Chapter 1 – Memories

APOV

Alice! My eyes snapped open and I sat up quickly; my back ramrod straight. I scanned my bedroom, searching for anything out of the ordinary. Everything was draped in darkness as I looked around. No one was in my home besides myself, but there was something wrong. My heart raced wildly as a chill settled into my body. A familiar voice rang in my head, not leaving me. The fear and panic was radiating through me; Savannah. Savannah? It was the middle of the day. What was she doing awake?

Van, Van, what is it?

If this was just a nightmare of hers, I was going to have to find a way to help her cope with them. She had such an active imagination.

Ally, I'm ok. It's nothing.

My eyes closed slowly, You're lying. I know you are. What are you up to?

Silence was my answer, Savannah Noelle Christiana Dubrinsky, you are not doing what I think you're doing.

Still no answer, Get your butt home now!

Ok, Alice, I'm going.

Our connection cut off, but I knew she wasn't home. The sun was high, leaving my body very heavy. I was shocked out of my sleep due to the strength of mine and Savannah's connection. When she was scared or hurt, I would know right away. My foolish little cousin had gotten it into her head to experiment with her Carpathian limits. She wanted to prove that our people could live in the sun. She believed that since our mothers were converted from humans, Emmett, myself and her inherited some human genetics. Only I knew of this. If Uncle Mikhail found out that she was doing this, he would lock Savannah in the earth every morning. My silly-willed cousin; I loved her dearly, but that girl is taking years off my life. I finally get what my father was saying when he used that phrase. Our connection returned and Savannah was back in her home, making her way back to her room.

Van, don't even think about sleeping in. I'm coming to see you first thing this rising. And you're going to tell me why you were out of your house in the middle of the day.

I felt her cringe and I shook my head. Since I moved out, Savannah has been more difficult. Daddy and Uncle Mikhail weren't happy about me moving out of their home. But it was something I needed to do for me. Since I put my foot down, they tried to step back and let me make my own decisions. I nestled back into my bed, but my mind played out the whole thing.

I recalled the night I told my dad and uncle that I was not going to be claimed by my lifemate. They wanted to know what I truly wanted for myself. I told them that I wanted to leave the Carpathian Mountains and see the world. To go beyond everything that I have ever known. Daddy was more understanding than Uncle Mikhail. Uncle Mikhail was against it. A precious Carpathian woman, who was the embodiment of light, life and laughter, could not venture out in to the world without protection. His words, not mine. I smiled and confessed that I knew the intention of our conversation and spoke with Emmett. He was planning on travelling to Greece with Tristan and wanted me to go with them. Emmett wanted to study Ancient Greece; the language, culture and myths and he knew I would be interested in that. It was time to leave home and see the world, the whole world. I smirked while they gawked at me; either they respect my wishes or I just may leave all together. Mom and Aunty were right; men were full of themselves, always believing that knew more than women. They couldn't believe that I anticipated their conversation and already planned a counter move. Do they not know who my mother is? She taught me well.

Mom did the same thing when she was my age, so why should I be denied the same experience; to travel away and see new things. To learn more about the world than from what I reading books and seen in movies. Gramma and Granpa told me about their years of traveling through Europe and Africa and I wanted to do the same thing. Mom was my biggest supporter in this decision, even though I know she didn't want to see me go.

Mom fought tears when I was getting ready to leave with Emmett. She didn't want either one of us to leave. The one who handled this in the worse way was Savannah. She was only nine years old and, to her, she and I shared our own world. Now our world was crumbling. I could handle my mom's and all my aunts tears, but not Savannah's. She cried on my shoulder when I told her what Emmett and I were planning to do. She thought I was leaving because of her. With tears streaming down her face, Savannah promised she would stop bothering me and going through my things if I would stay home. I couldn't do this to her, but I had to do this for me.

"Savannah, have I ever told you that it bothered me when you needed something or when you used something of mine? You can have anything you want in here." She and I sat on my bed and she was in my arms. Savannah wiped her eyes and looked at me, "The only thing I want is for you to stay. Ally, what am I supposed to do without you? You're my only friend." That was like a punch to the stomach. How could I do this? There was no one else remotely close to Savannah's age here. Without me, she would be all alone. I couldn't do that to her.

A rock and a hard place; this is where I am. Leave Savannah and see the world or stay with her and avoid a potential lifemate. I looked around my room and realized that I was preparing to leave the only home that I knew. It was the one place in the world where I felt completely safe. It was familiar and steadfast. My room, with my canopy bed that I pleaded with my parents to get me for my sixteenth birthday. My collection of books that my aunts, uncles, parents, grandparents, family friends, cousins and friends have gotten me; they were worn and familiar from my years of reading. The baby grand piano Edward gave to my parents as a baby gift stood in the corner. I remembered him adding on a remote feature to the piano when it was moved into my room. "Now you don't have to get out of bed to change the song," Edward said when he moved the piano for me. Could I leave this all behind?

Savannah was quiet in my arms as I sat together. I kissed the top of her head. Her hair smelled of roses and lilies, just like her mother, but there was an undertone to her scent that I could never place. Savannah breathed deeply, You smell like peppermint, like your mom.

I smiled, What if I said I won't be gone long?

She pulled back and looked at me, hope gleaming in her eyes. I bit my lip, Ok, here's the deal, I won't stay away long. A few months, tops. I know our dads will say it's because I was too scared to be in the world, but you and I will know it's because I couldn't leave you. See it as, my previewing the world and places to go and when you're old enough, we'll see the world together. I always promised you that, so now, let's start the process.

A smile was curving her lips, Are you serious? I mean you and me?

I nodded, Oh yea, Van. You and me; the way it's always been and always will be.

I didn't give a damn about a lifemate. He wasn't taking me from Savannah and her lifemate wasn't taking her from me. Savannah has always been my baby and that's not going to change. I would be the one to guide her and show her all the new things I was going to learn.

She muffled a shriek and hugged me, I can't wait! Start with Greece, then I want to know what London's like. I know that bridge doesn't fall down, but I want to know what it looks like. Oh, then, Japan. Alice, I can't wait. It's going to be so much fun.

Now, Savannah was a bit more enthusiastic about me leaving, seeing as the sooner I leave, the sooner I would be back and tell her everything about what I saw and learned. But I knew better. She clung to her enthusiasm to bury her sadness. She refused to let my last memory of her crying.

"Come on, Mom. I'll be back before you know it," Emmett complained as our mom hugged him. Her head was on his chest with him being as tall as Daddy now. "Bella, angel, it'll be alright. They will have each other." Daddy tried to pry Mom off Emmett, without much success.

Help me, Ally, Emmett looked at me. I nodded, "Wow, I guess that proves who your favorite is." Mom looked back at me, her eyes red and her cheeks stained with tears. My throat was starting to close as I realized I was telling my parents goodbye. Aunty and Savannah were in the study, reading and trying to ignore the fact that we were leaving. I knew Savannah was going to cry when I left and I couldn't face her. If she cried, the trip was off. I would stay for her. Only for Savannah would I reconsider this whole thing. I mean I had plenty of time, then she and I could go together. But Savannah would not let me back out. She wanted me to go because it was what I wanted.

Mom hugged me so hard the air was knocked out of me. Skillfully, she hugged me and managed to hold onto Emmett too. The two of us were caught in her arms while she cried, "I can't believe this. You two were babies and now, you're leaving me. Why did you have to grow up?" Emmett and I caught sight of each other by the corners of our eyes. This was typical 'Mom' behavior, but amplified. If no one knew us, people would think Mom was my twin sister and Emmett was our brother. She and I looked exactly alike. Mom looked like a woman in her late twenties, as she refused to look any older. Daddy looked like he was in his mid-thirties. He could pass for Emmett's older brother.

Daddy watched the three of us hugging, with a small smile. He still marveled at the fact that he had his own family. Emmett sighed, "Come on, Dad. You know you want to hug us."

Besides, he could get Mom off us, Emmett added for my benefit. Daddy wrapped his arms around all three of us. "My God, I can't even get my arms around the two of you." Emmett and I laughed, Mom cried and Daddy was silent. He didn't want us to go either. We were his little troublemakers and now, we were leaving home. I didn't tell Emmett about mine and Savannah's plan and it was better that way. It took a combined effort to get Mom to let us go and she leaned against Daddy, still crying. He shook his head, "Go and Emmett, take care of your sister." Emmett rolled his eyes, "Hey, she's the eldest." I elbowed him the stomach, "Shut it, second born. It's about time you looked after me. I'm tired of looking after you, bighead." He groaned at my nicknames for him.

We turned for the door, but I couldn't leave. Damn me as a fool. Be right there, Em. I dutifully turned and walked straight for the study. I was going to regret this but I had to do it. I walked into the study and looked at Savannah. She looked up from the book Aunty was reading with her. Both of their blue eyes looked at me and I smiled. I opened my arms, "Come here, you little brat." Savannah jumped out of her mother's arms and ran into mine, tears streaming down her face. I hugged her tightly, wanting so much to take her with me. Aunt Raven stood up and looked at us, remembering when Savannah was a baby and I was holding her. What was with everyone being so nostalgic tonight?

Savannah looked up at me, "I'm going to miss you, Ally." I kissed the tip of her nose, smudging my lip gloss, "I'll miss you too." There was a print of my lips on her nose and Savannah didn't bother to wipe it away. Aunt Raven came over to us and hugged me, Be safe, sweetheart. And….

I know, I know, stay out of trouble.

My aunt shook her head, No, get into trouble. Make mistakes, how else will you ever learn and pass your lessons onto Savannah. Just come back to us in one piece.

I smiled and kissed my aunt's cheek, Thank you, Aunty. And take care of Savannah. She's taking this worse than anyone.

The both of us looked down at Savannah. I didn't want to leave my baby cousin or my home, but it was time. There was no better time for me to go. I leaned down and kissed Savannah's cheek, "I'll see you soon, sweetheart." Her arms caught my neck and I hugged her, I love you and give them all hell.

I love you too and that's what I do best.

My eyes opened slowly from my dreams or memories, which ever. It was damn hard leaving Savannah. Since the day she was born, Savannah and I were inseparable. We were the only female Carpathian children; the key to our people's future. Savannah and I were seen as a beacon of hope to our males. We were destined to be lifemate to two males and it was a fervent prayer that she and I would have daughters.

It was of great importance that I find my lifemate, so that I could help him and our people, but I wasn't ready. In truth, I haven't even thought about it in a long time. He and I would find each other when we were meant to find each other. Uncle Mikhail had it in his head to call all those bachelors, so we could play a round of 'Carpathian Love Connection.' I don't think so. I am not a scrap of feminine meat for all of them to ogle in the hopes that I would bring on the rush of color and emotions.

I breathed in the dying scent of burning herbs in my room and got out of bed. I had to baby cousin to reprimand. My house wasn't as big as Uncle Mikhail's castle or his house down the mountain, but it was mine. It was a gift from my uncles and Edward. According to them, I was a woman and needed my own space, away from my parents. Mom almost took their heads off when they told us about my gift. They built a similar house for Emmett, which he shared with Tristan. Benjamin and Josef were frequent visitors to Emmett's house. It was lunacy watching them wrestle each other. Savannah said they looked more like brawling animals and I couldn't agree with her more. They were just silly boys. But now, his house was empty. Emmett was away, visiting India. He was still on his pursuit of learning about ancient cultures.

My house was a lovely two story cottage, with high vaulted ceilings. The foyer was open to two short stairs that led to the second floor. To the left of the top of the stairs, there is a small round balcony that overlooks the foyer. Straight ahead was an archway that led into the living room. I loved my living room. There back wall was glass, which is a feature loved in my grandparents' house. Uncle Emmett made the wall more organic to the house's structure and included French doors that opened up to my own garden. There were three bedrooms upstairs, two bedchambers in the basement, a fully furnished kitchen that was completely stocked. One of the walls in the living room was lined with shelves that held my books and movies. My uncles went all out and I loved it. Savannah spent most of her nights at my house. She played my piano, watched movies with me and we spent endless hours just doing nothing. The bedchambers doorway was on the left side of the living room, right next to the piano.

I came upstairs, walking past my opened French doors that were letting a gentle breeze waft into the room. The autumn air was so sweet and I loved it. There was another reason I was getting excited. Mom's birthday was coming up. I had a huge surprise for her. She was going to be so happy. I walked into my kitchen to find two warm bags of blood waiting for me. There were perks to having a grandfather who was the best doctor in the region. Grampa Carlisle opened a blood bank, screening the blood, making sure no virus were looming. Gramma Esme left two bags of blood for me every night so that her sweet baby girl didn't have to go out into the harsh Carpathian Mountain nights to feed. Were all the elders in my family overprotective? Daddy insists on layering his own safeguard over mine, so my house was completely safe. Mom and Aunt Ray pleaded with me to stay in my bedchamber rather than sleeping in the upstairs bedrooms, Uncle Mikhail sent a pack of wolves to watch my house and my uncles and aunts always made their sweeps past my house during the day to make sure there was nothing and no one dangerous nearby. I rolled my eyes at all of this.

There was a recent scare that is the catalyst for all this extra protection. Gregori discovered a new poison the society developed. It was harmless to humans, but if a Carpathian were to consume a human's blood that had the poison in their system. I never heard what it did to our bodies, but it was pretty bad. Gregori had to heal Tienn when he was infected. I remember him coming to my uncle's home when I was visiting and he looked awful. There were visible blue veins in his neck and tears of blood were forming in the corners of his eyes. My dad and uncle rushed myself, Savannah, mother and aunt out of the room. Dierdre did not leave her lifemate's side and no one was going to make her.

Uncle Mikhail wasn't happy with this new development and Grampa went right to work on an antidote and Gregori worked on figuring out where the poison come from, what it was made of and how it attacked Carpathians. It didn't take long for either of them to figure out the mystery of the poison, but it didn't stop the fear that our people now faced. The local humans were our main source of feeding. Uncle Mikhail ordered that we feed from other villages until after the Cullens ensured there was no poison in that area. As for his own family, Uncle Mikhail restricted Savannah to feed on a mixture Aunty made for her since she was a baby and I had to drink the human blood Gramma left for me.

This was the reason Grampa opened his clinic and blood bank. He offered financial compensation for donations and the blood was distributed to our people. It was Gramma who insisted on delivering my blood personally. Our people weren't scared of the Cullens anymore, as they lived among us for almost thirty years. Esme was welcomed into every home and offered any help she could. My aunts, Rosalie and Alice were just as welcomed. Emmett, Jasper and Edward were consulted with when it came to vampire issues and Grampa Carlisle was present at many healings. It was Grampa who saved my father's life from a horrible vampire attack.

A vampiress tried to take Emmett as her own son and it took our connection from him to remember that I was his sister and no one on this earth knew him better than I did. I remembered the crazy woman dying and Emmett was safe, but it was the vampire who hurt my father. I remembered three long talons sticking out of Daddy's chest and he groaned in pain whenever Gregori tried to use his healing energy to remove them. The nails moved closer to Daddy's heart. I remember Mom crying and feeling utter despair from being separated from him. I did all I could to help Mom feel better, but there wasn't much I could do. Only Daddy could make her feel better.

I consumed the blood, sitting by the French doors and listened to the wind sing. I loved my house; it was so peaceful. The night was so beautiful here and I missed it while I was gone. Ten months; that's how long I was gone. I traveled and it was great, but all I could do was worry about my cousin and with good reason. Savannah got into more trouble in those months than she did in the nine years I lived with her. Mom said it is what humans called 'acting out.'

"She misses you, honey and doesn't know how to cope with her feelings. For the first two months, she slept in your room and wore some of your clothes. The only times she was happy is when she got her packages from you. She pleaded with me every week to go to the village and pick them up. Rosalie began bringing them for her. And your emails….. Poor Anna lived for your emails." Mom and Gramma called Savannah 'Anna' and only I could call her 'Van.'

After so much traveling, I left Emmett, Tristan, Benjamin and Josef in Kyoto and went home. Josef tried to tease me, but the others told him to leave it alone. I wanted to go home and see Savannah. She was upset and I had to make her feel better. When I returned home, it was just before sunset and I walked through the safeguards. The first thing I did was climb into Savannah's bed, which had morphed into a canopy bed like mine. I laid my head on the pillow and watched her sleep.

The sun sank behind the mountain range, shining the land in a beautiful shade of orange. I brushed my finger along her nose, making her shake her head. I did it a second and third time and she opened her eyes. Savannah blinked several times and I smiled at her. It took a short moment for her to realize that I wasn't a dream. My baby cousin had grown so much in the time I was gone. I returned home hours before her birthday. It was just before midnight, so I was right on time.

Her blue eyes widened and she threw her arms around me. The air was knocked out of me; she was stronger too. Tears fell on my shoulder as Savannah hugged me. I hugged her back and cried; I was so happy to be home. To be back home with my cousin. She needed me and I was not going to leave her alone anymore.