Chapter 3

There they were, the Cullen's. Carlisle had opened the door. For the first time since I had been changed my mind went blank. I just stood there and stared at them. I could tell by their postures that they were uneasy about me being there. I was worried they would strike. I could hear a faint growl coming from a familiar looking male. In my calmest voice I began, "Hello Cullen's," I paused. What else should I say? I just continued ranting, "I know that you don't know me and probably won't want to help me but I thought I would try. I need your help." I paused again; I would not go on if they wouldn't help. At that moment a female vampire with a pixie hair cut appeared. She locked eyes with the redhead male and he nodded. They all seemed slightly more at ease after the exchange. Carlisle, the only Cullen I recognized, took this chance to speak, "What is it that you want us to help you with?" he stopped for less than a second and seemed to think, "Actually before you answer that who are you?"

"Sorry I didn't mean to be rude. My name is Gill… I am a vampire, but you knew that… is that what you wanted to know?" I asked unsure.

"For the time being, yes, that is fine. You realize that you cannot hunt here, this is our territory. Gill what do you need? I'll see if we can help."

"Well… it's kind of embarrassing. See I… well… I'm trying to be like you. You know not kill people. I've been doing it on my own but it's been difficult for me and well I need help with it, some encouragement to keep me going."

"Have you hunted people on or near our territory? Because w-"

"No, never, I haven't hunted in over a week. I also haven't hunted humans in… a long time. It's been years." At this they seemed to relax a lot, the redhead was still quite tense. I sighed; it felt like they were warming up to me.

For the first time the lead female spoke, Carlisle's wife, "Maybe we should let her come in? I don't think she's going to hurt any one." I could tell she left out the "for now," but that worked for me. The redhead let out a low, barely audible growl. We all moved father into the house, to the living room. It was a nice, plain, room with a piano. They watched my movements carefully and I theirs. I could sense it, like there were a few extra eyes watching me; at least two of them had abilities. I wasn't sure who or what but I knew they did. This knowledge made me a little tense. I still didn't know their names

except for Carlisle so I decided to ask, "Excuse me, but I never got to learn your-"

"Sorry, we didn't mean to be rude. I am Carlisle, this is my wife Esme. This is Emmet, Rosalie, Jasper, Alice, and Edward" He gestured at each when he said their names. I nodded or smiled at each of them, all but Rosaline and Edward did the same back. My gaze lingered on Edward, the redhead. His eyes were dark like coals; he obviously hadn't hunted in a while. Edward's features like all vampires were sharp and pronounced. He seemed so familiar, but if I had met him as a vampire I would remember clearly. I pushed the thoughts of him out of my mind; I could ask about that later. They all sat except for Carlisle and Edward, I could tell Edward really didn't trust me.

After everyone seemed settled I inquired, "Um I don't want to seem rude or upfront but… a couple of you have abilities don't you?" I waited, I didn't want to ask who or what, that would be really rude.

"Yes. How did you know?" Carlisle asked inquisitively, "Did someone tell you?"

"No. I can… feel it. Like some extra presence, extra people watching me, you know? I thought all vampires could do that."

"No, I don't believe so."

Great I was a freak among freaks in even more ways than I already was. Why me? Being a vampire to begin with, my eyes, my ability, and now this, I could never be normal. "O," I decided to talk about something else after a pause, "You don't trust me do you? Especially you," I indicated Edward. He huffed; it would barely be audible to a human. They were all apprehensive but Edward was more than the rest. He was in a protective stance, but I didn't see anything for him to protect. "Well it's difficult to know who you can trust," hissed Edward.

"Edward is right about that," Carlisle responded as he put a hand on Edward's shoulder. "I suppose that we've been a bit too protective, it is seven against one, and you don't hunt humans." Alice nodded at him, some kind of signal I assumed. Alice has an ability Edward too, they have to. I couldn't tell who the other was; it wasn't Emmet, that I knew. I felt it again, the thirst, I could no longer wait. They had to know I was thirsty too because my eyes were so dark you could barely tell they were green and barely tell I had pupils. "I don't want to sound rude but I am rather thirsty," I said this hesitantly, they may not respond well, "Would you mind if I hunted?" Edward shot Carlisle and Alice glances, and Alice squeezed Jasper's had (she had been holding it for a while) and the others tensed. I could see that they didn't want me to hurt any humans while I was out. "It would be nice if some of you accompanied me so that you could show me where to hunt and not disturb your town."

Rosalie finally chimed in, "I am not going with her." She really did not like me. "Rose! Don't be so rude," Esme told her. "It would be fine if you went hunting, where we tell you to of course," Carlisle said as he looked at his 'family', "I am sorry to say that I cannot come with you because I have to be at the hospital, but I'm sure someone else will go." He again scanned the faces of the other Cullen's. "Jasper and Emmet went hunting just the other day so I think that I'll let them stay here, Rose refuses and Esme you have to stay here. Edward, Alice why don't you go with her?" Edward glared angrily at his Carlisle. Edward really did not like the idea, but then after a moment of looking at Carlisle he sighed. I had missed something, some exchange. This coven was quite odd. I was wondering if I should tell them my ability, maybe if I did they would trust me more, maybe less. Alice responded before Edward, "I'll go." "But Carlisle," Edward managed before he was cut off. "We can handle it," Carlisle said, He was glaring intensely at Carlisle now. What was going on? What could they handle? I was missing something, something that Edward was really concerned about. I decided to break the awkward moment, "Would you please show me the way."