Chapter 1

Edwards POV

I closed my eyes, and concentrated.

The thoughts of the souls were so uninteresting. So boring. And yet...sad in a way.

Bella saw what I was doing, and opened her mind. Edward? Are you OK?

"No." I muttered to low for the souls to hear. "We gotta do something about this problem."

Do you want me to block them out?

I nodded. She closed her eyes, and then I felt relief as everything went silent except the thoughts of my family.

Carlisle can't save anyone. Alice thought. If she could have cried she would have done. He wants to but we've gotta stay inconspicuous.

"I know." I replied.

Under the table, Renesme touched my hand. In her vision was Jacob. I don't know if he's immune to these things as we are.

Jacob was oblivious to the exchange. I looked at him, to see that he was looking down at his pizza.

"What about you?"

Me?

"You're only part vampire." I muttered to low for the souls to hear.

I'd like to see them try to cut through my skin. It's almost as strong as yours.

I shrugged. Jacob looked up. What did she tell you?

"Later." I muttered. He nodded.

The bell rang. The souls were all out of there seats and making there way swiftly to class like good students, without wasting time on conversations and goodbyes. So we had to set and example.

I'm with Nessie in planetry studies. I'll keep an eye on her. Emmett's with us.Jacob thought to me.

Bye Edward. I'll be at your car. Bella's thoughts rang through my head, blocking everything else.

I walked towards history, and sat at my chair at the back of the classroom next to Alice. The souls were all silent and unbearably polite to the Professor. And I didn't have Bella's shield blocking out everyone else's thought now...

Easy, Edward. You don't want to do that.

I realised I'd just been planning to run out the classroom, to do something, just to get away from the souls thoughts. Alice showed me the consequences-realisation that the Cullen's were not souls. Us having to hide out for a while whilst the seekers hunted us...I couldn't uproot my family like this.

Perhaps we were the only family that cared about the lost humans. The only reason Tanya cared was that the souls were not as easy to seduce. When they found a mate, they stuck with there mates.

The Volturi's reaction to this was the worst.

"They taste the same, Edward, if not better. And anyway, they're easier to catch. With the "How can we not trust another soul" thing they have, gathering food supplies is almost to easy." Heidi had said with a laugh.

"Why would we care what happened to the minds of food?" Aro had said.

I was hardly listening as Professor Burning flowers told us how Souls left the origin and expanded there empire. So the souls were kinder to humans than the average vampire ever would be...they tried to take the suffering out of the humans death...But it was a human life lost.

The pack was as angry and depressed as we are. All of the Quileutes had escaped thanks to Alice's warning. We thought against the souls...but there was a limit. We still had to obey the laws...and Carlisle hated to kill another sentient creature...even one that was going to brainwash mankind.

But we could have helped a few escape.

The lesson ended, and I was the first out, Alice following anxiously after me. Edward...one more lesson, that's all.

"I can't do it Alice, I can't." I muttered again, to low for the hosts to hear. "I know it's a very un-soul thing but...can you say I went home sick. make up anything."

I can't. The souls have a cure for everything.

"Ok...Ok...I'm tired. I'm going to collapse if stay at school."

Go get a canister of awake from reception.

"Alice!"

She sighed. Souls don't skip school, Edward.

I groaned. "I really do feel I'm going to bite open there heads and tear out the silvery-tentacle thingy if I don't get away."

I saw her think about it. You won't.

"I might."

She smiled. "There all in lessons now. I'll come with you. Mind, Bella's expecting you after school."

"Fine. I'll do Spanish." I muttered. "Um, I'll go and get something from the reception...in case they check..."

"Souls don't do that, Edward."

"No, but he might absent-mindedly mention it." I pointed out. "You're late too."

"I'll run. Bye Edward."

I walked as slowly as I possible could to the first aid room. "Um...hello." I said "I've got a bid of a headache..."

The receptionist smiled. "I could give you some no-pain. It'll help. Does it happen often though?"

"No." I said.

"It could be dehydration. Remember to drink a lot." she said "I know it's not Phoenix, dear, but you still need to drink in the Olympic peninsula."

I shrugged. The receptionist went to a drawer at the end of the office. "We have peppermint, cherry, cola or lemon flavoured. Which would you like dear?"

"Peppermint." I said. None of them sounded really that appetizing.

She opened a box and gave me a thin blue square. "Place it on your tongue, dear."

I did as she said. The venom reacting violently with it. I fought back the coughing.

"Better?"

"Better. Thanks." I said.

I wandered off to class. As soon as I entered I heard Bella's thoughts. Are you Ok?

"Sorry I'm late, Professor Six Petals. I had a headache."

Professor Six petals nodded, and indicated for me to take my seat next to Bella. "Block them out. Please." I whispered to her.

K, Edward. Is this why you were late?

I nodded quickly, and felt the relief as the thoughts were blocked out. Bella held me hand reassuringly. This wasn't easy for any of us.

Home time was even more relieving. Bella led me through the crowds to my Volvo, and we sat in it. Renesme and Jacob sat in the back. I saw Alice, Jasper and Emmett climb into Rosalie's convertible.

Lets get out of here. Jacob thought in disgust.

It was tempting to drive at 100 miles an hour like I used to do when the world was full of humans. But souls don't speed.

Esme was waiting for us at home, a cinnamon bun in her hands for Jacob. "How was your day?"

"Absolute hell." I muttered.

Nessie's POV

I really do feel sorry for Dad. Hearing all the thoughts of the souls...well it must be hard. He's lucky Bella can block that out.

"Hey Nessie!" Seth called from the living room "Still not a parasite?"

"Of course not. I'd like to see a soul try to cut though my granite skin." I snorted.

"Hey Seth." Jacob said, putting an arm around me.

"Jacob! Still yourself?"

"Uh hum." he said.

"It's still a risk." Leah pointed out "You shouldn't be at school."

"Someone needs to protect Nessie." Jacob pointed out. Overprotective, as usual.

"Jacob..." I began. "I'm the daughter of vampires. I am a half vampire. There are 6 vampires who could protect me."

"There was garlic bread today." Jacob teased.

"Sorry, Jake. There was no full moon today, and according to Alice, there won't be tomorrow." I retorted.

"Remember I'm a shape shifter. Not a werewolf. If I was a real werewolf the Volturi would have had me killed." he pointed out.

"Oh yeah...what is it you turn into again...a bunny rabbit?"

Jacob snorted. "Oh puh-leeze Nessie. It's a wolf."

Emmett coughed. I turned, pulled myself out of Jacobs arms, and leapt at my favourite uncle, pinning him to the ground. "Hasn't anyone taught you not to eavesdrop?"

"Yeah, hilarious Nessie." He snorted "Just because I promised Bella that I wouldn't make embarrassing comments about her and Edward doesn't mean I'll show you the same courtesy."

"Souls are always courteous." I said indignantly.

"Good thing I'm a vampire then isn't it." Emmett grinned.

I got off Emmett and turned to Rosalie who stood nest to Emmett. Over time, Rosalie had accepted Jacob as a member of the family. She even claimed he didn't smell as bad. Rosalie was looking anxiously at me. "Jacob has a point, Nessie. You're a half-vampire. Maybe the souls can get to you."

"Scalpels don't cut through me skin." I said.

"Jacob does have a point. Nessie, you really shouldn't be in school." Rosalie said. "Its..."

"No!" Alice gasped.

Everyone turned. Edwards face suddenly became a mask of worry.

"There not all gone." Alice said. "And they're coming."

"Who?" Emmett asked

"I see a girl...a soul...but she's gone native, she'll lead us to the humans..."

"There's more?" Jacob gasped.

"The Volturi are coming back. They have a new one, who knows about Wanda...they're going to get Wanda..."

"Who's Wanda?" Emmett asked.

"She's too powerful...they want to change her...make her one of them...and they want Renesme..."

Edward looked worried. I was scared. I'd rather die than join the Volturi. But with Chelsea on there side, it'd take seconds to make me one of them.

"Oh god..." I muttered. "Oh no..."