Standing there her name wandered through his mind once again…

…Didyme…

He had never told anyone, not even his brothers, that the bond he shared with his own wife was stronger than any bond he had sensed before or since, at least until now. His brothers would argue that they loved their wives and, yes, he knew that they did, but the bond was not the same. It was like comparing two people’s hearts and existence being held together by a serviceable, strong, gold thread to two people being held together by thick chains of iron.

That was what he and Didyme had had. That was what this Edward and Bella had.

Again, thoughts of the vampire and his little human made his own mind wander to the relationship he had had with his wife. He remembered her smile, her long flame colored locks, the way that they met….

He had been a vampire still in his youth, well, to him it was a time he still considered his youth despite the fact that he had been several centuries old, but, then again, that was to be expected when one had already lived for several millennia. Youth, it was all a matter of perspective.

It was said that vampires didn’t change, but in truth, he had been different then, both physically and mentally. It was difficult to imagine with the bored exterior he presented to the world now, but then he had had a ready smile, a genuine laugh, and a twinkle to his crimson eyes. He had drawn in his prey, usually beautiful women, rather easily. Against their better judgment, they ignored the crimson eyes, and only saw the handsome face, the pale ivory skin set off by long ebony hair, the ready smile, and the charming manner.

Things had been fun then. If he could get past the pain he would miss the thrill of the hunt. There was a certain thrill that came with making your prey want you. He remembered how the majority of the women he had seduced and lured to their deaths and welcomed the feel of his lips and then his teeth at their throats. They had welcomed his attention, and then they had welcomed death at his hands.