So here's Chapter 3 at last! Sorry it took so long, work's been crazy. Hope you guys like this chapter is sort of a filler chapter we're getting to the good stuff...

Thank you to every one how review and thanks to my beta SparkyBlueEyes! check out her newest story "Out From Under" it rocks! (.net/s/6619511/1/Out_from_Under)

Enjoy!


Chapter 3

Shooting upright in bed, Aria tried desperately to calm her breathing; looking around she tried to get her bearings and to make sure she was alone. It had been three days since the conversation with Jacob and Aria had stayed away as much as possible from Jacob, Bella and the Cullen's; instead she spent her time at the beach and at home writing.

Surprisingly all of the drama gave way for some really good song ideas and it gave her the chance to analyze the twisted love triangle from each point of view. Occasionally writing on a piece of paper, peculiar things that popped up from the conversations she's had with her dad, Bella, Jacob and Bella's friends.

Except for last night, taking a break from her continuing detective work, Aria chose to lose herself in the studio; for hours. Just editing and mixing one of the band's new songs until 3am, then going to bed with the promise that she'll hopefully dream of him again, like she had for the last few nights.

But her dreams betrayed her, Aria scrambled towards her desk, tripping on her way with clothes she couldn't bother to pick up. She frantically opened drawer after drawer, moving things aside in a desperate need to find what she was looking for...

Not finding what she wanted, Aria slammed the lower drawer shut and straightened herself up; huffing at the fact she couldn't keep her things organized...especially in a time when she needed it the most. Glancing around she finally spotted her song notebook on the top shelf of her desk; hurrying over she reached forward and grabbed the book – her hands shaking in anxiousness as she turned page after page...searching for that one piece of paper she had carried for the last couple of days...

"Where are you… where are you…" Aria moaned, frustrated she took the notebook by the cover and shook it; until a white piece of paper fell to the floor.

In an instant she was on her knees and unfolding the piece of paper...Her dream - no nightmare still fresh in her mind; the possible answer to the mystery secrets, lies and shifty eye glances embedded in the back of her mind...

"Doesn't eat...weirdo..."

"Pale"

"Mandatory camping trip on sunny days"

"Always Cold"

"Siblings 'together' gross..."

"Golden eye colour...almost cat like..."

...And finally her eyes rested on the last part of her notes, the only phrase in capitals. The one word that was about to send her into an uncontrollable spiral...

"LEECH"

She dropped the paper and gasped, it couldn't be. She wouldn't believe it to Aria it didn't make sense, everything she knew about them was being questioned in this white little piece of paper…


She felt a gust of wind blow in from her window, then a presence of someone standing in the room with her. Bella knew it was him...she could sense him anywhere.

"Edward…" Bella whispered trying not to wake her dad up. She smiled, ready to stand up and greet him; when she saw the sombre look on his face "What's wrong?"

"There's been an attack"

"Victoria?"

Edward nodded, looking around the room he started to pick up random things to entertain himself but Bella knew better – she knew he was trying to think of other things rather than actually dealing with the fact that Victoria was closer to them.

"Alice, is tracking her movement, she's on her way here..."

Bella could feel the panic rising, she saw Edward turned and looked at her, probably hearing her heart racing. But she couldn't help it, Victoria and her squad had almost succeeded twice in killing her….

Edward as if sensing her thoughts, speed to her side, taking her hand in his "I won't let anything happen to you, this time I'm here, we're all here. And she will be stopped once and for all"

Bella nodded, his words ringing in her head, she knew he was referring to the last attack with Lauren and how he wasn't there to protect her; instead Jacob and the pack came to the rescue.

Victoria was persistent, and the more she failed, the more she was resorting to more drastic and sadistic plans of attack. This time she wasn't alone she had at least 3 others...newborns from what they could tell.

"You okay?"

"Ye-yeah...just thinking"

"We think it is best if you come stay with us all day, that way you'll be protected" She figured as much, last time she was protected by all of them - James still managed to trick her into thinking he had her mom. She knew her mom was safe, last time their mistake was assuming that her running back to Arizona was the way to keep her safe and now they were suggesting they had to stay in town and...

"My dad and my sister, what about them?"

Edward shushed her gently "You're dad is spending the day with Bill" Kissing her forehead in reassurance.

"And Aria?"

Edward frowned not sure how to answer that "Alice is outside waiting for us and then we're heading to your sister. Alice thinks you should invite her to a girl's night out at the house.

"She, she still can't see her movements?" Edward shook his head, then smirked "You know, it's weird there aren't many people she can't see and usually it's because they hide their movements, but she's so close to you and its killing her trying to figure out why she can't see her movements"

Bella nodded, it had been a big shock to Alice when Bella told her a week ago that her sister was coming to forks. She kept going on about how come she didn't see that happening. They later found that just like when Bella was around Jacob or any werewolf, Alice couldn't see anything related to her sister at all; needless to say it drove Alice mad with curiosity.

Bella inwardly smiled, she could only imagine to the extent Alice would go to convince Aria to a girl's night out, just so she could figure out her little dilemma, it would probably drive Aria mad...

'Good' She thought, then she would probably get to feel what she had been feeling since Aria arrived.

"What?" Edward asked, after seeing her smirk "I don't see Aria anywhere near a girls night out…"


Aria needed to do some research; she needed to be completely sure of what she had just discovered. They couldn't be...Vampires...could they?

There had to be another explanation, she wasn't a newbie on the whole supernatural folklore, she knew what was out there, she had for years now...But what she knew about them, didn't fit at all with her conclusion...

Just what the hell was going on?

She knew there was no point in hitting the extra small Forks library, what she needed was in Port Angeles. Changing quickly, she walked downstairs pressing the answering machine on her way towards the kitchen to prepare herself a coffee and sandwich for the road.

"You have five new messages" The machine politely informed her.

"Hey! Aria, this is Alice Cullen…I'm Edward's sister" Aria froze turning slightly to look at the machine "Anyways, Bella and I are having a girl's night out today and we would really like for you to join us, we could finally get to meet each other. Call me back when you get this"

There was no way she was going anywhere near them, not until she knew for sure what were they. Aria was sure of one thing...the Cullen's were not human.

"Hey Aria, Alice again. You haven't called me back yet; will you be joining us for the girl's night?"

Aria ignored the rest of the message, walking towards the kitchen to prepare her to-go breakfast as fast as she could. In the background she could still hear the machine playing message after message, just how many times had the girl called.

But the last of them, she heard when she was rushing around the house gathering the things she needed for the trip.

"Hey Aria, sorry to bother you again, you still haven't told me your answer to the girls night out, I'm not one to take no for answer, or no answer at all for that matter. I'm picking up Bella in a few then we'll be heading over to yours. See you soon!"

"Shit... What's wrong with that girl" She packed her lunch then grabbed her wallet and car keys, only one thing was missing…

She hurried up to her bedroom, reaching the side of the bed she stepped around the wood floor carefully, until she heard a squeak on the wood. She knelt down, pushing the far end of the block of wood, lifting it up to reveal a hole where she kept her journal and other important stuff.

She took out an old journal, wiping the dust away to reveal elegant golden letters "Marietta Swan" Her grandmother's journal.

Aria breathed in a sigh of relief as soon as she closed the front door. Glad that she was minutes away from hitting the road and escaping any confrontation with this Alice girl.

"Hi! You must be Aria"

Aria jumped in surprise, turning around to be face to face with a beaming red headed girl that she recognized as Edward's sister. Edward stood behind her, her gaze then shifted to Bella standing a few steps away from them waving awkwardly at her.

"Yes, and you must be the annoying voice on my answering machine…"

"Sorry about that, but I see you're coming with us" Aria looked at Alice in confusion, she must have seen her re arranging her bag, probably stupidly assuming she was all packed for their god damned 'Girl's night' tonight.

"Um...No, I'm going out." She side stepped around her, making her way towards the Jeep; she didn't need to turn around to know Alice was now following her. "Afraid, I have work to do."

"I'm sure you can take one day off, right Bella?"

Aria looked from Alice to Bella, something in the way they we're insisting she joined them, left her with a feeling that they had an ulterior motive.

"Sorry I'm on a tight schedule" Aria turned round ready to climb in her truck when she felt a quick gust of wind almost like a shadow past her, only to be startled when she saw Edward in front of her blackened car door. Shocked she turned to look at the spot he was just a few second ago, then back to his current position.

"Aria, you really should come with us" He tried to sound as polite as possible, but it sounded more like an order.

"Not to sound rude, but move" Aria narrowed her eyes, waiting for him to move.

Both stood their ground, waiting to see who would cave first…Aria didn't plan on moving or backing down...who did they think they were? But there was something unnerving by the way in which Edward was looking at her...the way in which his golden eyes were slowly disappearing and being replaced by a much darker colour...Aria assumed she was causing this reaction in not doing what she was told...funny that, unlike Bella...Aria had her own mind and wasn't about to be bossed around or controlled by them...

In the moment of Edward clenching his jaw in anger, they heard an unusual sound...Alice and Edward were the first to hear it...it sounded almost like a bird...but then Aria heard it and she couldn't help but smile listening to the familiar sound...

Surprised at the sudden sound both Edward and Alice turned to look at a black crow that was sitting on the bonnet of the Volvo. Edward as if in a trance by it, moved forward and slowly started at it, never breaking eye contact with the animal...

Aria looked over at the crow feeling at ease at its sudden appearance, its time was impeccable. She quickly opened her car door and got in.

At the sound of the card door closing Edward and Alice quickly snapped out of their trance to see Aria already starting up the engine.

Not bothering saying goodbye she quickly reversed the car and sped onto the highway…

"What happened?" Bella asked looking at both of the Vampire's, who just a few minutes ago were surprisingly put in a trance by a crow...both now looking slightly disoriented.

"I- I don't know" Edward looked at Alice for an answer, but she was as lost as him...


"Folklore...folklore" Running her finger through countless book titles, eyes searching every title that she passed. It had to be here somewhere... Small towns always pride themselves of their urban legends; this would've been so much easier if she could ask Billy or someone from the reservation to tell her the legends again...

Yet asking about them was dangerous, she couldn't risk it...she wasn't a fool. Once Vampire's settle in a town they are bound to have allies, followers... So it was down to traditional research.

"Quileute Legends of the past" She grabbed the book, settling for a corner table with a window view. She skimmed the index looking for any legends that supported her suspicions, then her eyes caught one in particular "The Cold Ones".

She read and re-read... There was no point in denying it now, the Cullen's we're vampires, not any vampires...they were "The Cold Ones" The only good thing now was that they were veggie vamps, striking a pack with the Quileute. In exchange for no human blood spilled, the Cullen's could stay on forks. Quileute...the descent of wolves... Wolves... Werewolves...

She should've known... it seemed wherever there was a vampire, a werewolf was soon to follow almost as an un-coincidental balance.

Still it didn't make any sense, Vampires weren't cold, sure they really didn't feel cool or warm, but as far as body heat...they always retained their warmth. She learned long ago that garlic and crosses were nothing but a myth…wooden stake and fire were as real as it got, but now she was wondering if that even worked on them.

And their eyes, no vampire she knew had such animalistic eyes, the vampires she knew all retained their normal eye colour. Could it be that there was more than one race of vampires? Was that even possible?

She huffed in annoyance, raising her hand she rubbed it down her face; she needed to calmed down and think. She was so close, a part of it made sense as to why she had so much difficulty figuring out what they were.

They were no ordinary vampires, but they were vampires none the less and that in itself was a consolation. At least she knew what she was dealing with…However the thought of knowing there could be various types or races of vampires was overwhelming, and just like humans they were slowly but surely evolving, for better or for worse she didn't know.

Her grandmother used to say that vampires weren't monsters, that they were just as human as an ordinary person. They couldn't choose what they were, and those who choose had their reasons for doing it, much like one makes a mistake, they were just as evil as a normal guy robbing, killing or raping.

Aria suddenly remembered her grandma's journal…. her first entry where she explained the supernatural world for her, she only wished she actually had read the entry first before finding out all about them. But that was not why she was remembering that, she had mentioned something about races or hierarchy of vampires.

Looking through her bag, she found the old journal. Opening it to the first entry dated to more than 10 years ago….

"My Dear Alexandria…." She could picture her grandmother, pronouncing her name with that Italian accent of hers; it brought a smile to her face….

"If your reading this, then it means I'm no longer with you, therefore I was not able to tell you all about your special gift mia cara ragazza… if there is something I regret in this life is not being there with you and answering all the questions I'm sure you're wondering right now, not being there with you for what awaits you.

But know this… I'm always with you, in your heart and mind. I'm leaving this journal, in which I wrote all that I know about the world, about our gifts, your gift. You are so special mio tesoro don't ever forget that."

She felt the lump forming in her throat, the pressuring build behind her eyes as she tried to contain the tears, it's been more than 10 years since her grandmother passed away and it was moments like this where she missed her the most; her grandma had been more than a mother unlike her actual one. And their gift only brought them closer…

Taking a shaky breath, she skimmed the page searching where she first mentioned vampires….

"Mio Tesoro, before we dwell on your gift there are things you must know. The world is not as white and black as people would like it to be, instead there is a whole other world, a grayer shade… do you ever wonder where all those folklore stories come from?

With the years they have been tamed and twisted into fantasy, fictional stories; but the truth still remains that we are not alone in our world, we live amongst vampire, witches, werewolves, doppelganger's… every folklore creature you can imagine, some are real others are a twisted version of the original or first order.

I will try to explain to you what each is, how they came to be, in hope that it will help you to face what you may see in your future.

Vampires, my child beware of this race it is most dangerous for us to be near them, but I'm afraid your fate is already bound to them. Vampires are the oldest of any mystical beings, no one knows where they came from, the oldest of them all, are called "The originals" it is said they are the first of their race. Despite what they say do not stash the house with garlic, or crucifies those do not work.

Beware of who you invite in, that part is truth. once you invited a vampire in to your home you cannot un-invite them, all of this you will come to learn in due time, what you must know is that over time Vampires have evolved, just as they learn how to walk in the day… they are starting to breed into new races…

Races although much weaker, some say much more adaptable to today's world. There are those that are pale, cold, that do not burn in the sun but do not stay unhidden from it either. Those whose eyes change color, those with physical powers, those that can read minds, those who are seers, benders, hunters…. there are those who are pure evil, and there are those of pure heart, and those who are confused and need a gentle soul to guide them.

Whatever the case is my dear, whatever being you encounter, do not be quick to judge. We are all beings more human alike that people think. Who are we to judge when we ourselves cannot choose who we are or who we become."

"Oh Grandma..."


"She's near…" Alice said, although her gaze was focused on the wall her eyes told everyone she was somewhere else.

"How many?" Carlisle asked watching as Edward silently paced the living room.

"8 maybe 9? She'll be here shortly"

"Ni-Nine? but…but you said they were 3" Bella stuttered, looking around at the Cullen's, everyone had a sombre look, Emmett looked as if he was itching for a fight and Esme just seemed worried for everyone. They had to figure out a plan to get rid of Victoria once and for all, before she comes back with a larger army.

"Whatever we do, we got to act fast it won't be long before she strikes" Jasper said, everyone nodded in agreement… it was time to act.


"Working late?" She felt his breath on her neck, the whisper of his words on her ear and she couldn't help but close her eyes at the sensation that was slowly making her way through her body. She tilted her head to the right, exposing her neck for him, completely lost in the feeling.

He chuckled amused by her complete submission to him, nevertheless complying with her wishes he leant down and kissed her neck, then catching her earlobe between his teeth, smirking as he heard her trying to stifle a moan.

She turned around looking into his azure eyes, both of them held their gaze for a minute before he captured her lips in a swift kiss. She felt a gust of wind and suddenly she was no longer the one sitting on the chair, he was, and she was straddling his thighs.

"I miss you..." She wrapped her hands around his neck, just looking at him, enjoying the movement.

"Mm...I know" Leaning down she gently kissed the corner of his mouth, then his lips, pulling away slightly, so that their noses still brushed.

She watched him, watch her. His deep azure eyes glanced at her intensely, his usual smirk replaced with a frown...

"What is it?"

"Something doesn't feel right" Removing her arms from around his neck, he set her on the table gently.

She watched him walked towards the window, leaning on the frame and watching the rain fall...

"What?" She asked, he sighed before titling his head in her direction never moving from his position on the window frame.

"Be Careful...miss"

His word echoed in her head...

Miss...Miss... MISS...

Opening her eyes she felt hands on her shoulder shaking her slightly. Still groggy from sleep, she unfolded her arms and rubbed her eyes...

"Miss..." She nodded at the librarian who kept trying to get her attention

"We're about to close"

"Yeah" she cleared her throat still sore from sleep "Thank you"

She looked around her table, her grandma's journal lay open alongside the folklore book she had borrowed...clearly she had fallen asleep, it was pitch black outside confirming it was late and that she better get home before it started raining even harder.

The droplets of water fell down on the car window, creating a silent musical pattern. When she left the library it was but a mere drizzle now well into the road it became a torrent of water falling down on the windscreen, making it hard to see – to make matters worse the fog that had started to appear a few kilometers back was now gradually growing thicker the more she got within the forest.

Still she drove at a steady pace, fast enough as she felt comfortable with in this weather. She thought back to the vampires and her sister. It seemed it ran in the family to be involved with the supernatural. Her own sister was in love with a vampire… an eternal, immortal vampire….

Suddenly Jacob's confession ran through her head "Bella's marrying Edward… just after graduation" Suddenly everything made sense; she had cracked the DaVinci Code. How could she have not seen it sooner?

Bella's infatuation with Edward, her obsession according to her dad with age, and her sudden desire to marry him just after high school…. Bella wanted to be turned?

The sound of the thunder snapped her out of her thought, a sudden feeling of cold and dread filled her whole body, she could feel it, that unsettling feeling that something wasn't right, a bad feeling that she had learnt years ago not to ignore.

In the moment of her focusing her attention back on the empty road she could make out a shadow standing in the middle of the road, startled she turned the wheel with both hands causing the car to sway violently. The jeep was getting closer to the dark figure, but still it didn't move an inch, she saw the person raise its hand and suddenly she felt as if someone had pushed the jeep aside. Trying desperately to control the vehicle she felt the jeep swerving – it was no use, the sheer amount of force that the car had been shoved with was making it impossible to steady, Aria had no choice but to watch within the car as she veered of the road – slamming violently into a nearby tree.

The front window shattered on impact, glass flew everywhere and it was a wonder how she even managed to cover what little she could of her face. The excruciating pain of the collision rushed through her body; feeling the dizziness and sickness start to consume her, Aria couldn't help but cry out.

She turned her head slightly looking in the rear mirror; she could see the figure walking with purposeful strides towards the jeep. The sudden thunder and lightning giving her a clearer view of the figure, only to make out crimson red eyes Vampire.

Her heart started to beat faster; she willed her body to move, to try and get out, to do something. But the pain was excruciating, she felt the darkness start to creep up, her vision becoming worse as black spots started to appear. She tried to fight it, she felt her eyelids become heavier but still her eyes never left the rear-mirror.

"Damon…."

The vampire stopped, quickly looking into the woods, she watched it take a long whiff then speed towards the other side of the forest before the darkness consumed her.


"Hello, little brother come back to annoy me again? Got nothing better to-" He started his usual rant, but soon growled out in pain, his hand clutching his head and the glass of bourbon he had been holding fell to the floor shattering.

"Damon!" Stephen yelled appearing at his brother's side in a millisecond. Stephen touched Damon's arm watching him confused, smelling the air to see if his bourbon had been poison with vervain.

"What's wrong with him?" Elena asked worried.

Damon… Damon heard her voice in his mind. The feeling of uneasiness and dread he had been feeling suddenly intensified. Something was wrong…something had happened to her; he could feel her fear and pain.

He quickly masked his feelings pushing them at the back of his mind. He straightened up, grabbing his brother's arm trying to stop his head from spinning.

"What is it?" Stephen asked, concern covering his face.

Damon without answering sped up the stairs only to come back down seconds later with a bag in hand and heading towards the front door

"Damon!" Stephen grabbed his brother's arm stopping him from going any further "Damon what is it?"

"Aria…its Aria." Damon muttered.


So there it is! Chapter 3 I hope you guys like it and for mixedberries thank you for your review and hey! we finally got to see Damon!

Working hard on Chapter 4 hopefully it would be up next week... please hit the little review button and let me know what you think! It would be awesome if you guys told me song that make you think of Damon :D so that I can add them to my writing playlist :D