Chapter 1:
It was dusk as we traveled through the dense green forest of the Pacific North- West. We had set out on this journey merely because of a rumor we had heard. Somewhere in this area lived a large coven of animal eating vampires and among them was a halfling. I could almost feel my dead heart twist with excitement. Maybe, finally, I could get answers about my own child. At this thought I looked back at his sleeping form cradled in the arms of John, my companion. I looked at the man's young smooth face as he half heartedly smiled at me,
"He should be waking up soon," he said in a low whisper. I smiled back and stopped a few feet from him. Sure enough I saw the movement of the small boys honey, blonde hair as he looked up from John's arms. His sleepy, stormy gray eyes scanned his surroundings before they came to rest on me.
"Momma, are we there yet?" he asked in a stupor making the southern draw of his voice more pronounced.
"Almost," I answered gently walking over to him. I held out my arms as the little boy scrambled from John's hold. My boy's small arms locked around my cold neck as he hugged me tight.
"Do you think they will like us?" he asked again for the hundredth time as he cuddled into my embrace. I smoothed down his springy curls to ease his worry.
"I'm sure they will J.D. ," I answered. I looked at John to back me up. I watched his burgundy eyes sparkle with a smile as he cleared his deep voice.
"Don't worry J.D. ," he spoke, "what isn't to like about you?"
J.D. shrugged his little shoulders and then started to struggle from my arms. I put him down and laughed as he stretched.
"Can we run then?" he asked as he turned to look at both John and me.
"Sure," John answered with a mischievous look on his face, "and I'll even give you a head start this time,"
"A head start?" J.D. questioned; his nose wrinkled in disgust, "I don't need a head start!"
A small frown formed on my face at my son's words. At times like this he looked and sounded so much like his father.
"One, Two, Three," John's deep warm voice started to count. JD's eyes grew in excitement as he turned and started sprinting to the west. John waited a couple of more seconds before he took off after him. I picked up my legs and started to run too, digging my feet into the dark soil. It was freeing to feel the wind in my long hair.
We ran for a few miles until JD stopped in his tracks and changed direction. Me and John franticly turned. We followed calling to the small boy to stop, but like his father he is stubborn. So instead we stopped in front of a large house seemingly out in the middle of the woods. It was surrounded with the sweet smell of our kind.
"Look Momma! I found it!" JD squealed as he attempted to shoot toward the door. John thankfully grabbed him before he got far.
"JD," I scolded, " You do not just waltz into someone's home its rude," I heard the door open and looked up from my son.
"Its okay we are use to people dropping by," said a medium sized woman with brown curls. I immediately noticed her topaz eyes instead of the usual blood red. This was it.
"Hello, My name is Catherine. We have been looking for a family of vampires who are animal drinkers," I called out as I pushed a curious JD behind me.
" You have the right place," she answered smiling, "Nice to meet you, I'm Esme. Alice, my daughter, knew you would be here today but she thought you would be here later." Esme walked out to stand in front of me. Her hands folded gently at her stomach. I felt JD's head craning to get a better look.
"Esme?" a male voice called from the interior of the house.
"I'm out here Carlisle our guests came earlier than we were anticipating." the graceful woman called back, "Catherine, you and your companions are welcome in my house." She said as she turned to walk back to her home.
My son wiggled his way from around me and jogged to Esme's side. She glanced down at his staring eyes and offered her hand to him. He gracefully took it and walked in step beside her. I looked to the door of the house. In the grand entrance stood a blonde man smiling warmly at us as we followed Esme and JD.
"Hello, I'm Carlisle," the man greeted shaking mine and John's hand, "And who is this young lad?" He asked as he bent down beside my son.
"My name is JD, sir and this is my mother Catherine and my friend John." Carlisle's brows furrowed for a fraction of a second before he composed himself and stood up.
"Well it is wonderful to meet you. The rest of the family will be here momentarily. Will you have a seat?" He gestured to the lavish livingroom covered in creams and whites. I looked at his face as I passed by the threshhold. He had questions but he didnt show any emotions of fear. Unlike so many of our kind.
My little clan sat on a white plush couch, JD in my lap and John by my side, his big arm around my shoulders.
After we were settled Carlisle sat down beside his wife. I saw a troubled look as he struggled withe where to start. "I hope you don't mind me asking," Carlisle stated, " but why is it you have sought us out?"
"Because, You have a kid like me!" my boy blurted out. John and I looked stunned at JD. A huge smile was plastered on his face.
"How old is he?" Esme questioned, "He is simply adorable."
"He is about one hundred and fifty." I mumbled. I watched as confusion glazed both of their faces.
Esme gasped, "How is he still so young? Our Nessie was full grown at 7 years."
"I am sure Miss Catherine can shed some light on this unique situation." Carlisle assured, "I don't know how much we can help in your case but we can try." He looked at me with a smile.
I felt the old discomfort build up in my chest, "He's not immortal," I hastily defended, "I know immortal children are forbidden, I would never knowingly break a law that is as strongly enforced as that." My hold became a fraction tighter on my son.
"Don't worry, we believe you," The blonde man calmed. I studied his face for any sign of dishonesty and found non. A breath, I didn't realize I was holding, left my lungs. I sat back in my seat for the first time since the conversation began comforted with the knowledge that we weren't going to be pushed out and possibly killed.
"If I may ask with out being rude. How did this happen to your son?" Carlisle asked as he folded his hands in his lap.
For a moment I sat gathering my practiced response to this question. I knew they need to know the truth, but I didn't know if I was ready to relive my past.
I felt the pain well up inside and as if on que John lifted his arm and motioned to JD. "Hey, JD, I saw a river out back do you want to go fish?"
The boy in my lap jumped at the chance to go explore, "Is it okay, Momma?"
"It is okay with me but excuse yourself properly," relieved for the brief delay.
Esme stood up, "Let me help you. We have all the gear you need to fish in the garage, follow me."
When they left I looked back at Carlisle and gather myself again. "This isn't easy for me to talk about," I started, "However,
I was married when I was young.We loved each other very much. Even after all this time I still love him. A week or two after our marriage he was called again to the battle field. A month after that I found out I was pregnant with our first child. I was so excited but I wanted to wait to tell anyone, even my husband. I wanted to make sure the baby would survive, you see. Around four months I had decided that it was time to tell everyone the joyous news. I sent out letters, to our parents, our friends, and my husband. His letter never made it to him in time. Later that evening a messenger rode up to our home. He said that my beloved was missing but they assumed he was dead," I felt the dry sting of nothing behind my eyes as I replayed the past. Carlisle's expression changed to one of remorse.
"I sank into depression for the rest of the pregnancy," I continued, "It was a calm night, practically beautiful, the night JD was born. I had went into labor the night before and that night it was almost over. I was pushing when there was a loud scream and bang downstairs, like the windows were being broken out of their frames. My midwife left my side to investigate… but she never came back. My contractions kept coming when a stranger dressed in a soldier's uniform burst into the room. I screamed but, for some reason I knew I was alone…. Then he bit me… I struggled and in a fit of rage he stumbled knocked over a lamp and caught fire. I tried to make my way out of the house to one of the buildings close by. When I got out in the open I noticed the house was on fire as well as my body. Not physically on fire mind you but it was transforming in to this," I whispered as I gestured to my body. "I found shelter in a near by shack that is where I had JD…"
"That is awful," Esme gasped. I hadn't noticed her re-enter the room.
"I heard a few years ago about a coven of vampires that had a child like my son. I struggled with the decision to find you but in the end I needed to know. That is why I'm here."
"Catherine," Carlisle spoke as he shifted in his seat, "I know the answers you are looking for will not be found over night. It is different than what we have experienced, but we want to help in anyway we can. So we would like you to stay with us." I looked to his mate.
"Yes, it would be a pleasure for you and your companions to stay here," she beamed.
"I don't know we will be more than comfortable in the forest. We wouldn't want to inconvenience you or your coven." I offered.
"Non sense," Esme beamed," in fact I think I will go now and make sure that your rooms are put in order and ready for you,"
"Thank you," I said, knowing that another refusal would be rude. Carlisle and I watched her leave the room and waltz up the stairs. Then his eyes turned back to me.
"Now that we have taken care of your accommodations I would like to talk to you about some rules to help us live comfortably."
"Please, let me know what I and my family need to do to ease the burden of our presence," I said solemnly.
" We only ask that you go far away to hunt. This is our permanent residence and we are trying to stay inconspicuous. If you can not abide by our request then I'm afraid that we can't help you. Do you have any questions?"
I knew they were animal eaters. Their piercing ocher eyes said it all. In all truth I wanted to live a different way than hunting things that looked too easily like my son.
"We can follow your request," I answered. "John and I would like to change our diet. In order to keep unnecessary attention from your coven."
Carlisle nodded his head, a faint smile on his porcelain features.
"We will be more than happy to help you and John with your new diet. I won't be easy."
I nodded my head in understanding. I would make this work. I felt comfort in the fact that now I might find some answers.