Chapter Ten - Ashling

I was at a loss for words. My mind replayed all I could remember. My parents knew. Who else had known? Paco? Peyton? No wonder Paco gave her such a long hug. That fool knew all along. Then I remembered my mom's recent spill about imprinting to Ashling. She had been hinting at it, and no wonder she didn't care if the bracelet was given to Ashling.

I kept looking down on the floor until I saw the long waterfall of black hair cascading down my arm, "Ephraim, are you okay?"

I looked at her, so innocent in all this. I then stared at my Mom. "Is there anything else I need to know?"

"Ephraim, I don't think you both are ready to hear everything yet. In time, I'll explain it all."

"Time? Mom, all we have is time now. If I'm going to phase, then I'll be stuck living in this supernatural world forever."

"It's not as bad as you think it may seem. We've all lived a very happy normal life."

"Normal? How can you make any of this normal? My kid sister just gave her whole life up for my best friend and with no choice in it. Don't you think that's odd? She's your daughter?"

My mom didn't know what to think of my outburst; even I didn't know what I was saying anymore. Everything made sense, but that didn't mean it all had to sit well with me either.

"Go ahead, Mom. Spill it all."

My Dad stepped in between my Mom and me. "Ephraim, your lack of respect to your Mom is trying my patience. Sit your ass down and let her show you then if you're so thirsty to want to know. But I warn you, if you raise your voice on her again, you're going to answer to me."

My Mom calmed my Dad aside. He was right, but everything was happening so fast I didn't have time to process it. I can't believe I had known all along who Ashling was, yet I had forgotten about her growing up.

My Mom got on her knees between the both of us. She had her hands on ours as we were still holding on to each other.

"Ashling, one of my gifts, is to show you my visions. It's what I have seen and witnessed. In it, you'll also see Ephraim as a baby, and his capabilities to show all of our future. The future he did show me does stop here. He was never able to gain his powers back, so for now we don't know what tomorrow is going to bring us. I will forewarn you that you're going to see people you know but realize that in the end, we all cared for you. Now, I'll only share with you, if you are willing to accept it all."

She paused for a moment so Ashling could decide for herself. The risk that Ashling would be taking was irreversible, but she accepted my Mom's invitation.

Within a minute, my Mom placed the palm of her hands on our faces. We all closed our eyes, and the darkness soon revealed her thoughts. It started with my birth, everyone close to me was there; however, there was a battle between vampires. One that particularly stood out was a male vampire with long black hair and red eyes. There was a lot of tension and soon it was my Mom and me, alone in a dark room. Her tears never stopped, but I, as a baby, comforted her. I showed her visions of us in La Push, with Sara and Dad, as a family. Then another vision was shown to her of the same long black hair male vampire with another female vampire with red hair. Suddenly, I see my Mom by the river with Dad and me. The male vampire again is in the scene, this time my Mom has thrown me to Dad, and she transitioned into a werewolf. She then ripped the male vampire apart. He's been destroyed permanently. Time has shifted, and my Mom's reading letters and one specifically from Italy. I could clearly see the writing:

Queen Renesmee

Ashling is beautiful as ever. I can never thank Ephraim enough for gifting Aro and me this miracle child. Aro is gone, but his eyes live forever in Ashling. Please remember Aro for his soft heart at times. He only did what he thought to protect his family, but soon enough Ashling will be your family too. When that time arrives, I will surrender her to you willingly, for I know it is in her best to belong with Ephraim, her true protector.

Respectfully, Sulpicia

The vision continues as my Mom makes a visit to my grandfather and grandmother at the cottage. She sneaks to the back porch and sees a young girl sitting at the hammock. The young girl with the silky black hair never turns around, but it's evident she's Ashling. My mom talks to my grandparents, "Let me to be the one to tell Ephraim. He'll be home in a few weeks. Thank you for watching over Ashling."

After that vision, everything became dark again. I opened my eyes and I saw my Mom staring at me. She seemed relieved for finally letting me know everything, but she seemed torn for hiding it all too. I found Ashling, and she's shell shocked. She started to get up and leave.

"Ashling, don't leave."

"I'm sorry, Ephraim. My whole life, I thought my father was a good person. My mother never spoke of him and how dark he was as a vampire. I wanted to know more about him, and I got my wish. Now if you'll excuse me. I'd like to be alone."

With her vampire speed, she was out the door. I pursued her and got on my bike, and started racing after her. I could see her running through the evergreen forests. We both were at the same speed. I kept yelling for her. I knew she could hear me, but I was relentless and wouldn't stop.

"Ashling! Please! Stop!"

At that moment, everything completely stopped for me, but there was a sharp pain that pierced my chest first. I started to see the world spin, then a loud screeching sound pierced my ears. I felt like my face was sliced with papercuts. There was a hard blow to my head, and suddenly I'm on the pile of grass or dirt. I couldn't tell. My vision kept going in and out, and all I heard were the sound of rain drops falling on my face. I couldn't control my body, but something flipped me around to my back. The ringing in my ear wouldn't stop, but my hands wouldn't move to cover my ears.

However, I felt relieved. She's here, in front of me. Ashling.

It's a dream like the ones I've had before. Except this time, she isn't smiling. No, her face. She's upset. I want to tell her not to worry, but something stops me from speaking. The darkness, I can't see her anymore. I don't even feel her cold she radiates that I've come obsessed with. The ringing in my ear has stopped. I've lost sight of her. I tried to find her in this still darkness, but everywhere I turned, I saw nothing. Then the silence was interrupted. Every sound became clear.

"Ephraim! Don't die on me! Please! Ephraim!"

I tried to answer her, but nothing was coming out. I finally felt some pain in my chest, but my entire body felt cold. Was it from the rain?

Tires are screeching while Ashling is screaming at the driver who left, "Bastard! How can you leave us!"

I saw her face again, "Hold on. I'm going to take you to Carlisle."

She picked me up carefully and I only saw the top of the evergreen trees. The overcast was a shade darker this time than usual, but that didn't matter to me. I was exhausted and wanted to close my eyes.

"Ephraim! Talk to me. We're almost there. I'm so sorry about my father. What he did to you and your mother is unforgivable. No matter, I'm thankful for you. I've loved you before I met you when I first started having visions of you. Here you are right in front of me, and I don't know how to let you go."

We made it to the house. Ashling kicked the front door open and screamed, "Carlisle!"

Carlisle, as calm as ever, directed her into the patient room.

"What happened to him?"

"His bike hit an incoming truck head on. His body rolled over the truck and he landed on the grass. It's my fault, Carlisle. He was chasing after me, and he wasn't wearing his helmet. He saw me in the forest and tried to talk to me. It all happened so fast. Then the driver of the truck just drove off!"

She buried her face in her hands, pacing back and forth.

I finally spoke up, "Carlisle."

"Ephraim, you can talk later. Let me check you thoroughly first, but next time, be more patient and wear your helmet."

He looked at Ashling, "Please contact his parents."

She nodded her head and realized she didn't have their numbers. Carlisle handed his phone to her, and she called my parents. While on the phone with my mom, she held on to my hands, and the touch of her icy hand warmed me somehow.

"They're on their way, Ephraim. Stay with me."

I managed to move my lips and smiled for her, in return she squeezed my hands.

Carlisle completed what he needed with me but he stared at my eyes again. He flashed lights into my eyes, then he stepped away with the phone. The only thing I was able to make out was Forks Airport and patient. As my vision faded in and out, time seemed to have pass because soon my parents were beside me.

It wasn't long until I noticed I wasn't in the room anymore. I felt pressure in my ears, and then I realized we were in a chopper. The lights were now too bright for me, but someone placed something over my mouth. Then the last thing I remember seeing was Ashling leaning over me.

"Ashling." I tried to remove the mask over my mouth, but she held onto my hand.

"This will be all over soon. I'll see you when you wake up. Love you, Ephraim."

My eyelids became too heavy and I fell into a relaxed state. I let the darkness consume my whole body. I felt lighter and no more pressure. I patiently waited until I would see her again.

It was still dark, and all I heard was my own heavy breathing. I finally had the strength to force my eyes open. It was burning hot, and I wanted to kick the blankets hovering over my entire body.

Everything was blurry for a moment and I could see the silhouette images of people slowly being focused clearly.

My Mom screamed for a nurse, and my Dad was smiling at me. Sara and Michael stood up from the corner, and Sara started crying as Michael wiped her tears.

"I don't know where she went." My Mom kept looking in the hallway for the nurse.

I studied the entire room, and I realized I was in the hospital on a stretcher. Balloons and flowers filled the room.

My Mom took my hand and started crying. "Ephraim, are you okay? Are you hungry? I will cook you anything you want. You just say it, baby, and your Mama is going to fix it."

"I'm not hungry." My throat felt dry.

She let out a soft whimper, "It's so good to hear your voice."

The nurse finally walked in, "Well, let's check Ephraim's vitals, and I've already paged Dr. Cullen for you, Mrs. Black."

"Thank you." My Mom looked at the door, "Where is she? Sara, could you go find her. I'm sure Ephraim wants to see Ashling."

Ashling.

My Mom was smiling so big when she looked at me.

"If it wasn't for her intuitive thinking, you may not be here right now. She literally saved your life. I don't know how else to thank her for saving you."

"Ashling."

"Yes. It was Ashling."

"Mom, who's Ashling?"

A/N: Hold on! It'll get better and more writing will come. Thank you for considering saving this book to your list or adding me. It makes me keep on writing just for you all even though it's not many, but one already makes it rewarding!

-kl