Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of the fantabulous Stephenie Meyer. (Did you check out her Oprah interview. Squeee!)

I would like to apologise for not posting this sooner, but as you'll see this chapter's my longest yet. I got a bit carried away, but don't we all do that now and again?

Also I would ask you to forgive a lot of Essie's behaviour in this chapter, she's not herself at all. It will be revealed why in a later chapter, although I think you'll probably work it out. Anyways, I'll shut up now and leave you to read in peace x

= x = x = x = x = x = x =

I dreamt last night, and it wasn't a good dream. Well it started out good, looking to be one of those dreams that made you a little embarrassed when you saw the person the next day. Unsurprisingly my dream was of Harry.

We were being our usual selves, laughing and joking until, well there was a lot of kissing. Hot lip numbing, tongue knotting kissing as we pulled our bodies closer together. My hands moved along the warm bare flesh of his shoulders, caressing his well-formed muscles as his hands travelled up and down my back.

We were breathing rapidly as we gave into the temptation we'd been resisting for so long, and man it felt good. Oh god I was going to die in ecstasy here if we took it just that one step further. I shivered delightfully as his fingers started pulling at my top.

His soft lips moved to my throat and at first it was, oh god, just…heavenly. I felt my heart quicken as he moved his lips against my skin, sucking slightly. It was oh so enjoyable, until his teeth grazed my skin.

This set something off inside me. I let out a little playful snarl as my body temperature plummeted. But then his skin was too hot against mine, as if someone was holding curling irons to my skin. It felt as if my skin was searing away from my bones.

My snarl was feral this time as I pushed him from me, my face contorting into a grimace of hatred. The snarl was continuing long and low as it ripped from my chest. Harry looked at me in shook and fear and I saw myself reflected back alabaster white in his frightened dark eyes.

My own eyes were black with hunger as I continued to snarl with my teeth exposed. I opened my mouth wide and suddenly my mouth opened more than a person's should. That mouth, that too wide mouth was filled with rows and rows of razor sharp teeth. I could no longer recognise my own face as I crossed the distance with a leap faster than any vampire I'd ever known.

I closed my arms around him and tore at his throat. I spat out the lump of flesh and gore as his blood began to pump warmly from his veins. It steamed in the suddenly cold air as he let out a scream of pain.

I willed myself to wake from this scene of carnage, but I couldn't. It was sickening to watch as I killed my friend, enjoying every moment of his pain. I tried to scream out, to stop that monster that had him pinned to the floor as his life slipped away but I was imprisoned.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't speak.

I wasn't breathing.

I wasn't anything, just this floating consciousness witnessing in horror as the monster in my skin began tearing up the body of my friend, searching for more blood. I felt myself retch, but I had no body to be sick with.

And now the Twins were running toward us, drawn by the sound of commotion.

The look of disgust and horror on there faces scarred me deeply as that Thing looked up with a blood stained face, smiling warmly with my face as my friends approached cautiously. The Thing's face almost split in two as it opened that razor filled mouth and leapt at Sammy, I screamed out my lungs burning and my chest aching with the force of it.

That's when I sat up in bed dripping with sweat my breath catching in my throat.

My door banged open.

"Essie?" Renesmee gasped as she ran into my room.

"Oh god." I panted, trying to get my breath back. "Oh god."

I was shaking, but it was with fear this time, not from the wolf bursting to get out.

"What's wrong?" Renesmee asked in front of me, her hand on my shoulder.

"I killed Harry." I whispered in a broken voice. "And the Twins."

"No you didn't." She stated, making me look her in the eye. "It was just a dream Essie."

I shook my head not daring to believe it.

"I'm a monster, I killed them." I repeated adamantly.

"Esther Marie Black, you are not a monster. And you didn't kill your friends. I'll take you to see them right now if you want me to, regardless of the time. I'll do it just to get this foolish notion out of your head." Renesmee said in a firm voice.

I sobbed once as I looked into her eyes. I saw myself reflected back, just like I'd been reflected in Harry's eyes. Only now my skin was russet once more, slightly pale, but that was from the horror of my dream, and tearstained from where I'd been crying. I must have been crying in my sleep and my hair was damp from my sweat and clinging to my forehead.

Oh god, it was just a dream.

I wiped my face with my hands, ridding it of my tears.

"It was so real." I moaned. "I thought I'd killed them."

"But you didn't." Renesmee soothed as she stroked my hair back.

"I know." I sighed.

"Would you like me to make you a hot chocolate or some warm milk?" She asked.

I shook my head.

"A glass of water?"

"I'm fine Mom." I assured her. "I just want to go back to sleep." I lied.

Renesmee frowned, but gave a sigh as she rose from the bed.

"I'll leave you sleep then." She said, turning out the light and closing the door.

I fell back on the bed still not calm. There was no way I was going back to sleep. I turned my head to look at my digital clock. It was only two in the morning, but I wasn't going back to sleep, I didn't want to revisit that place where I was a monster.

I sat up and reached under my bed for the laptop. I set it up and began writing up my report for Biology. May as well get as much on the computer when I had a few hours to kill until school.

I shut down my laptop when my alarm went off. I rose from my bed and went to have a shower to wash the sweat from my body. I dressed in skinny jeans and a short-sleeved T-shirt and I pulled my old convers on today. They were a bit worn now but they were my most comfortable shoes and I wanted comfort today.

I ate my breakfast lethargically, not even noticing what I was eating. I cleaned my teeth and made my way outside with my bags slung over my shoulder. I left my helmet behind.

I was way too tired to attempt to ride my bike; I would take the SUV today. Ok, I know I probably shouldn't drive anything when I was feeling tired, but I had to get to school somehow and I didn't really fancy the repercussions of having my mother drop me off.

Anyway, I'd inherited my driving skills from Edward and Jacob, I could drive there in my sleep much better than most people on a really good day. But driving the SUV meant I didn't have to fight to keep the bike upright.

I parked up and trudged through the parking lot to English, my head felt as if it was floating. I entered the class and sat down heavily next to Hannah.

"Morning." She said.

"Morning." I murmured as I pulled my things from my bag.

"You look terrible." She commented with genuine concern.

"I had a rough night." I answered, rubbing soothing circles between my eyebrows.

"Maybe you should have stayed home." She said.

I shook my head, it felt as if it was gonna fall off.

"I need to keep my grades up." I muttered.

I hardly had the energy to speak.

"But it's only the start of the year." She pointed out.

"Start as you mean to go on." I said as brightly as I could manage.

Miss Hannigan called the class to order then.

I sat through English just barely keeping my eyes open. I could feel my head nodding forward every now and then while I tried to keep notes. Maybe I should have stayed home today and tried to sleep. Surely the dream wouldn't return in the day. God, why hadn't I tried to go back to sleep last night? I probably wouldn't have had the dream and now I was missing my favourite lesson.

After English ended I packed up my bag and rose unsteadily to my feet. I was feeling hot again so I folded my coat over my arm settling for my nice cool T-shirt. I went to leave with Hannah.

"Essie, may I have a word with you please?" Miss Hannigan asked before I could get out the door.

I sighed, "See you in Biology." I said to Hannah before going to stand by Miss Hannigan's desk.

Miss Hannigan waited until everyone had cleared out before she spoke.

"Did we have a late night last night?" She asked in a light pleasant voice.

"No." I replied, stifling a yawn.

"Then why are you having trouble keeping your eyes open today?" She asked. "Sleep is important for concentration."

"What are you, my guidance counsellor now?" I demanded, but my voice sounded weak.

"Of course not, but I'm concerned it may start affecting your grades."

"It's only one lesson." I complained. "I had a rough night last night, I'm sure I'll be better tomorrow."

I suddenly felt faint and my hands slapped down on top of the desk as I struggled to keep myself on my feet.

"Would you like me to call the nurse?" She asked, putting her hand on my arm in concern.

Suddenly I felt better; as if I'd had good nights sleep, drank one of those foul tasting energy drinks and had an invigorating shower. I straitened up and blinked, my fatigue suddenly gone.

"Actually I feel better now." I said, frowning in confusion at my sudden burst of energy.

"I guess you must." Miss Hannigan replied, clasping her hands together on top of the table in front of her. "I think you should be getting along to Biology now."

"Yeah." I said, and I regarded her curiously as I left the classroom.

What had that been all about?

I shrugged and hummed a happy tune as I nearly skipped to Biology. Man, I was feeling better, a lot better. I arrived in Biology before Dr Chaney had started the lesson.

I sat next to Tobias practically buzzing with energy.

"Hey there Fang Boy." I sang as I pulled my books from my bag.

"Good morning Miss Esther." He said with a smile and a curious look.

And I felt so keyed up I couldn't even be bothered by that formal greeting. Man, I felt good! So full of energy, I didn't want to be sitting in the Bio lab, I wanted to be running. I wanted to run out there in the forest where nobody could see so I could really let go. Run so fast that my hair would whip behind me and the trees would be a blur of green.

I looked longingly out the window despite the grey skies and the steady drizzle that was falling down.

Tobias kicked me in the leg.

I looked at him curiously wondering why he would do such a thing.

He raised his eyebrows meaningfully and nodded his head toward the board. I looked at it and saw that it was filled with Dr Chaney's meticulous script.

I glanced down to see that Tobias had transcribed it onto the paper in front of him in a neat flowing script. Where we supposed to be copying this down? When did she write it?

I picked up my pen and began copying the words from the board. I couldn't believe how fast my pen flew across the page or how neat my usually messy scrawl was. I copied the entire thing in a minuet; I put my pen down before most of the class had finished. When I looked to Tobias he was watching me with a slight frown. Had I given myself away?

"What's wrong Fang Boy?" I whispered under my breath.

"It is a good job nobody was paying attention." He hissed. "Your pen was moving so fast you nearly set fire to the page." His voice was low and quick. "You need to calm it down before somebody gets suspicious."

I frowned, was I really that fast?

"Yes you were." Tobias answered my unspoken thoughts.

At least I was sure I hadn't spoken it aloud. Had I just projected at him? Gotta get a hold of yourself Essie girl. Why was I so jazzed up today, earlier I'd been barely able to raise my head, now I could barely keep to my human pace I had so much energy.

Suddenly I just wanted the lesson to be over with. I tapped my foot impatiently and began tapping my fingers on the desk. The rhythm was fast, maybe too fast.

I felt a cold hand cover mine, stopping it mid tattoo.

I looked at Tobias questioningly. He shook his head minimally with a look of concern on his face. I bit my lip and struggled to keep my body still as I tried to concentrate on the rest of the lesson.

When the lesson finally ended I packed my bag quickly and left the lab. As I headed toward Trig I sensed there was danger behind me.

I spun around quickly and grabbed my unknown assailant in a headlock.

"Miss Esther." Tobias gasped.

"Sorry Fang Boy." I gasped in mortification as I let him go and stood back slightly.

He stood up, straitening his clothes and smoothing his hair back into its usual neatness. I stood there, bouncing slightly on the balls of my feet with all the energy that coursed through my body.

"This may seem like a personal question, but have you taken any drugs?" He asked outright.

I snorted. "Are you kidding? With my heritage I don't even take aspirin. I shudder to think what would happen if I messed up my body chemistry in that way."

"Then why are you so…" He shook his head a moment as if searching for the right word. "Wound up?" He settled for.

"I don't know." I said with a grin. "This morning I was all drained, but now…now I'm keyed up. Full of energy. I feel like I could…run around the world and still have energy to spare."

"I see." He said darkly, and he suddenly looked thoughtful. "Essie, which lesson did you have first?"

Oh my, he called me Essie; well there was a first time for everything.

"English." I answered, "With Miss Hannigan." I giggled as I realised something. "She has the same sir name as you. Isn't that cool?"

"Indeed." He agreed, but he seemed distracted now.

"Anyways, gots to be getting to Trig." I said with a wave of my hand. "Thanks to you I'm probably going to have to sit by 'greasy Joe'." I remarked, then laughed as I walked away.

Man, I'm seriously unhinged today! I was totally gonna give myself away if I wasn't careful.

Sure enough when I arrived in Trig the only seat left was next to 'greasy Joe'. He leered at me as I took my seat.

As the lesson began he leaned across the gap between us and said, "How, Skwar." In an imitation deep gravely voice while holding his hand up with his palm toward me.

I grinned my grin that those who knew me meant trouble. To everyone else it was almost pleasant.

"Hi Greasy Joe." I said in my low mystic voice.

I grabbed his hand quickly, dragging it under the table where nobody could see. I squeezed with enough pressure that wouldn't injure him, but promised this was an option.

"Try that again and I'll break your frigging hand." I said pleasantly. "Are we clear?"

He nodded his head frantically so I let his hand go.

"There's a good little grease ball." I said, patting his shoulder. "Now in future you will address me as Essie. Is that clear?"

He nodded his head so frantically that a few greasy strands fell into his eyes. He turned his attention to the front of the class and kept it there until the lesson ended. It was probably the first time he'd ever paid attention in class.

I did my work with a satisfied smile; nobody made fun of Essie Black.

He was quick to leave the class when the lesson ended and I was soon to follow. I almost hummed my delight as I stepped out into the grey drizzle.

"Hey Essie!" I heard someone call.

I turned to see Olivia moving toward me against the flow of traffic as it were.

"Hello Olivia, what can I do for you this fine day?" I asked, moving to meet her.

"It's more a question of what I can do for you." She stated, looping her arm through mine when she reached me and changing her direction to match mine.

"Ok then, what can you do for me?" I asked as we made our way to the lunchroom.

"Save you from the creepy new kid in lunch today." She said pleasantly.

"Oh joy!" I exclaimed, not quite hiding my sarcastic tone.

Really, I shouldn't be around anyone in this state. I couldn't sit with Tobias because I was in great danger of totally giving away my other side and I really shouldn't sit with the humans. I'd end up giving too much away, or have them think I'm a complete loony.

Actually, with how I was acting today I was starting to wonder myself if I'd gone a bit loopy.

But Olivia's sheer force of will was hard to resist. She completely ignored any attempts of refusal I made and carried on talking as if I hadn't said anything. So I allowed her to lead me into the lunchroom where we joined the line.

I crammed as much food as I could onto my tray. Not that the smell of food was in the air my stomach was almost growling in its demand for food. It was a lot of food but I couldn't really care to day if people thought I was a pig, I was starving.

And so Wednesday lunchtime I took the plunge, and sat at the popular table.

"Hi Essie." Hannah greeted me as I sat next to her with my piled up tray.

"Hey Ess." Colin said from her other side.

"Hi guys." I replied cheerfully before stuffing a handful of fries into my mouth.

"You've perked up." Hannah observed as she picked at her garden salad.

"Sure have." I confirmed before putting a forkful of minced mystery meat into my mouth.

It was good, and my heightened senses informed me that it was the finest pig, cow and sheep meat you could get. Ok, it was made of the parts of the animal that people didn't like to think that they ate, such as offal. But hell, it was meat and I wasn't complaining.

I took a bite of my burger and ate another handful of fries. I felt hungrier today than I did yesterday, was that even possible?

"Hungry?" Olivia asked.

I looked up to see that everyone was watching me as if I'd taken all my clothes off and started to dance naked on the tables. God, what was their problem, hadn't they ever seen anyone eat before?

"Ravenous." I stated, before continuing with my binge.

Olivia looked at everyone around the table.

"You know what? So am I." She said, before wolfing down her salad.

I watched her curiously, wondering why she was being nice to me while everyone at the table started eating fast. Well hell, that was some power she had over them, it was like she was an alpha or something. Then it occurred to me that she was an alpha if you thought of her group as a pack.

I began eating my food again.

"What's the rush?" Mike asked as he sat next to Olivia, kissing her on the cheek.

"We're all hungry." Olivia answered.

"Ok." Mike said with a frown.

I snorted as I shovelled more food into my mouth.

"Hi Essie." Mike said with a smile.

I gave him a smile; it was tinged with sarcasm, and went back to eating my food.

"So you're sitting with us today?" He asked.

"Duh!" I couldn't stop myself mock.

"Yeah Mike. Do you always need to state the obvious?" Olivia demanded.

Mike's look was questioning as he regarded Olivia a moment, and then he smiled.

"Yep. I do. I'm gonna do it again. Toby don't look too happy you're sitting with us." He said with a smirk.

"Tobias." I corrected under my breath.

I mean how could you get it wrong? Tobias looked nothing like a Toby, if that makes any sense? He gave off an air that shortening his name was strictly out of the question.

"What?" Mike demanded.

"His name is Tobias." I repeated louder. "Or as I like to call him, Fang Boy." I added as I turned to see Tobias in the lunch line looking over at our table with a frown.

I smiled and wiggled my fingers at him. His frown deepened slightly and he held his hand up slightly. It looked like he was brushing something from his black pea coat but even with my mind reading on the blink I could tell that he was asking me why I was sitting with the popular crowed. I shrugged my shoulders as minimally as possible, too small for the humans to detect, but I knew Tobias' keen vampire senses would note it. His forehead smoothed out and he nodded his head slightly, he had received my reply.

All this happened in barely a second. All the humans noted was that I turned my head quickly to look at him, then turned my attention back to them.

"Why do you call him that?" Mike asked with a snort.

"None of your damn business." I said sweetly while I mentally cursed myself for mentioning my nickname for him.

Why had I done that? God, my control was non-existent today. I was hyped up and out of control, something was gonna go wrong, I just knew it. And you know what, I didn't give a damn. I wonder what they would think of me if they knew I'm as likely to drink their blood as eat the food on my plate. Of course I'd never drink human blood, that would be totally wrong, but that didn't mean I didn't crave it from time to time.

"Yeah, stop being so nosy Mike." Olivia scolded.

This drew another thoughtful glance from Mike. Where they having relationship problems and she was using me as her excuse to bicker with him or something? I was still uncomfortable over the whole her being nice to me thing.

I can't remember how the rest of lunch went, it was confusing blur of bright lights, loud sounds and chattering. I was doing a lot of chatting and god knows what I said altogether. I hope there was nothing incriminating for me or the Hannigans, but nobody was running to the hills or grabbing the torches and pitchforks so I probably just embarrassed myself.

Anyway, the rest of lunch past in a blur and the next thing I knew the bell was ringing for the end of History. I looked around in slight confusion as Olivia stirred beside me, packing her things into her bag. I got to my feet and started packing my own things. I slung my bag over my shoulder and made to leave.

"So, I'll meet you in the parking lot after school." Olivia said.

I stopped dead and turned to look at her. "What?" I asked.

"Where is your head today?" She asked with a chuckle. "Remember you promised to show me around the Res. Take me to meet your friends cause they're so incredibly awesome." The last bit was added as if she were mimicking me.

"I did?" I asked.

"Yeah. Oh, you're not taking your invite back are you? That wouldn't be very nice, and I've already refused Mike when he wanted to go out tonight cause I'd already promised to hang with you. It's not nice to bail on friends." She said in a small sad voice, her bottom lip trembling.

"Whatever." I stated.

I couldn't be dealing with this right now. My head felt weird, I couldn't decide weather it was pounding or not, but my body still buzzed with that weird energy that had been making me a little unhinged today.

"See you in the parking lot." I confirmed. "Do you need a lift?"

"No. I'll follow you down." She said with a smirk.

"See you later then I guess." I said with a frown as I left the class.

As I was walking to the Gym both Tobias and Marlin appeared at my side.

"How are you feeling now?" Tobias asked and there was concern in his eyes, and guilt?

"Ok why?" I asked defensively, wondering at his expression.

"Are you still feeling 'keyed' up?" He asked.

The cool damp air was clearing my head and the energy began to course through me again. I wanted to skip, to dance, to run for miles…

"Maybe a little." I admitted.

Marlin stepped in front of me and stopped, facing me. She put her cold hands to my cheeks and tilted my head down slightly. She looked intensely into my eyes; it was if she was searching for something.

She pursed her lips and stood back then she looked to Tobias with a shake of her head.

"She is still under the effects." Marlin said quietly.

"Bloody hell." Tobias gasped and he ran his fingers through his hair, making his curls untidy. "Ok Marlin. You know the drill." He said.

Marlin nodded.

"Essie, please don't argue with me over this. It is vary important that you comply." Tobias stated intensely.

"Comply with what?" I asked.

"You will go to the gym with Marlin. She will take you into the changing room where you will slump onto the bench acting ill. Marlin will then go into the gym and tell Coach that you are not feeling well and that you need to be excused. Marlin will also get herself excused, claiming that she should accompany you to the nurses office." He said in a low steady voice. "Are you with me so far?"

I nodded my head.

Tobias smiled in relief. God, am I really that argumentative?

"This way you and Marlin will not get into trouble for skipping class." He stated.

"What are you gonna do?" I asked.

"I'm going to skip class." He said lightly.

"Ok, I like a free lesson as much as the next kid, but why are we doing this again?" I asked.

"In your condition do you really think you should be attempting anything competitive today?" He asked.

I thought of how keyed up I was, I really wanted to get in there and play. I would play to win, show all those losers how you really played basketball, and nobody had better get in my way or…

I stopped this train of thought quickly, it was clear that I was in no fit state to be playing today. It was all the right ingredients for me to give myself away. So I'd get a free lesson, that prospect was even better.

"Ok. I'll do it." I agreed.

"Thank you." Tobias said relieved. "Now go with Marlin and start looking ill." He commanded.

I nodded my head, then drooped my head, holding my hand to my stomach as Marlin put her arm around me to support my weight. We entered the changing room and people glanced at me curiously as I slumped onto the bench and contrived to look ill.

"I'll just go let Coach know." Marlin said quietly, before going into the gym.

I nodded my head weakly as the other girls started whispering between them. As they turned their attention to Marlin, watching her leave the locker room I took Ferris Bueller's advice and licked my hands. Non-specified symptom right?

By the time the girls looked back at me I had my arms hugging my stomach and my head lowered once more. I let out a little moan, hamming it up a little. I hadn't had so much as a cold since I first started drinking blood; it was probably to do with being part vampire, that I didn't really have anything to base it on.

"Is everyone decent?" Coach called from the doorway.

"Not yet." Marlin told him as her voice neared me.

The girls quickly pulled on their gym kits and exited the locker room as I felt Marlin slide her arm around me once more.

"You're ok to come in now Coach." Marlin called as she brushed my arm with her other hand.

I heard the rattle of his whistle and the screech of his sneakers against the tiles as he came toward us.

"Hannigan tells me you're feeling ill Black." He said in his booming voice.

I nodded my head and looked up at him.

"I think I might have a stomach bug." I whispered, wincing and clutching at my stomach at the same time.

Coach frowned and put his hand to my forehead. He hissed and pulled his hand back.

"You're running a fever there, Black." He exclaimed. "You should go see the nurse."

"I just want to go home." I whispered. "It's flu, not like she can do anything about it."

Coach frowned for a moment.

"Ok." He said. "But don't forget to sign out at the office. You can call home from there."

"There's nobody home sides Grandpa Billy and he's not allowed to drive. Can Marlin take me home?" I asked in a small voice.

Coach huffed and pursed his lips, tapping his pen against his clipboard while he thought.

"Ok." He said. "But you sign out too Hannigan." He ordered Marlin.

"Yes Coach." Marlin said promptly, helping me to my feet.

I allowed her to support me to the office and it was only a matter of seconds to convince Miss Bates to let me go home. As Marlin helped me back outside she said.

"Did you bring your motorbike today?"

I shook my head.

"I was so tired this morning I thought it was better not to." I informed her. "I drove up in the Escalade instead."

"An Escalade?" Marlin asked, her voice rising. "Oh please let me drive."

"Drive?" I asked, barely keeping to the charade. "Are we going somewhere?"

"Not far away. I know you have an aversion to our house so we will drive to somewhere more neutral. It is for appearance sakes only, you have to appear to be going home."

"I suppose." I conceded.

"And I have to drive, remember." She said a little too cheerfully.

"Yes." I said grudgingly as I handed over the keys.

"I've always wanted to drive one of these." She said excitedly as we approached the SUV, a.k.a. the La Push mini bus.

"I'm glad I can make your dreams come true." I murmured as I made my way around to the passenger side.

Marlin got in to the driver's seat and shuddered in delight as she ran her hands over the steering wheel. I looked at her questioningly.

"With Tobias, I don't get to drive much." She explained. "And what he says goes." She added, rolling her eyes as she turned the key in the ignition.

"So, is he the Coven Leader?" I asked as she pulled out of the parking lot.

"He likes to think he is." She said and winked.

Now that we were free of witnesses I could detect the slightest German accent to her voice.

"Oh, so does that mean you're Coven Leader?" I asked.

"Not so much. I would say our parents are the Coven Leaders." She said in conciliatory tones.

"You have parents?" I asked, interested despite myself.

"Of course we do." Marlin answered with a smile. "Our mother is Sarrin and our father is Evan. How else do you think we would pose as a real family?"

I shrugged, she had a point.

She was right, we didn't go far. We went to the edge of town and pulled off onto a side road that wound up into the trees. I began to worry where she might be taking me.

"We're not going to your house are we?" I demanded.

"No silly. We're going to neutral ground." She said as we climbed up the steep narrow path.

She parked up outside of a little shack, it was some sort of bird watching hide or something. I looked at her curiously and followed her inside where there was a couple of benches of a plank of wood nailed to the wall variety. Tobias was already inside staring thoughtfully at a knot in the wood of the wall.

"What do we do now?" Marlin asked as she sat down.

Tobias looked up, checked the time on his sleek black watch and then answered, "We wait out the forty five minuets."

"We just wait here?" I demanded, bouncing on my feet again.

"Yes." Tobias answered.

I was unable to sit down, I was too jazzed up for that. God this was too much, everything was starting to get on my nerves. I wanted to…I wanted to…

I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I knew I didn't want to be shut up in this shack either. There was so much more I could be doing rather than just sitting down and watching wood rot.

"Can we at least play a game or something?" I gasped in desperation.

"Such as?" Marlin asked, looking up at me.

I shrugged, "I spy…" I suggested.

"If you really want to." Marlin said, waving her hand.

"Ok then I'll go first. I spy with my little eye something beginning with…W. Can't guess? It was wood. My go again. I spy with my little eye something beginning with W. It's wood. I spy with my little eye something beginning with W. Gee you know what, it's wood again. There's not a hell of a lot in here to spy is there." I said pointedly.

Tobias looked as if he was stopping himself from laughing while Marlin was watching me as if I were a curiosity.

"Surely there is something else you can do." Tobias said. "Do you not have your school bag with you?"

"Yeah, but my mind is too all over the place to concentrate on reading or anything like that. I want to be doing something, anything but sit here moping." I said with a hiss.

"I'm sorry but you will have to weather it out." Tobias snapped. "We can't let you go running wild in your condition. There's no telling what you might do."

"What do you mean my condition?"

Tobias and Marlin shared a look. They weren't mind readers but it was obvious a lot of information passed between them in the brief glance.

"We wish to apologise for Ebony, she does not think before she does something. She thinks she is helping, but often she exacerbates situations. Today is a good example." Marlin said quietly.

I listened to her words in a state of almost awe as I sank down onto the seat. Suddenly a few things were clicking into place. It was the name that struck the chord, Ebony. I had heard it only two days ago in somebody's mind. I snorted as the realisation hit me, why hadn't I connected the names?

"So Miss Hannigan English is what, like your pet or something?" I asked.

"No she is our sister." Marlin said offended.

"I wasn't aware you knew her first name." Tobias remarked.

Oh god, what have I done? How are you gonna dig yourself out of this one Essie girl? I'm such a freaking idiot, why didn't I think before opening my mouth?

"I think one of the other kids found it out somehow and mentioned it." I said, inventing quickly. "I didn't really connect her with you until you said her first name then. Funny really cause you got the same sir name and started on the same day." I shrugged. "But then again she is human."

"Are you sure about that?" Marlin asked in an intense voice.

"Well she's definitely not a vampire cause she got blue eyes. Unless of course she's a…" I laughed the idea it was so ridiculous. "She's a half vampire."

"Yes." Marlin and Tobias answered as one.

"But that's just ridiculous." I exclaimed.

"You think it impossible for there to be such a creature?" Marlin asked.

"I think it's ridiculous that you think I'll swallow this crap. How could you do this to me! I…I don't like you two. You…you're mean. Give me my keys, I want to go home." I stated, holding out my hand to Marlin.

I didn't miss her look to Tobias and his nod in return, not Coven Leader indeed!

Marlin sighed and dropped the keys into my hand.

"Don't talk to me again." I raged as I shot to my feet. "How could you try this crap on me?" I added lowly with a disgusted shake of my head.

I left before they could answer, turning the car in a tight circle, my good driving fuelled by my anger.

What were they playing at? Were they making fun of me? Did they know about me and was trying to call me out?

If 'Ebony' was a half vampire then I was a member of the Volturi guard…

= x = x = x = x = x = x =

Whew! That was long, well for me at least.

Next chapter: Olivia goes to La Push. I know Essie's seemed to have forgotten about her here, but do you think that will stop Olivia?

I love Ferris Bueller's Day Off, don't you? It's a brilliant film and I just had to use the 'clammy hand' thing when Essie was playing ill. If you've never seen it I totally recommend it as one of those films to see before you die.

Thanks once again for reading, please review, or PM if you want. I'd love to hear your thoughts on what happened with Essie. I know but I'm the author and as such I'm privy to such information, but like I said I think you've probably figured it out anyway : )

Gemma x