I am soo sorry this took so long…I have been really busy, so trying to do a chapter a week has been a little difficult for me but here we go. Chapter 13. Lucky 13…

Charms and Boxes

Neve POV

I scraped my key in the lock and pushed the door open. As soon as I got in chaos ensued. The foyer looked like a junk sale had exploded everywhere. I saw an old grandfather clock stood crooked in the corner, a tiger's skin sat neatly folded on top of a rickety chair and books with yellowing pages were piled high on every available surface. Everyone was in the foyer, all jabbering, chattering and ranting away. I tried to make out what everyone was saying but they were all speaking too fast and too loud for me to hear properly. Their faces were a mixture of terror, anxiety and outrage. Everyone was there; Carlisle was still in his white lab coat. They were all doing different actions: Esme was twisting her hands, Carlisle was running his fingers through his hair, Alice was pulling at her hair, Jasper was clenching and unclenching his fists, Emmett was grinding his teeth, Rosalie was fraying the edge of her beautiful silk shirt, Bella was gnawing on her bottom lip, Edward was pacing up and down the hall, Jacob looked like he was about to explode, and Nessie was crying. The noise increased in volume, I clapped my hands over my ears and thought SHUT UP! Everyone was instantly silent. I glanced around to find that there mouths were still moving, as if they were trying to talk but were struck mute. Eventually Carlisle seemed to realise this, for his hand flew up to his throat. He stared at me like my skin had just turned green. He motioned to the others to stop chattering and gestured to his throat. Everyone instantly stopped what they were doing and looked around at each other in astonishment. I looked around bewildered, as they all tried to talk and failed. Finally Esme slipped away and came back with a notepad and pen. She wrote down something quickly before handing it to me. It said in her beautiful cursive writing, Neve, sweetheart as much as we are thrilled that your talent has developed a little bit more, we would appreciate it if you allowed us to talk again. Something bad has happened. Something really bad.

My eyes widened slightly and I giggled, "Sorry," I said, smiling sheepishly, "Just talk one at a time please." They all nodded impatiently waiting me to release them from their curse. I rolled my eyes still smiling. I was still high from my date with Jack. I still remembered the way his strong lips felt against mine, how the slight stubble on his chin scratched my cheek, the way he tasted of warm and spice. I never thought one action would make me so happy. Fireworks had exploded inside my head and for a while afterwards, I saw everything in Technicolor. It all seemed to click into place. In that one moment, I knew that no matter what happened that (dare I say this?) that me and Jack, we just connected, we were two adjoining pieces and that without each other we could never be truly happy with our lives. It was essentially true loves first kiss. I think what I have just said would win the Most Corniest Phrases award but it was true. I knew it in my heart and soul. I ripped myself away from the memories and focused on giving my family voices. I thought hard, reaching out to all of the minds in the room, you may talk now, one at a time, I thought. It was now surprisingly easy, just like when I used my voice to use my compulsion.

"Uh…wow," Jake said rubbing his throat, "that was… scary."

"Sorry, it just sort of happened," I mumbled blushing red.

"It doesn't matter;" Alice said impatiently, "Neve the Volturi are coming."

The blood drained from my face as quickly as it had come and I was instantly brought crashing down from my weird high, "Wh- What? Right now? Here?"

"Not now but soon, really soon but I don't see you there. It goes black after a few minutes though. Jake's not there either or Nessie. I think we had sent them away. I am not sure about you though. They were definitely there about you."

"How did they find out?" I choked.

"I bought a magazine today," Nessie said holding it up, "there's an ad in it… you should take a look."

I grabbed the magazine from her and went to the page she had her thumb in. There on the glossy pages were the words:

Is someone in school acting strange?

Impossible circumstances happening around them that you can't explain?

Feeling scared of another person because they can do things that are technically impossible?

Call this Hotline and we'll help you find a way of stopping these freaks from affecting your life. You will be helping your country from these dangerous persons.

The number to call is 01762899635

Do not hesitate to call this number if you feel scared, angered or worried

*~V~*

"Holy shit," I breathed, staring at the ad. It had a blood red background and the writing was all in black. My first thought was: Brianna. My legs gave out and I was about to topple forwards when I felt cold strong arms grab me from behind. I looked up to see Carlisle standing behind me his face taut with worry. "Thanks," I managed to whisper. He helped me to my feet and steadied me when I still wobbled. I put a hand up to my forehead, closed my eyes and focused on calming my thudding heart. When it finally wasn't pumping at a 1000 beats per minute I opened my eyes and took a deep breath. "They are really out to get me," I muttered. I ripped the advert from the magazine and threw it into the nearest trash can.

I knew that one moment what I had to do. I flew upstairs to my room and pulled out the battered rucksack from my walk-in closet I had come with. I began to shove all the things I would need into it: some pairs of trousers, some underwear, a few t-shirts and several warm jumpers. I squashed them all down so they would make more room. "Neve… what are you doing?" I heard Carlisle ask.

I gritted my teeth, "What do you think I am doing?" I asked impatiently. I moved to the bathroom and began to shove my hairbrush, toothbrush and other toiletries into my bag as well, "I am doing something I should have done 3 weeks ago. No, scratch that, something I should have done 2 or 3 years ago, when these fucking powers showed up. I am going to disappear, become one of the many teenagers that runaway every year and vanish, like I was never here."

He was leaning against the door frame and I could see the others standing in my room as well. "Don't leave Neve. That is an order," Carlisle said blocking the door.

I curled my free hand into a fist, "I don't take shit like that, Carlisle. Move, before I turn you into powdery dust."

He shook his head, "Why leave? Are you running away? Being the coward? I would have thought you would have done something better," he asked, his face calm.

Something snapped inside me. I dropped my bag and jabbed a finger into his stony chest, "Don't you dare call me a coward, parasite," I spat, using a name I had heard Jacob use once, but he had been joking around, "Don't you dare. Do you want to know why I am leaving? Because I am trouble and danger. Everything I touch turns to ash. My mum, my dad, my sisters, my grandmother, my old friends: all gone or dead. And I can't stand it anymore. I would rather burn in that fire a hundred times over than have you all go to the same fate. You guys are all that I have left. You made me heal. I owe you guys my sanity and more. I will be damned if you all turn to ash also. So you just think before calling me a coward, bloodsucker."

I pushed past him and stormed towards my pin up board. I had gotten it last week. I had tacked up photographs from my past three weeks there. I began pulling down my favourite ones and putting them inside one of the front pockets of the rucksack. That one time Alice dragged all the girls shopping, we had been in the Mall. Alice had lifted the camera towards us with one arm and snapped a group shot of us; I had had just enough time to put on a goofy face before the flash came. It had Nessie giggling for hours. Me and Edward, jamming in the Harmony Room. Jake throwing me over his shoulder and not putting me down for a full hour. The one time I got so pissed at Emmett for continuously calling me Scottish nicknames, I threw my dessert of ice cream into his face. Esme sitting on my bed, one of the bed side lights on, watching me sleep after a nightmare.

Cold arms restrained my hands but I still didn't stop. I continued to pull down photo after photo. The icy hands formed manacles around my wrists and whoever it was pulled my arms in. I growled in frustration and ripped my hands from them whipped around and shoved whoever it was back from me. They flew across my room and slammed against my bed, making everything shudder. I stared at what I had done. Carlisle laid on top of the mattress a stunned look on his face.

My hand flew up to my mouth and I gasped, "Oh god, I am so sorry! I didn't mean to shove you like that. I just-I just-"

My voice choked off and I broke down…again. Tears made the room melt around my head. I staggered back to the wall and slid down slowly. I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my chin on my knees. Tears slid down my face like raindrops and I wished that by tear ducts could be sewn up. Another cold arm rested on my shoulders and I recognized Esme's charcoal grey skirt. "My mother always used to say that there was no use crying over spilt milk," I heard her murmur, "And that I had to be a big girl. But you know what? You can just cry. You don't have to be a big girl."

That made me cry even more and I turned my face to sob into her pale blue satin shirt. She rocked me backwards and forwards, in a way that she knew would calm me. This just continued for a while until no more tears could come out. I snuffled and Esme handed me one of her linen handkerchiefs. I smiled at her, wiped my face and blew my nose. "Now how many times have I broken down now? Ugh, I am worse than a garden hose."

I pulled my legs beneath me and got up, Esme with me. Carlisle had gotten up from my bed. I looked at each of them, "We are going to pretend that never happened," I said firmly.

Before they could answer, I stomped towards the closet again, trying to find some shoes. However I found nearly everyone blocking my way. I grumbled in frustration before stepping back, "Ok, ok, I'll stop but until you can think of a better plan I will continue packing," I warned.

"Running away won't help," Edward said simply, "They will still come here and find some reason to kill us and then they will go after you."

I huffed, "So we are screwed no matter what I do."

"Yes, I am afraid. There is a chance we could talk them out of killing us all but that chance is so very slim that it would be a miracle if one of us gets out alive," Carlisle said, running his hands through his hair.

"What would they do, if the worst comes to the worst?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"Slaughter all of us except you. They would take you to their fortress in Volterra and keep you on a leash. Literally. They would treat you like you were a common animal. I heard they even torture children like you. 'Punishment of the Blood,' or something like that. They use every medieval way of torture in the book," I didn't miss the fury behind Carlisle's words. Even his face was twisted up with rage. I had never seen him so mad.

"Well that sounds lovely. Thank you for being honest," I said sarcastically. I ran my fingers through my hair, "Why don't we all just run?"

"Can't. One of their numbers is an excellent tracker. It would be impossible to run, without them following. Even if Bella can have a shield around us the whole time, it will be extremely tiring for her to do it for eternity," Edward said simply.

"I can do it!" Bella said indignantly.

"Love, not meaning to doubt your capabilities, I don't think you would be able to do that for that long a time," Edward said, stroking Bella's cheek.

"Argh!" I shouted, I suddenly had the urge to hit something, "So what are we going to do then? Sit here, twiddling our thumbs while we wait to get slaughtered? Great plan. Really great."

"We could prepare you even more," Carlisle mused, "Make you work harder at your extracurricular studies. We will train hard as well; see if we can get help from other vampires…though that is highly unlikely. I don't think the other vampires would want to be dragged into this."

I sighed, ran my fingers through my hair and closed my eyes. Think Neve, think! I commanded myself, what should we do? How are we going to survive this? Come on!

But nothing came. No matter how hard I thought, I couldn't think of one way to get us out of this. Well not us per se, more my family. I could think easily of how to get the Cullens out of this. I would trade myself for the safety of the Cullens. It seemed simple enough. I decided that was what I would do. I knew that they would never agree to this, so I will just not tell them. Eventually I opened my eyes and glanced around my family. They were murmuring and discussing things that I didn't want to hear about. "I am sorry. I can't think of anything," I lied sadly.

"Everything will be ok," Esme said encouragingly, putting an arm around me, "We can talk with them, figure something out."

Everyone scoffed at that but we all knew it was our best chance at this point. Well, they knew it was there best chance, I knew something different. I sighed tugging my hair before walking downstairs. I was really thirsty so I went to get a coke from the fridge. I leaned against the Kitchen Island, stared through the floor-to-ceiling window that led out to the back garden and sipped my coke. The sun was still shining outside and as usual the garden looked like an Eden. It seemed impossible that anything could seem beautiful anymore. Just as I watched the sun filter through the patchy leaves I felt a wave of raw emotion sweep through me like a tidal wave. Anger. Pure and unadulterated fury. But it wasn't my fury. I knew it wasn't mine. The rage swirled around me like a whirlpool and sucked me in. I was now no longer in the kitchen; I was on someone else's front porch, looking down the driveway. I suddenly realised that I recognized this front porch. It was Jack's. I was standing next to him. He was standing on the porch looking down onto the driveway where, along with Jack's Cadillac was a pink Volkswagen Bug. Jack had his muscled arms crossed his chest and his fists were curled, his nails biting into the hard skin of his palms. He looked like he was trying everything he could not to lash out at some inanimate object. I tried to talk to him, ask him what the heck was going on but he didn't seem notice me. I waved my hand in front of his face but instead my hand disappeared into his face, I squeaked shocked before retracting my hand quickly. So obviously I will have no influence whatsoever other anything in this weird hallucination of mine. I could still feel his emotions though. His towering burning fury that he was trying so hard to control. This is officially the weirdest hallucination in the world. He was glaring at something that was on his front drive. I turned to see what he was looking at. My heart froze with shock when I saw Brianna leaning against the car, a smug look on her face.

I realized Jack was talking, his words coming out like burning acid, "What the fuck do you want Brianna? I am sick of stupid games."

She laughed which made Jack even more infuriated, "Just came to tell you that your little freak of a girlfriend isn't going to be around for much longer."

Jack saw red but he tried to calm himself down. As much as he wanted to smack Brianna's head onto the hood of her car, he wasn't raised to hit girls, "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, it means that Neve 'the psychopath' Murray-Cullen is going to be sent away and then you'll have me. What a lucky guy you'll be," she said the last part seriously, fluttering her eyelashes.

His fury peaked again but a pang of worry sent a chill down his spine, "Why? What have you done now? I swear to god if you have hurt her…"

Her face was a picture of gleeful delight as she said, "No, no I have just called pest control and they will be here by the end of the week to pick her up. I swear they're going to take really good care of her but you will never see her again. She is going somewhere where the sun don't shine. Have you seen what she can do? She tried to kill me! She is like an evil version of super girl. So I suggest you dump her and come back to me babes. We are so right together. How about it hotness?" She stuck out her chest and twirled her bottle-blond hair around her finger.

He shuddered but the disgust was overridden by pure fear. Maybe Neve meant what she said. That she brought trouble with her wherever she went. But she never mentioned herself getting hurt. To retaliate he said, "you have no fucking idea what you are talking about. Get off my property before I abandon my morals and seriously fuck your face up."

Her face flickered with fear before it smoothed out for her to say, "Well if you don't believe me ask her. She is a fucking feral animal Jack! She deserves to be in a zoo! She should be chained-"

She didn't get further than that because Jack left the front porch and slammed the door behind him. His emotions were a mixture of anger, worry and confusion. My heart ached painfully in my chest and I felt like two sides of me were ripping me apart: the side that desperately wanted to keep Jack out of my so-called life by not telling him and the side that was screaming at me that he had a right to know.

"Neve! Neve! NEVE!" In my own body I felt someone's rock hand smack into my face, breaking my jaw. The sharp pain that erupted across my face ripped me away from Jack's confused world and into my own weird one. I was back inside the kitchen my coke now splattered all over the floor. Alice, Bella and Nessie were standing in front of me with petrified looks on their faces. Alice had her hand raised again as if she was about to strike again. And my jaw was throbbing like a bitch. While my right hand flew up to my jaw while the other went and grabbed Alice's wrist to restrain her from hitting me again. I tried to talk but my jaw was so broken I couldn't move it properly to talk. I held up one finger asking them to wait a moment before letting go of Alice's wrist and walking over to the microwave and checking my reflection in the glass. Using it I snapped my jaw back into place with a loud crack and a wave of fresh pain.

"Did you have to break my jaw?" I asked, after moving it around a bit.

"Sorry, I hit you harder than I meant to. But you looked so out of it, what were you seeing," Alice asked. Her eyes suddenly gleamed, "Can you see the future now? Like me? O-my-gosh that would be so cool!"

"No I didn't see a vision of the future. I saw Jack," I said patiently.

"What? I don't understand. Were you daydreaming or what?" Alice continued frowning.

"No," I said, "It's…it's hard to explain. I was just sitting here thinking about how shit my luck is when: Bam! I get this sudden feeling of anger that comes outta nowhere. Nothing provoked it before but then there it was and it was like I was being sucked into Jack's world for a few moments. He was standing on the front porch and was talking with Brianna… well more like arguing with her. It was Brianna who ratted me out and she was telling him about it. It was what he was so mad about. And I was there watching it all and not being able to do anything. It was like I was watching a movie or something. But all the way through I could feel his emotions, his anger, his confusion, his worry…every little detail. It was so much more than a vision, it was like a- a- a… I don't know what it was. Just something that I know makes me way weirder than I already was."

They were all staring at me, shocked looks on all of their faces. They certainly didn't expect that. "Well uhm, that's different," Bella mumbled.

"No shit Sherlock," I said back.

"What do you think brought it on?" Alice asked all serious now, "Did you do anything that you neither of you had done with each other before?"

I could feel my face reddening before I mumbled, "Well…he kissed me and I kissed him back…"

"OH MY GOD!" all three girls screamed.

"Shhh!" I whisper yelled, "The guys will hear you and go to rip poor Jack to shreds! As if he hasn't had enough to worry already"

Rosalie walked in, just as they finished screaming, "What happened?" she asked bewildered.

"Neve was kissed," Nessie squealed excitedly.

"Ooo, what was it like? Is he a good kisser? Tell us everything!" Rosalie gushed joining the three girls by the kitchen island. They were all leaning against it, curiosity and excitement dancing in there eyes.

I stared at them like they had all grown extra heads, "We just found out that we are all heading for slaughterhouse and that I experience weird visions whenever Jack is angry and you want to know how my date went? Are you sure drugs don't affect vampires?"

They all frowned at that, "Come on…we just want to forget for a while. And anyway, it has been sometime since our first kiss, we need some good girly talk. So how'd it happen?" Nessie said.

I sighed but I saw their point, "We were dancing in the old band stand," when they gave me quizzical looks, I told them of the sudden dancing lesson we got while walking in the park. The murmured the words of 'aw' and 'that's so sweet,' reverberated around the kitchen, while I blushed at the cuteness myself. "So you were waltzing with Jack in the band stand, then what?"

"We were talking, and Jack said something that made me smile. Before I knew it he was kissing me," I waited for the squeals to die down before continuing, "It was… electrifying. The world exploded into a thousand different colours and everything felt…right you know? It wasn't just a kiss. There was something far more deep about this than anything else. It was well completely not what I was expecting. I mean I have heard of fireworks exploding and stuff when your first kiss happens but seeing everything like I am looking through a rainbow is normal? Or for the fact that I felt like I was looking for something and that now I have found it, I am…what is the word to best describe it…whole? Complete? Something like that. It was so much stronger than a first kiss. It was like… now I really can't believe I am saying this. Nessie?" I asked, locking my eyes on her, "You know how you said that Jake 'imprinted' on you?"

She nodded her eyes suddenly became the size of plates, "Are you saying what I think you are saying?"

I nodded, "I think so… I'd have to ask Jake-"

"What are you talking about?" Carlisle said walking in.

"Neve just had her first kiss Gramps," Nessie chimed.

"Nessie! You promised not to tell anyone!"

"You can trust Gramps," Nessie said shrugging before continuing, "and she said that it was like the whole imprinting with me and Jake. She just had a weird vision of Jack when he got really mad."

Carlisle stared at me with shock etched on his face, "Wait… what? Are you saying that you are feeling a particular bond towards this boy?"

Feeling embarrassed I looked down at my shoes before mumbling, "Yeah, I think so."

Carlisle sighed before saying, "You either know or you don't Neve."

I grumbled in frustration before saying, "Well I don't know what else it could be! I am just as clueless as you are."

Carlisle frowned before turning to Nessie and asking her, "Could you get Jake down here sweetheart? It will help if he was here," as Nessie nodded and walked out of the kitchen, Carlisle turned to me to say, "I will be just a moment. I think know is the time to smooth out all of the things about you Neve."

Before I could reply he was off to get whatever the heck he needed. Before I could even start to clear up the mess on the floor they were back. Carlisle had a large briefcase with him and several of the old books which had been out in the hallway. I eyed the books critically, sure I had seen them somewhere before.

Carlisle chuckled when he caught me looking, "Don't you recognize these Neve? The delivery of your grandmother's possessions came today. We had managed to look through some of them before Alice had her vision. These ones look like they have some potential."

"Oh wow!" I was weirdly happy, all of my Nana's stuff was out in the hall. All of my memories essentially. Before they could stop me, I rushed out into the hall and gaped at all of what others might deem junk but I would deem the world's greatest treasure trove. I ran to the tiger's rug exclaiming, "Tigger! It's been years buddy!"

I pulled the rug up and a cloud of dust floated around my head. I sneezed a little before muttering, "Jeez you need a good beating though."

I folded the tiger's rug AKA Tigger, down onto the old seat again before zipping around the room picking a whole load of different objects from their places and gasping as the memories came back. I brushed my fingers along the glass of the Grandfather clock. It used to stand opposite the stairs and made the loudest gong imaginable every time it hit an o'clock. As I did so the bottom door that held the pendulum sprang open. I rolled my eyes, it always did this no matter how you touched it. I was about to close it shut when a small mahogany box caught my eye, in the bottom corner of the clock. Frowning I bent down to pick it up. It was about five inches by fifteen and about four inches deep. There was a white gold lock beneath the lid. The lid was decorated with beautiful inlaid enamel Scottish wild flowers all flowing into an oval shape. In the middle with silver lettering was my name. My full name: Neve Rae Brina Murray-Cullen. I gasped, how did Nana know? Why hadn't she told me of this box? I stared at it tracing my fingers along the silver words of my name. How in the world did she know I would be adopted by the Cullens? "What's that?" I jumped and turned to see Carlisle looking over my shoulder. His eyes were locked onto the words of my name. "Neve, did you know about this box?" he probed.

I shook my head continuing to stare at the intricate design. "Do you know how to open it?" he asked again. I shook my head again. "Here let me look," he tried to take it from me but there was a cracking sound and Carlisle cried out, "Argh!" in pain. He dropped the box before I quickly snatched it from its fall.

"What happened?" Esme asked floating down stairs. Carlisle was clutching his hand, panting in agony, "Sweetheart! What's the matter?" Esme cried out in anguish as she ran to her husband. She took his hand from his clutches and gasped in horror: the marble white flesh was burnt charcoal black and it was beginning to spread across his hand.

"Fuck!" I gasped; I set the box down and began to race around the room rifling through books. "Neve…what…are…you…doing?" Carlisle managed to gasp through painful pants.

"A way to reverse the curse! That box had a curse on it. My grandmother always used to tell us stories of how her ancestors used to place curses on different objects so that only certain people can touch it. She had these books and everything on how to make these curses but I never thought she would actually use them. That's an Inferno Hex. It's going to turn you into ash if I don't reverse the affects." I continued to rip through books trying to remember what the book in question looked like. I practically screamed when I finally found it: an old dusty black leather volume, with a five point star on the front. I flicked through the yellowing pages frantically. "Aha!" I yelled when the words Hexus Infernus came into view. I began to skim read through all of the Latin words searching desperately. By now all of the family was squeezed into the hall as Carlisle began yelling in agony. The burns had now spread across his chest and across to his other arm. Esme was now dry sobbing while clutching him to herself. The others were all standing frozen as if they were all stone cold statues. I began to utter the ancient Latin words to reverse the curse. Carlisle's screaming began to weaken, the black charcoal burns were receding. As I repeated the words the burns began to disappear altogether. Carlisle stopped screaming totally and he just gasped and panted a little, recovering from the curse. I sighed and put the book down. "Ok, no one touches the box except me," I said laying out the rules.

I picked the box up and held it close to my chest. Everyone nodded silently. I turned to Carlisle, "You ok Dad? I am so sorry, if I'd known I would have stopped you. I never thought my Nana actually used these old hex books."

"It's ok," he said his voice sounded quite weak. I noticed his eyes were now coal black, he would need to hunt again soon. He sat up, Esme still had her arms around him, "I don't think I have felt pain like that since my turning."

I bit my lip, feeling guiltier, "It was an Inferno Hex. Acts like a fire but does not produce any flame or smoke. Particularly good for anyone you really hate because it is the most painful hex out there… also good for killing vampires."

I smiled sheepishly at them before snapping the book shut, "Yeah my Nana was nuts, that's old news."

There was an ominous silence before Jake said, "Well damn girl, you make the werewolf legend seem tame," I snorted at that.

"Really? Ya think?" I sighed, "So now my Nana was a witch…perfect."

"What? Your grandmother was a witch? I never thought they were real…" Edward said trailing off.

"I think so," I mumbled, "She told us about them and everything but I never thought those stories were real."

I pulled the box away from my chest and began to trace the lines of the flowers. I knew something vital was in this box and I tried to think of what it could be. Maybe it was The Book. Maybe it was some kick ass weapon that could defeat the Volturi. Maybe it was nothing and my Nana was just playing a trick on me. I grumbled under my breath, "Yeah great, real helpful Nana. Leave a locked box, which I don't have the key to. Bloody brilliant."

I rubbed at my face feeling like I had been up all night. "It may be really early but I am totally beat. I am going to bed, do you mind if we deal with all of this tomorrow?"

Several people were about to shout out in protest: Edward, Alice, Jasper, Bella, Emmett, Rose, Carlisle… but Esme said, "That is perfectly alright, Neve. You just go on upstairs now. We will just continue looking through these books. You get your rest now."

"Ok," I mumbled. "Thank you," ignoring the stares that was coming at me in all directions, I trudged up the stairs holding the box close to my chest. "I am sorry… for everything. Like I told you, I bring trouble and danger with me in a freaking suitcase."

Before anyone could say anything I was gone up the stairs and into my room. I did my usual bed routine and left the box on the bed. Once done I slipped between the covers picking up the box as I did so. I traced the flowers thinking. But I was too tired to think instead my mind wondered to happier times. To summer days, strawberries, open books, the smell of mown grass, chalk, flowered pottery, daisy chains, embroidered quilts, holding my baby sisters in my arms, feeling their warm soft heat spread through me and never wanting to let go…

"Nana's here!" Daddy said smiling down at me. "You two should go home now."

I pouted as I brushed my fingers against the soft supple cheek of my newest little sister, "But I don't want to go! What if Aili needs me? What if I am the only person who can comfort her?"

"But what about your other little sister Carra?" Nana said glancing at the six year old's sleeping form. She was curled up in one of the plastic chairs, next to my mother's bed, who was also asleep.

"She's had me for 6 years I have looked after her enough already," I said dismissively.

Both Daddy and Nana laughed. I was suddenly angry, why were they laughing at me?

"Stop it!" I whisper yelled, scowling at them.

They instantly stopped but were still smirking, Nana held out her hand, "C'mon sweetheart. I've brought your favourite story book with me: Tales of the Fey Folk. I'll read you three stories if you come with me."

I grinned instantly relieved, "Ok," I stood on my tiptoes and kissed my baby sister's cheek, "Sleep well Aili, I love you," I murmured before skipping to my other sister and shaking her awake. "Wake up lazy bones! We're going!" before finally turning to Mummy. "Bye-bye mummy," I whispered, "thanks for giving me the best baby sister in the world!"

I walked other to Nana and took her hand. Carra followed suit yawning widely and rubbing her eyes. We said goodbye to daddy, who kissed each of our foreheads before we headed for Nana's four by four Range Rover. I chatted and jabbered away in my booster seat the whole way home while Carra fell asleep again. When we got home, Nana set Carra to bed and somehow managed to get me into my Winnie the Pooh pyjamas. I bounced on my silver and blue bed and began crying over and over again, "Story time, story time, story time!" Nana laughed and tried to hush me down, "alright alright!"

She pulled out a soft grey leather book, with gold lettering across the front proclaiming Tales of the Fey Folk. Although it was quite a plain front the inside was beautiful. Each first letter of a new story was one giant colourful picture, depicting the main scene of the story. As promised she read three stories to me from it and as she closed the book and told me it was time to settle down, I pouted again. "Do Connla and the Fairy Maiden again please! One more time!"

"No, it's late enough," Nana said laughing, "but there is something you need to know about this book," she said waving it in front of me.

"What?" I asked excitedly as I snuggled down.

"Would you do anything for your family Neve? Anything? Even if it meant your yourself getting hurt?" Nana asked her familiar warm cloud grey eyes suddenly sombre.

I frowned thinking, what an odd question. "What do you mean Nana?"

"I mean poppet, would you give your all to save your family from pain or trouble?"

My frown deepened, "…Yeah I guess. I would try."

A small smile flickered across Nana's face, "good, good, now would you do your all to save other people around you from pain or trouble?"

I cocked my head to one side my brows forming one long furry line now, "What has this got to do with the book Nana?"

"Just answer the question poppet and I'll tell you about the book," Nana said patiently.

Continuing to frown I sat up against my sticker covered head-board and began to really think. "Do you mean…that would I be a hero? Like Superman or Batman?"

"Yes exactly like Superman or Batman," Nana said smiling a little.

"Hmm," I murmured. Do I want to be like Superman or Batman? They had amazing powers and everything but there were times when they were extremely lonely. And sometimes they had to make difficult decisions. They hardly ever got thanked. But then they always saved people didn't they? What is one persons life of misery compared to thousands lives of happiness? "Yes I would," I said decisively.

Nana practically beamed but there was a trace of sadness behind those wise grey eyes, "Good, you have a kind and true heart in that small chest of yours. This book," she said brushing her fingers across the cover "Will one day hold something important for you. When you are older this book may hold the key to everything."

I huffed, confused. What was she trying to say? It was irritating beyond belief. "How older?" I asked feeling the talons of drowsiness sink into me.

"Oh, when you are a fine, upstanding, beautiful, kind, talented young woman. When you are an angel walking on earth."

Even as I was beginning to doze off, I couldn't help but murmur, "I'll be an angel Nana?"

Last thing I heard before I escaped to the world of dreams was, "Yes Neve, you'll be an angel. One of the brightest archangels of them all…"

I sat bolt upright in bed, realised I had fallen asleep and had just dreamed my memory. Yes it was a memory. I had been 8 years old. My subconscious had given me what I needed. I snatched the box up from where it had slipped from my fingers. I streaked downstairs. It was now dark but the others were still up. They were going through the books still. "Neve what are you doing up? It's near 3 in the morning!" Esme asked perplexed.

"Have any of you seen a grey leather book with gold lettering on the front saying: Tales of the Fey Folk?" I said ignoring Esme's question.

"Uh…no, why?" Emmett asked looking bored out of his skull. Books obviously weren't his thing.

"Because it could have something in it that is vitally important. We need it…now," I said I began to look through piles of books searching for it, my box tucked under my arm.

"What?" several people asked sounding thoroughly confused.

"Just look for it!" I yelled double timbre entering my voice as I got impatient.

They finally obeyed and for a while there was only the sound of people picking up books and putting them down again.

After five minutes of fruitless searching, Bella shouted, "Is this it Neve?" I looked up and my face almost split from smiling, "Yes that's it."

I fled across the room and took the soft dove grey leather book from her. I began to flick through the pages landing on my favourite story: Connla and the Fairy Maiden. There lying on the beautiful picture of the Maiden sailing away in her crystal canoe was a white gold key, with an angels wing charm attached to it. I picked it up and curled my fist around it and sent a silent prayer to my Nana: Thank you Nana. Thank you.

"What is it?" Esme asked trying to see what I was holding.

"It's a key to the box," I said softly. I took the box out from underneath my arm and laid it onto one of my Nana's tables. Taking a deep breath I slipped the key in. It fit. "Here goes nothing," I murmured before turning the key and unlocking the box.

There we go! I have finally finished this chapter! Yay! I hoped you liked it. Was it corny? Did it make you laugh? Did it make you cry? As always TELL ME! I am sorry for another cliff-hanger but I couldn't finish it any other way.

Lotsa love

SS x