Standard Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable from Twilight, I just love adding my own toys to the sandbox. Any mistakes are my own. Enjoy.

Also, in case there's an issue '….' = December's thoughts 😊

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Chapter 4 – From the Other-side

Nothing. That's all I saw. Not the darkness behind my eyelids. Something darker, more... empty, more…. alone.

I remember talking, and pain. A lot of pain, in my side. I felt my hips, the left side felt numb. I poked. Nothing. Again, nothing. I saw nothing, I felt nothing, physically. My head was filled with…. NOTHING! I just remember pain. I don't remember what was said. I sighed and sat down. Then laid down. I looked up at the darkness. It seemed never-ending, like my life.

My eyes felt wet. Then I felt tears go down the sides, to the back of my head. I didn't 'cry', I just let the tears fall. Felt like I needed to let them go for some time.

"Seems she finally broke," came a voice from ahead of me. I knew that voice, I was not afraid.

"To hell or high-water huntress, I'm tired as shit," I say as I put my arm over my head.

"Heh, I don't doubt it," her voice came closer. It seemed as she came closer, it got lighter.

I moved my arm and sat up. I covered my eyes. She was emitting a soft blue glow.

Eventually she got close enough and sat down in front of me. I uncovered my eyes and saw her. Still primal, still marked of tattoos, scars, her hair red, in dreads, like liquid lava flowing down her head. Her eyes an iced blue, like mine. She looked like me, only older, wiser, scarier.

"So here we are again, Ember." Her voice is ethereal.

"Seems I'm never away from here. What happened this time?" I didn't realize my hand went to my side again.

"Two ass-holes from the academy." She whispered.

"What about them?" I already had a feeling.

"Blew your shield. It pierced you." She said as she got out her knife to sharpen it. The same knife I used on vampires myself.

"But I'm not dead." A fact. I know I'm not. If I was, I wouldn't be talking to her now. She just quirked her eyebrow at me and smirked.

"Where am I then?" I sighed rubbing my temples. I have a headache.

"With the Volturi scum. And your boyfriend. By the way, I don't like him." She continued to sharpen her knife. I knew her.

I smirked back, "yes you do."

"He's too pretty, even the scars make him too pretty," she mumbled.

"Hey, he's earned those," I pouted. Having scars means something different to her and I compared with normal society. Means you've been through something. That something most likely not good. Each one made you tougher than the last. Each one has a story, most not meant to be told. Those who have the same thought, view them as something to respect. And she does respect him, even though she doesn't want to.

"He's dangerous." She said matter-of-factly.

"I know," I said back.

"Do you?" she stopped sharpening her knife and looked at me. I looked back.

"I do. I realize this connection is dangerous. But I can't fight it. Physically or mentally. It's on a whole other level that I can't comprehend, even though I try."

"It's never happened before. A vampire and a hunter. This is cosmic shit to a 'T'." She said as she got up and dusted the nonexistent dust off of her. "What the hell are they thinking?"

"I agree it doesn't make sense. But the vampire that was chosen, no one could be better." She didn't reply, which I knew meant she agreed.

"You're going to wake up, just remember, not everything is at it seems. I can't tell you what it is, I'm not too sure myself. But I've got a feeling someone that you've known for a while, is going to do you harm, if they haven't already. I'd keep an eye and ear out. Something like this has never happened before."

I nodded and got up myself. "Do you remember you past lives?"

She looked hard at me, but it was as if she was trying to remember. "I see glimpses. But as a person no, I've lived too long in others to recount specifics."

"Right, thought I'd ask." I sighed.

There was silence for a few minutes, "I know I was male for the last hunter."

I looked at her shocked.

"I know you're trying to find answers, and while I can't remember everything, I do know that."

That's when I felt another sharp pain. Then, I woke up.

I moaned. It's about all I could do. I felt pathetic.

"She's waking. Quick, water!" I heard a voice shout.

I felt something at my mouth, a glass, with water. I drank, well more like gulped down the fluid. I was never one for water, but I was more than glad to have it. I drank my fill and laid back down. I opened my eyes to adjust my focus. It was still a bit hazy, but I was able to make out Aro, Caius, Jasper, Jane, and Demetri.

"Where's Charlette," I croaked out. My throat hurt like hell.

"Her, Alice, and Peter are out hunting." Came Jasper's voice. I smiled.

"Wonder how Pete's gonna keep quiet about Alice's bunny rabbits."

A few chuckles could be heard.

"Trust me darlin, he'll run his mouth and get slapped like usual," Jasper said.

I looked at Jane, "you and Char are alright though?" I asked her as I scanned her body. No visible scars.

"We're fine. Luckily your shield held out long enough for us to take cover, but not long enough that you didn't get hurt. December I'm so sorry. We should've protected you more. I've told the lords to punish me for my error."

My head spun so fast I got dizzy. I grabbed the blanket and shut my eyes to regain my focus, "you had better not of punished her!" I felt my powers grow.

"Trust me my dear we did not. I got the recount of it all when I touched Jane's hand. No one was at fault except those two idiots." Aro said, the word idiots came out in growl. I calmed down.

I sighed, "Carter and Nixon. For them to be all the way out here," I sat in thought. "Aro, you all know of the hunter legend. Is it possible that they know of you?"

"That we exist as vampires yes, we've run into the guard a time or two in the past. But The Volturi as a whole, I do not think so." Aro said.

"I see," I laid my head back down and closed my eyes.

"How do you feel dear one?" Marcus asked.

"Tired. Ok, but tired. Feel like I've been hit with a force field, " I smiled. They laughed.

"Glad to see your sense of humor is not lost. Rest. We will talk later." Caius kissed my forehead. They all left after saying good-bye. Jasper stayed of course. His face looked sad.

"What's wrong?" I ask as I rubbed his hand. "I'm fine really."

"This whole trip, you've been sick or hurt. I'm sorry." He said.

"None of it is anyone's fault. Well Caius maybe," I smirked, "But for the most part it's just shitty luck."

"We've got Bella and Edwards' wedding in a few days, we leave tomorrow. I'm just sorry you didn't enjoy this more." he gestured to the balcony and the view outside.

"Hey, this started out as a might be war turned into finding family. I've got no complaints. We will come back and be able to enjoy the time. Once we figure all this out."

"Right. Well, you rest. Felix is your guard for the afternoon. I'll bring you dinner later." He said as his something came across his face and disappeared just as quickly. He knew I saw. "It's nothing, just a fleeting thought for the guard." He kissed me and then my hand. He left out the door mumbling something to Felix on his way out. Felix nodded towards me with a smile and shut the door.

I laid there. And laid there. And laid there some more. I had a lot of thoughts running through my head. I needed a bath. I got up. I pushed myself to the bed easy enough, but just didn't have the strength to do much more.

"Felix!" I yelled.

"Mistress," he said. They're so fast.

"The very weak and very pathetic vampire huntress needs help with the bath. Can you get Jane please?" I chuckled. As did he.

"No need, I heard you," came Janes voice as she entered my bedroom. Felix chuckled again and left the room.

Jane came and lifted me from the bed and helped me to the bathroom. "By the way, you are by far not pathetic."

"Took you long enough to deny that claim," I pouted. She laughed, then I laughed, and it was that atmosphere I needed to enjoy a good bath.

Until next time lovelies!