“I was a predator. She was my prey. There was nothing else in the world but that truth.”
— Edward's initial realization about Bella's scent and his struggle for control.
menu_book
Archivist's Choice
Midnight Sun [2008 Draft]
Stephenie Meyer (2008)
Genre
Fantasy / Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
150 min
Key Themes
See below
Track Your Reading
Sign in to track this book
This raw, leaked draft of *Midnight Sun* shows Forks, Washington, and Edward Cullen's agonizing passion for Bella Swan through his tormented eyes.
Synopsis
Edward Cullen, a vampire trapped at age seventeen for over a century, lives with his adoptive family in Forks, Washington, fighting his predatory instincts. His world changes when he meets Isabella "Bella" Swan, a new student. Bella's scent is intoxicating to Edward, making her both an irresistible pull and a terrifying threat to his self-control. He wants to protect her while also fighting the urge to kill her. As their relationship grows, Edward uses his mind-reading and superhuman abilities to watch over Bella, uncovering the dangers she attracts. He eventually faces James, a nomadic vampire who targets Bella, forcing Edward to use all his strength to save her, showing the full scope of his love and the danger that comes with it.
Reading time
150 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Introspective, Romantic, Brooding, Suspenseful
✓ Read this if...
You're a fan of the 'Twilight' saga and want to experience the original story from Edward Cullen's perspective, delving into his internal monologue, struggles, and powers.
✗ Skip this if...
You dislike the 'Twilight' saga, prefer action-heavy fantasy over internal character drama, or are put off by stories where one character is overly protective/possessive.
Plot Summary
First Encounter
Edward Cullen, a vampire living among humans in Forks, Washington, is immediately drawn to and disturbed by the scent of a new student, Isabella 'Bella' Swan, in the high school cafeteria. Her blood scent is overwhelmingly appealing, unlike anything he has met, threatening his family's carefully kept vegetarian lifestyle. He struggles greatly with the urge to kill her, which causes him physical pain and mental distress. He uses his telepathy to listen to everyone's thoughts, trying to understand why she is so tempting and how to avoid her. His siblings, especially Jasper, also feel the strong pull of her scent, making their human-passing existence more uncertain.
The Biology Class
Edward's plan to avoid Bella fails when he finds they are lab partners in biology class. Being near her is painful; her scent is even stronger up close. He struggles to control his thirst, clenching his fists and holding his breath, afraid he might lose control and hurt her. Bella, unaware of his inner torment, sees his behavior as hostile. Edward is fascinated by her unique mind, which he cannot read, something new to him. This inability to know her thoughts adds another layer of intrigue and frustration to his complex feelings for her, making her more of a mystery.
The Van Incident
Instinctively, Edward sees Tyler Crowley's van skid out of control and head for Bella. Without thinking, he uses his speed and strength to push the van away from her, stopping it with his hand and leaving a dent. Bella is shocked and confused, asking for an explanation for his impossible act. Edward, wanting to keep his family's secret, tries to answer her questions with vague responses. He is relieved she is safe and scared that his impulsive act has exposed him, realizing his strong protective feelings for her override all caution.
Port Angeles
When Bella goes to Port Angeles alone and is cornered by a group of men, Edward, who has been secretly following her, steps in. He easily and efficiently deals with her attackers, showing his predatory side. While driving her home, Bella again asks about his abilities, pressing him for answers. Edward, seeing her vulnerability and her growing suspicion, struggles with how much to tell. He is torn between protecting her from the dangerous truth of his life and his increasing inability to lie to her. He realizes he has started to care for her, putting her safety above everything, even his family's secret.
Confession in the Meadow
Edward takes Bella to a sunlit meadow, a place where he can show his true nature without fear of being seen by humans. He shows her his skin sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight, confirming her suspicion that he is not human. He explains his vampiric life, the need for blood, and his family's 'vegetarian' diet. He also admits his struggle with her scent and his constant fight to control his instincts around her. Bella's reaction surprises him; instead of fear, she accepts him. This moment strengthens their bond, as Edward feels free to be himself with her, despite the dangers.
The Baseball Game
Edward takes Bella to watch his family play their unique, thunder-timed game of baseball. The peaceful moment ends with the arrival of three nomadic vampires: James, a tracker; Victoria, his mate; and Laurent. James immediately senses Bella's humanity, drawing his predatory interest. Edward's protective instincts flare, and he quickly shields Bella, trying to make James think she is already a vampire. Laurent, feeling the tension, tries to mediate. However, James's tracking skills and his love for the hunt are clear, creating an immediate threat to Bella's life, forcing the Cullens to prepare for a dangerous fight.
Fleeing Forks
After the encounter with James, the Cullens plan to protect Bella. Alice and Jasper take Bella to Phoenix, hoping to outrun James, while Edward and the rest of the family try to draw him away. Edward feels guilty and afraid, knowing his presence in Bella's life has put her in danger. He struggles with the separation, using Alice's visions to track Bella's movements and ensure her safety from afar. His telepathy, usually a burden, becomes a way to monitor his family's efforts and predict James's next move, but the uncertainty and distance from Bella are painful for him.
James's Trap
James, a clever and persistent tracker, outsmarts the Cullens. He finds Bella's location and uses a recording of her mother's voice, faking distress, to lure Bella to a ballet studio in Phoenix where Bella danced as a child. Edward, through Alice's frantic visions, realizes the trap too late. The fact that James targeted Bella's mother, knowing it's her greatest weakness, enrages Edward. He races against time, filled with terror, knowing he must reach Bella before James can hurt her, blaming himself for not being with her.
The Ballet Studio Confrontation
Edward arrives at the ballet studio to find Bella badly hurt by James, who has bitten her hand. Overwhelmed by rage and fear for Bella's life, Edward and his family fight James. Edward, with Jasper and Emmett's help, quickly dismembers and destroys James, ensuring he is no longer a threat. The immediate problem then becomes Bella's wound; James's venom is flowing through her veins, threatening to turn her into a vampire. Edward faces a difficult choice: let the venom change her, or try to suck it out, risking his own control.
Saving Bella
With immense self-control and love, Edward makes the painful decision to suck the venom from Bella's hand. The taste of her blood, mixed with the venom, is an almost unbearable temptation, pushing him to the edge of losing control. He fights his deepest instincts, stopping just before he would have drained her completely. Carlisle helps him, making sure Bella is stable. Edward is relieved that Bella remains human, but the experience leaves him shaken. He realizes the depth of his devotion to her, a love so strong it allowed him to overcome his vampiric nature for her, solidifying their bond.
Principal Figures
Edward Cullen
The Protagonist
Edward transforms from a solitary, self-loathing vampire into a deeply devoted partner willing to risk everything for Bella's safety and happiness, accepting his complex emotions for her.
Bella Swan
The Love Interest/Deuteragonist
Bella evolves from a passive newcomer into an active participant in her own destiny, bravely accepting the supernatural world and her place within it, despite the inherent dangers.
Carlisle Cullen
The Supporting
Carlisle remains a steadfast and compassionate figure, providing stability and moral guidance throughout the unfolding crisis with James.
Alice Cullen
The Supporting
Alice remains a loyal and strategic ally, actively using her foresight to protect Bella from James.
James
The Antagonist
James remains a singular, relentless threat, driven solely by his desire to hunt and kill Bella until his ultimate destruction.
Jasper Hale
The Supporting
Jasper continues to battle his bloodlust, providing vital protection for Bella despite his personal struggles.
Rosalie Hale
The Supporting
Rosalie remains largely static in her resentment towards Bella, though she participates in protecting her out of family loyalty.
Emmett Cullen
The Supporting
Emmett remains a strong and loyal protector for the Cullen family and Bella.
Laurent
The Mentioned
Laurent's role is brief, serving to introduce the nomadic vampires and hint at a more complex vampire society beyond the Cullens.
Themes & Insights
Forbidden Love and Sacrifice
The main theme is the intense, dangerous love between Edward, a vampire, and Bella, a human. Edward constantly fights his predatory nature and the strong pull of Bella's blood, seeing their relationship as a sacrifice of his control and her safety. His love for her makes him sacrifice his secrecy, peace, and almost his life to protect her. The Port Angeles incident and the ballet studio fight show his willingness to put her life before his own, highlighting the deep sacrifices in their forbidden romance.
“I was a predator. She was my prey. There was nothing else in the world. But my prey was not to be harmed.”
The Nature of Humanity vs. Monstrosity
Edward's inner struggle explores the line between his vampiric 'monstrosity' and his 'humanity.' He sees his existence as a curse, a constant fight against his natural predatory instincts. Bella's presence forces him to face this duality more clearly than ever. He is fascinated by her humanity, warmth, and vulnerability, which he both envies and wants to protect. His self-control, especially in biology class and when saving Bella from the venom, shows his choice to embrace a more 'human' morality despite being a vampire.
“What was I going to do? Become the monster I was born to be, or the monster I was trying not to be?”
Self-Control and Addiction
Edward's life is defined by his struggle for self-control, treating human blood like an addiction he constantly fights. Bella's scent is a trigger, pushing his control to its limits. Early scenes in the cafeteria and biology class show his physical and mental pain as he battles his thirst. This theme also appears in Jasper's similar, though less controlled, struggle with human blood, and in Carlisle's centuries of disciplined 'vegetarianism.' The climax, where Edward sucks James's venom from Bella, tests his self-control, showing his ability to overcome his urges for love.
“It was her scent. It was a drug. It was the most powerful drug I'd ever experienced, and I was going to die from it.”
Perception vs. Reality
The story often shows the difference between how Bella sees Edward and the reality of his inner pain. Bella first thinks his behavior is hostile or uninterested, unaware of the life-or-death battle he fights against his instincts. Edward, in turn, struggles to match his monstrous reality with Bella's innocent view of him. This theme is clear in their early talks, where Edward's attempts to distance himself are misunderstood. It shows how hard it is to truly understand someone when one person holds a deep, dangerous secret from the other, leading to misunderstandings and increased tension.
“She saw a boy. I saw a monster. The monster was me.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Telepathy (Edward's Ability)
Edward's power to read minds, except Bella's.
Edward's telepathy is a central plot device, offering insight into the thoughts and motivations of nearly every character around him, except for Bella. This creates a unique dynamic where he understands everyone but the one person he's most interested in, amplifying her mystery and his fascination. It also serves as a source of constant noise and distraction for him, and a tool for gathering information, such as when he overhears Tyler Crowley's thoughts about Bella or uses Alice's visions. The inability to read Bella's mind makes her an unprecedented enigma, deepening his attraction and frustration.
Vampire Scent (Bella's Blood)
Bella's uniquely alluring blood scent to vampires.
Bella's blood scent is an unparalleled plot device, acting as the primary catalyst for Edward's internal conflict and the immediate danger she faces from other vampires. It's described as intoxicating and irresistible, a 'drug' that constantly threatens Edward's self-control. This device establishes the central tension of their relationship: Edward's love battling his primal thirst. It also explains why James, a tracker, is so drawn to her, immediately recognizing her as a prime target. The scent is a constant reminder of Bella's vulnerability and the inherent danger of her proximity to vampires.
Precognition (Alice's Ability)
Alice's power to see subjective future events.
Alice's precognition is a crucial plot device that drives much of the narrative's suspense and the Cullens' strategic planning. Her visions, though not absolute, provide vital warnings about impending dangers, particularly regarding James's pursuit of Bella. This ability allows the family to anticipate threats and formulate escape plans, adding a layer of urgency and foreboding to the plot. Edward relies heavily on Alice's insights, often communicating with her telepathically to gain updates on Bella's safety, making her an indispensable asset in their efforts to protect Bella from the tracker vampire.
The 'Vegetarian' Lifestyle
The Cullens' choice to feed on animal blood instead of human blood.
The 'vegetarian' lifestyle is a core plot device establishing the Cullens as 'good' vampires, contrasting them with predatory vampires like James. It provides the moral framework for Edward's struggle and his family's integration into human society. This choice highlights the theme of self-control and the possibility of transcending vampiric instincts. However, it also underscores the fragility of their peace, as Bella's human scent constantly challenges this lifestyle, particularly for Edward and Jasper, creating internal and external conflict throughout the story.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“It was an iridescent gold, a color that would have been impossible on any human being.”
— Edward describing his own eye color and its unnatural beauty.
“Her thoughts were an empty room. An empty, open room, and I was standing in the doorway, staring into the void.”
— Edward's frustration and fascination with his inability to read Bella's mind.
“My world was a quiet place before her. A place of muted colors and predictable patterns. She was a supernova.”
— Edward reflecting on how Bella changed his monotonous existence.
“I was a monster. A creature of nightmare, and she was so fragile, so human, so exquisitely breakable.”
— Edward's internal conflict about his dangerous nature and Bella's vulnerability.
“To be near her was to be in pain, and to be away from her was to be in agony.”
— Edward's intense struggle with his feelings for Bella, torn between desire and danger.
“Her blood sang to me. It sang a song of pure, unadulterated temptation.”
— Edward describing the overwhelming allure of Bella's blood.
“I was falling for her. Falling into a bottomless pit of a feeling I had no name for, a feeling that terrified me.”
— Edward acknowledging his growing love for Bella and his fear of it.
“Every second I spent with her was a moment I was stealing from eternity.”
— Edward's awareness of the preciousness and fleeting nature of his time with Bella.
“It was a strange, unsettling paradox: the more I wanted to protect her, the more I endangered her.”
— Edward's realization of the inherent contradiction in his relationship with Bella.
“I had never thought of myself as having a heart, not in the human sense. But something was beating in my chest now.”
— Edward experiencing human-like emotions for the first time because of Bella.
“She saw past the monster to something else, something I hadn't realized was there.”
— Edward's wonder at Bella's ability to see his true self despite his monstrous nature.
“My existence was a continuous night. She was the first dawn.”
— Edward's metaphor for Bella bringing light and meaning into his dark, immortal life.
“Love was not enough to save her, but it was enough to destroy me.”
— Edward's somber reflection on the limitations of his love and its potential for his own undoing.
Quiz
Test Your Knowledge
Ready to see how well you understood this book? Take our interactive quiz with 10 questions.
10
Questions
~5
Minutes
?
Best Score
Key Questions (FAQ)
'Midnight Sun [2008 Draft]' is the unedited, partial retelling of the novel 'Twilight' from the perspective of Edward Cullen, the vampire protagonist. It covers the initial encounters and developing relationship between Edward and Bella Swan through Edward's internal thoughts, struggles, and observations, offering a deeper insight into his character and motivations during the events of the first book.
About the author
Stephenie Meyer is an American novelist and film producer. She is best known for writing the vampire romance series Twilight, which has sold over 160 million copies, with translations into 37 different languages. Meyer was the bestselling author of 2008 and 2009 in the U.S., having sold over 29 million books in 2008 and 26.5 million in 2009. Meyer received the 2009 Children's Book of the Year award from the British Book Awards for Breaking Dawn, the Twilight series finale.
