This chapter is long and full of new details about the Ferals and their world. We meet Jasper, Alice, and Rose! 5 comments for the next chapter. Follow and comment if you liked it, if not tell me why.

Edward

It's been days since I agreed, with Isabella to enter the Imprinting Phase with her. Which sent me into a panic, she's been in and out the past few days making it hard for me to get things moving in a way that I could use to my advantage. I was far from getting her to open up to me, which I had to do to uphold my part of the deal. My mother and sister's very lives depended on it.

Isabella sat across from me, her hair was like always pulled back into a braid her silver eyes followed my hand as it traveled from my plate to my mouth. She appeared to have a lot on her mind she's been avoiding eye contact with me today.

I started moving my hand side to side instead of up and down, smiling as her eyes started to follow. Realizing what I was doing, she covered her face with her hands.

"My apologies, Edward,'' she mumbled shaking her head.

"Why are you sorry?'' I asked, watching her face change. Lines formed around her lips, as they pulled together into a frown.

"I haven't been here for you. You must be quite confused still.'' She went on as she started to play with the tip of her tail. "I have not been doing my job. I should have been there when you first woke up. Instead, Emmett was there in my sted. You were under an attack, which he had to save you from.''

Her voice was nearly a whisper as she went on, "You were placed in a coma. None of which was intended to happen.''

I moved closer to her until I was right next to her. "Then tell me how it was intended to happen?''

She looked at me sideways, moving a strain of hair behind her ear. She drew her legs up to her chest, "I was planning to be there when you woke up. It helps if matches are the first ones that humans see of this world.''

"She looked back at me with a small smile, "Would you like to go to the market?''

"YES!''

I have not been outside of this room since the meeting. All I have seen of the world outside was darkness. I heard sounds whenever the door was opened. I knew that there were others, I just haven't seen one living thing other than Isabella or Emmett. "Are you saying that I get to leave the suite?'' I set up realizing the meaning of her words.

She nodded, "I didn't mean to keep you locked up, you had just gotten over the poison and the meeting happened. I wanted to give you some time to calm down and take in all that happened. You should be ready for people wanting to be close to you. Word has gotten out that I was matched. You have not been seen and I been seen very little. So, the public has become very zealous to see you.''

I nodded, "I can understand that. I would love to go to the market.''

She nodded, standing from her seat, with me following her as she walked up to the door, "Are you sure?'' She whispered not looking at me as her hand stopped just above the doors panel, which was used to open it.

"Yes,'' I smiled stepping up beside her. She straightened her back, as her fingers twitched as if she wanted to take my hand. Drawing back, she took a few steps away from me. We haven't touched one another even in the slightest way since she caught me on the stairs. I made no move to touch her, I was still new to this world and its rules. Still, I must gain her trust, I was not sure how to do that. If she was a human I could read her better. However, she is a Feral, and not just that shes their damn. So, reading her is easier said than done.

When the door hissed open, a blast of cool air hit my the face as it filled my lungs. I felt my lips pull up into a smile as I took in the sounds of others. Isabella's ears twitched, she bit back a small smile. Waving a hand for me to join her outside, "Well, come on.'' She said as she looked over a railing.

I stepped out of the door and on to a long balcony like platform. Peeking over the railing, many floors below us was a slim hall like flooring, along the sides were roles and roles of stands. Ferals and humans mixed in together, it was just like she said a market. I felt her step up next to me as her breath hit the back of my neck sending shivers down my spine. It made my knees weak knowing that she was this close to me. I wanted to reach out and pull her closer to me.

Wait! Wait! I wanted to what? What is wrong with me? What was I thinking?

I looked over my shoulder meeting her eyes, which were inches from mine. Her eyes fell to the floor, "If you still want to go, stay close to me, please.'' She begged.

I nodded to her and followed her down the stairs that ran along the sides of every level. We passed many humans and Ferals that stared at us as we passed; many smiled at us, why others nodde, and a few bowed. But no one dared come near us, when we reached the crowd at the bottom they parted, clearing a walkway for us.

"This is the market, you can buy anything you would want or need. Instead of going to the surface, this is safer for humans to be down here. Most humans don't last long on the surface. So, we built this city and others like it.''

She led me over to one of the carts, as her tail swung behind her, "This is an Action." she laughed at my confused look. "It grows wild on the surface. Would you like to try one?" she asked

I eyed the fruit, it was the size and shape of a chicken egg. Its coloring was bright blue with red dots. "Why not.''

She picked up four and placed them into a sack handed to her by the vendor, before handing one to me. It was surprisingly heavy and hard. I bitte into it, a sharp pain shot through my jaw. It was too hard to bite in to.

"Umm, is it meant to be hard?" I asked holding my jaw.

Her tail and ears fell, as she shot the vendor a nasty look as he held back a laugh, "I am sorry! I forgot." She held her hand out for it. "The real fruit is inside the shell. You have to hit the right spot to crack it open." She explained, as she firmly pressed on the top and bottom until it popped.

She handed it back to me, with a smile. Inside the shell set a small lighter blue egg shape. I picked it up and popped it into my mouth. I didn't have to chew before it burst, filling my mouth with a sweet juice.

"It's toxic to us but good for you humans,'' She went on as we started to walk around the market.

"What do you eat?" I asked.

"We hunt for our food; the surface is abundant with wildlife.'' She went on. "We mostly hunt on the planet that you were born on. There are very few things to hunt on the surface, of this world.''

"Why is that? And why keep humans on a whole other planet?''

She smiled shaking her head, "It shocks me at how little you know, right now we are not on a planet. We are on a moon, the planet that you were born on is just like the one that humans came from.''

"So, I am on a moon?'' I gasped starting to feel lightheaded.

She rolled her eyes at me, "Yes, the planet was too hard for my kind as the gravity was too strong for us. However, the moon was just right, and a smaller copy of the planet.''

"I never knew that I was that close to your kind. We always thought that if we were taken in the Counting that we were taken far away.'' I shook my head, "and all this time you all were that close.''

"I don't like the way The Counting happens. In the beginning, we had the humans living with us. But when the day of The Counting came, and children were matched, their parents attack the Overseers. They tried to keep their children with them. One year the parents rose up and killed many of the Overseers, so we had no choice to move the humans to the planet. We removed the children that were of age, but kept them close.''

We walked on, most of the beings here were humans; male and females. But I have not seen a child. "If you us use to have kids, then where are they?"

"The choice to use a match is different for everyone, some of us feel like we should not mate with humans in the house of the Mother, others just want a child, some fall in love with their match." she stopped walking "it depends on the person, most children are raised in one of the capitals, few are down here in this city. This city is only for the governing class and their families. Anyway, children are kept inside their family's suite.''

"Why keep them locked up?"

"Babies are very vulnerable in their first few years of life. Matches are rare, so are babies. When they are older they are let out only for training and school.''

"Did you go to school down here?'' I asked wanting to learn more about her, now she seemed more open and willing to answer questions.

"No, I was trained and raised in one of the capitals.''

"What was your family like?" I asked hoping that she would be more willing than she was earlier.

Her ears and tail dropped, her eyes glassed over with sadness "I rather not discuss my family or my childhood, right now.'' she looked as if she was battling with herself. I wanted to comfort her, it was clear that family was a sore topic with her. That was one thing that we had in common. "I will tell you when I am ready to, just give me a little time,'' she explained before heading off. I followed close behind her, making a note to find out what happened to her family. The pain in her eyes, made me feel bad for hurting her.

"I'm sorry for asking. I didn't mean to upset you.''

Her eyes snapped to me, "What makes you think you upset me?" she asked cocking her head to the side.

"You seem upset.''

"I'm not upset with you." She whispered, "I just don't like thinking about the past is all.'' She hummed as we walked. After we passed a few more stands we came upon two large statues, "Who are they?'' I asked pointing, eyeing that towering idol.

"Qophine and Totora, our mother and father,'' she whispered. "Or our god and goddess.'' They stood well over eleven feet tall. I had to crane my neck to look up to them.

The female had long hair that was pinned back it a bun like style. There were white marks smeared across her face it almost looked like a mask. She looked young in a way, that made the sword in her hand and the armor she wore look out of place. The male was dressed in a robe, his hair stopped at his shoulders. He held nothing in his hands. But his hands were crossed as if he was praying himself. People were leaving gifts at their feet and stopping to whisper a few words before kissing their feet.

She noticed my confused look "Our mother is trusted and greatly respected, hunting, war, and justice are what she is known for. Our father is known for infinity and guidance, he is very wise and trusted,'' She stepped up to their feet. She dropped to her knees bowing her head, whispering a few words before kissing both of their feet.

She got to her feet, her name filled the air, "Isabella, Isabella!" yelled a male. He pushed through the crowd, making his way over to us.

He looked close to Isabella's age, He was taller than me by a good half foot. His wear loss pants and a vest showed off his toned chest and arms. He had one thick kill mark on his upper right arm. "Bella, I have been looking for you.'' he reached out for her hand, but she pulled back, dropping her ears back as her lips curled up into a snear almost.

"Jake, this is Edward.'' She spoke loudly waving one hand at me.

His eyes narrowed as they met mine, "I need to speak with you.'' He said. Staring at me as if me being here was annoying. "Regarding our past discussion," he whispered.

She locked torn between us, "I do not think. No-" she was cut off by Emmett who walked up behind Jake. Emmett's arms were crossed as his glear locked on Jake. Both were well built and about the same size, they would be fairly matched in a fight with one another.

"I will look after Edward, why you speak with Jake,'' Emmett said as he placed one hand on my shoulder, "We will be at Rosa's and my stand.''

"Thank you, I shouldn't be long.'' She said as Emmett pulled me away from them.

Emmett said nothing as we walked. He just kept a good grip on my upper arm. His face lit up as we neared a stand, which was manned by a human beautiful blonde. She was very heavily pregnant. Her golden hair matched her blue eyes in an odd way.

Her eyes lit up when she saw Emmett. "So, did Isabella give you the day off?'' she laughed.

"I wouldn't say that,'' he huffed giving me a small push. "Rosy, this is Edward!'' He hummed.

Her eyes grew wide as her month fell open. She stuttered for words "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir.'' She spat out. Bowing her head as she started to drop to her knees, I grabbed her pulling her back up.

"No! No! You don't have to do that. You can just call me Edward.'' I smiled letting her go.

Her eyes went to her mate and back to me, I held out my hand for hers "it's nice to meet you, Rose,'' I gave her a smile.

She shyly returned my smile, shaking my hand "the pleasure is all mine.'' She stepped back away from me "I was wondering when I was going to get to meet you. Emmett keeps going on about you.''

He laughed nervously, she took notice, "You look uneasy, honey.'' She smiled at him.

We both laughed before she turned back to me. "You looked nervous too. Don't worry I was too when I first got here, too.'' She smiled "Emmett and I were mated when I was barely sixteen, that was back when they mated humans younger, but we did fall in love shortly after our first baby.'' She pointed to her bloated abdomen. "I'm working on number two, now!'' she beamed.

"Yes, she was so nerves that she hit me with my staff.'' He laughed wrapping his arms around her, burying his nose into her neck causing her to blush.

"Where is the Sovereign, if you don't mind me asking.'' She asked scanning the crowd.

"Jake pulled her away.'' He whispered. She rolled her eyes with a huff.

"He just can't leave her be, can he?'' she added.

Before I could ask who Jake, was and what he had to do with Isabella. A very smooth and thick accent cut through the air, "Hey, Rose! Motherhood agrees with you.'' A human man said loudly as he walked around hugging Rose. The man turned to Emmett shaking his hand "Em! How are you?'' he laughed.

"Good! Good! How is your mighty Alice?'' Emmett asked letting go of him.

"She is good! We are planning on having a child shortly. Did you hear that Bella was matched? Has anyone seen him?'' He asked in a cheerful voice. Emmett and I crossed our arms, Rose bit back a smile.

"How?'' The man asked eyeing them. Emmett pointed to me causing the man to spin around facing me. He was a few inches shorter, with hair the same shade as honey. His eyes matched Rose's. "You are Isabella's mate?''

I nodded, "Yes. My name is Edward. Edward Mason.'' I spoke with a strong proud voice, "What is your name?''

"My name is Jasper Hale, I am the mate of Alice, second in the Sovereign's guard." He smiled giving me a small bow, "May I say that it is a pleasure to meet you, at last, Sir.''

I nodded, "I am sure that it's a pleasure to meet you as well. So, you and your mate are going to have a baby?'' I asked eyeing Jasper. He smiled brightly as he nodded, he leaned against the stand crossing his hands "Alice and I have been together for just about two years. Two very long years.'' He huffed. "We move around a lot,''

"Why? Why do you move a lot?'' I cut him off.

His blue eyes narrowed at me as his head tilted to the side. His smile was gone, replaced by a sullen look. His eye went to Emmett who was still holding Rose. She was eyeing him back "be nice, Jazz.''

He turned to them "I'm always nice. Thank you.'' He smiled at them, "Alice is a part of a small group that moves with Bella,'' he went on, "She moves around to different places to see to business there. It's easier for her to go to her people than for her people to come to her. She sent Alice ahead of her when The Counting neared. She needed to be here if she was matched.'' He explained, "I am sure that if you and Bella mate you will do the same.''

Rose cut in, "Jazz his is new. Let's not overdo it with the information.'' She snapped at him stepping up to the table. Resting her hands on it "Jazz, Edward is there anything that you guys need? Take whatever you need."

"Why thank you, Lil sis.'' Jasper laughed stepping up to the table, scanning the contents laid out.

"Why are you giving us things for free?'' I hissed, "and you two are- "

"Twins.'' Rose cut in. "We are twins, to answer your other question.''

"This is just her hobby, with the pay I get form being on the guard we don't need any more money.'' Emmett cut her off, rolling his eyes as Rose hit him.

She turned back to us, "It's the only way that I get to meet new people.''

As I stepped forward something slammed into me, knocking me into the table, flipping it over. Sending anything on it flying into the air. The only thing I saw was a glimpse of a face, then it was gone. The face I saw couldn't have been there. It was impossible. The last time I saw it was over ten years ago. The face of my mother.