Chapter One: Tell Me A Story

My heels clicked with each step as I walked down an endless brick hall. Memories flooded my mind. I sniffled slightly as I got closer to my destination my hands trembling involuntarily with each step out of fear. I wondered what he was doing, if Jacob was even looking for me. That is if Bella and Renesme would even let him. I can still remember exactly the way he looked when he found me after I had abruptly left La Push with out telling anyone from the rez. I was surprised that he had slipped past Renesme with the tight leash she had on him lately.

(Two Days Ago)

I woke up to infuriated voices somewhere in Alice's antique British Columbia house. I scrunched my nose thinking about how there hasn't been a single time that Alice and Jasper have ever fought. Well at least not with in the short time that I had known them. I heard another male shout. My heart froze and a cold chill slowly made its way down my spine. I tried to get up but every movement took too much effort, everything was so slow and forced.

I walked down the stairs unable to actually feel any part of my body. I had to actually remember to breath. My body betrayed me. I wanted to be strong and sarcastic. I wanted to be untouchable. But that wasn't me. I wasn't that emotionally strong. As I reached the bottom of the stairs I saw exactly who was arguing.

Jacob stood tall and tense. His fists were balled up slightly shivering as he glared down at Alice and Jasper who leered back equally as vicious. That moment only lasted a brief second as all three of them turned to look at me. I briefly noticed the concerned and wary look on Alice and Jasper's faces. All I could really notice was the hurt and betrayed expression etched deep onto Jake's eyes. He took a deep breath and stared back at me fixated and unsure. I momentarily wished I knew what I looked like, what expression I held. At that moment I couldn't properly feel, I just simply existed.

3 3

My breath was caught in my chest as I snapped back into reality. I felt my entire body quiver as I stood at the entrance of the elaborate dining hall. The two overly large wooden doors lead the view of a small circular table. There seemed to be some carvings on the legs which twirled downwards making a heart shape as it touches the floor. The two opposite standing chairs mimicked the odd style.

Candles and broad fire place that could easily fit a small car lit the room. The light danced across the stone walls and the maroon drapes that covered the windows. The room itself was just too big and made me feel small. It reminded me of the time I took a trip out to Hearst Castle; this place was the picture of wealth. Everything was elaborate and detailed down to the carved wood beamed ceiling with medieval engravings of knights and horses to the rose print wallpaper.

But nothing compared to the man standing at the complete opposite end of the room. 'The Roman' as I have come to call him in my mind since I have yet to learn his name. His stature was relaxed as he leaned against the frame of the door staring at me. His expression frightened me. He was waiting for something, or rather expecting something. A small smile played on his lips as he stood straight and walked toward me in brisk long strides. His confidence berated those of anyone else I have ever met including that of the Cullen's and the wolf pack.

Each step echoed as he closed the distance between us. Even in the dim light his hair still shone its sun kissed highlights contrasting his dark hair. His hypnotizing sky blue eyes never left mine as they pierced through my soul. His skin was light but not nearly as pale as the Cullen clan. He looked perfect. He was perfect down to his broad shoulders and gently carved face. His sheer black button up shirt failed at hiding his well toned body down to his black pressed slacks and shinny new dress shoes.

A shiver escaped down from the nape of my neck down to my spine as he stood silently in front of me. There was only a foot of space between us as I tilted my head up to look at him. His eyes softened as he took a final step closing all distance between us, his chest upon mine. He leaned down so his mouth was mere inches from my ear.

"You look exquisite tonight." The Roman's cool breath felt completely foreign to me being only two days since I last shared a bed with Jacob.

"Thank you," for a second I doubted the words even left my mouth but his broad smile as he laced his fingers with mine told me other wise. His skin was cold and smooth like velvet but at the same time was as hard as marble, much like that of a vampire. He led me to the round table where a plate of food was laid out for me. The roast and assorted vegetables were still steaming, twirling into the brisk stale air of the castle we occupied.

He pulled out a chair at the table for me and pushed it back in slightly as I sat down. The silk blood red dress felt exotic against my skin making the situation much more intimate that what I had hoped for. It was impossible to not notice the remarkably handsome man sitting across from me. I glanced down unable to avoid seeing my own breast. The dress did wonders for them and my Roman admirer seemed to agree by the look in his eyes.

"Please eat. You have skipped too many meals already by sleeping for so long." His husky voice washed over me causing me to close my eyes briefly. The tone was similar to that of male vampires but had a more rough manly edge to it. It was as if every other vampire were a cheap imitation of him. Was he the beginning? The very beginning of vampires? The thought left a cold feeling in the pit of my stomach.

My quivering hands made it all more difficult to eat as he watched my every move. He didn't eat. His elbows were on the table with his fingers interlaced holding his head up. As much as it made me feel even more self conscious it seemed as if he was merely remembering rather than intently watching my every move.

"You must have many questions for me," His voice startled me as I finished my food and dabbed the edge of my lips with a white cloth napkin.

"Yes," my voice was still shaken and frighten. My speech and will faltered as I was at a further loss for words. I didn't know what to expect. I had willingly gone with him to prevent anyone getting hurt or worse, dying in my behalf.

"How about we make a deal darling?" His head tilted slightly as he spoke. "You tell me how the fates have brought you to me and I will let you out back into to the world."

"You'd let me go?" I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing.

"I assume that it will be quite the story that will take several evenings to finish, oh sweet beauty of mine." His laugh bounced off the walls as he leaned back looking at me fondly. "You may not understand now but I only seek to protect you. I pray that the days you spend with me will help clear your thoughts. I gather that you have landed yourself in quite the troubled spot but only you can tell me the details. But first let's start with your name."

"Katharine Kinsella, but people tend to call me Kitty." He didn't seem all too bad. But the fact that I was just taken from everything I knew prevented me from seeing him in a too favorable light.

"A kitten you surely are, and where shall you start this tale Kitten?" His eyes slightly widen in interest as he leaned forward.

"I- …." What could I tell him. I couldn't betray them, but I was scared.

"I know of the vampires, werewolves, and shape-shifters if that is what makes you so hesitant in speaking." My veins froze as he spoke. Looking straight into his eyes I then understood that he knew far more then he was letting on. Probably even much more than I did.

"I'm not sure where to start."

"Are there several starting points or rather transitions in the story?"

"Yes, … it could start when I first met Keegan. Or when I first found out he was a werewolf and met the Cullens. Or …"

"Or?" The Roman pressed as he traced an unknown pattern onto the top of the table with his finger tip still not breaking eye contact with me.

"Or when I first came to La Push"

"You hesitate at mentioning the shape-shifters in La Push. I assume that is where the story takes an interesting turn but for the sake of story telling. Start at the very beginning. What decision first led you on this path."

"Well, I guess I made the decision back when I was in California."

"Did anything … peculiar happen? There is no such thing as an insignificant event in life."

"I, I think. I'm not sure but I did think something was kinda strange but it wasn't anything really?"

"Why was it strange?"

"He was just … very attractive and … exotic. I guess you could say it was his aura. I don't know what it was. He just had this … presence?"

"Interesting, … start your story there Kitten."

"Ok then, well I was assisting a transfer of artifacts as part of my internship for historical restoration company. ..."

2 Years Ago

I was planning on continuing with college after my internship with a world famous historical restoration expert that had ended. I have been offered a job but I felt that I had still had so much more to learn and the open invitation gave me plenty of wiggle room. My main area of study was among the civilizations of the Mediterranean area with some more recent interest in Japanese culture.

But there was something missing. Something inside my soul that was incomplete. It all started during a brief trip back to Los Angeles to oversee the safe transfer of an exhibit from Greece that caused this odd feeling in the very pit of my soul. Walking outside the museum and down the street I waited at the light allowing me to walk. I noticed a small printed flyer taped to the pole advertising a pow-wow. It was at that pow-wow that a simple statement from an old man that had eventually leads me on this path to the supernatural.

After buying a few kochina dolls an old man, whose wrinkles burned deep into his skin, had asked if this was my first time to a pow wow. It was, but it was his answer that would eventually haunt me. The drums were calling you. The drums had called me, he seemed absolutely certain that I couldn't say a single thing back. Some how, he had guessed correctly that I had native blood, little that it might be. My grandmother never wanted to talk about it, I had in fact found out by accident that her mother was full blood native. I never found out from what tribe. It was a taboo subject that eluded me. I was planning on leaving after my purchase but my feet wouldn't allow me. There was something else that I needed, but I didn't know what.

'The drums were calling you.' Those words torched themselves through my soul but it was the dancers that sealed my fate. Or rather one dancer. The drums, the song, the dancer who's intense eyes sent chills down my spine. My eyes couldn't tear away from him. My thoughts rang and bounced off my skull, he couldn't be real, someone so exotic, so wild, ... so free. He was an Apache. He was more than just an Apache, he was the Apache. He was perfect, the kind of perfect that leaves you breathless. Even the slight imperfections on his face seemed to belong. I remember trying to describe him but no words could ever truly grasp his form, his spirit. I was also immensely intimidated that I avoided him for the rest of my time there. I couldn't grasp why. I wasn't scared or overly shy but I couldn't bring myself to be near his aura. To be so close that he could reach out to me. He never came to me but his eyes always met mine, always. He was just as hyper aware of my presence as I was of him.

No matter how much I wanted to leave, I couldn't. It wasn't until I had wandered away from the thinning crowds and towards an abandoned replica of teepee style shelter that he got close. I leaned over peering into an animal skinned covered shelter clutching my bags. Inside were fur blankets with baskets. I then felt a panic run through me. I stood up slowly, afraid. I turned slightly and then I saw him, the Apache dancer. He was much taller up close and even more stunning. His hand made it's way toward my face and gently moved a stray strand of hair away from my face. As his mouth opened to speak, I ran. I ran as fast as I could dodging people along the way. I never looked back.

It was after that day that I had searched online and found the history and archeology program that centered around the First People at the University of British Columbia. Even though I ran away from him, I still wanted to know why I had felt the way I did. I wanted to know him in some way so I chose to know his culture rather than try and find him.

(End of Flash Back)

"Interesting …" The Roman leaned back in his chair thoughtfully. "So you never returned?"

"No, I … No."

"Do you regret that?"

"Well, I guess yes. I still wonder what he was going to say."

"How did that make you feel?"

"Frustrated that I'll never know I guess."

"No, how did you feel by physically running away from him?"

"Well, …. I –I" I paused unsure as how to answer. "I felt as though I just missed an … an opportunity. I think? It was like I missed the answers. Even now I have that feeling. Like he knew something and I wanted to know too. He …. Was something I wanted to be too." My voice trailed away at the end completely unsure of myself.

"Would you say that this was a subconscious assumption?"

"Yes. Yes I would."

"Did anyone else ever make you feel that way?"

I thought carefully. I haven't really felt that way again, except. Except for the man before me. He knew something I wanted to know too, but little different. I had the opportunity all over again, however, I get the feeling that it would have been a much better situation if I had stayed with the Apache. Jacob and Carlisle gave a similar feeling but not nearly as intense, the Apache was whole other playing field. No, he was a whole different game. "Not exactly," I carefully breathed out.

"Off to bed with you. We will finish your story another time." He laughed and shushed me away with a wave of his hand. "Pleasant dreams Kitten." I wonder what he is going to do with the information I had given him?

I stood up awkwardly and walked back to my room with shaky legs. I know I had told Alice and Jasper not to follow. That I was willingly leaving with the Roman but I selfishly wished that they were looking for me. I wrinkled my nose at the thought of Bella and Rennesme. They would both be happy that I was finally gone. I had disrupted their perfect little life where everything centered around them. I snorted, even what I was doing centered around them. Gravity seemed to center around them for God's sake. But towards the end, I wasn't doing it for them.

My heart sank heavily as I reached my room. Tears pricked my eyes. At least he wouldn't have to drag me along anymore. I wouldn't be to Jacob the same way he was to Bella after Edward left when she was still human. I couldn't let him use me and continue to suck the life out of me while he waited for Rennesme to stop being so 'unsure' of what she wanted. Funny though how she didn't want him that way until I came around. But she can have him now. I smiled evilly feeling a small bit of satisfaction and thought, … but I had him first. I had him begging for me and there was nothing in my world or her's that could change that. A part of him will always be mine.

A/N: Thanks for reading and please leave a review of what you like, don't like, questions, thoughts & ideas. This story will be updated every other week on either Friday or Saturday.