POV: Edward

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or Twilight. Unfortunately.

Chapter 8: Explanations

Bella and I followed Annabeth and Percy back to the pegasus stables, where the rest of my family was waiting patiently. I shuddered inwardly, remembering what had happened the last time I'd walked into the stables. A pegasus had attacked me because it had smelled us approaching and had been frightened. It didn't hurt, but it was a bit of a surprise, which was saying a lot coming from me. The black pegasus, called Blackjack, who could talk to Percy telepathically (because he was a son of Poseidon), had simply charged me. I supposed I hadn't heard his thoughts because I was too focused on other things around me. And then someone had crashed into the ground, making a sound that was hearable from a mile away even without our enhanced hearing .

As we walked back into the stables, we were greeted by the rest of our family, who were also asking several questions: and not out loud, but mentally, so I felt like I was being overwhelmed by a tsunami of thoughts. Which, in a way, I was.

Ew. Who is that? He needs a makeover and something better to wear than a greasy, dirty shirt and pants. This, not surprisingly, came from Alice, watching Leo with a look of disgust on her face.

Rosalie's thoughts were very similar, while Emmett looked at Leo and thought, I think I just found a new prankster partner. Oh, this will be too good.

Annabeth turned around and sat down next to Percy; he put his arm around her. They were perfect for each other, I had no doubt about it. "Okay. Now that we're settled, we have a lot to explain. I think the Cullens should start," Annabeth offered, smiling slightly. I hope you don't mind, she added mentally to me.

"Sure, no problem. So… we'll just tell you the basics. We're vampires, as you know. I am Edward, this is Bella, Renesmee, Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, and Jasper. There are many myths about vampires, and most of them are not true. We don't sleep in coffins, or sleep at all, we don't eat or drink - well, besides animal blood - and we don't burn in the sunlight, we… well, it's hard to explain unless you see it." Annabeth and Percy smiled, then nodded for me to continue. "We also can't age, or reproduce. Carlisle is the father of the family - he turned all of us, when we were on the edge of death. He's also the oldest."

"So how old are you all really?" Leo interrupted.

"I am the youngest physically, but I was the second to join Carlisle's family. I am over a hundred years old, that's all I'll say." I watched with satisfaction as Leo's mouth dropped to the floor and he thought, he's got to be kidding. Right?

I continued. "Bella is our newest member. She became a vampire days after our daughter was born two years ago. And this is Renesmee, conceived and carried by Bella when she was still human." I grimaced ever so slightly at the memories, but not enough for the demigods to notice. "Anyway, we have to move every couple of years or so, because we can't age and people would get suspicious. We normally don't live in sunny places, but we already had houses that we'd purchased here. So, here we are. Oh, and one more thing," I added, remembering. "Some of us have gifts that were influenced by who we were in our past lives. For example, Jasper can feel and manipulate your emotions. Alice can see the future, but she only gets visions and glimpses. I can read minds. Renesmee can share her thoughts through her hand. And Bella… let's see. We don't know whether it is a gift or not, but she has never drunk a human's blood, but she also has a mental shield that she can stretch around others to protect them."

Well explained, Edward, I hear Carlisle comment. He smiles at me.

"Okay, wait. Hold your pegasi," Leo stopped me, holding up his hands. "Number one: You can read minds? And number two: what do you mean, Bella's never drunk human blood? Don't you guys, like, need blood if you are to survive?"

"Well, that is something that is special about our family," Alice chirps up before I can speak. "We call ourselves 'vegetarians'. Ironic, I know. We drink the blood of animals and refrain from drinking human blood. That's why our eyes are yellow instead of red. Those who drink human blood have red eyes, and they are more of nomads, moving around from place to place much more often than we do."

"And to answer your first question, yes, I can read minds."

Ok, that's just insane, dude. Wait, can you hear me? I nod. Oh my gods, this is against everything ever proven by science.

"I can say the same about you, Leo. You are the son of… Hephaestus, am I correct? The fact that the Greek gods exist is also against everything ever proven by science," I pointed out, receiving many odd stares. "It doesn't matter. Any other questions?" I sighed.

"Yes. So, how old are you, Renesmee?" Annabeth asked, wondering why Renesmee looked like she was an eighth grader if she was born two years ago.

My daughter responded. "Call me Nessie, if you want to. Physically, I'm about thirteen years old. Mentally, I'm sixteen. But really, I'm only two and a half. I grow at a very fast rate, though it's been slowing down recently. By a fast rate, I mean that in a year I'll look like I'm fifteen." Annabeth gasped, both out loud and with her mind.

"So, how do you share your thoughts?" Percy asked her.

"Don't be shocked. This is how I used to, and still normally communicate with my family," Renesmee warned as she walked up to Percy. She put her hand on his face, and I read her thoughts. See? My mom and dad say it's like their own gifts turned around; my dad can read minds and my mom can shield minds, while I can share my thoughts with others. I smiled, and Renesmee pulled her hand off of Percy's face, then shared the same thoughts with Annabeth.

"Amazing," was Annabeth's only word as she heard Renesmee's voice inside her head.

Emmett spoke up, trying to show off a bit. "So. One more thing - we all have super hearing, super sight, super strength, and, for some reason, the blood of demigods attracts us way more than the blood of a regular human."

Leo automatically backed away.

"Don't worry, we won't hurt you. The only one likely to hurt you is Bella." At this Bella looked at the floor, guilt on her face.

"So, now that we've explained our side of the story," Alice trilled in her high-pitched voice, "who wants to go next?"

A/N: Sorry this was a short chapter and I haven't updated in a while, but I'm trying to write as often as possible. Plus, I haven't gotten many reviews recently. Please leave me a review!