Trials of an Abandoned Man

Present Time… Phoenix, Arizona

Alec waited alone on top of a condemned building for Demetri to finish tracking the vampire named James. 'This nomad better be worth it,' he was growing increasingly impatient. He then took the time to view his surroundings. This desert was different from Volterra. Both places had their warm climates, but there were less trees, the few creatures that inhabited the area were scaly and the plants that grew were pricklier than most that he's seen in his life. He closed his eyes, the winds shifted.

There was a new scent in the air; it was strangely sweet and earthy. Before he turned around to find the owner, he released his smoke to take them out. However, when he faced his victim, he saw that the haze had taken a spherical form around them. 'A Shield?' Alec drew back his black fog and took a better look at his opponent.

He expected a vampire under all the blackness, but what he saw instead confused him. The female appeared human, but she was most definitely vampiric. She is tall for a maiden, her russet skin is flawless, and her features were well defined; what set her apart were the eyes she had.

"Alec," the creature interrupted his thoughts.

"What business do you have with me?" He spoke as if to reprimand the rude woman before him.

"I'm here to convince you to join my cause," she said straight to the point.

"The Volturi don't get involved in trivial matters of lower immortals," he sneered. 'This girl must be one of those radicals in the south wanting to start another war. I must make it known to Caius when I return.'

"Come on Alec, surely you sense that I'm no ordinary vampire," she was playing his buttons. 'So she is a vampire.' He was all too curious to see what kind of immortal she was.

"You speak to me as if we were kindred. Do you not know who I am? How easily you could die at my hands?" Alec was annoyed. He thought his reputation alone would instill fear in her.

The stranger calmly spoke. "You are Alec of the Volturi Guard. You are one of its most powerful weapons along with your sister Jane who has the power to inflict unimaginable pain on her victims using only her mind. Your gift, however opposite, is more hazardous because you cut off all senses before you attack thus making you possibly the most dangerous vampire in the world."

'She knows who I am and is not afraid. She must either be stupid or courageous. Or perhaps she's insane,' he concluded. "If you know of the Volturi then you know that any support you wish for must be presented before Aro."

"I don't want Aro's help. I want yours." She looked straight into Alec's eyes.

"What could I help you with that you can't do yourself?" 'This girl seems powerful enough to deflect my smoke, yet she wishes for my assistance.'

"I need you to help me kill Chelsea." Alec observed that her heartbeat remained steady, strange, but steady. 'She's serious.'

"You must be out of your mind. Why would I do such a thing?" 'Does she expect to lower Volterra's defenses?'

"You hate Chelsea. You think she is a spoiled bitch that wears too much make-up," she said as if it were the most obvious response. 'Is she a mind-reader?'

"How do you know these things? What and who are you?" Alec is getting increasingly panicked.

"I am someone who wants to save the world from the future the Volturi will bring about." 'So, not a mind-reader, but perhaps–'

"You can see the future," Alec stated. His thoughts were turning, 'I could procure her for Aro.'

"No." She stated. "I am from the future." She silently prayed to the Spirits that he would believe her.

'Yup. She was indeed crazy,' Alec thought. Still he would humor her. "Prove it." She knew he was skeptical, so she places two fingers on his forehead and showed him glimpses of her and him laughing, playing pranks on the guard and reading various Yaoi manga. The last scene was of him with an embarrassed look on his face when she found his collection of sex toys. "What are these images? You're trying to tell me that somehow you traveled from the future and that we're friends," he questioned. Then she presented him with images of her and Marcus saying sweet nothings to each other. 'These images are impossible,' he thought. "And you and Lord Marcus are mates? No. This is sorcery." He tried to signal Demetri, so they could take down the witch before she became a threat to their coven, but she stopped him before he could take out the phone. She forced him to face her. He couldn't even move. 'How is she doing this?'

The girl spoke to him calmly and earnestly, "You once told me you were afraid that one day you will outlive your usefulness and Aro will order Jane to use her gift against you and she will gladly obey. Your biggest fear is that your gift will turn against you and you'll never know whether you are alive or dead and you'll never be able to feel real love or happiness."

She let him go after she was done. Alec could have escaped, but her words froze him. "I told you this?" She nodded. "I must trust you completely in the future," he sighed.

"We're best friends. You are Bonnie and I am Clyde."

'She speaks so adamantly,' he thought. "Even if I do believe what you say, I wouldn't be able to help," he lamented. "If you know of Chelsea, then you know of her gift as well. I can't go against Aro and he would know what I planned to do the second he touched my hand."

"You don't have to kill her yet. I just need to know that you will do it the next time we meet," she assured him. "As for their powers," she gave him a concentrated look, "the shield I just gave you should keep our conversation a secret from Aro and sever the binds Chelsea placed between you two."

"I don't feel anything."

"Trust me, it's there."

"Against my better judgement, I will," he snorted.

"See I made you laugh, now you have to believe me," she smiled.

"What about Lord Marcus," he wondered.

"Don't tell him anything, I'll take care of him next time we meet."

"Which will be when?"

"In about a year in Forks, Washington if the plan goes accordingly."

"How do you know I won't betray you?"

She gave him her famous wolfy-smile. "The other you told me that you were different, but you're actually the same. Aren't you Alec?"

"I don't understand."

"You are the sincerest person I know, so when you tell me you'll do something, I believe you."

"Then extend that same assurance. You know my name, yet you still haven't told me yours," he reminded her.

"My real name is a secret for now, but you and Marcus call me Edie."

"I have to ask, are you really a vampire?"

"Let's just say I'm a special case." They almost departed when Edie remembered an important part of her mission. "Wait," she zoomed to and from the nearest lab and nabbed a few test tubes. "Can you please fill one of these with your venom?"

"Ok," he didn't even ask. He trusted her, he didn't know why, but he did. When the tube was filled, he returned it to Edie. "I have to go now; Demetri should be back from getting that nomad."

"You mean James? Don't bother, he's dead." With that last remark, Edie left to Washington. Demetri arrived not long after.

"Where is the tracker?"

"He was ash by the time I got to him," Demetri reluctantly answered.

"Let's go. They're expecting us back soon." 'She better be right.'

Forks, Washington; Swan Residence

On the way there, Edie got the rest of the things she needed for her contacts. She reached her destination in a week. Forks was definitely not Italy. The clouds covered it, so the sun barely made an appearance. Whatever part of it that wasn't covered by nature was considerably old and needs repair. She finally stops behind the Swan house and hides her scent. She sees a vampire leave what smelled like Bella Swan's bedroom.

Isabella Swan had a larger impact on Edie's life than she would have liked. To say she had mixed emotions about her is like the tip of the iceberg; still, even Bella deserved the benefit of the doubt. She gets closer to the room and sees the injured human sleeping. She took the opportunity to look into her memories to see what exact course of action to take. There was a shield around Bella's mind, but nothing Edie couldn't get around. What she found made her furious. Bella's most recent memory took place at the ballet studio in Phoenix where James was killed:

I wish Edward wasn't so protective. Jeez, why can't he just change me already? Then I could be free of all these morons, (Edie growled) but first I have to save my scatterbrained mother from that psycho James. (Bella arrived at the ballet studio where he was supposedly keeping her mother and followed the sounds of her panicky voice.) Mom isn't here; it was a trick. Figures. He only wanted my blood. (She tried to run) I'm not about to be bled dry, I wanted to be a vampire not food. (James broke her bones for resisting.) Fuck!

(Another vampire crashed through one of the skylight windows. He was blurred, but by the look on Bella's face, it must have been Edward Cullen. James bit her on her wrist as if to taunt him: if he can't have Bella's blood, then Edward wouldn't be able to either. Bella was in excruciating pain. She welcomed it. She could almost feel the change, but then two cold lips attached themselves to her wound and began to suck the venom out.)No! Leave me alone. I want this! Stupid Edward…

Edie growled, perhaps too loudly. Bella Swan, or Bitch Swan as Edie now called her, was waking up Edie climbed through the window and noticed the brand new royal blue dress hanging on a hook on the bedroom door. 'I wonder if Marcus would like me in something like that. Stop. I need to focus.' Edie stood at the foot of Bella's bed, waiting to be noticed. 'Here comes the gasp of surprise,' Edie thought in a bored manner.

Bella saw the intruder in her room, having first thought it was Edward because of the height and golden eyes, but when she turned on the light she saw a Native American woman glaring at her.

Edie spoke first, "You going to somewhere fancy with that dress?"

Bella stuttered, "M-my boyfriend and his sister are forcing me to go to junior prom with them."

"Sounds awful."

"Who–"

"Where did your boyfriend go?"

"He- he went to hunt with his family." Bella wondered why this strange vampire was asking about Edward.

"Where?"

"Alaska."

"How long will he be gone?"

"At least a week."

"Good." 'There was plenty of time,' Edie thought. "Do you have any plans?"

"Other than sitting around here, no," Bella retorted. "What do you want?"

"To give you what you want. The Change."

Bella was elated. Finally, she would stop being this plain human and begin her life as a beautiful vampire, but she was skeptical. "Why would you do that? Don't you value human life? You're a vegetarian aren't you?"

"Don't you know not to look a gift horse in the mouth? Do you want it or not?" Edie was getting increasingly irritated.

"Yes. Yes, I want it," Bella nearly yelled.

"Good. Leave a note for your parents."

"What do I say?"

"I don't care. Just make it quick." Bella scribbled something quick for Chief Swan and Edie carried her out the window bridal-style. Edie raced to a place she found on her way to Forks far away from most human interference.

The Hoh Rainforest

After leaving his girlfriend, Edward Cullen decided to take a short-cut through trees he had come to call his home for the last few decades. On the way to meet his family, he caught an unusual scent. It wasn't addicting like Bella's; no, the scent was drawing Edward towards it, but he still maintained his conscious mind. Edward was about to follow what he smelled when he heard the shrill thoughts of his siblings.

'Come on Edward!' Rosalie urged.

'Hurry up, Bro!' Emmett bemoaned. The others' thoughts weren't any better. Rather than face his family's wails, Edward turned back to his usual route.

Not far from where Edward had caught the scent, Jacob Black was taking out his frustrations about his father and his friends on an old oak within the Hoh.

Another part of the Hoh

"We're doing it here?" Bella took a look at the surrounding trees. At this point, Edie wanted to punch her in the face just so she would shut up.

"We needed somewhere secluded where no one would hear you scream."

"Fair enough." She looked at Edie and couldn't help but wonder, "What's in it for you? Really?"

"That's my business. Now lie down." Bella laid on the soft patch of earth beneath them. Edie grabbed her bare arm, the one with the crescent scar. "Since you already know, there's no use in explaining the pain. It will last three days." She didn't ask Bella if she was set because she knew she was more than ready. Edie made an incision on the scar with her teeth and then poured the last bit of Alec's venom inside the brunette. She spits out the human blood that was pooling in her mouth; she didn't want Bitch Swan in her mouth any more than she needed to. "AHHHHHH," and so the screams began.

Three days later, Bella opened her now crimson eyes. She was like every newborn, seeing everything in enhanced details, noticing the dew on the grass and the follicles on the leaves above her. The last thing she observed was her maker, leaning against an oak tree. Bella stood in front of Edie like an obedient child.

"How hungry are you," her maker asked. As soon as she asked, Bella had already picked up on the smell of a human camping nearby and raced off. "I guess that answers my question." Edie sprinted after her. She was almost too late. Bella was about to make her move when two tan arms circled her waist and she was pinned against a tree.

"I'm hungry," she screamed.

"You're not feeding on that human or any in the area," Edie stated, making her point by shoving her against the tree.

"Fine," the newborn relented.

"Follow me, I'm taking you to feed on elk and perhaps some carnivores if you're lucky." After three days, Bella was trained enough to be around humans. Edie realized at the beginning of training that Bella had a natural gift for self-control; she could stop herself from feeding anytime she wanted. It was time to let her go, so she could do whatever she wanted, but away from the Cullens. "I'm taking you home today. Say good-bye to everyone and then leave Washington. I don't care what you do after that."

"Fine, I only stayed so Edward could turn me. Now that I'm a vampire, I can dump his sorry ass and leave that nauseatingly small town."

"Right," the time-traveler ground her teeth. "I'll leave you to do what you need to."

"Where are you going?"

"Why do you care?" Edie was off to her next destination.

Swan Residence

Minutes later, Bella knocked on the door of her father's house. Charlie greeted her with a bear hug that would normally crush her if she weren't indestructible. "What happened your casts? Where have you been? What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I went to stay with a doctor that healed my injuries. I've been with him in his place up in the Black Hills. I wasn't thinking. Do those answer your questions?" 'He didn't even ask about the eyes, was I this unobservant as a human too?'

"Watch the attitude young lady." Charlie was really too ecstatic to have his daughter back to be mad at her or notice the changes in her appearance, but he was still her father dammit. "Now, you're beyond grounded; go up to your room."

"Actually Dad, I'm not staying. I'm only here to say good-bye to you and Edward. I'm going to live with my new boyfriend."

"Are you INSANE?" Bella had never heard him yell before. "You can't do that, you're minor. If you leave I'll have every last trooper from here to Maine after you before you can even sneeze."

"Actually I can," she countered. "Remember when I ran away the first time? I filled out an emancipation order before I left. That way I wouldn't have you or Mom controlling me anymore. I filed it when I was in Phoenix."

"What about school? How are you going to support yourself?"

"I'm still going to school. As for support, I'll have my rich boyfriend supporting me." 'Wow this vampire mind is amazing! I'm coming up with this stuff on the spot,' Bella thought.

"That's it, you're gone? Just like that?"

"Sorry Dad. At least I'm not leaving you without an explanation this time." Bella gave Charlie a hug before she left. When the door closed, Charlie's legs finally gave out and he curled himself on the floor.

Bella only circled around to the back of her former house and climbed in her room to wait for Edward the next day. At least that was what she expected, but fate had different plans. She felt a gust of wind when the bronze beauty entered the room.

Edward had raced back from hunting to see Bella, but when he got closer to the house, he heard Charlie's melancholic thoughts. 'Was there something wrong with Bella?' He was relieved, but surprised to see her without her casts.

She turned around to face him. "Hello Edward. You're back early."

"I couldn't wait to see you, so I rushed back before my family. They should be here in half an hour." It was then that he took a better look at his girlfriend, specifically, her eyes. They were blood-red. "Bella who did this to you?" Edward, obviously referring to her transformation, grabbed her shoulders. His face contorted to a concerned look.

"A passing vampire. She did what you didn't have the balls to do and now that I got what I wanted, I'm leaving Forks for good."

"What? What about Charlie? He's going to be looking for you."

"I already took care of that before you came."

'That explains his distraught thoughts,' Edward realized. "What about me? You told me you wanted to be with me forever."

"If you really wanted us to be together, you would have let James change me or done it yourself. Though honestly, I was just biding my time until you did, so I could dump your brooding ass." Bella zoomed out her window and into the trees. "Good-bye Edward." She had left Forks, Washington and headed into her new life as an immortal.

The copper haired eternal teen wanted to go after her, but his broken heart only allowed him to go back home to his family. He didn't go to his room to sulk. No, like all tortured artists, he turned to his music thus began Edward's Blue Period. He heard his family's cries for his attention, but he just ignored them.

"Why is he playing such somber music," Esme wondered why her son looked so tortured.

"He's being broodier than usual," Emmett agreed.

"He's broken-hearted," Jasper answered.

"Ugh, I don't want to deal with one of his moods right now," Rosalie moaned.

"Should I ask to see what's wrong?" Carlisle wanted to comfort his son.

"Don't," Alice spoke up. "I think we should just leave him alone for a while."

"You saw what happened," Jasper asked.

"What did you see Alice," Esme inquired.

"Bella was turned and then she dumped him. She was using him the whole time so she could become a vampire," Alice answered.

"I knew it," stated Rosalie.

"Did you see who turned her," Carlisle asked.

"No, the vampire who turned her was using a strange shield to block me. I only saw Bella when Edward was in her room and then she left Washington."

"My poor boy," Esme's motherly concern showed. The same concern was shown on the faces of the rest of the coven. 'To not only be dumped by his girlfriend, but then find out she never loved him.' The Cullen home was being filled by the musical cries of its eldest son.

Port Angeles, Washington

Meanwhile, Edie enrolled in school. She was officially a junior at Forks High School. She used the skills she acquired from her grandmother to create a fake history. Things went rather smoothly though the counselor gave her a bemused look when she registered.

"You do realize there's only two months left in the school year don't you?"

"Actually I didn't; I was homeschooled my whole life, so it was school practically year-round for me."

"Oh well that explains a few things, but not why you enrolled now. Where are your parents?"

"I um, came here to get a new start. My parents were killed a while ago and I went to go live with my grandma, but she had cancer and died only a little while later."

"So you're a ward of the state."

"No, I got emancipated when grandma went through her last round of chemo. She didn't want me in the system."

"But then, why come here?"

"I came to Forks because my mom grew up on the reservation nearby and met my dad when he went to school here."

The counselor relented when she heard Edie's somber story. "Very well, you may enroll. Though I still think you should just wait until September. Everyone's just going to be going through the motions until the end of the year."

"I think it'll give me time to get to know people and not be the 'new kid' when I enter next year."

Now all she needed was a place to stay. She walked into the nearest bar to collect her thoughts for her next move and to relieve herself from the work she had to do with Bitch Swan.

"Another one Lou," Chief Swan called to the bartender.

"You got it Chief Swan," the middle-age man poured another shot of whiskey.

'Chief Swan? The bitch's father is a policeman? He must be here to drown his sorrows,' Edie concluded.

Charlie Swan had just been left by his daughter. Again. First his wife, now his little girl left him too. 'There must be something wrong with me if the people I love keep leaving me.' He gulped down his whiskey and asked for another.

"Stop that order bartender, he's had enough." Edie couldn't help looking into Charlie's memories. She almost cried at them. Everyone he loves keeps going away and Bitch Swan made it worse with the way she left. She couldn't believe the girl could be so heartless. She put his right arm around her shoulders and looped hers under his left. "I'm taking the chief home."

"Who're you," the elder Swan slurred.

"I'm the one taking you back to your house."

"Are you an angel?"

"No Chief."

Swan Residence

She put him on her back after they were away from prying eyes, leaving the orange pick-up parked in front of the bar and arrived at the Swan home ten minutes later. Edie took advantage of his inebriation and used her natural speed to get him to his room. She made sure he was faced down and near a bucket in case he threw up. As she exited the room, she heard him slur Bitch Swan's name. "Bella, Bella is that you? Are you back? I promise I'll be a better dad just please stay this time. Don't leave me again." Edie closed the door behind her and she cried silently for the abandoned chief. She slept on the couch that night. The events of the last two weeks had taken its toll on her as well.

The next morning, Charlie woke up to a surprise in his living room. The girl looked like she belonged on the reservation. She looked so young and familiar to him. Did he take her home with him? No. He would remember if he had. Right? Edie began to stir. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, she saw the man in front of her. 'Oh shit Chief Swan! Shit my eyes! I forgot to re-apply my contacts.' "Hi Chief Swan, I'm Edie. Fancy meeting you here. He-he."

"Yeah I guess so," he responded with his eyebrows raised. "Please tell me you're not a minor."

"What? No! Chief Swan we didn't do anything last night."

"Oh thank God!" Charlie dropped all the weight from his shoulders. "Then young lady, what exactly are you doing sleeping on my couch?"

"I took you home last night and put you to bed. I fell asleep on the sofa afterwards."

"Oh. Well I'm sorry you had to do that Edie."

"It was no trouble at all Chief Swan. I owed you at least that much."

"What for? You can call me Charlie by the way."

"I committed a great sin against you Charlie."

"Edie you're not making sense. What could you have possibly done to me?"

Edie felt guilty for essentially taking away his daughter. She needed to make it up to him. She just hoped she won't jeopardize the mission because of it. "I think it's best if we go outside so I can explain."

"Did you vandalize my house?"

"No sir. What I did is much worse, but I can only explain it to you after I show you what I'm about to show you."

"Okay," Charlie uneasily agreed. They walked to the back of Charlie's house towards the forest. When they walked far enough, Edie put a shield up so no one could sense them and what she was about to do.

She turned to face Charlie. "Um could I ask that you hold my clothes?"

"Your clothes? Are you yanking my chain?" Charlie couldn't believe the girl he barely met five minutes ago was about to strip in front of him. His head was spinning.

"No it's just these are the only clothes I own and I don't want to rip them up." Edie went behind a tree to strip herself. She handed the clothes over to Charlie while she covered her personal parts. She left the necklace with her rings on because it was large enough to stay around her neck without choking her.

"Okay you've stripped, now what's the big idea?" He was growing impatient.

"Just wait." Edie imagined 'Four legs not two, four legs not two'. She repeated this mantra until she completely turned into a large white wolf. Charlie fell at the sight of her, dropping all her clothes on the forest floor. He was too shocked to run away. She lowered her head and placed her snout closer to him, she wanted to show him that she meant no harm. Charlie raised his trembling hand at the huge wolf in front of him and began to pet her and she responded with a lick on his face.

She changed back to being on two legs and vampire-sped behind a tree. "Charlie, could you please give me my clothes."

After her little demonstration, she guided him back to the living room and sat him in his chair while she placed herself on the loveseat. It was nearly an hour before he spoke again. "Start talking. How are you able to become a large dog? And what's this about owing me?"

"Charlie, it's my fault Bella left you," she admitted.

She had his full attention now. "Explain. Now. Before I kick you out of my house. What does Bella leaving have to do with you?"

"Maybe I should start at the beginning."

"Yeah, that would be great," he replied sarcastically.

"I am a shifter-vampire hybrid. As you just saw, my shifter form is a wolf. The reason I am able to transform is because I was born this way. My kah was a shifter and my father was a vampire. Kah means–"

"I know what it means, I have friends who are Quileutes. Go on." His expression was straight and without emotion.

'Being a cop has its advantages I guess.' She sighed, "I changed your daughter by using venom from a friend of mine. She's a vampire now and she left because I told her to leave, but she didn't have to…" Edie gulped. "I can show you what I did better than I can explain to you." Edie placed two fingers on Charlie's forehead and showed him everything that happened last week, from meeting Bella to when she left. Charlie just remained silent afterwards. "I should leave."

"Stay. I need to know more. Why did you turn her?"

"That requires a longer explanation."

"Go on." He urged the immortal native.

"This will be harder to believe than me being a hybrid," she began. "I am from about seventy years into the future. In that time, I was a prisoner of the Volturi, they're like the royal family for vampires. They captured me for my blood so they could make their guard more powerful. Once they grew to a certain amount of power, that's where hell truly began. They started gathering the humans and putting them in concentration camps…" Edie told Charlie her whole story. She told him about Marcus, Alec, and the Human Holocaust, being part of the guard, her gifts, and her mission.

"Okay, but what does that have to do with turning Bella? What was her role in your mission?"

"If I didn't turn Bella now, she would have caused more problems later. Do you know her boyfriend?"

"Don't tell me, he's a vampire too?"

"Yes. He and his entire family are vampires."

"What's next? I suppose you're now going to tell me that Billy and the rest of the reservation are werewolves? Is that why he hates the Cullens so much?"

"The reservation? You mean the Quileute tribe? No they're not werewolves. They're wolf-shifters. Though Grandma didn't know who was or wasn't. For all I know, it could only be four or five that have already phased. If your friend Billy is your age, I doubt he's one, but his son might be."

"Oh well that's great!"

"Are you always this sarcastic?" She snickered.

"Only when I'm told that the people living in my town are actually creatures of the night." Edie laughed. "I'm glad I could amuse you. Please continue with your story."

"According to Grandma and the memories I procured from Aro, he's the leader of the Volturi Coven, Edward refused to turn Bella because of his affections for her. When Aro saw that she had considerable power, he offered to turn her and she immediately accepted. She became part of his guard and a few months later, she helped them wipe out almost the entire Cullen family before I was born."

"What happened to Bella?"

"The Volturi wasn't without casualties; she was one of them."

"Why did the Volturi kill the Cullens?"

"The Volturi has always been interested in attaining power and vampires with gifts to join their guard. Edward and Alice were two of those with gifts and Aro wanted them. Once he saw the wolf-shifters, he decided he wanted them too. They refused the offer and the Volturi attacked. With Bella, their defenses were close to unbeatable. You see if I turned Bella now before the Volturi gets a chance to meet her, it will be one less obstacle and the Cullens and the Quileutes could survive. She would be below the radar long enough for me to kill them and in turn, stop the Human Holocaust. Besides, you saw the memory, she didn't love Edward, not really."

"Is that it?"

"Basically. Well, all except for my age."

"Yeah, how old are you?"

"Physically, I'm nineteen, but my actual age is close to seventy. I'm not really sure. Years sort of blended together while Grandma and I were on the run," she answered. "Any more questions?"

"I already know who your father is. Take away all the Quileute and factor in the jawlines and eye shapes; then the connection is pretty easy. My only question is who's your mother?"

"I can show you better than I can say." Edie sent Charlie the only images she had of her mother.

Charlie's eyes were bulging. "I have to admit, after you hearing you talk about vampires, shifters, prisons, human camps, and all that stuff, THAT was by far the most shocking news."

"Seriously? It's not the part about me being a big-ass dog that drinks blood or me traveling from the future using memories that shocks you, it's my parents? Is it that strange?"

"Hey, you're not from this time, you don't know them like I do. If you did, you'd react the same way."

"True," she admitted with pursed lips.

"Is there anything else I should know about you? Do you grow an extra head in the full moon or…?"

She gave out a hearty laugh. 'Seriously, how is this guy related to Bitch Swan?' Edie wondered. "You're a funny guy Charlie. No, I don't grow an extra head. Though speaking of heads," Edie paused to place a shield on Charlie's mind.

"What? Is there something on mine?" Charlie checked the top of his head for well, he didn't know, maybe horns? Though he only succeeded in messing up his hair.

"Your hair is already chaotic without you messing with it Charlie," she joked. Charlie pressed his short dark hair down while grumbling incoherently. "There's nothing on your head. I put a shield around your brain."

"How? Why?"

"I only need to think of your protection and it happens. I did it so your mind remains private around Edward and so your decisions won't be watched by Alice. Though I don't think she will do it anymore, I'm just taking precautions. I'm going to be spending a lot of time with them and if they happen to run into you, I don't want you accidently giving away all of my secrets."

"Oh ok," Charlie said it as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. 'So that guy's a mind-reader too and Alice is a psychic? Well isn't that fantastic.'

Edie stood up from the sofa and Charlie followed suit. "It was great meeting you Charlie, but I have to go. I only have two weeks to find a place before I commence Phase 2."

"Why don't you stay here?" Even Charlie was surprised when he said it out loud.

"I don't know Charlie; I mean I'm the reason you even have a place to give out. Are you sure it wouldn't be too bizarre for you?" Edie felt bad for taking Bella away from him.

"Edie I saw you turn into a very large dog and I listened to your absurd history. I shouldn't believe you at all, but I do and it's because the entire time you were telling the truth. I know because I'm a cop, I sense these things." They had a quick chuckle. "I also want you to stay because you were, at least, more honest with me than anyone else has been in a long time. Plus, you're a kid, I can't have you wondering these mean streets alone. Do you know how many dangerous predators there are out there?"

"I know, I'm one of them and I'm older than you Chief Swan." She took one look at Charlie and game him her wolfy-smile. "Okay I'll stay."

"Great. You can have Be–" The light that had been in Charlie's eyes dimmed just a bit.

Edie put her hand on his shoulder to give him some comfort. "I'm sad too Charlie. Maybe not for the same reason, but I am. I miss L'atra metà every minute of every day, but look on the bright side," she grinned, "now we each have company to be sad with."

"Are you sure you're his daughter? You're so lively and cheerful," he jested.

"I wasn't sure at first believe me. When I heard stories about Dad, I couldn't fathom that I could've ever come from someone like him. I made myself believe that he was just a fairy tale, but my grandma told me if I ever stop believing he or Kah were real, all I had to do was look at my reflection to see them because I had his eyes and Kah's smile."

"She was right. I think that's why I thought you looked so familiar. That smile could only come from your kah."

"Thanks Charlie." Her stomach growled.

"Come on let me feed you. Do you eat human food?"

"Yeah I do. Y'know some part of me is still human. Although after you see me eat, you might change your mind about that too."

"Come on I know this awesome diner we could go to."

"Awesome?"

"I'm hip, just ask the kids at the high school."

"Sure you are old-timer."

"Who are you calling old-timer? You said it yourself; you're older, Madam." The two kept joking and taking their jibes at each other all the way to a quaint little diner. There she proceeded to tell him that she enrolled at the high school under an assumed alias. Which made Charlie all the more adamant about her staying with him. They spent the next two weeks getting school stuff and clothes for Edie. She didn't move into Bella's room. Charlie didn't say anything, but he still hoped she would come back. They both knew she wouldn't and eventually he would have to move on, but not right now. He needed a rock named Edie and vice-versa Edie needed a rock named Charlie for those blue times.

Elsewhere a hundred-year-old vampire was composing a hard-core rock piece he entitled The Faux Love. The first movement was used to illustrate his sorrow and the second one did justice to express his anger. The last one was more accepting with an undertone of finality. Overall the message was clear: I was sad, I was angry, and now I'm done.