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MadHatterWeasley - Firstly, Nice Name ;) We'll see where this goes then, won't we? *winks*Hope to see what you thought of this chapter!

Tanya's gorgeous face literally spewed joy as she greeted Alice and Jasper before approaching Edward, eyeing his arm around me. Well, he was going to need that arm to hug her back, wasn't he? I stepped away and Edward's eyes flashed to me, now a warm and sunny forest green, only the barest hint of gold flecks here and there. He was completely full on human food.

"Edward, long time since the last time I saw you," Tanya whispered and embraced him a little too closely to be strictly friendly. It was my turn to eye the way she was pressing up against him and I had good reason to. Edward eventually glanced at me and I folded my arms, blowing a stray strand of hair from my eyes. A whoosh of white cloud came from my mouth at that and I was happy to see that his eyebrows went up. I must've looked like a fire breathing dragon because the next second, he pulled away from Tanya, pushing her a good arm's distance away.

"You had promised to be back for another visit. That was nearly a year ago. However I'm glad for this show up." She waved a hand to the trio standing around us, her fingers still on Edward's arm. Was it just me or did she just actually stroke him?

"Tanya, this is Tulika," Alice said suddenly and Tanya's eyes snapped open wide as if she was being jolted back to reality, if that was even a thing for vampires.

"Hello," I said, trying not to sound rude.

"Hello, you're…human," she said and I tilted my head at the inflection.

"Is that a question or a statement?" I asked.

She opened her mouth, her hand still on Edward's arm and Alice moved to wrap an arm around me, smiling brightly, tugging me away as Edward, Jasper and Carlisle surrounded Tanya.

"You…what…?" I asked, for the third time.

Alice exhaled sharply. "It was necessary. It was Edward's and Jasper's idea. They think the less the Denali Clan knows about you the more chance we'll have of confronting Laurent."

"Why aren't you all doing it now then?"

"He's not here. Apparently, he's wooing Irina and she's very taken with him. Taken him to hunt in the western woods or something," she muttered.

"You don't think…?"

"No, I don't see him or Victoria around our vicinity. Besides, Esme, Emmett and Rosalie know Laurent's scent. If he comes around, we'll know." She offered me her arm and I took it, narrowing my eyes as we began walking back to the manor.

"Edward's idea, you say," I prompted and she nodded, smirking.

The house was decorated as tastefully as the Cullen's. Only, while the Cullen's preferred color, no matter how light, they only had monochromes. Like the room I was given by a cheerful Kate who said it was good to have a guest to stash in the heater room, the entire room was decorated in blacks and grays.

Alice and Jasper were given the room right across from me, I was sure Alice had something to do with it because Edward had been giving her odd looks from the time the rooms were decided. Edward and Carlisle were in the rooms at the end of each side of the hallway.

I was quite taken with Kate while still being a little off with sticky paws Tanya. In all honesty, she was really very nice to me even if she didn't understand why I was there and she didn't know about Edward and me but that's still no reason to grope at any passing man. What can I say? I was biased.

I was also very actively avoiding Edward. Kate, while trying to give me a pedicure – guess what color? – Black – had said that Irina and Laurent weren't expected till the next day and that was the same that Carmen and Eleazar were expected. I could ignore him for that time. I had self control enough for that.

Why didn't he tell me that Tanya didn't know? Hmm, jerk…

Kate took me to a small cosy diner around the outskirts of the time and told me she loved the cobbler there. I wasn't going to deny the sweeter and more enthusiastic sister anything so I obliged.

"So, are you going to tell me why you people are really out to visit us?" She asked, taking a big bite of her second cherry cobbler while I was still on my first, halfway through.

"Don't the Cullens normally visit?" I asked, surprised.

She flicked her straight blond hair; "They do…but they don't usually bring about a human to these parts. Especially not cool ones like you," she winked. I grinned at the compliment. "I hear you got a pretty cool power too, Kate." I said.

She laughed and reached out and just as her fingers brushed my wrist, I jumped at the sharp zap.

"That wasn't static, love. So, is it still cool?" she asked.

I rubbed my wrist.

"As long as you're not using it on me, it's wonderful," I muttered.

"See…? That's what I'm talking about. Normal humans would run." She said, pointing her fork at me. "I'm not abnormal." I pointed out.

"Oh you know what I mean, what with our powers, the Cullen's and all; I would've been certified mad by now."

I thought about that.

"Maybe, you are a little abnormal." Kate winked again.

I looked down at my cherry cobbler.

"Maybe, at least I'm not an electric rod." I mumbled.

She paused, and then looked at me. "Touché," she said.

Edward cornered me in the hallway when I was tip toeing to go immediately to bed when I came back from the diner.

"Why are you avoiding me?" he asked.

I didn't say anything.

He raised an eyebrow. "The silent treatment; I thought we were past all that," he said.

No answer.

"You can't keep this up forever." He said, moving forward and pressing me back to the wall. I glared at me. "Need I remind you that this is an occupied place and the occupants are all vampires with super hearing?" I hissed.

He smirked, "Trust me; years of listening to our surroundings have made us immune. We know how to give people their privacy. Haven't I stopped actively listening to you?" I huffed up at him, my breath still coming out in a white fog.

"It's cold, you should be in bed," he said.

"So, now you won't apologise?" I asked, stunned. "I'm sorry I'm keeping you up, there," he pushed the door to my room open.

"Wow, no, nope," I shut the door again. "Why didn't you tell Tanya? Or why didn't you tell me?" I asked.

He sighed.

"Honest answer; I was going to tell you but I forgot. Bringing you here was never in my plans so I wasn't prepared for it." He said. I stared at him, worrying my bottom lip. "Understandable," I said finally.

His face lit up then fell when I slipped past him, opening and shutting the door.

Alice and I came downstairs to find Kate, Tanya, Jasper, Edward and Carlisle sitting with two more vampires. They were however completely opposite to the sisters. While Tanya, Kate and I supposed Irina were stark pale with blond hair, these two had deep, rich tanned skin, big dark eyes and hair. If anything, they looked more like me.

The man looked up at our entrance. "Alice," he greeted then his eyes shifted to me.

"And you must be the girl the Cullens are so worried about," he said.

I nodded, raising a hand lamely to wave.

"You do understand?" Carlisle asked.

"We do. Didn't I tell you we should've kept a closer eye on the man?" Kate shot at Tanya who frowned at the table. "He was so quick to woo Irina…I never thought…"

"He was playing her?" I asked helpfully.

"That, and also…no, you can have him; but please explain first to Irina. She's…very defensive of him." She said.

Annoyingly so, if the movies and the books were any giving to her personality, I thought.

"How did you come by her, again?" Eleazar asked.

"Not important," Edward said smoothly then looked at Carmen. "How did you like Voltaire, Carmen?" he asked, flipping the subject easily.

She shivered. "It's so...big there. I suppose the three rulers are kind enough, but they can be dangerous if they wished to be." She said.

Carlisle nodded. "Aro is as kind as they come, but I suppose to dispose of threats they need to be firm." I blinked.

I thought the Volturi was a mindless vampire government where corruption ran in Caius's blood, Marcus was always tired of life and Argo was a child after shiny toys and power. Edward glanced at me and smirked. "Not always, it is true, Caius is probably not as liked as the two brothers but Marcus's wife died in a fire when the early medieval knights lit their towers alights. Aro has kept the order in line for over millennia." He explained.

I bit my lip. I couldn't be sure of this deviance from the book but I sure as hell did not want to be in front of the Volturi.

Everyone suddenly stiffened and Edward and Jasper stood up, their backs ramrod straight and eyes flashing.

"Wait for them to be close enough; he'll run if he senses you," Alice said.

"I will talk to Irina first," Carlisle said.

Edward moved to me, taking my hand, "You stay here with Eleazar and Carmen, they will protect you." He said, brushing a hand through my hair before Tanya, Kate, Carlisle, Alice, Jasper and he vanished out the door.

I stayed where I was as the two vampires exchanged a knowing look.

"I see how he met you then," Carmen said a smile on her small face. I turned to look at them in puzzlement.

"You're Edward's mate," Eleazar explained and I cringed at the word. "Oh, I just…mate sounds too…animalistic…girlfriend works for me," I stammered and the two openly chuckled. "Now we know why Kate likes you," He said just as a sound of a scuffle broke outside. I quickly hurried out with them following.

A woman with silky corn silk hair gaped with Tanya and Kate holding her hands as Carlisle and Alice spoke too fast for me to grasp anything.

Edward and Jasper were grappling with something in the snow. Jasper pressed down and a howl of pain broke out before Edward pulled him up right and slammed him into the walls. I took a step forward and came face to face with Laurent.

He stopped struggling when he saw me then looked at Edward and Carlisle, an expression of defeat on his face. "You can let go of me now," he sighed.

"Sure, so you can run again and we'll have to chase you down again," Jasper growled.

"I will not run anymore."

"Boys, let him go." Carlisle called. The two exchanged a vindictive look but backed off, Edward immediately pulling me away from the male nomad. "I told you to stay inside." He murmured but didn't press it.

"I see James failed." Laurent said.

Everyone shot each other a dark look but no one corrected him.

"He did. He's also a pile of ash in the winds now. We have a different problem." Edward growled.

Laurent sighed. "Victoria," he said.

"So, you know the situation?" Jasper asked.

"Victoria came to me last month. She notified me about James's situation but she didn't give any inkling that the girl was still alive. I knew she wanted vengeance on your coven but I told her flat out my alliances were changed. I am going to be playing no part in whatever she is planning."

Carlisle and the rest of the vampires stared at him until he nodded.

"So be it," He gestured towards Tanya. "We'll take your leave then. Alice, Jasper, Edward," the last name was a warning.

Edward was still looking at Laurent like he wanted to rip him a new one but he closed his eyes once then nodded, glancing down at me.

We were ready to leave in an hour. Edward hadn't moved from my side ever since Laurent had entered the threshold and he still kept a tight hold on my hand as we bid the Denali clan goodbye.

"Goodbye, Edward's mate," Eleazar said teasingly and Tanya shot me a quick look.

Oh dear.

"I see," she said then smiled at me. "I suppose I see the attraction as well." She said.

I looked up at Edward who just pulled me tighter to him as we walked to the car. Edward let go of me to open the trunk when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I turned around to see Laurent looking at me curiously.

"If you were smart; you would let me feed from you right now. It would be only a mercy killing my dear, what Victoria plans to do to you would end up with you being tortured for days. I would make it quick." He whispered.

"Or…you could let go of me…now." I said, quietly, my eyes cold and fixed on him.

His eyes flickered once to the vampires hovering over me then back to my eyes.

"I hope you know what you are doing." He said and slowly let go, backing away with his black eyes still on me.

"Mercy killing, my foot," I said, audible enough for him to hear.

Well, that's that then.

Laurent doesn't want to help Victoria.

I hope you like what I did there and also I hope I did the cousins justice.

Until Next time by beauties...

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