The Past

The next hours passed in a blur of colors and sounds. It was a good thing that second period was Science. Teachers, Ms. Clancy especially, generally assume that students know a little, if not nothing, about the subject. All I needed to do was appear to be listening.

However, when History came, I could barely hold it together. My head has been buzzing with people's thoughts and flashes of visions like mad. And it was all I could do to keep myself from screaming. It was a good thing, too, that I already had Edward's ability when Mr. Mason called me for an answer.

"'The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls' was from no other than the sixteenth century famous artist named -"

All I had to do was invade our teacher's thoughts and there it was: "Picasso," I said weakly when he nodded in my direction. Well, I wouldn't have needed to pick Mr. Mason's brain had I been paying more attention. Picasso's was one of my favorite centuries.

Max has been on the edge of his seat since we came in, clearly worried that I might vent out at any moment. He's been chanting "It'll be all right, calm down" or "You'll get the hang of it soon" every twenty seconds or so.

But I was still okay until Mr. Mason let us go. I stormed to the ladies' room first chance I got. Max ran after me (human-like, of course), and he hovered at the restroom's door like a jumpy guard dog, pacing (as lightly as he could - he wouldn't want to dredge a path on the concrete floor, I'm sure), stopping only when a girl would enter the restroom after eying him.

I was sick. The reason - I have no idea. I have never experienced this before after absorbing an ability. How this could happen to a - to what we are, I am stumped. It might be because I absorbed two abilities - two very strong and rare abilities at that - I don't know. But I was sick.

I waited until the last curious yet clueless human went out of the restroom until I let the contents of my rumbling stomach out. I haven't ever vomited since I was born and I was careful not to have humans get an idea of our diet. Max was inside my cubicle in an instant.

"Alex," Max murmured, "Do you want to go home now?"

He stroked my hair and put an arm around my shoulders. I flushed the toilet, blood and pieces of undigested meat swirling with the water.

I looked up, and shook my head. He was dead worried now. I'm sure he's as baffled as I was. But I can't even begin to comprehend his fear of watching me break down. After so many millennia, we finally meet a band of vampires that could inflict any damage at us.

"I'm -" I heaved again, so I continued the sentence in my head, okay.

"Just say the word, baby girl, I'll destroy them." Max said, but the threat was clouded by the anguish that I was putting him through.

I must be strong. Or at least, appear to be. For Max.

"No, I'll be all right." I told him, "I think I just need fresh air, or be somewhere no one's thinking that we're about to break up or something."

"Seriously, we could just ditch Dr. Morgan's - what?"

I laughed, and then puked almost immediately. Ugh. At least my statement distracted him.

"All of them." I began, wiping my sweaty face with my right sleeve. "They think we're having a fight since first period, that you broke my heart or something, or that I caught you cheating. Where they got the idea, I don't know. But they're a bit vicious about it. Being victorious, and all."

I scowled, and I realized that I was actually irritated. I tried hard to keep from growling but it still got through my clenched teeth.

"Humans," I said darkly, meaning for the word to become as close to a curse as possible.

Max fidgeted by my side when I hurled again. All the while, visions of the weather condition, class topics, a wedding proposal of a human friend, an accidental addition to our English coven were running on my mind.

"Do you think Alice will give me more tips on how to better control her skill?" I asked, thinking of asking the tiny vampire for help. She would be okay about it, I suppose. If they wanted to attack us in the first place, I would have seen that in their thoughts. They could be good vampires after all. Or, very good vampires at lying and diverting their thoughts. Well, whichever they were, there isn't anyone else who knows better about their abilities than Edward and Alice.

"Alex?"

I stiffened. I was suddenly in a place where everything was white. Snow? It is not due to snow yet. And I felt really silly for even considering that - I was in a toilet just a second ago. This could be nothing but a vision. Isn't it ever going to end?

It seemed that I didn't have a choice with this so I looked around.

In the vision, I felt a hand gripping mine. It was Max's. It felt good, consoling, yet somehow tensed. There were eight vampires a hundred yards away from where we were standing. A short ways away from them, six more were on the porch on a white house. Not one of them was in any way threatening but I was curious about the way the eight were standing close to each other, facing us - much like they were waiting for us, not to attack but to decide to come nearer them. One of them - the one in the center - even had his right hand outstretched towards us.

"It's all right, Alex, Max," he said.

"No," I heard myself whisper. I was shocked about the fear and remorse I could hear in my voice, but I was even more confused at my refusal. They seemed very welcoming and kind. I feel that I trust them, but it was myself that I didn't trust.

Someone moved among their ranks. He moved so quickly and lithely yet it couldn't be mistaken as an assault. He stopped just a few feet from Max and I.

"No harm was done. Everything's all right."

"You keep saying that." I accused. My eyes darted from him and the other vampire that spoke earlier. "It's not all right. It will never be. We can't stay here." I turned to Max, "I shouldn't have convinced you to try. What was I thinking?"

"Alex, it's my fault. If you want, we'll leave this instant."

"You don't have to. I'm okay. I wasn't hurt -"

"Of course you're not hurt. But you - any of you - will be. Eventually."

I saw myself tightening my grip on Max's hand. He understood.

We turned to leave.

I felt myself being shaken violently - well, it would have shattered every single bone in a human's body into pieces - but it did its purpose: I was wrenched from the vision.

"Alex? Max?" someone called from the outside of the female restroom. The volume of the voice was clearly intended for only the two of us.

"What do you want?" Max snarled, louder than what was necessary.

"Do you need help?" said another voice: Bella, Edward's mate. The other could only be Alice. I was able to catch Edward's and Jasper's scents just a couple of feet away, clearly not wanting to be seen hovering outside the ladies' room. "Edward told us that you suddenly disappeared after your Science class and -"

"No, go away." Max said before he turned and appraised me.

"Does that apply only to Bella or me as well?" Alice asked, her voice light and joking.

Max blanched. "What?"

Alice giggled. "We're here to help. I kind of know what to do since the ability Alex absorbed is mine. We're ready to leave if you decide to. We all think it will be all right to skip school today, it's just the first day of the term anyway."

"We don't need you. GO AWAY." Max ordered again. The tone of his voice more threatening than ever.

"Where is that 'away', Max?" Alice said, her voice was still full of laughter. She was pretending to be organizing her bag while Bella leaned casually by the ladies' room's door.

"Alice," Bella groaned, "I don't think this is a great idea. I think Jasper is right. We should leave them alone." I heard Bella say while I flushed the toilet. She, at least, had some sense not to anger Max.

How can they do this? They are not affected by my ability, Alex. Max told me, his mind's voice was calculating and apprehensive. Do you think they could hear us now, too?

No, not the others. But Edward can. I was able to hear Harvey and Emma's conversation and thoughts while in History class earlier. And I know for sure that they weren't anywhere inside the campus - the things they were talking about and planning to do...

I shook my head and tried to pull myself together as hard as I can. I can't let Max face them when I'm in a less than all right state. I won't be able to hold him back if I'm like this. They have no prayer at all if strength and speed are in question. But it will not be a good idea if Max attacks vampires in the midst of humans.

Besides, we only know that Edward is able to read minds and Alice see visions. We still have no idea about the abilities of Bella and Jasper - if they even have any. What were the odds of the other two having any abilities, too? Fat chance. But the possibility of meeting a coven of vampires fasting on human blood was just as remote. They may even be a group of gifted vampires for all I knew, the head vamp recruiting as many deadly leeches as possible.

"I hope you wouldn't think of our father that way." Edward cut into my thoughts, a little offended. "He's probably the most compassionate vampire you'll ever meet."

Hmph! Father... "Has anyone ever told you that your eavesdropping is very annoying?" I retorted.

"I think we, Rose especially, tell him that a couple of times a day." Alice said after purposefully letting her purse drop.

Edward ignored our asides. "Alex, I had a glimpse of your vision a few moments ago." I saw that you met my whole family. That's in Denali. I don't understand is the situation, though. "Is it the first time you saw that scene?" Edward inquired.

"Yes," I said, as snobbish as I can.

Hmm.. It should mean that they are already considering civility or possible friendship, or that we would, at least, eventually be in good enough terms with them for them to allow to meet the rest of my family. Or is it sheer curiosity?

Possible friendship? I rolled my eyes and snorted. Under the present circumstances? I don't know. But he may be right about sheer curiosity. He was looking up at their father fang so much, I wonder how this was so. Vampires don't get attached to other vampires that strongly unless it's their mate.

I was glad that I was strong enough to stand now, barely needing to lean on the cubicle divisions for support. The sick feeling in my stomach was gone, too. I think the ability is finally settling in.

I grabbed Max's wrist and lead the way out of the cubicle, and headed out of the restroom. I was about to turn the knob when I heard Max's thoughts. I turned to face him. He was looking down and his hands were balled into fists.

I'll kill them... I'll kill them...

Why are you staring at me? Do you have any idea of what I am? Silly human. You may be blonde and tall, but come near me if you want to be my dinner. Haha... Alice's thoughts were mischievous, playing different ways of torturing humans with pleasure. Tickling humans with fluffy boas was her most favorite way.

"Alice," Edward cautioned as each of her imaginations was getting more gruesome than the previous.

Through Edward's eyes, I saw Alice stick her tongue out at him. Bella laughed but Jasper was still as distant.

Aren't they finished yet? I have to pee... "If they're not yet out in the next five minutes, I'll call the custodian." I heard Janice Storm say. Through the eyes of Jasper – who was closest to Janice - I saw her standing twenty feet across where he and Edward were standing, leaning against a wall just outside one of the History rooms.

"No, not yet. I heard Dave is planning to plant a video-cam or voice recorder by the window. That should be exciting." Harvey Robinson's thoughts were running wild: Max and I shouting at each other, me slapping Max, or me running out of the ladies' room, crying. But he was confused, too, because none of the spies they sent to pass the entrance of the ladies' room was able to hear anything.

I thought I heard Jasper mutter something but it was too soft, and his thoughts disconcerted, that I decided I had just imagined it. I turned my attention back to Max. His thoughts were of torture, too, but not in the playful manner of Alice's. It was so sinister that I was getting very nervous myself.

One wrong move, I'll kill you.

"Max," I began, trying to sound comforting. But I didn't know what to tell him. How could I avert his murderous schemes?

"Would you like to talk to us now? I think you're not inclined to learn more about stuff you already know, am I correct?"

I ignored Edward, but his suggestion was what I was considering, too. "Max," I tried again. "Let's just talk to them. They could even teach me how to control their skills better."

"Alex, are you all right now?" Max's voice was rough and forceful, but it was calm and controlled enough. He was taking steadying breaths, too.

"Yes," I lied. My head was still loaded with everyone's subconscious but pacifying Max was my number one priority this moment. He won't be able to be as objective as he can while he's this agitated - and murderously agitated at that.

"We could take them to the clearing at Auke Lake where we usually go." Should a fight ensue, as you no doubt wish, there should be plenty space to have fun.

Max seemed to have calmed a bit because of my dark humor. The corners of his lips twitched but his mind was still distressed. Just give me a chance; I'll crush all the breakable parts in your loathsome body... into fragments, into bits, into dust...

I almost feel bad that we would disappoint Max because we won't give him cause to pulverize us. Edward thought, clearly intended for me to hear.

I laughed, Max looking at me like I was crazy - which I felt I was gradually becoming. I was beginning to really like Edward. Huh, maybe they weren't half bad after all.

"Thank you. I'm glad you are starting to think of us that way now," Edward said. It sounded very sincere. "Shall we go then?"

Max? What do you think? Are you up for a vamp to vamp talk?

We're not vampires, Alex.

Whatever, they're almost like us, right?

Whatever.

Shall we? I asked Max again. Even though Max doesn't use his ability on me to overrule our decisions, I still want us to be in agreement when doing stuff, especially when meeting up with enemies.

"We won't be your enemies, unless you want us to be." Edward said. I think he's a bit irritated by my assumptions.

Is that a threat? Or wishful thinking?

"Neither. I just wish you would speak to us first before you judge us."

"I think we're entitled to judge who we want to. We've been through a lot with vampires enough to have a general impression of your race." My voice raised a bit, along with my temper.

I could clearly recall all of our vampire encounters. I know that they were not at all pretty, but the memory was for Edward - to press my point.

Most of them, mistaking me for a human, wanted to hunt me. The word was laughable when connected to us; that will never apply to me or to Max. Some were to settle our territory. These were the earliest and most savage because we were still more monsters than human - young and untamed as we were. This was the era when we still fed the natural way. A few of the other vampire engagements we had were mere whim - those who suspected we were more vampire than human, detecting our strange scent - wanted to test us if we were up to the challenge. Challenge us, they did. Now they're dust in the wind.

"We're not going anywhere with this, Edward. Let's just leave them alone." Jasper inserted, scattering my thoughts.

Irritated, I put some notice on the other male vampire, more than the usual. It took a little more effort to sift through Jasper's thoughts. His mind was dark and full of scenarios where his family and Max and I were involved: Max and I crouching, in an attacking stance, advancing on to his family in the middle of a clearing; Jasper shielding them, scared for Alice and his brother and sister. I couldn't blame him, even I get scared of myself sometimes, just right after I snap out of my rage.

But what made me most curious was the feeling he was emanating... and absorbing? His head was filled with nothing but caution and fear (which seemed to be because of my recollections), but part of his emotions was the students' curiosity, Edward's calm, Alice's mirth, Bella's worries, Max's fury and my confusion. It was a bit distressful to listen to his thoughts and feel diverse emotions. But how was he doing that?

"Jasper's emphatic." Edward answered hesitantly, everyone's attention - all of us who can hear him, anyway - turned to him. "He is able to feel and influence the climate of the mood and emotions of those around him." And right now, he might be a bit disoriented because of the intensity of your, and Max's, emotions.

When he mentioned Max's name, his tone was a bit amused.

I'm sorry then, for bringing discomfort to your brother. I said, but my tone dared and taunted him.

My statement did not seem to affect him in the way that I meant because when he replied, he was sincere. "Thank you, but don't worry about it." He's more than in control of his ability.

My eyes narrowed. So he was gifted, too. Is his skill any good? What use could I have with his ability? It could be good to rein Max's temper in.

I shrugged. I'll burn the bridge when I get there. It's not as if they would just allow me to absorb their brother's ability anyway.

I wanted to confirm my idea with Edward but he seemed to have distracted himself of the homework they received in their Spanish class.

Max sighed. "All right, let's go, Alex."

I was so shocked that my musings were interrupted. "With them?"

"No, this could wait. Although, I hope it just won't happen." He sighed. He appeared as tired as I was, if not more. "We have to get you home first. You need to rest. You unlike them get tired. We have all the time in the world to speak to them. If we would ever."

"Of course," Alice said. "We'll see you tomorrow after school, then."

"Is that for sure?" I asked Alice, raising my eyebrows. I just saw her vision of Max and I talking to them. But this was not in the clearing. It was in our home.

We're going to invite vampires into our home? What's happening to this damned world?

Edward chuckled. "It is all up to your decision. If you change your mind about considering talking to us and perhaps, as the vision suggests, have us come over, the vision will change."

I let out an impatient sound, then shrugged and turned my attention away from him. "Whatever, vamp."

Alex, humans twenty-five feet, south-south east. We have to move. They might be the ones who'll be spying on us that Harvey Robinson was talking about. I don't want to lash out on them for idiocy of picking the wrong time to irk me.

I took Max's white hands and wrapped his arms around me, and then I wrapped my own around his waist. I know you won't do that. You love this place as much as I do. Besides, don't you remember that Dave is Richard's grandson? And you liked Richard, right?

Max growled playfully, but hugged me tighter. He sniffed my hair and kissed my forehead. "Okay. Let's get out of here."

We went out of the restroom holding hands. I could see the defeated faces of those who were expecting to see me running away, cheeks streaked with tears. Janice Storm even had her mouth hanging open, which slowly closed to form into a smirk. Drama queen, she thought.

Oh, me? A drama queen? I giggled, unusually pleased at Janice's attention.

I'll give you drama queen. I laughed and pulled Max closer to my side, leaning my head on his shoulder, and winding my left arm around his waist. I even shot Max the most gooey look I could manage. Janice and the other girls present seemed to have hissed in unison. They all wanted to be in my place and wished that I burn in hell.

I laughed again and glanced at the Cullens, a title I picked up from Alice's memory of when they were still in Washington State. She was remembering their second first day in High School there. She was glad that she had Bella now, who had her right arm hooked around Alice's left. Edward, who was focusing on both mine and Alice's thoughts, had a small smile playing on his lips. But Jasper was looking at us curiously. He was confused at Max and I's relationship and the reason we were putting up a show for these humans.

"Well, Jasper, it's just something we like doing. Humans are so predictable and easy to manipulate. It might be a bit petty for a hobby but we enjoy it. And now that I have Edward's mind reading skill, I can understand their reactions more because of their thoughts." I explained in vampire volume, as Max and I were walking towards the school cafeteria, the Cullens were several feet behind us.

The rest of the day went in an even hazier manner. There were a lot of insignificant thoughts I had to block out and I found it hard to keep myself from talking out loud and responding to unspoken questions, especially when they are not intended for me to know. An example was if I was planning to leave town soon, and leave Max alone.

Max and I went home hurriedly after a quick lunch composed of an apple and soda. I asked Max to get me something sweet to help me forget the taste of acid in my mouth. Max ate nothing and just glared at the resident vampires. He was furious that they didn't even make an effort to seem interested in their food - except Edward. He pretended to eat his lunch by hiding the pieces under the table, no doubt after hearing Max's thoughts. Bella, being the loyal wife that she seems to be, followed suit. This seemed to have infuriated Max even more.

During lunch, Edward and I had a silent conversation. We talked by reading each other's mind. Max didn't know this but he suspected that I was communicating with Edward because I was silent and inattentive until the school bell rang.

I found out that Bella had just recently joined their family, becoming a vampire four years back. Edward was turned when he was seventeen, like Alice, but in separate places and under different circumstances. Edward was dying of Spanish influenza then when Carlisle changed him, while Alice was turned by an unknown vampire while admitted in a psychiatric facility by her human family. Jasper, on the other hand, was the oldest among them four. He became a vampire during the Confederate War in eighteen-sixty-four, and fought more wars after that in the infamous Newborn Southern Feud. Thus his scars.

Their public story is that Edward and Alice are twins. They are Cullens and juniors. Bella and Jasper are brother and sister, Bella a junior (Edward recalled for a brief moment that she didn't want to pretend to be younger because she hated the lower year subjects - boring was the word she used - and not older because she wanted to be the same age as Edward), while Jasper a senior. They are Hales, but Edward also mentioned that Bella's real last name was Swan. They are supposedly close family friends, and live in their newly bought home somewhere in XXX.

Edward also sort of introduced the other members of his family by recalling them. Carlisle, their father, who was around three hundred years old, the oldest in their family, had a kind and patient face (Edward pictured Carlisle in his study room); Esme, their mother, was a sweet and charming woman who loved to decorate and rebuild old homes; their other siblings Rosalie and Emmett, stayed behind in New Hampshire, for an extended vacation because they wanted some time off from school.

I had another glimpse of the same little girl in Edward's memory, but he was even quicker to divert his thoughts this time. When I started to ask about the girl, he said that it wasn't the right time to meet their family's last member. I assumed that she was another sister, but had been killed long before we met them. I assumed the worst, too, to force him to bring up his hidden memories but Edward caught on to my intentions immediately and just recited the pledge of allegiance in French to humor me.

When lunch ended, the Cullens went to their separate classes while Max and I headed home. Because we didn't bring a car, we had to run again. Which suits me, even though I felt tired and my hands were still clammy. I have always liked the feel of the whipping wind on my face while dashing through the greenery. The scent of the leaves or grass with icy wind was one of my favorites.

We flew through the trees eastward. We were laughing out loud because I was telling Max about what the humans were thinking about since we got out of the ladies' room earlier. He had been so focused on his own furious thoughts that he didn't even hear mine even when I was holding his hand all those time. I have been worried that Max wouldn't lighten up and I was glad that he was laughing with me now

"Honestly," he rolled his eyes, "I'm not even that good looking. They just can't understand that they're drawn to us because we're their predator, and that's what we do - we lure them. But look at those vampires we met. They're perfect."

"Almost nobody gave them the slightest attention. Besides, they're very pale looking even for vampires. Anyway, the primary topic of gossip was our fight." I told him. Fight. "If they could just see us when we get into a fight. I bet they'd die of fear."

Max abruptly stopped, almost colliding into a huge spruce, remembering that he still had a decision to make. "Alex, what do you think about them?"

I halted in front of him. Them meant Cullens, of course. He knew what I was going to say but he had to ask. He was watching me in the cafeteria earlier while he was figuring out what Edward and I could be talking about.

"I think they're okay. I didn't get any weird feelings while around them - not with Edward, anyway." I added as I remembered Jasper and his scars. Edward didn't give more details about Jasper's involvement in the Newborn Feud.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I think so," I replied. "They are different. They don't feed on humans as a choice. The way they look at humans is almost friendly, especially Bella - but maybe that's because she hasn't been a vampire as long as the others." I paused for a bit, conscious that I let something Edward and I talked about slip. Though, I could have easily found that out because of the red shade in her skin. Max didn't think any more of it so I continued. "Besides, how many vampires have we met in our entire being who followed the same diet turned out bad?"

None, I guess. Max said, defeated. "But that's not really an assurance, right? We know normal vampires who are more civilized than they are."

"I know," remembering some the members of our Winchester coven. I felt a pang of longing for them. "But what do you say about getting to know them?" I suggested. Alice's vision of potentially having them in our home is now almost possible.

Vampire friends? It's not that we haven't had vampire friends. We belonged to a coven once when we were still in England, where we stayed the longest. It's just that the number of our vampire friends has not increased in the last thousand years or so, while the number of vampires we destroyed has just been adding up since.

Max shrugged then changed the subject, "Would you like to hunt?"

"Sure," I replied.

We ran through the woods and rough terrain farther east. We've gone as far as British Columbia when I had another vision while mulling over what we have to do with the Cullens. It stopped me mid-air while launching myself to catch a prey. I landed on the soft ground with a thud that, although almost muted, echoed through the trees.

"What happened?"

"I don't know." I shook my head as I got up, my knees, elbows and arms soiled. "Something changed. We will be arriving home and Edward will be there, waiting."

"What?" Max said, enraged. He started thinking of Edward's reason for changing his mind but all of it ended with Max burning Edward to cinders.

"Max," I said soothingly, repressing laughter. He is easily agitated by these Cullens, I won't be surprised if Max attacks them for reasons as petty as breathing the wrong way. "Edward isn't waiting at home to ambush us. He just wants to talk to us first - alone. According to what I saw, he thinks there might be something we wouldn't want the others to know. But he also said - or will say later - that even though he may not be able to assure his silence in keeping our secret, he thinks he knows someone who would be very interested and may be able to help or guide us."

"Guide us for what? Wait... you said our secret?" His eyes grew larger. "He knows?"

"He guessed or may have picked it up from any of our thoughts." I said, trying hard not to sound accusing. I was absolutely sure that I wasn't thinking about what we are since we met the Cullens. It could be Max. Or we could be telling him about us before the scene I saw.

"Perhaps," Max said, thoughtful. "I wasn't thinking exactly what we are, but I was thinking about how we are almost like them but more superior. This Edward is perceptive. Maybe that's why he's able to hear others' minds."

"He is. And I think he isn't faking his kindness as well. Don't you think we should at least give them some credit for trying to be diplomatic?"

Max nodded and somehow I felt lighter.

But when I woke up at four in the morning the next day, I almost screamed. I had to tightly close my eyes again just to erase the images in my dream.

Dammit. It's them again. I haven't dreamt of the Volturi for a while - a quarter of a century while. It must've been because of the conversation Max and I had with Edward when we arrived home last night.

Edward did have an idea of what we were, although he was not entirely right. He had said that his daughter, Renesmeé the little girl in his memory, was part human and part vampire. Renesmeé was carried by Bella while she was still human. Renesmeé, amalgamated from Esme and Bella's mother Renee's names, was just four years old but appeared to be in her early teens, mental attributes developing even faster.

That was not our case, though, the only thing that was the same between Renesmeé and us that was accelerated in our lives was our mental development and growth in our mother's womb - all others were normal. But he doesn't need to know the other details - not yet, at least. He recounted the encounter his family and some of their friends had with the self-proclaimed royalties of the vampire race: the Volturi.

The Volturi came to their home back in Washington State seeking to destroy his daughter, thinking that Renesmeé was an immortal child: a human child bitten and changed into a vampire.

Edward couldn't believe that the Volturi still almost killed Renesmeé even when evidence showed that she was not an immortal child especially after I mentioned - let slip, more like - that we have been face to face with no less than Caius himself during our brief stay at Milan almost thirty years ago. Edward was full of indignation when he recalled that the trio wouldn't even consider Renesmeé's case just because the Volturi claimed they didn't have any idea how Renesmeé would turn out when one of the brothers already met us. And Edward pointed out that it was Caius who persisted on his child's death.

"The hypocrite." Max had commented.

Edward also told us that Renesmeé's case was just another facade to the Volturi's scheme: to collect the gifted Cullens and a few of their friends. Aro, the one that seemed to be their leader, coveted Edward's and Alice's abilities. A fight almost ensued but Alice had saved them by bringing a witness, another hybrid like Renesmeé, who was a fifty years older than Edward.

But it wasn't the circumstances that haunted my dream. It was the face of Renesmeé. She looked like me when I was her age. I remembered having the same length of hair I saw she had in Edward's memory, the same built and the same high-pitched laughter. She was surrounded by her family while from afar, the Volturi watched them with crazed interest.

She does look a lot like me. But only at first glance. When I looked closer, I realized that Renesmeé she looked closer to Anastasia. Their smiles were identical, as were their tiny hands and eye color.

I muffled another scream. I realized I was crying because of the wet blanket I covered my face with, but I wasn't aware when it began.

I have started thinking about Anastasia just before Jasper arrived in our home last night. I was both thankful and irritated with Jasper for following Edward. Edward's attention drifted from Renesmeé to Jasper in an instant. They can't know about Anastasia yet - or ever. But I still wanted to see Renesmeé.

I clearly remember the exchange of words last night after Jasper's scent suddenly came from nowhere. I had to give it to him, though. He was fast. I caught his scent one second and the next, he was at our doorstep.

"You cannot just come here, banging on our door." I had thrilled, standing up, restrained by Max. "Has facing the Volturi given you this false sense of security? Or are you just a band of suicidal vampires? Are you not scared of me at all because I look closer to a human than a vampire, and a female at that? You know, the emotions you felt," then I added, throwing a deadly glance at Edward, "and the visions you saw - the murderous and savage - were not random and crazed."

"Don't worry," Jasper said acidly, "I didn't come here not ready for a fight. I expected that you might attack me if I surprised you."

Edward groaned. Jasper glanced in his direction and using Edward's skill I was able to hear that Jasper thought that he can't have Edward face us alone when just one of us would be enough to annihilate his brother.

Jasper faced me again. He was smirking. Which boiled my blood, of course.

"What puzzles me though is that you were not alerted of my arrival. I have decided to follow Edward since Bella told me that he wanted to hunt. Alice wouldn't tell me anything but I had an idea that he was heading here. Haven't you seen I was coming?"

Great, just peachy. Another vampire would be destroyed in less than a minute if he doesn't stop talking and infuriate me some more. No, two vampires. Edward would surely defend his brother.

"You wouldn't want to go there, vampire." Max cautioned, but he seemed to be provoking Jasper more.

"If it were Alice, she'd already be at the door, lurking and ready to pounce." Jasper laughed. How he could still do that when my temper is peaking, I am perplexed. Edward said Jasper can feel the emotions around him, right? Doesn't he feel that I was slowly feeling murderous?

"Jazz, don't push your luck." Edward warned Jasper, his eyes wary, contemplating on my thoughts. "She was distracted before you arrived. And now, you distracted her again."

Jasper just continued to smirk, coupled with a smug aura. Then he shrugged.

That did it. I don't know which made me snap - his intrusion, his insinuation that someone is better than me or the fact that he was in our home and I didn't seem to like him or anyone else in his family aside from Edward. I had been so ready to obliterate him. I had poised to launch myself at him but froze almost instantly.

Another vision.

I felt cold - something I haven't felt for a few millennia. I wrapped my covers tightly around me. It seemed that I was relieving feeling I had after the split second volition of killing Jasper. Every part of my body tingled with the rush of the blood lust last night.

I remember that I had clutched my head to stop the vision. The images and sounds had been flashing so fast, I had felt I was going to start throwing up. I had also been certain that my head would have exploded any moment last night.

"Alex!" Max who had jumped at me and wrapped his arms to hold me back had quickly released me when I screamed.

"No," Edward choked, eyes out of focus. He leaned his pale, marble hands on back of our couch for support.

I had to scream this time. I was sobbing hysterically when Max entered my room and hugged me tight. He didn't need to ask. He knew what was up. I destroyed half of the first floor of our home last night after the vision I had.

"Alex?"

"All.. dead.. my.. fault.." I said almost incoherently.

"Hush, baby girl, they're not dead. They're not alive, but you get the idea." He joked, trying to divert my attention, but it didn't work. I can see all of the Cullens, shredded, burning. What I couldn't comprehend though was the overwhelming despair I felt after I saw their ashes.

The memory of it brought a new round of hysterics.

We did not go to school today. I can't even bear to have Max leave me. We were huddled in my bed all day, without any intention of moving. I would sleep for two to three hours just to wake up cold because of the memory that had now become a nightmare.