"I am a ghost talking" I am thinking "I am wolf telepathic!" Eric, Amy, and Bad Gusy are MY OC's, the rest belongs to their rightful owners.
And I am soooooooooooooooo sorry about the long wait and I thank you guys sooooooooooo much for still reading. And don't forget to review :)
-Amy-
"I'm still confused, who the heck is Nate?" Eric asked as I tried explaining it to him.
"Derek's older brother. Waaaay older brother." I say. "He finds it amusing between Derek and I. But if he's coming here, then the Council knows about me. Took them long enough to realize I was still alive."
Eric made a face at that. And at the plan I was forming to run away again. "You have us now, you don't have to run." He said, looking me in the face.
"Aw Eric, you keep forgetting. Running away is what I'm best at." I replied with a face of my own.
"You don't have to." He repeated.
"If I stay Melinda, Jim, Aiden, even you guys would be in danger. If any of you got hurt I'd no sooner hand myself over and let it be done with."
"Don't talk like that! Like you've already given up, that's not you." Eric growled out angrily as I plopped on my bed. I was supposed to be getting ready for dinner but Eric climbed through the window to check up on me. Seth was whining out in the woods, also expressing his worry.
"It's that or run away. I can't fake dying this time around." I said as I eyed the closet which I found was partially open. "Alice stopped by with that dress didn't she?"
"She said she was going to." He replied. "And don't change the subject."
"I'm not changing it, I'm multi-tasking." I said getting up and finding said dress hanging on the door as I opened it. "So what happened to Derek anyway? I thought he was bent on revenge, I wonder if Nate interfered..." I trailed. If was safe to assume so but the suspense was practically killing me.
"Most likely, if Nate has the status with the wolfy council you say he does. Derek would be getting in the way of what they precieve of justice." I smiled at his term 'wolfy council'.
"It's no different than if the Volturi found out about me." I reminded him, I did have one wolfy friend left and she's managed to keep me hidden this long. I wonder if they found out about her...
"Who is she? Other than a dog" Eric asked, eavesdropping again I see. "And friend..." He added quickly after hearing where my thoughts were headed if he didn't amend his statement. "Very good friend I assume."
"You bet."
"Anyway back to tonight-"
"Look it's sweet of you to worry, and believe me I appreciate it, but tonight he's just going to see what my family knows and whether or not I told them anything. Then he'll wait for an opportunity to get at me and leave them out of it. It's how they deem the innocent from the guilty."
"So it's a trail." He grumbled low.
"Yes. But not mine. That's why I need tonight to go well so everyone is deemed innocent and it's only me they'll be after."
"I still don't understand the timeline here Amy." I sighed and plopped down on the bed with the dress in my hands.
"Okay, I was born in Maine and my mother kept me hidden from the world because of the shadows that were chasing her. She crossed over to many important souls, like Melinda only less fortunate, and if the shadows knew about my existence they'd either come to kill me or devour me. Then mom turned to Carmen, and your family who I see now are vampires, but ended up dying anyway. I don't remember much of that night so I couldn't tell you any more. Melinda found me not long after that because my mom reached out to her in spirit. She got the A ok from social services and we've been a family ever since."
"And the 'runaway phases'?" Eric asked.
"I was too scared to stay in one place to long. I'm used to being hunted down and running away, sometimes just barely, from the shadows. It was during the running that I ran into Derek. I was lost in Chicago, starving and hungry and trying to figure out a way to get back to Grandeview. He plopped down on the cement next to me and gave me a hotdog. He was really nice, before the change anyway. He did a complete 180 then. He became as you see now. I stayed until then, in Chicago, I mean. Living on the streets but I always had Derek to look out for me from the other gangbangers. At first I thought it was because he was part of a large gang himself and he'd want me to join."
"In a way you were right." Eric gave me a small sad smile.
"Yeah, it wasn't until he changed the date to the night of the full moon did it finally click. I thought I had enough time to get out of chicago by nightfall but the moon was just starting to rise by the time I got to the country. So naturally I was screwed out in open country and farmland. Derek found me and tried changing me."
"But you fought him back, how?"
I brought out my silver locket. "I wasn't kidding when I said I'd shove it down his throat." Eric gave a short laugh. "I guess not."
"That kept him away for the rest of the month. I made it back to Grandeview but his nose sniffed me out there. Had me cornered in Melinda's shop and I didn't have my locket. But thankfully there was some 1880's silverware and I used that to my advantage. The store was wrecked to splinters though, hence the move out here. Fresh start for them since Jim got the transfer."
"And Nate?"
"Never really liked me. I guess it's an 'I must hate every human because I live forever' sort of deal."
Eric laughed. "Or it could be because you made his younger brother look like the fool he is."
I smiled, "That too."
"Amy?! Are you ready yet?" Aiden asked knocking on the door.
"Too bad I couldn't get him over at a friends tonight. You know, just in case your right." I said quietly as he hung out the window.
"I won't let it come to that. I can see now you're capable of taking care if yourself so how about I save Aiden while you kick his ass?"
"Eric Cullen did you just use foul language?" I asked laughing hysterically as he rolled his eyes.
"Amy?"
"Be right out Aiden, I'll meet you downstairs okay?"
"Ok!" As his little feet scurried away I quickly shut the window and drapes and dressed. Not that Eric was a peeping tom or anything, it just felt weird knowing him and Seth were outside the window and I had yet to get dressed.
I looked at the dress Alice left me. It was a pretty, plum purple about knee-length and with slits on the thighs. Good for running in, and so were the black ballet flats she left me as well as some pretty sharp, pointy jewlery. Guess she was also in a 'just in case' sceanario. Just in style rather. I looked myself in the mirror and pulled my sides up. Elegant enough to go with Alice's sense of style, yet keeping hair out of my face. You know, just in case.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, Jim was helping make sure Aiden didn't break any of the plates as they set up the table.
"Amy, can you help me bring this out?" Melinda called from the kitchen. She blinked as she took in what I was wearing. "Ready for battle are we?" I stopped dead, well short actually wondering how much she figured out by now.
"Well I did say I didn't like him." And even as I said it I realized how much of a typical teenager I sounded. No wonder she didn't believe me.
"Honestly Amy." Melinda said, handing me a salad bowl. She stopped and turned to me. "To be honest I thought you would've run away again." Her eyes began misting up and I started to go from bad to worse on my control to not join her.
"I've thought about." I admitted. "I really don't like him." I emphasized.
Melinda took the salad bowl from me and set it on the kitchen island and pulled me into a hug. "I'm so sorry honey. Tell you what, after tonight you won't have to see him again."
"You've got that right." I froze and slowly turned to see Nate standing there with a black-haired wonder on his arm. She locked gazes with me and gave a dazzling smile and held out a container of store bought brownies.
"I'm afraid I have to return to my father tomorrow so tonight is the last that I am to stay here in Forks." He continued as if nothing was wrong. "I hope you don't mind but I didn't want to have to leave my girlfriend alone at the hotel."
"Oh, not at all. The more the merrier." Melinda gushed, hiding her uneasiness well as she brought the biscuits to the table.
"Thank you, Lilith I'd like you to meet Melinda, my father's associate." I dropped the salad bowl I was carrying as the name registered. I turned to look at her again and she was smiling even wider.
"Amelia, please be careful." I ignored Melinda and look harder. I didn't recognize her, but I definitely recognized the name. Lilith was a high class demon from my demonology book. A whole chapter was dedicated to her because that's how bad she was. I quickly cleaned up my mess and threw away the glass shards and bits of lettuce.
"I'm not much of a baker but I hope the store bought brownies are good." I turned around and found Lilith in the archway, everyone in the dining room sitting down and passing plates around and talking.
"I'm sure they are." I answered politely, a sneaking suspicion grew. That was the second time those darn brownies were mentioned and they had to be chocolate chunk brownies. She really must be a shadow, those were my favorite.
"Come on you two, it's time to eat." Jim said waving us over with a fork as he dug into Melinda's twice baked potatoes. Lilith brought the brownies out to the table and sat down next to Nate. I had no choice but to follow and take my own seat across from them.
"So, my father is recently helping out wildlife, mainly wolves, would you consider making a donation to the cause?"
"Wish we could, but we're still getting settled here." Jim said, eating another forkful, Aiden following his example.
"Once my store gets well under way I'll be sure to be in touch." Melinda agreed. I'm going to have to have a talk with them about that. Derek told me about that trick, it's how they get land to run around and be dogs without killing anybody. Then again that's probably good that they do, but their all rich enough anyway.
Nate nodded to himself, deliberating, before turning to me. "What about you Amelia?"
I scowled, "Amy, and it's debatable."
"Debatable why?" He asked, folding his hands on the table like a business man.
"Are you in school at all Lilith? I know Nate's graduated already and apprenticed under his father..." Melinda distracted, me silently thanking her as Nate walked in the door. "Wait, wah?" He said.
"Oh good, you made it back!" Melinda said getting up. "Nate this is Nate from back home in Grandeview."
"There's two Nate's now?" Aiden asked confused. "I know, he'll be Nate1" he said pointing to our family friend who was still wet from the rain. "And you'll be Nate2" He finished pointing to the Nate at the table sitting next to Lilith. Our friend Nate hung up his jacket and shook Nate the dog's hand as they greeted one another.
"I didn't know I had a doppelganger in town, I hope this doesn't turn out to be an omen." Nate2 said jokingly.
"I agree with you there, I'm not all keen on dying just yet." Nate1 joked back as they took their seats and he gave a hello to Lilith. After the introductions were made he met my eyes and raised an eyebrow mouthing her name, just as suspicious as I was if she was a shadow.
I gave him a slight shrug and went back to eating. Nate the dog went through procedure with Melinda and friendly chatter with Jim and our friend Nate. I couldn't shake the feeling about what Nate the dog had said earlier about doppelgangers and I tried to recall what I could off memory. Apparently I don't remember much only that doppelgangers look identical and are connected in some way.
Good or bad no idea, and both Nates not only shared the same name but appearance as well. When I get time I'm totally looking up doppelgangers in the Book and pray it means well for our Nate.
"Well, Amelia?" Nate the dog asked, smirking a little. "I'd thought you'd be interested in this part of the conversation, seeing how last time we met you told me your profession was to take over the store for Melinda when she retired. Unless that has changed?"
Damn him and his wolfiness. "No, it's the still the same. I have a particular fondness for 1800's silverware from noble households among other things." I knew I was pushing it but I had to say it. And by his face of barely concealed rage, I was going to pay for it later too.
Oh well, he just better keep his paws off my family. "Oh that reminds me, how is Derek doing lately? We didn't get to chat for very long when I ran into him the other day. I hope he is feeling better? I heard he sustained quite the injury." Melinda and Jim set their forks down suspiciously and observed the conversation. Aiden ate away happily but kept his eyes on Lilith, and our friend Nate eyed me suspiciously.
"Yes, well, we all have you to thank for that. Although I do understand the manner for your self-defense considering my brothers temper. However my father feels differently than I do about that." He answered carefully.
I hide my evil smirk by taking a drink. "You sure it doesn't run in the family? You seem to dislike me just as much, which is why I don't want you or your girlfriend here." I smiled then, I can fight for my territory too. Nate the dog smiled as if assessing this.
"Don't worry, once your mother and I finalize our business arrangements you won't have to worry about them." In other words they passed their innocence to the situation test.
He then turned to Melinda and stood up. "Shall we?" Melinda eyed me but otherwise agreed, and apologized for my behavior as they headed for living room.
Jim pointed his fork at me, "So grounded." He said.