POWER

Warning: Long Chapter!

February seemed to have disappeared overnight. Now it was late April and prom night, senior banquets, and graduation were hurtling towards us senior students. Although I read it for myself, I still had a difficulty fathoming Ozario as a contract killer. Could he really do things like that stuff I read? I kept studying the idea over and over again as I tried to find a dress on the racks for prom. It was the same Woman's Parlor where, on my very first date, I got the blue dress. They began selling prom dresses at half the price.

For some reason, Edward, Ozario, Jacob, and Henry came along with us girls just to watch. Edward was roaming off somewhere with Bella. Hen and Jake sat down by the girl's dressing room on a couple of couches. Ozario leaned against a wall with a mirror in it, playing a game on the phone that he was good at. While Renesmee and I tried on clothes, the three talked. Renesmee had found what she was searching for. Me, it took about 20 unique styles and a bunch of teasing, on the other hand. They all had a comment every time I walked out, and Ozario kept laughing at my endless jokes. Only once did he blush because I came out in a two-piece prom dress and I must have worn something that he liked. He concealed his blushing behind the white, square pillar and laughed it off. Eventually, we all agreed that nothing looked satisfyingly suitable on me. Why was I having trouble finding a dress?

Ozario walked up to me, one hand on his chin. "She looked better in blue and black, but I don't think she was complimented enough by such colors?"

From behind me, Alice came and touched the last dress I was wearing, "I think so too – not for prom anyway. What do you have in mind?"

Ozario was still and thinking. Idea! "Would you like to help, Alice," Onyx asked, placing his hands in his pockets? "I will make something red for her, if it'll do."

The face of Alice lit up and she nodded. She looked at me with an extremely happy face and exclaimed, "You are going to be so gorgeous! I think a nice dark red or, oh, MAROON would do!"

Ozario smiled excitedly at me as he reached out his fingers towards me and wiggled them. "Yesss. Perfect."

"What?" I looked back and forth between the two of them. Wait a second. I remember the last time the two of you cooperated! "Bella!"

Bella came out from behind the racks. "Sorry, can't save you."

I gave Bella a look of disdain and disappointment. I knew that the partnership between Alice and Ozario was unbeatable when it came to clothes and events, but Bella could have at least tried to help me out! A few days before the prom night, I kept going between my feminine and masculine sides. On the one hand, I was really excited about the prom. I actually had a date.

On the other hand, I just wished I could go in some jeans or a pants suit at least? However, life was just not that fair. Since shopping, Ozario has not been seen in a few days. He was still working on that dress with Alice, I guess. Lately, in the morning, I could feel him slipping out from under the covers and leaving. My nightmares were coated with the thoughts of him being beside me, so when he left, I wouldn't get them. I got up from bed and got ready for today.

| In the bathroom mirror, I noticed that the tree leaves sounded closer than before. I looked at the scabbed bitemark Caius left above my elbow. The sounds increased from the outside from the windows and I shook my ears with my palm. Quickly, I exited the room. |

I also didn't realize how much I had been observing Onyx in the kitchen until that afternoon when I cooked for myself. During weekdays, he usually cooked because he was always pushing me out of the way. Ozario was really an odd individual for that. I'd cook on weekends because I'd try hard to convince him to let me or I would be alone. For the moment, that was kind of routine. Since he cooked more, I noticed that every move I had made imitated his cooking style. Every time my hand landed on something, my touch was as graceful as I could be. Behind me, I heard a noise, but it could just be something that had fallen off the counter. Near the corner of my eye, a hand lifted. I looked up to find that Ozario was holding a strawberry near my face.

"What is this? You're actually cooking," Onyx asked, sarcastically smirking?

I put some soup on the spoon and blew it up. I stuffed it in Ozario's mouth while it was still a little open. It was supposed to shut him up, but I wanted him to taste it too. Because of my sudden action, the confused Ozario randomly placed his index finger on his lips, and his cheeks began to glow red. I smiled at him, trying to hold my giggling back. He smiled back at me, then sat down behind the countertop.

"Miso soup? It's great, Cati," he complimented.

I turned back to watch the pot. "How long have you been watching me," I asked?

"A while," Ozario answered. He tapped his fingers on the table. "I can see that you paid attention incredibly well. It's impressive. I didn't think you've noticed that much of me."

"I always notice you, just like you always notice me," I reminded him.

I turned off the soup and walked to the counter to start cutting some fruit. As I picked up the knife, ready to slice, Ozario grabbed my hand in a hurry. I gawked at him in surprise. Onyx relaxed, then let go of my hand. I was looking at him, confused. Did I scare him? I had given my focus back to fruit, cutting up a few.

Ozario made me feel a little uncomfortable about this. He kept staring like he hoped nothing bad would happen. My mind was so deeply focused on the unnerving feeling of his eyes, which also started holding my hands back from doing what I wanted to do. I tried hard to focus on cutting until Ozario put his hand over mine again.

"I must be scaring you. You almost cut your finger," Onyx informed.

I looked down at the knife bent a little from Ozario's hand that covered mine. I shook my head, shrugged. "Uh… I'm sorry," I breathed out.

Ozario responded, "You don't have to apologize for this. You say that for nothing. I'm the one who freaked you out. I'm going to give you some space. 'Bout to go read, kay?"

I nodded and Onyx left with wobbling legs in a split second. My brows knitted together. I know that I saw him wobble. In any case, I went back to cutting, which now felt much easier. That was the first time I had ever experienced so much tension from him. I wonder what was going through his mind, and why was he so afraid of me cutting fruit? Did Alice say something to him? Or what? I looked for honey in a few cabinets. As I reached inside one of them to get the new bottle, a note fell out. To see what it was, I picked it up. On the front, my name was written, so I opened it. It read:

Hold his nose.

"Da freak?" I focused on the words, trying to understand.

I held the note and honey in my hands while walking back to the counter. I set the note down as my eyes followed, and then tried to open the bottle. It was tougher than usual to open it. I took the knife with which I had been using and tried to lift the silver top off a bit. I accidentally sliced across most of my fingers in a miscalculation and dropped the bottle of honey. All four of my fingers began to sting and ooze blood as the honey spread slowly across the floor. Hold his nose! It rang my mind. Hold his nose! In my thoughts, the note just kept repeating until I looked up and squeezed my healthy hand onto Ozario's nose. He felt ice cold in my pinching fingers. His eyes were tightly shut and squeezed.

Ozario held my waist, then gently pushed my hand away from him. Onyx shook his head and began making noises like sneezing. He backed himself up from me, covering his nose, bumping into a counter. When Onyx opened his eyes at last, they were a deep, rich black. I looked down and saw my blood running to the tips of my fingers on my hurt hand. With my other hand, I covered it. My heart started to pound heavily, causing my body to throb with every beat. I started to hear unusual sounds. Something like another heartbeat I heard pulsing really fast and harsh. It came from the chest of Ozario. Focusing there, I could hear the blood in his veins moving like a thick stream of water in a tunnel. I had become slightly more afraid.

Hesitant, Ozario release his face, ever so gingerly took my arm, and started running cool water in the kitchen sink. Onyx shoved my hand in to clean off the blood. After trembling, his body began to relax a little as he looked into my eyes with a half-hearted smile. His eyes were oozing back to their silver color. Onyx led me to the bathroom and checked for something underneath the cabinet. He brought out a couple of cotton balls and Peroxide, then combined them. I walked closer to him, holding my hand, until Oni took it. He rubbed my wounded hand lightly with the cotton and pulled out some Band-Aids. He placed them, gently, gently, over the scars. His cautious touch was much softer than usual like he was too worried to lay a finger on me.

Ozario sighed. In his eyes, I knew he was disappointed that he almost attacked me. "Are you alright, Cat?"

I shrugged. I guess, I was. It was more frightening to see Ozario in his predator state. I nervously asked, "Are you? You were so… I don't know… different?"

Onyx made a face of sorrow. His inner brows were lifting, and his twinkling eyes were staring down. Ozario fell on his butt to the floor. "I... don't know… I've scorned human blood with a passion since 1851... I don't really want to talk about it..." he replied, burying his face in his hands. "I'm so sorry. I was ugly against you."

I bit my lip and sat down with him on the floor. If, right now, he didn't want to talk about it. I wasn't going to force him. All I could guess was that, because of those past regrets, he hated human blood. That was all I needed to know for now.

"Um… Do you want to help me finish the food in there…please," I pleaded?

Surprise filled Ozario's eyes. He looked up at me and spent a moment thinking about it. We nodded our heads slowly and smiled. We got up from the floor and headed back to the kitchen. I made a traditional home-meal my mom taught me and a mini chocolate cake with fruits on top. Ozario and I spoke about various things that were distracting and mindless, so that he would keep his mind off my hand. For a little while, it worked, but not for me to be honest. I could still hear strange activity... from his body.

The heart of Ozario switched between speeds and even skipped now and then. I still heard his blood sound like partially dense water flowing through pipes or tunnels. Like two warm flesh moist from a bath, his muscles and tissue were rubbing together. Suddenly, I begin to hear the voice of Ozario behind the ones that he just spoke out loud. At this very moment, while he continued talking about spoons and eye colors, I put the fork on the table, listening to all the things Onyx was afraid of.

"It's okay, Ozario. You're not going to harm me. You're not the same man that you were two centuries ago. Keep trying to let go of those troubles. I'm here, okay," I comforted.

Ozario blinked in confusion and lowered his spoon. "What?"

I caught all I had just let out of my mouth. Ozario did not seem to understand me. But didn't Ozario know what he was telling me? He's worried that he might try to hurt me again. Then again, at the same time, he was just talking about spoons and eye colors... So, how did he say that... aaand...? How the freak does talking work? "I don't know... uh... I don't know why I was... I'm going to bed," I've resorted to reply. I hurried to put away my things and stood up.

"But it's, like, One PM. Why are you going now," Onyx questioned?

"Nap time!"

I ran out of the kitchen, ignoring him. After jogging near the window, I stopped. I realized I was listening to the life of nature. Not like normal birds tweeting; more like a soft breeze, as if someone's breath in my ear, blowing. I heard the patter of ant feet on the ground. I walked to the back porch, looking at the area around us. The creek sounded more like an ocean with harsh waves against rocks. The minerals were scraping against each other. I heard the flapping of the wings of a bird with the following sound of airflow through its feathers. And the insects that crawled ten miles from where I stood. My stomach was churning in fear. What's going on with me? I heard Ozario walking slowly from the kitchen to me. His skin sounded sticky to the wood like the wood was trying to hold him but kept failing to.

Ozario stood beside me and asked, "Cat, what's going on?"

His voice sounded so perfect, an enchanting god-like sound. That lowered my left brow. My attention was focused on his lips. Until now, I had never noticed the way he adorably lisped. I mean, I knew he did, but until now, it wasn't as accentuated. He made good use of his resonators too. | I thought at first that it sounded as lovely as a Shakespearean love story. He could actually comprehend the language as if he had lived through that period of time, but he didn't. I was wrong to think that, and in a way, it was kind of cliché. Since I had this opportunity to notice his voice better, sometimes when he wasn't trying to adapt to today's slang, I began to think of things that he would say to me. Despite understanding both of them very well, it was easier for him to read Edgar's stories compared to Shakespeare's stories. He had a gift for using the intellectual language, even though he hadn't used it all the time. His speech leaned more on the stories by Edgar Allan Poe, which, if done correctly, the way of it was absolutely beautiful. It was hypnotizing and easier to understand, a different kind of language than Shakespeare. I supposed that's why the time period he was born in was called, the Romantic Era. Edward was the same but he was more formal than Ozario. What made the difference? Why could I hear that clearer now than before. Why? |

"I'm hearing everything…" I answered while my eyes grew larger.

When he touched me, Ozario looked down at my hurt hand. He held it into his palm and whispered, "The loss of your blood…"

Ozario dragged me with him off the porch deck. We ran a little deeper into the woods. Onyx slowly paused and turned towards me. Ozario's hand covered my eyes to help me hear more clearly. This time, I had a lot more to pay attention to. I heard the rustling of the leaves, which sounded like the storms we would get in Forks, when the branches snapped together and the leaves were the rain of crumpled paper. The bugs flying no longer sounded like a buzz, but more like the wing of a bird flapping 1,000 times faster to human ears. More whoosh rather than whistle though. Under Onyx's moving feet, I heard the loud crunch of grass and a bit of squeaking from them. I was listening to the funny thoughts of an animal, which sounded a little strange. Some animals wanted families, some were just waking up, and some animals searched for food. I didn't know how funny it was to hear the prey versus the predator until now. It's kind of dark humor.

The family just realized that Onyx and I were gone. Since Renesmee was studying, I could hear them whispering inside the house. And then, for the first time, I started to hear Edward's thoughts. He was listening to our thoughts. Edward and I were freaked out about this. I mean, we were scared of the new knowledge that I could read his mind now. The two of us had no idea how to explain that.

| Oh, my gosh! Dude, I can hear you, I thought to Edward!

Yes, but that... H-How? That's not good.

My shoulders slumped. Is it supposed to be bad?

I could understand that he was blinking from far away. He thought about my question. I don't know?

Holy shit, I excitedly fangirled in my head! This is craz... |

"What can you hear," Ozario invaded my thoughts by asking me?

"So many things." I smiled. Is this what a vampire hear all the time?

I could hear the feet of travelers crushing the grass and even smell the scent blowing our way eight miles from here, like freshly mowed lawn. Their ideas were far away but easy enough to comprehend. How was I able to hear ideas and decisions from people? I could imagine what they were feeling by listening to the languages of their bodies. Not only that, but while my eyes were covered, for some reason, I could see Ozario as a kid. He looked just like he did behind me, thinner and a little less mighty. He stood in front of some burning buildings and the outdoor wooden stage. His brother kept trying to move him, but Ozario wasn't going to budge. He looked so... livid. His young eyes were red and the flames were burning brightly through the irises. I could hear that Oni was talking to himself.

"I… will kill them… I will kill them all… and never let these people suffer again. Never… Never… Never… Nev…" he repeated over and over.

- Flash into Ozario's deep thoughts/Sneak Peek of Life vol 1 -

I was twitchy. I was twitchy. I was livid. I was talking about revolutionary ideas and ways of killing those sick bastards. My blood was boiling like fire and then ran immediately cold. My heart shut down. But I couldn't hear Enriqué's voice over my sick thoughts; I could not see Enriqué shaking me and screaming at me to pull me out! A grim cheese spread crossed my face, and my eyes could only see blood red... the blood red sky.

That ban of the exiled killed my neighbors, my friends, my cathedral, my pastor and his wife, my parents, my mama… My mother. My mother! My mother! My motherfucking mother is gone! You robbed me of my father! You stole what we just created! There was so much to aim for! So much he was just about to show me! So many questions to ask! I hadn't had time to...! My home is dead! My got-damn home is dead! Dead, dead, DEAD dead, FUCKING DEAD, Dead, dead! I thought of the head I had cut off long ago. That clan stole everything from us! If only it was over before this. Dammit!

My senses became acute, sight and smell. Enriqué finally moved away from me because he was pulled back by Joshua. I dismissed their facial expressions, for I knew that if I saw them, they would immediately stop my vengeance. More than anything, I wanted a sword, a knife or a gun like my father would have usually worn. I yearned for one to find then murder each of those bastards who had the audacity to take everything! I don't care if this town looked down on me. I don't care about the traumas and punishments I had to face. They killed the things that mattered most to me, and that gives me the right to take from them what's as valuable. My arm was stiff, and my hand suddenly felt heavy. I looked down to find a rapier sword like my father's in my fist. Lovingly, I grinned a malicious grin. Perfect.

"This agony is not over, my family. I'll return to you once I've completed what I mean to do. "

"Please, Ozzi, this you should not do," Henry kindly pleaded to me.

I dashed through the forest away from my brother and friend, who called after me. The stench of that maldito clan was strong in the air. Their scent was unbearably strong, but easy to find them. When I finally came to a halt, I sensed my enemies were close and stood behind a tree. I found them huddled, singing and drinking in a circle. Those buffoons. They hadn't even journeyed far enough to celebrate with drinks. Take all kinds of sinful delights. It's your last.

I had found 15 female survivors behind them. The faces of the women were nervous, and hopelessly, miserable and afraid. They were all chained as slaves together. The two lassies I rescued before were also caught. They saw me in the distance behind the tree, the look on their faces was terror but now with some hope.

Some of the men were about to take turns with all of my town's most beautiful damsels. The women all panicked. One of the girls I saved looked at me. Shh. One man yanked the arm of a pale hair woman, which made the chain rip a piece of her skin off. I heard her blood drip out and the multiple white cells coming to slowly repair her small wound. Her heart pounded wildly, leading mine to do the same thing. It was the stimulus that forced me to be brave. This made me strong enough to get my vengeance and inspiration for these women to be rescued. Her blood's smell was very attractive. My throat swelled and dried. What's the meaning of this? Could this have been the feeling my father would get, or those other vampires would get, when they were ready to feed? I touched my throat, and my nose wrinkled. Upon seeing where the two female friends were ogling, a man spotted me.

The man was grimacing. "What the fuck? How are you still alive?! You just won't die, will you," he screamed with a vile voice.

The man threw the bleeding girl onto the ground. She immediately crawled back to the other women. I glided through the trees and through the bushes. All the members of the black-coated group were standing on their feet. Those who had a pounding heart sent wonderful vibes to my veins. The moment a smirk crossed my face, they laughed at me for my slender figure. Their hearts, however, punched their chests harder. I heard the gross sound of one man swallowing his saliva in terrific fear. That one pointed his cross bow to me before his allies to fake his boldness.

I sent him a long icy glare. The head of that vampire I decapitated long ago was implanted into my brain. His morbid, pale eyes I had once stared into rose the adrenaline in me higher. All I could think about was wanting to do the same to these people who truly deserved it. I wanted this man's own bow that he pointed at me to turn towards his neck and betray him. Gradually, I caused the metal bow to atrociously and excruciatingly behead him. Slowly, slowly. In utter fear, he shouted until, finally, he shut the hell up. The scent of the wet dog, urine, and the blood of the dead man afterward filled my nose. The blood was splattered everywhere. The members had numerously priceless, horrific, and lovely responses, which fueled my fury. You don't deserve to be scared. This was all your doing. Karma is horrible, innit? That's what my dark shadow was looking for – to avenge my home! It felt incredible to be this destructive, this bad. It was entertainment! I had so much more in store for them.

Let's begin. I impressively, cleverly wiped out a few of them. When my throat started burning from all the blood splashing upon my face from the wolves, I became a little curious about the taste. So, with my teeth, I tore the neck of a member right off his body. His blood splashed on my lips and I... liked it. The wolves' blood stunned my nose miserably, such a horrible smell, but that part I overlooked. I… planned to kill them all, okay?

Up to that point, I hadn't realized how ravenously thirsty I was. The blood I drank from the wolves gave me a huge surge of energy. A great power! It's like all this time I had missed something and it was this! Their blood gave me more knowledge: the things they knew and were great at, I stole it all. I used their own skills against them with strategy like my mother taught me. As I continued to destroy the exiled and their new members, my strength had become vigorous!

I blasted a clan member and as if my blast was a portal, I zipped through it to cut off his head, instead transform into a silver wolf and ripped it off. Because of the blood I drank, my internal wolf had been freed and strong. The knowledge I absorbed from the wolves, how they transformed and how to control their part, helped me get a hold on my new look. I could never have dreamed I could turn into a pure white beast! I was magnificent! The remaining six clan members were getting ready to shoot me down, I growled at them and dash towards them. By the time they shot their pistols and crossbows, I had vanished.

Unexpected to them, I shifted in and out of transformation, killing every last one, taking the blood from those who had any to share. Once I was through with everyone, I looked around me. The eyes… their eyes! They all stared at me! I couldn't stand it but couldn't stop myself either… I was covered in blood. Ugh, yuck! Quickly, I gathered and burned the bodies to hell. My hands were colored by the dripping red. That I began to hate more and more as I thought about what I had done to them. Oh… Dios mío… I… I've got… I'm cursed…

From the corner of my eyes, I looked at the women behind me. I wiped off my face and licked my fingers. I cautiously walked over to them and tried to soften my expression. My new-found lust for blood was still raging within me. It didn't help them to fear me now, because my dark side was inflamed by their terrified eyes. I had to carefully remove their chains so I wouldn't hurt them. Just tap and run, Ozzi. Tap and run. The two girls I had previously saved kneeled down to take my hands. I couldn't bring myself to stop loving their fearful expressions, as frightened and as cautious as they were. This is not how my mother raised me. This was not who I was. How could I feel this way? It's disgusting. I hate it but blood is so good.

- End of flashnack/Sneak Peek of Life vol 1 -

Ozario appeared disappointed in himself by the end of the vision and buried his head in the dirt. His body shook, trying to calm down from the adrenaline, in the flashback. In the present day, I started shaking in Ozario's hand and pushed him away. Onyx backed up. He was startled by my behavior and looked worried. I loosened my fearful expression, trying to un-see everything I just witnessed. He was truly a murderer and one worse than death. I tried to speak, but it was so hard. He was so young in the vision. If he was that terrifying, what can he do now?

Forcing my mouth, I began letting out everything I could, "Ozario, I-I heard your heart, and blood, and all of your body's inner movements. I heard your thoughts and everyone else's who is nearby, even the animals, too! And, I… I-I saw… I saw everything you did to that clan centuries ago. You know, the ones who destroyed your town. I don't know how, but… I did that with Aro before, too."

Ozario became completely still. His heart stopped when he heard my words. "Uh… I… Catalina, you're joking, right?"

With my tears developing, I shook my head. They wrestled against me. My tears began sliding down my cheeks as my attempts to hold them back were defeated. No matter what I tried, my body was still quivering. "I saw how you killed them."

I didn't want Ozario to worry any more than I had made him after that. I only wanted his heart to start working again. I could hear the spirals of his thoughts. Everything went blank in his head because of my tears and then he started to freak out even worse. I could sense an increase in tension and horrible nervousness in his body. The thing that made his thoughts more frightening was that his mind did not know how to prevent me from crying. His inner panic was worrisome.

"Cat, please, don't cry? I'm sorry you saw that. I wish I could… I wish I knew how to make you stop. I'm sorry." Ozario tried to reach out to me, but he became overwhelmed with more worry that he pulled back.

Onyx really felt a great deal of anxiety, which I didn't think he had ever expressed before. I walked up to him and gave him a tight hug to try and calm him down again. Ozario also held me. He snuggled me. We could feel each other tremendously shiver. I stopped crying eventually, and we relaxed. He cooed soothing things to me.

I didn't stop crying because of our hug, though. I stopped crying because I started to see Ozario's memories as a butler of the Orchid residence in Italy. The family seemed to have adored him and his brother, Hen, so much. Ozario always acted for the young daughter of the place as a nurturer. He would join them when she had a couple of playmates over and make them laugh all the time. Ozario would make clothes for the little girl merrily and be her guest at the tea party. Seeing this, I smiled and released him.

"You must really like kids," I blurted, mainly to sort of settle what just happened!

Onyx tilted his head. "Huh?" He was confused. First, I said I saw him kill people, and then the next, I told him he loved children. That would be rather odd.

I shrugged and smiled. "You as a butler."

Ozario smiled at me, wiping my left eye with his thumb. His mind finally relaxed and slowly faded away to the point where I could no longer hear anything. I wiped my ear on my shoulder, because all those sounds had left a funny feeling in it. I believed the creepiness was over. I took the hand of Ozario, and we went back to the house.

"Can you still hear everything? See anything," he asked?

I guess, he wanted to check up on how I was doing. I scratched my neck and replied, "The noises and voices have stopped. Ozario, I think I've been doing something strange. I can read minds like Edward, and I can see things like you said Aro can do. It just happened all of a sudden. Like, the last time Aro showed up, I saw a woman who looked exactly like me when he touched my hand. Turns out that I saw the memories of him and his past lover. Kind of gross, but I guess it's cool. I've learned that she was my ancestor and the reason I'm living today. Ambrosia Isis is the reason for the existence of vampires. Crazy." I thought up a hypothesis. "I... So... I think it's got something to do with my blood?"

Ozario stopped. "What do you mean?"

"When we met, I had no powers." I looked at the bite wound on my forearm. "After Caius had bit me and Aro had grabbed my hand, using his power to see my past, I could see his memories at the same time. Perhaps it is my loss of blood," I theorized.

Ozario frowned and groaned. "I thought that too... You mean, it's possible that the only way to use your new-found ability is to bleed to death…" He aggressively shook his head and mumbled, "Depressing. I couldn't even… imagine you having to suffer like that. No way."

"Aw. That is depressing," I whined.

Onyx looked at me with a sad face. He hadn't meant to make me feel bad about it. He bite his lip to think and then happily told me, "You know, I initially thought vampires existed over some vampire-bat bite." Ozario chuckled.

"Did you really believe that," I asked?

Ozario thought over it and then shook his head slowly. "No, I guess not. It's kind of stupid. We should ask the Diviners what really happened. They are right in front of the door."

Ozario and I stepped inside the house. Alice and the fates rushed to hug me. I tried to pull my arms out and hug them back, but it was too hard. They really had me in a strong hold. Actually, it was quite painful…TOO PAINFUL…CAN'T BREATHE. Finally, they let me go and I fell back on the floor, inhaling an enormous whiff of air.

Urdur knelt beside my head. "Sorry," She giggled and said, "We are just sooo excited! We know you finally unlocked your cool new powers! Well, technically, you had them before but..."

"What," I asked in a very difficult voice to explain? Let's say it was stuck between exhaling and trying to inhale at the same time.

Urdur cringed.

Edward clarified for me, "You read my thoughts a second ago. I didn't know how to respond to that. No one, but Aro, has ever done that to me before."

Oooohh… Is that why it's a bad thing? I stood back up with the help of Verdandi. "Uh," I panted. "I… Honestly, I didn't know I could. Apparently, I've got your ability, and also Aro's. But I don't know why. I always had this assumption that a power was based on the way a person previously lived, or most remembered, or already had like Alice. But, me, I always thought I wouldn't have one or had a common ability like resistance, like The Volturi pointed out a few months ago."

Verdandi rested her arm on my shoulder. "Well," She stated, "Let's see... In your life, what's the main thing you've learned during survival training?"

Shrugging, I thought about it. "How to adapt to new circumstances and attempt to resist certain powers that would harm me. I was taught by my mom how to do that. I remember a vampire who was trying to make her implode, and all she did was laugh," I answered. "Somehow, once, I managed to reflect an attack. Whenever I needed to escape, I relied on doing that."

Verdandi exclaimed, "Exactly! Reflect an attack! Wait… Your mom did what now?"

Skuld shook her head, then proceeded to where Verdandi had left off. "Nevermind that, darling. Allow me to finish. You were trained to adapt to circumstances and resist powers, correct? You must have been trained by your adaptable attitude, desires and other lessons as well to be a copycat and crazy absorbent. Take something in and, as you said, reflect it back. You can endure any bodily pain by thinking that it must be imaginative and can backfire the same power against your opponents. You should be able to steal the ability of other individuals as a defensive and combative talent. Clever, huh," she thoroughly explained? She concentrated on my eyes, wowed by the new knowledge.

Urdur gasped! "The power of absorption!"

Verdandi's eyes widen. "Whoa! So rare."

I wiggled my nose a little. "That's…" I mumbled, "A bit unimpressive," I shrugged. "Sounds like an overly powerful ability. It kind of sucks," I commented. "Plus, if it's a defensive and combative talent, what's the point in stealing Edward's and Aro's power. Their power only hurts nothing but people's feelings and privacy. Like what do I need to hide besides the fact that I wet the bed some months ago?"

Eddy gave me a neutral look. "I'm not that useless." Edward paused to think for a second. "Wait. What?"

My eyes bulged. "Nothing."

Ozario covered his mouth, so he wouldn't laugh.

Bella chuckled a little. "Your power doesn't suck... That's awesome," She complimented!

I shrugged. "Highly doubt it. If my ability is truly that powerful, then it makes me an OP - Uh, overpowered - vampire, particularly if I have no limitations... Well. It's a little cool, I guess, but what's the point if I can't even fight because I've finished it already? And who can train me to use a gift like that? You heard Verdandi, it's rare. Seriously, tell me one person with an ability like I have, who any of you may know. If there's no one to help, then it's even lamer 'cause I can't even use it. I wouldn't know how."

Everyone in the room started thinking about it. It seemed like they had a troubling time trying to find one person as powerful as I was supposed to be. Henry started pointing his hand at his younger brother. I looked at Ozario, who was blushing and shaking his head 'no' to Hen. Onyx was pointing at me until he stopped and realized that I was smirking at him. Ozario looked away with wide eyes. I raised an eyebrow and turned to Edward to see if he knew anything. He was shocked and laughed at them. He mouthed, "Wow!"

"Ozario, I think you know someone," I confronted, crossing my arms.

Henry started, chuckling. "Yes, a CEO named, Meridia. She is our old-."

"Shut up," Ozario yelled, causing Henry to crack up even more!

Esme placed her hands on her hips. "We don't use those words in this house, Ozario."

Onyx bawled up. "Sorry, Miss Mom." he glowered at his older brother.

"Meridia," I whispered to myself?

"I'll call her," Henry volunteered!

The others were chatting. Verdandi started laughing at Onyx. Skuld sat by Henry, who searched through his phone. He walked out of the room for a little while. Skuld, smiling and blushing, looked up at me. I saw Urdur beaming with shimmering eyes. Between me and her, Alice made a disgusted face. I began to make a confused face towards them all. Finally, it had just become awkward to stare like this. Even Edward started staring with a worried, narrow-eyed, funny face between me and the nervous, shaking-legged Ozario. Something was obviously about to go down...

Skuld jumped up in glee. I'd never seen so much emotion in her. She cheered, "Yay! We are going to a brothel in Alexandria, Egypt!"

My eyes widened, and I slowly looked toward Onyx.

Ozario face palmed, getting even redder in the cheeks.

"Greeeaaat… My old-," he decreased into a low whisper.

Henry came back, laughing. He happily announced, "Seems like our buddies are excited to see you again, kiddo."

Oni sighed and then smiled. "Oh, if Miss Mom wasn't here, I'd hurt you," he angrily murmured with a creepy grin.

"Isn't that illegal in Egypt," Rosalie inquired?

Hen clarified, "Yes, but in very, very small areas of Alexandria where not too many people know about it, people still get it on. Meridia's brothel, however, has become so incredibly important that she is at high risk of getting arrested. She can, however, help Catherine control her powers! She's got the same defensive ability that she calls, absorption, too. She copied Ozario's talent using skin to skin contact."

"Catherine," I repeated, pointing at myself. Henry was the only one calling me by another Spanish version of my name. I paused and let Henry's words seep in for a sec. I shouted, "Wait! Skin to Skin?!"

I looked at Ozario, but he had already disappeared. Henry nodded, laughing incredibly hard. "He probably didn't want you to meet her for that reason. We used to work there, and she's an old boss of ours. I was an assistant to Meridia ... but Ozario was a..." Henry began cracking up again.

I gasped and covered my mouth. Ozario worked as a prostitute?! What is with this guy and his job picking? First, a freaking serial killer, then he works as an actual freak in the sheets! This was a lot to process… Wait. Ozario has a power after all! What is it? Did I see it in my memory? The sword he used on those men, wasn't it?!

"Ozario has a sword! He is a swordsman," I shouted in amazement!

Henry nodded with a funny face, which meant I hadn't quite got it. "Kind of, Catherine. Metal is a component of his whole body. Ozario is a weapon, period: his shields, his guns, his arrows, his metal poison, and his swords. All metal, especially silver, is what he utilizes in combat. That's why I'm glad he's with the Cullens and you. If my brother goes back into the wrong gang, he'll be nothing more than a dangerous, lethal weapon." Henry was swallowed by a dark and ugly face. He must've been reminded of the hitman thing and of Astrid.

My smile dropped. I looked at the floor in fear of Henry's words. The memory of Ozario and the words of Henry made me realize that Onyx had been used as a weapon too many times, which must be why he became so guarded and strange. His brother must also be fed up. Before that, Onyx was so innocent ... But then, the death of his parents, his ruined town, Edgar's death, his old hitman job, his ex-fiancé, and this new brothel knowledge must have most horrifically corrupted him. Well, probably not the brothel. Who can get upset after a good time? I suppose if the... thing... was bad then maybe. Any way ... Worse of all, the job of the hitman and Astrid was just trying to exploit him and use him for his power. Why did he give them his power? How could anyone, particularly if that person is your fiancé, be so cruel to use someone like that? I made a determined face and assured myself. Ozario, I will not let anybody use you as long as you're with me. Not even myself.

"But, Astrid," shouted Ozario, coming downstairs!

"I can't believe you're still talking to… her! Catalina, sure! The fates are fine! But, her," Astrid yelled, running after him?

"Ugh! It won't be for long," Ozario argued back!

"You have Cat, now! So, you better not look at her big ass," she fussed!

I started to get a little discouraged. I looked at my butt in the window, and I envisioned Meridia with this enormous back. Sadly, I sighed; this mysterious woman could be hotter than me a thousand times. I mean, Ozario knows all these beautiful people already, and let's face it, a lot of Egyptians are hot no matter how fat they choose to get ... Well, to me. My friend Laura, in fact, was born in Egypt and moved to Japan a little earlier than I did. Could I call for some etiquette pointers, perhaps? She was also unbelievably gorgeous and fun. I miss her. If Ozario ever met her, I'm afraid he might detach all of his feelings for me and move on to her.

"Whaa? Meridia and I were never on that level! She was like a soccer mom rooting for her babies on the field. Even the training was something else... I won't even tell you. By the way, being highly doubtful because I could care less about her, especially since Catalina is 100% hotter than she is," Ozario corrected Astrid. He crossed his arms and mumble, "Besides, I never even came close to first base."

I whispered to Henry, "But, I thought you said-."

"I thought so too," Henry whispered back. "Oh! I mean, the kiss. But I guess not." He shrugged.

I sunk my head down, feeling ashamed about thinking so dirty.

Astrid placed her hand on her hip and sassily stated, "That's a lie. You love girls with D cups and Cati is only a C! You also have a fetish for belly rings!"

Ozario gasped. "What?" His voice cracked, "I-I-I. That's private, Astrid!"

Henry started laughing again. "Remember when you first got along with her… and, and you kept tripping up after that. How do you fall when you've already fell," He asked, placing a hand on his chin?

Ozario put his hand over his face and growled. "Why are you guys ganging up on me and TELLING ALL MY BUSINESS! Besides, Catalina does have a belly ring…" he argued. Onyx smirked afterwards.

I gasped and pulled my shirt up a bit to look at my belly. I had a yin and yang attached to my belly button. How did he know I had this?! I didn't show him! Oh … Wait. Ozario has seen me naked twice now. Jerk! Don't drag me into this! My belly needs to stay private! I shoved my shirt back down and glowered at him. Onyx rolled his eyes and placed his hands on his hips.

At our ridiculous chatter, the Cullens could only laugh. Once we decided to take this trip to help get my abilities in order, school was out of the question. I left a message for my friends to let them know that things would be okay. Two days later, we boarded a plane to Egypt to visit this character, Meridia. I sort of liked her already. She sounded kind of cool, and she seemed to like the Fates a lot! In this family, I trusted the advice of many people, especially Ozario and The Diviners. For Renesmee, Jacob came with us too. He was sitting behind Onyx and me, and on the plane, we kept teasing people. Ozario joined in too and then Esme made us stop. It was cool to be on the plane and pinpoint who was a vampire and who was human.

Jacob felt uncomfortable around the outside vampires. "This is going to be a long ride."

"Jac, my boy, it's been a long few months," I uttered. "I bet they think I'm fresh meat. Get your cabab here!"

"Cat, stop," Ozario cracked up!

I blinked. "Oh, I guess that was dumb, huh? My bad."

Jacob chuckled, I heard a few of the Cullens giggle too. After chatting, I fell asleep on Ozario a few times. The whole ride there, he seemed extremely calm. I kept thinking about how much I knew about the Cullens and how they got together. I was still trying to learn exactly who Alice is, and I think I could tell her about her past life with Meridia's help if she ever wanted to know. The background of Ozario and Henry, the Fates, and Astrid was almost unknown... like myself to them.

Well, I had a chance to learn that Ozario was a hitman, a prostitute, a fiancé, a musician, and a butler all by himself. What was Henry if all this time he was living next to his baby brother? The Fates were a strange group of great friends. They seemed to like that they wouldn't be separating anytime soon. They're not exactly family, but a group of friends who have worked for centuries for my family. Ambrosia was somehow helped by them. I wanted to understand a few more things before landing.

"Does Henry have a power," I mumbled my question to Onyx? I laid on his chest, looking up at him.

Lifting his head off his right hand, Ozario looked over at his brother, "Yes, he's been a wonderful big brother for years. This might not be an ability for everyone else, but he took the place of my parents to watch over me. His power is Riri's persistence, and his speech is his weapon. Like Jasper, he is highly skilled in combat. Therefore, before anyone else, he taught me how to fight. He makes a good leader when he takes control of a team and he is a good man. I look up to him, even though our relationship really didn't exist back then but I'm glad it became a thing ... Why?"

"I just wanted to know about you two as a family. What jobs did he take on?" I questioned.

Ozario chuckled. I think he was beginning to notice that I had become sleepy again. His lips twisted. With an eyebrow raised, he grinned a little. "Would you rather I bore you with our life stories?" he challenged.

"I doubt you could but go for it." I accepted, smiling.

Ozario took me up on that, "Hmm… Kay. As children..."

"Oh, gosh... Long story. Ugh! Then you are 200. Geezuz." I groaned. "Alright, let me get comfy." I pulled the blanket on me.

Ozario laughed and then continued, "My brother would steal me from our mother in the morning, after we had a better relationship. We'd run around the streets, jump on carriages, and recently invented, bad-sucking automobiles. He'd take me to this store and motivate me to get this one special harp. I had too small a hand for a guitar, and I had less interest than Henry in the violin. But this harp fitted my hands perfectly, and it sounded so beautiful. It was small so ... Riri knew this, so he helped me earn it. Together, we worked hard to succeed by dancing and singing around the town. So, street performers? Finally, we gained the money for it by the town's pastor. Later, Riri set me up with my first friend, who could help me practice. A boy named, Joshua. He and I decided to do classy performances in front of crowds, for my brother. We did a fantastic job and, since then, my whole class kept playing music and stuff to see citizens smile. I remember we played so well once, birds came perching on our stage. My brother sat at the edge that day, playing his violin. Always my lucky charm, my number one fan… But, on that same day, the gang ran into town, destroying everything." Ozario started revealing a depressed and dark look, like his brother had shown two days ago.

He continued. "The people knew about my family's immortality, the town was a kind of sanctuary? They protected it from the outsiders. Our parents have always tried to protect us and other people. Sadly, that day, Riri and I lost them. That day, no one could've been saved as hoped. Our hometown was completely gone. We saw the rubble, and I didn't know what to do. Angrily, I got revenge for my home; although, Henry told me not to. The gang was a bunch of werewolves and vampires my brother and I encountered twice in the past. For destroying them, my punishment was the scar of my first taste of blood… being addicted to it. We left…Years later, me, I was a killer for the sake to satisfy…" He paused.

"… Satisfy," I uttered sadly.

Ozario blinked and snapped out of the thoughts in his head. "I despise it, now. Before I became the contract executioner, I worked as a tailor... More like a janitor. The boss was racist against Afro-Americans and Hispanics. In fact, he sent a hit on me, which is how I became a hitman. Henry was a cobbler then. I'm glad not at the same shop. Edgar recently made fame and was loved by people. I even got the chance to meet him on my way to kill another murderer."

"… Dang," I said, yawning.

He patted my head and chuckled. "Yes, I worked as his secret assistant as a cover up for my other job. He learned about it and told me the same thing you said, 'It wasn't me.' He and my brother told me I needed to do things for myself and not out of pain. Poe wrote Tell Tale-Heart to stop me and, of course, you know I lost him. I didn't listen. After I took care of the men who killed him, my brother asked if I was happy. Nope, not at all…Anyway. After, we met Astrid. It was Henry who was supposed to date her but somehow, I got involved with her instead. We were the CEO of our own ballroom and Riri took the role as a manager at the time. I just wanted to play the harp and be happy. Later, running from that life, we met Meridia. Henry was her assistant and I…Well." Onyx paused to think of something.

"Henry told me." I smirked.

Ozario growled a little and carried on, "I was her servant, then I took the spot of a prostitute because someone quit. Reluctantly, but needed the money, so I took it. It offered a lot more."

"So you really did it before," I asked from surprise?

Ozario breathed in and smiled wider. "Is it odd sitting next to a skilled man."

"Whoa!" I couldn't contain my laughter after that one.

"Alright, alright." Ozario nodded. "I've done plenty and trust me... It changes a person. We left there and a man found us. We entered the home of a wealthy old man and his young child in Italy. Riri and I took up the job as butlers. Some stranger thought we were monsters, so we had to leave again. We went back to America and worked as medical assistants, then transferred to actual soldiers and fought in World War 1. Then, we became mailmen, but I got involved with Astrid again after one of my runs. Henry stopped me, and she went crazy, so we moved to Forks. I pitied her, then. We worked at a fabric store and I taught some kids how to sew, since I learned when my mother was alive, and the tailor shop gave me tricks, and when I made dresses for my ex-employer's daughter. Henry worked as a clerk and guide for the kids. We'd take them to a nearby playground for recess since we practically babysat them every day. I started getting a completely different outlook on myself and decided a change was needed… So, I somehow managed to get stuck in a teen state of mind. Well at least, that's what my brother says. He also assumes it's why kids like me so much. We met the Cullens at our store, but we didn't officially move in with them when we got to Forks. It was a few years later, after the wolves attacked us, then the volturi attacked me, and then we had no place to stay. Our house burned down because Henry tried to cook one night."

I tried to laugh but I started dozing off like the adorable Asian baby I saw on Facebook once. My head kept nodding from side to side and my smile was weak. Eventually, my head and eyelids felt crazy heavy. My body started to droop. I still tried fighting it, so I could stay up and listen to the rest of the story. Ozario got hotter and cozier. He wrapped his left arm around me and I could hear him giggle a bit. Sleep had finally defeated me.