Chapter 20 – peace and mostly quiet

B-P.O.V.

We arrived in New York a few days earlier than expected, so we ended up booking rooms at the Bedford Post B&B, which was an hour drive from Manhattan. It was more of a resort than a B&B, with three restaurants and a yoga studio on site. The receptionist was overly friendly; she flirted and batted her eyelashes at both Dermott and Nate. Causing Huilen to snicker at her behavior and Nate actually blushed, when she practically shoved her breast in his face.

Zora and I teased him about it softly so she could not hear us, while she showed us to our rooms. When she left she gave him her phone number saying he could 'call day or night if there was anything she could do to make his stay more enjoyable', the second the door closed Zora broke down laughing, as she clutched her stomach with tears running down her face. Nate was beet red and settled between glaring at the two of us and looking down at his shoes in embarrassment.

The next morning we got up extra early to head into the city hoping to beat rush hour traffic, it was no use but we tried.

The first day we walk all over Manhattan we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Dakota Apartments, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Union Square. Throughout the day we smelled several different vampire scents, none were too fresh but it was unnerving to smell them all the same. I kept everyone wrapped up in my shield all day. I never expanded it further for fear I would pick up a new unknown power or I would realize how close we were to another vampire.

Even with the added stress of knowing that we weren't the only vampires around the day, it was still a lot of fun. I was getting use large cities, but still New York was nothing but concrete and pavement wrapped around Central Park. I was glad that we would never live in someplace like this.

On the car ride back to Bedford Dermott asked mom what was wrong, she had been noticeably withdrawn and seemed stressed throughout the entire day.

"My power was sorta on the Fritz or something, I'm not sure how to describe it really, when we planned where to go next my feelings just kept changing." Mom muttered

I had not used her power at all after we left for the city; I did a quick check in the morning then left it wrapped up.

"Were any of them really bad feelings?" Dermott asked

"No, I would have told you about that, it was just back and forth between good, fine and kinda bad, like when we got trapped by the sun. Nothing to major, it was just distracting more than anything." She tried to explain.

"It could because of all those other vampire scent's or maybe it's just the large number of people in the city that made it hard." Huilen said whilst Dermott nodded in agreement.

"Why would the vampire scents change anything?" Mom asked sounding worried and slightly agitated.

"I'm not sure really, but it could be that we were going to run into them, something like that or just that they were doing something and it could have affected us somehow." Dermott answered.

"I guess."

When we were back at the B&B, I told Nate about mom's intuitions acting up, he agreed with Dermott on how the choices of the unknown vampires must have affected mom's feelings. With this in mind, I told him that I planned on keeping mom's power on from now on when we ventured into the city, in the back of my mind I felt guilty because I did not trust her to ensure our safety.

The next three trips into the city were still fun even with mom's intuitions fluctuating in my mind. I could see how they distracted her, every time we would make a choice about something the feelings would change a few times before they seemed to settle. I wondered if she kept thinking over our choices after we made them and that was why it was driving her to distraction, when I tried reexamine our choices they did the same thing but mostly still settled on the same feeling.

By the end of the third day, Zora had replaced all of our clothing, it would barely be able to fit it all into our suite cases when we left. We had all decided to keep Christmas small since we were traveling and pulled names from a hat for our gift exchange (Kris Kringle)*. I got lucky and pulled Zora's name.

On the fourth day we split up to do our Christmas shopping. I had Nate shop with me in the Coach store; I got Zora a green puffy winter coat and a matching three piece, hat-glove-scarf set. It was harder to help Nate find something for my mom, we ended up getting her a necklace from Tiffany's, apparently it was a classic, but to me it was just a heavy chain with the store logo on a heart.

That afternoon when we all met, mom was considerably more distraught than the rest of us, when I asked what was wrong she stiffened saying we would talk later. We went off to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular show. The decorations were absolutely breathtaking and The Rockettes dancers were so talented. It was a very fun way to spend the evening.

However by the time we left mom's power was fluctuating wildly between feelings of indifference to near dread. She finally had enough and asked if we could leave. We followed her as she rushed at barely human pace to the cars and then fled the city at moms instance. While I didn't enjoy the fluctuating feeling, it sent mom tailspin. When the feelings settled it was always back to indifference, so I was not that worried, but she was and she got everyone worked up about it on the ride home.

In the hour and a half in took to get back out to Bedford, we had decided to stay until Christmas morning then fly out to Alaska after we opened presents. Mom was determined to get away from the city and the other vampires that had her on edge. She apologized over and over again about having to cut our stay in New York short and then for her need to travel to someplace remote.

When we finally arrived in Alaska mom feel like she could relax again. We spent four-days just being us; playing capture the flag, we made snowmen that were more ice sculptures than traditional snowmen and even race to the top of Mt McKinley, losing never felt so fun. I was happy to be in a place I could drop the pretenses and be myself and Mom loved relaxing by the fire in the cabin we rented.

It wasn't till the fifth day that I ran into a potential problem. It was the fresh scent of vampire, on reflex I cast my shield to see if they were close, but when I did I pick up his power and thoughts at the same time.

E – P.O.V.

Alice, Jasper and I had been hitting the ball around while waiting for the others to arrive. Carlisle was late coming from the hospital, so Esmé waited for him at the house. We were meeting Emmett and Rose at the field, as they had spent the afternoon 'hunting'.

Alice was suddenly pulled into a vision; three nomads were coming our way. The vision did not offer any real insight, only revealing how they simply heard us and decided to check it out. Three pairs of feet arrived less than a minute later.

After introductions were made, we asked them to refrain from hunting in the area and explained our life style. Both James and Victoria seemed appalled at the thought. Laurent was genuinely interested in our ability to stay in one area for so long, while the thought of animal blood did not sound appealing to him. He was considering the pros and cons as Alice explained further.

I listened as Victoria became more and more distracted; she felt the need to flee. James became more focused on Alice, although he was not listing to what she was saying. He way cataloging Alice's appearance and scent very carefully, then in a fraction of a second, he recalled her as a human.

He had tried to hunt her; Alice was in a mental asylum when James caught her scent, he tried a few times to get to her but was always chased off by a vampire with golden eyes. During one of his attempts he made it into the hospital before the other vampire realized, he almost had her but then the golden eyed vampire fled the hospital with Alice, biting her ultimately initiating the change- while he ran. James was so enraged that his prey had escaped him that he attacked Golden Eyes in fury; they fought and chased each for hours before James was able to kill him. When he returned to Alice she was well into her change, leaving her blood corrupted and scent less desirable. With a promise to himself that he would find her and hunt her again after she passed her newborn years, he left her to wither in pain.

As he finished the memory Alice stiffened as she was pulled into a vision of James attacking her, it was a split second decision we had almost no warning. It happened so fast, James launched himself at Alice, a fraction of a second later, Victoria went to Jasper before he was able to get a hold of James and I went after Laurent. Laurent's mind tried to focus on the fight but was too busy berating himself, for knowing that traveling with James and Victoria was a bad idea but doing so anyway to avoid being James' prey. He hated the games they played.

A loud vicious growl from Jasper alerted my attention, he had just knocked James further away from Alice. With the help of her visions she defended herself well but was making no progress in going offensive to stop the attacks. When Jasper left his fight with Victoria to protect his mate, both nomads were monetarily free. Victoria yelled out "now or never, James", as she turned around to flee, followed shortly by James with Alice and Jasper on his trail.

The rest of my family entered the clearing just as Alice and Jasper left. I was still holding onto Laurent who was begging both in his mind and out loud for us not to kill him, as I explained to my family what had happened. I left out Alice's more personal information just saying that James hunted her as human and killed her creator.

Laurent spoke up that James was a tracker and Victoria had the gift of evasion. He had heard James speak of Alice saying she was the only one who ever got away, but he would find her one day. It was just dumb luck that they heard us playing baseball, but he was sure that Alice and Jasper would return empty-handed, just as he was sure that our family had not heard the last of James and Victoria. He begged for his life saying that he was interested in the way we live and that if we freed him we would never see him again, while I could confirm his thoughts I still did not want to set him free.

Emmett, Rose and my protests went unheard. Carlisle and Esmé being two of the most compassionate people I have ever known vampire or otherwise, sent Laurent to Alaska to meet our friends in Denali. Laurent left before Jasper or Alice returned, from Carlisle thoughts he knew Jasper would never let him leave if he was present.

That was three and a half months ago, and I can say with total honesty this is the first time I have been alone since. Carlisle and Jasper had insisted that we never be alone, safety in numbers they reasoned. We now did everything in groups of two or more, none of us were ever on our own; we even took turns guarding the hospital when Carlisle worked.

It was taking a toll on me, the others very rarely spent actual time alone, they have mates. The others were used to the constant closeness, togetherness and they were always together anyway, things only changed slightly for them. I on the other hand have always had a need to get away, to find an escape from the mental voices. Needing to put at least three-miles, between myself and anyone else to get peace.

Laurent was right we have seen James and Victoria in the area several times after our first meeting, at least once every few weeks we would chase them off. They always take to the water so we can't follow their trail; even the wolves have also come across them.

The Wolves made contact with us a month after our first meeting with the nomads demanding to know why James and Victory were in the area. It was one of the few times Carlisle lied outright to them, saying we had no idea.

We had discussed leaving Forks but knew James would follow us anywhere we went, at least with the wolves helping to protect the territory we hoped for less human lives to be taken. However, we were now reconsidering leaving because with the increased vampire activity, more wolves transforming, if we weren't careful, they would out number us soon.

Carlisle and Jasper both wanted to go to Denali for our two-week winter break so that they may speak more with Laurent about James' hunting habits and Victoria's gift for escape. So the family packed and headed up to join our cousins in Alaska. Laurent gave us general details on what he knew but was exceedingly careful with his thoughts and emotions but Jasper had been able to pick up on his high anxiety level.

After a week of observing him, I told my family and our extended family that I thought he was hiding something from us. Which lead to many arguments. Irina was convinced that Laurent was her mate and would never do such a thing, while the rest of the Denali's family was still suspicious of him, they believed me but wanted to believe him as well for Irina's sake. They went back and forth bickering for hours before Laurent's thought slipped to a recent conversation he had with James.

James and Victoria tracked him up to Denali a month ago demanding that he share whatever information he could about our family or they would kill Irina. So he told them everything he knew about our powers and the treaty with the wolves. As I revealed his thoughts chaos erupted and I took my chance to leave, as Alice was bombarded with visions of different people attacking Laurent.

I know that my family will be disappointed when they notice my absence, but I just needed an hour or so of peace. I could not take their constant stream of chaotic thoughts anymore. Between my family's memories of their significant other's more private moments over the past months and Tanya's constant need to project "what I'm missing", I hated my gift more than ever.

I have never longed for what Tanya has been offering, but being around my family constantly had me longing for my own mate. I wanted someone to share my existence and experiences with, someone to be my other half.

Esme's mind wanders sometimes when she sees my loneliness, she thinks that perhaps I was changed too early, but is hopeful to prove herself wrong. She and Carlisle are the only ones, who completely understand why I still turn down Tanya; my siblings think if I would 'give her a try', I could be happy. They know she is not my mate from their thoughts. But their confusion and teasing me about her when we come to visit our extended family is almost as disturbing as hearing Tanya's x-rated mind.

Now I walk slowly trying to clear my mind, I let go of my thought as well as everyone else's. I focus on the view of the river as I walk at human pace along the base of mount McKinley. I listen only to the rushing water and the sound of the frozen ground under my feet. I had almost entered a meditative state – my sanctuary providing peace and quiet when new thoughts invade my mind. I growl in frustration trying desperately to push them away.

"Are you sure this is where we are supposed to meet her? Is she late? Maybe we should call her…" A red haired girl says out loud but the thoughts running in her head contradict, I have not smelled her since we split up, Renée is almost back to normal I don't want anything else freaking her out, great I lost my little sister I can't help but think it's such an odd thing for a human to think. But she looks human, her eyes are green and checks are flushed.

The boy with her looks to be my age he answers out loud, while is mind flips through images of a beautiful young girl with brown hair, different colored eyes- one green eye and one brown, "Zora you know Isa is happiest when she's free to be herself, I'm sure she just lost track of time, she is probably just having some fun, give her a few minutes then I'll call her" Then his head floods with images of a three or four year old child swinging from trees looking like a circus act, I freeze. That can't be a human child, then their minds go silent.

I move toward their general area, hoping to pick up their thoughts, but it was eerily silent like they vanished. I pace back and forth desperately trying to find a glimpse of their thoughts, the irony behind the situation did nothing to ease my anxiousness. After a full minute, I take off at full speed towards where I last heard them. I jump across the river to the spot I saw in the boy's mind and investigate the surroundings.

The area was perfumed by two unfamiliar scents, I immediately try to track the scents but they stopped at the edge of the river. Cursing my foolishness, and the familiar pattern of escape, I sped back towards the Denali's cabin.

I say nothing about the strange events that I witnessed today, until Alice asks me to go hunting with her. She tells the others that we need time to go over the visions she has had. Alice being Alice knew something had happened and led me to the exact spot where I lost the thoughts of 'Zora' and the unnamed boy.

"What happened right here?" she asks standing right where I was.

"I was listing in on a conversation, then their thoughts just vanished. Why? What did you see?"

"I saw you walking alone slowly, get frustrated probably because you heard them and were enjoying the peace, but you were right here then you were gone. I couldn't find you no matter how hard I looked, then about thirty seconds later you were back. But your future has changed drastically. Look I don't understand it but you'll see" She started showing me.

I look happy, but I am in a home that I have never been to before with an odd blur next to. I am talking with Carlisle about someone named Joham.

Several more odd visions of blur and me pass, I look happy in all of them but they are just short looks at events that include me talking with members of my family. Then a longer one comes, we are all in formal dress, the Denali's and several other vampires are present and there are five other blurs in the vision but still one right next to me. I don't understand any more than Alice about her odd visions. But as she went through the visions, her mind slipped for just a second

He looks so happy; I wonder why I can't see her? I can't wait to meet her. . .

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thanks for reading & please review!

Family we make reach 50 reviews thank you to everyone who has been reading and reviewing, Holidai, eva wilson, Yulia.11.11, yuiop, Pongu, snowgoose, Firewings312, iluvMomiji, kestra17, marlijn, wootmoot, Joda-Eragonsson, Teisha here & Sakurako Nagasaki I really appreciate your continued support!

This chapter was pre read by Pongu ;) thanks for all your help!

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1/1/13

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight and the twilight characters, no copyright infringement intended.

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