Chapter 9: Human Again

Hailey's POV

No words could describe the pure look of shock on everyone's faces when they met Carlisle, human Carlisle that is, for the very first time. Even though I had given them advanced warning about what had happened none of them quite believed it until they saw it with their own eyes for the first time.

Esme didn't say anything as she approached her husband. She stroked his face in a way that was reminiscent of a scene out of Beauty and the Beast. After which she hugged him tightly, but still cautiously.

Still no one else moved or said anything. It took me awhile to figure it out. Every vampire coven has a clear leader and for Nessie's family that leader had been Carlisle. Now that Carlisle was human, therefore physically weaker than everyone including Nessie, they had no idea what to do. At least that was my guess anyway.

"Why is everyone so quiet?" Nessie's innocent question got us all laughing.

"We're just shocked baby. That's all," Bella said as she hugged her daughter close. "You don't see vampires turn human every single day,"

"Yeah how exactly did you do that again?" Esme asked even though I'd already told them earlier.

"My venom is a bit different in that it can turn vampires human again," I explained again.

"Yeah you did mention that earlier. Even after you bit Rosalie I still didn't quite believe what was happening,"

"It's taking a lot of getting used to on my end as well honey," Carlisle added.

"So Hailey if it wasn't you that took Nessie than who did?" Edward asked.

"To be honest I have no idea. The same thing happened to me when I was about her age. One night with my own parents and the next morning I'm waking up somewhere completely alone and scared. That was 30 years ago. It's odd that it happened again to another hybrid,"

"Wait a minute," Bella said with a hint of sadness in her voice. "You never saw your parents again?"

I shook my head. "No. I never found them and I never found who took me from them,"

Bella just held onto her daughter tighter. The thought that she could've quite possibly never seen her daughter again scared her. I was just happy that I could reunite her with her family.

"Hailey?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes?"

"Remember what I told you about knowing a couple with the same name as your parents looking for their long lost daughter who also happens to share a name with you?"

I remembered.

"Yes I remember,"

"It seems like too much of a coincidence. I'm going to do everything I can to get in contact with them again. It's the very least I can do for you after what you've done for us,"

The idea of reuniting with my parents again after so many years felt so surreal to me. I wouldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.

"Right now though we have an urgent matter to attend do," he added.

"Urgent matter? What urgent matter Carlisle?" Esme asked worriedly.

"The Volturi,"

"What about the Volturi? Bella already became a vampire like they wanted. What could they possibly want this time?!" Edward roared angrily.

"They know about Nessie,"

Silence again. Cold dead silence.

"How?" Emmett asked. "How could they-oh no they heard the story you as well didn't they?"

All I could do was nod. "I didn't know anything about the Volturi until about two days ago when someone named Jane showed up to 'investigate if the story was true or not' and she said something about Aro being interested in 'your kind' meaning Nessie and I,"

"She also said that they'd be visiting in a few days," Nessie reminded me.

"Oh no. This is not good. This is not good," Bella said over and over again.

"Don't worry Bella they're not going to harm Nessie. I won't allow it,"

"What are we going to do then? We're outnumbered!"

"We're going to think of something. We always think of something," Carlisle said calmly.

"You can always count on me to fight," Jacob added. "I'll be damned if they think they're going to a touch a hair on Nessie's head,"

"Let's hope it doesn't come to a fight,"

"But Carlisle how will you defend yourself if it does come to a fight? You're human now," Esme reminded him. There was no mistaking the fear in her voice.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I can't even offer turning back into a vampire as a solution because there's a good chance that I'd still be changing when they arrive. I think all we can do is hope for the best,"

"No Carlisle," Edward said. "It's power that Aro wants. We're the biggest threat to the Volturi and he thinks that by destroying the family that Alice and I will join him,"

"What do you mean by that exactly?" I asked.

"Aro goes after anyone who has a gift and he won't stop until he gets what he wants,"

I felt the blood drain right out of my face. If this Aro found out what-

A knocking at the door temporarily interrupted my thoughts. Everyone went into automatic protective stance. Like if they were ready to attack right now.

"Hailey don't it's another vampire out there and none of us recognize his scent," Edward said through gritted teeth.

I sniffed and was shocked to find that it was Ben's scent. What was Ben doing here?

"Wait a second it's just Ben," I said.

"Who's Ben?" Bella asked.

"My best friend. He's the one that spread the story about Nessie being here. Because of him you all were able to find me," even if the story got a little twisted along the way.

I opened the door quickly and threw my arms around a completely shocked Ben who then returned the hug.

"Damn Hailey I don't think I've ever seen you so happy to see me," he laughed.

I playfully punched him. Ben was still my best friend in every sense of the word. Human or vampire that would never change. Even if his red eyes scared me a little sometimes. Again I wondered why the Cullens had golden eyes instead of the usual red ones like Ben. I'd have to ask one day.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

He looked at me like I lost my mind. "Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, remember? I always spend the holidays with you,"

"Oh right. I totally remembered that," I lied through my teeth and I was sure he knew.

Ben stiffened up all of a sudden. "Hailey why are there several vampires in your house?" He looked like he was about to attack.

"It's Nessie's family. They got the message although a very twisted version of it,"

"What do you mean?"

"That they heard that she was being held captive here,"

"What? Who the hell twisted the story?! I swear that's not what I told-"

"I know that Ben. I know you wouldn't do that,"

"I'm sorry,"

"It's not your fault now come inside,"

That's when I remembered the trouble we were in. I was scared. What would Aro do if he found out I could turn vampires into humans? I had never met this man before yet I was scared of what he could do already.

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