Right here is the 14th chapter…ok the numbers are starting to scare me now.

But anyway, I have another story to tell. It's of a little girl named Verity. About two months ago I was walking down one of the many concrete paths that are in my school, heading for my House (I go to a private school, so we have this whole House system like Hogwarts, except without the broomsticks) and I saw Verity in her wheelchair being pushed by one of her friends. Verity was shouting at the top of her voice: "Faster! Faster!" as her friend laughed and began to run with the wheelchair handlebars clutched in her hands. Not only this, she went to my cousin's eighth swimming birthday party.

Verity had leukaemia. A few days ago she passed away peacefully with her family around her. She was eight years old. I never personally knew Verity but that doesn't mean her death didn't shock or sadden me. When they announced it in assembly, I cried along with several other girls in my house. So, as a tribute to the bravest little girl I have ever seen, I am dedicating this chapter to her. May she rest in peace. Every word I have said is absolutely true.

For Verity.

The Last Letter

Neve POV

I swept my fingers underneath the lid before finally pulling it upwards. The inside was lined with sapphire velvet. A beautiful melody began to play and I recognized Greensleeves…my favourite classical peace. There was a gold plaque on the other side of the lid, I quickly read: Made in the Year of our Lord 1873 for Neve Rae Brina Murray-Cullen, one of the 7 Protectors. Alis volat propris. "Bloody Hell," I breathed. This box is hundred and forty three years old. A hundred and forty three years ago someone knew I was going to be born. A hundred and forty three years ago they knew I was going to be adopted. A hundred and forty three years ago, they knew my favourite classical piece was Greensleeves. My mind was still trying to comprehend those facts when Rosalie said impatiently, "Well? What's in it?"

"Ok! Ok! Just let my brain catch up with my eyes!" I said an irritated tone to my voice. There were several objects in the box. On top of them all was an envelope and in achingly familiar handwriting was my first name: Neve. Beneath the letter was a brown leather book with yellowing pages. A sheathed silver dagger with a thin silver wire curling around the hilt, lay against the back of the box. The sheath had an embedded gold cross on brown leather. On the cross were the same Latin words: Alis volat propris. A phial of pale blue liquid lay in a far corner and glimmered dimly in the light. With shaking hands I picked up the letter and tore it open. The scent of lavender flew up to my nostrils and I sighed at the comforting smell. I pulled out the letter and unfolded the several sheets of thick paper. More black flowing writing, with the ends of the y's looped and the capital e's looking like backward threes. My Nana's handwriting. Her warm hand had traced these letters onto the page. Proof that she had existed. As I trailed my fingers over the words I heard someone cough politely. I glanced up and saw that most of my family were beginning to edge away. Carlisle was smiling sheepishly, "We'll give you a few moments to figure your box out."

Before I could reply they were already gone. I rolled my eyes before turning my attention back to the letter. There was a date at the top: 26 April 2014. I jumped a little. That was the day the fire happened. She must have written it after she had some to see me at the hospital. I took a deep breath and began to read.

My Dear Neve,

I am writing this in the middle of the night. The stars are out and the moon is hanging like a silver coin amongst navy silk of the sky. You can guess where I am writing: at my writing desk that overlooks the garden. The garden is looking beautiful, the crochets are out and the snow-drops are making the grass look like it has been snowing again. The little stream a the back of the garden, where you always used to play adventures with your two little sisters when you were wee, has swollen with the spring rain. I remember those adventures. You used to babble on about them, re-enact the many fairy stories I would tell you. Come back with most of the stream's mud on your clothes and daisies woven into your hair. You would all look so much like fairies that I would have to stop myself from checking you weren't all changlings.

The reason I was reminiscing about these things is because I saw a face in the dark when I drove through the forest up to the house. It was beautiful, angelic even. But it was twisted in such malicious glee that I almost couldn't see the beauty in that face. Her eyes…oh my, her eyes! Two cold shards of blood red rubies glowing in that stone evil face. And I know that the owner of that face is here to come for me. She or they can't get in here…I made sure of that but once I get out…I am not so sure once I do get out. So here I am writing my last letter to you, dear. Now, I did not write you this letter to tell you about your home or how things for me are nearly over. I am writing this letter because you have a right to know what your inheritance is. Why you are far more special than any other child.

This tale I am about to tell is a little bit like the fairy tales I used to tell you: they have druids in them and a lot of the strange happenings are to do with magic but I am afraid that there are no fey folk in this tale but something very different. Something that are just about as famous as the fey folk and are now commonly known as vampires. These vampires are nearly nothing like the ones you hear in books or movies. Crosses, holy water etc. don't have any effect on them. And they can go out in the sunlight without burning up, instead they shimmer, like a many faceted diamond. But the characteristics of vampires are all documented in the book that came in the box, which I will explain about later. My tale starts nearly two thousand years ago, several years after Christ was born. The Roman Empire had reached out to take Britain but only managed to take most of what is now England. The very far north could not be taken, the people there were too savage and frankly, my dear, scared the Romans a little bit. Now for awhile the Romans and the Northern Druids left each other alone. That was until three vampires travelled up from the north of Italy. Now these three vampires were very patriotic. They were convinced that they could tame these 'savages'. They slipped across Hadrian's Wall and began to infiltrate across the country. They slaughtered whole tribes, turned humans into vampires and, once they had lost their new-born strength, were also slaughtered. Not only that they pillaged villages, raped the women, killed the men and children and burnt their fields. The whole population of Caledonia lived in fear of the three Dark Angels and their army. There were whispers across the country that some one should do something. Seven druids from seven areas of Caledonia met in the far North just as the army was about to make their final purge of the country. They talked for the whole night, from dusk until dawn trying to think about what to do. They consulted they're runes… and saw seven youngsters in the far future, all capable of doing incredible things. The Druids realised that these youngsters were the solution to the Dark Angels: that they would somehow get rid of these Dark Angels but not yet. These children would be born a thousands years from then. So instead they brewed and conjured up a curse that fell upon the Dark Angels and their army: they were ripped apart, particle by particle and transported back to their original home to Italy. If they ever tried to get back to Britain, the same thing would happen again. The three Dark Angels have never set foot on Britain since then.

Meanwhile the Druids began planning for these seven youngsters. They predicted when each child would be born and began preparing for these seven saviours. Each of them was the descendent of the seven druids who had forced the Dark Angels out of the country. Each child would have their own specific power and would have the strength, speed and intelligence that matched the Dark Angels. Not only that, they could block the abilities of the Dark Angels. They would rid this planet of these monsters and set free the human race. They just needed fine tuning, but how were the Druids supposed train these children when they will be born thousands of years in the future? So they created seven bags, each filled with instructions on how to raise these seven children, to be passed down from generation to generation, until they fall into the hands of the chosen ones. And so it did happen. The bags were passed down: father to son, mother to daughter, grandparent to grandchild. As they did so, more seers began to tell of these children. Some were of small details: their favourite colours, their hobbies, and their music. Sometimes they were big details: their appearance, who their soul mates are, what their names are. These bits and pieces of information were all added to the books. Eventually the animal skin bags, disintegrated a few hundred years ago and so they were then replaced with seven musical boxes, each tailored to each child's preferences. On the inside of each box is the child's name a specific Latin phrase, thought to give strength to that child.

One time, a box nearly fell into the hands of the Volturi. The Volturi had some idea that something was going on but they never guessed right. It was essential that they were kept in the dark until the right moment. But the box was retrieved and, as a precaution, every box was cursed so that only the child, the blood relatives of that child and the child's soul mate could touch it.

Around one thousand and four hundred years ago a man, more specifically a knight, named Sir Michael De Sangreal made three weapons. These weapons are a dagger, a sword, a bow and arrows. These are the only weapons in the world which can quickly and cleanly kill a vampire. Sir Michael donated the weapons to the seven families. There was a long and tortuous debate one which child should get a weapon. Nearly started a feud between the families until finally it was a seer who decided it for them. She decided that one girl and two boys would have a weapon. That one girl is you.

Now this is when the story gets a little more specific to you my dear. When the box fell into my possession your mother was pregnant with you. My older sister, your great aunt, had passed away and had not had any children. I was confident though that my grandchild-to-be was definitely not the child that our families had waited for. From what I had heard of the prophecy it was not a life I would have wished for you. The day you were born, 23rd of September 1999, was the Autumnal Equinox. That was the day that the seers said the child would be born. I ignored it though, thinking it was a coincidence. I did tell your mother about this story but she always thought it was just a legend. I never told her about what the child's name would be. So when I arrived at the hospital at eight in the morning and you were handed to me, I asked what your parents had named you. Your mother happily said: "Neve Rae Brina Murray." My heart stopped and I clutched you harder to my chest. But you didn't cry, you just stared up at me with your big grey eyes, as if you knew that everything was going to be alright. Another jolt went through me. Grey eyes. That was a part of the child's appearance.

You were a thoughtful child, growing up. Hardly ever cried and always thinking or looking out for others. Cautious too. Always valued what you had before making a decision. Your intelligence was apparent when you were young. Out of all of your sisters, you were the one who learned how to walk and talk the fastest. You would ask inquisitive questions about most things that people don't think about until they were much older than you were. You had the ability to wrap everyone you met around your little finger and get them to do what ever took your fancy. I observed these traits with a growing sense of worry. Maybe it was you. But still like the fool I was, I ignored the signs and focused on giving you the most normal childhood possible.

And then this night came. Before I knew it, there I was, in that little hospital room, trying to comfort you as you shouldered on the grief of losing everything that made you, you. And when those two idiots of policemen came in, I saw you snap. I saw a very different side of you tonight. I saw a furious angel ready to smite the creatures who had dared to hurt her and her family. Afterwards, when you told me everything, I knew right then I couldn't ignore the fact that you weren't the ordinary little girl I thought you were. You are a warrior and a liberator, and I was too blind by my own confidence to see that and I am sorry for all of it. If I had realised sooner, our family might be still with us. But you know what I always say: no point in crying over spilt milk.

But I must not waste this moment. They are outside waiting for me. They cannot come any closer though. When I bought this house, I created a shield around it, so that no unwanted guests can enter the premises. But I cannot stay in this house forever. I promise you, I will try to get back to you and you will never have to read this letter. But if you are reading it now…let me tell you, I love you with all of my heart. Your parents and sisters did to, and were very proud of you. There was nothing you could do about them. I swear if you carry on blaming yourself I will slap you, dead or not. Just you watch young lady.

I chuckled at that, tears clinging to my lashes. I continued to read biting my lip.

Now I should explain the objects in the box to you. The book is one of your most prized possessions. It is your guide to the world you are part of. It will tell you everything there is to know about the situations you will have to face. You DO NOT let it out of your possession, the same goes for the dagger. If they fall into the hands of the enemy, that will be like giving them your hearts on a silver platter. No one must read this book or use this dagger apart from you. The blue phial in the box, it is protection oil. There is enough in there for the people you care about and your soul mate. Just dab the oil in a pentagon shape on their forehead. After that they will gain an immunity to anything that means them harm. That includes vampires, accidents, viruses, etc. They will be as safe as houses, I promise you.

It was said that you would meet a very different type of vampire. Not only will you actually meet these vampires but you will live with them. These vampires do not drink the blood of humans. If you are reading this in fact with them, you are extremely lucky. Unlike the other children you will have experience of the enemy species. You will be able to teach the other children of their ways. It was one of the reasons why the seven families gave you one of the daggers. You will learn so much. Not only this I think the family will help you heal. After all of us are gone you will be so broken, so broken that your soul will have no room to breath. It was one of the reasons why the Volturi did it, I think. So that you are in so much pain, you wouldn't care of the world burning. But this family, they will change you. Speaking of which, the protection oil in the box is also meant for them. They will be just as immune as if you had used that oil on a human. Anything that means harm to them will not be able to touch them, nor try to use any personal powers upon them.

I have said the word soul mate several times in this letter. The book explains what they are but I think it is a little technical and cold, so I'll explain it for you. A soul mate is your other half. He makes you whole and fills what you yourself cannot fill. You know that he is your soul mate when you share your first kiss with him. Think of it as True-Love's-First-Kiss they always go on about in those Disney movies. Afterwards you are tuned into each other. When you or your soul mate has a particularly strong emotion, the other mate experiences the same emotion and they even have a…oh what is the phrase? 'An out of body experience' if you like. They, well, they experience the thing that makes their soul mate angry or frightened. A way of you going to save them from whatever is upsetting him. Not only that, he makes you even more powerful. He increases your potential. And you increase his. Even if he is a normal human he will become like you. He will get stronger, faster, will heal as fast as you and will get his own personal talent. The more you are around him, the faster he will become like you. Even if you are away from him he will still be changing. It's a chain reaction that stems from the kiss. However you will still feel the compulsion to protect him and vice versa. Once you two are joined no one can get in between you two. You are joined for all eternity. If it's possible, it is way stronger than love. It's nature or science. Apparently he is quite handsome, your soul mate. Black hair, blue eyes, quite sporty. Plays that American sport that is like Rugby. When I first read that I almost didn't believe it, surely he isn't your type? Oh well if he makes you happy, that's all that matters.

Now Neve, you must read this part carefully. You and the six others are humanity's last hope. Not meaning to put any pressures on you my dear, but if you all fail, the world will fall. It is said that the vampires will get tired of skulking around the dark corners of the world, that they will take over and enslave the human race. Millions of people will die or become one of them and only the unlucky survive. These people will be raised like cattle in a farm. Because where will this new dominant race get its primary food source if it's extinct? So people will be herded up and locked in the cities. Every week a group of them will be taken away to the fortresses of the Dark Angels and butchered like pigs. It will be like the concentration camps all over again. By God. The deaths Neve, you wouldn't believe. All those people! Husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents. The young and the old. The healthy and the sick. All of them gone, because they couldn't fight back, because no one would protect them. But this time there is hope Neve. You are it, all of you. You will all save humanity, and maybe you won't get an award. Maybe you won't get a pat on the back and thumbs up of approval. Maybe no one will even know your name. But like Superman and Batman, you will be a hero and you will be responsible for the happiness and safety of over 6 billion people. 6 billion Neve! Think. 6 billion lights glowing in the darkness. The Dark Angels may think that they are better than us but we have something they don't. A beating heart, with warmth and life and imperfections. And of course death. We face death every day and cling to life with every fibre of our being. We wouldn't be human if it wasn't for all of that. And before you start, yes Neve, you are human. Very much so. You are just the best of humanity. You hold humanity's passion, forgiveness, loyalty, kindness and above all hope within yourself.

My time writing this letter is drawing to a close and I must face the night. They are waiting. I will walk with my head high and I promise to go down fighting. Oh! I forgot to say earlier. I am wise woman Neve. More commonly known as a witch…I know, I know, I should have told you earlier, but there was no time. I will give those creatures out there hell; I can assure you my poppet. My dear and sweet Neve. I love you with all of my being and am so very proud of you. Wherever I am going, I will think of you. My last prayer is to you. May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. Good luck my child.

Love,

Your Nana.

xo

I gasped as the letter ended. The tears were falling freely, a mixture of sadness and joy in them. Before, I felt like I was stumbling in a swamp, lost, with a thick clammy fog heavy in the air that nothing could penetrate. Now, I wasn't so lost and the fog had cleared. I had some idea where this was all leading to. It made absolute sense now. Why I was here. Why I was put through, what I was put through. I was a saviour-to-be, with over two thousand years of expectation on my shoulders. Oh jeez. What the hell am I going to do now?

Taking one last look at the words, I folded the letter up and put it back in side the torn envelope. I placed the envelope on the table carefully, afraid it might suddenly burst into flames if I let go of it. It didn't. It remained whole on the table. I licked my lips nervously and gazed at the objects in the box. Greensleeves was still playing, on a loop; I was surprised it hadn't run out of energy sooner. I picked up the old book, and I felt a static charge tingle at the tips of my fingers. I gently opened the book. On the front page was a picture. This picture was so detailed and vivid, I expected the people in it to step out of the page. I looked closely at the people in the picture. "Bloody hell," I breathed again. I recognized one of them. One of them was me. I was standing at the very forefront of the picture, with two boys on my flanks. I wasn't dressed in modern clothes; instead I had this whole shiny armour thing going on. A silver helmet was tucked underneath my left arm. I recognized my silvery grey eyes but my hair… it was nearly down to my waist. It was twisting around my form and fluttering in a breeze and there were no purple streaks in it. I absentmindedly tugged a lock of my relatively short hair. I saw the dagger sheathed at my side. The two boys at my side were dressed in much the same way as me and I saw two other weapons by with them: the bow and arrows and the sword. The boy with white blond hair had the sword and the boy with brown hair had the bow and arrows. They were just as heroic looking as me and quite good looking. Huh, figures. There were four other people behind us 2 boys and 2 girls who again looked all like heroes. They were all dressed similarly to me and the two boys, maybe not so extravagantly and with no weapons but they were still all strikingly beautiful. There were three Latin words Virtute et armis, that seemed to be shining down in the golden rays of the sun was hanging directly over our heads. Beneath each of our bodies were more Latin phases. I recognized my one intertwined around my feet.

I already knew who the other people in the picture were. They were the 6 other special children, who, like me, had to help save the world from a vampire apocalypse. I sighed again. At least I knew what they look like now.

I began to turn the pages and felt even more overwhelmed. There were detailed diagrams of anatomy, vampire and special human, diagrams of the three weapons and page after page of rituals. Feeling of being overwhelmed swelled up inside me again and I quickly shut the book. I will deal with that later.

I put the book back into the box and turned my attention to the dagger. My fingers curled around the cool handle of the dagger and I picked it up. It wasn't too heavy and in a weird way it felt right in my hand. As if I had been missing a body part for the past 16 years of my life and only now just got it back. I gulped before unsheathing the blade. It glimmered in the dim light and I could make out along the centre of the blade an intricate Celtic pattern trailed its way to the very tip of the blade. By this time the hairs on my arms were standing on end. What I was holding in my hand was, without a doubt, one of the most powerful objects on this earth. Jasper, Emmett and Jake had explained in my extra classes how there was no known weapon in the world that could kill a vampire without blowing them to bits. I lightly brushed my finger against the sharp edge and a shot of pain slashed through the pad of my finger. I drew a quick breath through my teeth, I pulled finger quickly away. A drop of crimson blood dribbled down my finger from a semi-deep cut at the tip of my finger. I raised my eyebrows as I watched the cut heal quickly. Jeez, that dagger is sharp. I carefully, taking the hem of my T-shirt and wiped the blade clean. There was a tearing sound and I cursed under my breath as my T-shirt ripped over the blade. I sheathed the blade again so it wouldn't harm anything else it came into contact with, but instead of putting the blade back into the box, I looped the leather chord around my wrist.

I took the blue phial and held it up to the light. It was a transparent liquid that sent rainbows dancing across the skin of my hand. Biting my lip I unscrewed the silver stopper and took a sniff. It smelt of…I can't really describe what it smelled like. If I could give an unheard of scent a name, I would call it safety. It smelt of bricks and mortar. It smelt of a warm fire and hot cocoa. It smelt of Jack's cologne and leather jackets. I gasped before stuffing the cork into the neck of the bottle, before I started some weird addiction of sniffing this stuff.

I put the phial back into the box and leaned against table top with my hands letting my mind soak it all in. So…I am a soldier. Not only a soldier a commander. Shit…shit ten times over. Here I am, standing in a house full of vampires, a book filled with charms and ways to kill vampire, a dagger that can kill vampires and a legacy on my shoulders. Knowing that there were other children like me with the exact same outcome future, made me feel a little better. Only a little though.

"Are you ok?"

I glanced up and saw Carlisle standing tentatively by the door that led to the kitchen.

"Er…not entirely sure," I mumbled.

"Why? What's the matter?" he said sharply, walking to towards me. I saw Esme flash her head around the door.

"Oh I don't know… I just found out I am a warrior who is supposed to enact some kind of justice on all vampires."

"Oh," was he managed to say.

"Yeah, exactly…oh," I said.

"How-…why-…uh…" this was the first time I had ever seen Carlisle lost for words. His mouth opened and closed like a goldfish's and he suddenly leaned out onto a rickety chair for support. "Are you serious?" he asked hoarsely.

"Yup," I said.

"Are you sure?" he said.

"Positive, it's in this letter and this book," I said gesturing to the said items.

"Uh…wow…that explains a lot," Carlisle said running his fingers through his hair.

"That's exactly what I thought," I said my voice had a sing song quality to it, as if I was telling a story.

"Tell me everything, every last detail that you know," Carlisle said taking out a pen and paper.

I restrained at rolling my eyes at him (classic Carlisle) before telling him everything that I had learned in the last life changing ten minutes or so. I didn't read my letter out; in my eyes it was too personal. Carlisle noted down anything he thought was important. A few of my family trickled back into the foyer and listen with rapt attention to my story. By the time I was finished many people were too shocked to actually speak.

As I looked into each and every beautiful face, I jolted. The term for killing vampires was very, very generalized. It didn't mention exceptions. Did that mean I had to kill my new family also? Surely I was allowed exceptions?

I kept my terrified thoughts to myself and calmed my pounding heart so the others wouldn't notice. I felt the thudding begin to slow and the galloping beats began to go back to a normal pace. But even then it didn't stop slowing down. It slowed and slowed until it was no longer there. I realized that not a breath escaped my lips. I was a frozen statue, amongst the old books and furniture. I was completely in a trance. I was barely thinking about anything, only focusing on the complete silence. I was aware dimly of my senses but they weren't that important to me.

"…heart…stopped...I…do…CPR…someone…911…" I was vaguely aware of someone mumbling.

Like coming up from the bottom of a deep pool I slowly released myself from the frozen comatose state I was in. Metaphorically my head broke the surface and I stumbled out of my statue like state and gasped for air. My heart started thumping away like it hadn't just stopped for 2 minutes. I staggered a little as my blood started to pump again. Stars blossomed in my eyes as the blood rushed to my head. "What the hell was that!" I gasped rubbing at my temples. I had just managed to make my heart stop. How the- no I am not going to act surprised anymore. I should be way more used to this kind of shit.

"You just went into a standing cardiac arrest." Carlisle said tugging on his hair. "How did you do that?" He asked quietly. The rest of the family was crowded around me now, even Alice had her mobile phone out, ready to make a call.

"I just thought about it. I uh wanted to calm my heart down so I did that, but even when it was at a normal pace it still wouldn't stop slowing down. I uh I am sorry if I scared you."

"Why could that be possible? What would be the point of having the ability to stop your heart be a good thing?" Carlisle said looking more frustrated by the minute.

"It will be in here," I said picking up the book. I flicked through the pages until I alighted on a page which had the Latin word Viscus. "Here we are!" I shouted. And I began to read out loud in English to the others.

When one wants to be stealthy and not attract the attention of the Lamia one can stop one's heart. As the Lamia have exceptional hearing it would be impossible to be able to have a successful ambush upon them. To enact this phenomenon, one must be in an unchanging stance, in order that one cannot be mobile while this thing is happening. This state of body is perfect for keeping undetected however one is extremely vulnerable at this time. It is recommended that one should never stay in this state for too long.

"Holy crap," Jake whispered, "What the hell? I have never heard of anything that could do that! You make all of us in this room look normal!"

"Gee thanks Jake, that made me feel so much better," I snapped, "You're the one who bursts into a smelly mutt every time you get pissed."

"Ouch," Jake said theatrically rubbing his chest as if he was hurt, "That stung."

"I am sure it did," I growled, snapping the book shut, "and anyway I have accepted my weirdness a long time ago. I am not even surprised anymore."

"You know Latin? I thought you said you hated taking it as a subject and swore never to learn it again," Edward said frowning.

"Um…I don't know… it just sorta happened?" I posed the phrase as a question while cautiously putting the book down, "So we now know where we stand." I said, "I am a soldier and my soul reason I was born on this earth was to save humanity from some vampire apocalypse that your leaders are cooking up. I have to find the others, but I don't think I have enough time to find them by the end of this week. The fact I have this dagger helps," I said swinging the dagger so that the hilt flipped into my hand. It felt like I had had it for years instead of a few minutes, "Jasper? Do you think it's possible you can teach me how to fight with a dagger? And maybe step up my training in fitness. Carlisle you said that you had found out more in your blood tests would you mind telling them to me?"

Carlisle looked at me as if he didn't know me anymore, but only a small part of me twinged painfully, the rest was still in commando role, "Uh, sure Neve, sure but… maybe you should got to bed first. Your must be tired it has been a long da-"

"I appreciate your concern Carlisle but I'd appreciate it more if you told me what you have found out in the blood tests. If you don't mind."

A fearful look flashed in his eyes before he said, "yes sure…Well I took the blood sample to the hospital and found some rather extraordinary things. Do you know about chromosomes Neve?"

I nodded, "Yeah, humans have 23 pairs."

"Exactly, except vampires have 25 pairs and shape shifters like Jake have 24 pairs, you however…you do have 23 pairs like a normal human except they, are let us say, rather abnormal. You have the normal X chromosomes but your DNA is nothing I have seen before in my entire life. Your DNA has mutated into something I have never seen before. There are countless mutations within the strands that have seemed to unlock your potential. Quite extraordinary. Also in your bloodstream you have a remarkable amount platelets but they are not the normal kind. They are able to help your body regenerate constantly. Dead cells are mutated to become these platelets, a sort of recycling system, which helps keeps the threat of cancer at bay. The phagocytes and lymphocytes are incredibly advanced and they again recycle. They turn any unwanted bacterium into another one of themselves. In short you have one of the most successful immune systems in the world. I tested a bit of it with my venom to see what happened. The phagocytes destroy what venom molecules there are and the lymphocytes 'herd' the rest to where, I assume, the stomach to which is where the venom is purged. I suppose it is the same if your blood entered our bodies. If even a hint of vampire venom is near the white blood cells, they go into attacking mode and nothing can stop them. I think if Jasper had had anymore of your blood he would probably be dead. That is about as far as I could make out from your blood sample but it told me a lot."

I nodded, "So my blood's like a disease to you guys?"

"Yes that is exactly what it is," Carlisle concluded.

"Awesome…uh I mean not so awesome for you guys but uh awesome for the people who are trying to kill me…uh yeah," I said my face burning. Had I just said it was awesome that my blood could kill my family? What was happening?

"So," I said trying to break the awkwardness that had settled in the room, "There's no need to go through all of these books anymore… you don't have to go through all the furniture either. If you want I can help you clear it all away."

"No, no," Esme said smiling, "I'll sort it through tomorrow. I can get many of these things restored and repaired and we can always have more room in the library for these books. I suggest you go to bed. There is school tomorrow."

I was startled when I remembered there was school tomorrow. Really? School? I was allowed something that normal still? I shook my head. "Yeah sure."

As I stumbled to the stairs, I saw everyone giving me weird looks except Jake. He was just giving me a sympathetic look, as if he knew what I was going through. It scared the shit out of me. I made it up the stairs and settled into bed. At that point I really wanted Jack to be here with me because I knew he wouldn't look at me any different. I could tell him I was an alien from outer space who ate puppies to live and he still wouldn't judge me. My hand lightly traced the wings of my sparrow. I wondered if I could see what he was doing right now.

A knock came at my door, "May I talk with you honey?" Esme asked as she slipped through my bedroom door.

I whipped my head around, "Sure, what do you want to talk about?"

"I just wanted to say that even though we now know what your purpose is doesn't change what you are to me. You are still the girl I adopted a few weeks ago."

I sighed, "The others don't think so…"

"That's just instinct sweetie. They'll get used to it. But you were talking like such an adult earlier. I guess it scared them. You sounded so responsible and in control."

I nodded but I looked down at my hands, "Truth is…I am scared. Really scared. I was just on auto out there in truth I don't know what I am going to do. What if I fail? What if I can't find the others? They could be anywhere in the world. I don't want to let my family down. I don't want to let anyone down. I can't let other people die like how my family died. I can't let them burn."

Esme wrapped her cold arms around me and hugged me close, "You are not going to fail sweetheart. All that matters is that you do your best and that is all the world can ask for. You have nothing to worry about if you do your damnest to keep your race safe. Now sleep sweetheart."

I mulled over her words as she let me go and I slipped underneath the covers. "Thank you," I mumbled.

Her cold hand stroked my face, "Sweet dreams, God bless."

"Ditto," I sighed forgetting momentarily that she was a vampire.

YES! Finally done with that one. I let my inner geek reign in some of these parts. Sorry it took uber long. School put a shit load of work on all of a sudden but now it is DONE! Nearly cried in some of these parts. Did it make you cry? Or did it make you laugh at the cheesy flavor it exuded…whatever… TELL ME!

SS x