Chapter 3 Part 1

I couldn't seem to want to pull myself together that next morning.

The rain had not stopped since yesterday and I just now understood how the vampire population could thrive so brilliantly here in Washington. It was always cloudy or rainy here. Add that with an endless amount of forest and you have the perfect conditions to go unnoticed.

I had quickly pinned up my hair and put on my glasses, and casually walked out the door to my car. I was wearing a brown overcoat that went to my knees a pair of leggings and boots. Of course I was wearing a dress underneath, but I really had no intention of taking off my coat.

I had debated all night, whether to go look for Rose Blood after school again.

Clearly these there are more than newborns here in Washington. There are old and seasoned vampires too. I rethought of the male and his mate and their scents were like a fresh coat of paint. Would it be wise to go looking for them? Surely they would be cautious of my where about now. I wonder if they were the ones who took Nessie? Surely they were capable.

I guess whenever I walked through the door, I was frowning so heavily that even Walter took one look at me and turned around, he managed stayed away from me. I sat my stuff down and started writing down the lesson on the chalkboard. I had shut my door, which was a clear sign that I was not ready to be bothered. Despite that there was a knock at the door.

I almost lost it, when the faint smell of roses drifted through the crack in the door.

Could it be?

I ran at vampire speed to open the door and much to my surprise, Renesme Cullen was standing in front of me. Her face had a pink blush on her checks and she was looking down at her Frye Black leather boots. Her bronze curls were in a bouncy ponytail. She was wearing jeans and a thick loose grey sweater with golden studs on the shoulders. Around her neck was a grey knitted scarf. She looked up at me, then down again.

Was she embarrassed?

"Oh Nessie!" I say in shock. I was so thankful she alive, I could have hugged her.

"Ms. Fortune, can I talk to you for a minute?" she says and I nod and let her in. I was deeply confused on what in the world could she be wanted to talk about.

Nessie looks up at me and cocks her head to the side. I wonder if she wanted me to start the conversation.

"Please, Nessie. You can tell me anything." I say. I was quite sure she would never tell me everything though.

"I'm switching classes. It's in my father's best interest that I take more advanced courses….To challenge myself. I am going to take the senior's French."

She sounded like she was breaking up with me, instead of switching classes. Here I was just thankful she was alive. I laughed despite myself.

"Nessie! C'est la vie. You are actually too advanced to be in this class, anyways."

She looked up a little shocked, but smiled. "Too bad. I really enjoyed you as a teacher."

Nessie turned to leave, but my mind was suddenly for her. The smell of vampire still hinted around her rosy scent.

"Nessie, wait."

She raises her eyebrow and waited.

"I have an idea. I have a free period after lunch. I know that's your study hall period. I could the extra help? Could you student aid for me?"

I lied about the help, but I am sure I could find something for her to do that didn't involve being around killer blood drinkers.

Her eyes got huge and the color drained from her face, then her brow furrowed heavily. She must have been going through an inner monologue about something. I tightened my jaw and waited on her response.

Wordless she nodded. "Sure, that'll be ok."

I didn't try to hide my amusement.

"Good. Shall I see you this afternoon after lunch?"

She nodded and hurried off to her first period.

I was exponentially better as soon as her Rose scent left my room. I was still high enough on human blood that her scent wasn't at all that bad. That didn't mean that I was completely immune to her charms. I would have to be extra careful now.

I was just glad I wouldn't have to hunt down that couple I met in the woods. They seemed experienced and even with my extra abilities I couldn't handle a larger coven. It did however trouble me greatly that she still felt it necessary to hang around them. How sadistic was it to play with your food?! These vampires were psychos.

When I finished writing the lesson on the board I went to open the door to let the first period in.

I didn't wait too long to jump right into the day. I was actually really happy to see these kids back today. Today Kevin seemed more perky than usual and even answered some questions.

I smiled; I guess that one lesson did the trick. I idly wondered if the principal would let me tutor kids after school. I certainly had the time! In fact I had nothing but time. Of course, I typically got what I wanted in the end. Whether it was due to my high class upbringing, or my life as a beautiful vampire, but I was clearly spoiled. Perhaps not in the bratty, way, but in the way that whenever I didn't get what I wanted it drove me to extremes.

Such extremes as trying to protect a little mysterious bronze hair girl, in order to ease my guilt.

The day came and went quickly and by the end of the day, I was sitting on the end of my desk and reading and translating my kids a novel. Their assignment was to take one scene of their favorite fairy tales and translate it to French. I used the part of Juliet killing herself as my example and I gotten so into the place, I read all of her monologue in French and adding a dramatic flair to my voice. When I had paused, the class was quiet and amazed. I giggled. "…Or something to that effect." I shut the book and adjusted my glasses on my face.

"Tell you what. Whoever acts out their scene the best gets extra credit. How about we have a French play night? I'll bring in a chest of props and pop some popcorn. Of course I will have to make the project worth more of your grade, but at least we can sit and judge each other." I laugh as the excited cheers and whispers crossed the room.

"Finally an assignment that isn't a total bore!" Whispered Megan who was shaking her head. I heard Kevin ask if we could do it in groups and I agreed. The class chattered wildly and when they calmed down. I told them that presentations will be on Friday of next week. The bell rung and my kids thanked me on being so 'cool'.

I treated the next two groups in the same way and soon it was time for lunch. I left the door open and sat at my desk and started drawing up a syllabus for the new unexpected project. There was no way I was going to lunch to partake in that slop today. I had just gotten over those pieces of French toast and I would have to be more careful to wriggling myself out of eating situations. I had some papers I left ungraded for Nessie to do whenever she got here, and I was doing some enjoyment reading.

Something, I hadn't done since moving to Kitsap.

I guess lunch was over, because RoseBlood knocked on my door shyly. I knew she arrived beforehand from her scent, but I waited till she knocked for me to dog-ear my page and shut my textbook.

"Nessie. Hello, dear. Glad you could make it. Shut the door, please. The people in the hallways are a noisy bunch." I say and she follows my instructions. I explain to her what I wanted to be done and how to do it only once and she got the full picture. She started reading through the stack of papers and marking things off in red pen.

I waited a while, before settling back into my book.

"…The complete psychological guide of evidence based mental practices?" Her voice was mellow.

I nodded and grinned. "It's my major after all."

"Ah, Yes. Dr. Fortune. My father has the same one in his study." She says. "But I haven't gotten around to it."

"Oh? Is he a psychologist?"

"A doctor actually. He has been one for a while too." She says.

"That's wonderful! I would love to chat up, Dr. Cullen one day. He seems knowledgeable."

"There's not too much, Carlisle doesn't know." She says brimming with pride. I couldn't help myself but ask.

"So you call your adoptive dad by his first name?"

She looked up and nodded. "Sometimes. We all kind of do. It's not in disrespect, but he just that casual. I love him a lot. He saved every single one of my siblings in his own way. Him and my mother Esme. I am surprised they can keep up with us sometimes." She laughs. "My brothers are a handful."

"Brothers? So there is more than Edward?"

"Jasper and Emmett." She says without missing a beat. "There are my sister's Rose and Alice too. Rose and Jasper are physically related like me and Edward but everyone else is not. Of course, my brother's wife Bella lives with us too. We are a close family."

"Your brother's wife? Well, how well do you get along with her?" the psychologist in me wanted to poke around in her mind a bit. Maybe I could figure out why she would live so dangerously."

"Oh Bella is my blessing!" she says furrowing her brow. "She has done so much for me. She is very kind and…so pretty. She takes me to talk her dad too and he as nice as she is, only he tells bad jokes and is bad at cooking. I am not sure where I would be with out Bella."

"So she is your mother figure?"

"My mother died giving birth to me." She says shaking her head. "She and Edward help pick up the pieces. I mean I love Carlisle so much, but sometimes. I have this sinking feeling. I don't belong. I am…well I am a hybrid of sorts. I don't really belong in their lives."

I nod slowly. "I know what you mean."

She looks up at me again and I wink at her. "I am mixed too. French and African. My father's side was less than amused, but my father loved me anyways. He had to fight for me to have equal rights after my mom died birthing me. Renesme, it seems we are kind of cut from the same cloth."

Her face brightens up quickly and what walls she held up crumpled down in that moment.

"It's not really so bad. In fact I wouldn't want a different family! Even if we aren't blood, we are all bonded…even my dog has a special attachment."

I laugh. "That's wonderful Nessie. Oh you have a dog. I really never liked them. Always barking, and slobbering on everything! Ugh. I did however have a cat named Fe-fe back in Geneva. She was the prettiest thing."

She smiles. "Is that why you didn't mind having Kevin call you Kat?"

I raise an eyebrow and she shrugs. "Kevin talks about seeing you in the diner all the time. Most of the freshmen call you Kat now anyways."

I nod and put my face in my hand. "Yes. I guess you can say that."

Nessie purses her lips before talking. She tells me I am very cat like and I live up to my name. I laughed out loud. Yohan has told me that before. I never disputed it, because I actually did love cats. If animals did not naturally flee from us vampires, then I would have adopted one a long time ago.

"Well you live up that your name as well."

She flinches and her eyes dart down. "A monster?" she asks, but I shake my head.

"How could such a pretty girl be a monster? No, Nessie is a word in Greek. It means pure. And you don't seem to have a bad bone in your body." I say and level on how truth my words are.

The famous crooked smile took over her face and I couldn't help but mirror her.

"So Nessie. Tell me more about yourself. You say you can play the violin? In my youth, my father made me learn how to play the harp. I haven't touched one in years though. And its perplexed me for a long time on how you can say shopping is a sport. Unless its jewelry. I rather pull on the first pair of clothes I find" I say and she laughs.

"Ms. Fortune, you sound a lot like Bella. Let me tell about how hard it was trying to learn the violin. Not because it was hard, but my big brother Emmett apparently had a vendetta against it. His folks tried to get him to play before Carlisle adopted him apparently and he was convinced in their demonic power."

The next hour we shared experience after experience. She told me about how overprotective her brother is and how he sometimes forgets that she can take care of herself until Bella reminds him. I tell her how my life was like in college without going into detail of the accidentally murders and drinking blood.

She and I talk about the difference in harp and violin and we discuss psychological theories. She is clearly an addict to information, because she had many questions on psychology. It was a subject she never really experienced. She and I talked in French about the French class she was in and she told me that she hated the boys in the class because they always tried to flirt with her.

I told her that I had the same problem with the teacher and she seemed horrified that the fact Walter had a thing for me.

"What a sleazebag." Nessie says sticking out her tongue. "Gross with a capital G. You are way too good for him. He doesn't even care about the kids here. But…you care."

The last part sounded like a question. The bell rung and I noticed that she was able to finish the work even though we had been talking the whole time.

I cleaned up the mess and before she left I answered her question.

"I just want the best for my students." I tell her. "It's my will that they will grow up and not have to live with the horrible things and be full of regrets. Just because I am a just French teacher, I hope that I could help out some student on some level. I did some pretty awful things- things that cannot be excused, and I just want to make things right."

Her eyes seemed too wise for her age as she looked me in my eyes. It was a meaningful stare full of understanding. It almost leveled me.

"Hell is reserved for monsters." She says. "And you aren't a monster, Kat."

I want to cry. I wanted to run away from this girl who was clearly was not a part of the world I though she lived in. I want to ask her questions. I wanted to pick her up into my arms and demand she tell me what she really knows and what she was. But all I could do is stand and continue to watch her frame turn and exist my room.

"See ya, tomorrow, Ms. Fortune." She says over her shoulder.

Part 2

I had learned a lot in the past three months of school.

The icy rain had eventually become slushy snow and the students were now completely intergraded into their classrooms and school was in full swing. I had lost some students and my classroom size had evened out, but I didn't mind. It just meant more I could focus on. I had started to pay attention to my student's talents and anytime I had a good chance would extend my will.

And more good than chaos came out of it.

Kevin got a date to homecoming.

Reba the normally reseeded and shy found her way to becoming the class president, because of her ability in persuasion. I had many students become great in sports even if I wasn't around because they realized their potential and most gratifying was the fact that everyone seemed to be happy again. It was a good feeling to have again like it was when I was human. I guess even now without physically trying I brought about the best in people. It scared me to think if I also was bringing out the worst in someone as well.

Nessie and I continued our after lunch rendezvous and sometime between the second and third week it became more about talking and less about the stack of papers she graded. I taught her about psychology and the history of Geneva, and the finer points to discovering a gem's worth- as she had taken a liking to my 'bling' as she called it. And she told me about her little world- wherever it was.

Nessie had gone on about how her sister Rose and Edward were getting tired of her dog breaking things. She, the dog named "jake" and Emmett apparently were typically in some type of trouble and Jake was in the dog house. She told me that she Bella, Rose, Alice and their mother Esme had went on a girl's night out hike to leave the boys to clean up the mess of the broken chandelier. I questioned how a dog could break something on the ceiling and she smiled coyly.

"My dog actually a very large breed and is totally energetic all of time. And when you pair that with my Forceful and overpowered brother Emmett things are bound to be broken. I think they were playing Frisbee in the house. My mom was going to pass out when she saw the mess. I thought it was pretty rad, but I couldn't let Edward know that. But Kat, the shopping in Silverdale was choice! Alice had scored these amazing shoes that…."

Her story was detailed, but brief and I found myself smiling at everything she said. She was an interesting child that's for sure. She is my favorite student. In fact she held the title for my favorite human. I thought about the vampires she smelt of and wondered if they thought the same. If they were waiting to turn her so she could spent forever with them.

It had crossed my mind, but it quickly shot it down. How selfish would that be? I couldn't claim a person. But it would nice to have a daughter. I envied Esme for finding her, but I was glad I had not as well. I was a lone ranger and very independent. I couldn't raise a farm let alone a child. I guess I really was a big cat.

When they day was done, I would pretend to enjoy Walter's jokes before driving home feeling very content with life. When I get home, I would always take a single long sip of wine, before closing the lid. Not that I had a shortage. Yohan had made good on his word. A week after the call I had a delivery truck send me twelve cases of wine. That was more than enough blood, and I had to install a wine cellar in my garage to accommodate the blood. If I needed more I would just ask, but my burning desire was at stand still for the most part.

Rose blood still smelt heavenly.

However it was all peace.

The only thing that horrified me was the news.

The death toll was rising again and all signs pointed to vampires.

I couldn't be sure if they were Nessie's vampire's but I could only assume they had a hand in the murders. It was getting to be a dangerous game and I felt the need to step in.

Some days Nessie showed up, but other days she did not. She told me that this was because of the Cullen's love of hiking, yet I wasn't so sure. Anyone could look at Nessie and tell she was well ok off, but no matter how rich you are you aren't going to travel to someplace not covered in snow to hike and be back within a weekend or day. She was going to hang out with her vamps.

It was one day in particular that she had been gone an entire week straight since which was unlike her. I was worried sick, and I was afraid the vampires finally got to her. I knew from the news and gossip there was a killer in Kitsap.

So I found myself in the woods again, wearing my brown overcoat with my heeled boots leaving indents in the snow. This time, I had a plan and a system. I had not walked here, but drove to the address Nessie has on her student ID. It was a product of careful espionage the night before. And the house had apparently been buried in the woods. I had my scarf covering most of my face, and my glasses firmly placed on my face. I would knock on the door and be very careful in explaining I was worried about Nessie's absence from school. Esme sounded like a wonderful woman from what Nessie explained and I am sure she would not be off put. The snow sparkled like white jewels in ths fleeing sunlight and the trees seemed to create a path up to the Cullen household as they lined up on the right and left.

The house was huge. The only other home I had seen this big was the villa I lived in my youth. It was made from bricks and had many windows that were open. I counted three stories and thought there had to be at least 5 rooms in there. I worked up the nerve to ring the doorbell, but nothing. I knock twice, but I swore I heard a shuffling from behind the door.

Was I being ignored? How rude!

I walked around to the back of the house, but was greeted by a huge garage. The automatic door was shut, but judging by the lock, there were some pretty expensive cars being keep safe. I saw a porch and a swing set and I wondered if the Cullen's adopted a baby too? I continued to walk around the home and was honestly admiring how beautiful it was. I had to admit, I was antsy that no one bothered to open the door, but I could come back later. I looked up at the top floor and saw the edge of fine furniture. The curtains were pink and zebra striped so I assumed I had found Nessie's room.

I took in a deep breath and the scent of Roses had surely been through this path many of times. In fact, I also smelt that musky odor I had before. It was faint, but it was growing stronger at a horrifying pace. As though something was running towards me…

My ears were suddenly alive with what I thought were paw prints crunching through the snow. I turned fast and my eyes could not believe what I was seeing.

The smell was awfully overwhelming- like a deep dirty woodsy musk. It turned my guts and bubbled up a feeling I never had before.

I looked up to see a huge animal, panting, leering, and snarling walking out the woods.

Its eyes were deep and cold. Like an animal's.

Its fur was rusty brown and shaggy. Like an animal's.

Its nostril's flared and its teeth were bared in anger. Like an animal's.

But this thing was no animal! It was shaped like a wolf, but big a horse. It was livid. The look it gave me, was the same one I had wore so many years go.

Blood lust. Pure uncapped thirst for death.

And its eyes were on me.

My first reaction was to growl. My body reacted on its own as I got on to a crouch. It was flight or fight time, because clearly it had not intentions on living me alive.

The beast let out a sharp howl, before charging me. I ran the opposite way expecting to take it off guard, but it was quick, too quick. It had already caught up and used its tremendous body to knock me out of the way. I hit a tree and snapped it over. I picked myself up and tried to stumble out the way before it got up.

That…hurt. That thing had enough power to hurt me?!

"What in the hell are you?" I hissed as it come back snapping at my body. I rolled out the way and grabbed it tail and tossed it back. The creature used it huge claws to grip the ground before sliding off. My slashes and punches hurt it, but it kept getting up.

I wasn't faster than it.

I wasn't overpowering it!

It started to charge towards me again, picking up the speed of a speed semi truck and I held out my hand. I extended my will and tried to rip the power from him. I focused really hard, but it never slowed. It didn't even realize and its knife shaped teeth found themselves sunken into my hand.

It happened so slow, yet so quick.

It heard a rip and the flash of different colors. My glasses flew from my face and I knew to move back as quick as I could, but I stumbled back against a tree. My eyes were as big as full moons as I saw the beast with a small sun kissed color hand in his tremendous mouth. It spat it out, like it tasted gross.

I could not understand until I felt the exploding pain my wrist.

I screamed out loud. The first time I screamed since I was being burned in the vampiric change. My yells bounced off the snow and throughout the forest as I clutched the spot where my hand used to be.

This thing, ripped my hand off my body. It did not seem at all satisfied with just my hand as it snarled at me again.

My powers had not worked, which lead me to a blood codling realization.

One, this power this beast had was not raw ability, but instinct. It was his most natural response to a vampire, was to completely destroy it. I looked in its big eye and saw nothing but fire and disdain. There was no trace of humanity and all that mattered was my death. It's breath was heavy and rugged as the clouds of cold ice appeared around it's snout.

As I looked in its eyes I realized that may be last thing I ever seen. I suddenly regretted not being able to see Yohan again, but I didn't regret looking for Nessie. I had hoped to save her, but I hadn't made it.

I shivered and was aware I was scared. When was the last time I was honestly horrified? If I had a heart it would be knocking down my chest walls. I was to my core scared and it was something I never experienced. My body made me hiss, trying to warn off the beast but I didn't think I could win this fight. I bared my teeth and growled deeply.

If I was going to die, then I could at least sink my teeth in the mongrel.

I was petrified beyond belief, yet my vampire senses forced me to continue.

My instincts vs the beast.

The beast charged at me and I let myself go to instinct instead of ability.