Chapter 3: Leah & Pals

"Hi Arden"

I feel my jaw slacken as a lazy grin no doubt appeared on my face… everyone in the room getting a good look at me making a fool of myself; what a great first impression!

"Jacob said you had something to tell us?" one of the others said.

I snap back to reality in a second, there would be time for Leah soon… but now I had to tell them what I knew.

"Yeah, I guess I do. But first why don't you introduce yourselves first."

So the 3 new people were Sam, Embry, and Quil… Something tells me I will need to remember those names. A question pops into my mind, where do I start in this story… The beginning of the war, or just the basic necessities for them to know why the Volturi was after me.

"Just tell us about the Volturi, there will be time to get to know each other later." Edward said answering my thoughts.

"Um… ok, about two years ago I stumbled across some ruins in China, while I was investigating I found a tablet that had some ancient writing on it… strange as it might sound I knew that the writing was Greek. I found a translator whom I felt I could trust… he told me that the tablet told of a place of power that could only be accessed by an immortal… Meaning werewolf or vampire. It also said that the only way to find that place was to find a map located somewhere in Greece."

"So did you go after the map?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes I did, I spent 3 months following clues that lead me to a temple of Zeus... stashed in one of the pillars was a map, but as soon as I went to open it I heard someone behind me. I turned around and saw a vampire; he was wearing grey robes like the Volturi guard wears. But he was different I think he was a nomad, I was able to get him to talk to me and he told me that the translator I had hired betrayed me… I was sold out to the Volturi; and they sent him after me because he was a tracker."

"Why didn't they send Demetri?" Alice asked, and honestly I did not know.

"I don't know, but it wasn't him. I was able to stall this man long enough for the moon to come out! I had waited for the full moon before I decided to go for the map. The moon rose and we fought, and I killed him easily! I was able to escape with the map, and once I memorized what was on it I destroyed it!"

"Why would you do that?" Emmett practically roared in my face.

In truth I destroyed it because I was afraid, on one hand if the Volturi got the map then they could use the power they would find to spread their rule even farther… and on the other hand I was afraid that if I kept the map that I would be tempted to go try and get the power for myself… and if I am anything like my father then it would go right to my head, and it would mean the deaths of more innocents.

"Well?" Sam said expectedly.

I didn't have an answer, maybe I should have kept it… it had been a rash decision one that left me with no way to prove to them I was telling the truth.

"Leave him alone!" Leah barked at Sam… there was tension between them; I would have to find out what that was about.

"Listen" I said, "I don't know why I destroyed it but it doesn't matter…I know where it leads and the Volturi don't! But 2 months ago they sent Demetri after me; he wants to take me back to his master the one who can read minds."

Silence settled across the room, I don't think that they realized that this was not only possible but probable.

"So why did you come here?" Carlisle asked genuinely.

"Because you have already turned the Volturi away once, if I am safe anywhere it's with you. They want this information, and I have no doubt that they will send an army to get it!"

There were sharp gasps from the vampires, and low growls from the werewolves! The only person in the room who didn't look ready to kill me was Leah… once again my thoughts had drifted to Leah, her lean tall body and her beautiful eyes. She was staring back at me and I saw a small smile growing on her face, even in light of the situation at hand I am sure her focus was the same place as mine!

"What do you think the power is?" Edward asked, interrupting my pleasant train of thoughts as he very well knew.

"Invulnerability, I think that it will grant them the power to make it impossible for them and certain select followers to die. At the bottom of the tablet, it said the words "When a chance is not enough, the power will grant you a chance to cherish all you have!"

"But that could mean any number of things."

"You asked me what I think, there is no way for me to know for sure."

Carlisle stood up suddenly pacing the room, he looked deep in thought probably about how to send me away.

"You can't leave here then, we can't risk the Volturi getting a hold of that kind of power. Though I don't relish the idea of a war with them we must do all we can to protect this secret." Carlisle said suddenly.

"Carlisle is right" Edward said "We will have to fight them if it comes down to it… which means that once again we will have to gather our friends again."

While I didn't know what he means by that, I do know that they have just agreed to fight and possibly die by my side… I suppose I should say thank you but somehow the words don't quite cover it. The atmosphere in the room changes as the wolves and vampires start making plans, it's clear there is no need for me to be there so I quickly exit the room.

As I am standing out in the yard I hear someone walking behind me.

"Can we talk?" Leah asks

I nod as slowly she grabs my hand as we head to the woods.

For right now at least, life is good!