AN: There's a new Poll up now guys. Vote on which you would prefer.

~Somewhere in Washington State, USA~

-Twilight POV-

There's something about Forks, and Washington in general, that had a calming effect on my soul. Though I was still depressed over the whole Mai issue, and I would continue to be until I managed to rescue her, I'd lost that helpless feeling that had came over me in the middle of it. In fact, by the time I reached the closest town, I'd cooled down in general. Still, I didn't have the courage to find Embry and tell him what was bugging me, so I continued walking, allowing the dull snaps of branches and squelches sooth me. It had been so long since I'd actually been fully relaxed that I'd nearly forgotten the feeling.

The thought of me being calm brought a smirk to my face. It really had been a long time, pre-Roman days certainly... maybe when I was living in San Antonio, but probably not. I was always afraid that someone would discover my secret at the school I was attending, or someone would catch me breaking into the blood bank, a nice pack of O-Negative in between my teeth and some A-Positive running down my face. That'd really get them going, and after I leaped out of the building....

No one would have survived that night, and it wouldn't even be my fault. They would all died of heart attacks.

I began to laugh, tossing my head back as I did. Oddly enough, it began to rain at that moment, sending ice cold droplets down my cheeks, blending with something a little too warm.

Crying again... I scolded myself and shook my head slightly, sending little drops of water everywhere. Still the rain began to fall, picking up intensity until it was pouring down, stinging my now freezing skin and washing the ever present tears away. It felt....freeing.

It's odd, but I'd never had the opportunity to dance in the rain, even though it was something I'd always wanted to do. I'd heard of it in the movies and often saw pictures of emo girls saying that they wanted to dance in the rain to hide their tears, but I myself had never done it. I think that was why, in that singular moment, I began to sway slowly, humming whatever notes popped into my head. I'm sure that it sounded like a total mess, but to me it was uplifting. It was the sound of rain on skin...

It was the sound of hot, salty tears mating with ice cold drops from the heavens.

-Paul POV-

The small sprinkles and occaisional rain squall's that had been making their way through the valleys of nowhere, the place that I was stranded, when I'd drifted off into unconciousness had developed into full fledged downpours when I woke. At first, I thought it was the rain, that awful stinging kind that almost pissed you off, that had woke me but, after gaining control of my sense's, I realized it was a soft humming sound that had done the job.

The sound was beautiful, so much so that it brought tears to my eyes, though it could've been from the rain smacking the sensitive skin above them. For a moment, I found myself fantasizing that I was laying with Mai as she hummed, and that all of the tragedies we'd been through never happens. My fantasies continued, her hands grazing across my skin slowly and her beautiful lips curving into such a smile that-

I cut my fantasies off quickly and forced myself up. Despite the growing darkness from both the clouds and the setting sun, I could still pick out the figure moving slowly through the woods.

Aside from Mai, who would always be the definition of beauty in my world, the girl was the most beautiful thing I had seen. Her skin was slightly tanned, but not in that fake beauty queen way but the natural, genetic tan. It matched her dark hair that cascaded down her back elegantly.

Before I knew it, I found myself recalling the greek myths of beautiful wood nymphs wandering through the forests and wondered if she herself was one.

As I stared, the wind picked up, carrying the sweet scent of vampire only it was diluted by the rusty smell of running blood, a human trademark, and the slightly soured woodsy smell of wolves. It all assailed my nose at once, sending chills down my spin. There wasn't anyone else present, so all the scents had to be radiating from her, and it certainly, they were far too fresh.

Somehow, in some strange way, this girl had the genetics of a vampire, human and wolf.

I leaned forward a little, straining my already aching muscles, desperate to get a closer look. As a I did, a twig snapped beneath my hand with a small crack, but the noise was just enough to cause the girl to spin around and face me, her eyes wide in shock.

For a second, I wondered if she would flee and take away what was most likely my last chance at survival. As soon as that thought hit my head, another one entered, this one of the girl attacking me.

As I weighed the possibilities of either situation, the girl spotted my wounds and flinched in shock. Before I'd even processed it, she'd crossed half the distance between us and was heading right at me. Instantly I threw my arm up, trying to defend myself from what I was sure was an oncoming attack. It didn't do all theat much good, for just as I did, the girl caught it and lowered it slowly, revealing her eyes. I stared in them, trying to plea with my eyes to spare me, although death seemed just as nice since half of my heart was missing.

As we sat there, I saw her eyes change from hate and fear to total concern.

"What....what happened to you?" She asked, reaching out slowly and cupping my face. Instantly, the cuts beneath her palm began to throb, causing me to wince and jerk away. The girl only nodded a little and withdrew her hand.

"You smell like a crossbreed, but I know you're not one. You've been in contact with one...." Her eyes narrowed slightly, then flew open as she spun around to face me. "Two.... Domeinico...and Mai...."

The name took me by surprise, so much so that I leapt to my feet, a truly painful move, and stumbled to her.

"Mai, how do you know Mai?!" I shouted, holding her shoulders. "Did you see her recently?!"

"No." The girl answered, staring at me. "I haven't seen her in eight years.... since I lived it Volterra. When did you see her?!"

"I dunno. I've been stuck here for... two days I think...she was attacked..."

"By a man with black and red hair I assume?" Twilight asked, her eyes darkening in fear and sorrow.

"Yeah... I think so." I nodded a little. "Yeah. He was a half-breed too, I think."

Twilight nodded and looked at the ground, a slight shudder running through her.

"Domeinico...."She whispered and turned to me. "Mai's been taken back to Italy, where she'll be used to attack us."