Chapter 27: Apple of My Eye

"Well, I'm sorry to be so terribly rude, but I find myself with a need to hunt. I understand your treaty here, so I will be going elsewhere to find my prey," David stood quickly straightening his suit.

Before I thought it, the words fell out of my lips, "David," I said tentatively, "can I go with you?"

"Absolutely not!" my father cried, slamming to his feet.

"Daddy!" I gasped.

"Nessie, I'm afraid I cannot take you anywhere that your family does not wish you to go," David said kindly acknowledging my father's objection to the matter.

I remained seated sending daggers in my father's general direction. Seething with his attempt to control me more than anything.

"Ness," Jake said carefully, "do you really think that's a good idea?" he said motioning to my belly. I shot him a nasty glare, but quickly retracted it when I saw the pain sweep over his face.

"I'm sorry," I retorted. "I just, I just..."

"Want to know," David finished for me. "I quite understand the fascination, my dear, but it really isn't a pretty scene and it is something that I dread doing, quite frankly."

His impeccable poise and delicacy with the matter quieted my temper. "I'm sorry," I uttered, "I didn't mean to impose."

"No, of coarse not," he said smoothly. "I will return before sunrise. Edward, you know how to reach me should something arise." My father nodded and I was sure that he silently thanked him for denying me the adventure. I continued to scowl, but said nothing. A wave of thirst broke free from my grip. The dryness of my throat thrust itself to full attention.

"Nessie, why don't you come with me instead?" my father suggested.

"Where are you going?" I demanded, still slightly annoyed at his overly protective nature.

"Well," he said candidly, "I was thinking of tracking down a couple of mountain lions." His eyebrow rose suggestively making his destination seem a little bit more enticing.

"Alright," I said, deciding to drop my resentment. I saw Jake cast my dad an evil look. I set my hand gingerly on Jake's shoulder, "Its okay baby, we will be back in an hour or so. We'll be fine," I said laying a hand over our unborn children. "They're thirsty too."

"Just be careful," Jake warned, his eyes still beaming into my father's. I didn't have to be able to read his thoughts to know what message he was sending my father. I kissed Jacob on the forehead and followed my father out the back door.

"Hurry back!" I heard Carlisle call behind us.

We walked silently into the night air. The cool crispness embraced us warmly as we set out into the forest. My footsteps matched my father's as we slid between the dark trees. "Now, Nessie, I want you to take it easy okay?" my dad said.

"I know, I know," I said with an eye roll. "I know you all want to shelter and protect, but really, I'm fine, I'm just hungry," I complained.
He snickered and took off in a flash. He was only going about half speed, but I found myself having a hard time keeping up with him. The weight of the twins did seem to have quite an effect on my running capabilities. Not to mention, that for the first time ever, I felt myself growing a little tired. "Dad!" I called out in defeat, "Wait up!" He circled back around coming up on me from behind. I startled a little at the touch of his icy hand on my back.

"What's wrong?" he asked tilting his head curiously to the side. The moon light shimmered off of his glowing skin.

"Nothing," I said, "I'm just, well not really up to full speed." I searched his face for a negative response, but none came.

"Yeah, I figured that you wouldn't be. Let's just take it easy tonight okay? Maybe stick to deer?" He slung his arm around my shoulder and we continued walking. This time, slowly through the forest.

"Dad, what do you think about David and the other species?" I said, trying to sound casual.

He thought for a second, carefully mapping out his response, "To be honest, I'm not sure about any of it." His teeth flashed vividly in the darkness. "I trust David, but I don't know about the others. I suppose its just like anything else-- there's good and bad in every species. You can't just lump all of them together."

I nodded, "Yeah, that's true."

"I mean, if they help us get rid of the Volturi, or at least prevent them from coming after us again, I guess I can't really complain," he said staring up at the stars. "I just don't want anything to happen to my family." His eyes became eerily fierce and he had to visibly subdue his temper at the thought of it.

"Don't worry Daddy, it will all work out," I tenderly leaned my head on his shoulder. He pulled me in closer and kissed my forehead.

"I know baby, I know." He was suddenly distracted, taking in the fresh scent of our approaching prey. "Here they come," a wicked smile graced his face. I heard the soft tread of hooves in the distance. We moved to attack mode. I had to fight myself to get into a more instinctual state of mind. My thoughts kept hopelessly drifting to David and Athenadora. I was too distracted. I shook my head forcing myself to focus on the thirst.

The deer moved unknowingly into view. My dad sprang on the closest one, as if he were picking an apple from the tree. I watched as he gracefully tore the flesh from the deer's neck and gulped down the blood as if it were no more than a glass of wine. His artful skill was entrancing to watch. His form moved so easily and his white skin gleamed innocently in the darkness surrounding us. I focused my attention on the small doe, just ahead of me. Her coat was shiny and clean. She moved effortlessly through the thicket around her bowing her head to drink from the tiny stream that curled its way along the forest floor like a harmless garden snake. I crouched, my eyes narrowed as I tunnel visioned upon my prey. My knees were bent and ready, my hands rigid and thirst gurgling in my throat. I shot from my hiding spot and just about had her in my grasp when it came into view. I threw myself haphazardly off coarse and into the bramble beside my marked prey. Just as I was about to take her, I caught sight of pair of tiny eyes glistening in the night. They belonged to a tiny fawn who had just stepped out of its mother's protective shadow-- so innocent, so unknowing and horribly vulnerable. The mother sprang instantly into action at the noise I had produced in saving her life. The baby fled, trying so hard to keep up with its fleeing mother. I lay twisted in the thick brush and began to sob.

"Nessie!" my father ascended upon me quickly. It only took him a mere thirty seconds to find me laying on the forest floor covered in leaves and dirt. "What the hell was that?" His eyes glowed down on me teeming with the freshness of the kill. Blood from my tears stained my face as he pulled me effortlessly to my feet and wrapped his lean arms around me. His hug was like no other. Comfort radiated from his protective hold and for once I was glad.

"Shh... baby, its okay. I know, I know," he had pulled the fears from my mind. It was such a blessing to not have to articulate my feelings. I leaned into him and sent a detailed image of the fear and vulnerability cast in the fawn's newborn eyes.

"I know that death is part of life for the animals," I choked out, "But, but... the baby!" What if I had killed its mother. I began to tremble at the thought, torturing myself with the what ifs.

"Oh but you didn't Ness, you didn't. She's fine, and the baby's fine. It's okay," he said in a soothing bell of a voice. "Maybe you should just stick to the bag stuff for a while-- until you feel better about this. I know its not easy for you baby. Don't cry," he lovingly brushed a tear from my cheek and cupped my face in his hands. "You remind me so much of your mother when you cry," he smiled at me as I choked back another sob. "Come on, let's head back and get you something to eat."

I nodded and let him start walking me back to the house,"Thanks, Daddy." He only squeezed me in response.

We reached the house quickly to find Jake anxiously pacing on the back porch, "What happened!" He said meeting us at the edge of the house, "I just knew something was wrong. I could feel it, what happened?" He was frantic and thankfully my dad took over.

"She's okay Jake, don't worry. Just a little upset over the hunting thing," he said reassuringly. It wasn't enough for Jake, he thrust his hand out, clearly awaiting an explanation. I rolled my eyes, but only half heartedly, he deserved to know and not to worry. I took his hand in mine and shot him an instant replay of the nearly slaughtered mother deer and her baby.

"Oh," he said with a nod. He pulled me in for a hug, "It's okay Ness, you don't have to hunt for a while. Lets get you inside." I followed him with my dad behind me. I sulked into the house, somewhat embarrassed at my squeamishness. I hoped the others weren't there to witness my weakness.

"Carlisle," I heard my dad say, "Do we have any bagged blood left?"

"Yes, two bags, why?" Carlisle came out of his office to join us downstairs, "What's going on Edward?"

My dad looked to me, as if asking permission to tell him. I silently told him that I would rather he tell him. "Well Nessie's just not up to hunting right now."
"Oh, I see, is everything alright?" he asked in a concerned tone.

"Yea," I said looking at the floor, "Its just, well I'd rather just not kill anything right now. I kinda feel weird about it."

"Oh?" Carlisle said in surprise, waiting for more information.

"Well, not anything that's a mother or a baby anyway," I managed to get out. Carlisle only nodded, understanding my meaning.

"I'll get you some blood Ness. Do you want one bag or two? I can go into the city tomorrow and get some more, so its up to you," his understanding was comforting and his voice was patient and kind without a trace of judgment or upset.

"I'll just take one, thanks Grandpa," I muttered.

I quickly took down the whole and bag and yawned as the blood filled my veins and gave my heart a little jump start of comfort. "I'm tired, I think I'm gunna take a nap," I said sleepily climbing up the stairs. I was very much aware of the weight in my belly that seemed to be doubling by the day. I clutched the railing and pulled myself up the last step and swaggered heavily into my room collapsing into the soft downy bed.

I had just closed my eyes when I felt Jake's lips on my cheek, "Want some company my love?" he whispered softly into my ear. I smiled, my eyes still closed and pulled his enormous arm over me and snuggled into his chest. The cadence of his heart lulled me quickly to sleep.

It was a heavy sleep, full of thick and strangely contorted images-- white wolves bounding fiercely after fawns, David standing motionless on the edge of a cliff, Athenadora in the same stance that she held over David, only it was Jacob beneath her and a vivid flash of green eyes with blood pouring from them before they burst into flames and burned into shape-holding ash.

I awoke still tired and with the familiar sensation of a full bladder. I pulled myself out from under Jake's arm and drug myself to the bathroom. I sat down to pee and stared out the tiny bathroom window. It was perhaps an hour before dawn, the stars were fading and the air had become calm and still. I stared into the darkness and could just make out the tiny figure of a man trudging out of the tree line with his jacket laid casually over his shoulder. I finished my business and stood at the window. I mentally called to him as he approached, his gaze found me in the window, he flashed a brilliant smile at me. I smiled back and waved.

I headed downstairs to meet him at the door. My parents seemed to have retired to their cabin, and the rest of my family was absent for the moment. David came through the door at human pace, and rather politely as well. The grace of his movement didn't seem to fit with the stature of his body. He smiled at this thought. I couldn't help but noticing how human he appeared at this moment. If I didn't know better...

"Ah yes, after feeding those of us who are still young in the blood take on quite a mortal appearance. It is a lovely time to catch one's self in the mirror," David said, draping his jacket over the chair and running his hand through his lustrous hair.

"I think Alice set you up in the back room, where there are no windows," I said.

"Thank you, she let me know a little while ago. What are you doing all by yourself?" he said with a supercilious smile.

"Oh," I stuttered, slightly taken aback at his observation, "Jake's upstairs sleeping and well, I'm not sure what the others are doing. I just got up to relieve myself, again," I said with an eye roll, "and to get some water. How was your evening?"

"Quite uneventful, Seattle proved to be easy hunting ground, the evil-doer is abundant in large cities," he recited pleasantly.

"So you only kill bad people?" my voice sounded surprisingly child-like, I almost laughed at myself.

"Well yes, when I do kill," he replied without explanation. I pushed a little further with my thoughts. He smiled and continued, "A good portion of our kind has learned to control their thirst enough to suffice with what we call the little drink. We take only a small amount of blood from a large number of unsuspecting humans and cloud their memories with pleasant thoughts so that they don't really remember anything happening. Mortals are very susceptible to euphoria, it is the best means of altering their point of view and their memories."

"But isn't it hard to stop?" I said imagining only taking a sip from a shark.

"Yes, it is difficult, especially if you are taking from the innocent. Their blood is very sweet and hard to resist. I find it safer to take the evil-doer. I would rather kill someone that causes strife and death to other mortals than to accidentally take the life of an innocent," his hazelnut eyes glistened reflecting the soft light of the room. It was nearly impossible to keep from staring into them.

"Yes, humans think this as well," he said. I blushed at my mistake of letting him hear this thought. "Don't be embarrassed," he said dismissively, "I am quite fascinated with your kind as well. Please, if you will, tell me how you came into being. I have tried to work this information out from your mind and those of your family, but I have only extracted bits and pieces. I prefer the ancient art of conversation to the stealing of thoughts anyway. I have a short amount of time before I must make my exit, but I would love to hear your story if you will share it."

He sat peacefully in front of me, perfectly dressed in a new suit that I assume he purchased in Seattle, his face flushed with a human like glow. He was perfect, absolutely amazing and here he was in all his glory wanting to know of my origins, who was I to object? I sat down opposite him, sinking lazily into the softness of the couch. "Well," I began, "My mother, Bella, was human at the time of my birth."

"Really?" David said, his eyebrow lifting ever so slightly.

"Yes, she had met my father when she moved to Forks from Arizona. It was a big huge mess at first of coarse, with him being a vampire and all, but long story short, they fell in love and got married because my dad is old fashion like that," I said with a smirk.

"Yes of coarse, I can see that," David said, his features tightening ever so slightly with amusement.

"And she conceived me when they were on their honeymoon," I said, hoping he would let me skip the details of that situation.

He was lost in his own thoughts though, not reading mine, "Hmm... how very interesting that this species can have sex with one another, but also mate with humans, strange. I'm sorry, please continue."

Thankful that he had not pressed for more information about the union, I pressed on. "It was a fast pregnancy, I developed much quicker than a human baby. The birth was something of a disaster and my mother actually did die in the process. My dad saved her by turning her into a vampire. He had planned for it and shot his venom with a needle straight into her heart and then in a bunch of other places all over her body. She barely made it," I sighed as the familiar glimmer of guilt flickered in my mind. "I remember being inside of her belly, I remember tearing my way out of her and being so confused as to why she was in pain. I loved my mother and I didn't want to hurt her, but I had to get out. Its very strange to be able to remember something so vividly, but in such an underdeveloped state of mind."

David nodded, waiting for me to regain my thread.

"So, there I was. Half human, half vampire. I grew quickly drinking blood, only of animals of coarse, and eating regular human food too. I prefer blood most of the time, but since Jake likes to eat so much, its something that we can do together. There are others like me, in South America. This situation is a little different though because there is a rogue vampire running around down there impregnating human women and leaving them to die in child birth. None of the mothers have survived, only their children. That is how we found out I was immortal. The other half-breed that I met told me that he stopped aging after about seven years and has remained in the state that he is in for the last hundred and fifty years. So, its really rare, but there are others."

David nodded, taking every word in and visibly committing it to his memory. He seemed to have an uncanny ability to listen and was unbelievably easy to talk to. The words just spilled right from my mouth with very little thought involved.

"And what about Jacob? I understand that he is a werewolf?" David said cautiously.

I shook my head, "No, they are not werewolves, he is part of a Native American tribe of shape-shifters. Wolves are just the form that they happen to take. He is their alpha, along with Sam and they run the packs. Jacob actually first fell in love with my mom," my cheeks flushed with embarrassment and a twinge of jealousy, "I know, weird right?"

"I've heard worse," David said with a smile.

"Well, so he was in love with my mom, but my mom ended up choosing my dad and that left Jake pretty hurt and all pissed off especially when he found out that my mom was pregnant and most likely going to die in childbirth. He came to visit her, well us really, all the time when she was pregnant with me. I liked Jake immediately, even when I was still in the womb. My mom was always happier when he was around and I liked that. And as I myself have just discovered, the day that I was born, Jacob imprinted on me."

David stopped me, "Imprinted? What does that mean exactly?"

"In Jacob's pack, they imprint on a mate, sometimes its someone their age, sometimes its a baby. Jacob's dad seems to think that the imprinting occurs with whoever will create offspring that will make the pack stronger."
"Very interesting theory, it makes sense I guess," David said taking it all in. "So you just found out about this?"

"Yeah, about three months ago. I've always loved Jacob and spent a ton of time with him, I guess that I just needed to get a little older before I understood what was going on. Alice had a vision and my parents ended up telling me about the imprinting. I was shocked at first, but eventually, it made sense," I said with a shrug. "I mean really, who else was it going to be?" I laughed a little in spite of myself.

"And now you are with child, or children rather," he smiled kindly at my belly, "Fascinating. I wonder what will follow in this generation, combining shape-shifter and half-vampire. The combination must create something that will make the pack stronger, don't you think?"

"I don't know, I hadn't really thought about Jake's dad's theory since I had been pregnant, but I suppose it is very likely. Carlise says that he thinks there's a chance that the babies could be human."

"That makes sense too," David replied thoughtfully, "with both of you having human genes in your DNA, it is possible, but that would omit Jacob's father's theory. Interesting, I guess only time will tell. And not too much time, by the looks of it," he beamed at my protruding belly. "May I?" he said lifting a hand in gesture.

"Oh yes, of coarse," I said proudly. His touch was exhilarating, not the same as my family's touch. It seemed that his skin sent a thousand tiny twinkles over my flesh, like laying in bed of the finest sand. It was silky and rough all at the same time-- cool, with a glimmer of heat. I lingered on the feeling for a moment and then laughed as one of the babies kicked furiously against his hand. His face lit up as he looked up at me.

"Amazing," he whispered. But our time was cut short. I looked over my shoulder to see the lilac haze forming on the horizon, the burning sun was threatening David's life with every second.

"You better go," I said, a little worried.

"Yes, you are right. I will see you this evening," he kissed me lightly on the cheek and I felt the traces of his skin lingering on mine as he hurried down the dark hallway and out of sight.