Chapter 3: Temptation

"Uh guys. How many months in a year?" I asked as calmly as I could.

"12" Rosalie stated.

"What? I was always told there was 6 months in a year, that a calendar had 2 years on it. Damn it!! That means I'm 8! Jasper you were right! I am a child." They were all staring at me.

"You're not even 3 yet?" Edward asked.

"No! Well technically I'm not but mentally and physically I am. I mature a lot faster than humans."

Victoria tried to kill an infant!!!! Jasper was murderous.

"Okay, infant is pushing your luck. I feel like a normal teenager I think I am or was one but I'm not sure…" I let my voice trail off.

Lorianna get your ass out here. This is your mother. If you don't come out I swear the Cullens won't live another day. I have someone with me I want you to meet. I had to hold back a hiss. I didn't want to meet her. She wasn't my mother and I didn't want to die, nor did I want the Cullens to die. I had to go regardless and hope they would live. I was as big a fool as Bella. I was rushing off to meet death.

"I'll be back in a bit. I just need to get out." Rosalie and Alice stood to follow me. "Alone," I added. I didn't want them hurt. As soon as I was sure no one would follow I ran from the house and back to the woods to a spot a few miles north of Forks. I approached slowly. I didn't want to die too fast. There in the clearing was a wounded human. He was about 6' 6' and had brown hair, green eyes. He was 16 by the looks of him and he smelled better than any human I had ever met. Victoria stood there. Holding him up by the back of the neck. It took all I had not to lunge at him. Luckily Victoria posed a large enough threat to distract me from his scent.

"Victoria! What did you do to him?!" I screamed at her.

"I am your mother! This human will die today. He's been used up. He's just the bait that already caught the fish."

"You are not my mother. Let him go!" I hissed at her.

"Fine! You can have him if you can beat me." She threw him behind her as I lunged for her throat. I was strong, stronger than she had ever let me get. It wasn't hard. I had her pinned to the ground in no time.

" I beat you now you let me and the human leave." I ordered her icily. I stood up and turned towards the human. My throat was burning. Then Victoria jumped up and pinned me to the ground before the human could even blink an eye. I struggled but it Victoria was still feeding on humans and I was a hybrid.

"Bill! Get out here. Touch her!" She screamed. I stiffened automatically. This was not going to happen. I wouldn't let it happen. I struggled more fiercely then before. I felt another cool hand touch me. It felt odd. Victoria let me go and ran to grab the human as I advanced towards her.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"By this time tomorrow you'll so vulnerable and helpless and irresistible. You won't last 5 minutes around any vampire. Too bad the vampire who did this is going to die now and this will only last for two weeks. On the bright side you're a much more fun target, besides the Cullens will probably finish you off for me." She cackled. "Before I go honey." She then gripped the human's arm and scratched. Forcing the blood out before taking off. The scent of his blood hit my nose like a steam engine. I wanted his blood so bad. It was worse than with the hiker. He wasn't bleeding as bad but something made the call of his blood stronger to me. It was terrible. With no enemy to worry about his blood seemed to be the only thing in existence right now.

I had to fight the monster for ten minutes before I knew I had to act. I didn't have enough time to prepare and lock the monster away. He was in so much pain it was almost crippling to me. I sat before him, hands clenched into fists.

"Hi, I'm Lorianna. What's your name?" I asked quietly. Flames torching my throat with each breath I took.

"I'm Jason. What…what are you?" He asked.

"I'm half vampire half human. A hybrid." I responded. "Will you let me take you to some friends of mine. They're full vampires, but they can patch you up better than I can." He was so scared.

"Don't worry. We don't drain humans. We drink animal blood." I assured him.

"Let's go then." He responded. I smiled slightly before picking him up taking great care not to jostle him unnecessarily and to make sure the weight was purely on my arms. I didn't know what that much physical contact would do to my self-control. He moaned in pain regardless. Then I was running. The monster inside me roared in pleasure knowing I was so close to the one she wanted. I fought fiercely as I ran. I would not kill him. I refused to kill him. It only took a minute to reach Forks.

"We're here. Don't worry. I won't let anybody else hurt you." I assured him. He smiled faintly.

"Carlisle! Open the door!!" I called in a normal tone as we approached the house. The door flew open. I walked inside and carried Jason to the living room. Setting him gently on the couch. Carlisle got right to work. Once he was done he explained.

"He has a broken leg, three cracked ribs, a broken finger, slight concussion, along with many new bruises." I hissed. I would kill that son of a bitch! "Lorianna what happened."

"I went and met Victoria." I stiffened as I heard the expected gasps from all around.

"Why would you do that?" Rosalie asked.

"It was the only way to keep you safe. She was going to run to the Volturi." I told them. "Victoria attacked Jason to use as further bait to get at me. She pinned me to the ground and had some vampire apparently start a process to turn me very vulnerable. In exactly 23 hours it'll be complete." I told them. They were confused.

"Why would she do that? Why didn't she just kill you? Not that I'm not glad she didn't…it just doesn't make sense." Jasper pondered.

"She said it made me a more fun target. She also thinks that one of you will slip up and kill me yourselves." I finished in a whisper. The room was silent and quickly filled with horror. Given how I smelled to them now to how I would smell then. I wasn't sure how accident-prone I would be. This was going to be really bad.

"Is Jason going to be alright?" I asked Carlisle anxiously.

"Yes."

"Oh, you guys don't have to worry about him finding anything out. He already knows almost everything." I told them. I went to the other room. I needed his scent as dilated as possible. I didn't want to hurt him. Rosalie followed me. The others left.

"You like him." She didn't ask she just affirmed it. She already knew.

"I don't know. I just feel so protective of him. He was so helpless back in the forest and now he's going to need help recovering or help finding his way back home. I just want to help him. No matter what he is. I shouldn't be around him regardless. It's far to dangerous." Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"After seeing Edward and Bell a how can you say that!" She asked.

"Because Edward isn't the only one with a singer!" I whispered back to her.

"What?" She asked shocked.

"When I first got to the meadow where Victoria was the danger from her was the only thing that stopped me from draining him. Before Victoria left she scratched him. The call for his blood was sooo much worse than when we found that hiker in the woods and I was dealing with everyone's thirst and my own at the time!"

"You should talk to Edward later and Alice."

"Lorianna." Jason called. I rushed over to his bed.

"Hi, Jason. How are you feeling?" I asked quietly.

"I feel like I've been hit by a bus." He replied smiling slightly.

"I'm so sorry Jason. This is my fault. If it wasn't for me Victoria wouldn't have done this to you."

"How is that your fault? Victoria is just some crazy bitch."

"Because Victoria is my mother. She wanted to lure me out and she knew if I saw a human in danger I would run to help." I tried to get him to understand.

Her mother tried to kill her. She is truly screwed up. "Yes, Victoria tried to kill me. I don't really think of her as my mother though. A mother wouldn't try to kill her daughter."

"How did you?"

"I can read minds. Sorry I didn't tell you sooner." I said as sincerely as possible. He seemed momentarily stunned. Had I done that? Had I just dazzled this poor unsuspecting human? I hopped not. My life and well world were far too dangerous for him. Just looking at him now made me aware of that.

"It's alright." He said shrugging. I took advantage of his silence. I needed to know how this all happened.

"Why were you in the woods Jason?" I queried quietly.

"I was hiking."

"Alone?"

"Yes, it helps me clear my head."

"Where do you go to school?"

"Forks, High."

"Where do you live?"

"A few miles from here."

"Do you mind if I bring you home. Your family must be worried."

Damn! I want to stay here! Why could he possibly want to stay here? He's in danger every second he's around me. He's risking his life! This sucks!!

"Ya, sure."

"Can you walk or do you still need to be carried?" I asked quietly. I didn't want to cause him further pain.

"Carlisle gave me crutches so I can walk."

"Alright. I just have to get the keys to the Volvo." He nodded. Just then Alice appeared at my side with Edward's keys. Jason jumped about a foot in the air.

"Alice," I warned her quietly. She waved me off. I shrugged taking the keys. Once we were in the car I decided driving at a more human pace would be safest. I opened two of the windows. I was going to need as much air as possible.

"You're going to have to tell me how to get there." I warned him.

"Just take a left out of the driveway." I nodded.

He smells so good! Just one taste won't hurt. We are alone. He must taste wonderful! No, No, No! He is a person. You are not going to kill him! I screamed at myself.

"Pull into the next driveway. Oh, crap! My dad's home." His panic seemed too large for such a simple problem.

"Let me talk to him. Just follow my lead. I'm going to pretend to be your girl friend."

Good thing I don't have one then!

I just laughed and helped him out of the car. As we entered the house I fixed a larger than necessary look of concern on my face and helped him get settled on the couch.

"What happened?" His dad asked angrily.

"Jason and I went out into the woods for a hike. We were up on a lower ledge and I started to fall. Jason grabbed me but when he did he lost his balance and fell down the hill. I'm sorry! If I hadn't been so stupid he wouldn't have fallen." I forced the tears to finally fall. It wasn't really that hard because it was my fault he was like this. I had caused him so much pain and I hardly new him. His dad came over and wrapped me in a hug.

"Now, it's not your fault. It's not like you pushed him. He'll be fine. Why don't you go home and rest?" I nodded. Walking out to the Volvo. I waved giving his dad a watery smile before driving away. Once I was out of his sight I picked up speed. I needed to talk to Edward and Alice, now!! I had no clue what to do.

It only took a minute to reach the house. Once inside I could see all the Cullens waiting.

I didn't tell them and they don't know. I just told them to be here when you got back. Good luck!! Rosalie mentally encouraged me. I flashed her a grateful smile. Edward looked between us confused by our conversation.

"Rosalie said you needed to talk to us?" Alice asked. Right after she finished talking her eyes glazed over and a blank look came over her face. In her vision she saw two versions of Jason. The first part of it showed him as a vampire the second showed him dead. Paler than even Edward with me standing behind him, his blood dripping from my mouth.

"No!" I screamed out loud. Everyone turned to look at me.

"Lorianna, there is a good chance…" I cut her off.

"Alice no! I can't do that! No!" I screamed at her.

"What's the problem?" Jasper asked.

"Jason's my singer." I told them all. They gasped and filled with worry and concern. Most was for me.

How will she deal with it once he dies? - Jasper

When is she going to kill him? - Emmett

Did she already kill him? – Carlisle

"He is still alive Carlisle. I am not going to kill him Emmett. Which is why you don't need to worry about how I'll deal with his death Jasper!" I hissed at them. Rosalie was furious. She ran over to Emmett and hit him over the head so hard it knocked him half way across the room. Esme and Alice hit Carlisle and Jasper too but not with nearly as much force. They all felt guilty and looked down for a second. I turned to Edward.

"What do I do?" I asked him no begged him to tell me. He was the only one there that could understand. He was with his singer, and they were happy. He was startled by how much I needed his help. I had no clue what to do.

"Is the pull for his blood stronger or weaker than this?" He asked before re living a memory of being alone with Bella and how she smelled/s. It was a strong pull but there was no comparison.

"Worse," I whispered back. He was shocked.

"Edward you can deal with Bella's scent far easier than I can deal with Jason's because you've been around her longer and you have what over 80 years more experience. I'm 8. I don't know what to do!"

"How do you feel about him?"

"I feel really protective of him. Other than that I'm not sure."

"That was how I felt about Bella when I met her." Edward mused. "Alice even sees her having those same two options as her future."

"I want to get to know him more, but he's already starting to enjoy my company. I don't want to put him in danger!" I was nearly crying again. "Not only is he in danger from me but from Victoria and Derek and I don't want to be the cause of his pain."

"Lorianna, you saying almost the same thing I said a year ago. Try getting to know Jason. Victoria already knows you saved him. She might try it again. By being near him. He could be safer." Edward advised.

"You're right." I said quietly.

……………………………………………………..

It was time for Bella's party and Edward had just brought her over. "Hi Bella!" I called to her. She smiled at me slightly. I went over to her. "Happy birthday!" She grimaced. "I know I'm not that fond of birthdays either but you're lucky. Yours only comes around once a year. I have two." I joked with her. She laughed and smiled appreciatively.

"Time for presents!" Alice sang. Bella opened the bow for her stereo.

"Um…thanks?" Everyone laughed.

"It's a stereo for your truck. Emmett's installing it right now so you can't return it." Alice explained.

"Thanks guys. Thanks Emmett." She called a little louder than necessary. She meekly accepted the next box handed to her. I was already next to Jasper just in case. They chose to ignore my warning.

"Jasper, trust me. Don't throw me off." He nodded understanding. As I knew she would Bella went to open her next present and cut her finger. Jasper had time to prepare though so it wasn't to hard to control him. He fought me but his eyes stayed relatively sane and it was more of a mental fight than a physical one. No one moved. I myself was fitting my own thirst but this one was pathetic compared to the pull of Jason's blood.

"Does anyone want to get Bella a band aid?" I asked. Edward stayed where he was. Alice left the room and quickly returned with a band-aid. Once the cut was covered everyone relaxed. I let go of Jasper in shock. I had just stopped a part of New Moon. I just derailed the book. What would happen to Bella and Jake's relationship now? I shrugged it off and watched Bella open the rest of her presents. I kept up the act until Bella and Edward left.