I don't own Twilight.

Part III — Renesmee Cullen

When I woke up the next morning, Dominic was gone.

I his place, however, was a pale, white and very warm blanket that hadn't been there before. I looked at it questionably and then ran my fingers across it. It was soft and felt hot under my fingertips. I realized then that it was a heating blanket.

How odd.

I looked around my room, now fully aware of what had happened the night before. All of those people were murdered; my friends had killed them … even Katherine. The only two who hadn't were Casey and Dominic.

What did that mean? That now, my most hated enemy (the Devil) was now my friend? Sure, over the last month we'd talked every couple of days but we weren't close at all. But now, I felt like I owed something to him. He had told me about his family, his past: the one thing that he hid from everyone.

I went to my closet in search of something I remembered from yesterday. Though it was probably a very slim chance that it was in here or the fact that he even kept it … I thought that it would be significant, a reminder, that I really did care.

The rows of black and dark clothes stared at me. All the way in the back, however, was a little slash of white. With slow movements, I made it to the back of the closet and pulled out the white dress. It was simple. I quickly changed and stared down at myself. The dress fit me perfectly, just like it had fit Gemma perfectly.

I let my hair down and let the curls fall.

There was knock on my door after I finished getting ready. Slightly mystified, I walked over to the door. If it was Dominic, I was pretty sure he wouldn't knock. Which meant it was probably only one other person.

"Katherine."

She looked up from her shoes and twisted fingers. "Rene — Miss Cullen," she corrected herself. The tears from the day before sprang up again in my eyes. Was this how it was going to be? Over the past month and a half, Katherine had been my closest companion. And now we were reduced to this.

"I need to speak with you," she said, "before breakfast." Her eyes travelled downward and took in my appearance. "You're wearing Miss Oakly's dress. You look stunning."

I didn't smile; I just nodded and let her inside my bedroom. She took in the broken glass, the disheveled sheets, misplaced items, and she sighed. I crossed my arms as she turned to face me.

"I came to explain myself," she said. I didn't say anything so she went on. "Casey and I …" She looked away, "spent the night in my room. Yesterday morning I was running late, and so I ran to meet you. Mr. Oakly told me to not let you go to breakfast yesterday morning. He said to use any method I could to keep you away from the ballroom. The reason why I led those people in there …" she stopped and then I could feel something change within her. She straightened her back, looked me straight in the eye.

"I led them in there because I didn't want you to see them. I know it's horrible but I couldn't hurt you like that. I've killed many people, Miss Cullen, and, even though I'm a vegetarian now, I'm not afraid to admit to what I am or what I've done. Those people were innocent but it will take a long while to reach the stage you and Casey are at. I'm not disgusted by the other residents here. They don't know any better." She paused and I could see a new resolve in her eye.

"I did it to protect you."

She reached up attentively and wiped a tear from my cheek. "I know it was reckless and stupid but I did not want your heart to break when you saw them. I apologize for my actions. Please, forgive me. We don't have to be friends; we can keep the master-servant relationship, I just —"

"Renesmee," I said, grabbing her hands. "Don't call me 'Miss Cullen.' Please." I blinked back tears and Katherine smiled. "Dominic told me that everything happens for a reason. And, even though those people died, I … I tried my best to save them … but I couldn't. They all died, Katherine …"

Katherine nodded and squeezed my hands. "There is no reason to feel guilty about them, Renesmee. You couldn't do anything. You saved one. That boy, who ran the other way, made it to the village. He's leaving to go home tomorrow."

I wiped the rest of my tears away from my eyes and smiled sadly. "The tall boy with the dark hair? Green eyes? He made it?" She nodded and I actually laughed out loud. "Thank God. I … didn't know if he'd made it down there. I'm … glad that he did."

She smiled and withdrew her hands. "Are you ready for breakfast?" I nodded. "And please," she added. "Don't blame the other vampires. They've killed many people and their humanity is gone, like mine. They don't feel remorse or guilt for the loss of human lives. They drink them like humans consume meat. It's just … the way they are."

I couldn't promise that I could do so. I couldn't promise that I would look at Maddy, Mistress Plume or any of the other vampires the same way ever again. But I nodded anyway, to please Katherine. Though she could see through the lie, she didn't say anything and we continued on to breakfast.

I became nervous as we walked down the hallway. Dominic was going to see me in this dress; this dress that belonged to his sister. What would he think? What would he say? I knew that I shouldn't care but lately I just … did. I couldn't help it.

I needed to help it.

"Hey, Katherine," I started cautiously, "why did the Volturi kill all of Dominic's family … but let you stay alive? Were they testing you too?"

Her eyes became hard but she shook her head. "A vampire cornered me in Mr. Oakly's room. He was going to kill me, just like the others but … he stopped. I hadn't screamed; I was resolved to my fate. I was actually looking forward to death; I would see my grandmother again, my mother. But he stopped and looked at me in the eye.

"By that point he had bitten me once and the pain was excruciating. He told me what was going to happen to me and why he wanted me to live. He could see that I was different. I didn't struggle like the others had. I was resolved. He liked that about me." She shivered. "He then told me that I was going to be a reminder to Mr. Oakly — though the vampire called him "The Chosen" — of all the things he lost that day. Three days later, I woke up, and Mr. Oakly was staring at me with this expression … like I was greatest thing on earth.

"The vampire that saved me was killed because he let me live. The Volturi was going to kill me as well because I wasn't important enough to keep. I had … have … no powers. I'm not remarkably beautiful but Mr. Oakly told them that he wanted me. They tried to argue but Mr. Oakly was a great debater when he as human. They let him keep me, like a pet. He told me I could leave, travel, get away from the Volturi but I was — and still am — so grateful of how he was able to argue and stand up for me … even though I am a servant.

"So I'm still here."

I nodded slowly. "That's why you were always trying to defend him in the beginning," I said slowly. She smiled and nodded, "because you didn't want the person who saved your life to be degraded to something lower than himself." She chuckled.

We entered the dining area. It was quiet, like it usually was, and Dominic was sitting at the head of the table, reading a book with a title I couldn't see. He looked up when we walked closer to the table and his usually unreadable face was now masked with surprise.

Under his gaze, I nervously looked away and brushed my hands along the dress, wiping away invisible dirt. When I looked back into his charcoal eyes, he was smiling sadly.

"You look beautiful," he said sincerely.

I curtsied, one that would make Mistress Plume proud, and then took my seat on his right side. The meals had been condensed down to just about as much as three werewolves could eat so I picked through the fruit and found myself an apple.

He watched me while I ate. We sat in silence the longest time and finally I couldn't stand it anymore. "What?" I asked, looking at him. "Why do you keep staring at me?"

He glanced to my apple and then back into my eyes. "I was just thinking," he started, "that you look nothing like my sister, even in the same dress. You are much more mature, older, and wiser than she was." I smiled and nodded my thanks.

The conversation drifted off into nothingness. "Why was there a heating blanket on my bed this morning?" I asked, finishing off my apple.

The corner of his mouth twitched. "You were shaking in your sleep," he replied. "I thought the blanket would help considering you were used to sleeping next to someone who has the body temperature of a summer in Arizona."

I chuckled below my breath, smiled at him and said, "Thank you."

After breakfast, Katherine and I headed to Mistress Plume's. She was waiting in the ballroom, walking slowly as if admiring the extravagance of the room. I shivered remembering that this was the room where all the people were butchered.

I was sick to my stomach but I felt Katherine's hand on my waist, steadying me. "Thank you," I muttered as Mistress Plume finally turned to face us.

Her eyes were maroon, like a vampire that had just feasted. I was so used to her redder eyes that the contrast was surprising. I took a step back but Katherine lightly pushed me forward. I walked over to Mistress Plume, almost as nervous as I had with Dominic.

She looked at me and her eyes widened. I held her eyes and laced my fingers together. The dress was smooth under my closed fists. I could almost see Gemma reflecting in her eyes. I could imagine tears filling her eyes. I realized then the amount of love she held for Gemma and how much she must have blamed herself for her death.

"Now," she said her voice full of praise, a voice I had never heard before, "you look like a lady."

It was the biggest compliment that she had ever given me. I smiled the coy, shy smile that she had taught me and curtsied deeply. "Thank you very much, Mistress Plume," I said, rising. She nodded and then told Katherine to come back in two hours.

Katherine left.

Mistress Plume circled me, which she had made a habit of doing every morning, so I stood still and felt her eyes rake up and down my body. She had this way of making me feel like I was naked, even if I was fully dressed. It was so creepy.

"Today," she said once she finished, "we are going to continue dancing. Yesterday, I must say, was horrendous. Let's make an improvement, shall we?" I pressed my lips into a thin line, holding back my temper. I was used to her snide and unkind comments but, sometimes, I wanted to give the old woman a piece of my mind.

Count to ten, Ness, I told myself silently. Count to ten and get on with it. Yesterday was awful; prove her wrong today.

Yesterday had been the first day we really spent the whole time on dancing. Mistress Plume pretended to be the guy (not the most attractive male, I can assure you) and I was too awkward to do anything that she directed me to do. She even showed me how to take the steps but I couldn't get it right.

What can I say? I'm never graceful. I'm my mother's daughter; clumsy and awkward, trips over her own feet and can walk across a flat, even surface and still manage to fall down. Mistress Plume discovered this yesterday and we had to stop because she was getting too agitated to do anything without blowing a fuse.

She led me to the center of the ball room and placed her hand on my waist. I put one hand on her shoulder and then our hands intertwined. We did the steps slowly and I was still struggling. She was muttering below her breath; something about Gemma's level of expertise.

"I'm not her," I finally hissed, glaring at the old woman, despite the fact that it would definitely bring up old and painful memories. We stopped dancing. My face felt hot and sweaty and my blood was boiling. My temper was as good as my father's.

Only he held it in a lot better than I did.

"Take a break," she replied with equal vengeance and then stormed off to the entrance of the room. I huffed and crossed my arms stubbornly across my chest. Mistress Plume and I could never see eye to eye about anything.

Someone started to clap slowly from behind me. I whirled around, my eye actually twitching in annoyance, and I was about to give the bastard a piece of my mind when I saw who it was. I froze and looked at Dominic, dress plainly in dark jeans and a dark shirt, leaning against the wall like he owned the place.

Well, he did own the place … but that wasn't the point.

"You're about as graceful as a drunken man on a balancing beam," he teased, walking over to me. I rolled my eyes and looked away, all witty comebacks escaping me. "Let me help you," he went on. I looked up into his dark eyes and saw again the sincerity that he showed me this morning.

He walked over to me and touched my clutched fist with his palm. I shivered and looked back at him, my arms loosening, but just barely. "Let me help you," he said. "Along with my dazzling good looks, charm, and ass-kicking abilities, I can dance well too."

I glared at him as his lips twitched into a smirk. He uncurled my fingers and I let him, looking up into his eyes with annoyance. He took one hand and placed it on his shoulder. Then he placed his hand along my waist.

My mind took a flashback to the night I first talked to him. He had covered up his British accent and I hadn't seen his face but I shivered when he touched my waist. It was only after, when I saw that there was a note threatening Jacob, that I immediately dismissed him as a Devil.

But he really wasn't … at least, not now.

I barely noticed that we were moving. Despite the cliché, it was like we were floating on air. He spun me around and held me like we had been practicing for two lifetimes not two seconds. He was smirking still but it had softened into the rare, genuine smile.

After a few more twirls, we heard, "Brilliant!" and immediately broke away. Katherine was standing by the ballroom entrance, watching us silently. Mistress Plume was charging at us full speed, her arms flailing and a huge grin (so wide it looked faked) spread wide across her face.

She grabbed Dominic's arms and kissed him on the cheek. "That's my boy!" she announced and then turned to me. "It seems that all you needed was a new partner." Then her smile fell and she stepped back, and became the Mistress Plume we were all used to.

And with that, the lesson ended on a brighter note than it ever had.

Casey greeted us with a wide smile and a kiss on the cheek for Katherine. She couldn't speak full sentences after that, so we got started on our lesson early. As soon as Katherine left, he immediately took my hands and plopped us down on the ground.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"I'm taking Katherine out on a date tonight," he explained slowly, "and I want it to be special. But I don't know what to do. Do you have any ideas?" His eyes radiated hope, like I was a long-lost legend, ready to embark and save the entire world.

I smiled and tapped his nose with my finger. "You're so cute when you're nervous," I told him in a teasing tone. His face fell and he glared at me. "I'm just kidding." I paused. "Katherine loves when you sing. Just take her out in the woods, under the moon, and sing for her."

He sighed loudly and wiped a hand across his face. "We've done that … numerous times. I don't want to be repetitive."

I laughed. "But that's what she likes! Look, don't take her anywhere too fancy; she doesn't like that kind off frilly stuff. If you're planning on purposing, take her somewhere secluded she doesn't like being in the in the center of attention. And play your guitar, sing, and dazzle her with your awesomeness." I ruffled his hair like he was a little boy. "No matter what you do, it can't make her love you any less."

He smiled.

We got down to business after a few more suggestions and rejections. He ran across the lot and asked me to send him a memory and I did. I was getting better at the non-touching communication everyday. It was actually really easy now as long as it wasn't over too long of a distance.

After my lesson was over with Casey, Maddy and I continued our swordplay. She joked that I was so well that it was just a matter of time until I was wiping her skill off of the ground. I seriously doubted it though. Maddy was a master at swordsmanship while I was just a beginner.

Finally, as the day drew to a close, I was getting ready in my bedroom. I had changed from the white dress to a pair of shorts and a t-shirt for Maddy's lesson so I changed back after a shower. I curled my hair after I dried it and put Jake's necklace on. I ran my fingers of the heart and wolf charms and smiled at them.

God, I missed him.

I was about ready to leave when there was a knock on my door. I thought it was Katherine but, as I walked toward the entrance, I remembered that she had the "big date" with Casey tonight and I would be walking to dinner alone.

When I opened it up, I was surprised to see Dominic standing there. I looked back at the doors leading out to the patio for some reason and saw that the day had taken a bluish tone. The sun would be down in an hour or so.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I turned back around. There was still a half hour until dinner so it was odd to see him standing there.

"I was wondering," he replied, "if you would rather go hunting with me tonight rather than going to eat that vile human food. I know you have been hiding most of your food in your napkins." I smiled sheepishly. "So," he paused. "May I accompany you to the woods for a gourmet dinner of deer and squirrel blood?"

He held out his arm and I said, "Fine, but let me change first."

"Why?" he questioned, "you are an excellent hunter. I am sure you will not get a drop of blood on the dress." I blushed and looked away. "Besides," he added. "You look even more beautiful in twilight than you do in the morning."

"Was that an insult?"

"Well," he pressed his lips into a thin line, actually thinking about my question. "Is the glass half empty or half full?"

I pursed my lips and took his arm. He smirked and led the way down the hall. As we walked, I wondered about his comment. Finally, I asked, "If I said that the glass was half empty, what would that make it?"

He chuckled darkly. "An insult."

We headed out to the woods. Despite that it was nearly nightfall, we could both see as if it were still the middle of the day. After walking a long ways from the entrance, he stopped and I swore I saw his ear twitch with the smallest sound.

"Let us split up," he said quietly, "and then meet up at our waterfall."

Our waterfall. It sounded strange to call something ours. "Our" is a term people use when they're talking about their dog, their house, their children. But, somehow, it fit here in our strange, awkward, and weird relationship Dominic and I have created.

So, I followed the instructions. After dining on a deer, the burn in my throat had soothed to just a dull ache. I found the waterfall easily because of my awesome vampire hearing, and waited for Dominic to show up. His eyes were black which meant he didn't eat anything much; the red was all gone, though, so I didn't know if he was drinking anything at all.

He came to the waterfall a short time later, and sat down silently next to me. His eyes looked a little lighter but not the golden hue Katherine's had taken the first time she drank animal blood. Dominic's still looked black.

"Did you drink anything at all?" I asked, looking up at him.

He chuckled and sat down beside me, swinging his legs over the edge. "I am not usually very hungry … or thirsty, as many of us say. Don't worry, I had a deer. It was delicious, I can assure you." He smiled then and, again, as last time, I felt something happen to us. "Why?" he added, "are you worried about me?"

I rolled my eyes. "Your eyes," I whispered after a pregnant pause, "they're always so dark. A regular vampire would have bright red eyes when they're hungry. A vegetarian vampire eyes turn black when they're hungry. Yours are black all the time."

He shrugged. "I don't feed as much as every one else. I guess I can ignore the thirst." I gave him a look and he laughed. "It is possible, you know, half-vampire. You were not supposed to be possible either, but here you sit." I rolled my eyes again and looked away.

"Besides," he added, touching my chin with his fingertip. I looked at him again and shivered. "Your eyes, instead of going from black back to gold, go from black to that beautiful chocolate brown." I blushed. "I suppose there are some human qualities you will keep. It is quite remarkable."

My stomach twisted but I didn't know if it was in a bad or a good way.

He stopped talking then and looked me in the eye. Suddenly, I lost focus of everything else around me and I was leaning in, as if being pulled by a string. My eyes blinked twice on their own before they finally shut.

I could feel his breath on my face and his arm around my back.

"Bottoms up," he said and then shoved me off the edge of the small waterfall. I screeched and grabbed onto his arm and he fell down with me. We laughed as we hit the water. I could hold my breath for about twenty minutes so we stayed under and played water tag until I had to come up.

Breaking the surface, I finally felt how cold it was outside. With the night finally fallen and the icy water now covering every inch of my body, I shivered and started swimming over to the bank. Dominic rose up next to me like a fish and I laughed.

"What are you, a mermaid?" I asked.

He smiled and replied, "Mer-person, actually. Don't be sexist."

I rolled my eyes as we reached the surface of the pool. The wind chilled me to the bone so we raced back to the castle. He won, of course, but he had at least forty more years of running ahead of me. But, then again, I don't think he was really trying.

He led me to my door and smiled at me kindly. "Goodnight, Angel," he said quietly and touched my cheek with his finger like he had at the waterfall. I smiled back and then walked inside, shutting the door behind me.

I slid down the door, grabbing onto my necklace. I thought about Jake and how this sense of betrayal was rising up within my stomach. I knew that I shouldn't feel this way; I mean, it wasn't like I was doing anything wrong but …

It felt like I was doing something wrong. But I wasn't. Was I?

A/N — And thus concludes yet another chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! I know a lot of people have been asking me how many chapters there are left and I did the math a few nights ago – it turns out, there are only around seven-ten chapters left, maybe?

That's so weird to think about! So, I won't. XD. Haha. Previews for reviews (sorry, I'm out of clever ways to say this). If you don't have an account, it's up on my site! Oh, and the pictures of Dominic's family are up as well!

-Liz