Thank you to those who are reading my story. Hope you enjoy.


Chapter 2

I took deep breathes to calm my racing heartbeat and tried to keep myself in check. New people. I never did well with new people. And new people probably didn't know what to do with me either. In these kind of situations you were supposed to smile and act normal. Shake hands. Exchange nice words and greetings. I was pretty sure that that was not how this was going to go down. This was going to be all tense shoulders, guarded stares, and side glances. Troy's parents had probably said the worst things possible about me. These people probably already had a great idea of who I was. A bratty, sarcastic, arrogant, reserved, and naive 17 year old who couldn't keep her head on straight for 2 seconds. This should be fun.

Another thing, who would want to be friends with Troy's parents? Who would want to be associated with the most uptight people I've ever met? Seriously? How desperate are you? Do you not get out much? Boy do I feel sorry for these people.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught two women dressed in what appeared to be Amazonian clothing playing with what looked like a 6 or 7 year old. Surrounding them were patches of moss and brush. The Amazonians turned when they sensed my eyes on them and gave me a dirty looks. They turned their backs on us and headed to a side door to enter the house. Another group of people who were dressed in fur coats and dark leggings were by a nearby tree also covered in moss, and were seemingly teaching a boy about Troy and I's age how to fight. The fighting looked complicated and graceful in movement. They, however, did not notice us, or they really didn't care to acknowledge our presence. Another group of vampires were situated in a bare patch of grass and were dressed as if they were regular old teenagers out for a daily stroll through the woods. Some of them were also teaching each other how to fight, but this technique of fighting was different to anything that I'd ever seen. This involved strength that I'd never encountered before. This involved lifting heavy objects. Girls with muscles that were barely there were lifting boulders at least a few hundred pounds in weight with ease. Impossible. Who the hell are these people? They walk around like they own the place, well some of them probably do, and they can lift a rock 5 times my size? They all look like either hippies or celebrities out for a hike.

I turned to Troy to see if he'd also noticed the weird beings surrounding us. I'm not even sure if they were vampires. Troy can't lift anything close to that weight. I mean, yeah he's strong, but not that strong. Nobody's that strong. These people also seemed to kind of sparkle when the sun hit them the right way. What? They sparkle? I know it's off topic, but...how unfortunate. That would really suck. Every time they'd have to walk out of the house they would light up like a disco ball. Yeah, that sucks. They wouldn't last one day in Albuquerque. Sun all day, every day. Back to the main issue. What were these people? They couldn't be vampires. Vampires weren't that strong. Let's see...they could be werewolves, zombies, demons, angels, demon hunters on steroids, fairies (I highly doubted that), or some other mystical creature. Werewolves was a likely choice. Zombies, probably not but I'll keep that in mind. Demons, small possibility. Angels, don't they have wings? Demon hunters on steroids, not likely. Fairies, as I said, probably not. That left me with werewolves or zombies. I mean they didn't look like zombies but I'd never met one. I mean I didn't even know if they even existed. I didn't know if werewolves existed either but they were the more likely choice. I'll go with werewolves.

With that revelation in mind I became well aware of my surroundings. I had to stay on high alert in case one of the "werewolves" wanted to get up close and not-so-friendly with me. No telling what was going to happen here. These people all looked foreign. For all I knew we would be dead within 24 hours or I could be tied to a chair and questioned about who knows what. I hated my imagination. It went places I didn't want it to go. Hence the werewolf thing.

The front steps to the massive porch quickly came into view and Troy's parents were standing in the center talking to a man with blonde hair who looked to be in his mid-forties. They turned our way and the man they were conversing with acknowledged Troy with only a glance that held what I strangely guessed was pity and aggravation. Then his eyes rested on me. Well half of me since I found my way behind Troy on our scary tour of the front yard. I could practically see the thoughts running through his mind: trouble, dangerous, problem, and a little bit of confusion. His eyes stayed on me as he shared some final words with Troy's parents. He then started to lead them inside the ginormous house. I guess that was our queue to follow them inside. We reluctantly followed and when we reached the front steps I felt everything speed up and I had the sudden urge to run and if I didn't get the chance I would push, or maybe even kill, anyone that was in my way. This emotion stalled me for a second on the front steps as it took my breath away and quickened my heart rate. As I stood stagnant I gasped for air. Troy noticed and turned fully in my direction to assess my reasoning for stopping mid-step. His eyes turned from confused to concerned faster than my human eyes could comprehend.

What's wrong? Are you feeling okay?, Troy quickly asked. He brought his hand up to caress my cheek and to also check my temperature. I didn't feel ill, I just felt like my body was being taken over by something other than me. I took a few deep breathes to slow my heart beat and to control the things running through my mind. What was that? That had never happened to me before. I had never even come close to considering even harming anyone, let alone killing them. I was beginning to feel light headed and dizzy so I leaned my forearm against the railing lining the porch. After a few more deep breathes the dizziness faded and I could fully stand again. The thoughts disappeared and I felt normal again. Or what to me felt the closest to normal.

I looked up at Troy and found his cerulean blue eyes so they connected with my deep mocha brown ones. I'm fine now. Just a little panic at the moment is all.

I kept his eyes locked on mine for a few seconds longer to show him my answer was sincere. Or at least I thought it was sincere. He grabbed and squeezed my forearm as he lifted it off the railing and slid his hand down to mine to lock them together. I stood upright and we walked a few steps forward until we stood on top of the door jam. The only thing keeping us safe from what dark and twisted things were to be discussed inside this otherwise beautiful house. Troy turned and kissed my temple to calm me once more. We both took the same, what we would call leap of faith, into the house and stood before an open room filled with designer furniture. This space also held a piano and a staircase that I was tempted to walk up but I knew there would be time for that later. If I wasn't tied to a chair somewhere or dead.

A few people were situated on designer couches and chairs that were dispersed throughout the room. They all looked peaceful and relaxed. At a time like this I was anything but peaceful and relaxed. I was tense and fear ridden. They were dressed to perfection and I was wearing a wrinkled t-shirt, skinny jeans, and combat boots. These people were strange as I said earlier. No regular group of people were this perfect.

Others were standing in a large corner near to what looked to be a kitchen. A small petite and pale woman was standing in between the two rooms and was seemingly keeping the group from heading into the kitchen. The group was made up of men and one woman who were strangely tan and muscular. They all looked to be in their early to mid twenties. How could they be so tan? If they lived within this area there was no way they could get that much sun. There was no way. Their ivory skin seemed to be without flaw and had no sense of one sunburn or wrinkle. Perfect. Just like the others, but of different decent or they lived in a different region. All the others looked to be related because of their pale skin and posture. Also their movements were all graceful. No flaws whatsoever. I felt like a train wreck coming to ruin their party.

I was nothing special. I was a regular human being. I didn't sit like a princess, I slouched. I didn't laugh softly and politely shake hands with new people. I awkwardly sat far away from strangers and let them converse with the naturally talkative individuals around me. I also didn't move around the room to meet everyone new. I clung to those who I was well acquainted with and stayed there.

These people obviously knew each other and treated everyone like family. Great. That means I'm the new toy to pass around and check for defects. Yay. This should be fun.

I found Troy's parents sitting on a couch across the room, conversing with Blondie. They seemed to be deep in conversation and I preferred it that way. No attention drawn to me. I fully stepped behind Troy and hid myself by leaning my forehead against his back. He squeezed my hand for what felt like the hundredth time that day and moved to the nearest wall and stood there. Leaving me hidden between the wall and him. I made sure to know where the door was at all times so that if we had to run we wouldn't have that disadvantage.

Suddenly Blondie got up and Troy's parents did as well. The whole room seemed to quiet down and all eyes turned to Troy's parents. The only eyes resting on us were Blondie's. His gaze made chills run down my spine. I guess Troy felt the same because he lightly pushed me farther into the wall. Now that the room was fully quiet Blondie began to speak.

"These are some of my close friends who have traveled from Albuquerque, New Mexico to get my help with someone dear to them. This is Lucille Bolton," he points to Troy's mom, "and Jack Bolton.", he points to Troy's dad.

Everyone around the room didn't say a word but softly nodded their heads in greeting. Some of them narrowed their eyes in suspicion.

Blondie finally took his eyes off of me and Troy, and turned to Lucille and Jack. "Lucille and Jack these are some very close friends of my family's that have come down to lend some help as well." He started to introduce everyone to Troy's parents but I tuned him out. After he was done he asked Lucille and Jack to explain to him what they had come here for.

Lucille spoke first, "Jack and I have a son who needs to be shown the responsibilities that come with being a vampire." She said this as politely as she could. I could tell she was putting on a show. "Also," she continued, "our son has come in contact with a girl." Troy tensed even more. Don't even. DO NOT BRING HER INTO THIS! I could barely hear him but I caught his words and their meaning anyway.

I caught a man sitting on a couch scanning the room. He had light brown hair and his eyes were a caramel color. He was pale like the others but he seemed off to me. He seemed to be special. He kept searching while Lucille went on, "We have begun to suspect that she is not a normal human being."

Troy and I both were caught off guard by this. What? I said to no one in particular. I noticed the man's eyes stopped on us. He made no move to alert our presence, thankfully. Troy noticed his gaze as well and glared at the man.

As our silent exchange went unnoticed, the others were still talking. "What makes you think she's different?", Blondie said.

"She can manipulate others into doing what she wants. She can converse with others without saying a word. She can also do other things that we can't explain." Lucille finally stopped her explanation. Some of the people around the room stood and I became afraid. I grabbed Troy's shirt and silently motioned to the door. He interpreted my meaning and we slowly and silently moved along the wall toward the door.

"STOP!", said the man as he took a few steps our way. We immediately stopped and Troy let out a growl that I'd never heard him use before. All eyes turned toward us and I shrunk back against the wall further even though it was not possible anymore. The man moved to Blondie's side. Troy's parents looked pleased as if they had unleashed a pack of wild dogs on us.

The man spoke to Blondie but kept his eyes locked on us. "Carlisle they can communicate telepathically", he said.

"I know Edward", said Carlisle. This took me off guard. Huh? How did he already know? That can't be. Nobody but me and Troy, and now Edward, knew. I then knew that I wouldn't like any of these people. They were all staring at us like we were their next science project.

Troy surprised me by speaking aloud. "We don't need your help. We don't need your hospitality. And we don't need you", he said in a voice that scared me. He reached his right arm behind him and moved it so that it surrounded my waist. Again he let out a low growl that I'm sure everyone heard.

In response some of the others let out low growls as well, but Edward and Carlisle seemed unfazed. Both of their expressions turned to ones of suspicion.

"Well I'm afraid you are mistaken," said Carlisle. He seemed to be the leader of this gathering. Nobody else said a word. "You clearly know nothing pertaining to yourself or your companion."

Troy's growl got slightly louder before he spoke again. "Don't bring her into anything that has to do with any of you."

Carlisle cautiously stepped forward and put his hands up in a sort of surrendering motion. "We don't want any trouble. We are just trying to help you and your family here. That's all."

"We don't mean you any harm," piped up a man dressed in a brown leather jacket, scarf, and black jeans. He must have been apart of the group that I saw outside that looked like they were from up north. "We understand your discomfort with your new surroundings, but we are just trying to help."

I immediately liked this guy. He seemed to be serious and trustworthy. I could tell that he didn't mean us any harm.

"My name is Eleazar," he says. "What my dear friend Carlisle means to say is that we can benefit from each other if we all can cooperate and get along nicely." I was drawn to him and his words. Eleazar was also special. I couldn't sense many others to also being special. Maybe 10 out of the 34 of them. I discreetly squeezed my way from behind Troy to put myself within full view of the group. They all looked surprised at my sudden burst of courage. Well, everyone except Eleazar. He smiled at me and turned to his companions to see if they had the same expression as he did. I guessed he didn't care when he saw that everyone else was either scared, confused, or angry. He turned to Troy. "May I?" he asked while motioning to me.

Troy looked at me and silently told me that it was my decision and not his to whether Eleazar could address me or not. I nodded at Eleazar for him to continue.

Again he smiled at me and he continued, "There is much that Lucille and Jack have not told the both of you. I...we...would love to enlighten the both of you on the ways of all vampires. These things can only be taught to you by those who are fully informed on the subject. I'm sure Carlisle and his family would love to educate you both on not only what to expect throughout your lives, but also I think they would like to be able to enlarge their own knowledge of our kind as well."

So they were also vampires. Well there went my werewolf theory.

He ended his speech and the room was completely silent.

In the first time in my life I felt the urge to speak in front of a group of people. The words flew out of my mouth without me thinking about what I was saying. "I appreciate your fascination with obtaining more knowledge of such an appealing subject," I said. "I myself love that every subject is inferior to the many details that can be attained about them." Eleazar beamed at this. I went on. "We will stay", I said not worrying at the moment for the consequences. "But I don't want to feel like I'm just another one of your science projects. I'm not just going to sit around while you ask me weird questions. I want to know as much as you do about vampires as well. Like you said," I grabbed for Troy's hand and made sure everyone took me seriously. "We will learn many things about each other if we all cooperate and get along. I am looking forward to also enlarging my own knowledge on vampires as well."

Eleazar gave me the biggest grin that I had ever seen. I softly gave him a small grin in return. Maybe I would like this place after all. Eleazar was my proof that maybe some of these vampires were not my enemies, but my companions, friends, and allies.


Hope you liked it! Please review! It means a lot to me and it keeps me writing.

Just letting you know that I'll try to update once a week to keep this story going.

Again...PLEASE REVIEW!

-Shelby