Embry POV
I saw the sun coming up, and I held Cassie tighter.
"I'm not going anywhere," she said softly.
"But, the sun's up," I said, confused. "Don't ghosts have to leave when the sun's up?"
She laughed sadly. "No. I did because I only search the beach at night. I had no purpose at night, so I dimply faded into nonexistence. Now I have a purpose."
I nodded thoughtfully. "So, why are you wearing a wedding dress?"
She looked down. "Oh, I forgot about that. I get so used to it."
"Would you like me to get you something else to wear?" I asked.
"Yes please," she said, smiling appreciatively.
"Come on," he said. "There's some people I want you to meet."
She stopped, gesturing to herself. "You can see through me," she said flatly.
"Yeah, well, it's not like they won't find out about you anyway," I said. "You see, when we're in wolf form, we can hear each other's thoughts."
"Oh," she said. "Wow. Will they be okay with…me?" she asked carefully.
I grinned. "They'll be happy I imprinted."
She smiled, and followed me into Sam and Emily's house.
She looked around, her eyes wide.
"Something wrong?" I asked.
"I haven't been anywhere but the beach and the woods in ten years," she said.
"Oh right!" I said. "I forgot. Anyway, just a moment. Emily! Sam!"
They walked into the kitchen.
Emily looked thrilled, but her expression soon turned into the one Sam was wearing. Confusion, and a little bit of worry and…fear?
"Uh, guys," I said. "This is Cassie. She's…um…well, Cassie's dead."
Emily gasped, and Sam just looked really confused.
"She's a ghost," I said. "And she's…disappearing."
"Oh goodness," Emily said. "That is very strange. I hope you don't mind my saying so, but not much surprises me anymore, what with werewolves and vampires. But being a ghost definitely was something I didn't expect."
To my surprise, Cassie smiled. "It was a little hard for me to get used to as well," she said.
"Um, Em?" I asked. "Could Cass borrow some clothes?"
"Of course!" she exclaimed. "Come here honey."
They went upstairs, and Sam looked at me. "Disappearing?" he asked cautiously.
I felt myself go pale at the thought of it. "Well, she couldn't move on because she'd lost something. But she thought it was a locket that had been thrown into the ocean, and she spent the last ten years searching the beach for it. Then she met me, and we fell in love, and she realized that what she had lost that she needed to regain was love. And now that she loves someone, she's…moving on."
"Wow," he said. That was all.
I nodded. "It's hard to think about. But I guess we're coping."
"Are you gonna be okay. You know, when…" He didn't need to finish the sentence.
"I don't think so," I answered truthfully.
"Well, we're all-" he was cut of by a scream from upstairs.
We looked at each other, then ran up to check on the loves of our lives.
"What's wrong!?" we asked, both equally frantic, outside the door.
"No, no," Emily said from inside. "It's fine. We got a little scared, that's all. Here, Cassie, we can cover that up. Just wear a longer skirt…"
Sam and I looked at each other, confused. We knew one thing though. We weren't leaving this door until they came out.
And a moment later, they did. Cassie was wearing a long black skirt and a long-sleeved white shirt.
"What happened?" Sam and I asked at the same time.
Cassie sighed and lifted her skirt, revealing her mangled legs, cut and bruised and nearly green. She rolled up a sleeve, revealing the same thing.
"I didn't realize," she said. "For the past ten years all I did was wander up and down the beach. When I took off the dress, I saw myself in the mirror, and It scared me. I've seen my reflection in the water before, but it was dark, and I was wearing the dress. But when I saw that my hair had no color, and my eyes…" she trailed off, shuddering. "Anyway, she said. "I guess that's what ghosts look like."
"And the scars?" I asked, unable to forget the horrible sight.
She looked sad. "I suppose that's from having my body lying at the bottom of the ocean for 10 years."
"They never found your body?" Emily gasped. Cassie shook her head sadly.
"Well," Sam said. "I was talking to Embry a moment ago, and I think you two should go talk to Carlisle."
"Carlisle?" Cassie and I asked at the same time.
"The leader of the vampire coven," I explained to her. "Remember?" She nodded. "But, why Carlisle?" I asked Sam.
"Because he's been around a lot longer than any of us," he said. "And he's seen a lot of things, and met a lot of different cre-types." I could tell he had been about to say creatures, but didn't want to offend Cassie.
I nodded. "Maybe that's a good idea."
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We walked up the steps to the Cullen household. I heard four things at the same time.
Emmett: "Aw, now it smells even worse here!"
Jake: "Embry!"
Alice: "I'm blind!"
And Edward: "Carlisle, I think they really need to talk to you!"
Cassie started laughing hard when I told her who had said each of the things. I had told her all about the vampires last night.
The entire Cullen family plus Jake greeted us in the living room. They all wore different expressions.
Emmett, Rosalie, Bella, Esme, Nessie, Jake, and Carlisle looked confused.
Alice looked impressed.
Edward looked just plain shocked.
It was a little funny really.
"Everyone," I said. "This is Cassie. My imprint."
Jake looked like he wanted to congratulate me, but when he realized he could see through my girlfriend, he thought better of it.
"She's a ghost."
Everyone gasped. Bella…rolled her eyes?
"I don't suppose she ages either?" she asked. Huh. I thought she'd gotten over that.
Everyone laughed, but then their attention turned back towards Cassie and I.
"We need to talk to Carlisle," I said.
He took us into his office and we explained everything. He listened without interrupting. Finally, when we finished, he looked thoughtful and said, "Strangest story I ever hears. And I'm a centuries old vampire."
"Do you know anything that could help us?" I asked eagerly. He looked serious.
"I may be able to help. But there's a decision you have to make."
"I'll do anything to keep Cassie," I said. And I meant it.
"I could…change her."