Chapter 7: Encounter

We hung around inside the airport for a good fifteen minutes before my cellphone rang. I reached into my pocket, confused and hoping that it wasn't Nessa or Marcus. Flipping it open I saw that it was Carlisle. I shared a quick glance with Ryuuen then flipped it open.

"Hello?" I greeted.

"Valeria?" He asked. I smiled and nodded.

"Yes, it's me. What's up?" I questioned looking around the airport, all of the wolves were stretching from their long flight.

"I just got back from work and got your message." he replied. My jaw dropped. I forgot about my message. I had to stop myself from laughing when I heard Alice saying how much of a butthead I was in the background.

"I'm sorry, I was highly strung." I apologized. He just laughed.

"I heard from Jacob that you are heading here?" He questioned.

"Yes, we arrived at the airport about fifteen minutes ago." I informed him. Bickering could be heard in the background. Suddenly, that haunting feeling was back. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as the goose bumps rose on my arms. A hot breath could be felt on the back of my neck as Carlisle spoke. I looked back over my shoulder. Nothing was there.

"Valeria." He repeated. I zoned back into the conversation. "Did you hear me?" He asked. I sighed and laid my hand over my eyes, my fingers pressing against them firmly.

"No, I'm sorry. I got...sidetracked." I apologized again.

"I asked you if you would like a ride to my home." He repeated. I grunted. I had thought that I lost those eyes, that stalker. I shook my head.

"No, I'll walk, you can come and pick up Eng and his groups and Ryuuen if you want." I replied. He grunted.

"Why do you want to walk?" He asked. I looked around once again, the feeling of eyes closer now.

"I have a feeling I'm being followed." I whispered. Without letting him comment I clicked the phone off and looked to Eng. "Eng, Carlisle will be here to pick your pack and Ryuuen up. I'll walk." I informed him. He didn't say anything, just nodded. Turning I made my way towards the doors, pushing through the crowd, hoping that the eyes would follow me. They hesitated a bit, the saturation thinning out for a split second, then became thick again. I smiled slightly to myself. Good, it was after me.

Pushing the doors open, I walked down the sidewalk until I reached the edge of the woods. Sliding into the trees I turned and waited. I was standing there for a few minutes until two cars showed up. A light blue Volvo and a Black Mercedes. A blonde stepped out of the Mercedes. Just as I thought, vampires. Then a woman and a man with almost a bronze colored hair stepped out. They walked into the building, then returned a few moments later with the gang. Carlisle looked in my direction as they wolves poured into the backs of their cars. The other man looked back at me as well. Slowly I put my finger to my lips. Climbing in, they started the cars and drove out. It was my turn to follow.

Turning I started to run, the looming presence behind me followed. My plan was going to work. I followed the cars quickly, not wanting to lose track of them, the stalker still on my tail. I followed them until they pulled into a long passage, then reeled around, flinging my arms out. I didn't know what it was, but it collided with my arm, snapping my shoulder out of socket, sending both me and it to the ground. Screaming, I grabbed my arm and snapped it back into place, throwing myself to my feet.

A girl stood up slowly, her eyes red. The lower half of her face was covered up and she was clad in latex. She began to circle me. I laughed, watching her.

"So, Marcus sent me a spy?" I snarled. I could smell vampire's everywhere. She looked around as a couple bodies emerged from the darkness of the forest. Vampires. The Cullen's. I smiled tauntingly as I flexed my arms.

"No," she hissed, her voice sounding mono-toned. "Marcus did not send me. I came to kill you, myself." She replied. I stood up straight, looking at her with incredulous eyes.

"You? Kill me? By yourself." I laughed. My cackles filling the forest ringing through in a maniacal way. "You can try." I sneered. Kicking off the ground, she screamed and slashed at me with a knife she had in her pocket. Did a diving roll out of the way, causing her to miss. Kicking off the ground, I launched myself at her, my fangs bared. Grabbing her wrist, I snapped her arm back and jammed the blade of her knife into the small of her back. She screamed, blood trickling from her eyes. I jumped back. Ripping the knife out of her back she whirled around and progressed forward, swinging it. I moved off to the side, but miscalculated the fact that she had two. Bringing her other one around, she dug it into my side so that the only thing sticking out was the hilt. I screamed and whirled away from her, taking the knife with me.

"Die!" She screamed, throwing her other one at me as I attempted to pull the one lodged in my side out. Looking up, the knife got me in the throat. I gagged as my vision blurred. The scuttling sound of footsteps reached my ears as I fell to my knees. She laughed at me, then collapsed, her spine finally folding. I smiled at her. Her expression looked at me warily, thought still victoriously. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a little detonator. She looked at me confused, then looked down at the puddle of blood she was kneeling in. Her eyes grew huge as she gasped. She screamed right when I pushed the button. A large barbed net with strong aluminum string shot out and ripped her apart from the inside out.

Gasping for air, I dropped it and leaned forward.

"No!" A man screamed. Ryuuen. I looked back at him, but that wasn't all who was there. Two more werewolves, Indian. Both of them from my images. Ryuuen dashed forward and threw his arms around me, careful of the knife still in my neck. The Taller of the two Indian boys stared at me in confusion as the littler one broke out into tears.

"Ella!!" He screamed and ran forward. The others looked at him confused. I felt the hot blood drip from my chin as I stared at him. My images flooded back into my mind.

"S-Seth?" I whimpered, that name coming to my tongue before Who are you? He looked at me, the blood, the tears gushing harder than Ryuuen's.

"Oh," he whimpered, reaching up and touching the handle of the knife in my neck. "Ella, no!" He cried. He covered him mouth with his hand and shook his head. "Hold on, I'll get this out of you." He whispered. Grabbing onto the handle of the knife, he pulled it out, the blood spraying at him. I gasped, my vision blurring worse. I fell forward, my face in his chest as a chorus of confused murmurs rose in an uproar. Then, there was nothing.

Queen of Voltaire

Opening my eyes I found myself in front of the Cullen's house -I'm guessing- my head rested on Seth's lap. I grumbled turning my head, my head splitting under the pain. I gasped as fire ripped through my throat. Seth turned his head to look at me, slightly confused but mainly concerned. The others were huddled together, talking about the possibility of me actually being this...Ella that Seth had addressed me by.

"Are you alright?" Seth whispered, loud enough for only me to hear. I looked at him confused then smiled faintly.

"I'm sorry." I wheezed, my head pounding. He chuckled lightly and dragged his hand across my forehead, his head cocked to the side. He was so kind, so loving. I let my head fall off to the side, allowing his hot touch to burn away all the coldness from my flesh. I loved his touch. The feeling of something warm, almost searing hot dragging lightly across my flesh. That's when I remembered how I had gotten in this sorry state to begin with. "Who is she?" I whispered, my eyes opening back up. He looked at me confused, then sighed, finally understanding who I was talking about.

"I don't know, we didn't check yet." He whispered. I nodded slowly. Grabbing onto a handful of grass I forced myself into a sitting position, Seth's hands on my shoulders to steady me. "Where are you going?" He asked as I forced myself to my feet.

"I'm going to see who my attacker was. She had a lot of nerve to attack me like that." I replied, grunting in pain. The Cullen's looked at me as I allowed myself to adjust to my standing up position. I must have lost a lot of blood to become so woozy. Carlisle stepped forward looking at me with an urgent expression, one that told me to lay down and get my rest like a doctor.

"Where are you going?" He repeated Seth's question.

"I am going to see who attacked me." I repeated, getting slightly annoyed of having to repeat myself even though I know he clearly could have heard me. He looked back over his shoulder at his family. Ryuuen stepped out of the crowd.

"I will go with you." He informed me with a protective tone. I shook my head, my head spinning with the movement.

"No, there is no need." I replied. He shared a look with me that practically screamed Oh yes I am.

"It was my fault that you were attacked in the first place. You were nearing death, Valeria, because I wasn't there to protect you." He strolled forward, his hands clutching mine, he looked into my eyes with desperation, love, but I felt nothing for him like that. I again shook my head.

"You are stubborn, Ryuuen." I giggled. Pulling my hands away I smiled at him and nodded my head once. "You can come with me." I replied. He smiled and bowed slightly, grabbing my hand and kissing it. Seth glared from behind him, his eyes darkening. I looked at Seth with confusion then smiled. "You may come too-"

"Thank you, i planned on that whether you said yes or no." He interrupted. An odd flush of guilt swept over me as I looked away from him. Letting go of Ryuuen's hands I'm moved away and started my way towards the woods, following the scent of my own blood, using it as a trail. Seth, Ryuuen and Jacob followed me. I stayed mainly on a straight path, stopping once in a great while to grit my teeth against the pain I felt, trying to make it seem like I was still following the trail. I couldn't fool them. Jacob stepped forward and wrapped his arm around my waist, electricity surged between us, taking my breath away. He started forward, his eyes blank.

I looked at his face as he walked me forward, the urge to kiss his lips were strong, stronger than I had ever imagined it would be. I turned to look at the trail. I was pathetic, I was useless. Stopping above the gathered remains of my attacker, her shattered corpse placed back into a pile, Jacob slowly held me, but started to ease my support away.

"Thank you." I whispered. He smiled and nodded at me. Turning to the pile I let myself fall to my knees, the sudden collapse causing all of them lean forward as if to catch me, but once they saw me firmly on my knees, they paused and backed off. Reaching forward I grabbed the cloth that was wrapped around her head and pulled the severed part towards me. "Now let's see who you are." I snarled softly. Ripping the cloth down her face, I was shocked. The face was familiar. Defined lips that were full, yet parted in such a way. The dark brown eyes that stared at me, full of fear. But the thing that caught my attention was the skin. The color of her flesh sent Ryuuen into a panting fit. I looked back at him, my heart racing. His eyes were wide as horror was apparent on his face. I shook my head. He howled and moved forward, shoving me off to the side, my shoulder hitting at tree.

"No!!!" He howled, clutching at the head, tears flooding to his eyes. "Why Rayne! Why did it have to be Rayne!" He snarled, his cries full of agony. Grunting I sat up and looked at him with pity.

"Ryuuen, I'm sorry." I whispered. Grabbing onto his dead sister's arm, he whirled around and whipped it at me, the arm hitting me roughly in the chest.

"No! You aren't!" He snarled. Seth moved forward and grabbed him as he turned on me.

"You didn't seem to mind having your head shoved up her rump a few moments ago!" Seth snarled in his ear. Ryuuen forced him off and threw himself to his feet.

"My...sister...you...fiend!" He snarled, his eyes filled with tears. I stood up, my breathing heavy as I watched the water gush down his face. I was a monster. I was a reject. My lips quivered as I stared at him, feeling a similar emotion. I shook my head and turned away, running into the woods. I had to go away. I had to go somewhere where I'd be wanted.

Queen of Voltaire.

I dashed through the trees, my vision impaired by the tears. I didn't want to hurt Ryuuen like that, and I had no choice but to kill Rayne, she would have killed me first. Didn't he hear her when I asked her why Marcus had sent her here? Didn't he hear her say that she wasn't sent by Marcus as a spy, or an assassin. Did he not hear her say that she wanted to kill me?

I continued on through the trees, the sun beginning to lower itself in the sky. I was left alone. I had no where to go. No one to stay with, and I was in a strange place. Stopping, I stood in the middle of the road, the tears gushing down my face, the rain falling down upon me like a shower of blood, warm, and hate filled. Clutching my fists I screamed up at the sky, my voice filled with agony. I felt so human. I felt so...empty.

Dropping to my knees I wrapped my arms around my stomach and cried, my hair sticking to my body, and the cold wet earth around me. I felt so alone. So hated, and it was mostly by myself. The cold cement dug into my knees as my fingers clawed their way into my flesh. The hair that seeped into the puddles were a dark red, almost as if I was changing right there. Suddenly, a light lit up my flesh, stopping my sobbing. I looked up just in time to see a car screech to a halt, the bumper of car just inches from my nose. I stared at the metal in shock, pure fear causing my body to quiver as the door of the driver side opened and shut.

"Are you alright!?" A man hollered walking around. I turned my head to look at him, almost on the verge of crying from almost being decapitated by a ford. He was from the reservation. A police officer, or chief, from the badge. He came around and crouched so that he could look in my face better. "You ok?" He asked laying his hand on my face. I remember this man, from somewhere. I blinked a couple times, then a cluster of images came back to my mind of a man laying nude on top of the red haired girl in the snow, his smile kind. I blinked the images away and pushed myself to my feet, staring at him. He slowly stood up, his eyes peering into mine with confusion.

"S-Sam Uluey?" I questioned, remembering that name from my deja vu with Ryuuen. The news broadcast at the little old ladies house. He nodded cautiously. I looked down, starting to recall all of the things that happened to me within the past month, then Aro's riddle came back. Next time, look deep into your reflection, and you will find Mayella. Look into my reflection, but all that's there is me. And what had Seth been calling me? Ella? May...Ella. I stopped, a sudden dawning that was so obvious. I was Mayella. I was Edward Cullen's daughter. I was the granddaughter of Carlisle Cullen...I was the wife of Jacob Black. I gasped as I slammed my hands over my mouth, staring at Sam.

He pulled back a little bit, slightly spooked by my sudden reaction, staring at me like I was a mental patient. It made sense! Why I felt like I belonged with Jacob! how I knew Carlisle was a vampire! Why I felt like I did around Seth! It all flooded back to me now. In the white lab with Xio, his confession to who I was. The medicine he gave me. The reason why Marcus didn't want me out of Voltaire. Why I couldn't find Mayella by looking around for her. Why no one new her. I wasn't Valeria Macula...wait! My last name said everything! Ma from Mayella cu from Cullen and a from the end of Mayella!

"Sam!" I screamed and threw my arms around him, crying into his chest. He looked down at me like I was insane, his hands clutching to my sides.

"Whoa now! Who are you?" He questioned. I looked up at him, the tears in my eyes.

"Mayella! I'm Mayella! Don't you remember me!" I howled. He looked thoughtful for a moment, as if trying to see proof in my face, then his face warped to one of shock

"Mayella?" He hollered. I laughed, my voice shaking from the joy I felt. I knew him. I knew him! He was my godfather. He hugged me tightly, his arms crushing me. "Mayella, how did you?" He choked pulling away from me, his hands on my shoulders. I shook my head.

"I left Voltaire cause of Marcus. I left with Ryuuen and his sister Rayne followed me and I ended up killing her because she attacked and tried to kill me and the Cullen's and now Ryuuen hates me and I don't know what to do!" I howled crying, my explanation possibly to fast for him to catch. He nodded, his eyes looking confused.

"Oh, ok." He replied slowly. He looked around as I continued to cry. "Well, I was just running through one more patrol if you'd like to come home with me, you know. Get out of the rain, describe how you life has been?" He offered, his smile deep and loving. Sniffling, I nodded, my body shivering in the cold air. Perhaps I found someone who would care enough for me. At least for now.