AN: i am sooo terribly sorry for taking this long just to post. i kno alot of u expected something sooner, but with the end of school coming up, there just seems to be alot of distractions. and for those of u that want to make some suggestions that i could use, feel free to do so. i mean, i know like the big picture for this story, but i'm just sorta stuck with writer's block when it comes to the little stuff. (fillers and whatnot). and i know this is probably one of my shortest chapters but at least its something. btw, i think i'll start donig shoutouts for those who comment each chapter. one last thing, i posted a poll and i'd really like it if u guys checked it out. you may continue reading now. :)


Serenity's POV:

Halloween night was of course, amazing and possibly a night our fellow junior class would never forget. And more than just because it was fun, but for my own personal reasons as well as my sister's. Towards the end of the party, I worried about my sister when I couldn't find her later, so I texted her hoping for a response. Two three hours later after the clean-up there was still no response. "Hey Julian, you think you could handle things from here?" I called from the back of the room. "Yeah, you heading home?" he asked quizzically. I nodded and he kissed me before letting me leave. The kiss was over and before parting; I whispered in his ear, "i call dibs on the next one." and left into the night. Jacob was long gone, his stench starting to go stale along with my sister's.

Disappearing into the heavily wooded forest, I knew deep down that it was going to be tough finding her on my own, but heck, it was better me than Aunt Rosalie. Crickets chirped happily, and rodents shifted lightly under leaves and under the full moon. Now, why would Nessie do something like this? I asked myself; besides, I'm supposed to do this, not her. It doesn't make sense nor does it add up. My feet shuffled forward, a few twigs breaking under my not-so-graceful feet, and then the world went sideways as I looked up at the bare branches and night sky. Mental note to self: no more running or walking into things from now on. Getting up, I had let out an exasperated sigh, and kept walking through nowhere, being careful not to repeat last time or get hit in the face with other stray branches. Somehow through all my searching I manage to bring myself back to the lake.

I give up my phone and try going Skintenna route. Nessie, where in the world are you? After a few minutes I start walking around again, one circle, two circles, three circ- I start to hear hiccups and Seth calmly patting her back. Nessie? She sent back a mental head shake as she stared at the floor covered with floral designs.

Now that I know where my sister's at, I let go of the breath that I wasn't aware of that I was holding. I start to walk back to the house hearing a calming crunch as I moved. But I couldn't shake the image of my sister's tears, no matter how hard I tried, they were still there. Damn it Jake! What did you do to her? I wondered with an uncontrollable rage. She has always been the one to comfort and protect me, but to see Nessie so distressed and being comforted by Seth said a lot. There had to have been something that he'd done to cause her so much pain and sadness. I tried again by peeking through her mind, pulling out the last pictures from the party. I froze in mid step as I saw what my sister saw, one that I would give Jake hell for, even if Nessie didn't approve of it. I mean, how could he do that to her, with a wolverine? Echoes of branches crunched underfoot. My head swiveled to the side and was shocked to see what stood before me.

Was I dreaming again? There was only one other time that I had felt like this, but I still wasn't certain. Demetri stood before me, eyes gleaming dark red almost burgundy, still in his costume from earlier. It had to have been a dream, but then again I still hadn't gone to bed yet, so there still was that possibility. He took a step closer to me and I felt an almost hypnotic pull draw me closer, his smile was easy-going but something about it made me shiver. "You're out late." Demetri stated in a matter-of fact type of voice. I nodded but didn't utter a word fearing that I would break some magical moment. "Why is that?" he asked. I was going to say that "i was coming back from Julian's party", but no. instead I said, "Why is it any of your concern?" he laughed. The moment was broken and once I got back my bearings, I fought to be questioned by this person. "Well, as I recall, you promised to dance with me." I thought back for a moment. "Couldn't find you." I replied coolly.

"You most certainly could've. You just chose not to." his eyes dared me to contradict him, but what he said rendered me speechless. Speaking again, I stuttered. "I...i didn't know where you went. W-which way did you go anyway?" not my most graceful moments, but I didn't want to admit that to him. "I was near the pond." he whispered, not smiling any more. Again I took in his eyes, that dark red seeming so familiar yet so new to me; it took me awhile to remember where it was from. One word rang out from so many others. "Vampire" or "nomad", even "Volturi". I had to ask him.

"What are you?" he shook his head. "Does it matter when we're not even human?" he replied with that sad smile still in place. "No! I am human. You're the one that's not." I said stubbornly. "We both know you're not human and neither am I." Demetri said solemnly closing the distance between us. I stepped back, my feet blindly crunching the twigs underfoot. It's my turn to stutter for the hundredth time tonight, "What do you mean I'm not? Who are you to say?" a sigh broke from those beautiful lips as he continued forward until there was barely an arm's gap between us. Demetri tilted his head down, his eyes gazing into my own, and lingered there as he put me under his quiet study. Never missing a beat, he gave a fluid answer almost like a solid breath. "Your eyes. They're so unique that I highly doubt there is any other like it. And let's not forget that during gym you're so full of energy, always going at amazing speeds to keep up with me." He winked at the last part and another smile crept into his lips with a knowing look in his eyes.

My blood ran cold as what he said had finally sunken in. no, lately I hadn't been careful or I had until we left the gym. Silently I scolded myself, a curse word slipping its self in here and there along with other words followed by a sharp intake of breath as my body registered Demetri's closeness. Too close actually, much too close for my taste. A snap decision made its way in my brain, I didn't know how long I had until he would catch up with me, so I was going to have to prove it to myself that if only I could make it to the treaty line would I be safe. I wasn't that far from there either, all it would take me was a few minutes northeast; by pass a few trees and a high way and I would be there. Before any one of us could utter another word, turning on my heels, I took off in a full sprint branches and twigs breaking sharply, my chest rising and falling evenly as my feet kept going. I didn't dare turn to look back, but I could hear him keeping up with me, his feet snaking through the leaves, and my heart that pounded harder as I tried to win this mad dash.


AN: hope u guys like. and befor i forget a virtual cookie goes to ebble and angelic231 for reviewing. (::) thanks guys! luv y'all, Seren. :P