Chapter 7
I do not own Twilight in any way.
A/N - Someone asked how Sarena was turned. Truth is, I literally just came up with it when I was writing the last chapter. It's explained here.
Christmas was a few days later.
Bella, Edward, Renesmee, and Jacob had gone over to Bella's father's house.
The Denali Coven, including Garrett, exchanged presents.
Sarena had given Garrett a book about American history.
"You do know that I could write a book about American history?" he said.
Sarena smiled and said, "I thought we could go through it and you could tell me all about it".
Garrett placed a kiss on her lips and said, "I like that idea". Garrett gifted Sarena with a locket.
"It's gorgeous, Garrett", she told him.
"I picked it up in an antique store", he said.
She reached for it, but Garrett grabbed her wrist.
"I thought you could use it when you practice your powers", he said, "I want you to be able to wear it without getting flashbacks".
"I'll try my hardest", she told him.
"I know you will", he said kissing her forehead.
"Sarena", Eleazar said, "Garrett mentioned you saw your family when you went to Seattle".
"It was very irresponsible and Garrett should have never allowed it", Carmen said.
"But I was careful!" Sarena insisted. She looked to Tanya and Kate for support, but they offered none. Sarena got up and made her way to the back porch.
Garrett followed her. He found her sitting on the steps staring out into the forest. "I'm sorry", he told her.
"It's not your fault", Sarena said.
"I shouldn't have said anything", Garrett said.
Sarena set her hand on his cheek and said, "I don't blame you. They were bound to find out somehow".
They were silent for a few moments until Garrett said, "Sarena, how…?"
Sarena sighed. "I knew this was coming", she said.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to", he told her.
"No, I know I need to", she said, "I was out shopping with my family. I wandered off and a man grabbed me. I tried to scream but he had a gun. He led me out to his van and threw me in the back. We drove for a while before I tried to escape. I threw open the van's back door and jumped out. I remember the pain I felt. I looked up and saw the van had stopped. I knew I had to get away so I started to run into the woods. It had just snowed and I had a flimsy jacket. I don't know how long I ran, but I eventually got tired. I hid in a hollowed out tree. The next thing I knew, I was in the Denali house".
"I'm sorry", Garrett said.
"I'm much happier now", she told him, "I was just lucky that vegetarian vampires found me or else I'd be…but I suppose it doesn't matter now. Bella should be thankful she gets to keep her family. I would do anything to be with my family again".
"But the Denali's are your family now", Garrett said.
"Sometimes", Sarena said, "Often, I feel like I don't fit in. Tanya, Irina, and Kate are all sisters and Eleazar has Carmen. I was just some random girl they saved from death. Maybe Coven life isn't for me".
"Then come with me. I could show you the world", he said.
"Where would we start?" Sarena asked him.
"Wherever you want to", he told her, "But before we do that, you need to do something".
"What?" she asked.
They stood in a graveyard.
"Garrett, I can't", Sarena told him.
"You have to. This is the only way you're going to let go of your past", he said.
They searched the gravestones, until Sarena stopped.
Seeing the words in stone made all the more real.
"Sarena Landenna, beloved daughter and sister".
So that was it.
They thought she was dead.
She was legally pronounced dead. She didn't know why, but Sarena was suddenly filled with anger.
Garrett, who had his arms wrapped around her, could feel her body shaking. He held her tightly until she stopped. "Are you okay, now?" he asked her.
"I'm hungry", she told him.
Garrett led her out of the graveyard and into the woods.
The trip to the graveyard was never mentioned again.
