"Ozario, can you help me move this display case, please?"

"Alright." Ozario slid the case with a fingertip.

I looked at him in awe. "Really? Wow! You're strong."

Onyx laughed, kneeling to the hatch in the floorboard. Using the key in my hand, I unlocked a rusty grey lock and lifted the wooden door. In that moment, I knew... I messed up. I found a random, severed head underneath the door. The hatch fell and slammed against the back wall. I jumped back, getting steadied by Ozario's hands.

"Ah! OMGH! Was that-? It has to be my father's head." I shut my eyes after such a sight.

Though my eyes were closed, I could remember every detail of my dad's head. It would never go away. His head looked just the same as the day it was ripped from his body – still incredibly preserved, and ice filled at the bottom of what's left from his neck. That sick memory of my dad being ripped apart like a block of ice cut in two appeared in my mind. No blood leaked from his neck that day. No blood shed, except my mom's forehead when she was thrown against a wall with a metal mask decor on it. It was the decor on one of the kitchen walls. I tried to fight back that horrible night, but someone bit me. They took all my memories, except my family's tragic deaths, and my father's body. I had blacked out after all that. My mother woke me up, so we could run and hide for five years straight.

With Ozario by my side, on the day we had finally found my family heirlooms, we discovered that those journals were hidden underneath my father's head, within the floorboards of my family's house. Dad's head was in the way, so I couldn't reach anything. I felt too frightened that my sudden flashbacks would hurt my head again. I built the courage to open my eyes and inspect what Onyx and I had unveiled after all these years. It's time I see the truth about myself. I tried to abandon my nervousness. I breathed in and out.

Ozario picked up my dad's head, gently. He intoned, "I will take him for you. Your father exposes no signs of rotted skin. Everything semblances to the very day it must have been torn off, I suppose. All his blood is clean... But, what's with the ice?

Hm..." He thought out loud for a second, mumbling, "Like, the needle Carlisle tried to use on Cat's skin." Onyx almost looked frustrated as if he was trying to figure out something...until he asked, "So, what? You come from a long line of fairest bloods?" I smacked his arm and fussed, "Shut up! That's my father! Bad timing, man!"

"Sorry, sorry!" Ozario chuckled, "I forgot how it felt to lose my parents a long time ago." He shrugged and his smile faded.

I glared at him. Liar. I became saddened by the dispassionate sentence. Ozario had lived for so long... I guess, I can understand why he probably wouldn't remember what he felt when he lost his loved ones. Yet, Creatures like him wouldn't lose memories of their past, would they? Think about it, Cat. Ozario's Spanish accent and elegant 1800's way of speaking, whenever he isn't trying to fit into today's trends, could be sealed tight in his subconscious memory. He could've, should've, lost his accent a long time ago, if he really forgets stuff. Although, if he is telling the truth and I'm just being rude, I feel bad for him. Onyx blew his long chestnut bangs out of his face. He rummaged through my family's lost items, sighting what's in store.

I took a gander at some items in the floor. Moving a few things around, I uttered, "I can't take this stuff. How can I just grab all of these important things? I can't believe I stood on top of my father's grave since being here. It's like I'm violating it or disturbing his sleep."

"That's not what your letter says. Look."

Ozario picked up an opened envelope and handed it to me. I grabbed it. They were three letters. These letters weren't simple handwritten notes, they were wills. My mother, grandmother, and father gave me everything they owned. My eyes widened at such an unparalleled document. I teared up while reading all the listed items I've now come to possess. That's way too much! Ozario laid my father's head in his lap and, cautiously, tugged out a dirty letter from the envelope. He handed it to me. The handwriting was covered in some dust particles and old splattered blood. I could still make out part of the letter my family member wanted to inform me about. I lay my fingers over the paper and read it:

Catalina,

If you are reading this, it means you are now of age and have found this letter. There is a hidden storage under the display case. It's filled with family records, memories of your childhood, and other crucial details you may need in your life. We taught you as much as we possibly could, but now it is your turn to find and pursue your destiny. Aro, your great ancestor, can be found in Volterra, Italy. It's where he lives.

I give you my precious blue journal containing nonfictional studies and memories with pictures about you. It may help you overcome major personal situations, eventually. Keep that blue book and chest of jewels with you at all cost, Bury the amethyst encrusted necklace with me. Catalina, my darling, you are a vital part of something huge for people like us. If you accept your fate, please, love, don't fail me. I will always be proud of you. Make sure to-

Before this person could finish a splash of blood replaced the rest of the letter. This must have been left on a visible area during the ambush by The Vipers, which meant this had to be written by my father. He never received a chance to complete his message. My eyes latched onto the paper, memorizing every inch of it. I looked inside the hole again.

Amethyst necklace? Lain within a blue, glass, and antique jewelry case was a glimmering purple gem. I pulled the case out and unlocked the rotating hook. Inside, a bunch of necklaces, rings, and bracelets lined up on three black and silk cushions. They were all decorated with a family crest. Different names had been engraved on each item.

The crest of my family was a tribal and angel-winged woman. She was holding a rose in the palm of her hands. Some necklaces and bracelets were made with a white or gold background behind the angel. Some of them were made without a background behind her. For both necklaces and bracelets, a banner – like the Cullens' family crest – covered the angel's curly legs. On every banner, was the word "Angelic" in all caps. The borders around the angel were either gold or silver. My family crest was designed with hearts instead of clubs like the Cullen crest. The hearts were made of jewels in a multitude of colors. Many names were engraved on the backs of all the charms or medallions before the words, "descendant of [the name of the ancestor]."

The rings, because they were small, were designed with white or silver dove-like wings in the shape of a "V." They had a large gem of many colors. Whoever owned the ring had their name engraved on the outside of the ring and their ancestor's name on the inside. How cool is that? I never thought that my family had a crest of their own, I thought to myself.

One medallion, hanging on a rose-gold and chain choker, had strayed from the rest of the jewelry. Well, it fell under the other jewelry. It had the same symbol and décor as all the others, but it was more extravagant. The medallion was decorated with two types of heart-shaped gems, the moonstone and the chrysoprase. These tiny gems lined the edges. A set of beautiful, oversized, white angel wings formed the largest "V" shape among all other necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Since the wings were so big, it looked more like a deformed "M" shape that stuck outside the ring-shaped medallion. I picked up the necklace. It stood out so much that I remembered it immediately. There was no name in the front, so I turned it over. On the back, I saw my name. It looked a little scratched:

Cat/lina Arisu Yo\ng

D|scendant of Ambrosia

I cocked my head sideways. "Ambrosia? Who is Ambrosia?" I asked Ozario, in hopes that he might know. Ozario had lived over 200 years. Could he have possibly heard of her before? It was reasonable to ask, right?

Ozario shook his head. He cupped his chin and replied, "I haven't the slightest idea, Cati. I don't believe we ever met. Our best bet is to go see Carlisle. Let's see if he knows anything about her. He is the eldest member of our family, after all. Come. Let us go. Alice is still worried, I'm sure."

Ozario helped me gather all the journals, jewels, and other valuables; although he held most of them. Luckily, he brought a car. Otherwise, Onyx and I would have gone all the way back to Cullen's house with a lot of weight on us. I'm glad that he was my rescuer last night. I could have died, right above the very thing I came back to Forks for. I was so foolish to think that I could get away with how I acted, especially after finding out how Ozario lost his parents, too. Somehow, he managed to cope with the pain. After so many years, he was still smiling. I wanted to be as strong as he was.

Ozario and I reached his house... Well, my house, too... I guess. The moment we were about to enter the door, I was tackled to the ground by Alice. She hugged me tightly as if she was a crying woman making up with her lover on a rom-com movie. Alice must have lingered outdoors for a while because her body felt like an iceberg, so cold my arm grew goosebumps. I hugged her back as an apology for scaring her. Alice stood on her feet and backed away from me.

"Why are you humans so excited about killing yourselves? That is nothing to celebrate! I don't want to hear any words from you right now. You're grounded." She scolded firmly and pressed her lips together for a dramatic finish.

I disobeyed her order and spoke anyway, "I found my father's journals, Alice."

Her eyes lit up as she faced Ozario. He nodded, confirming our discovery. Alice grabbed and tugged my hand. All of us rushed inside. The rest of the family stood in the living room. The family was stricken with robust worry until spotting us walk in. The family became relieved after seeing that I was still alive, even Rosalie. Maybe, she didn't hate me too much after all.

Esme rushed to hug me. "We were so worried about you. Don't ever scare us like that again. I almost had a heart attack," she pleaded.

I encountered an extreme amount of ice cold skin where Esme wrapped around me. Her body left mine and I started to see more goosebumps on my arms. A new theory struck me. At first, when Alice hugged me and she felt cold a few seconds ago, I thought it was because of the freezing air outside. Esme stood before me and was inside the house longer than Alice but felt exactly the same as her... icy cold. This new knowledge knocked my first idea right out the window. I was more prepared for any conclusion after Ozario's confession, at this point.

Esme and the others must have forgotten to conceal the influence of their cold bodies by not touching me. They were definitely similar to Ozario, except they must have been cold all the time. Their eyes are always golden brown. Ozario only gets cold when his eyes turn red with anger like earlier. Onyx stepped in front of me with a stern look at his family.

"We need to help Catalina. She knows slight information about us and she knows I'm a wolf," he announced.

The Cullens' facial expressions were of shock and grim. All of them shouted, "What!" in unison.

"Cat found out about it on her own. But, that's not all. I've learned that her parents told her that Aro was part of their family tree. He's the ancestor of Cat. She knew that our kind existed long before we met... So, this isn't new to her, supposedly," he continued.

Everyone looked at each other, then me. In their eyes, it seemed they needed validation.

"Yea. The Vipers are creatures that have killed my family for centuries. They were the wolves you've seen. The..." I looked at Ozario, and he looked back at me. I remembered what he called his other half, and I said," Phantoms... They weren't there during the hike. I think it's because there were only three of us at the time. My mom told me about Aro after I had lost my memories.."

Ozario nodded his head once. "I'm afraid to consult Aro on the matter, but I'm also afraid that if we don't, we might be preventing her from finding her identity. Catalina told me that Aro wanted to hide her until she was a certain age, without any other explanation. She and I have found her family heirlooms today. Among them was a letter that made it clear that those documents would guide and teach Catalina until bringing her to him. We've collected them from her old house. Please, help me to support her," he asked, politely?

The family was amazed at the news. The Cullens looked at each other as they had been before, but this time their smiling eyes and pink cheeks appeared. I was hoping they would support me to meet Aro in person, whenever that would be. Staring at them has made me grow more anxious.

Carlisle walked up to me, looking into my cognac eyes. His soft, enchanting voice chimed in, "I don't see why not. You have been a tremendous help around the house and this is important to you. We've never heard of this since we've existed. Do you have the documents with you right now?"

I smiled, nodding. "It's all in Rosalie's Ferrari!"

Rosalie snapped a cold glare against Ozario. Ozario whipped his phone out, and began playing a game. Everyone had funny expressions on their faces. Some of them were trying to hold back their laughter.

Ozario backed up a bit, still looking at his phone. He murmured, "I'm sorry. It's the fastest vehicle in the garage."

Rosalie argued with a fierce attitude, "You own a McLaren P1 car and a Kawasaki Ninja H2 motorcycle! Those are the fastest. You could have picked one!"

Ozario shrugged. He put his phone back in his pocket and confessed, "Also, your car was closer to the door. I was having a heart attack and panicked; thus, I stole it for a moment."

"You were out all night with her," Rose fussed!

"It's in the garage safe and sound, though. Plus, I put gas in it, which you said you'd do for two weeks, now. You're welcome," Onyx cajoled.

"That doesn't mean you steal my," Rose stopped and sighed. She shook her head and said, "Whatever. As long as you took care of her and my Ferrari. I will let it slide this time. So, let's get them. I'm in... only because I have nothing better to do."

I did a huzzah with a little dance. "Yay!"

Edward looked at Ozario and nodded. Renesmee did the same.

Bella smiled. "Sure, of course we will help."

"This isn't something we'd hear every day and definitely not anything to be ignored. I'm kinda interested, Cat." Emmett implied. He agreed to help with a smile.

Alice hugged me from the side. "I'd love to help!" she cheerfully insisted.

Jasper nodded and smiled. I got more than just supporters in that moment; I got an opportunity to find out what I am. All twelve of us set out to find information about my childhood or what I needed to do. It was true, I found out that Aro was a part of my family tree. That's not all of it. In my family, I had a long line of hybrids, each immortal being more human than the last. Every hybrid still had some immortality traits from some unknown genetic source. I–being the last of my family–was the only person officially born with predominantly human traits. My father had almost the last bit of creature traits. He never specified exactly what kind of creature, only that he and I were "immortals." An immortal human. Wow. Knowing we could live forever wasn't a good enough explanation in my opinion, but it still felt pretty awesome to know I was still an immortal human. It made Ozario happy too. I can be with him forever as I am.

Although our research presented vague information, unmasking what I was is a prize that I would never give up. I was part of an unknown existence. Knowing Ozario's half-talked secret made me believe every word my father had written. There was nothing I could doubt after Ozario showed me his skin that would become citrine in the sunlight. I was still thinking about whether it was just glitter. I also remained clueless of how he sucked the life out of that poor deer in the forest. These events, however, had been proof enough for now.

My purpose was still nowhere to be found, which made it difficult to study my journals. We had occasionally taken breaks. Everyone visited my mother's and grandmother's grave. The werewolves joined in the burial of my father's head. My father's head was placed next to my mother in a lovely corner. He wasn't complete, but he deserved to be buried next to her. The antique box that I carried contained all three of the gems of my caretakers. I took out my dad's amethyst necklace with his name on the back, Mr. Iseul Yong, before we closed the hole. He, too, was a descendant of Ambrosia. I put the necklace in the grave and covered it with snow. I did the same thing for my mom and grandma. I did the same thing as he wrote on the letter.

"Bury the amethyst encrusted necklace with me."

– Iseul Yong

The second we returned home, my journals, papers and books were scattered all over the floor in Carlisle's office. The Cullens gave me time to study them more. There were so many books, I didn't remember where I left off. I hadn't even been able to find Book One behind all this mess.

For hours, I stayed in the office viewing books over and over again to see if I could organize them properly. I kept reading them wrong: backwards or sideways. Nothing was leading me forward. Nothing helped to clear up my confusion. They were all out of order, and it felt like I would never pick up the right book. It hurt my head. It didn't help either that Carlisle, the eldest member, hadn't known who Ambrosia was. That wasn't going to hinder my search. I kept looking for the first book. For the first time, I located everything. It made me feel brave and determined to know that nothing could stop me from unfolding what I needed to learn. Nothing. This was my chance to figure out who I was and possibly get my lost memories back.

Single notebook pages often fell on the floor when I opened the journals. They were letters that were a reminder of the past that I had long forgotten. My focus would stay on those grungy papers and old records for a long time because I kept getting flashbacks. My fingers often caressed the worn-out letters like I was trying to hold on to what I had lost.

I'd rarely check the time as more hours went by. Dusk closed in, so I turned on the lights in the room. Since the family left, I hadn't heard anything from anyone, just loud music echoing the house with gentle orchestral instruments. It was the feeling of loneliness that smothered me. I can't put down these journals because they belong to my dad, I thought multiple times. This search is urgent... But, I don't think it would hurt to take a break! And, for as long as I had been confined and cramped in this one room, I hadn't seen the light in ages.

Yes, my loneliness had reached its climax. I tried coming up with 30 excuses to escape this bewildering stack of mess. I stepped downstairs to see what the Cullens and wolves were up to. No one occupied any rooms upstairs, but downstairs, Ozario sat upon his usual couch in front of the bookshelves, reading a book. He looked at me, smiling and waving his book in the air. I smiled back at him. My stomach growled loudly. I guess, I got crazy hungry in Carlisle's office and didn't realize it until then. Ozario was slightly alert, wondering where the sound rendered from. He looked more baffled.

"Sorry. It's just meh stomach," I clarified.

Onyx nodded. "I know. It sounds like a pack of hungry dogs," he teased.

I showed him an expressionless face after the joke. I placed my hand on my hips and corrected, "No, it doesn't. It sounds like a lion."

Ozario laughed behind me as I walked toward the kitchen. His radio played an old song. I was glad the music continued on since I had always enjoyed listening to tunes. Opening the kitchen cabinet, the lyrics in the background reached my ears. I rocked with the beat. My hand left the cabinet door to snap along with the song.

I randomly heard, "And, I hold a HIGH NOOOTTTTEEE!" in the other room.

I mimicked it then giggled.

Ozario laugh at my attempt to sing it, too. He called out,

"Good job, Cati!"

"Thank you!" I yelled back.

I kept mimicking the song until Onyx walked into the kitchen.

He stared at me, shaking his head. With a smirk, he commented, "You're an odd character."

"I try." I shrugged my shoulders.

Ozario crossed his arms nonchalantly with an angry looking smirk. "So, you try to be a weakling, a masochist, often very paranoid, and a suicidal idiot? I'm still upset about the last one."

I sucked my tongue, feeling annoyed. "I am not an idiot," I murmured!

Ozario leaned against the door frame and cupped his chin. "Did you not catch everything, or are you agreeing to the rest of what I said," he questioned?

I rolled my eyes. What Onyx said irritated me because he couldn't understand what I was trying to do. Still, if he was right, I couldn't disagree. I could be acting on purpose in this way. No, no. No, I'm not. "Nooo. Is that what you really think? I mean, look, I can't say that I'm not suicidal because I'd prove to be lying. I'm not trying to be weak. Truth is: One, you are a mythical or mystical being, and two, you are a masculine male. Of course, you'd be stronger than the average human! Maybe, just maybe, I'm purposely a little masochistic, but it's not because of my nightmares, or because I'm constantly seeing death happen right in front of my eyes. Nah! Totally used to that. I know that I have accepted danger in my life, but that's because it's too frequent. Duh!"

Ozario subtly rolled his eyes.

I sighed, "You try to live in a world where you don't live but survive. No matter what you're trying to do or where you've been trying to hide... You're always moving so that your friends don't get involved in this thing, or... s o your family will stay alive. Now... I'm all that's left. Aro is still here, but I don't even know him. I am purposely masochistic to you, teasing me and doing other annoying things, because what you do helps me forget, for the first time, that my horrible life exists in such a miserable world. With you, I'm alive, not surviving."

Ozario dropped his arms to his side. He looked down at the floor, thinking over what I said.

"This is what makes me paranoid, Onyx. That what happened to me might happen to someone else. It happens so often that it just feels normal. I want people to stay away from this. Not to deal with it. I hate that these things happen. I don't want this to happen anymore. In particular, to somebody else most of all." I sighed and shook my hands to calm down a bit. "However, the fact that you're in my life now makes me feel obliged to try to distance myself from you. So, you're not facing sudden death. I want you to get away from the horrors I live with. You've got a free life here. I get that you want me to feel better and stop being paranoid. It won't happen in this life if things don't change for the better. Paranoia has kept me on my feet. As long as it keeps me away from the Vipers, I'm never going to let my faults become my weaknesses. These are my strengths. They're keeping me away from them. They're keeping me alive, or whatever I am."

Ozario walked toward the counter and leaned over it. "Okay. Okay. You're the strongest person I've ever met... to some degree. I think I can see some of your points about your paranoia, but killing yourself is still the stupidest decision in your life, especially about something like this."

I crossed my arms and frowned, but I kept on listening. It's fair to hear what he had to say.

Onyx lectured me, "If you're doing it for someone else or to create change in something, you're doing it all wrong. If you had died, The Vipers would have won. Instead, you fight back. If you're paranoid, if it's a force to be reckoned with, don't run away from them, use that fear as an adrenaline to beat their ass with. I called you weak, because at that moment you allowed them to take control of your sanity, and I know how it feels. It's bullshit. You've got the power to stop them, even if it seems like there's no way out. You're more powerful and strong than you've given yourself credit for. Don't ever let them break you. If you're trying to kill yourself for something like me to stay alive... I don't have a soul, I think. I'm just a monster that's wandering around and supposed to terrorize humans. You say I'm living a free life, but I can't run in public in the sun or cry out to the normal people who I am as they watch me. I can't just transform in the middle of a street where cars drive drive unless it's completely deserted. I'm trapped all the time hiding from potential friends, more so as to protect them from the Volturi or even from myself. I may live to be thousands of years old, but it can be boring to live for so long. Sometimes, I just wish I could die. I've only got one way out, and that's fire. Other times, I hope I'll live to see if there's any point to why I'm still here. So, risking your life for mine is totally stupid. You're not obligated to do anything for me."

I started to feel bad about what I said to him. I was twirling my hands over my chest.

"You have access to your purpose, right now," he assured me. "I've lived for two centuries, and I'm still looking for mine. If you want to get out of hiding, surviving... Well, that's why you've got those journals." Ozario shook his head and scoffed. He repeated my words from his point of view. "You try to live in a world where you don't live but survive. Orphaned. Lost. Lost. No matter what you're trying to do or where you've been trying to go... You're always moving so that your friends don't get involved with you because... You have to protect them from the beast inside of you. Or, every night, to give your only family a place of comfort, you leave. Now, Henry and I are all left because we never knew any other family member, except our parents. But our parents died when Henry was 14, and I was seven. Not to mention I didn't even have a enough time to... my father... I just. Cat... We're not that different. I understand you, and I never knew you were going to be able to understand me. You may not know that, yet. But, you do."

"Onyx... I..." I tried to muster up some words to say but I was speechless.

Ozario perfectly understood. In sincerity, he continued to speak, "I chose you... so, if you die, we die together. We are bound after all, by soul, by the string. I decided that I wanted to live with whatever consequences may come and I do want to... No matter how hard things get. As long as I'm by your side, I'm alright. I'm alive after years of feeling dead too."

"I... I'm sorry," I finally managed to say. I told him, "You do have a soul. You have a family that loves you and who took you in. Your eternal immortal life was not at risk before I showed up. At any time, my enemies could hurt you, your brother, and everyone else you came to love. I can't risk tha-."

Onyx waved his left hand, gesturing me to stop talking. "Catalina, I've had two centuries. Catalina, you're near two decades. Catalina, this family loves you, too. You've been brought here, too. You were supposed to leave two weeks ago, but we were so used to your presence here, even Rose, that we wanted you to stay. My life was always in jeopardy before I was even born. So, this isn't a new thing, Cati. You don't deserve to be a part of this life you're living. This wasn't meant for you, there might be something bigger in the store. You've got a chance to stop it all. You're not giving up because you can't save people, or make a difference that way. That's exactly what living is for."

I dropped my head as his words drifted through the core of my heart and mind. Both of our lives sounded like a mess, a big horror movie. They were very similar. How was he better at releasing his pain of loss or terror than me? Was it because he lived longer than me? I sounded like a complaining little kid compared to Ozario. He always gave happiness and fun to everyone around him, like Jacob, Alice, and Henry, his brother. Me, I just felt too shy or too depressed and became another feeble, moody teenager. Oh! Oh! Oh! Look at me! I'm a damsel in fucking distress. I sounded so stupid to believe that my life was bad when Ozario knew others who might have had it worse, worse than death even. I mean, do immortals typically have families or watch all they love die? That's awful. Still, all of them and Onyx are making it through pain. I didn't have any more to say.

Ozario walked up to me, much quicker than usual. Onyx set his hands on my waist. He placed his cheek against mine and whispered in my ear, "Don't you ever take your life away, all right? Remove all these terrible thoughts from your mind and start replacing them with the reasons why you should live. Looking at you, I might be able to find my purpose."

I blushed at the tickling sensation on my ear after Ozario's breath brushed against it. I shivered in unintentional ecstasy. "Stop doing that," I gushed, brushing off the feeling on my shoulder. Onyx placed his forehead on mine. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, Onyx. I just thought you would be better off without me. We've known each other for only a short time. So, I figured I couldn't have made enough of a good impression that you'd rather die than live for me. That's like putting me on a pedestal. I-I, kind of, hate it."

"If my imprinting on you was a mistake, I have no regrets. You made a marvelous impression on everyone, and you don't even see it. Every day, now, we're waiting for your smile and your funny remarks. Don't hide that from us," Ozario requested, backing away and sitting on a stool. "However, I am somewhat disappointed to see you accept those miserable and vile situations. They're preventing you from showing us your best side. I've never met someone so satisfied with their flaws before I met you. It frightens me. Yet, you know enough about some of your flaws to laugh at them. I think I find that attractive... Sometimes, sometimes, sometimes."

I shot him an annoyed expression with my lips puckered.

"D-Depending." He continued, "Anyway! Remember, it's not a pedestal. I don't feel obligated to save you. I just want to, for my own sick pleasure."

I frowned, feeling a little curious. "But, why? What sick pleasure," I inquired, focusing on his gorgeous face?

"I love your smile more than any other emotion that you have shown me so far. It's the best face I've ever seen on you. It's the most attractive side, despite your quirkiness. It is my must have, I should say. I feed on your happiness." He laughed slightly after that.

"Ha-heh... So, it isn't just blood and food keeping you healthy?" I said, laughing and blushing

"Blood and food, who? Nah!"

I giggled, shaking my head. Really?

His eyes flickered to mine. "I want to know why you're so submissive to me. Well... How you feel deep down," he, sort of, requested.

I turned away, looking at the refrigerator. It felt a bit embarrassing to tell, "Well... I... love fighting with you...K-kind of like my mind empties out all the wrong in my life. I feel like I'm normal for once and that makes me feel happy and loved."

Onyx blushed at my response. He covered his mouth with his fist and uttered, "I love you too, Catalina. I'm overjoyed you're my family, now."

"Well! Since we are family, my middle name is Arisu."

"I know that already. I found out the day I returned your notebook to you. It's the Japanese form of Alice, right? Well, Alice... Alice might say something like 'twinsies,' now."

I lifted my shoulders, merrily. "Funny, right? Apparently, Aro gave me my middle name. It's supposed to mean, 'noble sort,' or something," I confided.

"Your name has meaning?"

"Mhm!" I nodded and replied, "Yea. My first name was supposed to be Caterina, Italian. However, my mother adored the Spanish form, Catalina. Both means-"

"Pure."

"Yea! My last name means, 'courage.' I've had flashbacks of my father spelling it with the letter 'u' before. Yong versus Young. That changes my last name to Young, meaning 'forever' or 'prosperity.' As you can tell... Those were horribly wrong... For I am 'bacon.'"

Ozario narrowed his eyes at me with a grin. "Really?"

I smiled and opened the fridge for food. Ozario stole my spot by literally gliding me out the way, gently. He laughed devilishly and began making something. Whatever it was started to smell good. His hands were moving fantastically fast like those Japanese chiefs with their incredible performances. He started doing funny, teppanyaki chef tricks, like juggling eggs with the spatula, to keep me laughing. After he was done cooking, he presented me with a new dish. He winked at me to start eating like he always did for a new dish. I laughed and put the tender steak in between my lips.

My mouth burst with flavors of sweet melted honey, pineapple juice, and steak. The flavors intertwined in ways I couldn't explain. The rice, biscuit, and other side dishes blew my mind. I didn't open my mouth to say anything but to eat all the food on my plate. I was either too hungry that I couldn't stop stuffing my face, or he made it extra special for me tonight.

Ozario snickered at my messy face and wiped off my cheek with his thumb. He licked the finger clean. I gawked at him, feeling appalled and a little embarrassed. He kissed me on my chipmunk-ish right cheek, making my face feel hot. And, not just from his body temperature. Onyx walked over to a tea pot and filled it to boil my favorite peach tea for me. I wipe my mouth with a napkin. I stared at his graceful hands. This view of Onyx, cooking with such grace like a dove, made him a bit more romantic than he usually was – this I loved.

When I finished eating, I sat next to Ozario on the couch while he continued reading. Staring at his features, I could tell there was something different about his face. He was glowing behind his focused expression. He really liked reading. Every Monday or Friday night, I'd catch him down here alone, just reading multiple books. My mind started running over other thoughts, getting a bit too deep into Oni. I wondered if he liked sweets. He never baked or anything. Should I test it? I ran to the kitchen and checked for cookies. Nothing but flour, sugar, and other scratch ingredients filled the cabinets and fridge. It was much better than instant cookies.

I gathered the items I needed and then extra to make different flavors like Reese's cookies, chocolate chip, sugar, and more. For a while, I stayed in the kitchen, baking and cleaning constantly until I was all done. With assorted cookies on a platter and in my hands, I carefully walked back to Ozario. He smiled at me with his sweet face. Onyx pat my head, then took a cookie.

"Are you trying to kill me? Are these poisoned," he teased?

I nodded with a smile. "Yes, they are drugged." I pretended to admit my crime.

Ozario laughed. "Alright." He chimed in, "I guess, I'll take the risk."

I watched Onyx as he chewed the chocolate chip cookie.

His eyes narrowed. "Holy shit," he whispered.

"What?" I said, getting worried. I placed two fingers over my lips in curiosity.

"This is amazing!" he chanted, taking another cookie.

I smile as he and I tried to clear the whole plate. The theory proved correct. He did like sweets. I asked, "Which flavor is your favorite?"

Ozario answered, "Chocolate chip. I normally can't taste sweets. Well... sugar."

My eyes bulged. "Really?!" That's why he never made anything sweet before!

"Kay..." Onyx nodded, glancing at me. "You know the movie, blood and chocolate?" I nodded.

He continued, "Well... Movie is irrelevant. I don't know why I brought it up."

I giggled.

Ozario shared, "I can eat regular food, but for some reason I could never taste sugar. The Reese's is slightly my favorite because it's peanut butter and chocolate. Chocolate chips are my most favorite, now." He murmured to himself, "Apparently, all sweets may not apply to the ban like I thought." Onyx twisted his lips, then told me, "I can actually taste chocolate. This is the first time I've actually experienced it and I love it. The sugar cookies? I have to admit, they are my least favorite. But, I still like it because you made it."

"So, you taste things like blood and chocolate... Just like the title. Is that why you barely eat?" I asked Onyx.

"Yes," Ozario nodded and said, "I can taste some human foods, blood, and, now, chocolate. I think this trait comes from my father. Well... He could eat human food, he just couldn't taste it. Just like the Cullens. They say it feels like sand in their throats."

"And, you?"

"Needles with some foods. I tend to avoid tasting certain things within the food pyramid. I decided three categories are enough. Otherwise, something outside those categories might hurt. Chocolate, only for sweets. Rare meat but the meat can be well done the way you like it. It just wouldn't taste so great to me. Salads have no absolute taste unless I eat fruit with them. There is more, but I won't spoil you with a whole list."

"Sure, spoil me..." I remember the food he ate on our date back then. "Wait. On our date, did you force yourself to eat?"

He shook his head. "Remember, I only ate my steak. Some stuff on that plate, like potatoes, would have hurt. Not that I feel pain."

"Huh?"

"It's complicated. Let me rephrase, I don't feel it like everyone else. I use to just not anymore," he clarifed.

My mouth formed an "O," but the sound never escaped from my lips. I felt a bit of sympathy for Ozario, but at least he could eat something other than blood. I wonder how difficult it is for him to eat regular food, and how normal he tries to remain around humans like me. Does he like his lifestyle? I mean, I know what he has told me three hours ago, but... Does that mean he pretends behind his phenomenal grin? And the pain part... What did he mean? Ozario smiled at me, thanking me. He continued reading.

Onyx wrapped his arms around me. I leaned on his shoulder and heard him read to himself in his gentle voice. Ozario read a book of poems as I slowly fell asleep in his heat. His honey scent and warmth made my eyelids feel heavy. I felt him pull me closer with gentle strokes of his fingers slipping through my hair. Enchanted by his lovely accent, I fell into a deep sleep.

The morning arrived. Forks's rainy clouds stopped by and for some reason, I felt tears run down my cheeks. I couldn't remember why. I wiped my cheeks and got up out of bed. Something changed. The patterns on the covers were different. They were much softer. My clothes were different than last night's outfit, too. When did I get these? I ran downstairs until a bright light flashed and blinded me for a second.

"Whoa!" I focused my eyes on a camera. "What?"

Ozario stood in front of me with the camera. He moved the item away from his face and said, "Sorry. Just seeing if it still works. It's Foster Mom's."

"Oh. Where is everyone? I haven't seen them for a while now," I asked Onyx. I hope they are okay.

"They are fine. They went to Denali, while you studied last night. They're visiting our other family members living there." He reassured me.

"Why are the sheets changed? I just noticed and wanted to ask about it."

Ozario burst into a laugh, hindering him from saying what he wanted, "S-Seriously... heh... You don't want to know that."

I got a little discouraged and strangely embarrassed. I held back from flipping out and replaced it with confidence. Then, I placed my hands on my hips. "Yes, I do. That's why I asked, isn't it?" I responded, indignant.

"Alright... Your nightmare made you pee on yourself last night." He cracked up.

I was completely embarrassed, now. I haven't wet the bed since... Since... Well. I don't remember. But, this was horrible! My best friend witnessed me wetting my pants! I crossed my knees and sat on the staircase. Oh, no! What have I done! My poor crush! He could be scarred for life! I began to think.

Catalina's thought bubble: Last Night's Expectation...

Ozario heard some water noises by using his super hearing downstairs. He ran faster than the average human and opened the bedroom door. Onyx got whacked in the face with a horrible stench. He almost tumbled back until he caught the door frames. Ozario stood up straight and held his nose.

"Yuck! What the hell is that smell!" he whispered to himself, walking toward the bed.

Ozario lifted the covers and found me making bed angels when, in reality, I was trying to swim away from drowning. I can't swim, and monsters kept trying to drag me underneath the surface. Ozario shook his head with an odd expression on his face. What a poor excuse of a woman. He must have thought. He flung me over his broad shoulder and walked out. He probably tried to drown me in the bathtub or something, like:

"DIE SO I WON'T NEED TO CLEAN MY SHEET AGAIN! YOU, PEASANT!" he might have yelled while holding me underneath the water.

I'm surprised he didn't keep me there! Then, he changed my clothes. In the process, he could've thought. Look at this disgusting body. It's all deformed and wrinkly. Welp! She will be forever alone. When I woke up, he had already planned to bully me about everything that happened last night. Currently, sitting on the staircase, my mind continued to ponder how the scene played out with Ozario, changing his sheets and my war...WARDRODE! Ozario changed my clothes last night!

Ozario's POV: Last Night's Reality...

Catalina, once again, salivated all over my shoulder last night, which was hysterical. I laid Cat on the bed inside Edward's old room, so she could rest until morn. It was nice of Edward to give the room up for her, especially since he didn't need it anymore. I kissed her forehead and walked out the room. Before I got to the last step on the stairway, I smelled a strong odor upstairs. I slowly paced myself back to Catalina's room and frowned. Really... No, this girl just didn't.

Catalina flung around in bed, fought the air, and gasped for breath. I sighed and put a hand over my forehead. What the hell do I do with this woman? Women always have to be difficult, don't they? I covered my mouth, so I wouldn't laugh myself to death. I walked closer to her and touched her cheek. She relaxed in my hand, finding her steady breathing again. I sighed in relief that her nightmare must have ended. Now, what's that strange scent? I lifted the covers, then I stared blankly at the wet sheets.

Damn it, woman. Oh, Dios mio! For heaven... You had one job, Catalina! Sleep! Damn it! Not this crap! I pinched my nose bridge and shook my head. I didn't pinch my nose because she smelled bad. Surprisingly, she hadn't smelled horrible at all. I did it because I was a little annoyed with her nightmares, which caused this mistake. Alright, Nerd. Let's clean you up. I flung her over my shoulder.

"No! No! NOOOOBODY TELLZ ME I'MS A GOOD SWIMMER! Get off me you, dastardly beast! I can't see! I can't swim! HELP! MERMAIDS EVERYWHERE," Catalina shouted in her sleep!

She started to sway over my shoulder. I covered my mouth, so I wouldn't laugh again. Seriously?! You can't swim? I took her to the bathroom and sat her in a chair. I turned away for a second. BUMP! Swiftly, I faced Cat and gasped. My shoulders slumped, and I frowned. Her butt sat up in the air and her face was flat on the ground. How is she not awake, yet? I'm actually impressed. I turn for a second and she can't even sit properly. What a woman. I let her stay there for a second, so I could run some warm enough water in the tub.

"Mmmhagsfd... HAAAahhhh!" Catalina protested in her sleep.

I rolled my eyes. I picked her up and laid her against my body...

Catalina's POV: Back to the story!

"How much did you see? My clothes were different when I fell asleep," I snapped, glaring at Ozario!

"Well," Onyx paused, scratching his cheek. Then, he started talking, "Let's say... Enough that wouldn't make me go as crazy as I thought."

"Tell me," I begged!

Ozario covered his mouth with his fist and snickered again.

He said, "Don't worry about it. Just know, I didn't go beyond kissing... unless you told me to. Besides, we aren't even dating. I know my limits..." He snickered while turning his head away from me. He tried so hard not to crack up again. "A little."

My eyes bulged, and I gasped. What! Kissing! I narrowed my eyes and stood up, angrily. "How much," I demanded?!

Ozario lifted his hand in defeat. "Kay! Okay! Everything, even that - eh - faded tattoo on your-."

"It isn't a tattoo," I yelled, cutting him off! I squeezed my legs together and covered my thighs with my fists.

Onyx started cracking up at my posture. "Why is it a rose, anyway? You are so obsessed with those," he questioned.

"I'm not! It's a birthmark! It never disappears! That's one thing I remember clearly," I corrected. I felt so violated, he saw literally everything if he spotted my tribal, odd looking birthmark.

Ozario's POV: Last Night's Reality Continued...

I had picked Catalina up from the floor and laid her against my upright body. I tugged off her shirt and bra, then blushed. Oh... Um... I bit my bottom lip and wished for one of the ladies to come back home early. Catalina's body looked beauteous and so delicate. I lay her on her back gently and began yanking off her pants and underwear. I spotted a small tribal and faded rose tattoo between her right leg and underneath her bottom. I chuckled and shook my head. Hot. I never thought I'd see another naked woman ever again. Let's see how well I'll behave. I picked her up and sat her in the tub. I turned off the water afterward.

Cat started to struggle in the water by swaying again. "Let... Me... Go." She grunted.

"Catalina, I'm here. You're safe, alright," I whispered in her ear?

Her shoulders rose, and she nodded. I smiled at her. Weirdo. I grabbed the soap and began wiping her clean. At first, I tried to work fast. But, I couldn't help feeling tempted by her stunning, curvy figure. I thought her bizarre personality was remarkable. I never really got a chance to notice all of her phenomenal features like tonight. Can I control myself around this little angel from heaven? If not... My hand started to slow down because I kept losing my focus. I shook my head to get the perverse ideas out. I ran my hand over Catalina's chest. She grabbed my hand and held it over her heart. I felt it pump like mine. Her breath responded on cue with mine. I just sat still and enjoyed being next to her. Though, a little awkward for she was naked, but I revered in the amazing feeling of being beside her. I never wanted to let this girl go. Never. No matter how senseless or peculiar she is. Never... Oh... Such beauty in such a strange and perfect way.

"Onyx... Stay?" Catalina moaned.

I kissed her cheek and replied, "I won't ever leave, Cati."

Catalina's POV: Back to the Story Again!

Ozario stopped laughing and cleared his throat. "Here," He handed me a blue journal. "Is this the blue journal your dad wanted you to read? It says, 'Blue Moon' on the first page."

I took Blue Moon from him with excitement. I had forgotten everything that just happened to see what it holds inside. I turned through a couple of pages, but something was wrong. The pages were blank! Ozario knew something wasn't right by my facial expression. I glanced up at him, feeling befuddled. I ran upstairs to Carlisle's office to get father's letter and read it again. Ozario followed behind me, looking a bit concerned. His torso nearly touched my back. Onyx tried to see what was wrong with the book.

The letter had told me to find the blue book, but how in the world was I supposed to read blank pages?! This book was only about me and how to get through some "personal situations." Whatever he meant by that. There was nothing useful in the book, though. We placed the book and the letter on Carlisle's desk. I felt as though it was a waste of a letter. He probably passed away before storing information inside or, maybe, how to read it was soaked in the dusty blood. I sank to the floor, sadden by a bit of lost hope in finding out exactly who I was or what I needed to be doing. Ozario had lain across my stomach with his tummy on mine.

"I don't understand." I said in a dull tone, "Why is the missing piece hard to find? I've found everything else, but the rest of my memories and/or what I am supposed to do here."

Onyx shrugged and tried to encourage me, "You have directed yourself on the right course, Cat. Don't feel bad. I will gladly help you with your search again. We should start all over from Book On-"

"There is no book one, he never organized this mess. Book one is probably the empty Blue Moon book up there on the desk," I informed him.

Onyx sighed and intoned, "Want to play a scavenger hunt game?"

I poked his arm. "Yes!"

Ozario laughed, lifting himself off of me. He took a sheet of paper and filled it with important questions, and examples, and then added clues to both of them. Onyx and I used it as a guide to help find things we needed to look for. We seemed to have made new discoveries, though some led us nowhere. Some questions were answered by more letters we found in the journals we had missed in the beginning. One surprised me, the squirrel, Nunu. The little stuffed animal statue I had always held close to me for my sanity. There was a letter about him by my mom and another by my father.