Ch. 10

Surprise

Mel's POV

We had all gotten back from the Christmas service at church. Everyone was mad because I had decided to keep my childhood tradition of looking at Christmas lights after ward. It was bad enough I had made everyone dress up in suits and ties. Even the Volturi. Caius had thought the tie would be a great torture weapon of course. As soon as we got back everyone was in more comfortable clothes. We sat around the Christmas tree which had tons of presents beneath it.

All the Cullen's handed out their gifts they had gotten for their girl. Eryn got a C.D. with Edward's songs on it and a necklace with a heart pendant with bat wings that was covered in diamonds.

"It sparkles like you." She said after opening it. He helped her put it on after a gentle kiss.

Carlisle got Kim a Diamond encrusted superman symbol necklace and a missing season of House and a naughty nurse uniform. She had recently started calling Carlisle Dr. House instead of Dr. Cullen. It was very appropriate for them two, especially since Carlisle calls Kim Cutty sometimes, too.

Jasper handed Shasha a book with a black plain cover. She opened it and screamed.

"My story! This is Black Cat, my story!" She turned it over and over in her hands. On the binding was her name and the title of the book.

"All you need to do is design a cover and I can put a covering on for you." Jasper said with delight. He was happy she liked it.

"Thank you, Jazz." She kept hugging him and kissing him till all of us coughed. Then she finally sat down and was immersed in her story.

Emmett was the last one to present a gift. He handed me a neatly wrapped box. I peeled off the paper and there was a blue sparkly rose. The rest of the box was empty.

"Thank you." I said kissing him on the cheek. He then handed me an envelope that had a small bulge. The bulge happened to be a key. He took me by the hand and led me outside.

In the drive way was a fire red Vanquish with a big white star on the hood of the car. Big Red was the license plate. My smile grew big and I squeezed him around the waist. It was perfect. He kissed me on the forehead.

"I am glad you like it." We walked back inside and the girls gave the Cullen's their gifts.

I gave Emmett a dog tag with his name on it, his birth date, and it said at the bottom I love you. He loved it and put it on right away. Kim gave Carlisle a stethoscope all shiny and new with his name engraved on it. The family crest was on the opposite side of the part you put to your chest. He also loved it. Eryn gave Edward the book of Labyrinth songs for the piano and the book. He started playing the songs right away having little trouble with the melody. Jasper opened Shasha's gift that was thinly covered by a sheet. It was a collage of all the wolf pictures he had drawn of him in different emotions. In the center was the painting Alice had done of him. He starred at the picture Alice had painted. Finally he stood up and hugged her tight. Smiles on both of their faces.

"Now it is your turn!" I turned to the Volturi and smiled. I could tell they had been bored the whole time.

"Why, my dear, you didn't have to get us anything." Aro said. I heard Caius whisper under his breath 'yes she did.'

"Oh, don't worry. It is my pleasure. I saw these and thought you guys just had to have them. And besides, what kind of hostess would I be if I didn't?" I grabbed Felix's gift first.

He opened it and his eyes were amazed. It was a complete collection of all the U.S. state quarters. They were all perfectly shined and sparkled in the light.

"Shiny!" He said his fingers running over and over them like a small child's.

Next was Marcus. I handed him his box and he opened it confused. Inside was a bottle of anti-depressants and the two Jeff Dunham DVDs. I thought it would brighten up his life. He took the pills in his hands and swallowed two like the bottle said. He smiled and seemed happier right away.

Then I gave Jane hers. She tore off the pink paper to reveal a soft, fluffy, pink stuffed bunny.

"What is this?" She was fiddling with the long ears.

"It's a stuffed bunny!" I exclaimed.

She tore off the head and dropped it. Then she picked it up and started to take out the eyes and nose. By the time she was done it was in shreds and the stuffing lay everywhere.

"That was kind of fun. And pointless. Thanks anyway."

"You ruined the bunny!" Aro yelled.

"I'll get you another one." Jane sighed.

"Your turn, Caius." I handed him his gift and he opened it, fear in his eyes. Inside were pink fuzzy handcuffs and a slinky.

"What are these?" He asked.

"Those are handcuffs. You can use them in your torture!" I answered.

"Warning. They break very easily." Shasha commented.

"How would you know?" Eryn interrogated.

"Well, umm, you see, we were umm." She stuttered looking up at Jasper.

"Any way," I cut her off seeing where it was going. "And that is a slinky. You put it down the stairs like this." I demoed it for him and he watched, bored. Aro found it very interesting and Felix just thought it was shiny. Aro caught it as it landed at the bottom of the stairs.

"My, my, this is quite the contraption." He bounced it back and forth between his hands.

"Now your present, Aro!" I handed him his box and he opened it with glee like a little kid on Christmas morning. Inside were a DVD of Tim Gun and his show. He reminded me tons of Aro and a box of small springs.

He took out one of the springs and played with it between his fingers smiling. One of his fingers slipped and it flew across the room.

"Cool!" He screamed. He grabbed more and more and they continued to fling across the room.

"Aro, it is time to stop with that." Jane took the box of springs away from him and set them back under the tree.

"Yes, we have another surprise for you!" I said excitedly.

"Follow us." Edward's voice was menacing, dark, and evil. It was scary.

We lead them to the meadow. The sky was gray and few clouds hung over our heads. Small, light snowflakes fell at our feet getting stuck in our hair. All the couples were holding hands. It was a beautiful night. A sad night. For tonight, blood was going to be shed.

"You stay here. We'll go get it." This time Emmett's voice was menacing and dark. It sent fear down my bones.

We left them to stand in the middle all alone. I was sent to get the wolves. The others stayed back to make sure they didn't leave. Some were piling up fire wood. I ran to the spot where the wolves were stationed. They were standing waiting for my arrival. Jacob was in the front with Leah and Seth at his flanks. They were his favorite for these kinds of jobs. Seth was gentle at first and Leah just went at it full force. Both very different, but yet perfect. Ben and Embry can in a minute later.

"Their ready." My eyes stared into Jacob's. His dark brown eyes, that looked like Chocolate. I could almost taste milk chocolate, almost like blood, in my mouth.

Jacob growled in understanding, his eyes not leaving mine either. He tore his head away and ran with his pack following him. All of their tails were high in the air. Wagging back and forth like an excited dog whose owner just threw the ball.

I followed them till they were on the borders of the meadow. I couldn't watch. I just couldn't. I had seen enough deaths by my hand, I couldn't see another. After I saw the purple smoke in the air, I left slowly for my home town. In good old Wisconsin. I had to see some family. It was a traditon. Merry Christmas.