(3) "I'm Just Going To Do What I Want Now And Let The Chips Fall Where They May"

Odessa was scolding herself for giving in to the blonde's demands. Throughout her entire vacation, she couldn't help but recall the words the blonde had thrown at her. She had debated with herself the entire time and couldn't even enjoy her vacation. She was stressed the entire time and didn't know how to calm herself down. She was running through the forest. She hoped she got there in time to help them with their request. She'd help and then leave as soon as the whole thing was over.

A huge creature jumped out of the brush beside her, and she moved to dodge the attack. She whipped her head back and saw a huge wolf chasing her down. She looked on in fright. Although it looked different from one of the Children of the Moon, it still looked similar. She briefly wondered why the blonde failed to mention such creatures were living so close to her home and noted to bring it up once she made it to her destination.

She dodged another attack by jumping from a tree trunk. She felt the wolf's hot breath against her pants and started to panic. She wasn't as fast as full-fledged vampires. The difference wasn't that noticeable, but it made a difference in fights. Scared, she jumped high into a tree and stopped to catch her breath. She watched the wolf jump up and down in an attempt to catch her. With no other way out, she used the trees to escape.

The animal followed her to a river but stopped once she crossed it. She took note of that and continued. She dropped from a tree and walked past the tree line. A house much bigger than her cottage came into view. It was white, pristine, and screamed money; it was the total opposite of her humble abode and showed a lot of upkeep. Personally, it wasn't her taste. It was too formal - too cookie-cutter - and lacked the character a house should have. Of course, the inside could be completely different, but if her memory of the blonde and brunette's clothes served her right, they were ostentatious with their belongings.

She took four steps before a group of vampires cut her off. They stood a ways away from her. The group consisted of a copper-headed male, a female brunette, a russet-skinned male with jet black hair, and a little girl who looked no older than ten. The fluttering heartbeat of the child led Odessa to conclude she was the hybrid.

"Who are you?" the copper-headed male asked. She observed the physical similarities he shared with the child and defined him as the father. The female must be the mother, she surmised. She didn't know the relation the darker-skinned male had with the rest of them.

"I came here to help, yet you show me much hostility," Odessa said with a raised eyebrow.

"Your heart," the brunette spoke up. "Are you like Renesmee? Are you the one Alice went looking for?"

"I don't know who this Alice person is you are talking about. I was informed of your," she paused to find the right words, "situation by a blonde and her mate," Odessa told them. Her eyes held a defiant gleam in them. She had come all this way to help; she would not go back now.

"Rosalie and Emmett?" the brunette asked. Said vampires walked out of the house and stood next to the small group. Odessa's eyes moved to the door the duo came out of and caught sight of multiple sets of eyes on her. They had a lot of witnesses.

"So, you came after all," Rosalie said with a grin. Odessa shrugged and crossed her arms. A scowl made its way onto her face as she looked away from them.

"It's not like you gave me much choice, what with the way you lectured me," she said sourly.

"Somebody needed to," Rosalie said with a smirk.

"Whatever," Odessa dismissed her. "Do you want my help or not? By the greeting I'm receiving, I don't think you do."

"You won't leave," the father said.

"And how do you know that?" she asked smartly. He smirked but said nothing. She narrowed her eyes and glared at his confidence. Just then, a blond male and a woman with chestnut hair came out. Both had welcoming expressions on their faces.

"Welcome," the blond male said. "I trust your travels were pleasant?"

"And I trust you think me smart enough not to fall for your niceties," Odessa said in retaliation. "I will not be deceived into thinking you are nice people. Stop fooling me and get down to the bottom line."

"Right. You've come to witness for us?" the blond asked none deterred. She snorted and gestured as if to say "obviously".

"I am Carlisle, and this is my wife, Esme," he said. He introduced the chestnut-haired woman as his wife. "You already know Rosalie and Emmet."

Odessa nodded in confirmation.

"Edward," Carlisle said. The copper-haired male stepped forward and introduced the rest of the group. He was Edward; the brunette was his mate, Bella; the russet-skinned male was Jacob; and the little girl, Edward and Bella's daughter, was Renesmee. He gestured for her to introduce herself and she did so curtly.

"Odessa."

"Odessa, might I ask of your origins?" Carlisle asked.

"You may not," she said shortly. "I have come here for one reason, and one reason only and that is to make sure she," she pointed at Renesmee, "survives. That is all."

"So, you believe us?" Bella asked hopefully.

"I have ears and eyes. And a brain. I know what is real and what is artifice."

"Come, then," Carlisle said. He walked off to the house and Esme followed him. The rest waited for her to go first. She glared at their tactics. They didn't trust her. She followed the older vampires into the house and started to regret her decision. There were so many vampires in the house. Too many eyes, too many minds. She felt a pull on her shirt and glanced down. She met chocolate brown eyes and a chubby face.

"Are you like me, Odessa?" Renesmee asked.

"I thought we went over this already," she grumbled, not appreciating the attention that was on her due to the small hybrid's advances.

"Where's your mother and father?" the small girl asked. Odessa froze and a terrible face replaced her own.

"I told you I would not be discussing my origins," she said darkly. "You may ask about my species and my biology but not my history. Are we clear?"

A deep growl emitted from Jacob's chest, and he planted himself in front of Renesmee. He jabbed a finger into Odessa's chest and spit out, "Watch your tone."

Odessa scoffed loudly and moved his finger without touching it. Jacob's eyes widened. He was all but helpless as his body moved without his permission. He found himself planted on the couch yards away from her. The room was silent before someone spoke.

"You have an amazing gift."

A tall male with dark-brown hair and golden eyes approached her from the crowd that had gathered around her.

"What is her gift, Eleazer?" Carlisle asked curiously.

"Telekinesis, or some similar ability. It is very strong, and she likely has a strong hold on it. Tell me," he addressed Odessa, "what is your gift?"

"Why should I tell you?" she asked.

"I'm just curious," Eleazer said simply. She hesitated before she answered his question.

"I can control things, make them move and whatnot. I cannot control inanimate objects because they have no life essence to them. It does not faze me, though," she said with a smirk, "I would rather make people perform like circus monkeys."

"Powerful indeed," Eleazer said. Odessa moved away from everyone and made her way into the kitchen. She was craving something sweet, but she hadn't had time to stop anywhere. She looked at the fridge before she sighed and went to find Esme. When she found her, she stopped in front of her and asked for permission.

"May I please have something to eat?" she asked pleasantly.

"Oh, of course! Help yourself to the fridge," Esme said.

"So, she can be nice," Jacob muttered under his breath.

"I have manners. I was not raised by wolves," she said while eyeballing him. He smelled just like that creature outside. No one made a move to eliminate him, though, so she assumed he was of no threat. She rummaged through the fridge and found strawberries. She took the container and set them on the dining room table. She plopped one in her mouth and savored the taste.

"You can eat like she can," Bella said. Odessa hummed and continued eating.

"How old are you?" Bella asked. There was some desperation to her voice, causing Odessa to look at her curiously.

"Why do you ask?"

"Renesmee is growing at such a fast rate," Edward said as he saddled up next to his wife. "We are worried about her lifespan."

"Do you think she will live for a few years and then just die?" Odessa asked. She snorted out a laugh and ignored the look the two of them gave her. "She'll be fine. I was fully matured seven years after my birth and have remained the way you see me now for almost 200 years."

She watched as Bella and Edward shared loving glances and then stared at Renesmee. She turned away from them as envy coursed through her system. What she wouldn't do to have such a family. Edward looked at her with pity in his eyes. She caught his glance and glared menacingly.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I don't mean to pry."

"What does that mean?" Odessa asked warily.

"I can read minds," Edward confessed. That made Odessa extremely uncomfortable. She switched off her thinking and kept her mind silent. There was no way she was going to let him see into her thoughts.

"You're good at keeping me out," he complimented her.

"As people say, practice makes perfect," she said with a grimace. She popped another strawberry in her mouth and chewed with a fervor. Renesmee pulled out the chair next to her and sat down. She held her hand out and asked politely for a piece of fruit. Odessa handed her one and watched with a fond smile as the hybrid took a bite.

"I know you don't seem quite fond of questions, but might I ask a few? Renesmee is the only other hybrid I've met, and I am curious as to the differences between you and her," Carlisle said.

"All of you are very persistent," Odessa commented. She sighed and remembered her grandmother's words. She used to get reprimanded for being stubborn. Her grandmother always told her it would do her no good. "We are not much different. Just like most humans are all the same and just like how most vampires are all the same, so should hybrids."

He pulled out a notebook and a pen before he sat across from her at the table and began his interview. She glanced around her and noticed they had garnered a crowd. All the Cullens were present, and so was Jacob. A few vampires lingered in the doorway, but Odessa could feel many eyes on her. She sighed and slouched in her seat.

As Carlisle questioned her, she grew bored and started fidgeting in her chair. When Carlisle finished his last question, she sighed and stood up.

"Can I go now?" Odessa asked in boredom. She had finished off the strawberries, making sure to give the last one to Renesmee, and was ready to get away from everyone. She wasn't used to being around so many beings at one time in a house. It had been years since she had lived with others and was used to having her own space.

"Yes, of course," Carlisle said. "If you do go out for a run, please mind the river. We have a treaty with the neighboring shapeshifters. I hope they didn't give you too much trouble on your journey here."

"Not at all," she said sarcastically. "You should really put a sign up somewhere as a warning. Wouldn't want any of your witnesses to become doggy kibble."

"Great another one," Jacob complained under his breath. Odessa gave him an inquisitive glance before she turned her attention back to Carlisle.

"We'll think about it," he said with a strained smile.