Amount of words without summary/AN/Disclaimer: 2 460

A/N: Finally you guys have the next chapter :D thank you to those who followed the story, I appreciate it so much! And then, of course, thank you to the wonderful NyxsReincarnation – THE NUMBER ONE BETA!

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Chapter Twelve

"It's been 13 days since locals Isabella Swan and Kimberly Yule went missing. Police searches have brought up nothing, and the public are starting to think that it is a hopeless case. Here are some of Isabella and Kimberly's concerned friends."

The screen flashed onto two pale girls. One of the girls was tiny with wild, curly brunette hair blowing in the slight breeze. Jessica Stanley. Next to her was a girl around 6"0 who had light brown hair and wore fancy glasses. Angela Webber. Both girls wore concerned expressions.

"We're just, like, so worried about Bella! She's one of our best friends, and when we heard that she'd gone missing, we were devastated. I just wish that the BEEP who stole her and that Kim girl would rot in hell!" Jessica cried, tears streaming down her face. Her friend put a comforting arm around her, and looked sadly into the camera. "Please, whoever you are…please return our friends back to where they belong."

Next, the screen flashed onto a group of about six Quileute men. They each had dark russet skin and dark, short hair. The leader, Sam Uley, stepped forward to speak into the camera. "We are deeply troubled by the disappearances of our friends. Kim and Bella are two of our own, and we protect what is ours. Bella and Kim were viciously and violently removed from their homes and loved ones. We want them back, and we want justice. We're coming for you."

This was followed by a war cry from the five men standing behind their leader. "You have been warned," was Sam Uley's last words, and the camera was once again back on the news anchor. "The disappearances of the two young adults continue to baffle the police…"

Clara switched the TV off with a sigh and turned to watch me carefully. "You shouldn't have watched the news, Bella," she told me sternly. "You know it will only upset you further."

I laughed bitterly and said, "At least I get to see my friends, right?"

Clara shrugged and took a seat next to me. Today her blonde curls were done up in a messy ponytail, with her fringe pinned up out of her eyes. She was dressed warmly for the extremely cold weather – sweatpants, a large t-shirt, one of Jason's hoodies, and some warm boots.

I wore a pair of shorts and a long-sleeved top that wasn't too hot or too cold. I still found it difficult to understand that I no longer felt the cold. I was just like the La Push pack now, what with my extreme body heat. I found myself missing them and thinking about them constantly, wondering what they were up to. Seeing them now on the news, so determined to find me, warmed my heart considerably.

"Do you think I'd ever be able to go home?" I asked Clara, but it was someone else who answered me.

"Eventually you will be allowed to go, just to put the Police and your family at rest," Jason's deep voice said from the doorway. I barely stopped my mouth from falling open. IT IS ALIIIIVE!

As if reading my thoughts, Jason shot a glare at me and Clara burst out laughing. Confused, I demanded, "What?"

"Of course I'm alive, Izzie," Jason growled at me, baring his teeth a little.

Clara was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. Somehow, she forced the words out, "I c-can't believe you said that t-to your Al-alpha!"

But…"I didn't say anything! I…I thought it."

Stunned silence followed that statement. Two pairs of eyes looked bewilderedly at me, and I was sure my face looked the same.

I could project my thoughts.

Our stunned silence was interrupted by Drake walking into the room. He shot a confused glance at Clara and I, and a raised eyebrow at Jason's appearance in the room. "What's going on?"

Jason shook his head and said, "No nothing. What's news, Drake?"

His answer was quite shocking. "We've got a new Pack member, a fifteen year old girl named Samantha Reid."

The name rang a distant bell. "As in Clara's friend?" I asked, shocked. I'd only met the girl yesterday!

Drake nodded. "We could use some help, Clara, Bella."

Five minutes later found the whole pack in a small clearing about a mile away from Jason's house. The wolves formed a circle, and in the middle was a smallish wolf. Its fur was a dark reddish-brown colour that matched Samantha's hair perfectly. Terrified thoughts coming from her made the pack collectively wince.

"Hey Samantha, its Bella," I sent to her, hoping to calm her down some."Here's what happened to you…"

After another hour or so Samantha had calmed down enough to phase back into a human again. Right now the terrified girl was in Clara's room, with the rest of the pack seated in Jason's living room.

"We're an oddly large pack," Damian remarked. Murmurs of agreement followed his simple observation.

"We're not that big," I said, "We're only six – well seven, including Samantha."

Jason hummed in agreement. "But we need to figure out why there has been recent phasings. We've had two in the last month – Samantha and Bella. Before they came it was Jacob. What could be triggering transformations?"

I cleared my throat. "Vampires," I told the wolves, "The vampire who kidnapped me, bit Kim. Kim's presence may have caused Samantha to phase."

"But the terrified girl's change could only be triggered by nearby vampires," Tyler started, and I finished, "So Kim must be nearby."

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"Kim, can I… can I ask you something?" a quiet voice asked.

I looked up from the yellowed newspaper with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, Callie. Of course," I replied.

The raven haired vampire didn't say anything though. She nervously played with her fingers, which I found strange. Callie was almost never nervous. She was fierce, strong, and sure of herself. In the short period of time that I've known her, she'd only been nervous once – when I had forced her to eat her first bunny.

"Kim, who is," she started. She swallowed thickly before quietly saying, "Who is Jason?"

I was sure that, if I still had a heartbeat, mine would've stopped right then and there. Callie doesn't know who Jason is?!

"It's just…his name keeps popping up in my mind," Kim murmured. "I have no idea who he is, but I feel like I should know him. You know? I feel as if he's someone really important, and every time his face flashes into my mind I have this terrible ache…right here."

I watched as she placed her hand on her chest, right above her dead heart. My own heart clenched as her words sunk in.

She continued, "I'm missing someone I don't even know, and I have no idea why. Don't get me wrong, I mean he's really attractive. He has these amazing, really deep emerald green eyes that peer into your soul. His hair is thick and dark, cut just to past his ears. He's tall and well built…he's the man of my dreams. Except for the fact that we can't dream, of course."

I stayed silent. I didn't know how to reply as my mind stayed blank. What was I supposed to tell her? That Jason Meraz was her werewolf boyfriend, and that he thought Callie was dead? That I was the one to rip her away from her cosy life, the one to change her into the monster she was now?

"Callie," I began, but my voice trailed off. I swallowed deeply and bit my lip.

Callie's crimson red eyes flickered over to meet mine. She smiled a sad little smile. "I just wish I knew who he was, you know? He just seems so special, and all I want to do is grab him and cuddle with him." She chuckled softly. Shaking her head she went on, "I know it sounds silly... but I want to kiss him. I want to be his and nobody else's. But why is that, Kim? I don't understand. Can you help me understand?" Callie's eyes stared deeply into my similar ones, begging with me. Begging to understand, to just know what was happening to her.

"I thought you knew who Jason was?" I half-asked half-said to Callie. "When you woke up, you knew exactly who he was."

The raven haired vampire opposite me frowned, confusion leaking into her eyes. "I did?" she questioned quietly. "I don't remember who he is now, though."

Immediately I was concerned. Why couldn't she remember the wolf that had imprinted on her? Softly, slowly, I began to tell her who exactly Jason Meraz was. Her expression kept changing, but I didn't once stop. "And he will hate me forever. He's the love of your life, Callie…and I took you away from him."

Callie was silent for a moment. Her eyes stared unseeingly into the distance, and I just knew vague human memories were flashing through her mind. I waited patiently, and a little worried. Why couldn't Callie remember some stuff?

"Oh my gosh, how could I ever forget him?" Callie suddenly cried, horrified with herself. I jumped a bit, but I pretended I wasn't bothered. Then I was suddenly tackled in a strong vampire hug that sent me crashing a few feet into the ground. I spat dirt and Callie's hair out of my mouth. "Uhm, why exactly are we hugging again?" I muttered, trying to push the pesky raven off of me.

Callie let go of me and with a flash she was up and dancing around. In another flash I was also standing again, watching her and feeling a little weirded-out. The raven haired vampire was doing a dance I didn't have a name to. It was this weird shaking of the arms in the air and moving your body in rhythm side-to-side, then up and down, then all over. Every now and then she would lower herself on to the wet ground, so that one knee was flat on the ground in a proposal move, with her arms still waving in the air. Then she would dance around again – if you could call it that – and sing in some language I didn't understand for the life of me. I gasped when she suddenly did a face plant, but frowned when she immediately got up and repeated that move a few times randomly. What the he-double-matches was she doing?

Things were taking a weird turn. Completely freaked out, and more than just a little worried for my vampire friend's mental state – I backed away slowly and carefully, not wanting to alert her to my presence again. When I was an acceptable distance away, I turned and high-tailed it out of there.

Only to run into something rock-hard.

Another vampire.

Groaning from my position on the ground, I turn on my death glare at the vampire who knocked me over. He had extremely pale skin and dark crimson red eyes that showed he was hungry. The vampire was dressed in a large black coat. He wore a necklace around his neck with a large and fancy V on it, and seemed to be made of pure gold. He seemed physically young– around fifteen or sixteen. He gave off an aura of danger and power that had me feeling weak.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice deep.

Feeling a bit weird, I quickly stood up and gazed at him through narrow eyes. My vampire instincts were telling me to run, run, run. But instead I stiffly said, "My name is Kim."

"How old are you?" he bit out.

"I'm a newborn," I replied, somewhat uncomfortable now. Like jeez, what was with the stupid questions anyway?

"How old exactly? Who is your Sire," were his next questions.

I didn't know why the heck he wanted to know that, but I felt compelled to answer. "I'm about two weeks old. My sire is Victoria – a red-headed bitch." I bit my lip and did a mental face-palm. The word had just slipped out. Oops.

The vampire was not amused. "Do you know who I am?" he demanded softly.

Jeez, this guy liked demanding things. It was sort of pissing me off by now. "No, I just met you. How the heck am I supposed to know you?!"

He growled, but I could tell it wasn't at me. He was seriously annoyed. "Where can I find this Victoria?" he asked me.

I shrugged, which was very un-vampy like. Not that I cared or anything. "Last I heard, Seattle."

He nodded, recognition sparking in his eyes. "Ah, yes. With the newborns." He was quiet for a moment. He looked up at me with hard eyes and asked, "Why aren't you with the rest of Victoria's newborns?"

"I'm sorry, what? What newborns? Where?" For effect, I spun around in a circle. Then I offered the vampire opposite me a confused smile. "Uhm, I'm the only newborn as far as I know."

Then, as if to prove me wrong, Callie came crashing into me. I fell down hard and groaned. What was it with me and people crashing into me? Callie laughed happily and jumped up again. She turned to the older vampire and said, "Hi, I'm Callie. Who are you?"

Surprisingly, he answered her. "I'm Alec of the Volturi. Nice to meet you, Miss Callie."

As he and Callie started to chat, something in the back of my mind was nagging me. I fought past my very unclear human memories to the night before Bella and I was attacked. She had mentioned someone – or well, a group called the Volturi. She'd told me that they were basically vampire royalty, and that Edward warned her of them. They were there to ensure that the existence of vampires were kept a secret…which it wasn't. Bella knows about them, and so did I before I was turned. The wolves all know about them…

"Oh, shit!" I exclaimed and thumped back down to the feather-soft earth.

Alec made a sound of amusement. "You are one clumsy vampire, are you not?"

I grumbled a bit at that and scowled at the laughing pair. "Whatever. Callie and I need to go, like, right now," I said strongly.

"We do?" Callie asked, confused.

Gosh, I swear that woman had different personalities. I was about to reply but Alec beat me to it.

"This is very uncharacteristic of me…but would the two of you like to visit Volterra and meet the Kings? I know they'd be very interested in meeting you."

"YES!" Callie yelled, looking psyched.

Oh, crap…

Now I had an insane vampire and a bunch of Royals for company. Life just couldn't get any better.