Everyone inhaled at once, anticipating the disturbing news that was about to come. It was deathly quiet, so quiet you could hear a pin drop... Well, we could always hear a pin drop.
My father spoke again, quietly, "It's Joham," I sighed in relief, how was this worse than the Volturi? This was much better, but then I glanced around at my families faces, I saw the shock and panic in them.
"But, I don't understand, you said it was worse than the Volturi?" I started, this was good news, we should be celebrating. We could take down one little vampire no problem, he certainly didn't have to power the Volturi had.
Alice was the one to speak next, ignoring my question completely, but in her own way, answering it. "But.. Edward, the Volturi said they were going to speak with him, to kill him for creating half vampires.. For wanting to use them as an army, his own superior race.."
So he was the Hitler of the vampire world? Still, easy enough. Even Hitler fell eventually. I was still unsure as to why everyone seemed so afraid, everyone except myself and Nahuel. Nahuel continued to gaze at me with questioning eyes, and I seemed to be the only one who thought this wasn't nearly as bad as the Volturi..
My dad heard my thoughts then, and answered them, "Yes, Nessie, you're right. He is like the Hitler of this world, and he would be easy enough to defeat with all of us, if it wasn't relevant that he had the Volturi behind his back. Our America has sided with him, maybe even put him up to this, and that is worse than anything imaginable. The Volturi knew there was no reason to come and attack us themselves, so they agreed to let Joham live, if he could ruin us. He knew he could do this alone, so he has created more hybrids," I inhaled deeply. Nahuel wasn't the only one like me, there was more.. but he was the only one who wouldn't try to destroy me.
Jasper growled, "How many?"
"He has created 30 within the last seven years, some have reached full maturity, but most will take another year or so to do so. He hasn't decided on whether or not he should wait for the others to mature, or to take them here as they are," Nahuel spoke now, his musical voice ringing in my ears, "Actually, he hasn't decided on much of anything. The Volturi told him about the powers of your psychic," he gestured towards Alice, "and how she can only see complete decisions. It was only a precaution though, they knew you would think he was dead, and would not look out for him, but if someting were to trigger the visions to start, he was prepared with indecision as his weapon."
This is when I began to comprehend the real danger. Thirty hybrids, no doubt stronger than my family, the wolves, or any newborn ever created, because the blood flowed within them, always. We would be defeated.
I took the time to look at everyones faces, my mother stood there speechless, if she could cry, she would be balling now. Alice was in complete shock, a state you would never see her in. My father stood there, angry, fuming. He had his arms half extended, one towards my mother, and one towards me. Jasper put my fathers anger to shame, I could swear I saw steam evacuating his ears.
"Thats not all," my father spoke again, a growl errupting from his throat, "He is powerful. Perhaps more powerful than any other vampire.. He adapts other peoples powers and learns them inside and out. Since has met all of the Volturi, he has gained each of their powers. He can do all the powers that we fear the most."
I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes now, falling slowly and rolling off my face. We were all in trouble, terrible trouble, and it was my fault. I couldn't escape the thought that my entire family was risking their lives for me. Some might lose lives... No, it wouldn't happen. I had to get alone with Nahuel, I needed him to tell me everything. I would stop this, if it was literally the last thing I did.
My family began to head back, to tell the others what was going on, to prepare to fight, to prepare to lose. This was my one and only chance.
"Nahuel," I began, "Would you like to go hunting with me? We could catch up, and you seem kind of hungry," I asked, hoping, but already knowing the answer.
He blushed under his dark skin, "Yes, I would like that, if your family believes that it is safe enough."
"Mom, dad?"
"Hmm? Sure, just stay within 20 miles of the house, and make it a quick trip."
And so it began.
