Disclaimer: All Twilight characters and some of the settings, ideas for action, are owned by S. Meyer. I just play with them. No infringements intended. Megan Harris is my own invention. Bella doesn't exist in this universe, some things are not canon and English is not my mother tongue. If you find any errors – I'm up to corrections.
Alternating POVs marked M=Megan or E=Edward. Mental conversation is marked in '…'.
Chapter 1 - Prelude (M POV)
Uncle Timothy looked at me, expecting my answer. „The blue bear loves blueberries," I said. He smiled, „Exactly, Meggie. And now we try the opposite: You close yourself up and I tell you what your wall looks like, okay?" I almost yawned. I knew this exercise already. „Yes, Uncle Timothy," I replied. I thought of a wall made of flowers and trees and a lot of birds sitting in it, tweeting and chittering a lot. „Hm," he said, „I see flowers, a lot of roses, and trees. They look like birch trees and maples, right?" I shook my head, but I was not playing fair. I changed the appearance of my shield meanwhile. He laughed, "That's not fair, Megan, you've changed it!" I snickered. „It's a plain brick wall now," he stated and wagged a finger at me. Uncle Timothy was fun. He was teaching me for five years now. The first time when he had tried to look into my head I had been scared, but Mom and Dad had been there and explained to me that it was important for me to keep my talent a secret and to learn how to control it. "Okay, Megan, it's enough for today. Tomorrow summer vacation starts and we'll meet again in September. Are you visiting your grandma again this year?" „Yup," I nodded. "Okay, before you go: What is our most important rule?" he asked. It was a ritual at the end of each lesson. We held our right hands up for a vow and said in unison, "I swear not to let anyone know, that I can read minds!"
Twelve years later, I found myself on a cemetery, not far from where my parents lived, watching Uncle Timothy's burial. "… Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me…," I listened to the priest reciting psalm 23 while the coffin bearers lowered him into his grave. I couldn't help crying. He had been my mental teacher for 17 years, he had been an important part of my life and I still couldn't believe he was dead now. I felt so awkward, as if he was playing peek-a-boo with me and would re-appear any moment. I smiled at the thought. We had not been a related by blood, but by spirit and through all those years he had been my confidant for all my worries regarding my special 'gift', as I had come to call it. Now, I was alone. I still had my parents, but as much as I loved them, and no matter how understanding they had been when the 'gift' showed for the first time, I could not talk to them about it in detail. I remembered his last words to me, when I had visited him in the hospital one week ago. He had taken my hand and looked me deep into the eye, "Don't be sad, Meggie, I will die in peace and I am convinced I will return. Maybe we will meet again somewhere, someday. Death is not the end," he had smiled a weak smile. The cancer had already taken its toll on his strength. He had taken a deep breath and pulled me nearer to him. "Megan, listen to me. I know there is something special coming up to you. You will need all your talents, all you strength and all your courage, but the reward will be eternal love …," he had started coughing. I had felt that he was exhausted. The nurse and the doctor had come in because his heart monitor had started beeping and they had asked me to leave. It had been the last time I had seen him alive.
"… Amen." The end of the sermon brought me back to reality. Timothy hadn't left any family behind so there was nobody I could have offered my condolences to. The small group which stood at his grave were some of his students and friends. There was a little girl, she was with her mother obviously, and she could not be older than ten. She reminded me a lot of myself at that age. She looked at me and I could feel her reaching out for my mind. 'Can you hear me?' she sent. I nodded, but I kept my walls shut. 'Don't you know it's disrespectful to stumble into one's mind?' I asked her. 'I know, but Uncle Timothy is gone, who will teach me now?' She had a sad look on her face. 'I don't know, darling,' I answered. 'Can't you help me?' she returned. 'No, I'm moving away tomorrow. Practice what he taught you and remember our most important rule: I swear not to let anyone know, that I can read minds!' She smiled at me. 'Okay,' she said. I nodded at her and left the graveyard. I sighed. Timothy had been a psychologist, specialized in helping so-called psychic talents to cope with their daily life. He had taught them how to control their 'gift' by using his own talent as a mind reader. I remembered when he finally had stopped our lessons. "There's nothing I can teach you anymore, Megan. I know you have a hidden potential, but it is beyond my abilities to awaken it." That had been half a year ago and a few days later he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
The wind got chillier as I walked on to my car. November had just started and today was my birthday. However, I didn't feel like celebrating and I had no time for it. I had graduated from Seattle Community College this summer and tomorrow I would move to Sequim, on Olympic peninsula. There was a large bookstore specialized in historic and scientific books and they had been looking for someone with experience. I had already jobbed in a second-hand bookshop near the college, hoping to find a job at a library but at the moment the market seemed to be sated. When I came back to my parents' house it was odd to see all my things stuffed in packing cases. A few clothes in a backpack and my laptop case were the only things left. My apartment in Sequim would be ready-furnished and I had been there a couple of times during the last few weeks, preparing everything. My mother came down the stairs with another bag of clothes. "Megan, how did it go?" she asked. I shrugged, "He's had a decent burial, I guess." She put her hand on my arm. "I'm really sorry, dear." I shook my head. "It's okay, mom. I gotta look ahead, not back. Let's get this stuff into my car."
Almost one year later, I looked through the windshield of Tom's car up to a wooden arch crossing the small road we were driving on. "Welcome to Northern Cascades National Park" The sign above the road greeted us before we entered the camping ground. Two of my colleagues from the bookstore had planned a trip to Cascades and had invited me to come along. I had gladly accepted, because it was my first vacation since I had moved to Sequim last year. It was mid-August and the nights were pretty cold already, but Tom and Jenna were experienced campers with the right equipment. We unpacked quickly and settled the tent. The next morning, we decided to split up. Tom was going to do a survey in the woods while Jenna and I would go to the local store for some supplies. The landscape was impressive. The camping ground lay between two huge mountain-sides and a small river ran through the bottom of the valley. Jenna and I got everything we needed in the little store. A few hours later Tom came back from his survey and we planned the trip for the next day. Tom and Jenna wanted to do some geocaching. I had no experience with it, but they instructed me on how to use the GPS receiver and we agreed on a route of five miles for the next day.
In the morning each of us walked alone for a while. We had decided to split up and to meet again five miles north of our current position. I had followed a small rivulet below a ridge for a few hours and finally decided to go up the hill. While crossing the water I balanced on some of the bigger stones. Suddenly my right foot slid down. I tried to hold myself up but my ankle twisted and I had to step down. "Ouch, that hurt," I exclaimed. My receiver fell into the water and drowned. "Shit!" I was angry about my own clumsiness and hobbled a few steps to get out of the water. Sitting down I looked at my ankle. It hurt but I could still walk, so I decided to try to get to the meeting point. Without the GPS I didn't have a clue where to go. I only knew I had to go north. I continued limping up the hill, but it hurt like hell whenever I tried to put weight on my right foot. After a while I heard a noise behind me. I turned around. A woman appeared from behind a tree. She had long blond hair, kept back in a braid, and incredible golden-orange eyes. The hiking clothes looked as if she had stepped out of a fashion magazine. I was surprised to see someone out there, but I had to get some help. "Hello, can you help me please?" I called out to her. She came a little bit closer. "What happened?" she asked. "I twisted my ankle while I was crossing the water." I replied. She looked me over with scrutiny. "I could take you to my place, if you don't mind, and I can look after your ankle there," she said. "That would be great," I answered, "I think it's just twisted. I can still hobble around." She looked at my leg. "Ok, let's get you there. What's your name?" she asked. "I am Megan." "I'm pleased to meet you. My name is Kate," she said and offered me her shoulder to lean upon. I was glad that she would help me. We slowly moved up the hill to the top of the ridge. "Thanks a lot," I said, "I just lost my GPS receiver in the creek. I don't have a clue where I am right now." "No problem," Kate replied, "it's not far. We only have to go up this hill. There is a service road on top of it. What were you doing out here with a GPS?" she asked. "I was geo-caching with two colleagues," I answered. "Can you contact them?" she inquired. "No, I left my mobile phone in our tent, but if you would take me back to the camping ground later, I can tell them not to search for me." I answered.
It took us about an hour to climb up the hill and I was exhausted already. Finally we could see the road. "How far is it from here to your house?" I asked. "Well, we will have to walk another two hours up the road. With your ankle it's probably three more hours," she answered. I couldn't help a groan. "Let me call my sister at home, okay?" Kate pulled out her mobile phone. I could hear her talk. "Tanya, are you home already? I have found a young lady hiking in the forest and she twisted her ankle. I would like to bring her to the house, but she can barely walk anymore. Could you take the pick-up and fetch us?" She waited for an answer. "Okay, we will wait here, just come down the road." she said. Then she turned towards me. "Okay, let's get you down on that rock over there and we wait for my sister. She should be here soon," Kate smiled reassuringly. I limped to one of the big rocks next to the street and sat down. "You know, I'm glad you found me," I said. "How did you do it anyway?" "Oh, I heard you swearing," she replied with a grin. "No, I'm just kidding. I happened to be hiking nearby." After a short while, a car arrived and Kate waved at the driver as the pick-up pulled over. I had to catch my breath. Her sister was as stunningly beautiful as Kate. They almost looked like twins. "So, what did you pick up this time, sister?" she teased as she hopped out of the pick-up and came up to us. "I have a soft spot for lost hikers, you remember?" Kate replied with a sheepish smile. "Megan, this is my sister Tanya." I took her hand. "Thanks for helping me," I said. She waved her hand aside, "No problem, let's get you into the car," she said. They both linked arms with me and helped me into the pick-up. They climbed in and Tanya drove up the mountain.
As we came near their house I could see that it was a huge log-cabin with a porch all over the front. A massive stone chimney, probably from a big fireplace, protruded from the right side of the roof. The sisters helped me out of the car and a few stairs up into the house. The interior was very rustic, all wood with a lot of leather furniture and furs or hides on the walls and floors. They finally placed me on a low couch, so that I could put my foot up on a cushion. I sighed. I was pretty exhausted and my ankle was throbbing. Kate brought some dressing material and a cool pack. While she was tending to me, the front door opened and a third beautiful woman came in. 'Am I in fairy land?' I thought. "Hi Irina," Tanya greeted her, "how did it go?" She frowned at my sight. "Good. What's going on here?" Tanya introduced her to me. "Megan, this is my sister Irina. Irina, this is Megan. She was hiking in the forest and twisted her ankle in the small creek just below the ridge. Kate happened to stumble over her." Tanya grinned at me. "Where are the others?" she asked Irina. "Oh, Carmen and Eli should be here in a few minutes," she answered.
I had just turned to Kate and her efforts again when suddenly all hell broke loose. The front door slammed open and a man bolted into the living room, followed by a dark-haired woman. His face was distorted with rage, his teeth bared and he snarled at me. His eyes were dark with bloodlust and he moved so fast, it was all a blur. I couldn't help screaming. Kate leaped in front of me and shielded me with her body while the others tried to retain him "Shit, she's a singer," she yelled, "hold him down!" Tanya and Irina pinned him down, together with the other female. I was scared to death. "Eli, listen to me, stop it. I know you can stop it!" The third woman urged him, still clinging to him. He growled and desperately tried to break free. "Tanya, Irina, hold him. Don't let go," the woman said and got face to face with him. She took his face between her hands and tried to fix his gaze. "Listen to me, Eleazar, you don't have to kill her. Stop it, NOW" she demanded. There was a certain tone in her voice. "Fight it," she said, "you have to fight. Think of the consequences. Stop it, Eli," she urged him, "stop it - NOW!" Slowly his gaze focused on her and he stopped struggling. Yet he still growled deep in his chest. I cowered behind Kate on the couch and was trembling. I couldn't stop sobbing, he really scared the shit out of me. "Get him out of here," Kate hissed, "make sure he stays away until he's thinking clear again!" The three dragged him through the front door. Kate turned around and had a sad look on her face. She tried to calm me, "Hush now, he's gone. He won't hurt you," but I flinched when she raised her hand to touch me. "W-w-what the hell was this?" I croaked. I didn't recognize my own voice. She sighed, "Listen, I'll explain as much as possible, but you have to calm down first," she patted my arm reassuringly. She got up, "Would you like some tea?" I nodded, but I was still shaken to the core. I nervously looked around in the room. 'What the hell are they?' I thought. 'There has to be an explanation for all this!' Kate brought me a cup of tea. It smelled very soothingly of herbs and flowers. "It smells good," I sighed, "what is it?" I slowly sipped at it. 'Valerian, licorice and rose petals,' I recognized that I heard the answer in my head before Kate spoke. 'It's great,' I couldn't help answering the same way while taking another swallow. However, I wasn't prepared for her reaction. Kate fell into the armchair. She looked at me incredulously. "You are a mind reader?" she gasped. My head came up. "Sorry, it only kicks in when I am in emotional turmoil. I didn't mean to bother you!" I apologized. Kate stared at me. Then she burst out laughing. "One of us just tried to kill you and YOU apologize? You are a strange one!" she laughed. "Yeah, um, I guess I am," I nodded. "Could you please enlighten me what kind of creatures you guys are?" I asked, peeking over the rim of the cup. Kate got serious again. "We all will have to decide on this. It's not that easy." I was confused. "What do you mean?"
There was a knock on the door frame. The dark-haired woman stood there and looked at us. "Eleazar has it under control again. He would like to talk to her and explain it," she stated. "Oh, that's a good idea," Kate chimed in, "Megan, may I introduce? This is Carmen and the unfortunate guy who tried to kill you is her mate, Eleazar." I gulped as I looked at her, "Are you sure he's not going to freak out on me again?" I was still afraid. Carmen nodded and Kate turned to me, "Believe me, if Carmen says he's okay, he will be. I trust her. I will stay next to you just to make sure, all right?" She put a hand on my arm. "We will all be there," Carmen added dryly. "This is important for us all." I looked from her to Kate and back. Both seemed calm, but determined, so I resigned. "Okay, let him in." I took a deep breath and braced myself. Irina and Tanya flanked Eleazar as he stepped into the room. He didn't look at me and Carmen stayed at his side, always touching him. They were watching him closely. Finally, he turned towards me and stood with his back to wall farthest from me. He was tall, with dark short hair and golden eyes. He looked stricken as he cleared his throat, "Listen, I'm really sorry, but I have it under control now. Believe me." I narrowed my eyes and tried to detect if he was lying. I could see that he was in great turmoil. His bloodlust wafted like a red cloud in his mind, but he had capped it with a barrier that looked like a steel plate. Suddenly I felt that he noticed what I was doing. "How did you do this?" he inquired with bewilderment. I tried to lie, "I don't know what you're talking about." He shook his head, "You just read my mind!" I gave up. "Yes," I sighed in resignation.
The women gasped. Eleazar's eyes widened in surprise 'A human mind reader!' he thought. "Yeah, don't fuss about it," I said out loud, waving aside with my right hand. "I rarely ever use it. It only breaks through when I am in mental turmoil, like now," I looked him directly in the eye. Suddenly I was not as afraid as I should have been. I was angry about his attack and the whole situation so I decided to confront him directly, "Would you please start explaining what happened? I want an answer!" I crossed my arms in front of me. Eleazar cocked his head and smiled at me. "You are quite brave, you know that? Other humans would babble incoherently and beg for their lives." As he smiled a feral smile at me, my hands started trembling again. "Well, since you have such a gift, you are probably aware that there is more between heaven and earth than school wisdom can ever teach us, right?" "Yeah, I noticed it," I gritted my teeth. He continued "Believe me, I would love to leave you in darkness, but I can't. You've seen too much. I want to make it short: We are vampires." I caught my breath. "Vampires – you all are vampires?" I whispered and looked horrified from one to another. Each of the women nodded in response. "Normally we would not present any danger to you, because we live on animal blood, but…" Eleazar hesitated for a moment. "But?" I insisted, relieved that they didn't want to drain me at once. He looked a little tantalized. "Mortals are our normal 'prey', if I may say so, and your blood 'sings' to me, Megan. Its pull is so strong I can hardly keep myself from biting you and sucking you dry." He lowered his head. "If it hadn't been for Carmen's influence on me, you would be dead by now. I should have had more self-restraint, but the scent of your blood simply overwhelmed me, so I followed my basic instinct."
I closed my eyes. If this was all true, I had stepped into a fairy-tale, or rather a nightmare. I had trouble breathing. I realized that I shouldn't know anything of what I had just learned. Opening my eyes again I fixed his gaze. "What now? I assume you cannot just let me go, right?" Kate moved in front of me as if to protect me again. "Eli, she is not responsible for being here. Can't you see if she is strong enough to withstand any inquisition?" She was pleading. Eleazar closed his eyes for a moment and I could feel that he really didn't want to kill me. When he opened them again, I could see that he had made a decision. His eyes narrowed as he addressed me directly "Could you prove that no one can look into your mind? Are you trained on keeping it shut?" 'What a question!' I had to swallow. I was nervous. "I've had some training, but my life has never been at stake before," I trembled slightly when I continued, "I could try it, though." Eleazar nodded in agreement. "Okay, I'll try to break into your mind and you'll concentrate on shutting me out as strongly as you can, got it?" That sounded like the old games with Timothy and I nodded. Closing my eyes I started breathing deeply in and out, relaxing my mind. I was nervous and raised my mental barriers. All of a sudden I felt a pressure on it as if someone was trying to rip pieces out of my protection walls. He was strong, stronger than Timothy! I focused on the form of my barrier, imagined it as a wall made of steel and his attacks intensified. I was desperate and felt an anger rising inside me. It was not my fault that Kate had brought me here! Why should I pay for it? I wanted to live! I concentrated on using my anger as a means to fend him off and let it strengthen my mental wall. His attacks got even stronger now, but I did not waver. Suddenly, he stopped. I kept my shield up and opened my eyes. Eleazar sat on a chair and looked worn.
Carmen bent down to him. "Are you okay?" she asked him, her brows furrowed. "Incredible," he murmured. "I'm fine. I believe we can let her go. I was not able to get through her barriers, she is very strong," he stated and looked at me with a strange expression. "Who taught you to do this, child?" I took a deep breath. "My psychologist had trained me since I was five years old," I answered. He gave me a questioning gaze. "What's his name?" he asked. "Timothy Webb," I replied. "Tim Webb, in Seattle?" he exclaimed. I was taken aback. "You knew him?" I asked incredulously. Eleazar nodded, "I was introduced to him five years ago when I visited a friend in Seattle. I was surprised how strong his mental abilities are and I admire him for helping mortals like you." Then he frowned. "You speak of him in past tense," he noticed. I nodded, "He died of cancer last October." He face took on a sad expression and he shook his head. "I can't believe it. It always takes the best away." Suddenly Timothy's last words to me came to my mind. Maybe he had foreseen this encounter? Eleazar got up. He looked dead serious, "Take an advice from me, Megan: I am not the strongest mentalist of my kind. Keep practicing your abilities, you may need them one day." His face got softer. "If you stay away from this area, it is very unlikely that we will meet again, but if you ever need help, use this number. I'll help you in Tim's remembrance." He gave Kate a small card from his pocket for me and left. Carmen followed him.