Chapter 8

Revelations

I stopped running just before the three mile boundary mark to the Cullen's house. Now I was here. I didn't know if I could face it. It was easier for me to be their secret protector then face them. To have them know everything. I groaned loudly. Just do the right thing. After over 30 years man the fuck up and see your family! I thought angrily to myself. I stepped over the boundary line, the smell of the wolves was almost overpowers. Yuck, it burned my nose. I walk slowly towards the still invisible house. I had only been walking for about 5 seconds before that god damn smell became too much. I scurried up a nearby tree, breathing in the clean air above. I took off through the tree tops. Jumping from one to the other with ease. Finally I reached the house. I froze in my tree. What did I do now? Before I had time to decided Edward stepped out the back door and looked up at me smiling.

I knew you would come back he thought smugly. I rolled my eyes at him

Don't get cocky Eddy, we grinned at each other. I leapt down from my perch in the trees. Landing neatly, from a 30ft drop, in a crouch. I slowly straighten up looking at Edward. He grabbed me suddenly and pulled be into a hug that would crush a humans bones. I laughed at him.

"Bugger off you weirdo" I said pushing him off me. He grinned at me like a kid at Christmas.

"Come on" he said grabbing my hand and pulling me into the house. The entire Cullen family was waiting form me. They where all staring at me.

Well this is awkward I thought sarcastically to Edward.

Yes, yes it is he thought back. We all stood in silence for almost five minuets, everyone looking at me. Finally it became too much.

"Erm, hi" I muttered awkwardly. Emmett burst out laughing, Alice grinned and Emse was across the room in a second pulling me into a hug. I felt her sobs as she held me like I was a child again. I locked my arms around her refusing to let her go. I felt Carlisle come up to us and wrap his arms around both of us.

It was 10 minuets before we finally broke apart. And even then Esme took hold of my hand. She guided me to the sofa and pulled me down next to her. Carlisle perched on the coffee table in front of me, Alice took up the seat next to me and the whole family, even the wolves gathered around.

"Tell me what happened. Please" Esme asked quietly. I nodded, took a deep breath and started.

"Well, after I moved to England when I was 15, I started working at a little place, its hard to explain it was sort of, autopsies mixed with investigation, mixed with medical and murder and…its complicated. But anyway. I worked with a small team; there was myself, Finley and Mark plus our boss, and one of my best friends, Jack. Well one day about 36 years ago, 3 months before my 17th birthday, I was working. We had a very interesting case in, and myself and Jack worked late, inspecting the body. By the time we left it must have been about 1 in the morning. I didn't have a car so I walked home. Well that was the plan. I erm, was about halfway home, my mind preoccupied with bills. I was erm just coming up to the ally I normally cut through when I caught movement up ahead, I had taken out my gun and-oh don't give me that look Esme, it was just a gun- anyway I was ready I just thought it was a drunk walking through, but then it disappeared, I spun around looking for them and I felt them move past me, I er spun again and then I felt something, rip into my wrist. And it burnt. And then I knew. I knew everything that was happening. I remember begging for them to male it stop and the last thing I remember is a tall figure standing over me and then…it all went black. I passed out letting the fire take me.

When I woke up I was in a field. I still to this day don't know how I got there. I was alone and I was terrified. My throat burnt so badly but I refused to hunt on the human I could hear a mile away. Instead, I ran. I was lucky I found a grizzly and fed on him. I swore I would do Carlisle proud. Follow his policy. And I did. I found a fellow vampire, Becky, she started travelling with me. A few years later we where joined by Lewis. He is now Becky's mate. We have a permanent residence now. Up in Alabama. It's just a little cottage in the middle of nowhere. Becky and Lewis they waver with their feeding. But I stay true. I have never feed on a human. We got that house about 20 years ago now. We stay out of the public and they stay clear of us. I never truly feel right there. Its not home to me. I lived there continues for about 3 years before I decided it wasn't home. That's when I started leaving. I left for weeks, months, on end. I would travel around the country, picking up vampire tracks and following them, hoping they where you. I must of followed thousands without success when one day, I stumbled across the old house. And I caught a scent. It was recent. Someone had visited it. I know now that someone was our dear Eddy. But I followed it. Across the country, state after state. Slowly a second joined it, Alice. I tracked you all the way and finally stumbled across you. I kept a safe three mile radius. Keeping you just within my range, im like Edward in the mind department you see, anyway I erm, decided in that moment, when I heard Carlisle comforting Esme over my 'death', that I would protect you all. And that's what I did. For the past 20 odd year's I have been sitting in the shadows watching. I pop back to Alabama every month or so, to check in, but those visits are getting further and further apart. I followed you when you left. I fought in Seattle. I made the newborns believe I was one of them. I was careful never to run into you. And that brings us to now. To the clearing and well you have figured that part out for yourself" I was breathless by the time I finished. I hadn't talked that much in years, ni decades. I looked down at my feet. It was so hard to let down my guard. To let them in. Even Becky and Lewis don't know my whole story. They didn't even know where I went or why.

Well done kid Edward thought to me. I nodded. Just a tiny movement anyone who wasn't looking for it wouldn't have noticed it.

Oh my sweet girl. Poor thing! All alone! Oh my – Esme's thoughts where complete chaos. Carlisle's where much the same. Alice was thinking through all her old visions only now noticing a constant shadow in the background, confirming my story. Jasper was thinking practically

How could she resist a human when she was only minuets old? So – his thoughts followed the same line over and over. Then there was Rosalie, she was mythed about how I was 'more beautiful' then her (at least that was her opinion) ever vain. And Emmett, well his mind was blank. Completely blank. Then there was Renesmee. Her head was whirling with new information. Finally all the wolves where just staring at me. Trying to decipher me.

Edwards hand squeezed my shoulder. I looked up at him and he smiled kindly back.