Chapter 7 Part 1

I was still thinking about Figs and peace when I came over the Cullen's a few afternoons later. It was a little unusual seeing an empty house with such a big coven. Everyone expect Esme and Carlisle decided to leave to go vacation when Nessie got her tickets to the concert. It was almost eerily quiet as I reached to knock on the door only to have Carlisle open it for me before my quick hands could knock at the polished wooden frame. Of course I was expected. There were no surprises with Alice, nor were there secrets with Edward for that matter. Even if someone snuck under their radar surely Jasper would know the truth. It's strange how people could live so happily knowing everything they worked to guard was out in open at all times. I wondered if there was ever bad blood in such a household. I worked up a smile as Carlisle invited me in happily.

"Welcome Lucy." His voice matches his perfectly flawless face. I nod and walk in carefully not to trek mud or snow from my boots.

"Hello. Empty nest huh?" I say looking around at the large space. In a lot of ways pretending to be human was not a pretense for them. It really did feel like a home filled with teenagers with two very loving parents.

"It's a little too peaceful." I hear Esme's frown in her normally bells and sunshine voice from the kitchen. I giggle. You'd think years, hundreds in fact, of being a mother would wear away at her, but she enjoyed motherhood as though it was some sort of hobby. She took each broken memento or escalated fight leading to a knocked in wall with a grain of salt. Although, Rose once told me that even Esme had a mean streak to her if she needed it.

Emmett would empathetically refer to her as "Mama Bear" and often took turns hunting her children's preferred prey to bond with them. Esme was said to hold up to best of hunters, but I could not imagine sweet, sweet Esme hunting anything but some fluffy swans or perhaps a roaming rabbit. I quickly made my way to the kitchen were Esme had a cup of steaming cup coffee sitting on an adorable little coaster. There was one for all three of us, but I was positively it was just something dear Esme was used to doing. The perfect housewife. I smiled and took my place. I absently minded scooped up two sugars and mixed it into my cup before looking up. She was grinning at me, clearly pleased I would humor her notion.

"Esme I figure you of all people would love a break from your children." I say making a light conversation.

"No. I love all of my babies. I miss them all dearly. I am afraid I have been bugging Carilse too much calling each of them a few times a day. I still have to…check in on them." She smiles and looks at her husband who is sitting at the counter casually reading a paper. He is grinning though so I figured most of his mind was on his wife and not the news.

"I would usually be worried too. Alice and Emmett can be overbearing with their crazy ideas. Thankfully Rosalie and Jasper enter their lives. It is like they are anchors." Carilse laughs at a memory somewhere in his mind. "Plus you don't have to worry much. I think everyone has gotten a little more mature since Bella arrived. Even if it is a little."

I nod and wonder how true that was. The Cullens looked complete as it is. It was heartbreaking to know there was a time where this coven was still being stitched together. How different were things back then?

"Honestly it is a little different. I gotten used to the…"

"Chatter." Esme says with a giggle. "Ah yes. The chatter. Honestly Alice is the biggest chatterbox, but you know Edward can hold hour long sentences. You should really listen into one of him and Alice's talks. It's basically Edward mind reading Alice's futures. It'll be silent for hours. Just those two in a room staring at each other, before one makes a mental joke and they laugh like they had been actually speaking out loud." She grinned. "That was before that wonderful grandchild came into the world. Nessie used to prefer only talking through her talent and boy did her taught have a lot to say. Of course Emmett was the nosiest, but…."

"Esme." I say grinning. "They will return soon."

"Oh!" she says looking slightly embarrassed. "Silly me, I get so proud of my babies and I babble."

There was almost 2000 years spread among all of them and she was still calling them 'babbies'.

"What do I owe to this visit? Alice tells me you were planning to ask us the whereabouts of the vampire Ada?"

I look at her a little stunned. I was a little too still just then and Esme apologized. "I assume you did not know that is why you visited? Alice told me it was something you would ask last minute after the pleasantries had been exchanged."

"How are you so used to that?" I asked narrowing my eyes.

She and Carisle exchanged a deep look before shrugging. "Some daughters sing in the shower. Some take up pottery classes. Mine sees the future. It's something you get used to." She smiles. "After I got over Edward's power everything seemed normal. Now if you will excuse me, I have some unfinished business in town. I will let you and Carisle talk." Her dimples flash and she is up and gone in a flash. Not before landing a chaste lovingly peck on her husband's cheek. I hear her car start up as I look up towards the doctor who smiles.

"She was in charge of decorating the interior of the private jet." He admits and I frown at how casual that sounded. Even vampires could seem dazzled by the Cullens.

"You look so much like Bella when you do that." Carlisle grins as his words seem to fly out the window.

"Ye too Carsile? Those Cullen kids must be quite bewitching." I say with an eyebrow raised. For a minute Carlisle is the proudest father. He was particularly glowing like sun. Technically he only father Edward, Rosalie, and Emmett, but you'd think he was directly responsible to all of the residents. Then the next he is grave.

"Ada." He says the words heavy. "The one from your story. Can you tell me why she is here? She seems to have a large thirst as of lately."

I shake my head. "I could not tell you. I want to find out myself. I feel terrible about the lives she took and I think I can talk her into leaving this area alone, if I can find her again."

I relive that night and shudder. Carisle continues.

"Alice seems to think she will leave us alone as she sees us staying peaceful, but…"

"But?"

Carlisle's words are suddenly professional and quick suddenly. "She was looking out for you and it seems she finds you. She'll be waiting for you in your home when you return..Seems she spent the last few days finding your scent and following leads.."

I laugh. "Doctor, I beg your pardon. But I can handle Ada well enough. I can pull her power remember. I am a stronger fighter and I…"

"Alice sees Ada wearing a volutori hood when you confront her."

I pause.

And pause.

And continue to pause.

I let myself linger on those strange words.

"Surely it is some sort of a fashion statement! Ada couldn't be…"

It did not make sense. Ada was vile, but she was afraid of the kings of our world. Why would she join them? Yohan would not approve of such a thing. Had they broken up?

Carlisle looks out the window and sighs.

"It seems they follow us everywhere."

It is quiet, before I ask him what he means. With a pair of sad golden eyes Carlisle gives the history of the Cullens I had never gotten. I listen carefully and I feel increasingly distressed. It started when Carlisle's life and by the time I heard of the gathering of witness I was a jumpy mess of nerves. I had let out a stressed hiss as he told me how they wanted Nessie's head on a silver platter. Ada clearly had no idea whom she was dealing with! Tyrants on high! Monsters without a cause! However there was a piece of my mind that logically deducted, they were just doing their jobs.

When the doctor finished I had reached my resolve.

Keep Ada away from Nessie.

"You are determined now, but I do not want you hurt, dear Lucy. No one want that fate."

I smile and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's not going to come to I know her she'd be interested in making my life hell more so than Nessie. I will call Yohan and get him to snap some sense into his mate. I'll see Jacob Black and tell him and his team of beast to keep up the lookout for her. I will not let harm to come to this family, ok?"

Before he could contest I sprinted off as fast I could. My strides started off as running but turn into jumps. Silly Alice. Putting a vision in my head by giving me a vision.

I had to make things right before they got out of hand.

Part II

My next plan would be the simplest to do, but the hardest to put into motion. Finding Jacob on my own disgusted and horrified me.

Truth is I was scared of his kind. I still felt a string of nerves whenever he was in my presence. Thankfully my stone body would never give it away. I wanted to always be located miles away from Black at all times and so far I have successfully accomplished my mission expect for when I had no choice. Now I was actively seeking him in order to make Alice's vision come true. It was positively nerve wrecking as I debated on how to sneak into the La Push boarders.

Surely walking onto the property would lead to my instantaneous fatality. It's not I could possibly schedule an appointment either! I slumped my shoulders as I continued to walk around town. I had already driven to Forks and now was casually walking up and down the streets of Port Angeles. Humans gave me quick glances at my direction, but I tried to ignore them. I was more focused on how I could find Jacob. If there was a vampire anywhere near here, he would know. I couldn't possibly find Ada, with her powers, on my own. It would take a pack of….

My eyes moved suddenly with sudden alarm. That smell! It reeked of mutt. Was a wolf nearby? My keen nose was following the scent and I struggled to try to keep a normal pace. After pushing and parting through a crowd, all I could find was a medium height red head. She had freckles dusted across her face and her red hair was pulled into a ponytail. She was wearing a heavy coat with a pair of green earmuffs and seemed uncomfortable. The girl was ordering from a corner vendor that was selling hot cocoa. Something common in the chilly gloom that is a Washington State winter. I smiled at her from across the path, but she did not notice. She smelled like Jacob.

Does that mean she was a wolf? She surely was not racial ingenious to the tribe. The girl took two drinks and scurried passed me. She was such a hurry she did not even realize I was eyeing her rather boldly. It was the first time in a long time I was ignored. I had to laugh despite myself. I causally followed behind this mystery girl. It was my great shock that she meet up with Jake at a local park.

He was dating?

What a laugh!

It took only about two seconds for Jacob to notice I was there, but seemed to ignore me.

That was the second time I was ignored and I planned on making him pay for doing that. Despite wanting to march over there, I hung back and acted causal as he finished his time with the redhead. It was my fear keeping me away, but I hope I just came across as just being polite.

I ended up sitting in the bench for over a course of three hours. Careful to move some part of body in perfect times. I did however listen into their conversation.

Her name was Sarah and apparently they had known each other for a while. Sarah seemed clueless about our world, which made me even more curious. They talked about motors for a long time and drank the hot cocoa, before shifting into a whispered hush on plans for next week that included more vulgarity than it needed to. I was taken back and I could hear Jacob's heart speed up. At the end of the date, Sarah just jumped up and kissed Jacob on the lips before walking away. I raised my eyebrow.

No one ever told me Jacob was dating. Had anyone even known?

When he was sure Sarah had left, his eyes burned into mine. I forgot how big he was. His hair was long now and his facial hair was rigid. His eyes were like burned into mine and I thought about our first encounter. It was like I was his prey all over again.

My instincts flared and I hissed perhaps a little too loudly. It was a weak cry and it cracked like a 13 year old's voice. Jacob's smile turned super menacing then. His chin slightly rose and his eyebrow cocked in a victorious glare. He was very pleased with my response. I looked at his white teeth. They looked so human. Slightly crocked, maybe even yellowing. But all I could see were those giant wolf teeth bared at me. I felt like I was sinking and my arm burned at newly created seam.

I wanted to run. I wanted to run so very badly, but instead I nervously reached into my purse and pulled out the fig Newton and raised it up. I closed my eyes so I did not see his reaction. I keep my mind focused on things I enjoyed. My father's pearl necklace radiated in my mind and I tried to recall old foggy human memories.

It was a while when Jacobs smell had become overwhelming. It was drowning. Like the students who sprayed too much axe on their bodies. I gagged, but I heard a low chuckle.

I opened my eyes and Jacob was not that far from my face. I frowned at him and he copied my expression. It was another full minute before he got impatient.

"Cat got your tongue?"

"Why are you dating her?" I ask suddenly. Jacob's eyes narrow and he swipes his hair behind his ear.

" I didn't know you cared."

I pursed my lips. "But…Nessie."

"I can love anyone I want, any way I want. Case closed." His tone was milder than usual. Did he know how scared I was?

"Does not seem cruel?"

Jacob looks at me for a long while and shrugs. "Love can come in a lot of different ways. Just because it is not one kind of love you expected does not make it cruel."

"How rebellious of you…"

Jacob snorts. "Did you interrupt my good day for a reason, blood sucker?"

"I am looking for a vampire."

Jacob's tone stiffened. "Why?"

"She and I have…business. I figured you know about any of our kind on your turf. She is raven haired and slender. Prehaps too slender."

Jacob groans. "That freak with the Houdini act? She passed through our land a week ago. Managed to barely get away. I think she got the point to stay away. She could be miles away by now."

"I need to track her down. She could mean danger for the people around here. "

Jacob put his hands in his pockets. "You know, we got it under control. There are many of us."

"She becomes invisible." I say softly. Jacob shrugs. He did not care at. Either he was an idiot or over confident.

I narrow my eyes at him. "Look. It's important I make her leave without hassel. She could be…with them." I stress the word them and Jacob's expression changed very quickly. Some quick emotions played on his face before nodded.

"Is she here for Nessie?"

"Doubt it. But I do need to find her."

Jacob's fist ball up then close.

"We will run extra shfts."

I nod and thank him. I get up to leave and he sighs. "This friend of yours…If she hunts…"

"She is not my friend." I confirm all too quickly, but backtrack. "Look. Don't kill her ok mutt. Can you follow simple directions?"

"Old stick up her ass Lucy is back again." Jacob says with a laugh. He is already walking away, but he waves from over his shoulder. I wanted to retrot, but I had to pick my battles with Jake very carefully. I looked up at the sky and noted it was time.

Ada would be waiting for me, if she did not change her mind.