Nessie, Christine, Melissa, Angie and Lina all turned to the light as it once again filled the dark room. Instead of a figure coming into the room there was only a voice, "Renesmee."
Nessie's eyes widened and she looked at Melissa. Melissa stared back at her with wide eyes but urged her to go ahead.
"Yes?" Nessie squeaked.
"The master requests your presence."
Nessie slowly rose to her feet and shot a nervous look at her four new friends. Lina tried to reach out for Nessie but Christine held her back. She started to whine but Christine shushed her and Lina only pouted. Nessie made her way over to the open door and stopped in the doorway. She held back a gasp when a figure in a dark cloak appeared in front of her. "Come." He moved out of the way and she slowly stepped out into the light. She stepped into another room with a hallway leading into more darkness. She jumped when she heard a door slam behind her and bravely looked up the figure. His hood fell revealing a hispanic vampire. It must have been the same one that came in to feed them everyday. His crimson eyes met her brown ones and as much as it scared her she couldn't look away.
"Come." He repeated again and walked up until he was standing beside her. She nodded silently and started walking noticing that the vampire, Miguel, was keeping at her pace. At the entrance to the hallway, two more vampires met them and escorted them down the dark hallway. She focused her eyes on the ground, trying to keep her breathing even.
The vampires led her down the hallway and it seemed like it would never end. Finally they came to a door and Miguel put his hand out to stop her. One of the other vampires opened the door and it revealed a staircase. Miguel then motioned for her to come forward and she followed them up the stair case. At the top, they were met with yet another dark hallway. She followed them silently down the hallway until they came to double wooden doors. One of the other vampires pulled open the doors and Miguel pushed her in.
"Master the girl you have requested is here." One of the other vampires said into the big room and Nessie looked around. It was mostly dark except for lit fire pits lining each side of the room making a path to a giant platform. Nessie swallowed hard and continued walking forward. Behind each fire pit she noticed a vampire with blazing red eyes staring directly at her. She took a breath and tried to keep her vision focused forward.
On the platform was a table. At the center of the table there was cloaked figure and to each side of him there were figures dressed in the same garb but their hoods were down. She noticed that three out of the four others had the same red eyes as the rest of the group but the one sitting to the middle's right had brown eyes just like her.
"Master." The three vampires surrounding her hissed respectfully and bowed their heads once. Nessie swallowed and shrunk back a bit. Her eyes widened when the cloak figure lifted his harms and his pale white hands protruded from the black of his cloak. He moved his hands to his hood and lowered his hood. Nessie held her breath as the seconds seemed to tick by like years as he lowered his hood. Once his face was uncovered he flashed a pearly white smile at her. "Renesmee." He greeted as if he was greeting a friend who had stopped by for a surprising, yet welcome visit.
He face was young, just a few years older than her father. Possibly around the same age as Carlisle, in his mid twenties. He had sandy blonde, almost brown, smooth hair that fell to right above his shoulders. His eyes weren't the same color as the other vampires in the room. While their's were a deep blood red his were more of a mixture of mauve and maroon.
"Hello." She greeted shyly. She didn't know what tone of voice to use, she feared if she used a disrespectful tone all of the vampires in that room would pounce on her.
"There's no need to be shy." He said in a friendly baritone. "Let me introduce myself." He walked around the table and stood in front of it looking down at Nessie. "My name is Cyrus."
Nessie didn't know how to respond to that. She couldn't possibly lie to his face and tell him that it was pleasure to meet him. Surely he could tell that it was a lie. So she only nodded and bravely looked him in the eyes.
"I bet you're wondering why you're here." Cyrus said as he took a step down onto one of the steps that connected the platform to the ground.
Nessie nodded silently.
"I've heard great stories about you Renesmee Cullen." Cyrus stated. "I am so glad to finally have you in my presence. I thought out of everyone it would be impossible to get you. What with your mind reading father and psychic aunt." He paced back and forth on that step with his hands behind his back. "And of course your over protective family plus the wolves. I thought I would have to get my guards in on it but surprisingly I didn't have to do anything of the sort." He turned to her with a smirk. "My human associate did well no?" He motioned over to his right and Nessie followed his gaze.
There in between two vampires stood Hunter, standing up straight and tall in an all black uniform staring directly at her with a stern expression on his face. Nessie's jaw dropped, a small gasp escaped her lips and tears stung her eyes. She forced them back, willing herself not to cry.
She believed Melissa when she told her that Hunter was the one who helped kidnap her but it wasn't really real until that moment when she saw him there. He looked like the same boy who sat next to her English and would joke around with her and make her laugh. But yet he was different, he wasn't that same boy. He looked more mature and a whole lot more sinister. His expression didn't change for the whole minute she kept staring at him and the only evidence that he was still alive was his chest moving up and down.
She finally managed to tear her gaze away from him and looked back to Cyrus.
"He is a good actor isn't he?" Cyrus questioned and Nessie knew he wasn't expecting an answer. "Especially around your father, lying even through his thoughts." He smirked and chuckled once glancing over at Hunter. "I have taught you well."
Hunter's eyes briefly glanced over to Cyrus and then moved straight back to Nessie. Nessie quickly glanced over at Hunter and then back to Cyrus.
"You are a quiet one." Cyrus noted turning his red eyes back to her. "With a family like yours I didn't expect that." He looked around and a look of realization crossed his face. "Oh of course how silly of me. You must be petrified." He clapped his hands and the lights turned on, making the eerie room light up like a normal room. There was a hiss as all the fire pits were put out and what was left was smoke bellowing from each pit.
Nessie looked around the newly lit room and gaped at the huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Cyrus followed her gaze and smirked. "Yes, beautiful isn't it? Been in the family for centuries." And then his smirk grew as if he was laughing at a personal joke inside his head. He turned his attention back to Nessie and tsk'ed. "You look sickly, have you been eating?"
Nessie shook her head. "No." She answered quietly. "I...don't consume human blood."
"Oh yes." Cyrus said. "You're a Cullen. A "vegetarian."" He put air quotes around the word. "Well that just won't do. I can't have you weak with thirst." He scanned the room with his eyes and then pointed to one of the guards still standing at her side.
"Go fetch young Renesmee some animal blood will you?" Cyrus waved him off and the guard nodded in obedience and then disappeared.
Nessie sucked in a breath and braved a question. "How do you know so much about my family?"
Cyrus turned to her and had a pleased expression on his face and then he chuckled. "I know everything my dear." He noticed her skeptical expression. "You don't believe me? Well, lets offer up a little proof shall we?" He stepped down onto the next step. "Your father's full name is Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. Your mother: Isabella Marie Cullen. Maiden name: Swan. You have four aunts and uncles. Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett. And as a normal human you have four grandparents as well. Carlisle, Esme, Charlie and Renee. Charlie and Renee are both human and you have never met your grandmother Renee, is that correct?" He didn't wait for her to answer to move on. "As far as she's concerned you don't even exist. Your grandfather Charlie is the chief of police in the good town of Forks, Washington. Your vampire grandfather, Carlisle is a doctor. Your parents as well as your Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper have a special gift. Your father, the ability to read minds. Your mother, a shield. Alice, psychic. Jasper, empath. And though they really don't count as abilities, Rosalie is probably the most beautiful woman in the world and Emmett is the strongest vampire in the world. Your best friend is Jacob Black who is a Quileute wolf. He resides in La Push at the Quileute reservation with all his wolf friends." He turned to her with a smug expression. "And you, you have a special gift of your own. It could be very powerful if used correctly."
Nessie found her heart pounding rapidly in her chest as she stared at Cyrus wide eyed. He certainly did know a whole lot about her and her family.
"Don't worry." Cyrus told her in assuring voice. "I will not harm your family and your wolf friends. I'm not going to harm you either."
Nessie stared at him a few seconds and the looked down at the ground sadly.
"If you cooperate." He added and Nessie snapped her head up. "You and the other hybrids I collected."
"Why did you bring us here?" Nessie asked, her voice breaking.
"To serve me obviously." He replied, lifting his eyebrows. "I'm hoping that you will come willingly like Damon here did." He motioned behind him to where the boy with brown eyes sat.
"Vampires are great." Cyrus continued but Nessie had eyes focused on Damon. He smirked when he saw her staring at him. He was attractive with his deep brown eyes and dark brown, almost black hair but he seemed too smug.
"But since I found out that your kind existed I became increasingly interesting in finding you." Cyrus went on. "It took years before I encountered Damon. He was young at the time, still growing, and alone. I raised him and when he was fully grown I asked him to stay with me and he complied."
Well that explains the arrogance, Nessie concluded.
"Damon has been with me nearly five decades and it wasn't until recently that I found more of your kind."
Suddenly Nessie's eyes widened in horror and she gasped. "Lina! You- you plan on corrupting her!"
Cyrus stared at her a few moments in confusion and then "ah'ed" in remembrance. "Oh the little one."
"She's only a baby!" Nessie cried.
"So was Damon."
"He was alone!" Nessie hissed. "Lina had her father, you took her away from her family!" She didn't know where this new found confidence was coming from but she couldn't stop herself.
Cyrus' smirk faded and he no longer looked amused. "She will have a new family now."
"That's not right!" Nessie exclaimed. She gasped when suddenly Cyrus was in front of her face, his lips curled back in a snarl. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Hunter lean forward and a brief look of panic cross his face. But then he straightened himself out and his face went blank again.
"I have never been known for doing what's right." Cyrus hissed in her face and then returned to his spot behind the table. Nessie noticed that the guards were now closer to her and Damon and the vampire on the other side of Cyrus were standing in a protective stance.
Cyrus' face softened and he held out his hands again. "Calm brothers." He said in the friendly baritone she first heard him speak in. Damon looked at Cyrus and then slowly sat back down, turning a cold glare her way.
"I apologize for my rude behavior Renesmee." Cyrus said, flashing a small smile at her. "I do not wish to frighten you. You should feel welcome here."
"Keeping us locked up in a dark room is not exactly welcoming." She bit out.
Cyrus looked taken aback by her tone and looked to either side of him and then sighed. "It is the only way you see. In time when we can trust you not to run away you will be able to join us out here."
"I will never join you." She hissed, narrowing her eyes.
"Pity." He remarked in an uncaring voice. "However, soon you will find you have no other choice."
Her eyes were immediately drawn to Hunter and she studied him for a minute. Their eyes locked and she searched deep in his eyes. The outer shell was hard and cold but underneath there was something hidden. Fright, longing, a cry for help. She could see the look in his eyes on Halloween when he was terrified. He was a good actor she had to give him that but there is something in his eyes that was real that day. Her mind also drifted back to a time when she saw the handprint bruise on his wrist. Could that have been from Cyrus or one his guards? A vampire could easily bruise a human with little to no trouble at all. Perhaps just like Cyrus just told her, Hunter had no choice.
Hunter broke her train of thought when he blinked and then turned his face away so he was staring directly at Cyrus. "Master I think she has heard enough." Hunter spoke coldly and Nessie gasped at his voice. It was somehow the same yet much different.
Cyrus looked toward him and held out his hand. "Hush Car, you worry too much."
Hunter sighed quietly and nodded once and turned his face forward, looking nowhere in particular.
Nessie furrowed her brow at the name Cyrus called him. Car? What was that?
"Oh how rude of me!" Cyrus stated, his voice shooting up an octave. "Since you will be joining us one day I figure I should introduce my...family." Cyrus stood up and walked around the other side of the table. "I've introduced Damon. He is the only hybrid, so far."
Damon lifted his eyebrow with a smirk and rose to his feet, taking a small bow.
"He is my right hand man. Almost a son to me if you will." Cyrus explained and then walked down the line to the vampire sitting next to Damon. He had shortish dark brown hair and a friendly face. It didn't look he belonged with the rest of the arrogant looking and creepy vampires. "This is Daniel. Daniel has been with me for several years. He is very loyal."
Cyrus walked to the other side of the table and next to his empty seat sat an older looking vampire than the rest. He looked to be in early to mid forties with graying dark hair. "This is Malcolm." Malcolm nodded his head in a greeting and Cyrus turned to Nessie with a smile. "Malcolm is my oldest companion. He's been with me since the beginning."
Cyrus continued down the line and motioned towards the last vampire seated at the table. He had jet black hair that fell to just past his ears with a couple of loose strands falling in front of his face. "This Jave, one of my newest additions but he's proven very useful." A smirk formed Jave's face and Nessie yelped as one of the fire pit's next to her suddenly burst into flames.
Cyrus chuckled and tapped the table in front of Jave. "He's a pyromaniac, he likes to show off."
Then Cyrus turned to face her. "And the one beside you is Tempest." Nessie turned her head and looked up at the figure next tot her. He looked down at her and all she saw through the dark cloak was a pair of bright red eyes and a pale face. But then Tempest lowered his hood and revealed thick head of sandy blonde hair.
"He's my most powerful guard." Cyrus told her. "He has the ability to shield anyone in this room. And he's also very strong."
Nessie's mouth opened a little. So this was the shield that would prevent her family from finding her.
Then Cyrus went on introducing every other vampire in that room. He got halfway down the line when the doors slammed open. The other guard that he sent out for her animal blood sped into the room, bowed before him and then went on to speak, "Master, we have a problem."
Cyrus' friendly face was gone and he grabbed the guard by the arm and dragged him to behind the desk. The two talked frantically at each other for a few seconds, too low for her to hear. Then Cyrus whirled his head around and narrowed his eyes at her. "Tempest. Take her back now." He ordered.
Tempest nodded, placed his hood back over his head and shoved Nessie's back. Nessie looked over her shoulder toward Cyrus but he was back to talking with the guard.
Tempest pushed her again and she lowered her head and followed him back to the room.
Two giant wolves, one pitch black and one dark silver, ran at lightning speed through opposite ends of a forest in southern California.
Remind me why we're doing this again.
Shut up Paul.
The two wolves searched through the thick brushes sniffing the trail as they went along.
I'm just saying, why do we always get roped into the Cullens' troubles?
The black wolf huffed. The Cullens are our Allies. We help them because they would do the same for us. And then there's Jacob.
The silver wolf rolled his eyes as he came to a cliff like area and perched out looking out onto the woods. Jacob is not even part of our pack anymore.
Sam growled loudly. Jacob will be our brother no matter what.
Yeah. Sure. Paul jumped off the ledge onto a smaller ledge and did that again and again until he hit the ground and then took off running again.
If anything happened to Nessie and we didn't do anything to help do you know how bad we would feel? Jacob would be destroyed. How would you feel if something happened to Rachel?
Paul growled and tackled down a tree in his path. That was uncalled for.
It's the truth. Sam pointed out. Any one of us would feel the same. Me with Emily, you with Rachel, Quil with Claire and Jared with Kim. I would be grateful for all the help I could get.
Fine. Paul grumbled. I see your point.
Our Job is to protect the innocent. Whoever has Nessie is obviously not human and by finding her we will destroy them and keep them from hurting her and possibly many others.
I hate it when you're right.
Paul.
Yes?
Get over here. Now.
Immediately the silver wolf turned in its tracks and ran in the opposite direction. It broke threw trees and took as many shortcuts as it could until it stood right behind the black wolf.
What is it? Paul asked in a serious tone, approaching Sam.
Look. Sam threw his muzzle in one direction and Paul followed in that direction. He bit back a growl at what he saw.
Filthy bloodsucker. Ugh, so that's what that smell is.
They both peered upon a vampire dressed in a black cloak attacking a coyote. But instead of drinking it dry it only killed it and then moved onto another one close to the area. Sam and Paul watched through the brush, trying to hide their huge bodies.
Why did you call me over here? I don't see what's so-
Look at his eyes.
They're red.
Yes, but he's drinking animal blood. The eyes of vampires that drink animal blood is golden in color not the blood red that that vampire has.
You think it might mean something?
I think we head back to Washington and let Edward know.
Paul nodded his head and stepped back, a stick crunching under the weight of his paw. The vampire lifted his head and looked around the area. His eyes landed on Paul and Sam and he hissed. Sam growled at him and then Paul did too. The Vampire snarled and then took off in a run leaving his prey bleeding on the ground.
Let's go. Sam ordered and the two took off in a run towards Forks.
It took them a couple of hours to get back to Forks and they alerted their presence with a howl. When they phased back into their human form and walked up to the Cullen's home, Edward, Bella and Jacob were already waiting outside.
"You found something?" Bella asked hopefully.
"We might have." Sam replied.
Carlisle appeared behind Edward and Bella and addressed all of them. "Why don't you come inside, this might be news we all wish to hear."
Sam, Paul, Jacob, Edward and Bella followed Carlisle into the house and found the rest of the Cullens standing around the living room. "Sam and Paul believe they might have found something that will lead us to Nessie." Carlisle explained. "Sam." He nodded to Sam and Sam nodded, taking a step forward.
"I don't know what to make of it but possibly you could." He looked at Edward. "While on our search we saw a vampire killing an animal except his eyes were not golden like yours, they were red. From what you've told us and from stories we've learned that vampires who have red eyes are either newborns or feed on humans."
"Yes." Carlisle affirmed. "That is correct."
"So its possible that the vampire you saw was just a newborn." Rosalie commented.
"But," Esme piped in, "Why would a newborn go for animals when there were humans around. They do not have that much restraint surely."
Edward nodded in thought. "I agree with Esme." He said. "I saw in Sam's head what this vampire looked like. He was not a newborn, he had too much control."
"So what's the explanation?" Alice asked.
"If what I'm thinking is correct..." Edward mused. "That vampire wouldn't be hunting for himself when he had humans to feed on. He must have been hunting for someone else. Someone that doesn't consume human blood."
"Nessie." The rest of the room whispered in realization.
Edward nodded. "Exactly." He looked at Sam and Paul. "Where were you when this happened?"
"Cleveland National Forest." Paul answered.
Bella glanced at Edward hopefully. "So does that mean...?"
He gave her a small smile. "We might just have a lead."
A/N: There are pictures of Cyrus, Hunter, Melissa, Damon, Malcolm, Daniel, Tempest, and Jave on my profile. Please don't go too harsh on me, I had to use paint to change their eye color to red since I don't have photoshop or anything like that. I am very proud of my vampires and hybrids. I have to thank 'Picnik' for being an awesome photo editing website for it helped make my vampires. Also you may recognize the vampires cuz I chose pretty common actors.