AN: Sorry about the last chapter; it wasn't meant to be as confusing as it was. I hadn't updated in a long time, and I needed to get something up, so I took a nice long conversation between Bella and Kate—a very deliberate demonstration and explanation of Kate's power—and shortened it into what it was. There is a reason for this, though. They never would have let Bella around humans if it weren't an emergency, so there needed to be a sense of urgency; and anyway, it was about time I added some actual conflict to the story. So I now present to you chapter twelve, with the other half of Kate's explanation. Do enjoy!

Oh, and I made a mistake! Three cars, not two. How the heck did I think they could all fit in two cars?


I frowned. They had told me on the way here that this would be difficult. "They'll be here soon, and we all need to be back at the house. Alice says the outcome doesn't look good unless we're all together at the house."

Her eyebrows rose. "Alice, huh?"

I nodded, hopeful that this would convince her. Instead, she only laughed again.

"Well, if Alice says so, then of course it must be true." Her words were heavily sarcastic, but she stood anyway, linking her arm in mine. We walked out of the diner together, and she followed me—practically led me—to the car with Edward, Alice, and Carlisle.

I slid into the back seat first, so that I could sit next to Edward, and Kate slid in after me and closed the door.

Carlisle started the car with barely a glance at Kate, and we were speeding back to the house with no delay.

"Why are you afraid of me, Bella? It's not like I can do anything to you," Kate asked in a sugar-sweet voice.

"Would you, if you could?" I wondered aloud, though I didn't think I really wanted to know the answer.

"Of course."

I didn't doubt her at all. She would do it just because she could. Just like she had told Edward.

Edward growled low in his chest, but Kate laughed at this, too.


When we were back at the house, and the others were making preparations, I grabbed Edward by his shirt and dragged him into one of the bedrooms. He looked surprised, especially when I turned on him and demanded, "Tell me what Kate's power is."

"Bella…"

"I need to know." He could no longer keep things like this from me, because I no longer need to be protected. He saw that too, and sat on the edge of the bed, motioning that I should do the same.

He took a deep breath and said, "She can control people. Completely."

I frowned. "What do you mean…completely?"

He didn't look like he wanted to tell me, but he seemed to have made up his mind that he was going to. "She can dictate your every move."

I didn't pause to marvel at how that was possible. "Even vampires?"

He nodded solemnly. "The worst part of it is that you don't even know you're being controlled. They're really your thoughts—at least, you think they are. She can completely influence your every move and you won't feel invaded at all." He ran a hand through his bronze hair. "It's hard sometimes to tell whether you're doing something because you want to, or because she wants you to. Do you understand how terrifying that is? Not knowing if you can trust yourself around her?"

Yes, I did understand. It had nothing to do with my newfound ability to read his mind and emotions, because I wasn't touching his skin at all. I saw the pleading look in his eyes, that look that conveyed more than what was said. I had seen that same look once before, when it seemed like he was asking my permission to fall off the wagon.

Right now, he was asking my permission again. He was asking for my understanding, my forgiveness, in case something happened. Even if not consciously, that was the meaning in his eyes. And I heard every word he didn't say, and I asked him what he couldn't voice himself: "How do you know you aren't being controlled right now?"

He looked away, because although I could ask the question, he couldn't answer it. His reaction was answer enough.

"What did Kate do to you?"

He sighed. This was the question he had wanted to avoid. "I don't know. She thinks it's funny that we never know. Something that I did—something that I did completely of my own volition—was really not my choice at all, and I'll never know what it was."

He face was like glass—I could see the honestly there. So why had he been so afraid to tell me? I knew there was more to it, but I left it alone for now, promising myself that I would return to it later. "Then why are you friends? You've always spoken of the Denali coven with such fondness. Why do you keep coming back here?"

"That's how manipulative she can be," he said, and left it at that.

My next question was interrupted by a high-pitched keening noise. Though it was outside, and some way off, my ears picked it up without trouble. It might as well have been in the next room.

Edward and I both snapped to attention, sparing each other a brief glance that said we would continue this later. If there was a later.

Think happy thoughts, Bella.

Alice came in the room, motioning to us that we should gather in the front room, so that all of us could be together. This herd mentality would protect us, as the werewolves could pick off anyone who was alone.

I winced. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to compare the werewolves to a pack and ourselves to herd. That dynamic never ended positively.

There were several moments of tense silence before the voice of Sam Uley, the alpha male, rang out. "We're sending in someone to negotiate."

Carlisle glanced at Alice. She looked like she wanted to tell us something, but she couldn't—not with the werewolves so near. They would be able to hear her. She could only nod or shake her head. Edward suddenly tensed, so it was safe to assume he knew the warning as well.

Slowly, with a look of warning in her eyes, she nodded.

Carlisle spoke up, "Yes, send someone in."

We heard the slow crunch of footsteps, steadily gaining in volume, before there was a knock on the door. Alice pointed at me, and eventually every eye in the room focused on me.

They wanted me to open the door.

I cautiously crept to the door, mindful that everyone inside and outside were listening to my steps with intent ears. I looked back once more—I couldn't help it—and was greeted with the encouraging nods and tight, forced smiles of those who were nervous. I took a deep, though unnecessary, breath, and pulled the door open.

I was greeted with a familiar face and a relieved smile. "Hey, Bells."

My mouth dropped open. "Dad?"


AN: For those of you who wonder what Kate did to Edward, it isn't mentioned in this story, but I'll tell you what it is: his rebellion. I'll be writing another multi-chapter fic after I'm finished with this one, detailing the incident. It will be written from Edward's perspective, so with his mind-reading ability you'll get snippets of Kate's point of view as well. Be on the lookout for God. I might have to rate it M because of the violence (which I think is stupid, because if I'm 16 and can write it, then I would think you guys could handle reading it with no problem) and the genre will be horror/angst.

Reviews make me super happy! And they make me write faster! (Yes, this is bribery.)

Is it just me, or this story going downhill? You guys still interested?