Silver Blood

Bella POV

Towards the end of winter break, my bad luck kicked in. I had been avoiding Demetri, staying out of the school during the day and inside during the night. There was one rare night that I was out, because I had cast a spell and saw Demetri leaving to hunt. I saw some boy, someone from school, trembling and I decided to approach to see what was wrong.

"Are you okay?" I asked. He turned towards me and I recognized him to be Tyler, one of my classmates.

I put my hand on his shoulder, but suddenly--

Benjamin POV

I had the sense that something bad was going to happen--again! I went to look for Bella. I found her fending off a werewolf attack. She was being evasive, pushing them back with gust of wind and jumping out the way.

For a moment, I was shocked. This was the first time I'd seen a werewolf in animal form. One seemed to be moving out impulse and fear, the other had more purpose.

I raced to Bella and pushed her out the way of another attack. She blinded them for a moment and I pulled her away.

Two figures rushed out at vampire speed. Before we could see what happened the werewolves were on the ground. Suddenly, one was before us and we felt much better. Happy. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." I said.

"Fine." Bella answered.

"The two of you are very close, closer than anyone I've met recently." The other said.

"This is my brother." Bella explained. She sounded dazed and dazzled, the same way that I felt.

It took me a momnt to see the vampire standing before me. She had beautiful, soft features, white hair. The other had long black hair.

"Who are you?" I managed to ask.

"I am Didyme. I am the headmistress of Silver Academy. That is my mate, Marcus. He is the headmaster."

"I will deal with this." Marcus said.

Didyme nodded. "Yes. Let me take you to see Dr. Carlisle. You are witches, aren't you?"

"Yes." I answered.

"Come along."

Dr. Carlisle was working late at the hospital and looked us over. I wasn't paying much attention as Didyme spoke to the doctor.

"I'm sorry we were not there sooner." Didyme sudden said to me.

"That's alright." I assured, uncertain where this sudden turn of conversation had come from.

She shook her head. "It truly is not. I am lucky hat the two of you are witches or I would be looking at the second fatality in this decade. Mo, not even a full decade."

"What do you mean?" Bella asked.

"You recall being told that people watch out for newbies?" Didyme asked.

Bella looked surprised. "Yeah..."

"Two years ago, a werewolf lost his temper and attacked some of the students. One was killed, Carlisle treated the others. Lucky for us, the good doctor was able to manipulate the memories of the attack, but he could not make them forget."

"How did you know about that?" Bella asked.

"I know all things that happen at my school." Didyme smiled. "I've been keeping a special eye on you two. I watch new comers especially, and you two have come and gone, and come again."

"So what was happening with them?" I asked.

"Tyler was just awakening as wolf, so please do not fault him. The other was Sam." Didyme looked away, and for the first time since we saw her, she frowned. "Sam has a very strong aversion to witches."

I caught her eyes remorsefully dart over to the doctor.

"Why don't you ask him to leave?" Bella asked.

"Complex circumstances. Felix, for one. He wouldn't be happy if his uncle was made to leave, since that's his...pack leader..."

"That's Felix's uncle." Bella said to herself.

Funny how Didyme knew what we knew.

"Do you know anything bout imprinting?" Didyme asked.

We nodded.

"He imprinted on Emily and Carlisle's interference is affecting his opinion. I can't allow a human around an uncontrolled werewolf, however."

"Is that why--" Bella began, but Didyme interrupted.

"No. Carlisle has fallen in love with Emily. He would have given her up to her fate anyhow, but he fears her safety."

I was surpised to only know notice that Carlisle had left the room.

"I need to get back to the academy." Didyme said. "Please, feel free to stop by my office if you need to speak with me again."

"Wait." Bella said. "How are the vampires and werewolves able to be so close?"

"Marcus can sense the strenght of relationships. I can make people happy. Once they are such, they are more agreeable. And our daughter...ahem, a young witch that we have begun to care for...she aids us. Her blood ability is too manipulate the bonds between people. She often visits them to keep their bonds close...civil. Together we run the school quite efficiently."

"You're planning to change her." I said.

"We will let her live her life as long as she wishes...or is able." Didyme smiled. "Now, please excuse me."

"What is her name?" Bella whispered.

"Chelsea."