Chapter Twenty-One

It was late when I finally dragged myself up the stairs and fell into bed. I didn't bother changing my clothes or even getting in the covers. As soon as my head hit the pillows I was asleep. My sleep was comfortable and quiet. But I also felt very alone and not fully asleep. I know I am very aware of Jacob and where he is, what he's doing. I can safely say that even though we haven't been together alone since the night in the field in Greece, I should be comfortable with his absence. But being back here and knowing he should be here but is away risking his life for me, makes me worry about him. It makes me miss him. There has been many times at night when I haven't been able to sleep. Jacob is somehow connected to me; he always knows when I need him. So when I can't sleep, about five minutes later, he would appear on my bed next to me, and I'd fall asleep straight away in his arms. I do not have that comfort now.

I didn't bother getting out of bed in the morning; I hadn't come to my senses. Everything was a huge blur, I couldn't hear or see straight, and I know it's because I'm worried for my families. All I could think of was how much I longed for Jacob to be around, so I could talk to him, to watch his movements, smell his scent. I wanted him to hold me close to him and tell me everything would turn out okay. I wanted him to kiss me to make me forget what was going on around us. I wanted him to be the only thing that existed to me, because if he were the only thing in my existence, none of this would be happening. These are the reasons that I stayed in bed, trying to block out the mixture of sounds coming from all around the house and its grounds. I tried to block out the light that was seeping through the window and I tried to block out the overtaking smell that I couldn't quite tell what it was.

Sometime around lunch I pulled myself out of bed, took a shower and got ready. I felt very on edge was I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn't feel right. Nothing felt right to me now. I didn't feel whole anymore, as if part of me had left. Part of me has left, but I know it's coming back. Jacob will be back. I sighed heavily as I pulled myself from the room. I had made sense of the noises and the smells, vampires and wolves had started to turn up in their numbers to fight with us. Or to at least hear us out. Some just wanted to meet me, others wanted to fight along side me. I say they're crazy, but if they are willing then I will not say no.

I slowly walk down the stairs and ambled into the rarely used kitchen. "Oh there you are hunnie," Esme called to me. "I was just about to come and ask you If you would like me to make you some lunch." She smiled brightly as I took a seat at the breakfast table. I noticed many red, amber, brown and blue eyes were on me. All of them were watching my every move.

"Ummm, no thanks Esme. I really don't feel like eating." I tried to smile back to her, but I don't think a smile really formed on my face. She looked at me worried for a while.

"Why, what's wrong?" She asked me in a motherly tone.

"Nothing. I just don't think I can stomach food right now." I replied, looking down at the marble counter.

"Zara, hunnie, I'm not stupid. Tell me what's wrong." She insisted.

"It's nothing… I just miss him… Them… All of them." I whispered.

She was next to me within a millisecond. She pulled me into a cold embrace, wrapping her arms around me. "Me too." She breathed. We stayed there for a while, until she finally broke from me. She smiled again and turned towards the strangers that were all around us. Many more had appeared in the room as this happened, and I turned to take them all in. "Everyone this is Zara, the girl you have all been waiting to meet."

I smiled weakly at them. I know I don't look strong right now, but I will when Jacob gets back. Esme started saying names and introducing me to each one, but I couldn't really take them in. My mind was elsewhere. "It's so nice to meet you." A female with bright blue eyes smiled at me. I smiled back unsure of what to say.

"We have heard many stories about you. Some of which I am sure are prophecies, but some of which I know to be true." A male standing next to her said. "It's an honour to meet you, we have always wanted to." He gestured to his other four pack members.

"Stories?" I asked… "I didn't even know there were stories about me, other than the Warrior Princess ones. Care to share?" I asked him openly.

"Of course. You should know the stories about yourself." He smiled widely, and his handsome face seemed much more beautiful than before.

"My favourite story is about how you came to be. You were once just a normal human you know? A wolf firstly bit you. Very few wolves are venomous, those that are, turn humans into them, just like vampires do. Your blood however is different to a normal human; you have a very special and rare blood type. Am I correct?" I nodded and he continued. "Your blood type changed the venom, molded it into a form that your body preferred. A vampire next bit you, and again your body changed the venom. You became the first and only half vampire half wolf in existence.

"Your gift as a vampire was to be able to sense things about anyone you came across, whether it was a human or an animal, you would know all about it. Soon you came across witchcraft. You sensed they were different and you knew what they could do. You didn't want to change what you were though, more than anything, you wanted to be normal again. But your parents wanted you to be stronger, faster, and more powerful. They wanted to make sure Eve would never be penetrated, never overtaken. You became their guinea pig; they tested potions and spells on you until you became the most powerful witch in existence. When they found a witch more so than you, they would change you again. Somehow, no one knows how, you stayed good. You were never once tempted by evil. Many say that it was because your parents had put you through so much.

"You hated what your parents were doing to you, but you never once complained. You just learned what they asked of you, drank what they gave you, and never gave up hope that one day it would all be over. They basically took you and made you become a person you didn't want to be. They designed you. And still you had faith, still you looked to God for answers, and asked him to forgive them for what they were doing. Your faith became your lifeline but soon, some people became afraid of you. You were to be feared as the most powerful person in the world for the rest of your life. It was then that you also found out that your parents were arranging your marriage to a vampire. This was the thing that made you leave Eve. You didn't want an arranged marriage without love or passion. And your parents said you must, and that there was no such this as true love but you refused to agree with them, and eventually left, looking for the one thing they said you'd never find.

"They sent people after you, vampires, wolves, witches and humans alike all came looking for you, only to find that they couldn't find their way back when they couldn't find you. And so we all settled here in this world, waiting for the day we would find you again. And here you are in front of us. I must admit you are much, much more beautiful than I expected, really very breath-taking. However, for a person of great strength, ability and power, you don't look very happy or strong at all." He finally finished. "Sorry if you think my opinion is rude, that is not how I mean that statement to come across. I just mean that you look very unsure about yourself and your ability, we were expecting someone with a much more of confidence about them."

I smiled at him. "You aren't meeting me on my best day" I replied. "Normally, I would be raring to go, but today I wish I could just disappear."

"Honest… that's good. But the question is, why do you wish you could disappear?" He asked me smoothly.

I smiled again. "That's my business. Lets just say if I disappeared, this wouldn't be happening. Everyone would be safe."

He nodded at me, "Sometimes these things have to happen. So did you find what you came looking for? Did you find your true love? Just about everyone wants to know."

A huge smile spread across my face, and a simple nod was all I needed as my answer.

"When do we get to meet the lucky man?" The female asked me.

"I'm guessing you already did, but he'll be back… Soon." I think I was trying to convince myself that he would be back more than anything. I have a nagging feeling that I shouldn't have let him go with them. But it's too late now.