A/N: Okay, people. I usually don't post early, but this is an emergency. C'est Ma Vie, a person who put a reply on Chapter 2, has deeply offended me by posting an extremely rude reply to my story when she had no right to judge. I know this girl would most likely be offended if someone said something this cruel to her:

I despise the names Ebony and Onyx. They're nouns. Things. Colors. NOT
PEOPLE'S NAMES. Overlooking the fact that the reader hasn't been barraged with descriptions of
the character's looks, this has strong Mary Sue tendencies. Blegh.

C'est Ma Vie, you need to think about what you said. You had no right to say something like this so early in the story when, in fact, if you read on to the next chapter, you would have found a better description of the two girls. Words can never be taken back once they're said, so choose wisely. Have a good day, readers! =)

(Eb POV) 9. You're WHAT?

I made myself comfortable on the sofa in the front room, with Onyx on my right and Edward on my left. Jasper and Alice claimed the loveseat; Rosalie suddenly appeared from the bathroom upstairs and sat on Emmett's lap on the recliner. Carlisle let Esme have the other recliner and stood. I wouldn't allow that.

Before anyone could object, I shoved away from my seat and grabbed a dining room chair. He started to oppose to this, but I growled softly under my breath. I placed it in front of him firmly and sat back down. "Thank you, Ebony." I smiled brightly after this was said.

"You're welcome, Dr. Cullen," I retorted sweetly.

"Please, call me Carlisle," he corrected.

"Sure, Doc. So? What's the meeting for?" Might as well get to the point.

"Oh, yes. We've been aware of the fact that you and your sister are not normal. The family, including myself, just wanted to warn you not to hunt humans-" he began.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Who said anything about us eating humans? Even though we're immortal, we don't have to kill humans to survive. You're right about one thing; we're not normal," I explained.

"What are you, then?" Jasper demanded. "We have a right to know, considering this is our territory."

"Jasper, please," Carlisle chided gently. "Now Ebony, what are you both? It's for our own safety that we need to know."

"Well, I told Edward I'm from Atlanta, right?" I looked at him for a testimony.

"Correct. What does that have to do with anything, though?" He regarded me.

"Well, the reason we moved here was because our mother was murdered by the Volturi. She committed the crime of creating an immortal child; she didn't even argue when they told the charge to us. Mom was content with dying, with leaving us." A tear slowly rolled down my cheek, and Edward kissed it away before gesturing to continue. "She had a power, though, that would have gotten her a ticket in the Volturi if she tried. It was the ability to make any human retain vampire qualities, or any vampire retain human qualities. Before she left, she made us as vampire-like as possible, rewarding us with immortality, gifts, and some strength and speed."

"Can you still have children?" This came from Rosalie, surprisingly.

"Of course," I said unthinkingly. "Why couldn't I?"

She nimbly leapt off of Emmett's lap and raced out the front door, slamming it behind her. Onyx winced at the thoughts emitting from her, and Edward blanched also. Hm... Interesting. I wonder what he can do.

Ebony, I just realized something. They're vampires. Onyx sent it out rather loudly to me, and my shield automatically covered both of us. Edward tilted his head questioningly. I smiled innocently, looking like an angel. He shrugged after a moment and continued stroking his hand down my back.

"What powers do you and Ebony have?" Em inquired, leaning forward eagerly.

"I have the power to project a physical and mental shield, levitate objects, and heal any type of wound. Onyx has the power to shape-shift into any animal or person, read minds and implant thoughts into people's minds, and teleport," I said smugly, smiling at Onyx.

"Wow," Edward whispered in my ear.

"Wow, huh? My powers are better than that to me," I mimicked him from earlier. He grinned at my joke, and Jasper groaned.

"Please, Edward. That is just disgusting," he moaned loudly.

"Not my fault," he shot back.

"Boys, please!" Esme reprimanded. "Ebony, continue."

"Of course," I whispered before going on in a normal tone. "I can't mend myself because my own energy can't be reversed onto me. I heal faster than mortals, though. Nearly at the rate of a shape-shifter. See." I peeled off the bandage on my cheek and showed them the light scar. "It'll fade by tomorrow. The physical shield protected me from getting a worse injury; however, it should have been up anyway. I just like being normal sometimes, and it's a strain to keep it on Onyx and me."

"It's okay, Ebony. We understand," Esme comforted. "How does your shield block your scent? I've seen a physical shield before, but it doesn't even cover up her scent."

"I honestly don't know. My shield just protects me, along with whoever I deem worthy enough to go underneath it, from mental and physical attacks." A yawn escaped my mouth, and I rubbed my eyes.

"You should rest," Edward breathed in my ear.

"No. As soon as y'all are through with the questions is when I'll go to bed. One thing you need to know is that I'm super stubborn," I responded. He rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me against his chest.

"Last question of the night," Carlisle began. "Who was that silver wolf?"

"That was Sasha, a girl that was cursed by a witch. She's been like that for a few decades until we found her digging through our garbage in Atlanta. We didn't want the neighbors to call Animal Control, so Mother bought a house in the Appalachian Mountains in northern Georgia for her to roam around in. One night, we heard a pain-filled howl and witnessed her first change back into a human. She was frozen in that wolf's body for years until we found her and loved her. That was the key to her transforming body. The witch was kind enough to let her retain the ability to phase back and forth, so she could protect herself."

Speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear. Scratching on the door alerted me to Sasha's arrival, and I twisted the lock with my mind and let the door drift open. Sasha pranced into the room and settled down by my feet. Rosalie trailed behind her and resumed her position with Emmett.

"Anything else?" I struggled to keep my eyes open as I said this.

"No, Ebony. You should go upstairs; we'll lead ourselves out," Esme told.

"You don't even have to tell me twice," Onyx muttered, dashing up the stairs with Sasha on her feet. I chuckled before yawning again.

"Ebony," Edward warned.

"I can't rest without knowing you all will be okay," I whined.

"What do you mean 'knowing you all will be okay'?" Rosalie asked suspiciously.

"If Aro finds out my association with you, Edward, then he'll want Onyx and me even more," I grumbled. Rosalie and Jasper tensed, but Carlisle sent them a warning look.

"Ebony," Carlisle gently said. I strained to keep my eyelids from slipping closed. "How do you know Aro wanted you and your sister?"

"He said so when he came to kill my mother. 'If you ever want to join my guard, we're always open to you and your sister'," I imitated his aged voice to perfection, even as sleep fought to consume me.

"Carlisle, she's tired," Edward jumped in when Carlisle started to quiz me further. "Let her sleep."

"No-" I protested.

"Jasper," Edward said softly; he glanced at me pointedly.

Suddenly a wave of darkness overpowered me, and my eyelids closed without my permission. I felt two arms-the very same arms that carried me earlier-lift me from underneath my legs and behind my back. I was cradled into an angel's wings; at least that's what it felt like.

"Go to sleep, Ebony. I'll be here when you wake up," Edward purred, his voice lulling me to sleep.

Love ya, Edward, I pushed out from behind my shield. I finally succumbed to the blankets of calm settling around me, and I faintly heard a soft sigh in the distance.