Charlie found himself awakening, slowly rising to his feet. Everything was….was so clear. So new. It was exactly like Renesme's vision, except all his own. He could see every individual speck of dust in the musty forest air, and he could smell thousands of things. He could hear so many things, including a thumping heart a hundred meters away and a delicious, delectable smell. Charlie slowly stood, drawn to that amazing smell, but cautious. He felt an ache, a burn in his throat.

"Charlie," came a sharp voice.

Charlie jumped a mile into the air, completely distracted. He ran a ways before crouching, turning and hissing, until he abruptly stopped. He was hissing? And all that running took him less than a second.

"Charlie," came a different voice, soothing. Charlie turned to see a pixie like woman.

"Alice?" Charlie asked, then he covered his mouth in shock. His voice…his voice sounded like wonderful bells and was gorgeous.

"Yes, are you alright?"

"I-I think so…"

"Can you remember anything?" Charlie turned in a millisecond at the new voice, and it was Edward.

"It hurt…it burned," Charlie winced.

"Can you remember anything before that though?"

"Yes…I remember a…a vampire coming for me, and…and glass, yes, glass…glass! Where's Uncle Paton, I need to find him!"

"Charlie!" Paton cried stupidly from his hiding place, jumping out to join Charlie. Charlie ran for Paton.

"NO!" Edward shouted.

Charlie turned to Uncle Paton, and smelled a delicious smell, the burning in his throat hurt so much. Charlie was suddenly unaware of anything else, just that smell…

"Charlie?" Paton asked.

Charlie stumbled, and shook his head. He had almost been ready to kill Uncle Paton…why…how could he kill him?

"I'm a vampire," Charlie whispered.

"Yes, I mean…" Paton seemed unsure of anything. He had seen Charlie's eyes…red, so bright red. Gone was the simple, boyish complexion. Gone was Charlie's stick hair. Gone were his wonderful blue eyes, and Paton could hardly stand it. Charlie was as tall as he.

"No…" Charlie said, plopping on the ground. He couldn't be. Just…couldn't. His father, mother…

"I don't want to," Charlie shook his head, and Charlie felt like crying. But when he willed the tears to come, they didn't. Charlie couldn't cry.

"Please," Charlie whispered.

"It's done," Alice murmured.

"No… please, Uncle Paton, help me!" Charlie rushed up to his Uncle faster than anything he'd ever experience and tried to hug Paton, who screamed in pain as his rib cracked…

"NO!" Charlie let go immediately, hugging himself as Paton fell, gasping. "I can't even…I can't even hug you! I can't…I can't…"

"I-I'm fine, Charlie," Paton gasped, clutching his side as Alice hurriedly tended to him.

"No you're not! I..I…" And Charlie took off running, faster than even Edward.

"Please," Paton winced, beckoning to Edward. "Find him, I don't…" Paton fainted, his cracked ribs too much for him.

Edward knew it would come to this.

Poor Charlie, he probably could have been treated, and Charlie could have been normal. Edward ran through the forest, reconsidering himself. He was not the Edward he knew himself to be. He was harsher, snappish, and he hated it. Why was it so? Edward knew he found himself in a hopeless situation.

Charlie couldn't believe himself. What kind of sick and twisted luck brought him to this state? Why???? Charlie refused to believe it, but he had hurt Uncle Paton. Charlie remembered in agony how Paton had screamed, how Charlie had let go and he had fallen to the ground, moaning in pain. That sickening crack of his ribs…. Breaking someone's ribs, depending on how hard, could result in killing someone. Charlie's eyes widened as he ran, and he shook his head back and forth. He couldn't have killed Uncle Paton…he imagined Paton's eyes slowly closing, a heartbroken Ms. Ingledew at his funeral…

Charlie ran even faster, as the wind howled around him and a thunderstorm had started to brew. He was nearing the Torrson's home. No, he wouldn't hurt them too. Tancred had almost died, and he wasn't going to let that happen again. He veered away from that house, and he realized just how fast he was going. Wasn't he going to run into a tree? But the trees, everything, were crystal clear, and Charlie still felt that inevitable burning at the back of his throat.

Charlie realized the Cullen's drank the blood of animals, and Charlie stopped, sniffing the air. If he could drink some, then he wouldn't become that much of a threat, even though he could restrain himself.

Sniffing out a rich scent, he started to follow it, letting instinct take over. It wasn't nearly as delectable as Uncle Paton, and he didn't think it was as good as any human's, because Renesme had explained the scent of most humans.

Charlie discovered it was a bear, and he pounced. After several messy minutes, Charlie was satisfied, only a slight twang at the back of his throat. His clothes were red and covered in coarse brown hairs…

Brown. He hadn't seen Ben for the longest time. Charlie took off for his house, and realized that the storm was still following him. There was a buzz at the back of his mind. He saw flashes of scenes that weren't forests, and Charlie was overwhelmed.

"Charlie!" cried a voice.

No! No, no, no! Charlie thought desperately. He knew that voice, and it wasn't a vampire's.

"Charlie, are you okay?" Olivia asked him. Charlie closed his eyes and sat on the ground.

"Charlie?" Her voice rang crystal clear, her blood even more tempting than Uncle Paton's.

"No, Olivia, don't come any nearer," Charlie said.

"Charlie, you're voice!"

"Liv, you don't want to know what I look like," Charlie muttered, though she could still hear him.

"Charlie, I don't care what you look like or sound like or whatever else weird happened, I just want to make sure you're okay."

"Liv, I might kill you," Charlie said.

"I will risk my life, Charlie Bone!" Olivia declared.

Olivia swung around to face him. She winced slightly at the dramatic change of features. He was so much taller. Now that she realized it, he was as tall as his Uncle Paton. But his features were absolutely perfect. Charlie had a smooth face, wonderfully flatter hair, and bright red eyes, brighter than even Billy Raven's. He was so pale. But this did not make her gasp dramatically. She kneeled down next to him and held his stony cold hand. His clothes were bloody and covered in hair, ripped.

"Oh Charlie," Olivia sighed. Charlie wanted to cry, so badly, and he didn't care if it was in front of Olivia. He shook with dry tears, as Olivia held him close. Neither of them noticed the silent figure approaching them.

"Olivia, I hurt Uncle Paton. I cracked his ribs, Liv. I could have…" Charlie choked on his words. "Liv, I can't do anything. If I weren't struggling so hard I could kill you now Liv."

"I know it too," Olivia soothed him. "Everything will turn out for the better Charlie, I promise."

A twig snapped.

Charlie whirled around faster than Olivia could blink, staring through the trees, still as a statue. Olivia tried to stay as still as he did, but he didn't even breath, and her heart was fluttering wildly.

"Charlie Bone!" cried a voice, ecstatic. Charlie snarled low in his throat, feeling protective of Olivia.

"How exciting. Of course, I don't know who you are exactly, but clever Edward, I have so many powers he isn't aware of." Gleaming red eyes came out of the forest slowly and gracefully. Charlie growled, snarling to protect Olivia from this horrible person.

"I can read minds, I can hypnotize, and I am clairvoyant, and you, Charlie, are the most powerful vampire I've ever seen." Amari showed his pearly white teeth, glistening with venom.

Charlie found himself reading Amari's mind, and he crouched into a pouncing position, reminding himself of Renesme against the twins. He snapped at him.

"Charlie, Charlie. As a young vampire, you will stay eternally strong. Strong as a newborn. You, as a Child of the Red King, have every power imaginable." He chuckled softly. "Don't go near streetlamps, you're exactly like your cursed Uncle Paton!"

That was it. Charlie sprang at Amari, who threw him down casually. It didn't hurt a bit, but made him feel powerless and of course more angry than ever.

"Don't talk about Uncle Paton like that," Charlie hissed, scaring Olivia. Suddenly Charlie was frightened. What was he thinking? He had left Olivia alone over there! Charlie made for Olivia as fast as he could.

The vampire was faster. He snatched Olivia and put his teeth near her throat. Charlie roared and hissed and snapped, trying to rip that foul a**.

"Don't Charlie!" Amari let out a throaty, evil laugh that would haunt Charlie forever. "I bite."

"Let her go!" Charlie screamed.

"Only if you decide to join the Volturi, Charlie, and the Bloor's," Amari grinned. "By joining us, you will hypnotize the Cullen's and all your friends to our side, put everyone against us in a deep, controlling sleep. Ultimate power, Charlie. You could control anything."

Charlie felt himself looking into Amari's deep eyes…an instant mistake. Charlie felt himself falling and falling, until he landed right where he was, but with a totally new sense of everything.

"Of course I'll join you," Charlie declared.

"NO, CHARLIE, NO!" Olivia shrieked. She had seen his red eyes go glassy as he stared into Amari's.

"Shut up, girl," Charlie hissed.

Olivia wasn't deceived. She knew Charlie was in a trance, and she struggled against Amari's grasp.

"You go now," Amari said harshly, throwing her down hard. She felt her wrist below her body twist on the forest floor, as Amari and Charlie walked away together. Olivia's lip trembled.

"Be safe, Charlie," she whispered.

As she got up to go, Charlie came rushing back. He picked her up. And he cried in a voice not his own, "Look at me!" Olivia avoided his eyes. She knew what they could do. She would never help the Bloor's, and whatever the Volturi was, she would never help them.

Charlie squeezed her painfully. Olivia remembered what he said had happened to Paton, and yet she still refrained from looking. She felt him squeeze tighter, until she was screaming. The evil wind of Charlie rushed around them, everything was bright and lights popped as she struggled to breathe…

"NO!" Charlie was thrown to the ground, and as Amari came closer a blurred figure started to battle with the Volturi vampire. Other blurry figures joined it, and soon Olivia was hunched by a tree, watching in horror as Amari threw each Cullen down one by one. Olivia then turned her fear into determination.

Amari screamed. There in front of him was Aro. Olivia wasn't sure where the vision came from. She made Aro chase Amari away, until Amari was gone…for now.

Charlie hastened to follow, but he stumbled. Olivia realized he was struggling between himself and Amari's grip. A tall, handsome blond vampire with golden eyes came up to Olivia.

"Are you alright?" he asked, checking her over.

"Yes, but my wrist hurts…" Olivia said, still focused on Charlie.

"I'll fix you up. I am Carlisle Cullen," the doctor explained, checking her over. Olivia looked at Carlisle, then at the other beautiful figures. They were talking to one another and Olivia noticed their names were Bella, Edward, Alice and Emmett.

"Please, let me go!" Olivia cried, breaking from Carlisle's gentle grasp and standing beside Charlie. She shook his stony body hard.

"Charlie, Charlie!" Olivia cried.

"Olivia…get away…stay…no…" Charlie struggled. Olivia shook her head hard. "Charlie, you stupid boy!" Olivia kissed him straight on the lips, and suddenly Charlie stumbled onto the forest floor. He looked up dazedly at Olivia. "Lord, Olivia, do it again."

"Idiot," Olivia rolled her eyes. Charlie jumped to his feet. He looked over to Alice, Edward and Bella. "Where's Uncle Paton?"

"In the hospital, he's fine, Esme, Jasper and Renesme took him." Alice answered.

"Well, he'll be there soon," Edward added.

"Charlie, this is Emmett and Carlisle," Bella introduced him. They all shook hands, and when Emmett looked at Charlie, he burst out laughing.

"What?" Charlie demanded.

"I leave Edward and Bella alone for one day and they can't even let this kind of stuff alone!" he boomed. Indeed, Emmett was burly and strong, but he was of the sarcastic and wonderfully funny nature.

"I'm going to see Uncle Paton," Charlie declared. He went for the streets, as Olivia called out, "Charlie, I wouldn't-!"

It was dark out, and as Charlie approached a streetlamp, it exploded. Charlie came speeding back in a blur, groaning.

"Now I see how Uncle Paton feels," Charlie muttered, feeling completely sorry for Uncle Paton. Olivia remembered Paton's black fedora.

"Give him a hat, then he can visit his uncle," Olivia exclaimed. Emmett took off his baseball cap and Charlie pulled it on, pushing it over his eyes and looking to the ground. He found that if he read other's minds, he could see where he was going.

Charlie focused on their minds and every crack in the street. Whenever any of them looked at a street lamp, it would glow brightly and Charlie switched quickly to a different mind.

After a long time they were finally at the hospital, and Charlie almost burst out laughing as he realized he was taller than all of them. But he kept his concentration.

"Paton Yewbeam," Olivia murmured to the woman at the desk as Charlie concentrated at the ground. The woman gave them directions.

Charlie burst into his Uncle's room, glad for the jacket that Carlisle had provided. It covered his bloody shirt…however his pants were ripped. He realized if he said they were heavy duty watercolor stains on his work pants he'd pass those by.

"Charlie!" Uncle Paton exclaimed.

"Turn the lights off," Charlie whispered to Olivia.

The room went dark.

"Uncle Paton, I am so sorry," Charlie exclaimed as Paton took his cloth off of his eyes.

"Charlie you're fine, I expected nothing different," Paton said firmly, holding Charlie's hand.

"I also know how you feel about lights," Charlie murmured. Paton's eyes widened as he looked Charlie over, then he burst out laughing.

"I should've known, and this is the only time my endowment has made me laugh!" Paton chuckled, shaking with his laughter. He noticed Olivia.

"Olivia, my dear. Hello," Paton said politely.

"Hello, Mr. Yewbeam," Olivia nodded.

Charlie explained what happened in the forest.

Paton shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid we find ourselves in the toughest situation yet. Your parents are devastated, Charlie."

"But I can see them. I can restrain myself. I'm in a hospital full of sick people and blood." Charlie pleaded.

"I suppose so," Paton said lightly.

"It's not the best hospital I've seen, how are they treating you, Mr. Yewbeam?" Carlisle said. Paton was flattered for a moment before he said, "I'm fine, and who are you?"

"I am terribly sorry. Doctor Carlisle Cullen," Carlisle offered his cold hand.

"Paton Yewbeam," Paton politely nodded.

"PATON!" came a strangled yell, as many nurses tried to hold the owner of the scream off.

"Back off, that's my wife!" Paton shouted, trying to stand up. He groaned as Carlisle gently placed him back down.

"There is a limit to visitors!" A nurse exclaimed.

"We'll leave, won't we Liv?" Charlie said hurriedly.

"Yeah," Olivia said.

As they left they saw Julia struggling against the nurses. She gasped as she looked up at Charlie, and nearly fainted. Emma did faint while an irritated nurse helped her up.

"Please, Uncle Paton will explain," Charlie muttered, avoiding the bright lights.

Charlie almost made it. On the way out a light exploded in the waiting room, while many patients shrieked and assistants tended to the glass. Charlie hurried out.

"Charlie, what are we going to do with you?" said Olivia as they hurried to a dark corner.

"I'm going home and getting some clothes," Charlie murmured. "Tell the Cullen's where I am, won't you?"

"They'll already know Charlie, what with the fortune teller and that mind reader," Olivia reminded him. "They'll be after you now."

"I can run faster than they can," Charlie declared. He turned to go, when he looked at Olivia. Her hair was a wonderful honey color today, with a wonderful face and her bright green eyes. Her hair fell in elegant waves around her face. Olivia stared up into Charlie's kind, red eyes, and missed his blue ones terribly. She wished he were himself, his shorter self. She'd never reach anywhere near his height now. Charlie gazed sadly at her before turning away and going off for home.

Olivia held back the tears that had been threatening her for hours, until she finally let them go.

What with the changes of events, Alice saw that the future was set on choices. She saw Charlie run off and Olivia crying as they ran for Charlie, but then she saw something snatch Olivia from that corner and take her away, and seconds later as they reached the moonlit corner, she saw it in reality.

Olivia didn't even have time to scream.

But Charlie did hear Alice's scream and as he reached for her mind, he ran faster than he ever had that day back to the corner, and after Amari, who held a limp and unconscious Olivia in his sinister arms. And further up ahead were all the endowed children, wrapped in Amari's grip. Even with all the Cullen's right there, nothing could help them now.

Or could something?

Meanwhile in the hospital there sat Paton and a hysterical Miss Ingledew, with a silent Emma by her side. The only endowed child not in the street scene. Emma sat by the open window, staring into the tree branch outside the sill. They had the entire dark room to themselves.

What was that in the tree?

Emma spotted them, orange and copper and yellow, and one by one the Flames pounced into her room. Aries ran straight for Paton, while Leo and Sagittarius followed. Below in the streets in the shadows the Red Knight waited for the flames, and in a matter of moments, a large bird was soaring high in the sky with Paton and Julia in her claws, while three cats jumped from the tree. Galloping away, the Flames followed the Knight and the Bird toward the street battle that was about to take place.