It has been awhile since I updated and for that I apologize. I hope the posting of two chapters will make up for it, though I am not sure when I will be updating again because of the holidays. Anyway, enjoy these two. I will post as soon as I am able and above all REVIEW!!
Oh, and to Jenny and Victoria, thanks for the kind words!
Have a Merry Christmas -- or whatever it is you celebrate at this time of year!!! I hope you are all healthy and happy and get to eats lots of good food! (That's what I plan on doing!)
Chapter 16
I researched the town of Millinocket, Maine as I went -- whenever I felt up to the press of humans or needed some sort of reassurance that I was not the last creature on earth.
It appeared to be somewhat central in the state. Near both mountains and lakes – an ideal place for creatures that needed privacy and a large food supply. I hoped there would be a lot of cloudy days there, but was unable to find much that told me yes or no.
A it turned out, it was sunny the day I got into town – well, outside of town. The sun glinted off the snow and the air smelled crisp and clean as I consulted my scrap paper. The Cullens lived on Elm Street, but with the sun so bright in the late winter sky, I would have to wait about going into town and locating the house.
I hunted near a large lake just west of the town, making sure to avoid anything that might indicate humans being near. It was cold enough they stayed away. Winter made the game a little more challenging to find, but that night I tried moose for the first time – good volume, not bad flavor, but big and strong and a slightly more challenging kill. I felt more relaxed once the burn had been calmed and my thirst eased.
As the sun set, I found myself too anxious to stop by a gas station and check out my appearance. Along the way, I had tried to take care that my hair was clean and somewhat arranged, but with the constant traveling, I knew I looked hard worn. I only hoped I looked civilized enough that they wouldn't think me a threat, though understanding a bit more of the predatory nature of my kind, I doubted my appearance, wild or urbane, would make much difference.
Elm Street wasn't that difficult to locate. The print-out map I had made of Millinocket was surprisingly accurate. The house, though, was a different story. It was set back – far back – at the end of Elm; I would never have thought it on the same street. There was only a small marker that even gave indication of another home being that far back and it was half covered in snow. A couple of times I almost turned around thinking that I was wandering to nothing and the marker had been for something other than a home. I figured I was already half-way back to the lake, when something made me suddenly stop dead in my tracks.
The scent of others like me caused me to freeze and search the dark even closer. A shape materialized out of the shadows and approached me cautiously. It was a male vampire. He appeared quite young, though something in his eyes led me to believe he was older than he looked. He had an untidy mop of unusually shaded auburn hair. At maybe an inch shorter than Demetri – I pushed the thought quickly aside before it could incapacitate me – he was not nearly as muscular. He was more slender than Demetri and it came to me that he must have been changed before he had reached his full growth. He watched me intently, eye narrowed and shoulders tensed as if for a fight.
Two others, one blonde and one dark headed and each bigger then the first, immediately flanked him and I drew myself to my full height somewhat resignedly. I was much smaller than all of them. There was no way I could out fight three – if I had wanted too and been able – and if they were part of the family I was searching for, I didn't want to.
"We've been waiting for you." The auburn haired male said softly in melodic voice.
I raised my eyebrows as much at that as the color of his eyes as they registered in my brain. They were an unusual amber color, as were those of his silent companions. I had never seen eyes that color before in human or vampire.
I found myself grinning at that and the fact that these three males glowed much like Demetri had and I was hard pressed to feel any fear at looking at them, though I knew they could destroy me in a second had they the desire.
"You have?"
There was a short nod in the affirmative but his face did not soften and he did not relax.
"Was it the Chief?"
This time he ignored the question, "If you'll come with us, we'll answer all your questions."
I glanced at the two flanking vampires. They were both tall and strong, but only one more so then Demetri. I could well imagine their strength and didn't want to come against it. Their faces, for all the glow, were severe and I felt the first stirrings of unease. I prayed that I was not walking into a lion's den.
"We promise not to eat you."
I stared in disbelief as the leader smirked at me. It was as if he could read what I had thought. I shook my head wryly as a memory stirred. I had forgotten that Demetri had told me there was one in this family who could do exactly that. I raised an eyebrow in question and received a small smile in return. I would have to be extremely careful of what I thought about. I started reciting the multiplication table.
The leader chuckled and I felt his two companions relax at the sound – relax, but that didn't stop them from following too close behind me as I followed their leader. My instincts wildly protested having two unknown male vampires behind me and it was all I could do to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other instead of glancing back over my shoulder every few seconds and growling in warning.
We walked in silence and it seemed the only thing I could hear was the gentle sound of the snow that had begun to fall as it hit the ground and our steady breathing, which didn't steam in the cold night. It didn't take long before we reached the end of the long curving drive and I gaped at the large house that stood before me.
It was one of those old saltbox colonial numbers. Tall and stately, white with dark, slate colored shutters and a cheerful red door. With the snow falling gently and smoke curling from its twin brick chimneys, it looked like a Christmas card and I heard my breath catch. For a second I had to stop to stifle the anguish that threatened to overwhelm me.
I suddenly felt so alone and so old. I had experienced way too much in the last year -- too much sorrow, too much betrayal, both of me and of my own doing. I wanted to rest. I wanted to feel warm and whole again. I missed my family. I missed … I hugged myself at the thought and wrenched myself away from it.
The leader turned and watched me alertly. His movement halted my current line of thought; I smiled grimly, and lurched forward uncharacteristically clumsy for a vampire.
"Lead on," I murmured, averting my eyes from his sharp gaze.
I caught him glancing behind me and to my left. From of the corner of my eye, I saw one of the flanks, the blonde, shrug noncommittally. The leader pinned me with a very thoughtful look and it was a few seconds before he moved again.
He led us up the stairs and pushed the red door open, allowing me to go ahead of him into the warm house. The lights were on and cozy fires in large hearths burned brightly, beating back the chill. I felt comforted just stepping over the threshold. I would have cried if I could've. I gulped the dry sobs back.
My guard shook the snow from their hair and removed their coats as others converged on us. I stood unsure as to what to do until a soft voice interrupted my confusion.
"May I take your coat?"
I turned my attention to who had spoken. She was a beautiful woman, not as tall as me, with a loving round face and kind eyes. She was somehow softer than most of the vampires I had seen, myself included, and as with the leader in the forest, she glowed; the only face I saw was her true face and it was sweet and calm. I nodded and shrugged out of my pack, quickly unbuttoning my coat and slipping off my hat and gloves.
A tall, blonde man, with clear, handsome features, came forward hand outstretched and clasped mine firmly when I placed it in his. I could hardly contain the sigh of relief that forced its way out of my mouth at his touch. It was like a preserver thrown to a drowning man. I knew I would be fine. All my anxiety and fear left and I sagged a little at the release.
He smiled gently as if he understood, "I'm Carlisle, little sister." He said and I heard the amusement in his voice as he gave me the title. I saw answering smiles all around.
I returned the smile and shook my head, "I never really stopped to think it through. It was the first thing I thought of when I ran into Angela and Ben on the street. I just hoped that you were blonde enough for me to pull it off."
He chuckled, "It seems to have worked."
I nodded, "Thankfully. I am Sarah Wilder and I have been looking for you and your family for what seems like forever."
"Would you like me to take your glasses?" The calm woman was back.
I chuckled humorlessly as I took them off and waited for the condemnation to start, "Sorry, habit."
She nodded and as I steeled myself and looked around, I relaxed. There was nothing to be felt but acceptance. "It's understandable." She said softly.
Carlisle touched my shoulder lightly, "Please, come into the family room and we'll introduce you to everyone."
"Thanks, I'd like that." I murmured, letting him guide me to a large room off the entrance. This time it wasn't so bad to have unknown vampires at my back.
They all sat quietly as I told them as much of my story as I could; my kidnapping and subsequent change, the powers I woke up to find I had and the problems they had caused. I left out some detail, though, unwilling and unable to dredge those memories up just yet. I could see they knew I was holding back, especially Edward – the mind reader, and there was some reserve in their eyes, but it was tempered with empathy.
"So, now that we have heard your story," Carlisle began, "what would you like of us?"
I sighed and looked out the window for a few seconds before I answered him, "I really just want a home. I can't feed," my voice broke at the word and my mind skittered away.
It had been a long night and despair was never far from my thoughts. I tried to stop the flashes of frightened human eyes and the echoed hoarse human screams, but I am sure Edward saw something of it. His eyes met mine, but he said nothing and I felt a simultaneous wave of calm wash through me and I glanced from him to the gathered family wondering who it was and how.
I took a deep breath and began again, steadier this time, "I can't feed on humans. I can't and I don't know how to live as one of us and not, though I never have." I hoped it made sense and I wouldn't be asked to explain further. I don't think I could have handled it well at this point, maybe later, but not tonight. I was simply too heartsick and worn out.
Carlisle was thoughtful, "We will have to discuss this." He said glancing around at his family. "Can we tell you in the morning?"
I nodded, trying not to appear too eager, in case they decided against me, "All I wanted was a chance."
Esme, Carlisle's mate, smiled gently at me, "We have a guest room ready for you, if you would like to rest and wash up."
I wearily got to my feet and smiled gratefully, "That sounds wonderful."
I retrieved my pack from the entryway and followed her upstairs to the top of the house. It was the attic room and I loved it. It was away from the bustle of the house and the dormer window overlooked the mountains and trees. Through a wide skylight I could look up and see the few brave stars that twinkled through the wispy clouds.
They had painted the walls a soft gray-blue and the furniture was black to accent it. I immediately recognized the lovely reproduction of a nighttime seashore lit by the full moon that decorated one wall and couldn't stop myself from reverently touching the frame with one finger. It was calm and soothing and just what I needed.
I turned to Esme with a lump in my throat. I couldn't speak so I just stood there breathing harder then normal and rocking slightly. She smiled at me and enfolded me in her arms. I lost it then and sobbed tearlessly into her shoulder. She held me like my mother would have, rubbing my back, until it was all out and I felt marginally better.
"I'm sorry," I murmured as I stood back.
She smoothed a strand of my hair back into place and gently patted my cheek, "No need to be sorry. I forget how lucky we are to have one another."
I looked into her calm eyes, "You are." I agreed.
She drew back to the hallway, "Get some rest, Sarah dear."
I nodded, thinking I could do just that in this beautiful quiet house, even if they asked me to leave tomorrow, I would be able to rest for the night and I would be grateful for it, grateful for the chance they gave me, grateful for the comforting way my name rolled off Esme's tongue. It was good to feel at home.
