Chapter 34: Hallow

I sent my soul through the invisible,

Some letter of that after-life to spell:

And by and by my soul returned to me,

And answered, 'I myself am Heaven and Hell'.

~The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam~

"Samantha, it's time to wake-up." I hear someone say softly into my ear, which it alerts me into consciousness.

I palm my eyelids in confusion. The sting in my left wrist puzzles me. I squint and discover that it's wrapped in white gauze. I squeeze my eyes shut, and wait for a memory to unfold for the reason.

After a few moment passes, I don't remember anything, at all. And there's nothing associated with the name used to wake me, not even the voice that had spoken into my ear. This realization causes my eyes to flash open, widely to a bland ceiling.

Fear swarms into my veins. The emotion almost takes my breath. My hands instinctively make fist. It's truly terrifying not knowing where I am or who I was. The total loss of memory is alarming. Could the male who had requested I wake-up be the cause of my amnesia?

In a panic, I cross my arms over my chest and sit up. I gasp when I see a very tall, dark skin man standing quite still at the foot of my perch. His facial features and the long black hair resemble someone. I wait patiently for the ability to remember. But my right eye caches a motion on the young man's right. I jerk my head in that direction, and discover there's another male.

The handsome man's friend isn't quite so tall and he's much older. His grayish five o'clock shadow seems to bother to him. I assume from the constant rubbing of his chin and cheeks that he must shave daily. He's Caucasian and I'm sure he isn't related to the other male. Yet his burliness seems familiar in a way that I cannot grasp.

Though I realize, rather quickly, that both males make no effort to move forward to restrain me, nor do they try to comfort my uneasiness. A few moments pass before my anxiety comes to a halt when I notice a short, petite woman sandwiched between the two. I ignore the men for the time being and concentrate on the middle-aged woman. Her dark auburn hair and hazel eyes in the oval face seem familiar, but sadly, the appearance doesn't spark a memory.

Yet I notice the woman's auburn ringlets are quivering at her shoulders. As strange as this action is, well it comforts me to a point that I know that I'm not in any danger in their company. But why would she be unsettled if there was no danger? Was I the danger and she is in fear of me?

I look down at myself. I have on a black tank-top and jeans which has a slit at the knees. I'm sitting upright with my legs sprawled out in front of me. I relax my arms and place my hands on the black vinyl. It seems I have awoken on an emergency room gurney. This should confuse me further, but it doesn't. Other than having no memory and the white gauze covering my left wrist, I appear to be okay. And I'm not being aggressive or hysterical.

So why does this woman seem upset when I seem harmless? Unless. Was she fearful of the two men that she is sandwiched in-between? Instantaneously, this inquisitiveness causes me to look up.

I observed the Caucasian male first, as he kept scratching at the gray hairs on his face. The stubble seems to really annoy him and I wonder why he didn't excuse himself so he could shave. And though he appears aggravated, I got a feeling that this man couldn't harm anyone. Not sure where the ease came from since I have no memory to persuade me into this realization, but nonetheless, the feeling was there.

Then I notice that the aggravated man's arm is draped around the woman's shoulders, and his comfort didn't ease her auburn ringlets from quivering. So I eyeball the other man next to her. From his great height to his huge biceps and the sharp abs, well with those kind of attributes would intimidate anyone of her short statue … although if she knew him, his appearance wouldn't affect her in the least. Nevertheless, the feeling of ease spread throughout my body that this man, too, couldn't hurt anyone either.

So it has to be me. But why is that? The only thing threating could be my reaction. So I wonder to what exactly?

Again, I search for recognition. There are no triggers of the older man, or the middle-aged woman next to him. And yet, as they appear as a couple, something about their unity causes a feeling to ripple within me. However, it quickly dissolves before I could grasp the emotion. I close my eyes and wait for the recollection to unfold that caused this sensation.

But I become disappointed when nothing happens. It clearly frustrates me that I open my eyelids. I sigh at the couple who doesn't say anything to explain away this kink in my brain.

I gave up on them and turn my attention to their giant acquaintance. As I meet his dark-blue stare, his eyes beckons a gateway to his mind, and with no hesitation, I access it. Upon entering, a domino effect begins to unravel. And within each fall of a white tile, a memory speedily unfolds connecting it to another - and another - displaying all of my seventeen years. Yet miraculously, I'm able to interpret every aspect of my life.

It occurs to me that Sebastian can see memories of said person, reserving it for when one losses them. I thought with this type of aid, he could cure Dementia. His ability could help thousands of elderly patients, even doctors looking for a cure of the heart-wrenching disease. He and Carlisle could -

I jerk my head to the sound of chimes. "Elizabeth, it's time to wake-up."

As Carlisle rights himself from speaking into Libby's ear, he meets my stare, and smiles cordially at me. I couldn't help but return this gesture of friendliness. He nods, and then turns around, taking the necessary steps to another gurney. His back blinds my view of the upper body lying still there. But gauging the one shoed foot and a cast on the other, it's Jessie.

Sebastian steps into my line of sight and he halts at the foot of Libby's gurney. Out of nowhere, Mr. Edward, Libby's father steps up beside Sebastian. Suddenly, Libby sits up. She has no memories and by her expression, she's frightened of these two men who seem like strangers to her, even though one shares her DNA.

The thought of DNA unravels logic. I comprehend that Sebastian is using this as the main ingredient to recover our memories. I sigh, and I realize that Aunt Maggie is here only because Sebastian demanded her presences. She didn't want to be around me at all it seems, because her actions appear the same as the last time I saw her in the hospital; distant and extremely cautious.

Libby screams, cutting off my thoughts entirely. I swing my legs off the gurney in her direction. A pair of hands grabbed each arm and held me back, denying my right to comfort my friend. I start to shove off the interference, but a blue gleam came from Sebastian's eyes, halting my impulsive action. It is then that I realize Libbs wouldn't know who I was until Sebastian's magic restored her memories. And if I interrupt, I'm quite sure there'd be consequences.

So, I relaxed in my aunts and Uncle Theo's grips, and waited for the process to be over. But, it seems to be taking forever. And as I begin to wonder how long it took to recover mine, the anxiety drips into my veins with such ease that it causes my stomach to feel queasy.

I look over my left shoulder and whisper into Uncle Theo's ear. "Did it take this long to recover mine?" I couldn't contain my uneasiness as I asked.

When he didn't reply, I move forward enough to shift my rear and look into his gray-speckled blue eyes. I arch my eyebrows at him, demanding an answer to my question. All I got in return, though, is Uncle Theo shushing me with a finger to his lips.

Aggravated, I roll my eyes and yank my arms from their slight grip. I ignore my aunt and her boyfriend as I positioned myself to lay back down on my gurney. I knew they had similar stunned expressions, but I closed my eyes anyway and disregarded my surroundings altogether. Truly, I could care less of what they thought of my brash behavior. I'm worried about my best friend.

After a while, a familiar voice spoke my name, and then a moment later, she touches my arm. I open my eyes, beaming a wide smile and lolling my head in the direction of her voice.

"Libbs," I say, completely relieved.

But our reunion is short-lived by a loud hiss. "Who are you? Where am I?" shouts an angry Jessie, no doubt.

Within seconds, Mr. Edward grabs Libby and takes her out of my sight. It grants me the entire view of the conflict that's a dozen feet away. Jessie has jumped off his gurney and has his fists up by his face. He's ready to brawl with Carlisle. And without a memory, he doesn't realize that his opponent is a vampire.

As compassionate as Carlisle is, he backs away, slowly and holds his hands up in surrender, without a word of assurance that everything will be okay if he just looks into Sebastian's eyes. It would be enough curiosity to do so and put an end to this unnecessary drama. But I realize that not one of the adults has spoken to assure us from the get-go.

So regardless of Carlisle's good intentions to let Jessie know that he isn't here to hurt him, Jessie still hasn't relaxed is unyielding posture. But after a moment passes, he lowers his fists enough to look further out into the garage, accessing more of this odd situation.

Jessie notices me quickly, lying still on my back, and not struggling with anyone to get off my gurney. As he spots the similar gauze that's wrapped around my left wrist like his, I can tell that he has become irritatingly muddled. I also can tell that he's working out a conspiracy in his head.

It must have been the distraction Sebastian was looking for because he eases his way to stand beside Carlisle. Uncle Theo rushes over to stand on the other side of Sebastian. My theory about the DNA enhancement is plausible.

Though what I can't figure out is why it's vital that they're not allowed to speak, to explain, to assure or to communicate with each other. And their unity seems choreographed, rehearsed. I knew if I pondered long enough for their reasons, the motives would be clear in my mind. Because Sebastian had mentioned my enhanced perception was a special ability. That conversation with him seemed like hours ago at Martha Young's cabin, which I no longer could consider the men's actions because I had realized something more importantly.

More time spent in a deep slumber. Lovely.

And to confirm that suspicion, I focus outward. A skill I would have to excel at more to keep from being lost within myself. So now that I look at Uncle Theo, he has a matching bandage which clarifies that he was awakened first. His back-end is facing me of course, but I remember his annoyance with the stubble on his face. I recall that before I was lured to sleep for this simple procedure, that his face was as smooth as a baby's butt. And by judging his appearance earlier, we've all been out for a while, but for how long? How many hours does it take for a thick layering of stubble to appear on Uncle Theo?

The heightened perception isn't giving me any insight. No possibilities whatsoever. And I notice there haven't been any more outbursts from a confused Jessie. I find him sitting on the gurney now, facing the three men. His eyes appear fixed and there seems to be many expressions happening all at once on his youthful face; one memory flowing into his mind after another, no doubt.

I loll my head towards the other side of my gurney. I discover that my aunt has left and is no longer residing in the garage. What a shocker. But the looming boxes still remain. I wonder if I could get Sebastian to remove them for my aunt's sake. And even more, to explain their purpose. I'm close enough to stretch my arm out and touch the cardboard.

I recall once I used a ladder to remove one at the top. But the box didn't shift an inch, even after I had put my entire strength into picking it up. I almost lost my balance on the ladder in doing so. Then I tried to open the ones at the bottom with every sharp tool I could find. Nothing would penetrate the freshly new boxes because they appear as solid as a boulder. I thought it odd that they hadn't aged any after seventeen years of being stored in the same spot. Not even a speck of dust or a cobweb were detected. So I'm very curious to know their contents and even more, the wall they protect.

Sighing, I get off the gurney in search for the three inside the house. No one was on the first floor, not on the back or front porches. I thought I would run into Aunt Maggie on my way to my mother's bedroom. But I didn't. I found Libby sitting alone on the cushioned loft. Her knees are curled up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them, gazing outside the bay-window. I sat down carefully on the other end, trying not to startle her too much. But she appears lost in thought, so much so, that she doesn't seem aware of my presences. I mirror her pose and look out into the backyard.

There seemed be nothing familiar about it. Parts of grass for one thing is worn down to gritty sand and the space had increased considerably and a barn has been built in the near back corner of the metal fencing. For a minute I was confused. But a tangled of memories flood into my mind. As I spot the Triple Crown winner, Lazybones, grazing in the drizzle below us, I thought he had adapted well to the new environment.

And then remorse settles into my being, over Sami Jr.. If only my aunt had kept him here, he'd still be alive. If only I wouldn't have been deep in thought, I could have saved him. I had reacted seconds too late. The memory consumes me for a little while. I kept repeating the scene over and over. No one could ever hate me more than I hated myself for not protecting him.

The very thought of the vampire that killed Sami Jr. which afterwards Jared and Paul tore apart, brought on more memories. But the one that stuck out the most was of Libby screaming. We had learnt that it was James's brother they had killed. I knew that meant trouble for us, but I'm not sure of how much because Libby went into shock thereafter. Now I could get my answers.

I focused my attention on her. She hasn't shifted her posture any that I could tell and I still don't think she's aware of me yet either. I'm pretty sure I haven't ever seen her mute and motionless this long before. But as the last memory unfolds, that's not entirely correct. Was she still in shock?

"Libbs," I call out, quietly.

She chews on her lower lip and doesn't respond. Did I speak too softly for her to hear me? I wonder.

"Libby?" I say, a bit louder than before.

Relieved somewhat, she stops chewing her lip and turns her head to the sound of my voice. She isn't a bit startled from my presences. I knew immediately that something was wrong. There's no excitement, not a hint of a smile. The greeting is sort of standoffish and she looks me over more than once as if I was a stranger. Libby's soft blue eyes meet my wary gaze.

"You know who I am - right?" I ask, with much apprehension.

After a long moment, she rolls her eyes. "Of course I do, Sammie!" and she embraces me in a snug hug. I, of course, just breathe in relief.

I didn't want to interrupt our reunion of sorts, but I have many questions for her. And some just couldn't wait another moment.

"Libbs, what are we going to do about James?" Libby pulls away and arches her eyebrows at me.

"Who?" she looks confused.

"The vampire that Jared and Paul-" She cuts me off.

"Vampire?" she squawks. "Sammie, there's no such thing as vampires." She scoffs. I frown. "Are you okay?" she asks, looking worried.

I'm pretty sure that my expression shot back a worrisome look, too. I should have asked her if she was okay. But no, I wasn't okay. I'm extremely horrified. But maybe if I ask specific questions, it would spark the memories?

"Do you remember reading the book series, titled the Twilight Saga?" She shakes her head no. I gulp, loudly. "You don't remember the love triangle between Edward Cullen, Bella Swan, and Jacob Black?" This time she shakes her head in concern. I look away from her attentive eyes.

"Huh." Libby utters. I turn my attention back to her in hopes that she has finally remembered.

When she doesn't say anything else, I ask, "What?"

"Well, there is an Edward Cullen that goes to Forks High. But he's anti-social and won't give a girl the time a day. Actually I think he might be gay. And Sammie, we both know Jacob Black and he lives in La Push. But, what did you say the girls name was, Bella what?"

"Swan, its Isabella Swan." I return, dryly. The hope deflates dramatically.

"I've never even heard of her. Besides, Jacob is only fourteen. I know for a fact he doesn't have a girlfriend. He's too much into cars and boy stuff."

"This story happens at a much later time." I mumble.

Libby hears, and then rolls her eyes. "This is a story about the future?" as if I've lost my mind. If only. "Seriously Sammie, you're beginning to scare me."

Holding on to a tiny piece of hope, I sigh, heavily, "You don't recall watching the movies at all either?" I groan.

"Um, no, sorry." she replies innocently enough. "Should I know this?"

"Yes, dammit, Yes! You could've of written the story word for word. You knew it by heart!" I utter out in frustration, and then I slap my forehead. This is just freaking lovely! "Wait here. I'm going to go kill Sebastian!"

Heatedly, I hoof it back to the garage. Each step I take is like striking a match against its cardboard box, sparks without a flame. Not yet anyway. I'd contain the grenade until I was in the presences of the Djin who is responsible for this nightmare.

For so long, Libby has been my GPS to this Twilight World. And without her knowledge I might as well go to Italy and throw in the white towel at the foot of the trio's ornate chairs.

My feet halt in mid-step and my hand freezes in mid-air, where I was in the process of reaching out for the doorknob to open the door that lead into the garage. The anger that was residing within seconds ago is now replaced with great fear. I went cold, feeling the blood drain from my face. This wasn't Sebastian's fault. Not, at, all.

It had been Sebastian's trip to Italy. He had supposedly taken Sam with him and put a spell on Libby and Jessie to stay away from me until they returned. The reasons seem genuine enough but as I stand here and speculate, maybe there was more of a hidden agenda that none my friends were aware of.

For one, I didn't believe for a second that Sam would venture that far from his territory. This is a specified fact. Because if danger was a threat to the people and land he loved so much, Sam would have placed himself on the front line, not in his enemies' front-yard. Wherever his location had been, it was a lot closer to home. I might have had a concussion, but it was Sam who caught my fall and carried me back to the bed the first night at his grandmother's cabin. I remember his hesitation in his answer about arriving with Sebastian. I knew his yes was a lie before he even told it to me.

Second, Sebastian's excuse to deliver the news about his brother's demise was just that, an excuse. He purposely had shown a member of the Volturi of Libby's knowledge about them. Because it's the Volturi's most forbidding rule that a human isn't supposed to know that vampires exist. And quite a few humans knew. However, Sebastian managed to keep those others hidden while he let them see his exchanges with my friends, Libby and Jessie. But for him to allow anyone in the Volturi to access that information and know that their absolute law had been breached, well I believe Sebastian wanted the trouble to end there. He didn't want them coming to La Push and killing his friends, much less, his daughter. But instead, they let Sebastian leave without the fight he had anticipated.

I'm sure they were extremely livid about everything and wanted to avenge, but they couldn't afford too. Not unless they wanted to hinder their plans for the future. Surely things were messy but the ground work had been done and many things were already set in motion. To turn their backs on their objectives, that are simply unknown to me at the moment, they'd forfeit what they really wanted most in the end.

Even more, that Volturi member knew that my friends and I would keep their secret because we had our own secret. Exposing them would mean exposing ourselves for who we really were. I try to grasp that last part, but the enlightenment only went so far. Then I wondered how I could possibly have this insight now and not beforehand. Could I really rely on an enhanced perception? Or was these thoughts caused by something else entirely?

I debated quickly that it is something else entirely. It's what halted my fury towards Sebastian to begin with. The Volturi did retaliate, subtlety of course, through Sebastian without him being aware of this intrusion. But to be fair, it was just one member of that trio who had conspired with Blackhawk early on. I saw it all so clearly, that I felt as if I was looking into a crystal-ball.

Blackhawk had seen the future. He knew he wouldn't succeed in killing me. He told Caius about the removal of the microchips and restoring our memories when Sebastian returned from his visit with them. This, Caius figures, if I had no compass {Libby's Twilight knowledge} then the Volturi will defeat the contemptible Cullen clan, and the pack of giant beasts.

This Caius sent a personal message to me at the end of this inexplicable memory-dump. "The abomination that should have never been born will die by my very hands on the day in the clearing; if however Samantha, you don't meet your tragic end before then."

It took only a second to realize that this foresight and threat was imbedded into Sebastian's magic before he did the recall of our memories. But the how wasn't really important. It's the ambush that is more extensive because Libby had lost her Twilight knowledge and I have received Caius's haughty message, loud, and, clear.

I had figured out some time ago that Blackhawk wasn't a one man army. I knew at some point I would have to deal with the others hatred towards me, but I thought it would be on a battlefield, and not through an unfathomable memory-mail. I shook my head at the audacity.

Annoyed, I take a deep breath and finally open the door to the garage. Upon the threshold, I'm taken by surprise. I pause in the entryway because Sebastian is standing three feet away with his arms folded across his chest, and facing my direction.

After what seems like forever, Sebastian says, "You don't look like you're ready to kill me."

As I look away from his watchful eyes and assess the rest of the room I tell him, "Not yet.", as I discover that we're alone and the garage is empty of the gurneys. "Where did -"

"I asked everyone to leave the residence."

My eyes revert back to him in an instant. I step off the threshold, causing him to back into the tower of boxes. I pull the door shut, slamming it against its frame. My irritation has met its limit.

"You mean you put a spell on them, right?" I accuse, and fold my arms across my midsection, gripping at my elbows.

"I'm appalled that you think so tiny of me." Sebastian sighs. "No, I didn't spell them, Samantha. I just simply ask that they give us time alone."

"To do what exactly - bond? Because I can tell you right now that's not going to happen today."

"I agree." is Sebastian's comeback. "Because there are only a few hours left in today."

His statement puzzles me. Because I have no indicators to spot what time it is. The garage has no windows to see out of to determine if it's day or night outside. But it had been daylight hours when I was with Libby in my mother's bedroom. And that seems like moments ago. So how long had I stood frozen and deliberated in the corridor?

I guess estimated enough time for Sebastian to ask everyone to leave and not notice. Probably because I appeared as a statue and no one could snap me from the alarming thoughts? That's highly possible, I conclude. I focus outward and set my eyes upon the man before me. It's then that I realize he had distracted me enough so I wouldn't see his pained expression about bonding, because the disappointment is still clearly in his navy-blue eyes.

"Have we - missed Thanksgiving?" I ask, in a hesitant, softly manner. I wanted an answer but on the other hand, I didn't. I was either spending time asleep or buried in heavy thoughts. And I was certain that I had missed out on a lot of happenings.

Sebastian's eyes lighten up. "Actually, tomorrow is Thanksgiving." he replies, in a cheerful voice.

This surprises me. I was sure that some of us were asleep on the gurneys during the American holiday. Uncle Theo's five o'clock shadow had even suggested that much. But it isn't so. It that means the hike, the boat trip and riding in the back-seat of the Ford Grand-Hauler to Aunt Maggie's house had happened earlier this morning.

"What time is it?"

Immediately, this question unfreezes Sebastian. He takes a few steps, rounding the corner of the boxes, promenading farther into the garage. He stops in the center and turns around.

Looking at me, he says, "Something after eight I believe." And then beckons me with his hand, gesturing to stand next to him.

I didn't move an inch towards him. Instead, I look at him under the florescent lights. Because the only thing he wears is blue jeans, with slits in the knees, not the coverings Blackhawk had worn to mask the crystalize skin. Even his bare feet have no reflection like glass.

"Why are you dressed like that when your brother -"

"He wasn't my brother."

"What?"

"We were cousins."

"But -"

"I was misled for a very long time."

"But -"

"We look identical? That's because where I am from, we all almost look the same. And I don't need to cover-up because I've spent a lot of time in the sun on an island after fifth-teen hundred years in a bottle."

Sebastian's reply sparks something so profound that it takes a breath from my lungs. I unfold my arms and stretch them out before me. But I needed more light than this to inspect my skin. I clench my hands into fist and walk over to stand in front of Sebastian, my posture and pace resembling a zombie's. I glare at him for a long moment, then down at my tanned skin. I slighting turn my arms at angle and slowly turn them back before I dropped them to my sides. I brought my chin up and met his cautious gaze.

"Martha Young told you about the Quest that she has requested of me when you returned to her cabin. I'll bet that you would do anything, like mislead your own glass and blood, to protect her and Quileutes."

Sebastian is speechless and shockingly still.

I take in a breath to remain calm, and continue. "You weren't there when Carlisle told me about the paternity blood test. You weren't aware that I saw you and my mom, here in the garage, that day you sent us to another dimension. And you still wouldn't have known if you hadn't recalled my memories, and saw every thought I had."

"I apologize for-" I cut Sebastian off.

"For not being someone I can trust? For making me a freak in the eyes of my human aunt to a degree that she doesn't want anything to do with me now, for having Blackhawk slash Levi's heart beating in my chest, for causing me to have Charlie Swan's genetic make-up and not yours, for not having a dad in my life for seventeen years? And what's far worse, is for telling me stuff that isn't true to pass this Quest and made to believe I am the chosen one and for what? So that I would stay here until I die at the hands of my vampire relatives who hate me for simply existing?" I close my eyelids to remain composed. I want my next words to consume him.

When I open my eyes to speak, Sebastian is no longer standing in front of me. My tongue had paused on the word "I" and my lips frame the "O" at the end. There's a noise behind me and I whirl around. I blink several times at the wall that had been hidden by the boxes for over a decade. But it wasn't a wall with green writing that I once assumed that they had shielded. At first glance, it seemed to be a moving mural.

Embedded into the wall itself is a blue hue that frames an opening the size of a double door and the view on the other side of it wasn't the stairs, the foyer or the living room. It led out onto a murky path in a forest. And not any forest, the backwoods of Montana. Because up ahead in the slimming of the trees is the back door to the very cabin I stayed in while at Uncle Theo's wildlife conservatory.

Sebastian says my name to get my full attention. I reluctantly take my eyes of the astonishing view to look at him. His intense gaze makes me feel physically tired so I seated myself on the concrete before I fell out from exhaustion. He begins speaking without acknowledging my weakness.

"Knowing your mother, she probably would like me to spare you the details, but I want to reassure you that whatever Olivia's relationship with Charlie Swan was obviated long before our romantic relationship began."

"What about Quil Joshua Ateara the fourth?"

Sebastian genuinely smiles. "Ah, Quilly, he was like the brother I never had. He knew of my origins and was fascinated by the science from the beginning. And to protect me from society, he introduced me to Martha and her island. But later, his romance with your mother was a disguise to protect us both."

"So they never -"

"No. They were best friends and nothing more."

"If what you're saying is true, this time, then how could Charlie be made to believe that he was my father?"

"Your mother had broken off their engagement exactly forty-one weeks at the time of your birth. And the gestation period of pregnancy on my planet is twelve weeks."

"But -"

"I spelled for you to have Charlie's sheath - because you would have had the same liquefied reflection as mine at birth."

I cringe. "That's - that's -" I couldn't find a word for how troubling this was. Sure I speculated on that idea about Charlie Swan but to have it confirmed was truly another thing. And that last part …

"Deceivable? Impractical? Absurd?"

"Yes and, extremely disturbing."

"I know what you must think of me, but there wasn't any other choice. Because you see, Quilly could participate in being the fiancé publicly but he just couldn't fathom of presenting himself as a father when he wasn't. So there was your mother's reputation to consider in a small town. You were supposed to be born and raised on Martha's island. And needless to say, what was more important than anything else was masking your true organisms to the outside world."

"So my masking wasn't to hide me from Blackhawk?"

"Levi wasn't considered until-."

"He and I showed up?"

"Yes, but, before that, there had been another complication. Quil's father and his two friends were determined to deliver you in the wake of a hurricane on First Beach."

"Northern Peninsula doesn't get hurricanes."

"No, I -"

"You had to spell for one. Why?"

"Because Samantha, the only powerful entity that I could find here on earth to make you breathe and begin life was through a lightning bolt. It took two weeks to gather up a storm that size and produce such a magnificent fire into your heart."

"But why would you mislead me, even Miss Martha, into believing something else had occurred?"

"That should be obvious - for everyone's safety of course. I had broken many of our laws, and for someone to know of our kind; of our very existence, well just the truth was enough to carry out a death sentence. Everyone involved would have been murdered at the hands of our relatives from Italy."

Irritation seethes within me. "Then why in the heck did you go to them after you sent me and my mother to another dimension?" I demanded.

Sebastian sighs, glancing over his shoulder at the gateway to Montana, into the sane world that I missed so much. "Because when your mother had stepped through this portal with you, I became aware of your colossal endowment."

"Do I even want to know what that is?" I ask, frustrated.

He looks back at me. "You're a time moderator. You can shift time accordingly to a situation."

"That explains so much." I mutter under my breath.

"But overall you are known as the Guardian of all Dimensions."

"What does that mean precisely and how many are there?" But instantly I shook my head and put my hands up. "Wait. Please don't answer that. I don't even want to know."

I felt dizzy and comprehended that I needed to breathe. When enough air satiated within my lungs, my mind eagerly began fitting the pieces together. And then the interpretation seems to have become undoubtedly clear and the words began spilling from my lips.

"You went to Italy to show them that I was worth more alive than dead. That with my ability, they could go back to their world. But they couldn't go back. Not in their permanent state. So they had sent Blackhawk to imprison you and then find me to reverse the time in this world. And it wouldn't have mattered at all if Blackhawk had prevented you from bringing me to life the second time around, because by that point, I had already been used as an instrument to reverse the time in the future, which meant I was no longer needed and therefore an abomination. I know it seems crazy, but…"

"Samantha, I can assure you that Levi acted in his vindictive way alone."

I believe that Sebastian is in denial. But I don't tell him so because I needed answers. "Who is Caius?"

He squints at me from this inquiry. "He's one of my two uncles." He finally replies after some consideration. "Why do you ask?"

"Just being curious is all." I say quickly. "In the painting at the cabin, which one is he?"

"He's the blond one."

"And is Aro your father or uncle?"

"Aro is the other uncle. He sits in the middle. Marcus is my father. He was married to Aro's sister who happens to be my mother, Didyme."

Shockingly I ask, "Was?"

"What is with all these questions?" Sebastian nearly shouts. He takes in a breath. "She died while I was in captivity." He says, in a much calmer voice.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry." I tell him in a sympathetic tone.

Sebastian sits on the cement, and clasping his hands, resting his elbows on his knees. "That's alright. My father is unwilling to tell me what had happened to her. He's so clouded with depression from her absence that he can't seem to talk about her at all. Not even in his private quarters, away from the other two." He sighs.

I want to ask more questions about my cold-hearted relatives but I saw the pain in Sebastian's expression. I knew that grief all too well. And I didn't want to explore my sorrow from losing my mother. So I remember why I had come back to the garage.

"Something is missing from Libby's memories. She doesn't recall certain details. Facts that I need to know and without those facts -."

"I restored them exactly as they were, Samantha. Just give her some time to remember. Restoring memories is a process and sometimes the rush of it is a bit confusing and overwhelming for a human."

While his intuitive explanation made sense, I'm still suspicious, though, but I couldn't disagree. For one, I didn't want Sebastian taking another trip to Italy and confronting the Volturi on my behalf. The threat Caius sent through and without Sebastian's acknowledgement was beyond comprehension and down-right creepy. But fundamentally, I didn't know anything about the magic used to restore our memories and how that process did work in the aftermath. So, whether I have an unsettling indifference to his reasoning I have no choice but to say nothing.

I start to feel the impact of - today. I yawn; a jaw-cracking yawn which brought forth mist into my eyes. As I rub my eyelids, I realize that I was worn-out and I wanted very much to go to sleep. I thought about going to lay in my mother's bed until someone came to take me back to La Push. But it takes a lot of strength to get off the cement floor and stand upright. I slightly wobble. And I decided quickly, if I fell onto my knees, I would crawl inside and lie on the couch. Slowly I start making my way towards the entrance into the house.

"Samantha," Sebastian says, "there's more."

My feet stop moving, involuntarily, "More?" I retort without turning around and facing him. I close my eyes and ask, "Can't this please wait until another day? I'm exceedingly exhausted, Sebastian." I explain. And I try to muster the strength to take a step and reach for the doorknob. But that part of my brain that gestures to move limbs didn't follow my commands to open the door and leave the garage altogether.

Instantaneously, I grasp that my immobility was one of Sebastian's spells, which infuriates me enough that I'm able to turn around now and face him without feeling the fatigue that was there seconds ago.

"Don't you dare do that …" I cease my outburst. I'm taken aback.

Not because Sebastian stands three feet in front of me, but behind him, the tower of boxes are back in their place, yet once again filling up the parking space, and barricaded the portal.

At least I knew their purpose now. I palm my checks, moving my hands upward to cover my eyelids to block out the entire sight before me. As I take in a few breaths, something has occurred to me. If Sebastian can make one portal to that world, could he make another?

"I have watched over you for sixteen years."

I let my hands fall from my face and my wide eyes met Sebastian's.

"I saw your first step, heard your first word. I even observed your loneliness. There were many times I wanted to step over and take it away somehow. But you see I couldn't. Because Levi had managed to control that aspect from the very day he found you and your mother when I attempted to cross over and protect you both from his wicked ways. So I had no choice but to send in reinforcements."

"Reinforcements?" I murmur.

"Yes, Edward Lingberry, James Cambridge and later, Julie Morrow. Elizabeth Lingberry and Jessie Cambridge were fashioned to complete the guardianship."

"Fashioned?" I mutter, appalled. And then, "But I would have never met Jessie if his mother hadn't been murdered in Arizona." I surmise. "Please tell me you didn't arrange that!" I beseeched.

"No, of course I didn't!" Sebastian blurts, very much offended that I'd have come to that conclusion. But of course I had and it did make total sense.

"Then who did?" Because I knew he knew.

"The actions of Janet Lingberry led to their murder."

"What?" I squawk. "I can't believe that Libby's mom had anything to do with – wait - their murders?"

"Yes, it was a double homicide. Ian McClure had found out that his sister, Janet, was working for the KGB and the CIA to sniff out where the microchips were located. So Ian and Jaclyn were on their way to tell your mother about the discovery and to stop them from ruining her marriage and losing her daughter, Janet informed the agencies of the breach." was Sebastian's clarification.

"Jesus!" I exclaimed. "Did she know that they would be killed?" I ask, uneasily.

"Apparently at the time she wasn't aware of the agencies brutality."

"Did she even know where the microchips were hidden?" I wonder.

"Yes. But for her daughter's safety, she kept quiet and refused to give them that information."

"You mean you spelled her into not revealing what she knew?" I speculated.

"No. Levi had."

"Of course, he needed me to find my way home. He's the one that sent the iPhone to Janet to give to me so he could track my location."

"Yes."

I gulp. I didn't want to talk about Blackhawk anymore. "Would you know the contents of my mother's thesis?"

"It's not a thesis nor is it your mother's thoughts."

Sebastian's reply confused me. "It's your thoughts on paper?"

"Yes, it is a letter to you to be read in the future." He enlightens.

"How am I supposed to read a letter when it's written in a language that I know doesn't exist on earth?" I grumble.

"When the time comes, the words will be revealed." Of course I should have known that.

"Ugh, you and these spells are driving me absolutely mad!" I say and stomp my foot on the cement.

Immediately afterwards, I'm startled by a noise. I tilt my head to the left to see around Sebastian's shoulder just in time to see that the garage door was opening. I take a sideways step and peer out into the darkness. When I don't see headlights or hear any chatter, I begin to wonder if Sebastian used his magic to open it and disrupt my frustration.

But Jessie walks in, followed by Uncle Theo. They get halfway in to the garage where they both stop and look at Sebastian. Out of the corner of my right eye, I see the slight nod that Sebastian gives them.

"Are you ready to go back to La Push, Sammie?" Uncle Theo asks.

I look hard at Sebastian. "You're not coming to La Push with us, are you?"

"No, I have unfinished business with Carlisle." He tells me. "But I will see you tomorrow." He adds, quickly enough.

I promenaded towards the opening without a backward glance at Sebastian.

"Let's go." I say as I pass Uncle Theo.

I don't tell my father goodbye. I don't say anything to him at all. And I don't wait for an escort. I briskly walk down the drive-way to the Ford Grand-Hauler. When I get to the white truck, I find that the passenger's rear door is locked. But I don't wait for assistance. I went to the front passenger's door and lifted the handle with ease.

As I enter inside the cab, I don't hesitate in climbing over the base of the front seat. I plummet into the leather padding in the back and lie down. Uncle Theo and Jessie enter the truck and close their doors without a word between them. I hope that they understand that I wasn't in the mood for conversation. Because the truth is, I was hurt again by Aunt Maggie's absence. Plus, I have a lot to sort out in my mind and I didn't need interruptions. But as soon as the truck's engine purred to life, I instantly fell asleep.

~ o ~ O ~ C ~ O ~ o ~

A.N. The quote for this chapter fit perfectly. It's at the beginning of a movie that was based on a novel by Oscar Wilde. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is the 1945 movie version by Angela Lansbury.