eye roll from Jessica beside her which she fully agreed with.

It was easy enough to catch sight of where Sookie had gone off to. It was one of the only cleared paths on the side of the road. And she had never been exactly quiet even when she had wanted to be. Her shoes were snapping twigs left and right.

"Sookie!" Bella called, jogging up to meet her. "Sookie, wait!"

"Can you believe him?" Sookie seethed, not looking up from her mad trample through the forest. She was nearly glowing with anger.

"Just-" Bella yanked on her arm, stopping her. "Just calm down. You both just need to - I don't know. Take a breath."

She stared up at her definitely for a moment, her eyes blazing. Bella took a demonstrative breath, letting it out slowly. Unwillingly, Sookie followed suit. One in. One long one out.

"I just - I mean I get it," she finally whispered, her eyes dropping to the leaves at their feet. "What I did was stupid? But I just wanted her to have that - to get that final moment. Just one more second with the people she loved. Even when she ran to the door, I was a little bit glad. I mean because of me-" She gave a light sob, shaking her head. "It was just so unfair for her."

"She likes her vampire life better," Bella murmured, squeezing her shoulders reassuringly. "Her human life was cold and unforgiving and she was lonely. Now - weirdly enough - she might get to... live."

A poof of air burst from Sookie, making her smile. "Dammit. You're right. Why are you always right?"

"Eh." Bella shrugged, letting go of her. "I'm pretty fucking awesome."

"Yeah," she mumbled sardonically. "Especially when you blew those chunks."

"Assh-" Bella stopped, freezing as a low snarl pierced the silence of the woods. Slowly, their heads turned to take in the choppy path behind them.

"What the fuck?"

A gangly figure stood in the mist, clearly visible over the hazy white that came from the road just beyond the dark of the trees. Thickly, Bella swallowed, catching sight of the feminine curves and the thick fingers that seemed to lump into sharp points. Atop its head sat wide horns. It was too dark to get anything other than the impression of wild hair.

"Run," she whispered, fear making her blood sing. "RUN!"

They both took off at the same time, cutting around a fallen log and following the path. It had to lead to a main road or maybe even a tavern. Soon, Bella was ahead of Sookie, her legs long enough to carry her forward with no problem. She panted, sweat starting to build at the nape of her neck.

We need Bill, Bella thought suddenly, desperately, surprising even herself. A shrill scream sent her whirling, gravel hitting her shins as she kicked up dust. Sookie whimpered from her place on the ground, her mouth opening and closing like a fish that had been dragged to land. Across her back, three distinct gashes bled freely.

"Okay," Bella breathed, her hands zinging as they lit with purple static. Fear twisted her insides as she caught the whiff of rotting flesh and mud. Standing over her sister Bella stepped into a fighting stance, she was done running, the creature cocked it's head almost looking amused. "Let's dance, bitch." 

Bella lunged forward, nearly getting slashed in the face as it swung, moving with a lot more agility than she had anticipated. She held her breath, nearly dropping face-first into the dirt as she tried to avoid another quick swing.

Bella cried out, reeling as claws slid through the top layer of the skin at her shoulder. "Shit!" she said as her shoulder slumped as if numbed, but she could feel the pain pretty easily.

"SOOKIE!" The sound of snapping twigs reached them just before Bella heard Sookie being turned, a wail dragging from her. Cold hands stroked down my face and I spit out some more foam and vomit, my face covered in it. "Oh my god, Bella. What happened to you?" Dillon asked as he showed up.

"Bull," Sookie choked out. "Bull - human. Could - couldn't see." Bill and Dillon bit their wrists trying to give them their blood, but their bodies instantly rejected it. Sookie rolled out of Bill's arms with a foamy substance pouring from her mouth.

"Oh, gross." Jessica said.

"You're telling me." Bella groaned as darkness started to take her.

"Jessica, get the car!" Was the last thing she heard.

Bella groaned waking up once more, and she still felt the burning sensation in her body. she looked to the side seeing an elderly woman dressed as a doctor beside her.

"Can I trust you to help us, Doc?" Bella asked groggily.

"I sure am going to try." The doctor said. "My name is Dr. Ludwig. What's your name?"

Bella was about to answer, but when she pulled a sample from the scratches on her shoulder, she cried out instead.

"Ugh!" she cried. "...My name is Bella...Bella Stackhouse-Connor...Question for you, Doc. We're dying, aren't we?"

"Seems like you already know the answer, but yes you are." Dr. Ludwig said bluntly.

If Bella wasn't in a world of pain right now, she probably would have laughed. She's liking this woman she's funny.

"No." Bill said firmly. "She cannot die! You will save her!"

"Bill, let...the doctor...work." she gasped out.

Bill frowned though he did step back with a slight nod of his head. Dr. Ludwig went back to examining Bella's wound.

"You're a tough one, Girlie." Dr. Ludwig said. "But we don't have a lot of choices, you both have been poisoned."

"Figured." Bella grumbled.

"You ever heard of Komodo Dragons?" Dr. Ludwig asked. "Their mouths are teaming with bacteria. After one has bitten you, it will track you for hours, days, just waiting for the toxins to slowly eat away at your nervous system till you're good and helpless. Then it will devour you alive."

"We were scratched by a dragon?" Sookie choked out and Bella relaxed a little as the doctor turned once more to her, her rolling stool squeaking.

"No, because Komodo Dragon toxins don't work this fast." She gasped out as another wave of pain ran through her.

"You're right." Dr. Ludwig said. "This poison is more efficient. I don't think I've seen it before, but it's hard to tell without further testing. And we don't have that kind of time. Give us some privacy. I will need to remove their clothing."

"Now you better brace yourself, Sweetheart, because this is going to hurt like hell." Dr. Ludwig said. A few seconds later, a searing pain exploded on Bella's shoulder. After a minute, she felt Dr. Ludwig stop pouring whatever liquid she had on her. After the liquid was over with, she dug into her shoulder and into Sookie's back.

"Do you have to do that?" Sookie asked.

"She's checking to see if the poison is out." Bella said. "She's just doing what needs to be done."

"You studying medicine?" Ludwig asked.

"Yes." Bella said.

"You can give them blood now," the doctor informed us, already packing away all of her tools. "Their bodies should accept it."

Instantly, Eric's hand swept to his lips, his fangs ripping into the skin of his wrist before Bella could even say anything. One massive hand swept the sweaty, grimy tangle of her hair away from her face, cupping the back of her head to turn her more fully.

"Drink," he murmured, nudging the bloody mess of his wrist to my mouth, a gush of blood smeared across my lips. Bella started drinking it.

"Always a pleasure, Dr. Ludwig." Eric said as the short woman walked off.

"Fuck off." She said as she went through the door.

"I like her." Bella said as she slipped into sleep.