I hope everyone is enjoying my story. I want to take a moment to thank you all for caring enough to read. All the positive reviews inspire me to continue with my writing. So thank you.

Nessie

Morning brings with it sorrow. Across the world my family is fighting a battle they might not win. Here, life seems to be going on just the same. I can smell bacon and sausage from upstairs. Emily has been really wonderful to all of us this whole time. She cooks almost nonstop to make sure we all have food. I guess having a werewolf for a husband teaches you how to always have food ready.

Jumping in the shower, I begin to wonder how it is going in Volterra. For all I know they could still be fighting. Or maybe the Volturi are already on their way to kill me. I want to throw up at this thought.

When I get out of the shower something feels off. I'm not sure if I am just scared or nervous, but it seems that there is something else there. It's like some inner part of me is scratching at my skin from the inside. For a reason I don't understand, I climb out my window into the brisk January air.

Closing my eyes, I focus all my energy on the surroundings of the house. At first I hear nothing but wind. Soon enough though a small fluttering sound pulses through my paranoid head. It sounds like wings. I guess it is a bird.

Turning around, I slide back into the warmth of my room. I toss on a pair of sweats and a hoodie before going upstairs to face my day. Emily greets me with a hug and hands Malachi to me to hold while she makes eggs. The smell is overwhelming. I'm hungrier than I thought.

Just as I sit down at the table to eat with Kim and Lizzie, movement coming from outside startles me. "Is anyone outside?" I ask Emily.

"No. Why?"

"Stay here," I demand as I stand abruptly from my seat. I get to the front windows in the blink of an eye. I see nothing outside, but I can hear that same fluttering. It suddenly hits me. There are no birds in January.

Whatever is out there, is not an animal. I throw the window open and listen as intently as I possibly can. I can make out another sound other than the fluttering, but I can't place what it is exactly. And then I hear it. A small giggle erupts from somewhere out in the woods. It all makes sense now. The fluttering is Katerina's heart. The other noise is footsteps. She's running circles around my house somewhere far enough away that I can't see her.

I run as quickly as I can back to the kitchen. "I need you to gather everyone and go into my room. Lock the door at the top of the stairs and don't let anyone in unless you know for sure it is me."

Emily, who is used to being uprooted from the comfort of a normal life, quickly jumps into action. Lizzie on the other hand begins to stutter and as questions. "Lizzie, just listen to me. I will answer questions later." I'm trying to keep the fear out of my voice. I'm failing. "But Liz," I add before she's gone. "Watch Claire."

"Sure," she promises before running off toward the room where Claire is still sleeping.

My whole body is pulsing with adrenaline. This is what I have been training for. It's happening. My throat burns and I know what my body needs before I go fight. There are about thirteen bags of blood left in the fridge Grandpa stocked for me before leaving. I have never drunk more than two bags of human blood at a time, but desperate times come for desperate measures.

I gulp down all thirteen bags. With each thirsty swallow I feel a burst of strength mixed with adrenaline. The predator begins to unfold within me. I can feel my body becoming more agile—more fluid—with each drained bag. When there is no more blood, I wait and listen.

I can hear her better now that my senses are increased. She's still jogging around the house somewhere out there. I have no idea why she wants to taunt me, but I am not going to fall for it. I will win this.

It only takes a few deep breaths for me to calm myself enough to face my fate. Leaping through a window and landing soundlessly, I walk proudly toward the forest. I stop in the middle of my yard and wait. She knows I am here.

Katerina's lively footsteps slow. I can hear each little step coming toward me. Gradually I begin to hear the rising and falling of her chest as she breathes. I wait patiently until her stunning profile comes into view. She's prettier than she looked in the dreams. She could easily pass for a vampire if it weren't for her beating heart.

She says nothing as she slowly descends toward me. Katerina stops a mere ten feet from me. She's relaxed and not ready for a fight. I relax too.

"Renesmee Carlie Cullen," she says with a thick accent. "It's nice to finally meet you in person. The way you view yourself in your dreams doesn't do you justice."

"How do you know about the dreams?" I ask sounding rather harsh in comparison to her chiming, calm tone.

She giggles like a schoolgirl and gives me her most innocent look. "The dreams? Did you think you those were your imaginations doings? You silly girl, Renesmee. I put those thoughts into your head."

"How?"

"Well from what I hear, it isn't much different from your power. You put thoughts into people when you touch them, right?"

"Yes," I answer wondering how she knows so much about me.

"Well, I do the same thing without physical contact. Of course, with you so far away, I could only breach your mind while you were vulnerable. But now…"

Suddenly I see my Mom getting her head shattered by a small vampire with blonde hair and blood-red eyes. I scream out in agony thinking it is real. It isn't until Katerina laughs that I realize she is in my mind. "Get out of my head," I growl at her. The picture fades.

"That was rather fun, now wasn't it?" she taunts with dancing eyes.

"Maybe for you," I respond as I recompose myself. "Now why are you here?"

"I'm on a mission."

"What's your mission?"

"I was hoping you would ask that," she admits with a dazzling smile. "I have two options. Either I kill you and go home alone or I bring you back with me. The choice is yours."

"What if I choose neither?"

"Well that would mean you have to kill me. And let's face it Renesmee, you are not as strong as me. You are too human."

"I think there is another option," I respond with an idea that would make Grandpa proud forming in my head. Katerina raises her eyebrow and waits for me to further this discussion. "What if you stay here and agree to live our type of life?"

"A human life?" she asks skeptically.

"We are not completely human. I do drink blood and do other inhumane things."

"You drink animal blood. There is a difference," she responds thinking she has won. "I'm offering you a life of simplicity. Here you could have friends and a family that loves you."

"I already have those things," she snaps.

I take a big risk and take a few steps toward her. She tenses, but doesn't move. "You could have a friend who understands. We are the only two like us in the world. I understand what you're feeling."

"Don't pretend you know me!"

I take another few paces forward. We are now standing close enough to touch. Her breath is hot and stifled on my face. "We'd be like sisters," I say as I place my hand on her shoulder. As soon as we make contact something weird happens. I can feel my own thoughts being replaced with someone else's. Suddenly I am watching as a man with black hair and blood-red eyes spits in my face. I watch as this same man calls me weak and pitiful. And then I see another like me, but she's different too. We compete. She wins. I feel weak as she grows strong.

Those thoughts are interrupted when Katerina breaks the contact by throwing my arm violently off her shoulder. I fall backwards onto the cold snow. "Keep your thoughts out of my head!" she snarls.

"I could say the same to you," I reply knowing a new angle to approach her at now. "Who was that man with dark hair?"

Katerina seems to debate whether or not to answer my question. She finally agrees to tell me. "My father, Aro."

I've heard of him. He is the leader of the Volturi and the one who is least sadistic. From what I have seen of him, he seems to be pretty awful. "He doesn't love you."

"I don't want anything to do with love," Katerina says nonchalantly.

"Why not?"

"Love only leads to pain. I mean look at you and that tall werewolf friend of yours. You are in pain because of him. He hurt you. Why would I want love if that's what it feels like?"

So this is what I accidentally showed her. "It's not all bad. I'm glad I love him. It made the last seven years amazing. I wouldn't trade any of it."

"Well I'd just rather not ever know love. Then I will never hurt."

"That's a sad life," I admit. I can't help but feel overwhelming pity for her. She knows of no love. In its place she has lived in a life of competition. "If you lived with me, you would never have to compete for love. My family would love you just the same."

"Are you really that naïve?" she asks as she backs up a few steps now that I'm on my feet again. "You are the crown of your family. Aro told me how they threat you. I would be a nuisance."

"You wouldn't," I promise. "And especially not to me. I've always wanted a sister." Katerina stops and stares. I can see tears welling up in her eyes. She is honestly considering my proposition which makes me happier than I care to admit.

"I have a sister," she finally says coldly. "And I hate her. So what is your choice? Come with, or die?"

"I will fight you before I surrender," I reply. "But I am offering you a safe asylum."

"I don't need your pity. And if you want to fight, then let's stop wasting time. Your audience waits." She tilts her head toward the house. Through the window of my rooms I see numerous faces peaking through. I would rather they not watch in case I lose, but what choice have I?

"You're going to have to make the first move. I am a pacifist."

Katerina smiles a tiny grin before tensing her body for the fight. I follow suit and prepare myself. This could be the end of me and I have barely started. I haven't had time to get married nor have kids. I haven't even graduated high school. And yet, here I am—about to fight for my life. Katerina leaps through the air, aiming right at my throat.