Chapter 4: Matia's Story

Alice and Matia were chattering the whole way back to the house. Alice had been filling Matia in on our current lifestyle, how her and Jasper met, and how she had found Carlisle. All in a nutshell. Alice was hungry to learn what Matia had been up to. The girl said that it was a long story and that she would explain when they returned. Alice was definitely not going to let her go without the whole story. Poor girl.

When we got back inside, everyone gathered in the living room. Rosalie, being persuaded by Emmett to be polite would rather not be here. " I wish Rose would just give her a chance." Emmett thought to me. I nodded. Carlisle spoke first.

"Matia, I'm simply astounded. How did you decide to prey on animals? I noticed from your eyes." He asked.

"I think you will need some background information before I get to the actual story, if you don't mind," she responded.

"Of course," replied Esme.

"What I was able to do as a human progressed into a certain talent that I have. It's very difficult to explain, but I have a knack for really understanding a person's spirit. For example, when I first met you, Carlisle, I was able to see that you are a very compassionate, nonviolent person without you saying anything to me. It's almost like I can see into a your soul and really know what kind of person you are. I'm not sure if that's the best I can explain it – I hope that's adequate enough."

I knew from her thoughts exactly what she was talking about. That's how she could guess about us so easily! She wasn't guessing at all – she was seeing our true souls without us hiding anything.

"Amazing," Carlisle breathed.

Matia laughed. I liked the sound.

"Ha, Edward!" Alice giggled. "Vampires do have souls! We have a chance after all!"

"Yes my son, I knew there was hope for you." Carlisle was triumphant.

"We really have souls?" I asked her.

"Of course," she responded. "And an afterlife."

I scowled at the floor but I couldn't help feeling relieved. Not for myself having hope, but for Carlisle. Surely, if anyone deserved a chance at having a soul, at some kind of afterlife, it was Carlisle.

"Okay so how did you choose to hunt animals?" Jasper pressed.

"Oh that's right. When I was a newborn, I admit that I did hunt humans. After my third kill, I started to understand my talent better. See, when I hunted humans, I saw the goodness that most of them had in their souls. I saw that they had goodness and love and bravery. At first, I thought I was just crazy, but as it started to differ from human to human, I figured it out. I couldn't just kill them after I saw what they had in their true souls without the editing before they speak or the mask that is put on. It was very difficult, first understanding your prey, and then having to kill them. And when I terrified them, I saw the terror they were trying to hide and often couldn't." She stopped. "Again, I'm sorry I can't explain it better than that."

"Just like Edward and Jasper," whispered Alice.

"What?" Matia asked.

"I, also could feel what my prey felt," Jasper added. "It really changes things."

"I can read minds," I clarified. "I could hear the terror and horror of their thoughts. That's one reason why I don't hunt humans." I couldn't believe we had that in common. It was utterly mind boggling to think of another vampire giving up human blood solely because of the same reason I had. For Jasper, other factors were part of it, but for this girl, merely understanding her food was enough to disgust her. I thought that was just I – having to witness my prey's thoughts.

"You read minds?" she asked with wonder.

"Yes."

"Were you reading my mind? Before?"

"Yes. I thought you were merely very observant. Obviously, that isn't the case," I chuckled " Were you looking into my soul? Before?"

"Yes." She leaned toward me, ever so slightly. "You hide so much, Edward. Had I not had my gift, I would have never guessed…" she trailed off. I don't know what it was, but when she said my name, a warm feeling spread through my chest. What was this feeling? I only just realized, that I in turn, was leaning slightly toward her. She continued to stare at me, with fresh wonder in her eyes. I stared back. To see someone's soul…it amazed me to realize how much truth she had seen in mine.

Haha looks like Edward will finally be on the other side of the whole mind reading thing! Emmett laughed. Look at the way they are looking at each other. Both Rosalie and Esme shared this thought. Rosalie thought it with venom in her voice, while Esme thought it with adoration.

"Matia, you still haven't told us what you are doing here and what you have been doing," Alice reminded Matia impatiently. Alice's remark tore Matia's eyes from mine and focused them on the entire group.

"Well, I've moved around a lot. I definitely didn't stay in Biloxi. There were too many unpleasant memories there. For my first newborn years, I stayed in places that had abundant animal life, but were also in close proximity to civilization. I didn't want to come back to humans one day and be dying to quench my thirst. After the hideous newborn years were over, I had no idea what to do with myself. So I began to travel the world. Sadly, I had to refrain from some of the places I had wanted to go as a human. I couldn't go to Egypt, Australia, California – and many more places I wanted to go but couldn't because of the sun. I would find other peaceful nomads, but in the end, our hunting styles created too much controversy for ideal living. So I mainly just traveled the world, taking my time enjoying the place for what it was. I finally decided to go back to Biloxi – not expecting what I would find. I saw my parents, old, graying, and peaceful. I was glad that they were enjoying the remainder of their life. How much I wished I could run up to them, but I knew I probably end up giving them a heart attack. Imagine seeing your seventeen your old daughter, who has been dead for ten years suddenly run up to you. Definite heart attack. My sister was happily married with a child, as was my brother. I browsed through the records, finding out things about my family and friends. I saw that Alice was admitted to the asylum and died there. I was extremely sad that she had died that way. Or so I thought." Matia playfully narrowed her eyes at Alice. Alice then smiled back innocently, and angelically.

"Go on," Carlisle insisted.

"I kept wandering. I realized that I had been right in the beginning. Biloxi had nothing for me now. I didn't even know how to find the vampire that changed me. I stayed in South America for a while actually. I loved the Andes climate, but the natives there knew too much about vampires. As I headed out, I met an Amazonian coven. We lived peacefully together for a time. They didn't understand my diet and how I wanted to do something more than just wander through life. So they told me a story about a certain vampire coven in North America that survives on animal blood and plays a role in society as well." Her eyes scanned the room and smiled at us. "They told me this coven was especially unique and that they live on the Pacific Coast. Naturally, I was intrigued and yearned to meet this family for myself. I don't know how I missed you, but I ran too far north. I realized that I loved the cold and the fogginess of Canada. I stayed in the mostly uninhabited Northwest Territories for a while also. I got very distracted, and I forgot about the mysterious family." She scanned the room again, making sure she had not offended anyone. "So, one day, I decided to go hunting. I followed my prey down farther than I expected to. And then, I smelled seven vampires. Well, the rest is history." She finished. "I can't believe you wandered so much!" Alice exclaimed.

"I know, it was terrible," Matia agreed, "not knowing where you were off to next, wondering where to go." I couldn't believe how much I now respected Matia. She had been abandoned as a newborn and fought off the thirst by herself. She had been without any company for who knows how long, and she still seemed sane. She was still able to sit with a large group of vampires without any problem.

"Thank you so much for your hospitality," she started, "I really hope I haven't made a pest of myself."

"Not at all," Esme responded quickly. "Please stay as long as you like."

"Definitely," added Alice. "But I figured you already knew that."

Matia grinned at us. "Thank you very much," she said again.

"Matia, I don't think you understand that we are serious," Alice accused. "There is a spare bedroom upstairs if you want it."

"By all means," added Carlisle.

"Thank you very much, but let's see if you don't get sick of me after a few days before I'm moving in," she joked, but she was still serious. It was hurting me how much this girl thought that we didn't want her with us.

"We would all be more than happy if you do decide to stay with us," I smiled warmly, and her eyes brightened in response.