Chapter 10

NIKIAS AND DAWN – St. Petersburg, Russia

Nikias was sitting in the office of a Miss Gordieva, waiting. He had never seen Erik before – except for when he was but a small babe in his parents' arms – and the pressure of first impressions was frightening. Dawn's calming touch was welcome to his frazzled nerves.

The woman murmured in Russian, something about being late. Right when Nikias would've expected her to up and find Erik herself, the teen of the hour entered the room.

Nikias was surprised to see the many characteristics between Dominik and Erik. The orphan had the same familiar tousled light brown hair as his father, and the same physique – lean and well-structured. The face was more like his mother's – the late Anya – soft, but with startlingly electric blue eyes.

Dawn, though most certainly intrigued, – of this Nikias was sure – hid very well behind a façade of joy, and not fascination as she said, "Why, hello, Erik! It's Erik, isn't it? I'm Dawn." She held out her hand, and the two Russians stared at it, dumbfounded.

Nikias quickly translated Dawn's greeting in Russian. Erik understood and shook Dawn's hand. "Hello, Dawn," he replied in a shaky English.

Miss Gordieva spoke in Russian. Do you plan to take him? If so, there are papers…

Nikias looked at Dawn's encouraging face, to Erik's more wary one.

"Ja. Yes, I do."

THE CULLENS – Forks, Washington, United States

Hours had passed, which wasn't nearly enough time for Bella to contemplate the news Alice had thrust on her. She had accepted the fact of infertility before she was Changed. And, now, the impossible had happened, and she didn't know how to deal with it. Of course, she was thrilled that Edward and she were able to have a child – she truly believed it would do Edward good, to have a baby in the house. Alice would love it, for sure, as would Esme.

But, nothing like this had ever happened before. Carlisle had even said that complications were bound to arise, and in a blunt, well-practiced voice, he told her of the worst that could happen. Bella didn't believe she could bear such loss in her newly found life.

What was even worse was that she couldn't tell her parents about this. Nor could she learn any news about her own mother's pregnancy – Bella found it odd that both mother and daughter could be with child at the same time.

The Cullens had already told Bella the plan of her death. As much as she hated to think of her parents' reactions to the story, she knew it was for the own good; how could she possibly tell them of what she had become?

She chose this life – she would have to live with the consequences.

Bella knew that Edward was tell the lie to Renee and Charlie now, and that his acting skills were needed. He was saying that, soon after the honeymoon, Bella was driving to the store to get some groceries when she was involved in a car accident. Common enough tale that most people wouldn't ask questions. Nevertheless, Carlisle went with, to add authenticity. Bella refused to go, and hide in the shadows. There would've been a great deal of pain, and she knew that it would be impossible for her to stay hidden during the time of mourning from her parents. The mourning that could only be caused by death.

Which that's what it was – death of the old Bella, the birth of the new.

She checked the clock. True to their word, the front door opened and the two men appeared just as the clock chimed ten times.

Bella heard Edward's thoughts in her mind. She wanted to see the body. She didn't believe us. In response to Bella's questioning eyes, he added, We said that it was burnt too much. You need a funeral.

Bella nodded soberly, trying not to dwell on that fact.

"I'm surprised that you haven't had any headaches, Bella." Carlisle commented, quite suddenly.

"Headaches? Why?" She asked.

"Usually, members of our kind do not suffer from physical ailments." Carlisle said, in his methodical, doctor-like voice. "I don't know if you will though, with your new condition."

"When I was first Changed, Bella," Edward explained, while hanging up his jacket it the coatroom, off to the left of the main room, "I had what could only be described as headaches. Carlisle was clueless as to why I was getting them – he thought something had gone wrong with the Changing process." Both of the men's eyes clouded with nostalgia. "With so many thoughts and memories always flooding in me, my mind revolted with aches, of sorts."

"Actually," Bella started, hesitantly, "it's hard for me to hear anyone else besides the eight of us. Not that I've interacted with anyone else lately."

"That's true… we're leaving for Alaska next week, when we get there, maybe you can -" Carlisle began to suggest something, when Alice ran in, screaming,

"Shopping!"

ERIK, NIKIAS, AND DAWN – St. Petersburg, Russia

Erik was sitting in a local coffeehouse, Dawn and Nikias across from him. Of course, Nikias and Dawn didn't get anything – they said they just ate – but Erik got some drink that contained, no doubt, more caffeine that could ever be healthy.

He still had the manila folder his father had given him in hand. Thankfully, neither Nikias nor this Dawn – who Erik assumed was Nikias' girlfriend of some sort – had asked about it.

Erik decided to test out his English. "Where," he began hesitantly, "do you live?"

Nikias seemed to be thrown off by this seemingly simple question. Erik feared he had mispronounced the word.

"Forks, Washington – In the United States." Dawn answered, as Nikias regained some sort of a composure.

Forks – that made sense. The folder said that cloudy places were perfect. Erik knew from his schoolwork that Washington was a state in America that was usually cold, cloudy, and always precipitating. Very similar to Russia in many ways.

Erik, staying true to his quite impulsive self, cut any sort of small talk that might have ensued from his sudden question when he said, "I know what you are."

Dawn looked surprised – forged, he was sure – and started to protest, pleading ignorance of the matter he was talking about. Nikias shook his head at her, though – he knew that that was no time to play games. "Let's go somewhere more private."

Erik nodded and stood.