Hello.

Sorry that it took me WAY too long to finally update this story. I had it halfway written out for ages but I just didn't know how to continue (and if it really makes sense what I have planned for the story). I haven't forgotten yet about this story and I don't plan on abandoning it even though I might not update regularily.

I hope some of you are still interested. Thank you anyway for all your kind reviews, your follows and your favorites. They really pushed me to finally finish this chapter.

It's not very long (sorry again) and not very heavy on the romance side of things but I need it for the plot so please bear with me for a little bit longer.

Next thing coming up might have something to do with the Cullens.

Anyway thanks again for still reading. If you have any suggestions, (constructive) critique, anything really I'd love to hear about it.

~Bella's POV~

"So this is basically going to be a vampire history lesson, right?" Jane and I sit – snuggled up in a super comfy chair- in the library of Volturi castle.

The blonde raises an eyebrow at my description but nods. "Feel free to tell me what you already know though."

She still doesn't believe that this is my first 'contact' with vampires. I want to confide in her but there is still a chance that the Cullens could suffer from it and I can't risk that.

Because of that, I only nod and smile at her trying to hide my conflicting emotions.

Jane's eyes pierce through me and for a moment I forget how to breathe. She's the most beautiful creature on earth.

"Anyway, no one really knows the very beginnings of the vampire race. Our similarities with humans suggest the normal process of evolution though."

Jane stops herself and takes one of my hands in her own letting her thumb circling over my palm.

"If you have any questions along the way feel free to ask and if it gets too much please tell me so, Isabella. The last thing I want to do is frighten you."

A grin spreads across my face and I quickly kiss her on the cheek. She really cares about me and my wellbeing.

"No worries, Jane! You and your world fascinate me far too much too scare me away so easily." She clears her throat clearly startled from my earlier action. After a small moment the blonde continues like nothing happened.

"Vampires possess enhanced senses, speed and strength. They are strongest at the earliest stage of their 'new life' because their own human blood is still in the vampire's blood cycle.

In addition some vampires have unique abilities. Master Aro, for example, can read every thought you ever had by touching you. These abilities are not distributed randomly but are already existent in your human life and strengthened with the vampire transformation."

I try to remember everything she's telling me and compare it with what the Cullens already told me about vampires.

"As you probably already guessed vampires do not need to consume food or water and cannot digest either. To keep your strength vampires do have to drink blood. Both animal and human blood is able to uphold the main body functions but due to our resemblance with humans their blood is the most nourishing and the preferred diet of most vampires. Human blood also allows us to sustain our hunger longer than animal blood."

I can't help but to stop her. "Why do you kill humans though if you could just drink from animals? Are there other vampires who don't drink human blood?"

"Well apart from the reasons I explained earlier, humans do not have any other natural enemies apart from us. Shifting our food income to animals completely could soon lead to the extermination of certain animal races because we would need to consume more blood to control our hunger. Human population is then able to grow infinitely large which would put a strain on both the earth and its other inhabitants."

I can't help but to agree with her on some level. Still, the killing of people when there are other alternatives just seems… wrong.

"But the humans you kill may have families or other people that care for them or are dependent on them."

Jane nods taking my argument into serious consideration.

"That may very well be true, Isabella, but killing animals can also disrupt families which could lead to even worse results because there is no 'social system' to support these families. If you kill a bear today it's quite possible you condemn its cubs to die from hunger because they cannot feed themselves yet."

I only notice now that we've gravitated even closer together. My arm is around Jane's shoulders and her hand still caresses mine with her feather light touches.

She still regards me with a seriousness I've never seen directed at me before. No belittlement or annoyance at my question.

"Our skin structure differs greatly from the human one making it nearly impossible to damage it permanently. The only reliable way to kill a vampire is to rip their body to pieces and burn them. Due to our mentioned abilities though we do not have many natural enemies other than other vampires which has lead to many wars within the vampire society over the centuries with the most famous one being the war between the Romanians and the Volturi during which the Volturi clan gained their power and influence."

Jane pauses to look at me seemingly searching for a sign of discomfort or fear. Upon finding none she squeezes my hand gently and continues.

"As I mentioned before we do not have many natural enemies but they do in fact exist. There are two main supernatural groups of creatures which are not…vampire friendly, you could say.

The first group is the fairy folk. Fae normally have wings and look, like us, human. Due to their very short life span they always try to prolong their existence by stealing other people's energy and sometimes completely taking over their bodies which is made possible by their ability to use all sorts of magic. Their jealousy regarding our immortality makes them resentful against vampires especially, though they do not react kindly to any creatures at all. At present they are nearly extinct because of obvious reasons. Their fire magic especially still remains a threat to vampires regardless of their small numbers now though."

Trying to absorb as much information as possible I only nod letting her know she can continue.

"Next to the fae there is only one other creature which remains a threat to us: werewolves.

Werewolves, or you might also call them children of the moon, are nearly extinct nowadays. Nevertheless, an encounter with one always ends deadly one way or another. Their strength surpasses even our own and their bite has the potential to incapacitate a vampire immediately."

I hold up a hand stopping her explanation. "Why would a werewolf bite knock a vampire out? You're invulnerable, right?"

Jane nods her head approvingly. "Yes, theoretically there is nearly nothing capable of injuring one of our own, however a werewolf bite works in a way similar to a vampire's.

Both inject a specific type of venom into the victim's body. The difference is though that whereas vampire venom stops cell division completely, werewolf venom speeds it up resulting in their superior strength and ability to heal very quickly.

If werewolf venom is induced into a vampire's body, it is unable to speed up anything because any proliferation has already stopped. Instead it focuses on the body's last 'weak spot': the brain. While it cannot actually 'restart' cell division, the toxic is able to create something like an illusion of it. It's extremely painful and renders the vampire completely helpless making them an easy target. If they are not killed in this situation, it will lead to the vampire becoming insane because of the continued exposure to extreme pain and they will ultimately have to be killed."

The next minutes are spent in silence. I am trying to process everything while Jane is probably waiting for me to freak out.

I take her hand and squeeze it trying to assure her – and myself really – that I would never – could never reject her because of something she has no control over.

"So how can it create the illusion of pain? I mean, is that really possible?"

Jane lightly squeezes back and nods thoughtfully.

"No one really knows how it works. That makes it all the more dangerous I'm afraid. It is some sort of mental ability like Aro or I have. It is truly astounding though that it works through a substance. It is still unclear as well if the biting werewolf has any control over the process or if it can establish some sort of mental connection to the vampire through which the pain is induced."

"So what can you do?" I say changing the subject to a lighter note.

"What do you mean, Isabella?"

"Well, you said you also have a mental ability. I want to know what it is!"

My blonde haired angel chuckles lowly but at the same time something like wariness enters her crimson eyes.

"How fitting that we would discuss it in this particular situation.

I can also create the illusion of pain."

~Jane's POV~

Trying not to look directly into Isabella's eyes I await her reaction.

Caring about someone's opinion is really more stressful than I imagined.

We sit in silence for a few tense seconds then I hear her starting to chuckle.

Quickly I raise my head up to meet her eyes. I expect to find fear or at least apprehension in her expression but instead I only find mild amusement and affection.

"That's fine. I like everything about you, Jane, so it's really not that big of a deal." She shrugs.

Momentarily at a loss for words I only watch as Isabella gets off the chair we've been occupying this whole time and wanders through the library looking at various books and paintings.

"So what else do you want me to know? Or can we have some fun now?"

Fun?

Trying to figure out her angle I also get up and follow her between two book shelves. There she stands already waiting for my arrival and slings her arms around my shoulders bringing me closer towards her.

Our faces are only inches apart now.

We slowly begin to reduce the remaining distance between us.

So she means that kind of fun.