"Okay, I'm ready." Edward, Emmett and Jasper tightened their grip on Naomi. Their unbreakable grip didn't hurt her as a grip this tight normally would. A grip this tight would break human bones like brittle twigs. This she all noted in the back of her new, more brilliant mind. She focused the remainder of her attention on the door. She could hear Seth walking slowly down the hall. Giving her time to adjust. She took measured breaths, but felt no relief in taking them. How peculiar a sensation. She took another breath, and the smell of werewolf assaulted her nose. It burned in the strangest of ways. A true pain, like fire was dancing in her throat and nose. And also like wet fur. That was a substantially less painful smell. The smell of blood was… off to Naomi's new instincts. This wasn't what blood was supposed to smell like. It attracted her, to an extent, but barely felt an urge to taste it.

"It's incredible." muttered Edward in fascination. "You truly don't want his blood."

"It's different. It doesn't smell like it should." explain Naomi, not breaking her gaze from the door.

"Even then," Edward insisted, "there should be far far more-"

"Edward!" Bella hissed.

"Sorry." Edward apologized to Naomi. She went to wave her hand, but realized it was being held by Jasper. Apology accepted, she thought. Seth halted outside the door. He tapped it tentatively with a finger before pushing it open. He stopped dead at the sight of Naomi. He took her in, her pale granite skin, long, almost auburn hair that fell in luscious waves down her back, her glowing red eyes.

"I'm sure it's…quite a change." Naomi said haltingly. "On the plus side, I guess I'm more beautiful. And sort of indestructible." At this she gave nervous laugh.

"You were always beautiful." Seth said fiercely. Naomi ducked her head, embarrassed. She anticipated the heat that would rush to her cheeks, fresh flushes of colour that never came. Seth took another step towards her.

"Seth." Edward said warningly. The room was completely silent. The silence made Naomi nervous. She could feel the tension in the air. To human eyes it would appear that the remaining vampires were standing idly by, but to Naomi's sharp vision, she could see the slight changes in their posture. They leaned forward slightly, resting on the balls of their feet. They were ready to spring. "Seth, you shouldn't push it any further. She hasn't drunk yet, she's a brand new vampire. You don't understand how dangerous she can be." Edward sounded frustrated at his inability to convey the peril to his brother.

Naomi yearned for him. Not for his blood, no, she seemed to be able to resist that. She wanted to feel his warmth lick her icy skin, feel the embrace of his body pulling her close. Simply feel his presence, simply be with him. Near him. Hold him. She felt it with every fiber of her being. The ache, the nearly indefinable pain she felt. Edward released his grasp, shocked. He took several purposeful steps back. He was focused half on the present and half elsewhere, reliving a memory. His golden eyes were narrowed in concentration.

"Jasper." Naomi said. She twisted and looked straight into his suspicious eyes. "You know I'm alright. Your powers tell you that much, and intuition tells you the rest." He faltered. His grip loosened. "Please." She was begging now, unable to bear it much longer. He was so close. Emmett released her, as did Jasper.

Naomi flew into Seth's open arms and felt his heat caress her body, emanating in almost visible waves. She closed her eyes and felt Seth pull her tighter. She never wanted to let go, and she felt elation unlike anything she had ever felt when she realized she would never have to.

Naomi heard Alice dart out of the room. She was impressed she could tell who it was, even with her eyes shut. All the vampires had different scents. Naomi had apparently already memorized them, although she couldn't recall actively doing so. It must be instinctive. Alice reappeared and Naomi broke away from Seth, her head cocked in confusion. Alice carried a big mirror, nearly floor to ceiling. The reflective side was turned away from Naomi.

"Don't you want to see what you look like?" Alice asked. She huffed angrily. "Why does no one ever ask for a mirror?" Bella and Naomi exchanged amused grins.

"If it will make you happy, Alice." Naomi replied.

Alice beamed. "I knew you were going to be a great sister." She spun the massive mirror with ease and set it in front of Naomi, leaning it against the wall so she could see her reaction. Naomi's hands flew to her mouth in shock. She traced the purple circles beneath her eyes with a finger, eyes running over her paper- white skin and almost red hair. It tumbled thick and wild like a waterfall down her back. She was beautiful. There was no doubt about that. That was a given when becoming a vampire, however, Naomi felt a small amount of satisfaction at the realization. But she looked at the reflection of her eyes in the mirror, red like fire, burning, angry, like the deepest circle of hell-

"Actually," Edward interjected his velvety voice soothing. Naomi tore her eyes away from the frightening changes. "Dante believed that the closer one got to the centre of hell, the colder it became. The devil is trapped in the innermost layer, frozen in a great lake of ice." Naomi snorted quietly. I know you only said that to distract me, she thought.

He grinned wryly. "But it worked." Naomi let out a musical laugh. So it did.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

That night, Naomi and Seth sat in the living room with the rest of the Cullen's and the Clearwater's. She let the flow of conversation wash over her as she slowly adjusted to her new body. She could hear a lone car speed down the highway, the bark of a dog and the chatter of a group of, by her speculation, nine people. She could hear Nessie's heart beat, as well as the three werewolves. The sound was tantalizing, the scent was off- putting. She smelled like a vampire.

Nessie had gotten fed up shortly after Seth had come upstairs, and had demanded that Naomi smell her and get it over with. That hadn't gone over well. Naomi suppressed a smile. Jake had tackled Nessie, Edward had flown down the stairs to help Jake, and Naomi had decided the best thing to do was evacuate. So, holding her breath, she leapt out the window. Seth had followed her. After the chaos had simmered down, Jake and Edward agreed after Naomi had fed, Nessie could test Naomi. If Naomi felt up to it, that is.

Her first attempt at hunting was messy. And exhilarating. She had flown through the trees, leaped over fallen logs, all at a blinding speed. Blinding for a human that is. The Cullen's had had to be very careful to avoid the lingering scent of the volunteers who were searching for Naomi. They stopped their search for the evening, but weren't due to call off their search for three more days. Alice had seen it and Officer Raymond had confirmed it. So, avoiding the smell that might break Naomi's control, they had run far up the mountain and tracked deer. They were no match for Naomi.

Everyone had admitted that Naomi had more control than any newborn vampire they had ever encountered. Bella was happy to relinquish her title. So Naomi met Nessie, and there was no trouble to speak of.

However, this processing was taking only a minute portion of brain power. No, Naomi was focused on a significantly more important aspect of her vampirism. In fact, it was the whole reason for becoming a vampire. What on earth could her powers be? And not so secretly, for it was much more difficult to lie to yourself when you're a vampire, she feared she might not have power. Maybe Alice was wrong. Maybe there was another girl out there who was supposed to be in her shoes. Her immortal, beautiful, powerful, lethal shoes. It had all been too perfect- too wonderful- to be Naomi's destiny anyway. It was far more likely Alice had messed up.

"Don't let Alice catch you saying that." Edward said quietly. He and Bella sat beside Seth and Naomi on the couch. "Alice is never wrong."

"I don't know what it is that I can do." Naomi argued. "Maybe I can't do anything. You automatically knew you could read minds. Alice could obviously see the future." she looked uncertainly at Jasper. "I don't know how you knew." she admitted. Jasper shrugged.

"I just knew." he said simply. That made sense to Naomi. It seemed odd that she not know a facet of herself. Of her talents. It was like not knowing you knew how to speak another language, or not knowing you had the ability to run. It was intuitive.

"I didn't know I could shield." offered Bella. Naomi looked at her. "Eleazar told me I could."

"Who's Eleazar?" asked Naomi.

"He's part of the Denali coven. They're like family to us." Alice explained.

"Denali like Alaska?" Naomi questioned. Emmett nodded.

"He has the unique ability to sense other vampire's powers. Even humans who have nebulous power." Alice elaborated.

"I can call him. I'm sure he won't have any qualms about helping us. And meeting our newest family member." Carlisle said, smiling at Naomi. Carlisle stood and walked to the kitchen, dialing a number on his phone as he went.

"A coven usually means more than one." Naomi insinuated.

"There are more. Eleazar and Carmen met Kate, Tanya and Irina and became the parental figures to the three sisters." Edward paused. "One hundred years ago, during the fight with the Volturi, Irina was killed." Naomi bit her lip and her heart went out to the remaining sisters.

"You're leaving out important information, Edward." Rose insisted. "Irina was the reason the Volturi came for us in the first place. She thought Nessie was in immortal child." Naomi vaguely remembered the Cullen's telling her about immortal children. They were illegal. Taboo. "She realized too late that Nessie wasn't an immortal child, and she paid for her mistake with her life. The Volturi killed her."

"How horrible." Naomi breathed.

"Some good came out of that fiasco." Emmett said. "Kate and Garrett met. He joined their coven." The kitchen door opened and Carlisle rejoined the group. They looked at him expectantly.

"They're in northern Canada now. They'll be here late tomorrow." Carlisle checked his watch. "Later tonight." he corrected himself.

"All of them?" Jake asked in disbelief.

"They want to visit. You know how persistent Kate can be." Carlisle replied. Jake snorted angrily. "Don't worry, Naomi. Eleazar can help us."