Author's Note:

I do not own any of the Twilight characters that may appear in this world.

Ok, I didn't fit everything that I wanted into this chapter, but the story did evolve to the Cullens finding out a bit more about Alexa faster than I thought it would. I guess you win some, and you lose some :)

Chapter 5: Righteous Fury

"What the hell?"

Four sets of eyes stare at me in shock. Vampires… I haven't seen a vampire in almost 80 years, and I've never seen one with yellow eyes. Black, sure. Red, absolutely. Yellow? No. Quickly, I try to cover my shock by bending to pick up my books, but I know it is a useless gesture. They had to have heard me, and if they heard me, they know that I know… something. Well, if the jig is up, I might as well make my intentions clear.

"Stay away from me." I give each of them a death glare as I slowly start to back away. "Stay away from my family."

"Wait!" I hear a high voice say suddenly. It had to have come from the black haired wisp of a girl. I look up to see that she has a hand partially raised, as if to stop me. I stare at it, then shift my gaze up to meet her eyes. "We aren't a danger to you." she breathes, just barely audible over the students who are still rushing around us to get to lunch.

"Alice!" Edward cautions with a bit of urgency. "Perhaps we can take this conversation outside…"

"I'm not going anywhere with you… people." I say, putting as much scorn as I can into my voice. I start to back away again, noticing that the tide of students around us is starting to thin.

"Please." Alice says, and I can hear her desperation. "Please, we won't hurt you. We won't hurt anyone. You have my word. Just, please… let us talk. Let us explain ourselves."

"I'll give you two minutes, and we stay in front of the cafeteria windows." I'll be damned if I'm letting them get me alone.

The boy, who I am assuming is Jasper, leans in to whisper to Alice as the four vampires… Well, 3 vampires and a human, turn to head out of the school. "Alice, you know the rules…"

"I know Jasper, but she already knows. And, I can't see… we have to deal with this now."

"You can't see? I can't feel… Edward?" The confusion between the three only grows and I can't help but smile as I follow the group outside. 'Thank you Dike!' I praise the goddess for her continued protection after all these years. 'Gifted vampires… phaw! Like they need more advantages in their never ending quest for blood.' This thought brings me up short though… The auras around these three aren't those of evil. Astonishingly, there is… is that atonement? Do these vampires actually feel remorse for their victims? In all of them, their crimes are at least 50 years old, maybe more. And there isn't the slightest bit of pressure, even from Jasper. Jasper's aura isn't the blackest I've sensed, but there is still a lot of blood in his past. And Edward's… what the hell is going on here?

With my nerves becoming more on edge by the minute, I impatiently spit, "Ok short stuff, spill. Why should I give you the time of day?"

"Ok. Alexa, right?" I nod. "Alexa, we are not what I think you think we are. We only hunt animals… not what I think you think we hunt."

"Ugh, I know you are vampires, alright!" Yep, patience is gone. "So quit beating around the bush. And I know you have killed. I know it. Don't bullshit me! You…" I point at Jasper threateningly, "have killed more innocents than I have seen in a long time. You…" I point at Alice, "have not killed as many, but you have still taken life. Innocent life. And you…" I point at Edward, and suddenly I'm not so sure of myself. I take a closer look at Edward's aura. Squinting a bit, my next words are a surprise even to me. "You were Justified, weren't you?"

"How did you know…" I hear Bella whisper. She obviously knows a bit about her vampire friends. Not all that big of a surprise, seeing as how she's dating one. She probably even wants to be one. I'll have to reassess this friendship later.

"I just know." I deflate, my anger burned out. I am still staring at Edward, who seems to be completely frozen. Glancing at Alice and Jasper, the shame on their faces is so deep that I instantly feel bad for my little tirade. "Look, you say you are…what? Good vampires?" 'Hard to believe.' my head tells me. But, not impossible. I've never seen a vampire look ashamed of themselves before. There is a first time for everything.

"Yes," Alice says softly. "And, I think we are supposed to get to know you? I can't be sure," the frustration is obvious in Alice's voice now, "This is almost as bad as the wolves, but at least with you I can see around you…"

"You're clairvoyant!" I pronounce with some excitement. Everyone else in the group whips their heads up to look at me, startled by my immediate acceptance. "I've known a few people like you. What do you mean you can see around me?"

"What do you mean you've known people like me before?" Alice says, eyeing me again, "Wait… nevermind. We can talk about that later. What I mean is I can see a few minutes into the future right now. We are all still standing here talking, but you aren't here. I mean, I know you should be here. I can see the rest of us facing where you are standing right now, but it is like you are invisible. I can't see you, I can't hear you. Your choices are blind to me."

"And I can't feel you." Jasper says suddenly. Ew, that's creepy. "I can usually feel the emotions of those around me. You are invisible to me as well, like a blank space."

"And I can't hear your mind." Edward says softly. He still looks dazed, but he has raised his eyes to meet mine now. "You are as silent as Bella has always been."

"So, a clairvoyant, a mind reader, and an empath. Any other surprises I need to know? And what did you mean by wolves? And why are you supposed to get to know me?" I have so many questions, but for the most part I am just hungry. Or maybe I'm angry. 'I'm hangry!'

"Let's go inside and eat." Bella says suddenly. "We can talk about this later."

'Indeed we will.' I promise myself.

"Alexa, the Cullens would like to invite you over to their house after school." Bella informs me as we walk to the last class of our day. It looks like we both have gym. I sigh as I notice Edward, who is hanging back to give Bella and myself the illusion of privacy. He slips into the boys locker room just as Bella and I reach the girls side. I guess he has gym class too. "Are there any classes these two don't have together? I bet they fixed it that way!"

Eying Bella, I ask the most pressing question on my mind, "And how many 'Cullens' can I expect at this house?"

"Four more, unless Emmett and Rosalie have decided to take another vacation." Bella volunteers with a smile. "I think you will like Emmett. Everyone does. He's a big goofball. Rosalie… well, don't be surprised if she hates you. She hates everyone."

"Lovely. Do I have a choice?" The question seems to catch Bella off guard.

"Yes of course! Why would you not… oh!" No, this is not an interrogation. I promise. For one, Esme would not allow it. For two, neither will I. You don't have anything to worry about…"

"Oh, I know I don't have to worry. I just want to know what to expect. I know the 'rules'." I say with air quotes and enough sarcasm to make a nun faint.

Bella stops in front of her locker and turns to me, placing her hands on the sides of my shoulders. The action sets my teeth on edge, I don't like people touching me. But I can tell that Bella is trying to reassure me so I grit my teeth and let it slide. "Look, I know the rules too. And see," she points to herself, "I'm still here. These aren't the kinds of people you have seen before. Give them a chance. Please?"

I can't help but smile at her. She's so earnest. I can see why Edward loves her. "Ok, I'll give them a chance. For you."

"Thanks. Now, to the horror that is gym class!" Bella announces with a slight flourish and a pretty large amount of disdain in her voice. I can't help but laugh.

"Wow"

"I know right?" Bella sighs beside me. We are standing in front of one of the most beautiful pieces of modern architecture I have ever seen. This house does not belong in the middle of a forest… or maybe it does? Now that I take a closer look, I can't imagine it in a busy city, or even a suburban neighborhood. But, it fits here… in this place. "This is Esme's work. Come on, you will love the inside. It is completely open, and the best part is the back!"

The back? How can the best part of any house be in the back? What, do they have a pool back there or something? As I follow Bella through the front door, I make sure to keep an eye on Jasper and Alice. I can't seem to make myself trust them yet. They may not feed on humans anymore, but that does not erase their past… not in my book.

As we round a partition that I can only imagine is meant to shield the interior of the home from prying eyes at the front door, I gasp. The entire back side of the house is a solid wall of glass panels. Outside, the most amazing view of the Washington wilderness can be seen, complete with a fantastic panorama of the Sol Duc river.

As my gaze wanders around the rest of the room, I am struck by how absolutely white everything is. There are subtle differences, from soft greys to creams. I can't help but wonder if the color palette was chosen specifically to make the people who live here seem more life-like in comparison. Seeing that I am awestruck by the sheer size of the room we are standing in, Bella graciously leads me over to a small sitting area.

It is here that I get my next shock. Sitting on the arm of a couch next to one of the biggest guys I've ever seen, is a beautiful blonde. But again, it isn't her physical features that startle me. She is absolutely glowing with righteous energy! My gasp fills the room, and the blonde looks up from her magazine to regard me with tight, judgmental eyes.

With a start, I bow graciously to her and introduce myself. "Hello, my name is Alexa. It is nice to meet another Child of Justice."

"Excuse me?" The blonde asks, a slight quirk of one eyebrow making it clear that she isn't quite sure what to make of me.

"You've never killed for food, have you?" I ask boldly, my confidence growing as I observe her golden halo. "I can see it. You have killed, but only in Righteous Fury."

"Excuse me?!" she asks again, this time rising from her spot on the sofa in anger. "You don't know shit about me, little girl. Edward, is this another one of your pets?' The big guy stands suddenly to grab the blonde woman. I'm not sure if he is restraining her from me, or from Edward. Either way, I feel no fear of her. 'This one is a Protector, I know it.'

"No, Alexa is something completely different. We have brought her here to hopefully learn more about her and determine her threat to us, if she would be so inclined." Edward says as he sits on the couch with Bella and seems to be settle in. Alice has disappeared, and I've still got half my mind on Jasper, who has taken up station near the front door.

"Oh please, the only threat I am to you is whatever threat you pose to me. Keep the peace and there's nothing to worry about." I state, seeing another vampire join the room. This one is a bit older and has a distinct motherly feel to her. With a blink, I realize that there's very little pressure or aura coming from her as well. 'How can this be possible? What is this family?'

"Wait until you meet Carlisle." I hear Bella call from the couch. I eye her questioningly. "I saw your reaction to Esme. She has shared her history with me. If you can see what you claim to be able to see, then she is a wonder to you, isn't she? All of these vampires are."

"What can you see about me?" Esme asks, walking up to the seating area with a tray of cookies and milk. "Help yourself dear, there's more than enough."

"Thank you," I state somewhat suspiciously. Honestly, being around this family is a very strange experience. A motherly vampire… who knew? "You have killed as well, but not many. How old are you?" My hand flies up to my mouth as I realize what I just asked. Immortal or no, you don't ask a woman her age.

"Oh don't worry about offending me dear. I'm no spring chicken, it isn't a secret. I'm older than most of my children, save Jasper and Edward. Why do you ask?" Esme says with a smile and a fond look for the 'children' mentioned. Why do I feel so comfortable with her?

"Maybe I should wait for explanations until your leader gets here. I don't want to have to say things twice." I say. "Suffice it to say, your soul is remarkably clean."

"We don't have souls" Edward pipes up from the couch, where I can see Bella has cuddled into his side. She gives him a look that clearly states that she thinks this is a stupid thing to say, and I can't help but laugh… I agree, what an absurd idea! No soul… Edward does his 'staring through my head' act again, as if to say 'how dare I laugh at his plight'.

"Sorry to tell you bud, but you do have a soul. All living, sentient beings do. You aren't special." I share with a huge grin. Even Rosalie cracks a smile at that.

"And how would you know this? Edward challenges.

I stand, staring out the window at the back of the room and grasp my hands behind my back. "Because I have been to the underworld and back, and I have ushered the souls of more than a few vampires to the gates to meet their judgement."

Oooooo…. Dun dun dun! So yeah, no confrontation about Seattle in this chapter. Honestly with how slow dialog is to write, we might not get to it until this whole scene plays out.

So, join us next time when we see Edward make an ass of himself, we find out more about Alexa, and Alexa apologizes for being "Blondist", even if it was to herself.