Chapter 13

Sage's point of view:

I always thought seven would be a lot easier than six. I was wrong. Being seven stinks. I knew I was different. I was one quarter vampire and had the possibility to phase like Daddy. But I was also human. Which stinks too.

I also know Momma lied to us on our birthday. I could feel her. I wondered why but then I figured it was because of these vampires. They think we don't hear and that we didn't understand and know. Trust me, we do.

And I still haven't warmed up to Kaleb. He's my sister's imprinter as Momma and Daddy explained it. He'll take my sister away! She always says that she'll never leave me but I know that's a lie. It's always been just me and her. Now it was Grace and Kaleb and I was the one left out. The third wheel. I hate that stupid third wheel. So when Momma and Daddy said Kaleb would watch us while they went out for a few hours I locked myself in my room. I was glad that they were doing stuff without us finally but I didn't want Kaleb watching us.

I relaxed a little when Daddy told me that night Ethan and Emma would be staying with us for a few days. That means while everybody is focused on each other I can sneak away, lock myself in my room, and read.

I sat and played with our piano as Momma was getting ready with Grace and Emma. I wasn't near as good as her or Grandpa but I was getting it. Momma taught me and Gracie some exercises to get our hands use to the keys. I was a fast learner so I caught on easily. Gracie…not so much. For some reason she has the attention span of a rock.

I looked up to see Ethan, Kaleb, and Daddy. I had no clue what they were saying and from what I could see Kaleb couldn't understand either. I remember him saying that he didn't grow up in La Push like Daddy and the rest of my uncles so he never learned the funny language that everybody else spoke. When Momma and Daddy are kissing us goodnight he'll speak to us in Quileute. When I asked Momma what he told us she shrugged, saying that she never learned. I didn't bother to learn it either.

There was a funny feeling in my chest. I didn't know why I could feel my parents. Most seven year olds don't. But I wasn't like most seven year olds. I had this growing magic. More than just wiping out memories or my shield penetration. My sister had the same thing. It was powerful alone but when we're together it's nothing you've ever seen. It scared us at first. It was scary not telling our parents. It ended badly with the third baby. What if they flip when we show them what else we could do?

I felt somebody sit down next to me and press down on the wrong key. "Busy?" Daddy asked.

"Somebody has to use it." I whispered, shrugging.

"What's wrong, Sage? Do we need to stay home? Are you feeling sick?"

I pushed Daddy's hand from my curls and forehead, rolling my eyes. "I feel fine; and no. You and Momma don't need to stay. I just feel…"

"What?"

"Weird." I answered.

"You feel weird? What do you mean?"

Like him and Momma should stay home. Like Ethan and Emma shouldn't be here. Like Kaleb should be protected. Like me and my sister should run away. Something bad was going to happen. I didn't know when and I didn't know how. Nobody would believe me. I'm seven-a kid. I tell Daddy this and he'll only reassure me that he won't let nothing happen. They already know something bad will happen. They have a bag packed to give Kaleb so he can run away with us. They have property for us to hide out on.

"Never mind." I said, getting up from the piano bench.

"Hold on, buddy. I need to know this stuff. You can tell me anything you know that right? What's wrong?"

I remember back in November when Daddy wasn't really my father. Grace threw her shield out at me and it was a ripple effect. He yelled that he hated us. He swung at Momma and went after us. I actually thought about what he would do if Momma didn't stop him. Or if I didn't stop him. Would he snap out of it once he saw how scared we were? That's why I erased his memory. I couldn't have him hurting my mother and sister.

"Nothing." I answered again, walking away.

I was about to make it up the steps when I felt somebody pick me up and throw me over their shoulder. She was in a black drees, and my face landed in a pillow of her bronze curls that cascaded down her back. She was beautiful.

"Where are you going, mister? You and your sister have to say good-bye." Momma said, tickling me. I laughed and squirmed while I was over her shoulder.

"Momma's boy." Ethan coughed.

Momma sat me easily on her hip as a glared at him. Yes. I was a Momma's boy and I was proud of it.

"So…how do I look?" Momma asked.

"Perfect!" Grace said, smiling.

Momma looked at me, a gleam in her chocolate brown eyes. I always wondered why neither me nor Grace never got Momma's eyes. I've got Daddy's and Grace had Grandma Sarah's cinnamon brown eyes. When I got older, after Momma's miscarriage, I always told myself that the lost baby had her eyes. It was just some stupid dream. It would have been nice to be a big brother. I would be a better influence to him or her than Grace would be.

"Beautiful." I said. She smiled and kissed my cheek.

"I've taught my son well. You do look beautiful." Daddy said, coming over to kiss Momma. My sister smiled while I covered my eyes.

"You're such a boy, Sagey." Grace said.

"That's because I am one, Gracie. Besides, you're such a girl." I chided back.

"That's because I am one, little brother."

"By two minutes!"

"Still the same!"

"Alright, you two." Momma and Daddy said at the same time. We stopped then.

Momma sat me down next to my sister and knelt down, looking us both in the eyes. "Okay. Are you sure you don't need the two of us to stay. We don't have to go out." Momma said, setting me down.

"Go!" me and my sister shouted. I can see why Momma and Daddy are so protective over us. But really? They have no life.

"We love you." Daddy and Momma said, kissing us both.

We pushed them out of the door basically, shutting it. That didn't stop them though from barking orders at us. When Kaleb finally told them to get going Grace reached up and turned the lock on the door. Normally she would get in trouble. I think I won't tattle on her this time.

"Thank God they're gone. Nessie was flipping out." Emma breathed. That sounded like my mother for you.

"They're parents, sis."

"They're crazy." Grace mumbled, eyeing me. I could feel her joking mood and laughed. They weren't that bad. Okay…they were.

"So…as the responsible adult, what do you want to do?" Kaleb asked.

"Text." Was what Emma said.

"Take Jake's bike out for a spin." That was Ethan's suggestion. Daddy would kill him.

"Read." I deadpanned.

Grace slapped me on the arm. "Play a board game!" she chirped.

Ethan and Emma agreed, and Grace perked up with excitement and pride. Even I couldn't help but smile, agreeing. Sometimes to make everything peaceful you just have to agree on what my twin sister says. She can be your best friend or your worst nightmare. She's like Momma: scary.

"I choose!" shouted Grace, running off and to our playroom.

"Everybody else has to agree on the game, Gracie." Kaleb called back as we sat and waited. I hated him calling her that. That was my name for her!

Exactly like Grace fashion she picked one and then changed her mind right when she got to the bottom step. After she changed her mind five times we were finally able to start playing. She didn't really decide. I just yanked the game she had out of her hands and threw it on the floor, starting to set it up. When we were playing I started to feel like the fifth wheel. Ethan and Emma were doing the typical sibling joking. Grace was busy with Kaleb. I didn't have anybody.

I decided to get up, leaving and running upstairs to my room. I was about to slam the door shut when Grace stopped it, following me in. I sat down in my bed but she stood there with her arms crossed and her cinnamon brown eyes boring into me. She was the same age as me but there she looked so much older. I would even say she looked just like Momma. Just by the way she glared at me I saw Momma.

"Why did you storm off, Sage? It was your turn." My sister asked. She knew so why did she have to ask me?

I got up to shut the door. "You know why." I mumbled.

"Sagey," Grace exasperated as if she has had this conversation a billion times before. She has, "he's not taking me away. I'm right here. I'm seven, not seventeen."

"You act like it though." I muttered.

"You act like a boring old man!"

"You act like a drama queen!"

There was a knock on the door. It was Ethan. "Kaleb's on the phone so he sent me up here because of the racket." He said.

Grace glared at me. Me and my sister rarely have fights. Okay. That was a lie. We fight all the time. Yet in the end we make up and love each other. But we rarely have this feeling called hate toward each other. I hated her. She hated me. She could feel my emotions just as much as I felt her. I couldn't feel Momma and Daddy right now, and they probably couldn't feel us until they got closer to our home. I was happy they couldn't right now. I didn't want me and my sister's hate towards each other ruin our parents date. It was a major step for them just to agree on going.

"I hate you." Grace pushed to me.

"Takes one to know one." I pushed back. Gracie growled and stomped out of my room.

Ethan looked at me and sat down on my bed next to me. "So…it looked like you and Grace were really having an intense starring contest." He said.

I sat there brooding. I can't tell him about how we can mentally talk like Momma, but it wasn't technically like Momma's. It was too confusing to explain; and that also meant that Daddy would know, and then Momma would know. Nobody can keep a secret in this house. I hated it. I hated every bit of it!

"We were just arguing." I answered. I technically wasn't lying when it was halfway the truth.

"About…"

"I feel like Kaleb is taking my sister away!" I blurted. Dang it.

Ethan huffed. He probably didn't understand. "I don't know much about the imprinting; but when Emma went out on her first date I felt like I was losing her. I even went and spied on her."

Momma and Daddy were the best ones to talk to the imprinting. Or maybe even my aunts and uncles that are in the pack. To be honest, I didn't even fully understand it myself. All I could think of was my sister going away with Kaleb. I want her to be safe. I've always protected my sister. She was Gracie. My Gracie!

"Hey, we need players. Who's back in?" Kaleb asked, coming in without even a knock. I wonder if he did that just to aggravate me.

Ethan and Kaleb shared a look but I went back to reading. My parents were going to make me apologize. Normally I would. Not now. I'm done being the good seven year old.

Ethan left and Kaleb decided to take his seat. I glared at him. I was tempted to use my gift on him but I knew Momma and Daddy would find out again. Grace would find out. I wouldn't win.

"Do I want to know why Grace ran to her room and said she's never coming out?" I glared at him even more when he said that. "I just got off the phone with your parents."

Darn it. He's got one on me.

"I hate you." I said. Who said I didn't have to be blunt?

"Why?" he asked. "I thought me and you were friends."

"You're taking my sister away! She used to be mine! She used to be my sister! It was always just me and her! Now you come in with this weird imprinting and she's glued to your side. She ignores me! You ruined it all!" I shouted. I stood up on my bed to make me look more serious and get a better view.

"Whoa…calm down, buddy."

"Don't call me that!" I heard myself growl. Kaleb looked at me and I realized my mistake. I never growl in front of anybody only except my sister. We only growl or hiss when we really upset or angry. We can't do it whenever we want like Momma or Daddy.

"Sage, I know it's hard to understand this whole deal. Especially at seven. You've taken it better than some of the adults. I don't even understand it. Ask you dad. It's very confusing; but no, I'm not taking your sister away. If some stranger took my little sis away…I would be pretty mad too. You and Grace are twins. You two have a bond that runs deeper than my friendship with your sister."

I heard Kaleb's voice waver at the mention of his sister. But should I trust him?

"I don't blame you for hating me. I'm a stranger coming into your home. You don't like it. It's normal. I'm not trying the split you two up. I want you happy and safe as much as I want Grace the same thing."

I was shocked. "So you're not going to take my sister away?" I asked.

Kaleb laughed. "No. I would never."

I actually believed him. "Okay. But she still ignores me."

"Have you told her this?"

"Yeah, but she doesn't listen."

"Try again. You know your sister. Talk to her."

"She still won't listen."

"Make her listen. It's Grace. It goes through one ear and out the other when it's something she doesn't want to hear. If it's something that's interesting to her, she'll listen." Kaleb joked.

I smiled, knowing that was exactly how my sister worked. People may think she's complicated but to us she's too easy to figure out. If she wasn't acting like my sister I would worry something was wrong with her.

"Momma and Daddy say that I have to do things I don't like or don't want to do. When they told me that I don't think they meant me liking you."

"Probably not but you never know. So when are we going to shake hands and start being friends?"

I debated it. Grace was only seven. I could wait it out and see. But then again it would make life a lot easier if we were friends. Kaleb already has enough conflict with Daddy. I wonder why though. It seemed when he tried do something good Daddy was always on his case. It seemed really stupid.

"Why does Daddy hate you, Kabe?"

I've never called him by his nickname. I didn't think I ever would. I always pictured myself hating him till the day I die. If I ever were to die. I hear Momma's cries as she says how she'll die if we do. I hear how she hopes she goes first before we do. How she hopes we're immortal like them. It's a big argument because Daddy doesn't want us to phase like him, or something like that. I had no clue what it was about, and I haven't decided yet if I wanted to be a wolf like Daddy. Gracie has though. For me I think it's something no weird seven year old thinks about.

"I…I think that'll be another question for another day." He stuttered. That didn't answer my question. I hate when people do that. "Why don't you go to talk to your sister?"

"Not now." I yawned. I didn't realize I was sleepy until I started yawning. I didn't even realize it was that late.

"Great. You're sleepy. Your mom would kill me if you miss your bedtime-which you have. It'll be our secret though, right? I don't want Nessie to be angry. She's pretty scary when she's angry." Kaleb said with a joking sigh of relief.

My eyes got big. Momma was scary when she was angry. She was half vampire so it added to the affect. I think even if she was full human she could still make werewolves and vampires be afraid of her. Since we were a wolf family she always jokes that mama wolf would be out if anybody messed with her pups, being us. Sometimes it's scary but most of the time it was funny. I love it when she takes it out on Uncle Emmett, or Uncle Paul, or even Daddy. It's hilarious that they're the strongest beings and yet the hide from her. I pity those who get the wrath of mama wolf.

I high fived Kaleb and got under the covers, getting comfortable. He tucked me in the way I liked and switched off the light, shutting the door. I tried to fall asleep but I couldn't. I turned around and touched the dream catcher Daddy made me and my sister before we were born. Grace and I saw our parents do it for good luck so we started to do it too. Although, I still couldn't learn the phrase Daddy says to us in Quileute yet. I really wanted to learn. I guess the only thing I can think of is goodnight.

So I grabbed a family photo of the four of us and kissed Momma and Daddy's face-but not my sister's. I wasn't in the loving mood for her. Right now I couldn't stand her.

The bad feeling I wasn't having wasn't going away. I wished it would. I don't like this feeling. I can't explain what I feel. Only that something bad was going to happen. I can't really say what was going to happen either. I can't even say why or when. Nobody would believe me even if I knew all that stuff anyway. I'm a kid. I don't know anything. People would only brush me off and say it's nothing, or everything would be okay, or I won't let anything happen to you. I may be seven but I wasn't stupid. I've got ears and I've got eyes. I've got a half vampire for a mom too so how do you like that?!

I hugged the picture close to my chest as I burrowed myself under the blankets and covers. I worked things out with Kaleb. I told my sister for the first time that I hated her and I wasn't going to apologize. I even meant it. I wasn't going to apologize anytime soon. Which means tomorrow.

But for right now I wished Momma and Daddy were home.

~~~~~~ Forever ~~~~~~

I ran through the house in panic. I couldn't find anybody in the smoke and fire. I knew my home was huge but the house seemed to be endless.

"Momma! Daddy! Grace!" I tried to shout but was cut off by my cough. I was getting dizzy but couldn't stop. The man behind me would get me.

I tripped, tumbling to the floor. I wiped my eyes to look behind me, seeing a mangled wolf's body. Black with silver streaks. Kaleb… Blood poured from wounds so bad I wanted to puke. But it also made me so thirsty that I backed away with fright. No matter how much that scared me, I kept running.

Along the way I looked for Momma and Daddy but eventually found Ethan and Emma in the same fate as Kaleb. I just hoped Momma and Daddy would get here soon.

I ran to my sister's room. After running into it, I saw she was huddled under her blankets. I jumped on her bed like she normally does and shook her…like she normally does. And normally when I try to wake her up she usually shoots up and gives me a death glare. I knew something was wrong when I did all that and she didn't punch me.

"Gracie!" I croaked.

She wouldn't wake up so I shook her again, calling her name. It was what I feared. When I felt her skin it was cold. She was blue. She was dead! My twin! My opposite! I told her I hated her! I chose not to apologize! She died thinking I hated her!

I curled beside her and cried. No matter what I used it didn't bring her back. I knew something was wrong and I never told anybody. It was my fault Ethan, Emma, Kaleb, and…and Gracie were dead. It was good Momma and Daddy were on a date. They wouldn't survive. We wouldn't.

I snuggled tighter next to her and took her hand. I didn't care anymore. The house was crumbling. Momma's worst fear was coming true. I've tried getting out. There's only so much a powerful seven year old could do and I've reached my max. I'm out of juice.

I couldn't save my sister. The one person I vowed I would protect. Yes, she got on my nerves but I loved her. She was weird at times and she was also a stubborn pain in the butt but I still loved her. She was still my sister. I didn't mean what I said. They were just words.

I screamed as the burgundy eyed man yanked me away from my sister's body.

~~~~~~ Forever ~~~~~~

My scream woke myself up. My body was on high alert as I felt myself turn cold with a strange feeling called dread. I heard several bad words, glass breaking, and a scream. My sister's scream.

Grace!