A/N – Sorry it's taken me a while to update this story. I'm heading to Spain this weekend so I'm afraid I won't be able to update for a week, maybe a little longer, but as soon as the next chapter is finished it will be posted. As always, thank you for taking the time to read this story and for sticking with it! I thank Aussie Royal again for the loan of her name, and urge you to check out Jezikial's story "Rush" and brokenvoice's story "A Trip Down Memory Lane" if you haven't done so already (they're awesome).

Take Care all.

Chapter 79 – Antara

As I entered the living room with Alice close by my side, I noticed Edward and Carlisle talking quietly in one corner. Although their speech was lower than normal, my ears were able to detect every word spoken. It was as if my brain was a radio receiver, and my ears were tuned to pick up alternating signal currents as they escaped into the air.

They were both discussing Antara.

Esme and Rosalie were also talking, although they were sitting together. Like Carlise and Edward, they were also talking about the new arrival, although Rosalie seemed more agitated than the others.

"We know next to nothing about her, Esme. Even Alice doesn't know her and she's the closet to Jasper. Why has he never mentioned her before?"

It was a good question. I knew how close Alice and Jasper were, yet when he had mentioned Antara, Alice had seemed unaware of her existence too.

Jasper and Alice were not always together Bella…they both have a past that does not revolve around one another remember? You still don't know who turned either of them into a vampire…

I acknowledged my inner thoughts. Alice was blind to her past, but Jasper was very much aware of his. One day I would ask him about it… perhaps one day soon.

As we walked towards the centre of the room, four pairs of eyes were immediately on me.

I didn't need Edward's gift to know what they were all thinking…

She's back from the hunt…

Did she follow Alice's lead?

Did she pursue the animal with hostility and force running through her veins or did she show restraint and humility?

Did she remain in control of her desire to taste blood?

Did she feed…?

As if reading my own thoughts, Alice took my hand in hers. Smiling at me, she then turned to face the rest of her family and merely nodded.

I didn't need Jasper's gift to sense the relief that spilled out across the room.

Esme was the first to get up. In a few quick strides she was beside me, taking my free hand in hers. I smiled as she gave it a slight squeeze.

"Thank you Esme" I replied, as she returned my smile.

Rosalie appeared in front of me seconds later as I turned my face towards her. Again, no words escaped her lips as she merely placed a hand on my shoulder, nodding slowly.

"Thank you Rosalie" I replied again, as she removed her hand, winking at me. Finally she spoke.

"Bella… you are one hell of a vampire"

Alice started to laugh as I found myself joining in.

"And that was such an Emmet thing to say" I answered, as Rosalie smiled again.

"I suppose he is rubbing off on me" she continued, with a wry smile.

"Where is Emmet?" Alice asked, as Esme released my hand and pointed towards the front of the house.

"Waiting outside with Jasper, Antara is on her way"

Alice slowly nodded.

"Yes, I saw her in my vision" she finished, as Carlisle and Edward now walked across towards us. Rosalie tilted her head, a slight frown appearing across her beautiful face.

"Is there something wrong Rose?" I asked gently, as her eyes focused on my own.

"I'm a little… hesitant… with newcomers" she answered truthfully, before my face broke out into a huge smile.

"Yes, I remember" I answered as Rosalie bit at her lip and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry about before Bella" she answered, as I reached out and placed my hand on her shoulder as she had done to mine moments earlier.

"I'm only teasing" I replied, as Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"Now Emmet is rubbing off on you" she continued, as Alice and Esme both started to laugh.

Suddenly, Alice's fingers gripped at my own. I turned to face her as she quickly glanced at everyone around us, resting her gaze on me.

"She's here" she whispered, as we all turned together.

Emmet was the first to appear, a huge grin on his face. I was about to ask him about his grin when I noticed Jasper follow him into the room, a smile also on his face.

And then I saw her.

Initially behind Jasper, she appeared by his side as Emmet joined Rosalie, the grin still very much in place.

Later I was definitely asking him about that grin…

"Antara, this is my family" Jasper spoke softly, as Antara's eyes flickered across everyone individually, finally resting on me.

She was tall, perhaps the same height as Edward. As I surveyed the newcomer standing before me I realised she couldn't have been more than twenty, although I had never been that good at guessing ages. I watched as her eyes seemed to gleam and I immediately realised we shared something in common… like mine; her eyes were coral in colour. The combination of red and yellow immediately made me feel a little uncomfortable…

Did she drink human blood as well as animal blood?

Her gaze shifted slightly so she was now looking at Alice.

"Hello Antara, thank you for coming"

Carlisle's voice floated past me as I watched him walk forward and stretch out his hand. Antara broke her penetrating gaze as her eyes then rested on Carlisle's out stretched hand. Sensing her hesitation, Carlisle smiled.

"We are all friends here Antara"

I watched with fascination as her eyes moved to Carlisle's. Clearly this act was not one she was familiar with as she seemed to deliberate over Carlisle's words. After what felt like minutes, she steadily she reached out, taking Carlisle's hand in hers.

Her arms were long and slender, like her build. Dark ebony shoulder length hair surrounded her pale face, waving and curling in cascades down her back. As Carlisle shook her hand, a small frown appeared across her face.

Yes, all this was clearly new to her…

I continued to watch her. Her face was an attractive one, with high cheekbones, a narrow nose and dainty chin. Her lips were blood red, and as her frown eased I noticed her lips relax a little more exposing the true fullness of her bottom lip.

As she removed her hand, Jasper placed his on top of her shoulder. A dark green vest clung to her body revealing just enough of the curves beneath to entice, which no doubt explained Emmet's grin. Antara's gaze moved back to me as she placed one hand in the top pocket of her Jeans. I noticed the pale denim was snug and soft with age.

"You must be Bella"

My eyes darted from her hand back to her face. As her words glided across the room towards me, I felt Alice's hand tighten on my own. Her voice was a little deeper than Alice's, yet it held a similar tune. I found myself nodding as she dipped her head slightly, her eyes never leaving my own.

"And this is Alice" Jasper continued, as he motioned towards my side. Alice's fingers were still weaved around my own as I tore my gaze away from Antara's to look at her.

Alice seemed… a little tense. I could feel it in her fingers and I could see it in her face, her stance…

"Hello Antara"

Yes, Alice was anxious… I could hear it in her voice.

My eyes were back on the newcomer as Antara lifted her head, stretching back to her full height. No, she wasn't as tall as Edward… she was taller…

"So, exactly how do you two know each other?"

I could almost sense Rosalie's reaction to Emmet's question, as Jasper frowned a little. Expecting a similar response from Antara, I was shocked when the look of concentration on her face broke, and was replaced with a rather bewitching smile.

"So you must be the outspoken one" she replied, her voice dancing with humour. I turned as Emmet gave a mock salute.

"That's me, Emmet Cullen" he answered, still smiling.

"Emmet" Rosalie hissed, as Emmet glanced down at Rose, shrugging.

"Ah, and you…. you must be the serious one" Antara continued as Rosalie turned from Emmet, her attention now on Antara. I watched as Rosalie frowned with annoyance.

Oh, this was going to be interesting…

"My name is Rosalie" she hissed, as Antara now shrugged as Emmet had done.

"My apologies, Rosalie the serious one" she replied with a glint in her eye.

I watched as Rosalie took a small step forward before Esme placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Rose" she whispered, as Antara smiled again.

"And you must be Esme, mother and carer… it is a pleasure to meet you"

Antara's words were full of sincerity and conviction as she held out her hand to Esme, who took it gently.

"The pleasure is ours, Antara" Esme replied, as Rosalie snorted.

"Is there a problem Rose?" Antara enquired, as she released Esme's hand. Before I could blink, Rosalie was standing inches from Antara, her eyes now blazing.

"Only my family call me Rose" she spat, as Antara tilted her head to one side. Moment passed before Antara broke into a smile again.

"My apologies Rosalie… Jasper was correct; you do care passionately for your family. I admire that"

Slowly she held out her hand as Rosalie glanced down at it, a look of confusion appearing on her face.

"Babe, just take the hand" Emmet almost whined from somewhere behind as Rosalie took the hand in hers, tentatively.

I turned as Alice edged even closer to me.

What was wrong? Why did she seem so… troubled?

Edward appeared at Rosalie's side, his hand now outstretched. My eyes were on Antara as she glanced from his pale hand to his face.

"Edward Cullen" he murmured, as she took his hand in hers.

What happened next astonished me. As her fingers clasped around his, her eyes immediately fluttered and then closed as her chin seemed to rest on her chest, locks of curling hair falling around her face. Edward continued to hold her hand as Antara seemed to take deep breaths… breaths that were unnecessary… yet seemingly vital. As quickly as her eyes had closed, they now opened as she removed her hand.

"You are able to read thoughts" she whispered, as Edward slowly nodded. Antara also nodded as she edged a little closer to Edward. I watched as Edward broke out into a smile.

Was he reading her thoughts now?

"Yes Antara, Bella's thoughts are a closed book… very frustrating at times" he finished.

"Yes, I can imagine it would be" she continued, as her glance now fell on me.

"Somehow, you are able to impede or obstruct Edwards gift… this is extremely intriguing… may I?" she asked, as she held out her hand to me.

Before I could reply, Alice stepped forward.

"I'd appreciate it if you told us a little more about your gift first Antara" she softly asked as Antara's hand dropped to her side. Her face seemed to cloud up before she broke out into a grin that was almost identical to the one Emmet was still wearing.

"Of course" she replied, as everyone seemed to now gather around her more closely.

"What would you like to know?" she asked, as Emmet was the first to speak.

"How old are you?" he asked, as Esme shot a look of disapproval at him. Antara's grin remained in place as she raised an eyebrow.

"You don't have to answer that" Rosalie broke in, as Antara shrugged.

"I'm not conscious about my age" she replied, adding "I was born in 1788 in the North of England. I led an… interesting… childhood"

I continued to watch as her eyes became somewhat wistful.

Interesting how?

Slowly she continued, "I was a thief".

Everyone remained silent. Everyone, except Emmet.

"A thief? How cool is that"

I watched as Rosalie tugged at his arm, almost hissing at him as he shrugged.

Antara shrugged, "It was a necessity, in order to survive".

Survive?

"Survive?" Carlisle gently asked, as Antara tilted her head to one side.

"The Georgian era in Britain was a time of immense social change, economic depression and political uncertainty. In order to survive, one did what was necessary. I became a thief, and I was rather good at it too until the day I was caught…" her voice trailed off as I began to slowly understand… her life, back then, had been far from easy.

Steadily she continued, "I was caught, and sentenced as a repeat offender, a little harshly I believe… and transported to the Australian Colony of New South Wales, ironically on my twenty first birthday. I was sentenced for seven years, but only served two. At the age of twenty three I was turned… as you can imagine, my new found ability meant there really was no need to serve a further five years in that hell hole… I escaped… and I inflicted punishment on those that had treated me unfairly"

I felt myself shudder…

"So, in answer to your question Emmet, I was twenty three when I was turned in 1811"

Emmet nodded. His grin had finally vanished as he too was seemingly wondering exactly how she inflicted that punishment.

"I was unsettled, as you can imagine. I had no family in England, but even if I did I would never have returned. So I chose America. It was there I met Peter and Charlotte, fellow vampires and also friends to Jasper"

So that explained the accent… English with a trace of Australian and American… it also explained how she had met Jasper.

I watched as she glanced at Jasper and smiled.

"I have calmed by savage side somewhat over the years" she finished as Jasper started to laugh.

"Now, you're just sarcastic" he replied as Antara's eyes gleamed.

"I always have been" she replied honestly, before her gaze fell back on us.

"I try and drink animal blood these days, but every so often when the urge arises…" her voice trailed off again as she smiled.

Every so often she drinks human blood…

"Of course, only those that deserve to be punished" she finished as I felt my eyes widen slightly.

"We appreciate your honesty" Carlisle continued, as Antara shrugged.

"And your gift?"

Rosalie was the next to speak as Antara turned to face her.

"I can identify the gifts of other vampires with a mere touch" she replied, adding "do you have a gift Rosalie?"

Rosalie shook her head.

"Except the gift of beauty" Antara continued, as Rose tried not to smile.

"Amen to that" Emmet interrupted, as he placed an arm around Rose, bringing her closely into him.

Jasper held out his hand.

"Bella… will you allow Antara to hold your hand?" he asked gently as Alice stepped forward.

Before she could speak, Edward slowly shook his head.

"It doesn't hurt Alice, Bella is quite safe"

As I placed my hand in Jaspers, Antara looked closely at Alice.

"I would never hurt any member of Jasper's family Alice"

Alice nodded although I could see her eyes were still full of questions.

As long, cold fingers covered my own I was conscious of her touch as she gently held my hand in hers. Like before, her eyes closed, but this time they remained so as I felt the pressure of her fingers tighten…