Chapter 2:

It is what it is

Esme had insisted that we get to the house before any of the questioning would begin, much to Jasper's distaste, providing his argument that it would be safer to find out all about me before anything. As if I could pose any kind of threat to the yellow – eyes. They were the ones that destroyed my entire clan before I'd even gotten there. Then again, they were more worried for the human - Bella, was her name – whom I couldn't help but snarl at every time the wind washed her scent over to me – her intoxicating scent.

Thankfully, Jaspers argument to somehow get me there blindfolded - as to keep me from knowing where they lived - fell short, not to mention that I would have been able to track their scent if I wanted to. And I would have, just for Bella's blood. We arrived in a short time and I was forced to stay in the back of the house, as Bella had been placed inside to keep her safe. Although she did watch with curious eyes from behind the glass door – what little use that glass door would have if I lost my control.

The yellow – eyes set up a protective flank, the red – head and the little one with black hair the closest to the door, with the big one and the other girl in front of them. At the very front were Carlisle and Esme with Jasper at the point.

"Who are you?" Jasper asked roughly. It was clear to me that he had the most experience with newborns like me, even though he looked the youngest. I would have to be careful around him; every move I made was a potential threat.

"Bree," I spat out. The burn at the back of my throat was enough to make me feel the need to rip apart everyone around me. His attitude? It did nothing to help me, that's for sure.

He glared. "Your full name and where you came from."

"Bree Tanner. And I came from Riley's coven, as you know."

Carlisle walked up, placing a hand on Jasper's shoulder. "I can take it from here, Jasper."

Not liking the situation, or me for that matter, he snarled, but backed off, keeping a watchful eye on me as Carlisle began to speak, knowing that although Carlisle may be aware of his actions, I was not.

"Why did you come here, Bree?"

I rolled my eyes. They knew why I had come - they'd killed the rest of my coven for that very fact - and yet they still questioned me about it. "We came to destroy you yellow – eyes and to get her." My eyes flickered to Bella, her eyes wide at the sudden attention. At least, with her behind the door, my throat didn't burn quite as much, but it did burn.

"That's why your coven came," Carlisle started, a gentle smile on his face – he was trying to be supportive – and continued. "But why did you come? If you surrendered so quickly, then you must not have wanted to be here in the first place."

His questions made me go rigid: my eyes wide. Diego was why I had come, why I hadn't left with Fred where I know I would have been safe, because you can't harm something you can't see. But telling the yellow – eyes would indicate a story that goes farther than just that. They would assume I was hiding something of relevance and would pry and pry until they found out all I was doing was pushing away the hurt that had built up in such a short time, over a boy I'd gotten so close to so quickly.

"I had nowhere else to go." I was horrible at lying.

"Liar," Jasper hissed.

The little black haired girl came forward, placing a calming hand on his shoulder. "Jasper, calm down."

The blond huffed and made a move to relax, but instantly began leaning back into a crouch as he noticed my eyes flicker toward Bella.

"You can tell me the truth, Bree, we're not here to hurt you."

"That is the truth."

"Bree," Carlisle urged, trying to remain the calm and levelheaded person that he came off as.

I remained silent – as I was used to doing in every situation. I tried to pretend I was sitting back at the house, hiding behind Fred, hoping that I could make it until it was my turn to feed without anyone noticing me. Nobody noticed me, nobody could. I was invisible – just as I wished I were now.

"Tell us the truth. We're not here to hurt you," the red head – Edward – calmly spoke. He had kind eyes, I noticed, kindness I wouldn't have been used to before Diego.

I chose not to answer.

"It's alright," a soft voice came from the black haired girl. "You can tell us."

The sound of a door opening fluttered through my ears and I wouldn't have ever guessed Bella would come out, standing cautiously next to Edward, as her scent wafted passed me. I leaned into a crouch, the others responding with their own protective stance.

"Bella, go back inside. You shouldn't be out here."

"Wait, Edward."

The human stared up at the vampire with soft brown eyes and he melted, listening intently to what she had to say.

"What ever she's not telling you, it probably isn't important."

"And how can you be so sure, Bella?" Carlisle questioned, curiously glancing at the young girl.

"What she's hiding, she's hiding because it hurts," she explained and I let out a dangerous hiss. She would be smart to remember not to pry into my life. That was something that was to stay hidden.

Surprisingly unafraid, the human turned to face her body completely toward me and, though I was crouched and snarling – ready to attack – she remained steady.

"Diego," the red – head questioned, earning yet another hiss from my mouth – almost subconsciously.

"Stay out of my mind," I snarled.

I was beginning to reach the point where I couldn't take anymore. This was private – everything he was peaking into in my mind was private, mine. From the protective stance the seven vampires took over the human, I knew I looked as dangerous as I felt.

"Bree," Carlisle calmly called. "We're not invading your privacy. We just want to know where you came from and why."

"You do not need to know about any of that – of anyone in my memories."

I let my eyes drift from Carlisle to Bella, whose soft brown eyes stared back sympathetically – triggering something in me that I hadn't felt since I realized Riley had killed Diego. I felt utterly alone. I had no one – no Diego, no Fred. This human, although unconventional, had these seven vampires.

"Bree, dear. We're just trying to help, you understand right? Who is Diego? Was he from your coven? Is he still alive?"

Afraid that I wouldn't be able to control myself, I turned away, my back to the vampires and their human. I took a deep breath, hoping that it would calm me down. It didn't. "I understand. But Diego is of no importance to you," I spoke evenly, barely managing to keep myself from cracking at the mention of Diego. "I will tell you that he was from my coven, and he was one of the three of us that were beginning to see how twisted Riley really was. But it doesn't matter. It was too late. We were too late. And he's gone because of that."

None of them spoke a word.

"Don't pry into my mind again, Edward. I told you everything you need to know. Everything else I know is nothing to you. I won't do anything to get you into trouble. I already told you that when you saved my life. If you don't believe me," I paused; turning to face the group with a saddened look plastered on my face. "Then you might as well kill me now."

Finally another update after a long break. I'm sorry about that. With college and work, It's rather hard to find time to write. But I finally got this done. Yay! Hope you like it. Leave me reviews and tell me what you think!