Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. I don't lay claim to anything you associate with Twilight. I only own my original characters Ella and Adrian.

AN: I did warn last week that this chapter would probably be late. Apart from dog sitting I have a busy three days at work, we have an audit coming up so things are quite stressful. I am now on holiday for a week so I am uncertain as to whether there will be a chapter on Thursday. As of yet I haven't written it yet and I might not get time to. However, hope you enjoy this next instalment and thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, your comments remain a light in the dark when I cannot find the words to write next ~ Hannah

Chapter Sixteen – Don't Witches Go to Hogwarts?

When moving to Forks I had wished for a normal life and not a boring life but I'd ended up in getting neither. With Vampires and Fey my life definitely wasn't normal but at least is wasn't boring either. It was definitely better than the life I had with Renee though so that was a major thumb's up from me. Even though Dad now knew of the existence of Vampires, live didn't return to normalcy. I wasn't even sure if life knew what normal was for us anymore.

Dad was definitely taking this whole 'Vampires are real' thing to the extreme. I'd seen him spend hours researching on the computer and often heard him muttering about things under his breath. However, I couldn't deny that I was relieved that he knew. I never liked keeping secrets from him ever and now I didn't have to.

Sometimes I wake up and the day passes in a blur except for those moments that become important. Today was a bit like that.

I was wearing a dress today. It was a navy blue chiffon dress with a white ribbon around the front that tied into a bow. It came up to my knees and I wore black tights underneath, black flats and a black cardigan. Bella commented that I looked like I was going to a funeral. I told her to bite me but I didn't change. Bella didn't exactly have any sense of fashion so I wasn't about to take tips from her.

It was almost sickening how sweet and 'touchy-feely' Bella was with Adrian.

If Bella wasn't my sister, I would have said something about it but I loved my sister and she was happy so I'd put up with her PDA with Adrian if I had to.

Alice had linked hands with me as soon as she saw me arrive and carted me off into the school before I got a chance to say hello to anyone else. Since the Halloween dance, Edward and I had entered into a terrain that I didn't quite understand. We were friend's and yet we were more. We weren't in a relationship but yet there was something there. There was definitely a connection between us, an attraction and a chemical energy but neither of us had acted upon it yet.

I prayed for the courage to tell Edward how I felt but as of yet I hadn't felt strong enough. Alice seemed to know that quite well, with her all seeing eye she may have stopped bugging me about my feelings for Edward but she kept looking at me with this smirk on her face that led me to believe she knew more than she was saying. Asking her to reveal what she knew however, was like trying to take apart a brick wall with your mind. It wasn't going to happen.

I wished that someone had taken Alice aside once in a while and said 'no' to her. It wasn't that I didn't like what she was doing but she did occasionally miss the mark. I feel if people restricted her every once in a while then those moments when she goes to far and someone gets hurt would slim down completely.

I needed to stop having internal debates as I walked along side people. Sooner or later my companions would realise that I wasn't listening and in the case of Alice she'd surely use the excuse to punish me into one of her schemes.

My morning had been made up of science classes that I would rather not dwell on. If it wasn't compulsory to take those classes you can bet your sorry bottom that I wouldn't be sitting in them. I get the basics of science but really unless I was planning a career in the science world what on earth was I going to do with all the random knowledge I learnt in that class. I'll give you the answer: nothing.

There was a two-hour art class after lunch that I was particularly looking forward to. We were to begin our new art project. Our whimsical art teacher preferred to teach in the harmony of project pieces that involved two or more people. She often said that while creativity came from the soul, to work alone was to crush it almost completely. Personally I think she is just a social creature. One of those people who just cannot function, when not surrounded by others and that's why she continues to give us group/partnered projects.

As much as I was looking forward to that art class there was something I was looking forward to more. No, I didn't mean seeing Edward though his presence did brighten my day,

The cause of my excitement was Angela. No, it wasn't excitement really it was worry and concern. Those who didn't know Angela called her quiet and unreachable. Those like me who knew Angela, knew that her quietness was just a front. Once she got to know you, you could hardly get her to shut up. I was worried because since first period this morning, Angela had been nothing by the quiet girl she was known as. She didn't smile, she didn't interact and her forehead seemed to be constantly frowning. As Bella had shrugged unknowingly in my direction when I'd asked her about Angela, I'd made it my mission to find out what was wrong with my friend.

We'd since given up the pretence of two tables. Even though I knew there were many secrets between our group of friends, we now all sat at one table. Yes I do mean that The Cullen's sat at a table with Bella, Adrian, Tyler, Angela, Ben and myself and yes I do mean ALL the Cullen's!

I almost felt a little sorry for Angela and Ben for without knowing it they were the two oddballs on the table. Adrian was an immortal fey while Tyler was half-fey. The Cullen's were Vampires. Bella was mated to Adrian and would one day become an immortal fey. I was only human but I still knew about all these supernatural species. Neither Angela nor Ben knew about what as really going on and though a part of me wanted to tell them, I knew it would only increase the danger should they know.

Angela and I were the first to arrive to the lunch table and I rather suspected that the others were late on purpose because of Alice. She had had a glimmer of a knowing eye this morning after all.

"Angela, are you alright? You've been awfully quiet this morning and not at all like yourself?"

"Sorry Ella, it's just I had a chat with my Mum yesterday and some things were said and now I'm not sure what to do."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I'm not sure if I could. I don't want you to think any less of me or think my Mum to be crazy."

"Angela, I'm your friend. I would never do you a disservice like that. I promise you can trust me. If you want to talk about something then do it. Everything is better off your chest."

Angela sighed. I could see her nervously wringing her hands in her lap. Whatever was troubling her was no walk in the park. She was seriously concerned about it.

"At the Halloween Ball I felt different. It wasn't just the fabulous costume you'd made or the makeup I was wearing. Something in my soul felt different. I went into the maze with Tyler and we got separated. It was dark and I got scared. It felt like something was hunting for my soul and I knew I would not part with my soul for anything. I lashed out. I could see nothing but I knew something was there. I felt like I was having a panic attack. I was screaming and I didn't even realise it. Next thing I know a hole has been burnt through one of the maze walls. It gave just enough room for me to escape back into the car park. It was a perfectly round circle Ella, the edges still flaming with heat but there was nothing around me."

Angela was describing something that couldn't happen. Something that couldn't be real but then weren't Vampires supposed to be a mere legend. What about fey? Weren't they just relegated to children's bedtime stories? Using that logic I had to believe that some of what Angela was saying had to be true, no matter how impossible it sounded.

"It doesn't sound impossible Angela, just unexpected. What happened with your Mum?"

"She knew something was wrong with me the moment I got home and so she sat me down for a talk and told me some startling facts about our family and about our ancestors."

"Ok…and what did she tell you?"

"She said I was a witch."

I laughed before I realised that Angela wasn't and I began to feel incredibly guilty.

"Are you serious? Wait, you are serious. You're a witch?"

Angela nodded.

"My Mum she pulled out this ancient mouldy book and starting shouted praises of halleluiah. Apparently she didn't think I'd received the gift. I've never seen her so happy. She's now dedicated Sunday's to instructing me on how to be a 'good witch'."

"You seem to be taking this very well."

"So do you but then you do associate with Vampires and fey," said Angela.

I gulped, paled and made nonsensical stuttering sounds.

"Relax I won't say anything. Mum wasn't about to let me walk into school blind. In each evolution of mythical or supernatural species in film/TV/books, we're all perceived slightly differently but it's never a correct representation of who we are. We're all different and so we all come in different shapes and sizes."

"You aren't mad at me for not telling you?"

"Of course not. Telling me as a human would have put me in danger. Telling me as a witch has no bad consequence. For the most part everyone gets along quite nicely. Witches have no feuds with Vampires or Fey. I'm pretty sure the vampire royals have some witches on staff, no one messes with a witch you see. The only feuds I know of are well known. They're the feuds between vampires and werewolves – which has been raging since the dawn of existence – and the feud between the light-fey and the dark-fey – which Adrian tells me, has been quiet of late. I have not met every kind of creature yet so who knows what other legends are actually real."

"Do you have a role as a witch? In The Vampire Diaries the witches keep the balance but they also seem to hate all other supernatural creatures."

"I think to a certain extent that we all keep the balance in some way whether we witch, vampire, human etc. but yes we witches do try to keep the balance of Mother Nature. That doesn't mean that we play god or take sides. There are very few dark witches either because the more damage you inflict on the world the blacker your soul becomes and the more your power drains away until you are left with nothing. That is not something I ever want to experience."

"Do witches mate?"

"Are you asking if we have a soul match like the fey do?"

I nodded.

"Witches – and Wizards – we are special. While other species fade in and out of existence we endure. We mate for life like the fey do and like vampires do. A witch mated with a vampire, fey, wolf or wizard is considered special. Something to do with the power involved. Mum married a human but they weren't mated. She didn't ever think she'd find hers but I think she might have now."

I nodded, my mind brimming with more questions to ask. I was shocked that Angela had let slip that vampires mate for life. The hurt in my chest was proof of that. I knew all the Cullen's except Edward were happily paired off but they'd never mentioned mating so I'd assumed it didn't exist. How was I to tell him of my feelings now? This made sense to me, Edward and I were friends and he obviously hadn't made a move because he knew we weren't meant to be. I couldn't deal with those emotions right now so I moved back to the conversation at hand.

"Ok I have two questions."

"Go for it," replied Angela with a smile.

"What's the lifespan for witches and who do you think your Mum has mated with?"

"Witches and Wizards can live up to 500-600 years but Mum has mentioned others that have lived longer. We aren't immortal though and can die from the same means as a human. I'm not sure though, if I should tell you about who Mum is mated with as it might upset you."

"Why would it upset me?"

So right now my heart was beating pretty fast and I felt like I was going to lose my breakfast. All I could think about was how I hoped she wasn't about to tell me that her Mum was mated to Edward. That would be wrong on so many levels and would crush me mind, body and soul.

"Ok so my Mum has obviously been alone for a long while. She started volunteering any chance she got and there she met Chief Charlie Swan, your Dad. It was unexpected but the bond formed right away. She hasn't said anything to your Dad mind and they aren't even close to being a couple. At the moment they just enjoy each other's company. You're not mad are you? Please tell me you aren't mad."

I laughed. I couldn't help it but I laughed loud. So loud in face that several people turned around and stared.

"Are you ok?" asked Angela.

She was concerned for my wellbeing, I could tell.

"More than Ok. Angela that's not bad news at all! Your Mum is lovely and Dad's been alone for far too long not to mention it's pretty cut and dry that they'll get together and that means I'll be gaining one of my best friend's as a sister. There is NOTHING bad about this situation, believe me."

"I have to say I am relieved, I didn't know whether you would take the news well or not."

"Well aren't you glad you told me. I must say one thing though."

"What?"

"You get to tell everyone else that you know their secrets."

I smiled smugly when Angela's face paled considerably. The knowledge of having to tell her secret to a group of vampires and fey as well as admitting she knew their secrets wasn't something to be taken lightly. I laughed quietly to show Angela that I'd only been teasing but I could still see the nerves she was feeling. It did make me feel a little guilty.

"Just don't randomly blurt it out when they all arrive, maybe keep it quiet for a while until we can all sit down away from school."

Angela nodded moving her head so fast that I thought it might come loose from her shoulders.

"Relax Angela, no one is going to bite your head off."

"Whose going to bite Angela's head off?" Alice asked as she arrived at the table.

I saw Angela visibly flinch at her arrival but fortunately Alice's arrival sparked the first of many as our friends came to join us and soon the matter of sharing the big secret was forgotten. I watched as Angela relaxed and started to interact again and couldn't help but feel quite smug.

I felt a strange sense of achievement being the one which others told their secrets to. It was like having a super power and it was fun to relish in that fact. Of course I wasn't a gossip or a bully so I would never take those secrets and use them to my own advantage, it was just fun that I was the one people trusted with their secrets.

Lunch was laughable, light and happy. When people talked about the happy times of high school, I knew that this was what they were talking about. This happy-go-lucky way of life where your group of friend's accepted you for whom you were. There were no boundaries here as we were all accepting of each other. It was the school life I had longed for, for so many years I had sat in the darkness of loneliness and seen the unforgiving natures of the peers around me. In this moment sitting with my friends I felt as though I truly belonged.

Lunch made way to the afternoon art class. I could already tell that our teacher was positively bouncing on the balls of her feet in the excitement she held for our project. I'd been partnered with Jasper and Alice had been partnered with Angela. I honestly wondered about the sanity of our teacher. Did she sit about sniffing glue and breathing in paint fumes or was her general excitement genuine?

Our project was to create three portraits of the person you were partnered with. Each portrait had to use a different medium – e.g. paint, pencil, watercolour etc. – and each picture had to be from a different angle – head and shoulders, full body, face only etc. – and as much as I was looking forward to this project I had to wonder about our teacher. The amount of art we produced was far more than you'd expect from a high school and taking into account that most of our art work was done away from the school, it cost us a lot of money. Art supplies weren't cheap you know. While other girls my age blanche at the bill of their clothes shopping I was more likely to blanche at the shock of an art supply shop. If the teacher kept up with these projects I might have to ask Dad for help funding them.

Jasper and I had talked in low voices during class about what we wanted to paint. It was almost impossible to hear us talk over the loud chattering of Alice. I almost felt sorry for Angela, almost!

In the end, I'd chosen the following three pieces: one head and shoulder portrait, one full body portrait that I was going to set up outside and one anime style portrait – our teacher had said to 'broaden our horizons' after all. Jasper had chosen: one face only portrait, one fully body picture which he said he planned to set in the style of a 'regency era wedding' and one side portrait.

Really the first hour of the class was spend working out what we would be drawing and how. Then we moved on with how and went the pieces would get done. Our teacher had given us an open ended protect with no clear finish so time wasn't an obstacle. Jasper and I arranged that we'd meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school to sketch out the base of the portraits and so on. I knew I would be getting a music project soon and didn't want to restrict myself on time with two projects.

The lesson ended with me realising I needed to visit the art supply store. I didn't mind drawing on paper when it was needed but if I was going to do three portraits I really wanted to work on canvases. I also needed to load up on more materials. I'd decided to use acrylic paint on the full-scale outdoor portrait while I'd use watercolour on the head and shoulder portrait. I hadn't yet decided what to create the anime style portrait in but I'm sure it would come to me.

I was looking forward to a quiet night in the house. I knew Bella would be out with Adrian – again – so it looked like it would be just Dad and I.

When Alice asked if I wanted to come around after school and hang out / have dinner I was reluctant. I didn't want to leave Dad alone. Even though Alice had this mischievous look in her eye, I didn't want to take her word that it would be fine. It seemed I didn't have to as I got a text from Dad saying he was going out with his 'mystery woman' – who I now knew to be Angela's Mum – and that I didn't have to wait up for him or stay in if I didn't want to.

With the sparkle in Alice's eye confirmed, I nodded my consent.

I rode to the Cullen's in Edward's car. The radio was on but the car was otherwise silent. I didn't know what to do or what to say. My talk with Angela had been enlightening and I felt foolish for harbouring these feelings for Edward when he clearly didn't feel the same. My knowledge however, didn't stop me from harbouring those feelings for Edward. Yes there was an ache in my chest that hadn't been there before and I knew that I was walking down a road that was fated with heartbreak. I couldn't however, tell my heart to stop. My heart had latched on to Edward in such as way as I was unable to shake it lose. I knew there would always be hope in my heart until I heard the words of rejection come from Edward's lips.

Why didn't I just tell him how I felt? It would be easier. It would end the waiting. It would allow me to move on. Yet I couldn't do that. I couldn't take that jump and tell him. Just to hear those words of rejection fall from his lips was something I couldn't comprehend. I think it would push me into a state of shock, a catatonic state were my body would continue working but my mind would shut down.

I could hear the scoffs in my mind 'stupid teenage hormones', 'its not love, just infatuation' and 'you're too young to be in love'. Believe me, I'd thought of these things many times over but I couldn't shake the feeling that what I felt for Edward was more than a childish crush. It was real. As real as the blush in my face as I saw him and the speeding up of my heart as I interacted with him.

If Edward noticed my daze in the car he didn't comment on it nor did he comment on my almost robotic walk into the Cullen house. A couple of blinks and I managed to separate myself from my mind and focus once more on the world in front of me.

I'd long since given up trying to appear normal. I wasn't normal and I hung out in my imagination way too much. The people who cared about embarrassing they thought I was weren't really my friend's and the ones who didn't care in the slightest were the friends I held onto with all my might.

I'd just managed to beat Emmett in three matches of Mario Cart when I realised the seriousness of the others in the room. My victory chant was cut short as I saw looks of worry spread across the entire Cullen Clan. I was scared. Not for myself but for them as whatever had caused such a look to appear upon their faces must be dire indeed.

"What's wrong?"

My question was said with a childlike innocence yet I didn't realise that fact until it was pointed out to me later.

"Nothing sweetie," said Esme.

In recent weeks Esme had taken to calling me 'sweetie', I didn't rebel against it as others would. I rather liked it and it just cemented Esme further in my mind as the Mother I wished I had.

"If you are all going to lie to me then I'd rather go home."

"Didn't your Father ever tell you that you're far too perceptive for your own good?" asked Alice.

I nodded as a small smile graced my lips.

"The rogue vampire that attacked your Father's friend has us worried. There are talks of 'animal attacks' happening in and around this area. If it is just one rogue vampire we have little to be concerned about but with disappearances coming from as far as Seattle we have reason to believe that there is more than one rogue vampire."

"That's bad?"

"Not bad as such, just something to be concerned about. It is a situation we will monitor carefully while keeping our distance."

"Am I in any more trouble than usual? Considering I'm human and all."

That bought a smile from my troubled Cullen's.

"No, no more trouble than usual I should think," said Carlisle.