Chapter 13.

I stood up slowly with Bella, and moved her behind me, as a dark haired vampire came out of the trees. She was trembling terribly.

"And you're not alone, I see," said Laurent.

"Hunter, you have to get out of here. He's too dangerous to you," Bella whispered.

"Don't worry. I can handle myself," I whispered back.

"Not with him, you can't. and this is my fight. What do you want Laurent?" she asked, stepping from behind me. Did she know he was a vampire? She seemed to. I took a step with her.

"I just stopped by, on the off chance that I may see you again," he grinned viciously at her. "Where are your family? Aren't they usually with you?"

"They're not here right now. But they will be back soon. So I suggest you leave. Now," she said.

What did he mean, her family? I thought it was just her dad in Forks?

"Come now, Bella. Did you not think you would see me again? I actually came as a favour to Victoria."

"No," she whimpered.

"What the hell do you want with her?" I demanded.

"None of your business, boy!" he roared back.

"Please, Hunter. You have to leave," Bella pleaded.

I could feel my body starting to burn. My power was getting ready to be unleashed, and if this cretin didn't leave now, he would burn.

"Not a chance, Bella. I know what he is, and I am not leaving you."

She gasped at my knowledge of him, and Laurent sauntered farther into the clearing.

"And how would a boy like you know about my kind?" he said, smiling.

"How do I know?" I said, stepping away from Bella. I couldn't do this without her finding out about me, but if she already knew of the existence of vampires, then it wouldn't matter.

"Hunter …" Bella started.

"Stay back, Bella. I know what I'm doing. Trust me," I beseeched her.

"I suggest you stay back from me," Laurent hissed.

I took another two steps toward him. "I don't think so," I growled, and I let my hands become alive with my fire.

There were gasps from both of them, and Laurent stumbled a few steps back.

"What are you?" he asked, in a shaky voice.

I grinned wickedly at him, taking another step into a crouch. "I'm your worst nightmare."

I shot my hands out in front of me, throwing my fire into Laurent's face. He screamed while he burned, and I had turned to cover Bella's face from the sight. She struggled in my arms, trying to get loose.

"Leave me alone!" she screamed at me.

"Bella, I had to. He was going to kill you," I said, loosening my grip on her.

"I'm not talking about Laurent. It's you. I knew you were one of them. I knew it from the first day I saw you, but I thought I was just going crazy. You should have told me."

I could see the conflict in her eyes. I didn't think she would want to be my friend, after this.

"Bella, I'm sorry. But if you know about our kind, then you know I couldn't tell you. Please don't hate me," I begged.

She had started to calm down a little, and took a step toward me. "I don't hate you, Hunter. I hate myself. I seem to get drawn to … things … that I shouldn't. I could see the gold in your eyes when I first saw you. I knew I should've stayed away from you then, but I couldn't." She hung her head.

"Bella, look at me, please." She looked up at me, slowly. "I don't understand. How do you know about my kind?"

She sighed, closing her eyes again. "He was one. His whole family were. Their eyes were gold, too."

I knew who she was talking about. The jackass that left her. Just like my mom, Bella was another vampire experiment. I took a step toward her, and tentatively hugged her. She didn't shy away.

"I'm sorry I had to lie to you, Bella. If I had known, I would have let you be. I wouldn't have pushed our friendship," I whispered.

"No, I'm glad you did. You have no idea how comforting you have been to me. I never really did fit in with normal. With you, I feel like I'm home." She looked up at me and smiled. "So, tell me about yourself. You're not like them. You seem different."

I sat us back down on the grass. I took a moment to process exactly what had just happened. I took a deep breath, and began.

"I'm half vampire, half human. I am almost seventy four years old. My mother got pregnant by a vampire in nineteen thirty one. I turned her after I was born. She lives with me now, and her eyes are gold, also."

"Eva?" she asked.

"Yes, Eva. She's my mother. We hunted animals right from the start of our lives, and have never tasted human blood. We both have a conscience, and we know it would be wrong. You can tell what I am by my eyes. They only have shimmers of gold in them."

She stared into my eyes, as if it were the first time she had seen them.

"They're beautiful," she said. "Almost hazel, but with gold."

"Exactly," I chuckled. "I also don't sparkle in sunshine, I just shimmer slightly. I look almost human. More so than my mom does, anyway."

She was silent for a moment, probably working through the situation.

"What was that with the fire? I mean, don't you burn?"

"No. We don't know why that is. My mother thinks it's because I'm only half vampire, but we have never experimented with a natural flame. I think my body protects itself, as there's a blue layer before the fire begins," I explained.

She nodded, taking everything in.

"Does your mother have powers?" she asked, sounding eager for more information.

"Yes, but I will let her tell you about them, if you don't mind. That's her story to tell, after all."

"So you still want me to meet her?" she asked.

"Well, yes. If you still want to."

"I'd love to," she stated.

"So, can I ask you something now?" I asked.

"Shoot."

"So you thought you knew what I was. Is that why you watched me eat, and offered me food?"

She looked away, instantly, a blush appearing on her cheeks. "Yes," she whispered.

I started laughing. She whipped her head around, and slapped my arm.

"Hey! What was that for? You were the one who was trying to poison me," I laughed. She started smiling, and eventually laughed herself. It was a great sound.

"I do eat food, though. My human half gets nourishment from it," I explained.

"Oh."

"So, do you want to meet my mom now?" I asked.

"Sure. Um, do you run like them too?" she asked warily.

"Yes. Do you want a ride?"

Her brow furrowed slightly, before straightening her features again. She thought about it. "Sure," she said shrugging her shoulders. "Let's go."